Dear Friends,

As some of you may have noticed there have been changes afoot in Turvey Parish Church. Now this is surprising, but not unheard of and I have been asked to write a piece about it for the Parish Magazine.

Contrary to many peoples opinion the Church, as an institution, does and has changed down the ages. We only have to look at some of Paul’s attitudes to women and slavery to see this. But change is never without pain for some, because although they may agree that change is necessary, never the less they do not want to lose what they have been used to or what they have come to love. The Church of England has always been "Traditional." The change that has occurred in our Church is that the Lay Administration of the Elements of Holy Communion has been introduced. This means that if you attend a Communion Service, as well as the Priest administering the wafers, the body of Christ, you may have a lay person administering the Chalice, the blood of Christ.

This change has been suggested (strongly) by the Bishop of Bedford and by many visiting clergy, particularly for larger services or frailer Priests. Indeed I know that some of the older retired clergy, who David Betts would like to use, are reluctant to come to Turvey without this assistance. The PCC have discussed this long and hard and have approached the Bishop for his permission for a number of people from the Parish to become Lay Administrators of the Elements at Communion.

I would just like to say a few words about this change, to explain the history of this and what it might mean to you. Firstly, I suppose, I should point out that all the services in the Church of England have undergone change since it was first formed and indeed services in the Catholic Church for many years before that, going right back to the earliest Church. The Communion service is no exception, it has been done in Latin, in English, with the Priest facing the congregation, with his back to the congregation, standing at the North end of the altar. The Altar has been a High Altar, a Nave Altar and a table and many other variations and I expect it will carry on changing. But why do we need to change? What is wrong with having the Priest do it all, as we have been used to?

The involvement of Lay Administrators is not entirely new, it goes back I think about forty years, and although Turvey is not unique in not having Lay Administrators, it is certainly now in the minority. In truth Turvey has had Lay Administrators in the past, when I helped Doug Claypole White, when he did so many communions for us in our last vacancy, I was a lay person and Dennis Mabey who is a Lay Reader, has helped us out at large services going way back into the time when Peter Jeffery was Rector. This was not so obvious, because we were "robed" and now it will be more obvious as the Lay Administrators will be wearing ordinary clothes.

I think that the Church of England has been undergoing some very radical changes in the last fifty or more years and many of those changes involve greater lay involvement. In many ways the Church is being given back to the people, a more active congregation is being encouraged to support a just as active, but perhaps more thinly spread Clergy. I think it is likely that this will continue and for many traditions the involvement of the Laity up to and including taking services is not new. The involvement of Lay Administrators is now part of Canon Law although only with the approval of the PCC and the Bishop.

So what can you do?

Well, firstly you could accept the Chalice from the Lay Administrator and continue much as before.

Secondly, you could decide to only take the wafer. This has a good Catholic tradition and I have come across communicants who do this in a number of parishes. Theologically, the Lords Supper is complete in either or both of the elements, so in only taking the wafer, you are taking full communion.

Thirdly, you could take the wafer and keep it until the chalice is presented to you and dip your wafer in the wine and then consume it, taking if you will both elements at once. A number of people do this, particularly if they are worried about getting or passing on an infection (although this is another topic entirely).

Fourthly you could choose not to take communion at all under these circumstances, although I personally would be very sorry to see this happen.

I appreciate that some people will not have a problem at all, but for some this will cause genuine heartache and deep questioning. If it is the latter, my prayers will be with you at this difficult time and I would be happy to talk to you personally about this change, if you feel this would help.

A Happy New Year to you all.

Robert Evens

20^th November 2001: Arthur M. C. Jones

Next meeting is on Thursday 17^th January at 2:45 in the Manor Room. Sheila Hope will give a talk on her time in the Land Army. All welcome.

Little Lights will meet again on Monday 7th January, 4th February and 4th March 2002 at 2.30pm in Church.

Carol Singing

The carol singers raised at total of £253-72 for the Children's Society on the Wednesday and Thursday evenings before Christmas. Many thanks to those who sang and collected and all that gave to the collection - and apologies to those in areas of the Village we didn't reach.

It has been a long time since any Confirmation preparation has taken place in the Parish. I would be pleased to hear from anyone who is interested in becoming Confirmed.

If you would like to talk about this please contact Robert Evens (881307) (Anyone from about 10-12 years old and upwards is welcome.)

In spite of a record £1617 raised at the Bazaar, the Treasurer’s end of year estimates show a deficit of £490. Our monthly quota to the Diocese is £500.

The Church is insured for £1.35 million but the cost of the premium for full cover (£5million) is to be requested. We continue to give annually to the same charities. The PCC agreed that lay members would assist with the Chalice at Communion services. Small working groups have been set up to take forward ideas on pastoral care, communications and social activities. The priest in charge vacancy is to be advertised nationally.

The full details of PCC meetings are kept in the vestry. Do ask a Churchwarden if you would like to see the minutes. This is to try and keep all Church members in touch with the PCC’s deliberations!

PCC members are listed in the porch-we welcome your ideas.

Would anyone be willing to host a weekly house group, meeting during Lent?

We will probably follow the "Churches Together" course, which discusses the Saints. If we have enough interest there could be more than one venue. The course would run from the week of February 11^th until Easter.

Please contact Janet or David Seaton (tel: 720015) if willing to be a host.

The choir has played an important part in the worship at All Saints' Turvey over many years. Just recently numbers have declined because members have moved away from the area or moved on to University. We are, therefore, looking for more choir members - can you help?

There is no need to be able to read music, but an ability to sing more-or-less in tune is an advantage (tuition will be given). The Choir practices each Wednesday evening in Church from 7 to 8 p.m. and attends each Sunday at the 11 a.m. service, plus additional festival services (e.g. Good Friday, Harvest, Carol Service) and occasional weddings. It is, of course, recognised that not everyone can attend at every service.

If you are interested please see Enid Wadsworth after any Church Service. Children over the age of about 7 are also very welcome.