Parish Magazine: February 2024 • An invitation from our Rector, page 3 • Tea and tchat launches, page 5 • The moon, Jesus and our calendar, page 7 • Family@Church, page 9 • Hesset Charities, page 11 • Poets’ corner, page 16 • It never rains but... page 18 • A cut above, page 21 • Parish questionnaire, page 30 • Church services, back page Photograph by Tetyana Kovyrina/.pexels.com
2 The Parish Churches of Rougham, Beyton with Hessett and Rushbrooke Details of Church services are on the back cover. SundAy SeRvICeS Rev’d Canon Julia Lall 07543 824837 [email protected] WeddIngS, BAPTISMS, FuneRAlS And Any oTHeR RequeSTS Rev’d Canon Julia Lall 07543 824837 [email protected] Rev’d Sarah Lock 07510 114359 [email protected] Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/roughamchurches Beyton Church/vestry Diane Rendle 01359 270924 BeneFICe CHuRCH WARdenS Beyton with Hessett Timothy Elliot 01359 270365 [email protected] Tony Ciorra 01359 272685 [email protected] Peter Pitcher 01359 271997 [email protected] Rougham Di Ruddock 01359 270731 [email protected] David Palmer 01284 386108 [email protected] Rushbrooke Church Richard Ball 01359 232088 Bell Tower Captain Maurice Rose 01359 270298 Hospital visits Graham Rendle 01359 270924 Beyton Floodlights Timothy Elliot 01359 270365 [email protected] Hessett Floodlights Timothy Elliot 01359 270365 [email protected] Rougham Floodlights Di Ruddock 01359 270731 [email protected] PCC Secretary Peter Rutt 01359 242464 PCC Treasurer Timothy Elliot 01359 270365 [email protected] Choir Ros Pitcher 01359 271997
A New Year message from your Rector Dear Friends, Happy New Year! As I write this message, I have been with you for three months, and I have really enjoyed getting out and about and meeting lots of new people. It was lovely to be part of the many Christmas events and church services across our communities, and I am looking forward to more opportunities to meet people. In the Rectory garden there are already signs of spring – bulbs, buds and willow catkins – and the promise of light, warmth and hope in the days to come. In the churches, we are starting a new year, with new possibilities and new life, like the green shoots and signs of hope in the garden. The start of the new year often prompts resolutions, (I’m not too good at sticking to mine!) predictions, prayers and promises, and I am reminded of the poem by Tennyson that contains those familiar words: ‘Ring out the old, ring in the new’. So I am inviting you to help write a new chapter of life and hope in your churches, as together we begin to shape the vision and direction for the future. It is an important task, and one which I hope as many people as possible will want to be part of. Over the next few weeks, I will be inviting you to share your ideas and suggestions to feed into our planning. A simple survey of four questions will be available in the churches, and in various places in the community, and can be found on page 30 of this magazine. Your responses can be left in each of the churches, or sent to me as an email: [email protected] We began the year by celebrating Epiphany, the visit of the wise men to give gifts to the young Jesus. This story invites us to reflect on the gifts we have to offer to our friends, our families, our churches and communities. Now more than ever is the time to foster hearts of love, service, justice and peace. We can’t foresee what will happen in 2024, but just as the wise men 3
4 The Parish Churches of Rougham, Beyton with Hessett and Rushbrooke If you have any Safeguarding concerns, please contact our Parish Safeguarding Officer Ann Ciorra 01359 272865 or Rev’d Julia Lall 07543 824837 Policies and Diocesan contacts may be found at www.cofesuffolk.org/safeguarding Details of our church services for the month and contact details can also be found on the ‘A Church Near You’ website www.acny.org.uk Beyton Church now has its own website www.allsaintsbeyton.co.uk If you have a prayer request or would like someone from the church to call on you or would appreciate help in some practical way, please contact Rev’d Julia, Rev’d Sarah or any of the church members listed above. We would be pleased to pray for you and help in any way that we can. Alternatively you can use one of the “prayer boxes” outside each of our church buildings: simply write your prayer. Magazine The editor of the Parish Magazine is Jonathan Wilson. Contact him at [email protected] The deadline for contributions is the second Sunday of the month for the following month’s issue. The magazine is published monthly except for december & January and July & August which are joint editions. Advertising: Peter Pitcher 01359 271997 [email protected]
5 stepped out in faith, we put our trust in God as we seek to discern a vision and sustainable future for our churches. We have work to do! This is the year when, inspired and guided by him, we will make firm plans, not fragile resolutions; we will write a new story of joy and hope; we will tackle head-on our financial difficulties and we will encourage others to walk with us the way of service and love, as we live out our God-given mission to the communities we serve, and to the wider world. I am so pleased to be here with you at this exciting time, and I look forward to all that lies ahead. Blessings, Julia PS Don’t forget you can follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/groups/roughamchurches Tea & Tchat & maybe T’cake? (if you are from Yorkshire!) Tea and Tchat (not tchai) is starting at Hessett and Beyton village Hall on Thursday 8th February at 2.30pm. Why not drop in and give it a try? Join us every Thursday, any time between 2.30pm and 4.30pm or just come once in a while for: • Simple homemade tea, filter coffee, biscuits and that cake if you are lucky! • Companionship • A change of environment • No charge but donations appreciated! All ages welcome and catered for; make new friends or meet up with old friends in a warm, safe and friendly place.
7 2024: A leap year! For early man time was not much of an issue, but even in the earliest Stone Age societies, the night sky was observed with fascination and events recorded, especially the summer and winter solstice with particular attention paid to how the moon changed, writes Graham Rendle. Early civilisations drew their calendar from the cyclical movement of the sun, moon and stars. The moon cycles every 30 days and the Egyptians based their year on 12 x 30-day months so 360 days plus five extra days to make up for the difference as the earth takes just a few hours more than the 365 days to circle the sun, hence the need for leap years. We get 360 in a circle from the Babylonians even before the Egyptians! There have been many different calendar systems. InAD525 a learned and monk, Dinysius Exignus (Dinysius the humble), got fed up with calculating the date of Easter using the Roman calendar based on the date of the Emperor Diocletian who was tyrannical in his persecution of Christians. It is unclear how Dinysius came up with the date AD1 (note there’s no ‘0’ year and we go from 1BC to AD1). No one knows exactly the day or year that Jesus was born. Christmas is not based on the Roman feast of Saturnalia – that finished on 23 December. The 25th was the date of the winter solstice (the shortest day) and is exactly nine months after the spring equinox (equal day/night) designated as the ‘Annunciation’. That’s March 25 when the Angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her God’s plan for her to have a baby. The early church did not celebrate a specific date for Christ’s birth in Bethlehem. Various dates were used to celebrate the Nativity and in AD320 Pope Julias specified 25 December. The date of Easter is based on the state of the moon after the spring equinox and his year is 31 March. Jesus was certainly born and brought God’s message of love some 20 centuries ago. As Saint John writes (John 3:16) God so loved the world that He gave his only son that, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal live. Isn’t that good news, and worth celebrating the birth of Jesus?
Meet new friends and enjoy a cuppa at our regular monthly BEYTON CHURCH COFFEE MORNINGS Held on the firstThursday of each month inThe Vestry. You are guaranteed a warm welcome whatever the weather! Thursday1stFebruary,10am-noon Enjoy hot drinks and biscuits or cake with preserves and home-made delights for sale. All profits go to our churches in Hessett and Beyton All aspects of decorating undertaken to the highest of standards • Domestic & commercial painting • Refurbishments • Hand painted kitchens Contact us for a FREE estimate & advice: M: 07785 945 363 • T: 01359 270257 • E: [email protected] www.turnersdecorators.co.uk FULLY INSURED • Interior & exterior painting • Dust-free sanding • Qualified decorators EST. OVER 20 YEARS 8
9 All ages are very welcome! Where? St Mary ’s Church, Rougham When? Sunday 18 February What? Who knows what may happen!! A breakfast of bacon and sausage butties, croissants, toast etc from 9.30am before a service for all ages starts at 10am. This will be followed by a traditional shortened Holy Communion service at 11.15am to which all are welcome. You are invited to attend either or both services! Family@Church
PRg Property Maintenance • Renovation work • Extensions & Garage Conversions • Patios, installation and cleaning • Decking, Fencing, erecting and repairing • Carpentry, Kitchens & Bathrooms • Flat pack assembly • Facia Soffit & Guttering • Painting & Decorating, • Interior & Exterior • General repairs and maintenance • Obligation-free, survey & quote Based in Hessett. Tel:07449 346243 Email: [email protected] Facebook Prgpropertymaintenance 10 Hessett Charities application We are delighted that Hessett Charities are able to continue distributing funds in 2024, and we are keen to hear from any Hessett residents who would benefit from additional financial support for themselves, or who are aware of anyone else in the village who might benefit. We particularly welcome applications for funds of up to £200 to help with the cost of medical equipment, educational requirements, loss of earnings due to sickness or family crisis, and the like. To apply for funds, please contact the Trustees in strictest confidence, sending details to: The Chairman, Tony Ciorra, 9 Shrubbery Close, [email protected], 07515754203, or one of the other Trustees: Timothy Elliot [email protected], 01359 270365 Maggie Shaw [email protected], 01359 272545 The Revd. Canon Julia Lall [email protected] 07543 824837 Sun shines on West Stow walk Our last Hessett walk was on Saturday 13 January, writes Sally Spicer. It was a beautiful sunny day and 14 of us walked more than four miles through the forest and round the lake at West Stow. We followed this with brunch/ lunch in the cafe. Sadly, I forgot to take any photographs! The next walk will be on Saturday 23 March. The time and place has yet to be arranged. If you would like to be added to, or removed from my email list please let me know at [email protected]
11 Floodlight sponsors Our Rougham Church floodlighting has kindly been sponsored for February 2024 by... Debra Palmer ‘In loving memory of my dear husband Michael Palmer who passed away 3rd Feb 2020.’ <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< Remembering Jerry Lowden who died 9th February, 2017. ‘In loving memory of a much loved husband, dad and grandad..... always in our hearts' If you would like to sponsor the lights at any of our churches (in memory of a relative or friend or just to help with the costs) then please contact: RougHAM: Di Ruddock 01359 270731 [email protected] BeyTon & HeSSeTT: Timothy Elliot 01359 270365 [email protected] Weekly on Thursdays from 8th February 2.30pm-4.30pm Tea & Tchat All WelCoMe ******************************************************************* BooKIng enquIRIeS PLEASE TO: Christine Whitton 07926 368901 [email protected] uPCoMIng evenTS
12 - – – – – – – – – – TESSA COULTEN Privatecarer with 20 years’ experience Enhanced DBS, PL insurance, own car,references available. Hourly rate plus mileage.Respite, hourly, 24 hours,weekly live in. Telephone: 07885 734437 email:[email protected]
13
KNIT AND nATTeR! Do you fancy a sociable morning with coffee, tea and chat? Our successful Knit and Natter mornings continue in Beyton Church Vestry, from 10am to 12 midday normally on the first Monday of each month. Bring any yarn project or just come for a chat! All welcome! Knit and Natter mornings coming up include: • 5 February • 4 March • 8 April (as 1st is a Bank Holiday). . Past, present and new members always welcome. In the event of bad weather, please contact Debbie on 01359 271314 to ensure the event is running. 14 For more information, please contact Vicky Pryke on 01359 231465. You are most welcome to join us! THuRSTon evenIng WI Members and visitors are welcome to our meetings on the first Thursday of the month (usually!), 7.30pm at Cavendish Hall, Thurston. Come and borrow or swap books! Adult and children’s books are available in St Mary’s Church, Rougham We have a great selection of fiction to suit most tastes. For those who would like to stay a while to read, there is a comfortable seating area. Donations of books in good condition across all genres are welcome. Where Angels trod...Very many thanks to all who knitted or crocheted angels for the Christmas Angel bombing, writes Debbie Marshall. A total of 330 angels found their way around the four villages, and were very well-received by all accounts. Thanks too to those who helped them to find suitable resting places! Next year, even more would be nice…
KILN DRIED FIREWOOD Locally sourced hardwood timber from sites with felling licences to ensure sustainability. All logs are Kiln dried on site, ‘Ready to Burn’ certiȴed with a moisture content of below 20%, to ensure clean and e cient burning. 01284 788794 • [email protected] • gaddbrothers.co.uk Wood Farm, Brand Road, Great Barton IP31 2NY TREE WORK & ARBORICULTURAL SERVICES Qualiȴed and insured professionals undertaking all aspects of tree work, from dismantling mature dangerous trees to pruning and planting. 15
16 Poets’ Corner leap year by Annette Wynne Little month of February, You are small, but worthy – very! Will you grow up like the others, Like your sister months and brothers? Every four years with a bound With a leap up from the ground, Trying to grow tall as they – All you stretch is one small day! Even then you're not so tall But just the shortest month of all. Suggested by Helen Elliot ‘grandparents’ by Gideon D Hammerton Our grandson wrote this for us, write Graham and Diane Rendle. And we were so moved we wanted to share with other grandparents! Grand is a fitting word to describe your status in my life, You are more than just the parents of my parents, There is a love that can be felt internationally, A constant in my life that can only be taken for granted, for who could truly appreciate it when the love is so grand.
And one for Valentine’s Day, suggested by Helen Elliot love’s Philosophy by Percy Bysshe Shelley The fountains mingle with the river And the rivers with the ocean, The winds of heaven mix for ever With a sweet emotion; Nothing in the world is single; All things by a law divine In one spirit meet and mingle. Why not I with thine? See the mountains kiss high heaven And the waves clasp one another; No sister-flower would be forgiven If it disdained its brother; And the sunlight clasps the earth And the moonbeams kiss the sea: What is all this sweet work worth If thou kiss not me? 17 If you have a favourite poem, let us know at [email protected]
18 Hessett rainfall records 2023 ‘A bit of a wet one’ 2023 certainly broke the mould of recent years. The rainfall in the past year has been more than double the 2022 total, writes Tim Elliot. In fact the rain fall in the second six months has exceeded the total for any of the three preceding years. 2024 shows no sign of letting up with momre than two inches falling in the first five days. All a huge contrast following a very dry June which had us fearing another drought. How wrong can you be?, I have highlighted the months where the rolling total has exceeded 24 inches (two inches per month) and where it has fallen below 20 inches. Apologies for using imperial measurements but I struggle to think what mms mean for rainfall. The regional average figures make an interesting comparison. On average, October is the wettest month with 2.28 inches (58.0mm) of precipitation. On average, February is the driest month with 1.38 inches (35.0mm) of precipitation. The average amount of annual precipitation is: 22.83 inches (580.0mm). All measurements in inches
K.G.CONTRACTORS - MATHS TUITION Years 6-11 Rougham and surrounding villages Contact: Mr M Lall, The Rectory, Church Road IP30 9JJ [email protected] 07703391934 20
21 New trend is actually a perennial favourite argues yvonne Harbutt Growing your own cut flowers is becoming an extremely popular trend with gardeners, while also being an incredibly long-standing tradition spanning many generations. Having a dedicated cutting border or growing them among your existing plants, cut flowers will give you endless pleasure throughout the seasons, whether you display them in your home or offer as a gift to friends and family. You may already have plenty of perennials suitable for cutting – roses, delphiniums, dahlias, asters, alliums etc – between them they will provide colourful blooms from late spring and well into the autumn How to make your flowers a cut above
22 months. Why not consider growing suitable annuals to add to the collection? Ammi, larkspur, zinnia, cosmos, scabiosa, sweet pea and sunflower (to name just a few) are among the varieties you can grow from seed for flowering later in the year. February/March is a great time to start sowing seed, ready to plant seedlings in the spring. Leave some annual flowers in the garden – seed can be collected at the end of the season once the flowers have finished – giving you a supply of seed for next year. Or you may like to try drying some blooms too. Summer flowering bulbs are also a desirable choice for a cutting garden – popular choices are liatris, gladioli, lily and crocosmia. Don’t forget there is plenty of evergreen foliage you can add to your arrangements too – use shrubs and trees or herbs which also add fragrance. Now is the time to decide and buy the seeds for your ideal selection and get your sowing done, ready for a colourful summer display this year. Contact Yvonne Harbutt at Rougham Hall Nurseries on 01359 270577 or visit www.rhn.me.uk
23 RougHAM RAveRS WI We normally meet on the second Monday of each month at 7.30pm at Rougham Sports Hall, Almshouse Road, Rougham, IP30 9JN Monday 12th February: Ravers’ Recipes: Bring and share favourite dishes and the recipes for them. Monday 11th March: Simon Edell talking about Rougham Estate. For more information, please contact Deborah Hockey on 07880 550382 Visitors and new members welcome! Coffee & Company A community-run initiative to help bring people together Coffee & Company is now firmly established at St Mary’s Church, Rougham.Why not drop in? oon Join us everyTuesday at 10am for: • Simple homemade tea, filter coffee and cake • Companionship • A change of environment • No charge but donations appreciated! Make new friends or meet up with old chums in a warm,safe and friendly place Image courtesy chevanon on Freepik
- - - 24 To help you with: Fears/phobias, Anxiety/ panic attacks/nerves, Low self-esteem/low confidence, Stop smoking, Anger/ depression, Weight loss, Unwanted habits and much more... In person at Woolpit Clinics or video call from the comfort of your home. Heather Fletcher Qualified Hypnotherapist (Cert.Hyp.CS) (Accred); BA (Hons) Bus. Man Tel: 07377 676385 Full details, please visit my website: www.heatherfletcherhypnotherapy.co.uk To advertise in this publication, please contact Peter Pitcher on 01359 271997
Plumbing & Property Maintenance P P P P P P P P P ELITE F ELITE FE ELITE FEN ELITE FENC ELITE FENCI ELITE FENCIN ELITE FENCING ELITE FENCING ELITE FENCING & ELITE FENCING & ELITE FENCING & L ELITE FENCING & LA ELITE FENCING & LAN ELITE FENCING & LAND ELITE FENCING & LANDS ELITE FENCING & LANDSC ELITE FENCING & LANDSCA ELITE FENCING & LANDSCAP ELITE FENCING & LANDSCAPI ELITE FENCING & LANDSCAPIN ELITE FENCING & LANDSCAPING ELITE FENCING & LANDSCAPING. ELITE FENCING & LANDSCAPING. LITE FENCING & LANDSCAPING. - - – 25
26
27 07703 256356 07553 622039
28
COUNSELLING Sue Scase MA Reg MBACP Accred Individual and Couples Counselling for a wide range of issues i e anxiety, depression, relationships, loss, abuse, bereavement, anger – & more. T:01449 737180 M: 07764661681 Email: [email protected] BACP Registered Counsellor/Psychotherapist 29 COUNSELLING Sue Scase MBPsS; MA; MBACP (Snr. Accred) Individual Counselling offered for a wide range of issues – anxiety, depression, stress, relationships, bereavement and much more. Tel: 01359 244163 07764661681 Email: [email protected] www.suescase-psychotherapy.co.uk Dip. ASIIP Clinical Supervision
30 ROUGHAM CHURCHES QUESTIONNAIRE Your name:............................................................ Your church/village:.............................................. 1 What do we want to celebrate about the church 2 What things would we like the churches to develop ? 3 What might stop us achieving them? 4 What skills/gifts can you offer to help make them happen? Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire. Please leave it in one of the churches, pop it through the Rectory letterbox or email it to [email protected]
Caring is at the heart of everything that we do Fornham House offers high standards of residential and dementia care,wheredignity is respected,talentsandinterestsareencouraged, and where life is lived to its fullest potential. Our brand new dementia-friendly extension offers 17 ensuite rooms surrounded by scenic gardens. Call us on 01206 646646 or visit healthcarehomes.co.uk Fornham House, Fornham St Martin, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 1SR 31
Services for February 2024 mmmmmmmvmmrch 2022 Please join us at any of the following services. We welcome everyone to join us in worship or just enjoy the peace and serenity of our historic churches. Sunday 28th January 10.30am Benefice Holy Communion Beyton Sunday 4th February 10.30am Benefice Holy Communion Rougham Thursday 8th February 10.30am Morning Prayer Beyton Sunday 11th February 10.30am Benefice Holy Communion Beyton Wednesday 14th February 7.30pm Benefice Holy Communion for Ash Wednesday Hessett Sunday 18th February 9.30am for 10am Family@Church Rougham 11.15am Holy Communion Rougham Sunday 25th February 10.30am Benefice Holy Communion Beyton Sunday 3rd March 9am Morning Praise Rushbrooke 10.30am Holy Communion Rougham