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WINTER 2015/16
Internet site: www.stjamesthegreater.org.uk
Church Office email address: office@stjamesthegreater.org.uk
SUNDAY WORSHIP 8.30 am Holy Communion 10.30 am Choral Eucharist
6.30 pm Choral Evensong & Sermon
A CHILDREN'S SUNDAY CLUB
in the Church Hall in school term time starting off in church at 10.30 am
MIDWEEK HOLY COMMUNION
8.15am Tuesdays 10.15 am Thursdays
See Calendar for variations and details of services on saints' days
MINISTRY TEAM Vicar
Canon Glynn Richerby BD AKC
St James the Greater Vicarage 216 London Road
Leicester LE2 1NE
0116 254 4113
Associate Non-Stipendiary Priest
Revd Jane Sharp
0116 270 6002
Honorary Associate Priests
Revd David Clark BA Canon Henry Evans MA
0116 255 8988 0116 270 0954
Very Revd Dr Derek Hole Hon LLD Hon DLitt
0116 270 9988
Readers
Mr David Brunning MA Mr Anthony Green BA
0116 241 8742 0776 970 2272
Dr Angela Jagger PhD BA Mr John Raven MA
0116 271 9185 0116 270 7591
Pastoral Assistant Sacristan
Miss Vicky Roe BPhil.Ed MA Mrs Janet Burton
0116 255 2108 0751 035 3097
In this Winter 2015/16 issue …
SERVICE TIMES & MINISTRY TEAM ………………...….…… see inside cover
THE VICAR on Messiah for Advent & Lent ………………………....……...… 4
PROFILE of William Simpey – in demand from the NHS…………….……..... 6
YEAR OF ST LUKE – an overview …..............................................................….… 8
TOYS ON THE TABLE – a special Christmas appeal ………........…….…… 10
CALENDAR OF SERVICES & EVENTS
– in Advent, Christmas, Epiphany
& into an early Lent ……… see centre pages
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The Packham family a year on ………….……. 15
SINGING … in a strange land – Anna Richerby from South Africa ……..… 16
WHOSE GOSPEL? Glynn Richerby is asked ……………………………….. 18
A TREE FOR MARTIN HARGER – an invitation to the planting …….……. 21
OBITUARY – Margaret Judd …………………………………………..…… 22
COMMEMORATIVE FLOWERS ………………………...…….....…….…… 23
WHAT’S ON & WHO’S WHO ……………….……...……….. see back cover
Copy for the SPRING 2016 edition of the Quarterly
should reach the Vicar by Friday, 1 February 2016
please send as Word Document (*.doc) to g,richerby@ntlworld.com
YOUR QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTOR IS:
…………………………………………………….. TEL’ ………………...….
………………………...
4
The Vicar writes …
HANDEL’S MESSIAH has fired me to attempt the longest sermon series I’ve
ever preached! – 4 sermons before Christmas and then continuing in 2016
with a further 9 sermons from the first Sunday of Lent until Easter Day.
That’s nothing compared to the example of John Newton – slave ship captain
turned clergyman – who preached and published 50 sermons on the text of
the Messiah in the 18th century.
Leading up to Christmas, with a slight change to the usual sequence of things
at services of Evensong, I shall offer a reflection before the choir sing a chorus
from part one of Messiah relating to prophecy about the coming of Christ.
Once we’re into Lent – early next year starting in mid-February – there will
be the opportunity of mid-week sessions for group study of texts from
Messiah followed by singing practice of the musical settings. This will be in
readiness to join the choir for a come and sing the following Sunday.
Words then music For many people Messiah is about good tunes, rousing choruses and haunting
solos, rather than the words. We tend take familiar words for granted, no
matter what their pedigree. But on these Sunday evenings the tables are
turned, because there is to be attention to the words first, and then to the
music.
It was not George Frederick Handel, but one Charles Jennens who was responsible for the words of the Messiah. Jennens was a Leicestershire man. He came from Twyford where he was known as Squire Jennens. Apparently he was a wealthy eccentric with a taste for literature. His job in compiling the libretto was not to be a creative writer, but to assemble texts from the King James’s Bible – the so-called Authorised Version – and the Coverdale translation of the Psalms as we have them in the Book of Common Prayer.
The first parish performance of the Messiah was in our county – at Church Langton. So that’s a further good local connection.
5
SACRED ORATORIOS – including Messiah – were originally written not for
churchgoers but as an alternative to the opera, which was forbidden in Lent!
But as the popularity of opera waned, oratorios were preferred by the public.
There grew up – especially in northern industrial cities – a tradition of great
choral societies to perform these works.
‘Come and sing Messiah’ has been a popular development in recent years –
usually a rehearsal for the inside of a day followed by a scratch performance –
in the spirit of this being the music and devotion of the people.
There has been a custom at St James’s for some years now of the Hallelujah
Chorus being sung as part of our Easter morning service – with members of
the congregation joining the choir for an exuberant rendering. Such an
opportunity is being extended from Lent until Easter for everyone who wishes
to join our trained choirs to sing one chorus at a time from parts two and
three of Messiah with their themes of the Passion and resurrection of Christ.
It will be good to give sustained attention to much more of Messiah and to
conclude on the evening of Easter Day with a superb solo rendering of ‘The
Trumpet Shall Sound’ and a full general chorus of ‘Worthy is the Lamb’.
May we all – at the
culmination of this
sustained appreciation
of inspirational words
and music – come to
identify with George
Frederick Handel who,
on completing his
composing of Messiah,
exclaimed:
“I did think
I did see all
heaven
before me
and the
Great God
Himself.”
6
Profile
WILLIAM SIMPEY qualified as a nurse in
England in 1977. He has been on the staff
of the Leicester Royal infirmary since
2007 – working in Accident and
Emergency but more recently in the
Walk-in Centre since its inception. With
a high proportion of his shifts being
overnight, it is not unusual for William to
come off duty after a twelve hour shift on
a Sunday morning at 8.00 am and go
straight to the 8.30 am service of Holy
Communion at St James the Greater.
Reluctantly, William retired from full time
nursing more than a year ago. “The stress
was too much and beginning to affect my health.”
The main problem for nurses at the sharp end of nursing, says William, is “too
little time allocated to spend with patients” – especially if they present
symptoms of acute anxiety or depression. “There’s no time to sit and talk for
long enough for them to feel they’re being properly cared for.” There is the
added pressure of interruptions to respond to ‘Red Calls’ – cardiac arrests or
other emergencies.
Underlying this constant pressure and stress is a shortage of staff. In practice,
William feels compelled to continue to work at least two shifts a week. He is
among those in a ‘bank’ of retired or part-time nurses that the hospital uses
to fill gaps in the workforce. This avoids resorting to private agencies which
supply nurses for high rates of fees and pay. William feels better able to do his
work on a part time basis partly because he can properly rest between shifts.
Also he can resist the pressure to cut short attention to particular patients –
knowing that management cannot so readily impose time limits on him.
When asked what the satisfaction can still be in nursing his face lights up and
he says: “It is so simple – you give the best of your attention to a patient and
when they say ‘thank you’ you can tell it is from the bottom of their heart.”
But unfortunately that is by no means always the case. “Others seek faults in
their treatment so that ‘thank you’ is far from their thoughts. Sadly, some are
never satisfied – whatever you do for them.”
7
William grew up in Ghana. He responded to an appeal through the British
High Commission to emigrate to Britain to train as a nurse. He arrived in
1972 to what seemed to him to be “a land of freedom and opportunity”.
On qualifying, he moved to Leicester and to his first post at the City General
Hospital. After trying a few churches, he “fell in love” with St James’s from the
day of his first visit. He experienced a warm welcome, knew the traditional
hymns which he had grown up with in Ghana and “felt the command” of
Derek Hole’s preaching. He laughs at remembering being “under some
pressure” from Tim Lees to join the choir. The variability of his shifts made
this impractical. But he felt “strongly affirmed” by the invitation.
William’s late mother also worshipped at St James’s – as have both of his
brothers on occasional visits to Leicester. Married at St James’s in 1990,
William and Sandra have two children – Joanne and Joshua. Joanne’s baby
daughter Evie – William’s grand daughter – was baptised at St James’s in 2012.
Josh is due to graduate in biological sciences and pharmacology at Nottingham
University at the end of this academic year.
The Ghanaian ex pat community in Leicester is quite large. In addition to over
1000 residents, Ghanaian students come to study at the two universities.
William has been pleased at the welcome given to fellow Ghanaians at St
James’s – whom he invites to meals at his own home. Most recently he made
friends with Immanuel and Comfort Arhim – who have since returned to
Ghana after Immanuel gained a PhD in geology and is now teaching and
researching at a university back home. Being so long established in Leicester,
William is looked to by his fellow Ghanaians for leadership – especially with
the idea of renewing a Ghanaian Association in the region to support each
other as well as students from Ghana coping with their first time in a foreign
land. William points out that most Ghanaians now living in Leicester tend to
gravitate to Pentecostal congregations with a strong Ghanaian identity.
William belongs to a Bible study group aligned to one of these congregations.
William has made return visits to Ghana over the years, but now has only a
sister remaining there. He says his use of Ghanaian languages (there are many)
is “getting rusty” and that “my mispronunciations cause laughter”.
Since going part-time in nursing, William has felt “more religious”. He has a
stronger motivation to care for others through his work and is more relaxed
about letting his faith be recognised and responded to by patients. With the
onset of winter, the NHS is going to depend more heavily on the motivation
of dedicated nurses like William. We honour him and uphold him with prayer.
8
Year of St Luke
FROM ADVENT SUNDAY we turn to Year C of the Revised Common
Lectionary – a three year cycle of Bible readings used by major Christian
denominations – including Roman Catholic, Methodist, United Reformed
Church as well as the Church of England.
Each year of the cycle focuses our attention on one of the ‘Synoptic’ Gospels
– Matthew, Mark and Luke (syn-optic means ‘viewed together’). St John’s
Gospel is explored at intervals throughout all three years. Each Gospel has
particular themes and emphases.
Who was St Luke?
All the earliest traditions agree that the author was Luke
– “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4.14) – who
accompanied St Paul on his missionary journeys. His
Gospel is the first of a two-book set. The Book of Acts
is the companion volume. His aim was to write an
account of the life of Jesus and of the early church that
was historically accurate and that communicated with
non-Jewish readers. Luke was himself a Gentile.
Through the year with St Luke’s Gospel
On the first Sunday of Advent there is a reading from Chapter 21 presenting
Jesus using apocalyptic language as the 'Son of Man'.
At Christmas we shall read about the Shepherds (from the only Gospel to
record them). Also in Luke's Gospel and inspired by the Christmas story are
three well-known canticles; the Benedictus (Blessed be the Lord God of
Israel…), the Magnificat (My soul doth magnify the Lord…) and the Nunc
Dimittis (Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace…).
After Epiphany, in January and February, we follow Jesus through his public
ministry in Galilee, starting with his visit to the synagogue in Nazareth where
he reads from Isaiah about the year of the Lord:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has sent me to preach good
news to the poor’.
Jesus then tells the people that
‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing'.
Following a break in reading after Lent due to the great festivals of Easter and
Whitsun, we return from the last Sunday of May to hear of Jesus' ministry
with his disciples up to the time of Peter's confession of faith. This account is
9
covered in chapters 5 to 9. But the major part of the gospel in chapters 10 to
19 describes Jesus' journey from Galilee to Jerusalem.
These chapters contain some of the most
beloved parables of Jesus' ministry – the
Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, the
Unjust Judge and the Pharisee and the
Tax Collector – and many others that are
not contained in the other Gospels.
Luke’s Gospel emphasises the importance
of prayer. It is one of the two Gospels
that records the Lord's Prayer and there
is important teaching about prayer in
chapter11 as well as examples of Jesus'
prayers in chapters 10 and 22.
Luke explains the universal mission of Jesus by
reference to the despised Samaritans,
indicating that women have a place of
importance among the followers of Jesus and
by promising the Gentiles would have an
opportunity to accept the Gospel.
The Christian year culminates with another
story unique to Luke, that of the repentant
robber who is crucified with our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Universal King.
These Gospel readings are supplemented by
related readings from the Old Testament and
by New Testament.
May our journey through a new Christian
Year be inspired by Luke whose Gospel
enables us to keep company with Jesus as he
travels from Galilee to suffering and glory in
Jerusalem. The thrilling story of the early
Church then unfolds from Pentecost as Luke
tells in the Acts of the Apostles of the spread
of Christianity throughout the Mediterranean
world and beyond.
10
Toys on the Table – Special Christmas Appeal PLEASE BRING new toys to services on Sunday, 6 December – for
children in Leicester and Leicestershire who might not otherwise receive gifts
at Christmas.
The need this year is as great as ever – especially for gifts suitable for toddlers
under the age of two and for teenage boys. Early play toys specifically
intended for toddlers would be highly appreciated. CDs and computer games
may seem a good idea for teenage boys, but they may not have the necessary
hardware to make use of them. Their needs are best catered for with
stationery, wallets and gift sets for personal hygiene.
Please note that gifts should NOT be wrapped.
Cash donations are also extremely useful – not least that among unavoidable
overheads is payment of a premium by the charity for public liability insurance.
Also some available cash makes it possible for the charity to purchase well-
aimed gifts for the age groups where insufficient presents are donated.
Calendar of Services & Events
NOVEMBER
29 Sunday FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant & Preacher: Jane Sharp
18.30 Advent Procession – from darkness to light
DECEMBER
1 Tuesday Charles de Foucauld, hermit, 1916
08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
3 Thursday Francis Xavier, missionary, 1552
10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp
14.30 At Home with Hilary Simpson at 24 Holmfield Road
5 Saturday 19.30 Leicester University Chamber Choir Concert
6 Sunday SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
08.30 Holy Communion(BCP) Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
10.30 Sung Eucharist with Toys on the Table Appeal
Celebrant: Derek Hole Preacher: Glynn Richerby
18.30 Evensong Preacher: Glynn Richerby
in a series on Messiah
11
DECEMBER continued
8 Tuesday Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
19.00 Rainbows Hospice Carol Concert
9 Wednesday 19.00 Leicester High School Carol Service
10 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
11 Friday 19.30 Leicester Theological Society at Holy Cross Centre,
Wellington Street
Dr John Young, Trustee, St Philip's Centre
Radical Orthodoxy 14th century style: Piers Plowman
12 Saturday Lucy, martyr 304 Samuel Johnson, moralist, 1784
19.30 Leicester Chorale Concert
13 Sunday THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
Preacher: Angela Jagger
15.30 Radio Leicester Carol Service admission by ticket
18.30 Evensong Preacher: Glynn Richerby
in a series on Messiah
15 Tuesday 08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
17 Thursday O Sapientia Eglantine Jebb, founder of Save the Children, 1928
10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp
14.30 Stoneygate School Carol Service
19.30 Leicester Philharmonic Choir Concert
19 Saturday 19.30 City of Leicester Singers Concert
20 Sunday FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant & Preacher: Glynn Richerby
18.30 Festival Service of Nine Lessons & Carols
22 Tuesday 08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
19.30 New Leicester Youth Chorus Concert
23 Wednesday 11.00 Christingle-making in the Vicarage
24 Thursday CHRISTMAS EVE
18.30 Christingle Service
23.30 Midnight Mass
Celebrant & Preacher:
Glynn Richerby
12
DECEMBER continued
25 Friday CHRISTMAS DAY
08.30 Holy Communion (BCP) Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
10.30 Family Service led by Glynn Richerby
11.45 Holy Communion (shortened)
Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
27 Sunday ST JOHN APOSTLE & EVANGELIST
08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
10.30 Eucharist with carols Celebrant :Glynn Richerby
18.30 Evening Prayer with carols
29 Tuesday Thomas Becket, archbishop, martyr, 1170
08.15 NO SERVICE
31 Thursday John Wyclif, reformer, 1384
10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: David Clark
JANUARY 2015
3 Sunday EPIPHANY SUNDAY
08.30 Holy Communion (BCP) Celebrant: David Clark
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant & Preacher: Derek Hole
18.30 Evensong Preacher: John Raven
5 Tuesday 08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
6 Wednesday Epiphany
7 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
8 Friday 19.30 Leicester Theological Society at Holy Cross Centre,
Wellington Street
Dr Angela Jagger, President, Leicester Theological Society
Why is religion controversial?
10 Sunday THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST
08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
Preacher: David Brunning
18.30 Epiphany Carol Service
12 Tuesday Aelred, abbot,1167 Benedict Biscop, scholar, 689
08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
19.45 Standing Committee in the Vicarage
14 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
13
JANUARY continued
17 Sunday SECOND SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY
08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant & Preacher: Glynn Richerby
18.30 Evensong Preacher: David Clark
18 Monday Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins
19 Tuesday Wulfstan, bishop,1095
08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
21 Thursday Agnes, child martyr, 304
10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp
23 Saturday 10.00 Come & Sing with the Bach Choir followed by Concert
24 Sunday THIRD SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY Septuagesima
08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Derek Hole
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
Preacher: Anthony Green
Anticipating the Conversion of St Paul
18.30 Evensong Preacher: Glynn Richerby
26 Tuesday Timothy and Titus, companions of Paul
08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
19.45 Parochial Church Council
28 Thursday Thomas Aquinas, priest, philosopher, teacher of the faith, 1274
10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
31 Sunday CANDLEMAS SUNDAY Sexagesima
08.30 Holy Communion (BCP) Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
Preacher: Jane Sharp
18.30 Candlemas Service
FEBRUARY
2 Tuesday Presentation of Christ in the Temple
08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
4 Thursday Gilbert, founder of the Gilbertine Order, 1189
10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp
14.30 At Home with Hilary Simpson at 24 Holmfield Road
7 Sunday SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE LENT Quinquagesima
08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: David Clark
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
Preacher: Derek Hole
18.30 Choral Evensong Preacher: Glynn Richerby
14
FEBRUARY continued
9 Shrove Tuesday
08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
10 Ash 19.30 Liturgy for the start of Lent
Wednesday Celebrant & Preacher: Glynn Richerby
11 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
12 Friday 19.30 Leicester Theological Society at Holy Cross Centre,
Wellington Street
Dr Ann Conway-Jones, University of Birmingham
Moses and the life of prayer
14 Sunday FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
Preacher: Angela Jagger
in a Lent series on Jesus : “Who do people say I am?”
18.30 Choral Evensong Preacher: Glynn Richerby
in a Lent series on Messiah
16 Tuesday 08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
18 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
21 Sunday SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Derek Hole
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: David Clark
Preacher: John Raven
in a Lent series on Jesus: “Who do people say I am?”
18.30 Choral Evensong Preacher: Glynn Richerby
in a Lent series on Messiah
23 Tuesday Polycarp, bishop, martyr, c.155
08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
19.45 Standing Committee in the Vicarage
25 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp
28 Sunday THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
Preacher: David Brunning
in a Lent series on Jesus: “Who do people say I am?”
18.30 Choral Evensong Preacher: Glynn Richerby
in a Lent series on Messiah
15
Where are they now?
A YEAR AGO, on Advent Sunday, we bade a sad farewell to Kath, Andy and Oliver
Packham. Kath had been at St James’s since her medical student days. Andy
transferred his allegiance to our church after their marriage at St James’s in 2007.
Their son Oliver had a fan club among the congregation following his first
appearance at church on the Sunday after he was born in 2013.
Andy and Kath had become leading members of our church and so we still very
much feel the loss of them from our life together. Our loss is Rothley’s gain:
Andrew and Kath Packham
moved from Oadby to
Rothley in 2013 after
Andrew took up a
permanent post as a
consultant anaesthetist at
Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Oliver arrived in October
of that year and is now a
hale and hearty two year
old.
Much of 2014 was taken up with renovations and extensions to the ‘new’
house. This meant time away from Leicester for Kath and Oliver during the
pivotal phase when there was no water, heating, bathroom, kitchen …you get
the idea!
2015 has been a year of consolidation, settling into the village and the parish
church. Andrew is part of a home group and breaks out his guitar to lead
monthly worship nights there. Kath and Oliver have enjoyed the weekday
parents and tots’ group and meeting other families in the village. University
friends and Godparents Chris and Caroline Williams (also of St James’) live a
short walk away in Thurcaston.
Oliver enjoys three days a week at nursery where he plays with all the toys
and eats all sorts of foods that he would never dream of touching at home.
Kath currently splits her time as a Public Health doctor between Leicester
City Council and one of the Clinical Commissioning Groups.
Andrew and Oliver spend much of their spare time down the road at the
station, admiring the big and little trains of the Great Central Railway.
16
Singing … in a strange land Anna Richerby writes from South Africa
AFTER A THREE YEAR ABSENCE,
I have begun attending church
again. Church is important to me
for so many reasons, not least of
which the fact that the act of
singing, and of moving my body
with the rhythm of that singing,
triggers the part of my brain that
designs new beadwork.
Now, please don’t worry, this is definitely not an evangelical post. I run a
lovely, secular company, which welcomes people of all faiths and none.
Despite being a priest’s daughter, religion often makes me acutely
uncomfortable, and I rarely speak openly about my own church experience.
But something happened today that I felt compelled to write about.
There is a list of hymn numbers on the wall of our church, like there is in
many others. It’s a beautiful carved wooden board, into which numbers are
slotted each week to guide the congregants’ fingers through their hymn
books. But unlike many churches, that board is deceptive. It is true that we
will probably sing the hymns listed there, but most of the music that will rise
from that room isn’t listed on the board.
Sometimes there will be a moment between speakers and a chorus will be
necessary. A strong woman will have just stood to speak and we will sing
‘Watinti bafazi, watinti mbokodo’ (‘If you strike a woman, you strike a rock’).
At another time, a speaker will drive a sense of optimism in the congregation
and we will sing ‘On your marks, get set, we are ready for Jerusalem’.
Sometimes, it is not choruses, but entire hymns that will rise spontaneously
from those assembled. I always marvel at this; beloved hymns sung from the
heart and from memory, no need for books. For me, as a beginner isiXhosa
speaker, this is a challenge. But I have perfected a technique. I sing half a
second behind everyone else. Sometimes a cantor will preempt the lines and I
can take my queue from her, but otherwise I listen carefully to my neighbours
and wing it. In this way language becomes pure mimicry. I am engaging a
different part of my brain, bypassing analysis or semantics and simply letting
17
what comes into my ears flow quickly through my mouth. That switching off is
probably the closest I have come to meditation.
Today, after a beautiful sermon – where we were encouraged to become
‘Water Walkers’, to follow Peter in stepping off our boats and walking on
water, when we were told that we must get our feet wet in the world, not
stay in the safe dry ease of our boats – such a heartfelt hymn arose. The
congregation stayed seated, and I let the words flow through my ears and out
of my mouth.
Suddenly there was a noise. There are not words in English sufficient to
describe it. A woman wailed with such a depth and ferocity that it felt like
shock waves travelled through us all. The sadness of that cry, the sheer pain
and grief contained within it, like that of Nomonde Goniwe at the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission [see below], will stay with me for the rest of my
life. Her neighbour held her for a long time, and we continued to sing our
hymn, though now with a note of lament that it had lacked before.
Professor Kondlo, recounting the cry of Nomonde Goniwe during her
testimony at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, quoted in
Country Of My Skull by Antjie Krog:
‘For me, this crying is the beginning of the
Truth Commission – the signature tune,
the definitive moment, the ultimate sound
of what the process is about. She was
wearing this vivid orange-red dress, and she
threw herself backwards and that sound…
that sound… it will haunt me for ever and
ever.’
‘It’s significant that she began to cry when
she remembered how Nyameka Goniwe
was crying when she arrived at the
Goniwe’s house. The academics say pain
destroys language and this brings about an
immediate reversion to a pre-linguistic
state – and to witness that cry was to
witness the destruction of language… was
to realize that to remember the past of this
country is to be thrown back into a time
before language.’
18
Whose gospel? Glynn Richerby is asked
I WAS ASTONISHED to receive the following email – quite out of the blue:
Dear Sir,
Some months ago, it was mentioned to me that the people at St
James only accepted the Gospels, presumably ignoring the rest of
the bible. As an attendee of another church, I would be
interested to know which parts of the bible St James the Greater
adhere to?
With Regards from Richard Hall
(He’s someone unknown to me.) I replied:
Dear Mr Hall
What a curious enquiry! I should be interested to know by what
route such misinformation reached you.
Readings of the Bible in services at St James the Greater are
governed by a Lectionary authorized by the Church of England (but
also common to other major denominations) which ensure a
systematic attention to the whole of the Bible over a three year
cycle.
For their private Bible study, members of the congregation are
encouraged to make use of study notes published by the Bible
Society.
I hope this puts your mind at rest.
Best wishes ...
So what was that all about?
Sometimes it happens that a keen member of a particular church is suspicious
about what goes on in other churches. From time to time it reaches my ears
that such a keen Christian has asked whether or not the ‘The Gospel’ is
preached here at St James’s.
I first came across this sort of thing more than 40 years ago at King’s College,
London where Sue – later to become my wife – and I were studying theology.
It was a college with a strong Christian foundation led by an ordained dean.
A great chapel was and is at the heart of the College, and well attended daily
services held there. All this cut no ice with some ardent members of a
university student society named The Christian Union. In fact a student
reading theology would have had a hard time gaining membership of the
Christian Union – which seemed to regard theology and even Anglican
services held in the Chapel as the work of the devil! One member of the
Christian Union actually had the effrontery to ask Sue if the Dean was a
Christian!
19
Such questioning as to whether a clearly ordained person is a true Christian
or whether the true Gospel is preached at another church relate back to
disputes at various times in history that have led to Christians separating from
others whom they regard as heretics, the forming of different denominations
and separatist sects that have led to Christian disunity. I would like to think
that times have changed, that Christians of all shades nowadays accept each
other if not lovingly then at least with grudging respect.
But the email I received so very recently suggests that the old suspicions
linger on. It is still possible to encounter among Christians today self righteous
types who give religion a bad name – especially if attitudes harden into the
kind of bigotry and sectarianism that makes religion such a dangerous factor in
the breakdown of families and communities and ultimately giving rise to wars
of religion.
And yet, that email wasn’t overtly hostile. It could be taken at face value as a
genuine enquiry. And I hope I replied in a courteous but firm rebuttal of a
misleading rumour. But what could have given rise to it?
What parts of the Bible are given prominence in our services and in the
preaching and teaching of this church? My factual answer about Bible readings
selected not on our own whim but according to a lectionary is important.
As a church, we do not pick and choose the bits we like and ignore the rest.
But there are choices to make – especially at services of Holy Communion,
where provision is made for a reading from one of the four gospels plus one
or two other readings. The custom of this church is to have only one reading
that is offered by the compliers of the lectionary to relate to the gospel
reading – most usually from the Old Testament. The option of an additional
reading is very often from one of St Paul’s letters’ read in consecutive
instalments week by week, which we do tend to avoid – if only because that
particular week’s passage from St Paul would most likely not connect with the
passage from the gospel and the other reading related to it.
Does that matter? Well yes it does – depending on the importance you attach
to the writings of St Paul, whose wonderful conversion we celebrate on 25
January.
Evangelical Christianity tends to preach a gospel according to St Paul. My wife,
growing up in an evangelical Baptist church, cannot recall ever – not once –
hearing a sermon arising from the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John!
Now isn’t that amazing? Her minister always chose a passage from St Paul to
preach on.
20
I have gone the other way and only rarely preach from St Paul – a blindspot
which you need to be aware of as the years roll by of yours truly being Vicar
of St James’s and which may possibly have
caused the rumour which led to that email. It
has been my overriding concern to recover a
sense of the historical Jesus, to grasp his
teaching, and promote his example – to
encourage people to imitate Christ in their own
lives. Therefore my preaching and teaching does
tend to major on the four gospels.
I’ve discussed this difference of emphasis with evangelical friends who’ve said
to me that it’s an evangelical dictum that Matthew, Mark, Luke and to some
extent John are “the milk” of the Gospel whereas St Paul is “the meat” of the
Gospel. I cannot agree with that. It’s a clear reason for me not being an
evangelical – for the apparently perverse reason that I want to give priority to
‘the evangelists’ – the writers of the four gospels!
Curiously, Paul himself never refers directly to the teaching of Jesus except
once – when he quotes the Lord saying “it is more blessed to give than to
receive”. Now Jesus may have said that, but it’s in none of the four gospels!
Jesus had said that it was on Peter’s ministry that he would build his church,
but we’re rather left with the impression that it was on Paul that the church
was built. Paul himself criticised the rivalry that groupings of early Christians
evidently went in for – some saying they were for Peter and some for Paul –
and does so especially in the first of two letters he wrote to the infant church
in Corinth.
But again it was Paul’s prolific letter writing that set him apart from the other
apostles – who directly wrote nothing that has come down to us. In all, 13 of
the 27 books included in the New Testament – and much more than half in
volume – are attributed to Paul. Therefore, Christians who are especially
concerned to be Bible-based are bound to pay a lot of attention to Paul simply
because there’s so much to go on, and so much that is directly concerned with
the practicalities of organised church life and the formation of a Christian – or
rather a Pauline – mindset. But this, I think, can have a distorting effect.
So at St James the Greater, let’s give thanks to God for St Paul. But let’s not
give him the final word on everything. We have a gospel to proclaim of Jesus –
who is the first and last word on everything as told by Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John.
21
A tree for Martin Martin Harger’s brother Robin writes …
AFTER MUCH THOUGHT, as Martin had not
made any wishes known to us, brother
Matthew and I decided to add his ashes to the
ground while we planted a memorial tree. The
University of Leicester gave us permission for
this to be somewhere within their grounds so
we decided to ask if this could be at Stamford
Hall. Martin was Sub-Warden of this student
Hall of Residence for many years, till he bought
his flat shortly before he retired. I met with the
University’s Gardens’ Manager, Jamie Whitehouse, who showed me several
possible places for a planting. Martin’s close friend and colleague Prof Paul
Cullis and I both liked the same spot, close to the drive into the Hall’s site.
We also needed to choose a tree. Martin was a great lover of proper, native
trees rather than the ornamental sort. Indeed one of his favourite books was
The New Sylva by Hemery and Simblet, which is a four hundred page
“Discourse of Forest and Orchard Trees”. With that, and Mr Whitehouse to
guide us, we have chosen a Lime Tree (Tilia Tomentosa Brabant). The wood of
the Lime or Linden Tree has always been loved by wood carvers, especially
Grinling Gibbons whose work adorns the choir stalls at St Paul’s Cathedral
and can be found in many great late seventeenth and early eighteenth century
interiors. It is also used as the base wood for piano keys as it never warps.
Honeybees love its unremarkable flowers in June and July, and the tree is
resistant to the predations of honey fungus and of grey squirrels. The rapidly
decaying leaves are important soil enrichers and for earthworms.
These same leaves, plucked by the brisk western winds of autumn, blowing
across Victoria Park failed to decay rapidly once they reached St James’
Church and Vicarage. It was one of Martin’s considerable and much
appreciated labours at this time of year to gather them all up regularly, so that
they could decompose elsewhere. As it is a tree which will grow to over sixty
feet and is long lived it seemed an appropriate memorial for our beloved
brother, uncle, colleague and guide.
The planting is on Monday 21December at around 12.30pm.
There is no planned reception or suchlike afterwards but everyone is
most welcome to join us there for that short ceremony.
22
Obituary Phyllis Margaret Judd
died 24 September 2015 aged 92
Margaret moved into a new home in
Queen’s Road and began to worship
at St James the Greater in 1996.
After many years of living in
Cornwall, Margaret had returned
close to her roots – having been
born and brought up in Highfields.
An essentially private person, the
congregation benefited from her
calm personality and constant smile.
Born in 1922, Margaret’s father died when she was young. Her mother
remarried and Margaret gained her step-sister, Edna, with whom she was very
close. Margaret won a scholarship to Newark Girls’ Grammar School and was
well-educated and accomplished. During the war she worked for the Auxiliary
Fire Service. Later she became a secretary at Rank Taylor & Hobsons who
made optical lenses and cameras for the film industry. She then worked for
the Gas Board, rising to become secretary to the managing director.
Margaret met her husband Lesley when she was in her mid 30s. They married
at St Saviour’s Church in Leicester in 1955, first living in Leicester and later
moving to Cornwall with Lesley’s work. Lesley died in 1995.
Margaret invited Edna to live with her in Cornwall, but sadly Edna died a few
months later. After this, Margaret decided to return to Leicester. She was
very happy in her apartment, and made good friends among her neighbours.
Along with Sundays at St James the Greater, Margaret enjoyed belonging to
Christchurch Evergreens and the Congregational Church luncheon club.
Margaret delighted in sharing in her cousin Roy and Glenis’s family life, and the
company of their children. She loved the theatre and classical music concerts
and was a keen supporter of Leicester City football and Tigers’ rugby teams.
Margaret moved to Aigburth in July 2012 following a period of illness and was
appreciative of the care she received from the staff. She joined in with some
of the activities and liked to attend services and listen to the residents’ choir
singing on Friday afternoons. Her quiet, gentle presence will be missed.
23
Commemorative Flowers
DECEMBER
ADVENT – no flowers, by tradition
25 Tim Johnson in memory
of Alan, Joy & Christopher
Lady Chapel pedestal
Audrey Wheeler
in memory of Sid and their parents
JANUARY
3 Angela Hefford in memory
of her brother William R Barrett
10 Jill Valentine & family in memory of Joe
17 Doris Makepeace
24 Lin Mawer in memory of her husband David
31 Jeremy & Christine Josephs
in memory of Sarah
FEBRUARY
7 Brian Foster
in memory Brigitte, family & friends
LENT – no flowers, by tradition
24
What’s on ... SUNDAYS
Sunday Club in school term time 10.30 Large Hall
Contact Mrs Jo Stapleton 39 Craighill Road, Leicester LE2 3FD 270 2001
WEDNESDAYS
SJ2 – Under 14s’ Youth Club 19.15 – 20.45 Undercroft
Leader Mr John Raven 291 London Road, Leicester LE2 3ND 270 7591
THURSDAYS
Coffee Drop-in 10.45 – 11.30 Large Hall
Organiser Mrs Doris Makepeace 7 Bransdale Road, Wigston, Leicester LE18 1XU 288 5315
St James’ Singers 19.45 alternate Thursdays Ashman Music Room
Director Mr Michael Rule 99 Ratby Road, Groby, Leicester LE6 0GF 0787 530 5296
Scouts Beaver Scouts 17.30 – 18.30 Cub Scouts 18.30 – 20.00 Scouts 19.30 Undercroft
Leaders Mr Tony & Mrs Alison Hurst 30 Repton Road, Wigston, Leicester LE18 1GB 210 2958
FRIDAYS
Boys’ Choir & Girls’ Choir Practices 18.00 Ashman Music Room
Full Choir Practice 19.30
Director Mr Matthew Haynes 36 Vernon Road, Aylestone, Leicester LE2 8GA 0788 576 0364
SATURDAYS
Stop-by Project for the homeless 11.00 – 14.00 Undercroft
Coordinator Salma Ravat c/o Church Office, St James Terrace, LE2 1NA 254 2111
Who’s who … Ministry Team – see inside front cover
Churchwardens
Miss Julia Walker 3 Paddock Close, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5GG 271 9347
Mr Keith Vaughan Stretton Cottage, Great Stretton, Leicester LE2 2FR 259 2524
Deputy Wardens
Mr Simon Edwards MBE 27 Hollybank Court, London Road, Leicester LE2 1ZF 270 4411
Mrs Angela Hefford 15 Southernhay Road, Leicester LE2 3TN 270 6060
Ms Barbara Penrose 36 Stoneygate Court, London Road, Leicester LE2 2AJ 270 3666
Mrs April Rule 99 Ratby Road, Groby, Leicester LE6 0GF 0779 590 4914
Mr Ian Stapleton 39 Craighill Road, Leicester LE2 3FD 270 2001
PCC Secretary
Mr Philip Jones 52 Carisbrooke Road, Mountsorrel, LE12 7BR 237 4894
Church Administrator & Hall Booking Secretary
Mrs Annabel Cowley Church Office, St James Hall, St James Terrace, LE2 1NA 254 2111
Treasurer
Mr Alan Fletcher c/o Church Office, St James Hall, St James Terrace, LE2 1NA 254 2111
Director of Music
Mr Matthew Haynes 36 Vernon Road, Aylestone, Leicester LE2 8GA 0788 576 0364
Organist & Associate Director of Music
Mr Michael Rule 99 Ratby Road, Groby, Leicester LE6 0GF 0787 530 5296
Assistant Organist
Ms Roxanne Summerfield c/o Church Office, St James Hall, St James Terrace, LE2 1NA 254 2111
Head Servers
Mr John & Mrs Angela Finn 4 Colne Close, Oadby, Leicester LE2 4GA 292 9562
Flower Guild Co-ordinator including commemorative flowers
Miss Julia Walker 3 Paddock Close, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5GG 271 9347
Child Protection Officer
Vicky Roe 4 St James’s Terrace, LE2 1NA 255 2108
Recommended