Dear Friends,

Lent begins this month, on the 22nd of February, Ash Wednesday.
Are you going to keep Lent? And what might it mean to keep Lent anyway? In his poem 'To keep a true Lent', Robert Herrick, the 17th Century country poet and parson, asks this question: What does it mean to keep a true Lent?

Is it, he asks, to give up certain food: meat, for example - to keep the larder ‘lean and clean from fat of veales and sheep' – but yet still to fill the platter high with fish?  Giving up lamb chops in favour of smoked salmon would hardly be a penance.

Or is it to fast and go about looking downcast and with a sour countenance? Herrick’s answer is that both these are false ways of keeping Lent.  A true fast he says is to share the good things we have with those who are not so fortunate: 'to dole thy sheaf of wheat, and meat, unto the hungry soul.'  To be generous and charitable in other words.

He goes on to say that Lent is not so much about abstaining from food and drink as about fasting from strife and old quarrels and hatreds: giving up those things which are truly harmful to the soul.  It's not about letting your larder bin fall empty, but about starving sin.

Herrick reminds us that there must be something positive about the way that we keep Lent.  It is not simply a matter of giving things up on the physical level - food and drink, say - but about taking the opportunity of this season of the forty days before Easter to do something more positive with the way we live.
 
Herrick questions whether there's any value in making oneself miserable and uncomfortable, supposedly for God's sake.  Perhaps this was something he associated with the Puritans.  He was writing at a time of conflict between Cavalier and Roundhead, and it is clear that he was not of the Puritan persuasion.  In fact he was ejected from his parish living in the time of Cromwell’s commonwealth.  But he still says that we must refrain from strife, from old debate and hate in order to live the Christian life and keep a true Lent.

Living the Christian life is not always easy, but just because it is a serious matter it does not have to be a gloomy one.  As Herrick says, fasting is not about being sour-faced and gloomy.  And even though we mark the season liturgically by abstaining from flowers and not singing the Gloria, so that the Church is a more sombre place than usual, we should not pretend during Lent that Christ is not really already risen from the dead.  Lent is not about fooling ourselves that Easter hasn’t already happened.  In truth, the light of Easter shines through the whole of Lent so that it is still a bright season, not a gloomy one.  Lent should be a time of lightness, of discarding what is inessential – and remember that happiness consists in knowing what one can do without – in order to run the race that is before us, looking unto Jesus.

With love and prayers,
Richard

Where There's a Will...
By Veronica Robinson, Hon. Treasurer, St Michael’s, Bray

There’s a famous saying that the only two absolute certainties in life are death and taxes. Yet we all struggle with the idea of getting older, we want to do what’s right, but put off taking the necessary steps to make life easier for our families and friends. We all believe that there’s plenty of time for all that in the future.

A will is one way in which we can make life much easier for those we leave behind. I speak from experience here – my father died very suddenly and it was a huge relief to all of his family to find that not only did he have an up to date will, but he had also written his funeral service (he was a Vicar!).  I have also some experience of the reverse situation, having a close friend whose father also died suddenly, but with no will written, matters are still unresolved three years later, greatly adding to her grief and stress.
On a personal basis, I would urge everyone to consider writing a will, or updating an existing will. It is also important to ensure that any will is correctly drawn up, and it is well worth while involving a qualified solicitor to ensure that your wishes are not only crystal clear, but also legally binding.

Obviously, what anyone puts in their will is entirely private and their own business. However, in my capacity as Treasurer, I would like to mention that legacies are very important to the church here at Bray. So if you are considering a few charitable bequests once your family and friends are provided for, please spare a thought for St. Michael’s.

We are planning to distribute a personal letter in the coming months, enclosing a leaflet which you may find helpful. Of course, this is a very personal and private matter, and we would not expect you to let us know how you respond.  However, please speak to Jim Tucker or Tony Ellison if you would like any guidance.

Royal Visitors to Bray

We have received the following from a shepherd based in the Bray area. We hope the dialect will not give readers too many problems.

‘Twere a chilly evening back December-time, us was out in the fields as usual, minding the sheep, and us own business. All of a sudden, up do rush the Amahl boy, he that lives with his mum in that tumble-down shack of a place. Poor old crippled lad ‘n is too. “What be up boy?” us asked, but he weren’t ‘aving none of it. Seems some real posh blokes was down ‘is mum’s ‘ouse, and ‘e wanted us to come see.

Next thing, we’m all gwain down the village, and loads of people was already there, gawping at the three of ‘em, proper kings I reckon. Us danced along past the folk  - I dunno why they found that so funny – till us got to the ‘ouse. I scarce recognised the place, all poshed up with lights n’that, they say some Ian chap done all the work. Must have ‘ad loads of helpers.

So what could us do for they kings? Well, sang a bit of a song, gave ‘em our food (some of the women forgot what us had!) and the little maid Katrina done a dance with some kiddies, lovely ‘twas too. But them kings was tired, so us went then.They was off at dawn, looking for some baby afar off. ‘E must have been special, for them to traipse all that way.

Someone said Amahl went too, bless ‘im, and he have been cured. “Geddaway”, says I, “he never ‘ave. That stuff don’t happen round yer.”

2012 - A Special Year for our Bells
from Graham Firman, Tower Captain

It was in 1612 that one of our bells was cast. The fourth bell of our ring of eight bells bears the inscription: HENRI KNIGHT MADE THIS BELL ANO 1612 + RG HP EL TW

This bell, now 400 years old, is the oldest in the tower. The remaining bells were cast at various times over the following 336 years, but the fifth bell is only one year younger than the fourth, being cast by the same founder in 1613. Perhaps the parishioners were so pleased with their initial bell that they decided to order another!

So who was Henry Knight? I had a summer job during my student days working in one of the two remaining bell foundries in the country, but sadly that does not make me an expert on bell founders! However, I have several books on ringing and he is mentioned as being a founder based in Reading who cast many bells that are still used in churches in south east England.

It’s amazing to think that this bell has been calling parishioners to services every week for 400 years. The bell itself is just as it was when it was cast except for being retuned in 1985 when all the bells were rehung in a new frame. It requires no maintenance, but the clapper, rope, and other moving parts of the installation are looked after by our steeplekeeper John Noakes who spends many hours in the tower to ensure everything is in good working order.

St Michael's Bellringers

Christmas seems quite a long time ago now, but despite some of our number being scattered across the country for the festive season we managed to ring for all the Christmas services and for New Year’s Eve as planned - no problems with the weather this time.

This month brings our Tower AGM when we shall gather in St. Michael’s Hall to review the past year and make plans for the year ahead. 

Our ‘tower dinner’ this year is to depart from tradition and will be a ‘skittles evening’ so that ringers’ families can be included.

The Search

(Written by the late Sheila Briggs for the International Year of the Child and published at the request of  Lynda Jones.)

Holyport W.I.

On Thursday the 8th December Holyport W.I. celebrated their Christmas meeting with a glass of wine, followed by the President for the evening Pauline L wishing us all a very happy Christmas. This meeting was a members’ meeting, with some of our own members entertaining us for the evening.

Pat M provided Christmas flowers for the President’s table, and Pauline welcomed Judy Palmer from the County Federation. Members were reminded to try to collect toiletries, for the Royal Berkshire Hospital for the January meeting, a sample of which was held up so that members could see how the packs might be put together. Pauline J our secretary reported on a good turn out for the Remembrance Day service on Holyport Green, about 200 people attended this event.

Diane entertained us with her rendition on 'Windsor' chairs, these chairs two in total had come to light after visiting a local furniture manufacturers where she discovered that it was possible that a member of the family may have possessed some. On inspection and a return to the recently visited furniture manufacturer's she realised one was a 'Stokenchurch' chair the other a 'Windsor' chair.

These two chairs had been made from several selected pieces of English Elm, Ash and Birch. Originally thought to be from Eton College and dating back from between the 1850's to 1880's. The chairs are now fully restored and are back with the original owners.

Anne and Jean gave an interesting talk on their day with Heston Blumenthal, the two members shared a day with Heston, this time on jam making, part of a series which is due to come out on TV before Christmas or in the New Year. Anne said how much they had enjoyed themselves and the cream tea that followed. A quiz was next on the agenda, all members participated in the subject 'Chocolates and sweets', a lot of fun was had trying to name that sweet. The winning team received a box of chocolates. The committee had provided the refreshments for the evening, mince pies, cakes and sandwiches. Christmas cards where duly distributed and the winner of the 'Best wrapped present' announced. 1st was Shirley W, with second Shaun, Betty C third.

Meetings and Events for February

WOMEN'S INSTITUTES

HOLYPORT
Thursday, 9th February at 7.45 p.m. in Holyport War Memorial Hall.

MONEYROW GREEN
Monday, 27th February at 2.00 p.m. in Holyport War Memorial Hall.
Speaker - Mrs. B. Askew - H.M. The Queen - A Diamond Jubilee.

BRAY SOCIETY
Tuesday, 7th February at 8.00 p.m. in Bray Village Hall.
Dr. Peter Gasson - “Behind the Scenes at Kew”
An introduction to somee of the important and varied scientific work which goes on behind the
scenes at our great botanic garden.

MOBILE LIBRARY
16th February
The Bridge, Paley Street           11.20 - 11.35
Lyngfield Park                          13.45 - 14.00
Brayfield Road                         14.10 - 14.40
Walker Road                            14.50 - 15.20

MUSIC AT BRAY, ST MICHAEL'S CHURCH
SUNDAY 12 February 3.00 p.m.

Ellipsis...
Jane Dixon- Wayne - Flute
Melanie Ragge - Oboe
Susanna Stranders - Piano

Ellipsis returns with a potpourri of solos, duos and trios from the
characterful woodwind repertoire of Europe across the ages