Still on Planet Paxton

Hi Paxtonvic readers

Thanks for the kind enquiries that some of you have made as to my whereabouts….. thankfully Im still here and havent done anything  on impulse  like joining  the Ordinariate or gone into a months silent retreat.

Just been so busy with the regular and wonderful work of being a Vicar – havent even had time to sell anything on e-bay like the  odd church or cathedral.

Also been doing a lot of Rural Dean work and although it felt like a bit of a pain before starting, I have enjoyed putting together a portfolio ( or  a set of briefing papers) about our Deanery for our new Bishop.  It was good to collect in all the parish profiles for our St Neots Deanery and their latest Mission Action Plan updates – which might sound very dry – but they show just how many good things are happening in the Church of England in the St Neots area.’ Tis certainly not asleep and despondent – though as always there are some worries about funding the parish share or fabric repairs and sometimes concern over how many hours clergy are working.

Been engaged in several funerals as well and that is something I find so very rewarding. Plenty of baptism as well and weddings are fast approaching….but for now I think I can actually stop for the rest of the evening.

Decided not to watch the next episode of The Tudors on BBC TV tonight – one of King Henry’s Queen  Catherines is about to lose her head and what with his poor leg playing up and rumblings at court about his ( 5th? ) wife, its gonna be a bit disturbing.

I shall stick to reading a nice book about compassion that someone has brought round for me to read.

Tomorrow Im going to talk about Candlemas: here’s poem that I think Ive posted before – I love it:

Lighting a candle

Lord,

may this candle be a light for you to enlighten me

in my difficulties and decisions.

May it be a fire for you to burn out of me all selfishness and sin.

My it be a flame for you to bring warmth into my heart

towards my family, neighbours and all who meet me.

I place in your care those I come now to remember, especially …..

I cannot stay long here with you:

in leaving this candle I wish to give you something of myself.

Hlep me to continue  my prayer

into everything I do this day.

Amen.

A real emotional set back ( only for those who are Archers nuts)

Oh dear… I was just begining to come to terms with the grievous loss of Nigel Pargeter in    The Archers   a week ago ( such a black sunday I shall never forget) – when a friend gave me a present. Some friend, I say! And how insensitive!

Look below….

It has written in heartless letters ” Fallen Archers” reminding us of past dear lost loved ones from Ambridge- but fallen archers – oh dear, thats just what happened to poor Nigel as he tried to remove a banner from the top of his roof at Lower Loxley. True, this chic little mug is several years old I expect – but surely it was prophetic???

I couldnt bear to drink my ginseng and ginger tea out of it – it would forever remind me of Nigel’s strange plummy voice and endearing ways.

I wonder if his brother-in-law David Archer would like it – after all, he should have got Nigel down from that roof before he came to grief.

Now, someone is going to tell me that The Archers arent real – go on, I dare you!

Least I have comfort this evening – Lark Rise to Candleford is back on BBC 1 for a new series of 6 episodes – it  seriously it is my one weakness. And no one ever comes to much harm on Lark Rise, save the odd telegram and Very Old Person. Im sure no-one will be falling off a roof….

But before that, gotta go and take Holy Communion in a very old church on a very cold night……

Late night jubilation

Well, for cricket fans in this country, it was a late night listening to the radio or watching on TV as England beat Australia in the fifth test and  won the ashes in grand style.

Trouble is, after all of the excitement, I couldnt get to sleep so it was a bit of a lie in this morning…. well, it is my day off.

The Desiderata

Its definately back to normal routine time now – which I much prefer really to the ” holiday” period of Christmas and New Year which isnt really holiday for a lot of ministers.

I will taking a funeral today and the family have asked for the ” Desiderata” to be read out- different to the usual 1 Corinthians 13 or Canon Henery Hollands  “Death is Nothing at All” – which some clergy seem to loathe at funerals.

I will include the words of the Desiderata here as they are worth reading carefully and thinking about. Its not obvertly Christian, but has some wise words which I could certainly benefit from:

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

 

From Wikipedia:

Desiderata (Latin: “desired things”, plural of desideratum) is a 1927 prose poem by American writer Max Ehrmann (1872-1945).

Triumph in the study!( with spellings corrected)

Dont suppose anyone will be too excited about this, but I have finished writing up all the St Neots Deanery inspection reports – a task which has been cooking away slowly since last June. It feels mighty good. I and our Deanery Lay Chair Janet visited all the St Neots Deanery churches last year and its taken me a while to find time to write up our findings.

What strikes me is all the  mostly voluntary  hours which people give to  looking after their church buildings, raising money, looking after people and generally living out the good news which Jesus came to bring  – what an incredible organisation the world wide  church is. It is easily slammed in the press and rarely praised – but doing the inspections makes me appreciate and realise just how much these unsung heroes do. Certainly in our Deanery of St Neots the buildings are in good repair – many now have or hope to get new facilities and many are getting on top of urgent fabric repairs.

One thing I cant quantify in the reports is the kindness and support which church folk give to one another and the wider community – nor the number of social events which are put on which bring people together. Think of the lovely churchyards that churches are custodians of and how many tourists and visitors enjoy coming to see these  medieval buildings.

The inspections need to be carried out every five years – so in 2015/16 someone will be doing them again. Ive no idea if it will be me and Janet!

If you live in the area and havent visited all these gems, why not take some time out to do so?

Here they are – Ive put them in colour groups – each group comes under the care of  the named priest.

St Marys, Gamlingay

St Marys, Everton

Hatley St George

( Rev Steve Rothwell)

St Marys, Eynesbury

( Rev Terry McCabe)

St Marys St Neots

( Rev Dr Paul Andrews)

St Andrews, Great Staughton

St Leonard Southoe

St Nicolas Hail Weston

( Rev Judi Clarke)

St James Little Paxton

Holy Trinity Great Paxton

St Laurence Diddington

( Rev Annette Reed)

St Margaret Abbotsley

St James Waresley

St Bartholomew Great Gransden

St Peter and St Paul – Little Gransden

( Rev Catharine Furlong)

St Marys Buckden

All Saints Offord Cluny

( Rev Ally Barrett)

 

St Marys St Neots