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church : revd jo's letter : june 2008 added 13/05/08 Oh dear … I have to begin with an apology. Last month I wrote about a free concert at Castle Bytham, only to learn a day or so after the Glenside News went out that the visiting choir had been forced to cancel. I am very sorry, particularly if you turned up on the evening in question. I hope that you will all come to the church on the day of the Midsummer Fair, because we are holding Songs of Praise at 3.00. The format is very simple – lots of your favourite hymns, old and new, with a brief word about each one, to give you time to get your breath before the next one. There is still time to put in a request – so far I have the following on the list: Jerusalem, I vow to thee my country, Make me a channel of your peace, He who would valiant be, Immortal, invisible, Be still for the presence of the Lord, O Lord my God, The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended, to God be the glory and Guide me O thou great redeemer. If you would like a favourite included, let me know as soon as possible. Hymn singing is a great way of worshipping the God who created the world, his Son who died for the sins of the world, and the Holy Spirit , the life-force. It lifts our spirits and makes a joyful noise , as the Psalmist exhorts us to do. On Saturday June 7th, Jane Sharpe and James Ramsay will be married at Little Bytham. They have very kindly painted the hand-rail on the church steps for us, and we greatly appreciate this gesture. Then on June 20th, Natasha Wolfe and Nick Leeding will be married at Castle Bytham. We wish both couples joy and peace in their life together. One of the suggested readings for marriages is a passage from a little-known book of the Bible, Tobit. In this, the writer says, Tobias began by saying, ‘Grant that she and I may find mercy and grow old together’. And they both said’ Amen, Amen.’ To know God’s mercy – his love and care - and growing old together through all the vagaries of life seems to me an excellent way of describing a happy and successful marriage. June 29th is St. Peter’s Day, and we shall mark this at Creeton with a special service of Holy Communion at 9.00. Later that day, at Castle Bytham, we shall baptise Imogen Rose Leverseidge, whose big sister Paige was baptised here two years ago. We welcome Imogen into the church family, and hope that Paige will help to pour out the water and hold a candle for her baby sister. On a sadder note, Henry Sharman of Counthorpe was buried at Swinstead on May 7th. Henry’s family can be traced back to the C14th in this area, and he was as Andy Hawes said at his funeral. very much rooted in history and in the land. We remember Carl and Robin in our prayers at this time, and give thanks for Henry’s full and rewarding life. I am always reminded at funerals of the wonder of God’s creation. What seems on the surface to be a very ‘ordinary’ life is never just that. I was privileged to conduct the funeral service for John Cooke of Witham-on-the-Hill on May 12th. A quiet and unassuming man, John had, in fact, represented Great Britain in 4 Olympic Games and 4 Commonwealth games as a pistol shot. He had cases full of medals from every country imaginable, and had won countless trophies. Our sympathies are with John’s sister, Jessie, and with Les Bowler, for whom John worked for many years. Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name; you are mine (Isaiah 43) With best wishes Jo |
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