inside info jesus is the reason for the season · 2009. 12. 7. · laurel house, 12 woodside lane,...

EVERYONE at St Mary’s wishes all you thousands of jolly Her-ald readers a truly happy Christmas, with plenty of helpings of the good things folk traditionally enjoy at this time of year. At the same time, we’d just like to remind every-body of what this festival is basically about: the birth of a child who brought such an important message to this world. As our popular columnist Bettina writes (page 9), Jesus is nowhere to be

seen these days. There are plenty of Santas, reindeer and snowmen, with hardly a Bethlehem scene But along with millions of Christians throughout the world we shall be giving thanks for Jesus through-out this Christmas season. Why not join us? From Advent to the Epiphany, there is a rich variety of services for young and old alike to enjoy. There’s

choral music, the magical Christingle service, our usual nine lessons and car-ols, Midnight Mass… and of course our sing-song with a festive flavour at the Prince of Wales. A full list is on page 19.

Happy Christmas, and see you

soon!

www.stmarys-eastbarnet.org.uk

The newspaper of East Barnet Parish Church 3000 FREE copies delivered to you each month December 2009/January 2010

INSIDE INFO

Jesus is the reason for the season

THIS CHRISTMAS, DON’T FORGET...

Meet our priest-to-be:

p10&11

The Christ Child

A bedtime story for

Christmas Eve: p6&7

Curate Becky’s message: page 2

Christmas from A-Z

Rack your brains with

our quiz: p14

Memorial fund nears target READERS have responded magnificently to the East Barnet war memorial appeal. The target of £2,000 had nearly been reached as the Herald went to press, which means that the names of the service members who fell in World War Two will soon be inscribed on the memorial, joining those of the First World War already there. The appeal organisers extend heartfelt thanks to all who contributed. Crossword: p15

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2—Church Hill Herald December 2009

Bible story with song, prayer and play Under-fives and their parents/carers are invited to join us for praise, play and chat. You are welcome to come (and bring your friends).

St Mary’s Church, 10.30 to 11.30am, on Thursdays December 3 & 17,

January 7 & 21, February 4 & 25, March 22.

Toddler Praise A relaxed service with time for play and chat.

Contact Becky Leach for info: 0780 653 0656

ON NOVEMBER 29 the Church celebrated Advent Sunday. Be-tween then and Christmas Day we are keeping the season of Ad-vent. What is Advent all about? We all know of Advent Calendars (and maybe Advent Candles) – counting down the days from December 1 to Christmas Day – but if Advent is only a counting exercise then why should a season of Advent be kept at all? And what should keeping it mean anyway? The answer is that Advent is about more than counting (opening an-other door and having a piece of chocolate each day, though I’m not denying the fun of that part at all!) The season is above all a time of watching and waiting for the coming of the Kingdom of God. It shares with Lent a spirit of re-straint, preparation and penitence, but it is one shot through with joy as Christmas approaches.

Not popular Watching and waiting are not, very popular themes in our action-packed 21st century lives. We are often too busy to stand and watch, a 20-minute firework display in November being perhaps an excep-tion. And we are often too impa-tient to wait for very much at all. We do try to teach our children to be patient and learn to wait: “Wait for your birthday”, “Wait for the weekend”, “Wait until after tea”,

…but often this is simply a reflec-tion that it is we who are too busy to give attention in the now. We, unlike our children, are actually not very good at waiting at all – when we use the definition of that word meant by the Church during Advent. Waiting in this context is actually to do with giving atten-tion to the present moment. That is precisely the wonderful gift that Advent can be to us; it gives us a challenge to try to live better in the present moment and to re-flect on what is around us.

Spiritual signs Watching and waiting in this way is about stilling ourselves, slowing down to notice the spiritual, the beautiful, the truthful signs in our world – signs that could be called glimpses of God’s kingdom of love, peace and justice. When we wait and watch we also become better tuned in to what part we are playing in bringing God’s intentions for the world into being, reflecting on our co-operation with him in how we live our lives. We take time to look at the world through the expectation of hope and the future that God has prom-ised. He has not abandoned us to fate, but he does need our co-operation in working for good in all aspects of our lives. Some things are better waiting for (that new Wii, that trip to New York) in the common meaning of

the word. H o w e v er , some things should be such a pri-ority that it is right to refuse to wait, and instead to work for with as much commitment as possible (what are we doing to encourage the success of the Global Climate Change talks meeting in Copenhagen this month?). But the present moment is always worth waiting on in this Advent sense; always worth giving atten-tion and committing to. So let us take time as we prepare for Christmas to wait and watch in this way; to slow down enough to give close attention to the state of our world, our communities, and our own lives; to notice the signs of goodness, as well as to spot those areas that may need our help to bring greater goodness to bear; and to commit ourselves once again to be agents furthering these Kingdom Values wherever we can. That, after all, is what God has done, does each moment and promises to do for the rest of time. That is after all what Christmas is all about. I wish you a watchful, ‘waitful’ Advent and a very happy Christ-mas. Becky

CURATE’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE Wait for it...



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Church Hill Herald December 2009—3

And a happy New Year to you all AS THERE is no Herald in January, we should like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers in East Barnet and beyond a happy New Year with all the good things you wish for yourselves and for your families and

friends. Above all we hope you will join the congregations of St Mary’s and Brookside Methodist Churches, as well as Christians throughout the world, in praying for peace on earth. See you in February!

Bet you didn’t know Richard Watson’s ancestors came from Great Yarmouth, or what they were like. In his sermon during our parish holiday weekend at the Norfolk resort, our Rector said he was very pleased to be in the place where his forbears lived!

Cartoon by Howard Taylor

Meet Yarmouth Yogi! Meet Santa at St

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SCENES from the 2010 ‘Around East Barnet’ calendar, launched to raise money for the war memorial fund and St Mary’s. The pictures were taken by residents who fea-tured last December in an exhibi-tion at the church.

The calendar goes on sale this month at a price of £5 and will be available at newsagents, PrintMa-nia in New Barnet, schools and a Christmas fair in High Barnet. The photographers include Richard Watson, Jamie Topham, Barry Swain, Anne Higgins, David Bu-chanan, Michael Young, Anthony Ramelli and Vicky Small.

Roger Aitken and Jamie Topham, who led the project, extend their thanks to all involved, including Printmania and Clare and her de-sign team at MPC Publications. Generous sponsorship was re-ceived from Chas Lowe and Man-tlestates. Calendars can be reserved from Roger ([email protected])

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Calling Guides, past and present GUIDES are celebrating the cen-tenary of their movement, and the Barnet division will be holding an exhibition at Ewen Hall, Wood Street, next October. Former and present members of local units are being asked to con-tribute to the display with any-thing of interest. Also sought are stories which could become part of the heritage of the first hun-dred years of Guiding. On the

internet there is a story bank con-taining six themes: beginnings, here and now, flying high, chal-lenges, changing world and ad-ventures. The aim is to tell the story of Guiding’s impact on girls and women and on society in general. Details of this are on the website girlguiding.org.uk — where terms and conditions can be found.



OVER the last few months, I have been writing about Wis-dom from the point of view of several different faiths. For my last column of this year, I have been searching the internet for wisdom about Christmas, so that I can share some thoughts with you. If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give. George MacDonald A Christmas candle is a lovely thing; It makes no noise at all, But softly gives itself away; While quite unselfish, it grows small. Eva K.Logue Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day. Helen Steiner Rice The greatest Christmas gift cannot be purchased in a store or ordered from a catalogue. It can't be

wrapped in a pretty package with a fancy bow. But it can be seen in the eyes of a child, heard in the words of kindness, and felt in the embrace of a friend. Anonymous Christmas is forever, not for just one day. For loving, sharing, giving, and not to put away like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others is good you do yourself. Norman W. Brooks It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags. Christmas can't be bought from a store. Maybe Christmas means a little bit more. Dr.Seuss Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect. Oren Arnold

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the pre-sent, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace. Agnes M.Pharo May I wish you all a peaceful Christmas and New Year.

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As told by Elizabeth Harrison IT WAS the night before Christmas, and a little child was wandering all alone through the streets of a great city. There were many people on the streets, all hur-rying home with bundles of presents. From some windows bright lights were beginning to stream until it was almost as bright as day. But the little child seemed to have no home, and wandered about listlessly from street to street. Nobody took any notice of him except perhaps Jack Frost, who bit his bare toes and made the ends of his fingers tingle. The north wind, too, seemed to notice the child, for it blew against him and pierced his ragged clothes through and through, causing him to shiver with cold. Home after home he passed, looking with longing eyes through the windows, in upon the glad, happy children, most of whom were helping to trim the Christmas trees for the coming morrow. “Surely,” said the child to himself, “where there is so must gladness and happi-ness, some of it may be for me.” So with timid steps he approached a large house. Through the windows, he could see a Christmas tree already lighted. Many presents hung on it. Its green boughs were trimmed with gold and silver ornaments. Slowly he climbed the broad steps and gently rapped at the door. It was opened by a large servant with a kindly face, although his voice was deep and gruff. He looked at the little child, then sadly shook his head and said, “Go down off the steps. There’s no room here for such as you.” As the child turned back into the cold and darkness, he wondered why the footman had spoken like that, for surely those little children would love to have an-other companion join them in their joyous Christmas festival. But the little children inside did not even know he had knocked at the door. The street grew colder and darker as the child passed on. He went sadly forward, saying to himself, “Is there no one in all this great city who will share the Christmas with me?”

Farther and farther he wandered, to where the homes were not so large and beautiful. There seemed to be little children inside nearly all the houses. They were dancing and frolicking about. Christmas trees could be seen in nearly every window, with beautiful dolls and trumpets and picture-books and balls and tops and other dainty toys hung upon them. In one window the child noticed a little lamb made of soft white wool. Around its neck was tied a red rib-bon. The little stranger stopped before this window and looked long and earnestly at the beautiful things inside, but most of all was he drawn toward the white lamb. At last creeping up to the window-pane, he gently tapped upon it. A little girl came and looked out into the dark street where the snow had now begun to fall. She saw the child, but she only frowned and shook her head and said, “Go away and come back some

other time. We’re too busy to take care of you now.” Back into the dark, cold streets he turned again. The wind was whirling past him and seemed to say, “Hurry on, hurry on, we have no

time to stop. ‘Tis Christmas Eve and everybody is in a hurry to-night.” Again and again the little child rapped softly at door or window-pane. At each place he was refused admission. There was scarcely anyone left on the street by this time, and the few who remained did not seem to see the child, when suddenly ahead of him there appeared a bright, single ray of light. It shone through the dark-ness into the child's eyes. He looked up smilingly and said, “I will go where the small light beckons, perhaps they will share their Christmas with me.” Hurrying past all the other houses, he soon reached the end of the street and went straight up to the win-dow from which the light was streaming. It was a poor, little, low house, but the child cared not for that. The light seemed still to call him in. From what do you suppose the light came? Nothing but a tallow candle which had been placed in an old cup with a broken handle, in the window, as a glad token of Christmas Eve.

Continued opposite

The Christ Child A legendary bedtime story for Christmas Eve

The north wind pierced his ragged clothes

through and through...




From facing page There was neither curtain nor shade to the small, square window, and as the little child looked in he saw standing on a neat wooden table a branch of a Christmas tree. The room was plainly furnished but very clean. Near the fireplace sat a lovely faced mother with a little two-year-old on her knee and an older child beside her. The two children were looking into their mother's face and listening to a story. The little wanderer crept closer and closer to the window-pane. So sweet was the mother's face, so loving seemed the little children, that at last he took courage and tapped gently, on the door. The mother stopped talk-ing, the little children looked up. “What was that, mother?” asked the little girl at her side. “I think it was some one tapping on the door,” re-plied the mother. “Run as quickly as you can and open it, dear, because it is a bitter cold night on which to keep anyone waiting in this storm. No-body must be left out in the cold on our beautiful Christmas Eve.” The child ran to the door and threw it wide open. The mother saw the ragged stranger standing without, cold and shivering, with bare head and almost bare feet. She held out both hands and drew him into the warm, bright room. “You poor, dear child,” was all she said, and putting her arms around him, she drew him close to her breast. “He is very cold, my children,” she exclaimed. “We must warm him.” The mother sat down by the fire with the little child on her lap, and her own little ones warmed his half-frozen hands in theirs. She smoothed his tangled curls, and, bending low over his head, kissed the child's face. She gathered the three little ones in her

arms and the candle and the fire light shone over them. For a moment the room was very still. By and by the little girl said softly, to her mother, “May we light the Christmas tree, and let him see how beautiful it looks?” “Yes,” said the mother. With that she seated the child on a low stool beside the fire, and went herself to fetch the few simple ornaments which from year to year she had saved for her children's Christmas tree.

They turned and looked at the spot where the little wanderer sat. His ragged clothes had changed to garments white and beau-tiful; his golden curls seemed like a halo about his head; but most glori-ous of all was his face, which shone with a light so dazzling that they could scarcely look upon it. In silent wonder they gazed at the child. Their little room seemed to grow larger and larger, until it was as wide as the whole world, the roof of their low house seemed to ex-pand and rise, until it reached to the sky.

With a sweet and gentle smile the wonderful child looked upon them for a moment, and then slowly rose and floated through the air, above the treetops, be-yond the church spire, higher even than the clouds themselves, until he appeared to them to be a shining star in the sky above. At last he disappeared from sight. The astonished children turned in hushed awe to their mother, and said in a whisper, “Oh, mother, it was the Christ Child, was it not?” And the mother answered in a low tone, “Yes.” And it is said, dear children, that each Christmas Eve the little Christ Child wanders through some town or village, and those who receive him and take him into their homes and hearts have this marvellous vision given to them.

His golden curls shone like a dazzling halo...




IT IS Christmas Eve - almost midnight - when a huge sleigh pulled by reindeer slowly glides out of the snow-laden clouds and lands in front of “The Famous Crook”, a run-down and dimly-lit pub. Santa Claus wants to deliver a present for little Mary, who lives somewhere in this street.

Unfortunately, he doesn’t have the correct address and ventures off to investigate where the little girl might live. To his horror, he finds Mary’s present – a beautiful doll - gone on his return, and footsteps in the freshly fallen snow leading from the pub entrance to the sledge, and back. The thief must still be inside. Frowning, Santa enters the pub. The owner, Ma Crook, stands in the kitchen and prepares a nightcap for her four boys John, Tom, Dick and Harry, who sit in the adjoining room close to the bar. The Crook boys are well-known scoundrels, and proud of it. When confronted by Santa, they pull perfectly innocent faces, but one of them has stolen Mary’s present: When the parcel was stolen, one of them stood behind the counter to fill up his glass with his fifth whisky. Another brother was reading the paper, while the third one held a little nap. The fourth one stole Mary’s present. As none of them admits to the crime, Santa enters the kitchen to question their mother. Here is what she says: “I’m sure it was someone else. My boys would never steal a thing. You won’t find better boys than them. Okay, John, Tom and Dick spent a year in prison for robbing a money transporter, but that was a mistake, of course. “They didn’t even know that it

was a money transporter, because they never went to school and didn’t learn a thing. Therefore they couldn’t read that it said “MONEY TRANSPORT” on the car. They simply wanted to ask the driver for directions. “Tom is almost an angel, anyway.

Such a good boy – he wouldn’t touch a drop of alcohol, just like his brother Harry. Too bad that I couldn’t see anything from the kitchen, but through the open door I chatted with John, Dick and Harry about the weather. “Quite chilly today, isn’t it? John drank hot, mulled wine throughout the evening to keep warm. I’m really sorry, but I really can’t help you any

further.” But Santa already knows who has stolen the parcel. Do you? Turn to page 18 for the answer.

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See if you can solve my Christmas whodunnit...

Santa is struck with

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“I DON’T really feel Christ-massy this year,” I’ve kept tell-ing my friend Mike for years – and now I have finally figured out why I have this strange feel-ing: Baby Jesus went missing. He didn’t go missing in a ‘Where’s Wally?” kind of way, where there are so many Wallies around that you can’t find the right one any more. Quite the contrary: Baby Jesus went miss-ing in the true sense of the word. He’s nowhere to be seen. It hit me when I went to Oxford Street and looked at the famous Christmas lights dangling above the shop-pers: twinkling swags, parcels and umbrellas. Of course, parcels and umbrellas have a lot to do with Christmas shopping in rainy England, but what about Christmas? Where is the twinkling stable scene? When I went into the stores, the same happened, shop after shop: glitter-ing snowflakes, red-nosed rein-deers, and jolly snowmen… but no Baby Jesus to be seen any-

where. No Mary, no Joseph, no shepherds and no stable. Even the Christmas gift brochures of shops and supermarkets get away with-out any reference to Christ. One of the few reminders of the Christmas story I came across was a light blue Little Mary Christmas costume made of 100 per cent polyester from M&S, with an image of Baby Jesus stuck to the front. Instead of Jesus, whose birth the festivities are all about, Santa is now in the centre of attention. He ho-ho-hoes from every corner, comes in plastic and chocolate, adorns shop fronts and Christmas cards, and has – in short – taken over. Jesus is dead, long live Santa? I wouldn’t be surprised if many children thought that Christmas was the birthday of Santa, or that Santa was even a kind of God himself.

Feast Day The real Santa, I’m sure, would turn in his grave if he knew he is now the centre of attention at Christmas time. Santa – or better: St Nicholas – was a good Chris-tian who used to give presents to poor children, who then carried them home using their socks and shoes as carrier bags. In most countries, Santa comes on the Feast Day of St Nicholas, on De-cember 6, to put presents or sweets into children’s socks or shoes – usually during the night. I really don’t know how the Eng-lish-speaking Santa managed to sneak away from his Feast Day, and take over Christmas in such a way that he is now even known as “Father Christmas”. Santa, as we

all know, plays no part in the Christmas story at all, and nor do his reindeer, Mrs Santa or his cute little helpers. It’s time to put Baby Jesus back into the picture. One should really write to the Queen, I thought, or to the Pope, or the Archbishop of Canterbury to make them aware of this strange situation — but I came to the conclusion that this won’t change a thing. The best idea, I guess, is to make the shop owners aware of the fact that St Nicholas really comes on December 6. Once they figure out that they can double their income by marketing TWO days for giv-ing presents, it will be plain sail-ing: Christmas will be all about the birth of Christ, and the Feast Day of St Nicholas all about pre-sents in socks. Long live SANTA DAY!

Er… which baby was that again?

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Bettina 2 Nowhere to be seen: the birth of Baby Jesus.




I CALL IT my Simeon Mo-ment. It happened on a stair-case at a convent in Whitby, the Yorkshire resort where we St Mary’s pilgrims were assem-bling for our annual parish re-treat. A smiling young woman stood there, and someone told me: “This is Amanda, our new mem-ber.” Now you can accuse me of exag-geration, sensationalism even — all right, I am after all a retired tabloid journalist — but in that moment I had a tiny inkling of how the old man in the temple must have felt when he took the infant Jesus in his arms. Call it charisma, call it what you like. But somehow this woman radiated something absolutely special and I am convinced the Holy Spirit was at work. It was then 2003, and subsequent events

have made me realise that my breathtaking impression then was no fantasy. The newcomer was Amanda Duncan, who is now taking her first steps along the road to be-coming an Anglican priest. Her vocation has been recognised by the St Albans diocese, and she is busily studying towards a great turning point in what has so far been a many-faceted life: ordina-tion as a deacon in 2011, which

— if all goes well — will be fol-lowed by ‘priesting’ a year later.

A native of Spalding, Lincs, Amanda took a degree in educa-tion and went to teacher training college where she met her hus-band-to-be, John. They married in 1979 and were blessed with three children — David, Judith and James — over the next seven years. The family then emigrated to America, where John trained in pastoral skills in Minneapolis. After two years they crossed back over the Atlantic and settled for four years in Belfast, where John became an assistant minister in a charismatic church and gained a first-class honours de-gree in theology from Queen’s University, while Amanda was employed as an art therapist at the notorious Crumlin Road jail. Her mixed bag of ‘clients’ in-

cluded paramilitaries, murderers and sex offenders.

The Duncans eventually decided it was time to put down some roots, and East Barnet was their choice. The children went to school at Mill Hill County High and the family attended the Church of St Barnabas in Wood-side Park, Amanda and John also finding time to help a faltering church in Mill Hill to get back on its feet. It continues to flourish.. As if that was not enough, Amanda became secretary for the allotment holders in Cat Hill. And those roots flourished as the family got to know more and more local people. “Then I decided I’d like to walk to church,” says Amanda, so it was up the hill to St Mary’s. “And I soon got involved. First it was the retreat in Whitby, then the gospel study group with chil-dren and teenagers, and after a while Rector Richard (himself a newcomer) invited me to join the sacristan team, taking part in ser-vices. “Before this, at Richard’s inaugu-ration, I had picked up a leaflet which asked: ‘Do you think you could be called to the ordained ministry?’ “I really felt that God was speak-ing to me there and then, al-though I said to myself, over and over again in the following months, ‘Don’t be silly!’ But something told me to pray and keep things in my heart. “Some church members and even friends who were not Christians had already told me they thought I had a vocation, and one Sunday night after Evensong Richard said it too. I went all hot and cold! “I still continued wrestling with

Continued opposite

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Church Hill Herald December 2009— 11

Continued from page 10 God, counting the possible costs of making such a drastic career change. But soon I decided that I should imitate Mary, mother of Jesus, and be obedient to God’s call. It was hard, but I had to give up the struggle and say yes to God.”

And there began the next step in the earthly journey of Amanda Duncan, teacher, wife, mother (and grandmother to little Isaac and Tianna!) and ex-digger of cabbage patches. She continues in her present teaching job, giving home tuition to problem children, but at the same time has embarked on a three-year course which means lots and lots of home study, writing, spending evenings and weekends in college, and attending week-long summer schools. Make no mistake about it, that’s just for starters. The road to priesthood is a bumpy and tiring one, admittedly with plenty of help but also with more than one encounter with devils’ advocates along the way. John, meanwhile, runs the Cornerstone Christian bookshop in Finchley and is add-ing another string to his impressive bow by studying to become a psychotherapist. Back to that afternoon in Whitby and my ‘Simeon Moment’. I didn’t say anything then, but on a subsequent retreat I took Amanda on one side and told her: “You’d make a great vicar!” I have enough faith to believe that nobody will ever be able to tell me I was wrong.

Interview and picture by MIKE PEARCE

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A cheery smile and wave from Amanda as she arrives for duty at

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I’M GRATEFUL to St Mary’s member Veronica Weller for passing on to me this prayer she picked up in Christchurch Ca-thedral when visiting family in New Zealand.

God of many names Lover of all peoples

We pray for peace in our nations and our world.

We pray for all who have the awesome responsibility of power

and decision-making. We pray for the innocent victims

of violence and war. Lead us and all the peoples of the

world from death to life, from falsehood to truth.

Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust.

Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace.

Let peace with justice fill our hearts, our world, our universe.

That is now my daily prayer for next year, and I commend it to you all.

WELCOME to our new col-league Joey O’Reilly, former holder of a prestigious national ‘Columnist of the Year’ title. Joey, whose ancestors hailed from the Emerald Isle (how did you guess!) lives in East Barnet and is occasionally (!) to be found prop-ping up the bar in the Prince of Wales. He’s also a regular wor-shipper at our Sunday morning services, so I can introduce him if you wish. Joey has compiled a Christmas quiz, which appears on page 14, and his first current events column is on page 18. Happy Christmas, everybody!

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My prayer for 2010

As I See It

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WHILE both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer, males drop theirs at the beginning of winter. Females retain theirs until after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl. We should have known... ONLY women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost! What do you sing at a snowman’s birthday party? Freeze a jolly good fellow!

What goes ho-ho whoosh, ho-ho whoosh? Santa caught in a revolving door! What goes “oh, oh, oh”? Santa walking backwards! Knock knock! Who’s there? Snow. Snow who? Snow use – I’ve forgotten my name again! Three Wise Women (as opposed to Three Wise Men) Do you know what would have happened if there had been Three Wise WOMEN instead of Three Wise MEN? The WOMEN would have:

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BARNET FUCHSIA/ PELARGONIUM

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Yule laugh at this — we hope!




Which A was the Caesar who ordered a census to be taken shortly before the birth of Jesus? Which B was the town where Jesus was born? These Cs look like little angels! This D was the second king of Israel and an ancestor of Jesus. Which E was the country to which the Holy Family fled? Over which Fs were the shepherds keeping watch by night? ‘God rest you, merry G’ , we sing in a carol. Which H was the Tetrarch who had the Holy Innocents slaughtered? What I is another word for the birth of Christ? Which J was a companion of Moses whose name has the same

meaning as Jesus (the Lord Saves)? Which K is something you might do under the mistletoe? Which Ls were eaten with honey by John the Baptist? Which M was one of the gifts the Wise Men brought to Jesus? Which N is the saint after whom Santa Claus is named? Which O was a quality shown by Mary when she accepted the Angel Gabriel’s announcement?

My love sent me this P (left) on the first day of Christmas.

Lady Day, Midsummer Day, Michaelmas and Christmas are all Q days. The ‘R of Jesse’ is a title used by Isaiah to describe the Messiah. This S was on old man who welcomed the infant Jesus into the temple in Jerusalem. This T is eaten at our traditional Christmas dinner. “U— us a child is born”. This V is an airline named one of the many titles accorded to Mary the Mother of Jesus. This W is what you would be doing in a Winter Wonderland. This X means fasting, which some Christians used to do on Christmas Eve as well as in Lent. This Y is a type of log sometimes seen burning in the grate at Christmas. Which Z was the father of John the Baptist?

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An A to Z Christmas quiz By JOEY O’REILLY (answers p18)



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Crossword Compiled by Anne Williams Across

1. Three of them enjoyed porridge... (5) 4. ... and the unicorn? (4) 8. School test, school work and a fruit. (7) 9. Arctic area - where one hears a fierce animal? (5) 10. Negative and insane traveller. (5) 11. Biblical ruler (NT). (7) 13. Again, directions to middle of fruit. (6) 15. Paradise in a book? (6) 17. Tie chicken - will swim in the river. (7) 20. Crazy like Morse. (5) 22. Island in Argentina, Uruguay, etc. (5) 23. Controversial European man. (7)

24. Creature who uses wax? (4) 25. In byres I take exam again. (5)

Down 1. Animal is in good French ... (5) 2. ... seasonal flower. (6,6) 3. Quiet! Communist is under half of loud tremor. (7) 4. S. American animal heard in Tibet. (5) 5. Much warmer, remove head and live by the water. (5) 6. Beast makes ham, soup pot and most of pie. (12) 7. Girl has a laugh in the desert. (6) 12. Beast back down in the dungeon. (3)

13. Fur from germ in Egypt. (7) 14. You said you are a sheep. (3) 16. Tipsy little fish. (7) 18. E.g. For lords or

commons. (5) 19. Pale with start of nerves in the Himalayas (5) 21. Unknown German eight afloat. (5)

1009

Solution on page 18





’Twas the morning of Christmas, when all through the house, all the family was frantic, including my spouse; For each one of them had one thing only in mind, To examine the presents Santa Claus left behind.

The boxes and wrapping and ribbons and toys Were strewn on the floor, and the volume of noise Increased as our children began a big fight Over who got the video games, who got the bike.

I looked at my watch and I said, slightly nervous, “Let's get ready for church, so we won't miss the service.” The children protested, “We don't want to pray: We've just got our presents, and we want to play!”

It dawned on me then that we had gone astray, In confusing the purpose of this special day; Our presents were many and very

high-priced But something was missing — that something was Christ! I said, “Put the gifts down and let's gather together, and I'll tell you a tale of the greatest gift ever.

“A saviour was promised when Adam first sinned, And the hopes of the world upon Jesus were pinned. Abraham begat Isaac, whom Jacob begat, And through David the line went to Joseph, whereat This carpenter married a maiden with child, who yet was a virgin, in no way defiled.

“Saying ‘Hail, full of grace,’ an archangel appeared To Mary the Blessed, among women revered: The Lord willed she would bear — through the Spirit — a son. Said Mary to Gabriel, ‘God's will be done.’

“Now Caesar commanded a tax would be paid, And all would go home while the census was made;

Thus Joseph and Mary did leave Galilee For the city of David to pay this new fee.

“Mary's time had arrived, but the inn had no room, So she laid in a manger the fruit of her womb; And both Joseph and Mary admired as he napped The Light of the World in his swaddling clothes wrapped.

“Three wise men from the east had come looking for news of the birth of the Saviour, the King of the Jews; They carried great gifts as they followed a star — gold, frankincense, myrrh, which they'd brought from afar.

“As the shepherds watched over their flocks on that night, The glory of God shone upon them quite bright, And an angel explained the intent of the birth, Saying, ‘Glory to God and His peace to the earth.’

“For this was the Messiah whom prophets foretold, A good shepherd to bring his sheep back to the fold; He was God become man, He would die on the cross, He would rise from the dead to restore Adam's loss.

“Santa Claus, Christmas presents, a brightly lit pine, Candy canes and spiked eggnog are all very fine; Let's have fun celebrating, but leave not a doubt That Christ is what Christmas is really about!”

The children right then put an end to the noise, They dressed quickly for church, put away all their toys; For they knew Jesus loved them and said they were glad That he'd died for their sins, and to save their dear Dad.

©1986 F.R. Duplantier

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East Barnet Parish Residents Association (incorporating Friends of Oak Hill Park) Web: eastbarnet.org e-mail: [email protected] Phone: 020 8441 8096

We invite all residents to join our association. We continually monitor planning applications and have successfully rejected mobile phone masts, unsuitable housing developments, and a floodlit golf driving range in the park. We have helped keep post offices open, and encouraged better law and order, better recreation facilities… The more members we have the more important we can be. Membership is only £2 per year per household, and includes four newsletters a year and full access to the website. 0610


Snapshots from Great Yarmouth ’09

The organist entertains...

Just what did he say to deserve a right hook?

Sands of time are running out for this batsman.,..

Never too young for sax!

More than sixty revellers from St Mary’s and Brookside Methodist churches enjoyed a hectic seaside weekend together in October.

Broadly speaking, is he undertaking a

new career in show business?

A great knit! The cleric cuddles a woolly clone.

It’s not unusual to let rip — just like that Jones Boy.

A very merry-go-round.

Hands up Bill, let’s dance! Sing up kids — Sunday School

was never like this!




51 Church Hill Road, East Barnet, EN4 8SY

Tel: 020 8441 7711

Fax: 020 8447 1242 email:[email protected]

www.janethorne.com LETTINGS, MANAGEMENT, SALES

1209

1109

JOEY’S JOTTINGS… a look at current events

From the parish registers Baptisms: Oct 18, Dominic & Daniel Hughes. Oct 25, Orla Goodey, Heidi Bowden, Jasmine Bowden, Lauren Daly, Ewan Betts, Georgia Betts.

Funerals: Robert West, Basil Tew

Bridal Hair Hair Extensions

Quiz answers Augustus, Bethlehem, Cherubim, David, Egypt, Flocks, Gentlemen, Herod, Incarnation, Joshua, Kiss, Locusts, Myrrh, Nicholas, Obedience, Partridge, Quarter, Root, Simeon, Turkey, Unto, Virgin, Walking, Xerophagy, Yule, Zechariah. If you scored 25 out of 26, that’s excellent — nobody was eXpected to get the X word!

To advertise in the Church Hill Herald please contact Anna Baines-Holmes on 8441 6438 ([email protected])

EVERYBODY’S talking about the cam-paign involving the village war memorial, but how did it start? Well, one Thursday morning Mrs Catherine Loveday’s daughter Julie brought her gor-geous baby Kiera to Toddler Praise. Julie saw our window of Remembrance and told us: “My grandad’s on there, and my mum’s been trying for years to have all the names inscribed on the memorial in the village.” Step in the Church Hill Herald team, who spoke to Catherine and alerted the Barnet Press and East Barnet Royal British Legion. A meeting followed, the fund was set up, and the rest, as they say, is history. Recent history, that is. The target of £2,000 was on being reached as we went to press this month, and now we wait for the stonema-sons to give us a date for the work to start. The power of the press! Just shows you, it’s not all politics, sex and violence. Only most of it… IT’S A BIG thank-you to Mrs and Mrs Shah of the village newsagents for allowing their shop to be used as a collection point for the memorial fund. This popular couple are val-ued members of our community, always ready to help. ON HEARING the news that The Drum — formerly The King’s Head — is set to be-come a vet’s surgery, some former regulars who were hoping the former village hos-telry might re-open as a pub were said to be as sick as a parrot. THERE’S a handy new village parlour where local ladies can get their fingernails done. I wish its owners every success — after all, they’re starting from scratch! Happy Christmas, everyone!

JOEY O’REILLY

WHEN the parcel was stolen, one of them stood behind the counter to fill up his glass of whisky. Another brother was read-ing the paper, while the third one held a little nap. The fourth one stole Mary’s present. John, Tom and Dick can't read because they didn't go to school. Therefore it must have been Harry who read the paper. Ma Crook talked with John, Dick and Harry through the open door. Therefore it must have been Tom who was asleep. Tom and Harry don't drink alcohol. Either John or Dick must have been the one at the bar filling up his glass with whisky. John drank mulled wine throughout the evening. So Dick is the whisky drinker Solution: John is the thief.

Whodunnit: did you geddit?

Across: 1 Bears. 4 Lion. 8 Satsuma. 9 Taiga. 10 Nomad. 11 Agrippa. 13 Encore. 15 Utopia. 17 Moorhen. 20 Dotty. 22 Nauru. 23 Polemic. 24 Seal. 25 Resit. Down: 1 Bison. 2 Autumn crocus. 3 Shudder. 4 Llama. 5 Otter. 6 Hippopotamus. 7 Sahara. 12 Gnu. 13 Ermine. 14 Ewe. 16 Tiddler. 18 House. 19 Nepal. 21 Yacht.

Crossword solution



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Advent, Christmas and New Year Sunday December 6 ADVENT 2 10am Messy Mass 6.30pm Evensong Saturday December 12 8pm An Evening of Music for Advent, sung by Floreat Cantus (Eton Choral Scholars) Sunday December 13 ADVENT3 10am Sung Eucharist 7pm broken/ (alternative worship) Saturday December 19 4.30pm Christingle Service Sunday December 20 ADVENT 4 10am Sung Eucharist 6.30pm Service of Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight followed by mulled wine Thursday December 24 CHRISTMAS EVE 10am Said Eucharist in Alban Chapel 4pm Children’s Nativity Service 11.30pm Midnight Mass Friday December 25 CHRISTMAS DAY 10am Sung Eucharist

Sunday December 27 JOHN THE APOSTLE 10am Sung Eucharist (no evening service) Sunday January 3 EPIPHANY 8am Holy Communion 10am Sung Eucharist with Incense 6.30pm Evensong Sunday January 10 BAPTISM OF CHRIST 10am Covenant Service at St Mary's 7pm broken/ (alternative worship) Sunday January 17 EPIPHANY 2 Christian Unity 10am Healing Eucharist 6.30pm Christian Unity Service Sunday January 24 EPIPHANY 3 10am Sung Eucharist 6.30pm Evensong Sunday January 31 CANDLEMAS 10am Sung Mattins 6pm Torchlit Procession from Brookside 6.30pm Sung Eucharist at St Mary's

CHRISTMAS carols with a difference: don’t miss our

enjoyable sing-along evenings on Dec 11 and 21

in the Prince of Wales!

BRITISH RED CROSS H o m e f r o m H o s p i t a l

S e r v i c e Leaving hospital can be an anxious time. Could you help someone as they recover from a stay in hospi-tal? Join our friendly team of vol-unteers in Barnet and help vulner-able people to regain confidence and remain independent. For further information please call: Anne or Sue on: 020 8216 5040 Email: [email protected] We are committed to welcoming people from the widest possible di-

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RECTOR (PARISH PRIEST) The Revd Richard Watson The Rectory, 136 Church Hill Road, EN4 8XD Tel: 8368 3840 [email protected] or [email protected] ASSISTANT CURATE The Revd Becky Leach Tel: 07806 530656 [email protected] READER (LAY MINISTER) Mr Martin Horton, 38 West Walk, EN4 8NU Tel: 8368 6341 [email protected]

ASSOCIATE MINISTER (Methodist) The Revd Colin Smith 18 Granville Road, Barnet EN5 4DU Tel: 8449 8386 [email protected] PARISH CO-ORDINATOR: Mrs Anne Kruse Parish Office/Church Hall, 54 Church Hill Road, EN4 8TA. Mon-Fri 10am-noon Tel: 8361 7524 [email protected] CHURCHWARDENS: Mrs Hilary Middleton 8440 7506. Mr Peter Weller 8449 4884. DIRECTOR OF MUSIC: Mr Andrew Earwaker, . Tel: 8591 8212 Mobile: 07518 277 056 [email protected]

Church Hill Herald

Editors Mike Pearce 8361 5823 [email protected] Bettina von Cossel 8440 7299 [email protected] Advertising Manager Anna Baines-Holmes 8441 6438 [email protected] Advertisement rates available

on request.

Please note: Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of East Barnet Parish Church.

Advertisements are accepted in good faith, but St Mary’s

Church is not responsible for their content and cannot be

involved in any dispute arising from them.

BARNET AND DISTRICT CANCERLINK

(Registered Charity No: 1015061) Information and Emotional Support

for people with cancer and their relatives.

Meetings: Mary Immaculate and St. Gregory The Great, 82 Union Street, Barnet. Every Wednesday 1.30-4pm.

Therapies available include: Healing, Reflexology, Manicure,

Physiotherapy Contact: Jean 8449 7l16 or Geoff 8440 2867 0110

At your service... Baptisms and weddings may be booked on Saturdays at the parish office between 11 and 11.30am.

ALAN K. JACKSON

Chartered Accountant

63 Church Hill Road East Barnet EN4 8SY

Tel: 020 8441 5564

Fax: 020 8441 3694 1009


inside info jesus is the reason for the season · 2009. 12. 7. · laurel house, 12 woodside lane,...

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