Honeycomb-On-Line

In 1843 Charles Dickens’ novel “A Christmas Carol” was published. It is one of the best–loved fictional stories to be associated with Christmas. Even if you have not read it, it is likely you have seen a film version of it, quite possibly during a previous Christmas season. Although it is a familiar tale, it is worth a closer look as it has much to offer us 167 years after it was published.

The book’s main character is the mean and intimidating Ebenezer Scrooge. He lives to make and accumulate money. He is interested in nothing else. He particularly hates Christmas. He views it as “a time for finding yourself a year older and not an hour richer”.

When wished a “Merry Christmas” by his nephew his response is “bah humbug”. A response he keeps up when his nephew invites him to lunch the next day. He is very resentful at having to give his underpaid clerk, Bob Cratchit, his one day’s paid annual leave.

As he goes to bed that night the ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley, visits Scrooge. Marley had died seven Christmas Eves ago. Marley was a miser just like Scrooge. Now he is suffering the consequences in the afterlife. He hopes that he can help Scrooge to avoid the same fate. He tells Scrooge that three spirits will haunt him. They are the spirits of Christmas past, present and future. They show him how he has changed from a good–natured boy to the mean spirited person he has become and the consequences that will result if he does not change. They succeed in showing Scrooge how wrong he has been and Scrooge is reformed.

Christmas morning finds Scrooge sending a Christmas turkey Bob Cratchit and spending Christmas day with his nephew’s family. He goes on to raise Bob’s salary to a reasonable living wage and assists his family including Bob’s crippled son, tiny Tim. By the end of the story Scrooge has become “as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew”.

I hope that none of you are immediately identifying with Scrooge. I am sure we all think we are more like the nephew or the clerk. However, there are parallels. We get so many messages that tell us that money is the answer to everything. Although we are in the middle of a serious recession with rising unemployment we are told that at least part of the problem is that there is a credit crunch so we are not spending enough money. In the run up to Christmas the adverts encourage us to spend, spend, spend both on ourselves and on others. Even if we can ignore the adverts, those with children will know the effectiveness of pester power. The result is that many people, maybe that includes you, have to work really long hours both in the run up to Christmas and probably in the New Year just to pay the bills. If you are unemployed or underemployed for whatever reason the chances are that you are feeling the pressure with reduced income but the same spending expectations as in previous years. That is just as stressful as having to work long hours.

If you find yourself in this bind then, like Scrooge, Christmas morning can be an opportunity to change perspective. Money, however important it might seem, is not as important as relationships as Scrooge found out. Christmas time is a great opportunity to build relationships because it is a time of year when we see people that we rarely see at other times of year. Of course it might be that we rarely see them at other times of year because we do not get on with them. Yet every person with whom we have a relationship can be someone who can enrich our lives and we can enrich their lives. If/when I am with someone that I do not find easy I keep in mind that in each and every person there is something of God who created us. It is not easy to get impatient or fed up with someone when I know that it is God on the receiving end of those negative feelings. If you think that is hard to do, remember the baby in the stable at Bethlehem. He was God but looked like any other human being. See God in others and the joy of Christmas will be deep and truly lasting.

With every good wish and blessings for a joyous Christmas.

Jan Brookshaw

Christmas worship in the Stodden villages in December 2009

Sunday 13th, 6pm,	Carols	Pertenhall Church
Sunday 20th, 2.30pm	Carols	Dean URC Chapel
Sunday 20th, 2.45pm	Carols	Yelden Methodist Chapel
Sunday 20th, 4pm	Carols	Shelton Church
Sunday 20th, 6pm,	Carols	Swineshead Church
Thursday 24th, 4pm	Carols	Dean Church
Thursday 24th, 6pm	Carols	Yelden Church (with Melchbourne)
Thursday 24th, 11.30pm	Midnight Mass	Melchbourne Church
Friday 25th, 9am	Holy Communion	Shelton Church
Friday 25th, 10.30am	Holy Communion	Swineshead Church

Christmas is coming

We are now well into the season of Advent. Most of the time Advent is a time when we tend to get tied up in the practical preparations for the great day, school plays and parties leaving little time for our Spiritual preparation. To help you in your spiritual preparation an evening service of worship will be held on the remaining Mondays in Advent –December 7th, 14th and 21st . The service will start at 8pm. To ensure our physical as well as spiritual warmth the services will be held in private homes as follows:

The service will be the late evening service of Compline. Compline is one of the oldest services we have. It dates back to at least the 4th century AD although the version we use is not the original in ancient Greek but an updated version in modern English. It is a very peaceful and relaxing service with prayers, psalms, readings and a meditation. It lasts about 25 minutes. I do hope you can come to this service – most people who have attended Compline in the past reckon it to be one of their favourite services. I hope you leave each service relaxed and ready for a good night’s sleep to prepare you for the next busy day.

Jan Brookshaw

Blood minerals from Congo.... to you£

From the latest flashy phone to an endless choice of PCs and DVD players, we’re all pretty obsessed with the fast–moving world of new technology these days. But have you ever wondered about the real story behind the seductive TV ads, or how those ‘must have’ gadgets actually end up on the shop shelves£

Often dubbed ‘Africa’s First World War’, the long and bitter conflict between government forces, rebel militia, and neighbouring armies in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has resulted in the deaths of a staggering five million people in the last decade alone.

But while simmering internal and external political tensions continue to devastate lives, there is another crucial catalyst for the bloody conflict – namely the highly lucrative illegal mining trade. Fuelled by an insatiable global demand for minerals such as cassiterite (tin oxide) and coltan – vital in the manufacture of our DVD players, mobile phones and computers – the illegitimate mining industry in the DRC is booming like never before.

However, while local people and the economy reap – at best – negligible rewards from the DRC’s vast wealth of natural mineral reserves, the only real winners are the corrupt mine owners and multinational export companies.

Christian Aid met two women miners in Congo. Here are their stories:

Aimee Bagalwa, 29, “Before the war it was only the men who worked in the mines but now I am a miner myself and my husband takes care of children,” mother–of–four Aimee explains. Aimee works in the tiny settlement of Szbira, 90 kilometres from Bukavu in South Kivu province. “I have been here for one year now, often doing 24–hour shifts, and I think that working in the mines is a form of slavery because people are kept in a state of real dependency. We are in deep misery and I only do this work to feed my family.”

Tumaini Munguakonkwa, 25, “I have to work everyday, seven days a week, just to feed my family and even then we struggle,” says Tumaini, who is married and has four young children to support. “I don’t know any of those people who get rich from cassiterite, like the mine owners and dealers, and I cannot imagine how anyone like me could ever make any money from this work, it feels like slavery.”

Poppy Appeal November 2009

The 2009 Poppy Appeal collectors in Yelden, Melchbourne and Dean, truly thank everyone for the generous gifts that have this year raised a total of £462.31.

Annie Wallis is now standing down as organiser for the village collections and Audrey Lovell of Melchbourne is retiring. If anyone would like to take up either of these posts please contact Annie on 708639. Finally, many thanks to Tom Dormer for kindly collecting in Dean this year.

Christmas: Where did Christmas trees come from?

There are two early stories that mention fir trees. The first involves St Boniface, who went to Germany in the 8th century as a missionary and found people sacrificing a child to their god under an oak tree. Boniface was appalled, and rescued the child. He then chopped down the oak tree and found a tiny fir tree growing nearby. He gave this to the people and said: “This is a symbol of life. Whenever you look at this tree, remember the Christ–child who is the one who will give you life, because he gave his life for you.”

The second early fir tree story involves Martin Luther in the 16th century. It is said that one year he decided to drag a fir tree into his home and to decorate it with candles. He used it as a visual aid, telling people that the candles symbolised Jesus as the light of the world, and the evergreen tree symbolised the eternal life that Jesus gives to us. Many of the people who followed Luther were struck by the idea, and took up the custom.

WEA North Beds Branch

Spring Term 2010: a 10 week course
Beginning on Wednesday 13th January
10.15 till 11.45a.m. 
In Riseley Village Hall
Tutor: Dr Mike Muncaster
Gilbert and Sullivan their Music and Times

Course Fee £43.50p and enrolment 9.45 at first meeting.

Further information: Mike Knight 01234 708518 or

Hermione Harrison 01480 861231

The Stodden Sleep–out

Two years ago all six of our villages had volunteers who slept rough in or around the church porches.  Not a pleasant experience but made palatable because we only had to do it for one night and we had over £9,000 riding on it in sponsorship as an incentive to complete the task.

After a break in 2008 we have decided to brave the elements once again and Friday December 4th is the chosen date.  Once again we will be supporting charities who work with the homeless and we have chosen the King’s Arms Project in Bedford and the Church Housing Trust as our national charity.  They both do a tremendous job in addressing the short term needs of the homeless and also their transition back into the community.

Please sponsor your local rough sleepers as generously as you can and even better, why not volunteer to keep them company on the night.  In 2007 one of our villages resembled cardboard city with 9 rough sleepers which created a terrific team spirit and greatly increased the sponsorship opportunities.  Please help in any way you can and more information can be obtained from one of the following village co–ordinators:–

MELCHBOURNE

Correspondent- Philip Pahl

Halloween Bonfire Party

A fun evening was had by over 50 Halloween revellers and many thanks to Sue and William for making this possible. Also thanks go to Helen for the magnificent pumpkin soup and David for his splendid BBQ; the Halloween cupcakes also went down very well! It was great to see so many of the village children, all dressed for the occasion and our judge, Adrian, found it very difficult to decide on a winner for their outstanding costumes and splendid pumpkins! Thanks to everyone who helped make this such an enjoyable event.

Arrival of Caroline & Michael’s grandson

Congratulations to Amy and Tom Parrish on the birth of their son, a grandson for Caroline Jefferson, a nephew for Kate Beaty, and another first cousin for Alexa and Oscar Beaty. Name still under discussion!

Church Clock

Work on the repairs and renovation has started and it is expected that the clock should be heard again before the end of the year. Thank you to everyone who has helped to make this possible. 

Robin Mackonochie, Church Warden

Church Cleaning Rota

Ruth & Jill
Service Sunday December 6th

Audrey & Mary
Service Christmas Eve

A regular cleaning Rota will start in January. Anyone who would like to be included on it should contact Audrey.

Christmas Flowers 

Midnight Mass is being held in Melchbourne this year and we want the church to look festive and welcoming. Anyone who would like to help with Christmas flowers should contact Audrey. The church will be decorated in the days prior to the service. Village Hall dates for your diary:

Quiz Night 12th December 2009

For further information on the Quiz Night - click here

Burns Night 23rd January 2010

For further information on the Burns Night - click here

Return to Menu

YELDEN

Correspondent – Sue Taylor

Race Night at Yelden

Race Nights are always popular in Yelden as was evident in October when nearly 100 people enjoyed the boisterous atmosphere of the evening. Movie Magic presented the filmed races and as on previous occasions Raunds Fish and Chip Shop provided excellent piping hot food for us. Punters were generous with their money and as a result almost £1,000 was raised for the Village Hall funds.

A big thank you from Cyril

Many thanks to all those who responded to the article about Cyril the baby barn owl whose nest was destroyed when a storm toppled the old ash tree in which he was nesting. We had enough donations to purchase a new barn owl box and many turned up to erect it on a tree near the old nesting site . A special thank you to Graham and his able helpers ( Kevin and Pat) who tottered on the end of a ladder and grappled with ropes and pulleys to attach the rather large box to the tree. We will be keeping our eyes open to see if the parent owls move into the new DES RES in spring and keep you all informed.

Jinny Casey

Churchyard Clearance

A note went round the village asking for volunteers to help clear the churchyard of ivy, brambles and elder growing where they shouldn’t. Saturday was dull and grey with a hint of rain but undeterred a dozen volunteers turned up and attacked the said greenery with gusto. In particular the front stone wall has been relieved of it’s burden of ivy opening up a clearer view of the churchyard. The holly tree by the gate was in danger of being killed by ivy but with long pruners and perseverance, Alex rescued it. Coffee and biscuits were delivered on a tray and work carried on. Robert Miley and Tim came to the rescue to remove the masses of greenery.

Whist Evening

A number of us gathered at Mintaka for an evening of whist. The aim of the evening was to promote the Shoe Box appeal and Mike explained the work involved and how it was organised. Lesley and Mike provided a hot supper half way through and a raffle of home made goodies sent us home on a happy note.

Yelden Art Group

Yelden Chapel Services 

December 6th at 11.00am Sunday Service led by John Hardy
December 20th at 2.45pm Carol Service led by Jonathan Thompson

Return to Menu

Pertenhall

Correspondent - Chloe Reed

Harvest Quiz

Over 50 people attended Pertenhall’s Harvest Quiz in the Village Hall on the 17th of October 2009– possibly the very good food on offer and some erudite questions encouraged them. It was a fun evening as we ate well and competed with verve. Thanks to all who cooked, posed questions, laid tables and gave support. £608 was raised for St Peters Church.

Carol service

On the 13th of December 2009 at 6pm there will be a carol service in St.Peter’s Church, with mince pies at the village hall afterwards. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Smile

Presents

“My wife doesn’t know what she wants for Christmas.”
“You’re lucky. My wife does.”

Snow

Knock knock!
“Who’s there?”
“Snow.”
“Snow who?”

“Snow use – I’ve forgotten my name again!”

Mince pie

Who hides in the bakery at Christmas?
A mince spy!

Carol

What carol is heard in the dessert?
Camel ye fathful!

Return to Menu

DEAN

Correspondent - Annette Brooks

All Hallows

Date
December 6th
December 13th
December 19th
December 27th

Flowers
Advent
Advent
All*
ALL*

Cleaning
Lindsay.
Stella
Mandy
Sylvia

***  Please could everybody help with church decoration on the 19th for the Carol Service and Christmas, Thank you.

Dean Chapel

There will be a Service on Sunday 6th December at 2.30p.m.

On Sunday 20th there will be CAROL SERVICE at 2.30p.m.

Chapel will then meet again on January 3rd 2010.

We are grateful for support from the village and do hope we will see you at the Carol Service.

Bible Study Group.

We have had studies on Islam and on the Jewish faith and will go on to the Hindu faith. We meet on Tuesday mornings from 10.30 till about 11.45. Contact the McBratneys in Melchbourne or Mrs Aylott in Dean to find out where we meet that week. We travel around between villages.

Mothers Union

We had a really good talk from Mrs King about a diocesan trip to Turkey to follow in the steps of St Paul. She had a set back because her projector didn’t work but it didn’t matter because we were able to pass the photos round. In November the MU invited Gill and Jeff Crow to talk about their pilgrimage to Israel. They usually come to Church on the 3rd Sunday to accompany singing on their guitar. In December the MU members will be going to Lt Staughton on Thursday 17th for fish and chips, as their pilgrimage!! You are welcome to join us provided we know beforehand for that particular date for ordering the meal. G Aylott 01234708174.

Return to Menu

SWINESHEAD

Brian Stevens

The village was shocked by the sudden death of Brian at home on 13th October, aged 79.

Brain and his wife Carol moved to Swineshead in 1983 when he was Principal of Longsands Community College in St Neots. He retired from teaching in 1993 but then became consultant for The Secondary Heads Association. Both he and Carol played tennis to county standard for many years, but he concentrated on golf after she died in 2002. He was President of St Neots Rotary Club in 1987 and 2007 and was still Hon Secretary when he died. He was an impressive chairman (he refused to be the ‘chair’) of Pertenhall and Swineshead Parish Council from 2002, and guided them to be amongst the first to acquire Quality status. He will be greatly missed. Our sincere condolences to his son Jeremy and daughter Judith, and their families, and to his close friend Ann.

Joan Smith 1921–2009

We were all sad to hear of the news that Joan Smith had passed away in hospital on the 19th October 2009. She was 88 years old, and one of the oldest residents in Swineshead. Joan originally came to Swineshead in 1937 to be housekeeper for Mr and Mrs Phipps, when she was 16 years until war was declared in 1939. She then joined the WRENS and became a petty officer based at Dover. During this time she met and married Bob, however a few days after their wedding he was taken as a prisoner of war, and sadly soon after he was killed. After the war had ended Joan returned to the Phipps family in Swineshead. During her time there, she cooked for guests including Lord Mountbatten and Mary Soams (daughter of Winston Churchill) amongst many others.

She later married Stan and had a son Nick. Her greatest pleasure was spending time with her two grandchildren, Abigail and Harriet of whom she was very proud. Her main interest was cooking, however she also enjoyed gardening, babysitting and organising village events. In 2007 she moved away from the village to live with her son and close family in Cogenhoe, Northamptonshire. The collection from the funeral service will be donated to The Royal British Legion, who Joan loyally supported for many years.

Bar Night Pre–Christmas Special!

Join us in the Sixth Bell Bar on Friday 4th December and make a start to the festive season!

            AUCTION   REFRESHMENTS    RAFFLE

Derek Massey’s Landscape with Bluebells will be auctioned during the evening. Derek painted this work during his water colour demonstration , organized by the Swineshead Village Society and held in the village hall last March.

Poppy Appeal

Thank you to everyone in the village who bought poppies in aid of The Royal British Legion. The funds raised by the Poppy Appeal go towards the Legion’s charity work, and this year the village raised £150.

St Nicholas Church

Date
December 6th
December 20th

Cleaning
Pauline, Clarissa, Diana
Edna, Jan, Emma and
Margaret

Flowers
Carolyn – greenery only
All arrangers (for Carol &
Christmas Day service

To the Village of Swineshead

Jeremy and Judith would like to thank the residents of Swineshead for their support and generosity following the sudden passing of Dad. The village has a true neighbourly spirit and a real sense of community which both Mum and Dad enjoyed and treasured over the many years that they lived in Swineshead. Following the death of Mum in 2002, Dad was determined to stay in the village where he felt happy and content; as always, he got his way! We do not know many of you personally and as such will never be able to repay the kindness you have shown the Stevens family. Dad would have been so proud of the community he cared so much about. Words cannot fully express our gratitude and appreciation and as such we would ask that you accept this notice as a way of saying a heartfelt thank you to you all.

Village Hall

The Sixth Bell Bar will be open from 8pm on Friday 4 December for a pre–Christmas Special, with refreshments for sale & a raffle (proceeds to the Village Hall Extension Fund). There will also be a water colour auction.

The Bar will next be open to celebrate the New Year on 1 January 2010, from mid–day.

Afternoon Teas will be served from 3pm on Thursdays 10 December, and 7 & 21 January.

Harvest Supper raised £500! Thank you again to everyone who contributed to such a successful evening.

Return to Menu

Forthcoming Attractions

11th October	Kimbolton	Christmas Tree Festival
Return to Menu
18th December	All Hallows Church	Braga Family Concert
Return to Menu
26th December	Three Compasses	Boxing Night Quiz
Return to Menu
12th December	Melchbourne	Quiz Night
Return to Menu
23rd January	Melchbourne	Burns Night
Return to Menu