As you receive this Newsletter we should be at the start of Holy Week –that most solemn week of the church’s year when we re-enact the last few days of Our Lord’s earthly ministry before his crucifixion.

Just as in the Mystery Play ‘The Passion’, we begin on Palm Sunday with Jesus joyful entry into Jerusalem and trace the story through to the final agony and ignominy of the cross. In church on Palm Sunday we shall bless and distribute the palms. On Maundy Thursday, we shall break bread together in the Eucharist, as Jesus did with His disciples at the Last Supper. On Good Friday morning we shall walk the way of the cross, remembering the stages in Jesus painful last journey through the streets of Jerusalem. At 2.00pm on Good Friday, we shall watch at the foot of the cross as we remember Jesus’ last hour on the cross as His life slowly ebbed away – all traces of His life on earth are removed from church and it seems as if evil has triumphed.

Of course, on Easter Day the re-enactment moves on – to that great and glorious moment when we know that Christ has conquered death. When we rejoice that even the bitterest evil men can contrive, cannot overcome the power of God’s love – when we know that in our deepest agonies there is God and there is hope.

One of the most powerful parts of the Passion narrative for me is the way that Jesus friends desert Him after his arrest and during His trial – even Peter who swears he will die with Jesus, when the time comes, he too runs away. I sometimes feel that we do this in our observance of the Easter Mysteries. I know that on Easter Day the church will be full of light and flowers and music and people – and I rejoice that this is so. Equally I grieve that so few of us will spare time to share the last meal with Jesus on Maundy Thursday, or to walk the way of the cross on Good Friday, and most of all, to watch during the last hour. In life too, it is easy to rejoice with our friends over their good news, it takes courage and character to watch and wait with the hurt and the dying.

The play ‘The Passion’ brought home very forcibly the horror of death on the cross – I pray that this Easter there will be many who will be able to share the pain of the cross with Jesus on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, that we may not run away as most of the disciples did, so that we may share more fully in the glory and triumph of His resurrection on Easter Day.

I wish you all a Holy and Joyful Easter

Yours in the joy of the risen Christ

Jo Spray

Our Church Annual Meetings will be held this year on Tuesday 17th April at 7.30pm in Church. This is your chance to have your say in how our church is run and to elect those who will represent you on the PCC for the next year. Please check that your name is on the electoral roll at the back of church, this enables you to vote at the meeting. If you would like to stand for PCC please speak to me or to one of the wardens. Every five years a full inspection of the church takes place. At the end of the meeting our architect, Bruce Deacon, will talk to us about his latest inspection of the church building and explain what needs to be done.

Jo Spray

Don’t forget our Songs of Praise evening on Sunday 29^th April! It is your chance to choose your favourite hymn – and we hope there will be time to sing them all! It starts at 5.00pm so that families can come together and we shall have some refreshment afterwards – if this fine spell of weather continues, we may even be able to enjoy the fresh air in the churchyard! There is a box at the back of church and some paper for you to write down your favourite.

Several people have expressed interest in coming to confirmation classes and I have heard from the Rural Dean that it is our turn to host the service – so Bishop Richard is booked for Tuesday 26^th June.

A first meeting for all who have expressed interest in coming to classes will be held on Sunday 15^th April at 4.00pm in The Rectory. Initially this will be for adults and young people but we shall probably fix times to meet separately. Do let me know if you are interested – especially if you cannot come to the meeting. If it is some years since you were confirmed and feel like following the course as a ‘refresher’ you will be very welcome.

Jo Spray

The choir ‘Cantamus’ will be singing in our church on Saturday 28^th April as part of the Ouse Valley Arts Festival. They will be singing works that include Hubert Parry: Songs of Farewell and Scarlatti: Stabat Mater. Details of booking and other festival events can be found on the brochures at the back of church.

Easter is the most important and the most joyous of all festivals. Through the death of Jesus on Good Friday we have forgiveness of sins; in his resurrection on Easter Sunday we have a new life for ever.

After the Sabbath, as Sunday morning was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake and angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled the stone away, and sat on it. His appearance was like lightening, and his clothes were as white as snow. The guards were so afraid that they trembled and became like dead men. The angel spoke to the women. "You must not be afraid" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; he has been raised from death, and now he is going to Galilee ahead of you; there you will see him! Remember what I have told you. So they left the tomb in a hurry, afraid and yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "peace be with you." They came up to him, took hold of his feet and worshipped him.

People through the ages have responded to God’s gift of forgiveness and new life at Easter by giving to the poor. These customs are called "Dole Customs" and the money given "Dole Money" – the word "dole" for state benefits comes from the same Old English root. One such custom was started by Eliza and Mary Chucklhurst from Biddenden Kent. These ladies were ilopagus twins joined at the shoulder and hip. They died and left land to the village on the understanding that any revenue from that land should be used each year to give bread, cheese, tea and cakes to the poor. The cakes are stamped with a picture of the sisters along with their date of birth, 100, and the age at which they died, thirty four.

Enormous thanks to all who worked so hard to make this such a memorable production. We still have one more to go – watch this space for details of ‘Doomsday’!

Easter Activities for Children

This popular workshop for children up to the age of 10 will take place on Wednesday, 4^th April, 10-11:30 a.m. in the Manor Room. All offers of help with refreshments or activities would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Sarah Beecham 881688.

The church will be decorated for Easter Sunday on Saturday 7th April, if you would like to help please contact Anne Claypole White 881661.

Congratulations to Claire and Ian on the birth of their daughter Keziah, a sister for Anya.

The Baptism will take place on Sunday 1st April of Oliver Watts son of Emma and Dale (formerly of Tandy’s Close)

Sincere sympathies to the family of Eve Kent

The next coffee morning is to be held at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday 14^th April at Fairholme, Station Road by kind invitation of Tony and Mary Smith. There will be a raffle and bring-and-buy stall for which contributions, especially cakes and produce would be very welcome. If anyone needs transport, please contact Anne Claypole White 881661. Last months coffee morning raised £215. Many thanks to Bill and Noemi Littler for hosting and to everyone who helped and supported it.

All Christians as we celebrate Easter

All Christians who are persecuted for their faith

The people of the Holy Land, and for peace in that region.

W.W. How 1826-1897

Over a thousand years ago the Anglo-Saxons, who were Christians, called the three days before Easter Day the Still Days. All was silent and people waited in sadness and expectancy for the joy of Easter Day. In Germany the Friday before Easter is still called Ser Stille Freittag. Children often ask why the saddest day of the year is called Good Friday. The obvious answer is that although it is sad because we remember Jesus’ death, it is also a happy day, because through his death, we can know forgiveness and be reconciled to God. The Saxons and Danes called it Long Friday and in Danish the name is Langfreday. Some Eastern churches refer to the day as Great Friday. Although Good Friday is a solemn day it is important not to let it be dull so that children grow up dreading it. For this reason it is a good idea to keep some special things special to Good Friday. Hot cross buns an old English recipe is good to make the day before and let the dough rise overnight and bake in the morning. Let the children also make Easter cards or decorate eggs.

Those of us who were able to go to St Albans Abbey for the Vision for Action Celebrations had a really good day. It was nice to feel part of our Diocese instead of feeling that we are tucked away on the edge unacknowledged. You will see a photo of part of the Turvey Mysteries in this month’s See Round. This year Bishop Desmond Tutu is to be the guest at the Alban Festival on Saturday 23^rd June. The Festival begins in Verulam Park then there is a walk to the Abbey for prayers and services – various other activities take place during the day. If there is sufficient interest, I will a book a coach and arrange for us to go together. Please sign the list at the back of church if you are interested – this should be a particularly good day for families. The cost of transport obviously depends on the number of people who want to go, but we expect it to be in the region of £10 per head with a joint rate for families to be decided! Jo Spray

The Fair-trade stall held in Church last month raised £100. Thanks to all who supported the event. David and Janet Seaton.

The next meeting is to be held on the 26^th April 2007 in St. Peters room Sharnbrook at 7:30 p.m. Mrs Jade Chippeton will be the guest speaker. Please contact Betty Hewett if you need more information on 881738.

Rob was born in Nottingham in 1942, his father was a policeman and later a superintendent and his mother was a housewife. Both were staunch Methodists and when the family moved to Wollaton in Notts there was no Methodist church nearby so they decided to start a Sunday school in their home. Rob says his abiding memory from the age of 5 to 10 was every Sunday every hour on the hour 20 children came in the front door and a different 20 went out of the back door. An amazing two hundred children in groups of twenty (done by age) went through the Sunday school every week. By 1952 his parents had raised enough money to build a local Methodist church called Kingswood and then ten years later to build an even larger church paid for by public subscription.

Rob has two brothers, twins who are two years younger, one still lives in Nottingham and the other in Lutterworth. All three boys used to play football and form the half back line for one of the local teams, as Rob himself says they were called Spray, Spray and Spray.

Rob went to Nottingham High School and in the last year there he met Jo (They married in 1966 and had two sons). He then went on to University in Oxford and was senior history scholar at Merton College but he decided this route was not for him and wanted to go into Industry. He joined the National Coal Board as a fast track management trainee in 1964. Because he had no previous experience in the coal industry he was sent to work down a coal mine in Abervan and after the disaster there he was not sure whether to stay but he did In 1984 he took on the job as director of finance for British Coal Enterprise, which was set up to create alternative jobs in areas where pits were closing. He left there in 1991, on retirement, but went to set up and become director of the European Resources Centre for Industrial restructuring which was based in Longwy in Lorraine, France. Rob went there at the invitation of the French Minister and the European Union. He learnt to speak fluent French and had an "official" house in the area for 5 years. During this time he also worked all over Europe advising on the restructuring of coal, steel and other Monolithic Industries. He then decided to retire for the second time!

Just when he thought life would be relaxing he was headhunted to become consultant on restructuring in Eastern Europe, being still involved with coal and steel, the countries included Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania, and then in late 1996 Ukraine. Rob worked in Ukraine from 1996-2003 as director of the project to restructure its coal Industry funded by the World Bank, and on setting up small and medium size enterprises. From 1999-2001 he was also president of O I partners. He retired for a third time in 2003! But not to be idle he still continues to advise on energy matters in Ukraine on a voluntary basis and he has also done work on the Channel Tunnel and the London Underground. He is currently working with a company based in Olney on producing videos for the Open University French courses. Well Rob when do you retire for the fourth time!

Rob tells me he is chair of Turvey Investment Club (I have never heard of them) and is now a co-opted member of the Parish Council. I did ask Rob at this point whether he had time for any hobbies and his reply was that he does a bit of acting, we have all seen him in action, personally I think he chose the wrong career and should have been at Stratford playing Shakespeare. He dabbles in the stock market and visits their house in Brittany (which is available for lets!) along with helping out with four Grandchildren. Rob says he attends All Saints Turvey because if he went elsewhere, there might be "a domestic"!