“Now in the dark of February rains, Poor lovers of the sunshine, spring is born, The earthly fields are full of hidden corn, And March’s violets bud along the lanes.” (From “In February”, by George MacDonald, Scottish author and Christian minister, 1824-1905) Media vita in morte sumus (in the middle of life we are in death). One could become frightened and anxious by the events of the last year, and yet Mother Nature always manages to give us hope in the face of despair, life in the face of death, new growth from old, and light from darkness. As we emerge from winter into spring, we are indeed being offered hope, in the form of vaccines, and light in the lengthening of days. It has been a long and difficult ordeal for many, but there is an end in sight. Take a few moments each day to appreciate the beauty emerging all around us in our gardens and hedgerows, buds and shoots bursting out with absolute confidence in the seasonal cycles of life! Work has commenced in the churchyard, with Colin, Malcolm and Alan giving the yews a haircut before the birds begin nesting. Last year they were home to goldcrests, and the churchyard was a valuable refuge for all manner of creatures within its increasing diversity of wildflowers, thanks to the “wilding” project. Thanks to some major projects over the last few years, the church building is in good order. The “Quinquennial Report”, usually a source of anxiety to the PCC, and particularly to the Treasurer, proposed no urgent works of any size, but a few maintenance tasks on the pointing of the South Porch and a couple of loose tiles to be fixed on the Chancel roof. The latter has been done, and the porch will be looked at next. The most pressing issue for the PCC at the moment is to find a new incumbent for the Bungay Benefice; the post is being advertised again, with the hope of interviewing candidates once the present lock down is eased. Meanwhile, we are most grateful for the support of Rev’d Roy Wormald, Rev’d Jonathan Olanczuk and Rev’d Canon John Fellows, who have offered to support our services as long as we are allowed to continue. Father Malcolm Griffin has been advised to shield at the moment, and we wish him good health and a speedy vaccination! “The yew tree points up, it has a Gothic shape. The eyes lift after it and find the moon, The moon is my mother. She is not sweet like Mary. Her blue garments unloose bats and owls. How I would like to believe in tenderness…… The face of the effigy, gentled by candles, Bending, on me in particular, its mild eyes.” (From “The Moon and the Yew Tree” by Sylvia Plath, American poet and novelist, 1932-1963.”) “Hope springs eternal in the human breast Man never is, but always to be blest. The soul, uneasy, and confin’d from home, Rests and expatiates in a life to come.” (From “An Essay on Man” by Alexander Pope, English poet, 1688-1744) December collections totalled £1,363. Colin is delighted that our offerings for 2020 have been slightly higher than the previous year, due to your generosity. Food Bank donations numbered 143 in December. Please keep bringing your gifts; they are vital for many needy people during these difficult times. Sarah Jane has sent £100 to Water Aid. Many thanks to all who donated Christmas card money to this vital charity. Diana raised £271 with the raffles for the Christmas Cake, Hampers and Whisky. An excellent result, thanks to Jean who made the cake, all who provided items for the hampers, and those who bought tickets. Jon Randall won the cake, Robert Rawlinson and Alan Bartram the hampers and Chris Lambert the whisky. The Suffolk Historic Churches Trust has written to congratulate us for the splendid amount raised by the 2020 SHCT Ride and Stride. Surprisingly, total funds raised were £170,000 Suffolk-wide, plus £15,000 made by a motor rally. This far exceeds the amount for the previous year, despite some churches inevitably not taking part due to Covid. Triumph in the face of adversity! FORWARD PLANNING: Sadly the Lent Masses will not be going ahead because of the present lock down. However, for events later in the year: Bishop Norman Banks, Bishop of Richborough, and Bishop Mike Harrison, Bishop of Dunwich, will be attending Barsham for our Harvest Evensong and Harvest Supper on Sunday September19 this year. Bishop Norman will also lead our worship on Sunday 30 May, for Trinity Evensong. Jenny and Nick Caddick have agreed that we can hold our Summer Lunch at Shipmeadow Church this year, if the present Covid pandemic allows. The PCC will decide a date at their March meeting, when the forecast should be clearer. It will certainly be a joyous occasion when it does happen! Please note that the diary for February may change at any time due to Covid restrictions. He did not say: “You shall not be tempest-tossed, you shall not be work-weary, You shall not be discomforted”. But He said “You shall not be overcome”. (Julian of Norwich, English anchoress and writer. 1342-1416) Church correspondent: Cheryl Coutts 01502 714655/cherylcoutts468@btinternet.com
“Late lies the wintry sun a-bed, A frosty, fiery sleepy-head; Blinks but an hour or two, and then A blood-red orange, sets again.” (From “Winter-Time”, by Robert Louis Stevenson, Scottish novelist and poet, 1850-1894) A new year, a fresh start, and resolutions to make! God works in mysterious ways, and has certainly set us some challenges in the past twelve months. The most wonderful thing about our Barsham church community is the spirit with which we pull together as a team, and get things done. We have not only had a global pandemic to cope with, but also an interregnum, brought about by the retirement of Rev’d Ian Byrne. A sense of togetherness was maintained throughout the lock downs, and beyond, by the tireless work of our wonderful retired clergymen, who wrote weekly sermons, appeared in Deiniol’s youtube services and spent hours on the telephone, making sure we were all keeping our spirits up and maintaining faith in God during these hard times. Once again we owe them a huge THANK YOU. Many events have had to be cancelled, amongst them our thank-you lunch for Barsham’s ministry team, the summer lunch and the harvest supper. 2021’s events will all be scheduled soon, and we just hope to be able to enjoy them this time around. The PCC has worked incredibly hard during this time, not only maintaining and running the church, but organising the driveway renovation and preparing for the recruitment of a new incumbent. Countless meetings, on Zoom and face-to-face, have taken place; a resolution passed to ensure our traditional worship can continue; interviews have been held (no appointment made), and more advertising planned for the New Year. This has all had to take place in a safe environment; with risk assessments, social distancing and sanitising regimes observed. Thank you all, and also those who have joined the church sanitising team. Incredibly, we have also given generously to the Food Bank, raised money with produce sales and donated funds for the driveway project too! The church looks magnificent, with its smart newly re-surfaced driveway and user-friendly path. Inside, it has been enhanced by the beautiful Creation tapestries, the work of Bernadette and Sarah Jane, and the addition of an elegant brass thurible stand (Donated by Caroline Baron in memory of her father Patrick Baron). Father Malcolm and Margaret Griffin kindly gifted a new ciborium for the reserved sacrament, and Margaret made an exquisite veil of white and gold. These were blessed by Father Jonathan Olanczuk on Sunday 13 December. Grateful thanks; we will treasure them for years to come. Nony Ollerenshaw, who has been such a part of Barsham church for many years, has moved away to live closer to her family, in a care home. We wish her well, and will keep in touch. Nony would love to hear from you, and her address is available if you would like to write. “May joy and peace surround you, contentment latch your door. May happiness be with you now, and bless you evermore.” “Let me but live my life from year to year, With forward face and unreluctant soul; Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal; Not mourning for the things that disappear In the dim past, nor holding back in fear From what the future veils; but with a whole And happy heart, that pays its toll To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer.” (From “Life” by Henry van Dyke, American clergyman, educator and writer, 1852-1933) Food Bank donations numbered 203 in November. Thank you, Amy, for organising and transporting these. Sarah Jane has made £50 for church funds with her preserves. Many thanks. Chris Bardsley raised £140 with her gorgeous Christmas cards, bee wraps and Barsham honey (donated by David at Esmeralda Bees). A superb result! FORWARD PLANNING: Father Malcolm has kindly offered to hold his Lent Masses again in 2021. Bishop Norman Banks, Bishop of Richborough, and Bishop Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, are planning a joint visit to Barsham for our Harvest Evensong this year. “What are days for? Days are where we live. They come, they wake us Time and time over. They are to be happy in: Where can we live but days? (From “Days” by Philip Larkin, English poet, novelist and librarian 1922-1985) Church correspondent: Cheryl Coutts 01502 714655/cherylcoutts468@btinternet.com
Sadly all services and events are cancelled at Holy Trinity ,Barsham for the foreseeable future.Please contact one of the Church Wardens with any queries
O To be in England Now that April’s there, And whoever wakes in England Sees, some morning, unaware, That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf, While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough In England-now! (From “Home-Thoughts From Abroad”, Robert Browning, English poet and playwright, 1812-1889) Whilst not wishing time away, there is something of a relief felt when the last vestiges of winter have passed and Spring is in full flow. Nature has been gearing up for a month or more, preparing for this explosion of growth and new life.The churchyard has been a picture since the snowdrops flowered in January, succeeded by primroses, aconites, narcissi and daffodils in March. Now the trees are leafing and the bluebells emerging, along with frenetic activity amongst the insect world and the nesting birds. There is much to do and longer days to work with. Malcolm Bardsley is busy arranging the re-surfacing of the driveway, which is very welcome news! The churchyard will be allowed to flourish again this year, with paths cut to tended graves. It will be interesting to see the variety of wild flowers increasing as the vigour of grasses is diminished by the Yellow Rattle (planted as plugs last year) and the addition of “Bee Bombs”, scattered earlier this year.As Lent moves towards Easter, we thank Father Malcolm Griffin for his excellent series of Lent Masses, each one exploring the work of an English poet. These have been well attended and most informative. Rev’d Tony Norton will lead our Good Friday Devotions, combining with Father Malcolm’s final Lent Mass. On Easter Saturday the flower team, led by Diana, will decorate the church with lilies, in preparation for Easter Sunday’s celebration of the Resurrection. Please donate to the fund for lilies, perhaps in remembrance of a loved one no longer with you, or simply to enjoy their beauty and significance of purity, hope and life.Congratulations go to Nony Ollerenshaw on the celebration of her 100th birthday in March. Nony had a lovely get-together after church on the Sunday to mark the occasion with her friends at Barsham, as well as a big family party the night before. What energy! “You’ve gotta dance like there’s no one watching, love like you’ll never be hurt, Sing like there’s nobody listening, and live like it’s heaven on earth.” (William W Purkey, Emeritus Professor of Education, North Carolina, 1929-) Spring, and the first full crop of dandelions gone To smoke, the lawn lumpish with goldfinches, Hunched in their fluffs, fattened by seed, Alight in the wind-bared peduncular forest. (From “Earth Meditations, Robert Wrigley, American poet, 1951-)February collections amounted to £995. The February sales table raised £95, thanks to Cheryl. Barsham church has received thanks from Water Aid for a donation of £130 raised by the Christmas Card Tree, which was organised by Sarah Jane. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:Sunday 7 June: TRINITY EVENSONG- 6.30pm, followed by refreshments and nibbles.Wednesday 17 June 12.30pm – SUMMER LUNCH, Shipmeadow Church, by kind invitation of Nick and Jenny Caddick.Sunday 27 September: HARVEST EVENSONG- 5.30pm, followed by HARVEST SUPPER in the VILLAGE HALL at 7pm.Sunday 20 December: CAROL SERVICE – 3pm, followed by mince pies and mulled wine.(Editor notes an ongoing theme of food and drink!)Pat and Neville Smith have kindly invited us to enjoy their beautiful orchid meadows again this year, in early June. Details of date and time will be in next month’s newsletter.Finally, thank you for your patience and compliance with all the measures put in place to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. We are managing to be sensible, and to take precautions, without losing our feeling of community. Let us all pray for those who have succumbed to the virus, and the marvellous medical staff who care for those afflicted. “Not every issue is a problem…Not every worry is a concern. Not every closed door is a rejection and not every thwarted plan is a disaster… The important thing is not to waste a second of your precious given life Contemplating the things that you cannot change and that do not need to be changed.” (From “After the Party”, Lisa Jewell, British author, 1968-) Church correspondent: Cheryl Coutts 01502 714655/cherylcoutts468@btinternet.com
