CHURCH NEWS
REVEREND KEVIN Writes…
Beware the Ides of January
It doesn’t have the same ring as “Beware the Ides of March” but then, none of us are (I hope) aspiring to be Emperor of Rome. But this year the Ides, which fall on the 15th of every month, also coincide with the second Monday of January; a day also known as Blue Monday. This is the day of the year when we are said to be at our most glum, mainly because Christmas is just a memory, bills are to be paid and the weather is awful. January is not blessed with a good press. Even the poets have it in for this poor month: a month which Hillaire Belloc described as he opened his poem January, with:
It freezes, all across a soundless sky
The birds go home. The governing dark’s begun:
The steadfast dark that waits not for a sun;
The ultimate dark wherein the race shall die.
Even in the sunny summer of the Southern Hemisphere. January finds little respite; the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda writes:
Maybe January light will consume
My heart with its cruel
Ray, stealing my key to true calm.
It is just too bright and hot. January seems to have few friends. But…
I like January. I like its normality; the frenetic celebrations are passed (fun though they were, I’m not the grinch) and everyday life has been restored.
I love the ordinariness of it all, the rhythms of the week, the rituals of the day and the space and time in which to savour them. There is beauty in the smallest event or thing if we allow ourselves to look. Think of William Blake’s
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour
One of my favourite stories in the Bible is when Ezekiel met God. God wasn’t in the storm, the earthquake or the fire but in a small gentle sound.
If we give ourselves space and time to focus on the little things of life, who knows what we might find?
Enjoy January, it is a wonderful month.
Revd Kevin Blogg
NEWS FROM LITCHAM ALL SAINTS
On Saturday 2nd December I helped out with a fundraiser for the Jubilee Hall in. Litcham, as usual I ran the raffle, making £90, in total we raised £200 for much needed improvements to the hall.
There was a lovely stall with homemade goodies like table decorations, sweets and much more. A jewellery stall, a brick-a-brac stall and my lovely friend Liz ran the cake stall which included contributions from my kitchen of mince pies and sausage rolls.
This coming Saturday 9th December we have a meal and a Carol service at the Bull in Litcham, organised by Stephen Lynn from the Methodist chapel.
I have decided to give up my position on the PCC and also as verger at All Saints, unfortunately I have recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and feel I can not longer do my best in those positions.
Over the last 40 years I have enjoyed being actively involved in the running of the church, I will continue helping with fundraising for both the church and the village hall. So you haven’t seen the back of my baking yet!
I will report on all the church activities over Christmas in the February edition.
I will finish with a prayer for winter from Iris Hesselden
Dear Lord of Hope,
Be close to me through the winter months,
When days are shorter and darker
Let me feel Your presence.
When winds blows stronger and colder
Let Your love warm and comfort me.
Keep me safe in my going out
And my coming in.
Let me always remember –
I never walk alone.
Wishing you a happy new year, until next month,
Love and God Bless, June Bevan
PETER BROWN
Peter Brown came to Norfolk as an Officer in the RAF when he, and Pam his wife, were posted to RAF Marham. That was over 50 years ago. They bought a house, at that time divided into 2 flats, in Weasenham St Peter. Pam was not thrilled but Peter persuaded her they would probably only be there for about 3 years.
Of course, as we all know, it did not work out that way, Peter worked out the rest of his time in the RAF at Marham, Pams only compensation was that she loved their large garden.
Peter became very involved with the two churches in Weasenham, Churchwarden and Licensed Lay Reader. Pam also devoted much time to the care of St Peters.
Weasenham owes much to the Browns, they have been deeply involved in the village affairs, the Ladies Group, Art club, the Pantomime group, holding Fetes in their garden annually for many years.
Peter was always there visiting those with problems, offering a helping hand to any that were in need. The White House had a constantly open door to all.
HE WILL BE VERY SADLY MISSED. MAY HE REST IN PEACE AND RISE IN GLORY.
We are grateful to Jonathan’s numerous friends and family who made contributions which enabled The Friends of All Saints Church to purchase the seat and to those anonymous donors who h
Churchyard Burials and Memorials
Burial or the interment of cremated remains in a churchyard is a right open to all who have resided within the parish concerned. Burial in a churchyard is subject to the rules set out in the Churchyard Regulations 2016; this can be found in the Litcham Church porch or on the internet. This is a document with the authority of national law.
The regulations stress the principal of Christian burial with its emphasis on the expectation of the afterlife, rather than dwelling in detail upon the life of the deceased. They also make it clear that this is an essential difference between church burials and those in municipal cemeteries.
Although many of us find great interest in exploring older graveyards with many colourful inscriptions on the stones, the current regulations have turned their back upon such things and only permit simple stones of a limited range of materials and design, with simple inscriptions recording the name and dates of the deceased and a short message from the bereaved family. Phrases from scripture are permitted, but not other verses and most pictorial emblems are also not permitted.
Permission to erect a memorial is delegated to the rector or vicar (the incumbent) of the parish, provided that it complies with the regulations. It is normal to wait at least six months before commissioning the memorial, but the loss of a loved one can still be keenly felt and the incumbent can be put in a stressful position if demands are made that they cannot accede to within the rules. The family should therefore check that their requirements are within the regulations and ask their funeral director or mason to do the same. If an agreement cannot be achieved the proposal has to be the subject of a Faculty Application to the Diocesan Chancellor. This is a legal process incurring the inevitable delay and red tape.
Apart from disagreements about the design of memorials, there can be friction over the way in which they are subsequently decorated. The regulations are clear about what can be put on a grave. One vase against the headstone or sunk into the ground is permitted. Bulbs may be planted. There can be no other items placed upon the grave. This is partly for practical reasons when mowing grass, which is why kerbs and chippings are no longer allowed. It is also because people’s tastes in tributes varies widely and one person’s tribute can upset another tending a nearby grave. Lanterns, lights, ornaments, balloons etc. are all ruled out, as are plastic flowers and wreaths. Given that churchyards are invariably sanctuaries for wild life, distracting lights and plastic toxins are clearly harmful. Although a grave can be a focal point for grieving, the Christian teaching is that the deceased is not there.
Churches and their churchyards are regularly inspected by the Archdeacon during his quaintly named ‘Visitation.’ The incumbent and churchwardens are held responsible for upholding the regulations. We have all seen coverage in the press of how heated matters can get when the rules are invoked and no one wants to cause upset over such a sensitive issue. We always try to discuss any difficulties with the family concerned, rather than remove unsuitable items without warning, but there are times when this is not effective. The clergy and wardens therefore ask that all those tending graves in any of our churchyards be mindful of the rules and avoid the risk of disagreement.
Litcham All Saints, Churchwardens
USED STAMPS
If anyone collects stamps from their Christmas cards and is looking for a worthy cause. I shall be sending a parcel to Embrace the charity that supports hospitals and schools in Palestine.
Please drop them into your local church.
Contacts
Team Rector: Revd Miriam Fife
All enquiries should be directed to the Benefice Administrator:
Alison Steward on lunbenefice@outlook.com or phone 07392 027 767,
Church Wardens
Mr J. O. Birkbeck, Litcham Hall, Lexham Rd.
Mr R. C. Vogt, The Cottage, Pound Lane
PCC Secretary
Mrs. Karen Moore, Point House, Back Street.
Telephone 01328 700313
Fees are payable to visiting clergy only for the Sunday Eucharist (Holy Communion)
and where appropriate for officiating at Baptisms, Marriages and Funerals
Welcome to Litcham 