Parish Priest’s Letter
Dear Friends
Harvest is a time of Thanksgiving; we give thanks for our food, homes, families and as the hymns says..’all good gifts around us.’ And it is good also that both at St James and St Thomas we are looking to support Water Aid…water being something we all take for granted but there are other parts of our world where water is still not very available.
We take being able to turn on the tap for granted but imaging what it must be like not to be able to flush a loo or even wash your clothes there fore it is good for us to make it possible for communities throughout the world to have water.
I read the other day that many many years hence it may not be gold or precious jewels that people fight over but water…quite a frightening thought.
And of course we read in the Gospels
John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
John 7:37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
Inspiration for us all and an answer to our spiritual thirst.
Yours in Christ
Roger
Carole goes to Prague
Every year I jet off to the beautiful city of Prague in the Czech Republic, to take part in a lace making course. This year there were ten lacemakers and one husband we stay in a lovely hotel in the city centre, which is far to close to the shops for my bank mangers liking. The first two days are spent with an artists who helps us convert our ideas into a lace pattern. After lunch on the Saturday we set out with our lace tutor Anna to visit a local museum to view Klimt’s pencil and charcoal drawings they were so interesting then on to the wonderful Municipal building where the Ivan Lendle ( yes the tennis player) exhibition of Alphonse Mucha’s posters were on display. This is the largest collection in the world and some are the only ones left. It was fascinating to see how he used his artistic skills to adverts many of the worlds leading brands. Dinner is always in a different restaurant each year and this year it was overwhelming with all the food on offer. Sundays we have a mini bus and go out of the city for the day we visited the old town of Betlem for lunch then on to a village where all kinds of buildings of interest are being brought and rebuilt to keep them safe and the weekend we were there they had an arts and crafts fair. More Czech crowns left my purse. Monday and Tuesday are spent with Anna helping us make the lace from our designs ( I managed to get my completed I am pleased to say) This year I went out a day earlier than normal and went to the Black theatre, which is mime and very clever and had a night at the Proms, it is the first time I have ever heard the Four Seasons played live, magnificent…..The city has many lovely buildings and has a wonderful atmosphere. A map which is very clear with all the street names is available from your hotel and it is a very easy city to walk around and you are very safe. My last day I walked to the hunger wall then went up by funicular to the viewing tower and walked around the gardens up there, lunch was taken on an outside terrace overlooking the city back across the river via the Charles Bridge and a quick dash to buy those must have last items, before the taxi collected me to go to the airport and my flight home. I look forward to going in 2014 and highly recommend any one who has not been to Prague to go…..
Carole Whitling
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Weather Sayings for October
Rain in October
Means wind in December.
When birds and badgers are fat in October,
Expect a cold winter
When berries are many in October
Beware a hard winter.
In October dung your fields
And your land its wealth shall yield.
If ducks do slide at Hallowtide,
At Christmas they will swim;
If ducks do swim at Hallowtide
At Christmas they will slide.
Always will there be Twenty-nine fine days in October.
If the October moon comes without frost,
expect no frost till the moon of November.
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We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
Winston Churchill
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St Francis Day (4th October)
On St Francis Day swallows are supposed to fly to the bottom of ponds and hibernate through the winter.
In the days before the idea of migration was understood, this seemed a reasonable explanation for their sudden disappearance
October Anniversaries
1st October 1908 The first Model T Ford was introduced by Henry Ford.
1st October 1974 American fast-food chain, McDonald’s, opens its first British outlet
in London.
2nd October 1925 The first of London’s now traditional red buses – with roofed-in
upper decks goes into service
3rd October 1906 S.O.S. was established as an international distress signal.
3rd October 1916 James Herriot (famous vet and author) was born.
3rd October 1959 The Post Code was first used in Britain at Norwich.
3rd October 1990 East and West Germany re-united and became one country.
4th October St. Francis of Assissi’s day. St. Francis died today in 1226.
6th October 1769 Captain Cook discovered New Zealand.
8th October 1965 The Post Office Tower in London was opened.
10th October 1881 In London, the Savoy Theatre, first public building to be lit by
electricity opened
11th October 1968 Apollo 7 was launched
12th October First Morris Minor built at Cowley
13th October 1884 Greenwich Mean Time started.
14th October 1066 Battle of Hastings William’The Conqueror’ is proclaimed King .
14th October 1884 Photographic film patented.
14th October 1979 Sony invents the first Walkman
16th October 1834 Houses of Parliament destroyed by fire.
16th October 1958 Blue Peter’ is first broadcast .
21st October 1805 The Battle of Trafalgar..
23rd October 1642 The Battle of Edgehill ..English Civil War.
24th October United Nations Day
25th October Battle of Agincourt fought in 1415.
25th October Charge of the Light Brigade in 1854
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Harvest Meditation
Lord you speak to us through the voices of the poor or the lonely but often we do not
recognise you,
You call us to love unconditionally but we do not obey,
You bless us with a rich and plentiful Harvest but we do not thank you.
Please forgive and help us.
Lord you accept us as we are but we do not accept others,
You forgive us our shortcomings but we fail to forgive those who wrong us,
You love us but we do not love our neighbours.
Please forgive and help us.
Lord you identified yourself with outcasts, the needy and the poor,
But we are not moved by their plight, we don’t bother to find out what is happening to those
who are struggling around us,
You suffered and died for the sake of all,
but we struggle to follow your example and to give up our comfortable lives.
Please forgive and help us.
Our Father to whom we turn to for our daily bread,
whose generous hand provides for everyone,
help us to reach out to the poor on our doorstep.
to the children who go to school hungry,
to the refugees who have no one to turn to,
to the lonely and the homeless,
who turn to you for their daily bread as we do,
for a hot meal,
for a warm blanket,
for a friendly ear and some practical advice.
We confess that at times we have failed to help them,
We repent of our indifference and unkindness,
We ask your forgiveness and we pray that you will give us loving and generous hearts so that
we can take care of others the way you take care of us.
Lord hear our prayer.
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Lord Woolton Pie…from a Wartime Cookbook
450g(1 lb) each of diced potatoes,cauliflower,Swedes and carrots
4 spring onions
1 tsp vegetable extract
1 tsp oatmeal
some chopped parsley
225 g cooked sliced potatoes or wholemeal pastry for topping
Place diced vegetables,onions,,extract and oatmeal into a saucepan and cover with just enough water.
Cook for 10 minutes stirring occasionally
Leave to cool and then put the mixture into a pie dish and sprinkle with parsley.
Cover with potatoes or pastry and bake in a moderate oven until topping is nicely brown and serve hot with gravy.
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Find the COLOURS
in the Scriptures
1. Exodus 10:19…………………………………………………..
2. Luke 9:29……………………………………………………….
3. Psalm 37:2……………………………………………………..
4. Job 28:7…………………………………………………………
5. Numbers 4:6……………………………………………………
6. Daniel 5:7………………………………………………………
7. Acts 7:36……………………………………………………….
8. Revelation 6:5………………………………………………….
9. Leviticus 13:32…………………………………………………
10. Genesis 1:30…………………………………………………
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Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
Winston Churchill
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
Winston Churchill
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THE GARDEN OF LIFE
Adapted from “Garden” by Eugenie Prime
For best results, this garden should be planted every day:
Five rows of “P”eas:
Preparedness, Promptness,Perseverance,Politeness,Prayer.
Five rows of squash:
Squash gossip, Squash criticism, Squash indifference Squash grumbling Squash selfishness.
Five rows of Lettuce:
Let us love one another, Let us be faithful, Let us be loyal, Let us be patient, Let us be truthful.
Four rows of thyme:
Thyme for God ,Thyme for each other, Thyme for family, Thyme for friends,
Three rows of turnips:
Turn up for church, Turn up with a new idea, Turn up with the determination to do a better job tomorrow
than you did today.
Water freely with patience and cultivate with love. You will reap what you sow.
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Bells usually have dedications…in Blackburn Cathedral the 10 Bells are inscribed as followes:-
Treble In memory of W. E. Wilson, Ringer and Belfry Master 1887 – 1943. Also Edward Wilson
1933 – 1946. T. Wilson, Captain
2 Vivos voco, mortuos plango, fulgura frango
(I call the living, I mourn the dead, I overpower the thunder)
3 Laudo Deum, plebum voco, congrego clerum, defunctos ploro, pestem fugo, festa decoro
(I praise God, I call the people, I assemble the clergy, I lament the departed, I drive away
the plague, I proclaim the feasts)
4 Funera plango, fulgura frango, Sabbata pango
(I tell funerals, I subdue the thunder, I declare the Sabbath)
5 Excito lentos, dissipo ventos, paco cruentos
(I hasten the tardy, I scatter the winds, I pacify the angry)
6 Nomen Jesu Christie, tu attendas er defendas
(O name of Jesus Christ, turn Thou and succor us)
7 Te laudamus et rogamus; nos a morte tristi
(We praise thee and we pray; deliver us from sad death). 1949
8 This belfry was restored and the clock, with chimes, renewed in 1949. T. Stirrup, J. W.
Wilson, J. L. Heppard, V. J. Abbott, Churchwardens.
9 In memory of those of this congregation and diocese who gave their lives in the war
1939-45.
Tenor This peal was recast and enlarged in 1949, while extensions to the Cathedral were being
made. W. Hare, Treasurer, Cathedral Fabric Funds from 1934, and of the
Bishopric in 1926.
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Advice is like snow – the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper in sinks into the mind.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Francis Bacon
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More verses of local interest(continued from last month)
Then let’s goo back to th’ Under-Bonk.
Grant’s Tawer is up I’ th’ East
It wur a happy day for th’ Family,
When theer Bill drove them beast.
On th’ side is Holcoom-Moor,
Wheer theer’s a monument built o’ stoon;
It tells abaat Sir Robert Peel,
Altho’ he’s dead an’ goon.
Theer’s th’ Merkuss o’ Pilkington;
He’s a Tawnship of his own,
Bud wheer he geet his Titel fro
I think it’s hardly known.
I morn’t forget Owd Andrew,
As lives neer th’ Alley Cross.
He’s med a cart upstairs, an’ one i’ th’ hawse,
What’s fit for ony horse.
Naw, I ‘m gettin’ back to th’ Under-Bonk,
Bud I ‘ll just call at th’ Virgin’s-Row.
We sellin’ drink Neddy is so fat,
He fairly makes a show.
I’ll just peep in at Nookton’s,
He’s the lad for breakin’ stoons,
He’s full o’ wark, yo’ all do kno,
For his back is groon owt wi boons.
At th’ top o’ Holden-Bonks I’ll conclude,
For I mun neer see th’ Doctor more;
He’s doon rare acts o’ good in Haslingden-
Ah! how kind he wur to th’ poor.
In Africa the Doctor’s laid to rest,
I’m told, just under a green tree;
Bud we’ll raise him yet a monument,
If friends did all feel lik mee.
(Contributed by Alec Taylor)
The following information may be of interest;
- The “Merkuss O’Pilkington refers to the “Marquis of Pilkington”, the nick-name of a man (also referred to as “Rough Robin”), who lived in the AldenValley above Helmshore. During a dispute over paying taxes and claiming benefits, he referred to his dwelling as the “Township of Pilkington”.
- Alley Cross and Virgin’s Row were in Haslingden Grane.
- The Doctor referred to was Dr Ralph Holden who died in Africa in1861. He was a great benefactor of Haslingden and of St James Church.
Quotation for October
“The sweet, calm sunshine of October, now,
Warms the low spot; upon its grassy mould,
The purple oak leaf falls; the birchen bough,
Drops its bright spoil like arrow-heads of gold”
-William Cullen Bryan
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Whilst on holiday in Cumbria, I sat by a window in a café. The autumn colours were stunning and prompted this poem.
Autumn Time
How lovely is the autumn?
When it’s colours beam and glow,
To look upon it’s shining glory,
And see shadows come and go.
The trees are only resting,
As their leaves to amber turn,
The earth will only rest a while,
Till spring again returns.
Death can never be the ruler,
In the cooling autumn sun,
How strange this awesome glory,
Will slumber on and on.
To gaze upon these glorious scenes,
As the trees their leaves dismember,
This timeless autumn glory,
Will give us something to remember.
Edith Smith
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Men’s Forum
We had two meetings in June. On the 10th we visited Bacup Natural History Society. Ken Bowden, the secretary, told us that the society was founded in 1878 by a group of gentlemen who were interested in the flowers, animals and fossils of the area. Over the years the society has had several homes. They have been in their present building since 1947. In addition to natural history specimens, the museum contains collections of domestic, industrial, religious and military artefacts. There is so much to be seen that only a visit can adequately do it justice. The library has a collection of over 2000 books and bound copies of Bacup newspapers dating from 1863. They also have a collection of some 4000 photographs of old Bacup showing its houses, farms, churches and mills. The society is run by a dedicated group of men and women volunteers. After Ken’s talk we enjoyed looking at many of the exhibits on the two floors. Other volunteers were on hand to answer any of our questions. This is a fascinating museum and well worth visiting. The museum is open to the public on Thursday evenings from 7.30pm and admission is free.
The Annual Walk on the 24th was blessed with fine weather and a small group enjoyed a leisurely stroll around Calf Hey Reservoir at Grane. This was constructed between 1854-1860 for Bury, which had no moorland of its own so it had to use somebody else’s! Several farms had to be abandoned and some of the ruins were passed on the way round.
Future Meeting
2nd October Old Haslingden and Accrington. Garth Dawson
16th October The Workhouse. Peter Wilson
30th October Russian Holiday Part 2. Norman Mitchell
13th November Amendments in the Building Industry. Dave Oldham
27th November St James’ Organ. Adrian Van der Schans
11th December Coffee/wine and mince pies
Hylton Craig
Helen Rostron Window
This window can be found on the north side of the church near the front. The window was given in memory of Helen Rostron who died in 1881, aged 67 years, by her children. In the census and other records, Helen is referred to as Ellen Rawstron so the spelling of the name on the window could be an error or an acceptable alternative.
The first inscription is “This woman was full of good works”. The stained glass illustrates the story of a woman named Tabitha (Dorcas in Greek), a believer, who spent her life doing good and helping the poor. She was noted for making shirts and coats. The upper panel represents this. When Tabitha died she was raised to life by Peter. This is shown in the lower panels.
The second inscription “Be ye also ready” refers to Mark’s Gospel, the full quotation being “So then you must always be ready for the Son of Man will come at any hour when you are not expecting him.”
Helen Rawstron lived with her family at Bank House, Laneside which was situated just below what was Stott’s Foundry. Her maiden name was Livesey and her father, Thomas, owned Laneside Sizing Works. The works was advertised as ”Sizers and Slashers of Cotton and Rayon Yarns”. The works was run and extended by Henry Ormerod, originally from Sherfin Nook, who married Helen in Manchester Cathedral in 1835. They had a daughter, Mary Alice, and two sons, John and Thomas Livesey Ormerod. The sons ran the works after the death of Henry aged 36.
Ownership of the factory passed to Thomas Rawstron who married Henry Ormerod’s widow, Helen. Thomas had been married to Mary Heys in 1841 at St James but his wife had died at an early age. He had two sons by his first wife so when he married Helen the couple already had five children between them.
Thomas and Helen had four more children, Ellen, Emelia Alice, Adam Livesey and Mary Ann making a total of nine, so maybe this is why her children are not named on the window.
Why not take a moment to study this beautiful memento to a lady who must have lived a very full life.
Sylvia and Hylton Craig.
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Be Still my Soul
This hymn comes from three different nations . The words were written by Katharina von Schegel in 1752 in Germany, and translated into English by Jane Borthwick in Scotland in 1855. The melody comes from the piece Finlandia, written by Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius, in 1899.
This hymn was reportedly the favourite of Eric Liddell, the athlete who became famous in the 1924 Olympics for refusing to run on the Sabbath (see the film Chariots of Fire). Liddell later became a missionary in China, and was interned there by the Japanese during World War II. He is said to have taught this hymn to others in the prison camp where he eventually died.
This hymn can help us face our trials with confidence.
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side;
bear patiently the cross of grief and pain;
leave to your God to order and provide;
in every change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: your God will undertake
to guide the future as he has the past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake,
all now mysterious shall be clear at last.
Be still, my soul: the tempests still obey
his voice, who ruled them once on Galilee.
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart
and all is darkened in the vale of tears,
then you shall better know his love, his heart,
who comes to soothe your sorrow, calm your fears.
Be still, my soul: for Jesus can repay
from his own fullness all he takes away.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
when we shall be for ever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
sorrow forgotten, love’s pure joy restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
all safe and bless-ed we shall meet at last.
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The Musician’s Prayer
Oh Lord, please bless this music that it might glorify your name. May the talent that you have bestowed upon me be used only to serve you.
Let this music be a witness to your majesty and love, and remind us that you are always watching, and listening, from your throne above.
May your presence and beauty be found in every note, and may the words that are sung reach the hearts of your people so they will draw closer to you.
May your Spirit guide us through every measure so that we might be the instruments of your peace, and proclaim your glory with glad voices.
Amen
Handy Hints
Keep your wooden garden furniture for many more years by periodically rubbing with linseed oil to prevent cracks and splits.
If you have an old plastic dustbin you no longer use, don’t throw it away- drill some holes in the bottom for drainage and use it to grow potatoes.
Avoid a soggy salad by putting the dressing in the bottom of the serving bowl, crossing the servers over it and placing the salad on top. Toss the salad just before serving.
Keep all your vegetable peelings (even onion peel) and put them in a pan with hot water to make vegetable stock. You can freeze the fresh peel until you’re ready to use it.
Never throw away old pillowcases. They can be used as pillow protectors under new ones.
To clean a stainless steel kettle or toaster, rub a little cooking oil onto your cloth- you will be amazed at the results.
If summer berries don’t keep long in the fridge, washing them first in a solution of one part vinegar and 10 parts water will kill any bacteria and keep them fresh for longer.
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St James Mothers Union
22nd August some of the Mothers union members visited the Chocolate factory – Glenfield Park Phillips Road Blackburn. We all had a really lovely time.
The owner Susan Bristow made us very welcome by giving us drinks and chocolate before demonstrating how, along with her mother and a friend create masterpieces, all handmade, out of chocolate.
She started her factory when leaving school by turning a hobby into a thriving business and 25 years on is exporting to different parts of the world. Most orders are taken in the shop they have in the factory where we were flabbergasted at what they create for weddings christenings etc..
Susan imports 5 tonnes of pure Belgian chocolate each year ( she said she can`t use British as it doesn`t work the same as Belgian )
Whist we were there we had a look in the kitchen where they were making 400 chocolate cupcakes for a wedding – Chocolate of course.
It`s well worth a visit and to try the goods of course !!!
We finished the afternoon with homemade cream scones and coffee.]\[
Liz
Mothers Union
October 3rd – History of maps
17th Crime Prevention
31st Sommerseat (Please give you`re name in if interested)
Indian summer, most welcome of gifts
The days when you wake, and your very heart lifts
With pleasure at finding so perfect a morn
As fresh as an apple, as crisp as the corn
With sky that`s as blue as a kingfishers wing
Sunlight so bright that it makes the world sing
And trees with their branches scarce able to hold
The weight of the leaves that are dipped all in gold
Sweet Indian summer, you`ll soon slip away
But long we`ll remember your brief lovely stay
Margaret Ingall
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John Keats – To Autumn
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.
Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap’d furrow sound asleep,
Drows’d with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.
Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too, –
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.
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WATER AID – Harvest 6th October
Once again we are supporting Water Aid for our Harvest Appeal.
THERE are 783 million people worldwide without access to clean water
Do you have to walk many miles and then carry heavy containers of dirty water for your family to drink?
Do you have a toilet?? thousands of people dont. Providing clean water helps make building these possible.
Once again we ask that you save your change in any container you wish and bring it along to the Harvest Service on 6th October .If anyone wishes to bring other gifts to the service, it would be helpful if they were tins or flowers.
CHRISTMAS BOXES
We are again supporting the organisation that sends boxes of gifts to children throughout the world If you would like to help ,boxes will be in the Hall after the Harvest. If you do not feel that you can fill a box, single items are still gratefully received. We also have to send 2.50 for the postage on each box. We hope to cover some of this cost by having a stall in the Hall. Last year 1 million boxes were distributed worldwide.
CHRISTMAS FAIR
Just to remind you that the Fair is on the 23rd November. We look forward to seeing you all there.
……………………………..from CL:IC SARGENT
Dear Roger,
I’d like to say thank you. In fact, I’d like to say thanks a million.In 2012/13, your support helped CLIC Sargent raise £1 million more than in 2011/12, taking our annual income to £22.26 million. This means we’ve been able to support over 6,600 children and young people with cancer. That’s more than ever.So today we want to thank everyone who has contributed to this success. Please visit our Thanks a million! web page for more information and updates.Thanks again for everything you do for children and young people with cancer.
Lorraine Clifton
Chief Executive
