November is here again. This year seems to be racing out of control to the end of 2024!What does November mean to you? Bonfire night, autumn leaves, cosy evenings round the fire, and Remembrance Day?It is so important to remember important events which shape history - and what could be more important than two World Wars? By remembering, we learn from the past and make better efforts to live in a better way. Remembrance Day was an attempt by the generation who had come through World War 1, not only to honour and remember their loved ones who had perished, but also to remember the horrors of war, to avoid future wars. Unfortunately, this was unsuccessful, but still that silence at 11-00am on 11th November does give us space to remember our departed and to pray for world peace.In Genesis, there is a story about a world so evil that God decided to destroy it with a flood. However, he saved two of every animal and one family: that of Noah. After they were saved, God sent a rainbow so that humanity could remember God’s mercy and his promise never to give up on humanity – “Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” (Genesis 9:16) Today the rainbow is still seen as a symbol of hope for a better future. So yes, on November 11th we will remember all who have so bravely died in service of us all, we will pray for peace. But if you despair of ever seeing peace, if the world seems to be heading for total disaster, remember the rainbow. God has not given up on us, so we must not give up either and remember, God is always there for us, no matter how bad things are and how bad we feel.And remember - it will soon be Christmas!!Blessings to all, Vivienne
This means that our ten churches continue with just one vicar, Rev'd Vivienne Starkie, one reader, Andy Cooper, and invaluable support from retired clergy, Methodist Circuit Ministers, our church wardens and lay officers.Please pray for them, that they receive the support necessary to carry what can be a very heavy burden.Thank you.
CHEF Christmas Party 2024 For information about the annual CHEF Christmas Party in Hixon please see the reply slip on the back cover of this month’s Compass. Please note that booking terms and conditions are on the reverse of the reply slip, i.e. on the inside back cover.Thanks.
Last month Dr Charlotte Ball spoke about animal symbolism in the ‘Staffordshire Hoard’The Hoard was discovered buried in a recently ploughed field in Hammerwich with over 4000 items of gold, silver and precious gemstones valued at £3.3m. It is the largest hoard ever found in England.This dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period around 650 AD, a time when the Kingdom of Mercia was consolidating its power in central England, with continuous battles against the Kingdom of Wessex and the Christian Kingdom of Northumbria, whilst Mercia was still pagan. War was a part of life with many noblemen killed in battle. The King of Mercia, Penda, was defeated and killed in battle in AD 655. The thousands of small pieces of gold and other precious materials were evidently dismantled from larger objects by skilled craftsmen. Many of the pieces are decorated with images of horses and fish. It is thought that the horse represents strength and power, especially on the battlefield, and the fish probably Christianity. Other decorations include eagles, ravens, wolves and bears, which are taken to represent ‘beasts of battle’. The larger objects or 'parent objects' were nearly all military objects, such as swords and helmets. These facts might suggest that the Hoard consists of gold and other decorative items taken from a fallen army's weapons and armour in the aftermath of battle. One piece taken from a sword pommel was 4 serpents formed into the shape of a cross, and the eyebrows and nose piece from a helmet (from Sutton Hoo) represents a winged dragon.We do not know why the Hoard was buried; It may have been buried to keep it safe from invading armies. Similarly, another famous Anglo-Saxon site located in Suffolk, in the kingdom of East Anglia, was the ‘Sutton Hoo’ ship, and it too was buried around the time of King Penda's death. Alternatively, the Hoard may have been stolen and hidden or may have been a ‘ritual burial’. At our next meeting on October 1st the Hixon History Society will be investigating The History of the Staffordshire oatcake - led by Steve Booth. All welcome. John Egginton
