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Togetheron-line

at St Mary Magdalene, Tauntonunited benefice with

St John the Evangelist

December 2020~ January 2021

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For the latest information about church events please seewww.stmarymagdalenetaunton.org.ukor follow us on Facebook or Instagram

Dear all,Despite what you might haveheard, Christmas has not been cancelled this year! Whether or notwe are able to gather for worship, Christians in Taunton and all overthe world will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Word madeflesh, God with us.We are in lockdown once again as I write this, although hopefully itwill end as intended early in December. But the restrictions do makeplanning for Christmas quite difficult, for churches as much as foreveryone else.As I begin to think about the next few weeks, the great Adventthemes of darkness and light seem especially relevant this year. 2020has felt particularly dark. Most of us have had moments of anxietyand uncertainty about the future. For some there has been fear andsorrow. Others have experienced illness and loss. All of us haveendured unprecedented restrictions, limiting our physical contactwith those we love and forcing us to keep our distance from eachother.But despite all this, there have also been moments of light in thedarkness. Many of us have been spending more time with our

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families. We have become more aware of what is really important tous. There has been great humour and forbearance. We have risen tothe challenges that have confronted us. As a community, we havebeen looking out for those in particular need. We have been wearingmasks, not for our own benefit, but to keep other people safe.The great Christmas Gospel tells us that ‘the light shines in thedarkness, and the darkness did not overcome it’ (John 1.5). Jesuscomes as the light of the world (John 8.12). In him, the ancientprophecy has been fulfilled: ‘The people who walked in darknesshave seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness –on them light has shined’ (Isaiah 9.2; Matthew 4.16).We do not know the actual date on which Jesus was born. It is justpossible that early Christians co-opted the pagan festival of SolInvictus. It is more likely that they believed – strange though it mayseem to us – that Jesus was conceived and died on the same date,which they calculated to be 25 March. But whatever the reason, it isvery appropriate that we celebrate Christmas in the middle of winter,when the weather is coldest and the nights are longest.By a cosmic coincidence, on the longest night of this year, 21December, there will be a rare ‘great conjunction’ between Jupiterand Saturn. Viewed from Earth, the two planets will appear veryclose together: just a tenth of a degree apart, or a fifth of thediameter of the moon. It will be their closest conjunction since 1623.The two heavenly lights will almost converge, becoming a singlelight shining with exceptional brightness.Many people think that the ‘star’ the Magi followed to Bethlehemmight have been a planetary conjunction, or else perhaps a comet.Men and women in ancient times studied the night skies and werefamiliar with its patterns and movements. Abraham, the ancestor ofGod’s chosen people, was promised descendants as many as thestars of heaven (Genesis 15.1-6). The familiar lights in the heavensbecame for him a sign of hope and trust in God.

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When you look up at the night sky on 21 December, the light fromJupiter will have taken about 50 minutes to reach you, and the lightfrom Saturn about 85 minutes. The starlight of Sirius has travelledfor over eight years. The three stars of Orion’s belt are over 1200light years away. The Andromeda galaxy, the furthest object visiblewith the naked eye, is 2.5 million light years distant.Celestial distances are mind-boggling. Space is very dark. But thelight of the stars still reaches us, bringing hope and joy to those wholook up and see it. The light shines in the darkness. We may besocially distanced, but God, ‘through whom all things came intobeing’ (John 1.3) is with us.The American theologian and civil rights leader Howard Thurman,wrote this poem about lights in the darkness:

I will light Candles this Christmas,Candles of joy despite all the sadness,Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,Candles of courage for fears ever present,Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,Candles of love to inspire all my living,Candles that will burn all year long.

When the song of the angels is stilled,When the star in the sky is gone,When the kings and princes are home,When the shepherds are back with their flock,The work of Christmas begins:

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To find the lost,To heal the broken,To feed the hungry,To release the prisoner,To rebuild the nations,To bring peace among others,To make music in the heart.

Details about our planned Christmas services at St Mary Magdaleneand St John will be published on our church websites and noticeboards as soon as Government announcements make definitearrangements possible. Please note that because of restrictednumbers for the Crib Service and Midnight Mass, you will need toapply in advance for free tickets.God bless you all,

#comfortandjoy is the Church of England’s 2020 Christmas campaign.

Taking inspiration from a traditional carol, it features daily reflections forthe Christmas season from Kate Bottley, Jonathan Bryan, Bob Chilcot,Martha Collison, Stephen Cottrell, Guli Francis-Dehqani, Chine McDonald,Sally Phillips and Justin Welby.

You can take part in Comfort and Joy with:

The official booklet from Church House Publishing (purchase online)

Supporting stationery, including bookmarks and cards (available online)

The free app for Apple and Android devices (coming soon)

Daily emails from the Church of England during the campaign itself

If you have internet access you can get more details fromwww.chpublishing.co.uk/comfortandjoy

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BRINGING COMFORT AND JOY

One of our oldest (16th century) English carols tells us that thestory of Jesus’ birth as a baby into our world, is good news,bringing “tidings of comfort and joy”. And don’t we just needcomfort and joy at this moment!We know that Christmas will not be the same this year. Theusual gatherings of family and friends will not have the sameshape this year. Traditional carol services and Midnight Massmay not be possible either but that doesn’t mean that Christmasis cancelled!This year more than ever we need to carol the words, ‘comfortand joy’. We need to find new and novel ways of telling theChristmas story. The Church of England and our own diocesanteam have provided plenty of ideas by which we can bringChristmas to our communities. I’m going to be both a taxcollector and a donkey in some of our diocesan video re-tellingof the story!Perhaps even more important is how we can personally bemessengers of comfort and joy. Who do you know who mightneed you to bring them some comfort this Christmas? Maybesomeone who is alone, especially anxious, grieving a loved one?How could you offer comfort and support?And as for joy…? Perhaps we ourselves need to rediscover the

joy of the Christmas story. What could bemore wonderful than knowing that Godloves us so much that even though it wascostly, He chose to come and join us in aworld, dark with fear and suffering, andbring the light of His presence!

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WANDERINGS WITH AN ORDINANDIn October’s instalment I told thestory of my first day of SummerSchool at Sarum College, and thesense of feeling like an outsider, butvery quickly being made to feel athome. This month’s ‘Wandering’continues at Summer School,explaining how we learnt aboutSalvation through art and exploringhow we might think about this inour lives today.Although I’ve been a teacher forover twenty years, becoming a student myself is a bit strange.But, twenty-five years on, after first training to be a teacher inBristol, being given a second chance to learn a new vocation isa real privilege. I also realise it’s a chance that many peoplenever get, so consequently it is important to get my head downand focus. This is of course exciting and rather daunting at thesame time.Nevertheless, as I’ve already explained, my first experiences ofSummer School were filled with warmth, joy and laughter,which in no small part was down to the enthusiasm and energyof the tutors. They not only processed a vast range ofknowledge, but they also created a safe space to discussdifficult topics.The topic for our first Summer School was “Seeing Salvation”.Understanding Salvation, and how it “works”, is challenging atthe best of times, let alone when it’s your first subject attheological college. However, by reflecting on art like TheCrucifixion by Nicholas Mynheer and visiting Roche

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Court-New Art Sculpture Centre, we were able to reflect onhow ‘Christian’ painting and ‘secular’ sculpture might speak intoChrist’s saving act on the Cross.A particular piece of sculpture that spoke to me was Tame

Buzzard Line by RichardLong. As I stood at the bottomof the geometrically precise stripof rocks I began to muse over itsrelevance to the theme ofsalvation. Then, as I started towalk along its length it dawnedon me that I was travelling alonga pathway or journey. When I

reached the top I was struck by the isolation of the sculptureand particularly the grass around it and how it appeared to besuspended in animation like a snapshot in time. The green grassbefore the sculpture seemed to represent our past; a place thatwe could remember but no longer experience or influence. Thegrass after the sculpture seemed to suggest the future when oneday we will meet the Father face to face; and the sculpture itselfa metaphor for our time, now, here on earth.I then began to reflect on it construction and surface. In placesit was smooth and streamline, elsewhere sharp and evendangerous. It also struck me that it seemed to have sense ofmovement and that this, once again, echoed our human journeywhich, at times, can be smooth and serene or rocky andturbulent.Children’s nativity plays and hand-painted Christmas cardsremind us that God became man so that we might be saved.But right from the beginning, the baby Jesus, born in a stable,entered a world that was far from smooth and serene. We’rereminded by the visit of the Three Kings that Mary and Joseph

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needed to flee to Egypt in fear of the life of their new bornchild. This turbulent beginning would just be a foretaste of therocky road that Christ would walk, leading to Gethsemane andeventually the Cross.In Christ we find God who loves us so much that he humbledHimself and took the form of a human. He did the sameeveryday things we do, and experienced the same range ofemotions. In essence, he talked our talk and walked our walk!At the time of writing we are in a second month-longlockdown, and it’s possible that our lives might become quiterocky and turbulent. But as Christians we know that Christ,having been there himself, lovingly walks with us in thosemoments; and that through the Cross and the power of theHoly Spirit we’re given strength and the hope of better times tocome.So, as you read this I hope that life has become a little smootherand serene; that we’re able to enjoy a ‘different’ but joyous

festive season, and celebratethe birth of our Lord andSaviour Jesus Christ. Thatbeing so, let me finish bywishing you all a very HappyChristmas and a ProsperousNew Year.

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Colour Page

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Colour Page

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ST JOHN’S LUNCHTIME CONCERTSTHE SHOW MUST GO ON!

And it has! Over the last ten years St John’s has provided anexcellent, energetic and enterprising series of lunchtime concertswhich have drawn in many people, thanks to a highly organisedand hard working organising and publicity team. The church hasreally made a name for itself in Taunton for promotingapproachable and enjoyable events, with the distinctive concertadvertising leaflets to be found distributed in churches and otherpublic venues large and small, far and wide, and a good deal ofmoney has been raised for charity and for the church as a result.The pandemic, of course, presented what could have been a majorobstacle, and alas many organisations have had to put all theirevents and concerts on hold because of covid. Not so St John’s,however. Thanks to the determination and unstoppability of theconcerts team, the show has gone on and the concerts weretransferred online. I have witnessed two of these and a greatsuccess they were. Jonathan Delbridge’s organ recital was a highlyimpressive affair, with excellent playing. Most organists (myselfincluded) fight shy of playing the very tricky fugue which SSWesley paired with his Choral Song, and insteadplay safe by restricting themselves to the firstmovement only. Not so Jonathan, whointrepidly tackled the fugue as well, to greateffect, on St John’s fine Father Willis organ.Jonathan also demonstrated the very latest intechnological developments by reading themusic for the whole concert from his iPad, withnot a page turn or page turner in sight. Ieventually discovered how he did this: the pageturns are discreetly achieved by the performermoving his mouth to the left or right! In the

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following concert, Queen’s College also achieved a highlyimpressive showing, with Director of Music Ed Jenkins featuringsome highly talented and confident singers and players, with Edagain using the St John’s organ to good effect in Whitlock’s soulfulFolk Tune.Of course, online can never fully replace the mystical electricity ofa live player or players communicating musically with a liveaudience. A halfway house will be achieved in the first concert of

2021 by The Elegance Duo whichwill be available on Friday 8 January2021, with Ekaterina Shetliffe Piano& Yulia Northridge Violin (left).This concert, based on Russianmusic, has already been recorded inSt John’s with a small, distanced,masked and registered live

audience, of which I was privileged to be a part. The sometimeslively, sometimes poignant programme ranges from Bartok’sRussian Dances through Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich andMussorgsky. The enthusiasm of the players shines through.Donations will as usual be shared by the church and the chosencharity, which this time is the Dorset & Somerset Air AmbulanceService. Full details will be on the St John’s Church website, whereanother compilation by The Elegance Duo can also be found.The final online concert of the term was on Friday 13 November,given by talented musicians from Wellington School, also availableon the website. Autumn 2020 marks the end of the tenth year of StJohn’s Lunchtime Concerts, which have gone from strength tostrength over this period. Thanks so much and congratulations tothe St John’s concert team for all they have done during this time,and are continuing to do now - it is great to see the churchconstantly reaching out to and welcoming in new people in thisway.

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Religious and secular cards for all ages and events

Fair Grounds’ products

CDs – a wide range of religious music

Gifts to suit all pockets

Christian books – new and pre-loved

Latest books and resources supplied by Aslan Christian Bookshop

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10 – 3 Sat 10 – 1St Mary Magdalene Church, Church Square, Taunton

Tel 01823 353391 Manager: Cheryl Birkett

Temporary opening Wednesdays only 10 - 12Due to Covid 19 restrictions

Hopefully re-opening forDecember!

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CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR SERVICES

Normally we would expect to list all the special services andevents for December and January on this page. However at thetime of publication (late November) we just do not haveinformation from the Government and guidance from theChurch of England as to what will be allowed.

We hope to offer at least -

An evening Advent Reflection on December 6th

Outdoor Carols - December 17th (subject to regulations in forceat the time)

A Crib service on the afternoon of December 24th

A Midnight Mass late on Christmas Eve (this may be a jointservice with St John’s)

A family service at 10am on Christmas morning

We will disseminate information through the church websites,on the notice boards (in the church-yard) and, with your help,by word of mouth as soon as we are able. It is likely that therewill be a limit on numbers at all these events so booking may berequired.

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Vicar:The Revd Tobie Osmond enquiries to 272441 vicar@stmarymagdalenetaunton.org.uk

Associate Vicar with responsibility for St John's: The Revd Jane Eastell 321069

associatevicar@stjohnstaunton.org.uk

Curate:The Revd Louise Bale 07976 234983

curatelouise@stmarymagdalenetaunton.org.ukReaders: Daphne Seddon 275698 Peter Roe 284568

Pastoral Care Co-ordinator:Margaret Austin margaret.austin@whistlefield.biz 461256

Parish Secretary: Margaret Laver (during the current lockdown) 07523 322693 Benefice Office operational Tues - Fri ~ 10.00 - 1.00 (but not open to visitors during the lockdown) stmmtaunton@gmail.com

Caretaker: Tim Bowery 353391

Churchwardens:Jean Hall jeanhall9138@btinternet.com 443151

Nigel Birkett jnigelbirkett@gmail.com 413303 Margaret Laver 286730

PCCChair: The Revd Tobie Osmond enquiries to 272441Secretary: Margaret Laver 286730Hon. Treasurer: Christopher Mainstone via 272441Finance Officer: Margaret Allen stmarysfinanceofficer@gmail.comFinance Administrator:Susanne Cavaghan financeofficer@stmarymagdalenetaunton.org.ukGift Aid & Planned Giving: Geoff Hay pgsecretary1@outlook.com 257926

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Bell Ringers: (Tower Captain) Rosemary Tuhey 335884 Jean Hall (Tower secretary) 443151

Bible Reading Fellowship: Nadia Atherton 338242

Bookshop: 353391 Manager - Cheryl Birkett 413303

Coffee Shop: Manager - Sandra Hall 337274

Electoral Roll Officer: Julia Steward julia@jhsteward.com

Environmental issues: Nicola Johnson via 272441

Flowers: via 272441

Health & Safety Officer: Tim Bowery via 272441

Home Group Coordinator:Julia Trigg 430976

julia.trigg@yahoo.com

Magazine:

Advertising - Sue Goddard suegoddard17@gmail.com

Distribution - Sue Palmer 289309

Editors - Richard Austin 461256 richard.austin@whistlefield.biz Nelly Calascione nelly@calbie.co.uk

Mothers Union ‘Just a bite’: Sasha Collard-Jenkins 338429 sashacollard@gmail.com Rosemary Sage 276797

Music Director: Miles Quick 321617 milesquick@gmail.com

Organists: Julia Steward ) Andrew Carter )- via 272441 John Bodiley )

Parents and Toddlers: Carol Tucker via 272441

Property Officer: David Havard 331501

Sacristan: Sandra Jordan 975779 sandra.jordan@hotmail.co.uk

Safeguarding Officers:Geoff & Jan Hay 257926

Tekna: (Junior Church & Crèche) Claire Mort 283697 claire.daw@hotmail.co.uk

Voice: Nick Jerrett via 272441

Website and Facebook contact: Susanne Cavaghan stmmtaunton@gmail.com

www.stmarymagdalenetaunton.org.uk

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PATRONAL: SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST

Our patronal festival falls on 27 December: John, Apostle andEvangelist. No one wants to keep a patronal festival then: we'restill too full after Christmas − spiritually as well as physically. So,in recent years, we have moved our patronal to the third Sunday inJanuary and some of you from St Mary Magdalene have joined usin worship and then for lunch afterwards. I'm not sure what willbe happening on that Sunday in 2021: will we be allowed toworship in church and will we be allowed to have lunch together?Who knows! But we can still celebrate our patronal.l have to say that I find it inspirational the way John nestles underthe wings of the incarnation, it's as if he is being cradled by thereality of the incarnation; is close to that reality − as indeed he was− always in his gospel close to the wonder of the incarnation. Johnwas a witness to the Word; he proclaimed the Word; he lived anddied witnessing to the Word made flesh. He is the proclaimer ofthe Good News seen in Jesus Christ. If you're anything like meyou probably recoil a bit at the word Evangelist − how on eartham I to make Christ known to people? Waves of guilt andinadequacy overwhelm. Perhaps l should be more like … or like ...A poem comes to my rescue. It's a poem by Mary Oliver: it'scalled Wild Geese.

You do not have to be good.You do not have to walk on your kneesfor a hundred miles through the desert repenting.You only have to let the soft animal of your bodylove what it loves.

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Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.Meanwhile the world goes on.Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rainare moving across the landscapes,over the prairies and the deep trees,the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,are heading home again.Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,the world offers itself to your imagination,calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and excitingover and over announcing your placein the family of things.

Perhaps in these strange times evangelism is about sharing −sharing our despair and allowing others to share theirs. So often wecan feel we have to speak words of wisdom and comfort; perhapsinstead we can let the world speak to us, so we can find our placein the family of things. And as we find our place, we will find ourway of evangelism. Like all faith traditions Christianity is a way. Itis my way; it is your way; it is our way. It is a call to prayer andaction, to walk with others in the shared direction of God's future.And all the while, nestling like John, under the wings of theincarnation; for the incarnation is Love, simply Love. Perhaps ourrole in evangelism is to love what we instinctively love and not letthe despair overwhelm. That way we WILL find our place in thefamily of things; we will, and there rejoice.

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ANOTHER FRIENDSHIP

My article in November’s Together (pp 27, 29) included a noteabout spending part of American Independence Day with myfriends Paul and Sandy by the Pacific Ocean. The year was 1986.Two evenings previously, on July 2nd, I was in Eugene, Oregon,and fortunate enough to find a seat (the Box Office had areturned ticket) in the splendid Concert Hall. It was a Mozartprogramme: his Symphony No. 40, and Requiem. Thegentleman next to whom I was sitting soon noticed my Englishaccent, and got into conversation with me during the Interval.He wanted to know what brought me to Oregon, and what I didin England. He was fascinated with what I told him aboutNetherne Hospital, as one of five centres of excellence for thework of rehabilitation and community care.“When you come to Oregon again, you will be welcome to stayat my home”, he said. His words were another example ofWestern hospitality. Thanking him, I said “Then we had betterexchange names and addresses!” On learning that I was a priest,his face dropped, but he quickly recovered his composure. Mynew-found friend Walter, a retired lecturer, was a volunteer at

Main contacts for St John’s are -Associate Vicar:The Revd Jane Eastell 321069Churchwarden:Sarah Power 275153Bookings Secretary:Mike French 710798Safeguarding Officer:Paul Lewis 07929 068015

Website - www.stjohnstaunton.org.uk

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his local hospital who helped to look after patients whosuffered with Alzheimer’s disease. He accepted the humanity ofJesus, but could not believe that He was divine; so his remarkduring the applause for Mozart’s Requiem intrigued me.Pointing to one of the female soloists who was wearing a full-length white dress, he said “That is the right colour forResurrection”! This was from a man who described himself asan existential humanist!We kept up an interesting correspondence in the followingyears, sometimes with questions about the Christian Faith. Inone of his letters, Walter told me about his home by the LittleApplegate River, near Jacksonville in SW Oregon. If I did visit,he suggested that after breakfast we would walk to the bridgeover the river, discuss theology, then return to his house andlisten to music by Sibelius. Much as I would have enjoyed that,I was unable to take up that offer, or go with him to Seattle forWagner’s “Ring Cycle”. Eighteen years passed, until we metagain.

This was in 2004, when Joyce and I had our coach trip, towhich I have referred in a previous article. Having enjoyed ourgroup excursion to Crater Lake* (see next page), we left the coachat Jacksonville, to meet Walter (who later took us back to ourhotel) to have dinner with his family. While Joyce spoke withhis wife, also called Joyce, and others prepared the meal, Walter

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and I conversed and drank wine. As we sat down, Walterlooked at me across the table, and said: “I suppose we have toendure a Grace!” As I gave thanks for our food, friendship andfellowship, I ended by addressing “the God, or gods, in whomwe may, or may not believe”. Our hosts smiled in approval atmy choice of words! I hope and pray that my good andgenerous friend may eventually find the presence and peace ofGod for Whom I believe he was searching.

*Crater Lake lies in the cone of an extinct volcano in the Cascade Mountain range.

MINCE PIES

Did you know that mince pies have been traditional EnglishChristmas fare since the Middle Ages, when meat was a keyingredient? The addition of spices, suet and alcohol to meatcame about because it was an alternative to salting and smokingin order to preserve the food. Mince pies used to be a differentshape – cradle-shaped with a pastry baby Jesus on top.

Now there’s an idea to try when you are baking next.

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Julia Trigg,A.R.C.M., Dip.Ed.

Teacher of Violin,Viola and Harp

Tel.: 01823 430976

Email:julia.trigg@yahoo.com

Web-site - http://triggmusic.weebly.com/

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CHOIR NOTES

As rules concerning the pandemic prevented us fromworshipping in church during November, the choir reverted toonline practices and recording parts individually, to be mergedvery ably by our own tech gurus, for use in the virtual serviceson St Mary’s website.All the same, we are looking forward to returning in December(it has started to look rather like Frank Sinatra’s regularcomebacks…!) and catch up with Advent before embarking ona somewhat different Christmas programme.Meanwhile, here is something from Parish Pump to keep us allentertained and challenged: ‘why not spend some time learningthe words to traditional carols this year? Polls have found thattoo many of us know the title of a carol and the tune and theopening line or so, but then we have to make it up. This yearyou probably have more time at home, so get going’!Good luck.

Hallelujah! Sing to God a brand new song in the company ofall who love him. based on Psalm 149

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BELFRY BITS

2020 has indeed been a memorable year for all the wrongreasons! Sadly, to meet Government COVID regulations, 2020 hasseen Sunday ringing currently reduced to 15 minutes and practices andtraining on the bells cancelled altogether.Normally we would be able to look back with satisfaction on a year inwhich everyone had continued to make steady progress with theirringing. We would recall Taunton Branch outings to ring at differenttowers, ringing for special services, VE day, VJ day and RemembranceSunday and friendly competition with other ringing bands at strikingcompetitions; but 2020 has been different. Most of all we miss beingable to ring close to each other rather than 2 metres apart or simplysitting down over a drink or at our ringers’ Christmas meal together.As we head towards Christmas, the commercial festivities we seetoday were not the norm in days gone by. Under Oliver Cromwell,observing Christmas was forbidden, along with mince pies and all thetrappings. However, when Christmas Day arrived a strange thing isreported to have happened. Many church bells rang out from thetowers and steeples long before daylight. People claimed that the bellswere rung miraculously by invisible hands. The reason of course wasthat many folk had little time for Cromwell’s idea of Christmas,among them bell ringers who rang the bells early in the morning toavoid being caught!Although we do not yet know to what extent we will be able tocelebrate Christmas by ringing our bells, there is one thing that currentrestrictions cannot affect and that is the carillon. It is programmed toplay carols at 0900, 1200, 1500 and 1800 daily over the Christmasperiod so the bells will sound out over Christmas come what may andwhat a blessing that will be! Deus ex machina!We look forward to 2021 and the hope it won’t be too long before wecan ring normally again and enjoy each other’s closer company.

Tower Captain

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FOODBANK BLOG

At the start of October, the Trustees of theFoodbank gave permission for all the over 70swho wished to return, to volunteer in theWarehouse.

It is a much reduced staff now as there are only four people ona shift at any one time and each shift is now in the morningsfrom 10am till 12 noon-ish. This also allows for people to dropoff donations of food. There had been a staff training session inthe middle of September and while the basic rules are the same,there were a few different procedures we had to learn.The teams were picked out in bubble groups so that volunteerswould not mix, other than with their own working-day group.Mine was a Friday morning and Diane’s was a Monday so wedo not see each other.As you know from reading previous blogs, many new peoplehave come forward to help out during the summer (lockdown)months so it was strange to now be working with a differentgroup of volunteers.For safety reasons, no client is allowed into the warehouse so atthe front, there is a long table positioned across the entrancewith a handbell placed on it. When a client arrives, they ring thebell and Sue, our boss and project manager, would see to theirneeds.After we have finished putting the food into bags we useseparate areas to weigh and label so as not to get too close toeach other and finally push the boxes into the big room forstorage. As always when you are busy, the time flies but it’sgreat to be back volunteering.

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Finally this year we are suggesting a change to our popularChristmas Reverse Advent calendar. Instead of food donationsfor the 24 days leading up to Christmas, we are asking you to filla jar with a coin a day. This could then be dropped off at thewarehouse any morning between 10am and 12 noon (Unit 4,Belvedere Trading Estate in Taunton, TA1 1BH) or sent via abank transfer. This is because of the difficulty with the currentsituation and with cash donations we can target specific needsas they arise.As this is the last blog of 2020, we hope there is some kind ofjoy this Christmas for everyone.Blessings,

The Revd Dr Gary Bowness continues his tongue-in-cheek letters from‘Uncle Eustace’…

On the best ways for a vicar to disrupt Christmas The Rectory

St James the Least of AllMy dear Nephew Darren,I am sorry I was not alive during that wonderful four-year periodwhen Oliver Cromwell abolished Christmas; no Christmas parties, nocarol services, no cards to send and no frantic last-minute shopping.That man was a hero.

Planning for Christmas at St James’ normally starts on 2nd January.By Easter, the flowers for church have been carefully chosen to becolour coordinated, and the seating plans and table decorations forthe Christmas party have been allocated (with nominated reserves incase someone should inconveniently die in the intervening eightmonths). Long before Summer is over, the tree lights have been tested,

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music for the 9 Lessons and Carols Service has been chosen and theservice sheets printed. Way before the dark nights set in, car parkingattendants will have been found, those who are to light all the candleswill have been rehearsed to perfection, and the brass lectern has hadits annual polish.We do not do spontaneity at St James the Least of All. If ever there wasa service when time for something unexpected had to be allowed, itsplace would be announced in the order of service, how long theunexpected thing would happen for would have been decided by acommittee, and who was to be spontaneous would have been allocatedon a rota.But the one person none of these well-meaning, efficient, committedorganisers can control is the Rector. You could call it a staff perk.Carols will (accidentally, of course) be announced in the wrong order;if verse 3 was to be omitted, I announce it will be verse 4. This keepsthe organist on his toes while the choir hovers on the point of acollective nervous breakdown. At the Christmas supper, myintroductory welcome speech and extensive grace make those in thekitchen wonder if the vegetables being boiled should better be servedas thick soup.I offer the helpful suggestion that the tree, having been installed anddecorated in the chancel, may perhaps look better in the sanctuary andI turn all the heating off throughout the season, explaining that it willhelp the flowers to last. All Services will start five minutes early (wasmy watch rather fast?) so I can look disapprovingly at those stillcoming in while we are singing the first carol and making it clear that Ithink they had spent too long in the pub next door.And so we all reach Christmas morning, with 12 months of planninghaving gone yet again slightly awry, with parishioners exhausted and Iexhilarated at the chaos that has been created with such ease. MrCromwell, your spirit lives on.

Your loving uncle,

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There have been no additionsto the Parish Records since thelast edition of TOGETHER

THE SMALL PRINT

Articles of up to 600 words are welcome for consideration in future editionsof TOGETHER and should be accompanied by the name and contact detailsof the author.Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of theeditors or the PCC. The copyright of all material in this magazine rests withthe authors indicated or otherwise with the PCC of St Mary MagdaleneChurch, Taunton.Through advertisements we aim to provide our community with knowledgeof the wide range of services and products available locally. We emphasisethat it is the readers' responsibility to check the quality available -preferably by asking for references. However, we will be glad to hear ofany good or bad experiences for future reference.Please remember to mention TOGETHER Magazine when responding toadvertisers as that helps them and us.

COPY DATE

All items for the February 2021 edition of TOGETHER should be withNelly Calascione (nelly@calbie.co.uk) by noon on Friday 15th January.

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Ten Little Churchmen

Ten little Churchmen went to church when fine;But it started raining and then there were nine.Nine little Churchmen stayed up very late,One overslept himself, then there were eight.Eight little Churchmen on the road to heaven,One joined a ski-ing club, then there were seven.Seven little Churchmen heard of Sunday ‘flicks’,One thought he’d like to go, then there were six.Six little Churchmen kept the place alive,One bought a television, then there were five.Five little Churchmen seemed loyal to the core,The vicar upset one, then there were four.Four little Churchmen argued heatedlyOver ceremonial, then there were three.Three little Churchmen sang the service through,Got a hymn they didn’t know, then there were two.Two little Churchmen disputed who should runThe next ‘parochial concert, then there was one.

One loyal Churchman, knowing what to do,Got a friend to come to Church, then there were two.Two sincere Churchmen each brought one more,So their number doubled, then there were four.Four sturdy Churchmen simply couldn’t waitTill they found four others, then there were eight.Eight eager Churchmen at Communion every weekSoon encouraged others, troubled souls to seek.The seats in church were filled, people filling every pew.Oh God, supply this grace and zeal in OUR Parish too.

This poem, sent in by Joan Jay, exists with a number of variations (including amore modern P.C. version about 10 little Christians). The earliest report I couldfind on the internet refers to a woman copying the words which were displayed ina church in the Cotswolds’ and showing them to her vicar in Cambridgeshire.Until 1957, Cinemas were only allowed to open on Sundays if a significantproportion of the takings were donated to charity and only then if approved bythe local authority so there was much variation from town to town. The referenceto ‘Flicks’ and buying a first television suggest the late 1950’s as the probable timeof origination. We apologise to the author if any copyright has been infringed.