HotPott May 2025 by Pott Shrigley Parish Magazine

Lynn's letter

Dear friends,

On Thursday 29th May we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus. This happened 40 days after the first Easter Day and we can read about it in Luke 24:50-53: ‘When He had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.’

When teaching on a leadership course, I have often shown a video of a group of people standing in a circle and throwing a ball to each other. I ask the students to watch the video carefully and observe what is going on because I will ask them some questions afterwards. During the fourminute clip, and whilst the people are throwing the ball, a man in a gorilla suit walks

through the circle and off again. Afterwards I ask: ‘Did anyone see the gorilla?’ No one has yet said ‘yes’: they have been so preoccupied with counting the number of times the ball has been thrown they missed the big event. I always need to replay the video as no one believes they missed it. When the gorilla appears a second time every one gasps with disbelief. How could they have been so unobservant?

Similarly, the story of Christ’s ascension can be overlooked as we are so taken up with the stories of Easter and Pentecost; the huge event of Christ’s glorification can go by without us noticing. The full story of Christ’s ascension tells of how the disciples were prepared by Jesus to have faith in Him even though they were physically separated from Him. It tells of the instructions Jesus gave to help them after He had gone. It points us to the reality of the life-changing peace and resultant purpose that comes to us when we believe that whilst Jesus is indeed on His throne, His presence is with everyone in the world even closer today than when He walked the earth.

So first let’s think about the separation. Why did Jesus hang around for 40 days after He rose from continued →

the dead? Well, during that time Jesus appeared to the disciples in various places and situations at least 10 times. He was building real faith into the disciples, faith that He had indeed risen from the dead. His appearances silenced any doubts they harboured within themselves that Jesus had risen again. Their certainty was going to be essential to the building of the church. What He said would happen, had happened. They could trust Him. He was indeed the promised Messiah who had come to rescue them.

However, even the disciples had not grasped the full meaning of His coming; they were more focussed on their immediate needs for overcoming Roman rule. Jesus did not die and rise again just to be present to a small number of Galileans at a certain time and place. They had no idea that Jesus’ death and resurrection was for the whole world, down through the ages, even reaching us today in the midst of our current crises. The only way for Jesus’ death to have that scope was for Him to return to His father and to be crowned as King over all of creation throughout time.

Just as it was important for the disciples to start to grasp the huge significance of what Jesus had done, so it is with us too. The sheer immensity of the work of Jesus’ death, resurrection and glorious ascension as King cannot be contained in our limited minds. But we benefit from it every day of our lives.

Jesus as a human can understand our limitations and current pain: He experienced them too. Jesus as King is continually interceding on our behalf before the throne of God. Anything we are experiencing today, any pain, confusion or fear can be taken to Jesus our brother who happens to be the King of the universe.

Secondly, after seeing this life-changing event the disciples would have needed to know what to do next. Jesus’ last words were very significant: ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ (Acts 1:8) Notice that this instruction comes in the form of a promise and not a command. He is basically telling them to wait. We know that there are 10 days between Ascension Day and Pentecost, but the disciples did not know how long they would have to wait. They were being asked to wait with expectation that something essential (and amazing) was going to happen to them, to be empowered to do things they could not believe were possible.

Can we learn from the disciples? They went into their upper room and devoted themselves to prayer. I’m sure that if we were able to ask them if they had felt that this was time wasted, they would have told us just how much work waiting can be. What the disciples were learning was that they needed to be people who talked with God, waited for Him to move first and then were ready to respond.

Ascension Day

Did you see the gorilla?

Thirdly, as Christ ascended, two angels appeared and asked the disciples: ‘Why do you stand looking up towards heaven?’ (Acts 1:11) It’s tempting for us to imagine that Christ’s ascension makes us more distant from Him. However, the angels’ rebuke hints that this thinking will not help us. Whilst Christ is indeed seated on the throne in heaven, He is also with us, in fact He is within us. His status has changed, He has been crowned, but He is closer than our closest relatives. Thus, looking up to the heavens to see where He has gone is to be gazing in the wrong direction. We need to look around us and within us to find His comforting presence, to find that inner peace. Whilst there are many things we cannot control or understand right now, we can be sure that there is work for us to do now and in the future.

So let us not be like those who miss the gorilla…

Jesus our brother is now crowned King and is praying for us. He is continually going on before us and is at work in our own hearts and in the lives of those around us right here and right now.

With love, Lynn.

How about a Church Holiday?

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to go on holiday together as a church family?

Melissa Wearden

We (the Wearden family) plan to attend Spring Harvest at Camping Le Pas Opton, which is sited 6km inland from the lovely coastal village of St Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, Vendée, France, and it would be nice to have a group from St Christopher’s to come along this year.

Spring Harvest is a relaxing Christian holiday with activities, fellowship, worship services and a pool with a slide! There is flexibility to join in with as much or as little as you’d like from the youth and children’s groups to evening entertainment – peace and quiet are also available in spade loads at the sandy local beaches (excuse the pun) and the village of St Gilles, as well as in other parts of The Vendée.

This is a great opportunity to spend more time together as a church.

Potentially, we are looking at going for seven days, commencing on 16th or 18th August 2025. A good variety of accommodation is available, and the prices vary accordingly. However, a Dover – Calais ferry crossing is included in the price, or, if you prefer, discounts are offered on alternative crossing, such as Portsmouth – Caen.

Prices are per accommodation, not per person.

• £680 - £910 if you bring your own tent or camper van

• £910 - £960 for glamping

• £1,280 to £2,230 for a mobile home

• £2,240 - £2790 for villas

Here is a link to the website: https://springharvestholidays.com/ You can sign up at the back of church if you would like to join us.

If you have any questions, please contact Melissa or Lynn.

Swimming pool, Camping Le Pas Opton

Mobile home

Cover story: the Palm Sunday Procession

We were blessed that the weather was kind enough on Palm Sunday to allow us to process, waving our palm crosses, from the lychgate into church singing Make Way, Make Way, ably led by Luke with his drum and Simon and Tom with their guitars.

Kath Matheson

The moving and memorable service was led by some of our OWLs (occasional worship leaders) Annie, Mike, and Sally, and included a dramatization, involving several members of the congregation, of the story of Holy Week – Christ’s journey to the cross. This was followed by a thoughtful reflection encouraging us to contemplate the magnitude of the sacrifice Christ, in obedience to His Father, made for us in taking our sins to the cross.

If you missed the service, please catch up with it at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=r1IVTN7mApM&t=974

Had a slight headache this morning but felt much better after following the instructions on the aspirin bottle: ‘Take two and keep away from children.’

It was chillier than it looked: the April Prayer Walk

There were six of us on the prayer walk in April. The sun shone but there was a chilly wind as we gathered outside The Coffee Tavern. Before setting out we remembered how the resurrected Lord Jesus met, and walked with, the travellers on the road to Emmaus, and we started by praying for ourselves, that we would be aware of Jesus walking with us.

Yvonne Foster

Journeying and change are often themes on this particular prayer walk (walk four, leaflet available at the back of church), and so we prayed for all those we know who are facing the challenge of an unknown future – whether recently bereaved, sick and in hospital, moving house, or preparing for university or a new apprenticeship. We remembered those who feel left behind too.

Striding out across the fields (and shivering a bit in the biting wind!), we stopped on the North Cheshire Way and thought about right and wrong paths and of how we can get lost, both physically and spiritually. We remembered Jesus who said: ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.’ (John 14)

Journeying on, we passed and stopped to admire the community of mobile homes before eventually arriving at a beautiful, idyllic spot. Here we separated to find a personal quiet space to listen to the birds singing, or to take note of God’s handiwork, giving ourselves a brief moment to have our own conversation with the creator. I watched and wondered, then took a photograph of a bee collecting nectar.

We walked on and chatted until we reached the Macclesfield Canal. The sun was shining and the wind had died down. The privilege of living in such a peaceful, glorious, part of the world was overwhelming, and we gave thanks for the gifts of sight, hearing, smell, and able bodies to enjoy this place and the warm, sunny day we had been given. Being very close to the parish of Adlington, we prayed for the work and witness of St John’s and

especially the continued success of their Saturday Coffee & Cake Bistro. We likewise remembered and prayed for the churches in Bollington.

Moving on we met and chatted to Peter, who was litter picking alongside others from the village, particularly his fellow parish councillors. This annual event helps to keep Pott Shrigley looking at its best, but we wondered why some find it acceptable to drop litter, or fly tip, rather than disposing of their waste in the proper place. We gave thanks for all those who give their time to pick up others’ debris throughout the year.

Passing by Red Acre Hall Farm, we stopped to admire the listed building, which is now up for sale. We had prayed earlier that the farm would be bought by people who would continue to farm the land.

With the end of the walk approaching, we thought about endings and imagined the whole planet, without evil, beautiful and bursting with new life on the day when Jesus returns as King. Returning across the fields we arrived back at The Coffee

* * *

After the local Churches Together meetings had concluded, the four ministers were discussing the results with one another.

The Methodist minister said, “What a success! We gained two new families.”

The Baptist pastor said, “We did better – we gained three new families.”

The URC minister said: “That’s nothing – we gained five new families!”

And the Anglican vicar smiled gently. “And we just said goodbye to our 10 biggest troublemakers.”

Tavern. The Tavern’s coffee, crumpets and tea cakes provided the perfect end to a lovely walk.

Thank you Anne, Kath, Ros, Sally and Sharon for your company, prayers and fellowship.

The prayer walk in May is on Saturday 3rd (bank holiday weekend) and we will be taking a walk up to The Nab.

Please contact Yvonne 07842 428496 for more information about prayer walking.

Come and See our Beautiful Kneelers

We are very proud of our unique, individually designed kneelers (hassocks) at St Christopher’s, so much so that from 2pm on Saturday 31st May they will all be on display in church alongside the stories behind them.

Mary Currell

They were the brainchild of Kathleen Geary, a worshipper at St Christopher’s for many years and an extremely talented needlewoman. In 1987 she asked for volunteers to sew new kneelers for the church; a mixture of expert needlecrafters and people with no experience whatsoever came forward, mostly ladies. Volunteers were largely either current or past members of the congregation, but some had other connections to Pott Shrigley and a few just loved doing needlework and came along with their friends to support the project. Those who felt unable to complete a kneeler were invited to sponsor one as a memorial to someone, or to illustrate a village institution; many were generous in their giving.

And so the Hassock Group was formed. Kathleen Geary designed most of the kneelers herself; she translated the ideas others wanted portrayed onto charts,

advising which stitches and colours would best suit the design. The group met every few weeks to check on progress, with Kathleen always available to give advice.

The kneelers made history at the time: they featured in a brilliant article, written by Neil McAllister, in The People’s Friend magazine. Neil mentions how he visited the needlework ladies one day to see for himself the work in progress. It is a lovely story with photographs, and we hope to have this on show on the day.

Kathleen and Colin, her husband, now live in Beaumaris but Kathleen never fails to ask whether her kneelers are still looking good after all these years and is delighted to hear that they will now very soon feature in this exhibition.

Do come along to see these unique creations; they evoke many memories of the subjects they depict and the many talented people who completed them, then round off your afternoon with a visit across the road to the village hall where you can enjoy tea and cake.

Any donations received at this event will be given to church funds.

Altar kneeler

Kneelers

Reverend David Harrison

We were very sorry to learn of Rev. David’s recent death in Macclesfield DGH. David, who was most recently vicar at St Thomas Henbury, was an enormous help to us during the interregnums that occurred between Geoffrey Greenhough and John Buckley, and between John and David Swales.

David took many of our regular services as well as some weddings and baptisms; he also visited Pott School to take assemblies there. Some will have met David in the course of his 42 years’ work as a hospital chaplain in Macclesfield too.

Our thoughts and prayers are with David’s wife Sue and their family. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

* * *

After booking my 80-year-old grandmother on a flight from Glasgow to Gatwick, I called the airline to go over her special needs. The representative listened patiently as I requested a wheelchair and an attendant for my grandmother because of her arthritis and impaired vision to the point of near blindness.

My apprehension lightened a bit as the woman assured me over and over that everything would be taken care of. I thanked her profusely.

“Oh, you’re welcome,” she replied. I was about to hang up when she cheerfully added, “And will your grandmother want a rental car?”

* * *

Rev. David Harrison

What a fabulous day we all had!

After months of planning and organising the great day finally arrived: we were off to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the magnificent Manchester Opera House. We all met at the village hall car park, where the Golden Green coach was waiting for us.

Victoria Price

The kids were very excited, and everyone seemed in good spirits. Due to my overthinking we arrived in Manchester very early, but we eventually got seated after climbing the 92 steps (I think) to our very high seats. On a positive note, we were all a stone lighter but, not going to lie, next time guys we need to sit downstairs lol…..

And the show began, song after song, so many colours; it was just amazing to watch. Of course, we all know and love the story of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. However, do you know the colours that dominate the coat of many colours? You will find the blood of Jesus, which is our redemption, represented by the crimson in the coat. Jesus is without sin, completely pure Himself, and He told

us ‘blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God’ (Matthew 5:8) - and white represents purity. There must be white in that coat! The green of life is present, for Jesus brought life, life, life. The gold, the healing virtue of Jesus Christ of Nazareth coming down like liquid fire…. there must be plenty of that. Blue is there, the beautiful purplish royal blue representing

the sovereignty and miracle power of God that I see again and again in the visions as God heals the people.

I asked for some comments from the children, and this is what they said:

Ieva: ‘I thought it was great; the songs were good, and some parts made me giggle.’

Emma: ‘It was really nice and beautiful; I liked when the girl was doing the tap dance, she was very good.’

Sophie: ‘The narrator was so funny, she made me laugh and reminded me of my friend, I like her.’

Lara: ‘I enjoyed the bit about Egypt.’

Luke: ‘I like the Elvis tribute, it was funny.’

Bella: ‘I was impressed with the children performing so well at such a young age.’

James: ‘I liked all the songs except the jail one.’

Hannah: ‘It was really good, I enjoyed it.’

Paige: ‘The set designs were amazing.’

Elsa: ‘I loved it and Joseph was very brave.’

On our return, I was surprised by a card with some lovely messages and a beautiful bunch of flowers.

Thank you everyone.

And thank you to Victoria for taking the time to organise such a wonderful trip.

St Christopher’s Pastoral Ministry

For pastoral support, a listening ear, a home visit, Holy Communion at home, prayer support or if you have a baptism enquiry

please contact the pastoral ministry care team via Anne Murphy. pastoralteam@pottshrigleychurch.org.uk telephone: 07891 953919

I told you so…

In the April edition of HotPott I mentioned my preference for never having to eat a hot cross bun again.

Kath Matheson

It seems that these (to some) culinary delights are not without their hazards, as reported in The Dundee Courier & Argus on Friday 21st April 1865: ‘An old man died in London on Friday from the effects of eating fourteen hot cross buns at breakfast.’ Of course, the old man may have been struck down by any malady, but the perils of hot cross buns are seen more clearly in an article headed ‘Alarming occurrence in Inverness. One hundred persons poisoned.’ and published in the Glasgow Herald on Holy Saturday, 8th April 1882. This sorry tale tells of ‘upwards of one hundred persons were yesterday poisoned, it is supposed through eating hot cross buns.’

It seems that whole families suddenly experienced symptoms of dizziness and limb and neck pain; these were quickly followed by severe vomiting, feeling cold, and collapse. The common factor seemed to be eating hot cross buns made by Mr Tulloch, a baker in Greig Street, Inverness; all Mr Tulloch’s family and employees were affected too – as was he. Realising that he had caused so many in the town to fall significantly ill, Mr Tulloch soon withdrew his buns from sale and reported the problem to the police; they seized all the unsold stock and carried it off to the police station where it was placed under lock and key.

It wasn’t initially apparent which of the buns’ ingredients was to blame for the horrendous, and no doubt alarming,

symptoms but the only new element in this batch of baking was about 2lb of mixed spices bought from an Aberdeen house three months previously. Mr Tulloch's agent, a solicitor called Mr Alex M’Gregor, had a quantity of the spices and some of the buns forwarded to Dr Littlejohn of Edinburgh, for analysis.

Meanwhile, and unsurprisingly, Inverness’ doctors were working hard administering emetics to help patients eject the poison.

Mixed spices; wandercooks

Hot cross buns; BBC

Around 140 people, including children, were affected, but all recovered. A subsequent medical enquiry, which reported in August 1882, indicated that an agent in the spices was indeed to blame, but I have no further information about this mystery chemical. Perhaps it is not surprising that the population was occasionally poisoned by bakers. An article in The Lancet published on 22nd April 1822 reported that one bakery placed its bread tins over an open

sewer to cool. Yummy.

Hope you all enjoyed your hot cross buns!

The above article was put together after perusing the website of Diseases of Modern Life from Oxford University and a post by Alan Currie on TalkingScot.com. Thank you to them and to The Dundee Courier & Argus and to the Glasgow Herald.

A Chocolate and Curry Combo

As I'm sure all of you are aware, there is always a lot of hard work behind the scenes of every fund-raising event. Raising money for our very small school is such a pleasure for everybody involved; it brings us so much joy to know that we are helping to make a difference.

Victoria Price

This was our third year of running a chocolate bingo session. Very weirdly, this time we did it with a little bit of a twist: we had curry (kindly donated by Shigley Hall Hotel) available to buy on the night. Chocolate and curry are a potent combination.

But this is serious stuff. Eyes were down and everyone concentrated extremely hard; the lure of the beautiful chocolate hampers was too much to resist… would the right numbers be called? For some parents, the anxiety of their child not winning outweighed the desire to win themselves.

It was an amazing night, filled with lots of fun and laughter, great food, and, leaving

modesty aside, the best hot chocolate in the world, accompanied with a shot of Baileys for the adults. And, as a very welcome secondary benefit, we raised a massive £1,000 to go towards the school funds.

We want to thank everybody who donated and everybody who came and supported the event.

We will be holding another entertaining evening on the 16th May. This time the fun will comprise an all-age quiz. Please come and join us if you can.

Chocolate bingo at Pott Shrigley Church School

Skydiving for Just-ice!

Many of you will know Just-ice, the ethical ice cream shop on Park Lane, Poynton. Just-Ice Poynton is a profit for purpose social enterprise and registered charity which exists to help survivors of modern slavery rebuild their lives by providing friendship, support, and employment training in a safe environment. The manager, Debbie, asked a few of the volunteers if they’d like to do a skydive with her to support the charity, and somehow I found myself on the list for doing a skydive! I was asked a few questions for the weekly promotional email, and I have been kindly allowed to share my answers with HotPott:

Sally Winstanley

Why did you choose to volunteer at Justice?

I first heard about Just-ice Poynton, before it actually arrived! I caught Jo’s and others’ vision for the cause and realised this was a way I could get involved in one of God’s many rescue plans. I have quite a few family and church commitments, but volunteering at Just-ice doesn’t have to be at set times on set days, I can choose. Sadly, I don’t get much opportunity to volunteer in the shop these days, but I do help out in other ways – raising funds with a skydive being one of them!

What do you like best about volunteering at Just-ice?

Great camaraderie, it’s a happy place to be and I get to meet the people that have been helped and see how they blossom and build their skills and confidence in a safe environment. It is a way to show God’s love to people who have been hurt.

Going from serving ice cream to skydiving is a big leap. Excited or nervous?

It doesn’t seem real yet, so I’m not feeling nervous and only mildly excited… I’m sure the closer we get to the date, I shall be both nervous and excited!

Tell us why you decided to take on the challenge and fundraise for Just-ice

As I remember it, I didn’t actually say ‘yes’ to Debbie when she sent out an exploratory email asking for interest in a skydive. I replied, asking a few practical questions about it, and the next thing I knew was on the list to do it!! Anyway, it’s something I wanted to do in my younger days, but the opportunity never arose. When I saw my name on the list, I thought: ‘Well, why not? Here’s my chance!’ Justice is a very worthy cause; its success in helping the victims of human trafficking and modern slavery is obvious and the leadership is totally trustworthy

Hard to believe slavery is still such a big problem in the modern world. How will the money raised be used to help the survivors we support?

The great thing is that the help is very practical, bespoke to each individual and gives dignity to people who have suffered trauma and humiliation at the hands of unscrupulous people. Apart from the practicalities of helping victims navigate the challenges and red tape involved in applying for residency, finding a home, learning a language and honing skills for employment (amongst other things!), it also gives people hope, joy and a way to start trusting wisely.

Anything to say to people who have supported you?

Firstly, a very big THANK YOU! I want people to know that every penny they donate (apart from the Justgiving admin fee, if donating via that platform) will go to Just-ice. I am funding the skydive myself. If you’d like to support me, my JustGiving page is:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/sarawinstanley-1736972740740

The Coffee Tavern

Fully License(\

Shrigley Road, Pott Shrigley, Macclesfield 01625 576'90

Setving Daily, Breakfust, Main Meals, Snacks etc

Available (or Functions etc.

OPEN 10qm to 6pm - Thursday to Sunday

From the Registers

Funeral

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of: 25th March Eileen Mary Simcock, aged 89 years

Your Vote Your Council

Highways

Dates when issues first raised with Highways appear in brackets.

Jo Hadfield

New/Updated/Completed

• Blocked drain in the field that abuts Nab Cottage: owners Joe and Karen Davies have contacted Ben Moorhouse who agrees there is a blockage under the road but is quoting for a soakaway to alleviate the problem. (March 2025)

• Extra traffic caused by Poynton Relief Road: the updated figures of the traffic passing through the village since the opening of the Poynton Relief Road show the number of vehicles has almost doubled from that anticipated. Planning permission was granted for the road on the premise that mitigation measures, if needed, would be put in place in a timely manner (by December 2024). Unfortunately, the suggested measures are all focused on Brookledge Lane, with none relating to reducing traffic using Bakestonedale Road. A response will be written, as before the road opened the council took part in several meetings in which mitigation measures relating to Bakestonedale Road were discussed and proposed.

• Extra traffic caused by closure of B5470: the clerk continues her attempts to get a date for the repairs to Macclesfield Road to be finished as the surface of Bakestonedale Road has deteriorated markedly because of the significantly increased traffic travelling along it, due partly to this closure.

• Rebuilding of wall at junction of Spuley Lane and Shrigley Road: a provisional date of May has been given, providing the Environment Agency approves the repair proposal. (December 2024)

• The clerk contacted Joe and Karen Davies (owners) about the hedging planted in front of the gate on the access path to the village green. She has sent copies of the council’s title plan and the easements. They will deal with it on return from their holiday.

Pending

• Broken fence at West Park Gate car park on list for repair. (April 2023)

• Remedial resurfacing of Shrigley Road from Green Close to the aqueduct. (2014)

• Modifications to the chevron bend by Shrigley Hall. (2017)

• Repair of collapsed wall on Bakestonedale Road. (July 2022)

• Improvements to bend at Brookbank: will be included in the Minor Improvement Scheme.

• Culvert/wall on the west side of Shrigley Road. (Nov 2024)

Lychgate

The application for a grant to repair the lychgate has been submitted and further questions addressed. The clerk hopes to receive a decision on the success of this by the end of April.

Mersey Forest Tree Planting Scheme

Cllr Basford met with the Wildlife Trust for advice on planting trees on the village green. They will contact the clerk with their proposed scheme.

Spring Litter Pick

Thank you to the councillors and residents for their hard work litter picking. It was noted that Norman’s Hall residents regularly tidy up along Shrigley Road from their corner to the Coffee Tavern.

Daffodils

Thank you to the residents who planted daffodil bulbs in September; your hard work has been a joy to us all as we have admired the wonderful daffodils around the village over the last few weeks.

Planning Applications

Approved

24/2084M 3A Moorside Cottage, SK10 5RZ

Proposal: Two storey side extension to the existing dwelling.

Approved with conditions

24/3155M 1, Normans Hall Mews, SK10 5SE

Proposal: Demolition of garage and the construction of a new garage with workshop and storage areas on the ground floor and a first-floor home office above.

Approved with conditions.

Next meeting

The next council meeting will take place at 8pm on Monday 12th May 2025 in the village hall.

* * *

The telephone rang in the church office of the church that the MP attended when visiting his constituency. An eager voice inquired: “Do you expect the MP to be in church on Sunday? If so, I was thinking of coming along.”

“That,” said the clergyman, “I cannot promise. But we do expect that God will be there, and we fancy that that should be incentive enough for a reasonably large attendance.” * * *

A surgeon, an architect and a politician were arguing as to whose profession was the oldest. Said the surgeon: “Eve was made from Adam’s rib, and that surely was a surgical operation.”

“Maybe,” said the architect, “but prior to that, order was created out of chaos, and that was an architectural job.”

“But you forget,” interrupted the politician, “somebody had created the chaos first!”

Daffodils outside Normans Hall

Across

1 Infant (Luke 2:12) (4)

3 Luis must (anag.) (8)

8 What Jesus called the devil (John 8:44) (4)

9 ‘My God, my God, why have you — me?’ (Matthew 27:46) (8)

11 Anglican form of church government (10)

14 ‘Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like — ’ (Isaiah 40:31) (6)

15 Ministers of religion (6)

17 Make stronger (1 Thessalonians 3:13) (10)

20 Devoutness (1 Timothy 2:2) (8)

Coffee Break

21 The father of Jesse (Ruth 4:22) (4)

22 Pool where Jesus healed a man who had been an invalid for 38 years (John 5:2) (8)

23 ‘[Jesus] said to them, “ — here and keep watch”’ (Mark 14:34) (4)

Down

1 Follower of Christ (Acts 16:1) (8)

2 One of the punishments endured by Paul (2 Corinthians 6:5) (8)

4 Soldiers (Exodus 14:9) (6)

5 Scholarly study of melody, harmony and rhythm (10)

6 ‘I am God, and there is none — me’ (Isaiah 46:9) (4)

7 ‘And how can they preach unless they are — ?’ (Romans 10:15) (4)

10 Favourable reception (1 Timothy 1:15) (10)

12 Hip orbit (anag.) (8)

13 End of life (Isaiah 22:14) (5,3)

16 ‘About midnight the sailors — they were approaching land’ (Acts 27:27) (6)

18 He married Jezebel (1 Kings 16:30–31) (4)

19 ‘According to your great compassion — out my transgressions’ (Psalm 51:1) (4)

Challenges in Sudan; Self-help in Cameroon

We have probably all seen how the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has affected the population of Sudan: many have died either through violence (more than 150,000) or starvation (522,000 infants alone) and still more have been wounded or displaced (8,856,300 internal, 3,506,300 refugees) or subjected to sexual violence. A conference held in London recently failed to make significant progress towards a ceasefire.

Kath Matheson

So all the citizens of Sudan, the majority (91%) of whom are Muslim, are suffering, and although Christians, who make up 5.4% of the population, have been persecuted since before the conflict began in April 2023, the conflict has seen the rise of Islamic extremists who are capitalising on the chaotic security situation. There has been a spike in the abduction and killing of Christian men by radical Islamic groups and an increased number of attacks on churches, church leaders and Christian communities. Although the apostasy law (forbidding conversion to a different religion) was abolished in 2020, families and communities still see conversion from Islam as a shameful betrayal, and so new believers often keep their faith secret for fear of violence, starvation, imprisonment, forced marriage, sexual violence, being disinherited or losing custody of their children. It seems extreme Islamists seek to destroy Christianity in Sudan, and after a period prior to 2020 when religious tolerance was increasing, last year the country rose three places to number five

on the OpenDoors Worldwide Watch List, with the scope and intensity of pressure on Christians growing substantially in the face of extreme levels of violence and diminishing resources. And yet by the grace of God Christians remain positive. Alia, who has been displaced with her family, says: ‘It is the war that forced us to come here. We lack everything. We are really hungry. We are enduring and we have put God first to help us. We have not forgotten about God because He is with us always, day and night.’ Please pray for Sudan, that peace would be established in this beautiful land, and especially for Christians there, that they would be protected and relieved of their suffering. Pray too for all organisations seeking to alleviate suffering in Sudan.

Alia, Sudan; OpenDoors

Sudanese refugee camp in Ethiopia; Human rights watch

And on a more positive note, some Christians are benefitting from self-help group training organised by OpenDoors’ partners in Cameroon, country number 43 on the OpenDoors Worldwide Watch List. Christian Cameroonians, particularly in the north, are subject to persecution through physical attacks by Islamist militant groups like Boko Haram, by their business endeavours being marginalised, or by being pressured with economic bribes to return to Islam. Auristine, whose husband leads a church in Garoua in the north of Cameroon, explains that many Christians in the locality are either unaware of Christian persecution or don’t give much weight to it. After she and six other women from her village attended a self-help seminar, they felt empowered to speak to their church about the additional vulnerability of women to persecution and they also decided to start a small group called Femmes Capable (Capable Women). Since then, Femmes Capable has fostered the creation of groups in all 12 communities where their local church is present; these groups have demonstrated how supporting the women in a church leads to transformation throughout the whole congregation. Initially Auristine found it difficult to get the women in the congregation together. ‘Now,’ she says, ‘we teach women how to evangelise, then we do Bible studies. We teach the Word of God to women so that they can stand firm in times of adversity.’

The groups help the women in practical ways, particularly helping them to attain financial independence, either through a group enterprise or individually. ‘They must be able to do things with their hands because God blesses the work of our hands,’ Auristine explains. ‘Finally, we teach women how to save.’ Using the freely available fruit and seeds of Cameroon’s neem trees, the main group manufactures

products like soap and neem oil. They have a good system: ‘These seeds fall from the trees, and we go to the villages. We pay the women in these villages and they collect 50kg bags at 3,000 francs per bag. When we receive it, we soak the seeds, dry them and then we can extract the oil. The litre sells for 6,000 francs. That’s a lot of profit!’ As the umbrella group has thrived, there is enough money in its common fund to provide loans for start-up businesses and for other community projects. Auristine says: ‘In the group, there are women who make soap from carrots, carrot oil, neem soap, liquid soap, kinkeliba tea.’

Auristine grinding neem seeds, Cameroon; OpenDoors

Neem seeds

Each woman also has her own, individual income-generating activity which enables her and her family to thrive. The aim is to continue to grow the businesses nationally and internationally; a company in the capital of Cameroon, Yaoundé, already buys large quantities of soap each month. Auristine is deeply thankful to God and to the people who made this transformative training possible: ‘I am grateful to the Lord for this seminar. I am able to see the women fulfilled and ready to face persecution if it arises here in Garoua. I thank you very much for the training, the follow-ups, the support and I pray that the Lord will repay you a hundredfold.’

Thank you to OpenDoors, BBC News & Wikipedia for the above information.

Life (John 6:68)

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2nd May Caroline & Jean

9th May Ros & Madeline

16th May Victoria

23rd May Ivan & Mary

30th May David & Joy

6th June Shirley & Christine

Life is not always fair, or kind. Life batters, People betray, let us down, Even those we trusted with our hearts and health.

Landscapes change, Things we knew and understood Are tossed in the air

To come down damaged and different. It all seems too hard, Too hard to bear. And it isn’t fair. What then?

Give up, turn back, Collapse and concentrate on the disintegration?

Or with Peter, look up and say, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.”

Life is not always fair, or kind. That’s why Jesus came.

By Daphne Kitching

Missionary Matters

Johnny and Ann McClean have written from Bangkok, Thailand:

A, S & M, Afghan refugees

After the exciting news last month that A, S, & M were unexpectedly called for a final medical and interview prior to their transfer to Australia, unfortunately they are still waiting for a final date for them to leave Thailand after their eight year stay. Please pray for a swift move to their new location, and that they would settle and feel safe there.

New City Fellowship Church

The McCleans’ church has had some very specific challenges since Christmas. Several members have grown cold spiritually and have stopped attending church, including Auntie Lek and Em, both of whom Johnny and Ann are very close to. Please pray for Pastor Pramote, his wife Ling, Johnny and Ann as they persevere through these setbacks and strive to remain faithful in the place the Lord has called them. Pray that the Lord would draw believers back to Himself and to the fellowship of His people, with humble repentant hearts and a desire to honour the Lord. Give thanks

for missionaries Emmanuel, Marie-Claire and the Mission to the World (MTW) team, with whom Johnny and Ann partner; they have been a great encouragement in recent months. Give thanks too for the eight children and one granny who have started coming faithfully to church as a result of Ling and Emmanuel starting a Joy Club in the Mahathai (slum) community. The visa changes introduced by the government in February continue to cause problems for nearly every missionary the McCleans work with. Please pray for missionaries affected by these changes.

Langham training

Johnny’s new role with Langham continues to occupy far more of his time than he initially anticipated; it’s overwhelming in fact. Since January, he has had training weeks in Bangladesh, the Philippines, Thailand and a hostile neighbouring country, as well as hosting the Asia Leadership planning week and a team of pastors from Myanmar. It’s thrilling to see preachers across East Asia eager to learn and to support one another in becoming faithful and relevant teachers of God’s Word, and Johnny is loving many aspects of the role. Praise God for new work starting in the neighbouring country and for potential opportunities in Japan. Pray for those who have attended training recently, that they are encouraged to persevere in often challenging situations. Pray for Johnny and the Asia leadership team to have wisdom in planning his schedule for the rest of the year and into 2026.

Ann’s

work at

the International Community School (ICS)

Life at ICS remains busy, and with a particularly challenging cohort in Grade 6 this year, Ann has found

Johnny & Ann McClean

balancing home, hospitality, church and school difficult. Despite considering carefully how they should manage their time, their schedules and ministries do not always line up! Ann felt privileged to speak in the Middle School chapel and at the after-school Life Group gathering this semester. The six girls she meets with in a weekly discipleship group continue to be a delight and an encouragement, and there are regular opportunities to pray with staff. Pray for a very clear sense of what the Lord is calling Johnny and Ann to both be and do in this season. Pray for love and patience with students who are increasingly testing boundaries as the summer break approaches.

Earthquake in Myanmar

28th March saw Johnny and Ann trying to contact their friends across Thailand, and to assure their family in the UK that they were safe; they also cared for students at ICS.

As it’s been 95 years since the last earthquake in Bangkok, confusion reigned, as did a very real awareness that no one knows what tomorrow holds! Damage in Bangkok was relatively minor, but the quake created a lot of fear and tension in the city. It also highlighted the very real consequences of the corruption

that’s accepted as a normal part of life in Thailand. Around 100 workers were killed at a construction site in Bangkok, but Myanmar faced far greater losses. Please pray for people to consider the fragility of life and the certain hope of the Gospel in these difficult days.

Spring break

Give thanks that Johnny and Ann were given the opportunity to rest for a week in the beautiful natural surroundings of Hua Hin’s coastline. They needed the break after an intense few months!

Helen & Megumi Fazakerley have also been in touch from Malawi:

Family News

Understandably when working in a foreign land, Helen sometimes feels homesick and misses her family, but it helps to have close local friends. Her Bangers 'n' Mash music group fills many gaps of loneliness, though fuel shortages prevent it meeting as often as she’d like.

Ministries

Helen, a trained nurse, previously worked with SIM’s Hope for AIDS ministry; AIDS was a hugely stigmatised disease then and treatment was not always available easily. She was delighted, therefore, to listen to a BBC documentary podcast (https://www. bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct7y8j) about

Collapsed building in Bangkok following earthquake; Los Angeles Times

Hua Hin; trip adviser

Malawi, and hear how, during the 19 years she was working on the AIDS programme, life expectancy rose by 19 years. This is immensely encouraging, and Helen feels so privileged to have been one of the many who were involved in this ministry. She is thankful that the prayers and the financial backing of their supporters enabled this to happen.

Megumi and Helen continue to attend their all-age home group. They are still studying Revelation, not a particularly easy or childfriendly book, but they think it is good that some young family members can join them at times. Megumi and Helen have been watching a TV series, The Chosen, (https:// www.thechosen.tv/en-us), which is an US Christian historical drama series about the life and ministry of Jesus. The current season starts with the triumphal entry episode, which set Megumi thinking: ‘Why is the event called TRIUMPHAL Entry?’ ‘Who named it?’ ‘And what is so 'triumphal' about it?’ Having been thinking about Revelation, both in their home group and in preparation for writing a study guide, Megumi is pondering what it means to ‘overcome’ and what ‘victory’ looks like in

All-age home group

God's terms. He’s still thinking...

Life in Malawi

Life appears to be strangely on hold in Malawi. There is a chronic shortage of foreign currency, which makes it difficult for businesses to import goods. Miraculously, petrol and diesel are still generally available, but the Fazakerleys are noticing signs and reports of underlying fundamental shortages. They can still buy most necessities, but shelves are becoming visibly emptier. The prospect is scary. Please pray for Megumi and Helen as they continue their ministry in Malawi, and for the country itself as it navigates difficult times.

Life expectancy rising in Malawi

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13th9thMay

June

Recipe of the Month

Pork & vegetable stir fry

This is one Yvonne found in a free recipe leaflet she picked up from Safeways, and she’s made it regularly ever since. As Safeways ceased to exist in 2005, it’s obviously stood the test of time as an easy recipe that has delicious results.

Yvonne Foster

Ingredients:

150g mixed sugar snap peas & baby sweetcorn

2 heads of broccoli

30ml sunflower oil

1 red pepper, seeded and diced

4 boneless pork chops, cubed

2 cloves of garlic, crushed

10ml finely chopped fresh ginger

15ml cornflour

60ml tomato ketchup

30ml Worcester sauce

30ml clear honey

75ml chicken stock

Method:

Halve the baby sweetcorn lengthways, then cut in half again.

Trim the stem off the broccoli and separate the heads into smaller florets.

Heat the oil in a large pan or wok and stir fry the corn, broccoli & pepper for a few minutes until softened.

Toss in the cubed pork, garlic & ginger and stir fry until the pork turns white. Add the sugar snaps.

Mix the cornflour with the ketchup, Worcester sauce, honey & chicken stock. Pour into the mixture in the pan and allow to bubble, stirring until smooth and thickened.

Serve with rice or noodles, and enjoy!

* * *

The Sunday School teacher was telling the story of how when Lot’s wife looked back at Sodom and Gomorrah, she turned into a pillar of salt. One youngster nodded in a knowing fashion. “My mummy looked back once while she was driving,” he confided, “and she turned into a lamp post.”

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St Christopher’s Pastoral Ministry

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