Monthly Magazine
"The Grapevine"
JULY 2009
Editor: Graham Clark
Email: graham@clarkalvechurch.freeserve.co
THE RECTOR WRITES …
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?
My dear friends
Some time ago a group of academics analysed the words of almost 200 “thinkers”, from Einstein to Agatha Christie, to discover the meaning of life. They arrived at 10 possible answers.
The least popular answer was that life is a joke, which found support in the writings of Oscar Wilde and Bob Dylan. Other theories were that life is a mystery, backed by 13% of the thinkers analysed, including Napoleon and Stephen Hawking, the theoretical physicist.
A downbeat crowd, including Sigmund Freud, Franz Kafka and Jean-Paul Satre were among the 11% who concluded that life is meaningless. Other meanings of life extracted by the researchers included contributing to society, the pursuit of truth and the conclusion that ”life is just a struggle”, which 8% supported.
The theory that gained second place was that we are here to “love, help or serve others” This was espoused by Albert Einstein, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Mahatma Gandhi, who said: “My consolation and my happiness are to be found in service of all that lives.”
But the theory that topped the polls was that life was to be enjoyed. The researchers found that 17% from their chosen panel – including Thomas Jefferson, one of America’s founding fathers and, less predictably, the singer Janis Joplin who died of a heroin overdose in 1970 – believed that enjoying all experiences life offers has the most to commend it.
Answering the question of the meaning of life is something we can all do. Indeed, it is silly not to do so as we only have one life to live.
I have no doubt that those who think life is to be enjoyed are correct. But, if the aim of life is simply to enjoy oneself, it is doomed to failure. The pursuit of pleasure and enjoyment is one that so easily leads to selfishness and superficiality. It is worth noting that those who have devoted themselves simply to enjoying themselves are not remembered today. They contributed nothing to the world’s store of goodness. They did not make the world a better place or help others. Their lives were meaningless.
I have come to the conclusion that enjoyment and happiness are a by-product of the true meaning of life rather than its purpose.
Jesus said the meaning of life was to love God and love our neighbours as ourselves. Those who have followed this path may not have experienced a fun-packed, glitz-and-glamour life but, from what we can deduce, their lives experienced a deep inner contentment and fulfilment that produced happiness in their hearts.
The famous quotation from the Westminster Catechism of 1647
encapsulates, I think, how enjoyment is really to be achieved.
It reads as follows:
Question: What is the chief end of man?
Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
With all best wishes
Your sincere friend and Rector
DAVID MARTIN
A TRIBUTE
At the Annual Parochial Church meeting held in April, the Rector paid tribute to the ten years service to the St Laurence Church of Mr Roger Parish as a Deputy Churchwarden and then as Churchwarden. During his time in office, Roger helped steer the complex Ark building project to a successful conclusion and, since its opening, has regularly acted as the key-holder, opening the building and patiently waiting (sometimes long after midnight) for groups to finish using The Ark so he could lock-up. He even spent a week on his hands and knees in The Ark, painstakingly re-oiling the wooden floor.
Whilst Churchwarden, he attended countless committee meetings and did a magnificent job looking after the fabric of the parish church and overseeing its finances. He did battle each year with the Archdeacon over the parish’s inordinately unrealistic Parish Share. He also served as Chairman of the Churchyard Committee and strove to obtain adequate funding for the maintenance of the churchyard.
Roger served as a Lesson Reader and Intercessor at church services and has ensured the smooth running of the Sunday morning Parish Eucharist each week throughout his years as a Churchwarden. His contribution to the life of St Laurence Church has been enormous and all at the church hope he and Sylvia will enjoy the newly-found freedom following retirement from office.
ADULT BAPTISM
Three un-baptized adults responded to the Rector’s recent invitation to attend preparation classes in order to be baptized and confirmed into full membership of the Christian Church.
On SUNDAY 12 JULY, Bishop Christopher Mayfield, a former Bishop of Manchester, is visiting St Laurence Church to baptize the three adults (and the son of one of the adults) at a service that begins at 10.30am. Baptism has been the way in which people have joined the Christian Church from the very earliest times. Immediately after being baptized at the church font, the three adults will knee before the bishop to confirm their faith and be admitted into full membership of the Church.
The Service reaches its climax with a celebration of the Eucharist in which the newly baptized and confirmed will receive the Body and Blood of Christ under the forms of bread and wine.
It promises to be a great celebration. An invitation is extended to all who wish to attend – especially those who may be thinking about being baptized next year, when the Rector next runs classes.
CHURCH FAMILY BBQ
The Rectory garden is being thrown open on SUNDAY 19 JULY for a midday Church Family Barbecue. The event, which commences at 12.30.pm, is an opportunity for the young people of the church youth groups and the adult members of the congregation to mix together, before the schools break up for the summer holidays, for food, fun and festivities.
The arrangements are simple: bring along whatever you want to barbecue, plus a salad or a dessert for sharing. Bring along whatever you want to drink. Either sit on the lawn or bring along folding chairs. Additional barbecuing equipment gratefully received.
In the event of inclement weather, the venue will be The Ark.
SUE’S BIG DAY
Fifty people climbed aboard the coach that went from Alvechurch to Worcester
Cathedral last month for the licensing of Sue Phillips as a Reader in the
Diocese of Worcester.
It was a day to remember. The cathedral was thronged with other Readers wearing black cassocks, billowing whiter-that-white surplices and flowing blue scarves. The clergy were arrayed in albs and the Bishop wore a gold chasuble and mitre all of which contributed to an impressive Anglican ceremony.
Sue has undergone a two year course in biblical studies, doctrine, and liturgy as well as training in preaching and ministering as a lay person to other people. Her licensing marked the culmination of all her hard work. The bishop invested her with authority to preach in churches in his diocese and to lead certain acts of worship. (Readers are not permitted to baptize, conduct marriage services, celebrate the Eucharist, and they can only officiate at funerals following another course of study and training). She now joins Nicholas Day and Dick Russell as Licensed Readers at St Laurence Church.
After the service there was a Family Ceilidh in The Ark at which strawberries and ice cream were served, a band and a caller soon got everyone doesy-doeing and a buffet supper was enjoyed by all.
Sue lives in Withybed Green and so it was appropriate that her day should end in The Crown over pints of beer. As the caller at the Ceilidh said, “It takes guts to do what Sue has done”. Indeed it does, and everyone at St Laurence Church is immensely proud of her achievement whilst knowing they will benefit greatly from her ministry over the coming years.
[See the picture on the church website of Sue and the other four people licensed on the same occasion]
WEDDING BELLS
PAUL STANLEY and LISA OAKES
The bells rang out on Saturday 23 May to celebrate the marriage of Paul Anthony Stanley and Lisa Mai Oakes. The day was very warm, and the guests in the church used their Orders of Service to keep themselves cool!
The couple have known each other for eight-and-a-half years having met at a Christmas Eve party. The bride is the daughter of John and Joyce Oakes of Wythall and was led down the aisle of the church by her father. Her chief bridesmaid was her friend, Chele Powell, with Julie Bishop and Emma Bates as the other bridesmaids, and Jack Bishop as the pageboy. The bride wore an ivory, satin asymmetrically draped skirt with a strapless, fitted bodice and short train. The bridesmaids wore cappuccino satin strapless dresses with chocolate brown sashes and carried bouquets of white flowers.
The groom chose two of his friends as Best Men – Ben Petty and Matthew Elwell – and the Ushers were Mark Oakes, Tony Jacques and Stephen Smart. After a reception at Ansty Hall, Coventry the couple left for a honeymoon in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. They will be making their married home in Snake Lane.
MARK SMITH and SARAH READING
A girl who grew up in the village and has been a regular member of the Family Service took no risks when she married her husband in the parish church as he works as a Risk and Fraud Investigator for one of the major banks.
Sarah Jane Reading married Mark Nigel Smith on Saturday 20 June having known each other for eight years. The bride wore a champagne dress with embroidered lace embellished with pearls and crystals. She was given away by her mother, Susan Reading, and accompanied by her friend, Julie Halliday, as her chief bridesmaid, Molly (her niece) and Thomas (her nephew). The chief bridesmaid wore a pale pink empire-line dress with little Molly wearing a dark pink sequined dress.
The groom chose his friend Nick Ransom as his Best Man and the ushers were Tim Reading (bride’s brother), Phil, Matt and James (groom’s friends). After a Reception in The Ark the couple left for a honeymoon in the Maldives. They will be making their married home in Longbridge.
[Photographs of the weddings can be found on the Picture page of this website]
FROM THE REGISTERS
Baptisms
We welcome you into the Lord’s family
May 24
Christopher Michael Perkins
Churchill
Marriages
Those whom God has joined together
May 23
Paul Anthony Stanley and Lisa Mai Oakes
June 20
Mark Nigel Smith and Sarah Jane Reading
Funerals
May they rest in the peace of Christ
June 1
Neville James Burton
aged 89
June 11
Joan Snik
aged 82
OBITUARY
NEVILLE JAMES BURTON
A former churchwarden and an active member of the local community died on 18 May
after a short illness at the age of 89.
Neville James Burton, who was known as “Jim” was born in Edgbaston and was one of two brothers. In 1952 he married Joan (who shared the same date of birth as himself). They have shared 56 years together. He was the father of Andrew and grandfather to David and Jonathan.
During the Second World War he enlisted in the Royal Navy and went for training at HMS Royal Arthur in Plymouth just at the time of the Plymouth Blitz. (It is hoped to publish an account of his experiences at that time in a subsequent edition of The Grapevine). He was posted to Alexandra, Egypt and served as a Petty officer. Here he earned the nickname “Sailor of Taste” after the Burton Clothing Store catchphrase “Tailor of Taste.” In 1945 he joined HMS Devonshire, which was part of the home fleet, and escorted the Crown Prince of Norway back to his country following the German retreat.
He worked all his life for Barclays Bank, beginning in Hanley before moving to Bromsgrove (where he met his wife-to-be). In 1964 he became Assistant Manager at Trenthem, Stoke-on-Trent. In 1967 he was promoted Manager of the Gosta Green branch at Aston before becoming, in 1972, manager of the Stechford branch. It was whilst at Stetchford that he foiled a hold-up on the bank and was commended by a judge at Birmingham Crown Court.
He retired in 1976 at the age of 57 but, rather than putting his feet up, embarked upon three decades of service to the community. He was a founding member of the Alvechurch Village Society and held the offices of Treasurer, Secretary, Chairman and President in turn. He was instrumental in encouraging the monthly Sunday afternoon walks organised by the Society and took part in the 26 mile Beating of the Bounds.
He was a Trustee and Treasurer of the Lewkner Almshouse Charity at the time of the rebuilding of the almshouses in Station Road. The Rector of the time, the Revd Leslie Aitken, wrote “One is also very conscious that we are fortunate to have Mr J Burton as Treasurer, because the work requires expertise. Only a dedicated person could shoulder such a work-load as a voluntary activity”. He acted as Auditor for the local Women’s Institutes, Alvechurch Dramatic Society and the WRVS Meals on Wheels Service. He collected for the annual Poppy Appeal and raised over £3,700 over the years for the Royal British Legion. He was a Trustee of Hopwood Village Hall, President three times over of the Bromsgrove Royal Naval Association and a member, from the age of 14, of Worcestershire County Cricket Club.
When he moved to Alvechurch in 1967 be began worshipping at the parish church. He became a member of the PCC, acted as PCC Treasurer, Covenant Secretary and, from 1989 – 1994 was Churchwarden. Almost to the end of his life, he banked the weekly church collection – with never a penny adrift. He was a week-by-week communicant at the church and often read the lessons on Sunday in his distinctive deep sonorous voice.
He will be remembered for his innate honesty and quiet gentlemanly bearing. He put his faith into practice and was always willing to see both sides of any issue. His contribution to the life of this community was great and he will be greatly missed.
His funeral was held in the parish church he loved so much on Monday 1 June. His grandson, David Burton, paid an eloquent tribute to his grandfather, and his other grandson, Jonathan Burton, read from John 14: 1-6. The hymns sung were Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us, The Lord’s my shepherd and Eternal Father, strong to save. His cremated remains are to be strewn in the churchyard.
JOAN SNIK
A lady who lived at Hopwood for 30 years, and who discovered love amongst loaves
of bread, died on 2 June at the age of 82.
Joan Snik was one of four children born in Birmingham. She is survived by her sisters Barbara and June.
During the Second World War she enlisted in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) and worked in the bread stores. Here she met a young soldier from Holland called Petrus Snik. Love blossomed and the two of them married in 1946. They shared 56 years together until the death of Petrus in 2002.
She was the mother of two children – Ted and Jennifer – grandmother to 7 grandchildren – Daniel, Kay, Gemma, Janine, Corin, Calvin and Callum – and great-grandmother to four great grandchildren.
Her working years were spent mostly as a dinner lady at Colmers Farm School.
She had numerous homes during her married life including a spell in Holland and then Sparkhill, Rubery and Rednall before moving to Waterside Orchard, Hopwood in 1974. Here, she joined the Social Club and greatly enjoyed the weekly bingo sessions.
Due to failing health she left Hopwood in 2004 and went to live with her daughter, Jennifer, at Bordelsey where she was lovingly cared for until her death.
She will be remembered as a quiet, undemonstrative person, more suited to listening than speaking, and content with her lot in life.
Her funeral was held in the parish church on Thursday 11
June and her son, Ted, and daughter, Jennifer, paid glowing tributes to their
mother. The hymns sung were The
Lord’s my shepherd and All things bright and beautiful.
After the service her body was laid to rest, with that of her husband, in the churchyard.