Rev Pev's Page
|
Jack and The Beanstalk
Performances are on Tuesday 6th, Wednesday 7th, Friday 9th all at 7pm, Saturday 2pm and 6pm, and Sunday 1pm. Tickets are only £6 adult and £4 concession for all performances, and can be purchased from Great Ayton Library (Mornings only) or phone the box office 01642 723 250 or 07716994182
Christmas & Community
Look to that first story of Christmas where Mary and Joseph arrived in bustling Bethlehem expecting their first child immanently, and no-one noticed. Pushed into a back room to give birth with no mention of her mother helping her with the housework, or her in-laws or neighbours popping around with a casserole, although I suppose we could assume the shepherds brought a DIY one. (If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb!) There’s no place more lonely than on your own in a crowd, there’s no sadder place to be than on your own when everyone else is together enjoying themselves. Don’t make the mistake of assuming everyone else is happy at Christmas, for many are not. There are at least 48 families that I know of that are facing their first Christmas without a loved one, and many, many more who still find it hard. Don’t leave them alone in the back room like Mary and Joseph, but invite them into yours or surprise them with a visit, just like the shepherds did for M & J. Christmas is a great time for community, bringing people together and supporting one another - of having a excuse to call round, phone or talk to a neighbour or friend - because we do it in honour of the season, in honour of the babe in the manger who taught us to love one another. If you feel shy asking people in to your home, or its not your thing, then there are lots of special things on. Why not see if they will come with you to a Carol Service (There are lots to choose from) or witness the Vicar make a fool of himself in the Panto in the Church Hall - all for a good cause. Perhaps you might want to put the heart back into Christmas by attending a Service on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Even just a walk along our village High Street on Boxing Day or New Years Day mornings helps bring so many together to exchange a friendly word. 2,000 years ago many missed the wonder of the birth of Jesus because they were too busy and kept to themselves. This Christmas, make time for others and join with the angels and shepherds as we celebrate the wonder of God’s love around us. Merry Christmas to all, Dame Trott (aka Paul)
Remembrance Remembered
This years Remembrance Sunday saw the biggest number present I can remember since 1993, and folk here before me can vouch for before that. Guisborough Road was lined many deep on both sides as the procession made its way from the Parochial Hall. No problems now with traffic being stopped, as happened several years ago, as the Police present were extremely helpful. As each of the 45 names from World War 1 and the 19 from World War 2 were read out, a Scout came forward to lay a single poppy on the memorial, showing us visibly how many young men from our village lost their lives.
Christ Church needed elastic walls for the service to get everyone in, and we even had Scouts sitting on the Altar step and Brownies sat by the pulpit. The Service brought young and old together in an act of Remembrance and of Dedication for Peace, as we seek to strengthen the bonds of community that help us through times of adversity. Thank you to all who ensure that today, we still do remember.
|
Come along to the Parochial Hall and enjoy a good old fashioned Pantomime for the Christmas Season as the Bradley School of Dance and Musical Theatre put on Jack and The Beanstalk. Guest players include Rev Pev as Dame Trott and Peter Hill as the evil and slimy Fleshcreep.
Christmas - that wonderful time for donning special clothes and performing to full houses of cheerful patrons. Yes, you can’t beat Midnight Mass!
Remembrance was well observed this year in our village. On Friday 11th November at 11am, Marwood School pupils, parents and many villagers gathered outside Church to keep a two minute silence and make a chain for peace around the village war memorial.
Remembrance can have its omissions, for I couldn’t help but think of Sergeant Stephen Smith from our village whose funeral took place in Christ Church earlier this year. Stephen has served for nineteen years in some of the most troubled areas of the world, and was a Royal Military Policeman. He had been present at our act of remembrance on many previous occasions and died from injuries sustained after being hit by a van whilst out jogging in this country in July of this year. Although he didn’t die in war, he served his country with great distinction. He is rightly remembered with a Memorial bench in Great Ayton cemetery.