Twin Spires News NURSLING & ROWNHAMS - Web Edition - St John's church Rownhams
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NURSLING & ROWNHAMS
Twin Spires News
Web Edition March 2021
The flowers are springing up and the time of the
singing of birds has come. Yes, spring is here.
Song of Songs 2:121(The Living Bible)
St John’s Church (SO16 8AH) is in Horns Drove, Rownhams.
St Boniface Church (SO16 0YB) is in Church Lane, Nursling.
The Parish Office is usually staffed Monday to Friday 9am to 11am
(excluding public holidays) and, during the Covid-19 situation, it is being
staffed remotely, so please do not call at the office in person.
However, the answer machine and email are checked regularly.
Telephone: 023 8073 8293. email: office@twinspires.org.uk
Our website is www.twinspires.org.uk
In ‘normal’ times, if you would like to have your own copy of Twin Spires
News, it is available from either church, price 60p per copy or £6 for 1 year
(Jan to Dec). Copies may be delivered free within the area, by arrangement. It
has been decided that we won’t ask regular subscribers to send another
subscription for 2021, so many thanks to all who have already sent a voluntary
subscription for this year. There are a number of ways you can donate to
church funds (outlined on page 13). Bank Transfer is the preferred method and
there is also a …DONATE… button on the church website, which offers a
very simple option for any one-off on-line gifts.
Registered Charity Number 1130927
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Welcome to the March online-only edition of Twin Spires News. Thank you to
Phil James for this month’s colourful front cover showing Spring on its way at
St John’s Church. See page 14 for Phil’s insights about these beautiful blooms.
And you can find more uplifting images of Spring shared by our church family
on pages 14 and 15. Thank you to everyone who contributed.
We hope you enjoy reading the articles, perhaps doing some of the puzzles we have
included and praying the prayers. Our hope and prayer is that all who are reading
this are well and that ‘normal’ service will be resumed as soon as possible.
If you know anyone who enjoys Twin Spires News, and who isn’t connected to
the internet to be able to read this online, please consider whether you might be
able to print off any of the pages you know they would appreciate. Thank you to
those of you who have kindly printed copies of the magazine for your friends
who don’t have online access.
Please send us your photos and articles for the next edition (by 6pm on Sunday
14th March). And do please let us know if you have any suggestions for
improvements: twinspiresnews@live.co.uk. Thank you.
Freds: Mary, Marion, Dorothy & Caroline
Do you Enjoy Puzzles like our Freds?!
If you’re blessed to have access to a printer, you could print any of the pages
in this magazine for completing the puzzles or colouring in. We have outlined
some instructions for printing below. This may not work in exactly the same
way on your own device but please give it a go and let us know how you get on…
• Right-click with your mouse, when you see ‘print’ in your list of options,
select this with a left click of the mouse. Select your own printer from the
dropdown list.
• The next field will ask you how many pages you’d like. Either select ‘All’, or
use the downward arrow to choose ‘Customised’. Customised allows you to
specify which pages you’d like to print, eg p30 for ‘Mouse Makes’ puzzle page.
• As our pages are smaller than the paper you might have at home (A5 rather
than A4), press the arrow next to ‘more settings’. For paper size, you can
choose A4 (the default will be A5 the size of our usual printed magazine).
If you choose A4, you can then decide if you’d like 2 pages per A4 sheet, or if
you’d like a bigger area for your puzzle.
• In the ‘scale’ field, choose ‘fit to printable area’ or ‘fit to paper’
• So, to print 2 magazine pages on one sheet of A4 (for example the Crossword
and its clues) put p28-29 in your customised pages field, paper size A4, pages
per sheet 2 and ‘fit to printable area’ under scale.
• If you’d like to print on both sides of the paper (and your printer is able to do
this), tick the box next to ‘Two sided’.
3
‘Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good
works and give glory to your Father in heaven’.
Matthew 5:16
Thanks to all who shared their own inspirational Bible verses (see page 20)
Dear Friends
I wonder how you reflect on Christian hope. The word ‘hope’ in common
use is normally distinguished from certainty. I hope this or that will happen.
Christian hope is a confidence that something will come to pass because
God has promised it will come to pass. There is a trust element here.
In the past year, most of us have hoped that what we are going through in
the world today with the pandemic will pass. As a church we have been
praying without ceasing and are beginning to see answered prayer, as
vaccines are rolled out and NHS staff learn how to manage the disease
better. Our hope, as people of faith, as disciples, has been expressed in
several ways, not least of which is in this faithful prayer.
For me and my family, January this year was a challenging month, as we
grappled with fighting the Covid virus. In these times I would normally turn
to prayer and yet in the midst of that awful experience I had no strength to
either pray or read God’s word. However, I was given a card with a
wonderful picture of an eagle on it which quoted Psalm 91:4:
‘He will cover you with his wings; you will be safe in his care; his
faithfulness will protect and defend you.’
By text every day, I also received verses from the Bible which reminded
me of God’s promises. It was here that I was able to draw hope. Hope
that God was with me and hope that God would see me through. This
hope in turn became trust and a strengthening of my faith.
Hope is a part of faith. I believe that hope is faith in the future tense. So
much of faith is based on hope. Paul teaches us in Romans that ‘Faith
comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.’ Hope comes from
reading His precious and very great promises and looking to Christ who
purchased them. I think this is what kept us going.
Our present circumstances remind us that life is full of challenges and
storms. Jesus tells us ‘In this world you will have trouble’, John 16:33.
Matthew’s gospel reminds us of the storm the disciples encountered.
They left the shore in the boat and the wind picked up, the boat was
buffeted about in terrifying gale force winds. These were disciples of
Jesus who obeyed His word to leave the shore in the boat. Little has
changed in the storms we face now. This is the business leader, who has
lost everything in covid times. This is the student, who prepares well but is
4
downgraded by the new process of unfair exam assessment. This is the
family member, who has been waiting for treatment, but the NHS haven’t
got the capacity at the moment. This is us, all trying to get through a
pandemic. Storms come to the obedient.
Look inside that boat – what do we see? Fear, absolutely. Doubt, no
doubt about that! Maybe even a question – ‘where is Jesus?’ The
question is not recorded in the text, but I’m sure it was thought and asked.
It is today. When we encounter a storm like Covid, where is Jesus?
The answer is clear and surprising: praying.
When the disciples were in the storm, Jesus had gone up a mountainside
Himself to pray. He didn’t rest, talk or eat after a long day, He didn’t even
sleep. He prayed. After He’d served all day, He prayed all night. He would
have felt the wind and the rain, He was also in the storm and yet He prayed.
During storms, Jesus is at the right hand of God, interceding for us (Romans
8:34). This is what intercessors do - and we are blessed to have many of
them in our church, passionately and clearly bringing needs before God.
Think about this promise, this hope we have in Christ. At this moment, in
the midst of our storms, Jesus Christ is interceding for us, for you. The
Lord of Lords is petitioning and speaking on your behalf. He is reaching
out to the Father about you. He is working with the Holy Spirit and
advocating for a special blessing that you will receive. You do not fight the
storm alone. You don’t need to find the solution. You have the Prince of
Peace advocating for you.
When we ask where is Jesus in this, the answer is that He is in the
presence of God, praying for us. We may forget to pray, Jesus never
forgets to pray. When we are wracked with doubt, Jesus is overflowing
with faith. When He speaks, all of heaven listens.
The first fruit of this promise is then unshakeable
hope. We’d love to know the future, how this all
ends, but we don’t. We want to see round the bend,
will the vaccines be the solution, but we can’t. We
desire to have our questions answered, but Jesus
has decided to tell us this – I will pray for you through
the storm. A storm-free existence will only happen
when Christ returns. Between now and then, we can
bank on storms. But we can also rely on the promise
that in the middle of the storms of life, Christ is with
us and is praying for us. Now that is a hope worth banking on.
Rev Graeme
(Acknowledgements to Max Lucado, Rowan Williams and Walter Brueggemann)
5
St Boniface Church News
Another month of national lockdown, another month of churches closed for
services, but Mother Nature continues to move forward in a very positive way.
We may not be decorating the church inside but if you care to walk down
Upton Lane and pay a visit to St Boniface churchyard, you will see - and hear
- signs of spring.
There are already little carpets of snowdrops
coming into bloom, with one or two crocuses
here and there, and regardless of Covid-19,
the daffodils are also deciding it is time to
show off and not to be outdone by earlier-
blossoming blooms!
For those of us who seek solace in such an
oasis of calm during these strange and
challenging times it is a real tonic to sit on
Helen’s bench and experience the joys of
nature as it comes alive for another year.
You will probably be accompanied by a cheeky little robin or two as they flit
from one gravestone to another saying ‘look at me’ and then - poof… they are
gone - off into a tree to spy on you! Nuthatches, blackbirds, bluetits and great
tits all play their part - in fact one could create an I-Spy St Boniface book of
nature, no trouble. That is without starting on all the varieties of trees.
Thankfully the visiting deer stay away from the glorious array of snowdrops
and they seem to leave the daffodils alone too, but oh my goodness, do they
love to eat roses! Unfortunately, those people who lovingly put such beautiful
blooms onto their loved one’s grave will – and maybe do – find that it is not
long before all that remains in the pot are the stalks. They nibble and munch
the best bit – the rose head - why wouldn’t they?!
Sometimes rabbits pay a visit, and we again know of this since they leave their
calling card behind. Even little moles, bless them, pay a visit now and again,
but maybe find the stony soil too difficult to meander as they please. So they
soon disappear and leave us wondering not only where they have come from,
but where have they gone.
Such a haven for all sorts of wildlife – why not come and see for yourself?
Heads up – just in – St Boniface Church will be having some badly-needed
roof repairs/maintenance carried out, soon – we hope. This will mean there
will be scaffolding going up around the church.
Angela Wright
6
More Memories of Martin
Last month, we fondly remembered Martin Saunders. Our thanks to Mr
Noble from North Baddesley, who sent us a 1997 news clipping from
the Romsey Advertiser, reminding us that Martin had organised a
wonderful exhibition to mark the centenary of the opening of the church
hall at Nursling by the Bishop of Winchester.
Quoted in the article Martin explained
that ‘A description of the hall’s opening
boasts of its fine facilities by 1897
standards. After many years use for
harvest suppers, Sunday school, youth
club, concerts, whist drives and wedding
receptions, it was let to Southampton
Operative Society for making scenery.’
We’re delighted to know that the Men’s Shed group are now taking good
care of the church hall and that it’s still being put to great use! You can
read the full Romsey Advertiser article below. And we would love to hear
your own happy recollections of people, places and events linked to our
beautiful churches.
What a picture, what a photograph, at Nursling Hall centenary exhibition
Old photographs and documents vividly rolled back the years for those who
visited an exhibition at St Boniface, Nursling, last week. You could almost hear
Tommy Steele singing ‘What a picture, what a photograph’
The event on Thursday to Saturday afternoon was organised by Mr Martin
Saunders to mark the centenary of the opening of the church hall at Nursling by
the Bishop of Winchester. This hall which was used for many years by the church,
is now a workshop for Southampton Operatic Society who in 1983 made a
European tour with their production of the Mikado when they probably visited
some of those places where St Boniface preached in Germany.
7
‘A description of the hall’s opening,’ says Mr Saunders, ‘boasts of its fine
facilities by 1897 standards. After many years use for harvest suppers, Sunday
school, youth club, concerts, whist drives and wedding receptions, it was let to
Southampton Operative Society for making scenery.’
When Mr Saunders first announced his intention in the Village News and the
Romsey Advertiser this Summer of holding an exhibition of local memorabilia,
the response was at first slow. But during the past week or two, material has
flowed in and continued during the days of the exhibition.
Recalling the steam era is a picture of a steam locomotive pulling away from the
old Nursling station. At the old rectory, opposite St Boniface, which is now a
private house, you can see a photo of maypole dancing in the garden and not a
sight of the M27 which so disrupted village life.
Sports pictures are well represented. There is also an amusing postcard from
Southampton FA stalwart RA Mathieson in December 1931 to Mr V Noble of Nursling
St Boniface FC concerning the late arrival for a match by Camper and Nicolson. The
visitors did not realise, when they got off the bus at the Horns Inn, that there was a
20minute walk to the ground. ‘Did the home team make this clear?’ asks Mr
Mathieson. With such a trek for visitors there was an additional benefit to
‘playing’ at home for Nursling.
There were the usual class photographs from the old Rownhams and Nursling Schools.
A more recent picture shows Ron Davies, the former Saints striker, crowning
Carnival Queen Heather Morris in 1969 with Richard Gilliat, perhaps
Hampshire’s best cricket captain since the war, looking on.
On display was a poster advertising a fete at Grove Place to celebrate the Coronation of
George V in 1911. Mementoes of more recent coronations were surprisingly missing.
Another poster which could be from either of the world wars, as there is no date,
exhorts villagers to grow more potatoes as a substitute for bread. ‘The Germans
are trying to starve us’ says the notice. We, which the poster mentions not, were
trying to do the same to them.
Other items of interest included a postcard from Dr OGS Crawford, the famous
archaeologist, who is buried locally, announcing in the early 1950s that he will
cycle from Nursling to Holbury on the Waterside to inspect an earthwork, depiction
of a Nursling Scout show in 1939, and a watercolour of the Horns Inn in 1908.
A photographic record is being kept of current development at Rivendale off
Nursling Street which will be of added interest half a century on. After those
living near this development complained about mud on the road, the contractors
sent in a road sweeper which a photograph shows going along almost hidden in a
huge cloud of dust.
Thank you to Romsey Advertiser (1997) and Mr Noble
8
Men’s Shed Volunteers Helping with Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout
VOLUNTEERS across Romsey and Test Valley are pulling together to keep
the rollout of coronavirus vaccines going at a steady pace. Crosfield Hall,
Broadwater Road has been transformed into a vaccine hub to deliver doses
of the life-saving jabs.
Nine members from
Nursling Men's Shed,
based beside St Boniface
Church, have been helping
with the rollout effort,
alongside an army of
volunteers from Romsey-
based charity Unity.
Graham Gowman, Chair of the Men’s Shed Group, told the Romsey
Advertiser: ‘The week before Christmas, we were contacted by Unity and
asked if we could help with the Covid-19 vaccine rollout. Several of our
members have now turned out for sessions of car park marshalling and
parking, meeting and greeting and sanitising chairs…not particularly
onerous duties, but we were so pleased to be able to help in any way.
The patients arriving for their jab were in some cases so frail and poorly,
but they were all very grateful and positive, and even for the menial jobs
we were doing there was a constant chorus of “thank yous”. It was really
uplifting and certainly improved our own wellbeing.’
Based on an article by Sophie Christian in Romsey Advertiser
Our Vision: As a Church Community, We Seek to
9
The Church in Nursling and Rownhams – Open to All
As Covid-19 restrictions continue, we are trying very hard to make all our
various online events open to as many people as possible. One of the ways
we are doing this is that we have put links to all the services etc onto the
home page of our website www.twinspires.org.uk The events are arranged
by day, expand the + sign to reveal the links. In this way we hope that
people will be able to find what they want easily. They do not have to be
members of the church Facebook group, or to receive emails from the
office via the ‘big list’. They will, of course, need internet access.
Please spread the word, use the links and, if you spot a typo or find
something isn’t working for you, then please do let us know via the office
email address: office@twinspires.org.uk
As well as meeting virtually, we continue to pray, to love, to care for the
vulnerable, and build our communities. Thanks to technology, many of our
church congregation have joined livestreamed services, prayer and worship
together via the Church Facebook Page (Twinspires - St Boniface and St
John’s) and via Zoom. We are exploring new ways to stay in touch and to
worship together, as well as rethinking our ministry to our community in
the light of social distancing.
Services and events currently planned are outlined on page 11 and 12, but
please do check for the latest information using the channels below. If you’re
not able to join in with our virtual services at the time, videos (via our
YouTube channel) on our website, together with service sheets for you to
follow and activities for our young people are available.
We’ll post updates on our website: https://www.twinspires.org.uk
Connect to TwinSpires@Home livestream services via our Facebook
page https://www.facebook.com/NurslingAndRownhams/live/ You do
not have to be a Facebook member to join our streamed services.
Participate in Morning Prayer (MP) via Zoom, the online meeting platform.
Mondays & Tuesdays, MP is at 9.30am, Wednesdays & Fridays it is at 9am.
To join in, download Zoom and click the links provided for each activity.
Morning Prayer on Thursdays is on our Facebook page instead, at 10am.
Please let us know if you would like to be included on emails sent to
our church community. And if you know of anyone not on the church
‘big email’ list, please encourage them to contact the office to be
added, so we can keep in touch: office@twinspires.org.uk
10What’s on in the Week
At the time of publishing, our planned services and events for March are
below. However, please check our website and weekly news sheet for the
latest information, as we adapt to changing Covid-related restrictions.
Saturday 6th March Virtual Vestry Vigil, at 9.30am (TBC)
Vestry Vigil Link (same as Morning Prayer Zoom link)
Meeting ID: 112 879 792 Password: 107871
Saturday 6th March Family Quiz, at 6.30pm (TBC)
Quiz Link Meeting ID: 112 879 792 Password: 107871
(same zoom link as Vestry Vigil above)
Friday 12th March Messy Church 5-5.30pm on Zoom (TBC)
Messy Church New Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 820 4395 9288 Password: 820717
Weekday Morning Prayer
Prayer for our Parish takes place each weekday morning for all to join:
Via Zoom at 9.30am on Mondays & Tuesdays
Via Zoom at 9am on Wednesdays & Fridays (Weds is a time of open prayer)
Morning Prayer Zoom Link Meeting ID: 112 879 792 Password: 107871
Via Facebook at 10am on Thursdays:
https://www.facebook.com/NurslingAndRownhams/live/
MORE - Mondays 7-8.15pm (currently on Zoom)
A fun and lively youth group for ages 11-16.
Contact youth@twinspires.org.uk to join MORE
Wednesdays at 10am - midday
St Boniface Church building is usually open for personal prayer
and reflection on Wednesdays 10am – midday.
St John’s Church building will not be open routinely on Wednesdays during
lockdown. However, if you would like to visit St John’s, please let us know by
9am the previous day: 023 8073 8293 or office@twinspires.org.uk
Virtual Homegroup – Wednesdays at 7.30pm
Homegroup Zoom Link Meeting ID: 215 349 094 Password: 302380
Theme for March ‘God on Mute (engaging the silence of unanswered prayer)’
CONNECT! – Thursdays 8-9pm on Zoom
A virtual get-together for young adults
CONNECT! Zoom Room Meeting ID: 856 7336 4283 Password: 606207
11Services During
At the time of publishing, our planned services and events
for the month ahead are below. For the time being, all our
activities and services will be digital. However, please
check our website and weekly news sheet for the latest
information, as Covid-related restrictions develop.
Every Sunday at 10am, TwinSpires@Home
Livestreamed Morning Service via our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/NurslingAndRownhams/live/
You do not have to be a member of Facebook to join in our streamed services.
Sunday 7th March - Lent 3 - All Age Worship
Sunday 14th March – Lent 4 – Morning Praise
Also - Traditional BCP service available on YouTube from 10am
Sunday 21st March – Lent 5 – Morning Praise
Sunday 28th March – Palm Sunday – Morning Praise
Also - Traditional BCP service available on YouTube from 10am
Dates for Your Diary
Fair Trade Fortnight - until Sunday 7th March
Spring Harvest Home 21 - 4th – 8th April
https://springharvest.org/springharvesthome21
Next Street Pastor Spring Training Sessions
Covers 2 weekends of 23rd–25th April and 14th–16th May
Fri eve 7.15–9.15pm, Sat 9.30am-4.30pm, Sun 9.30am-4.30pm
Apply by 16th April. More info on YouTube: Southampton Street Pastors 2021
Sunday 20th June 2021 at 10am - Confirmation service at St John’s Church.
A course to prepare for confirmation will begin after Easter, please contact
the office if you may be interested in being confirmed.
Contributions for Next Month’s Twin Spires Magazine
by 6 pm, Sunday 14th March 2021
Preferably by email to twinspiresnews@live.co.uk or,
alternatively, to: Mary Carter, 12 Horsebridge Way (paper copy).
Please check you receive an acknowledgement of your email.
12We are happy to receive foreign currency (notes and coins)
and ‘out of circulation’ UK notes and coins, which we are
able to convert into funds for our churches. They don’t have
to be legal tender now. Periodically we send off ‘our stash’
for conversion. Our most recent batch raised £111.74!
People have been having a real clear out! We recently
received £9.50 from the Bank of England for £1 and ten shilling notes and also
£102.24 from the place where we send foreign notes/coins and out of
circulation British coins. So it’s well worth doing – thank you!
Look out for the ‘Funny Money’ Box at church when our buildings are open.
Friday’s Recreational Walks are currently suspended due to Covid
restrictions. However, if you’re taking outside exercise, you might like to
make use of the various benches around the churchyard, which are available
for quiet prayer and reflection.
Once our church buildings are fully open again, don’t forget we
have a board (next to the sound desk in St John’s Church) where
you can offer items you no longer need, and also look for items you
may want. No money is involved: this is purely an enviro/social service.
However, please do not bring any items for recycling to church at the
moment, as we are unable to process them.
Regular giving through one of the available schemes is encouraged
as this helps the PCC fund its mission and ministry. Please consider
using the Parish Giving Scheme www.parishgiving.org.uk This is a
direct debit system that reduces the administrative burden locally
but still ensures that all of your donation, together with any gift aid
recoverable, reaches this parish. The dedicated telephone number is
0333 002 1271. Donors will need their parish’s PGS Code which is: PGS
Parish Code 416012141 The Parish of Nursling with Rownhams in the
Diocese of Winchester. More information on how to give is available from the
Office and the church website. There is also a link for one-
off donations, look for the donate button on our website.
PCC Legacy Policy Nursling and Rownhams PCC welcomes gifts in wills,
however large or small. We will use such gifts to make a difference to the
work of the church (eg by funding development projects in the parish, whether
buildings, equipment or staff). We will consult with the executors to identify
the sorts of projects the donor would have liked.
13Spring is on its Way at St John’s Church
As I approached the churchyard on Saturday 6th February all I could see at
first glance were a few yellow crocus and white snowdrops. Walking round
slowly, more and more beautiful flowers appeared especially quite a
number of crocus varieties in an array of different colours. The more I
looked the more I found!
Whilst there are a number of naturalised wild species, I expect most were
planted by folk over the years in memory of their loved ones.
My collage of blooms include
Hazel (Corylus avellana) male
catkins, top left, with a lovely
stand of snowdrops (Galanthus
invalids) below that. In the
bottom right are more
snowdrops, with a solitary open
daffodil above, and a lovely
miniature blue iris to the left.
There are a number of varieties
of this dwarf spring iris species
(Iris reticulata) which
originates from Turkey and the
Caucasian Mountains.
The other eight photos are various species/varieties of crocus. They are
delightful and come in many beautiful colours. I was going to attempt to
name each type until I discovered there are about 90 species of crocus
worldwide and many many varieties. They originate in North Africa and the
Middle East, central and southern Europe across into Asia, as far as Western
China. They were introduced to cultivation into the UK from Europe
sometime before 1600, and were first recorded into the wild in 1763!
A number of species are now considered to be wild in the UK, often growing
in churchyards. Crocus vernus and Crocus tommasinianus are both various
shades of mauve similar to the ones in my photos. There is also a wild
yellow species Crocus stellaris, again similar to ones in my photos.
The following week, all but the yellow crocus were more or less over, the
other colours just not being as robust.
Phil James, Rownhams resident and nature enthusiast!
14Spring Inspiration
Thank you to those who shared photos of the early glimpses of Spring. We
hope these pictures below help to brighten your spirits too.
Snowdrops in St Boniface
Churchyard by Steph Dixon
Purple Hebe
by Mary
Carter
Juxtaposition
of yellow &
pink catkins
by Mary
Flowering
gorse
apparently
denotes the
arrival of
‘kissing
season’?!
Photo by
Mary, St
Boniface
park
Snowdrops and catkins by Gill McKay
15Little signs of Spring hope, taken by Fiona Skidmore at Hillier’s Gardens
Pampas grass & snowdrops
Hellebores
Hamamelis -Witch hazel Daphne
Cyclamen
16Not Everything is Locked Down!
Remember…
Sunrise is not locked down
Fresh air is not locked down
Family time is not locked down
Friendship is not locked down
Creativity is not locked down
Prayers are not locked down
Hobbies are not locked down
Hopes and dreams are not locked down
Kindness is not locked down
Learning is not locked down
Conversation is not locked down
Imagination is not locked down
Sunsets are not locked down
Hope is not locked down
Cherish what you have, stay at home and make the most of your time
May you be Safe
May you be Happy
May you be Well
Amen.
Inspired by Rev Jim Stanley-Smith and his daughter Ruth, who shared an
uplifting video highlighting these beautiful sentiments.
17The Real Easter Egg
The Meaningful Chocolate Company has launched its 2021 Fairtrade Real
Easter Egg range. All Real Easter Eggs come with an Easter story in the
box. The stories range from simple guides to a 24-page activity book
version with a prize competition worth £200. They provide an opportunity
to share the joy of Easter with friends and family.
The 2021 Original Real Easter Egg includes a new
24-page Easter story activity book. It features a
rainbow design to remind us of the importance of
working together, in amazing and inspiring ways,
for the common good. It costs £4.50 and is
delivered in multiples of six or as singles.
David Marshall, from Meaningful Chocolate, said: ‘Even with the current
uncertainties we believe that it is more important than ever that churches,
schools and individuals find ways to share the Easter story in 2021. Our
aim is to provide some of these resources and continue to support Fairtrade.
The Real Easter Egg is a proven way to do this. You can order direct from
www.realeasteregg.co.uk’
Real Easter Egg dropped by pandemic hit supermarkets
The UK's top supermarkets will not be stocking The Real Easter Egg in
2021. For the past ten years Tesco, Waitrose, ASDA and Morrisons have
made room on their shelves for The Real Easter Egg.
The head of The Real Easter Egg, David Marshall, said: ‘Easter 2020 was
right at the start of lock-down and we saw people change the way they
shopped. We saw an increase of 40% in people buying from our website
for friends, family and food banks. However, at the same time, the early
pandemic led to the supermarkets having a disastrous Easter as people
stayed away from high streets. This year, supermarket buyers were told to
cut brands, reduce the volumes and in some cases ask for stock to be
supplied at a loss or cost price. It means there will be fewer brands,
including the Real Easter Egg, on supermarket shelves this Easter. So, if
you are one of the 80,000 people who usually buy a Real Easter Egg from a
supermarket then go online and order direct from
www.realeasteregg.co.uk’
18About the Real Easter Egg
Out of the 80 million chocolate Easter eggs sold each year in the UK, The
Real Easter Egg is the first and only Fairtrade chocolate Easter egg to share
the Easter story.
The Real Easter Egg has been on sale since 2010 and involves thousands of
churches, schools and groups. It crosses all denominations and offers
individuals a simple way to share the Easter Story while supporting
Fairtrade and charitable projects.
The Real Easter Egg continues to be the UK's top mail order Egg in terms
of volume. To date more than a million eggs have been sold and more than
£300,000 has been donated to charitable causes.
Parish Pump
You may have already ordered your Real Easter Egg via the church office.
If not, then you can get them from Oasis in Romsey. You can buy from
Oasis, even in lockdown, by using ‘click and collect’ or they will deliver.
To order, visit http://www.oasisromsey.co.uk/ or call them on 01794 512194.
Oasis are also selling an 80g bar of
chocolate (milk or dark) with an Easter
painting on the outer wrapper at £3.
Claire Thompson
Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate!
It’s All in the Spelling...
G - God
R - Ran
A - Alongside
C - Carrying
E - Everything
19Your Special Bible Verses
Thank you to everyone who forwarded their favourite Bible verses to us.
We share your enthusiasm….and with so many wonderful contenders for
‘Verse of the Year’, we have decided to make it ‘Verse of the Month’! Do
please keep the suggestions coming, ideally with a little insight into the
special significance they hold for you: twinspiresnews@live.co.uk
1. John 14:2-3 - There are many rooms in my Father’s house. If this
were not true, would I have told you that I am going there? Would I have
told you that I would prepare a place for you there? 3 If I go and do that, I
will come back. And I will take you to be with me. Then you will also be
where I am. (NIRV)
2. John 14:27 - I leave my peace with you. I give
my peace to you. I do not give it to you as the world
does. Do not let your hearts be troubled. And do not be
afraid. (NIRV)
3. Philippians 4:7 - Then God’s peace will watch
over your hearts and your minds. He will do this
because you belong to Christ Jesus. God’s peace can
never be completely understood. (NIRV)
4. Revelation 3:20 - Here I am! I stand at the door
and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the
door, I will come in. I will eat with that person, and they
will eat with me. (NIRV)
5. John 1:4-5 - Life was in Him, and that life was
the light for all people.5The light shines in the darkness.
But the darkness has not overcome the light. (NIRV)
6. 1 Peter 4:10 - Each of you should use whatever gift you have
received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various
forms. (NIV)
7. Psalm 46:10 - Be still and know that I am God. (NIRV)
8. Psalm 62:5-8 - Yes, I must find my rest in God. He is the God who
gives me hope. (NIRV)
209. Psalm 62:8 - Trust in him at all times, you people. Tell him all your
troubles. God is our place of safety. (NIRV)
10. Psalm 62:6 - It is surely true that he is my
rock and the God who saves me. He is like a fort to
me, so I will always be secure. (NIRV)
11. Psalm 62:7 - I depend on God to save me
and to honour me. He is my mighty rock and my
place of safety. (NIRV)
12. Isaiah 43:18-19 - Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a
new thing! Do you not perceive it? I am
making a way in the desert and streams in
the wasteland. (NIV)
13. Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the
plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV)
14. John 21:12a - Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast’. (NIRV)
Twin Spires News Magazine for 2021
Thank you to the many of you who have already sent a
voluntary subscription for Twin Spires News for 2021.
Are you one of those who keep meaning to send £6 but
forget? If so, this is a gentle reminder to send your
subscription as soon as possible
As many of you know, there are a number of ways you
can donate to church funds (outlined on page 13).
Bank Transfer is the preferred method and there is also a
…DONATE… button on the church website, which
offers a very simple option for any one-off on-line gifts.
We hope to restart delivering hard copies sometime this
year, vaccinations permitting. And in the meantime,
thank you all for staying with us, for your contributions
and your encouragement. Please continue to enjoy Twin
Spires News and share it with your friends and family.
21Fast Fashion – is it Really Good Value?
Do you remember Hilly? She used to live in Rownhams and visited St
John’s Church when we had an environmentally themed service. She
wanted to reduce her use of plastic and ended up starting up an online
business selling plastic free alternatives. Do have a look
www.switchandditch.co.uk. Hilly wrote this article for her website which I
have permission to reproduce.
We live in a disposable world where things are mass produced, have short
life spans and are quickly replaced. The world of fashion is no exception.
Cheap clothes line the rails of shops and, once home, are often only worn a
few times. To meet demand for the latest trends, items are quickly and
cheaply mass produced. Consumers know there will be something new out
soon so are not interested in the longevity of their clothing. Suppliers fight
for custom by dropping their prices. Their concern is the bottom-line cost,
not the environment or sustainability. The result – fast fashion.
1. Fast fashion is largely made from cheap, man-made synthetic materials
such as polyester, acrylic and nylon which come with their own issues.
They are often derived from non-renewable sources such as oil required to
make petroleum. As a result, they are packed full of microplastics which
leach into the environment every time you wash them. At the end of their
life, many items of clothing find their way into landfill and will continue to
leach microplastics into the environment.
According to (The Waste and Resources Action Programme) an
estimated £140 million worth of clothing goes to landfill each year. To
make matters worse, those items which don’t make it to landfill may be
burnt which can release poisonous gases into the environment.
2. Many of the factories used to manufacture fast fashion are based in
Asia and rely heavily on coal and gas; using up non-renewable sources and
contributing heavily to pollution.
3. There are also the social-economic issues when you consider working
conditions and access to fair wages.
So What Can we Do?
For 2021, I made the New Year’s Resolution that I would not buy any new
clothes this year. I realise that lockdown has made it very easy for me but I
know there will be times I’ll want to go shopping. However, as this is no
longer an option, I’ve got my eco alternatives:
22✓ REPAIR. I got the sewing badge at Brownies and Guides, so
time to get out the needle and thread to fix that hole, sew on that button
or even get creative and repurpose old clothes into something new.
✓ SWAP. Growing up, my sister and I often shared and swapped
clothes. Sharing is no longer an option as we live 250 miles apart but we do
still give each other clothes that we’re tired of.
✓ CHARITY. I think the entire nation has reviewed their wardrobe
this year and as a result charity shops are full, in fact many stopped taking
new items after the first lockdown.
✓ ON-LINE SECONDHAND SHOPS. There are a number of these.
If you are buying new clothes, there are also plenty of things you
can consider to help reduce the environmental impact:
SHOP SUSTAINABLY. There are lots of brands
whose focus is sustainability. For example Buzz and Baa’s
‘Circular’ range of t-shirts is made from recycled fabric.
‘Wear – Return –Repeat!’
QUALITY VS QUANTITY. Invest in items that are made to last
longer than the latest trend and try to avoid the cheap clothes from manmade
materials which have buttons falling off and stitching that comes apart.
ONE IN ONE OUT. Only buy new items as a replacement for old
ones. This isn’t an excuse to clear out your wardrobe and start again but
away of asking yourself ‘Do I really need this?’
WEAR IT MORE. A friend of mine recently said they ‘only’ wash
the kids’ PJs every other day having previously had a fresh set each night.
As a child, my PJs lasted me a week between washes. Another friend will
only wear things once or use a towel once before it goes in the wash. When
questioned they both had felt a bit of social pressure to do this so perhaps a
change of mind set is needed. Clothes will last longer if they’re washed
less, resources are saved by doing fewer loads and let’s face it, less time
doing laundry is always going to make me happier!
I hope this has given you some inspiration to help reduce the impact
fashion, especially fast fashion, has on the environment. I figure if Jane
Fonda can wear the same dress to the Oscars twice then I can too (well
perhaps not to the Oscars but you get the gist.)
Claire Thompson
23Inheritance
Tom was a single guy living at home with his father and working in the
family business. When he found out he was going to inherit a fortune when
his sickly father died, he decided he needed a wife to share his fortune.
One evening at an investment meeting he spotted the most beautiful woman
he had ever seen. Her natural beauty took his breath away.
‘I may look like just an ordinary man,’ he said to her, ‘but in just a few
years, my father will die, and I'll inherit £200 million.’
Impressed, the woman obtained his business card and three days later, she
became his stepmother.
Women are so much better at financial planning than men.
Shared by Jack Henshaw, Retired Men’s Fellowship
A young man was told he had terminal cancer. He
asked his Vicar to come and see him so he could
make arrangements for his funeral.
So his vicar came to see him. The young man told
him which hymns and reading he wanted at his
funeral. The vicar prayed for him. Then he got up to
leave.
Then the young man said ‘I nearly forgot, when I'm in
the coffin could you put a fork in my right hand.’ The
vicar looked at him and said ‘fork in your right hand?’
The young man explained. ‘When the family went out for a meal, after the
main course, my nan would say “keep your fork in your hand, the best is
yet to come”’
At the young man's funeral family and friends passed by his coffin and
were bemused by the fork in his right hand. The vicar explained what the
young man told him, and said,
‘YES, THE BEST IS YET TO COME.’
Shared by David Edes from www.mikeysfunnies.com
24‘Feel-good’ Shopping Online to Help the Parish
If you’re shopping online this year, the www.smile.amazon.co.uk site
provides all the same products, service and cost, but Amazon donates .0.5%
of the net purchase price (excluding VAT, returns and
shipping fees) of eligible purchases to a charitable
organisation of your choice. We are registered as
The Ecclesiastical Parish of Nursling with Rownhams.
The PCC is also registered with EasyFundRaising. where the retailer will
make a donation to a registered charity at no additional cost to the person
doing the buying. Please consider nominating our churches when you shop
online. Lots of different retailers are registered and will give up to 2.5% of the
value of your online shopping as donations to the church.
We are registered as Nursling and Rownhams PCC.
A total of £83.32 has been raised (to end January). Thanks to everyone who
has helped. If you’re not already supporting Nursling & Rownhams PCC in
this way, please do sign up. It takes 2 minutes and then 4,200+ shops will
donate to us for free every time you shop with them.
https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/nurslingandrownhamspcc/payments/63/
Kevin took himself
off to his study to
pray for peace
I shall know why, when time is over,
And I have ceased to wonder why;
Christ will explain each separate anguish
In the fair schoolroom of the sky.
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
25An Opportunity to Cherish
I was surprised to learn from one of the Bishops in Southwestern Uganda
that there are many preachers who did not understand the Word of God and
ended up misinterpreting the Bible. Many who preach and teach the Word
of God on a daily basis have not attained adequate education to understand
the Bible using the readers’ aids available like English Study Bibles. All
Churches in the Southwestern region have weekly fellowships where
Christians gather to read the Bible; however, many do not go deep in
understanding of what is written.
The Runyankole/Rukiga Bible was first published in 1964 and has aided
the preaching and teaching of the Word of God in the language of the
people in the region for now 55 years. In addition to the impact of the
1930s Great East African Revival, there is now a need to have fresh
awareness and understanding of the Word of God beyond just reading the
pages of the Runyankole/Rukiga Bible, especially among the millions of
people who do not understand English and those who really want to feel
God minister to them in their heart language.
Rev Jim Stanley–Smith, after
speaking at the celebration of
Runyankole/Rukiga Bible@55 in
Mbarara - Jim is a son to Dr.
Stanley Smith, Team Leader of the
1st Runyankole/Rukiga Bible
Translators.
Church leaders signing the
commitment to translate the
Study Bible.
We thank God for his protection amidst the current challenges.Blessings!
Bariisa Wycliffe, Branch Administrator Ankole,
The Bible Society of Uganda. https://biblesociety-uganda.org/
26The Bible Society of Uganda is a Christian Non-Governmental Organization,
which serves churches and the general public, by
making the Holy Scriptures available in languages
that people understand best. They work with
churches to help engage meaningfully with the
Scriptures and are part of a global movement -
United Bible Societies - serving churches of all
denominations in over 145 Countries.
Clean Water!
We are delighted that we have been able to drill two
wells on the Maison Kimbilio site! These wells will
provide essential clean water to the children living in
the Kimbilio homes as well as to the pupils at the Kimbilio Primary School
due to open in September 2021. Contaminated water can transmit diseases
such as diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio. We are thrilled that
the children we support will have access to this most basic of rights which
can be often taken for granted in other parts of the world.
We are thinking of you at the start of 2021, 2020 was a challenging year for
us all. We hope and pray that 2021 will see the virus brought under control
and the possibility of a move towards recovery and a return to freedoms of
travel and contact with friends and family that we miss so much.
Thank you so much for continuing to support Kimbilio
throughout this challenging time.
Ian Harvey,
https://congochildrentrust.org/
A Good Use of Drones: Tree Planting to Speed up Ecosystem Restoration
Thanks to Rev Jim Stanley Smith and Jack Henshaw, for letting us know
about a novel approach to ecosystem restoration by BioCarbon
Engineering, an Australian company, led by a Russian entrepreneur and an
Oxford student, who is using drones to plant seeds.
The idea is to use the technology to plant trees in remote or difficult terrain.
For interest, here’s a very short YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3x4uUYQyLs
27Across
1 The earth is one (6)
4 ‘On a hill far away stood an old — cross’ (6)
7 ‘I am the — vine and my Father is the gardener’ (John 15:1) (4)
8 The Caesar who was Roman Emperor at the time of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:1) (8)
9 ‘Your — should be the same as that of Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 2:5) (8)
13 Jesus said that no one would put a lighted lamp under this (Luke 8:16) (3)
16 Involvement (1 Corinthians 10:16) (13)
17 Armed conflict (2 Chronicles 15:19) (3)
19 Where the Gaderene pigs were feeding (Mark 5:11) (8)
24 What jeering youths called Elisha on the road to Bethel (2 Kings 2:23) (8)
25 The Venerable — , eighth-century Jarrow ecclesiastical scholar (4)
26 8 Across issued a decree that this should take place (Luke 2:1) (6)
27 Come into prominence (Deuteronomy 13:13) (6)
Down
1 Where some of the seed scattered by the sower fell (Matthew 13:4) (4)
2 Sexually immoral person whom God will judge (Hebrews 13:4) (9)
3 Gospel leaflet (5)
4 Physical state of the boy brought to Jesus for healing (Mark 9:18)
5 Tugs (anag.) (4)
6 To put forth (5)
10 Nationality associated with St Patrick (5)
11 Leader of the descendants of Kohath (1 Chronicles 15:5) (5)
12 ‘After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping — heel’(Genesis 25:26) (5)
13 At Dothan the Lord struck the Arameans with — at Elisha’s request
(2 Kings 6:18) (9)
14 ‘Peter, before the cock crows today, you will — three times that you
know me’ (Luke22:34) (4)
15 Spit out (Psalm 59:7) (4)
18 ‘When I — , I am still with you’ (Psalm 139:18) (5)
20 Concepts (Acts 17:20) (5)
21 Thyatira’s dealer in purple cloth (Acts 16:14) (5)
22 Does (anag.) (4)
23 The second set of seven cows in Pharaoh’s dream were this (Genesis 41:19) (4)
(Answers on page 32)
2829
30
31
Life is full of ups and downs: after blessings, hard times often follow. They
are not meant to destroy us but to help us grow spiritually by deepening our
faith and dependence on God. The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness
to be tempted by the devil – to give Him the opportunity to stand fast
against the enemy. The devil’s temptations were based on half-truths,
which Jesus rejected by standing firm on the whole truth of Scripture. The
truth sets us free!
Holy
Spirit
Jordan
Wilderness
Tempted
Devil
Fasted
Hungry
If
Bread
Alone
Kingdom
World
Authority
Glory
Answers for Crossword on Page 28
ACROSS: 1, Planet. 4, Rugged. 7, True. 8, Augustus. 9, Attitude. 13, Bed.
16, Participation. 17, War. 19, Hillside. 24, Baldhead. 25, Bede. 26, Census.
27, Arisen.
DOWN: 1, Path. 2, Adulterer. 3, Tract. 4, Rigid. 5, Gust. 6, Exude. 10, Irish.
11, Uriel. 12, Esau’s. 13, Blindness. 14, Deny. 15, Spew. 18, Awake. 20,
Ideas. 21, Lydia. 22, Odes. 23, Lean.
32Suggestions for your Prayers
Please continue to pray for Graeme and Steph as they steadily
improve. Pray that their sleep patterns will come right and
that they will soon be back to normal. Pray too that as Graeme
takes on more of his responsibilities, he will still take the rest
he needs.
Continue to pray about the coronavirus situation all over the world. For
wisdom for governments as they make ongoing decisions about how best
to handle the pandemic. Pray for strength and protection for all medical
staff working long hours. Give thanks for the vaccines and pray for their
ongoing roll out everywhere and that they can be quickly tweaked where
necessary to be effective against new variants.
Pray for everyone whose workload has increased and whose work keeps
changing as the Covid restrictions change and especially those involved
in education. Pray too for parents balancing their own work and home
schooling and for the young people who are missing out on education and
social interaction.
Pray for the economy to recover quickly and for those who have lost their
jobs and their motivation. Also, for all those whose mental health is
suffering. Pray too for those who have lost loved ones and that the virus
might be defeated.
As John Holden plans to step down from being churchwarden at St John’s
next month, please pray for someone to come forward to replace him, or
at the very least a team of people willing to do so. Pray too for the right
people to be elected to the PCC.
Barnabas Fund ask us to pray for persecuted Christian children. That God
will be a light to their paths and help them to grow strong in their faith
and that he will protect and comfort them as they face danger.
We pray for guidance in the global economy. We give thanks for the
diversity of foods and the range of products available to us and remember
those who produce the goods that we enjoy. Help us to support the
principles of fair trade and to practice it in our daily lives.
Taken from ‘Praying for the Earth’ produced by the Newcastle Diocese.
33From the Registers
Funerals ‘Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those
who have fallen asleep’ (1 Cor 15:20)
15 Jan Martin Saunders, 85 Burial at St Boniface
1 Feb Harold Stinton, 91 Burial at St John’s
Prayer for Families
Dear Father God,
In this month, when we especially think about mothers, we thank you for
the families and friends you have given us. You know how hard it has been
to have been separated over these past months, how much we have missed
and longed for their hugs, their physical presence and fellowship.
As we hold on to the hope of overcoming the pandemic, help us to be
strengthened by the power of the love we receive - and to strengthen others
by the love we give.
May we know that, wherever we are, whatever our circumstances, we and
our loved ones are held safe and connected by your unfailing love for us,
revealed in Jesus – who is alive - and from whom nothing, no pandemic, no
man-made turmoil, absolutely nothing and no-one can separate us, when
we put our trust in Him.
Thank you, Father, that we belong to your family. Thank you for the love
and security we have in you.
In Jesus’ name, Amen. Daphne Kitching
The Samaritans
always available,
Christian Books, Bibles,
always confidential
Wholefoods, Cards and Music
Craft, Scout & Guide Uniform
Call National – 116 123 (free)
25 Church Street Romsey www.samaritans.org/
SO51 8BT
Visits between 10am & 10 pm
01794 512194
11 College Place, London Rd,
Email shop@oasisromsey.co.uk
Web oasisromsey.co.uk
Southampton, SO15 2FE
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