focal point, december 2010 - st mary's, · pdf filefocal point, december 2010 1 j ......

Focal Point, December 2010

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J ust months after Bitton Methodist Church shut its doors for the last time, it is with sadness that we learn that the United Reformed Church in Upton Cheyney is also to

close permanently after serving the community for 176 years.

The final service will be held next May so there will be a poignancy to the last ever carol service at the church this month. Find out more on page 4.

I am hoping to write a special feature in Focal Point about the church before it closes so if you have memories of it that you’d like to share, please get in touch with me (contact details on page 17).

Bellringers are usually heard but not seen, so I thought it would be nice to put the St Mary’s crew on the cover of this, our Christmas edition. They gave me a warm welcome when I went along to their rehearsal on a cold Monday night in November, and even let me ‘have a go’ on the ropes. It was great fun!

In this month’s issue you’ll find the times of all the Christmas services and discover what else is going in and around Bitton for the festive season, including the special Nativity at the Inn on December 16.

It’s a packed edition; as well as the regular features, including beekeeping, cooking and gardening, there’s The Big Crossword on page 19, for which there is an extra special prize to be won as it’s Christmas.

With the news of a royal wedding next year, Bitton Village Residents’ Association is already mooting the idea of a street party to mark the occasion. So watch this space...

A very happy Christmas to you all.

Becky

Welcome


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I used to know a man called Roy who was wrongly accused by a jealous work colleague of misappropriating funds.

The matter was in the hands of the police and my friend had to wait six months before the case came to court. You can imagine the strain this put on his wife and children, as well as on him. It was like a cloud hanging over him every waking hour.

In the event, on almost the eve of his trial, the case was dropped through lack of evidence and the growing realisation that the man making the accusation was maliciously motivated.

Throughout this harrowing period, last thing at night before turning in for bed, Roy would stand outside his back door where he could look over a valley to some houses on the hill opposite. On the top floor of one of these houses, a light shone until about midnight. My friend knew who lived in the house with the lighted window. It was Albert, a member of his local church – a man who possessed that particular authority which goes with prayer and a heart full of human kindness.

Albert knew nothing of Roy’s predicament, but Roy told me that, throughout this period, it was that light which kept him going, which gave him hope, which he went out every night to look for before he slept. Roy knew Albert would be praying, praying for just such a person like Roy, facing his time of trial in world which seemed to be without justice.

What relevance has this to Christmas? Many people are anxious, afraid, uncertain. Many people are tempted to self-pity and bitterness because the world seems unfair and cruel.

It was to such a world that God came in the baby Jesus. Jesus was not born in a palace as befits the Son of God; he was born in a stable. The light which shines from that stable is the light which signifies hope, which makes us believe that, like

Message from the vicar


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Roy, we can pull through.

For many people, the trappings of Christmas seem false and superficial, but the light which shines from Bethlehem is neither false nor superficial. It gives us courage and the will to hang in there. I pray for myself and for you that this Christmas will bring light in darkness and make us constant in faith.

Paul Denyer

‘Help those far from home this Christmas’

The message on this year’s Christian Aid Christmas envelopes, with its echo of Mary and Joseph’s plight, focuses on the millions displaced by conflict and natural disaster.

It isn’t hard to make a list: Haiti, Pakistan, Chile, Burkina Faso, Mali, Indonesia, and more.

I am writing this a few days after the BBC’s apology to Bob Geldof for the allegation that much of Live Aid’s 1985 famine relief fund was diverted to rebel forces in Ethiopia. Hurrah! The smear did a great deal of damage in making people worried about giving money to aid agencies.

Christian Aid, along with other reputable agencies, make stringent efforts to ensure that aid reaches the people in need.

We can give help to those far from home by putting money in the Christian Aid envelopes which will be in the pews during the Christmas period, and be confident that it will give help and hope to the world’s poorest people. And please fill in the Gift Aid form so that the tax can be reclaimed.

In addition you may like to surprise family and friends with some unusual presents – a can of worms, a toilet, a herd of goats, a well, and more. There are plenty of gifts to select in the Present Aid catalogues at the back of the church.

Nicola Bennetts

Christian Aid at Christmas


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Our churches and services

UPTON CHEYNEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

Elder: Muriel Williams

0117 961 6843

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th Christmas carol service at 3pm, led by John Creech

The United Reformed Church in Upton Cheyney is to

close next year. Muriel Williams, the church elder, told Focal Point:

“It is with regret we have to announce that after 176 years the church will be closing permanently next

year. The last service will be held on May 22, 2011.” The church’s Christmas carol service is on

Sunday, December 19 at 3pm, led by John Creech. Apart from this celebration of the Christmas festival,

church services will be, as usual, suspended for

December, January and February.

United Reformed Church to close


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ST MARY’S CHURCH Vicar: The Rev Canon Paul Denyer The Vicarage, Church Avenue, Warmley, BS30 5JJ

0117 967 3965

Curate: The Rev Maria Shepherdson 25 Poplar Rd, Warmley, BS30 5JX

0117 960 8442

Lay ministers: Mr Ken Gibson, 8 Church Road, Bitton, BS30 6HH

0117 932 2122

Dr David Bailey, Westover House, Bitton, BS30 6HT

0117 932 8449

Churchwardens: Miss Barbara Merritt 32 Bath Road, Bitton BS30 6HZ

0117 932 3926

Mr Jim Heavens, Eastover, High Street, Bitton

0117 932 5376

Baptism Inquiries: Mrs Jean Gray 0117 967 2964

Marriage and funeral inquiries: To the vicar


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St Mary’s services for December Thurs, December 2

9.30am Celtic service of Holy Communion, with coffee and cake from 10.15am-11.15am

Sun, December 5 10.30am Parish Communion and Sunday Funday

Sun, December 12 8am

10.30am

Holy Communion Gift service and Nativity play. Please bring an unwrapped gift of new/nearly-new toys, books, games or toiletries for Muller Homes, or tins for the Bristol Soup Run

Sun, December 19 10.30am Morning Prayer

6.30pm Candlelit service of Lessons and Carols

Fri, December 24 Christmas Eve

4pm

11.30pm

Carols around the Crib Midnight Communion

Sat, December 25 Christmas Day

8am Holy Communion

10.30am Christmas Praise

Sun, December 26 Boxing Day

8am Holy Communion

10.30am Benefice Communion at ST ANNE’S, SISTON


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Blue Christmas

Sunday Funday

Thursday, December 16

at 7pm

Will there be room at the Inn?

Dramatic tableaux at The Upton Inn with The Meadows’

Glee Singers Club, and live music.

Supper is available before or after the performance. All ages welcome.

CAROLS AT THE UPTON INN Tuesday, December 21 at 7.30pm

Sunday, December 5

A Surprise in the Manger!

Sunday Funday is a monthly event in the church hall from 10.30am – 11.30am involving music, crafts, stories and

refreshments. Coffee and newspapers are provided so that parents can enjoy a relaxing hour.

Saturday, December 18 at 7pm for 7.30pm in the Lady Chapel of St Mary’s

For all who feel bereaved, lonely or stressed

or just want a carol-free time of quiet where it is safe to feel blue about Christmas

Nativity at the Inn


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C hristmas is a time for giving, but giving is not just for Christmas. St Mary’s gives 10 per cent of income to other charities and recently we asked the

congregation which ones.

Those chosen were St Peter’s Hospice, Julian House, WaterAid, the Children’s Society and the Church Missionary Society. After donations to Uganda Link, the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust and the National Churches Trust (the latter two having donated to our Living Stones Appeal but asking for a small three-year commitment from us when we accepted their grants) the rest of our tithe will be divided between our chosen charities.

We also support Christian Aid, the Poppy Appeal, Muller Homes and the Bristol Soup Run, and will feature our chosen charities in Focal Point in 2011.

Christmas is busy, busy, busy, with shopping, parties, family friends, presents, pantomimes, cooking and cleaning. So much to do - so little time, but there IS a reason for the season.

STOP and find the heart of Christmas. Sing out at the carol services and around the village. Join in the Nativity play at the gift service and the Nativity at the Upton Inn. Bring the little ones to Carols Round the Crib on Christmas Eve and Family Praise on Christmas morning. And before that come to the traditional Midnight Communion on Christmas Eve.

Those who need a quiet service will find it at the Communion at 8am on Christmas Day. If you find this a season of sadness, there is a special service we call Blue Christmas on Saturday, December 18.

All dates and times are in the magazine (page 6) and in

St Mary’s Matters

http://www.watton.org/clipart/doves/dove110.gif


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First of all I would like to thank all those who helped decorate the church for Harvest. You did a splendid job.

Now I would like you to do it all again, this time for Christmas celebrations so please put Saturday, December 18 in your diaries. We shall be meeting from 9.30am. As usual, any contributions of foliage will be much appreciated.

Karen Smith

Happy Christmas to all Bitton flower arrangers who have supported us throughout the year.

We meet again on Tuesday, February 8 in the church hall at our usual time of 2pm. We look forward to seeing you all, and anyone else who would like to join us.

Judith Butson

Ann Bush

Christmas flowers for St Mary’s

Leaflets distributed around the village.

God’s gifts at Christmas – life and joy everlasting. The showing of His love in Jesus born as a baby at Christmas is there for all of us. Stop and say ‘thank you’.

Barbara Merritt

Churchwarden

New Year arrangements

It’s panto time (oh yes it is!) The Bath Unity Players are performing Goldilocks & The

Three Bears at the Kingswood School Theatre, Lansdown, from December 15-19.

Playing the drums will be Bitton’s very own Christopher Gallop!

For tickets call 01225 427108.


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From the parish register

Wedding November 6: Thomas Webb & Carley Read

Baptisms

November 7: Kayely Pons; Vienna Chiddy

As part of the benefice efforts to support ‘A Just Peace for Palestine’, uniting Christians, Jews and Muslims in prayer support and action, people in Bitton are invited to get involved and pray for specific people, areas and projects.

The Meadows Primary School is working with St Mary’s to build a relationship with a school in Gaza and some of the pupils have sent letters. We will keep you updated on the link in Focal Point.

Gaza-Bitton link

In softly falling rain, we gathered at the war memorial on Remembrance Sunday to lay wreaths and poppies.

The congregation included members of St Mary’s and Bitton Methodist Church, as well as veterans, representatives of the Royal British Legion, cadets from the Cadbury Heath Detachment, and trumpeter Mark Wilkinson.

The moving service was led by the Rev Maria Shepherdson from St Mary’s and Methodist minister the Rev Den Harding.

Among those placing wreaths at the memorial were the Royal British Legion, the parish council and Combat Stress.

Becky Feather

Lest we forget


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T wenty-two for a match day squad and 15 allowed on the pitch at any one time for Rugby Union; 18 and 11 are the corresponding figures for Professional Association

Football and 13 on the pitch at any one time for Rugby League.

Even with the arrival of our newest granddaughter, Cora Mirabelle, the total of eight in the latest generation of Retsocs would mean under-strength teams in the above sports, even if I could raise a trot to be included and also drag the Hon Curate screaming and kicking onto the field.

Having charge of the latest arrival’s three-year-old brother for four days allowed me to coach him in some core skills should he be included in a future Retsoc squad.

If you attended the Warmley church autumn fayre, you would have witnessed him assisting me in a sideshow that involved putting skills, which by the way showed up some deficiencies in rudimentary skills of benefice inhabitants, including Ken, our lay minister, and our MP.

So in what sports could we field a team of Retsoc grandchildren with only eight to select from? Gender is irrelevant with both sexes playing most games. Netball with seven on the pitch would be possible, as would seven-a-side rugby, five-a-side football and basketball, so these are the areas to look out for the debut of a Retsoc team.

Would we be any good? In teaching, it never ceased to surprise me how different siblings could be, so it would be amazing if all the grandchildren excelled in sport. The best we could hope for would be that their skills would complement each other as in our Church family or village life and the sum of the parts would be greater than the individual talents.

Have a happy Christmas with your family.

Rovi Retsoc

Building my own team


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In the kitchen with Robin Every month Bitton’s Robin Dudley-Warde, who came second in GMTV’s Chefs at Sea contest this summer, brings us one of his favourite recipes. Writes Robin: I love meat but sometimes it is good to forswear the delights of steak and enjoy a vegetarian meal. Last night I made Creamy Cauliflower Curry; it’s easily prepared and cooked – try it and enjoy a sometimes unfairly maligned and ignored Great British vegetable. This recipe serves four. You will need: One large British cauliflower 200 gms of cooked peas One onion, sliced Two cloves of garlic, finely chopped One bird’s eye chilli, finely chopped One teaspoon of fresh ginger, finely chopped Zest of a lime Juice of a lime Pinch of saffron 100ml of vegetable stock 250ml of coconut cream One red pepper, very finely chopped Steamed rice Let’s cook!: 1. Break the cauliflower into small florets. 2. In a large saucepan or wok, heat a tablespoon of oil then

add the onion, garlic, chilli, and ginger. Cook until the onion is soft and transparent.

3. Add the cauliflower, the lime zest and juice, and mix in.


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ROBIN’S

WINE TIP

As with much spicy or Asian-style food, I would enjoy a glass of Gewűrztraminer wine. Trimbach, from Alsace, is particularly delicious.

4. Add the stock and cover – let the cauliflower steam until it is just tender to your taste. I like mine ‘al dente’.

5. Add the saffron and more stock if needed. Test for seasoning.

6. Add the peas and the coconut cream and heat through. 7. Serve with steamed rice and lime pickles. Sprinkle some

of the finely chopped red pepper for added colour.

The Annual General Meeting of Bitton WI was held on Monday, November 9 in the church hall. Mrs Janet Ballinger was re-elected as president for 2010/11.

There followed a presentation from Elaine Uttley, on Bath’s Fashion Museum. The museum has one of the largest collections in the country of articles of clothing. There are more than 80,000 separate items from the Elizabethan period to today’s ‘Dress of the Year’.

The museum is in the Assembly Rooms, one of Bath’s finest buildings. The speaker focused on the history of under- garments and there were interesting pictures of items for us to see. We were surprised to learn that the Elizabethan nightdress had been beautifully embroidered by men!

The museum is hosting an exhibition of 10 of the late Princess Diana’s dresses, which ends on January 29.

Our meeting in December will be the annual Christmas party, a ticket-only event.

Elaine Skidmore

WI report

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Beekeeping with Brenda

P eople often ask me about the scare stories they see in the press; are the honey bees

heading for extinction? My response is that they were here millions of years before mankind and no doubt they will find ways to survive and even outlive us.

I found some support for my premise in a talk given to Bath Beekeepers by the seasonal bee inspector for Wiltshire, Robert Carpenter. He began by voicing his concern about the damage to honey bee colonies caused by the Varroa mite, an invasive insect now to be found in all colonies in the UK.

Honey bees have long lived with a number of different virus infections. To survive, they keep their hives spotlessly clean and paint propolis, a gum exuded from certain trees, on the surface of the wax comb; propolis contains anti-bacterial/anti-viral properties and helps to keep disease under control. Honey also contains many protective substances, hence its use by mankind in treating wounds, and at home many of us use it to soothe a sore throat.

However, the Varroa mite bites the bees and in this way viral infections are passed from an infected bee straight into the ‘blood stream’ of the next one bitten, killing the bee. The bees’ immune system is contained in the hive itself, not the individual bee’s body, and a whole colony can be wiped out fast if the numbers of mites are not kept in check by the beekeeper.

To his surprise Robert found, when called to investigate some hives which had been abandoned, that when a hive was completely overgrown and surrounded by nettles, there appeared to be no sign of Varroa infestation. He came to the following conclusion: the bees had to brush through the nettles

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on their way to and from their hive, and in so doing, the hairy leaves came into contact with their bodies. Nettles contain formic acid, a widely-used treatment for controlling the Varroa mite, and the presence of the nettles appeared to be keeping the mite under control.

There is a positive side to the scare stories as they raise awareness that bees are under threat. Government can be persuaded to provide funds for research and the British Beekeeping Association now has a number of major projects on the go. Also the public want to be involved and the recently launched Adopt a Beehive scheme encourages people to give money for research.

My bees today continue to fly when by rights they ought to be cuddled up tight conserving their stores and energy. Like beekeepers of yore, I regularly talk to them when I walk down to take a look at the hives. Another tradition has been to give each hive a Christmas present of a bag of damp sugar to keep them going. My gift will be to visit them regularly, keeping mice and woodpeckers at bay, and I will follow the tradition of wishing them a Merry Christmas, a wish I extend to readers of Focal Point.

(Thanks to Brenda’s daughter, Anne, for the festive drawing of the beehives)

Tea Club

Tuesday, December 7

A visit to Sicily, with Bob Willis

Tuesday, December 21 Christmas songs with Mike Renton, followed by tea

The Tea Club meets in the Methodist Church Hall from

2.30pm-4 pm, but after January 1, the venue will change to St Mary’s Church Hall, with a 2pm start time.


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In the garden with Rob

I have always been so grateful when people have come up to me and said they have read my gardening notes in the magazine, but it struck me that surely this month,

gardening will be the last thing on people’s minds?

Christmas is approaching all too quickly with so much to do and organise.

One good thing if you are a gardener and family and friends are buying presents, it’s easy as there is so much to choose from. Prices range from a 75p packet of seeds to who knows, that garden furniture set you have always wanted, and yes, garden tokens are always very welcome!

Giving a plant is a popular choice with the cyclamen probably top of the list, followed by poinsettias, azaleas, and solanums (winter cherry).

Cyclamen are wonderful but must be kept cool, the cooler the better, just frost-free. Poinsettias are hard to keep and my dear Grandma was the only person I know who could keep one until Easter and gone. Try to keep them moist but not too wet, warm (minimum 15 degrees) and out of cold draughts. Azaleas like nice cool conditions (try to use collected rainwater on them which is slightly acidic so perfect).

Orchids are also a popular pot plant given at Christmas, dominated by the variety Phalaenopsis. When cared for properly they can flower now and still be flowering at Easter. Water with tepid water, feed with orchid feed whilst in flower and stop when flowering finishes. Very importantly, make sure the roots see daylight. Your orchid will be in either in a clear or white pot and that’s important as when growing naturally they will always be on the surface of trees in the tropics.

No jobs for this month, you’ll be far too busy, but I am sure the garden will cope! Happy Christmas!

Rob

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November’s quiz on stage and film musicals was

extremely popular. The answers were: Starlight Express, Annie Get Your

Gun, Carousel, Billy Elliot, The Gondoliers (or The Girlfriend), Moulin Rouge, Miss Saigon, South Pacific, Evita, The Lion King, Phantom Of The Opera, Joseph And The Technicolour Dreamcoat, Oklahoma, Seven Brides For Seven Brother, West Side Story, Les Miserables, Chicago (or Cabaret or Camelot), Sunset Boulevard, Jesus Christ

Superstar and Iolanthe. We had 16 correct entries including some joint efforts.

Well done to the following: Jan Wookey & friend Diane, Chrissie Cullimore & Sandi Cole, Paul & Barbara Cooney, Penny, Ray & Phil Cole, (from Timsbury), Jon & Pam Heyes, Ken & Jill Gibson, the Papuca family, the bellringers, Marlene Gallop, Annette Vowles, June Long, Judith Butson, Karen Smith, Sarah Craddock, Anne

Burmester, and Pete Woolley.

The winner drawn from the hat was Judith Butson! Over the page you will find the December crossword

which naturally has a Christmas theme. For details of where to send your answers, and by when, see

below. There’s an extra special prize as it’s Christmas!

Please get your copy for the next edition, and your crossword answers, to me by December 13 at the very latest.

Email me at [email protected] (PLEASE NOTE MY CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESS) or call

me on 0117 932 5037. Alternatively post or drop off your articles at 18 Church Road, Bitton, Bristol BS30 6HH.

Deadline for January edition

November’s quiz answers


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ACROSS

1. tip into sea (anag) (10)

3. anaca lusts (anag) (10)

9. Banished Christmas song? (8,5)

12. listen for welth (anag) (3,5,6)

13. Ronnie wanted four of these! (7)

15. Feline footwear? (4,2,5)

16. One of Santa’s reindeer (6)

19. Pirate’s name in ‘Peter Pan’ (4)

21. stirs the cream (anag) (9,4)

22. He wrote the tune for ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ (6,5)

24. stole time (anag) (9)

25. Author of ‘The Father Christmas Letters’ (7)

26. Card game (4)

27. recall enid (anag) (10)

DOWN

2. Itinerant tradesman’s appeal? (10)

4. Original Latin title of ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ (6,7)

5. Is he annoyed by plain speaking? (12)

6. Date of Twelfth Night (5,7)

7. Thieving tendency on socialist front? (5,9)

8. Foul relative? (6,5)

10. With which animal is Saint Stephen associated? (5)

11. rio send coat (anag) (11)

14. Silenced cooking utensil? (9)

17. lets thing in (anag) (6,5)

18. Father Christmas’s favourite adjective (8)

20. new mill due (anag) (6,4)

23. Of which country was Melchior supposedly king? (7)

Crossword clues


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The Big Crossword


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Here are a couple more clangers that have appeared in church newsletters. Former MP Jack Aspinwall kindly passed them on for inclusion in Focal Point, which I must point out was not the source of any of them! ‘Next Thursday there will be try-outs for the choir. They need all the help they can get.’ ‘Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.’

Mistakes that raise a smile

Casting is complete and rehearsals are now well under way for the latest production by Bitton Community

Theatre. The play, which is about slavery, has been written by

John Evans, from Upton Cheyney, the former editor of

Focal Point. Many of you may remember the magnificent Son et

Lumiere production that John also penned that was held at St Mary’s a few years ago and raised thousands of

pounds for church funds. His latest play began with the title Slavery ~ Alive and

Well, but John has now changed it to The Iniquitous

Voyage. The play will take place at St Mary’s on March 23, 24 and

25 with profits going to Anti-Slavery International and to

St Mary’s. To find out more call John on 932 2164 or email him at

[email protected]

Bitton Community Theatre

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