The Vicar writes8.30 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

WINTER 2015/16

Internet site: www.stjamesthegreater.org.uk

Church Office email address: [email protected]

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,[email protected]

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


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


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


10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Glynn Richerby

Preacher: Angela Jagger

15.30 Radio Leicester Carol Service admission by ticket


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


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


10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant & Preacher: Glynn Richerby

18.30 Festival Service of Nine Lessons & Carols


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


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


6 Wednesday Epiphany



Wellington Street

Dr Angela Jagger, President, Leicester Theological Society

Why is religion controversial?

10 Sunday THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST



Preacher: David Brunning

18.30 Epiphany Carol Service

12 Tuesday Aelred, abbot,1167 Benedict Biscop, scholar, 689


19.45 Standing Committee in the Vicarage


13

JANUARY continued

17 Sunday SECOND SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY


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


21 Thursday Agnes, child martyr, 304


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


Preacher: Anthony Green

Anticipating the Conversion of St Paul


26 Tuesday Timothy and Titus, companions of Paul


19.45 Parochial Church Council

28 Thursday Thomas Aquinas, priest, philosopher, teacher of the faith, 1274


31 Sunday CANDLEMAS SUNDAY Sexagesima

08.30 Holy Communion (BCP) Celebrant: Glynn Richerby


Preacher: Jane Sharp

18.30 Candlemas Service

FEBRUARY

2 Tuesday Presentation of Christ in the Temple


4 Thursday Gilbert, founder of the Gilbertine Order, 1189


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


Preacher: Derek Hole

18.30 Choral Evensong Preacher: Glynn Richerby

14

FEBRUARY continued

9 Shrove Tuesday


10 Ash 19.30 Liturgy for the start of Lent

Wednesday Celebrant & Preacher: Glynn Richerby



Wellington Street

Dr Ann Conway-Jones, University of Birmingham

Moses and the life of prayer

14 Sunday FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT



Preacher: Angela Jagger

in a Lent series on Jesus : “Who do people say I am?”


in a Lent series on Messiah



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?”



23 Tuesday Polycarp, bishop, martyr, c.155


19.45 Standing Committee in the Vicarage

25 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp

28 Sunday THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT



Preacher: David Brunning

in a Lent series on Jesus: “Who do people say I am?”



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

Documents

The Vicar writes8.30 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