January 2004
Churchwardens: Mrs. J. H. Mannings, Mr. J. R. Wyld
On Sunday, 11th January we celebrate the Baptism of Christ.
The first words ever written about Jesus in the Gospels tell us of his baptism by St John in the river Jordan (Mark 1. 9-11).
As Jesus came up out of the water "immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased."
The heavens are described by Mark as being "torn apart". He deliberately uses the language of violence to describe the cosmic event. Why should this be?
To find the answer we need to understand that the Baptism of Jesus signals the beginning of his career. After being baptized, Jesus goes immediately to the desert, to be tested before beginning his public ministry.
We then need to look at what happened at the very end of Jesus' earthly career. At the moment of his death, the Veil of the Temple is torn in two from top to bottom. Again there is the language of violence, and again there is a "tearing apart". Until a few years ago I found this description of the tearing of the Veil of the Temple as being very peculiar. I knew that the traditional symbolism of the tearing of the Veil represented the inclusion of the Gentiles into the presence of God; now it was not only the Jews who could enter the Holy of Holies, where God was believed to have dwelt on earth; all people could approach God through the death of Jesus.
Something was missing in this description of the Veil being torn. I then learned what Mark's readers would have known. I read a description of the Veil by the Jewish historian Josephus. Far from being a thin translucent veil (as I had imagined it to be), the Outer Veil was a heavy cloth, an enormous curtain 80 feet in height.
Josephus describes it as a
Babylonian tapestry, with embroidery of blue and fine linen, of scarlet also and purple, wrought with marvelous skill. Nor was this mixture of materials without its mystic meaning: it typified the universe....
Then Josephus tells us what was pictured on this curtain:
Portrayed on this tapestry was a panorama of the entire heavens.... [emphasis mine]
Anyone who heard that the Veil of the Temple had been torn apart would have understood this to mean that the heavens had been torn apart!
They would have thought back to the first mention of the heavens being torn apart at Jesus' baptism and would have seen that these two events were present at the beginning and end of Jesus' earthly life. This literary device is known as an "inclusio" - the two events of heaven being opened in this way stand like bookends, one at each end of the story of Jesus' life in Mark's Gospel.
As we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus this month, let us also be aware of his death, that through both events, the heavens have been opened (albeit with violence) and the presence of God has come down to earth - into the lives of you and me.
How do we respond to such a wonderful act of love?
Hugh Bonsey
Source: "The Heavenly Veil Torn: Mark's Cosmic "Inclusio" by David Ulansey. Originally published in Journal of Biblical Literature 110:1 (1991)
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CHURCH NEWS Wellow School dedicated their Carol Service held in St. Julian’s Church on Friday, 12th December to Father Hugh who will be leaving at the end of February to be Priest in Charge of five parishes just outside Salisbury. The headmistress Sarah Jones, welcomed everyone and told a packed congregation of the activities the children had taken part in, singing in Bath Abbey and the Forum, and retaining the football cup for the second year running to name but a few. The Service was excellent with some lovely descants by the choir, hand bells were played, and the orchestra performed to a very high standard. The little ones were not forgotten and performed a nativity tableau which was also very good. After the service mince pies and tea or coffee was served in the school hall, thanks are due to all who train the children to such a high standard.
On Sunday, 14th December at 2.45 pm a special children’s event was held with first a workshop making angels, stars, paper chains, and tree decorations and a special bird table. Jo Vening our Reader welcomed everyone and after prayers a short play was performed about a Robin who lost his tree to find it had been taken to be the Christmas tree in the local church illustrating the true meaning of Christmas. Refreshments served by two ladies from Manor Close ended the afternoon; again the church was full which was good to see.
On Monday, 15th December at 7.30 pm the Somervale group of Women’s Institutes held their Carol Service, with the Revd Hugh Bonsey officiating. Around sixty attended, heard readings, and poems, between carols from one member of each institute in the group. Miss Pauline Preddy was the organist for this service and was presented with a small gift. Unfortunately a guest singer Mr. Leslie Layzell went down with a cold and sore throat so was unable to perform, the group secretary wished him a speedy recovery. Coffee and mince pies were served after this service and collection of £68.61 will be sent to local Mencap.
On going to press we look forward to our candle lit service on Sunday, 21st December and hope the church will once again be packed out for this. We hope as many of you as possible will attend church during 2004 while the interregnum takes place to keep our church of St. Julian’s going. All that remains now is on behalf of St. Julian’s Church to wish everyone a healthy, happy and peaceful New Year. Churchwardens
FREDDIE MATTHEWS I should like to thank everyone who sent cards and letters of sympathy and flowers on Freddie’s sudden death – they have been a great comfort to me and all the family. Thank you also for donations given for the national Asthma Campaign and to those who helped me in other ways. Jennifer Matthews
WELLOW AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY The New Year is here and there is an exciting programme in the pipeline which will be sent with the Membership Cards for 2004. Can you let Janet Plater, the Membership Secretary, The Station, Station Road, Wellow – Telephone 837944, have your subs. For family membership - £10; for individual membership - £6.00. The first meeting will be on Thursday 26th February at the Village Hall – a Quiz evening at 7.30 pm for 8 pm start. So do start collecting your team. Even if you are not a member please come along.
JUNIOR GARDENING CLUB the first meeting of the year will be on Sunday, 18th January, Village Hall, 10.30 am – 12.00 noon. For more details contact Lisa Layzell-Davis 309007 Libby Kerr
GO GREEN AT THE PARLOUR! Happy New Year! And if you want to make it a Green one you can buy B&NES' new garden waste sacks at the shop, at the standard price of 35p. See the "Re-think Rubbish" leaflet for details.
We have also started stocking Fair Trade products. Tea and instant coffee are already available. No reports on the tea yet, but I can recommend the coffee. It's dearer than the usual instant, but worth it for the flavour and for the fact that the growers are getting a fair price. Try it! Marian Osborne
WELLOW AMATEUR DRAMATIC SOCIETY By popular request we are planning two Murder Mystery supper evenings on Friday, 26th and Saturday, 27th March 2004 - plenty of time to practice your sleuthing!!!! More information after Christmas, meanwhile put the dates in your new Diaries. We all enjoyed the previous Murder Mystery evenings they were great fun to organize and rehearse, however we would be delighted to welcome new members not necessarily to act on stage but perhaps with a bent for electrics, lighting, special effects, sound, make up, setting up the props, making tea, helping with the suppers etc, etc, the list is endless. If we are able to enlist more helpers we plan to hold a pre Christmas Spectacle next year. For further information please contact Mary Messer on 01225 832732 or Joy Fortune on 01225 319584
WINNERS OF THE VILLAGE HALL 150 CLUB PRIZE DRAW FOR DECEMBER
|
1st |
£30.00 |
Mr. E. Otten |
No. 63 |
|
2nd |
£11.00 |
Mrs. L. Bailey |
No. 3 |
|
3rd |
£7.00 |
Mr. J. Halle |
No 72 |
|
4th |
£5.00 |
Mrs. G. Russel |
No. 7 |
Thank you for your support B Messer Chairman
FROM THE PAST
Within a few years of his induction, a young Rev Le G G Horton began a series of 'school treats'. On these occasions the children enjoyed a tea and entertainments, 'Swings etc, and an Aunt Sally;'. The Aunt Sally was a face painted on a board with pipes, purchased by the dozen, placed in the mouth of the image where they could be smashed by a well aimed throw with a baton. Thomas Montague, a village carpenter, was paid to erect and remove the swings and the other entertainments; children who lived at a distance were sometimes brought to the village on farm wagons.
One of the early 'Treats' was held in July 1888; Shoscombe, Double Hill and Single Hill were within the parish then and a combined total of 210 children with 20 teachers and helpers attended. And what a feast they had; 38 lbs of meat, 12 quarten loaves, 2 doz pots of jam, buns, mixed sweets, 10 lbs of seed cake and an astounding 170lbs of plum cake costing 4d per pound. Everything was washed down with tea made with three pounds of tea and 12 pounds of sugar. Total cost for everything, £6-7s-2d. At the close many children were given prizes of books, and those cost a further £4-11s-3d.
We can imagine many tired happy children returning home at the end of the day.
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Many in the village knew Gilbert Sumpsion and that it was he who carved the figure of St Julian above the church porch, ('Hughie' in December's newsletter). Thanks for telling me, I am always quite happy to have a prod in the ribs whenever I make a mistake. Gordon Hewlett
NEWSLETTER Please may I have all copy for the Newsletter by 20th January. It can be left in the shop or delivered to me at St. Julian’s Well. If you miss the deadline give me a ring it may not be too late. If you have email that would be very helpful. Thank you very much.
Jill Tremellen 833506 email julians.well@virgin.net