you and hopefully sensing God‟s presence among us. I know ... · Christingle Service - Junior School children and over ... wonderful poem ‗The Journey of the Magi‘. What a vivid

~ 1 ~

December 2011/January 2012 Pear Tree Parish Magazine

Dear Parishioners

It is a privilege to write my first Christmas letter as your Priest-in-Charge.

I have very much enjoyed my first six months in the Parish, getting to know

you and hopefully sensing God‟s presence among us. I know this initial period

has not always been easy, but I am sure with God‟s grace going before us we

can sense his presence in the Parish and see how we can work together to

make mission and outreach at the heart of our Parish life.

As we approach Christmas we particularly remember God‟s presence and in

this period of global economic instability it is salutary to remember Christ‟s

birth in a humble stable rather than a palace. God aligned himself with the

poorest, not the richest, in society. As we look for God‟s presence at

Christmas time let it be found not in material things, but in the true human

qualities of the incarnation of love, peace and compassion to all.

I do hope among the busyness of the Christmas period you have a chance to

reflect on how God is speaking to you and those you love and that you find it

a time of reflection and hope.

I hope to see you at Pear Tree Church at one of the services during this

Christmas period.

I wish you every blessing at Christmas time.

Yours in Christ

Priest-in-Charge of Pear Tree Church Vicar of St. Mark‟s Church, Woolston

~ 2 ~


FRI 2 DEC 9.30 a.m. Ludlow Infant School Christmas Carol Service

SUN 4 DEC 2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

8.00 a.m. 10.00 a.m. 10.00 a.m. 11.30 a.m.

Holy Communion by Extension - Keith Sydenham Parish Communion - Music Group - Revd Miles Newton PIPS Young People‘s Group in the Church Hall Mawundo Mission Table in the Church Hall

MON 5 DEC 10.00 a.m. Craft Club in the Church Hall (members only)

FRI 9 DEC 1.00 p.m. Wedding in the Church

SUN 11 DEC 3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

10.00 a.m. 5.00 p.m.

Parish Communion - Music Group - Revd Tony Bevis CTI Carol Service at the Salvation Army Hall, North East Road

SUN 18 DEC 4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

10.00 a.m. 5.00 p.m.

Parish Communion with Nativity - M.Group - Revd Miles Newton Christmas Carol Service - Organist/Choir

MON 19 DEC 10.00 a.m. Crafty Coffee Morning in the Church Hall - all welcome

- come along for some festive fun

SAT 24 DEC CHRISTMAS EVECHRISTMAS EVECHRISTMAS EVE

4.00 p.m.

6.00 p.m.

11.00 p.m.

Christingle Service - Infant School children and under Christingle Service - Junior School children and over Midnight Communion - Organist and Choir - Revd Miles Newton

SUN 25 DEC CHRISTMAS DAYCHRISTMAS DAYCHRISTMAS DAY

10.00 a.m. Holy Communion by Extension - Organist - Tony Morris

December 2011

PLEASE NOTE ..... Woolston Community Centre will be closed for refurbishment for the whole of 2012.

During this time, due to parking difficulties, all Pear Tree/St. Mark’s Joint Services will be held in Pear Tree Church.

Other St. Mark’s Church activities normally held in the Community Centre may also be transferred to Pear Tree Church Hall. Full details will follow during the coming year.

~ 3 ~


SUN 1 JAN 2ND SUNDAY OF CHRIST2ND SUNDAY OF CHRIST2ND SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS MAS MAS --- THE NAMING OF JESUSTHE NAMING OF JESUSTHE NAMING OF JESUS 8.00 a.m.

10.00 a.m. Holy Communion by Extension - Tony Morris All Age Worship - Tony Morris

SUN 8 JAN BAPTISM OF CHRIST BAPTISM OF CHRIST BAPTISM OF CHRIST --- EPIPHANYEPIPHANYEPIPHANY 10.00 a.m.

11.30 a.m. 11.30 a.m.

Parish Communion - Music Group - - Revd Tony Bevis Mawundo Mission Table in the Church Hall Publicity Committee meeting in the Church Hall

MON 9 JAN 10.00 a.m. Craft Club in the Church Hall (members only)

TUE 10 JAN 7.00 p.m. 8.00 p.m.

Standing Committee meeting in the Hall Committee Room Pear Tree/Woolston Standing Committees meeting in the Hall Committee Room

SUN 15 JAN 2ND SUNDAY OF EPIPHA2ND SUNDAY OF EPIPHA2ND SUNDAY OF EPIPHANYNYNY 10.00 a.m.

10.00 a.m. 5.00 p.m. 6.30 p.m.

Parish Communion - Organist - Revd Miles Newton PIPS Young People‘s Group in the Church Hall AGM of CTI at St. Patrick‘s Church Hall, Woolston, followed by... Ecumenical Service at St. Patrick‘s Church, Woolston

TUE 17 JAN 7.30 p.m. PCC meeting in the Hall Committee Room

WED 18 JAN Start of Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

SUN 22 JAN 3RD SUNDAY OF EPIPHA3RD SUNDAY OF EPIPHA3RD SUNDAY OF EPIPHANYNYNY 10.00 a.m. All Age Worship - Music Group - Tony Morris

MON 23 JAN 10.00 a.m. Crafty Coffee Morning in the Church Hall - all welcome

SAT 28 JAN 10.30 a.m. Jumble Sale in the Church Hall

SUN 29 JAN 4TH SUNDAY OF EPIPHA4TH SUNDAY OF EPIPHA4TH SUNDAY OF EPIPHANYNYNY The Presentation of Christ in the Temple

10.00 a.m.

12.30 p.m.

Joint Parish Communion with Woolston Church - Organist/choirs - Revd Miles Newton ............... followed by ......... Light Lunch in the Church Hall

January 2012

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a worldwide movement of Christians of many denominations, languages, races and

cultures, who are engaged in praying and working for the unity of Christians in the service of the wider redemption, unity and peace of all peoples. Every year the dates are the same, 18 to 25 January,

regardless of the days of the week.

~ 4 ~


Why does it begin at midnight with Holy Communion? The hour was first chosen at Rome in the fifth century to symbolise the idea that Christ was born at midnight – a mystical idea in no way hindered by historical evidence! No one knows the hour of his birth.

Certainly in recent times, Holy Communion at midnight on Christmas morning has proved popular with modern families. One British writer pointed out its ―domestic convenience‖ in 1947: ―for where there are children and no servants, husband and wife may be unable to communicate at any other time.‖ (So things don‘t change, then!)

Where did Christmas trees come from? There are two early stories that mention fir trees. The first involves St Boniface, who went to Germany in the 8th century as a missionary and found people sacrificing a child to their god under an oak tree. Boniface was appalled, and rescued the child. He then chopped down the oak tree and found a tiny fir tree growing nearby. He gave this to the people and said: ―This is a symbol of life. Whenever you look at this tree, remember the Christ-child who is the one who will give you life, because he gave his life for you.‖

The second early fir tree story involves Martin Luther in the 16th century. It is said that one year he decided to drag a fir tree into his home and to decorate it with candles. He used it as a visual aid, telling people that the candles symbolised Jesus as the light of the world, and the evergreen tree symbolised the eternal life that Jesus gives to us. Many of the people who followed Luther were struck by the idea, and took up the custom.

Where did Christmas stockings come from? No one is really sure, but a story is told of St Nicholas, a bishop who lived in the 4th century, who may have started the custom by accident. St Nicholas was of a wealthy family, and of a generous heart. As Christmas approached one year, he wanted to help a poor family whom he knew, but he did not want them to know it was him. So he climbed up on their roof on Christmas Eve and dropped some coins down the chimney.

The next morning the coins, to the great surprise of the family, were found in the stockings of the ladies, who had hung them to

dry by the fire the night before. Every year after that they put their stockings out, in the hope that some more money would fall into them. They told the story of this amazing appearance to their friends and neighbours, and the custom caught on.

We three kings of Orient are... what? ―A cold coming they had of it at this time of the year, just the worst time of the year to take a journey, and specially a long journey, in. The ways deep, the weather sharp, the days short, the sun farthest off, in solstitio brumali, the very dead of winter.‖

It was 1622, and the Bishop of Winchester, Launcelot Andrews, was preaching a magnificent sermon to King James I. Reckoned one of the best preachers ever, Launcelot Andrews‘ words were later taken up by T S Eliot and transformed into his wonderful poem ‗The Journey of the Magi‘. What a vivid picture – we can see it all! The camels‘ breath steaming in the night air as the kings, in their gorgeous robes of silk and cloth-of-gold and clutching their precious gifts, kneel to adore the baby in the manger.

Yet the Bible does not give us as much detail as some people think. Tradition down the centuries has added a great deal more. For instance, we know from St Matthew that the magi were ‗wise‘, or learned men of some sort, but we do not know if they were kings or not. The Bible tells us there were several; tradition has decided upon three, and even named them: Balthassar, Melchior, and Gaspar. But the Bible does tell us that the magi gave baby Jesus three highly symbolic gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Gold stands for kingship, frankincense for worship, and myrrh for anointing – anticipating his death.

There is a lovely ancient mosaic in Ravenna, Italy, that is 1,500 years old. It depicts the wise men in oriental garb of trousers and Phrygian caps, carrying their gifts past palm trees towards the star that they f o l l o w e d . . . s t r a i g h t t o Jesus.

THINGS YOU’VE ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT CHRISTMAS (but didn’t like to ask)

~ 5 ~


Christmas and St Luke’s Gospel It is to St Luke‘s wonderful gospel that many Christians turn as the year draws to a close and

Christmas approaches, for it is to St Luke that we owe the fullest account of the nativity.

Luke alone tells us the story of Mary and the angel‘s visit to her, and has thus given the Church the wonderful Magnificat of Mary.

Luke alone tells us the story of Simeon‘s hymn of praise, thus giving us the wonderful Nunc Dimmittis. Imagine an Anglican evensong without the Nunc Dimmittis.

Luke alone tells us the story of how the angels appeared to the shepherds and how the shepherds then visited the infant Jesus. So – imagine Christmas cards and nativity scenes every year without the shepherds arriving to visit baby Jesus. Imagine school nativity plays

without our children dressed as shepherds or sheep. So – thank you, Luke!

What makes it so amazing is that Luke was not a Jew! The man who wrote the fullest nativity story, and indeed more of the New Testament than any other single person, was a Gentile!

Missing the guest of honour

"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?" (Matthew 2:2)

There's a story that runs like this: there was a mayor of a small town who had brought in so many improvements to local life that over several years he had transformed the town. And so

the community decided it was high time to pay him tribute.

The party was held at the local town hall, and all agreed it was a great celebration. The decorations were superb, the music was loud, the room crowded and noisy. The food was

delicious, and the wine flowed. It was the best party the town had ever had.

Over coffee the next morning in the local cafe, someone wondered aloud if the mayor had enjoyed it. No one knew. In fact, as the day

wore on, people began to realise that actually, no one had even seen the mayor there that

night. Later they discovered that the mayor had been waiting at home all evening, waiting for the

lift that he had been promised into town. But people were so busy preparing for the party, that no one had remembered him. And so he

had missed the party in his honour. Apparently no one had even noticed his absence.

It sounds a lot like Christmas. People get together to celebrate, the food is great, the

music warms the heart - but has anyone seen the guest of honour? We sing about him, we act

out nativity plays about him, but in reality, the season has become about US. Our menus, our

travel plans, our presents, our decorations. At what point in the proceedings do we give

ourselves time to notice whether he is among us, or not?

Christmas to Me

Christmas to me is nativity And the sound of carol-singing; But to others it is revelry And the sound of shop tills ringing.

Christmas to me is shepherds On a hillside attending their sheep; And the sound of angelic voices Over a town bathed in sleep

Christmas to me is the Magi Who put all of their faith in a star And in search of the little Christ child They willingly travelled so far.

Christmas to me is worship, Giving thanks for the Saviour‘s birth; But to many of the folk I know Christmas has no real worth.

So what will YOU see at Christmas? Will you think of that baby so small? And recognise that the love of God Came to earth that first Christmas of all?

Colin Hammacott

~ 6 ~


PARISH CHRISTMAS CARD

The idea is simple.

To avoid writing piles of Christmas cards to

your friends in the church, just write your

Christmas greeting on the Parish Card on the

notice board in the Church and put the

money you would have spent on buying cards

for each other in the collection tin.

All proceeds will go to SCRATCH

(Southampton City and Region,

Action to Combat Hardship)

PLEASE REMEMBER ….. don‟t throw away your used postage stamps. These can be used to raise

money for charity. Please leave on the Church table or give to Joyce Smerdon.

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS If you would like to make a donation

towards the cost of Christmas flowers, please contact Liz Spencer-Fleet

(80 560055).

CHRISTMAS APPEAL

Our Christmas Appeal this year is for men‘s toiletries - soap, razors, shaving foam, toothpaste, towels, etc. for the new Booth Centre run by the Salvation

Army in Oxford Street, Southampton. If you would like to make a donation, please

bring this along to the church or give to Doris Pratt.

Thank you for your support.

This is a special invitation to come along with your

family, friends and neighbours

and join us for our

CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE

at 5.00 p.m. on Sunday 18th December in Pear Tree Church. All welcome

CAROL SINGING AROUND THE PARISH

Throughout December the choirs of Pear Tree and St. Mark‟s Church will

be singing at various Residential Homes in Pear Tree and Woolston.

There is a full list of times, dates and venues on the church

notice board. Why not come along and join us? All welcome.

~ 7 ~


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 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

Christingle Services will be held in Pear Tree Church on Christmas Eve

at 4.00 p.m. (Infant School children and under)

and 6.00 p.m. (Junior School children and over).

~ 8 ~


FROM THE CHURCH

REGISTERS

Funerals

May they rest in peace

Sam Pothecary - aged 81

Baptisms

May they grow in faith, supported by their parents and godparents

Jennifer and Megan Kemp

Marriages

Those whom God has joined together

Christopher Collins and Kaylie Clasby

Congratulations to several of our young people who have been celebrating birthdays in

November and December - Simons Cousens, Kailey Firmin, Lauren Cousens and Joe Wilkinson.

Congratulations also to Jenny Wetherell; to Nora Rogerson, who celebrated her 94th

birthday in November, and to Mary Stone, who will be 21 again in December.

Congratulations of a different kind to Liz and Peter Spencer-Fleet on the arrival of their first

grandson, Alexander Edward, born to Geoff and Georgina on 19th October in Hendon, North West London, and weighing in at 8lbs 3oz.

Your prayers are asked for Marie

Warr, who is recovering following a fall at home, and for Helen Williams, who, at the time of writing, is very ill in hospital following a stroke.

We send Christmas greetings to all friends and family members who may be away for Christmas. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you all.

Pear Tree Players ....

staged a successful production, of ―Spectres and Shadows‖, during October. Our two

youngest members, May and Julia Newton had never acted on stage before. They, and

everyone else, gave a wonderful performance. We all really enjoyed taking part in the four one-

act plays, although my favourite has to be ―Unearthly Laughter‖ where three loud and

uncouth nouveau riche met their match with three medieval ghosts and a rather glamorous

witch. The witch theme continued in the second half with a wild and unShakespearean version of Macbeth‘s witches; however it was great fun and well received. Simon wrote the play, ―Delayed‖, specifically for Pear Tree Players, which had a

very spooky ending.

A huge thanks to James Harvey and Jenny

Wetherell for the sound and lighting during this and all the other plays. A dramatisation of Edgar

Allen-Poe‘s poem, ―The Raven‖, gave Simon some very difficult, tongue-twisting lines to learn

– well done to him for such a sterling performance. We kept our best performances for our final play, ―The Monkey‘s Paw‖. Simon and Julia played the parts of Mr and Mrs White with

great authenticity. During Julia‘s final scene there were tears in the eyes of some of the cast

at her emotional performance.

Thank you to the cast for all their time and

efforts during our months of rehearsals. Thank you also to everyone who helped backstage and

front of house during the performances.

We are always very happy to welcome new members. If you would like to take part as an actor or as a valued member of our backstage

crew, please come along to any of our rehearsal evenings. We meet every Friday in the church

hall at 7.30 p.m. We look forward to seeing you. Kath Cousens

~ 9 ~


Firstly, I would like to thank you all on behalf of the Mawundo team for the tremendous support that you have given us over the past year with your very generous contributions to the Mawundo table. We have done really well in sending out funds to the children in Walibo School that have bought food, clothing and school equipment that they so

desperately needed.

I have been asking for some time now for my contact, Robert Makika, to set up a post office box so that the children of our parish can write to the children in the Walibo School and at last this has been

done. The address is .....

WALIBO ORPHANAGE SCHOOL P.O. BOX 1211

IGANGA, UGANDA

so if any of the children would like a pen pal, this is your chance! I am not sure of the standard of English the children have but it would be great to give it a try. Adults, too, can write but on the advice

of Robert please don‘t send any money in letters as this will be stolen before it gets to the school.

The following is a typical e-mail I get from Robert, but I must point out that when he mentions ―Uncle

Jim‖ he is referring to all of us at Pear Tree - I am just the link for you ......

Here in Uganda the weather is unpredictable because it rains for a day or two and shines for a week, so it is not reliable at all. Agatha and I are doing fine and only waiting for December

because Christmas moods are already felt with our hearts.

Uncle, our children are in good condition with no disturbance in their health and education. On 2nd of November 2011, primary seven pupils are going to sit for their final examinations which qualifies them to the next level of education and that is secondary level. Fifty children will sit for this year’s finals and we are expecting good results and I will let you know how

they perform when results come out next year.

The children told me to pass on their two messages to you and it was the main concern to write to you so early like this. Uncle, a month back the children gave me the first message but due to poor internet services here caused some delay but as it is said that better late than never, I profoundly acknowledge you, uncle, that our children (orphans), wanted to organise and have a tour around the few places in the country (Uganda) and more so towns because some of them tell me that since they were born never have they gone to town or gone for a tour and wanted this before the year ends to make their dream come true once in a life time. As a parent I felt this touching because I physically see these children telling but

due to financial constraints we called for your help, uncle.

It was interesting to me also on the first day I heard from a primary six girl, then I called all of them and thanked them for being appreciative of the services you send us. They want to

schedule the tour for 5th December 2011 because on the 8th they will also being doing their

end of year exams.

And for this last message, this was in a form of conversation: “Uncle Robert, please talk to Uncle Jim and Aunt Jean and tell them that it is coming to time for Christmas - how are we going to celebrate that memorial moment?” I asked them how they wanted to. Then they told me “At least Uncle Jim could send us some clothing!” I told them that it is quite impossible, then finally they told me maybe Uncle Jim could send us some little funds as usual through Western Union to buy them a dress or t-shirt. And conclusively I told them to wait for Uncle Jim to think for us. Wishing you

happy times, Uncle, and waiting for your response.

The children send their warm greetings to everyone in Pear

Tree Church and they love you so much.

Happily, the PCC have agreed to send money from our Mawundo account and this should reach them by the beginning of December.

Once again, many, many thanks for your fantastic support.

Jim Inglis

NEWS

FROM

MAWUNDO

PRAYER CORNER Lord, as it is time to

celebrate Christmas time and the birth of Jesus, we pray for all those who serve Queen and

country around the world and for peace.

Stephen Boulain

~ 10 ~


1. When was Christmas first celebrated? a. The year after Jesus was crucified b. Around 100 AD c. In the 4th Century d. 1935

2. Where did the Christmas tree tradition originate? a. Germany b. Israel c. New England d. Scandinavia

3. Why was December 25th chosen as Christmas Day? a. That‟s when Jesus was born b. To compete with a pagan celebration c. That‟s when Christmas trees are in season d. That‟s when the Bible says to celebrate it

4. How did kissing under the mistletoe develop?a. Eating it makes your mouth pucker

b. It was associated with the Scandinavian love goddess c. The Druids used it in marriage ceremonies d. It was used to make love potions in ancient times

5. What significance has holly in celebrating Christmas? a. The pointed leaves represent the Star of Bethlehem b. It was mistaken for mistletoe c. The red berries are a Christmas colour d. The early Church banned mistletoe, so holly was substituted

6. Who was probably the first man to illuminate a Christmas tree with candles? a. Alexander the Great b. Pope John I c. Martin Luther d. Pope Bob II

7. St. Nicholas was born in which country? a. The North Pole b. Holland c. Germany d. Turkey

8. Jesus was probably born during which season? a. Spring b. Summer c. Autumn d. Winter

9. How did Xmas originate as an abbreviation for Christmas? a. Atheists refused to accept “Christ” as part of the word b. The early Popes were lazy so they tended to shorten everything

c. The Greek word for Christ is Xristos d. From Latin terminology for any holy day 10. Which of these events did NOT occur on Christmas Day? a. Hong Kong fell to the Japanese in WWII b. Ebenezer Scrooge was visited by four ghosts c. King Arthur pulled Excalibur from the stone d. Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor 11. Which star led the three Kings to Jesus? a. Star of David b. North Star c. Star of Bethlehem d. Angel Star 12. What comes after “8 maids a-milking” in the song “The 12 Days of Christmas”? a. 9 pipers piping b. 9 Lords a-leaping c. 9 drummers drumming d. 9 ladies dancing 13. How many sides does a snowflake have? a. 6 b. 8 c. 10 d. 12 14. What is the Irish custom of “feeding the wren” or “hunting the wren” on December 26th? a. Taking one‟s in-laws out to dinner b. Carrying a wren door to door, to collect money for charity c. Leaving a basket of cakes at the door for passers-by d. Putting out suet and seeds for the wild birds

Answers: 1) c 2) a 3) b 4) b 5) d 6) c 7) d

8) a 9) c 10) b 11) c 12) d 13) a 14) b

~ 11 ~


Another opportunity to read one of the articles

written by Rene Leppitt (1930-2003)

It is easy to recall memories of Christmas as a child. Who could forget the magic of waking in the dark with the knowledge that Father Christmas had called? Groping to the foot of the bed to find that heavy, lumpy stocking. The whispered conversations with my sister as we guessed the contents. It was always far too early for our parents to be awake, but it never seemed long to wait until we joined them in their bed. It was quite a climb up on the big, feather bed but so warm and comfortable. At last we were able to dip our hands in and pull out the coloured pencils, painting books, small toys, sweets, nuts and fruit always found inside. Later we would go downstairs to exclaim at the transformed front room with would have been decorated while we were in bed. No Christmas in October in my childhood memories!

Many years later the tradition was carried on with my own children. Stockings were always opened in our bedroom together. Mum and Dad enjoyed tea and shortbread biscuits and the children whatever they fancied from their stockings. Before breakfast too! Most of the pleasure was seeing their faces when they found something they particularly wanted or some surprise item that really pleased them. It was a special time.

Weather also seems important at Christmas. My sister and I used to walk to church down a country lane. Fields on one side and an overhanging hedgerow on the other. I remember one year we had a heavy frost and the countryside was transformed. Everything glistened and sparkled in the wintry sunshine. Icicles hung from the branches so that every tree was decorated for that unique Christmas morning. In a village such as ours we knew most people and ―Happy Christmas‖ was exchanged with everyone we met. Was it my fancy that there was such a feeling of happiness that day?

Our children longed for snow at Christmas. The first year we moved here their wish was granted. Unfortunately, we travelled home to Wales to spend Christmas with our families. The snow started on Boxing Day and forgot to stop. We were soon snowed in. We have a lovely snap of our son Paul in my parents‘ garden. The snowman he helped to build was as big as him. There is no record of the ‘phone call that told of the burst pipe in our house in Eastleigh. No snap to show us going home on the train as it was impossible to get back by car. A week later my husband returned for the car. The story of his journey behind the snowploughs would fill a few pages. We returned to a warm house. The water was mopped up. All the wet clothes from the airing cupboard washed, dried and ironed. This from a neighbour we had only known five months. True Christmas spirit.

The snow came again another year when we had all four of our children and they were older. We also had a neighbour‘s young puppy while the family went to share Christmas with their parents. We woke to see the snow. Such excitement! It was not long before we were on our way to the Common which was just down the road. We reached the open area and all we could see was deep, fresh snow. Very few people were out so we were the first to walk in it. What a time we had! The puppy dashed about digging his nose in the snow and shaking his head so that he was in a snow shower. It is not often snow is so powdery and dry. Even snowballs felt different. We trampled patterns in the snow and laughed together.

So many moments of such happiness in life are made by so little. Christmas is a time to have them and to share them with others. What better time than a birthday to celebrate!

ME M O RIE S

The New Year's days are white with snow,

The winds are laughing as they blow.

Across the ponds and lakes we glide,

And o'er the drifting snow we ride,

And down the hills we gaily slide,

For it is winter

~ 12 ~


On two wise men, one three-legged sheep

and a tipsy tree

The Rectory

St. James the Least

My dear Nephew Darren

It really is time to get some new figures for the crib. After a series of accidents over the years, we are now down to two wise men and one three-legged sheep that only remains upright if it is leaning against a shepherd.

Joseph, having been obliged to stand outside the shelter of the stable for the last four decades, is now comprehensively veneered with bat droppings. In a rather desperate effort to enlarge this rather frugal cast, Miss Timmins hit on the idea of introducing characters from the children‟s Easter garden. This would have all been very well if both sets of figures had been to the same scale, but we now have the shepherds apparently being threatened by

two ten feet rabbits.

One of our local farmers – I am sure very kindly meant – donated far more straw for the stable than was necessary. Our decorators, refusing to let his generosity go to waste, used

the lot. The result is that Mary and Joseph stand up to their waists, looking as if they are being engulfed by a straw snow drift and the crib along with baby Jesus have disappeared entirely. The latter is not entirely to be regretted, since no one can now see that Jesus has no nose, the result of one of our children dropping him on the floor at last year‟s Crib Service.

I am sure your ecologically appropriate Christmas tree, made of re-cycled dustbin liners will be much appreciated by your congregation, knowing that they are saving the planet for future generations. We, however, remain traditional, with a tree always donated by the local squire from his estate, even if is at the cost of adding another degree to global warming.

Not only does it look more fitting, but it gives our verger something to do on twelfth night, as he sweeps up several hundredweight of pine needles.

I sometimes wonder if it is entire coincidence that the tree is always delivered by the

estate staff on a day when there has been torrential rain in the area. Carrying it into church up the aisle makes it look as if the parting of the Red Sea has unsuccessfully taken place inside St. James‟. The major problem every year is getting the wretched thing to stand upright in the sanctuary. It takes so long that I sometimes feel it would be quicker to re-align all the church pillars to the same angle as the tree itself.

Last year‟s decision to have tree lights which flashed in succession was not a success. Those members who stared at them for too long while singing carols tended to fall over – although I suspect that Major Crump‟s inability to remain upright at the midnight Service was for rather different reasons. Not using flashing lights this year, the Major will have to find a

different excuse.

Your loving uncle,

Eustace

~ 13 ~


1 CORINTHIANS 13 - THE CHRISTMAS VERSION

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,

but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas puddings, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime,

but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity,

but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata,

but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the children to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return,

but rejoices in giving to those who can't. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. Computer games will break, cashmere jumpers will wear out, golf clubs will get lost.

But giving the gift of love will endure.

Happy Christmas!

Signs & Symbols: Do you look like a Christian?

Ever heard the saying: ‗You are what you eat‘? It is so true. You probably have not seen anyone walking around who actually looks like a chocolate bar or packet of crisps; but you will see plenty of people who look like they have been eating far too much fat and sugar.

It is fair to say that the outward shape of a person is a pretty good indication of their diet and their level of exercise. The Bible warns that things done in secret will be revealed in public.... sadly that is also true about our eating habits!

So – have you ever wondered what might be the ‗shape‘ of a person who is a Christian? Of course, ideally, all Christians would take good care of their bodies, because the Bible tells us that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and should respect ourselves. But what about another aspect of our appearance – our behaviour? Perhaps there should at least be a ‗family likeness‘ with regard to our behaviour.

Christian behaviour has been described as showing ‗the fruit of the Spirit‘ – in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. St Paul says Christians are to show joy in our faith, love towards all, peace in our spirits, patience with others, long-suffering, and forgiveness to those who wrong us. Where people see these characteristics like these in your life, you may be sure they will notice that there is ‗something‘ about you which is most attractive!

This month:- That night in Bethlehem, so long ago, the angels bade the shepherds ‗peace on earth‘, ‗goodwill towards men‘... when we too, can reflect that lovely Spirit of Jesus, we will indeed ‗look‘ like Christians.

Revd Dr Jo White

~ 14 ~


1st January - The naming of Jesus It is Matthew and Luke who tell the story of how the angel instructed that Mary‘s baby was to be named Jesus - a common name meaning ‗saviour‘. The Church recalls the naming of

Jesus on 1 January - eight days after 25 December (by the Jewish way of reckoning days). For in Jewish tradition, the male babies were circumcised and named on their eighth day of

life.

For early Christians, the name of Jesus held a special significance. In Jewish tradition, names expressed aspects of personality. Jesus‘ name permeated his ministry, and it does so today:

we are baptised in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38), we are justified through the name of Jesus (1 Cor 6:11); and God the Father has given Jesus a name above all others (Phil 2:9). All Christian prayer is through ‗Jesus Christ our Lord‘, and it is ‗at the name of Jesus‘ that one

day every knee shall bow.

5th January - Simeon Stylites (390-459) Quite frankly, this hermit was about as weird as

they come. But he loved God, and God blessed him, strange though he was. So perhaps Simeon Stylites should be the patron

saint of all REALLY eccentric people.

Simeon was the son of a shepherd on the Syrian border of Cilicia, He joined a monastery near Antioch, where he practised mortifications and penances that nearly killed him. When the abbot dismissed him in disgust as crazy, Simeon moved on to Telanissos (nowadays Dair Sem‘an) and spent his first Lent there in a

total fast. He was found unconscious on Easter Day. After three years in that monastery he felt life was too easy, and moved himself to the top of the nearby mountain, where he chained himself to a rock. He began to be talked about, and more and more people came

to see him.

Simeon did not want their company, and so planned his escape: to the top of a pillar. For the next four years he lived on top of a pillar

that was nine feet high. More people came by, and so Simeon in desperation added to his pillar, until it grew to be 18 feet high. Still people came to see him, and so three years later, Simeon built himself a real skyscraper – a pillar 33 feet high, from the top of which he

enjoyed 10 years of comparative solitude.

Still people came to see him – both Christians and pagans, and so Simeon decided to

somehow to build a pillar that was 60 feet high and six feet wide. Here he found peace and quiet, and so here he lived for the last 20 years of his life. People still came to see him, and tried to catch the ‗sacred‘ lice that fell off his

body. They enjoyed his twice daily exhortations to everyone below. Even the odd emperor came by for a look – Theodosius, Leo and

Marcian.

A scholar has written of Simeon: ―His preaching was practical, kindly, and free from fanaticism. ... In an age of licentiousness and luxury he gave unique and abiding witness to the need for penance and prayer; his way of life provided a spectacle at once challenging,

repulsive and awesome.‖

Simeon finally died and was buried at Antioch. Perhaps he would have enjoyed the chance to

take the plinth at Trafalgar Square!

25th January - The Conversion of St Paul January is a month of the beginning of great things! As well as the naming of the Son of

God, we celebrate the conversion of the greatest ever apostle of the Christian faith. Many books have been written on Paul, and

here is the briefest of introductions.

He was a Jew, born as ‗Saul‘ at Tarsus, and brought up by the rabbi Gamaliel as a Pharisee. A devout, fanatical Jew, Saul persecuted the Christians, and watched with satisfaction the first Christian martyrdom, the stoning of Stephen. Then on his way to Damascus Saul had a vision of Christ that stopped him, literally,

in his tracks. He realised that this Jesus whom he was persecuting was in fact the Messiah for

whom he had longed.

Saul changed overnight. He took a new name, Paul, and became an evangelist for the cause of Christ. He became a leader in the early Church, and his special calling was as an apostle to the Gentiles. He wrote many epistles to the young churches he founded - and thus, inadvertently, wrote a great part of the New

Testament.

Life as the greatest apostle was hardly full of perks: he was stoned, beaten, mobbed, homeless, hated, imprisoned, and finally martyred. Tradition has it that he was beheaded in Rome during the persecution of Nero in AD 64, and buried where the basilica of St Paul ‗outside the walls‘ now stands. His mighty faith in Christ has kindled similar belief

in many millions of people down the centuries.

HIGH DAYS AND HOLY DAYS FOR JANUARY

~ 15 ~


It was....

500 years ago:- on 1st Jan 1511 that King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon‘s first child was born. Baby Henry survived for only two months.

350 years ago:- on 30th Jan 1661 that Oliver Cromwell, former Lord Protector of England, was formally executed (more than two years after his death!)

150 years ago:- on 9th Jan 1861 that the first shots were exchanged between the Union and Confederate forces in the American Civil War.

125 years ago:- on 29 Jan 1886 that the first practical car to be powered by an internal combustion engine was patented by Karl Benz.

100 years ago:- on 21st Jan 1911 that the first Monte Carlo rally was held.

90 years ago:- on 28th Jan 1921 that The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was installed beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, honouring unidentified soldiers who fell in WW1.

75 years ago:- on 18th Jan 1936 that Rudyard Kipling, British writer (‗The Jungle Book‘, ‗Kim‘) and poet died.

70 years ago:- on 8th Jan 1941 that Sir Robert Baden-Powell, British army officer and founder of the Scouts and Guides movements, died.

60 years ago:- on 9th Jan 1951 that the United Nations headquarters in New York City was officially opened.

50 years ago:- on 20th Jan 1961 that John F Kennedy was inaugurated as the 35th President of the United States.

40 years ago:- on 2nd Jan 1971 that a barrier collapsed at the Ibrox Park football stadium in Glasgow, killing 66 fans.

Also 40 years ago:- on 25th Jan 1971 that Idi Amin deposed the President of Uganda, Milton Obote, and declared himself President on 2nd Feb.

30 years ago:- on 5th Jan 1981 that British lorry driver Peter Sutcliffe (‗The Yorkshire Ripper‘) was charged with the murders of 13 women.

Also 30 years ago:- on 20th Jan 1981 that 52 American hostages were released from the US embassy in Tehran, Iran, after being held for 444 days by followers of Ayatollah Khomeini.

25 years ago:- on 24th Jan 1986 that the Wapping Dispute began, when newspaper workers in London began a year-long strike against News International.

Also 25 years ago:- on 28th Jan 1986 that the American space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after lift-off from Cape Canaveral, killing 7 astronauts.

20 years ago:- on 16th Jan 1991 that the Gulf War‘s Operation Desert Storm was underway. US-led forces began bombing Iraq.

15 years ago:- on 2nd Jan 1996 that the first convoy of American peacekeeping troops arrived in Northern Bosnia following the end of the Bosnian War. This was the USA‘s first military involvement in Europe since WW11.

10 years ago:- on 12th Jan 2001 that Sven-Goran Eriksson from Sweden was appointed as the first foreigner to coach the England football team.

10 years ago:- on 15th Jan 2001 that Wikipedia, the online, collaborative encyclopaedia, was officially launched.

10 years ago:- on 31st Jan 2001 that a Scottish court convicted Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi from Libya of carrying out the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.

All in the month of

~ 16 ~


RING OUT THE OLD, RING IN THE NEW

It‘s probably because I‘m just a Grumpy Old Man, but I do find it hard to see the point of ‗celebrating‘ New Year. For me, the event has all the stupendous excitement of the milometer in the car clicking over from 39,999 to 40,000. It isn‘t the solstice or equinox. Nothing actually happens. It doesn‘t commemorate anything, except that we‘re all that much older, that much nearer a pension or the great retirement home in the sky.

Nevertheless, whatever the weather, New Year always sees vast crowds on the streets of our great cities, cheering, getting drunk and dancing in the fountains of Trafalgar Square. Men for some

obscure reason carry bits of coal into neighbours‘ houses and people who have no idea what the words mean sing ‗Auld Lang Syne‗. So what is it that they‘re celebrating?

Surely not 2011 and its miserable economic news, recession and unemployment? Surely not, either, the remorseless tread of time. I suspect in fact most of them have simply turned up for the party, or perhaps it‘s not 2011 at all that they have in mind, but the New Year, 2012 - hope triumphing over experience.

Of course, the gloom of 2011 was lightened by personal highs - the birth of a child or grand-child, perhaps, a marriage, a new friend. But reason (and in my case long experience) tells me that 2012 will be very much like 2011, but, hey, hope springs eternal.

So is it stupid, or pointless, or even wrong to celebrate the New Year? No, of course not. Time is too serious, too important for us to take it lightly. The Old Preacher in the Bible assures us that ‗for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven‘. He sees the passing of time as part of the way the Creation works - ‗God has made everything suitable for its time; moreover, he has put a sense of past and future into our minds‘ (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Humans, in other words, have an understanding of past, present, future: we live in a world with tenses. And he has done this ‗so that all should stand in awe before him‘. Time, a gift of God, is awesome, and its passage deeply significant.

No reason, then, not to mark the passing of the old year and the birth of the new one, but every reason to recognise that we too are part of the process, carried along by time‘s tide but not helpless to make choices. Some of those choices may change us, or our families, or our neighbours during the coming year. Some may eventually change the world.

In God‘s purpose, there is no reason at all why 2012 has to be like 2011. Let the old year go, with all its memories, joys and hurts. And turn to the new one with faith and prayer and - yes - hope. For myself, definitely no freezing fountains, excess alcohol or lumps of coal. But even this Grumpy Old Man will raise a glass, say a prayer, and watch the clock tick past midnight into a brave new year.

David Winter

My 10 Resolutions for 2012 This coming year, I have decided that with God's help, I shall……

Give up complaining . . . focus on gratitude.

Give up harsh judgments . . . think kind thoughts.

Give up worry . . . trust divine providence.

Give up discouragement . . . be full of hope.

Give up bitterness . . . turn to forgiveness.

Give up hatred . . . return good for evil.

Give up anger . . . practice patience.

Give up pettiness . . . put on maturity.

Give up gloom. . . enjoy the beauty that is around me.

Give up gossiping . . . control my tongue.

~ 17 ~


~ 18 ~


NEWS FROM SOUTHAMPTON FLOWER CLUB who meet at 2.00 p.m. in Pear Tree Church Hall

on the third Thursday of every month

At the end of September the National Competitions took place in Torquay and we were delighted when one of our members, Gretchen White, won a first prize

with a beautiful exhibit.

At the beginning of October ladies from the club enjoyed arranging the flowers at the chapel in Victoria Country Park for a Scarecrow Wedding, which was part of the annual

Pumpkin Festival, it was great fun.

On December 1st we have a demonstration by Marion Catt entitled 'Christmas Crackers'; we invite you to join us at 2 p.m. in the Hall. Entrance is £5, payable at the

door. This should be a very entertaining and enjoyable event.

On behalf of my Committee and members may I wish you a Happy and Blessed Christmas and a peaceful new year.

Hazel Roberts

The following letter has been received from Southampton City Mission ……. Dear Pear Tree Church

Re: Your Harvest donation to Basics Bank

We would like to say a big thank you to everyone in your church who has given food and finance to Basics Bank at this Harvest time. We thank you for your prayers too.

Your partnership with us in this work is vital. We have fed approximately 4,660 people with 5 days supply of food in the year ending August 2011.

Yours faithfully

Cheryl Ricketts Basics Bank Supervisor

St. Mark‘s Church, Woolston

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR 12.00 noon

Saturday 3rd December

in St. Mark‘s Institute, Victoria Road, Woolston

CHARITY TABLE TOP SALE

10.00 a.m. - 11.30 a.m. Saturday 3rd December

in Pear Tree Green United Reformed Church Hall, Bridge Road, Woolston

~ 19 ~


MERRYOAK COMPUTER CLUB Based at Merryoak Community Centre Acacia Road Merryoak, Southampton SO19 7JY Do you want to develop your computer skills? Why not come and do that in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, working at your own pace?

Professional tuition is offered to absolute beginners, or intermediate levels, with Word documents, spreadsheets, Clip Art, navigating the Internet, managing your photographs, and much more.

Modest fees

Choose a session to suit you - Mondays and Thursdays 10.00 until 12.00 12.30 until 2.30

For more information, contact the centre during session times either in person or tel. 023 80366013 or 023 80446646 at other times.

St. Mark‘s Church Weston Grove Road

Woolston

JUBILEE BRASS CONCERT 3.00 p.m.

Sunday 11th December

Telephone No.

023 8022 0748

WE HAVE MOVED TO 104 East Street

Southampton SO14 3HH open 6 days a week Monday - Saturday

from 10 am to 4 pm. Please come and visit us, we would love to see you!

WOOLSTON CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL 2011

12.00 noon – 6.00 p.m. Saturday 3rd December Victoria Road, Woolston

*Lantern Parade *Father Christmas *Christmas Bazaar in St. Mark’s Institute *Craft Fayre and Fun Fair *Entertainers, live music, performances and fun throughout the day

COMMUNICARE TREE OF LIGHT As part of the Woolston Christmas Festival, Communicare are offering sponsorship for the

Tree of Light, situated in the Millennium Garden, Woolston, which will be switched on at 5.30 p.m. by John Denham MP followed by carols with the Salvation Army Band.

If you would like to sponsor this event in memory of a loved one, please help yourself to a form from the Church table or call in at the Communicare office in St. Mark‘s Institute,

Victoria Road, Woolston, Monday to Thursday, between 10.00 a.m. and 12.00 p.m.

For full information, please contact Helen Taylor (80422393) or Avril Corne (80390439), your representatives in Pear Tree Church.

10.30 a.m. Saturday 28th January in Pear Tree Church Hall

Any offers of help would be appreciated. Please come along to the Hall from 9.00 a.m.

~ 20 ~


PEAR TREE PUZZLE PAGE

Across 1 Rely (Psalm 62:7) (6) 4 ‗He stretches out the heavens like a — , and spreads them out like a tent to live in‘ (Isaiah 40:22) (6) 7 What the dove carried the olive leaf in, when it returned to Noah‘s ark (Genesis 8:11) (4) 8 Annoy (1 Samuel 1:6) (8) 9 Judah‘s last king, who ended his days as a blind prisoner in Babylon (Jeremiah 52:11) (8) 13 ‗They all — and were satisfied‘ (Luke 9:17) (3) 14 Eliphaz the Temanite was one; so was Bildad the Shuhite

and Zophar the Naamathite (Job 2:11; 16:2) (4,9) 17 National Association of Evangelicals (of the USA) (1,1,1) 19 Popular song for New Year‘s Eve, Auld — — (4,4) 24 Able dock (anag.) (8) 25 The number of stones David chose for his confrontation with

Goliath (1 Samuel 17:40) (4) 26 Elgar‘s best-known ‗Variations‘ (6) 27 Soak (Isaiah 16:9) (6) Down 1 Money owing (Deuteronomy 15:3) (4) 2 Conciliatory (Titus 3:2) (9) 3 ‗Do this, whenever you — it, in remembrance of me‘

(1 Corinthians 11:25) (5) 4 A group assisting in the governance of the Roman Catholic

Church (5) 5 One of the gifts Joseph‘s brothers took with them on their

second journey to Egypt (Genesis 43:11) (4) 6 ‗Reach out your hand and — — into my side. Stop doubting and believe‘ (John 20:27) (3,2) 10 Be outstandingly good (2 Corinthians 8:7) (5) 11 ‗What — — that you are mindful of him, the son of man that

you care for him?‘ (Psalm 8:4) (2,3) 12 Horse‘s feet (Judges 5:22) (5) 13 Notice (Deuteronomy 17:4) (9) 14 Comes between 2 Chronicles and Nehemiah (4) 15 One of Israel‘s northern towns conquered by Ben-Hadad

(1 Kings 15:20) (4) 18 Narnia‘s Lion (5) 19 One of the two rivers in which Naaman would have preferred

to wash (2 Kings 5:12) (5) 21 Avarice—one of the evils that come from inside people (Mark 7:22) (5) 22 Knight Grand Cross of St Michael and St George (1,1,1,1) 23 Jacob‘s first wife (Genesis 29:23) (4)

Answers on page 22 The Bible version used

in our crossword is the NIV

CHRISTMAS WORDSEARCH

SUDOKU Each row, column and box must contain

the numbers 1-9 - simple!

December Cold Cards Presents Mistletoe Trees Concerts Carols

Pudding Cake Messiah Manger Bethlehem Angels Shepherds

Birth Busy Joyful Celebrate Gift Son Magi

~ 21 ~


Overheard on the Wise Men’s journey

to Bethlehem

―The camel is definitely the ship of the desert. I know it because I‘m getting seasick.‖

“OK, we got the gold. We got the frankincense. We got the myrrh. Think we should get something more practical, like nappies, maybe?”

―At least this gold has doubled in price since we set out from home....‖

“Man, I'm starting to get a rush from this frankincense!”

―Suppose He really wanted a PlayStation?‖

“ I think we took a wrong turn back at Amal's house.”

―Why should I always have to be in the rear? It's somebody else's turn to get sand in his face.‖

“I need to stop at the bazaar in the next town and pick up one more gift.”

―You know, I used to go to school with a girl name Beth Lehem.‖

“ I thought this was supposed to be a weekend trip... my wife is going to be furious...”

―What's so WISE about wandering around the desert for three years?‖

It was Christmas Eve in a supermarket and a woman was anxiously picking over the last few remaining turkeys in the hope of finding a large one. In desperation she called over a shop assistant and said "Excuse me. Do these turkeys get any bigger?" He replied: ―No, sorry, they‘re all dead."

The nursery school teacher was teaching her class about living in a democracy. She said: "One of the things we should be happy about is that, in this country, we are all free." One little boy stood up in protest. ―No,‖ he said indignantly. "I'm not free. I'm four." What goes red white red white red white? Santa rolling down a hill.

My three children were in the Christmas pageant. I was so proud. My daughter was playing Mary. One son was a shepherd. And my other son was a Wise Man. My shepherd son had practised his lines over and over, but when the time came, he was nervous and said, "We found the babe wrapped in wrinkled clothes." To which Mary replied, "That's not wrinkled clothes, that's dirty rotten clothes!" Giggles from the audience followed, but the play went on. My Wise Man son, wearing his father's bath robe and paper crown knelt by the manger and said, "We are the three Wise Men and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur." Just got home and found all the windows and doors open and everything has gone. What kind of sick twisted person does that to someone‘s Advent calendar? A thought for all church councils as the New Year begins: ―To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a committee.‖ My friend drowned in a bowl of muesli. A strong currant pulled him in. Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time

~ 22 ~


PUZZLE SOLUTIONS - page 20 ACROSS: 1, Depend. 4, Canopy. 7, Beak. 8, Irritate. 9, Zedekiah. 13, Ate. 16, Job‘s comforter. 17, NAE. 19, Lang Syne. 24, Blockade. 25, Five. 26, Enigma. 27, Drench. DOWN: 1, Debt. 2, Peaceable. 3, Drink. 4, Curia. 5, Nuts. 6, Put it. 10, Excel. 11, Is man. 12, Hoofs. 13, Attention. 14, Ezra. 15, Ijon. 18, Aslan. 20, Abana. 21, Greed. 22, GCMG. 23, Leah.

In search of a New Year’s Resolution?

As well as your New Year diet, here is another resolution for the year ahead. Everyone has heard of it – but who do you know that has really tried it? It is found in the Sermon on the Mount, and is one of the most famous things that Jesus ever said. It is also without parallel in all the teachings of the world.

Several religions urge followers to refrain from harming others. That is a first step towards building a just society. But only Jesus said that we should live our lives actively seeking to do good to others. It is an attitude warm with generosity, with kindness, brimming with quiet graciousness and compassion. We are to go out of our way to encourage the depressed, to forgive those who have harmed us, to help those in need.

To refrain from doing injustice takes strong self-control. To live caring for others takes something more – a life-attitude of self-sacrificial love. Such love we see first in Jesus, in his death for our sins on the cross. When we follow him, our Heavenly Father wants to see his Son‘s characteristics grow in our lives. If we are his children, he expects a family likeness!

So – here is a challenge for 2012: ‗In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.‘ The alternative is not an option!

Thank you to every one who helped in any way to make our Christmas Bazaar on 19th November such a success. The amount raised, after expenses, was £1057.74.

Special thanks to Helen Taylor, who organised our Bazaar this year, to all those who made donations of any kind and those who worked so hard on the day (and the previous evening) to help us set up the stalls and the children‘s activity area. Special thanks to Mary Stone and all

the helpers in the kitchen and all those who came along to the Hall to support us. It was lovely to see so many smiling faces and to meet up again with old friends.

Also ....

thank you to everyone for all your contributions to this magazine during the past year and to all those who help with deliveries throughout the parish.

Thank you for your support of our magazine - please continue to keep us supplied with items.

~ 23 ~


For a friendly, reliable service, call Kevin: 023 80441684 or 07776130889

Repairing broken paths. Steps and patios laid

All roof, guttering and brickwork undertaken

Digital TV aerials erected

Rails, shelves, pictures and doors hung

Painting and decorating service, including wall tiling

Garden service, lawns mowed, etc.

Drains unblocked

All general house and garden maintenance work

Barry Rogers

Make & Mend

Same Day and Next Day Service

Specialist in Repairs and Alterations

02380 446797

43A Bridge Road Woolston, Southampton

Slimming World is

a great way to

lose weight

Groups in your area include Pear Tree Church Hall Wednesday 9.30 am

Chamberlayne Leisure Centre Thursday 5.30 pm or 7.30 pm

Consultant Wendy Jones Tel: 023 8042 2601 or 07710620307

Call and find out more information ready to start on your new

weight loss journey

Sholing's only Family Owned Funeral Directors

Horse drawn Funerals from £575 Brook Funerals from £995

24 Hour Personal Service

Monumental Masons

Funeral catering – Orders of service

Floral Tributes – Woodland Burials

Prepaid Funeral Plans

Free Parking – Full Disabled facilities

106 Spring Road, Sholing, Southampton, Hampshire. SO19 2QB Tel: 023 8043 4244

Email: [email protected] – www.watersandsons.co.uk

~ 24 ~


RELAXA TION REQUIRED?

OVERSTRESSED?

SHOULDERS A ND NECK ACHING?

ENERGY SA PPED?

Then why not try ……..

a FACIAL MASSAGE (a w onderful hour-long cleanse & massage w ith steam therapy)

Or an Amazing …...

REFLEXOLOGY or

INDIAN HEA D MASSAGE

because EVERYONE DESERVES TO BE PAMPERED

all available from Rosemarie Parker at ‘Belever’ Sholing Road

Telephone 023 8044 7307 for an appointment

JONATHAN TERRY

A Tradition of Local Service

A Truly Independent Funeral Business

Jonathan Terry and staff are pleased to offer a 24 hour personal service to all areas

Please treat us as family. We will always be here when you need us

Telephone: 023 80 434444 101 Pear Tree Avenue, Bitterne, Southampton, SO19 7JJ

Woolston Lodge Surgery Now taking on new patients. Why not register today?

Purpose built Doctors Surgery with Onsite Pharmacy and Car Park

Online Services - Book, cancel and amend appointments, request repeat medication, and change contact details 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

24 Hour Automated Telephone Appointment System - Book, cancel and amend appointments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Walk-In Surgery - We operate a walk-in surgery between 8.30 am and 10.30 am five days a week, where patients with a need to be seen on the day can check in and wait to be seen.

Extended Hours - We offer appointments for working patients between 7 am and 8 am three mornings a week, Monday evenings 6.30 pm - 8 pm and one Saturday morning per month.

Open Lunch Times

Woolston Lodge Surgery, 66 Portsmouth Road, Woolston, Tel: 023 8044 6733 www.woolstonlodgesurgery.co.uk

Documents

you and hopefully sensing God‟s presence among us. I know ... · Christingle Service - Junior School children and over ... wonderful poem ‗The Journey of the Magi‘. What a vivid