The Clarion – 2024
Vol:1 No.3
TRAFALGAR NIGHT
A somewhat belated celebration of Nelson’s famous victory at Trafalgar in 1805 took place in St Paul’s House in early November. Much fun was had by all with nautical competitions including knot tying, sea shanty singing, name your admirals and Jack Speak. Many thanks to everyone who contributed food, refreshments but most significantly their willingness to throw themselves into the evening with such gusto. Congratulations to the Swales Family Team who were the overall winners and the fine pair of coconuts that now adorn their family sideboard! Keep a beady eye open for next year’s date to secure a place!
FROM THE CHAPLAIN’S BOOKSHELF
As with men and women we should never judge a book by its cover. In my opinion one of the most profoundly insightful writings on human nature is made up of animal characters. No it’s not Orwell’s “Animal Farm”, but in fact Kenneth Graeme’s anthropomorphic animal fantasy, the “Wind in the Willows”. If you haven’t read it in a very long time, might I suggest that you do so again. If you’ve never read it, might I suggest that you get a copy. I read it to our boys when they were young, but it is not simply a book for children. It teaches many lessons about life in general, but primarily it’s about the importance of true friendship and how we overcome obstacles, not alone, but together. As John Donne reminds us, “No Man is an Island”. I commend to your reading the exploits of Mole, Ratty, Badger and of course Mr Toad. Enjoy this unlikely theological treatise.
The Chaplain
“THAT WERE THE CHRISTMAS THAT WERE”
And what a very busy and fun packed time Christmas 2023 transpired to be. Where does one start?
“The Kermesse” Many thanks to everyone from St Paul’s who supported the 2023 Kermesse. It was a great day and brought many people from all over the Principality together. The Chaplain was most pleased to be invited to bless the occasion with holy water, although the poor chap in the eye line of his first splosh seemed less than chuffed at being accidently drenched! Much planning for next year and another great day no doubt.
The performance of “Handel’s Messiah” saw Church heaving with people at the seams; what magnificent music.
The Sunday School Christingle told the Christmas message of Jesus whilst and the arrival of Father Christmas had everyone, for a number of reasons, both spell bound and jollified. The Society of St Vincent de Paul was thrilled with the gifts that were able to be taken to needy children along the riviera.
The British School had their Christmas Service in St Paul’s for the first time and the Chaplain was presented with a somewhat extravagant Christmas hat.
The Swedish Church celebrated the Feast Day of St Lucy Service including a candlelit procession (with real candles on the head of the girl representing St Lucy) through St Paul’s and offered the most beautiful traditional songs and carols.
The Nine Lessons and Carol Service had an enormous attendance and many thanks must go to the Director of Music and the Church singers.
Following the main services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the Chaplaincy family were very pleased to entertain anyone and everyone to hospitality in our home.
A very big thank you to everyone “behind the scenes” who ensured that the Church was decorated, the Chaplain’s microphone worked, the candles were lit, books were out, readers for lessons presented themselves, refreshments provided and served, the crib put in place including one in the library, the trees were up and decorated and much else besides. In addition a big “hats off “ to a number of young people (including one 18 year old!!) who stood up to the plate and, on the spur of the moment, found themselves in a play that they had not been prepared to be part of. Eee. That were the Christmas that were!
THE LANCASHIRE CULINARY TABLE
LANCASHIRE CULENARY DELIGHTS HOTPOT
Serves 4
Ingredients.
1 kg under shoulder, neck and shin of lamb (Cut into 3-4cm thick pieces) preferably regional lamb, eg Bowland Lamb
700g thinly sliced onions
1kg peeled King Edward potatoes
25g plain flour
40g salted butter, melted
150ml chicken stock
3tsp sea salt
White pepper
Hotpot dish – stoneware, diameter 8″/21cm, height 3.5″/9cm
Method
1. Season the lamb with 1 tsp of salt and a good pinch of pepper, dust with the flour. Put the lamb into the base of the hotpot dish.
2. Sweat off the onions in 15g of butter with one tsp of salt for 4-5mins (to sweat is to cook without colour in a covered pan, on a moderate to hot temperature). Spread the onions evenly on top of the lamb in the hotpot dish.
3. Slice the potatoes horizontally (2mm thick). Place in a medium size bowl, add the remaining 25g melted butter, season with 1 teaspoon of salt and a pinch of white pepper-mix well.
4. Put the sliced potatoes evenly on top of the onions, reserving the best-shaped rounds for the final layer and add the chicken stock.
5. Place the Hotpot, covered in a pre-heated oven for 30 minutes on 180-200C (Aga equivalent bottom of the baking oven) then for approximately 2½ hours on 130C (Aga equivalent in the simmering oven).
WHY DO WE DO THAT?
Liturgical Colours.
White is used on all festivals relating to Jesus – Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Ascensiontide. It is also used on the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, dedication festivals, weddings, and confirmations. Generally, it symbolises joy but more importantly the purity of Jesus, the angels, and the robes of the saints.
Green is used throughout the long Trinity season and all days that are not feasts. It is the ordinary colour of nature signifying the bountiful providence of God.
Red is used at Whitsun and typifies the cloven tongues that rested upon the Apostles. Also used on feasts of the martyrs signifying the blood that was shed for Jesus.
Violet or Blue is used in Advent and Lent. It signifies penitence, suffering and sorrow.
The Chaplain
THE CIRCUS IS IN TOWN….
As you who have been longer than the Chaplain will know. On the 22nd of January at 7.00 pm we have been invited to attend the ecumenical service that takes place within the calendar of the circus. It will be a first for me and might I encourage one and all, adults and children, to make a sturdy effort to represent St Paul’s too?
LENT
Ash Wednesday is on the 14th of February and marks the beginning of the Lenten season.
A service of Holy Communion will take place at 6.00 pm with what is called the Imposition of Ashes. It is a tradition in the Church of England that goes back many centuries and is a public declaration of a person’s intention of using Lent as a period of prayer and fasting and learning more about what it means to be a Christian.
At 6.00 pm on the four Wednesdays following the Chaplain will lead a number of talks as a sort of refresher course as a way of keeping Lent. Each meeting will last for about 45 minutes.
Wednesday 21st February – A Tour of the Church – what we may not see.
Wednesday 28th February – Who is Jesus?
Wednesday 6th March – How to read the Bible.
Wednesday 13th March – How do we pray?
No need to book in, just turn up and refreshments follow in St Paul’s House.
DIARY DATES
FEBRUARY 2024
18th of February – Our guest preacher will be Mr. Bradley Smith, Chairman of the Prayer Book Society
MARCH 2024
24th of March – Palm Sunday and start of Holy Week
28th of March – Maundy Thursday
29th of March – Good Friday
31st of March – Easter Day
APRIL 2024
7th of April – The Chaplain will be in England on post Easter Leave. The Reverend Paul Willis will provide Sunday cover.
21st of April – Ivan Elko Aechbishop of the Lutheran Evangelical church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia is our guest preacher. His niece is Tatiana Parackova who is a member of the congregation here at St Paul’s.
MAY 2024
Week commencing 21st of May – The violinist Katie Geeling will be playing at various times at St Paul’s.
JUNE 2024
2nd of June – The Rt Reverend Robert Innes, Bishop of Europe and Gibraltar is our guest preacher.
7th – 9th of June – The Reverend Roger Hall, Chaplain of the Tower of London will be with us. A talk is proposed on Saturday the 8th. Roger will preach and dedicate a memorial in St Paul’s marking the 80th Anniversary of the Normandy Landings on Sunday the 9th of June.
29th of June – Wedding at 3.00 pm
JULY 2024
12-14th July our guest speaker and preacher will be the Reverend Fergus Butler-Gallie
SEPTEMBER 2024
22nd of September – Members of the Churchill family will be at St Paul’s to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill in 1874.
OCTOBER 2024
20th of October – The Chaplain will be preaching at His Majesty’s Chapel’s Royal, London. The Reverend Paul Willis will provide Sunday cover.
NOVEMBER 2024
30th of November – The Chaplain will be conducting a wedding in Norfolk, England. The Reverend Paul Willis will provide Sunday cover.
More information on all the above will provided nearer to the time.
THE CLARION CROSSWORD
Cl – N°2 TIPS
To recognise anagrams, you’ll see that they are always accompanied by a word or phrase which suggests change, movement, or disturbance, such as “prepared for”, “unusually”, “muddled”, “playing”, “in another way”.
As for odd letters, they can be indicated by – points of the compass, Roman numerals, well-known abbreviations etc. For example, Bishop can be “B” or “RR” (Right Reverend). Circa, caught, cold = C. Church = CH/CE. New, number, name = N, Old, ring, love = O. Saint = S, ST. Time, temperature = T.
Also look out for “leaders of”, “start of” and “end of”. “End of day” does not necessarily mean “evening”. It is probably leading you to the letter “y”.
PMC
ACROSS
1. They provide weekly worship (6,8)
9. Push pedals in rotation (5)
10. Something said by aunt travelling around rugged Crete (9)
11. Aaron’s son, Nadab, has this position among his siblings (6)
12. Gaining maturity from passage in Galatians (6)
15. Early Mediterranean saint – protector of seafarers (4)
16. Fellow citizen providing some company at uprising (10)
19. “…………… as our king” [Hymn N°341, A&M] (2,5,3)
20. Venerable monk and scholar, c.673-735. (4)
22. Blank books – used for collections of recordings? (6)
24. Disconcerting thrust of proven facts (6)
27. “With sweet musk roses, and with ………….” [A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Act 2 sc.1] (9)
28. Suitable position of 06 town, encompassing end of parish (5)
29. N.T. group of devoted followers (6,8)
DOWN
1. Royal Air Force Church on the Strand, London (2,7,5)
2. Pharisee who took spices to Jesus’ tomb (9)
3. Opposed to a small section of the Bible (6)
4. Birth-name of St Paul (4)
5. Ceremony sounds correct (4)
6. Provide water for one Bishop and one Greek having unorthodox tea (8)
7. Boredom experienced in France (5)
8. This will sweep you off your feet! (14)
13. Manages to make voluminous vestments (5)
14. Ruin start of solemn prayer, omitting initial line (5)
17. CID late in reshuffling – appearing just the same (8)
18. Serious sinner – wicked! (8)
21. Father of Zeus croons discordantly (5)
23. Remain depressed? Certainly not on top of things (5)
25. “I am the …………. ye are the branches” [AV St John Ch.15] (4)
26. Shed tears during little introduction to play (4)
THE CLARION CROSSWORD
Answers to Crossword N°1
Across
1.ARCHANGELS
6.OPUS
9.OBLIGATION
10.VENI
12.CREASE
13.EDICT
16.DESIGNATE
19.TOTED
20.MEALS
21.REFECTORY
22.ATLEE
23.PSALMS
28.PITY
29.ALTAR CLOTH
30.EAST
31.ESCALATORS
Down
1.AMOS
2.COLT
3.AUGER
4.GUTTA
5.LOOSE-LEAF
7.PREDICTION
8.SAINTS DAYS
11.HECTIC
14.ADAM’S APPLE
15.ISRAELITES
17.GOSPEL
18.ACROPOLIS
24.ADANA
25.MOCHA
26.DODO
27.THUS
