The Vicarage, Gouldsbrook Terrace, Crewkerne

The Rector is on holiday, so this month's pastoral letter is written by David Newman.

Dear Friends,

At the end of July Christine and I had the pleasure and privilege of taking part in the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Oberammergau. In 1633 the people of this alpine village in southern Germany were threatened by plague. They vowed that if they were spared they would perform a Passion Play every ten years. From the first production in 1634 that vow has been kept.

Fifty of us, led by Bishop Peter Price, met at Heathrow, from where we flew to Munich. We headed south by coach into the Alps, past Oberammergau, and over the border into Austria. Our hotel was at Arzl im Pitztal, a beautiful area of mountains and valleys - splendid scenery whichever way you looked!

We had two full days there in glorious weather before seeing the Passion Play and another two afterwards. There was a meeting for prayer and reflection each day, and a Communion service on the Sunday morning, in the grounds of the hotel. Some trips were organised, but nothing was compulsory and we were free to come and go as we pleased.

One day Christine and I went on the local bus to the top of the valley and up the mountain to the glacier at one of the highest points in the Tirolean Alps. There was nothing to do there but look at the view. The view was stunning. The sun shone. We were standing in snow; we were at three times the height of Ben Nevis; and we weren't cold. Wonderful!

The focus of the week was of course the Passion Play. We arrived in Oberammergau, after a two hour coach journey, with just enough time to find our accommodation and have lunch before the beginning of the play at 2.30 pm. The rain began as we arrived, and continued almost non-stop until we left. The first part of the play ends at 5.00, and after a three hour break for dinner, continues until 11 pm. It's a long slog for the audience, let alone for the performers - there are 102 performances this year.

The whole town is involved. Thousands of visitors pour in each week (4500 for each performance) needing accommodation and food. The population of Oberammergau is only about 5000, and over 2000 of them take part directly in some way in the play - actors, singers, musicians, and all those behind the scenes. Men, women and children, donkeys, sheep, goats, pigeons, horses, and even camels, are in the massive crowd scenes. The first on stage are children, running (and I mean literally running) way ahead of Jesus as he rides into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

The acting, the music, the costumes, the stagecraft are all superb. But what comes across is not a great Hollywood epic, but a powerfully moving act of devotion. As the events of Holy Week unfolded, there were several moments that stick in the memory, but for many I think the most moving was the silence when, after Jesus had been taken down from the Cross, Mary held his body in profound sorrow and love.
Afterwards we asked one another "Did you enjoy it?", but realised as we asked the question that "enjoy" was not a word to be used in such a context. One person said simply, "Holy Week will never be the same for me again."

I can't find the right words. It has to be experienced. I would say, very seriously, start saving now (it's not cheap!), and go yourself in 2020!
Somehow the weather was all part of it. On our return to Arzl the sun shone and we saw again the magnificent beauty of God's creation. The rain in Oberammergau was like a reminder of our sinfulness, the mess we have made of God's creation. But the Passion Play revealed how, in Jesus Christ, God has come to bring his light and love into our world of darkness and hate. In him, in the words of Julian of Norwich, "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well."

David Newman

GOOODBYE

The Revd Veronica James is leaving Merriott, Hinton St George, Lopen and Dinnington to take up new work in Gloucestershire. We wish her farewell, and every blessing for the future.

FROM OUR REGISTERS

Funerals
We extend sincere condolences to the families and friends of Tom Peaty, Valerie Keane, Laura Florence Parker, Michael John (Mick) Hedditch, Peter Gammon

BISHOP'S LETTER

Rejoicing in the generosity of God leads to due reverence and responsibility

'We have seen unbelievable pictures of endless swaths of brown oil', writes Jim Wallis, 'mixed with the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, of dying wetlands and marshes, of miles of contaminated coastline, of dead birds and animals, of helpless and hopeless Gulf Coast residents sadly witnessing their livelihoods and their way of life slipping away'.

No sooner had those pictures slipped from our screens than they were replaced with equally devastating images of the floods in Pakistan which some commentators are suggesting are having more devastating long term effects even than the Tsunami. Whether it is the man-made disaster of the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico or the natural disaster of the floods in Pakistan, both those events bring home to us the fragility of the world we inhabit.

Perhaps they also serve to remind us of the corporate responsibility we have for this extraordinary planet. As I was reflecting on these two events I was reminded of what G.K. Chesterton once said when he was asked what was most wrong with the world. He is said to have replied, 'I am!'
Reflecting on the oil spill Gretel Ehrlich writes, 'We have forgotten that when we step down on the earth we are walking on a living membrane. Now we are wounded people recklessly pimping a wounded planet. We have turned away from a sacred view of the world, a deep openness in which we accept that all living things have value. We have drilled recklessly under the ocean floor for economic gain and in the process exchanged a sense of well being, beauty, hope and wonder for the myopia of profit.' They are sombre words worth our reflection as a community of faith.
As we celebrate a warm summer and a harvest that has already 'been safely gathered in', it is time for us to make time and space to rejoice once more in the generosity of our God, and to realise what we have truly been given, so that we can act with due reverence and responsibility for the world that God loves so much!

+Peter Taunton

CHURCH FETE 4th September 10.30 until 2.30

In the church there will be an exhibition of the treasures and artefacts of the church in the Woolminstone Chapel. Have a look at the photo albums of yesteryear and see if you know the faces; perhaps you are there yourself?

There will be a display of handicrafts and gifts for sale, tea and coffee will be available and an opportunity to see and purchase a DVD of the 'Songs Of Praise' made in St Bartholomew's a few years ago. Around the walls of the church will be an exhibition of local children's art. Test your general knowledge by entering our competition with a prize of £30 for the highest score. The Friends of St Bartholomew's will be on hand to tell you all about their work to restore our church.

In the Church Hall we will have the big raffle, with prizes including £100 cash, £ 50 M&S vouchers and £50 Octagon vouchers. There will be a tombola, nearly new clothes and toys, handicraft stall and homemade cakes & produce. Coffee & light lunches will be served
Mary Tiffen will be running a stall for toys, children's book, puzzles etc. If you have suitable items in good condition that children or grandchildren have outgrown or do not like, please contact her - 78572.

In the church grounds there will be games for the children (big & small!) as well as a plant stall. The tower tours will be available again this year and Simon Andrew will be at the south porch at 11am to give a guided tour and talk on the church
Please come and help raise funds for our parish church.
Dorothy Tozer, Churchwarden.

MOTHERS' UNION

The Mothers' Union held their Closing Service in the church on 13th July. This was followed by a cream tea at the Rectory. Unfortunately because of the change in the weather we could not have tea in the garden as planned. So many thanks to Janet for having us all in the house. Many thanks too to the committee members for making the scones.
This year we have a different plan for our stall a the Church Fete on 4th September. We are asking for New and Nearly New clothes and accessories to sell at bargain prices. So don't forget to turn out that dress you wore only once, or the hat you bought for that wedding - and don't forget the shoes that really pinch, and the handbag to match. Please hand all items to Janet or Anne as soon as possible, as everything needs to be sorted and priced before the fete. Plans are in hand to use the Hardy Room as a changing area (with mirror). Please come on the day and support our stall - we hope you will be tempted to Try and Buy as well as Give.
Following the summer break, our Opening Service will be in the Church Hall at 2.45 pm on Tuesday, 14th September.
Phyllis Wright

PETER GAMMON

Peter Gammon passed away in his sleep on Wednesday, 4th August, aged 93. Peter was a lifelong Christian and was a regular Communicant at the 10 o'clock service for 24 years. He served on the PCC, was convener of the missionary committee and was a member of the pastoral care team. In 2007 he was created an Honoured Citizen of Crewkerne. He was a member of Toc H for over 50 years, and in 1996 was made a Life Governor of the RNLI. He also served as a Garden Steward for the National Trust at Montacute. He will be missed by all who knew him.
David Cuthbertson

JAZZ SUNDAY

We will be holding our Jazz Songs of Praise Service at 10am on Sunday 5th September. So come along to praise the Lord, and raise the roof, singing some uplifting hymns accompanied by the Dark Town Strutters Jazz Band and the Crewners Close Harmony Singers.
David Cuthbertson

THE ORGAN IN ST BARTHOLOMEW'S

As mentioned in the previous edition of Voice, our pipe organ now requires a lot of expensive restoration work to make it reliable. The PCC have tasked a small group of people to look into the replacement of the organ. To this end it has been arranged that a digital organ will be installed in church on September 14th as a demonstration instrument. The demo organ will be used in services for a few weeks only, enough time for us all to get the feel of worship accompanied by such an instrument.
John Dale

To the Editor
Dear Sir,
The organ is the most expensive artefact in the church. It is of course the principal means of musical support for the worship but there is also the important secondary role of that of musical instrument in its own right; for recital and concert use and the non-liturgical civic service generally requiring a robust ambience of sound. For this reason it is generally expected that a town church should have a reasonable pipe organ in good playable condition.
In spite of the improvement in electronic instruments they still lack real depth and richness associated with a good pipe organ with its hundreds and even thousands of independent voices.
The old Rothwell here produces a grand sound when it is in good voice and it is a good example of the Edwardian style of organ building. As one who had the privilege of being responsible for the overhaul and conversion to electro-pneumatic action in 1982, I urge that we should go the extra mile and give the old thing a bit of tlc. I don't think it would be necessary to throw huge sums of money at it to do so.
There are many examples of electronics superseding pipes in our area and the possibility of Crewkerne's grade 1 listed church falling victim to a similar fate would surely be a step too far.
Brian Daniels

DID MAN MAKE GODS AND DOGS?

A conversation between Dr John Burton and Revd Jonathan Morris.
We invite people of all faiths or no faith to come and join us in a friendly discussion, at 7.30pm on 25th September in North Perrott Village Hall.
John Burton will speak briefly about his new book entitled 'Why Did Man Make Gods and Dogs?', and give his personal view of religion. Jonathan Morris will then give his view and, after a pause for light refreshments, we shall invite questions and discussion from the audience.

Crewkerne this month

Crewkerne Museum Sept./Oct. "Steam & Diesel" Railway Exhibition. 4th Sept., Coffee Morning 10 - 12 am. 11/12th Sept. Heritage Weekend. Museum open Saturday and Sunday. 10.30 am - 4 pm. Sunday pm Guided Tours from the Museum and Teas from 2 pm.
CUDOS presents 'Broadway to Hollywood and Back' in the Victoria Hall from Wednesday 8th Sept. to Saturday 11th Sept. nightly at 7.30pm. Tickets priced £6.50 (concesions £6.00) are available from the Town Hall.

(Organisations in the town are invited to advertise events here - as full details as possible, please, but not exceeding 40 words. See back page for information on submitting items for publication.)

JAZZ EVENING & SUPPER

The Friends of Crewkerne Parish Church are holding a Jazz Evening with Supper on Friday 1st October, 7 for 7.30pm, in the Church Hall. Keith Feinson and his jazz band will be entertaining and supper will be chilli-con-carne with jacket potatoes. Tickets at £8 each are available from Hilary Leamon on 77014 or Rosemary Prince on 74290. Wine and beer will be available. We are looking for people willing to cook for 4 people to a recipe provided, the cook gets a free ticket, please contact Hilary for a recipe. We look forward to seeing you there.
Rosemary Prince, Hon Sec.

SOUTH SOMERSET PEACE GROUP

On Tuesday 28th September South Somerset Peace Group are holding a public meeting when Kapil Komireddi, an Indian freelance writer who writes principally on foreign affairs, will talk about terrorism and related conflicts on the sub-continent.
The meeting will be held in the Minster Rooms, Ilminster at 7.30 pm.
All welcome - entry £2 including tea/coffee.
Saturday 25th September, Peace Vigil, Blake Hall South Petherton 11-12

CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL

Letters have been sent out inviting local organisations to take part in our first Christmas Tree Festival which will now take place from Thursday 16th December and continue into the following week. Offers of help with this event will be most welcome. Any organisations that have not yet been contacted and would like to take part please contact me as soon as possible.
Telephone, 01460 72230 Email, viviennepeter@btinternet.com
Vivienne Stuckey

Were you a Rainbow, Brownie, Guide, Ranger, Sea Ranger, Young Leader or a Guider?
If you were any of the above, in Crewkerne or elsewhere, why not come and help us celebrate the centenary of the Guide movement at the service at 10.00am at St Bartholomew's Church on Sunday 17 October? Look out for more details next month.

CLAPTON & WAYFORD VILLAGE HALL

Clapton & Wayford Film Society begins a new season on Thursday 2nd September, with 'An Education', adapted from Lyn Barber's autobiographical account of 'coming of age'. Doors open, bar, & refreshments on sale from 7.30 pm; film starts at 8 pm prompt. New members very welcome; membership subscriptions taken any time: details from Marilyn (01460 77062) or Mick (01460 74849).
Sew, Knit & Natter - Wednesday 1st September at 10.30 am; details from Jill (01460 72837).
Luncheon Club - Friday 10th September, 12 noon; all welcome, but please book your place by ringing June (01460 77057).
Jumble Sale - Saturday 11th September, 2 pm. Donations of jumble can be left at the hall between 10 am & midday. Plant stall, tombola, refreshments. Offers of help also welcome; contact Jackie (01460 72324).

John Kirkpatrick in concert: well known traditional folk musician & singer - Saturday 18th September, 8 pm; doors open & licensed bar from 7.30pm. Tickets, to include Ploughman's supper - £10; please book in advance, as seats are limited, by ringing 01460 72807 or 01460 77062.
Advance notice - Combined Harvest Supper & Produce Auction - St Michael's Church, Wayford & Village Hall: Monday 11th October at 7pm. All welcome; tickets on sale now; contact Jackie (01460 72324) or any hall committee member.

Mary Wilson (Hall Secretary)

ANNUAL FLOWER SHOW

The Clapton, Wayford & District Horticultural Society 65th Annual Flower Show was held at Drimpton Village Hall on August 14th.
The Jubilee Cup for best Organic Vegetable Collection was awarded to new entrant Mr V Chubb. Mrs Barbara Wright was delighted to once again be awarded the Martineau Cup for most prizes in the floral section, in addition to the Craven Cup for 'best flower exhibit'. Sean Riggs was pleased to take away a total of three cups from the flower & vegetable sections.
Potatoes distributed at our Potato Day in February, to be grown in a container, were duly weighed under the watchful eyes of the competitors. From those returned, the Shepherd Cup for the heaviest crop grown by an adult was awarded to Bernard Cluett, with the young people's Dummett Cup going to William Gray.
Abigail Lock was awarded the Society's Cup for the most prize money won by a young person up to the age of 9, whilst Hannah Goffe won the Clapton Cup for under 15 year olds. Other cups for a variety of floral, homecraft & handicraft classes were awarded to Kat Hesketh, Trish Harding, Roger Franklin, John Kennedy, Hazel Smith & Ann Harris.
Many thanks to the judges for giving their time and sharing their expertise, and congratulations to all show entrants. Thanks also to Ann Harris & her team who provided a splendid lunch for judges & stewards, and to the many enthusiastic helpers directed by our show secretary Rosemary Shepherd, who made the day a resounding success.
Mary Wilson (Committee Member)

"MUSIC FOR A SEPTEMBER EVENING"

A concert in St Martin's Church, North Perrott on Wednesday, 22nd September at 7.30 pm, with Petronella Dittmer (Violin and Soprano) and Andrew Kirk (Organ and Harpsichord). Tickets £9 (under 18s £4) to include a light supper and wine. Proceeds to St Martin's Church. (01460 72883)

IN THE SEPTEMBER GARDEN

So far this year will be remembered for being the driest for decades and one of the best for fruits. Also for being the worst season in the herbaceous borders which were so dry that cracks were to be seen almost everywhere making digging virtually impossible. The watering cans were then put to good use but seeds and seedlings were very reluctant to grow with the little water from the cans but really put on a spurt when rain finally appeared to the gardeners' relief. Yes, there's nothing like rain to get things growing. The water evaporated from the pond so much that the fish could not reach the small end, and my precious water in the butts was used to top up the level. But the shortage of water did provide us gardeners with a topic of something else to moan about.

There was one good thing about the drought. Slugs were not to be seen!
Due mainly to work being done on the house, the greenhouse was neglected for up to three weeks while we were away and the result is seen in the devastation of the tomato plants by caterpillars that have nibbled their way through the leaves and then the fruits, leaving only half of them which are now edible. A net curtain should put a stop to that in the future and also stop bees entering and not being able to find their way out. Just one more thing to contend with!!

However, the climbing beans have done well, but then everyone seems to do well with them.
I have noticed that there are new varieties of beans available for next year.
Trevor Shears

Any items for publication in the October Voice should be sent by e-mail to stbartsvoice@hotmail.co.uk, or left in the Voice box at the end of the coffee bar in the North Transept, by 12 noon on Wednesday, 15th September.