Village Quiz

Village Quiz

With an east wind howling down Main Street, villagers scurried along to the warmth of the Village Hall to do battle once again at the Quiz & Chip Night. Quiz supremo Lois Jordan set the tone of questions that would sort the wheat from the chaff. Fortified with liquid refreshment from the bar, the contestants sorted themselves into their respective teams. It was immediately obvious that this would be a two way scrap with the remainder fighting for the minor places. Our host and question master John Deval laid down the rules and the quiz commenced.

After three rounds of brain exertion we reached the midway point, time for fish and chips which were duly served up piping hot and very enjoyable. After another three rounds of yes, no, yes, that’s not right, put anything down, its errr… the quiz concluded. Its amazing how much you think you know when the answer has just been read out.

Thanks to all concerned for an entertaining evening.

St Michael’s Church Services December 2011 and January 2012

December 2011

Sunday 4th December 6pm Advent Carol Service
Tuesday 6th December 8am Matins
Friday 9th December 12 noon Holy Communion (Ferrar House)
Saturday 10th December 4pm Christingle Service
Tuesday 13th December 8am Matins
Saturday 17th December 6pm Family Carol Service
Tuesday 20th December 8am Holy Communion
Saturday 24th December 11.30pm Midnight Communion
Tuesday 27th December 8am Matins

January 2012

Tuesday 3rd January 8am Matins
Tuesday 10th January 8am Matins
Friday 13th January 12 noon Holy Communion (Little Gidding Church)
Sunday 15th January 3pm Evensong
Tuesday 17th January 8am Holy Communion
Sunday 22nd January 11am Family Service
Sunday 29th January 3pm Evensong (Little Gidding Church)
Tuesday 31st January 8am Matins

News from the Churchwardens November 2011

Our Harvest Festival was a very enjoyable occasion, as was the Harvest Supper which followed, at the Fox and Hounds. Chris Hill produced a first class meal, and everyone went away feeling very satisfied! The church looked really beautiful, thanks to the efforts of Sue Jarvis and Barbara Floyd and smelt wonderfully of autumn fruits.

On Sunday 9th October we held a coffee morning at Churchside House in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. We raised £115 which will be sent off to the charity. A most enjoyable morning – thank you to those who supported the event.

We have at last secured a faculty for the PA system and the children’s room in the church, and hope that work can begin before too long.

Churchyard trees
During the summer we had to make the decision to remove the horse chestnut tree at the entrance to the churchyard. Two heavy branches had fallen close to the school and the Huntingdon DC tree adviser
informed us that it was diseased and would have to be felled on grounds of health and safety. We have also had a fallen tree at Little Gidding, and are again in contact with Huntingdon DC to see what further action we need to take. At Steeple Gidding we are very grateful to Mr Brian Scotney who has done a great deal of clearing up in the churchyard there.

Paul Freestone
We extend our very sincere sympathy to Sue, Frederik and Freya Freestone on the sad loss of Paul.

Service dates
There will be a service on Sunday 30th October, the nearest Sunday to All Souls Day, at 3pm, when we shall remember all our loved ones who have died. Mary Jepp asks that we give her any names we would like read out in the service. (To contact Mary, tel: 01480 890284 or email: m.jepp@btinternet.com)

On Sunday 13th November at 5pm, we shall be holding a Remembrance Service which this year will be led by the Sawtry branch of the British Legion. This will be our first Remembrance Sunday service without our dear, much missed, Shep leading the worship.

Home Communions will be held on Tuesday 15th November.

Advance notice
The Advent Carol service on Sunday 4th December and the Christmas Carol service on Saturday 17th December, will both be at 6pm.

Message from the Parish Priest

I am sure you have all heard the expression ‘the past is all around us’, and I am sure that we would all acknowledge the truth of these words, living where we do. Ancient churches, homes, bridleways and footpaths all speak of times long past, and then there are the remains of the many airfields which dot our countryside and speak of our more recent history, which remind us of places far away, of wars fought.

These days we are reminded almost daily that armed conflicts still continue, despite the efforts of those who govern this world. Although many I have spoken to, especially individuals who survived the Second World War, will say that it is a terrible waste of life, there seems to be no end to humankind’s foolishness; our young continue to lose their lives on foreign battlefields. The lessons that many believed were learnt at the end of the first war and were repeated over and over again seem to have not made any difference. Although we hope and pray for peace, perhaps it is just not the way of the world.

So what other lessons can be learned from previous wars and their aftermath? Perhaps a starting point might be the way in which we care for individuals whose lives have been affected by war, especially our own servicemen and women and their families. The war in Afghanistan has raised our awareness of the casualties. Those casualties’ numbers are high, and many of them will need support throughout their lives. It is important that we also remember their families, who see in a sense strangers returning home. Our family has some experience of this as my eldest is a serving member of the armed forces; he had a difficult time re-adjusting to life in the UK when he returned from Afghanistan following his first tour, and so it is for many others.

There is perhaps little we can do as individuals to stop wars, but we have the ability to try to demonstrate love by working towards alleviating the pain of those who serve their country overseas, so that they are able to live full and rewarding lives despite their memories, experiences and injuries.

Revd. Mary Jepp