St Mary the the Blessed Virgin Parish Magazine October 2026
36 pages · tap a page to read its text
No. 1380
October 2026
Vicar Assistant Priest Reader Churchwarden Churchwarden Southwark Pastoral Auxiliary Southwark Pastoral Auxiliary Southwark Pastoral Auxiliary Director of Music Head of Servers Treasurer PCC Secretary Gift Aid Secretary Safeguarding Officer
In Vacancy The Rev’d Barbara Gentilella Lindsay Ould Lyn Clark Peter Wilson Pat Heady Karen Holloway Peter Wilson Dr Christopher Parker Lindsay Ould James Robinson Debbie Parker Claire Shapiro Liz Hook
1/4 page £45, 1/2 page £75, full page £140 (for 10 issues: July/Aug & Dec/Jan combined) Please telephone advertising manager Sheila Player, 020 8657 4952
From the Curate’s desk…………………......…..….……….…..……….…........4/5 From the Editor’s Desk …………… ……………….…………………..…….....6 Vacancy Prayer…………………………………...…………………………..…...7 Hall Development report………………………………...………………...…….8 The Tree………………………………………………………………………...10 Parish records…….……..…………………....……..……….....…….....……..12/13 Daily Prayers and Bible readings..…………….…………..……..………….....14/17 Elephants in the room …………………………………….………………….....18 Autumn Quiz…………………………………………………………………….19 Chidren’s Page…………………………………………………………………..20 Ghastly jokes…………….……………….………………..…….………….........22 Charity of the Month…………………………………………………………...23 Daisies & Buttercups……………………………………….…………...……24/25 God Loves………………………………………………………………….…….26 Autumn…..……………………..….……………………….………………....30/31 Tree of the month……………………………………………………..……..32/33 Mothers’ Union………………………………………………..…..…………34/35
(List of our Advertisers can be found on page 23) For Collects, Bible Readings and Services at St Mary’s please see pages 14/17
St Mary’s aims are Worshipping God and Loving our Neighbour
Address:
St Mary the Blessed Virgin Addington Village Road CR0 5AS
St Mary’s Website www.addington.org.uk Please see our Church website
It is interesting and informative. There is a potted history of St Mary’s, details of many of the different groups within the church, the Hall Development Fund raising, other activities and forthcoming events.
See website https://addington.org.uk/hall hire
Parish Office email [email protected] and 01689 842167
From the Curate’s Desk I like to think of life as a journey, an experience of constantly moving on, and I am very glad that just around the corner there may be the possibility of some great surprise awaiting me of which I have no premonition. Of course, the surprise awaiting me may not necessarily be a pleasant one; it may bring many challenges to me, but the fact that I am blissfully unaware of those impending challenges is in itself a comfort. I would rather not know what is going to happen, but there is a sense in which I do look forward to facing whatever surprises may await me. To me that is part of the thrill of living, the uncertainty of it all. This particular time of year is a time when we become aware of that sense of movement and journey as we watch young children going to school for the first time, or perhaps older children moving schools. Then there is that particularly challenging moment when young people go away to University and College, and parents realise that they are no longer ‘their’ children, but very much independent young adults (who still have a habit of returning home at times of need, financial or otherwise). All of these events are reminders of how life changes, and there is perhaps a sadness at seeing that change in the lives of children and young people, and realising that as their life has moved on, so has ours. Despite the fact that change is all around us we are often not very enthusiastic about it, we would rather that things stayed as they were. Perhaps that instinctive opposition is a particular characteristic of an affluent society; perhaps a poorer society has a greater ability to embrace change as it sees that change as a way out of poverty, or perhaps there is some much deeper aversion to change within each one of us. There are times when the Church is seen to champion lack of change, when it focuses exclusively on an unchangeable God and rituals which go back millennia, and that championing of ‘lack of change’ or permanence might be seen as being faithful to the historic Christian message. But there are other times when change is embraced by the Church as a gradual revealing of God’s hidden purpose for his people and his world. There have been times throughout history when the Church has championed change in areas of education, healthcare and in social concern, to name but a few examples, and without the embracing of change at those times society would not have progressed, and the
standards which are taken for granted in this era would not have been reached. Our advert for a new Vicar will close now in October and eventually when someone is appointed changes will come in the future, so that St Mary’s may grow and thrive. St Mary’s is facing a time of change, and such change brings about insecurity amongst the faithful. It is sometimes hard to see where that change is leading us and the uncertainty can make us lose hope. But the hope of the Church is and always has been hope in a God who is not constrained by time, who is both unchangeable and constantly changing. If we are able to place our insecurities about where we are going on our individual and corporate journeys onto God, then we will be released to appreciate that God is leading us forward and that God will strengthen us to face whatever challenges we must face in the future of this changing world and changing Church. Look forward to the future because God is there just as he is there in the past and the present.
A Line from Luna… Hello everyone, I don’t like change…I do like my routines; However, I do also like seeing different things and places and meeting new people…even if at first I am a bit nervous about the whole experience. It is always worth it in the end. Much love, Luna xx
You may find it useful to know the deadlines for the next edition, in order to plan ahead: Copy date for the November magazine 23rd October 2026 Please e mail your contributions to Phil at [email protected]
Hooray, Hooray we have an October magazine. So what I can hear you ask? Well, for the last 20 years or so the Magazine has been put together using Microsoft Publisher and Microsoft have decided as from October to discontinue support for this programme, possibly we got in in the nick of time. Only time will tell especially when it comes to the November issue, so dear readers fingers crossed please. Well, that’ enough of the technical side of things, now on to more interesting things. We are currently in the early days of Autumn, meteorologically speaking, although given the warm temperatures over the past few days, it’s hard to believe it is not Summer. Therefore you will not be surprised to find some Autumnal articles, including a quiz from our resident roving reporter and as this is also the time of Harvest the Children's page is falls into this season. Autumn also is the time when nature gives us wonderful and colourful displays of trees changing colour before they fall gracefully to the ground. An example of such a tree can be found on page 32. I hope I am not giving too much away when I mention some sign of life has been found around the stump of a well loved tree. Another “Tree” article can be found on page10, having read it, does it resonate with you? Elephants in the room, is a term often used for problems that one chooses to ignore. The article on page 18 cannot however be ignored owing to the wonderful example set by two men, miles from home. I will say no more, read it and smile, I did. Hallowe’en arrives at the end of October and to get you in the mood (or not) there is a page of ghastly and ghoulish jokes. I believe there are posters that can be put on ones door advising Hallowe’en callers not to call. Similarly if no pumpkins are placed outside the property then this should stop “trick or treaters” A report from the Hall Development committee to the PCC is printed on page 8, outlining the current and forward position relating to the Hall. As a reminder of Summer, buttercups, daisies and chains not only made me think of Summer but took me back to my salad days. You will I am sure see that this issue has fewer pages than normal, this is due to lack of copy, so please feel free to send in articles on whatever subject, small, large, serious or plain silly.
Eddy Torr
St Mary the Blessed Virgin,Addington Village .2026
Almighty God and Father of all, we thank you that we are your family and that you have welcomed each and every one of us. Lord, be our example and wisdom now and throughout our journey and in these coming months. We ask that you will lead us as we discern our hopes, and wishes for a new priest and to direct us in your will during this vacancy. Send your Spirit upon all those entrusted with this process that they are guided to know and to recognise the right person for our Parish. May we receive our new priest with joy, who will led us forward in love, faith and divine inspiration, towards fulfilling a successful future; and breathing new life and fellowship in our community. Amen
Thought for the Month
The world around you is beautiful
When the world within you is peaceful
Readers of this magazine will be sad to learn that the Hall Development rd
Team reported to the PCC on 23 September the following. The PCC has approved the report and the decisions mentioned.
Hall Development Committee report for PCC September 2026 The committee has met 4 times since it was set up by Rev Debbie before she retired. We have also had two zoom meetings with the architects who drew up the plans for the new Hall. In between the meetings, various members of the committee have done much work, researching details of finance, retrieving and reviewing documents both electronic and on paper, and generally discussing strategies and possibilities. We have, sadly and reluctantly, come to the conclusion that has nowhere near the funds needed to begin the work before the planning permission deadline in July next year. We had hoped we could do at least some of the work towards the planned construction and thereby retain the planning permission for a time in the future when more funds could be raised, but we have simply not got enough money to give the guarantees necessary to achieve this. In short, we would have needed approximately £400,000 in the bank (probably more) before we could approach possible donors for grants, and even then the time might have run out. Kat (Lindsay’s daughter) has very kindly written a Hall refurbishment report. We are very grateful that she has used her professional experience and taken time to do this so thoroughly. It has, I’m afraid, confirmed what we feared, that the project as it stands is not viable with the funds we have in the timescale we are set. We should like to suggest therefore that the money still remaining from that already raised should be carefully accounted for and used for improvements to the Hall as and when these are needed or desirable. The B & E committee has already taken over responsibility for monitoring asbestos queries which have arisen during researches by the architects and surveyors. We suggest they should now take overall responsibility for the care and improvement of the Hall. We suggest that all the documents, plans, correspondence etc should be retained in the church office. Some of these will hopefully be useful for work on the Hall in future years. We are enormously grateful to all who
have been involved in planning and fundraising and researching what would have been a beautiful new building, fulfilling the dreams of those who planned it by its sustainability, pleasant environment and usefulness to the wider community. We hope at least some of these dreams can be fulfilled in the near future, albeit in a more modest way. We hope we’ll all continue to fundraise and to use the Hall as best we can to serve the wider community as well as to host church events.
Congratulations to Barbara who has now walked 200 times Barbara who is a friend of Mary started walking with us in 2020. She has often helped with jumble sales, auctions at our church and also volunteers at a lunch club in Crystal Palace where she lives. Barbara always brings Walter her black cockerpoo with her.
Sheila Davison
Recently the Hilary's Reading Group and others have read the wonderful book, 'The Island of Missing Trees' by Elif Schafak, and the following text seems appropriate. Both have thoughts from trees!
'Lord, there are parts of me, which, when they are buried and unseen, seem harmless and perhaps innocent. In fact, I am unaware of them. It is only when these deeply hidden parts of me begin to reveal themselves that it all becomes rather frightening. These roots of my human nature, when they are exposed to myself, and to other people, seem twisted and even menacing. Safely hidden beneath the surface, they do not worry me, but when they are dragged out into the open, I just do not know what they mean. The well known features of myself that have become familiar over the years, may change a bit from time to time, with different moods and seasons. But on the whole I have weathered through, and I have become used to myself. Now, these strange shapes coming up from below suggest that there is more to my life than I knew, and I am not sure that I like what I see. At times I feel it would be better to cut myself loose from all that earthly meds which I do not understand. There is enough to contend with in keeping a grip on things as they are, giving and receiving from life so that I may survive. If only I could get rid of those tangled knots, which are much better out of sight and out of mind. But Lord you are saying that these very threatening shapes are a source of life and energy to me, that I must learn to love and in keep in touch with them. You say that all of this is me, even if, at first, I don't like the look of some of it. Is it possible that my old familiar self needs these roots, whatever shape they are? Light and shadow belong together to make the whole of me. If this is so, Lord, help me to be unafraid, and courageous enough to accept these dark parts of myself, and to believe that you can give me life through their mysterious shapes and patterns. Help me to recognise and keep in touch with all sources of life, even those which at first look like death.'
Published by Mirfield Publications. Submitted by Philippa Millington.
10th October 12th October 20th October 25th October
BIRTHDAYS Teddy Healey Lara Sabina Granahan Daphne Hills Henry Davison
If you would like your birthday included in the magazine please let me know. Phil Davison, Editor
Brian and Sheila Sells 60th Anniversary Blessing
FUNERALS
+ We commend to God’s loving care +
+ May they rest in Peace and rise in Glory +
In the absence of the weekly “Pews news”, a prayer list has been created and you are kindly asked to hold the following in your Thoughts and Prayers. We especially pray for ; Patrick Opaleye Jean Parker Lyn Docherty Peter Crowe Peter Jan and Tony Hughes Baby Frankie David Outten Clive Taylor Nick Pannell Jim Collins
Bruno Gentilella Ruth and Tony Baby Poppy Barry Allie Barry Sandeep Phil Stevens Eilian Williams Ekaete Doris Pratt Rex Millen
May God grant healing, wholeness and comfort to all who suffer, and give strength and compassion to all who care for them.
We commend to the loving mercy of God, Ondola Morgan and pray for those who mourn them .
Silence and stillness, times for reflection and meditation, and a moment within each day to offer our prayers and concerns to God for ourselves, our community and our world are vital if we are to sustain our busy and active lives. Try to find space at the same time each day to be with God by yourself, just for five or ten minutes. You might like to follow this simple daily routine:
Anything that has struck you from the reading For your own family and friends and your own concerns For our neighbourhood and world From the lists within these pages Prayer of week The Lord’s Prayer
Look up one or both Bible readings. Silence and quietness It is good sometimes to know that when you pray, especially if you are on your own, others in the parish are praying with you. If you pray at 8.30am, 5pm or 8pm then others will almost certainly be praying too.
October Sunday Prayers
Lord, we beseech thee, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
O God, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee; Mercifully grant, that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
O Almighty and most merciful God, of thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things that thou wouldst have done; through Jesus Christ or Lord.
Sunday 25th October The Last Sunday after Trinity
Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace; that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Readings are now taken from the Common Worship Lectionary and are the same readings used by the clergy in their Daily Prayer. Please look at the Weekly Notices for any updates.
October 2026
Thu 1 Fri 2 Sat 3
Psalm 78.1 39* Psalm 55 Psalms 76,79
2 Kings 1.2 17 2 Kings 2.1 18 2 Kings 4.1 37
Acts 24. 1 23 Acts 24.24 25.12 Acts 25. 13 end
Sun 4
18th Sunday after Trinity
Job 39.1 18 Canticle of the Sun
Psalm 23 Luke 12.22 34
2 Kings 5 Tue 6 Psalms 87, 89.1 18 2 Kings 6.1 23 Wed 7 Psalm 119.105 128 2 Kings 9.1 16 Thu 8 Psalms 90, 92
2 Kings 9.17 end
Acts 26.1 23 Acts 26.24 end Acts 27.1 26 Acts 27.27 end
Psalms 88, (95)
2 Kings 12.1 19 Sat 10 Psalms 96, 97, 100 2 Kings 17.1 23
2 Kings 17.24 end Philippians 1.1 11
Tue 13 Psalm 106* (or 103)
2 Kings 18.1 12 Philippians 1.12 end Wed 14 Psalms 110 112
2 Kings 18.13 end Philippians 2.1 13
Philippians 2.14 end 2 Kings 19.20 36 Philippians 3.1
Isaiah 35.3 6 or Acts 16.6 12a 2 Timothy 4.5 17
Psalm 147.1 7 Luke 10.1 9
Mon 19 Psalms 123,124,125,126
1 Timothy 1.1 17 Tue 20 Psalms 132,133 1 Timothy 1.18 Wed 21 Psalm 119.153 end
2 Kings 22.1 end of 2
2 Kings 23.4 25
1 Timothy 3 Thu 22 Psalms 143,146
1 Timothy 4 Psalms 142,144 1 Timothy 5.1 16
Bible Sunday
Nehemiah 8.1 4a [5 6] 8 12 Colossians 3.12 17
Judith 4 or Exodus 22.21 27, 23.1 17 1 Timothy 6.1 10 Psalms 5,6,(8)
Judith 5.1
6.4 or Exodus 29.38 1 Timothy 6.11 end
Judith 7.19 end or Leviticus 9 2 Timothy 1.15
Psalms 17,19
Judith 8.9 end or Leviticus 16.2 24 2 Timothy 2.14 end Psalms 20,21,23
Judith 9 or Leviticus 17 2 Timothy 3
The date 1944. The place Ampthill, a small market town a few miles south of Bedford. In the beautiful natural park behind our house, a campsite for German prisoners of war was built. My mother, who had recently given birth to me (poor woman!) attended the local church, where the rector exhorted the parishioners to show some Christian charity by inviting prisoners to their homes and giving them meals superior to what would be dished up at the camp. My mother duly obliged and two Germans, Walther and Lotar, came to our house, and for several years became part of our family. (My brother and I addressed them as “Uncle”). However, the Olympic Games were due to take place in London in 1948, by which time all prisoners of war were to be returned to their native countries. Walther and Lotar wanted to thank my parents for their kindness over the previous four years but had nothing to give them as a present. So they went out into the woods that surrounded their camp (and still do!) and brought back some solid lumps of wood. Armed with only table knives, they cut the wood and shaped it into 2 elephants, beautifully carved. They used small chicken bones for the tusks and eyes of the animals, put them on two L shaped blocks to form book ends and used black shoe polish on the elephants’ bodies. Finally they cut out sections of their bed blankets and stuck them onto the book ends to serve as a kind of felt to protect my parents’ furniture. What a gift! We still have these lovely elephants in our living room and showed them to some of the Wednesday Walkers when they came to our house recently for coffee on their way back from the “tram stop” walk. They were astonished by the skillful carving achieved with such basic tools!
PS Lotar became a lifelong friend of the family. My mother (who was initially embarrassed by her inability to converse in German with the prisoners, who spoke little or no English) learned German and became fluent in the language and exchanged letters with Lotar frequently until her death in 2014.
After you’ve swept up all the Autumn leaves its time to sit down for a well earned rest, so put your feet up and have a go at my ‘All things Autumnal’ quiz. Good luck. PB 1.When is the official start of Autumn? (a) When the first leaves fall off st the trees (b) the 1 of September
(c) the Autumn Equinox 2. ‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ is the first line of Keats well known poem about poem Autumn. What is its title? (a) Autumn (b) Ode to Autumn Ode
(c) To Autumn (d) Autumn
3. Ancient Egyptians were the first to use scarecrows. TRUE or FALSE th
4. Guy Fawkes Night is on 5 November. Which year did he try to blow up the Houses of Parliament? (a) 1602 (b) 1603 (c) 1604 (d) 1605 5. ‘Autumn ______’ is a popular song by Nat King Cole. (a) Berries
(b) Leaves
(d) Trees 6. What is a late spell of very warm weather in early Autumn called? (a) Indian Summer (b) African Summer (c) Mediterranean Summer 7. In which country is Ocktoberfest beer festival held each year? (a) Holland (b) Sweden (c) Poland
(d) Germany 8. The Hindu festival of Diwali, held in autumn, is a celebration of what? (a) light (b) remembrance (c) music
(d) dance 9. Hedgehogs hibernate in Autumn. What is a baby hedgehog called? (a) hogling (b) hoglet (c) hoggle
(d) hedgeling 10. Who is the divine personification of autumn in Roman mythology? (a) Aestus
(b) Auxo
(c) Autumnus
(d) Aurielus 11. Which of these animals does not hibernate in Autumn? (a) bat
(b) badger
(d) hazel dormouse 12. What name is given to the bright full moon seen in September? 13. Apple bobbing began in Britain as a dating game. TRUE or FALSE 14.What might you pick from a bramble bush in early Autumn? 15. The Chinese Autumn festival is known as the ‘______ Festival.’ (a) Harvest
(b) Rice
(d) Moon 16. Which British bird is well known for burying acorns in autumn? Answers on page 34
CHILDREN’S PAGE HARVEST TIME Count up how many of each type of fruit there are:
Write how many of each fruit in the squares below:
Now make a bar chart by colouring in the total number of each fruit in the rectangles above that fruit.
How many apples are there? Are there more bananas than bunches of grapes? How many apples and pears are there altogether? Which of these is your favourite fruit? Remember to thank God for the food He has given us. page created by Peter Bourne
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An old Cornish rhyme goes like this: ‘From ghoulies and ghosties and long leggedly beasties, and things that go bump in the night…May the good Lord, deliver us! This being the month of Hallowe’en, I thought you might like some rib tickling jokes to amooooose you: Ghastly ghostly jokes: Why are ghosts bad at lying? You can see right through them What is a ghost’s favourite dessert? Ice scream! Where does a ghost go on holiday? Mali boo! Why did the ghost go to the bar? For the boos Rib tickling skeleton jokes: What is a skeleton’s favourite snack? Ribs Where are skeletons the most ticklish? Their funny bone What is a ghost’s favourite fruit? Booberries What room can’t a skeleton enter? The living room Blood curdling vampire jokes: Why did the vampire go to the doctor? She couldn’t stop coffin Why don’t vampires have any friends? They’re a pain in the neck What is a vampire’s favourite fruit? Neck tarine Why are vampires so easy to trick? Because they’re suckers Spell binding witch jokes: What type of eye make up do witches wear? Mas scare a What do you call two witches living together? Broom mates What do you call it when witches are optimistic? Witchful thinking What do you call a fast broomstick? A vroom stick compiled by Peter Bourne
This month’s charity is a local one Contact in Selsdon.
They provide support for the Selsdon Community through a variety of means. Such as offering transport for visits to hospital, shopping or to the dentist. Regular outings, monthly coffee morning. Practical help with paperwork such as blue badge applications etc. Croydon Council recently cut funding the charity due to their own financial difficulties, so all donations for the charity is much appreciated. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact them at Selsdon Community Centre, 132 Addington Road, Selsdon South Croydon CR2 8LA
Mike Westcott Rudd page 27 Legal Services Ltd Solicitor
Gould D& F page 11 Home painting service
Daisies and Buttercups One day during last summer I was sitting in a canvas chair outside my flat. I happened to glance down and saw a profusion of white daisies and golden yellow buttercups growing in the grass. The first verse of a hymn came into my head that we sang a lot at infant school in the 1950s.
‘Daisies are our silver, Buttercups our gold: This is all the treasure We can have or hold.’ I couldn’t remember the rest of the hymn so I googled it and up it came:
‘Raindrops are our diamonds And the morning dew; While for shining sapphires We’ve the speedwell blue. These shall be our emeralds Leaves so new and green; Roses make the reddest Rubies ever seen. God, who gave these treasures To your children small, Teach us how to love them And grow like them all. Make us bright as silver: Make us good as gold; Warm as summer roses Let our hearts unfold. Gay as leaves in April, Clear as drops of dew; God, who made the speedwell, Keep us true to you.’
Even at the tender young age of five I could appreciate the words. They painted pictures in my mind just like the perennial favourite ‘All Things
Bright and Beautiful.’ However, the words of ‘Daisies Are Oue Silver…’ are far more sophisticated in that they don’t just describe what the eye can see, they are metaphors. They are not saying buttercups are like gold, for example, they are saying buttercups ARE gold, I loved the way it compared nature… the flowers, grass and raindrops …to precious gems. As I grew older I saw the words had a deeper meaning: nature, like these gemstones, is very precious to us for God created both. For me, this hymn celebrates the natural world as humanity’s greatest, purest treasure. Wealth lies in appreciating the simple, yet beautiful gifts of the natural world, and not money and material possessions. In the 1950s it was very popular in infant assemblies all over the country. I taught in infant and junior schools for thirty years in the 1970s to 2009 and I never heard it sung once. Sadly, it seems that it has fallen out of favour, which would be a shame as it is such a lovely hymn. Does anyone else remember singing this hymn at school? Do let me know if you did.
Daisy Chains Talking of daisies, did you ever make daisy chains as a child? I did. Do you recall how to make them? When I was teaching in the 1980s I took one of my classes out onto the grass for a reading session as it was a lovely summer’s day. Some of the girls started to pick the daisies so I asked them not to pick anymore. You should leave them for others to appreciate I said. One boy replied that the school keeper cuts them down when he cuts the grass with his motor mower. I couldn’t argue with that so I said they could make daisy chains. They hadn’t got a clue what I was talking about. It took me quite a while to remember how I used to make them, and after a few failed attempts I managed to make one. I showed the children how to do it and they spent the rest of the session making daisy chain bracelets and necklaces. Both girls and boys wore their creations for the rest of the afternoon. I was pleased that I had taught them how to make them, but saddened to think that simple childhood pleasures were no longer being passed down from child to child. It’s a great pity to think that they will eventually die out and be forgotten.
GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER 2 Corinthians 9.v7 (part of the Harvest reading Sheila read)
Our reader Lindsay celebrated a significant birthday recently with cake and wine after our Harvest service. I would personally like to thank Lindsay for all that she does in the parish. She is definitely ‘a cheerful giver’ as I read in Corinthian’s that morning
Thank you for welcoming visiting clergy to our 8am and 10am services when Barbara is away.
Thank you for cooking for Welcome Space and Luncheon Club.
Thank you for the fun activities at Messy Church and leading worship.
Thank you for taking minutes at meetings and your knowledge about the church.
Thank you for interesting sermons.
Thank you for your calm efficiency.
Thank you for helping at work ins each month.
Thank you for supporting Barbara and the Churchwardens. 26
Property disputes and planning Probate and Wills Employment matters Tax Planning Commercial matters Business start up General Legal Advice
Specialist Solicitor with over 35 years experience
Lee Abbey As many of you know Lee Abbey North Devon is very dear to our hearts. Traditionally a group from St Mary’s visits Lee Abbey for the post st
Easter break. Next year it will be from Wednesday the 31 of March th
Sunday 4 April 2027. The subject of the talk is Doing Justice, Loving Mercy, Walking Humbly and will be led by Guest Speaker Ed Walker. Ed is the head of A Roche International and will ask questions such as How can we extend love, hope and mercy in a suffering world without being overwhelmed? Lee Abbey are happy to take individual bookings, and so please do look on the website if you are interested. Booking can be done via this email [email protected]. If you would like to discuss a booking because of certain needs, please call them on 01598 752621.
Magazine Distribution Currently the printed copies of the magazine are either distributed by members of the parish, placed in the church porch or posted to ex Parishioners and friends of St. Mary’s. There is also a digital version that we send out to our readers, if you would like to receive future issues digitally please let me know. Contact details are email pdavison.davison@btinternet .com or contact the parish office on [email protected]
Are you free on Tuesday afternoons? Why not come along to our house group meetings? We begin by reading and talking about a passage from the Bible and finish with a bring and share lunch. Why not FEED YOUR SOUL and FEED YOUR STOMACH ?
If you’d like to join us we meet at 12 o’clock on the 2 and 4 week of each month at Mary Innes’ house, 89 Falconwood Road. If you’re interested have a word with Mary Innes, Neil Clark or Peter Bourne. We would love to see you.
Autumn: Creation and Death Autumn dismounts her soft feather down, And dons her russet coloured gown. Carrying a sceptre and orb in her hands, She surveys the woods and the farmer’s land.
She has an important task to do, Now that Summer is finally through, Into the woods she makes her way, To finish her work by the end of the day.
Stepping through shady woodland glades, She changes the leaves into autumn shades Of gold and bronze and orange hue, Crimson and brown and yellow, too.
Walking on carpets of dead crunchy leaves, Fluttering down in the autumn breeze. She colours the sloes upon the blackthorn, And ripens the fields of waving gold corn.
Scampering squirrels at her bare feet, Hoping she’ll give them an autumn treat. She scatters the acorns on woodland floors, Which they gather up for their winter stores.
While hedgehogs dig for worms in the ground, Mice watch her pass by not making a sound. Dandelion clocks tell her the time of day, Blown by the wind, gently floating away.
Blackberries glisten in the morning dew, Burnished brown chestnuts with reddish hue. Spiders’ webs sparkle with dew drops hung, Like diamonds on necklaces delicately strung.
(continued on next page)
Wearily onward she wends her tired way, Nearing the end of her long working day. Turning around she is able to see, Her colourful patchwork tapestry.
As daytime departs with the setting sun, She is satisfied with her job well done. Now laying to rest in her marble tomb, As all life retreats deep into earth’s womb.
Her lungs are now weak from bonfire smoke, She coughs and she wheezes; begins to choke. Finally, breathing her very last breath. Her life now over; encountering death.
Now Autumn is here there’s no time to sigh For Winter approaches and all life must die. written by Peter Bourne
Apologies Well done if you spotted the deliberate (?) mistake in my ‘Trees Quiz’ last month. Give yourself an extra point if you did. Picture 12 should have been a London Plane tree, of course, and not the beech tree again. PB
Tree of the Month:The Sycamore We’ve lived in your country for a long time. Our first ancestors were brought to Britain by the Romans… and you say ‘What have the Romans ever done for us? Well, they gave you the sycamore. Talking of the Romans and sycamore trees reminded me of the felling of one of the most famous trees in our extensive family. That was a tragic felony which saddened every sycamore tree in our family as well as upsetting lots of people. Known as the ‘Sycamore gap tree,’ it literally had its roots in Hadrian’s Wall which was built by the Romans. To paraphrase a well known human saying: ‘Little sycamores from mighty sycamores will grow.’ A little bird recently told me that the ‘Sycamore gap tree’ now has many young siblings sprouting up which is good to know. We can reach heights of 100 to 300 feet and live from 200 to 400 years. You can find us growing in woodlands and parks. We are part of a big family called ‘acers’ and are cousins of the Maples which have similar shaped leaves. Like them, we put on our red and orange colours in autumn before dropping our leaves for winter. We’re probably best known for our winged seeds which children call ‘helicopters.’ I know how people like fascinating facts so here’s one for you all: The real name for our seeds is samara. Historically, we have been symbols of strength, resilience and longevity. We have many uses to mankind including furniture making, crafting musical instruments and applying decorated applications to cabinets due to our unique grain patterns. The Welsh have used our wood for 400 years to make their wooden love spoons. A man would carve one to give to his future wife as a sign of affection, true love and devotion. The detailed carvings on the spoon have a symbolic meaning, and every spoon is unique. They are not meant to be used, but to hang on the cottage wall of the married couple. Did you know that people took the shape of our seeds to create your metal helicopters? By spinning their rotor blades, which are shaped like our winged seeds, they cut through the air by creating lift and thrust to overcome gravity. Without our seeds you wouldn’t have your helicopters. 32
We have been revered for over 3,000 years. The ancient Egyptians used us as a symbol of life and protection. The bridge between this life and their afterlife was made of sycamore wood. To them we are a sign of fertility, protection and rebirth. We feature in the Bible when the tax collector, Zacchaeus, climbed one of our ancestors to get a better view of Jesus, symbolising spiritual vision and personal transformation. In ancient Britain the Celts believed we could protect people by warding off evil spirits. In both English and Welsh folklore people believed we could protect them from being enchanted by fairies and mischievous spirits. They said we could offer them protection if they sheltered beneath our branches. Their folktales describe us as ‘coin trees’ where offerings were left in return for hopes of blessings, and as markers of significant events in their lives. So you can that see we have had a long and varied history and served mankind well.
Belle', just a In the Norfolk village of Swafield is the church of St. Nicholas, which sometimes doubles up as 'St. Nick's Art Centre.' The south door is late medieval and the four bells are medieval also, but they have not been rung for 100 years! Recently they were restored and are rung again by bellringers, or can be operated electronically!
The bells were blessed and named
LOVE, JOY, PEACE, HOPE.
Would our ringing team like St. Mary's bells to be named? Any suggestions?
Branch leader Pat Heady 020 8240 2179 07970 270704 [email protected]
ST MARY’S ADDINGTON VILLAGE MOTHERS’ UNION
Programme of Events in 2026:
Thursday 8th October 2pm Fairtrade Pass the Parcel Wednesday 28th October 8pm
Fiona’s Memories of Dance and Clare’s Craft Sale Thursday 5th November 2pm Musical Charades Wednesday 25th November 6.30pm Fish and Chips at McDermotts Thursday 3rd December 2pm Pre Christmas Tea Party Wednesday 30th December 8pm Christmas Party.
Meetings are at 2 The Paddocks unless otherwise stated. You are all welcome at our meetings. Pat Heady St Mary’s Mothers’ Union Branch Leader 020 8240 2179 07970 270704
Autumn Quiz (Answers) 1.(c) the Autumn Equinox 4. (d) 1605 ny
5. (b) Leaves
2. (c) To Autumn 3. TRUE 6. (a) Indian Summer 7. (d) Germa-
It was all hands on deck at the start of this month for members of St. Peter’s Mothers’ Union, St Kitts, as they came together to pack bags for the children of the church as they prepare to return to school. It was all hands on deck at the start of this month for members of St. Peter’s Mothers’ Union, St Kitts, as they came together to pack bags for the children of the church as they prepare to return to school.
8.00am 10.00am 6.30pm
Eucharist Common Worship (Order One, The Parish Eucharist and Junior Church Choral Evensong (4th Sunday of the month
The Reverend Barbara Gentilella Tel. 020 8777 4462