So, what is spirituality? It is to do with the deepest essence of one’s being; it is to do with the values and meanings by which people live - about looking beyond the mundane to an ultimate reality – an awareness of otherness. (You begin to see why the meeting was sparsely attended!) And in the Christian life, spirituality is about looking outside ourselves to encounter God. Certainly prayer has a lot to do with developing our spiritual being – as does quiet contemplation. But in the course of his sermon, Fr Metcalfe developed the idea of living our spirituality. In the way we treat our family, our friends, and our neighbours. In the way we react to the problems of maintaining peace amongst the nations – in the way we respond to the deep suspicions with which different creeds and nationalities view each other. In our responses to an increasingly materialistic and greedy world and in the way we try to safeguard the future of our planet – all this is about presenting ourselves as Christians to the world around us. It is living spirituality.

As we go through Lent it is really encouraging to see how many people are following the ‘Lenten Challenge’ set by our Bishops in this Diocese. We are reading and learning sayings of Jesus and then trying to live by what we have learnt. I receive my texts each day by email and on my mobile ‘phone. They arrive at about 8.15am and I love the little ‘bleep bleep’ that alerts me to their arrival – it also alerts me to the fact that almost two thousand people just in this small corner of England are reading learning and trying to act on the words of Jesus, all at the same time. If we manage it and really live our spirituality, what a great difference we shall make!

Yours in Christ

Jo

NB Those organising the challenge have asked for any feedback we may like to give. If you are taking copies of the verses from church and would like to make comment on how you have used them – or on the effect they have had, let me know and I will pass it on.

There has been much written in the papers again recently about the financial state of the Church of England. At a recent Deanery Synod there was a presentation of our Diocesan Accounts for 2010 and I thought it might be useful for you to know some of the detail.

The budget for the Diocese for 2010 is £13,000,000

% Income

Parish Share (what we pay) 84%

Investment and Glebe income 9%

Fees and other chaplaincies 5%

Other 2%

Total 100%

% Expenditure

Parochial Clergy (stipends and housing) 87%

Church and Society 2%

National Church (e.g. General Synod) 4%

Legal/administration 6%

Communications 1%

Total 100%

The average cost of a stipendiary priest is £47,000 of which approximately £27,000 is stipend. There are 198 stipendiary priests in the Diocese, 82 non-stipendiary, including some House for Duty, and 199 Readers.

The Church Commissioners pay the stipends of all the Bishops and the housing costs and expenses of the Diocesan Bishop. The Parish Share is worked out by a rather complicated formula. I do not feel adequate to writing an explanation here, but it is based on the numbers attending the church and the perceived ability of the parish to pay a greater or lesser percentage towards the total cost of the work of the church as a whole.

The increase in Parish Share over the last few years is because of the need to meet clergy pensions. Prior to 1998 the Pension Scheme was entirely funded by the Church Commissioners but for a number of reasons this is becoming increasingly untenable and parishes are being asked to meet up to 45% of the cost of pensions. Currently the annual index linked pension is £13,093 plus a lump sum of approximately £39,000. From 2011 the conditions for receiving this payment will be 43 years service and retirement at 68.

These are bald figures and very much a summary of what we heard and discussed. If you would like to talk further about this – or attend a PCC meeting as an observer when these matters are being discussed, please let me know

Jo Spray

Last year’s tidying up days at the Cemetery were very successful and, as a result, the Parish Council is organising another session for Saturday, 27th March between 10:00 am and 12:30 pm and is looking for as many people as possible to help. This time, we will be concentrating on finishing the removal of ivy from the front wall so it would be helpful if volunteers could bring loppers with them. The work required isn’t too demanding and everyone finds time for a chat and a laugh so why not join us?

For further information contact |Phil Atkinson (881603)

N.B. We will reschedule the day to Saturday 17th April if it is pouring with rain on the 27th March.

The next coffee morning will be at 10:15am on Saturday 20th March at Holmwood house by kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bray. Please note this is the third Saturday of the month and not the usual second Saturday. There will be a raffle and a bring-and-buy stall for which contributions, especially of cakes and produce would be very welcome. Last month’s coffee at The Old Rectory raised £240 towards church finds. It was a very enjoyable and for many a nostalgic occasion! A big than you to Katie, Hans, Holly and Milly for hosting the event and to everyone who helped with and attended it.

It’s not too early to be thinking ahead to Easter. If you would like to donate a lily or other flowers in memory of a loved one, please contact Anne Claypole White, 881661. She would also be pleased to hear from any of you who would like to help decorate the Church on Easter Saturday.

Where you do not find love, put love—-and then you will find love

St John of the Cross

All taking part in the Lenten Challenge

Our Bishops – especially Bishop Christopher as he prepares to move to Portsmouth

All who have been abused, especially by those in positions of authority

The timing of School Holidays makes it very difficult to plan our usual Easter Workshop in the Village Hall so we shall make a change this year. On Good Friday morning there will be a shortened ‘workshop’ in Church prior to the ‘Story of the Cross’ service at 11.00am – this service will form part of the workshop.

We shall concentrate on the events of Holy Week leading up to Good Friday and we hope to look beyond the desolation of the cross to Easter Day.

The morning will start at 9.30 and we shall work for an hour then have a break for light refreshment before the service at 11.00am. I am sorry to disappoint all our lovely ‘Little Lights’, whom we enjoy so much, but this year, because of lack of space, the workshop will be for school age children only. The service, however, is for everyone of every age!

We do enjoy our big workshops in the Village Hall and hope we may be able to organise something later in the year.

Jo Spray

Pilgrimage to Taize

Article by Mary Topley - part of the St Albans group in 2007 & 2009

Leaving the typical English Summer behind us, we made our way to Dover for the ferry crossing. This would take us to Calais and then it would be a further nine hour trip to our destination of Taize in the South of France. Spirits were raised as old friends were reunited and new ones were being made. We were a group of varied ages and also had two families with young children who continued to bring laughter to the group throughout the week.

In the not too early hours of Sunday morning, fighting off the urge to fall back to sleep, we arrived at the Taize community. As we stumbled off the coach memories of previous years came flooding back and expectations for the week ahead were high. We pitched our tents together and it became apparent that, out of the 4000 pilgrims that come to Taize from all over the world, English groups were few, as snippets of German and Polish were heard from other pitches.

After a reasonable night’s sleep we were able to start the day and Taize routine proper. Each day in the Taize community is centered on three half hour services at 8:30am, 12:30pm and 8:30pm. The services offer a chance for meditation, stillness and prayer and off course the beautiful Taize chants. There are options for how to spend the rest of the day; Bible study or helping with chores around the campsite and kitchens. Meals in Taize are communal and everyone mucks in to help serve the 4000 pilgrims and to join in the task of washing up, which usually involves an international water fight! The brothers of the community provide a Bible study for everyone after breakfast each day, this is always an engaging and rewarding hour. The afternoons are set aside for chores, workshops run by the brothers and meetings in small groups with people from around the world to discuss the mornings bible readings; this gives the opportunity to learn more about different countries and people’s relationships with God. Evenings can be spent at the onsite cafe "Oyak", continuing conversations with new friends, joining the community singing, or simply personal reflection in the church.

The week at Taize was eventful both spiritually and physically, with a member of our group injuring themselves whilst attempting some ninja moves! The experience that Taize provides is unique because of the international aspect of it and the simplicity of community life that still manages to be conveyed despite the numbers of people. Everyone in our group got something out of the week, whether it was the opportunity to renew our connection with God, or simply enjoying the time out from the chaos of regular life.

We will travel by bus from St Albans leaving mid-afternoon on Saturday 24th and returning around 6am on Monday 1st August. The pilgrimage is open to young adults between the ages of 15 and 29. You are welcome to bring your children and there is a special families’ programme and camping area. Costs will be around £175 (please ask for costs for families) which includes travel and all food. Accommodation is in tents, and for those who do not have their own tent there are big dormitory tents available. Group leaders are The Revd Philippa Segrave-Pride (philippa@segrave-pride.freeserve.co.uk) and The Revd John Kiddle (john.kiddle@stalbans.anglican.org)

For information, or to request a booking form, please contact:

The Revd Ysmena Pentelow on 01727 818151 or ysmenapentelow@tiscali.co.uk

www.taize.fr (the Taize website); www.gotaize.org.uk (our website)

Today Mothering Sunday is a popular day when Christians choose to use the occasion to think about all the things which concern mother hood. We give thanks for the Church as Mother, the Virgin Mary as the Mother of Jesus, we remember that God cares for us like a mother and last but not least we give thanks for our own mothers. Mothering Sunday is the one day of joy in Lent, when flowers abound in all churches and when people are allowed a time off from the penitential season. It is also known as mid-Lent Sunday, Refreshment Sunday or Laetare Sunday. The name Laetare, means rejoice.

Brother Herbert was born in Dresden in 1921. His Father left when Herbert was a small baby and he was brought up by his Mother, to whom he stayed close for the rest of her life. He went to local schools, but in his last year, 1938, he had to leave to come to England (because of the political situation) much to the sorrow of the Headmaster. Herbert and his mother lived with an Aunt and Uncle on a farm in Gloucestershire for their first four months in England.

When his mother moved to Cambridge to be near other relatives, Herbert went to the School of Architecture in Bristol. War broke out during his second year and he went to work on farms both in Gloucestershire and Cambridge. After six years on the farms (which he loved) he went back to the School of Architecture but eventually dropped out. He was offered a job at a private school in Almondsbury where he stayed for the next four years. It was during this time, after much soul searching he became a Catholic. Just before he left an old teacher came to visit and told Herbert that a potter was wanted at Prinknash Abbey, both things attracted him, being a monk and working in a pottery. He applied with great trepidation, he says he remembers wondering how to address an Abbot and was told "My Lord Abbot" of course it is much more informal now. Much to his delight he got the job but was unable to live at the Abbey as it was full so he moved into the nearby village of Cranham. It took about three quarters of an hour to walk or half hour on a bicycle which kept him very fit.

Everything seemed to be going well apart from the fact that he was told he would have to wait to join the monastery, which was very frustrating for him. Then unfortunately he broke his hand and had to give up working at the monastery pottery. Giving up work combined with the fact he could not become a monk forced him into a mental breakdown. On his return home to Cambridge his mother (against his wishes) had Herbert put into a mental hospital, where he stayed for the next nine months! He says at the beginning it was a terrible experience but after the first month or so he lost the fear of mental illness and found his stay rewarding. After leaving he went back to live with his mother and worked on a farm nearby for a year before working in a small pottery where he says he learned a lot. Then his cousin got him a job at St Edmunds House (a house for priests who were studying) where he was a gardener for the next sixteen years. Towards the end of this time his mother died, he had been very close to her and they often painted together and went on holiday together. After his mothers death, never forgetting his wish to become a monk, Herbert wrote to the Monastery at Prinknash to ask if they would have him and he went for a months trial before being sent home to wait to see if he had been accepted. After a nerve wracking wait for a reply, a letter came to say he had been accepted (aged 50) and he stayed there for eleven years before asking to be allowed to come to Turvey.

He had to wait 2 years for a formal transfer and another year before becoming a full member, three long years to wait before knowing that he could stay permanently. He has now been here for, wait for this,

twenty seven years! He says he loves it here and likes the village. Brother Herbert has an amazing memory and remembers dates and places others would soon forget. He also speaks French, German, English, Italian, Latin and a smattering of Russian and Chinese! He has also travelled and last year went to Rome with brother John for the cannonisation of Bernard Tolomei.

I will leave you with a quote from Brother Herbert's biography, maybe we could all learn from this. "I have never regretted becoming a monk. This does not mean that the life of a monk is easier than that of any other person. People often see us as something ‘special’, ‘better’ or ‘higher’ but we are just as human as anyone else. We have our good days and our bad days. Occasionally we disagree and, sometimes, there are strong disagreements and even quarrel; but the gospel says we should, ‘forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins’ and St Benedict counsels us to, ‘make peace before the sun sets’. This is wonderful advice and it helps to keep that real atmosphere of peace, which so many people feel as soon as they enter a monastery. Sometimes it is impossible to make peace immediately—when, for example, one of the two who disagree, is not ready and willing to make peace—then much patience and much prayer is necessary before peace returns".