Vicar’s Letter for November	Archive
Dear all First I must thank you all for a most wonderful occasion in early October when I was Inducted and Installed as your new Vicar. The welcome given not only to me but also to my family, friends and former colleagues was remarkable and memorable! I am settling in and appreciating the support of the Church Wardens and PCC members in particular as I take on my new responsibilities. I am trying to spend these first few weeks getting to know as many of you as I can; if you are unable to come to church and would like a visit at home do let me know and I shall endeavour to ensure that you are not left out! We have a lot of events coming up in the next few weeks with the start of Advent and then Christmas, a wonderful time in our Church’s year! Speaking of Christmas, by the time you read this you may be planning the writing of your Christmas cards. I was pleased to see in the Church Times in September that Royal Mail will be issuing religious stamps for first class and second class ‘normal’ letters; I encourage you to ask for these when buying your stamps! Also, just as an aside, I am told by our local Sorting office that Royal Mail are set to be more strict this year with regard to the thickness of cards – do be aware that even if the length and width are acceptable, the thickness might not be and your recipient may be charged. The thickness can be checked at Post Offices and at the Sorting Office Now, to the stamps – the second class one is from a painting by William Dyce called ‘Madonna and Child’. It is in the collection at the Tate Gallery, though not currently on show. William Dyce was born in Aberdeen in 1806. As a young man he visited Italy where he was very much inspired by 15th century religious art. He modelled his Madonna and Child on one by Raphael of the same subject and because of this picture and other similar ones he became known as a precursor of the Pre Raphaelites and was a supporter of their aim to renew English art. I wonder what you will think of this painting? I am no art expert; but sometimes I do find it helpful to meditate on a painting as a way into prayer and perhaps a way to be given new insights and to be nourished spiritually. What I like about this painting is the use of colour and also the very natural way that Mary is holding the child Jesus. By contrast, the first class stamp is from a much earlier age and looks more like an icon. It is by the Italian painter Lippo di Dalmasio and is called The Madonna of Humility. It was probably painted about 1390-1400 and is at the National Gallery in London. The stamp only shows part of the painting and so it may not be appreciated that the Virgin is shown in front of a round golden disc; this represents divine light and recalls a phrase from chapter 12 of the book of Revelation which describes Mary as ‘clothed with the sun’. Mary is shown wearing a crown of twelve stars and the actual painting shows the moon at her feet. As you prepare your cards and letters to send for Christmas though, don’t miss out on all the glories of the seasons of Remembrance, Christ the King and then of course Advent which begins on 30th November! As I write the leaves are falling and the colours of Autumn are spectacular; as I close I offer you this extract from a meditation by Frank Topping entitled ‘Autumn Prayer’: ‘In such a place I could not speak For leaf and lichen declared this holy ground, A sanctuary. Sweet chestnuts were falling, Green, prickly spheres Bursting apart on leaf-layered earth. ..... My eyes were assailed with colours that sang Chromatic scales of gold, and yellow and amber. Leaves of brown and red and green Raised praise to their creator For the gift of deep and mellow autumn. And it was lavish, As the love of God always is. This nature is his nature, Extravagantly generous. Like Autumn leaves his blessings fall And all creation Acknowledges the love that never dies.’ {Frank Topping ‘Lord of My Days’ publ. Lutterworth Press 1980} May you know the love of God in your hearts now and in the coming days. Jayne

Vicar’s Letter for November

Archive

Dear all
First I must thank you all for a most wonderful occasion in early October when I was Inducted and Installed as your new Vicar. The welcome given not only to me but also to my family, friends and former colleagues was remarkable and memorable! I am settling in and appreciating the support of the Church Wardens and PCC members in particular as I take on my new responsibilities. I am trying to spend these first few weeks getting to know as many of you as I can; if you are unable to come to church and would like a visit at home do let me know and I shall endeavour to ensure that you are not left out! We have a lot of events coming up in the next few weeks with the start of Advent and then Christmas, a wonderful time in our Church’s year!
Speaking of Christmas, by the time you read this you may be planning the writing of your Christmas cards. I was pleased to see in the Church Times in September that Royal Mail will be issuing religious stamps for first class and second class ‘normal’ letters; I encourage you to ask for these when buying your stamps! Also, just as an aside, I am told by our local Sorting office that Royal Mail are set to be more strict this year with regard to the thickness of cards – do be aware that even if the length and width are acceptable, the thickness might not be and your recipient may be charged. The thickness can be checked at Post Offices and at the Sorting Office
Now, to the stamps – the second class one is from a painting by William Dyce called ‘Madonna and Child’. It is in the collection at the Tate Gallery, though not currently on show. William Dyce was born in Aberdeen in 1806. As a young man he visited Italy where he was very much inspired by 15th century religious art. He modelled his Madonna and Child on one by Raphael of the same subject and because of this picture and other similar ones he became known as a precursor of the Pre Raphaelites and was a supporter of their aim to renew English art. I wonder what you will think of this painting? I am no art expert; but sometimes I do find it helpful to meditate on a painting as a way into prayer and perhaps a way to be given new insights and to be nourished spiritually. What I like about this painting is the use of colour and also the very natural way that Mary is holding the child Jesus.
By contrast, the first class stamp is from a much earlier age and looks more like an icon. It is by the Italian painter Lippo di Dalmasio and is called The Madonna of Humility. It was probably painted about 1390-1400 and is at the National Gallery in London. The stamp only shows part of the painting and so it may not be appreciated that the Virgin is shown in front of a round golden disc; this represents divine light and recalls a phrase from chapter 12 of the book of Revelation which describes Mary as ‘clothed with the sun’. Mary is shown wearing a crown of twelve stars and the actual painting shows the moon at her feet.
As you prepare your cards and letters to send for Christmas though, don’t miss out on all the glories of the seasons of Remembrance, Christ the King and then of course Advent which begins on 30th November! As I write the leaves are falling and the colours of Autumn are spectacular; as I close I offer you this extract from a meditation by Frank Topping entitled ‘Autumn Prayer’:
‘In such a place I could not speak
For leaf and lichen declared this holy ground,
A sanctuary.
Sweet chestnuts were falling,
Green, prickly spheres
Bursting apart on leaf-layered earth.
.....
My eyes were assailed with colours that sang
Chromatic scales of gold, and yellow and amber.
Leaves of brown and red and green
Raised praise to their creator
For the gift of deep and mellow autumn.
And it was lavish,
As the love of God always is.
This nature is his nature,
Extravagantly generous.
Like Autumn leaves his blessings fall
And all creation
Acknowledges the love that never dies.’

{Frank Topping ‘Lord of My Days’ publ. Lutterworth Press 1980}

May you know the love of God in your hearts now and in the coming days.

Jayne