celebrating restored freedoms

Everything appears to be about tochange again. The prime minister hasstarted to outline the process by whichhe hopes to restore our communities,and our economy, back to some form ofnormality.

While being urged to remain vigilantand cautious, it seems that in somecontexts there is a new sense offreedom; the promise of less restrictions,the hope of foreign holidays, and thefreedom to meet with family once again.

None of us likes to be restricted, andmany who are unwell and who have hadto self-isolate have born a greater burdenover the last year. No wonder they lookforward to “freedom.”

Quite how far this new freedom will go,or how far it is appropriate to press thosefreedoms, is still under question. No onewants to be in a situation where thecountry is asked to lock down again.

Freedom is so important to us, at leastwhen it comes to how we spend ourtime, where and who with.

Sadly, this seems to contrastdramatically with the desire, indeedneed for spiritual freedom. There is somuch talk about freedom, freedom to beand do what we all want to be and do,

but very little about the need to knowspiritual freedom. That is, to be freedfrom the consequences and the weight ofguilt associated with our failures andmisdemeanours - yes, even our sins.

Jesus came to set us free. Jesus died onthe cross to carry the weight of our sin,on our behalf, and to enable us to liverenewed and refreshed lives free fromthe burdens of sin, and the fear of itsconsequences.

AS we approach the season of Easter(Easter Day is April 4th) let’s rememberthat, in Jesus, God offers to set us free,to forgive us our sins and to set us rightwith him.

Many Christians over the years, whohave been incarcerated for their faith,have found that in spite of therestrictions on their bodily freedoms,they enjoy an even greater freedomthrough their faith in Jesus Christ.

This is God’s offer to us, it’s what welook forward to at Easter, and it is freelygiven to each one of us who will receiveit by faith.

God blessKarl

Celebrating restored freedoms

Mothering Sunday falls on March 14ththis year and we remember once againthe people who have mothered us andguided us through our lives and celebratetheir unconditional love and sacrifice.The Mothers Union celebrates family lifeand supports practical initiatives in theUK and throughout the world. Moreinformation can be found on the website.

Mary Sumner founder of MU was bornnear Manchester. She met and marriedReverend George Sumner, son of theBishop ofWinchester. They moved to theparish of Old Alresford and seeing theresponsibilities of Motherhood throughher eldest daughter, she was spurred on togather a group of Mothers from all socialclasses which met at the Rectory. Fornine years it remained parochial but wascopied by a few other parishes.

In 1885, Mary addressed the National ChurchCongress focussing on her two main ideas:Being a good example to children, andkeeping prayer central to the life of the family

From there her ideas spread rapidly inBritain and across the commonwealthand within a year it was operating inchurch groups over four continents andby the turn of the century it had 169,000members.

Her personal Prayer:

All this day O LordLet me touch as many lives as possible

for thee:And every life I touch

do thou by thy spirit quicken,Whether through the word I speak,

The prayer I breathe,Or the life I live. Amen

Our MU group in Aldford was foundedby Penelope Austin, wife of the Rector.Now we have joined with Waverton ledby Eveline Davies and we would alwayswelcome new members and friends toour meetings when Covid has passed.

Ruth ClarkeMalpas Deanery MU Co-ordinator

A Bit about Bats

I recently watched a Zoom presentationabout bats chaired by the Venerable DaveMiddlebrook, Archdeacon of Bedford. Itwas partly funded by the NationalLottery so, thank-you if you buy theirtickets.

The first speaker was Lisa Woreledgewho told us about the various diseaseswhich can affect bats. The only oneknown to infect humans is rabies but it israre. A bite should be treatedimmediately by washing with soap andwater and seeking medical advice. Of the15,000 dead bats examined in the UKsince 1986 only 31 were found to beinfected. The droppings consist of theremains of the insects which form thebat’s diet and can cause an allergicreaction in a susceptible person as can thedust; when handling such material, amask would be a good idea if you areallergic to insects. Histoplasmosis, a lungdisease, is not found in the bats whichlive in the UK. Leptospirosis, a ‘flu-likecondition is more frequently seen inrodents. The urine is corrosive, as weknow too well in Bruera, and can damage

Mothering Sunday

wood and metal. So, basically, it makessense to use common sense with yourpersonal hygiene when dealing with batdroppings and urine.

The bats themselves can have ill health.White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is foundin North America and was spread therefrom East Asia by humans. Millions ofbats have died as a result of WNS since2006. The symptoms include suddendeath, daytime flying, grouping togetherat the entrances to their roosts. Only afew cases have been seen in EasternEurope and, although the fungus whichcausesWNS can be found, there have notbeen any examples of the disease in theUK. In conclusion, Lisa told us that thebats are no more likely than any otheranimal to carry infections which mayaffect humans.

The next speaker was Tom August whohad investigated coronavirus diseases inbats for his PHD with a particular interestis zoonotic illnesses (can pass fromdifferent species). These include Ebola,SARS, Nipah and rabies. SARSoriginated in the Far East and spreadworld wide killing 774 in 8,096 cases. Heexplained how a virus can changequickly from the host type by mutationand recombination. Virus cells containRNA which is less stable than the DNAwhich we have. He told us of researchwhich had been done in Wytham Woods,Oxford looking at the bats whichoccupied empty bird boxes. 39% had acoronavirus but not the variant which isfound in patients with Covid 19—thinkof them as “distant cousins” in the chainof mutation. Interestingly it was foundthat the levels of transmission werehighest in the post-nursery phase when

they congregate together. Transmissionsfrom bats to humans is unlikely unless inclose, unhygienic conditions such as the“wet” markets of China. This applied toall species and we should remember thatwhen we protect one we protect all.

The final speaker, Gail Armstrong, runs abat rescue centre in Morecombe Bay andgave us practical advice on the care ofinjured bats. They are protected by the2006 Animal Welfare Act. Her busiesttime is June to August and 60% of theanimals found on the ground areinexperienced—they have to learn howto fly! Cats account for 30% and only10% are poorly. She advised us to weargloves when handling a bat, dead oralive, and a mask to protect it fromhuman ills. Any grounded bat should becarefully put in a box and sent to the localBat Group.

There followed a Q andA session and myquestion about us passing Covid 19 to thebats was answered by Tom. As theparticular mutation which causes it is notclose to the one which would infect batsit is not something to worry about.Someone asked about methods ofcleaning churches and we were directedto the Bats in Church web-site. Also, itwas stressed that under no circumstancesshould we use a sanitizing fumigant. TheArchdeacon commented on the pointmade about the presence of bats deterringpeople from church and heacknowledged that it was a real issue buthoped that education could slow thatdown.

Mary Pleavin

As a change from travelling East we willgo West instead. From the outset I mustsay that, although having visited the USAsome twenty plus times, many things stillremain a mystery to me. I never couldquite fathom how things work, but thatsaid I've had some marvellous holidaysto America, all helped by being in thefortunate position of being able to staywith American friends.

America, being a vast country with fourtime zones, all of my visits have been onthe Eastern seaboard side, and haveincluded visits to Pittsburgh (the first cityI visited,) New York, (formally known as(New Amsterdam,) Boston, Ohio, andPhiladelphia. I was also in the luckyposition of having the use of a car(essential for travelling in America,) so Iwas able to visit many places of interestwhile travelling between the differentstates.

Of the big cities I've listed my favouritehas to be Boston, and surrounding area,which includes Plymouth and Cape Cod,with a replica of the "Mayflower" and therather disappointing, I thought, PlymouthRock; supposedly where the PilgrimFathers first set foot onAmerican soil, (inthis case sand and rock!!)

Down Town Boston is interesting withlots of historical buildings and a re-enactment of the Boston tea party in theharbour. Even the Americans refer toBoston as "the cradle of Americanhistory,"

Apart from the historical interest for meno visit to Boston would be completewithout trying the famous "Boston

lobster," Makes my mouth water justthinking about it!

Having outlined my favourite city ofthose listed, my least favourite has to beNewYork, although that said, upper NewYork State has a lot to offer.

Many people think of New York as just abig city, which it is, but it is a Statestretching as far as the Canadian border,with an obscure capitol called Albany.

There is some very nice scenery in upperNew York State the "finger lakes" beingjust one. Also there is the world famousCorning glass factory - well worth a visit,plus the Eastman Kodak photographicmuseum, also interesting.

The highlight for me has to be crossingthe "peace bridge" at Buffalo andentering Canada to see the famousNiagara Falls. Then taking a boat trip on"The Maid Of The Mist" which takes youas near as possible to the foot of the falls,where the roar of the cascading water isso loud you can’t hear yourself speak.Also you are issued with water-proofclothing like a life-boat crew, otherwiseyou would be soaking wet in no timesuch is the spray.

Often overlooked is the equallyspectacular "American Falls" no morethan half a mile away.

I started by saying how I was mystified asto how some things work in America, ascompared with us here in the UK.

For example, schools look just like anyother building nothing distinctive aboutthem. Each State has it’s own set of

Travelling from East toWest

rules. This is especially confusing whendriving, in some States you can make aright turn at a red traffic light (providingthe road is clear!) Whereas in otherStates, that don’t operate this system, youcould get a ticket, plus the speed limitvaries from State to State. All veryconfusing for a visitor!

Probably the most illogical thing I cameacross was the different tax laws. As aquick example, my friend fromPittsburgh, which is in PennsylvaniaState, often needed to travel intoneighbouring New York State, and waspestered by his friends to bring back asmuch alcohol as possible, as it was somuch cheaper in New York State. Thereason being, it seems, PennsylvaniaState was founded by Quakers whodisapproved of alcohol and thereforeimposed a high liquor tax, which still

exists to this day. To me it was likesmuggling only in your own country verystrange!

Also I found it unusual that many of theinter-state highways were referred to as"Turnpike Roads" the old English name,and yes, you did pay a toll!

So much more I could add aboutAmerica, but maybe another time, so I’llconclude by saying it’s a great place for avisit, I've had some "cracking" holidaysthere. But "no way" would I want to livethere; England for all of it’s faults is stilla great place to live.

Brian Newton

“Maid of the Mist”Photo by Olivier Guillard

From unsplash.com

Puzzle Page

Across1 The earth is one (6)4 ‘On a hill far away stood an old —cross’ (6)7 ‘I am the — vine and my Father isthe gardener’ (John 15:1) (4)8 The Caesar who was RomanEmperor at the time of Jesus’ birth (Luke2:1) (8)

9 ‘Your — should be the same asthat of Christ Jesus’(Philippians 2:5) (8)13 Jesus said that no one would put alighted lamp under this(Luke 8:16) (3)16 Involvement (1 Corinthians 10:16)(13)17 Armed conflict (2 Chronicles15:19) (3)19 Where the Gaderene pigs werefeeding (Mark 5:11) (8)

Puzzle Page

24 What jeering youths called Elishaon the road to Bethel (2 Kings 2:23) (8)25 The Venerable — , eighth-centuryJarrow ecclesiastical scholar (4)26 8 Across issued a decree that thisshould take place (Luke 2:1) (6)27 Come into prominence(Deuteronomy 13:13) (6)

Down1 Where some of the seed scatteredby the sower fell (Matthew 13:4) (4)2 Sexually immoral person whomGod will judge (Hebrews 13:4) (9)3 Gospel leaflet (5)4 Physical state of the boy brought toJesus for healing (Mark 9:18)5 Tugs (anag.) (4)6 To put forth (5)10 Nationality associated with StPatrick (5)11 Leader of the descendants ofKohath (1 Chronicles 15:5) (5)12 ‘After this, his brother came out,with his hand grasping — heel’(Genesis25:26) (5)13 At Dothan the Lord struck theArameans with — at Elisha’srequest (2Kings 6:18) (9)14 ‘Peter, before the cock crowstoday, you will — three times thatyouknow me’ (Luke22:34) (4)15 Spit out (Psalm 59:7) (4)18 ‘When I — , I am still with you’(Psalm 139:18) (5)20 Concepts (Acts 17:20) (5)

21 Thyatira’s dealer in purple cloth(Acts 16:14) (5)22 Does (anag.) (4)23 The second set of seven cows inPharaoh’s dream were this(Genesis41:19) (4)

Answers

Sudoku

ACROSS:1,Planet.4,Rugged.7,True.8,Augustus.9,A:tude.13,Bed.16,Par>cipa>on.17,War.19,Hillside.24,Baldhead.25,Bede.26,Census.27,Arisen.

DOWN:1,Path.2,Adulterer.3,Tract.4,Rigid.5,Gust.6,Exude.10,Irish.11,Uriel.12,Esau’s.13,Blindness.14,Deny.15,Spew.18,Awake.20,Ideas.21,Lydia.22,Odes.23,Lean.

Children’s Page

Can you find solve the word square? Look very carefully to see if you can find theword listed below. Good luck!

Children’s Page

Rector: Revd Julian Beauchamp,Waverton Tel: 01244 336668Associate Minister: Revd Karl Jones,Aldford Tel: 01244 620403

St John’s and St Mary’sWebsite:https://aldfordandbruerachurches.wordpress.com

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celebrating restored freedoms

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