Mucklestone newsletter December 2020

St Mary’s, Mucklestone Parish Magazine December 2020 — February 2021

Splendour of the Harvest Decorations in Church by Liz Vallings/Shirley Thomas and Ann Chamberlain (working covid-safe).

Photos: J Sedgely & D Crook

Church Calendar 6th December 2nd Sunday of Advent

11.15am

Holy Communion (BCP)

13th December 3rd Sunday of Advent

11.15am

Family Christingle

20th December 4th Sunday of Advent

11.15am

Carol Service

24th December Christmas Eve

10.30pm

Midnight Mass

25th December Christmas Day

11.15am

Holy Communion

27th December 1st Sunday after Christmas

11.15am

Matins

3rd January Epiphany

11.15am

Holy Communion (BCP)

10th January 11.15am Matins 1st Sunday of Epiphany/Baptism of Christ 17th January 2nd Sunday of Epiphany

11.15am

Holy Communion (CW)

24th January 3rd Sunday of Epiphany

11.15am

Family Service*

31st January 11.15am Holy Communion (CW) Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas) 7th February 2nd Sunday before Lent

11.15am

Holy Communion (BCP)

14th February Sunday next before Lent

11.15am

Matins

17th February Ash Wednesday

t.b.c.

21st February 1st Sunday of Lent

11.15am

Holy Communion (CW)

28th February 2nd Sunday of Lent

11.15 am

Family Service*

*We have scheduled the monthly family services into the rota but, at the time of going to press, you will appreciate there is still uncertainty about Covid-19 restrictions. This may mean that family services will be held remotely via Zoom, in which case the service in St Mary’s Church will be Matins. The noticeboard outside church will be updated the week before or you can contact deniseakeen@btinternet.com / 07761446753, or Church Wardens. Thank you.

Whose Turn Is It? (All dates are subject to the Church services being permitted)

DATE

READER

December 6th

Mrs E. Adams

READINGS

SIDESMEN

Isaiah 40:1-11 2 Peter 3: 8-15a December 13th Mrs. D. Keen & Isaiah 61: 1-4, 8-11 Church Club Children 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24 December 20th TBC 2 Samuel 7: 1-11, 16 Romans 16: 25-27 December 24th Mr J. Friend 2 Samuel 7: 1-5, 8-11,16 Acts 13: 16-26 December 25th Mr A. Heath Isaiah 52:7-10 Hebrews 1: 1-4 December 27th Mrs. S. Thomas Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Galatians 4: 4-7 January 3rd Mr M. Griffin Isaiah 60: 1-6 Ephesians 3: 1-12 January 10th Mr C. Garnett Genesis 1: 1-5 Acts 19: 1-7 January 17th Mr R. Tame 1 Samuel 3: 1-10(11-20) Revelation 5: 1-10

CWs

January 24th

Mrs. D. Keen

January 31st

February 7th February 14th February 21st February 28th .

Mrs. D. Keen & Genesis 14: 17-20 Church Club Children Revelation 19: 6-10 Mrs J Cheadle Malachi 3: 1-5 Hebrews 2: 14-end Mrs A. Fisher Proverbs 8: 1, 22-31 Colossians 1: 15-20 Mr J. Furnival 2 Kings2: 1-12 2 Corinthians 4: 3-6 Mr R Ainsworth Genesis 9: 8-17 1 Peter 3: 18-22 Mrs. D. Keen & Genesis 17: 1-7, 15,16 Church Club Children Romans 4: 13-25

Mrs. D. Keen CWs

CWs CWs CWs CWs CWs CWs

CWs

CWs CWs CWs Mrs. D. Keen

Sidespeople’s duties will be re-scheduled once Covid restrictions are lifted

.. from Rector Designate As Christians we are concerned about all issues affecting the community and the environment in which we live. This is God’s world and as human being we are set in it as stewards. Our concern is for wholeness and fulfilment of all people. Since all are equal within the love of God. We can only attempt this role with fear and trembling as we ourselves stand under God’s judgement for our failure to see clearly the injustices, our complicity in the sins of others and our slowness and timidity in taking up the cause of the oppressed.

So, what should I say about myself?

I am coming to Ashley, from three coastal parishes in Cornwall so I am no stranger to rural ministry. I trained for ministry at Westcott House Cambridge and completed my curacy at St Mary’s Abbey Nuneaton. I am 62, was born in Windsor, studied at Liverpool for my first degree, and worked as a Social Worker in London before ordination. I continued to study part-time and complete a Master’s degree at Warwick University and a Doctorate at Bradford.

I like classical music and can play the Mozart piano sonatas to a fashion. I am married to Mother Linda, who is also a priest, but we do not work together as we want to stay married. When we are not working, we can be found in front of the fire enjoying a glass of wine and animated conversation, in the company of our pet cat - Mr Mickey Mango Socrates.

Father David

The Revd Dr David Isiorho RNR

Abbreviations SAH: Rev Sara Humphries BB: Fr. Bernard Buttery AM: Anna Mortimer RV: Roger Vaughan DK: Denise Keen

MP: Ven Matthew Parker RP: Roger Pooley GG: Gerald Gardiner DH: David Hemingway MG: Rev. Marcus Griffiths

HC: Holy Communion

RL: Rev Roger Legg HD: Helen Dent JD: John Day JB: James Butter FW: Frances Wilson BJ: Brian Jervis TP: Rev Terry Pye CWs: Church Wardens

PC: Parish Communion

BCP: Book of Common Prayer

FC: Family Communion CW: Common Worship

Curate’s Letter Martin Dale Loggerheads December 2020

Dear Friends and Neighbours As I write this letter, we are still in our second lockdown and are hoping and praying that the numbers of those contracting the Covid-19 virus start to reduce so that we can begin to make firm plans for Christmas. We all know that Christmas will be very different this year, with social distancing concerns leading to many of the usual seasonal festivities being cancelled or moved on-line. We are moving into the Christian season of Advent, adopted from the Latin word adventus meaning coming, arrival. Contrary to stories in the national media, Christmas will not be cancelled this year, as Christians we will celebrate the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and await the return of Christ at the Second Coming.

This year our Advent season seems even more significant as we await the licensing of our new Rector and spiritual leader Father David Isiorho on the 10th of January. We look forward to seeing what direction Father David will take our benefice in, in the brave new world post-Covid. Father David will be moving into the Rectory before Christmas. Sadly because of Covid restrictions we won’t be able to welcome him with our usual enthusiastic style, however, hopefully, we will be able to meet and welcome him in a Covid-secure manner before his licensing.

As Christians, we always live in hope; hope of a better world to live in now and the future; a hope given to us through the birth and death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We have hope because we have faith. On the radio the other day I heard Rev Dr Doug Gay describe faith as “walking by faith, as the New Testament puts it, is not just a consolation for the simple minded – it’s also, in its own way, a complication for the open minded – in a world when we are sometimes tempted to give up on God, the faith we profess offers us a way of living with complications, of holding mixed feelings – of walking with the tensions – it’s the work of faith to reckon with both suffering and joy, futility and hope, absence and presence, guilt and mercy, grief and consolation. And it’s complicated. And it’s often not easy. But for us the call to faith is a call to face life as honestly as we can and to believe that God will be with us as we do that.”

We know this pandemic will pass, because we have faith. We don’t know what the world will look like, but we have hope for a brighter and better tomorrow because God will be with us. So I wish you and your families a very hope-full and faith-filled Christmas and every blessing for the New Year.

Revd Sara Humphries Curate, Loggerheads Benefice

News from the Anvil Dear All, Here we are – early November at the time of writing – with the wonderful autumn colours of October having been blasted away by November gales. Keen gardeners will have been planting spring bulbs. In other words the changing seasons of life in the natural world go on around us despite what can sometimes feel like seismic changes to “normality” as we used to know it. And with some degree of lock-down constraining our movements and behaviour ever since March, and foreign holiday off the agenda, what many of us may actually have had more time to do this year is to appreciate the beauty of the world around us, in this country, and the unchanging cycle of nature.

As far as possible, where church services are concerned, we have endeavoured to maintain a high degree of normality, with our pattern of services continuing as usual through September and October. The church has been cleaned regularly and kept locked for 3 days prior to Sunday services to be covid-sterile for our Sunday congregations. Hand sanitiser is provided, face masks worn, alternate pews roped off, and appropriate signage in place to achieve 2m social distancing. But then everything changed with the start of the new period of national lockdown on 5th November which will last through till the beginning of December.

Places of worship may remain open for private prayer, but there can be no Church services.

We were delighted to see so many folk coming along to celebrate Harvest Festival on Sunday 4th October. The church was splendidly decorated as usual, and admired by those at that service and by a number of visitors during the following week, and indeed by the school children and staff who held their Harvest and Welcome to New Starters service in church on a Thursday soon after. Unfortunately parents and friends could not be invited to the school service, for reasons of Covid-security, but it was recorded and can be viewed online.

The Annual Meeting of the PCC, postponed from its usual date in April, was held in October, and Shirly Thomas has been appointed Church Warden in place of Jill Cheadle so in future Shirley will be co-writing The News from the Anvil.

The big news is that we will have a new Rector in January. The Rev’d David Isioroh, currently Priest in Charge of Charlestown, Par and Tywardreath in the Diocese of Truro, has been appointed Rector of our Benefice, and is to be licensed by the Bishop of Lichfield on Sunday, 10th January 2021 at 3 pm at one of the benefice churches. We look forward to welcoming him and his wife Linda to Mucklestone.

In the meantime, we will be keeping St Mary’s church open daily for private prayer throughout November, and looking forward to the resumption of our 11.15am Sunday services in early December, when we will be making every effort to ensure that Advent and Christmas are celebrated in time honoured fashion at Mucklestone. (cont’d over)

Provisional details of Christmas events and services are listed in this magazine, although all arrangements will be subject to whatever covid restrictions are in place at the time. There is of course an ongoing weekly update of Benefice information on The Grapevine which is accessible online. Please contact Denise Keen (deniseakeen@btinternet.com ) if you wish to be included in the circulation list.

Please stay safe, and don’t hesitate to contact us if we can be of help in any way.

With every good wish Sanda & Jill (Church Warden & retiring Church Warden)

Benefice Services (Covid permitting) DATE

ASHLEY

BROUGHTON

CROXTON

6 Dec

(* services must be pre-booked) 9.30am PC 11 am United Songs of Praise

13 Dec

9.30am PC

20 Dec

9.30 am PC

24 Dec

* 4.00 pm Tidings of Comfort

25 Dec

and Joy * 9.30am Family Eucharist

11 am United HC at St Peter’s

27 Dec

9.30am PC

11 am United HC at St Peter’s

3 Jan

9.30am PC

11 am Songs of Praise at St Paul’s

10 am United HC at St Peter’s

11 am Lessons & Carols 2.30 pm United Carol service * 4.00pm The Christmas Story

11am Covenant Service at Croxton Chapel 10 Jan 17 Jan

9.30am PC

10 am United Matins at St Peter’s

8 am Holy Communion

11am Divine Worship at Croxton Chapel 11 am United HC at St Peter’s

9.30am Family Communion 24 Jan

9.30 am PC

11 am United HC at St Peter’s

31 Jan

9.30 am PC

11 am United HC at St Peter’s

7 Feb

9.30 am PC

11 am Songs of Praise at St Paul’s

14 Feb

9.30 am PC

10 am United HC at St Peter’s

21 Feb

8 am Holy Communion

11 am United Matins at St Peter’s

9.30am Family Communion 28 Feb

9.30 am PC

11 am United HC at St Peter’s

Children’s Church Club (CCC) This is usually a busy time for our Club with lots of exciting Advent and Christmas activities, so we are very sad not to be able to visit school at the moment.

The children would normally make two Advent Wreaths – one for church and one for school. This year Mrs Thomas and Mr Furnival will take on the task and each week, will email a photograph of the church Wreath candles being lit to share with the children in school as they light theirs during worship time.

Posada figures of Mary and Joseph are usually taken home by the children for a night each – a way of remembering that Jesus was born in a borrowed stable, not in a comfortable home like ours. Covid restrictions have prevented this. Instead Mary and Joseph will appear all around the school – sheltering in a different place each night – we will challenge the children to be the first to spot them each morning! The figures will be returned to church in time for the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass.

Christingle – see below – St Mary’s pupils will be making their own Christingles in school and taking them home to bring back to church – or to use at home if the service has to move to Zoom. Please contact Denise Keen deniseakeen@btinternet.com / 07761446753 if your child does not attend St Mary’s School but would like to take part in the service, to arrange to receive a Christingle kit.

Christingle Family Service Sunday 13th December at 11:15am Members of Children’s Church Club will be helping to lead the service.

We hope that this will take place in St Mary’s Church but, should restrictions prevent this it will take place via Zoom.

Look out for details on the weekly Grapevine (available on the Benefice website) or on St Mary’s School website.

Please join us if you can – everyone very welcome.

The Friends of St Mary’s Church A Big Thank You to those who celebrated their own Harvest Suppers at home this year and sent in donations of over £200 – sadly no photographs available.

We have missed the fellowship of those who have been loyal attenders of our functions and say as soon as we are allowed we will be back! The week before Christmas would normally be Carols by Candlelight (sorry another fatality of Covid) and donations would be made to the Children’s Society on the night.

If you feel able donations can still be made via envelopes available in Church, please put the envelopes in the Flower churn, or direct to Mrs G Tame.

Seasons Greetings to all and enjoy what will be a very different Christmas.

The Revd David Isiorho will be instituted by the Bishop of Lichfield as the new rector of the Benefice of Ashley and Mucklestone, Broughton and Croxton on Sunday 10th January 2021 Time and venue to be announced nearer the time.

Please pray for David as he prepares to leave his present parishes and join us here in this benefice.

Benefice Prayer Almighty God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the church is governed and sanctified, hear our prayer for the Loggerheads Benefice. Give us discernment to recognise the gifts and ministries you have given to us together with the grace to exercise them in harmony with one another and for the good of all. May we have patience in awaiting the arrival of the new leader of our benefice, and give support to him as he prepares to join us. Finally, may we trust you, the God of faithfulness and generosity, to guide us through this time of transition and change. Give us grace to let go of all that hinders and entangles us. May we be ready to enter a new chapter in the life of our benefice, for the glory of your Name and the furtherance of your kingdom. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Comfort and Joy holds together the hope that Christmas will bring joy and celebration after a uniquely difficult year with an acknowledgement that – for those who have lost loved ones or livelihoods, or who are potentially still not able to be together with loved ones – it may be the Church’s role, both nationally and locally, to provide consolation, rather than assume everyone will be ready to join in jubilation. We also have to anticipate there may be further spikes.

This Christmas the Church will need, in the words of St Paul in Romans 12.15, to ‘Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep’. We will aim to celebrate where we can together in one place – but also embrace a wider community that wants to join in the celebration but may not be physically able – or emotionally ready – to do so. We hope that Comfort and Joy both enables us to reconnect with the rich and joyous traditions of the past and to offer God’s consoling love in the present. www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/preparing-advent-christmas-2020comfort-and-joy

MUCKLESTONE WI

December 2020

The President’s sitting in her chair The secretary by her side The treasurer too is bound to be there And the door is open wide.

Don’t hang back , no need to be shy There’s a friendly greeting for you and you Each month at the WI ! =============== President Ruth Lloyd reminds us that next year we will celebrate our 100 th birthday with, hopefully A party and outings and a fancy hat competition.

A big thank you to Liz Vallings, who distributes the Staffordshire WI newsletter each month by e mail , where we see pictures and snippets of information from around the county and learn about crafts and other courses that are available online, you can join a poetry group, learn a language and most importantly join a zoom meeting on this year’s resolutions.

We wish our members and the magazine readers

A JOYFUL CHRISTMAS and

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR. If you would like to join the WI our President Ruth Lloyd can be contacted on 01630 638632 or, on our own email address at mucklestonewi@gmail.com

Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated the day after Christmas Day. It originated in the United Kingdom, and is celebrated in a number of countries that previously formed part of the British Empire. Boxing Day is on 26 December, although the attached bank holiday or public holiday may take place either on that day or two days later.

Saint Stephen's Day, or the Feast of Saint Stephen, is a Christian saint's day to commemorate Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr or protomartyr, celebrated on 26 December Stephen traditionally venerated as the first martyr of Christianity,was according to the Acts of the Apostles a deacon in the early church at Jerusalem who aroused the enmity of members of various synagogues by his teachings. Accused of blasphemy, at his trial he made a long speech denouncing the Jewish authorities who were sitting in judgment on him and was then stoned to death. His martyrdom was witnessed by Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee who would later himself become a follower of Jesus and known as Paul the Apostle.

In Britain, it was a custom for tradespeople to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year. This is mentioned in Samuel Pepys' diary entry for 19 December 1663. This custom is linked to an older British tradition: since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day, the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts, bonuses, and sometimes leftover food.

Loggerheads Befrienders

Charity Number 1179850

& District

The Befrienders put their best foot forward!

Can we Befrienders rise to a challenge? You bet we can!

In spite of the restrictions placed on us as a result of the Corona virus pandemic, the Befrienders, an organisation the epitome of the saying “when the going gets tough, the tough get going,” showed that it is more than up to continuing to offer the hand of friendship and giving help and support even in the most challenging of times.

It was not exactly “business as usual” of course. There have been no coffee mornings, no fun mobility no opportunity for “silver diners” to meet and no outings. So what have we been up to?

All of our friends have received monthly Newsletters with stories, poems, quizzes and jokes and have as time has gone by, contributions from the Friends themselves as well as we, the Befrienders.

Usually there is a “theme” for example, the November edition contained a number of “Childhood memories”. These memories came flooding back and were willingly shared; even the embarrassing ones about the first day at School and “wetting pants”!!

Each newsletter delivered by hand has been accompanied by a “surprise gift” of flowers, cakes and a harvest arrangement. “Santa” already has plans afoot for the December delivery but that’s our secret at the moment. Regular phone conversations ensure that no one is forgotten and together with kind additional helpers, we have continued to support those Friends who are unable to undertake shopping, collect prescriptions from the pharmacy etc. Although our Friends may have been isolating our aim was to ensure that they did not feel isolated! Feedback from them, would tell us that we are being successful and this in turn energizes us to “brace up” for the months ahead!

As we move into 2021 the message is the same….

We are here to help support and offer the hand of friendship.

The Befrienders wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and Healthy 2021.

Contact: 07523 512934

Email: loggerheadsbefrienders@gmail.com

Children's Mental Health Week 2021 we will encourage children (and adults) to explore the different ways to express ourselves, and the creative ways that to share feelings, thoughts and ideas.

Place2Be launched the first ever Children’s Mental Health Week in 2015 to shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health. Now in its seventh year, it hopes to encourage more people than ever to get involved and spread the word. www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk

Christmas and candles aglow in the night Hearth fires blazing all cosy and bright Red-leaved poinsettia, white Christmas Rose Ice skaters whirling on ice as it snows Sleigh Bells and Santas

Tinsel-trimmed trees Mistletoe magic and warm memories Angels are bringing glad tidings anew Season’s best wishes especially for you!

Can you believe your mince pies?

Crumbly golden pies with a sugar crust and lots of fruit are baked as one big square then cut into slices.

Pastry: 110g butter 225g self raising flour 110g caster sugar

1 large beaten egg Filling: Jar of mincemeat 1 large cooking apple, peeled, cored & grated Glaze: milk & sugar

Preheat the oven to 180c. Rub butter into flour.

Stir on sugar, then the egg to make a scone-like dough.

Divide the dough in half and roll out each piece to fit a swiss roll tin Spread mincemeat over this followed by grated apple, then put remaining pastry half on top Glaze with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 30 mins – allow to cool – cut into squares.

Pile them high on a plate and stand back – not a dry pie in the house

January Often the coldest month January might be the middle of winter but as the days lengthen the garden starts to grow. Now is a great time to plan for the coming gardening year and to order seeds and plants. Enjoy the fresh air, on dry sunny days, and check your winter protection, stakes, ties and supports are still working after any severe weather. Also put out food for birds and leave some garden areas uncut, a little longer, to provide shelter for wildlife in your garden.          

Check your winter protection structures are still securely in place Check that greenhouse heaters are working Insulate outdoor taps and prevent ponds from freezing Prune open-grown apples and pears (but not those trained against walls) Prune acers, birches and vines before Christmas to avoid bleeding Harvest leeks, parsnips, winter cabbage, sprouts and remaining root crops Deciduous trees and shrubs can still be planted and transplanted Take hardwood cuttings Keep mice away from stored produce Reduce watering of houseplants

Two snowmen are having a chat.

One says to the other, “Can you smell carrots?�

What goes oh-oh-oh?

Santa flying backwards

Reflections on a modern day phenomenon In the late 90s my other half suggested we buy a computer for home use. I wasn’t keen. I didn’t see the need, worrying the boundary between work and home would become blurred.

How things have changed, and how short sighted was I. How much more difficult this year would have seemed if we hadn’t been able to ‘connect’ and communicate using our various devices. How thankful we’ve been for improved broadband speeds and the sharing of a previously unheard of application - Zoom.

It means we’ve enjoyed a ‘face to face’ catch-up with friends and relatives in lieu of meeting and when family holidays at home and abroad have been postponed and then cancelled altogether.

Choir rehearsals have gone ahead, and clever folk have crafted a ‘performance’ from individually recorded submissions of a song. Zoom ‘meeting rooms’ allowed chats with fellow choir members not seen in person for months while ‘gallery view’ offered a glimpse into their homes.

Yoga and keep fit classes have been delivered into rearranged living spaces, carpet overlain with mat and music stand repurposed to support an iPad. Smiles as instructors ‘zooming’ from their living room or garden coped with disruptions – the family cat and bored child both seeking attention, sheep bleating from the adjacent field, a bumble bee landing on the speaker and distorting the sound, participants forgetting to ‘mute’ their mic and broadcasting to all the sound of a doorbell or a ringing phone.

Whatever the pros and cons of technology, maintaining some sense of normality and virtual interaction with others has never been so important. Shares in Zoom Video Communications Inc. anyone? (In case you are wondering, they were trading at $115 USD in March and reached a peak at $550 USD this autumn).

Mandy Firth

I showed up late for a Zoom meeting... ...when asked for a reason, I confessed: "You wouldn't believe the network traffic".

☺

Knighton showstoppers for Hallowe’en!

Courtesy: Diane Crook’s & the Sayers (meerkats now enjoying their window ‘funfair’ on Su’s prize-winning local allotment produce)

Did you know?: • Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in men in the UK •

Around 23,000 men are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year (England 18,839, Wales 1,336, Scotland 2,114 and Northern Ireland 668)

•

1 in 14 men will be diagnosed with bowel cancer during their lifetime

•

Men are less likely to recognise the symptoms of bowel cancer, to see their GP if they recognise symptoms or return the bowel cancer screening test Bowel cancer accounts for 10% of all male cancer deaths

•

www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk

5 SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT WINTER WEATHER December is the darkest month of the year. January is, on average, Britain’s coldest month. February is the snowiest month of the year. Even March – the official start of spring – is snowier than December with a UK average of 4.2 snow days. Indeed, there is a greater chance of a white Easter, if it occurs in March, than a white Christmas.

Around the 3rd January, the Earth is closest to the sun – by more than 3 million miles to the 5th July.

As the average distance from Earth to the sun is about 93 million miles, that’s not insignificant.

Wet snow is better for the simpler pleasure of building a snowman. The difference is in the amount of water content in the falling snowflakes.

Three separate occasions, two different locations; all share the title as the UK’s coldest time and place. Precisely -27.2 °C has been reached three times since UK records began, but never exceeded. Braemar, Aberdeenshire on 11 February 1895. Braemar again on 10 January 1982. Altnaharra, Highland Scotland on 30 December 1995.

Cold weather increases the risk of heart attacks. This risk is greater for the over-65s and for those who have health conditions. The cold thickens blood and increases blood pressure.

Senior Drivers No Longer Need Driver’s Licence My neighbour was working in his yard when he was startled by a late model car that came crashing through his hedge and ended up in his front lawn.

He rushed to help an elderly lady driver out of the car and sat her down on a lawn chair.

He said with excitement, “You appear quite elderly to be driving.”

“Well, yes, I am,” she replied proudly.

“I’ll be 97 next month, and I am now old enough that I don ’t even need a driver’s licence anymore.”

“You don’t need a driver’s licence anymore?!?”

That’s right! The last time I went to my doctor, he examined me and asked if I had a driver’s licence. I told him ‘yes’ and handed it to him.

He took scissors out of the drawer, cut the licence into pieces, and threw them in the wastebasket, saying, ‘You won’t need this anymore’.

“So I thanked him and left!”

“Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many. ”

St Mary's (CE) A Primary School, Mucklestone During October we held our ‘Harvest Festival and Welcome to New Starters’ celebratory service at St Mary’s Church in Mucklestone. We were sad not to be able to include and welcome friends and family in our congregation but we’re able to share the service on Youtube. The children spoke beautifully and shared poems and prayers on the theme of gratitude for our plentiful harvest.

Year 6 and siblings of our Reception children painted wonderful portraits of our new starters and talked about why they are special and shared their great qualities. The church was, as always, beautifully decorated with local and home grown decorations which provided a super backdrop for our service.

On the 11th November the children gathered outside in our school playground, to share in a Remembrance Service. Again, the children produced some thoughtful prayers and excellent diary entries – describing a day in the life of a soldier during the First World War! As a symbol of Remembrance the children also drew their own chalk poppy on the playground in the shape of a cross. We created traditional red poppies but also purple ones to help us to remember the animals that also suffered and died along with the soldiers. We made huge poppies that were secured into the grass and made a wonderful focal point during our two minutes silence – a time when we remembered and reflected on the brave people that died for us and how fortunate we are to have peace and God’s everlasting love.

Loving God, your Son Jesus Christ came that we might have life and have it abundantly; pour out your blessing upon our nation; where there is illness, bring your healing touch; where there is fear, strengthen us with the knowledge of your presence; where there is uncertainty, build us up in faith; where there is dishonesty, lead us into truth; where there is discord, may we know the harmony of your love; this we ask in Jesus’ name.

Amen. www.churchofengland.org/resources/call-prayer-nation#na

Remembrance in our parish, at Mucklestone and Knighton

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Do you remember the thre’penny bit, tanner, shilling, florin and half crown?

If you do, you must be at least in your 40s, because it was back in February 1971, 40 years ago, that Britain "went decimal" and hundreds of years of everyday currency was turned into history overnight.

On 14 February that year, there were 12 pennies to the shilling and 20 shillings to the pound. The following day all that was history and the pound was made up of 100 new pence.

Old money speak—sayings and phrases in the English language relate to our old money. Here are just a few: "Spend a penny" "You look like you have lost half a crown and found sixpence."

"A penny for your thoughts" "It can turn on a sixpence" "Bob-a-job week" "Take the King's shilling"

STUART JAMES Painting & Decorating   



Interior and Exterior Wallpaper hanging All work undertaken References available

Ashley 01630 673629

PAICE TRAVELIS PROFESSIONAL—LOCALLY BASED PRIVATE HIRE TAXI SERVICE FOR YOUR SOCIAL AND BUSINESS NEEDS

MODERN & PRISTINE VEHICLES * ALL TRAVEL NEEDS CATERED FOR *

LOCAL & LONG DISTANCE * MINIBUS AVAILABILITY *

AIR , RAIL & SEAPORT TRANSFERS * COURIER SERVICE AVAILABLE *

CORPORATE EVENTS, ACCOUNT & CONTRACT WORK UNDERTAKEN --------------------------------------------------------CONTACT US NOW:

07767 600 603 / 01630 673 446 Email: enquiries@paicetravel.co.uk www.paicetravel.co.uk

LOGS FOR SALE Seasoned firewood hardwood, softwood, or mixed.

In bulk bags or small net

COMPETITIVE PRICES Contact John or Dave 07967 838930

or 01630 647801

Josh Sedgley Photography Pets, People and Places (commissions undertaken) Photography Lessons from beginner upwards.

Images available to purchase in various sizes / mounts / frames Joshuamilessedgley16@icloud.com 07833 111480

01952 840444

Hayward Mowing Services Pocket Handkerchief to Small Paddock Reasonable Rates Mobile:

07580215351

Brianhayward58@gmail.com

The Sewing Room

For all your sewing and design needs

Quality repairs and alterations, women’s and menswear Commissions taken for wedding and bridesmaid dresses. Mother of the bride, evening, cocktail and day dresses.

Sewing lessons and GCSE/GCE portfolio guidance.

Gift vouchers available Jakki Lansley 01782680354 07973249467 Email jakkilansley@gmail.com

Avocet Roofing & Building Extensions & Alterations Loft & Garage Conversion General Joinery All Types Of Building & Roofing Truss & Traditional Roofs

CALL CHRIS HODGES

(Day) 07974 573923 (Eve) 01630 673722 13 Martindale, Loggerheads MARKET DRAYTON

Peter Buckley Chimney Services Burntwood Farm Park Lane

Email: petethesweep69@gmail.com

Hales TF9 2QA

Tel: 01630 658947

FORTHCOMING MAGAZINE COPY DATES March — May : 11th February 2021 June—August :

13th May 2021

ADVERTISING Thank you to current advertisers & new advertisers are sought.

Promote your event or provide people with dates.

Advise readers of your adjustments due to coronavirus safeguarding.

Help make the magazine varied and interesting!

Contact Diane Crook on: diane.111@outlook.com Notice from Editor: this edition is published electronically and in printed form www.theloggerheadsbenefice.org/the-parish-magazines

St. Mary’s Church, Mucklestone.

Rector Designate Rev. Dr David Isiorho

From 10th January 2021

Curate Rev. Sara Humphries Benefice Admin Worker

rev.sara.humphries@gmail.com

673740

Denise Keen

loggerheadsbeneficeinfo@gmail.com

07761446753

Mrs Sanda Friend Mrs Shirley Thomas Verger

jamie.friend@btinternet.com shirleythomas447@btinternet.com

672188 673066

Mrs Pat Twigg

17 Price Close Loggerheads

673299

jillclogg@aol.com

673968

patricia.peake@outlook.com

695745

Churchwardens

PCC Lay Chairperson Mrs Jill Cheadle Secretary

Mrs Pat Peake

Treasurer & Gift Aid Secretary Mr Anthony Heath

ca.heath@btinternet.com

657025

diane.111@outlook.com

647108

jim.vallings@btinternet.com

647542

Magazine Editor Mrs Diane Crook

Magazine Distribution Mr Jim Vallings Headteacher Secretary

St. Mary’s CE(A) Primary School, Mucklestone Mrs Clare Hill Mrs Jane Selman

672126

office@st-marys-mucklestone.staffs.sch.uk Knighton Village Hall Chairperson & Secretary Volunteer vacancies Treasurer Mr Anthony Heath ca.heath@btinternet.com Mrs Handley & Booking Clerks Mrs Tomkinson Mucklestone Women’s Institute Mrs Ruth Lloyd (President) mucklestonewi@gmail.com

657025 647526 647155 638632