The Link Magazine

Recent Events

An enjoyable Mothering Sunday service was held on 22 March at which posies of flowers were given to all members of the congregation. This service was arranged with children and mothers in mind, but sadly few children were present.
A Childrens’ Easter Workshop was held in the church on Good Friday to which 10 children came. Peta Whiting, Anne Chapman, Carole Langford and Mary Carter had carefully prepared the event for the children to make an Easter Garden that was on display in the church throughout Easter. Many thanks were given to them by grateful mothers.

A Spring Quiz was held in the village hall on Saturday 18 April. Ian and Jan Dickson had come up with some very innovative, interesting questions that managed to ‘stump’ some of the most successful quiz goers. It was lively and noisy and much enjoyed by all those who attended. The event raised a very valuable £203 for church funds.

Our Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) was held on Monday 20 April in the church. Sadly, only a few members of the congregation attended; nevertheless, a full agenda was dealt with. Ian Dickson was again voted in as the sole churchwarden for a further year. The updated Electoral Roll was presented that listed 20 people of which 11 were resident in Offton parish. All present member of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) were re-elected for a further year in their current posts; additionally, Jeffrey and Jean Waters from Marshmoor Estate were welcomed as new members of the Council. Annual reports on the past year were presented by the Secretary, Treasurer, Churchwarden and Bell Captain. There being no elected representative to the Deanery Synod, a report on that body’s working year had been prepared with grateful assistance from Mr M Carter at Flowton. The APCM was followed by a routine PCC meeting.

Future Events and Special Services

Vicar’s Licensing 2 June – Rev Cannon ‘Bernie’ Rose will be Licensed in Barking Church. He will be welcomed into our local church communities as our new resident priest-in-charge.
Summer Fete 13 June – Also reported elsewhere in the Link and at various places in the village. This event will be held in the church grounds starting at 2.00pm. All the fun attractions and stalls that you expect from a well organised village fete will be there, so make a point of attending. Musical entertainment will be provided by a large brass band. Offton church relies on the fete as a core event to bring people together and to raise funds to keep our ancient church in such fine condition.

The Animal Blessing Service that had previously been scheduled for 21 June has unfortunately had to be postponed to later in the year. Details of when it is to be held will be given in good time.

Open Gardens 12 July – This event is also advertised elsewhere in the magazine and the local area, so don’t miss what will be an excellent and interesting day for anyone interested in gardening or gardens. Refreshments will be available at various locations, and the toilet in the church will also be open. A Songs of Praise service will follow the delights of nature and hard work by owners of the gardens that you will have been privileged to enjoy.

Harvest Festival 13 September – Here is one to put in your diaries for after the summer holidays. This service, when we thank God for his bounty of food that we so enjoy, will be held at 5.30 pm. Food donations will be passed to the Salvation Army in Stowmarket for distribution to the poor and in-need.

Church Fact File

At Offton Church, we have a particularly splendid West window. Our churchwarden, Ian Dickson, has done some research on this window, and his story may be of interest to readers.

‘The west window in the tower of Offton Church was commissioned in 1862 by Frederick Thompson, brother of the then Vicar.  Probably made in Birmingham, it is hand painted onto glass; however it is now deteriorating and loosing its sharpness.  The scene depicted is the presentation of the child Jesus in the Temple, an event we still celebrate as Candlemas.

The story began 3,250 years ago when the Israelites cried out to God to release them from the burden of slavery under Pharaoh in Ancient Egypt.  It was Moses and Aaron who confronted Pharaoh and the last of the ten signs showing God's power was the Angel of Death passing over Egypt one dreadful night and killing every first born son, including Pharaoh's (see Exodus chapter 7).  Only the first born sons of the Israelites were spared because they had made themselves ready for the Passover.  To continually remind the Israelites of this event and their rescue from slavery, the first born son of each family had to be presented as a gift to God in the Temple at Jerusalem.  He could be redeemed or bought back by the purchase of a lamb or two doves, which were presented at the Temple in his place.

Jesus was the first born son of Mary, and the west window shows Mary and Joseph with the child Jesus and Simeon who was very old and lived at the Temple. Simeon had been promised in a dream that he would see the Messiah before he died. Also depicted is Anna, an elderly prophetess.  Simeon and Anna recognised that Jesus was the one chosen by God, and Simeon’s words are recorded in The Gospel of Luke 2 verse 22 onwards.  The picture also shows two white doves and a wooden chest with the numbers 1-10(x) possibly to represent God’s law given in the Ten Commandments.  All the characters have halos around their heads, which is a pictorial sign of spiritual power.’

Now who can translate the Latin words at the bottom of the window?  Not all the letters may be correct because some on the window are missing - AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM. Answers please to any member of the PCC (see back cover).

Alan Munson, Piano tutor at Flowton would like to congratulate the following pupils on their achievements in the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Spring Exams:

Practical
Alice Downie:   Grade 3 with Distinction
Natasha Downie:  Grade 2 with Pass
Lily Griffith:  Grade 1 with Merit
Hollie Gregg:  Grade 1 with Pass

Theory
Eleanor Seddon: Grade 5 with Distinction
Boya Robinson: Grade 6 with Merit