Ashley Parish Magazine Nov 2020

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.

ASHLEY PARISH MAGAZINE November 2020

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OUR NOVEMBER CLERGY LETTER IS FROM THE REV’D RUTH Dear friends, Remember back in March when we talked about a 12 week lockdown and many of us naively thought that things might just be back to normal by Christmas?!

Maybe not, but then I am the eternal optimist! Well, if ever there has been a month to show me that ‘you just never know what’s round the corner’ then it’s been the past four weeks.

Whilst here is not the place to go into detail, it is with an oversized bag of mixed emotions that I share the news that I shall be moving on from my current appointment as the Methodist Minister for Ashley, Market Drayton and Hinstock come August 2021. For those interested, I’m actually off to be a school chaplain – in Kent!! A Lancashire lass in Kent…we’ll see how well they cope with my pronunciation of ‘love’!

I hadn’t quite anticipated this move, certainly not to that location, and I’ll tell you, the decision to accept the post was a hard-fought battle. We love it here, why ever would we move? But yet I felt that God was calling me into this role. Do I choose what is uncomfortable, what is not in my ‘plan’, what may cause upset and potentially some considerable work for others (& my own family) and accept where God is leading, or do I stay, where I’m comfortable, safe, secure, confident…

Each year in the Methodist Church, we pray the Covenant Prayer. It’s a well known and loved prayer for many a Christian; an annual statement of devotion and commitment to who we are called to be. It’s no walk in the park prayer…

“I am no longer my own but Yours. Put me to what You will, rank me with whom You will…”

And those are just the first lines. Each year I pray that prayer and say – “yes God, I’m up for that”, but honestly – it’s never really been tested before. Choosing now becomes a matter of trust. If I trust that God is calling me, can I trust that this is the right thing, even if it feels like the hardest thing? Well, with a wonderful family by my side, we’ve decided to trust, and so we’re off (in a few months). Yes, we are leaving with heavy hearts, we love it here, we have wonderful friends and churches here, but God is calling us to something new. And let’s face it, heading off into the unknown with God by our side is like exploring the wilderness with Bear Grylls, or sailing the ocean with Ellen MacArthur.

I wonder what adventure you’re called to next? Who will you take to be by your side?

Blessings,

Ruth x 3

NEW RECTOR FOR OUR BENEFICE We are pleased to announce that the Bishop of Lichfield has appointed the Rev’d David Isiorho, presently Priest-in-Charge for Charlestown, Par and Tywardreath in the Diocese of Truro to be the new Rector of the benefice of Ashley, Broughton, Croxton and Mucklestone.

[David will be instituted by the Bishop of Lichfield – details to follow soon]

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 for 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

TURN TO PAGE 29 FOR A LETTER FROM FATHER DAVID (Details of Church Services for November are on page 38) 4

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JAN WARREN-NEW CHURCHWARDEN I am delighted to have been elected as a church warden for Ashley and am looking forward to commencing the role and getting to know everyone better.

I will take up these duties with a degree of nervousness looking at the excellent role models I am following.

I have lived in Loggerheads for 34 years so I trust know the area reasonably well. I have been retired for a while, my working life being spent in the NHS in a variety of different nursing and management roles, both locally and previously in London.

My origins are Midland as I was brought up in Walsall, I then married a Londoner who now knows there is life north of the Watford gap. I enjoy gardening, researching my family tree, visiting Australia and narrow boating.

I have three adult children, two sons ( one of whom was an Ashley choir boy many years ago) who live in this country, and a daughter and three young grandchildren who live in Australia. The church is blessed to have been chosen by the Revd. Dr David Isiorho who I am looking forward to arriving with us.

WE ARE CONTINUING SERVICES IN CHURCH! We are RESUMING our services in church on Wesleyan Road, Ashley. Our next service at AMC will be 15 Nov at 10.30am. Preacher Robin Perry. We plan to hold services monthly on the third Sunday of each month for the time being.

Every precaution against Covid 19 has been taken in accordance with Government guidelines. We would ask you please to keep the social distancing rule and to wear a mask while indoors unless you have reason to be exempted.

We regret that we cannot provide refreshment after worship and must ask that you leave the premises promptly after the service. Any social activity must be in the car park and must observe the current rules of social distancing.

We look forward very much to greeting you in person in church!

Our online circuit services will continue to be broadcast on You Tube. Search for Market Drayton Methodist.

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Book Review: Earth, Our Original Monastery: Cultivating Wonder and Gratitude Through Intimacy with Nature* How can we meet God in our everyday lives? The author suggests that living contemplatively with an appreciation for the natural world can make you more aware of the presence of God in every aspect of your life. When you pay attention to each moment, you nurture your ability to see God’s actions.

Echoing the views of many others, but with a fresh angle (that Earth is our original spiritual medium for experiencing the Divine) Paintner advocates two routes for spirituality. Firstly, one needs to be more aware of the immediacy of experience. This is “mindfulness”, that has become so much more of a common term in the past couple of years (although it is many centuries old as a spiritual practice). Secondly, that one realises that becoming increasingly connected to the natural world is becoming closer to God. She has a Christian perspective: “God did not become flesh for one time only: Jesus teaches us that the Divine Presence in all created things has been at work from the beginning of time and will continue to the end of time.” (p.xii) An unusual, and welcome, aspect of the book is that, in the modern parlance, it is “blended learning”. She invites the reader not just to read but to engage in exercises. For example, to go on a “mindful walk” (of course we have had this in our Magazine, thanks to Sue Lea, for many years) - that is, to walk but also to allow oneself to really experience fully the various sensations available (hearing, sight, smell, touch and smell). (And, hopefully, extrasensory ones as well.) After the walk, she urges us to “journal”, that is to write down what one has experienced and reflect more fully thereon.

It’s also a feature of the book that her husband contributes “Scripture Reflections” in each chapter. These add a biblical perspective to the ideas the author is propounding. Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, for example, is used to illustrate the lesson that contemplation should precede action: “For true contemplation to take place we must step outside ourselves.”

Altogether an interesting and stimulating book—not for reading like a novel, but great for dipping into and trying to enact.

JRH *Grateful thanks are due to Rev’d Philip Swan for recommending this book to your editor.

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In Flanders Fields John McCrae

John McCrea was a serving doctor who wrote the poem after his friend was killed at the second battle of Ypres.

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Hymns that mean a lot to us. By the editor No 102: I vow to thee my country I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above, entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love: the love that asks no question, the love that stands the test, that lays upon the altar the dearest and the best; the love that never falters, the love that pays the price, the love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

And there's another country I've heard of long ago, most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know; we may not count her armies, we may not see her King; her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering; and soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase, and her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace.

This is a wonderful hymn for Remembrance Sunday and for other special occasions, patriotic or personal, where we need a moving hymn that most people know. The tune is “Thaxted�, adapted from one of the melodies in The Planets Suite by Gustav Holst. The words are by Cecil Spring-Rice (18591918). Wkipedia has a lengthy account of his life and work. Here are excerpts: He was a distinguished career diplomat, serving as ambassador to Sweden and then to the US and was nominated for a peerage before his death. Spring Rice was a poet throughout his adult life. In 1918, he rewrote the words of his most notable poem, Urbs Dei (The City of God) or The Two Fatherlands, to become the text for the hymn I Vow to Thee My Country.

The hymn was first performed in 1925, after Spring Rice's death and has since become a widely recognised British anthem. His poetry was published in the 1922 edition of Poems of Today (a series of anthologies of poetry, almost all Anglo-Irish, and has since been published in several other poetry collections. A bridge was erected in his memory over the waterfall at Aira Force, near his childhood home on Ullswater.

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DIARY OF A GRANDAD Headless wonders!

With parents temporarily away, we were privileged to be hosts to the grand children for the evening. Of course, the central event was pizzas from a local, wellknown provider of same with the unlikely name of Cribbage or some such parlour game. [Mrs Grandad says “basically just cheese on toast aren’t they?” which is a bit of an Italian put-down to their contribution to world gastronomy but each to their own opinion of course,] These duly arrived with “dips” and “skins” and very tasty too. Grandad likes a pizza especially with little fishes on. And chips.

Pizzas consumed and boxes therefrom consigned to the log burner, it was time for chat and activities. Grandad had arranged for an activity—from an American company called Tinder. They supply each month a project—be it more technical or creative, you choose—for children of different ages to do. This month it was to build a “ballista” (see pic). Concentration and application produced it and a few balls were shot at the targets supplied. But this was tame stuff. The party needed to come alive. Cue collective ideas of the Famous Five! Out came Grandad’s video camera and there had to be some kind of film to make, a drama to enact. Out of somewhere, I don’t know, came the disembodied head with HAIR that Grandad really does not like—it gives him the screaming heeby-jeebies (pic although’ “Ashleigh” has a respectable hairstyle here). Callum swung it round and round by its hair like a triumphant executioner.

Charlotte then decided to pull her woollen hoodie over her head and somehow attach said head (pic right.)

Now this took some time while she and Ellie worked out how to get the effect they wanted. This was pretty scary but also extremely funny and we all laughed at the antics. But, wait, more was to come, as the video camera was at the ready, Quite a lot of time went by whilst brain-storming on a suitable video plot took place. Finally, what emerged was a horror story. Aimee would be the evil collector of heads and Ellie, Charlotte (scary Callum her collector-accomplice. Grandad and Ellie had to head) and Aimee. position themselves so that only their heads were visible above the armchairs. The scary-head was the “latest acquisition”. The video was duly made. Here is a still…

Copies of video available with small fee, just contact the author. 18+ only.

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See more about Ashley Explorer Scouts on page 50

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Reprinted from November 2016 Magazine

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St Andrew FEAST DAY November 30 Several legends state that the relics of Andrew were brought by divine guidance from Constantinople to the place where the modern Scottish town of St Andrews stands today.

According to legend, in 832 AD, Óengus II led an army Saint Andrew, of Picts and Scots into battle against the Angles. The legend states carving c.1500 that he was heavily outnumbered and hence whilst engaged in in the National prayer on the eve of battle, Óengus vowed that if granted victory Museum of he would appoint Saint Andrew as the Patron Saint of Scotland.

Scotland On the morning of battle white clouds forming an X shape in the sky were said to have appeared. Óengus and his combined force, emboldened by this apparent divine intervention, took to the field and despite being inferior in numbers were victorious. Having interpreted the cloud phenomenon as representing the cross upon which Saint Andrew was crucified, Óengus honoured his pre-battle pledge and duly appointed Saint Andrew as the Patron Saint of Scotland. The white saltire set against a celestial blue bacground is said to have been adopted as the design of the flag of Scotland on the basis of this legend. However, there is evidence that Andrew was venerated in Scotland before this. [Source - Wikipedia] One of the key things we had to learn in Scouts years ago was the feast days of the Patron Saints of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and their respective flags. St Andrew’s saltire (a diagonal cross in heraldry) was adopted into the UK Union Flag in 1606. and supposedly represents the legend that Andrew was put to death on a diagonal cross because he said he was not as worthy as Jesus.

Andrew is the patron saint of lots of countries including Cyprus and Romania. He was one of the first disciples to be called by Jesus, when he saw him and Peter fishing. As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen (Matthew 4:18). There are lots of legends associated with him, and he left writings - The Gospel of St Andrew and The Acts of Andrew, but they were rejected from the New Testament apocrypha by the 4th century.

Read more on Wikipedia and http://gnosis.org/library/actandy.htm.

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Mindful walk in October Sue Lea It is cold! According to my car 2 degrees and the dreaded frost symbol but I am prepared got the heated gloves, thick socks, walking shoes, warm trousers, fleece and jacket. The dogs have their own warm fur coats and they adore this colder weather, it seems to energise them. Beneath an azure blue sky with not a cloud to be seen we trek across a glistening frost-covered field for, although the pale sun is shining, it is not giving off enough warmth to melt the fierce frost. I pass hawthorn bushes that have a rich harvest of ripe berries. So many leaves have fallen and have collected in small heaps where the wind has blown them; dried, curled and brown they crunch beneath paws and feet as we climb up the steep gravelly path of Cuckoo Hill.

I am strolling slowly as Honey is 11 now which entitles her to take her time; although we never rush there is so much to see and to feel immersed in the peace, calm and tranquillity Nature has afforded us, all the while listening to the soft sweet bird song. (How I adore listening to the birds.)

The path is lined by birch trees: on either side their silver bark shines in the pale sunlight, a natural backdrop to their small, delicate, orange leaves that fall and scatter on the ground beneath. Standing at the summit on shaded moist grass I can see the Downs Banks covered with bracken. It’s mostly bronze already with only a few patches of green that have not yet turned. The ground is very soft to walk on, being mainly moss, as we approach the stepping stones and there, totally unperturbed by a human with three Labradors, is a squirrel sitting on its hind legs tail twitching, holding an acorn that it is obviously enjoying beneath an oak tree—an ideal location with so many acorns.

And as we walk on past the crab apple trees it appears the squirrels have decided that now is the time to collect and store ready for winter as they dart away upon hearing us. Apparently badgers quite enjoy an over-ripe crab apple and get intoxicated!

I am walking through the small wood. It has brilliant meanders as the stream bends and twists. The sun has gained force, creating strong sharp shadows penetrating the trees and the so fresh and chilled. The colours of leaves look vibrant, illuminated in the brightness: orange, yellow, red and pewter, gold and bronze.

Top tip: As soon as you start to walk and breathe in that fresh air you feel invigorated and in these troubled uncertain times your concerns will disappear like gossamer cob webs blown away. I like a song by Marshmellow, Demi Lovato, Duke and Jones “OK not to be OK”.* *(Verse 2: When you're high on emotion, And you're losing your focus, And you feel too exhausted to pray, Don't get lost in the moment, Or give up when you're closest, All you need is somebody to say: It's okay not to be okay.) (Ed.)

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Charity No. 1179850

Befriender Lifeline

Loggerheads Befrienders might have had to stop meeting for coffee and exercise but we are continuing to support our community during this challenging time by helping with shopping, collecting prescriptions etc and keeping in contact with people by phone. If you need any assistance or would just like a chat please contact us on: 07523512934.

MARKET DRAYTON FOOD BANK requires donations to help some of the most needy in our society and can be delivered to The Parish Rooms Church St Market Drayton TF9 1AF Tues 09:00 - 11:00 / Fri 10:00 - 13:00 or leave donations at Loggerheads Co-op.

Alternatively, a monetary donation can be made via BACS or cheque. See details here: https://marketdrayton.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-money/ https://marketdrayton.foodbank.org.uk/

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Ken Dye 1945-2020 LOST TREASURE Our community at Wesleyan Road has been shocked and deeply saddened by the swift illness and sudden death of our dear friend and church treasurer, Ken Dye. Our hearts go out to his wife, Phil, with all our love and compassion.

Phil and Ken joined our church soon after they settled in Mucklestone in 2014 and have been active members from the beginning. Ken was a retired accountant so it was not long before we sought his skills as our treasurer. Typically he agreed immediately and has kept our accounts impeccably ever since. We soon came to appreciate his clear and succinct reports peppered with his characteristic wry comments. His deep Christian faith, wisdom, clear-sightedness and humour brought many benefits to our church leadership team. Ken also served us efficiently and cheerfully as a church steward. He and Phil have been inspirational members of the fundraising committee for our new organ and AV system and contributed much value to our Bible study fellowship discussions.

This year they celebrated fifty years of happy and devoted companionship in marriage. They had planned to hold a great party for all their many friends but Covid 19 put a stop to that. They were lucky enough to enjoy the holiday of a lifetime in India just before we were all locked down and before the disease hit that part of the world.

A great deal of loving care was invested in their charming cottage where a warm welcome was always assured. Ken kept a well-stocked wine store which he enjoyed sharing with his guests. Phil can be guaranteed to provide an excellent meal in accompaniment. Over the summer, Ken used his time in lockdown to repave their wide patio and paths. This delightful garden has given them great pleasure, a lovely backdrop for entertaining friends to outdoor suppers.

Ken was the sort of friend one could always ask for help, confident that if he possibly could he would, regardless of cost to himself in time or anything else. He will be greatly mourned by many in this neighbourhood and in their previous residences, Helsby, southern Spain and the home counties. We can be totally confident that he is now in the arms of his Saviour having been a good and faithful servant, an outstanding example of steadfast faith and Christian principles.

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Malcolm Carter Replacing the Gloom (reprinted from the Winter 2020 issue of the Bible Society magazine Word in Action) Sadness bleakness unprecedented Who could have schemed or invented A reeling world in total lockdown?

Even drones are now employed in town To halt thoughtless journeys in the street; Police force folk to their home retreat.

Cars, trains and buses ‘unembarked’ , Planes at airports permanently parked.

Restaurants closed, boarded-up shops, Pubs, theatres, everything stops.

Long food queues, shoppers filled with despair, Most supermarket shelves stripped bare; Empty shelves scream “Every little helps!”

Frustration soon many envelops.

City centres remain weirdly still, Hospitals with patients overfill.

Brave doctors, nurses at breaking point.

But their dedication does not disappoint.

They sacrifice themselves without masks, Proper clothing, they meet urgent tasks.

Mortuaries with bodies jammed, Crematoria with coffins crammed.

The world’s in the grip of pandemic virus, Who will help us, uplift us?

Though this virus seems untreatable Our aim must be the unbeatable!

Vast numbers hunker down for the long haul, While rising worldwide deaths appal; And thousands, shut in, depressed, can’t cope, Who’ll supply those overwhelmed with hope?

Countless jobs lost, fear stalks, dreams shatter, Loss of life, trauma, what really matters?

Christ’s first disciples too shared lockdown In that Upper Room, scared to leave town.

The Risen Christ entered their locked room, His Presence still brings hope, replaces doom.

We have to navigate a new world dawning, With Christ on board, we’ll share Easter Morning.

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Clergy Letter from our Rector Designate—Rev’d Dr David Isiorho As always October brings us to Harvest Thanksgiving. It is a time when we naturally think about the poor and the needy. For the abundance of God’s goodness should be for all. People rarely choose to live in poverty. So why then are people poor and needy? Some developing world problems are created by the rich world. Sometimes people are hungry because they grow too much tea and coffee for the Western world instead of wheat for local consumption. We continue to pay a pittance for their harvest and sell their governments arms to suppress the people.

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 Rector Designate of Ashley, Mucklestone, Broughton and Croxton 29

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Remembrance – A hymn for Remembrance Sunday Words – Charles Henrywood May be sung to “Finlandia” See www.warpoetry.co.uk for the author’s account of how the hymn came to be written.

Grant peace, O Lord, across our strife-torn world, Where war divides and greed and dogma drive.

Help us to learn the lessons from the past, That all are human and all pay the price.

All life is dear and should be treated so; Joined, not divided, is the way to go.

Protect, dear Lord, all who, on our behalf, Now take the steps that place them in harm's way.

May they find courage for each task they face By knowing they are in our thoughts always.

Then, duty done and missions at an end, Return them safe to family and friends.

Grant rest, O Lord, to those no longer with us; Who died protecting us and this their land.

Bring healing, Lord, to those who, through their service, Bear conflict’s scars on body or in mind.

With those who mourn support and comfort share.

Give strength to those who for hurt loved-ones care.

And some there be who no memorial have; Who perished are as though they’d never been.

For our tomorrows their today they gave, And simply asked that in our hearts they'd live.

We heed their call and pledge ourselves again, At dusk and dawn - we will remember them!

Composed in 2008 for a war memorial in Neath, South Wales.

“I've always believed that Remembrance should not be limited to the dead— important though that is. Neither should it be a vehicle for glorifying war. If we loved one another as commanded war would be just history.”

(C. Henrywood)

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MARKET DRAYTON METHODIST CIRCUIT LOOKING BACK ON OUR SERVICES Sunday 4th October 2020

Robin Perry led our worship in church this week. His theme was grace and truth - a meditation with prayers and readings.

His first text was John 1 v1-18 – God’s grace is for all to take. Puppet Ralph asked what a disciple looks like. Rev. Ruth answered: deeds speak more than words (James’s epistle). We should love others as we are loved by God. We read parts of Psalm 119 together – God’s laws are eternal. Next we heard from John 17 – Jesus’ prayer for his followers as he faced the end of his earthly life.

Robin continued the theme of discipleship in previous sermons. Truth is difficult to discern. It is incontrovertible yet people manipulate it with lies.

We should test everything by the word of God, the Bible, our benchmark..

The church needs grace and truth to survive in this world. Grace prompts good works and the truth sets us free. Without them how can we teach truth to others? Truth helps us to endure and to know the joy of eternal life. Finally we heard Mark 13 vv 28-31 – God’s word is eternal. Worship ended with prayers for those in difficulty.

Our online service began with songs by our youngsters. Rev. Ruth led prayers of adoration, thanks and sorrow at our failures followed by the Lord’s Prayer. Izzie read to us from Philippians 3 – being acceptable to God. Mark Savill discussed motivation. During lock down many were moved to take up new activities which had a positive effect on their lives. What fired this? Boredom, desire for improvement? Are we motivated by ambition, fear, satisfaction in doing a job well? Jesus says love should be our motivation. We are urged to imitate God (Ephesians 5).. To be good disciples we must get to know Jesus better through studying the Bible and conversing with other Christians Are we God or self-centred? Loving God involves sacrifice but we receive much more: peace (John14v27), presence of God (Matthew28v20), promise of eternal life, purpose (Galatians 6v9) and power (Galatians5 and Ephesians3) God’s gifts overcome human failings. Will we accept his invitation to be a disciple of Jesus?

After open prayers of intercession Ruth prayed that we all know the peace of the Holy Spirit in the coming week.

Worship in church continues at 10.30am each Sunday. Please book a place via www.mdmc.org.uk/calendar or phone 01630 655957 so we can facilitate safe spacing. Online services are on You Tube (MDMC).

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JASMINE’S IN A BUBBLE Another blog from Jasmine, with the help of “Mum” (Sue Lea) The pandemic actually has not bothered us dogs an awful lot. We did have to walk really early at first (before six) most mornings so that we had 165 acres all to ourselves which was brilliant. We did see a couple of friends in the distance shouting. There was Syd with his Mum and Rufus with his Mum. Our Mum still sings to us in the car. We are in a bubble—a dog and mum bubble. Only four of us but we could have six. We always have two metre distancing between us, often a lot more. I have four toes so I can count to four and six if I use two paws. It is the same old same old but we, and that includes Mum, love it that way.

Mum says dogs are our, well, your best friends in troubled times as these. In fact Mum says she does not know how she could have coped without us.

We are walking later these mornings as it is darker; this means Mum can have a lie-in as she cannot see the point in getting up in the dark. We cope with this alteration to our routine very well as after all the hour will change soon!

Halloween is creeping up on us so we can have trick or treat which means I will drop your slipper Mum if I can have a gravy bone or a piece of carrot. I want mum to make me into a ghost by painting a skeleton on my black coat -good idea I think. Also Mum can spray my sisters with fluorescent paint to make them glow in the dark. Honey orange and Primrose lime-green. Spooky eh! I can howl like a were- wolf (it’s in my genes I think) and my sisters can pretend they are ghosts if Mum drapes a towel on them. Mum dresses a shelf especially for Halloween. There are three ornaments: a witch, a black cat and a scary owl. They have orange, purple and lime green tinsel with bats on draped around them while above is a string of illuminated skulls. It looks really good.

Mum calls us her “Pumpkins” at this time of year- she is such fun our Mum.

It is getting a lot colder in the mornings, too cold to swim I feel although the other two take the plunge.

I have something special to share with dogs of a certain age. I am four; have you, like myself, found that as I have matured my sniffing technique has improved. I can speak with experience when I tell you it is worth the time and effort to perfect. As Boris says, it is in the science.

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CHURCH OPENINGS – Message from Rev’d Sara Humphries I send you my warmest wishes & prayers as we continue to walk this extraordinary journey together. I am very pleased to be able to report that we now have all four of our churches open for public and/or private worship: St Mary’s, Mucklestone is OPEN for Private Prayer: Tuesday and Wednesday 9:00am until 7:00pm and for Public Worship every Sunday at 11:15am as follows: Sunday 1st November Holy Communion (BCP) Sunday 8th November Remembrance Sunday Service (see note below) Sunday 15th November Holy Communion (CW) Sunday 22nd November Family Service Sunday 29th November Holy Communion (CW) The church will be CLOSED each Monday for cleaning and CLOSED Thursday-Saturday St John the Baptist, Ashley is OPEN for Private Prayer: Wednesdays 10:30am until 4:00pm, and OPEN for Public Worship: Every Sunday at 9:30am for a SAID Eucharist.

Sunday 8th November Remembrance Sunday (see below) Every Thursday at 10:00am for a SAID Eucharist.

The church will be CLOSED on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays for cleaning.

St Peter’s Broughton is OPEN for Public Worship Sunday 1st November 11:00am Matins Sunday 8th November Remembrance Sunday (see page 10) Sunday 15th November 11:00am Matins Sunday 22nd November 11:00am Holy Communion Sunday 29th November 11:00am Matins St Paul’s Croxton will be OPEN for Public Worship: Sunday 1st November 11.00am Songs of Praise – Theme: Remembrance Sunday 8th November Remembrance Sunday All are welcome to our services; however, would people attending services please

come prepared with face masks or face coverings AS THESE ARE NOW COMPULSORY IN PLACES OF WORSHIP. Not all areas within the churches will be accessible and we are not able to offer our usual hospitality after services. We need to take responsibility for our own personal safety and be mindful of others, so please take care to maintain social distancing in Church at all times, and please do not visit if you have any symptoms of Coronavirus. There are also sign-in sheets, for us to be able to monitor visits for Track and Trace.

With every blessing, and stay safe

Rev’d Sara Humphries

Ashley, Broughton and Croxton will hold short Acts of Remembrance outside by their War Memorials, commencing 10.50 on the 8th November.

Mucklestone will hold a Remembrance Service, commencing 10.50.

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Happy Birthday! From Ashley Church.

For many years now volunteers at Ashley Church have sent a birthday card to children baptised at the Church (up to their fifth birthday).

Your editor, for one, did not know this was happening!

Vicki Shenton took over the baton from Mary Bradbury who started this lovely service in 1942.Yes! Unbelievable!

Vicki took over in 1992 and has been sending out cards ever since.

The Grace

Now she will send one of the set of 6 new designs on every birthday up to a youngster’s fifth.

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In the beginFrom a tap-

Late poppy Snapped in a Blore Heath garden on an early October day, this helps us in our witness for Remembrance Day and in our support for the Poppy Appeals

Autumn on Barlaston Downs Sue Lea

AUTUMN SOLSTICE MOON The year turns to Winter as the nights lengthen 42

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The Parable of the Old Man and the Young Wilfred Owen, 1893 - 1918 So Abram rose, and clave the wood, and went, And took the fire with him, and a knife.

And as they sojourned both of them together, Isaac the first-born spake and said, My Father, Behold the preparations, fire and iron, But where the lamb for this burnt-offering?

Then Abram bound the youth with belts and straps, and builded parapets and trenches there, And stretchèd forth the knife to slay his son.

When lo! an angel called him out of heaven, Saying, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, Neither do anything to him. Behold, A ram, caught in a thicket by its horns; Offer the Ram of Pride instead of him.

But the old man would not so, but slew his son, And half the seed of Europe, one by one.

A hard-hitting “war poem” by Wilfred Owen. Born in Oswestry, Owen joined up in 1915 and saw active service. He spent 18 months in military hospitals before returning to the front in September 1918. He was awarded the Military Cross for leading an attack, and was then killed in action on November 4, a week before the Armistice. Better-known war poems of his include Anthem for Doomed Youth and Strange Meeting. He was, of course, angry and bitter at the whole nonsense of the war, which comes across not only in his poems but in his letters. Quoting excerpts from them, C Day Lewis writes this in his Introduction to The Collected Poems of Wilfred Owen (Chatto and Windus, 1977, pp 22-23): “We shall not fully understand the poetry of protest written by Owen, Sassoon and others, unless we realize how great was the gulf between the fighting man and the civilian at home, and between the front-line soldier and the brass hat. To the soldier, those on the other side of the barbed wire were fellow-sufferers; he felt less hostility to them than towards the men and women who were profiting by the war, sheltered from it, or wilfully ignorant of its realities….He [Owen] went back to the front line because he felt that there he would be in a better position to protest against the war, and speak for his comrades.”

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Mission Action Tree Prayer Debbie Stowe Every parish must have a Mission Action Plan. Ashley Church management committee (PCC) has been inspired by Debbie Stowe’s suggestion of a visual version - a Mission Action TREE). You can see the tree realised in wood in Ashley Church.

Dear Lord, we thank you for the trees you have given us and ask that you help us to appreciate their strength, the resources they provide and the fruit they bear.

We think of tree roots sinking deep into the soil making a strong foundation and collecting nutrients and water to help the tree grow strong. Father, please guide those who provide a firm foundation for our church and provide us with spiritual nourishment. Give insight and wisdom to those who share the responsibilities of a living church and work hard to enable us to join together in communion and in the sharing of each other’s company with joy and laughter.

We pray especially for our church wardens, the PCC and all those who lead and support our church groups.

We think of the tree branches growing upwards and outwards towards the sky. We ask, Lord, that you will help us to reach up and lift our heads to the sky. Lead us out into our community to spread joy and love and into our schools, colleges, universities and workplaces to encourage respect, tolerance, justice and equality. May all of us benefit from the confidence, courage and conviction your Holy Spirit instills in us.

We think of the mature tree, standing tall and strong against the ravages of the elements, providing shelter to those who seek it. We pray, Father, that you will reassure and protect all who need You, bringing light and hope to them in their times of trouble. Please bring comfort and healing to all those we name now.

We think now Lord of the tree in blossom and of the tree bearing fruit and nuts. Please bless all of us, the fruit of Your labours. Inspire us to do Your work, to take Your church out into the world. Help us to brighten people’s lives like spring blossom brings colour following winter darkness. Help our groups and activities to bear fruit that can be gathered in at harvest and provide the seeds of hope to help our church to continue and flourish.

Amen

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Compost heaps by our gardening consultant “You are nearer God’s heart in garden than anywhere else on earth” So wrote Dorothy Gurney in her lovely 1913 poem. Well, she did not mention compost heaps. But I’m going to suggest that we find ourselves nearer to the essence of Being in compost heaps than anywhere else.

What is a compost heap? There are two extremes of thinking. At one extreme you have the compost-heap scientists. They wax lyrical about the importance of the right mix of “green and brown”, not to mention moisture and air. You have to cover them to keep the heat in. And you MUST turn them every so often. The key thing, for the real aficionados, is to get them to generate masses of heat (you can actually feel it) so that they kill weed seeds and other nasties.

At the other extreme are those who just chuck everything they don’t want on to a pile in the corner of the garden where no-one can see it and hope for the best. Come Spring or back-end, when they need to replenish their beds, or get some potting compost, they fork it over and dig it in.

My claim to expertise in this area is 40+ years of compost-heaping. I mean, you just have to have a rubbish pile of some kind because where else are you going to throw all the parts of the veggie plants you cannot eat or the flower plants after flowering? But, apart from this utilitarian function of the compost heap, there is the aesthetic. I don’t make cakes (but Bake-Off is/ used to be quite thrilling!) yet compost heap construction seems to be similar. There is a fascination in layering your veggie tops, cardboard and paper you have soaked (the true compost-heaper will not let the council take his paper away) together with kitchen peelings and tea bags and waiting for the processes of decomposition to take place.

Of course, you need patience.............

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Ashley Explorer Scout Troop is open to all young people between 14 to 18-years old. With us, they can enjoy doing numerous activities outside our meeting place like axe throwing and shooting (see pix.) or rock climbing at Kibblestone campsite.

Whilst also having thoroughly enjoyable times joining in with district-led camps and activities, we also go camping within our own campsite, whether it’ll be in a hammock or tent.

Whilst at our meeting place we work towards the higher awards like Duke of Edinburgh and the Chief Scout’s Diamond Award, and also intertwine exciting activities.

For details contact Scott Brown ashleyesu@hotmail.com

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Freda Carey is our Church Mission Society partner, working with young people in Pakistan.

Read more about her work in Grapevine, our weekly newsletter (if you don’t receive this, contact Denise Keen (details at end of Magazine).

LINK MISSION VOLUNTEER NEEDED Could you volunteer to liaise with the Church Mission Society and relay news about Freda Carey’s work? Contact Denise Keen for details (see last page of this Magazine.

LIMERICKS BY ELLIE HEGARTY There once was a man called Ant Who built his house on a slant His furniture slid Right on to his rib I asked him to move but he can’t.

I once met a girl called Lou Who wanted to see how long she could chew She chewed for DAYS And never ceased to amaze Now shes’s made CHEWING the latest CRAZE.

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The Loggerheads Benefice ASHLEY St John the Baptist CHURCH RECTOR DESIGNATE Rev’d Dr. David Isiorho CHURCHWARDEN: Peter Shone 01630 672538. Jan Warren jan.warren@btinternet.com CURATE: The Reverend Sara Humphries rev.sara.humphries@gmail.com 01630 673740.

BENEFICE WORKER: Denise Keen loggerheadsbeneficeinfo@gmail.com 07761446753 CHURCH VERGER: Linda Watson 01630 673140 LAY READERS: Anna Mortimer 01630 672804 Dr Roger Pooley 01630 673292 Professor Emeritus Dr Helen Dent 01630 673292 ORGANIST/CHOIRMASTER: Peter Shone: 01630 672538 .p.shone@btinternet.com CHURCH AND COMMUNITY CHOIR: Peter Shone (contact details above) YOUNG PEOPLE: Chair of Management Committee: Jill Cheadle MAGAZINE EDITOR: John Hegarty 01630 653912 j.r.hegarty@gmail.com MAGAZINE ADVERTISING: Anthony Deere: anthony@loggerheads.me.uk 01630 672820

MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTION: Carole Shone: 01630 672538 caroleshone21@gmail.com BAPTISMS, WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS : Please contact Churchwardens RETIRED PRIEST: Reverend Roger Legg.

RECTOR’S ADMINISTRATOR: Denise Keen (details above)

****************************************************************** COVER PICTURE: Remembrance day Service at Ashley Church ************************************************************************** PARISH MAGAZINE This is YOUR magazine! Short articles of interest to Magazine readers are always welcome, as well as news items about your group or organisation. We also like letters to the Editor. Send contributions to me, Dr John Hegarty, before the end of the month of the month prior to publication, as an email attachment j.r.hegarty@gmail.com. Telephone enquiries to 01630 653912. Ideally a maximum of 300 words to fill one, A5 page (less if picture included).

THE LOGGERHEADS BENEFICE

ASHLEY MUCKLESTONE BROUGHTON CROXTON

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