February 2016 Edition of Contact Magazine for the Benefice of Poringland

The monthly magazine for the Benefice of Poringland

Local News & Events Find out what’s happening in your local area in February...

February 2016

Local Advertisers

Need a tradesman or service?

Check listings inside!

Check out our website for the latest www.poringland–benefice.org.uk Volume 49 / Issue 2

Suggested donation £0.50 or an Annual Donation of £5.00

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

2

6

From the Registers / Fundraising

7

Dear Friends...

10-11

News from local clubs & societies

12-13

Local events coming up

14-15

Lent, Pancake Day & Leap Years!

16

Nook Appeal: Quiz & Supper

19

Contact Magazine

Benefice of Poringland Who’s Who & Contact Info Rector Robert Parsonage (Day off: Tuesday) The Rectory, Rectory Lane, Poringland, Norwich NR14 7SL Tel: 01508 492215 Email: rector@poringland-benefice.org.uk Assistant Priest Revd Debbie Driver (Day off: Friday) 50 Rectory Lane, Poringland, Norwich NR14 7SL Tel: 01508 494641 Email: debbie@poringland-benefice.org.uk

Contact Magazine Submissions Articles and information for inclusion in the March 2016 edition should be emailed to

contact.magazine@poringland-benefice.org.uk

21

(preferably as either Microsoft Word [.doc], RTF, or PDF format) no later than 6.00pm 5th February 2016 with the words “Contact Magazine” in the title. Please note that we cannot accept Microsoft Works or Microsoft Publisher files.

24

Please bear in mind that this is a black and white publication therefore coloured type and photographs will not reproduce well.

Churches Together for Lent

Crossword

The Way of the Spirit

25

Duty Rota

26

‘Understanding Dementia’ Evening

28-29

Events Calendar

34-55

Local Advertisers

If we believe that any supplied adverts will not reproduce well we will do our best to adjust them for best quality based on the constraints of the magazine format.

All advertising queries should be directed to Andy Driver, tel (01508) 494641 or email advertising.contact@poringland-benefice. org.uk Please ensure that your name and contact number are included in case queries arise. Adverts should be supplied as hi-res (300dpi) PDFs or Jpegs in black & white only.

Many thanks, Editorial Team (Andy Driver & Jon Mullender) contact.magazine@poringland-benefice.org.uk

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

3

Benefice of Poringland Who’s Who & Contact Info Continued

Church Wardens

ALL SAINTS’ PORINGLAND

ST MARY THE VIRGIN HOWE

ST ANDREW’S FRAMINGHAM EARL

Barry Catchpole Field House, Caistor Ln, Caistor St Edmund Tel: 01508 492737

VACANT

VACANT

Graham Smith 7 Caistor Lane, Poringland Tel: 01508 492096

VACANT

Gwen Spooner 6 Bligh Close, Framingham Earl Tel: 01508 493461

Associate Wardens

Caroline Milton, 25 Church Close, Poringland, Tel: 01508 493756 Rachel Foster, Elfinsward, 20 Chandler Road, Upper Stoke, Tel: 01508 493225

Vice Chair PCC

Graham Smith Tel: 01508 492096

Elizabeth Turner Tel: 01508 550234

Robbie Brown Tel: 01508 494250

Secretary PCC

Susan McAvoy Tel: 01508 493359

VACANT

VACANT

Assistant Secretary

Denise Knight Tel: 01508 492924

Treasurer Hon PCC

Aline Turner Mark Lamb 105 The Sreet, Poringland Pearle Cottage, Howe Tel: 01508 550403 Tel: 01508 493249

Planned Giving Officer

Siobhan Korolev Tel: 01508 492745

Aline Turner Tel: 01508 550403

Electoral Roll Officer

Denise Knight 12 St Mary’s Road Tel: 01508 492924

Marion Greenwood Mike Huggins Sewell House, Sewell Rd Holly Lodge, Hall Road Tel: 01508 493138 Tel: 01508 550438

Organists/ Musicians

Janet Smith David Keefe Rachel Foster Peter LeFevre Marion Williams

VACANT

Flower Rota

Janet Smith Tel: 01508 492096

Alison Randall 59 Norwich Rd, Poringland Tel: 01508 491737 Mike Lucas Tel: 01508 492640

Peter Sharp Glebe Farmhouse, Alpington Tel: 01508 492235 Pam Masterson Tel: 01508 495007

4

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Contact Magazine

Benefice of Poringland Who’s Who & Contact Info Continued Website Administrator

Andy Driver Elaine Chapman

webmaster @poringland-benefice.org.uk

Prayer Requests

Debbie Driver

Tel: 01508 494641 prayer@poringland-benefice.org.uk

Edward Bear Club

Rachel Foster

Tel: 01508 493225

All Saints Centre Project

Tim Bunn (Project Manager)

07795 084950 / 01493 781030 mail@timbunn.co.uk

Churches Together 4D Youth Project

Emmi Marlow (NYFC) Mob: 07717 744630

emarlow@norwichyfc.co.uk Tel: 01603 620678

Coffee Stop

Jenny Oates

Tel: 01508 492425

Alpha Course

Andy Driver

Tel: 01508 494641

Visiting Team Coordinator

Elaine Chapman

Tel: 01508 494455

Friends of St Andrew’s

Mike Lucas

Tel: 01508 492640

Octagon Wives

Jean Waters (Leader)

Tel: 01508 492193

Wednesday Group

Nina Fairman (Leader)

Tel: 01508 493336

Brooke & Poringland Scout Association

Nicky Summers (GSL)

bandpscoutgroup@gmail.com

Marriage Prep. Course

Ken & Caroline Milton

Tel: 01508 493756

Men’s Breakfast

Andy Driver

Tel: 01508 494641

Ladies’ Evening

Claudia Parsonage Caroline Milton

Tel: 01508 492215 Tel: 01508 493756

Home Groups

Graham & Janet Smith Roy & Mavis Glenn Julian & Rachel Foster

Tel: 01508 492096 Tel: 01508 491802 Tel: 01508 493225

Andy Driver Janet Smith

Tel: 01508 494641 Tel: 01508 492096

Printer-Copying

Denise Knight

12 St Marys Rd Tel: 01508 492924

Main Distribution

Graham Smith

Tel: 01508 492096

St Wandregesilius, Bixley Acting Hon PCC Treasurer

Robert Parsonage

The Rectory, Rectory Lane, Tel: 01508 492215

CONTACT MAGAZINE Business/Advertising Collation

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

5

PORINGLAND VILLAGE HALL The hall can be booked 7 days a week between 9am and 11pm for all types of non-commercial bookings, including discos. Seating capacity 100. Self catering equipment available. £9.50 per hour between 9am and 5pm or £45 for 5pm to 11pm.

Bookings Enquiries Chairman Bookings Clerk

38 St Mary’s Road Robert Parsonage Elaine Chapman

villagehall@poringland-benefice.org.uk Tel: 01508 492215 Tel: 01508 494455

PORINGLAND PLAYGROUP & ‘XTRATIME AFTERSCHOOL & HOLIDAY CLUB www.poringland-playgroup.org.uk Mob: 07504 812361 Playgroup www.xtratime.org.uk Mob: 07587 154 725 XtraTime PORINGLAND WELCOME HOME AND MEMORIAL PLAYINGFIELD Clubroom available for bookings - £20 per session Tel: 01508 492182 Mrs Catherine Moore Booking Secretary clerk@poringlandparishcouncil.gov.uk FRAMINGHAM EARL PARISH COUNCIL Mrs Linda Brook Chairman

framingham-earlpc.norfolkparishes.gov.uk 62 Long Road, Framingham Earl, NR14 7RZ Tel: 01508 494258

Clerk to the Council

Tel: 01508 494873 8 Fitzgerald Road, Framingham Earl, NR14 7TJ Tel: 01508 494635.

Email: framinghamearlpc@hotmail.co.uk

Mrs Yvonne Wonnacott

PORINGLAND PARISH COUNCIL Mr John Ellis Chairman Clerk to the Council Tel: 01508 492182

11 Rectory Lane, Poringland NR14 7ST Tel: 01508 493684

clerk@poringlandparishcouncil.gov.uk Mrs Catherine Moore Poringland Community Centre,Overtons Way, Poringland NR14 7WB

PORINGLAND SAND & GRAVEL ALLOTMENT CHARITY Funds are available to clubs and societies comprising Poringland Parishoners.

11 Greenacres Drive, Poringland, Mrs Pat Easter Chairman Norwich, NR14 7JG PORINGLAND FUEL ALLOTMENT CHARITY This local charity exists to help any resident of Poringland who is in need, hardship or distress. All correspondence to be sent to the Clerk.

Chairman

Mr David Hewer

9 Meadow Way, Poringland, NR14 7LZ Tel. 01508 492388 / 07802 519360

Clerk to the Trustees

Mrs Lesley Sanders

17 Hadden Close, Poringland NR14 7RN Tel: 01508 492155

PORINGLAND COMMUNITY CENTRE Rachel McCarthy Bookings/Enquiries

Tel: 07770 351 794

PORINGLAND WI President Secretary

Tel: 01508 491674 Tel: 01508 492155

Pam Cooper Lesley Sanders

6

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

From the Registers of the Benefice

Christingle Celebration 2015

FUNERALS Earlham Crematorium 4 Dec Elizabeth Ruth PECK 11 Dec Violet Victoria WILLIAMS

aged 76 aged 92

Waveney Crematorium 16 Dec Charles Robert Henry CAMPBELL

aged 88

Framingham Earl Fuel Allotment Trust

Funds may be available to help individuals such as students, pensioners, etc; also local clubs and societies,etc. in the Framingham Earl community. All applications will be considered.

Please apply in writing in confidence to: Mrs Linda Brook, Treasurer / Correspondent Coniscliffe House, 62 Long Road Framingham Earl, Norfolk, NR14 7RZ or telephone 01508 494258 for further info.

Poringland Fuel Allotment Charity

Reg Charity No 246265 This charity was formed originally to distribute coal to the poor of Poringland and still makes payments to help with winter fuel costs as well as giving financial help to those in need, hardship or distress. The Trustees are also able to assist with some educational expenses and make grants to local clubs and societies.

Grants are restricted to those persons living in and organisations based within the parish of Poringland. Applications for consideration should be made to the Clerk to the Trustees: Mrs LB Sanders, 17 Hadden Close, Poringland NR14 7RN. Tel: 01508 492155

All Saints Church Sermons www.poringland-benefice.org.uk/ services-activities/sermons

Contact Magazine

Many thanks to all who gave so generously at the Christingle Service held on Christmas Eve at All Saints’ Church , and especially to the children who filled their candles with coins and presented them during the service. You helped to raise the sum of £255-40 which has been sent to the Children’s Society.

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

7

RNLI Inshore lifeboat training off Weston Super Mare by Shawn Spencer-Smith

Dear Friends

Janet Smith

Poringland War Memorial Poringland Parish Council has set up a small working group to look at replacement of the existing war memorial which is located at the Leisure Garden next to the church on The Street.

The project aims to install a fitting memorial to the fallen of both the First World War and the Second World War. The Working Group is keen to consult with the community on the final design, and also to contact the families of those named on the memorials. We have very little information about those families, if your relative was one of those named on the war memorial from either war, we would very much like to hear from you.

Plans and designs will be on display for the community to view and comment on, both at the Community Centre and on the website.

We would welcome comments from everyone - this is a memorial to the fallen from the community and we feel it should reflect the gratitude Poringland feels for their sacrifice.

We also aim to write to the relatives that we have contact information for, directly asking for their views.

Please contact the Parish Clerk, Catherine Moore, on 01508 492182 or email: clerk@poringlandparishcouncil.gov.uk if you can provide any family information, or to give your views on the project.

As we look at the news, night after night, it tells us of the terrible plight of all those who have been flooded up North. The areas affected can change but the misery caused, does not. My heart goes out to all those who have been flooded more than once. But in the midst of all this some actions have stood out.

In one of the first floods a chap who ran a pet store was helped by people nearby who had not been affected.

When floods were at their worst lifeboat crews from the South coast were rushing North to help.

And then as Christmas was approaching the news team interviewed a vicar whose church had been flooded but was now not under water. They asked her what she was going to do re services and she told them that one of her biggest services was coming up, the Christingle service. And she told them because the pews had not fully dried out she had told people to bring a cushion to sit on then take it away with them. This is a service that would not give anything to the church but would raise money for less fortunate children.

But why does it take a disaster for someone to help their neighbour. Why don’t we love our neighbour as ourselves? Why don’t we do to others what we would like to be done to us? We are fast becoming a nation who looks after number one.

But we don’t have to be like this, we can choose to show love to our neighbours, we can choose to put ourselves in second position. So why don’t we? Well the scientists will tell us that it is the selfish gene, that like animals we go for survival of the fittest.

But we are human beings we don’t have to behave like animals. God created us to be like him, not necessarily in a physical way, but in the way that really matters. He created us out of love and put love at the centre of us. He showed His love for us by the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus.

So today may I encourage you to love your neighbour as yourself, after all Jesus said this was one of the most important Commandments. Don’t wait for a disaster show kindness to someone who is lonely. Have them round for a cup of tea and a biscuit. Give up some of your “me time” to a person in need.

If you have a pound to spare send it to the flood victims or a charity of your choice.

If you do this, who knows, maybe this little corner of God’s world may shine as a place where loneliness is no more and selfishness is a thing of the past. So if you did not make a New Year’s resolution in January, make one in February. Resolve to keep the second Commandment, and love your neighbour as yourself.

Much love, and God bless Rev Debbie

8

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Poringland Playgroup

Contact Magazine

‘Xtratime’ Afterschool & Holiday Club XtraTime For children aged 3 to 11 years Monday to Friday, 3-6pm (term time) We are based at Poringland Village Hall, which is situated near to the Primary School.

Playgroup For pre-school children aged 2-5.

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 3, 4 and 6 hour sessions available.

Contact: 07504 812361 www.poringland-playgroup.org.uk

The large hall is used for snacks, crafts, construction, creative play, using the computers, film watching and book reading, etc. The small hall is used for physical play.

We have access to a fully fenced, secure outdoor area, which we look to develop over a period of time, including a gardening area.

Contact: 07587 154725 www.xtratime.org.uk

Poringland Edward Bear Club

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Dementia Support The Dementia Support Group at St. George’s Hall, Upper Stoke Holy Cross, meets every second Monday of the month from 10am until 12noon.

The first hour will be shared between the carers and those they care for and volunteer helpers. In the second hour the carers meet, in a separate room, to discuss all the subjects relevant to their situation. During this time the volunteers will ensure that those needing care are catered for. Tea and coffee, at 50p/ cup, will be available throughout the period, as will complimentary biscuits.

All dementia suffers and their carers are welcome. This is an amazingly helpful group, particularly for the carers.

If anyone is interested in volunteering please contact Ann Raines on 493661 or Dave Gudgeon on 492938.

Welcome to All Saints’

Monthly Sunday Club for children aged 5-8 Fun, Games, Bible Stories, Craft We meet at 9.30am, the second Sunday of each month and then move into the Octagon until approx. 11am Sunday Club Co-ordinator Mavis Glenn Tel: 01508 491802

WEDNESDAYS 10am - 12noon PORINGLAND VILLAGE HALL ALL WELCOME (INCLUDING CHILDREN) - Please pop in for: Coffee, Teas, Squash, Refreshments, Newspapers Our annual birthday lunch is on 29th October 2014 (7th Year)

The Edward Bear Club meets every a Monday 10am–12pm (term time) at ry.

Poringland Village Hall.Feeding It is for Network, hand from the charity, Breast pre-school children and their any who parents/carers. toys and activities.

The second Monday of the month is a

ge though donations towards music group based roundrefreshments a Bible story. are The fourth Monday there are staff on hand from the charity, Breast Feeding Network, providing information and support for any who require. All other Mondays there are toys and activities.

The Edward Bear club is free of charge though donations towards refreshments are always welcome.

Contact: Rachel Foster: 01508 493225 Janet Smith: 01508 492096

9

10

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Contact Magazine

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Poringland Wednesday Group

Brooke Gardening Club

Poringland WI

There was an extremely good attendance in the Octagon for the Wednesday Group’s first meeting of 2016; we did not have a speaker so it was very informal, we were a large friendly circle.

A fascinating talk on “a day in the life of...” was given to the November meeting of the Gardening Club by a practicing thatcher. A craft which requires stamina, a love of the job and a regard for tradition.

Gerry Morris entertained our Members during this meeting with his unique interpretation of seasonal Irish Christmas music. We had invited some friends from other WI groups and we had a lovely evening mingling and laughing and making new friends. We had a “small” buffet to tuck into as well.

The New Year’s programme begins on Thursday February 25th with a talk by Lesley Cunneen on the Plantation Garden in Norwich. On March 24th Ian Roofe will be talking about Plants of the Moment.

The meetings are always interesting and informative, so do come along if you have an interest in gardens. New members and visitors are always welcome. The meetings are held in Brooke Village hall and start at 7.30pm.

Cromer Pier with the 35RC by Andrew Bartram

Members were brought up to date, subs were collected and birthday cards distributed. With regards to our annual outing Nina suggested a visit to Cromer and to the show on the pier. including lunch beforehand - this was voted a good idea and agreed. As a result there is an alteration to our new programme which many of you already have; our garden party is now June 1st. and our annual outing on July 6th.

Please make a note in your programmes.

Looking back to December over thirty members enjoyed a Christmas lunch in the Railway tavern; this was organised mainly by Edna and on behalf of the members thank you to you, for a very enjoyable time.

Our next meeting is February 3rd at 2pm our speaker is Jon Read who will give a talk on Tales and a personal experience of the Gasworks History--sounds intriguing.

A Happy and Healthy New Year to all our readers in the Contact Mag from the Wednesday Group.

Connie H.

Ishbel Lochhead Secretary, Brooke Gardening Club.

Gerry did a grand job with his guitar and his traditional Irish songs, which were humourous and mixed with pathos, as are all traditional songs!

February 15th 2pm Emma Healey won the Costa award for best first novel for her book Elizabeth is Missing, a book about an octogenarian sleuth with dementia. She will be talking about the ideas behind writing the book, followed by a Q&A session. There will also be information available about support for those living with dementia and their carers in Norfolk.

Tuesday 16th February 2.30pm-3.30pm: A date with Demon Dentist: If you are a David Walliams fan, then come along to the library for an afternoon of fun activities.

UK daters vote Christian Connection their favourite dating site Beating off strong competition from secular agencies like eHarmony, Plenty of Fish and Guardian Soulmates, Christian Connection recently won the highlycoveted Daters’ Favourite Dating Site at the recent 2015 UK Dating Awards.

According to award organiser Charly Lester, Christian Connection’s ‘army of followers’ flooded social media with support for the website, in one of the few categories voted for by the public.

Our next meeting will be in our usual home of the Community Centre on Wednesday 10th February 2016. Our Speakers’ will be our very own Lesley and Joan, telling us all about the Centenary trip to Buckingham Palace. It was such an important year for all WI Members and many of the arranged events were inspiring – which is exactly what the WI set out to do.

I’m sure the ladies will do us proud and entertain us with their individual stories of being at Buckingham Palace. We look forward to seeing everyone there and don’t forget your mug!

Poringland Library

11

JUMBLE SALE Our spring jumble sale will be on Saturday 27th February 2016 at the Community Centre, starting at 1030hrs til 12 noon. Any jumble and tombola items greatly received. We hope to see you all there. Please deliver any jumble to the hall before 1000hrs or phone one of the numbers below if you have any items you would like collecting.

Visitors are always welcome at our meetings.

If there are any queries, please contact Pam Cooper, President on 01508 491674 or Lesley Sanders, Secretary on 01508 492155.

Samantha Mosedale, Press Officer

Christian Connection also won Best Niche Dating Site 2015 in a crowded category, with entrants including Uniform Dating, The Inner Circle, Faith Dating, Muddy Matches and Toyboy Warehouse. Best Niche Dating Site was awarded by a panel of judges, who looked at a variety of criteria, including site design, ease of use, security, safety and support.

Christian Connection were also finalists for Online Dating Brand of the Year and Best Customer Service. The website’s members swamped the award’s Facebook account with comments and stories; many declaring that they had met their partner on the site.

‘We owe our success to a very committed, hard working and effective team and a fantastic membership base,’ said Christian Connection founder Jackie Elton. When she set up the site in 2000, Jackie’s vision was to create something that could compete with and even better the best in the industry.

12

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Contact Magazine

Poringland Community Cinema at Poringland Community Centre

SUFFRAGETTE (12A) Friday 12th February Drama/History: The foot soldiers of the early feminist movement, women who were forced underground to pursue a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the increasingly brutal State. Stars: Carey Mulligan, Anne-Marie Duff, Helena Bonham Carter.

Tickets £5 (includes free tea or coffee) From Poringland Budgens or on the door Doors open 6.45pm film starts 7.30pm Dates for your diary films in 2016: 11th March, 8th April

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB AT PORINGLAND COMMUNITY CENTRE

Friday 5th February FILM NIGHT For more information contact Maureen on 01508 494358 or Carol on 01508 492630 Free to members or one night membership £5 More Film Nights: 4th March, 1st April

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

CLUB CASCADE for the over 50’s 2016

16 February Marie Lloyd by R Duffield 15 March Gambian Aid through Education Unless otherwise stated all meetings 3rd Tuesday of the month, 2.00 – 4.00 pm ALPINGTON & YELVERTON VILLAGE HALL Church Road, Alpington Raffle, Tea & biscuits served Chairman – Eileen Minns: 01508 494894 Secretary – Pat Barter: 01508 493570

Meetings held at Hobart High School, Loddon on the 1st Tuesday of each month, 7pm for 7.30pm

2nd February – Judy Barham – “Childhood Memories”.

1st March – Mellissa Sheldrake – “The Time Machine”.

There will also be a competition of the same title held.

5th April – Open Meeting with Brenda Tubb – Technicolour Dreamcoat.

3rd May – Workshop – Details later.

There will be a competition held entitled “Technicolour Dreamcoat”.

13

14

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Contact Magazine

Have you done something which haunts you? Which makes you feel restless and defensive, every time you think of it?

Why not deal with it this month, and put it behind you? Whatever your mistake has been, consider what the Bible has to say to you: ‘I have not come to call the virtuous but sinners to repentance’ (said Jesus).

(Luke 5.32) ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55.7) ‘Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.’ (Joel 2:12-13) God is inviting you to come to him this Ash Wednesday. What a wonderful offer!

Make the most of it, and remember how the prodigal son was welcomed back by his compassionate father.

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Lent Stay watchful; expect much!

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Day – 9th February

“A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea” (1 Kings 18:44)

It’s odd, really, that confessing one’s sins to God should ever have involved making pancakes. And yet the beginning of Lent brings us both – Shrove Tuesday is Pancake Day, and is followed by Ash Wednesday, and so Lent begins.

In all history was there ever a more colourful prophet than Elijah? In the power of God, he halted the deadly drift to Baal-worship in a single day. Earlier he had pronounced upon the land a divine judgment of three and a half years of drought. Now that dry period was about to end.

Ash Wednesday: A good time to admit you are sorry

February 2016

1. Confidence in God’s power. Praying people need to know that they are called and sent, no matter the set-backs. Elijah tells King Ahab, “Rain is coming!” But the skies looked like brass. That’s real confidence!

2. Watchfulness for God’s signals. The prophet now prays – for the promised rain. He sends for his weather-watching aide: “How is it looking, now?” The report comes back - “It’s a beautiful sunny day out there!” Elijah prays on. Christian colleagues – can we do the same, when the work – or future prospects- looks limited and unpromising? To pray is to stay alert to what GOD may do!

3. Involvement in God’s actions. A seventh time the aide returns. The weather? “Er, blazing sun actually…. well, except for one tiny cloud!” But that’s enough for Elijah.

“Into your chariot!” he orders Ahab, “and ride before the rain stops you!”

The skies go black, the wind rises... and the drought is over. See Elijah, caught up in the excitement as he runs ahead of Ahab – on a seventeen mile stretch to Jezreel - in the drenching, refreshing rain of God. Did he have to do that? No, but he wanted to be involved up to the last! Read James 5:17,18; Elijah was no super-hero. He was like any one of us. Allow your Lent to be a time of watchful expectation!

15

How to avoid a hangover Scientists have recently solved one of the great mysteries of life: how to avoid a hangover. After intensive research they have found the answer: drink less.

Which means that those famous (infamous?) hangover cures don’t work. You can try Sprite, bouillon soup, RU-21 (created by the KGB for Soviet spies), the Corpse Reviver Cocktail (from The Savoy, circa 1930) or even putting pins in a cork (a cure from Haiti). You can try eating or drinking water directly before or directly after too much alcohol. It really doesn’t matter. Dr Joris Verster of Utrecht University points out: “From what we know from the surveys so far, the only practical way to avoid a hangover is to drink less alcohol.” The research was presented to the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology in Amsterdam.

Afternoon tea, anyone?

Do you take afternoon tea? Ever wondered where it started? The custom seems to date back to the mid-19th century, and the seventh Duchess of Bedford, Anna Russell.

In centuries gone by, the pancakes were made to use up the milk and eggs before the fasting of Lent. More recently, many readers will have childhood memories of the wonder of watching our mothers break an egg, mix it with milk and flour – and out of that gooey mess, to produce a light and delicious pancake.

These days more and more of us buy pancake mix, or even ready-made pancakes.

It seems we prefer the certainty of ending up with pancakes - to the risk of having made nothing BUT a mess of the kitchen.

In many parishes they used to hold pancake races on the day. Why anyone would want to run around a field while holding a pancake is not clear, but in Olney, Bucks, they have held a pancake race almost every year since 1445.

The Duchess got hungry at about 4pm each day, and complained that she had “that sinking feeling”. As it was still four hours until dinner (at 8pm), she began to have sandwiches or a small cake with some tea.

Her friends thought this was marvellous, and the idea spread quickly through (hungry) upper class circles.

Soon, it seems, everyone in England was looking forward to Afternoon Tea, and a great British tradition was born. Though during the last century the sandwiches and cake gave way to biscuits, still we reached for the teapot each afternoon. Not so much any more, it seems. In the last five years, sales of tea have dropped by nearly a quarter, and sales of biscuits have sunk by a tenth. Nowadays we reach for bottled water and fruits, nuts or even cheese. The research was done by retail analysts Mintel.

16

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Contact Magazine

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Leap Year – 29th February 2016 brings us a Leap Year. We need to add this extra day every four years in order to keep our calendar in alignment with the Earth’s revolutions around the Sun.

Tickets are now on sale for the following event which is a fun evening and fund raiser for The nook Appeal – a much needed hospice being built in Framingham Earl for EACH to give care and support to life-­‐threatened children and their families.

Quiz & Supper Friday 28th February at 7.30 pm Brooke Village Hall Ticket £8 includes supper. Please bring your own drinks and glasses.

Come as a team of 8 or as a smaller group, couple, or solo to join others to make up a team of 8 on the night. Admission is by ticket only so get your tickets now from Chris Murrell 01508 495053 or Judith Sykes 01508 494873. Further information also available from Chris or Judith.

FINANCIAL HELP IS AVAILABLE Do you need financial help with your winter fuel bills or perhaps you are a student needing support with your further education costs? Do you have other kinds of financial hardship needing short term help?

A charity exists to help Poringland residents in these kinds of difficulties. To find out if you are eligible for a cash grant, all you have to do is fill in a simple form which will be treated in strict confidence.

For further information contact the Clerk to the Trustees, Mrs Lesley Sanders, by post at 17 Hadden Close, NR14 7RN, by phone on 01508 492155 or email to dickles17@hotmail.com

The problem is very simple: our calendar has 365 days, but it actually takes 365.242199 days (a tropical year) to circle once around the Sun. That means we are ‘out’ by nearly six hours a year. Four times six hours is 24 hours - hence an extra day every four years.

Adding the extra day in February goes back to Julius Caesar in 45 BC. In his Julian Calendar, February was the last month of the year, and 24th February was Leap Year Day.

Leap year – when women can propose to men An old Irish legend tells how it was St Brigid who first struck a deal with St Patrick to allow women to propose to men every four years. The arrangement was meant to ‘balance’ the traditional roles of men and women in a similar way to how Leap Day balances our calendar.

The Good Samaritan

This month’s Must Know Story is the familiar story of the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). The story tells of a man who is mugged on the road and rescued by a Samaritan. Jesus tells this story in answer to a lawyer’s question, ‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’ or ‘What must I do to go to heaven?’

Jesus responds by calling for a life of total love towards God and neighbour. The lawyer responds with another question, ‘and who is my neighbour?’ to which Jesus answers with this story. The story tells of a dangerous journey between Jerusalem and Jericho.

The plight of the man and the indifference of the priest and Levite would horrify Jesus’

17

hearers. They assumed the hero of the story would be an ordinary Jew. Yet Jesus presents the Samaritan, a sworn enemy of the Jews, as a model of integrity and an example to follow. The challenge of the story is that often our neighbour can be our worst enemy, yet these are the people that we are called to love as ourselves.

Of course, all of us will be able to think of people who are Samaritans in our lives ie those we try to avoid and don’t want to help.

If we are honest, we know that we do not have it in ourselves to love as Jesus says here. We need somebody who will be a Good Samaritan to us, to rescue us and enable us to love others as ourselves. Jesus is our Good Samaritan.

‘By depicting a Samaritan helping a Jew, Jesus could not have found a more forceful way to say that anyone at all in need regardless of race, politics, class, and religion - is your neighbour.’ (Tim Keller).

Children too trusting of online world The number of children who believe everything they find on Google and social media sites has doubled, according to a recent Ofcom study.

Eight-to-15 year olds may be ‘digital natives’ (children who have grown up with the internet) but they often lack the ‘online nous’ needed when deciding if what they see is true or impartial, Ofcom says. Hence, almost a fifth of 12 to 15 year olds believe that all information returned by a search engine such as Google or Bing must be true, and only a third of them were able to identify paid-for adverts.

The study also found that children turn to YouTube for ‘true and accurate’ information about what is going on in the world. Less than half of the children were aware that advertising is the main source of income for the site, and that therefore video bloggers are often paid to favourably mention products or services.

18

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Contact Magazine

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Churches Together GOOD Friday Procession of Witness At 10am On Good Friday (25th March) the Procession will leave Framingham Earl Methodist Church and proceed to All Saints Church along The Street with various stops along the way. At All Saints Church we will turn down Rectory Lane to make our way to the Roman Catholic Church (Church of our Lady) where we will hold a final act of worship.

The estimated time for this is 11.15am and will be followed by hot-cross buns. EVERYONE is very welcome to join us.

Churches Together Lent Meditation and Soup Lunch • • • •

•

17 Feb 2016 – All Saints Church, Poringland 24 Feb 2016 – Framingham Earl Methodist Church 2 March 2016 – Roman Catholic Church, Poringland 9 March 2016 – Bible College, Framingham Earl Hall 16 March 2016 – St Andrew’s Church, Framingham Earl

ALL are very welcome to join us for a time of reflection and worship at 12.noon followed by a soup lunch at 12.30pm

Do you have a working TV you could donate to the Churches Together Youth Project?

If so, we would be very grateful!!

It has to be at least 22” (bigger would be better though) and have either an HDMI or SCART interface. If you can help please contact Youth Project leader Emmi Marlow on 077177744630 or emarlow@norwichyfc.co.uk or Revd Robert on 01508 492215 or robert@poringland-benefice.org.uk Very many thanks.

19

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

20

Contact Magazine

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Welcome to the February 2016 Crossword Page

engage

The Surviving Winter Appeal

Each year the number of deaths in Norfolk increases over the winter months. For example, there were 660 excess winter deaths in Norfolk over the 2012/13 winter.

These excess winter deaths are related to the colder temperature in winter and living in cold conditions, and many could be prevented with timely help and advice.

Shockingly, fuel poverty is widespread in Norfolk and the choice between heating and eating is a reality for many older people. Older people are more susceptible to the cold exposure and 9 out of 10 excess winter deaths are people over 65.

Over the last 4 winters Age UK Norfolk has been working with the Norfolk Community Foundation on the Surviving Winter Appeal in Norfolk.

The appeal is based on those who don’t need their non-­‐means tested winter fuel payment donating all or part of it to the appeal.

The money raised is used to support those who are vulnerable over the winter months.

“The money raised through the appeal is essential in helping to keep some of Norfolk’s most vulnerable people safe over the cold months. A high proportion of individuals seek help to meet the cost of heating oil, gas and electricity. We also receive requests for support for new heaters and warm clothing.” Jasmine, Age UK Norfolk.

If you can help, please contact Norfolk Community Foundation on t 01603 623958 or visit www.norfolkfoundation.com Your donation will help to keep someone safe and warm this winter. Even if you don’t receive a winter fuel payment, you can still make a donation of any size.

Could you help?

Volunteering for Age UK Norfolk is an opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and work within a friendly, professional organisation knowing you are making a real difference to people's lives.

No experience necessary – our volunteers are fully trained and all expenses are reimbursed.

If you would like to find out more about volunteering opportunities, please call us on t 01603 785 241 Details of available volunteering roles can also be found on our website www.ageuknorfolk.org.uk

The Bible version used in our crossword is the NIV. The solution is printed next month ACROSS 1 Success or wealth (Deuteronomy 28:11) (10) 7 Forbidden fruit for Nazirites (Numbers 6:3) (7) 8 Concede (Job 27:5) (5) 10 Look at (Psalm 48:13) (4) 11 Much in evidence after weddings (8) 13 Condense (Job 36:27) (6) 15 Breakwater (6) 17 Give a tan (anag.) (8) 18 More usually now called Pentecost, — Sunday (4) 21 After living for 365 years, it was said of him that ‘he walked with God’ (Genesis 5:23–24) (5) 22 Trampled (Judges 9:27) (7) 23 For example, Miriam, Deborah (Exodus 15:20; Judges 4:4) (10) DOWN 1 Arrogance (Proverbs 8:13) (5) 2 Roman poet from first century BC (4) 3 So rapt (anag.) (6) 4 Declare again (2 Corinthians 2:8) (8) 5 Paul’s ‘fellow worker’, to whom he sent two epistles (Romans 16:21) (7) 6 God’s foreseeing care and protection (Job 10:12) (10) 9 Traditional form of Roman Catholic Mass (10) 12 ‘The Lord... has given the — of Israel to David and his descendants for ever’ (2 Chronicles 13:5) (8) 14 ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my — ’ (Luke 1:46–47) (7) 16 The central element in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, identified and interpreted by Daniel (Daniel 2:31) (6) 19 ‘On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of — will not overcome it’ (Matthew 16:18) (5) 20 City where Paul was under house arrest for two years (Acts 28:16) (4) Answers to January 2016 Crossword ACROSS: 1, Godlessness. 9, Egotism. 10, After. 11, Eat. 13, Sort. 16, Plan.

17, Escape. 18, Odds. 20, Idem. 21, No fear. 22, Idle. 23, Abet. 25, Ail. 28, Eaves. 29, Achieve. 30, Grasshopper.

DOWN: 2, Odour. 3, Lair. 4, Same. 5, Neat. 6, Settled. 7, Gershonites. 8, Grandmother. 12, Apples. 14, TES. 15, Octopi. 19, Deliver. 20, Ira. 24, Breve. 25, As is. 26, Lash. 27, Whip.

21

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

22

Contact Magazine

FRAMINGHAM EARL METHODIST CHURCH Minister: The Rev’d Matthew Olanrewaju M.A. Tel: 01603 504722 SERVICES for FEBRUARY 2016 (all at 10.45 am unless shown otherwise)

7th

Holy Communion with our Minister

14th

John Howe

21st

Vicki Brown

28th

Joy Southam

Provision is made for CHILDREN and all attending our services are assured of a very warm welcome and invited to stay for COFFEE and FELLOWSHIP afterwards.

The TRAIDCRAFT STALL is now open on the second Sunday each month.

WEEKDAY ACTIVITIES FOR JANUARY Mondays COFFEE STOP from 10.30 am to noon held alternately at our church and Albion House, Poringland This month we shall be at Albion House on 1 st , 15 th and 29 th .

Wednesday 17th at 2.30 pm W EDNESDAY FELLOW SHIP This month our meeting will be conducted by TRIXIE DYE All men and women are very welcome.

Thursday 18th at 7.30 pm INSIGHT – House group for Bible study and discussion with our Minister.

Venue will be announced shortly.

If you feel you would like to know more about our services or activities before attending, Bill or Hazel Allen would be happy to help you - please ring 493154.

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

GloryTribe with Healing Streams.

Carr Lane, Poringland, NR14 7JZ

GloryTribe meets for worship, prayer and study (healing, creative arts, prophetic, spirit life etc.) and social activities.

Gatherings may be in homes, at work or anywhere appropriate.

People are encouraged and helped to passionately love God and others and to live as supernatural communities, experiencing heavenly realms and bringing them to earth as Jesus did (Matthew 6:9-10, John 14:12 ).

If you would like us to facilitate a group of your family, friends or work mates to explore the meaning of life at any appropriate level please contact us. www.glorytribe.co.uk Associated with www.morningstareurope.org

Healing Streams works mainly in Kenya. We support children’s

homes, a children’s cancer ward at Nyanza Provincial Hospital, Kisumu, a farming co-operative, a children’s nursery etc. Now that we do not have any income from the charity shop we would grateful for more people to set up monthly standing orders for as little or as much as you can. Please contact us for details.

“He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done.” - Proverbs 19:17

www.healing-streams.co.uk For more information, home visits, home groups or healing etc. please telephone Pastors Rod or Michelle Smith 07714621700 or 07746933909 GloryTribe with Healing Streams - UK Charity no. 1098030

23

24

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Contact Magazine

Parish church of Our Lady of the Annunciation Upgate, Poringland, NR14 7SH Priest-in-Charge: Fr Pádraig Hawkins Parish Contact Number: 01508 492589 Parish Contact E-Mail: frpadraighawkins@gmail.com Parish Address: The White House 21 Upgate, Poringland Norwich NR14 7SH Parish Web Site: www.ourladyoftheannunciation-poringland.org Sunday Mass Time: 9am.Weekday Mass Time: 8am.

A good course to start with is ‘The Drama of Salvation’ – What is the Bible all about?

The Way of the Spirit In July we explained that The Way of the Spirit runs a wide variety of training for those who want to go deeper into the Bible and bring God’s word to life.

For those who are not able to commit to an extended period of study and those who would like to get a flavour of what going deeper into the Bible is like we have a series of short courses that are available for individual or group study. Many of the short courses are available with a CD commentary to support study. All the short courses follow at same basic structure.

The course is designed to be completed over 5 sessions. Each session outlines a part of the Bible starting with Genesis and ending with Revelation told in the form of a 5 act play. Each session also has a number of questions that direct your attention to important aspects of the story and their relevance to your own life.

Experience has shown us that the best way to study any of the short courses is as part of a group where you can discuss the questions and support each other. If you would be interested in joining a group to explore The Drama of Salvation please contact us on the number below If you would like to know more about any of the short courses and how you could use them in your home or church please contact us.

01508 495346 info@thewayofthespirit.com www.thewayofthespirit.com

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

February 2016

25

All Saints’ & St Andrew’s Duty Rota for the month of February 2016

ALL SAINTS

7

th

February 14 21st th

FIRST READING

Irene Howard 2 Corinthians 3:12 – 4:2 (Or Exodus 34:29 – 35)

Marion Williams Romans 10:8b – 13

GOSPEL

Annie Catchpole Luke 9:28 – 36 (37 – 43a)

Richard Manning

PRAYERS

28

th

March 6th

Gordon Barnes Philippians 3:17 – 4:1 (Or Genesis 15:1 – 12,17 -18)

1 Corinthians 10:1 – 13 (Or Isaiah 55:1 – 9)

Andy Driver Colossians 3:12 – 17 (Or Samuel 1:20 – 28)

Luke 4:1 – 13

Heather Keefe Luke 13:31 – 35

Lily Jianu Luke 13:1 – 9

Barry Catchpole John 19:25 – 27

Julian & Rachel Foster

Andy Driver

Philippa Sims

Elaine Chapman

Caroline Milton

CHALICE

Elaine Evans

Richard Manning

Russell Phipps

Family Service

Graham Smith

CLEANING

Denise Knight Irene Howard

Dianne Rivers George Rivers

FLOWERS

Annie Catchpole

Lent

Lent

Lent

Mothering Sunday

COFFEE

Irene Howard Ann Thompson

Elaine Chapman

Richard Manning

Susan McAvoy Julian Foster

Val Bowen Glynette Dixon

Roy Glenn Mavis Glenn

Susan McAvoy Irene Howard

Denise Knight Jenny Oates Ken Milton

SIDESPERSONS

St ANDREW’S

(Or Deuteronomy 26:1 – 11)

Dinah Copping George McAvoy Lynnette Gidding Susan McAvoy

Heather Keefe Claudia Parsonage Andy Driver Elaine Evans John Shambrook Connie Hilbery Gillian Shambrook Siobhan Korolev Annie Catchpole

7

th

February 14 21st th

28

th

Annie Catchpole Barry Catchpole

March 6th

Pam Masterson

Pam Masterson

Pam Masterson

Pam Masterson

Mothering Sunday

CLEANING

Gwen Spooner Rita Strand

Gwen Spooner Rita Strand

Gwen Spooner Rita Strand

Gwen Spooner Rita Strand

Robbie Brown Joan Porter

SIDESPERSONS

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

FLOWERS

Advertise in the Contact Mag from only £27 for 12 months!

Contact Andy Driver: advertising.contact@poringland-benefice.org.uk

26

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Contact Magazine

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Where are people getting married these days?

‘Understanding Dementia’ Old Mill & Millgates Medical Practice Patient Participation Group (PPG)

Open Evening

Tuesday 12th April 2016 7.30pm The Mill Centre, Mill Road, Hempnall, Norwich, NR15 2LP Dementia presents a huge challenge to society, both now and increasingly in the future. ...

Over half a million people are affected in England alone; this number is set to rise considerably as more people live longer, and the current cost to the NHS is estimated at 1.3 billion a year (The NHS Confederation)

Awareness Week for Eating Disorders – 22 to 28 February

The evening is designed to help relatives of people suffering from all types of Dementia, to understand the condition and find out what help and support is available in Norfolk. The speakers will be from the relevant organisations and there will be plenty of time at the end of the evening to ask questions and to speak to them informally one to one.

Do you suffer from an eating disorder?

Or are you close to someone who struggles with one? If so, then you will know the long battle that sufferers can wage with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and EDNOS (or ‘eating disorder not otherwise specified’.)

If you would like more information please contact Mary Parker, Practice Manager 01508 492929 or Jeanette Armstrong PPG secretary oldmillppg@gmail.com

Eating disorders ruin lives. They ruin relationships. They also ruin careers. They are estimated to cost the UK economy about £15.8billion a year.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

From January to March 2016 the Communion Service taking place on the Second Sunday will be at 11.15am, and not 8am.

From April onwards it will revert back to 8am.

All are very welcome to attend our services.

In the year 2000, some 270,000 couples were married in England and Wales.

Almost half these weddings took place in a Registry Office (47%), and over a third (36%) in a church, with a sixth (17%) taking place in an Approved Premise.

But the dislike of people marrying in Registry Offices in the 21st century has grown hugely, while the popularity of Approved Premises has boomed, so that in 2015, when some 280,000 couples married, only 5% took place in a Registry Office and over two-thirds (68%) in an Approved Premise. A quarter (27%) still took place in a church.

The number of people marrying in a church (including all denominations) has dropped from 97,000 in 2000 to 75,000 in 2015, a decline of 22%, which is rather larger than the 16% decline in numbers attending church in those two years. This presumably means that some couples, about 6,000 in 2015, preferred their wedding in an Approved Premise rather than a church.

The trend is likely to be true in other denominations. More and more Christians are marrying non-Christians, which means that passing on the faith to their children will become more difficult and could provide a tension point within the marriage.

You don’t have to be a patient of the practice to attend everyone is welcome

St Andrews Church Framingham Earl Winter Service Times

27

This year the annual Eating Disorders Awareness Week will concentrate on eating disorders in the workplace. How can people with eating disorders be best supported by their employer and colleagues? Visit www.beat.co.uk for details.

As for our church, if there is anyone who would like prayer about their eating disorder, or about the problem of someone they love, please contact us.

7.30pm ASH WEDNESDAY 10.00am Holy Communion 10.00am Holy Communion 11.00am Morning Service 9.30am

LENT 1 9.30am 9.30am 11.15am 6.30pm 12.noon 7.30pm LENT 2 9.30am 11.15am 12.noon 8.00am LENT 3 9.30am 4.30pm

12.noon

LENT 4 – MOTHERING SUNDAY 8.00am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Communion

TUE 9th WED 10th

THU 11th

SUN 14th

MON 15th WED 17th THU 18th SUN 21st

WED 24th SAT 27th SUN 28th

WED 2nd SUN 6th

St Andrews, Framingham Earl All Saints, Poringland

20 Chandler Road, Upper SHX

Lent meditation & light lunch

Family Service & Baptism Family Communion

Men’s Breakfast

Lent meditation & light lunch

Parish Communion Parish Communion

All Saints PCC Meeting

Lent meditation & light lunch

St Andrew’s PCC Meeting

Family Communion Sunday Club Parish Communion

Loddon Chapter Meeting

St Andrews, Framingham Earl All Saints, Poringland

Roman Catholic Church, Poringland

All Saints, Poringland St Mary’s, Howe

Poringland Village Hall

Framingham Earl Methodist Church

All Saints, Poringland St Andrews, Framingham Earl

Octagon

All Saints Church, Poringland

34 Long Road, Framingham Earl

All Saints, Poringland Octagon St Andrews, Framingham Earl

All Saints, Poringland

All Saints, Poringland Albion House, Poringland Cresta Lodge, Poringland

Deanery Synod Standing Committee St Johns, Loddon

SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE LENT 8.00am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Communion

SUN 7th

All Saints Standing Committee

3.00pm

MON 1st

SERVICES / EVENTS

30

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Ugandan policeman killed after converting from Islam to Christianity A policeman who converted from Islam to Christianity has been murdered in eastern Uganda.

According to the Ugandan newspaper, Morning Star News, the murder took place in Odek village, north of Kampala. Ismail Kuloba, 43, was responding to an urgent call for police help to settle a land dispute, but when he arrived at the scene, it proved to be an ambush.

Contact Magazine

Other local Christians have retaliated by burning down the house of one Muslim allegedly involved in the attack. Morning Star News reported that fears are growing this will spark a subsequent retaliation and further violence.

Remembering Galileo – and how the earth revolves Galileo Galilei found himself at the centre of controversy 400 years ago this month, when he was ordered by the Catholic Church on 26 Feb 1616 to abandon his opinion that the Earth and planets revolve around the sun.

He was banned from holding the opinion, promoting it, or teaching it.

Highly respected as a scientist, Galileo has been called the father of observational astronomy, of modern physics and of science generally. But the Church at the time feared that his championing of heliocentrism and Copernicanism cast doubt by implication on the authority of Scripture. Galileo himself argued for a non-literal interpretation of Holy Scripture to solve the “problem”.

One local Christian witnessed the attack. He later told the press that the gang of about 20 Muslim men was furious because “they saw that Ismail had become an apostate.”

The Muslims therefore began to stone Ismail Kuloba, and one man shouted: ‘You converted… to Christianity, and now your time has come for you to receive the punishment of Allah.” A few minutes later they shot him in the head, shouting ‘Allah Akbar [God is greater]’.

The Christian who witnessed the attack said: “We need prayers, as the Muslims are out to destroy people who converted to Christ in this area, especially those of us who have sacrificed to share the love of Christ to our fellow Muslims. We shall continue becoming the voice of the persecuted church, and the work of God will eventually emerge victorious against the evil forces of darkness.”

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

In 1609, Galileo heard about the invention of the telescope in Holland. Without having seen one, he built a superior version and made many astronomical discoveries, including mountains and valleys on the surface of the moon, sunspots, the four largest moons of the planet Jupiter and the phases of the planet Venus.

In 1632, he was again condemned for heresy after his book Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems was published.

Galileo was summoned to appear before the Inquisition, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment – later reduced to permanent house arrest at his villa in Arcetri, south of Florence. He was also forced to publicly withdraw his support for Copernican theory.

31

back to Roman Catholicism following the death of her half-brother Edward, an ultraProtestant.

The first of these martyrs was the printer of the “Matthews-Tyndale Bible”; also executed was the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, who was primarily responsible for the printing of the Great Bible, as well as bishops Ridley and Latimer.

Galileo died in 1642. In 1758, the Church lifted the ban on most works supporting Copernican theory, and by 1835 dropped its opposition to heliocentrism altogether.

During her reign from 1553, Mary thwarted a bid to put Lady Jane Grey on the throne and then crushed a rebellion led by Sir Thomas Wyatt. To help her restore Roman Catholicism in England, she married Philip of Spain.

Galileo was born in 1564 near Pisa, then part of the Duchy of Florence. The first of six children of a famous lutenist, he started studying medicine but became fascinated by mathematics and became Professor of Mathematics at Pisa in 1589, then moved to a similar position at Padua in 1592.

Mary Tudor – the first Queen of England Mary Tudor, the first undisputed Queen of England to reign in her own right, was born on 18 February 500 years ago.

The daughter of Henry VIII and Catharine of Aragon, she reigned for five years and after her death was known as Bloody Mary, because of her execution of hundreds of Protestant leaders in a bid to turn England

This marriage was not a success, however, and she was childless – after several false pregnancies she died of what is believed to be uterine or ovarian cancer. Her husband showed little long-term interest in her or in England, except to drag it into a conflict with France that cost it the area around Calais, its last toehold in France. As a result the country became disillusioned with her and was ready for a return to Protestantism when she was succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry and Anne Boleyn.

Mary’s body was interred in Westminster Abbey, and when Elizabeth died, in 1603, she was buried next to her. With Elizabeth’s backing, the radical Protestant John Foxe tracked down the stories of those killed under Mary and published them in his Book of Martyrs, which was enthusiastically received and widely read.

32

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Suffering? God knows why “…Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? (Luke 13: 4) It can be earthquakes… floods… terrorism, or – as in the case here - unexpected deaths resulting, first from the killing of innocent people by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, and secondly from a natural disaster.

Like Jesus’ disciples, we tend to ask WHY? Our Lord’s answer to his questioners does not lessen our distress at calamities here on earth. But we are not completely shocked.

For Scripture teaches us that adversity is firmly built into our Christian understanding of how the world works.

1. We are all living in a fallen world. Our present world-order is not as originally created. Basically we became a race of rebels, fallen from our custodianship over creation – so bringing both ourselves and the creation itself into the frustration of ‘bondage to decay’ (Romans 8:1823). Even the ground was to be affected (Genesis 3:17,18).

2. We are all living in a temporary home. In the face of a natural fatal disaster (Luke 13:4,5), Jesus said that those killed were no more ‘guilty’ to die, than anyone else.

All will die one day. But his words give the warning: One day it will be your turn.

Indeed, let us run to the aid of those who suffer - but tragedy reminds us all that centre stage is not this life; by repentance we must prepare ourselves at any moment for the next!

3. We are all living on borrowed time. Jesus went on to speak of a fruitless fig tree (Luke 13: 6-9). Should it be cut down?

No, Give it a year’s reprieve. The lesson is clear. If some people are cut off in a matter of seconds, those left should humbly consider how they will use the life that has been spared to them. This leads to a final truth:

Contact Magazine

4. We are all living as debtors to love. People hung on Jesus’ words because they knew that He had solid answers for this world’s sorrows. Indeed He was the answer, for at the Cross we meet the love of the suffering God himself. One prayer must be that out of the experience of suffering, there will be some who see this, and respond.

Jesus encouraged his followers to look further ahead – to eternal realities. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16.33

All you need is love!

The Beatles’ song ‘All you need is love’ is very fitting in this month, as we mark St Valentines’ Day. If love is all we need, what does real love look like?

The Apostle Paul describes it like this: ‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.’ (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8).

Love is unconditional: The agenda of one bride on her wedding day was ‘aisle-altar-hymn’ (think about it!).

Entering into love on the basis of changing the other person is dangerous! Paul talks about loving unconditionally, rooted in our experience of God’s love through Christ for us: ‘We love, because he first loved us.’ (1 John 4:19).

Love is forgiving: According to the film Love Story, ‘Love means never having to say you’re sorry.’ This is rarely true in our experience! According to Paul, love is saying you are sorry and hearing that you are forgiven. Love ‘keeps no record of wrongs’ (5). We can only forgive as God forgives us, and who does so from the arms of Jesus stretched wide in love on the Cross.

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Love is sacrificial: Paul describes love as not selfish or selfseeking, but selfless and self-sacrificial. It is a love that puts the needs of the other person first. Take the words from 1 Corinthians and instead of the word love, substitute your own name. Now substitute the word Jesus. This is the Jesus who is available to you to make your love for others grow that will bring true Valentines’ joy!

Celebrating the Queen’s 90th Birthday – Special Book The Queen has served the country and Commonwealth for more than 60 years.

From 10-12 June 2016 her 90th birthday will be celebrated.

Are You An Experienced Carer?

Able Community Care The Reliable Care Provider www.uk-care.com Est. 1980 We are recruiting Live-in Carers Wages from £1,100 per fortnight. If you have over one year’s care experience or an NVQ in Health & Social Care, a full driving licence, please call Susan at Able Community Care on 01603 281926 or contact us via our website for a full Carer Information Pack.

ADVERTISE HERE

Just £27 for 12 months!

Email: advertising.contact@ poringland-benefice.org.uk

33

To mark the unique occasion, HOPE, Bible Society and the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity are publishing a ‘very special’, 64-page book focusing on the Queen’s Christian faith as a tribute to her life of service.

The Servant Queen - and the King She Serves is a beautifully illustrated short book, which uses the Queen’s own words to draw out the central role of her trust in Jesus Christ, offering an inspiring, multi-faceted insight into a life well-lived for others.

In her 2014 Christmas broadcast the Queen described Jesus Christ as ‘an anchor in my life’ and a ‘role-model’. It is the most recent of many public references the Queen has made to her Christian faith. Advance orders for The Servant Queen have already reached more than 60,000 with Anglican dioceses and denominations ordering copies to give away.

YELVERTON GARAGE LTD A146 LODDON ROAD

© Shaun Jeffers / Shutterstock.com

SERVICE DIAGNOSTICS AIR CON MOTs V.W. AUDI SPECIALISTS

01508 492758

www.vwaudinorwich.com

34

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Contact Magazine

36

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Contact Magazine

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Robert Campbell Decorators

2a Fallowfield Framingham Earl, NR14 7UN

01508 494 808 07900 214 646 info@robertcampbelldecorators.co.uk

PSR CLEANING SERVICES Family run business

TRADITIONAL WINDOW CLEANING

Paint it, Paper it, Love it!

Stockists of Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint Library designer paints.

Marriott Close, off Heigham St, Norwich NR2 4UX • 01603 628973 norwich@kentblaxill.co.uk @KBDecorating • /KentBlaxill or buy online www.kentblaxill.co.uk

● GUTTERS ● FASCIAS ● UPVC ● CONSERVATORIES ● PATIOS ● PRESSURE WASHING

Call Paul 07796 511 060

psrcleaningservices@gmail.com

37

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

38

BROOKE GARAGE

Contact Magazine

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

9 Norwich Road, Brooke, NR15 1AB

We now sell a range of horse, poultry, dog, wild bird and livestock feeds at very competitive prices!

Animal bedding, large bales of shavings also available.

For orders and enquiries call 01508 550178 or email s2harmer@yahoo.co.uk

FOR A LARGE SELECTION OF WOODBURNING, MULTIFUEL, GAS AND ELECTRIC STOVES

AT COMPETITIVE PRICES

A WIDE CHOICE OF STOVES BY LEADING MANUFACTURERS ON DISPLAY IN OUR SHOWROOM

07790 273 689 or 01508 471 622

01508 480351 OPENING TIMES CAN VARY

WWW.WOODLANDSTOVES.CO.UK MILL ROAD, ASHBY ST. MARY, NORFOLK NR14 7BN

39

40

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Contact Magazine

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

JOYCE PROPERTY SERVICES LIMITED The Complete Building & Maintenance Service Extensions, Loft conversions, Garages, Kitchens, Bathrooms, Driveways, Garage conversions, Brickwork, Plastering, Plumbing, Electrical, Painting & Decorating All Major Refurbishment and Structural Work

01508 493492 mobile 07899 993260

www.joycepropertyservices.co.uk

NORFOLK PLUMBING (East Anglia) Ltd Domestic Installation & Repairs Emergency calls welcome

Bathrooms & Kitchens • Basins • Toilets • Baths • Showers • Tiling

• • • •

Heating Radiators Pumps Powerflush Cylinders

• • • •

Repairs Blocked drains Jetting Leaks and more...

Call Alan Cooper • Telephone: 01603 734253 • Mobile: 07950 471139

41

42

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Contact Magazine

E L A H JAY C I M

M.D.MANN ROOFING

• Washing Machines • Tumble Driers • Dishwashers • Cookers • Fridges

COMPLETE ROOFING REFURBISHMENTS & REPAIRS FLAT, TILE, SLATE AND CORRUGATED FASCIAS, GUTTERS, SOFFITS AND BARGEBOARDS PROPERTY MAINTAINENCE & BUILDING WORK

DOMESTIC APPLICANCE REPAIRS ALL MAKES AND MODELS LOCAL ENGINEER ZANUSSI, INDESIT, HOTPOINT, BOSCH, BENDIX, HOOVER, CANDY, SERVIS, AEG, ARISTON, ELECTRA, ELECTROLUX, PHILCO, ETC. NO CALL OUT FEES

OVER 3 5 Y EAR S I N T H E T R ADE

SAME / NEXT DAY SERVICE

TEL. 01603 440781 Mobile. 07884 255292 184 Plumstead Road, Norwich, NR7 9NW

Constantly Recommended Which? Local Approved & Rated

Norfolk Appliances EFFICIENT DOMESTIC APPLIANCE REPAIRS 01508 494639 or 07968 074759 norfolkappliances@hotmail.co.uk

Colin Hall

16 years with the Plug & Socket Phone / Text / Email anytime early morning / evening / weekend calls available Calls arranged around your day, not mine!

SAFEcontractor Approved Licensed to clear all waste Fully Insured, Full Public Liability Covering Norfolk & Suffolk

OFFICE 01508 470 574 MOBILE 07885 080 157 “We treat our customers how we expect to be treated” HILLHOUSE, LOW ROAD, LOWER TASBURGH, NORWICH NR15 1AR

44

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Contact Magazine

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

*NEW MORNING GROUP FROM 5TH JANUARY*

Tuesdays at 9.30am Poringland Community Centre Thursdays 4pm, 5.30pm & 7.30pm Poringland Primary School

Telephone Hayley on 01508 494186

45

46

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

Contact Magazine

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

February 2016

47

CHILD SWIMMING LESSONS

for children aged 4+

at Long Stratton High School Saturdays, 9.30am – 2pm

It’s close, fun and friendly!

Call Greg on 07974 735020 or email jayne@saturdayswimmers.com

COLIN DAVID HAIR STUDIOS Ladies & Gents

ANCHORAGE SWIMMING POOL, FITNESS CENTRE AND TENNIS COURT

Indoor Swimming Pool, Fitness Centre and Tennis Court In Upper Stoke Holy Cross For your health, fitness and leisure

The indoor pool is lovely and warm at a constant 31 degrees With fully private half hour slots Available everyday from 6am until 10pm

Our resident Personal Trainer invites you to our private gym to get fit and healthy and to improve your quality of life.

Contact Malcom Guymer on 07986 325282

Call 01508 494032 or 07519 507435 For Details and to book Pool and Tennis Court Email: info@anchorage-­‐pool.co.uk www.anchorage-­‐pool.com

Proud to be trading in Poringland since 1975

111 THE STREET, PORINGLAND, NR14 7RP

01508 492267 WAVENEY COAL SUPPLIES Coal and Smokeless Fuel Merchants • Pre-Pack or Bulk • Prompt, Friendly Service • Free Delivery Top Quality Coal at Most Competitive Rates Call Michael Cook on: 07778 650 290 or 01508 518055

48

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

ADVERTISE HERE

Just ÂŁ27 for 12 months!

Email: advertising.contact@ poringland-benefice.org.uk

Michelle Collins

Dip. in Foot Health Practitioning

Foot Health Professional Visiting Practice Tel: 01508 480 441 Mobile: 0775 147 1474

Contact Magazine

Loddon Mill Well Being Centre Over 15 Complementary Therapies FREE general health/spinal assessments

01508 520522 www.loddonmill.co.uk

50

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

ALINE TURNER ACA Chartered Accountant Howe, Norwich

Tax Returns, Accounts, Bookkeeping, VAT, Payroll & PAYE Tel: 07785 528069 aline.turner@btinternet.com

Contact Magazine

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

51

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

52

ADVERTISE HERE

Just £27 for 12 months!

Email: advertising.contact@ poringland-benefice.org.uk

CHRIS JACOBS

PEST CONTROLCHRIS SERVICE JACOBS CHRIS JACOBS PEST CONTROL PEST Rats,CONTROL mice, moles,wasps, ants, SERVICE SERVICE rabbits, grey squirrels etc.

Rats, mice, moles,

Rats, mice, moles, wasps, ants, rabbits, grey squirrels etc.

wasps, ants, rabbits, grey squirrels etc.

Tel: 01508 499765 Mob: 07808 484144

Tel: 01508 499765 Mob: 07808 484144

Tel: 01508 499765 Mob: 07808 484144

Contact Magazine

Pest Alert Your family and commercial pest control company

Family run business offering free advice and surveys.

Free retreats if required.

We cover: Wasps - Flies - Rats Mice - Fleas - Cockroaches Bed-bugs - Pigeon control Building proofing and cleaning

For a personal service, please phone Trevor on 07522 581425

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

EAST ANGLIA’S PREMIER GARDEN EQUIPMENT DEALER GARDEN TOOLS & MACHINERY

We stock an extensive range of ride on & walk behind mowers, hedge cu�ers, strimmers, chippers, rewood processors, scariers, chainsaws, hand tools, brush cu�ers, leaf blowers & much more.

JOHN DEERE TOYS, CLOTHING & MERCHANDISE

A wide range of John Deere merchandise including toys, models, clothing & Tractor Ted DVDs & books. Gi� vouchers also available.

FIREWORKS SOLD ALL YEAR ROUND

A full range on offer to suit any budget, including sparklers, rockets, barrages, wheels & single igni�on cakes.

Ben Burgess Garden Equipment, Europa Way, Norwich NR1 2EN 01603 625370 Sales ‐ Service ‐ Parts ‐ Hire | www.benburgess.co.uk

53

February 2016

www.poringland-benefice.org.uk

55

Benefice Services & Activities All Saints Church, Poringland 9.30am Family Communion (First, Second and Third Sundays)

Second Sunday includes Sunday Club for 5 to 8 year olds 9.30am Family Service and Baptisms (Fourth Sunday) St Andrew’s Parish Church, Yelverton Road, Framingham Earl 8am Parish Communion (First & Second Sundays) 11.15am Parish Communion (Third Sunday) St Andrew’s Parish Church is open to visitors on Saturdays between 10am and 12noon (in winter 10am to 11am) St Mary the Virgin Parish Church, Howe The Fourth Sunday Service is either at 11.15am or 4.30pm, please refer to the centre page for the time this month.

St Wandregesilius Parish Church, Bixley No services until further notice (building destroyed by fire) Mondays (weekly, during term-time) 10am Edward Bear Club in Poringland Village Hall Wednesdays (monthly) 10am Parish Communion (Second Wednesday), Albion House 11am Morning Service (Second Wednesday), Cresta Lodge Wednesdays (weekly) 10am Coffee Stop, Poringland Village Hall On festivals and some other occasions, often due to local circumstances, different arrangements may be necessary.

On fifth Sundays a joint benefice service is held.

Please consult Services & Events (in the centrefold) for details.

Enquiries for Baptisms, Marriages and Banns should be made to the Rector or the Administrator (see page 3 for contact details).