6 oz flour
4 oz sugar
2 oz lard
4 tablespoons milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
Jam

Rub 1 oz lard into the flour, add sugar and baking powder, then the 2 eggs well beaten and the milk.  Melt the other 1 oz lard in a pie dish.  Add a thick layer of jam, pour on the mixture and bake for ¾ to 1 hour in a moderate oven.  Turn out, upside down, and serve with custard of whipped cream on top.

The great Lutheran organist Johann Sebastian Bach provides all our organ pieces for March, many of them based on chorales/hymns appropriate to the season of Lent.  On Mothering Sunday (14 March)

the organ fugue uses a theme sung to the words of the Magnificat  -  the Song of Mary.

A range of charities was drawn up, both international and local, and the first charity we shall be supporting is our international selection.

Winchester Diocese is linked to the Anglican Province of Uganda, and Winchester Deanery in particular is linked to two Ugandan dioceses: North Kigezi and Muhabura, both in the far south west of the Province.

Over the coming month, our parish will be thinking of Muhabura, in particular the Potter’s Village. This was set up by The Rev’d Jenny Green to provide a home for destitute babies and young children. Currently the project cares for 30 babies (21 in Potter’s Village itself and 9 in foster homes). Prior to arriving at the project, these babies were all close to death. The charity provides these babies with a safe environment as well as love and care. As well as the babies, Potter’s Village also supports pregnant teenage girls and provides family support. The aim is to provide all the children with long term help to get them out of the cycle of poverty, and to teach them the skills they need – for example Potter’s Village aims to become as self-sufficient as possible with livestock, vegetable garden and woodland to provide firewood.

The money we raise at St Cross will go towards the centre – either the running costs (in the region of £2,800 per month) or toward one of the projects the charity hopes to undertake. These include additional facilities to enable more children to be taken in; education and play equipment; more day care service provision for children in the local community and training for staff/foster parents/local parents on child care and protection issues.

For more information on Muhabura and the Potter’s Village charity, please look out for a display in church, or contact Jill Baker who can tell you more. Please also pray for the children, The Rev’d Jenny Green and all those who work at the centre.

If you wish to donate towards this charity, the main collection will be held on Mothering Sunday, 14 March. If, however, you are unable to attend on Mothering Sunday, there will be a retiring collection at the door on the two Sundays following. Please remember when giving this money that if you are a UK taxpayer we are able to claim gift aid on donations, so please complete your details on a blue envelope.

Alison Carver
PCC Member

Jesus had to wait for his public ministry to begin - he spent time in the wilderness soaking up the isolation and the painful temptations put before him, and yet overcame that period of time stronger and then, filled with the Holy Spirit, was able to begin his public preaching, teaching and healing ministry.

The origin of the season of Lent, as you may well recall, is not just reminiscent of Jesus’ time in the wilderness, which is an important and secondary theme for the season, in which Christians undertake rigorous soul searching in the lead up to the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus - but Lent was first undertaken by baptismal candidates. It was seen as the final preparation before initiation into the Church in the Easter liturgy, and also those at that time who had been excommunicated by their sin were re-admitted after a period of penance.

As we approach Holy Week and Easter we have another chance to explore that time of waiting as we lead into the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus. On the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week we have a Compline service and address. On Maundy Thursday there is the Holy Eucharist which then leads into our vigil. On Good Friday there is the Liturgy & Meditation (12-3pm) service with Ann Lewin leading the Meditations; and on Easter Day we celebrate that Christ is Risen!

So why not during this Lenten time reflect upon how we might use our time more effectively for the Lord, as we continue to learn what it means to wait on God and find our strength in Him.

“I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”

Psalm 27:13-14

Michael

MASTER’S LETTER

Previously I have been asked to write a little to explain my role as the Archdeacon of Winchester. Recently my role as Master of St Cross has been reviewed by the Trustees, so I thought that it may be of interest to you to write a little on that too.

The Diocese remains committed to the spiritual and pastoral role of the Master of St Cross, and delights in the history and tradition of the Hospital. But it recognizes that the role has changed recently due to two things. First, combining the role with that of Archdeacon of Winchester limits the time available for the Hospital. Secondly a change to the Charitable Scheme, by the Trustees, confirms the Master as just one voice amongst fifteen regarding the Governance of the Hospital.

Several aspects of the perceived role of the Master involve that of Governance, which now no longer applies to that role any more than to other Trustees. Therefore, a revised Role Description needed to reflect that change.

The role of the Master reflects that of a parish priest in the pastoral and spiritual oversight of the Brothers, as well as sharing in aspects of Governance with other Trustees. In this he should:

1. Read prayers every morning or cause the same to be read
2. Hold the service of Gowning of new Brothers; and approve the Order of Service of Gowning
3. Offer recommendation to the Board of Trustees of a nominee for the post of Chaplain, and supervise his/her role.
4. Receive and act upon requests from the Brothers to absent themselves from Matins or to be excused from wearing their gown and hat.
5. Review a Brother’s position should the number of absences from the Hospital exceed twenty eight days in any one year.
6. Attend the Quarterly Trustee and Welfare meetings.
7. Attend the bi-monthly Brothers’ Forum
8. Interview prospective new Brothers with another Trustee, and recommend their admission (or non-admission) to the Trustees.
9. The Master can delegate tasks (especially the following), to the Chaplain as it is appropriate:
10. Visit the Brothers, and be available to help and support them where necessary, and bring to the attention of the Clerk to the Trustees any concern regarding a Brother’s well-being.
11. Provide, or cause to be provided, quarterly updates to the Board of Trustees on the welfare of the Brothers.

Despite reviewing the role, and recognizing the changes, the role of the Master is still both rich and enjoyable, and I find it something that I enjoy doing. It isn’t clearly defined in terms of hours or days, but is often interwoven into the other roles that I hold. I can have a parish or a diocesan meeting in my study at St Cross, as well as acting as Master with my concern for the Hospital. When I go into the diocese I very often wear the Master’s cross which reminds me and others that I have another role too.

Michael

For several years this incident came to mind, because it reminded me of something so simple, yet so profound, about Christmas. God, the Church, can feel remote (and irrelevant) to many people, but God was telling us through the first Christmas that he is deeply in touch with us. Jesus was born homeless, in a dirty stable, and soon learnt the hurts and sadness of life. The white purity of God mingled with messy human lives.

As you celebrate Christmas, remember that God in Jesus came to share the difficulties of our lives. But that his own death on the cross was not the end, for he became the Risen Lord, and is alongside you and me in all that we have to face now.

Happy Christmas!

Michael

The progression of the season may be marked with an Advent calendar, a practice introduced by German Lutherans. At least in the Roman Catholic and Lutheran calendars, Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25; in other words, the Sunday between November 27 and December 3 inclusive.

Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming. Christians believe that the season of Advent serves a dual reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting that Christians today endure for the second coming of Christ.

I am often asked, ‘What does an Archdeacon do?’ For many the Archdeacon is unknown and few could describe what the role involves. So I will try and briefly summarize, although my original Role Profile was four pages of A4 long.

An Archdeacon’s role involves listening to people, parishes and communities -to hear where they really ‘are’ and what it feels like to be them. To respect the many differences that there are and the ways of doing things. To reflect upon what is being seen, heard and learnt in order to make sense of it all for them and for me.

Then it can involve probing and challenging in order to help people see reality and not perceived reality. To help in turning a sense of vision into reality and making it work. Helping to communicate, and communication in general, when people feel left out or uncertain.

An Archdeacon is often the person who puts people in contact with others, makes connections, and knows someone who is able to assist. He or she often has to negotiate to move things forward, and to mediate where there are differences and division. Often this has to involve steering people, or groups, into the distress that they are trying to ignore, in order to face the hurt and move on positively from that place.

In practical terms, the Archdeacon represents the Bishop, and works with him in the process of appointments and staff changes in the Archdeaconry. This for me stretches from Otterbourne to Burghclere, and from Yateley to Shipton Bellinger. It is a total of about 190 parishes and about seventy stipendiary clergy. If there are problems, then the Archdeacon assists the Bishop.

I am also expected to share with the Bishop the care, counseling and support of clergy, lay workers and their families, and to encourage and enable the ministry of churchwardens. To support and continue the development of Rural Deans and Deanery Lay Chairmen and to Chair the Northern Area Team, which consists of ‘my’ seven Rural Deans and Lay Chairs. Also, I share in the Bishop’s ministry of preaching and teaching.

Archdeacons have a specific legal role to play and work with the Chancellor and Registrar of the Diocese in Faculties for church buildings and churchyards; ensuring that work is carried out in accordance with the provisions; are concerned with clergy houses and diocesan property; ensure the proper and effective use of church buildings for mission; and take a lead in pastoral re-organization in the Archdeaconry.

Archdeacons sit on many committees (I am linked to about twenty five), and promote the management of the diocese through its councils and structures. I am also on the General Synod and represent the Diocese nationally. The Archdeacon has been described as the oil in the diocesan machinery, enabling it to function smoothly; and as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the Bishop. Altogether there are only about one hundred Archdeacons in England.

In early December the Bishop of Basingstoke is leaving our Diocese, and will become the Bishop of Dover and the Bishop in Canterbury. Until a new Bishop of Basingstoke is appointed (in several months time), I will be the Bishop of Winchester’s representative in the Archdeaconry. This means that I will take on some of the roles that the Bishop of Basingstoke does, just during the Vacancy. Principally I will be responsible, to the Bishop, for Vacancies and appointments and pastoral care.

Debbie and I always greatly value your prayers and support, but we would particularly do so during the next few months when extra responsibilities are placed upon me. I am still your parish priest and Master, and value that important part of my ministry, and I will continue to pray for you also.

Michael