I wonder how many of you were interested in the poll for the best ever Christmas movie (won by the 1946 film ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’); well in 5th place was that 2003 rom-com ’Love Actually’. Even though I watched a few films over the Christmas period I didn’t see it listed on TV this year!! We did watch ‘Notting Hill’ again but I digress. It may seem odd to be harking back to December but, as has been said before, Christmas builds up for months prior to the day, then disappears almost entirely 2 days after, yet we are still in the ‘Christmas’ period until Candlemas - 2nd Feb. Shops and supermarkets keep us looking forward to the next big event/s (with Easter eggs already on display); and tucked away among the cards we glimpse images of hearts and flowers as Valentine’s Day looms large on the horizon. Yes, it’s time to start planning the perfect surprise for that special person in your life…. only we are in lock down again! Anyway, it got me thinking about Valentine; who was he, and why do we associate him with love – and a love that is sometimes shrouded in secrecy?Well, it appears there were 3 potential candidates for the honour and it wasn’t until the 3rd century that St. Valentine’s Day was declared in memory of a priest of Rome who was martyred. Legend suggests it all stems back to the time of Emperor Claudius, during the period when Christians were being persecuted, and who made a decree forbidding soldiers to marry – his logic being that married men would not fight so well if they were thinking about their wives! Valentine felt this was unjust so he defied the emperor and conducted marriages for young couples in secret. Eventually he was found out, imprisoned and sentenced to death. Legend also says that during his imprisonment he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter, and before his execution he wrote her a letter signed “From Your Valentine”. Probably, though, the most plausible story surrounding St Valentine is one not focused on eros (passionate love) but on agape (love of God): he was martyred for refusing to renounce his religion.We certainly are living in somewhat dark days, both metaphorically and physically; and love can sometimes seem to be in short supply as we find ourselves limited to what we can do and those who we cannot meet. It was into such times of turmoil that God’s amazing love was revealed in human form in the birth of Jesus, and 40 days later when the baby Jesus was presented in the temple that Simeon declared that “his eyes had seen God’s salvation, a light to enlighten all people.” Then, as now, people felt lost and lonely with no-one to help them; and Jesus still comes with a message of help and comfort, a guiding light to all in darkness. Thankfully, that message is still heard today and is responded to through acts of kindness and concern. As we anticipate Valentine’s Day and continue our Thursday evening applause for heroes, we are reminded that ‘God’s Love, actually, is all around.’John
Dear all,<div>Today I am writing this Stuff as a genuine 4D, present time, multisensory experience. I have a cup of honey and ginger tea in my 'Tea's a Saviour' mug, which also has a 3D image of Jesus on it. Jesus actually looks as if he might have been from Palestine rather than the blue-eyed, Aryan versions popular in 20th century Hollywood films. He is a touch orange, however, but as far as I know hasn't been asked to go on Strictly Come Dancing.</div><div>I am also listening to the first of 3 Bob Dylan CDs that my oldest brother kindly sent me a few months ago. I was asking him about Bob's 'Christian Phase' and if there was anything appropriate for me to play in church services. I have been trying to introduce some different styles of music to broaden what we listen to in church and discourage people from singing. Those who were at Christchurch, Tean on 27th December for the annual Uttoxeter Area tradition of a finding an excuse to miss church, were treated to Bob's version of 'O Little Town of Bethlehem', which is the only listenable track on his otherwise appalling 2009 'Christmas in the Heart' album.</div><div>The first song on Bob's 'Shot of Love' 1981 album is ..... 'Shot of Love', and starts with the lines,</div><div><div>Don't need a shot of heroin</div><div>To kill my disease</div><div>Don't need a shot of turpentine</div><div>Only bring me to my knees</div><div>Don't need a shot of codeine</div><div>To help me to repent</div><div>Don't need a shot of whiskey</div><div>Help me be president </div><div></div><div>How I integrate that with 'Shine Jesus Shine' might be a bit of a problem for me. However, as my oldest brother also told me once (with tone and style at its wryest), "there is no such thing as a problem, only a solution opportunity".</div><div></div><div>As I write I'm really rather enjoying Bob's album. It's a mix of folk, gospel and bluegrass, and I can actually hear his lyrics, which is a plus, as on the two occasions that I have seen Bob live it has just been an electric mash of incoherent noise. Another couple of lines I have heard are,</div><div></div><div><div>'Never robbed any churches nor cut off any babies' heads,</div><div>He just took the folks in high places and he shined a light in their face.' </div><div></div><div>which I'm guessing partly refers to Herod's slaughter of the under two's in Bethlehem after Joseph and his family and fled to Egypt.</div><div></div><div>I've enjoyed listening to other types of Christian music over the last few months. It's been one of the pluses of COVID restrictions. I have a bluegrass gospel collection to catch up with, which I was hoping to use at church this week but that will now have to wait. I think that the problem with some church music is that a) it's a bit cheesy, and b) it's a bit formulaic. There are many exceptions of course and much great church music. There is also background to some of the hymns we play that we are unaware of, such 'It is well with my soul', where both the writer of the music and the words met with great tragedy, and Horatio's Spafford's experiences are reflected in the lyrics.</div><div></div><div>That is why I am keen to listen to music by Christians which is not necessarily standard church music. Bob Dylan's songs no doubt reflect his experiences of fame, fortune, sadness and social dissent, as well as his faith experience. Some of the images used might challenge our starched expectations from the hymnal, but they also reflect what seemed to be deeply felt experiences,</div><div></div><div><div>'you were closer to me than my next of kin</div><div>When they didn't want to know or see'</div></div><div></div><div>and dramatic changes in approach. Compare Bob's 1960s protest songs to this lyric from 'Trouble',</div><div></div><div>'Revolution even ain't no solution for trouble.' </div><div></div><div>Strangely enough, the song from 'Shot of Love' that immediately struck me as the most likely one to acceptably play in church is probably the cheesiest, but most beautiful. 'Every Grain of Sand' is a gentle song that talks of Bob at his lowest but also where God was close to him. Here is the final verse,</div><div></div><div><div>I hear the ancient footsteps like the motion of the sea</div><div>Sometimes I turn, there's someone there, other times it's only me.</div><div>I am hanging in the balance of the reality of man</div><div>Like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand. </div><div></div><div>Pure gospel. Faith, doubt, hope.</div><div></div><div>Peace and prayers, Joe</div></div></div></div>
1 NovemberFather, we pray for all the parishes in the Uttoxeter Area of Parishes, from Tean to Marchington and Stramshall to Gratwich. We ask for wisdom, guidance, patience, insight, good humour, courage and a willingness to work together. Amen.8th NovemberWe give thanks for Annette Jinks and Noel Green, and Gill and Alan, who have contributed so much to our understanding of Tean in the two World Wars. Help us to learn to lessons from these and other wars, so we can resolve conflicts peacefully in our own lives and to campaign for peace wherever we can.15th NovemberFather, we give thanks for all the shops that make up our community, be it Tean Chippy and the Ru Yi takeaways, the Co-op, the hairdressers, the sandwich shop, the Post Office pharmacy, the bathroom emporium and whoever else. We give for the life and service they give to the village of Tean.22nd NovemberWe pray for the running of the church at Tean. We ask that you give a couple or three people a nudge to be Churchwarden's or Treasurer so that we can do the job well in your name. We give thanks for the team work at Tean over the years, which keeps it going and keeps the church alive in this place.29 NovemberWe pray for everyone in the community. For people who are isolated or isolating, for families struggling to keep going, for those who encourage people through phone calls and socially-distanced visits. Help us to serve the community of Tean better, and help all those in the Uttoxeter Area of Parishes to be true people of God in the months to come. Amen.
