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THE LINK
The Parish Magazine for the parishes of
St Catherine and Holy Trinity Ventnor and St Boniface Bonchurch
December/January 2019
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Ventnor & Bonchurch Parish website address
www.ventnorcofe2.btck.co.uk Email: [email protected]
Churchwardens
St Catherine’s John Bagshawe and Adrian Pinnock
Holy Trinity Mark Bell and Jo Nicholson
St Boniface Philip Kennerly and George Westcott
Morning Prayer
Tuesday at 9.30am and Thursday at 9.15am at Holy Trinity
Wednesday at 9.30am at St Catherine’s
Friday at 9.00am St Boniface Parish Church
Midweek Services St Catherine’s - Wednesday - 10.30am Holy Communion
Holy Trinity - Thursday - 10.00am Holy Communion (BCP)
Sunday Services Please see inside Link for details of Sunday Services
The Ministry Team
Rev’d Canon Hugh Wright 01983 853729
Email: [email protected]
Gill Chaloner Reader 854659
Jenny Hopkins-Holder Reader 852575
Gill Smith Reader 856134
Nicola Pinnock Reader
Lay Pastoral Assistants
Mary Bell - Jo Nicholson
Sally Fitzgerald - Janet Kay
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Dear friends.
Only a few words from me this month because two very
thoughtful reflections on Christmas have been written by the
two Gills elsewhere in the ‘Link’ on their trip to Israel and
Palestine. Having been to the places to which they refer, I can
relate to the excitement they felt in the places they visited and
shared worship. As Gill Smith writes of the Church of the
Nativity in Bethlehem where they sang ‘Silent Night’: ‘Christmas
will never be the same again.’
It’s significant to me that Bethlehem is one of the poorest
places in the Holy Land, badly affected as it is the by the
Security Wall erected in 2002 between Israel and the Palestinian
territories. Bethlehem was poor back then and the shepherds
would have been marginal figures in society, yet they were the
first to hear the Good News of the Saviour’s birth. It was also
greatly affected back then by contemporary politics just as now,
with the Emperor’s decision to hold a census and King Herod’s
decision to kill all newborn babies out of fear of the ‘King of the
Jews’. Yet God was content be born at that time and in that
place.
We also find ourselves embroiled in politics as we prepare to
cast our votes on Dec 12th. Living in divided times now, as they
were then, may we cast our votes not just for ourselves
personally but for the world which God so loved that he gave
his Son. As we sing, ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’, may we pray
that the holy Child would ‘cast out our sins and enter in and be
born in us today.’ That is the true meaning of Christmas: to
open up our hearts to the Christ Child who comes to us, not
just on a visit to the Holy Land but here in Ventnor and every
day.
Your sincere friend and Vicar, Hugh
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FOUR VERY SPECIAL EUCHARISTS
“O Little Town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie.” This was the
hymn we sang together as we celebrated the first of our Communion
services together on our Diocesan Pilgrimage. We were in the
Shepherds’ Fields, a beautiful site overlooking Bethlehem, a place where
Bedouin shepherds still keep their flocks of sheep and goats. Even the
Chapel of the Angels, the lovely church built by Barluzzi for the
Franciscans, was designed to look like a Bedouin tent. We read “I am the
Good Shepherd” before our first Communion together as a party. I had
never before realised how far and how steep and dangerous it would have
been for those shepherds, travelling by night to see the baby Jesus…the
countryside is rough and rocky and Bethlehem is a craggy hill-top town. It
was a good beginning to our journey together.
Our next Eucharist was perhaps even more moving. Located on the
traditional Way of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa, the Ecce Homo Convent
is on the site of the place where Pontius Pilate presented the tortured
Jesus to the crowd (“Behold the Man!”) and where Jesus was crowned
with thorns. Here we listened to Helen’s voice, choked with emotion,
reading “He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief”…she did
well to complete it. We took Communion together in silence, standing in
a circle round the altar, under the arch of the ancient basilica. A thoughtful
and solemn time, to be followed by our visits to St Anne’s Church and the Pool of Bethesda, the Western Wall, the remaining Stations of the Cross,
the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Mount of Olives, the Garden of
Gethsemane and the Church of the Agony. Quite a day….and at the end
of it, the four of us from Ventnor shared a bottle of wine to celebrate
surviving it!
In Nazareth (having moved on to Galilee), we joined for the first time with
the local Anglican community for our Sunday Communion Service. The
Anglican Church building, Christ Church, Nazareth (what else could it be
called?) was being repaired, so we met in the chapel of the Roman
Catholic Convent. We were all using the familiar (to Holy Trinity) green
English Hymnal, but we sang in English and the local community in Arabic.
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It was the same with the set prayers…a bit like the Tower of Babel, but
comradely and uplifting. The sermon was in Arabic, followed by a
synopsis in English. The local priest, his Deacon, Bishop Christopher
and his wife, the Reverend Sally, all had parts to play, and I have a copy
of the pew leaflet, just like ours….but in Arabic! We were given a very
warm welcome and refreshments afterwards, and then admired the
nuns’ tortoises!
And lastly, an unforgettable experience at Tabgha, on the shores of the
Sea of Galilee, where the miracle of the loaves and fishes took place and
where there is a famous and exquisite small mosaic in the church
depicting a basket of bread flanked by those two fishes. Here we had
Communion in the open air, seated on logs around a simple altar,
surrounded by rushes and trees and flowers, with the lake nearby. Our
last Communion together, by which time we felt we’d got to know most of the thirty four people on the Pilgrimage. And so we sang
“Brother, Sister, let me serve you”, because truly we WERE “Pilgrims
on a journey, fellow-travellers on the Road”.
I, because I’d had some difficulty with all the walking and the ups and
downs, was very conscious that “We are here to help each other walk
the mile and spread the load,” and that I needed to thank my
companions and fellow-travellers for all the help they’d given me during
an unforgettable visit. Gill.
Shepherds’Fields Ecce Homo basilica
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Light up a Life Service
11th December
St Catherine’s Church.
As always, there will be a chance
to light a candle in
memory of
someone.
ALL WELCOME
Group photo from Tabgha Service booklet from Naza-
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Into the Silent Land
Contemplative Prayer Group
If you enjoyed attending the Julian Group you may wish to join
us in silent contemplative prayer at Trinity Church Hall on
Friday 10th January at 2.30 pm. We have decided to try
meeting in the afternoons once a month instead of the
evenings as it seems this would suit more people.
For further information contact Tim Slade 853504 or 07976
604163 or [email protected]. Or just turn up!
Town Carol Service The rehearsals for this service will be from 3.00-4.30 on
Sundays 8th, 15th 22nd December. It would be great to have
singers from all 3 churches.
Do come along and sing with us.
Michele
GIFTS FOR TEENAGERS at St Catherine’s
We will be holding our service for leavers in care on
the 15th of December. Gifts can include: Toiletries, gift
vouchers, hats, scarves, bags or a cash donation.
Last year was fantastic, let’s see if we can do more this
year
See Maria Emery or Adrian Pinnock for full details
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A WRITER’ S. FASCINATION.
I find that writing in any form is intriguing, the fascination of writing from
a short note to a lengthy novel can become a great adventure in
literature.
There can, however be problems within the chosen subject.
A very wise, elderly novelist once advised me never to attempt writing
upon a subject that I know little about. “Always research and then you
can sit on the perch,” He would say. Another anecdote of his was: “make
it snappy and keep your readers happy.” These little gems are worth
bearing in mind.
Poetry is a strength of mine, I love the subject, it is an art in itself. it is so
easy to use in romantic situations as well as sad. Many epitaphs are
written in rhyme, William Shakespeare was a master of that with his
deep and intriguing scripts including those relating to history.
William Blake was another, he excelled in his masterpiece ‘Jerusalem,’.
He worked on ‘Jerusalem,’ for a very long time before he deemed It
ready for publication.
Poetry goes with song writing as love goes with marriage because the
two are synonymous. It is surely remarkable how popular ‘Jerusalem,’ is,
even today. It is always sung at the last night of the proms every year in
the Royal Albert hall which proves its status as a great work of great art.
Ted.
AS A DOVE.
As I prepare this poem for you i could refer to it as peace,
Peace, a time of calmness when all things hostile cease.
A time of pure contentment and unrequited love,
As quoted in so many ways, likened as a dove.
A dove known as a bird of peace it soothes our troubled minds,
We often hear it’s cooing voice, it speaks in different kinds
It will often chirp but never screech like some other birds of flight
It settles down quite happily to sleep right through the night
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St Catherine’s Church
CHRISTMAS FAYRE
FRIDAY DECEMBER 6th 10am - 4pm
Decorated Christmas Trees
Cakes and Savouries - Jams and Pickles Gifts Crafts - Tombola - Books
Raffle - Refreshments
The Dove, with an olive branch, an ideal sign of peace,
When Noah needed proof of land the Dove was his release
Birds show us their intelligence, it is surprising what they know,
The way they weave their nests and formation flights they show.
They emigrate for many miles, their navigation is supreme,
To those exotic places which to us would be a dream.
Never under - estimate a clever little bird
They can show you how to do things without uttering a word.
Yes, peace must be our watch-word, our freedom and our calm,
Away with all our troubles or things that do us harm
Just like Noah and his animals we will sail the sea of might
Nothing more to worry us, peacefulness at night.
March on with hope and glory this, and every day,
Be confident, be cheerful and not afraid to pray.
The Cherubim will help you, may your inhibitions cease,
Accept with Holy Blessings : GOD’S EVERLASTING PEACE.
Ted.
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Aspects of Christmas with
The Undercliff Singers
Friday 13th December, 7pm
St Catherine’s Church, Ventnor
Refreshments and Raffle
Donations to Ventnor Carnival
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Ventnor FoodBank:
Ventnor Baptist Church, Pier Street, Ventnor.
Open Tuesdays & Thursdays 10:00am - 12:00 noon.
Pet FoodBank Newport: Asda, Newport
donation basket located at the end of the tills.
www.isleofwight.foodbank.org.uk
URGENTLY NEEDED FOOD ITEMS Sponge puddings = Packet rice = Tinned soup
Tinned fruit = Fruit juice = Toilet rolls
Christmas items
Chill and Chat 11- 1pm Ventnor Baptist Church
Every Wednesday All welcome
Tea, coffee and cake From 12pm soup and roll.
Community Cafe Wroxall Methodist Hall
Thursday 2-4pm
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Men's Christmas Breakfast.
December 5th at 9am, St Catherine's Church. Full English breakfast, plus
mince pies and Christmas Crackers. A warm welcome to breakfast and a
friendly chat. No Men's Breakfast in January
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VENTNOR WEATHER
Articles for the February Magazine should be handed in by
Jauary 10th please. You can hand it in at the Hub or email it
to Joan Garlick at [email protected]
Hand written reports/articles are accepted if you do not
have access to a computer.
October Rainfall of 116.4mm was 129% of the
average of 90.37mm. Rain fell on 23 days,
the wettest being the 12th with 17.2mm.
This was the wettest month of the year
(so far).
The mean temperature was 13.0 C. (The
same as the average). The warmest day
was the 5th with 19.1 C. The coldest night
was the 27th with 5.9 C.
WANTED - Used Postage Stamps Bring your used postage stamps to the
Hub at St Catherine’s Church.
Please leave some of the envelope around the stamp to
prevent damage to them, they will be trimmed later. Thank you.
Thanks to Mike Wood for our October weather information for Ventnor.
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Ventnor Townswomen's Guild 18th December - Christmas Party 2.15pm
15th January - The Women's land Army - Silvia Williams
Resident’s Lounge. Knights Court,
High Street, Ventnor.
Secretary - Mrs J Walters - 855892
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Social Studies Group
2 December 2.15pm Pre-Christmas Party
6th January Queen Victoria - Sheila Caws
Held in the Resident’s lounge at Byrnhill Grove,
Park Avenue. For more information contact
Mrs Barbara Joyner - 651577
£1 per meeting including refreshments.
The Tritone Singers Christmas concert.
We are performing Benjamin Britten’s ‘Ceremony of Carols’
accompanied by harp and other shorter seasonal pieces at
All Saints Church in Gurnard on Saturday 14th December
at 7.30pm. Tickets are only £8 (children free) online or on
the door.
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Monday Evening 7.45pm
Contact Jenny Holder 852575
Tuesday Evening - 8.00pm
At Mick and Nava Young’s St Andrews, Belgrave
Road. 852680 Please phone to see when meetings are being held in December
and January
The Hub Coffee Shop at St Catherine’s Church
Monday to Saturday 10:30-12:30
(except Wednesday 11-12:30).
Coffee, Cake, Chat, Companionship .......
Hub will be closed the week beginning 23rd December
and re opens 30th December
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Carisbrooke Priory
Open Door Worship Meeting every Thursday at 12 Noon
Speakers for December 2019:
5th December Dennis Lloyd (Communion)
12th December Stella Hardiman
19th December Priory Prayers
26th December CLOSED (Boxing Day)
A light lunch is available after the service
Activities @ The Priory
Poetry Past & Present with Anne Linington
13th December 10.30 a.m. – 11.45 a.m.
Open Art Group – Every Tuesday, Beginners Welcome
10.30 a.m. – 2.30 p.m.
On Thursday 19th December, at 7.00 p.m., we will be
holding our annual Christmas Carol Service, which this year
will again be led by the Band and Songsters of the Salvation
Army
Admission free – retiring collection
The service will be followed by refreshments in the Priory Tea Room
and all are welcome
Prayer Ministry available by arrangement –
Please contact the Priory for an appointment Phone: 01983 523354
Email:[email protected]
Website: www.carisbrookepriory.org.uk
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December 8th 3.00p.m. Nine Lessons and Carols, St Boniface Church
December 22nd
6.00p.m. Carols by Candlelight, St Catherine’s Church
December 29th
The First Sunday of Christmas JOINT SERVICE
OF HOLY COMMUNION 11.00a.m. Holy Trinity Church
December 29th
3.00p.m. Carols and Readings for Christmas, Bonchurch Old Church
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BONCHURCH EVENTS
The Bonchurch Monthly Coffee Mornings
will resume on TUESDAY JANUARY 7th
from 10 am to Noon.
All the usual:
Bric a Brac, Cake and savoury stall
(calorie free for January!)
Raffle, Tombola, Books and Handicraft.
Coffee/Tea obviously and as ever lots of chat.
We Will Remember Them.
On Sunday November 10th
at 11.00am a very moving
remembrance ceremony was
held at Bonchurch War
Memorial, complete with a
wonderful rendition of the
last post.
Wreaths were laid on behalf
of the St Boniface Church
and also Bonchurch
Community Association.
The ceremony was well
attended by the local community.
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BUMPER CHRISTMAS COFFEE MORNING
Wow! This was our best one ever. Thank you to all the folk
who supported it, both our regulars and and some newcomers.
A lovely addition was Bonchurch author, Rob Carter, doing a
book signing of his latest novel "The Moondish", set in
Bonchurch, the proceeds of which he donated to the stained
glass window fund.
These events don't happen without a very dedicated team and
we thank them all for their extremely hard work. We also
thank all those who donated raffle prizes including the Royal
Hotel and Glory Art Glass.
We are still counting but at the moment our magnificent total
is just short of £2,000.
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Thanks to Mike Wood for our
weather information for Ventnor.
SERVICES FOR CHRISTMAS EVE
4.00p.m. Crib Service, St Catherine’s Church
4.00p.m. Crib Service, St Boniface
Church
11.30p.m. Midnight Mass, Holy Trinity Church
11.30p.m. Midnight Communion,
St Boniface Church
SERVICES FOR CHRISTMAS DAY
10.30a.m. Family Service with
Communion, St Catherine’s Church
10.45a.m. Holy Communion, St Boniface Church
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18th January 3pm - 5pm
St Francis Academy - Upper Ventnor
“Come and share a meal with us”
Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or carer.
Do please tell any families you know about this
Free event
“Trinity Folk”
17th January
Holy Trinity
Church Hall
7.30pm - 10pm
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WORSHIP FOR DECEMBER 2019
December 1st Advent Sunday
9.30a.m Holy Communion, Holy Trinity Church 10.45a.m.” Come and See“. Café Church, St Catherine’s Church
10.45a.m. Holy Communion, St Boniface Church
5.00p.m. Advent Carol Service, Holy Trinity Church
December 8th The Second Sunday of Advent
9.30a.m. Morning Worship, Holy Trinity Church
10.45a.m. Holy Communion, St Catherine’s Church
10.45a.m. Holy Communion, St Boniface Church
3.00p.m. Nine Lessons and Carols, St Boniface Church
6.30p.m. Holy Communion, Holy Trinity Church
December 15th The Third Sunday of Advent
9.30a.m. Holy Communion, Holy Trinity Church
10.45a.m. Morning Worship, St Catherine’s Church, “The Gift of Giving.”
10.45a.m. Holy Communion, St Boniface Church
December 22nd The Fourth Sunday of Advent
9.30a.m. Holy Communion, Holy Trinity Church
10.45a.m. Holy Communion, St Catherine’s Church
10.45a.m. Morning Worship, St Boniface Church
6.00p.m. Carols by Candlelight, St Catherine’s Church
FOR CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICES,
SEE SEPARATE PAGE
December 29th The First Sunday of Christmas
JOINT SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
11.00a.m. Holy Trinity Church
3.00p.m. Carols and Readings for Christmas,
Bonchurch, Old Church
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READINGS FOR DECEMBER 2019
December 1st Advent Sunday
Isaiah 2:1-5
Romans 13:11 to end
St Matthew 24:36-44
December 8th The Second Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 11:1-10
Romans 15:4-13
St Matthew 3:1-12
December 15th The Third Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 35:1-10
James 5:7-10
St Matthew 11:2-11
December 22nd The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 7:10-16
Romans 1:1-7
St Matthew 1:18-end
December 29th The First Sunday of Christmas
Isaiah 63:7-9
Hebrews 2:10-end
St Matthew 2:13-end
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WORSHIP FOR JANUARY 2020
January 5th Epiphany
9.30a.m. Holy Communion, Holy Trinity Church
10.45a.m Morning Worship, St Catherine’s Church. **
10.45a.m. Holy Communion, St Boniface Church
5.00p.m. Epiphany Service, Holy Trinity Church.
January 12th The Baptism of Christ
9.30a.m. Morning Worship, Holy Trinity Church
10.45a.m. Holy Communion, St Catherine’s Church
10.45a.m. Holy Communion, St Boniface Church
6.30p.m. Holy Communion, Holy Trinity Church
January 19th The Second Sunday of Epiphany
9.30a.m. Holy Communion, Holy Trinity Church
10.45a.m. Morning Worship, St Catherine’s Church
10.45a.m. Morning Worship. St Boniface Church. **
January 26th The Third Sunday Of Epiphany
9.30a.m. Holy Communion, Holy Trinity Church
10.45a.m. Holy Communion, St Catherine’s Church
10.45a.m. Holy Communion St Boniface Church. **
** Please note change of service
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READINGS FOR JANUARY 2020
January 5th Epiphany
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:1-12
St Matthew 2:1-12
January 12th The Baptism of Christ
Isaiah 42:1-9
Acts 10:34-43
St Matthew 3:13-end
January 19th The Second Sunday of Epiphany
Isaiah 49:1-7
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
St John 1:29-42
January 26th The Third Sunday of Epiphany
Isaiah 9:1-4
1 Corinthians1:10-18
St Matthew 4:12-23
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BEREAVEMENT GROUP….Can we help you?
We are aware that there are a number of
people who have been bereaved and might
like someone to talk to.
If this is YOU or someone you know, please contact any of the
Bereavement Group from St Catherine’s, Holy Trinity and
St Boniface, by telephoning 01983 853729 or visit the Hub at
St Catherine’s any morning between 10.30 am and 12.30pm.
Anything you wish to discuss will be treated with absolute
confidentiality.
PRAYER TIME Each SATURDAY afternoon between 1pm and 2pm
in, St Catherine’s Church.
For more information contact Ann Allen
PRAYER CHAIN Many of you especially newcomers to the Church may not
know about THE PRAYER CHAIN which has been going
for a very long time.
It is made up with a prayerful group of people who pass on
confidential prayers one to another.
If anyone has a confidential or urgent prayer for themselves
or other people, whether members of the Church or not,
then they can ring me on 01983 731142 or email me on
Ann Radcliffe
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www.ventnorcofe2.btck.co.uk
