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Nottingham In FaithFebruary/March 2015
nottinghaminfaith The magazine of the parish of All Saints, St Mary and St Peter, Nottingham free Feb - Mar 2015 How to respond? Reactions to Charlie Hebdo PLUS details of services and events in February and March St Peter’s Church Coffee Room Open Monday – Saturday 9.00am - 2.30pm St Peter’s Church Coffee Room offers a large selection of hot & cold drinks, homemade cakes, freshly cut sandwiches and light lunches, all prepared and served by friendly staff and volunteers. If you would like more information about the coffee room, or are interested in becoming a member of the group of volunteers, please call the Parish Office on 0115 9483658 or email [email protected]. http://www.nottinghamchurches.org/parish-life/coffee St Mary’s and St Peter’s churches are pleased to be opening for Nottingham Light Picture? Over 40 FREE arts events around the city Suitable for all ages Friday 6th February 2015 from 6pm ’til late www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/lightnight St Peter’s Church Coffee Room St Peter’s Centre, St Peter’s Square, Nottingham, NG1 2NW 2 nottinghaminfaith February 2015 nottinghaminfaith The parish of Welcome All Saints, St Mary and St Peter Nottingham 5 6 News from our churches Forthcoming events Services and events calendar Feature Articles Prayer Diary Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 5. Photo by Ed Mills. 8 11 12 Cover Story: Responding to Charlie Hebdo Vicar’s Letter: New post for the parish Heritage Lottery Update Please contact the parish office (details below) if you have any queries about the churches, including church opening times, baptisms, weddings and home communion for the sick or house-bound. If you need guidance on spiritual matters the parish office will be able to put you in touch with a member of the clergy. Remember, if you urgently need to talk to someone, and can’t get through to us, you could try The Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or Childline on 0800 1111 1 All Saints’, Raleigh Street 2 St Mary’s, High Pavement 3 St Peter’s, St Peter’s Square Who we are Where we are Send your photos of parish life, our churches or anything in Nottingham to: [email protected] Getting in touch Cover image 4 Regular Features Whether you have been worshipping in our parish for years, have recently moved to Nottingham or are just visiting, we hope nottinghaminfaith will be of interest to you. If you would like to find out more about our churches, please contact the parish office (details below). Our parish aims to... • live and proclaim the Gospel for the 21st century in our modern, challenging and fast-developing city • develop ministry together in the city in a way that makes clear that all people are valued within the thought of God, and loved by God • speak out together, wherever possible, on matters of justice and injustice, of inclusion and exclusion, of rights and responsibilities, of integrity and transparency Contact information Clergy Contributions The Parish Office St Peter’s Centre St Peter’s Square Nottingham NG1 2NW E: [email protected] T: 0115 948 3658 www.nottinghamchurches.org Vicar: Rev Christopher Harrison Associate Priest: Rev Dr Richard Davey Workplace Chaplain: Rev Rachel Shock Associate Priest: Rev James Saxton Please send any contributions or suggestions for nottinghaminfaith to the parish office: [email protected] The copy deadline is the 10th of the month prior to publication. Office Staff Parish Administrator: Wendy Pearce Parish Secretary: Adele Siepmann Editor: Ed Mills © 2015 The Parish of All Saints, St Mary and St Peter, Nottingham. No part of this publication or its content may be reproduced without the permission of The Parish of All Saints, St Mary and St Peter, Nottingham. Disclaimer: Articles contained in this publication may include the personal opinion of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Parish or the Anglican Church. February 2015 nottinghaminfaith 3 in brief | news News from the Churches Emmanuel House - £10,000 Appeal launched Nottingham City Parish has launched a £10,000 fundraising appeal for Emmanuel House. Founded in 1976, Emmanuel House supports homeless, vulnerable and isolated adults in and around Nottingham with services that meet basic needs and empower individuals to make positive changes in their lives. It welcomes up to 2000 visits a month from many people who have complex and multiple needs. The appeal was launched with a Christmas Tree Festival in St Mary’s Church in the Lace Market - now that we are into the new year, all are encouraged to get involved, in as many creative ways as possible! Ideas for fundraising include: - coffee mornings - raffles - concerts, musical evenings etc - auctions - sales of cakes, crafts, plants etc - garage, jumble or car boot sales - sponsored events - quiz evenings, meals, or other social events - parish X-factor evening - Auction of promises For further details or to make a donation, please contact the parish office on 0115 948 3658 or email [email protected]. St Mary’s in Nuremberg St Peter’s Choir at Ely Cathedral The Choir of St Peter's enjoyed singing Evensong in the beautiful surroundings of Ely Cathedral on Saturday 3rd January. The choir sang Howells’ Collegium Regale setting of the canticles, and Elizabeth Poston’s beautiful setting of Jesus Christ the Apple Tree. The choir now looks forward to a weekend at Salisbury Cathedral in May, and St George’s Chapel, Windsor, in October. Photo: Will Burn St Mary’s choir performed Handel’s Messiah on New Year’s Eve in the German city of Nuremberg. Joining forces with the choir of St Egidien’s church, 27 members of St Mary’s choir made the trip to Germany to perform a truly memorable concert to a packed church. St Mary’s enjoys a close relationship with Egidienchor, having sung in Nuremberg on three occasions. Egidienchor came to join a performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion at St Mary’s in 2013. Christmas 2014 From the Registers Baptisms Maximilian Duggan - 28th December - St Peter’s Weddings Robert Lyon & Alexandra Morley - 31st December - St Mary’s Funerals Patricia Mensah Alastair Munt Memorial Service - 29th December - 17th January - All Saints’ - St Mary’s 4 nottinghaminfaith February 2015 Thank you to all those who worked so hard to make the Christmas services and celebrations across the parish such a success. Particular thanks go to the musicians, flower arrangers, bell ringers, stewards and church cleaners. Your dedication and expertise are very much appreciated. From all of the staff across the parish, we wish you a very happy and healthy 2015. Coffee Break Concerts at St Peter’s Church Saturday 7th February, 10.15am The Organists of St Peter’s Saturday 21st February, 10.15am saraBande Saturday 14th February, 10.15am Ed Hodgkinson, piano Saturday 28th February, 10.15am Radcliffe-on-Trent Male Voice Choir Entrance to all Coffee Break Concerts is by donation to the church music fund. Coffee and biscuits are served from 10.15am. Plus other concerts at St Peter’s Church: Saturday 28th March, 11.00am Tempore - Music for Passiontide Saturday 21st February, 6.00pm Concert in aid of the Go Make A Difference charity in Tanzania Sunday 29th March, 5.00pm Buxtehude: Membra Jesu Nostri The evening service this Palm Sunday will take the form of a devotional concert, performed by the St Peter’s Scholars and saraBande. Donations to the Emmanuel House Appeal. Lenten Concert Series at St Mary’s St Mary’s will be hosting a concert series, “Suffering and Sacrifice” every Sunday evening throughout Lent. The short concerts will be performed by current and past members of St Mary’s choir following Evensong at 7.45pm. Entry is free with a retiring collection for Emmanuel House. Sunday 22nd February—7.45pm Abraham & Isaac Britten and songs by Browne, Gurney & Butterworth Rob Waters alto Jonathan Stork tenor Sunday 1st March—7.45pm John Keys organ Sunday 8th March—7.45pm Stabat Mater Pergolesi Tess Pearson soprano Ruth Nixon alto Sunday 15th March—7.45pm Kindertotenlieder Mahler Leah Jones mezzo-soprano Prayers for February and March Dates for the diary… Lent starts on Ash Wednesday (18th Feb) and lasts for forty days (not including Sundays). It is a time kept by the Church to create space in which faith can be deepened and matured; a time for space to reorient ourselves towards our Maker; a time for space to remember the length, depth and height of the love God has for everyone. To love someone else’s life more than our own; To reach out in support of another person’s weakness when we ourselves are falling; To give another person hope when we are close to despair; And to offer forgiveness when we are unforgiven; This is what you ask of us Lord, and it is hard: Hard to give when we are poor; Hard to help when we need help; Hard to encourage when we are discouraged. Yet Christ loved when he was hated; He forgave when he was crucified; And he won eternal life for us all by his own death. We are not asked to take an untravelled way; You have set the crucified Christ before us as risen Lord, and promised that we can share in his life! So Lord we will press on in the knowledge that you are with us as indestructible Love Leading us to fullness of life which cannot be taken away from us. Go with us, then into the troubled and perplexed world in which too we will be troubled and perplexed; Go with us and help us to calm trouble and heal perplexity carrying on our shoulder the cross and in our hearts the joy of service until Christ’s work is complete and you are glorified for ever. Sunday 22nd March—7.45pm Winterreise Schubert Bozidar Smiljanic bass-baritone Thomas Primrose piano Esther Elliott Concerts at St Mary’s Church University of Nottingham Concerts at St Mary’s Sunday 7th February - 7.30pm The Soldiers’ Charity Band concert The Band of the Irish Guards Tickets £15 from Nottinghamshire Tourism Centre (1-4 Smithy Row, NG1 2BY). Tel: 08444 775678 For tickets and further information: www.lakesidearts.org.uk Tel: 0115 846 7777 Saturday 14th March - 7.30pm Feel the Spirit Including performances of Parry’s I Was Glad, Manfredini’s Double Trumpet Concerto, Pavane by Fauré, and John Rutter’s Feel The Spirit, this concert launches the Kendrick Partington Musical Scholarship Fund, in memory of this inspirational former Director of Music at the High School and St Peter’s Church. Featuring the choirs of St Mary’s Church, Nottingham High School & Nottingham Girls’ High School with The Orchestra of the Restoration For Tickets and further information contact: T: 0115 845 2274 E: [email protected] news | forthcoming events Forthcoming events Saturday 21st February - 7.30pm An English Celebration Tarik O'Regan - Scattered Rhymes Tallis - Spem in alium The Orlando Consort, Fitzwilliam String Quartet, University Philharmonia & Viva Voce Saturday 7th March - 7.00pm Felix Mendelssohn - Bartholdy Violin Concerto Edward Elgar - Sérénade Lyrique University of Nottingham Sinfonia Saturday 21st March - 7.30pm University of Nottingham Choir & Philharmonia Schütz - Alleluja! Lobet den Herren Stravinsky - Symphony of Psalms February 2015 nottinghaminfaith 5 diary | services and events Services and Events in February and March SUNDAY 1st February All Saints’ 1030 Sung Eucharist St Mary’s 1045 Matins* 1830 Patronal Sung Eucharist* St Peter’s 0815 Holy Communion 1045 Matins* 1700 Holy Communion with prayers for healing MONDAY 2nd February St Peter’s 1315 Meditation TUESDAY 3rd February All Saints’ 1000 Holy Communion St Peter’s 1315 Holy Communion THURSDAY 5th February All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer St Mary’s 1315 Holy Communion St Peter’s 1100 Holy Communion FRIDAY 6th February All Saints' 0900 Morning Prayer Light Night events at St Mary’s and St Peter’s SUNDAY 8th February All Saints’ 1030 Sung Eucharist * St Mary’s 1045 Sung Eucharist* 1830 Evensong* St Peter’s 0815 Holy Communion 1045 Sung Eucharist 1700 Evensong* MONDAY 9th February St Peter’s 1315 Meditation TUESDAY 10th February All Saints’ 1000 Holy Communion St Peter’s 1315 Holy Communion THURSDAY 12th February All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer St Mary’s 1315 Holy Communion St Peter’s 1100 Holy Communion FRIDAY 13th February All Saints' 0900 Morning Prayer SUNDAY 15th February All Saints’ 1030 Sung Eucharist St Mary’s 1045 Sung Eucharist* 1830 Evensong* St Peter’s 0815 Holy Communion 1045 Sung Eucharist* 1700 Taizé Service MONDAY 16th February St Peter’s 1315 Meditation TUESDAY 17th February All Saints’ 1000 Holy Communion St Peter’s 1315 Holy Communion THURSDAY 19th February All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer St Mary’s 1315 Holy Communion St Peter’s 1100 Holy Communion FRIDAY 20th February All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer MONDAY 23rd February St Peter’s 1315 Meditation TUESDAY 24th February All Saints’ 1000 Holy Communion St Peter’s 1315 Holy Communion THURSDAY 26th February All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer St Mary’s 1315 Holy Communion St Peter’s 1100 Holy Communion FRIDAY 27th February All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer SUNDAY 22nd February All Saints’ 1030 Sung Eucharist St Mary’s 1045 Sung Eucharist* 1830 Evensong* 1945 Concert for Emmanuel House St Peter’s 0815 Holy Communion 1045 Sung Eucharist* 1700 Compline* 6 nottinghaminfaith February 2015 WEDNESDAY 4th February All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer St Mary’s 0830 Holy Communion 1815 Evensong* SATURDAY 7th February St Mary’s 1930 Soldiers’ Charity Concert St Peter’s 1100 Coffee Break Concert – The Organists of St Peter’s WEDNESDAY 11th February All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer St Mary’s 0830 Holy Communion 1815 Evensong* SATURDAY 14th February St Peter’s 1100 Coffee Break Concert – Ed Hodgkinson, piano WEDNESDAY 18th February ASH WEDNESDAY All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer 1200 Holy Communion St Mary’s 0830 Holy Communion 1930 Sung Eucharist with imposition of ashes* St Peter’s 1930 Sung Eucharist with imposition of ashes* SATURDAY 21st February St Mary’s 1930 University of Nottingham Sinfonia, Viva Voce & The Orlando Consort Concert St Peter’s 1100 Coffee Break Concert – saraBande WEDNESDAY 25th February All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer St Mary’s 0830 Holy Communion 1815 Evensong* SATURDAY 28th February St Peter’s 1100 Coffee Break Concert – Radcliffe-on-Trent Male Voice Choir MONDAY 2nd March St Peter’s 1315 Meditation TUESDAY 3rd March All Saints’ 1000 Holy Communion St Peter’s 1315 Holy Communion THURSDAY 5th March All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer St Mary’s 1315 Holy Communion St Peter’s 1100 Holy Communion FRIDAY 6th March All Saints' 0900 Morning Prayer SUNDAY 8th March All Saints’ 1030 Sung Eucharist* St Mary’s 1045 Legal Service* 1830 Sung Eucharist * 1945 Lenten Concert St Peter’s 0815 Holy Communion 1700 Evensong* MONDAY 9th March St Peter’s 1315 Meditation TUESDAY 10th March All Saints' 1000 Holy Communion St Peter's 1315 Holy Communion THURSDAY 12th March All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer St Mary’s 1315 Holy Communion St Peter’s 1100 Holy Communion FRIDAY 13th March All Saints' 0900 Morning Prayer SUNDAY 15th March Mothering Sunday All Saints’ 1030 Sung Eucharist St Mary’s 1045 Sung Eucharist* (Archdeacon of Nott’m) 1830 Evensong* 1945 Lenten Concert St Peter’s 0815 Holy Communion 1045 Sung Eucharist* 1700 Taizé Service MONDAY 16th March St Peter’s 1315 Meditation TUESDAY 17th March All Saints’ 1000 Holy Communion St Peter’s 1315 Holy Communion THURSDAY 19th March All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer St Mary’s 1315 Holy Communion St Peter’s 1100 Holy Communion FRIDAY 20th March All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer SUNDAY 22nd March All Saints’ 1030 Sung Eucharist St Mary’s 1045 Sung Eucharist * 1830 Evensong* 1945 Lenten Concert St Peter’s 0815 Holy Communion 1045 Sung Eucharist* (Archdeacon of Nottingham) 1700 Compline* MONDAY 23rd March St Peter’s 1315 Meditation St Mary’s 1930 Roses of Eyam (The Television Workshop) TUESDAY 24th March All Saints’ 1000 Holy Communion St Mary’s 1930 Roses of Eyam St Peter’s 1315 Holy Communion FRIDAY 27th March All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer St Mary’s 1930 Roses of Eyam WEDNESDAY 25th March All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer St Mary’s 0830 Holy Communion 1815 Evensong* 1930 Roses of Eyam SATURDAY 28th March St Mary’s 1930 Roses of Eyam St Peter’s 1100 Coffee Break Concert – Tempore – Music for Passiontide SUNDAY 29th March PALM SUNDAY All Saints’ 1030 Sung Eucharist St Mary’s 1045 Sung Eucharist* 1830 Evensong* 1945 Lenten Concert St Peter’s 0815 Holy Communion 1045 Sung Eucharist* 1700 Membra Jesu Nostri – Buxtehude* MONDAY 30th March St Peter’s 1315 Meditation 1830 Holy Communion TUESDAY 31st March All Saints’ 1000 Holy Communion St Peter’s 1315 Holy Communion 1830 Holy Communion WEDNESDAY 1st April All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer St Mary’s 0830 Holy Communion 1815 Evensong* THURSDAY 26th March All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer St Mary’s 1315 Holy Communion 1930 Roses of Eyam St Peter’s 1100 Holy Communion WEDNESDAY 4th March All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer St Mary’s 0830 Holy Communion 1815 Evensong* SATURDAY 7th March St Mary’s 1900 University of Nottingham Sinfonia Concert diary | services and events SUNDAY 1st March All Saints’ 1030 Sung Eucharist St Mary’s 1045 Sung Eucharist* 1830 Evensong* 1945 Lenten Concert St Peter’s 0815 Holy Communion 1045 Matins* 1700 Holy Communion with prayers for healing WEDNESDAY 11th March All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer St Mary’s 0830 Holy Communion 1815 Evensong* SATURDAY 14th March St Mary’s 1930 Concert: Feel The Spirit (see p. 5) WEDNESDAY 18th March All Saints’ 0900 Morning Prayer St Mary’s 0830 Holy Communion 1815 Evensong* SATURDAY 21st March St Mary’s 1930 University of Nottingham Choir & Philharmonia Concert * Service accompanied by choir February 2015 nottinghaminfaith 7 Charlie Hebdo | How to respond? Charlie Hebdo - A Christian Response Whilst an undeniable atrocity, January’s terrorist attack on the French magazine, Charlie Hebdo raises many questions for people of all faiths. In the period of Epiphany, Canon Jack Higham, Higham ponders on how we might respond. On entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and worshipped him (Matt 2:11) The period of Epiphany, when we call to mind the Magi travelling to find Jesus, encourages us to remember that Christ belongs to all people and that his arms of mercy will exclude no one. The Magi saw that this Jewish child was for the whole world, bursting through ancient boundaries. They were mysteriously given the revelation that this child’s death would bring salvation to the entire world. And that surely is he message we need to hear following the acts of savage murderers who have used religion to attack the French cartoonists and a Jewish Kosher supermarket. They claimed they acted in deference of the prophet Mohammed, shouting, “Allah is great,” as they gunned down twelve people, including, ironically, a policeman who was a fellow Muslim. These people are maniacs and criminals, but they claim to act in the name of their faith, as have a good may others before them. And their aim is to change our liberal society, to challenge free speech, to intimidate us into observing some element of sharia law. The vast majority of Muslims share our sense of outrage. Some have said “Not in our name.” Others have publicly declared that these men, far from being the martyrs they claim to be, are destined for Allah’s punishment. And some have said, with good reason, if the secular world fights Islam with the pen, Muslims should fight back not with the sword, but with a pen. And of course Charlie Hebdo, this satirical paper which few outside of France have ever heard of, is now made world-famous, boosting its print run from a mere 50,000 copies to seven million. And the whole of France has been united in response to this outrage. Such is the counter productive effect of this action. But some qualifications are needed. There have to be some self-imposed limits to free speech – we don’t use anti-Semitic language, we don’t denigrate women, and so on. In other words, a civilized society shows proper respect for all and does not go out of its way to provoke the sensibili- 8 nottinghaminfaith ties of minorities. And yet there is a proper place for satire and ridicule – indeed we need the satirists to challenge the arrogant, to speak the truth. The magazine did not single out Jerusalem – it ridicules all religions including our own and we have learnt to accept that; even to realise that their ridicule may help us to sort out what is really essential in our faith and what is merely peripheral. Ironically, in claiming, as the murderers did, that they came to avenge Mohammed, they are surely suggesting that Allah can’t look after himself. It must be acknowledged that right from the start there has been a militant aspect to Islam. Their faith spread by the sword throughout the Middle East and North Africa, conquering former Christian lands. When Saint Paul spoke of the sword of the spirit he spoke metaphorically, as we do when we pray for the Church militant. The spread of Christianity, at least in the early centuries, was quite different from the spread of Islam. Mohammed never spoke of turning the other cheek or loving your enemies, and of course the Koran denies that Jesus was crucified. Yet that is the heart of our religion as the Magi discovered – the Holy Child shares our suffering to the uttermost. He shows the depth of God’s love for us by continuing to love us even when we put him to death. And his love is so great that it conquers death, rising up again in mercy and forgiveness; it does not take vengeance; it gladly accepts suffering and, through suffering, works for our salvation. And the salvation he offers is for the whole world - Jews, Magi, Gentiles - all seekers after the truth. Even those who fight against him are offered salvation, because, in the end, his love breaks down our resistance and finds a way into every human heart. That’s what the Magi represent. We all have to come to some idea of the meaning of life. The Magi were seekers after truth, and they led the way to find it in the Christ-child. They did not recite the Nicene Creed. They were not even baptised. The Church cannot claim them as members, yet I believe that their visit to the Christ Child was their salvation. February 2015 And perhaps that’s the essential message of the Epiphany season. We should not fence round the idea of salvation. Surely God in his mercy is gracious to all who try to seek whatever light they can find and walk by it. We need more inter-faith dialogue and more understanding between the great religions of the world. Jews, Christians and Muslims are all monotheists; we may have differing views of the motives of God, but we each try to live by the light we have been given. The warped view of the fanatics should not divert us from seeking better understanding between the great religions. The best response we can make is to preach love and forgiveness, and to reach out to those of other faiths, encouraging them to follow what is best in their understanding of God, and maintaining that the holy war is not with the sword against infidels but is the interior struggle between good and evil within our own hearts, within every human heart. And may God in his mercy guide us all to see, as the Magi saw, that his love embraces us all whoever we may be. (Based on a sermon delivered at St Mary’s church on 11th January 2015) Turn The Other Chee People around the world are making Rev’d Dr Richard Davey suggests that Psalm 96 calls us to ‘Sing to the Lord and bless his name’, but in many places in the western world, the song that is now being sung is ironic, satirical and even offensive. Since the horrific and inhuman murders in Paris many in the world have taken up the shout ‘Je suis Charlie’ and championed the rights of free speech for all. Whilst it was wonderful to see the subsequent show of solidarity between people of different faiths and cultures, was it right that Charlie Hebdo should publish another cartoon of Mohammed on its front page the week after the massacre? Those who support the right to free speech, and I am one, would say yes. But I have to admit that doing so leaves me with a bitter taste in my mouth. Whilst we have a right to free speech, we also have a moral Overseas Committee Supporting Those In Need Around The World Dorothy Mountford updates us on the work of this parish's Overseas Committee and points out a number of fundraising and awareness events to look out for this year. Christian Aid: is an international development charity working with people, of all faiths and none, in around 50 countries, to eradicate poverty. Look out for events in the Parish during Christian Aid week 10th -16th May to support this work. CMS: our mission partners Andrew and Kate Kennedy live with their three small boys in Kuala Lumpa. Look out for their regular newsletter which is available in all three churches. Us. : is the new name for a 300 year old Anglican society originally known as USPG ( the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel). Their Hope for the Future campaign asks Christians in the UK to lobby their local parliamentary candidates urging them to put climate change on the political agenda ahead of this May’s general election. Loko Jarso carries firewood to sell. She is responsible for a family of eight and struggles to feed them all. Gathering and chopping firewood on her own, up a mountain, is a hard, dangerous job that she dreads, but it is her only source of income. She receives just £1 for her heavy load. Christian Aid supports people like Loko to find better income and security. Photo: Christian Aid/M Gonzalez-Noda The parish Overseas Committee seeks to raise funds for a range of causes, focusing on supporting overseas charities. Annually the parish supports Christian Aid, CMS (Church Missionary Society) and Us. St Peter’s church, who at the time was working in Tanzania with M.A.D. a charity dedicated to ‘Making A Difference’. Felicity and the committee hope to raise more funds for the work in Tanzania with a concert to be held in St Peter’s church on the evening of Saturday 21st February. Funds raised by the Overseas Committee in the past year have gone to support work in medical work in Nepal, integrated education for orphans in Palestine, building projects in Tanzania and support for street children in Brazil. Currently the committee is seeking to support the Feed The Minds initiative, an ecumenical charity working with some of the world’s most disadvantaged people. It is 50 years old this year and has a particular focus on enabling women to unlock their potential and empowering them through education to fight injustice and discrimination to achieve the basic needs of good health, safe childbirth, training and employment. We would also ask all our readers to put the date of Saturday 13th June into their diaries for a summer garden party ‘An Italian Evening’ (7.00pm) to be held in Mapperley Park with food and music to raise funds for the charity Phase. On Heritage Open Day, held in St Mary’s in September, the committee provided an international food stall and displays including an exhibition of the work of CARF UK (Children At Risk Foundation) which supports Brazilian street children. There was also a display of the work being undertaken by Felicity Scott from Daily Ebola Vigil Finally, as the Ebola epidemic continues to affect many thousands of people in western Africa, please do come to the daily Ebola Vigil which has been held at St Peter’s church on a daily basis since October. All are welcome from 12.15-12.45pm every day to pray for those who are suffering from this unprecedented crisis. We would like to thank all those members of the parish who support the valuable work of the Overseas Committee. Your support for our events and fundraising truly helps some of the most disadvantaged people around the world. Everyone is warmly invited to join us for A Pancake Party, 7:30pm on 17th February in St Peter’s Church Coffee Room. ek - Submit or Respond? a stand for free speech following the terrorist attacks in France. t, whilst free speech is important, Christians should not be afraid to defend their faith. duty not to exercise that right when it might cause offense. In reality, there is no such thing as uncensored free speech, and most people have become extremely adept at exercising self-censorship when it comes to making comments about someone’s gender, race, disability, or sexuality. And those who don’t exercise this self-censorship are quickly rebuked in the court of public opinion, as many politicians and public figures can attest. Yet in matters of religion and faith, uncensored free speech is left unchallenged by the secular majority. In fact any who complain of feeling offended are portrayed as crackpots, or even worse, akin to those extremist clerics who issue fatwas against snowmen. It could be said that as Christians we are called to offer the other cheek; to not get offended by jokes that lampoon religion and to laugh off derogatory comments and actions that portray Christians as sandal wearing, homophobic, old fashioned do-gooders. We are bigger than this and we know the truth. But is this really the right thing to do? The same attitude of laissez-faire could equally be urged in those other areas that now benefit from the protection of political and moral correctness. I believe that the only way we can turn the other cheek is to confront these derogatory attitudes. We need to engage in a debate that helps the media and wider society to recognise for themselves that it shouldn’t be February 2015 acceptable to offend someone because of their faith, in just the same way that they don’t find it acceptable to do so in many other cases. In the same breath that we wholeheartedly defend the right of free speech that allows these offensive comments to be made, we should find ways to help society conclude that to do so is morally wrong. By saying nothing, we risk confirming the conclusion that many have already come to: that religious faith is less significant to human identity than gender, race, sexuality, or nationality. But I, for one, am not happy to delegate faith to a voluntary addon to my identity, for I know that it is at the core of who I am. nottinghaminfaith 9 NG7 Foodbank | Giving Campaign Foodbank Closes But Donations Still Needed Having fed over 5,200 people over 30 months, the NG7 foodbank closed in December as the organization's leaders felt the Council were coming to rely on their work rather than making efforts to improve funding and welfare for vulnerable people. As the doors closed for the last time, this is what the NG7 foodbank had to say: Since we opened two and a half years ago, we have provided food for around five and a half thousand people. Crucial to the effective working of the project has been the continuing supply of donations of food. I am writing to the people of the City Centre parishes to thank you for your support in being an active part of the life of the Foodbank. Your regular contributions have been an essential part of the core donations that have enabled us to continue. I know how much work is involved in collecting and delivering the food to our collection point each week. As we reach the end of our present phase of work, it is important to let you know that you have been a vital partner in this project. Letters to The Editor You may be aware that there continue to be Foodbanks in the Radford area. To meet the need that will exist when NG7 closes we have been in contact with the people who run the Trussel Trust network of Foodbanks across Nottingham. The plan is to work with the Millennium Mount Zion Church and to develop the Foodbank they already run. Additional volunteers have been recruited and trained. This will make it possible to open their facility for an extra session each week on a Thursday. We do not anticipate that the demand for food will decrease in the near future. Recent reports from the Government and To ensure that the new arrangements with Mount Zion are working, we will, of course, continue to need donations of food. Could I ask you to continue your generous giving to ensure that the most vulnerable (including many children) will have a source of help and support. Thank you. Giving renewal campaign update Climate Change I read Saxon Barrie’s letter in the December edition of NottinghamInFaith with interest. In it he comments on the church and climate change. Perhaps we could all think, as a project for 2015 (and beyond!) of one thing we could do individually to reduce our carbon emission. How about using public transport to attend church rather than driving your car? Nottingham is well served by buses and, although the frequency is reduced on a Sunday, it should be possible for many people. People with poor health or limited mobility would need to use their car, but if all 3 churches in this parish could think about this, it might be a step towards positive action. More bus passengers might create a demand for an improved bus service! Members of the congregation were asked in the autumn to review their financial support for the parish. The results so far are encouraging as Tony Mitchell and Peter Moore explain 260 Giving Renewal packs were distributed in October, of which 158 were to existing donors. We have received 105 replies from existing donors, with the addition of 33 new donors. 53 existing donors have not yet replied (if you’re one of them, please do reply, if only to update your existing gift aid declaration). Of the 105 donors who responded, 70 increased their existing donation and 3 reduced it. In financial terms we were seeking an overall increase in giving of £47,800, including income tax recovered, to meet the parish budget deficit. We have in fact achieved an increase of £33,185, which is almost three quarters of the desired total increase. A march can highlight a problem or indicate the volume of support to do something about a problem. After the marchers have gone home, what happens the next day determines whether change will occur. It is up to us all to be responsible members of our community rather than leave it to nameless others, the council or the government to take action. Change occurs when sufficient individuals decide to act. You will find me at the bus-stop! Felicity Crofts 10 the Trussel Trust suggest that there will be more people needing resource. The recent ‘Welfare Reforms’ continue to bite resulting in reduced incomes because of increases in council tax, the bedroom tax, delayed payments in benefits, benefit sanctions and zero hours contracts. nottinghaminfaith February 2015 Prior to the campaign the existing donors contributed £116,000. Assuming existing donors who have not responded continue to donate, we can in future expect to receive £142,385 (an increase of 22.75%). Even though we fell short of our ambitious target, this result is very encouraging. Many people have responded generously and indeed sacrificially to contribute to the support of our life as a parish, and to its future development. It is very heartening to feel that in spite of all the challenges we face, there is a deep and loyal foundation of love and goodwill towards our churches, which is being expressed financially as well as in so many other ways. Workplace Chaplaincy Rev’d Christopher Harrison announces new full-time post for the parish On Sunday February 22nd, after the 10.45 service at St Peter’s, we will be thanking Rachel Shock for her time as Workplace chaplain. Len Simmonds, Simmonds chair of the Workplace Chaplaincy Council, explains how the Chaplaincy has developed and how it will continue Since Christmas, we have been adjusting to the fact that Chrissie Little is no longer with us, having moved to Bestwood; Rachel Shock has also come to the end of her contract as Workplace Chaplain. In the light of these moves, and following the submission of a long paper from this parish, the Bishop and his colleagues have decided to make a new appointment of a full-time priest to this parish. This is good news, as there was some ambiguity as to what the implications of the Deanery 2020 plan would be for the parish, following the recent clergy moves. A new element to the post, however, will be that the appointee will be expected to combine two roles: that of a half-time associate priest, and that of a half-time workplace chaplain. The hope is that by combining the two roles, it will be possible to attract candidates of appropriate calibre and experience who will be able to focus particularly on the mission of the church in our parish. Work will of course have to be done to ensure that the two elements of the post are properly balanced. During February, a process will begin which will include the drawing up of a combined role description, following which the post will be advertised and candidates shortlisted and interviewed. At present I do not know what the timescale is likely to be, but I will do my best to move things along briskly. It will be helpful that the new Archdeacon of Nottingham, Sarah Clark, will be coming to preach at St Mary’s on Sunday 15th March (Mothering Sunday) at the 10.45 service, and on Sunday 22nd March, also at 10.45, at St Peter’s. Do take the opportunity to come and meet Sarah at these services. Over the past 20 years or so pastoral care of people in the workplace has been a very significant part of the ministry of St Peter's and later the city centre parish. It has clearly been a huge success. - so much so that workplace ministry is now firmly fixed in the deanery and diocesan mission strategy. When the new priest/workplace chaplain is appointed, the Chaplaincy Council will continue to provide strategic oversight and objectives for the chaplain, although he or she will also be responsible to the Nottingham South Deanery and to the Diocesan Director of Partnerships, Rev. David McColough. The job of the chaplain involves a substantial visiting role within city companies and other organisations, building relationships and offering pastoral care. The chaplain’s responsibilities also include supporting the team of lay workplace chaplains. After Revd Rachel Shock leaves at the end of February, the Archdeacon and Area Dean have agreed with Revd Steve Silvester, the vicar of St Nic's, that his curate, Revd Jo Tatum undertakes the work of the chaplaincy as a 'Curacy Secondment' - until such time as a new appointment is made. The chaplaincy council and parish really appreciate all that Rachel has done, initially in pioneering the work of ‘ichaplaincy’ and then as the full workplace chaplain. In that time Rachel has developed the client base and the number of lay chaplains. She has affirmed the value of people in the workplace by her very presence and has shown compassion at the times it was needed. The nature of the work and its challenges are caught so very well in what happened the week before Christmas. Rachel had the usual regular visiting of clients but at the same time was supporting people through grief as in one organisation a senior person had been killed in a road accident, she led with enthusiasm a well attended Carols after Work service in St Peter's and was engaging with, and supporting, the lay chaplains in their work. Rachel has undertaken all this work on behalf of this parish and the churches of Nottingham and we know it has been greatly valued by the organisations supported by the chaplaincy. We greatly appreciate the sheer dedication shown by Rachel to her work, and will miss her very much. As more than one client has said, she will be difficult to replace. She has brought new insights, experience and energy to the chaplaincy role, to the support of client companies and their workers and to church life in the city centre in general. We wish Rachel all the best as she moves on to doing other things in her life. Lent Talks: Issues For Our Time On five Thursdays in Lent, St Peter’s church will be hosting a series of lunchtime talks examining key issues in our modern world. Thursdays at St Peter’s Church 12:00 Light buffet lunch 12:30 Talk followed by questions and discussion A light buffet lunch will be provided before each talk at 12.00, with the talks starting at 12.30. 5th March: Prof Peter Bartlett (University of Nottingham): Mental Health 12th March: Dianne Skerritt and Sara Palakios Arapiles (Rainbow Project): Equality, human rights and globalisation 19th March: Rev Christopher Harrison: Whiter Europe? 26th March: Paul Bodenham (Christian Ecology Link): Environmental challenges Please do support these talks on five pressing and controversial issues facing the Church, the nation and the world. 26th February: Rev Keith Hebden: Conflict, Fossil Fuels and Finance February 2015 nottinghaminfaith 11 Vicar’s Letter | Workplace Chaplaincy Vicar’s letter St Mary’s Church | Heritage Lottery Update Moving Closer to Heritage Lottery Funding At St Mary’s Church Louise Hodder, Hodder Heritage Lottery Fund Project Mentor, explains the plans for Lottery funding and the steps ahead At the end of April 2014 St. Mary’s received the exciting news that the Heritage Lottery Fund had agreed to give the Church a development grant of £22,000. The grant was awarded to help St. Mary’s carry out investigations and development work which would enable the Church to apply for a much larger sum at the end of March 2015. If successful, this grant will be used both to fund urgent work on the fabric of the building (including repairs to the Nave, Chancel and tower roofs) and activities which will enable people to engage more with the history of the Church. The development phase is now progressing well. In October, a team of consultants led by the Church Architect, Peter Rogan, undertook some opening-up works, with a view to assessing the current state of the roofs and stonework; fortunately nothing unexpected was found. Peter is now drawing up more detailed plans for the next stage. As well as restoring the fabric of the building, the other key aim of our project is to develop new opportunities for people to discover more about the heritage of the Church and its place in the history of the City. With this purpose in mind, the Church employed Louise Hodder from the start of Above: Louise Hodder outside St Mary’s Church October to act as a mentor to the project team and to develop an activity plan to show how St. Mary’s might do this in a creative and sustainable way. November saw lots of interesting feedback from a questionnaire created for visitors to consider how the Church might improve the ways in which they are able to find out more about the history of the Church and the many notable people connected to it. The whole period has also been a great opportunity to meet and listen to ideas from some of the many dedicated volunteers from within the congregation, the FOSM and others linked to the Church who already give so much of their time to keep St. Mary’s as an open, welcoming and active space for the community. This period of consultation and feedback from within and beyond the Church has allowed the project team to focus on what specific activities might be possible within the budget of the grant. The following areas have now been identified as the outcomes we hope to achieve in the delivery phase of the project: New Super-Frontal Revealed Paul Sibly, Sibly Churchwarden of St Mary’s, thanks NAFDAS for their recent contribution to the church’s altar Over the last 15 months or so, a highly skilled team of volunteers from NADFAS (the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies) has been working on a range of conservation and new work at St Mary's church. The NADFAS project was completed just before Christmas and we were delighted to see this beautiful 'Alleluia' super-frontal on the High Altar for the first time on Christmas Eve. The team leader was Hilary Olleson, who is best known to us in her capacity as a fine oboist and manager of the Orchestra of the Restoration. Many thanks to Hilary and all involved. • Creation of a new high quality guide book and a selection of well-designed leaflets and trails for adults and children. • Recruitment and training of a larger team of guides to help welcome visitors throughout the week. • Re-ordering and design of the welcome area and displays as visitors enter the Church. • A large scale History Day aimed at KS2 primary school children from the city which would involve fun educational activities connected to significant people/times in the Church’s History. A number of people from within the Parish and groups connected to St. Mary’s have already agreed to offer their knowledge and time to working parties which will be developing some of the areas above. As the work develops there will be more opportunities for people to be involved, so if you would like to find out more about volunteer possibilities please do get in touch. [email protected]
