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‘Maureen’s Musings’
The Vicar’s monthly letter for the Parish News
February 2020
So the New Year is now firmly under way and as of the 3 1st January we are no longer a part of the European Union. No point looking backwards – we can only go forwards in time, so let’s hope we all have a good, healthy and happy 2020 ahead of us!
In the church we see the final celebration of the Christmas/Epiphany Season with the Feast of Candlemas which falls on 2nd February . That is when our Christmas Star will finally be dimmed – until next Christmas of course.
I am glad so many of you delighted in our new acquisition, and spoke to me over the Christmas period of your enjoyment of seeing it lighting up the Tower during December and January.
By tradition, Candlemas was the occasion when households would bring the wax candles and tapers that they had been making over the winter months, to be blessed for the year ahead – so a sort of festival of light to mark what we hope is the worst of the winter months over and the promise of spring to come… I live in hope!
Lent begins this year on 26th February. There will be the customary services with the possibility of ‘being ashed’ at 10am and at 7.30pm as usual that day. In addition I often go into the school as well – so you may see some smudged foreheads among our younger villagers too! Please ask them about it – they will all have received a good explanation of why we do this, and have volunteered to take part; nothing is compulsory about faith in our Church school.
This year’s Lent course will I hope be stimulating and challenging. We are following one based on the Film “The Theory of Everything” – the biopic made about the life of the late Stephen Hawking. I will be showing the film in its entirety before Lent, on Monday 24th February, in Church if anyone wants to see it?
Then there will be five weekly sessions on the Mondays following entitled:
- The experience of wonder
- The enigma of weakness
- The complexity of relationships
- The encounter with frailty
- The hope beyond brokenness
Each time (starting on 2nd March at 7pm) there will be an extract from the film, group discussion and a meditation, with an opportunity to do some extra reading during the week for yourselves. If you have never tried a Lent course before – do come along! You will find a friendly welcome and much food for thought about some of the ‘big’ questions in life.
Talking of Food and Lent – is there anyone who would like to host a Lent lunch in the parish this year? If so, please let me know as soon as possible.
And lastly – I have my fingers crossed that we may have found someone to take over from Lesley Jones in the role of Parish Administrator that was advertised last month. Still too early to say anything for definite – so if there is anyone else out there, please do not be put off getting in touch – we can always use extra help!
Every Blessing
Maureen.
And finally….. I know some of you will know that in November last year I lost my remaining dog Jandi after a short illness.
The vicarage has seemed very quiet ever since, but I am delighted to tell you that hopefully on 1st February I will be joined by a new furry friend – Suzie the Greyhound.
She retired from the racetrack at the end of 2019 after a very successful career (her racing name being Droopy’s Moon) – but she now wants to relax on a sofa or two and have just gentle exercise and a quiet life.
So I hope the Pattingham doggy community will make her welcome: don’t be put off by the muzzle that she will wear in public – as a retired racer I just have to make sure that Suzie, as a retired racer, doesn’t suddenly get surprised by something small and fluffy and gives chase.
I have calculated that her top speed is in excess of 30mph, so there is no way anyone would catch her (least of all me!) but as far as I can tell so far, she is very laid back and gentle.