Gamekeeping at Beauworth

We had a very good walk and day with Julian France, gamekeeper on the Shorley Farm estate, Beauworth. Julian talked about his work through the year, the joys of his life, and the dangers from predators human and wild, answering questions put to him by members. In the morning we walked around Powells Grove, and after lunch, Shorley Copse. The afternoon finished with prayers in St James' Parish Church.

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All the photographs were taken by Michael Clarke.

Crossing the Threshold

You are invited to attend the Second National Conference focussing on a community development approach to the use of Church buildings.

July 2010 Meeting

In the relaxed life of the Hampshire Rural Group, 
an Invitation to a Ramble ...
Tuesday 6th July, 11.30am until 3.00pm, Beauworth
This is an opportunity to accompany gamekeeper Julian France as he walks and talks us around his demesne on Shorley Farm, Beauworth with its four woods and the source of the River Itchen.
This is not only about how shoots are prepared for and organised but the relationship of a gamekeeper to the land and its woods. There will be time enough to put to Julian our many questions – dialogue rather than lecture. By paying attention to how he sees and works in the countryside we may learn to appreciate the rural scene better – and our own parishes.
It will be helpful to know who is coming as we shall walk in a group and once we have started it will be difficult for latecomers to find us. Please let me know if you intend coming: Martin Coppen 01264 738308 email: revd.coppen@dsl.pipex.com . For the walk I will have my mobile on in case of need to contact: 07884 014 245.
We are very grateful for the encouragement of Dr Alexandra Clarke, the Rector of the Upper Itchen Benefice, for this visit and look forward to meeting her.
Shorley Farm is north of Beauworth village, south of the A272. At the crossroads on the A272 signed Cheriton and Beauworth, turn towards the latter. Take the first turning on the left, around the gamekeeper’s house with tall chimneys, and rendezvous outside the farm buildings on the right up the lane.

Points to note:
• The visit will go ahead whatever the weather. If necessary there will be a sheltered place near our cars to stop for lunch.
• There are no toilets on the walk – only au naturel.
• Bring your own lunch AND drink.
• We may well walk 3-4 miles in total, though not at great pace.
• It may be damp or muddy in places and certainly will be uneven.
• Meet at 11.30am at SU 579 266, on the lane to Shorley Farm. Parking is on hard-standings outside the farm buildings on the right about 300 yds from the junction with the lane to Beauworth village.
• We will drive from there to park outside Beauworth Church for the short final service finishing 3.00pm.
• New members always welcome, do invite someone you think might be interested.
• Details about Hampshire Rural Group are on http://www.hantsrural.org.uk/ .

Richard Jefferies’ first book of rural description was The Gamekeeper at Home (1878). It’s a book of essays which grew out of his own experience and observation of a gamekeeper local to Coate (now on the very edges of greater Swindon), where he grew up. The Preface, Title and Contents pages indicate how he ordered the material. It was a very successful book in its day and is still in print.

from the PREFACE

THOSE who delight in roaming about amongst the fields and lanes, or have spent any time in a country house, can hardly have failed to notice the custodian of the woods and covers, or to observe that he is often something of a ‘ character.’ 
The Gamekeeper forms, indeed, so prominent a figure in rural life as almost to demand some biographical record of his work and ways. From the man to the territories over which he bears sway—the meadows, woods, and streams —and to his subjects, their furred and feathered inhabitants, is a natural transition. 
The enemies against whom he wages incessant warfare—vermin, poachers, and trespassers—must, of course, be included in such a survey. ... The facts here collected are really entirely derived from original observation.
R. J.

Town & Country

Hampshire Rural Group

Is rural ministry really different? Psychological Perspectives

Meeting with Professor Leslie Francis at Braishfield New Church Room on Friday 26 February 2010

Personal Introduction

Leslie began by introducing himself, telling the story of his entry into academic and rural church life, and the life-changing invitation by Bishop Leslie Brown to research the rural, which led to the publication of his first book, "Rural Anglicanism". He is now an assistant priest in Anglesey - BCP and no electricity. He has founded the Centre for the Study of Rural Ministry at St Deiniol's Library, Hawarden, in conjunction with the Arthur Rank Centre, for 'M' level research work aiming at providing the tools for 'research-based reflective practice'. He has also developed the Exploring Faith course for lay people in the diocese of Bangor, especially in rural churches, which has led some to take BA degrees. The course shows that the faith is worth studying and has led to 22 vocations to Reader ministry, and 18 for ordained – mainly non-stipendiary ministry. There is a wide gap between the people of God and the world. The course engages the mind and the heart.

Theological underpinning of psychology

Where does our knowledge of God come from? We need to test and integrate our thoughts against scripture and the systematic theology of the church in the doctrines of Creation, Fall, Redemption and Sanctification. He advocates empirical theology: what is life like when God reigns? Jesus suggests, go and see the sower ... go and observe the guests at a wedding ... in other words, be an empirical researcher. In our decisions about church matters we need to recognise the differences in the people of God. Genesis 1.27 suggests that the observed diversity in people (the image of God) must be rooted in the diversity within God. But people are fallen, and the image of God in man corrupted. However, not everything is a consequence of corruption. The people of God are diverse but equal, male and female, black and white. We particularly need to study and understand psychological differences.

What psychological characteristics are from the Fall, which from creation? Luke's parable of tax collector and pharisee (Luke 18.9-14) suggests that humility and pride are part of character, and are open to change: the pharisee needs to repent his pride and change. Psychological type on the other hand is from creation.

Have we tended to discriminate against certain psychological types in church life? The Jungian model of psychological type posits four aspects:

Introvert (energised internally) — Extrovert (energised from outside): studies suggest Anglicans are more introvert, Assemblies of God, more extrovert congregations. Do Anglicans discriminate against extroverts? In Leslie's research into why people left church, they often said that they ceased to feel at home. He wanted to think instead of one large back door for leavers, there could be many side doors which led to different denominations.

Sensing (conscious of environment) — INtuitive (bigger picture, happy for change): Anglican rural churches are over-represented in sensing – 70-75% sensors, whereas Anglican clergy are 65% intuitives. God loves them both, but they live in a different world. Those behind the recent liturgical changes are intuitives writing for sensing congregations.

Decision-making, judging functions: Thinking (objective logical analysis) — Feeling (rational process of taking the subjective considerations into account). Congregations are weighted to feeling: nationally 70% women and 35% men are F. Congregations are trying to recruit men into a psychologically feminine environment – too soft for men. Assemblies of God have more thinking men and women. In New Frontier churches, women in leadership have masculine characteristics.

Judging (organisation) — Perceiving (free-running). General population has 55% judging, whereas the church has 80%.

Psychology and Church life
(some of this argument was developed in questions and comments, through Leslie's answers)

Are psychological dispositions tied up with churchmanship?
T & F are important when projected on to God: T – God of judgement, F – of mercy. There is a need for theological dialogue. The T need for clearer definition leads to evangelical clarity: F towards a more embracing catholic compassion.

Lack of self-awareness of church people: work on shadow can bring a brighter image of yourself. Can liturgy enable worshippers an adult freedom to be themselves?
Some church congregations have matured considerably from taking the MBTI together. Shadow is teleological: to be a more balanced human being we need to value our opposite. Liturgy is a useful vehicle toward maturity when it is a real driver towards the spiritual. Welcome teams need to realise that others may need space. It is possible to play at being extroverts for the Peace.

Multi-parish benefices; the difficult parish is the less loved child. Remember the story of the two sons: a psychological theory. We can act out of type: may have a preference for extroversion, but we can operate in the other way. We need to properly embrace the feeler within the thinker, especially given the expectation that the clergy should be feelers rather than thinkers. But that comes at a cost, and energy levels may wear down until the mask slips with difficult consequences.

Belonging.
Bishop David Walker has charted 8 different ways of belonging to the rural church. There is more than one valid way of belonging to a rural church. The rural world sees belonging in a different way. Research needed on empirical rural theology.

Grubb Institute/Wesley Carr: value of 'vicar answering door in role'.

Leviticus underlines the costliness of sacrifices, whereas commitment is now deferred in case something better turns up.

Have there been changes in the type balance as incomers have replaced villagers in rural areas?
There is no scientific evidence on the changing types of rural people. This could be researched under the 'M' rural studies scheme.

Most people now – even church people – are 'methodological atheists'.
Secularisation theory has given over to quest for the spiritual – the inarticulate quest for meaning, the invisible, mystery. Leslie wants to challenge the view that belief is the heart of the matter. The fact is that there has been a breakdown in the conversation between people and the church.
Jeff Astley, Ordinary Theology (Rural Theology 1.1 2003) advocates listening to ordinary theology of people asking for baptism, for instance, with its rich symbolism. What people believe about the transcendent affects their behaviour. Vampirism on Anglesey led to a murder. There is a conversation waiting to be heard. Dialogue is important to listen to where people are. Church can celebrate what people are talking about. What is our relationship with scripture? How does that show the kingdom of God? Leslie is fundamentally committed to a dialogical approach to scripture.

What is distinctive about rural churches?

1.     Rural communities have parameters, rural churches still have some sense of ministering to the whole community.
   
2.     Place more important in the countryside than in urban areas. People reluctant to travel to different church in benefice.
   
3.     Continuity important rural value.
   
4.     Different concept of belonging.
   
5.     Appeals for the church fabric suggest a wider network of support. More value is being placed on the church building than 25 years ago.
   
6.     What is happening in multi-parish benefice to place and residence?
   Leslie resisted sale of parsonages because the house evoked the presence of the priest and witnessed to the continuing life of the church.
   
7.     Parson still valued and understood in rural areas – but parson does not need to be priest.
   
8.     Importance of sense of community: non-Anglicans worshipping in parish church because they want to show they are contributing to the community.
   

Leslie commended membership of the Rural Theology Association and the journal, Rural Theology.

Harvest Festival

Harvest Festival
– Amport Grateley Monxton and Quarley

Hymn

A Liturgy of Thanksgiving

The earth is the Lord's and everything In It; the world and all who live In It.
Let us bless the Lord, Forget not all his benefits.

He founded it upon the seas and established It upon the waters.
Let us bless the Lord, Forget not all his benefits.

He spoke, and it came to be; he commanded and It stood.
Let us bless the Lord, Forget not all his benefits.

Prayer of Confession

Brothers and sisters, In the presence of the God of glory, we need to confess our true human condition.
In the light of Christ's self giving life, His way of the Cross, we see the darkness In our lives.
(Silence as we reflect on our lives.)

As we think of the evil and oppression In the world, of which we are a part, We need to repent together with out brothers and sisters.

(Silence as we reflect on our need for repentance.)

As members of a people called to follow Christ, and alive in his new righteousness, we need to repent for the evil In the church's life.

(Silence as we reflect on the life of the church.)

Absolution

The Saviour of the world, the refuge of the penitent,
Forgives and strengthens all who truly seek his grace.
He accepts you as his sons and daughters,
And sets you free from the bondage of your past.
For Christ died and rose to new life that we might all
share his wholeness and abundant life. Amen.

Hymn

Reading

Anthem

Sermon

Hymn

The Creed

We believe and trust In God the Father who made the world
We believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ, who redeemed mankind,
We believe and trust in his Holy Spirit, who gives life to the people of God. We believe and trust In one God:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen


Prayers of Intercession

Lord, hear your servants and bless and protect us.

Merciful Lord, hear our prayer.

God, feed us with rains and good seasons.

Merciful Lord, hear. our prayer.

Bless all the works of farmers.
Merciful Lord, hear our prayer.

God, bless the seeds which we sow, that they would grow and yield a plentiful harvest at the right time.
Merciful Lord, hear our prayer.

Please give us your grace in protecting our animals.
Merciful Lord, hear our prayer.

And give us hearts that are thankful for all you have given us.
Merciful Lord, hear our prayer.
Please give to the people who are hungry and have nothing.
Merciful Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, give us good hearts to glorify your name by doing good things for others.
Merciful Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, you lead your households In the Holy Spirit so that they may serve you In truthful and cheerful ways.
Merciful Lord, hear our prayer.

Your church serves you with godliness and the church should be a light for your people. Make them shine with your word.
Merciful Lord, hear our prayer.

We remember (hose who live in lands of drought or flood, Whose harvest is Inadequate or non-existent.

Today they sow in tears: may they soon reap with shouts of joy.

We remember those whose water supply Is polluted, by negligence or need, Those to whom water brings disease, poisoning or radiation - the curse of death rather than the gift of life.
Today they sow in tears: may they soon reap with shouts of joy.
We remember ourselves, our waste of water, our profligacy with the fruits of the earth, our unwillingness to be bound together as one with our brothers and sisters throughout the world.
May we learn to share their tears: that soon we may all reap with shouts of joy.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the abundant harvest that you continually bestow upon us. We pray that we who have plenty, may share with those who have nothing. We who have resources and wealth, may share with those who are poor and hungry. Hasten the time when there will be no discrimination and your justice and peace will rule the world. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven …

A Prayer, of Commitment

Give us, O Lord, churches that will be more courageous than cautious; that will not merely 'comfort the afflicted' but 'afflict the comfortable'; that will not only love the world but also demand justice; that will not remain, silent when people are calling for a voice; that will, not pass by on the other side when wounded humanity is waiting to be healed; that will not only call us to worship but also send us out to witness; that will follow Christ even when the way points to a cross. To this end we offer ourselves In the name of him who loved us and gave himself for us.

Hymn

Blessing



Sources: USPG Harvest Appeal booklet-

Thanksgiving: Jessie Anand, prIest from India who Is working in Leicester with USPG's Come Over and Help Us programme

Confession / Absolution: Church of South India

Intercession: Prayer from South India, translated by Sister Kasthuri Manlckam, Clare Amos/Partners In Learning

Commitment: Christian Conference of Asia

Harvest Thanksgiving

The Benefice of Hurstbourne Priors, Longparish, St Mary Bourne & Woodcott

Harvest Thanksgiving 2009

 For Reflection
Harvest festival is not a celebration of just one season of the year: it is a thanksgiving for the pattern of the seasons by which growth and fruitfulness is sustained. Today, in this service, we shall give thanks for each of the seasons, with their own special gifts to us – and offer thanks for harvest, at the crown of the year.

The Bidding
― There is a time for everything, and a season for every purpose under heaven: a time to sow and a time to reap. (Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2)

The earth is the Lord's     
and all that is in it.   Psalm 24.1
The Lord looked upon the earth:     
and filled it with his blessings.
As long as the earth endures,     
seedtime and harvest, summer and winter shall never cease. Genesis 8.22
The land has yielded its harvest:     
God, our God has blessed us.     Psalm 67.6

HYMN
(during which the children bring up their gifts of food for local good causes) Come, ye thankful people, come,

Lord, you care for the land and water it, you make it rich and fertile.

You prepare grain for your people, for so you provide for the earth.

You soften the ground with showers and make the young crops grow.

You crown the year with your goodness.

May the pastures be filled with flocks

And the valleys stand so thick with corn that they shall laugh and sing.   cf Psalm 65.8-13

Reading: Matthew 6.25-33, from the Sermon on the Mount

 We pause for a moment in silent, thankful prayer, and then say together the Harvest Collect:

Eternal God, you crown the year with your goodness and you give us the fruits of the earth in their season: grant that we may use them to your glory, for the relief of those in need and for our own well-being; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

We sing a HYMN or CHORUS

 O give thanks to the Lord of Lords
For his mercy endures for ever!
In your prosperity do not forget the alien and the stranger
Let us not forget our neighbours in their need.
You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power:
for you have created all things, and by your will they have their being.

The Address
The Creed
 

We believe in God the Father, who reveals his love to us in Christ.

We believe in God the Son, who pours out his Holy Spirit on us.

We believe in the Holy Spirit who teaches us God's truth.

We believe in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

 We sing a HYMN or CHORUS

The Prayers

We kneel to pray, in confession and thanksgiving:

 Confession
... Father, in your mercy Forgive us and help us
ending ...
Grant us thankful hearts and a loving concern for all people; For Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Thanksgiving

... O give thanks to the Lord of Lords:

For his mercy endures for ever.

Gathering all our prayers and praises into one, we pray together: Our Father, who art in heaven ...

OFFERTORY HYMN
(during which the collection is taken).
We plough the fields, and scatter

 A General Thanksgiving
ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us, and to all men.
We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we shew forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

The Blessing

 At various times in the Service, we may sing – as a round:    

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,

    praise him, all creatures here below,

praise him above, angelic host,

    praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

    Thomas Ken (1637-1711)

Harvest - Tabernacles

Worship for all the Church Family

We say together the words printed in bold

Gathering to worship God

The Greeting

Welcome - in the name of our Lord Jesus! (Please say 'Hello' to one another)

We process anti-clockwise around the church, with percussion, branches to wave, and singing: You shall go out with joy

The Introduction

Opening Prayer

Loving Lord, Fill us all with your life-giving, joy-giving, peace-giving presence that we may praise you now with our lips and all the day long with our lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Silence is kept.

The collect, the prayer of the day is said.

Part One - Praise to God our Provider

Hymn 106 Come, ye thankful people, come

Why the Tabernacle?

First Reading: Leviticus 23.33-34, 40-43

Part Two - Confession to Jesus our Redeemer

We kneel and sing the Shma. It will be played first, and then we join in the words. These are in Hebrew and this is a prayer which Jesus would used twice a day. We still use it regularly in our Communion Service, but in English!

Shma Israel, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai echad. Baruch shem kavod malchuto le'olam va'ed.

The leader says

Our Lord Jesus Christ said: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all you soul, and with all your mind, and with all your might."

Confession

God our Father, we come to you in sorrow for our sins.

For turning away from you, and ignoring your will for our lives: Father, forgive us.

For behaving just as we wish, For letting ourselves be drawn away from you by temptations in the world about us: Father, forgive us.

For living as if we were ashamed to belong to your Son: Father, forgive us.

The leader declares God's forgiveness

May the Father forgive us by the death of his Son and strengthen us to live in the power of the Spirit all our days. Amen.

Praise for a new start in Jesus

Blessed are you, Lord God, King of the universe! Your word brings on the glory of the morning and the dusk of the evening!

Your wisdom creates both day and night. You arrange the succession of the seasons and the bounty of the harvest.

Living and eternal God, rule over us always. Blessed be the Lord whose word rules day and night, seed time and harvest and all that is good.

Hymn 147 Fill your hearts with joy and gladness

After the hymn, people are invited to bring forward their harvest gifts and children to also bring their percussion instruments. After the gifts have been laid on a table, the children will gather in the Chance! and then dance to their seats during the following hymn.

Hymn 376 Jesus put this song into our hearts

200 years old this year!

The Church's Ministry Amongst Jewish People is 200 years old! Our special guest, Jane Van Der Merwe, the UK Director of CMJ Shoresh Tours, is going to tells us a little about the work of CMJ. and also say a little about our Shoresh Study Tour of Israel next year.

The Prayers

The Lord's Prayer: Our Father, which art in heaven …

The Grace

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

Part Three - Serving Jesus in the World

Children will come forward to light the candles

Why the Candles?

Second Reading: John 7. 14-16; 8.12

Hymn 732 We plough the fields and scatter

Third Reading: Matthew 5.14-16

Part Four - Strength to Serve Jesus

The Choir will sing, "From the rising of the sun" from Psalm 113- one of the Hallel (or Hallelujah) Psalms. As the Choir sings, water is brought forward to be poured into the silver bowl.

Why the Water?

Fourth Reading: John 7.37-39

Offertory Hymn 506 How great thou art!

Blessing

May God who clothes the lilies and feeds the birds of the sky who leads the lambs to pasture and the deer to water, who multiplied loaves and fishes and changed water into wine, lead us, feed us, multiply us, and change us to reflect the glory of our Creator through all eternity. And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be amongst you and remain with, now and forever, Amen.

The children are invited to follow the Rector to the back of the church and to sit in the tabernacle for their refreshments. Cake and coffee/squash will be served for the whole congregation.

Please note the Retiring Collection for the work of the Church's Ministry amongst Jewish People.