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Odell Church News - July & August 2015
Farewell to
Meg Clark who passed away peacefully on Friday May 29th.
Click here to download her service of
celebration
Click here to download John
Weaver's talk from July 19th (Building and breaking down walls part1)
(Building and breaking down walls
part2)
Click here to download John
Weaver's talk from June 21st (Freedom from Fear)
Click here to download John
Weaver's talk from May 17th (Witness of the Gospel)
Click here to download John
Weaver's talk from April 19th (Being a Christian)
Click here to download John
Weaver's talk from March 15th (Mothering Sunday)
Click here to download John
Weaver's talk from February 1st (Meditation)
Click here to download John
Weaver's talk from January 18th (Simeon)
Notice to
Hymn choosers - click here to see
available Hymns
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ART EXHIBITION & SALE
All Saints Church – Odell, Beds MK43 7AA
Bank Holiday Weekend
29th, 30th, & 31st August 2015
2.00pm until 5pm
Now is the time to reveal your
hidden talents!
If you would like to exhibit
your paintings or photographs, please contact Catherine Corkery for
an application form.
Tel: 01234 720348 e-mail:
catherinelcorkery@yahoo.co.uk.
Closing date for applications:
Friday 14th August.
Hanging fee - £2.00 per
painting
(fees waived for artwork
by children under 16)
Entry for visitors £2
(children under 16 free)
Light refreshments available
each day
Proceeds in aid of Church
funds.
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Hi Everyone,
We all like holidays: sunshine;
rest; refreshment; getting away from it all; visiting new places; and swimming
in warm azure seas. But then there may be rain, traffic jams, caravans, bored
children, and inflated package deal prices. Some of my holiday memories as
a child are summed up by Welsh comedian Max Boyce’s Ode to Barry Island:
I remember
Miner’s Fortnight when I was just a lad
We’d go to Barry
Island, the weather always bad
In a brand new
shirt and shoes that hurt,
The ones Mam
saved to buy
To go to Barry
Island on that last week in July
I’m on the
beach, it’s Sunday; I’ve got a friend called Russ
I’ll have to buy
another bucket, left mine on the bus.
I’ve cut my
foot, it’s bleeding
My cousin says,
“You’ll die, and we’ll bury you
in Barry Island”
on the last week in July.
But our word ‘holiday’ comes
from holy days, Sabbaths, a time to reflect, and time for God.
In the Catholic Church on
Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to
participate in the Mass, and abstain from those works and affairs which hinder
the worship to be rendered to God.
The Feast of Saints Peter and
Paul is such a holy day, remembering their martyrdom in Rome, which is observed
on 29th June. There is also the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven, when
according to the beliefs of the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and parts
of Anglicanism, the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end
of her earthly life took place. This is celebrated on August 15th.
The former chief rabbi,
Jonathan Sacks observes that on the Sabbath, Jews do not work, nor are they
permitted to employ others to work. All relationships of hierarchy and
dominance are temporarily suspended, one day in seven. During the six weekdays,
we think of ourselves as creators. On the seventh, we become aware that we are
also creations - part of the natural world order, whose integrity we are bidden
to respect. The Sabbath is thus the most compelling lesson in human dignity,
environmental consciousness, and the principle that there are moral limits to
economic exchange and commercial exploitation. It is one of the great antidotes
to commercialization and materialism.
Therefore to rest on the
seventh day is not just to have time off work, it is to remember who we are,
what we are, and why we are here. Every aspect of our lives individually and
collectively is to be viewed in the light of the Creator’s intentions for us.
How we spend our time determines the quality of our lives, as well as the
quality we can add to the lives of others.
Happy
holidays,
John Weaver
Prayer Group
What is the Prayer Group? It
is made up of members of All Saints’ Church who undertake to pray regularly, on
an individual basis, for people who ask us for prayer support.
Who do we pray for? Anyone
whom we are asked to remember; these might be people from our church, from our
local community or others known to us.
What do we pray about?
Anything which you would like brought before God; maybe anxiety due to illness,
stress or loneliness. You can also tell us of a special day you wish to be
remembered – perhaps for an interview or an exam. Any information will be
treated in strictest confidence.
How can you let us know if you
would like us to pray for you? You can telephone Madeline Jeeves (720803) and
email mgjeeves@yahoo.com.
Odell Village Fete and Dog Show
After a week of watching weather forecasts,
on the day our worst fears were confirmed – the rain came and stayed for the
whole day. The fete ground was saturated, stall holders were wet through and
tables, chairs and goods all got a good drenching. However – despite this, a
spirit of resolution and determination permeated stall holders and fete-goers
alike, and the fete went on! Although numbers were down on other years, people
still came from far and wide, many with their dogs, to support and indeed enjoy
the event, and fun was had by everyone. Thank you to everyone who helped at or
attended the fete and made the afternoon such fun in spite of the rain!
See Village News for more pictures
from the fete
Seniors’ Holiday Club
Don’t let children have all
the fun! Come to a Holiday Club for adults!
Open to anyone over 50.
August 17th – 21st.
Programme
Date Activity
Monday 17th Outing by
coach to the Chiltern Open Air Museum at Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire.
Described as a ‘hidden gem’, there are over 30 rescued historic buildings in
parkland, including a 1940’s prefab, Victorian Toll house, Iron Age Roundhouse
and Victorian Farm. Tour or audio guide available. Café
Cost: £15 including coach and
entry to the museum
Tuesday 18th 12.00 -
Lunch at the URC, followed by entertainment.
Cost: £6 for 2 courses, £6.75
for 3. 50p for tea and entertainment only.
Wednesday 19th 6.00pm
skittles and fish and chip supper at the Harrold Centre.
Cost: £6
Thursday 20th Walk at
Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, Little Paxton, Cambs. Lakes, riverside meadow, reed
beds and woodland in the Great Ouse Valley north of St. Neots, followed by lunch
at The Anchor pub. Lifts by car arranged.
Cost: Pub lunch, varied menu.
Friday 21st 3.00pm:
afternoon tea in a village garden.
Cost: £3 per person.
All events must be booked in
advance please. Registration forms available from Sally Bailey 368564 or
churchestogether@btinternet.com or Church House Office or Churches or Carlton
Village Shop.
Meeting
Point
July
1st 10.30am at Jane Smith’s,
Horsefair Lane
15th 10.30am at Madeline
Jeeves’s, Rivendell, 15 Horsefair Lane
29th 10.30am at Catherine’s,
The Stables, Church Walk, Harrold
August
No meetings in August
September
2nd 10.30am at Eileen Nottage’s,
Heydown, High St.
Meg
Clark
11th January 1934 – 29th May 2015
On the 29th May we lost a dear
member of the community and of the church in Odell. Meg Clark gave up her fight
with cancer and died peacefully and with dignity in her home in Harrold. At her
funeral service in All Saints’ Church in Odell on 10th June, the church was
packed with members of Meg’s large family of children, grandchildren and great
grandchildren but also with many people from Odell and surrounding villages, in
which Meg had played so active a role for much of her life.
Moving tributes to Meg were
read by granddaughter Danielle, on behalf of Meg’s daughter Sharon who was
unable to attend due to illness, and by Catherine Corkery on behalf of Meg’s
daughter Julie. Particularly poignant were the poems read by younger members of
Meg’s family, but it was a poem written by granddaughter Anita that left few
eyes dry. The outpouring of love for Meg by her family gave testimony to the
warmth and compassion that Meg showed to everyone throughout her life.
Meg’s life was far from
ordinary. She was born very prematurely, and, not expected to survive, was
placed in a wicker basket by the fire and left to pass away quietly. However –
Meg astounded everyone by surviving and went on to live for 81 years. With her
typical sense of humour, Meg requested that she have a wicker coffin when she
died, since, she said, she began life in a basket and so would like to end life
in one too!
Meg came to Bedfordshire when
she was just five, and lived here ever since. It was during her first marriage
that she became a foster mother, giving a home to an astonishing thirty four
children (at least) until they were able to go somewhere permanent. Sadly that
marriage failed, and Meg was left destitute with sons Stephen, Philip and Paul.
However, happier times were to come and Meg met and married her second husband
Ken Denton, with whom she had daughters Julie and Sharon. The family purchased
land in Odell and built a bungalow, and that was how Meg became part of the
community of Odell.
In her tribute, Julie told us
how Meg’s care for others continued in Odell as she unofficially looked after
older folk, and then became a home help. Meg and Ken also ran the Afternoon
Club for a few years. Yet Meg’s kindness extended beyond any official capacity
and was part of her everyday life: her door was always open to others in need,
she always had a listening ear and a readiness to help, and that help was to
every living creature, including the many stray or injured animals to whom she
gave a home.
From the tributes and poems of
the family we saw how Meg was so very loved and played such an important part in
all their lives, welcoming, encouraging, consoling, supporting. There was
always room for each one of them in her sitting room, and always a drink and a
piece of cake, and of course, a listening ear.
Meg moved out of Odell eleven
years ago, swapping her bungalow for a house in Harrold, but she continued to
attend Odell church and was a much loved member of the congregation. Meg had
sadness in her life – particularly the loss of son Stephen, daughter Bernadette
and her husband Ken. But Meg’s faith was deep and of great comfort to her, so
that when she learned that she had cancer she took the news stoically, refused
the radical and intrusive treatments that were offered to her said quietly that
she was at peace in herself and with the Lord and was ready to go to heaven.
Meg’s funeral was a sad
farewell by all to such a generous and loving lady, but at the same time was an
occasion overflowing with love. The love Meg gave out during her life was felt
by everyone and repaid in full, symbolised so beautifully by the dropping by
each person present of a red stem rose into Meg’s grave – a showering of the
affection and gratitude that Meg so deserved.
Tricia
Hudson
Click here to download a recording of her service of
celebration
All Saints’ Church Charitable Giving for the months of July and August is
to
Open Doors
This Evangelical organisation supports the
persecuted church and Christians worldwide – providing Bibles and teaching
materials, training for church leaders, practical and financial help, literacy
programmes and community development projects. See the notice board in the
church for more information.
All Saints’ Church Flower Rota
July
5th Sheila Weaver
18th Wedding
August
2nd Madeline Jeeves
9th Songs of Praise in Harrold
16th Georgina Harrison
30th Eileen Shakespeare, Jen
Cuddeford
Birthdays
Happy birthday to :
Elin Thomas on 30th
June and also to
Jasmine Hall on 30th
July,
And to anyone with a birthday
in July and August.
Diary
July
1st 10.30am Meeting Point at
Jane Smith’s, Horsefair Lane
2nd 10.30am Health Walk, HOCP
14th 12.30pm W.I. BBQ at Rachel
Halton’s, Greystones, Odell Rd.
15th 10.30am Meeting Point at
Madeline’s, 15 Horsefair Lane
16th 10.30am Health walk, HOCP
26th 11.00am Mill Theatre Open
Day
27th 10.00am Friends’ Task day,
HOCP
29th 10.30am Meeting Point at
Catherine’s, The Stables, Church Walk, Harrold
August
3rd-7th Daring Detectives
Holiday Club
13th 10.30am Health Walk, HOCP
17th -21st Seniors’ Holiday
Club, Carlton
27th 10.30am Health Walk, HOCP
29th 2.00pm Art Exhibition and
Sale, All Saints’ Church, Odell
30th “ “ “ “
31st “ “ “ “
September
2nd 10.30am Meeting Point at
Eileen Nottage’s, Heydown, High St.
Magazine Deadline
Please send all entries for the
September 2015 magazine to Tricia Hudson (ed at odellbeds.net) or Catherine
Corkery by August 12th at the latest. May we remind you that the editorial team
exercises the right to edit, shorten or alter any items that are submitted.
Also, the opinions expressed in the articles are those of the contributors and
are not the responsibility of the editorial team.
Last revised:
July 22, 2015.