Paul Hardingham continues his new series.
What’s the Big Idea? An Introduction to the Books of the Old Testament:
1 and 2 Samuel.
1 and 2 Samuel was originally a single work, which focuses on Samuel, Saul and David, around 1,000 BC, mid-way between Abraham and Jesus. It was Samuel who established the monarchy in Israel after the period of the judges. He was commanded by God to give the people a king, although their request is seen as a rejection of God’s rule over Israel (8:7).
The people simply wanted to be like other nations, however their king was still subject to God’s law and the word of the prophet. Although Samuel anointed Saul, he soon showed an unwillingness to submit to these requirements, leading to his rejection as king (15:23). God chose David as Saul’s successor, and 1 Samuel depicts David’s years of waiting until the right time arrived to claim the throne.
2 Samuel depicts David’s rule, in which the nation prospers and its enemies are defeated. The promise of the perfect king is fulfilled in Jesus Himself, as David’s descendant. The second half of the book depicts the darker side of David’s reign, describing his weaknesses and failures, including his adultery with Bathsheba and the rebellion of his son Absalom.
Nevertheless, David remained a man after God’s own heart: ‘The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’ (1 Samuel 16:7). The characters in this book are not always great examples of faith, however, ‘They do not show us how we should live but how in fact we do live, authenticating the reality of our daily experience as the stuff that God uses to work his purposes of salvation in us and in the world.’ (Eugene Peterson).
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Prospect of winter energy bills causing anxiety for millions, says Archbishop of York
Millions are looking ahead to this winter with ‘fear and anxiety’ about the cost of heating their homes, the Archbishop of York has said as he backed the recent launch of a campaign to provide a network of warm spaces for people who struggle to pay their energy bills.
Archbishop Stephen Cottrell is encouraging churches to consider getting involved in the Warm Welcome campaign, a network of venues from community centres to churches providing warm spaces over the winter for people struggling to heat their homes
.
Archbishop Stephen said: “Sadly, what began as a cost-of-living crisis has simply become the new normal for many.
“Millions of people will look ahead to this winter with fear and anxiety, wondering how they are going to cope with high living costs. That is why I am proud to endorse the Warm Welcome campaign this winter.
“But a warm welcome isn’t only about the temperature. It is about kindness and community, giving people the chance to be seen and known, to belong and to be part of something. It is about celebrating the God-given value and dignity of every single person, finding hope and community together. But of course, none of that will happen if people are cold.”
The Warm Welcome campaign is led by a coalition of over 50 charitable organisations who joined together in response to the cost of living crisis to provide emergency support to communities struggling to pay for rising food costs and to heat their homes.
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The mysterious ways of mistletoe
Mistletoe has long been used as part of our Christmas decorations. It is not your usual kind of plant.
Instead, it is hemiparasitic, meaning that although its leaves enable it to feed itself through photosynthesis, its roots invade the host tree or shrub to extract water and other nutrients
.
Mistletoe loves living in apple, lime, hawthorn, poplar or oak trees. You may spot it high up, as a large globe, on the bare trees in winter. There is one spectacular example in Windsor Great Park, clearly visible from the path on the opposite side of the Thames
.
Mistletoe’s berries are almost translucent, fleshy and sticky. They form in the forks of mistletoe’s many branches. While they are toxic to humans, they are attractive to birds, who wipe the remaining seeds off their beaks onto the nearest branch, which of course helps the plant to spread.
For some reason, Romans thought mistletoe represented Peace, Love and Understanding. Perhaps that is how it got into our Christmas celebrations? The earliest documentary evidence for kissing under mistletoe dates from the 16th century, but we don’t know who got kissed first.
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Doctor Livingstone, I presume?
It was 150 years ago, on 10th November 1871, that Welsh journalist and explorer Henry Morton Stanley located the missing missionary Dr David Livingstone near Lake Tanganyika, in present-day Tanzania. He may or may not have greeted him with the words: “Doctor Livingstone, I presume?”
Stanley’s real name was John Rowlands. He was born in Denbigh to an unmarried 18-year-old who abandoned him. He ended up in a workhouse until he was 15, then went to America, where he changed his name and became an American citizen. When he found Livingstone, he was working for the New York Herald.
Known for his strength of will, Stanley also had an African name – Bula Matari – Breaker of Rocks. Much of his life was spent in Central Africa, and his reputation was mixed: he was said by some to be violent toward Africans, but by others to have treated them well. His feats as an explorer were impressive: he played a big part in locating the true source of both the Nile and the Congo, and he helped open up the Congo on behalf of King Leopold of Belgium.
Though not overtly religious, he felt he was engaged in a “sacred task”. He was re-naturalised a British subject in 1892, following his marriage.
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All in the month of March
It was:
300 years ago, on 8th March 1723 that Sir Christopher Wren, English architect, died. Best known for designing St Paul’s Cathedral.
125 years ago, on 16th March 1898 that Aubrey Beardsley, British illustrator, died. His black ink drawings, influenced by Japanese woodcuts, contributed to the development of Art Nouveau.
100 years ago, on 4th March 1923 that Patrick Moore, the amateur astronomer, TV presenter, writer and musician was born. Best known for presenting the TV astronomy show The Sky at Night for over 50 years. (Died 2012)
80 years ago, on 13th March 1943 that the final liquidation of Krakow Ghetto in Poland took place. 8,000 Jews were transported to Plaszow labour camp, 2000 more were simply killed in the streets, and the rest were sent to Auschwitz.
70 years ago, on 19th March 1953 that the Academy Awards ceremony (the Oscars) were televised for the first time.
Also 70 years ago, on 26th March 1953 that Dr Jonas Salk announced that he had completed the first small-scale test of a polio vaccine. Larger tests began in February 1954, and mass vaccinations began in April 1955.
65 years ago, on 2nd March 1958 that the first land crossing of Antarctica was completed by the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, led by Vivian Fuchs. The team of 12 men travelled 2,158 miles from Shackleton Base to Scott Base (via the South Pole) in 99 days, using six vehicles.
60 years ago, on 22nd March 1963 that the British Secretary of State for War, John Profumo, made a statement in the House of Commons in which he denied there was any impropriety in his relationship with Christine Keeler, a model who was also in a sexual relationship with a drug dealer and a Soviet naval attaché. (In June he admitted he had lied, and resigned.)
50 years ago, on 8th March 1973 that the citizens of Northern Ireland voted in a referendum to remain within the United Kingdom. That same day the IRA carried out its first bombing in Britain since WWII, planting car bombs in London. One person died, 200 were injured.
40 years ago, on 6th March 1983 that Donald Maclean, British-born Soviet spy died. He was a member of the Cambridge Spy Ring.
Also 40 years ago, on 26th March 1983, that Anthony Blunt, British art historian and Soviet spy, died.
25 years ago, on 16th March 1998 that Rwanda began mass trials for the country’s 1994 genocide. There were 125,000 suspects for 500,000 murders.
20 years ago, on 1st March 2003 that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the al-Qaeda terrorist who masterminded the 9/11 attacks on the USA, was captured in Pakistan.
Also 20 years ago, on 12th March 2003 that the World Health Organisation issued a global alert about a severe form of pneumonia (now known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome – SARS) that was affecting people in China, Hong Kong and Vietnam.
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Isherwood Hall. (The original hall)
Tables and chairs are available.
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April Magazine 2026
NOTE FROM THE EDITORS
Welcome to your April magazine, as always we would welcome some articles from within our parish, home grown articles are much better than those we source from elsewhere.
A Happy Easter from Pauline & Bob - co-editors..
Updated 5th April 2026
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Dear Friends,
I began to read C S Lewis’ Prayer: Letters to Malcolm while waiting for the flight to my sister who was seriously ill. I soon felt that he was writing directly to me. While Lewis and his friend were exchanging messages, Malcolm’s child became ill. Lewis reflected: 'the distance between the abstract, ‘Does God hear petitionary prayers?’ and the concrete, ‘Will He – can He – grant our prayers for George is apparently infinite.’ in this short sentence, Lewis sums up many Christians’ hopes and fears. How often the answered prayers strengthen our faith; but how often do disappointed people stray from faith if their heart-felt petitions seem to meet no response. But is it the person who prays that knows the reasons.
I had prayed for my sister for more than a decade before I read Lewis' book. I had prayed constantly for the right treatment, but her situation worsened. Her condition became so bad that only an organ transplant could save her. Then my prayers switched to finding a right donor at the right time. The sentiment Lewis expressed was mine. How great the distance seemed. Through all those years, did God hear my petitions? Yet the only way I could help was to offering my prayers to Him. The only reason I kept praying was that I believe God is and always is in the situation, whether we recognise His presence or no.
It may be that the person who prays is not the human best placed to experience what God does. It was not until my sister was out of hospital after her transplant, and able to talk rationally that she could tell me something. She is a Buddhist, and as such she felt the divine presence in many of her trials and tribulations. It was that mysterious experience accompanied her through her darkest moments and lifted her out of despair. What a revelation for me! She felt deeply blessed by the God to whom I had pleaded on her behalf.
Certainly, God has in view more than helping us in the ways we feel most. The aim of our prayers of intercession is to seek divine help. Yet the mission of Jesus is not just to save us from earthly suffering and miseries. When Jesus arrived at Bethany after the death of Lazarus, the latter's sister Martha said that he would not have died had Jesus been there. Jesus brought His friend back to life in order to show the glory of God rather than just to give an earthly life back to Lazarus. He came to save souls rather than bodies. When we ask, God gives, as Jesus promised – this promise is about eternal life, alongside of our earthly needs.
I still do not know what role my intercessions played in my sister’s recovery process, especially in her operation and recovery. What I do know is that she is very grateful to God, and she firmly believes that without those prayers of intercession, she would not be where she now is. The rest is part of God's plan.
Norma
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ANNUAL PAROCHIAL GENERAL MEETING 2026
Sunday 10th May - 11am after the 10am service
Reports and Financial statements will be available to view beforehand.
Vestry Meeting
for the election of two Churchwardens.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting
To receive the reports from various church organisations, and to elect PCC members and Deanery Synod representatives.
If you feel you would like to become a member of the PCC, please contact the PCC Secretary, Brian Livingstone (01642 279272). Nomination forms are at the back of church.
All who are on the Electoral Roll and eligible to vote, should attend this meeting.
ALL REPORTS SHOULD BE IN BY SUNDAY 19TH APRIL.
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Synod approves motion confirming LLF programme to conclude
and new working group to be established.
General Synod recently gave its backing to establishing working and consultative groups to continue work on same-sex relationships and marriage as the Church of England’s Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process came to a conclusion.
LLF was originally set up in 2017 to explore the Church’s approach to identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage.
It led to the introduction, following a key Synod vote in 2023, of public prayers of dedication, thanksgiving and asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples – known as the 
Prayers of Love and Faith (or PLF).
The Prayers of Love and Faith are now in use as part of regular Church of England services but the House of Bishops confirmed last month that new special or ‘bespoke’ services for same-sex couples would need full formal authorisation under canon law.
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General Synod backs Sustainable Church Flowers motion
The General Synod recently backed a Diocesan Synod Motion from the Diocese of Worcester encouraging churches and cathedrals to explore ways of arranging flowers that are both beautiful and environmentally responsible.
The Sustainable Church Flowers movement began as a grassroots initiative in the small rural parish of Harpley, Worcestershire, when volunteers started exploring how traditional flower‑arranging methods could reflect the Church’s commitment to caring for creation. It has since grown into a national and ecumenical network offering practical support to parishes, arrangers and clergy.
It encourages churches, wherever possible, to consider using seasonal, locally sourced flowers and foliage, and to phase out single‑use floral foam – a 1950s‑era plastic product which cannot be recycled or composted, sheds micro‑particles when handled, and contains the equivalent of up to ten carrier bags’ worth of plastic per block. The Royal Horticultural Society has already prohibited floral foam at its shows, including Chelsea, since 2021.
The motion highlights long‑established alternatives such as reusable vessels, twigs, moss, chicken wire, and metal “frogs”, which for centuries enabled churches to create arrangements without single‑use plastics. It also celebrates the creativity of volunteers and the opportunity to support local growers and community gardens.
The Bishop of Dudley, Martin Gorick, said: “The Sustainable Church Flowers movement rejoices in flowers and foliage in church, and encourages us to source them locally and seasonally wherever possible: remember Jesus on that hillside, rejoice in what’s around you. Think simple, natural, beautiful.”
The Sustainable Church Flowers provides online resources, tutorials and local ambassadors. More at: https://suschurchflowers.com
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General Synod Roundup
In February, General Synod met in London for its usual five-day group of sessions. Here are some of the highlights:
Synod on Monday 9th February
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, welcomed the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, paying tribute to her long ministry in nursing and public service. Synod greeted Archbishop Sarah with a standing ovation.
Synod on Tuesday 10th February
Sarah Mullally gave her first Presidential Address from Sarah Mullally. She spoke of approaching her ministry with calm, consistency and compassion; of nurturing confidence and hope rooted in the Gospel; and of recommitting the Church to transparency, safeguarding, and the flourishing of the local parish and communities.
Prayers were said for the Bishop of Guildford, Andrew Watson, following his announcement of an untreatable cancer diagnosis.
There was an extended Q&A on Living in Love and Faith. The House of Bishops’ January 2026 statement had concluded the LLF programme in its current form, agreed the continued monitoring of Prayers of Love and Faith within regular services under Canon B5, and the establishment of new governance structures.
Synod supported the Archbishop’s Commission on Reimagining Care, and also emphasised the importance of listening to disabled and older people in shaping the future of adult social care.
Synod on Wednesday 11th February
Persecution of Christians around the world, the impact of the mental health crisis in UK and the Church’s own progress on establishing an independent safeguarding body were among subjects discussed at the General Synod on Wednesday.
There was then a major debate on mental health and the Church. A motion was passed that called for those training for ordination to have specific courses on how to support people facing mental health challenges, and also for counselling and therapy to be available to clergy.
General Synod overwhelmingly approved a motion to establish a new independent oversight body for church safeguarding, brought by Dame Christine Ryan, the independent Executive Chair of the Church’s Safeguarding Structures Programme Board.
Synod on Thursday 12th February
Synod debated the Sustainable Flowers initiative, which encourages churches to source local flowers and foliage. It also debated the problem of poverty in the UK, in the light of the 40th anniversary of the Faith in the City report.
Finally, it approved a motion on Living in Love and Faith, affirming that the programme will conclude by July and commending the House of Bishops in establishing the Relationships, Sexuality and Gender Working Group and Relationships, Sexuality and Gender Pastoral Consultative Group for continuing work.
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‘Still a ‘long way’ to go on working class vocations,’ Synod hears
Progress has been made, but much more needs to be done, in order to increase the representation of people from working class backgrounds in lay and ordained leadership roles in the Church of England, the General Synod was recently told.
The Bishop of Barking, Lynne Cullens, who is heading a key advisory group to encourage working class vocations, said there was still a “long way to go. There was a poverty of both expectation and opportunity which restricts vocational journeys of many.”
The Bishop of Chester, Mark Tanner, who Chairs the Ministry Development Board, said there is a ‘cultural disconnect’ experienced by people from working class roots.
“We heard those frustrations around vocations, discernment, training, finances, housing, and leadership progression, above all around a kind of cultural disconnect, where you are invited to be part of something, but you never fully feel that you belong. But at the same time, we heard hope – genuine hope, cautious, sometimes fragile, but a kind of real optimism.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, welcomed the work to encourage working class vocations. She highlighted shift workers, saying that 27 per cent of the UK work force regularly work evenings and nights – and they will include many potential lay and ordained ministers.
“Our current processes exclude shift workers, and we need to do more to ensure that our vocational processes are accessible to those outside traditional working patterns. Their experience brings gifts to the church that we urgently need,” she said.
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By the Revd Peter Crumpler, a Church of England priest in St Albans, Herts,
and a former communications director for the C of E.
Could stained glass have a role in modern-day mission?
Millions of people visit cathedrals and historic churches in the UK and around the world every year. St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey are among London’s most popular tourist attractions.
In many English cities, it’s the cathedral that tops the TripAdvisor list for ratings and reviews. Local churches that remain open through the week often find visitors drawn to them – to look around, pray, reflect, or simply pause amid busy lives.
When the Bible Society’s Quiet Revival report was published last year, the headlines rightly focussed on the numbers of young people being drawn to church.
But, within the report’s pages was another, perhaps surprising, finding. It was that one of the top three places for people with no religion, or non-practising Christians to encounter the Bible was while sightseeing in a cathedral or church.
This underlines the importance of churches making available good, printed material and displays explaining the Christian gospel.
Yet it also may show the importance of a form of Christian communication that many modern-day evangelists may have ignored. The enduring appeal of stained glass.
Historian Janet Gough has recently produced ‘Divine Light,’ a survey of some of the best stained glass in England’s cathedrals. She explained, “The stained-glass windows of England’s cathedrals illuminate interior spaces, communicate religious, historical and political messages, and perhaps offer us a glimpse of heaven.”
Earlier examples of stained glass often depicted biblical scenes, illustrating scripture for those unable to read the accounts themselves.
In today’s society, dominated as it is by the visual image – from Instagram to YouTube, TikTok and Facebook – these colourful windows could help introduce contemporary people to Bible narratives and gospel truths.
There is much biblical truth to be found in stained glass windows for those who look with an inquiring mind. In many cases, some knowledge of scripture may help decipher the stories being told. In others, the viewer is invited into an encounter with the divine: to look in awe and wonder at the artistry, and to feel an emotional – perhaps spiritual – response to what they see.
In our supremely visual age, these works of art – both ancient and modern – can capture the attention and imagination of the millions who are drawn to our cathedrals and historic churches.
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April Diary Page
Holy Communion service each Sunday at 9.00am (Said BCP service)
Sung Eucharist each Sunday at 10.00am (Common Worship)
Holy Communion each Tuesday at 10.00am (Said BCP service)
Said Evening Prayer each Sunday at 6.30pm.
BIBLE STUDY (via ZOOM) EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 7PM DURING TERM TIME.
PRAYER MEETING FIRST MONDAY IN THE MONTH 7pm IN CHURCH
APRIL DIARY PAGE
THURSDAY 2nd APRIL MAUNDY THURSDAY
7pm Holy Communion with Washing of feet
and stripping of altar
FRIDAY 3rd APRIL GOOD FRIDAY
10.30am Stations of the Cross
3.00pm Good Friday Liturgy and Holy Communion
SATURDAY 4th APRIL
Churchyard tidy 9.30am onwards
SUNDAY 5th APRIL EASTER DAY
6.00am Sunrise Service
9.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Parish Communion
TUESDAY 7th APRIL
10.30am Holy Communion
WEDNESDAY 8th APRIL
Coffee Morning 10am -11.30am
PCC Meeting 7.00pm
SUNDAY 12th APRIL
9.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Parish Communion
6.30pm Evening Prayer
TUESDAY 14th APRIL
10.30am Holy Communion
SATURDAY 18th APRIL
12 noon QUIZ with Pies & Peas
SUNDAY 19th APRIL
9.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Parish Communion
6.30pm Evening Prayer
SUNDAY 26th APRIL
9.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Parish Communion
6.30pm Evening Prayer
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Church Roof Gulley update.
The scaffolding was erected at both ends of the church building on the 23rd March which then allowed the firm, in conjunction with our architect on the 30th, to discuss how the work will progress and if any extra work will be needed.
All necessary permissions have been sought and obtained for all aspects of the work.
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WYN HIRST THANK YOU
I would like to thank friends at St Mary’s for the messages, cards, prayers and visits I have received during my recent illness. It has given me a lot of support at this stressful time.
I miss St Mary’s and the choir. Also, my house still has a few weeks’ work to be carried out before I can stay in it.
I will continue to think about all of you. God Bless and have a lovely Easter!
Wyn
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Celebrate cross of St George as symbol of unity for everyone in England – bishops
The cross of St George, the flag of England, should be celebrated as a symbol of unity in our nation, rooted in our Christian heritage, a group of leading Church of England bishops from across the country have said.
In a joint statement, they urge people to embrace or rediscover our Christian heritage but also call for a fresh recognition of the meaning of the cross as the symbol of God’s love for everyone.
They warn against the use of Christian symbols to intimidate others and call for a “mature debate” on the different impacts of migration, noting that churches can act as “spaces where different response to immigration can be listened to with respect and dignity”.
The statement is issued by a working group of seven bishops set up late last year at the request of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to consider questions of national unity and diversity amid concerns about polarisation within society, as well as equipping local churches to help bridge divides.
Prompted by widespread discussion about the displays of flags in communities across England last summer and autumn, they say: “We rejoice that the flag of St George is the national flag of England and contains a cross as a sign of our Christian heritage. “This heritage should be celebrated”.
“However, the flag cannot be owned by any one group or cause. Rather it is a symbol of unity, inclusion and our common life around which we all gather.”
They warn against the use of Christian symbols, such as the cross or flags to intimidate others, observing: “Sadly, in recent months, we have seen these symbols used by people who, far from working for unity in the nation, are seeking to sow division and misunderstanding.
“This leaves many in our society feeling anxious and afraid and is a long way from loving our neighbour in the way that Jesus taught.”
Drawing from their own experience of inter-faith engagement, the bishops argue that “the vast majority” of people of all backgrounds and faiths accept the country’s Christian heritage and “want to unite behind the flag as a symbol of national unity and inclusion, based on our Christian heritage and broader values of respect, compassion and care for all.”
And they make a central invitation to people to come to their local church to explore the “true significance of the cross of Jesus Christ”.
“There is little point claiming it as our heritage if we don’t understand its meaning,” they write. “Thousands of local churches across the country stand ready to explore this meaning with people of all backgrounds in the communities we continue to serve.”
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By the Revd Roy Shaw, a retired but active priest in the diocese of York, where he is a spiritual director.
Resurrection life
Did you have ‘a good Lent’? Were you able to make the journey with Jesus through the turmoil of those last days of His earthly ministry as He set His face to go to Jerusalem, knowing He would be killed there? I find the Lenten journey, particularly Holy Week (the week leading up to the crucifixion) harrowing, and by 3 o’clock on Good Friday – the hour at which Jesus traditionally died – I am wrung out.
All of which makes Easter Day and the weeks that follow, with the joy and reality of new life, so much the sweeter. No wonder Christians make this the most important day of the year – much more so than Christmas. God, in the resurrection of Jesus, has vindicated the way of love, truth, sacrifice and service, kindness and hope over the self-serving and grubby ways that seek power, self-advancement, privilege, hatred and division. Hallelujah!
It’s all summed up in the poem ‘Easter Wings’ by the 17th century poet and priest George Herbert. For me, it’s not the words of the poem so much as its shape – it’s written in the shape of a butterfly’s wings. Now that’s clever; – to let both shape and words express something lovely, like the freedom and beauty of a butterfly on the wing. That sums up Resurrection life.
We are not asked to explain how the Resurrection took place. That is known to God alone, and we would trip ourselves up in all sorts of ways as we seek to find a rational explanation as to how it happened. But we are invited to live it – yes, live the Resurrection in ourselves -as we ask the Risen Lord to lead us through each day. In time, this constant invitation to live out the Resurrection changes our whole being, as we try, in the words of Mother Teresa to ‘do little things with great love.’
The more I try and live out Resurrection life (more properly, the more I allow Jesus to live the Resurrection life through me) the more boundless I find it to be. Which I guess is why God gives us a season – seven weeks up till Pentecost – to allow this stupendous fact of the Resurrection to sink into us, call out a response from us.
Enjoy your Easter eggs, your Easter bonnets, your egg-pacing; in fact, have a great Easter. But don’t let the Resurrection pass you by. It’s the gateway to what Jesus calls ‘life in all its fulness’.
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Editor: The Revd Dr Jo White continues her series on aspects of Christianity.
Reflecting Faith: Same Old, Same Old
Last time I wrote I suggested you listened carefully to your own internal thoughts and feelings before and after listening to a sermon – be it in church live or on a video or broadcast.
Well, here we are at Easter – and guess what the sermon subject is likely to be?
Christ is risen – He is risen indeed!
In so many ways it really could be ‘same old, same old’ and the preacher could just repeat last year’s sermon. Let’s face it, nothing will have changed in the Easter story in the last 12 months.
Or has it? For me, and I suspect for most folks, 12 months can be a ‘long’ time; and things change in our lives. Babies are born, youngsters change school, teenagers leave school, young people move out, friends die, accidents happen, and pains and sorrows come and go.
Around all of that personal business the world turns: there are holidays, seasons, catastrophes, people hurting people, people caring for others and on and on it goes.
Things might repeat but they are never truly ‘the same’.
So it is with the Easter story. Christ is risen – He is risen indeed! Really? In the midst of my life and the world around me? In the centre of your life and your community?
Is it any less amazing today than it was last year, or the year before, or a decade previously or when the women went to the tomb that first Resurrection Day?
In so many ways I need to hear this story again – but anew. New, not just because the preacher will (hopefully) have made it register with what’s happening around my small community today and new because I am not the same person I was a year ago – for better or worse!
I shall hear those words differently this year than ever before. Christ is risen – He is risen indeed!
This month
Before you listen to this year’s Easter Sermon, think about the changes you’ve had in your life since last year and the world around us. How much more do you need a living Christ today? May you say in your depths, with me: Christ is risen – He is risen indeed!
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Church choirs receive £400,000 boost for programme to increase participation by children
More than 200 church choirs aimed at children and young people are to be launched in a new programme.
‘The Choir Project’, working in partnership with the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM), will engage children and young people with their local church choirs amid renewed interest in sacred church music.
The launch comes as campaigners press for English Evensong to be given World Heritage Status, to ensure that the centuries-old Christian choral tradition is recognised as an art form of global significance.
The number of cathedral choirs in England reached a record high of 207 in 2024, but 57% of local church choirs currently have no children.
The new programme will tap into the country’s rich tradition of choral worship with a view to sparking a revival of local parish choir membership amongst Generation Alpha, engaging them actively with Christianity.
‘The Choir Project’ aims to support upwards of 200 churches across England to establish or renew choirs for children and young people.
Research which suggests that young people are more likely to remain active in faith communities when they are given meaningful roles, intergenerational relationships and opportunities for leadership.
The Church of England’s Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board has agreed investment with RSCM of £400,000 to support the programme.
Starting choirs has proven to attract engagement from young people in churches. One church near Saltburn has grown from two to up to 18 children on a Sunday by starting a church choir.
As one young chorister said: “Every Sunday that you come, you better yourself in your singing and you better yourself in your knowledge of Jesus and God.”
Another said: “I love the stories about Jesus, seeing my friends and singing with the choir.”
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Canon Paul Hardingham considers the crucifixion
The Cross of Jesus
The cross is a picture of violence, yet the key to peace;
a picture of suffering, yet the key to healing;
a picture of death, yet the key to life;
a picture of utter weakness, yet the key to power;
a picture of capital punishment, yet the key to mercy and forgiveness;
a picture of vicious hatred, yet the key to love;
a picture of supreme shame, yet the Christian’s supreme boast.
The cross really is the key to everything! Although a horrifying instrument of torture and death, it is also a symbol of God’s love and peace. On the cross Jesus died to deal with the problem of our sin and defeat the powers of death and evil. He identified with our sufferings and set us an example of self-sacrificial love.
As Peter writes, ‘He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed’ (1Peter 2:24). Jesus died in our place on the cross and took away our guilt, to pay the full penalty for our sin. Access to God’s presence is now open to all, symbolised by the Temple curtain being torn in two from top to bottom. The barrier between us and God was torn down in order ‘to bring us to God’ (1 Peter 3:18).
The idea of substitution lies at the heart of understanding what Jesus did on the cross: ‘For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting Himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; God sacrifices Himself for man and puts Himself where only man deserves to be.’ (John Stott).
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5th April – Easter, the most joyful day of the year.
Easter is the most joyful day of the year for Christians. Christ has died for our sins. We are forgiven. Christ has risen! We are redeemed! We can look forward to an eternity in His joy! Hallelujah!
The Good News of Jesus Christ is a message so simple that you can explain it to someone in a few minutes. It is so profound that for the rest of their lives they will still be ‘growing’ in their Christian walk with God.
Why does the date move around so much? Because the date of Passover moves around, and according to the biblical account, Easter is tied to the Passover. Passover celebrates the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt, and it lasts for seven days, from the middle of the Hebrew month of Nisan, which equates to late March or early April.
Sir Isaac Newton was one of the first to use the Hebrew lunar calendar to come up with firm dates for the first Good Friday: Friday 7th April 30 AD or Friday 3rd April, 33 AD with Easter Day falling two days later. Modern scholars continue to think these two Fridays to be the most likely.
Most people will tell you that Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox, which is broadly true. But the precise calculations are complicated and involve something called an ‘ecclesiastical full moon’, which is not the same as the moon in the sky. The earliest possible date for Easter in the West is 22nd March, which last fell in 1818. The latest is 25th April, which last happened in 1943.
Why the name, ‘Easter’? In almost every European language, the festival’s name comes from ‘Pesach’, the Hebrew word for Passover. The Germanic word ‘Easter’, however, seems to come from Eostre, a Saxon fertility goddess mentioned by the Venerable Bede. He thought that the Saxons worshipped her in ‘Eostur month,’ but may have confused her with the classical dawn goddesses like Eos and Aurora, whose names mean ‘shining in the east’. So, Easter might have meant simply ‘beginning month’ – a good time for starting up again after a long winter.
Finally, why Easter eggs? On one hand, they are an ancient symbol of birth in most European cultures. On the other hand, hens start laying regularly again each Spring. Since eggs were forbidden during Lent, it’s easy to see how decorating and eating them became a practical way to celebrate Easter.
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April Crossword
Across
1 Relating to the whole universe (6)
4 The disciple who made the remark in 8 Across (John 20) (6)
8 ‘Unless I see the nail marks — — hands,’ (John 20) (2,3)
9 He urged King Jehoiakim not to burn the scroll (Jeremiah 36) (7)
10 Controversial founder of America’s Moral Majority, Jerry — (7)
11 ‘Look, here is — . Why shouldn’t I be baptized?’ (Acts 8) (5)
12 Repossessed (Genesis 14) (9)
17 Port from which Paul sailed on his last journey to Rome (Acts 27) (5)
19 ‘Moses was not aware that his face was — ’ (Exodus 34) (7)
21 Roonwit, C.S. Lewis’s half-man, half-horse (7)
22 Grill (Luke 24) (5)
23 ‘The lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the — apostles’ (Acts 1) (6)
24 ‘I was in — and you came to visit me’ (Matthew 25) (6)
Down
1 Coastal rockfaces (Psalm 141) (6)
2 Academic (1 Corinthians 1) (7)
3 Publish (Daniel 6) (5)
5 For example, the Crusades (4,3)
6 11 Across is certainly this (5)
7 He reps (anag.) (6)
9 Liberator (Psalm 18) (9)
13 Man who asked the question in 11 Across was in charge of all her treasury (Acts 8) (7)
14 They must be ‘worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine’ (1 Timothy 3) (7)
15 The human mind or soul (6)
16 ‘O Lord, while precious children starve, the tools of war increase; their bread is — ’ (Graham Kendrick) (6)
18 ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not — ’ (Matthew 11) (5)
20 Bared (anag.) (5)
March Answers
ACROSS: 1, Awaken. 4, Quench. 8, Hit me. 9, Sadness. 10, Semitic. 11, Ridge. 12, Testimony. 17, Psalm. 19, Indulge. 21, Deserve. 22, Ariel. 23, Rose as. 24, Beggar.
DOWN: 1, Aghast. 2, Attempt. 3, Eject. 5, Undergo. 6, No end. 7, Hasten. 9, Sacrifice. 13, Samaria. 14, Yelling. 15, Spider. 16, Dealer. 18, Asses. 20, Drake.
Winners Peter Warren
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April Anagrams
DAILY NEWSPAPERS
Rearrange these letters to form the names of ten English daily news-papers. Some of these are national; others are from this region.
All the answers except one consist of two words.
1. A GREEDY ILL PATH 2. ROYS TRIKE SHOP 3. LOILA LAPMOTHER 4. DIXEYS PEARLS 5. OH CORNER THEN
6. NAIL IN TIMS CAFE 7. BIG TATTY WHEZE 8. RONALDS MATTING STICK NOT DONE 9. MARRY ILIDOR
10. GIVE ZEN GENT TEA
Compiled by Peter Warren
March Anagram Answers
1. ATLAS 2. CATALOGUE 3. CALENDAR 4. DICTIONARY 5. ENCYCLOPAEDIA 6. ALMANAC
7. DIRECTORY 8. LEXICON 9. INVENTORY 10. THESAURUS
Winner: Wynn
Send your answers with your name to the editors.
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April Sudoku
March Answer
Winner Jack Thompson
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What’s orange and worth preserving?
This month sees National Marmalade Week (18th – 25th April). If you really want to celebrate, go to Dalemain Mansion and Gardens in Cumbria, where they hold the World Marmalade Awards & Festival. It celebrates, preserves and promotes artisanal marmalades, with thousands of entries. (Even Paddington Bear will be in attendance!)
If you like marmalade, ever wonder where it comes from? One tradition traces it to a storm-damaged Spanish ship which took refuge in Dundee Harbour in 1700. It was full of Seville oranges that the captain was desperate to sell before they went mouldy. A local down-on-luck merchant, one James Keiller, bought the lot. He didn’t know what to do with the oranges either, but fortunately he had a resourceful wife. She set about turning a shipload of Seville oranges into a preserve, and so the first marmalade factory was born.
Marmalade has been at the heart of British breakfasts for centuries. Winston Churchill fought the Second World War on it (washed down with a flute of Pol Roger each morning). DH Lawrence wrote novels on it. Paddington Bear’s sandwiches were all marmalade. If you also want to get your fingers sticky, visit: www.marmaladeawards.com.
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Lester Amann considers a man who knew all about too much rain…
Noah: builder for God
Mention the name Noah, and it’s likely we remember he built an ark, and then filled it with animals. But did you know that Noah lived for 500 years before he started this massive carpentry project?
With such a long life before the flood, we may wonder what he did for five centuries! Apparently, Noah lived in an age of widespread depravity and violence, but he stood out as a man of righteousness. He was a shining example of goodness and holiness in a generation of corruption and evil. This didn’t mean he was perfect, but at that time he was blameless before God.
Noah also preached to those around him. He wouldn’t have preached in the way we think of preachers today, standing in a pulpit or on a platform. Instead, his life was the ‘sermon’ – an example of purity and faithfulness in a world defiled and rampant with wickedness.
We must admire Noah’s courage and obedience to God. Perhaps we should ask ourselves, how well do our lives compare with Noah’s, as we also live in a society that falls short of good qualities such as love, peace and trust.
Noah spent 120 years building the ark. No doubt he was plagued with inquisitive questions and hurtful comments about his work. Despite this, he kept doing what God had told him to do. There is no record that Noah had any converts. Only Noah with his wife, his three sons and their wives, were together on a voyage to a new life and to a new world.
If we are to have a new life in God’s world we too must be dedicated to the task, He has given us to do – even if we fail to see others take hold of God’s redeeming love. God deals with us differently according to His plans for our life and we are called to obedience and commitment.
Noah’s task was not to save the world but to be a faithful witness. His life tells us not to give up witnessing in the face of ridicule and opposition, and to trust God that He has reserved for us a better future.
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Lester Amann considers how the risen Christ reveals Himself to us…
Never Far Away
We can only imagine how the two travellers to Emmaus felt, knowing that Jesus had died. Gone were their hopes for a bright future. They thought God had let them down. They had suffered a cruel blow and were bewildered and upset.
In their grief, the risen Jesus came alongside them and spoke with them at length, but somehow, they didn’t recognise Him. Why was this, and why did Jesus intend to leave them at Emmaus without first revealing who He was?
The answers may be found by looking back at the encounters Jesus had with people. He never forced His true nature onto anyone. Every individual had to make up their own mind as to who He was, and to decide if the things He said were true.
Today, Jesus does not ’gate-crash’ into our lives. In a number of ways, He gently and persuasively reveals Himself. So, the story of the walk to Emmaus should encourage us each time we feel His absence; at those times when we thought He would step in and immediately solve our problems! On our journey of life, we can have times of sadness, and it can seem as though God is far away.
But while we are thinking that Jesus has left us alone, He is actually with us. He knows where we are and what we are feeling. He can quietly draw alongside us. Surprisingly, it can sometimes be in situations of sadness and solitude that Jesus ‘speaks’ to us more clearly.
We don’t have to go off in search of some ’religious experience’ or to a special ’holy place’. He is present in the here and now. Jesus is the unseen companion on every journey and the unseen guest at every meal. In His way and in His time, our Lord reveals Himself to us in different situations. We may be aware of His presence in surprising circumstances and on unexpected occasions. How important it is that we stay alert.
There will be times when we will be like those two men on the Emmaus Road, searching for answers. We will earnestly desire clear and direct answers to our questions and the knowledge, understanding or revelation may be slow to come. But, with Jesus, there are many lessons to be learnt along our Emmaus Road that would not have been discovered any other way.
Further reading: Luke 24:13-35
Canon Paul Hardingham continues his seven-part series. This will conclude with the July issue.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Envy
‘A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.’ (Proverbs 14:30).
This month we are looking at the Deadly Sin of envy. As a consuming desire to have what others have got, it’s a major source of unhappiness.
It is different to jealousy: ‘Envy is wanting something that someone else has. Jealousy is the fear of losing something you already have to someone else’ (Brene Brown). We can envy things like wealth, looks and, possessions, resulting in resentment, bitterness and anger. The pursuit of possessing what others have will always leave us empty and dissatisfied, as the use of social media demonstrates.
How do we overcome envy in our lives?
Gratitude: ‘Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus’. (1 Thessalonians 5:18). A grateful heart has no room for envy, when we focus on God’s love for us and what He has given us, rather than looking at others’ gifts and opportunities. God has created us uniquely to be the people we are and different to others. As a result, we are better able to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.
Trust: ‘And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.’ (2 Corinthians 9:8). One of the chief causes of envy is FOMO: Fear of Missing Out! We can trust that God knows everything that we need and so we don’t need to worry about missing out. By entrusting our lives to Him, we can confidently depend on God meeting all our needs.
Is God truly enough for me? ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.’ (Psalm 23:1).
‘How much money is enough? Just a little bit more.’ (John D Rockefeller).
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By the Revd Peter Crumpler, a Church of England priest in St Albans, Herts, and a former communications director for the CofE
Loving people in later life
Nearly one in five people in England are aged 65 and over, with more than a quarter of the population expected to be above 65 by 2065.
These figures illustrate why UK churches need to keep a focus on outreach to older people. To ignore them is to miss out on a major mission opportunity.
And so current initiatives include lunch clubs, exercise sessions, singing classes, tea and coffee times, outings and a broad range of social activities open to the community.
But ‘later life’ or ‘retirement years’ is a catch-all term that says little about the fast-growing number of people in these age groups. A fit-and-well 65-year-old is very different to a 95-year-old person living in a care home.
One – hopefully helpful – way of describing ministry to older people focuses on their health and ability. My proposed categories would be:
The ‘go-go’ people: Men and women, often new to retirement, who are physically and mentally active and often looking for opportunities for voluntary service in areas, perhaps very different to their previous paid work.
This age group is often the backbone of many churches, providing the voluntary support for all kinds of church activities – from staffing the church toddlers’ group to membership of the church council.
The ‘slow-go’ people: Men and women who are no longer as active, perhaps because of illness, adjusting to life following bereavement, or needing to care for a family member.
Here the mission opportunity may be around inviting them to join in church social events, such as lunch clubs or drop-ins, where they can meet new people and be drawn into the life of the church.
The ‘no-go’ people: These are older people who are now home-based or living in a care setting. Visits from church members, services held at care homes, and ‘live-streaming’ of church services can also be a link for them to the worshipping community. Many churches have adopted care homes in their area.
And then, at the end of life, churches can also provide sensitive funeral services, tailored to the wishes of the bereaved, and their families.
Ministering to men and women in later life can be richly rewarding, both for the people concerned, and for the churches who take on this important ministry. We ignore it at our peril…
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National Garden Week.
Led by the Royal Horticultural Society, this annual premier UK celebration encourages everyone to experience the joy of gardening.
Aimed especially at beginners, events and activities are run up and down the country, offering tips, events, and resources to promote the health, wellbeing, and environmental benefits of cultivating plants. The RHS provides expert tips, how-to guides, and fun, easy gardening challenges to build confidence in new gardeners
More at: https://www.nationalgardeningweek.org.uk
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Editor: The Revd Dr Gary Bowness continues his tongue-in-cheek letters from ‘Uncle Eustace’…
The Rectory
St James the Least of All
My dear Nephew Darren
So, you are about to run an Alpha course in your parish; I am sure your bishop will be delighted. I remember him from my Oxford days. He was just starting his course as a gangly undergraduate when I was finishing my doctorate on Eusebius.
I recall him as a keen rugby player who took early morning dips in the Isis, who led intense discussions on Saint Paul’s theology of ‘the body’ over cups of cocoa in the evenings in his rooms and who spent his holidays laying paths for the National Trust in the Lake District while lodging in Youth Hostels. He’s exactly the sort of person who will empathise with your ministry – hearty, enthusiastic and overflowing with compassionate intensity. We were not close friends.
We tend not to go in for those sort of things, here at St James the Least of All, preferring matters a little more relaxed and understated. If we ever do hold discussion groups (and they are a regrettable necessity during Lent), they always start with a good lunch, finishing with coffee and one of Mrs French’s excellent Madeira cakes. Once we have removed from the table, those who manage to stay awake will start to tackle the chosen topic.
However, we always seem to veer off to discussing more interesting matters, such as why Colonel Chorley is never allowed to sing solos in the choir anymore, or who moved Mrs Cholmondeley’s flower arrangement from the font the previous week. Apparently, she has given notice that her weekly contributions on the plate will be much reduced unless an appropriate apology is received.
These matters may not seem as important to you as deciding what the ‘white stone’ in Revelation 4 is all about, but let me assure you that to members of our congregation, knowing why the second verse of the National Anthem is no longer sung at our Remembrance Services is of pivotal importance.
At 2.30pm we wake up those who have enjoyed an hour’s slumber and totter off home, knowing we have once again done our bit for faith in the parish.
I am sure your own group will also return home after your sessions – even if a digestive biscuit and weak tea is all that has been offered – invigorated and braced to tackle the heathen in the parish. We all take our pleasures in different ways.
Your loving uncle,
Eustace
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Paul Hardingham continues his series on the books of the Bible.
What’s the Big Idea?
An Introduction to the Books of the Old Testament: Ezekiel
Ezekiel was a prophet who proclaimed judgment to God’s people in the 6th century BC. He was among the group of Jews exiled in Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. Ezekiel received his call when he was 30 years old through a vision of the glory of God. His ministry finished 22 years later with a vision of the restored Temple in Jerusalem.
Ezekiel spoke to a community forced from its home, who had broken faith with God. He presents a God who rules over all people and history. He is a God who desires to be known and acknowledged (‘then they will know that I am the Lord’). As a priest, Ezekiel was deeply concerned with the holiness of God. This call to holy living includes an emphasis on individual responsibility (chapter 18), which is a significant milestone in biblical thought.
Ezekiel offers a vision of true hope for those who have undergone judgment. He promises a restored Temple as a sign of God’s presence among his people. He also promises a future ‘prince’ who will rule with justice and restore God’s relationship with his people (34:23-4).
In restoring them morally and spiritually, God promises to use them to bring light to the Gentiles. They will demonstrate the holiness of God’s name, because they will know him from the heart. This is the promise that is fulfilled in Jesus and made possible for us:
‘I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.’ (36: 26-27).
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International Jazz Day – 30th April
Jazz is a bit like marmite – you either love it or loathe it. For those who love it, look out for International Jazz Day at the end of this month.
International Jazz Day brings together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts worldwide to learn about jazz and its roots, future and impact.
At the All-Star Global Concert 2025 in Abu Dhabi, UNESCO officials announced that Herbie Hancock’s hometown of Chicago, USA will host the 15th anniversary International Jazz Day celebration in 2026.
For over a century, Chicago has been a jazz mecca. In the 1920s, jazz musicians sailed up the Mississippi from New Orleans and found Chicago to be a creative hub. Jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong, King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton made their names in the city, developing the ‘Chicago style’ of jazz. This style valued solos, improvisation, big band arrangements and a faster, more rhythmic sound.
For International Jazz Day 2026, Chicago will host a series of jazz concerts, educational initiatives, discussions and events for audiences of all ages, in partnership with the Chicago Jazz Alliance, the Ravinia Festival, the City of Chicago, the Illinois Arts Council, the State of Illinois and others.
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Remembering the musical genius of Richard D’Oyley Carte
It was 125 years ago, on 3rd April 1901, that Richard D’Oyly Carte, theatrical impresario, died. He built the Savoy Theatre and the Palace Theatre in London, managed some of the most important theatrical stars of the era, and founded a touring opera company.
Best known now for his association with Gilbert and Sullivan, Carte operated during the late Victorian age as a talent spotter/agent and theatrical impresario, as well as building a hotel empire. Among his many clients were Jacques Offenbach, Clara Schumann, James McNeill Whistler, Matthew Arnold and Oscar Wilde.
Carte was born in 1844 in Soho, but when he was a boy the family moved to Dartmouth Park in Islington, North London, where he was brought up in a large, detached house by an artistic family who spoke French at home two days a week. The name D’Oyly is French/Norman, and the family also had Welsh ancestry. Musically gifted, Carte studied violin and flute from an early age, then took up composing.
While risqué French musicals were popular on the London musical stage in the 1870s, Carte felt that wholesome, skilful English comic opera could take over. So, he recruited dramatist W S Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan, whose first joint venture was the short, experimental Trial by Jury. This became a huge success and led to the 13 ‘Savoy’ operas, whose clever wordplay and magical tunes exhibited such staying power that they are still in constant demand today.
To exploit his ‘find’, Carte founded the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, which was run after his death by his second wife, Helen. He also built the state-of-the-art Savoy Theatre, and next to it the Savoy Hotel. Other hotels followed.
Biographer Hesketh Pearson said: “He took what other people thought were risks, but he felt were certainties.”
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What home gadgets do you regret buying?
You know what they are: those things you never knew you needed until you saw one in an advert. Then suddenly you felt that life would never be complete without one.
And so, you brought home the spiraliser that makes vegetables look like spaghetti. And the pasta maker that you can’t quite figure out how to use. And the ice-cream maker that makes everything sticky and helped you put on another three pounds. And the robot vacuum which terrorises the cat. As for the bread maker, well at least it makes a good shelf on the kitchen counter.
If this is you, you are not alone. A recent survey by Saga has found that 65% of us have experienced ‘gadget regret’. It occurs when we buy something and then wonder why we ever bothered, because who needs it anyway?
Top of the list of regrets is the spiralizer – 62% of us woke up one morning to realise that no one needs vegetables to look like spaghetti. Second place belongs to digital picture frames, which 52% of us regret buying. After that comes the pasta maker (45%), the ice-cream maker (42%), VR headsets (35%), the bread maker (31%), the internet-connected exercise equipment (31%) and finally, the robot vacuum (29%).
What do we do with all this stuff? 46% of us keep it, even when we don’t want it. 15% of us try and sell the things, while a desperate 14% of us simply throw them away. And 19% of us grimly hang on to them for a year or so, before passing them on to an unsuspecting friend.
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Dawn chorus
If you sleep with your bedroom window open, you will know all about the dawn chorus around now. The birds are busy establishing their territorial rights, and the ‘early birds’ have probably already selected a nest site and started building.
The blackbird builds a solid cup of twigs, plant stems and leaves, lined with a thick skin of mud covered with finer grasses and leaves. The long-tailed tit forms a soft hollow ball of mosses, hair and wool, with a tiny hole as entrance. The wrens do it differently, with the male wren sometimes building several nests before his finicky mate will accept one. He gets his revenge, though, because he sometimes installs a second wife in one of the rejected sites.
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A history of our Easter chocolate
Chocolate. Just a mention of the word can trigger off all kinds of emotions: craving, greed, passion. Few foods have the ability to get such a hold on people. As you buy your Easter eggs and bunnies and whatever else this month, here are some of the facts of chocolate:
Where does chocolate come from? Chocolate is made from the seeds of the tropical cacao tree, theobroma cacao. The Greek word ‘theobroma’ means literally ‘food of the gods’. The Cacao Tree is found in Latin America.
Who first discovered it? The Aztecs. The cacao beans were used to prepare a hot, frothy beverage with stimulant and restorative properties, something like hot chocolate.
Who was (probably) the first chocoholic? The Emperor Montezuma. He drank 50 goblets a day of the frothy drink.
Who used chocolate as currency? The Aztecs. 100 cacao beans would buy a slave; 12 cacao beans bought the services of a courtesan, etc.
When did chocolate as we know it today begin? Surprisingly, not until 1879. That year Rodolphe Lindt had the inspired idea of triglyceride cocoa butter. The cocoa butter in chocolate contains saturated fat, but a normal level of consumption doesn’t have any bad effects.
At what point does a chocolate lover become a chocoholic? It is generally considered to be when a person feels impelled to consume 12 or more 60 gram bars of chocolate per week. Chocolate contains its own cannabinoid (a chemical that prolongs pleasurable sensations) and when you eat chocolate, there is an increased blood flow in areas of the brain which are also activated by addictive drugs such as cocaine. But scientists agree that occasional over-indulging will cause no long-term problems… except perhaps around your waistline!
How to get the best from your chocolate:
Keep your chocolate cool (16 – 18 degrees Centigrade) and in a dry, airtight place.
Never put your chocolate in the fridge (if you already have, let it warm to room temperature for a couple of hours before you eat it).
Bring out the full flavour of chocolate by drinking water with it.
If you are drinking tea or coffee, don’t bother with expensive chocolates – you won’t be able to appreciate them properly!
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Book Review
The PCC Strikes Back – more Dave Walker Guide to the Church Cartoons
By Dave Walker, Canterbury Press, £10.99
Dave Walker, cartoonist, cyclist, web editor and former church and youth worker is the UK’S most shrewd observer of the quirks of church life.
His distinctive Guide to the Church cartoons appear weekly in the Church Times, and have made their way into books and calendars, and on to mugs, tea-towels and T-shirts. This ninth collection includes, among other things: – those new church chairs – rejected designs. – some handy suggestions for the church app – a hierarchy of needs for when you get locked in the church
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All in the month of April
It was:
400 years ago, on 9th April 1626 that Francis Bacon, philosopher and politician, died. He served as Attorney General of England and Wales (1613-17) and then Lord High Chancellor of England (1617-21). Known as the ‘Father of Empiricism’, as his works influenced the scientific revolution in Europe.
125 years ago, on 3rd April 1901 that Richard D’Oyly Carte, theatrical impresario, died. He built the Savoy Theatre and the Palace Theatre in London, managed some of the most important theatrical stars of the era, and founded a touring opera company.
Also 125 years ago, on 15th April 1901 that Joe Davis, snooker and billiards player was born. He co-founded the World Snooker Championship in 1927 and won the first 15 championships.
100 years ago, on 6th April 1926 that the Revd Ian Paisley, Baron Bannside, Northern Irish politician and Protestant evangelical minister was born. Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from 1971-2008, and then First Minister of Northern Ireland in 2007-08.
Also 100 years ago, on 21st April 1926 that Queen Elizabeth II was born.
90 years ago, on 23rd April 1936 that Roy Orbison, American singer, songwriter and musician was born. Best known for Oh, Pretty Woman, Crying, Only the Lonely, and many more.
80 years ago, on 2nd April 1946 that Sue Townsend, writer and humourist, was born. Best known for her Adrian Moleseries of novels.
Also 80 years ago, on 21st April 1946 that John Maynard Keynes was born. The most influential economist of the 20thcentury, his ideas formed the basis of the Keynesian economics.
75 years ago, on 2nd April 1951 that General Dwight D Eisenhower (later US President) became NATO’s first Supreme Allied Commander. He assumed command of all Allied forces in the Western Mediterranean and Europe.
Also 75 years ago, on 17th April 1951 that the Peak District National Park was established. It was Britain’s first National Park.
70 years ago, on 18th April 1956 that American film actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III of Monaco and became Princess Grace of Monaco.
65 years ago, on 10th April 1961 that South African golfer Gary Player became the first non-American to win the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Geogia.
Also 65 years ago, on 12th April 1961 that Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space and the first person to orbit the Earth.
60 years ago, on 10th April 1966 that Evelyn Waugh died. This satirical novelist, biographer, and travel writer is best known for Decline and Fall, A Handful of Dust, Brideshead Revisited, and Sword of Honour.
50 years ago, on 3rd April 1976 that the UK won the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with Save Your Kisses for Me by Brotherhood of Man.
Also 50 years ago, on 7th April 1976 that politician John Stonehouse, who infamously had tried to fake his own death in 1974, resigned from the Labour Party, leaving the government in a minority. After his death in 1988 it was revealed that he had been a Czech spy since 1962.
40 years ago, on 11th April 1986 that Halley’s Comet made its closest approach to Earth during its most recent visit. It will return to Earth’s vicinity in 2061 and 2134.
Also 40 years ago, on 17th April 1986 that TV journalist John McCarthy was kidnapped in Beirut, Lebanon by the militant group Islamic Jihad. Released 1991.
Also 40 years ago, on 24th April 1986 that Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor and American wife of Prince Edward, formerly King Edward VIII, died.
Also 40 years ago, on 26th April 1986 that the Chernobyl disaster took place in Ukraine, then within the Soviet Union. It was the world’s worst nuclear power plant accident, killing 31 people outright, and leaking radiation across the western Soviet Union and Europe.
30 years ago, on 1st April 1996 that during the BSE (‘mad cow disease’) outbreak, the government announced that it would begin slaughtering all cattle over the age of 30 months to eradicate the disease. In the end, 80,000 cattle were slaughtered.
25 years ago, on 7th April 2001 that NASA launched its Mars Odyssey spacecraft to search for evidence of water and volcanic activity on Mars. It found water and ice below the surface.
20 years ago, on 6th April 2006 that the first case of H6N1 avian flu (bird flu) in the UK was confirmed, following tests on a dead swan found in Fife.
15 years ago, on 29th April 2011 that Prince William and Catherine (Kate) Middleton were married at Westminster Abbey in London. They were given the titles Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
10 years ago, on 20th April 2016 that Victoria Wood, comedian, actress, singer and songwriter died. Remembered for Victoria Wood as seen on TV.
Also 10 years ago, on 22nd April 2016 that the Paris Agreement on Climate Change was signed. It came into effect on 4thNovember 2016.
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Smile Lines
From a church notice-sheet
This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs Brown, our church warden, to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.
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Nice
The nice thing about becoming forgetful is that you can hide your own Easter eggs.
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Some hymns for people over 50
Give Me the Old Timers’ Religion
Precious Lord, Take My Hand, And Help Me Up
Just a Slower Walk with Thee
Go Tell It on the Mountain, But Speak Up
Nobody Knows the Trouble I Have Seeing
Guide Me O Thou Great Lord God, I’ve Forgotten Where I’ve Parked The Car
Count Your Many Birthdays, Count Them One By One
Blessed Insurance
It Is Well With My Soul, But My Knees Hurt
A schoolteacher asked her students to each bring in an object that represented their religion. The first student got up and said, “My name is Benjamin and I am Jewish and this is a Star of David.” The second student got up and said, “My name is Mary. I’m a Catholic and this is a Rosary.” The third student got up and said, “My name is Tommy. I am a Baptist, and this is a casserole.”
We’re ready to admit it;
And if Rachel Reeves keeps taxing us,
We’re pretty sure to get it.
Anon
**
Wheels
A boy was praying for a bicycle, and the vicar told him to persevere, as prayer could do anything. The following week, when the boy arrived for church on a bicycle, the vicar assured him that his prayers had been heard. The boy looked embarrassed. “Actually, I stole the bike, and now I’m here to pray for forgiveness”.
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Show and Tell
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Fake?
“The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never be sure they are genuine.” – Winston Churchill.
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Economic definitions
A recession is a period in which you tighten up your belt. A depression is a time in which you have no belt to tighten. When you have no trousers to hold up, it’s a panic.
**
Don’t delay
Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today, because by that time there will be a tax on it.
**
Cured
A Sunday School teacher asked her pupils if they could describe any of the miracles that Jesus performed. One youngster responded: “Yes, He cured people who had leopards.”
**
Polite
A New York traffic expert says that some London taxi drivers are refreshingly different – and witty – compared to those in New York. He tells the story of the London taxi driver who screeched to a halt when a tourist bolted into the road, and then stopped, looking around in confusion. Leaning out of the window the taxi driver asked very politely: “I say, sir, may I ask, what are your immediate plans?”
**
Sidesman
Sidesman to newcomer at church door: “Good morning. How far down do you wish to sit?”
Baffled newcomer: “Well, all the way, of course.”
**
Family pride
“Yes,” boasted the woman to the visiting American priest, “my family can trace its ancestry back to William the Conqueror.”
“I suppose,” said the American, “You’ll be telling me next that your ancestors were in the Ark with Noah.”
“Certainly not. My people had a bigger boat of their own.”
**
Oh dear
The middle-aged curate shuffled along, bent over at the waist, as his wife helped him into the doctor’s waiting room. He groaned at every step, and the receptionist eyed the scene with sympathy. “Arthritis in the back with complications?” she finally ventured.
The wife shook her head briskly. “Do-it-yourself in the garden,” she replied, “with concrete blocks.”
**
Stargazing
I can see how astronomers figure out the distance of the stars and their size and temperatures and all that. What really gets me is how they find out what their names are!
**
When you mix children and religion…
You get some unexpected gems. The following are extracts from religious exam papers…
In the first book of the Bible, Guinesses, God got tired of creating the world, so He took the Sabbath off.
Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree. Noah’s wife was Joan of Ark because Noah built an ark. The animals came on in pears.
The Jews are a proud people and throughout history they’ve had trouble with unsympathetic genitals.
Moses led the Jews to the Red Sea where they made unleavened bread which is bread without any ingredients.
The Seventh Commandment is: Thou shalt not admit adultery.
Moses died before he ever reached Canada.
Solomon, one of David’s sons, had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.
Jesus enunciated the golden rule, which says do unto others before they do one to you. He also explained a man doth not live by sweat alone.
It was a miracle when Jesus rose from the dead and managed to get the tombstone off the entrance.
The people who followed the Lord were called the twelve decibels.
St Paul cavorted to Christianity down the Damascus Road. There he preached holy acrimony, which is another name for marriage.
**
Jesus’ granny
The little boy came home from his first day at Sunday School and casually told his mother that his Sunday school teacher was Jesus’ granny. Astonished, his mother asked: “Whatever makes you think that?”
“Well, it’s pretty obvious,” said her son. “She never stopped talking about Him all morning. She told us Jesus is smarter and stronger and better-behaved than anyone else she knows. She even showed us a picture of Him.”
**
Show of hands
The Sunday School teacher asked her class: “When you die and go to Heaven…which part of you goes?”
Young Suzy ventured: “I think our hands go, whatever else.” Startled, the teacher asked why. Suzy replied, “Because when you pray, you hold your hands together in front of you and so when God comes to get you, He’ll just naturally grab those first.”
**
Speeding
A speeding motorist was caught by radar from a police helicopter in the sky. An officer pulled him over and began to issue a traffic ticket. “How did you know I was speeding?” the frustrated driver asked.
The police officer pointed soberly toward the sky. “You mean,” asked the motorist, in awed confusion, “that now even God has installed speed cameras?”
**
Little
We want but little here below,
**
Miscellaneous observations on life…
My mouth doesn’t seem to have a backspace key.
Behind every successful man is a surprised mother-in-law.
Tax collector: a person who has what it takes to take what you have.
It’s nice to see people with plenty of get-up-and-go, especially if some of them are visiting you.
“Most cars on our roads have only one occupant, usually the driver.” (Carol Malia, BBC Anchorwoman)
When I was a kid and getting put to bed at 9pm, I couldn’t wait until I was a grown-up and could stay up until whatever time I wanted. That time is, apparently, 9pm.
Every evening, I turn my troubles over to God. Why not? He’s going to be up all night anyway.
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The views expressed in this magazine are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of St Mary's, it's clergy, the Church of England
or the Editors.