Newsletter, October 2010
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From the Rectory

What do you think when you see a convoy of motor-cycles heading towards you along a narrow country lane? – or perhaps weaving in and out of the traffic on the motorway? The noise and the power of the machines is a bit overwhelming – it is partly thrilling and partly terrifying. Then there is the costume of the bikers themselves! Close fitting black leather – often with a lot of rather scary looking badges on the back of their jackets. Worst of all, of course is the helmets! They completely hide the wearer’s identity and make them look like a cross between a Mekon and a character in a horror movie – have you noticed how threatening it is not to be able to see someone’s face?

One of the Head Teachers I worked for had a motorbike for a while. He took to coming to school early so that he could wriggle out of his leathers and into his business suit before the children arrived. To tell the truth, he looked better in his leathers and he had great ‘street-cred’ among the children. He was an extremely charming man – and even had his own entry in ‘Who’s who’ because of his very distinguished career in business before he decided to become a teacher – of course, I was not afraid of Nick in his helmet. I knew it was just Nick!

It was with interest and excitement, therefore, that I sat on the bench outside church at about 8.00am on a beautiful sunny late September morning to await the arrival of about a dozen motor cycles. They arrived just as the lads and their dads were meeting up by the cross to go to football. My, what a stir they caused – and no wonder! Some of the machines were huge – and their rider’s were not small; young and not so young – one with long hair hanging from the front of his helmet – and more than one with long hair at the back. Whatever were they doing in Turvey – especially with the ‘Vicar’?

Well, they were members of the Christian Motorcyclists Association – and quite simply they had come to pray. Helmets came off and we gathered around the main altar in the choir stalls. I had prepared a little in my mind about what I would say – but it was they who did the praying! For us in our parish; for me and my ministry; for all using the roads, especially bikers; for all who live in ignorance of Jesus and his saving grace – and much else. Including prayers for a baby girl of nine months who is gravely ill with lung problems – will you pray for her too? It was an amazing and deeply moving experience. They thanked me for making them welcome, but I think I needed to thank them more!

As they left they gave me a Bible – ‘The Biker Bible’ – they had committed themselves to giving 10,000 in about four years. They have already far exceeded that number; 40,000 in three years! It is a copy of the New Testament – but so much more. I am reluctant to leave it on the Tithe Table in case it ‘goes for a walk’ but I am happy to share it with anyone who would like to see it.* Also, if you know anyone who might like to own a Bible like this, please let me know.

On the back it says this

‘GOD – is the real fuel that powers your life!

Without fuel the most expensive bike won’t be going anywhere. Everything that moves needs fuel to make it go. It’s the same with our lives....

...You can find in this Bible your fuel station, where you can get enough fuel for your entire life.’

As they rode off to their next church (they were visiting nine throughout the day) I was left with a feeling of great joy – but I couldn’t help wondering what people would think as they rode through the countryside - and I reminded myself once more

never to judge by outward appearance!

Yours in Christ

Jo

* Since writing this I have heard from Keith, our local leader of CMA. He says he would be delighted if the Bible ‘went for a walk’ and he will give us more, so the Biker’s Bible will be on the Tithe Table!

The Christian Motorcyclists Association

All who have to use the roads regularly – for their safety

All who are seeking to know Jesus better

Coffee Morning

The next coffee morning will be at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, 9th October at 10 Barncroft Turvey, by kind invitation of David and Sandra Nightingale. There will be a bring-and-buy, and a raffle, for which contributions, especially of cakes and produce, would be very welcome. Last months very enjoyable coffee morning raised £248.40 towards church funds. A big thank you to Roger and Marilyn Eaton for hosting the event and to everyone who helped with and supported it.

The Lunch Club (TLC) is now in its fourth year. We meet on the first Friday of the month in Turvey Village Hall; the club is aimed at the older generation of the village and church members. The cooks and helpers are all from the church and the village and each month they cook a two course meal ‘on the premises’. It is a really good event, which enables older residents to meet and chat to their friends and to enjoy good ‘home’ cooked food at the same time.

We are in need of more volunteers, however, to help by cooking, serving, getting the hall ready or driving people to and from the Village Hall.

If you are interested in coming, either as a dining member of the club or as a helper, please contact Marilyn Eaton 01234 824 846

If you are interested in Lay Ministry Training courses start this month and include:

Administration

Children’s Ministry

Evangelism

Lay Pioneer Ministry

Music Ministry

Pastoral Care

Social Awareness

Worship Leading

Youth Ministry

For more information contact Jo Spray 012324 713726

Loving God, the birth of your Son Jesus Christ brought great joy to Mary and Joseph. We give thanks to you for everyone whose birthday we celebrate this month. May they ever grow in your faith, hope and love. We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

24th October: ‘Shoe Box Sunday’ in the Family Service we shall be thinking of preparing our Shoe Boxes with gifts for children who would otherwise be without – this year they go to Romania – they need to be complete by the middle of November

31st October: Patronal Festival Celebrations. Parish Eucharist for All Saints at 11.00am, followed by a ‘Bring and Share’ lunch (no evening service)

14th November: Remembrance Sunday. Morning Service starts at the cross at 10.45am.

Evening Holy Communion and Remembrance of those we have known and lost. The list of those we would like to remember will be read at this service. Please check the list on the Tithe Table and update if you wish.

28th November: Advent Sunday. Family Eucharist for Advent at 9.45am.

At 6.00pm we shall have a ‘Songs of Praise’ Service. Please write the name of your favourite hymn on a piece of paper and put it in the box provided – we will sing those with the most votes!

4th December: Church Christmas Market in the Village Hall

Following the success of previous tidy up days, the Parish Council is organising another session for Saturday, 23rd October between 10.00 am and 12.30 pm and is looking for as many people as possible to help. It would be very helpful if volunteers could bring some tools with them such as trowels, secateurs, shears and pallet knives (or suitable alternatives for removing ivy from gravestones!). The work required isn’t too demanding and, as last year, should prove to be both rewarding and fun so please do come along if you can. For further information contact Phil Atkinson (881603).

N.B., We will reschedule the day to Saturday 30th October if it is pouring with rain on 23rd.

At the Matins service in September we had hymn number 334 and I thought the words of the last verse are words we should act on every day. Cindy

Then sing for joy, and use each day;

Give thanks for everything alway.

Lift up your hearts; with one accord

Praise God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Shoe Box Appeal is organised by Samaritan’s purse, a Christian Charity aimed at helping underprivileged children in other countries. This year the boxes will be sent to children in Romania. I have been involved locally with this Appeal for the last 4 years and am happy to collect from Turvey. There are three categories, boys aged 2-4 years, 5-9 and 10-14, with similar age groups for girls. The boxes should be filled with toys, clothes, or writing and drawing materials. Ideally, boxes can be brought to the Family Service on the 24th October, or alternatively left in the back of the Church around this date. I will arrange for labels to be provided before this date. Last year we collected 25 boxes from Turvey, so let’s try and beat this figure.

If you have any containers suitable for planting Christmas bulbs or outdoor spring arrangements please leave them at the back of the church or contact Pat Cartwright or Gill Betts. Bulbs need to be planted soon, it’s less than three months to the Christmas Bazaar!

Some years ago we had an informal service of hymn singing instead of Evensong. We asked the congregation to write the first line of their favourite hymn on a piece of paper and put it into a box at the back of church. We then sang as many of them as we could, choosing those the majority of people wanted to sing. We are intending to do similarly on Advent Sunday evening, 28th November. Obviously it would be good if there were to be some Advent hymns amongst the choices – but general hymns are fine. Perhaps best not to launch into Christmas Carols as early as this!

Come and have fun!

God give thee time for the task,

Wisdom for the work,

Grace for the way,

Love to the last.

Anonymous

Approximately £400 was raised for the Bishops for Hungry Appeal which this year will go to Uganda. The Food was distributed to Bechar (Bedfordshire Concern for the Homeless and Rootless).

On Saturday 20th November there is a Sponsored Rotary ‘Swimathon’ in Bedford School Pool.

Half the money raised is to go to St John’s Hospice, Moggerhanger, and half the money we raise can come to church if we wish.

The idea is to swim in teams of up to six persons, swimming in relay for 50 minutes in the 25 metre pool.

Would anyone offer to co-ordinate a team from All Saints? It costs more than £1,800,00 each year to run St John’s and many people in our parish have reason to be grateful for its services.

Please telephone me on 01234 713726 if you would like either to swim in, or co-ordinate, our team

Thanks

Jo Spray

Having arrived at the church early to unlock, I was met by Dave the gardener from Turvey House, who informed me that a flock of sheep (approximately 100) had found their way down the drive from the House, and were approaching Dave Hilson’s Lodge.

We managed to turn them round and send them back up to the House, and they then dispersed onto the House lawns. Additional help arrived in the form of Nick Swift, Dave and Beryl Hilson and Daniel. I now know I would be useless on One Man and His Dog, not just because I don’t have a dog.

Having pointed out to Daniel that I couldn’t remember sheep herding on the job description as a Church Warden, he informed that it was, ‘under looking after the flock’ Just in case the same event occurs, Dave Hilson has offered to make me a Shepherd’s Crook!

Sheila Felce’ a profile by Cindy Woods

Sheila was born in St. Albans in December, 1926. Sheila’s father was in the prison service and was working in Holloway prison at the time of Sheila’s birth. As Bedford was too far to commute in those days the family was given accommodation in the now closed St Albans prison. The family had always owned land in Bedfordshire and luckily for the family when Sheila was six months old her father was posted to Bedford prison. The land being approximately three and half acres and although there was not a house on the plot at the time of purchase, the family had one built in 1932 by an Uncle who was a builder by trade. Her sister Joan is three and a half years older and they had a happy childhood living in Bedfordshire. While waiting for the building works to be completed the family lived in a bungalow on the Stagsden Road in Bromham, this still stands today. Before building the house the family had always camped on the land, to be exact an island on the land. One of two islands in fact, one being about half an acre and the other approximately three quarters of an acre. Sheila says she and her sister Joan had to learn to swim from an early age as fall ins were common! Also their father taught them to canoe and fish on the river so from an early age the girls were safe on the water. The girls often had friends from school to camp and cooked over a home made fire. I must say this must have felt like paradise for the youngsters.

After being home taught until the age of seven, Sheila then went to a lovely school in Bedford but the school had to close when Miss Debois, the Headmistress, had a stroke. After this she went to Howard college also in Bedford, but when the war came the Headmistress retired so Sheila then 12 attended Bedford High School until 1944. It was in this year that her sister married an American Serviceman (she had previously been in the land army) and left in 1945 to live in America, they had three girls and lived in AllenTown in Pennsylvania. Sheila says it was a good marriage even though her mother did not like her daughter leaving to live so far away. Joan fairly often came back with the children and her parents went for about 6 and a half months from July 1956 till February 1957. Sheila also visited in 1987 for a two week vacation after the death of both parents, Uncles and Aunts.

In the years 1944-46 Sheila worked at Cardington, she cycled to and from work and one of her jobs was to climb to the Balloon Development Laboratory roof up a vertical iron ladder to set the sun dial, no trousers in those days much to the amusement of the male workers at the bottom of the ladder! Sheila made lots of friends during this time and still keeps in touch with some of them. Sheila had already applied to London Foot Hospital to take her Chiropody course but was told it was a 2 year wait and was wondering what to do when she attended a school re union at Bedford High School and the Head mistress said that had lost a lab assistant and so for the next two years Sheila worked at Bedford High School.

Sheila then went to do her training and on her return to Bedford in 1951started a practice in a room in St. Johns over a shop. This was eventually pulled down and then she found a premises on the St Loyes Street where she stayed for about 10 years before locating to premises over another shop on the Bromham Road, for five years. It was about this time her father became unwell, at his suggestion she started to practice from home, although wary at first she would not get her patients to come, she quickly became very busy. She took over the dining room and the arrangement worked well. Sheila says she never married because she had no time. Most of her life outside of work, has been spent looking after elderly parents, Uncles and Aunts and even friends!

Sheila’s time is now divided between the garden and the house, and of course work, yes she still works a little. Sheila’s garden is such a magical place, even her parents and her sister spent their honeymoon camping out on the island! She says she now has to have someone to mow the field as there are no animals left to eat the grass! They used to have horses, ponies and donkeys and latterly donkeys from a neighbour who used the land as a rest from their own field. These donkeys have now gone to a sanctuary in Devon. I cannot believe Sheila can remember all the family dogs names but she does and proceeded to reel off all their names, some succumbed to the busy road and others old age, but she is left now with Flick and four cats.

Sheila started coming to Turvey because she met Enid, our former organist, who was helping to care for her Aunt and Uncle. Kempston did not have a Matins service. She enjoyed attending All Saints and has come ever since. She still attends evensong at Kempston or Bidddenham depending where the service is as these two parishes share a vicar (priest in charge now!) and organist, because she lives in the parish of Kempston.