The Team Rector Writes . . .

 Easter is early this year. That is  patently obvious if you've looked at you calendar. For some that's good, and for others not so good. But Easter itself is a strange old festival. A classic example of Christianity taking over something it found in place in pagan culture and 'Christianizing' it. Not throwing it away, but giving it a Christian overlay and purpose. Using it to convey the Christian message.

The very word “Easter” comes from the name of a pagan 'goddess', and the spring-time was the time that pagans celebrated her festivals. But this time of year is also very much a Christian time.

We don't know when Jesus was born. We can't even be completely sure of the year, let alone the date. Maybe it was December, and maybe some other month, but Christians choose the celebrate  Jesus' birth in either December (in the West) or January (in the East). Christmas is a kind of 'official' birthday, if you like.

But we do know at what time of year Jesus died on the cross, and therefore we also know that His  resurrection took place in the spring.

Yet often people seem to get confused about what exactly we are celebrating at Easter time. We get it all mangled up with eggs and chocolate and “Easter bunnies”. Most of that is a throw-back to the pagan festivals – the goddess who gave us the name “Easter” had as her messenger the hare – which is probably where the 'bunny' comes from.

Lest you think I am about to pour cold water on people's enjoyment, please don't get the wrong idea; I like chocolate as much as the next man, (or maybe more). But Easter as a Christian festival is the celebration that Jesus came to earth with a mission to fulfil. The plan was that He would set us free from the effects of sin and pay the penalty of all the wrong that we have done. He did that on the cross of Calvery. His death set us free, and His resurrection showed that all He had claimed for Himself was true and that God had accepted His sacrifice.

It seems to me that that gives us a much better reason to celebrate than an imaginary goddess and a bit of hare-brained paganism!

 

Ash Wednesday 

On Ash Wednesday people from across the Shirwell Team gathered in St. Peters for Holy Communion.

Following the service and a Bring and Share Supper, those present returned to their pews for a talk by Gerald Gotzen. Gerald gave a very interesting talk, illustrated by a video, giving a very different angle on the people of Ethiopia, a country where thousands are turning to Christianity. 

During the harsh period of Communist persecution 20,000 Christians were sent to prison. They were under strong pressure to renounce their faith. Kadessa was one of these. He was beaten again and again, but still he went on believing. In the end they put him in front of a firing squad. Each man was ordered to fire one shot. Quite inexplicably every shot missed him - something almost impossible. Seeing this, the officer in charge  refused to repeat the action. Later he himself became a Christian. He concluded there was 'Nothing in this materialism'. 

Since the fall of Communism all the churches have grown and grown. Of the 70 million population, 11 million are now Christians and that figure is growing all the time. As many as 3000 can be seen worshipping in some churches. Most of those attending are in their teens and twenties. They have a great shortage of Bibles. Young people respect their elders and there is no vandalism. 

When Gerald was in Ethiopia he  experienced the power of their prayer. While out there he suffered a mild stroke and which prevented him from speaking. He received wonderful treatment in their hospital and many were praying for him. One evening two young children visited him. They sat on his bed and asked if they could pray for him. They put their fingers on his lips and asked that he might be able to speak again. In the middle of that same night Gerald dreamt he was singing a well-known chorus. He woke up and found he could speak again! Prayer really can work!

 

Police Surgery

WPC Dawn Bailey, the Beat Manager for Bratton Fleming  will be holding a Monthly Police Surgery on Wednesday evenings, prior to the Parish Council meetings.

If you have anything that you would like to discuss with Dawn, in total confidence, drop in to the Village Hall between 6.30pm—7pm.

Dawn can also be contacted on 08452 777 444 

 

Annual Meetings

The annual Vestry Meeting, for the election of churchwardens, will be held in St. Peters on Thursday 17 March at 7pm. 

This meeting will be followed by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, for the election of the Church Council and Deanery Synod representatives.

The Annual Church Report should be available at the beginning of the month, which will include the Minutes of last year’s meeting, financial report, and reports from various bodies within the Church.

If you would like to be elected to the post of churchwarden, Synod representative or Church Councillor, do come along to the meeting.

 

Daffodil Tea

This year’s annual Daffodil Tea will be held in St. Peters on Saturday 5 March, from 2.30pm.

At the time of writing the daffodils in the churchyard are beginning to bloom, so hopefully, weather permitting, the churchyard will again be a carpet of yellow by the time of the Tea.

 

Farmers Markets

This month’s Farmers Market will be held on Saturday 26 March, in the Village Hall 9.30am - 12 noon.

Forthcoming markets will be held on:   23 April; 28 May; 25 June; 23 July; 27 August;  24 September; 22 October and  26 November.

 

This Month’s Services

With Easter fast approaching, several special services will be taking place, both in Bratton Fleming and throughout the Team.

Before that however, Mothering Sunday falls on 6 March, when there will be a special All-Age Service, to which mothers are specially invited. 

On Maundy Thursday the popular Agape Supper will take place at Shirwell Village Hall, at 6pm. 

Good Friday sees two very different services. At 12 noon a quiet service of ’An Hour at The Cross’ will be at Kentisbury. This will be followed at 2pm by “The Cross”, at Arlington. It is at this service, suitable for all ages, that a cross will be carried to the church, where a service will be held. 

On Easter Day, Holy Communion will be at the normal time of 7.30pm.

Holiday Tokens

On behalf of our Deanery Mothers’ Union—many thanks to all you kind people who collected tokens from their newspapers during January—and handed or posted them to me, to forward on.

Ann Hall

  

Devonshire Evening Recipe

Teddy Cakes

Ingredients:

5 or 6 medium sized potatoes

4 heaped tablespoons Gran. Sugar

4 heaped tablespoons Atora Suet

4 or 5 ozs Raisins or Sultanas

8—10 ozs Self Raising Flour

1 egg

Pinch of salt

 

Method:

Boil the potatoes & mash until there are no lumps.

Add the hot mashed potato to the   remaining ingredients and mix  together until a scone like mixture. Knead for a short time, then roll out to about 1/4”.  Cut with a round cutter and fry, preferably in lard, until browned on both sides.  Serve hot.  Alternatively, the mixture can form a baked teddy cake and instead of frying, put into a Pyrex dish, smooth the top and make square marks on the top and bake in an oven about 325—350 for 1 1/2—2 hours. 

 

 

Italian Safari Supper

Following the huge success of the last two Safari Suppers, another will be taking place this month. 

In the past we have had an Indian and an English Supper, so this time the event will take on an Italian theme. 

Tickets for the Supper, which will start at 7.30pm on 12 March, are now available— £10.00 each, from Nan.

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