- 1 -

The Vicar Writes…

Dear Friends

Christmas has a variety of different meanings for different people. For some it is merely “the festive season”. For

others it is a time when a family gets together. It is for many a children’s festival and perhaps involves a visit to the church for a carol service or the Christingle service!

Yet, for many people, the happier aspects of Christmas are

missing. Perhaps the person is on their own and they have no-one to share the family celebration with. If there is a real meaning to Christmas it must be something which is

relevant to the lives of everybody. The real point of Christmas lies not in the meaning we are able to attach to

it, or the way in which we celebrate it. It lies in the meaning which God gave to it. It is His action that counts,

not ours. For God “so loved the world that He gave His Son to be born into humanity and to give his life for all”.

Bethlehem is only the beginning and there is a temptation to enjoy the Christmas story of the stable, but forget its

completion is seen in the death and resurrection of Christ. Many enjoy the Christmas story because they think it does not challenge their faith. However, those in the stable did

have to respond; God asked of Joseph an act of deep and unquestioning faith in accepting Mary when she was with

child. The same response was made by the shepherds. They were at work on the night shift. A messenger of God brought them the news of the birth of the Saviour. They

went to see for themselves. They saw. They believed.

- 2 -

Finally, the wise men came looking for the birth of a king.

They found only a child, born in a stable, but they did not withhold their gifts. “They fell down and worshipped him”.

We, too, are called to respond and the meaning of Christmas is not to be confined to the stable. It relates to

the whole of Christ’s life, and ours.

We wish you all a very happy and blessed Christmas. Andrew

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE

On Saturday 17th

December

from 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm ,

Andrew and Joanne would

like to invite you to a

Christmas get together at the

Vicarage, 14 Flaghead Road.

Everyone is invited, so please

drop in and have a glass of

Mulled wine and a mince pie!

- 3 -

in the Church Rooms

on Saturday 3rd December

10 am to 12 noon

ALL THE USUAL ATTRACTIONS

We need:

GIFTS - of almost anything. Please see the weekly notice sheet for details.

HELPERS to prepare on Friday afternoon,

and help on the day itself.

SUPPORT – please bring your friends and encourage others to come.

Proceeds help the church to maintain its giving

to outside causes. Spread the news!

______________________________________

Please speak with Elizabeth Walker (701112)

or Anna Castley (701143) for further details

- 4 -

STALLHOLDERS FOR THE CHRISTMAS FAYRE

If you have any items to donate for the Christmas Fayre please get in touch with the

relevant stallholder. STALL STALLHOLDER TEL

Christmas Crafts Susanne King & 707265 Joanne O’Brien 700341

Home Produce & Cakes Jan South & 768900 Grace Martin

White Elephant Graham Luker 723305

Toys Julie Bailey 701020 Jewellery Nina Crane 376325 Bags & Toiletries Tessa Yeoman & 707629

Amanda King-Underwood 882949

Books and DVDs Perry Jeandren 706107

& Wilf Fricker Vicar’s Hamper Andrew O’Brien 700341

Raffle Anna Castley 701143

& Elizabeth Walker 701112 Treasurer Michael Wright 707735

Anna and Elizabeth would be very pleased to receive any

donations of raffle prizes.

- 5 -

Dorset Historic Churches Trust Ride & Stride 2016

Once all the monies from participating parishes have been collected, the banking and recording of all the generous

sponsorship generates a three-month-long period of hard work for the treasurer, Liz Ashmead. She has written to

thank the riders & striders. Half of the money raised is returned directly to the churches or registered charities nominated by the

participants, and the other half is used to fund the DHCT programme. Hence £148.25 has been returned to our

church as nominated by Graham, Nina and Tom. The receipts from R&S in Dorset are the main source of

income for the Trust, which exists to assist churches and chapels of all Christian denominations meet the increasing costs of maintenance, restoration and improvement of

facilities. Not only does the Trust help to conserve Dorset’s churches and chapels as a vital part of the heritage of the

County, it also helps keep them active and at the heart of the community for the use of future generations. The usual culprits, rain and dry rot take their toll, as well as electrical

wiring and the installation of small kitchens and lavatories to enable the wider use of church buildings.

The Chairman Simon Pomeroy DL writes: ‘For many people the presence of a church in rural England is symbolic of the nation and of the rural way of

life, and a source of comfort and support even for those who are not regular churchgoers. We should start with the

very clear premise that the Church of England is a national church, and should therefore ensure a Christian presence in every community.’

Graham, Nina and Tom would like to thank all who sponsored them for the sum of £296.50.

Graham Luker, DHCT Parish Organiser

- 6 -

The story of the Christingle

The word ‘Christingle’ actually means ‘Christ Light’, and celebrates the light of Jesus coming into the world. Stories

of how the Christingle began look back to the Moravian Church, which is found

in the Czech Republic. The Moravians have held Christingle services for more than 200 years, and according to

them, this is how the first Christingle might have been made:

Many years ago the children in a village were asked to bring a Christmas gift to put beside the crib in the church. One

family was very poor, and had no money for gifts, but the three children were still determined to take something. The

only nice thing they had was an orange, so they decided to give the Christ-child that.

But then they discovered the top was going green, so the eldest cut it out, and put a candle in the hole. To add some

colour, one of the girls took a red ribbon from her hair and tied it around the middle of the orange. It was hard to

make the ribbon stay still, so they fastened it in place with toothpicks. The toothpicks looked a bit bare, so the youngest child added some raisins to them.

The children took their decorated orange lantern to the

church for the Christmas Mass. The other children sneered at their meagre gift, but the priest seized upon it with joy. He held it up as an example of the true understanding of

the meaning of Christmas, for the following reasons: the orange is round, like the world; the candle gives us light in

the dark, like the love of God; the red ribbon goes round the ‘world’, as a symbol of Christ’s blood, given for everyone; the four sticks point in all directions, and

- 7 -

symbolise that God is over all: North, South, East and West; and the fruit and nuts remind us of God’s blessings.

The Children’s Society first introduced the Christingle Service to The Church of England in 1968, and it has since

become a popular event in the church calendar. This candlelit celebration is an ideal way to share the key messages of the Christian faith, while helping to raise vital

funds to help vulnerable children across the country. Visit: www.childrenssociety.org.uk

Our Christingle Service at the Transfiguration will be on

Christmas Eve at 5.00 pm.

CANFORD CLIFFS VILLAGE

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

The Canford Cliffs Land Society Ltd is again organising the Christmas lights in the

village. There will be an opening event for the switch on which will take place at Magna Motors on Friday 9th

December at 5.00 pm. The Mayor is attending and we normally have around 100/150 guests. Entry to the event is £5 to include a drink, nibbles and a raffle. The money

goes towards the cost of the lights. Please come if you can.

George Perrins Chairman CCLS

- 8 -

"Bad Night to be Officer in charge of

Bethlehem"

The peace and joy we associate with the birth of Jesus could well have been closer to a public order "nightmare" in reality, according to the

Archbishop of Canterbury.

Far from the idyllic serenity of traditional nativity scenes, the Roman authorities in Bethlehem would have had to contend with seemingly "drunk" shepherds, suspicious-

looking foreign visitors, crooked officials and a potential terrorism threat, he said.

The Most Rev Justin Welby took a turn from the time-honoured Christmas story at the annual Metropolitan Police

carol service with a sermon that might have come from an episode of The Bill.

Instead of a narrative from one of the Gospels, he gave the

congregation at St. Margaret's, Westminster, a retelling of the story from the point of view of a fictional "Bethlehem borough commander". He referred to the high command of

Roman administration in Judea as the Palestine "special branch" who would have viewed any possible messianic

figure in similar terms to those in which police might view modern-day extremists.

Bethlehem at the time of Jesus' birth would have seemed like a "province full of terrorists", with an influx of

descendants of King David for the Roman census. Meanwhile, the hills were packed with shepherds with a reputation for hard-drinking and violence. "They grazed

sheep over everyone else's land, and were prone to get

- 9 -

stroppy if you argued," the archbishop said. "They drank for Israel".

The sudden arrival of suspect foreigners in search of a worrying-sounding newborn king and an unexplained star

likely to unsettle some of the more superstitious junior officers created a possible "perfect storm" of problems. "There you have it; tension, politics, terrorists, crowds,

parties, drunks and crooks in a huge confusion of unknown people in your small borough," he said. "It can't get worse,

but like all things that can't get worse, it does. "The shepherds do show up, except they seem stone-cold

sober, but apparently semi-hysterical. Far from waving weapons, they are just waving their arms, going on about

angels, and asking about newborn babies." The archbishop said the commander might have had no

choice but to send down a squad to isolate the stable where all the trouble would have been converging.

"Because it all looked so normal what it meant was

overlooked by almost everyone, and still is," he said. "Yet it was the moment when God broke in to our world in a

completely different way. And everyone, including our mythical borough commander, missed the fact.

"He came to His own people and they did not even recognise Him."

John Bingham (Religious Affairs Editor)

(This article was first printed in a wellknown newspaper a few years ago and was donated by Anna Castley )

- 10 -

‘A Voice Crying in the Wilderness’

As is traditional in Advent, the second Sunday focuses on

John the Baptist. This poem was written for inclusion in an anthology ‘How does Silence sound?’ and it highlights some

of the contrasts in the all too brief life of this key New Testament prophet, preacher and baptiser.

‘The time spent in my mother’s womb, was scripted by silence –

the nine mute months of my dumbfounded father. And then, for long years, I was in the wilderness,

aware of its awesome absence of life, sensing its stubborn stonysilence,

watching and waiting till my time came to cry out…

to move centre stage for a while, to preach repentance and the call to baptism;

to know the clamour of the responding crowds, the pushing and shouting at Jordan’s river bank, the days filled with water and weariness

and finally, wonder.

But I never sought to upstage Jesus; to move the spotlight from the Saviour, overshadowing his ministry,

by continuing to cling to mine.

And now I am restrained by Herod’s henchmen, thrown into the darkness of his dungeon, knowing deep silence once again,

the wilderness of wickedness. needing, receiving, assurance

that it had all been worthwhile.

- 11 -

There has been music in my life: Mary’s song of joy that made me leap in my mother’s womb.

And then, on my birth day, blessed words sung by my rejoicing, reassured father.

And now, the music of partying some way above my head.

Then that stops, too;

and in the ensuing silence I hear only heavy steps approaching and the clamour of keys

outside my cell’s locked door.’

Wendy Fellingham

TO MAKE YOU SMILE ........ The sermon this morning: Jesus Walks on the Water. The sermon tonight: Searching for Jesus.

Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7

PM. Please use the back door.

- 12 -

CALENDAR FOR

DECEMBER

Thur 1 10.00 am Parish Art Group

Fri 2 10.30 am Coffee Morning in hall Sat 3 10.00 am CHURCH CHRISTMAS FAYRE ADVENT 2

Sun 4 8.00 am Holy Communion 10.30 am Parish Communion

6.00 pm Evening Prayer Wed 7 10.30 am Holy Communion and Patronal

Festival at St. Nicolas

2.00 pm Advent Course in hall

ADVENT 3

Sun 11 8.00 am Holy Communion 10.30 am Matins 6.00 pm Evening Prayer

Wed 14 10.30 am Holy Communion at St. Nicolas

2.00 pm Advent Course in hall

Thur 15 10.00 am Parish Art Group

Fri 16 10.30 am Christmas Coffee Morning in Hall

Sat 17 2.00 pm Christmas Open House at the Vicarage

ADVENT 4

Sun 18 8.00 am Holy Communion

NO FAMILY SERVICE 10.30 am Parish Communion 6.00 pm Carol Service

- 13 -

Wed 21 10.30 am Holy Communion at St. Nicolas

2.00 pm Advent Course in hall

Thur 22 3.45 pm Magazine collation in hall

CHRISTMAS EVE

Sat 24 9.30 am Making of Christingles in hall

5.00 pm Christingle Service

11.00 pm Midnight Eucharist CHRISTMAS DAY

Sun 25 8.00 am Holy Communion 10.30 am Parish Communion

Wed 28 NO HOLY COMMUNION AT ST. NICOLAS

CHRISTMAS 2

Sun 1 8.00 am Holy Communion

10.30 am Parish Communion 6.00 pm NO EVENING PRAYER

CHRISTMAS COFFEE MORNING

On Friday 16th December at 10.30 am in

the hall. Please join us for coffee, Christmas nibbles, a glass of fizz and

carols with Ewa and the choir.

CHRISTMAS COFFEE MORNING:

Friday 19th December

at 10.30 am. Please come and

join us for mincepies,

coffee and a chat!

- 14 -

SUNDAY READINGS IN DECEMBER

Sunday 4th December - Advent 2 OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 11.1-10

There will be new hope for Israel as the Spirit rests

upon the Holy One with peace, faithfulness and righteousness.

NEW TESTAMENT: Romans 15.4-13 Paul exhorts us to love and accept one another in the

same way that Christ accepts us. GOSPEL: Matthew 3.1-12

John the Baptist preaches repentance. Many have

come from Judea to be baptised. He admonishes priests, considering why they really have come.

Sunday 11th December - Advent 3

OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 35.1-10 Isaiah’s prophecy relates the arrival of God’s

salvation to the work of healing, nourishment and joy which it will bring.

NEW TESTAMENT: Matthew 11.2-11

John the Baptist is the messenger who will prepare the way for Jesus’ coming; at the same time he is of

little importance as his mission is completed.

Sunday 18th December - Advent 4 OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 7.10-16

Ahaz is asked by the Lord to choose a sign. He

refuses. The Lord gives him the sign of Jesus’ birth, Immanuel.

NEW TESTAMENT: Romans 1.1-7 Paul introduces his letter to the Romans,

acknowledging Jesus Christ as the Son of God and

his resurrection.

- 15 -

GOSPEL: Matthew 1.18-end

Mary is betrothed to Joseph and conceives a child by the Holy Spirit. God reveals this to Jesus in a dream.

Sunday 25th December - CHRISTMAS DAY

OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 9.2-7 For the prophet Isaiah, God comes to us as a child endowed with sovereignty and called by various

names - Counsellor, mighty God, eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

NEW TESTAMENT: Titus 2. 11-14 For Paul, in his letter to Titus, Jesus' credentials were validated by his identity as the indisputable

expression of God's grace, and hence the basic source of the Christian moral life.

GOSPEL: Luke 2. 1-20 In his familiar birth narrative, Luke reaffirms the Davidic lineage of Jesus and, in the message of

the Angels, identifies him as Messiah, Lord, and Saviour.

Sunday 1st January - CHRISTMAS 2 OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 63.7-9

Isaiah speaks of God's day of redemption and how God suffers with his people.

NEW TESTAMENT: Hebrews 2.10-end Christ came in order to share with us what He has and is. Not only does God share what He is with us,

but God also shares in what we are. GOSPEL: Matthew 2.13-end

The holy family escape from King Herod into Egypt.

- 16 -

CHRISTMAS

SERVICES _______________

Sunday 18th December

8.00 am Holy Communion

NO FAMILY SERVICE

10.30 am Parish Communion

6.00 pm CAROL SERVICE

Wednesday 21st 10.30 am Holy Communion at St

Nicolas

Saturday 24th – CHRISTMAS EVE

5.00 pm Christingle Service

11.00 pm Midnight Eucharist

Sunday 25th - CHRISTMAS DAY

8.00 am Holy Communion

10.30 am Parish Communion

Sunday 1st January

8.00 am Holy Communion

10.30 am Parish Communion

6.00 pm NO EVENING PRAYER

- 17 -

‘All at Sea’

Founded in 1856, the ‘Mission to Seafarers’ is entirely funded by voluntary donations. Today it offers emergency

assistance, practical support, and a friendly welcome to crews in 230 ports around the world. Whether caring for

victims of piracy or providing a lifeline for those stranded in foreign ports, they are there for the globe’s 1.2 million merchant seafarers of all ranks, nationalities, and beliefs.

Seafarers today are a global workforce of men and women, many of whom come from poor or developing nations. The

Mission provides seafarers centres, ship visits, emergency assistance, family liaison, and often support and counselling for the survivors of ordeals such as shipwreck or hostage –

taking by pirates. It also acts as a ‘voice’ for seafarers with governments and international organisations.

The Mission publishes a newspaper ‘The Sea’ every two

months, copies of which are available at the back of the Church. It is a really good way to get a ‘flavour’ of what the Mission to Seafarers concerns itself with. I highly

recommend it. It is also free!

We donate to the Mission in three ways: the PCC gives a generous annual donation; we collect stamps which I send up to Edinburgh (any used stamps); and we have

periodic fundraising ‘events’.

The Mission to Seafarers is a Christian charity of which the Church of England can be hugely proud. Its symbol, the ‘Flying Angel’, is recognised by seafarers around the world.

Rarely can the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan’ be seen to be so practically applied and illustrated.

Given our location by the sea here in the Parish of Canford Cliffs, our support of the Mission to Seafarers is entirely

appropriate and relevant. In addition, we British are an

- 18 -

island people, and we have sailed the world in our ships. We know how difficult and dangerous this can be. I will periodically update you further on its work. Thanks to all of

you for supporting the Mission to Seafarers. Through its work, we can all be good Samaritans.

John McGill.

PEOPLE OF THE PARISH

Jan South

Jan was born in Wales but when she was 3 months old her father was posted to India and Jan did not see him again

until she was 3 years old. Both her parents were psychiatric nurses and Jan was brought up in Surrey, where her father was in charge of St Lawrence’s Hospital in

Caterham. He was also the choir master and organist at the hospital chapel. Jan met her future husband Henry at

the Church Youth Club which he ran.

After training as a secretary Jan worked at Lloyds in Lombard Street and then an investment trust on the Embankment. Here she worked for Lord Pender who had a

box at the Royal Albert Hall which Jan was allowed to use. Jan and Henry married at St Mary’s Church, Caterham-on-

the-hill where Henry was a server and crucifer and used to organise a float for the Caterham Carnival every year. Jan worked for an educational book seller which supplied all the

schools in Surrey and they had two children, Andrew and Karen.

In 1981 Henry organised the move of the American Express Bank operations down to Poole and they’ve lived in

Branksome Park ever since. Jan helped out in the

- 19 -

hairdressers in Lilliput for 15 years and became a volunteer at the Poole Arts Centre (now The Lighthouse) for 20 years.

Jan currently runs the Friday morning coffee group, is a member of the PCC, knits for Hope International, runs the

Beatle drive for Christian Aid and runs the Home Produce stall at both the Summer and Christmas fetes. Both Jan and Henry are regular 8 o’clock BCP Communion attenders

where he is a sidesman and they enjoy spending time at their beach hut and seeing their five grandchildren; which

include twins who were born 6 weeks premature. Jan was a part of Mo Willis’s local learning support group for

4 years whilst she trained for the ministry - culminating in Mo’s ordination at Salisbury Cathedral last June. They

continue to meet every 3 months as part of Mo’s ministry training.

Jan and Henry are both very much part of our congregation and ready to help out in any way they can.

Elizabeth Walker

- 20 -

Autumn It is that time of year when all wildlife has completed growth and reached maturity. The

diminishing light and lower temperatures bring about fundamental changes. This is when wild animals start to

gather the ripened fruit, berries and nuts and store them for future cold winter days. Grey squirrels are adept at burying nuts, whilst dormice and hedgehogs build up their

body reserves in preparation for hibernation.

Autumn with its misty mellowness triggers the fruiting of fungi, and overnight they appear in woods, fields and our gardens. The larger fungi’s are known as mushrooms; some

are very poisonous and can kill. However there are many species that can be eaten. In France most pharmacies offer

an identification service. During the autumn groups of people come out to harvest mushrooms in the New Forest.

It is estimated that at least a ton are gathered each week and are used by the Asian community in Southampton. It is a cause for concern to naturalists as this activity is

beginning to affect the natural balance of the ecosystem.

Birds react to the fading light and temperature in autumn as their food supplies run out. This is the fundamental reason for their movement and migration. This year the

Brent geese have arrived from Arctic Russia, their breeding site, and are feeding in Poole Harbour on eel grass, their

natural food, until the spring. There are many birds that stay all year round - gulls, crows and in our gardens, blackbirds, song thrushes, robins, wrens and blue tits. They

are helped by people who put out nuts, seeds and other winter food and most importantly water. It is helpful to

leave grasses and seed heads from summer flowering plants as they are a very useful source of nourishment at this time.

- 21 -

The shorter days and the reduction of competition allow native plants to flower, particularly cyclamen with their large range of colours. Imported plants like the nerine help

to provide patches of pink in early autumn.

This year the trees have put on spectacular fiery displays of colour as they prepare for their winter dormancy. Some end their annual cycle with tasty fruit, others such as

maples and cherries boldly turning fiery red and gold while our native species are showing strident yellow and bronze

tones. Cedric Nielsen

Visit to Milton Abbey

Our final Dorset Historic Churches Trust event of the season was a most memorable visit to Milton

Abbey situated right next to the School just outside Milton Abbas in late October. We were blessed with a sunny day

and our first sighting of the playing fields making a natural amphitheatre surrounded by trees in their splendid Autumn colours, was quite spectacular. On arrival at the Abbey we

were given a potted history by the Reverend Helier Exon.

There has been a church on this site since 933. It was replaced in 1309 when destroyed by fire. A new church was gradually built alongside a new town called Middleton.

It was the biggest provider of a personal tax in Dorset

- 22 -

demanded by the King to fund his wars with France. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries and the monks sent elsewhere, the Abbey was bought by John Tregonwell who

gave it to the townspeople as their parish church. In 1752 the estate was sold to the immensely wealthy Joseph

Damer, Baron Milton who destroyed the town and built the village of Milton Abbas, out of sight of the Abbey. In 1771 Damer built a new mansion house in a pseudo gothic style

to blend with the Abbey, which is now Milton Abbey School. Capability Brown designed the grounds which included an

ornamental lake. In 1852 the house and estate of over 8,500 acres was sold to Baron Hambro who paid for the complete restoration of the Abbey by Sir George Gilbert

Scott. The Abbey had fallen into a poor state of repair. By 1932 rents from agricultural holdings were abysmal and the

house with the estate was put on the market to be bought by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners with a view to converting it into a theological college. This was not to be

and it was sold again in 1953 to become the boys’ public school which it is today.

We all had lunch in the Abbot’s Hall which is the only

remaining monastic building and is the part of the School where the boys have their meals.

After lunch we were treated to an hour long musical concert in the Abbey first by The Innominata Consort who played

pieces by Sammartini, Corelli, Purcell and Vivaldi on recorders followed Nicola Hutchings on violin, accompanied by Simon Twiselton on piano who played two movements of

a Mozart sonata, two Elgar pieces and a Kreisler piece. Although the Abbey was on the chilly side the sun shining

through the windows made up for it.

- 23 -

There followed a short talk by Dr Tim Connor who drew our attention to pieces of outstanding architecture such as the Hambro monument designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott,

the Damer Monument designed by Robert Adam and the Tregonwell Tombs.

Sue Smith drew our attention to the Jesse window in the south transept designed in 1848 by Pugin and made by

Hardman. In this window Jesse is sitting and holding the branches of the vine. Often Jesse is seen lying down with

the vine growing out of his body. The window is very similar to the version of a Jesse in the east window in St Paul’s Brighton.

After we had finished at the Abbey instead of taking the

optional tour of St Catherine’s chapel we drove through the picturesque village of Milton Abbey with its unique rows of thatched cottages on either side of the road and the

Hambro Arms named after the estate’s chief benefactor in the Victorian era. All in all it was a most interesting day

and the School and Abbey are well worth a visit.

Nina Crane

CRAFT GROUP

A big thank you to everyone who came and supported the

church craft group at the Canford Cliffs Craft Fayre in November. It was a very successful morning and we raised

£245.00 for the church. Many thanks to everyone at craft group who have worked so hard over the past year making things for the stall and for the church Christmas Fayre. See

you all again in February!

Joanne O'Brien

- 24 -

ALTAR FLOWERS

December 4th Advent: No Flowers December 11th Advent: No Flowers

December 18th Advent: No Flowers Friday December 23rd The Guild

December 25th The Guild

MAGAZINE DEADLINE

The deadline for the January edition of the

Church magazine is Wednesday 14th December 2016