CHURCHES TOGETHER IN HEACHAM
 

Beating the Bounds

Did you see the Vicar, with his churchwardens and a dozen choirboys beating the bounds in the last week of April?  If we were in 1708 rather than 2008 I’m sure you would have done.  You’d have been fearful if the ceremony had been missed: the little procession trailing for miles round the boundary of Heacham parish, and the boys whipping the boundary stones with willow branches, while the Vicar recited his prayers.

Without this medieval ritual during the Rogation Days with its origins in Anglo-Saxon times, some say, others in Roman times, the newly sown crops wouldn’t do well, and there would be a shortage of food come the harvest, the prices would be high, and people would starve.

Whatever we moderns may think of such a quaint ritual… crops will be better off with fertilizers than prayers… nevertheless it was a reminder, that God has a real interest in seeing that we treat his world well and so enjoy its produce.  The first instruction God gave to mankind was to work the earth and take care of it.

And recently … in the last hundred and fifty years we haven’t done it very well.  So now we’re beginning to feel the effect of higher prices in the shops.  We’re not suffering shortages yet, not dying of starvation, at least not in this country.  If what the scientists tell us is true, the droughts and shortages of today come from the greenhouse gases produced fifty years ago.  So in fifty years’ time when our grandchildren are grown up, the way we are living now will make life intolerable for them.  Maybe for their sake, we should change our ways, and use the earth more carefully and not exploit it.

We won’t rely on choirboys with willow branches beating the bounds, but we can build a wind turbine in the Millennium wood; we can put huge solar panels on the south facing roof of the social club and the parish church; we can get out of our car and into the bus, even if it is a bit slower and less convenient.

I hope our grandchildren won’t curse us for our legacy, but recognise we did our best.  We need to act as well as pray.
 

A Rogation Prayer

Almighty God, whose will it is that the earth should bear its fruits in their seasons: direct the labours of those who work on the land, that they employ the resources of nature to your glory,for our own wellbeing and for the relief of those in need; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Roy Barrow, a member of the ministry team at St. Mary’s Church

 

PARISH REGISTERS

Baptisms

06/04/08 Lewis Robert Beavon, son of Philip and Claire

    "For anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation"

Weddings

05/04/08 Philip Andrew Terry and Deborah Anne Gay

Faithful departed (Church linked funerals)

24/03/08       Maureen Dorothy Webb           70

26/03/08       Annie Cawthorne                    98

10/04/08       John Ward Bowman                87

12/04/08       Walter Henry Thomas Medhurst 89

   "Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted"
We do extend our sympathy and condolences to all who have been bereaved, and who are prayed for at the Sunday morning services around the time of the funeral of their loved ones.

METHODIST CHURCH - Sunday Services

10.30am    Morning Worship

ST MARY’S PARISH CHURCH – Sunday Services

8.00am      Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)

10.00am    Morning Worship
(All Age Worship on 1^st Sunday)
(Holy Communion on 2^nd Sunday)
Provision for children during services.

10.30am    Morning Worship at Junior School
(Holy Communion on 3^rd Sunday)

6.00pm      Evening Worship

 

SUMMER WEEKDAY OPENING

Every summer from 1^st May to 30^th September St. Mary's is open on Mondays to Fridays from 11.00am-3.00pm, for visitors who would like peace and quiet in order to meditate and pray; who want to study and admire the Church as a historic building, with its architecture which has been part of the Heacham landscape for over 700 years, where people have met to worship God and our Saviour Jesus Christ for all of those years; and those who are fascinated by the Church's connection with the Indian Princess Pocahontas.

While the Church is open on weekdays during the summer months there are always friendly people on duty to answer questions and be generally helpful to all visitors. Tea, coffee and biscuits are available.  We are grateful to all those who are willing to give up time each week to be in the Church and make visitors welcome, but we are always willing to bring new people onto the team, whether an existing member of St. Mary's Church or not. If you might be interested please telephone 01485 570264 and speak to Mary Sanders.

 

Church Services in Nursing/Residential Homes May 2008

Tues 6^th        2.30pm Service at Rebecca Court

Mon 12^th        11.00am Holy Communion at Millbridge

Sun 18^th        7.30pm Service at Neville Court

Wed 21^st        2.30pm Service at Summerville

Fri 23^rd          10.30am Service at Fridhem

Fri 30^th          2.30pm Service at Sunnyside