“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
February Diary-2020. Sunday 2nd February –CANDLEMAS-Presentation of Jesus in the Temple- 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Sunday 9th February-3rd before Lent-Septuagesima-11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Sunday 16th February-2nd before Lent-Sexagesima-11am Sung Eucharist (CW) with incense.Sunday 23rd February- Last before Lent-Quinquagesima-Transfiguration Sunday-11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Monthly sales table.Wednesday 26th February-ASH WEDNESDAY.Friday 28th February- LENT MASS-10.30am. Sunday 1st March-1st Sunday in Lent-11am Sung Eucharist (BCP).Wednesdays 10am-Holy Communion-Bungay Holy Trinity (CW).
