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DOORSTEP CAROLS

THE ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE EVENT 2020

With Carol Services not on the agenda this pandemic year, we had thought to put alternative plans in place that might bring some cheer to our lovely village community.

Doorstep Carols is an event started by Radio Shropshire in the hope that others across the UK will take part.  It takes place on 16th December at 6pm when we hope all villagers might take to their doorsteps as we did for the weekly NHS clapping but instead carol sheets in hand ready to sing out in the hope that Ridlington’s festive dulcet tones may be heard throughout Rutland!

Sadly, the usual Old Rectory Christmas drinks enjoyed after Carols is not going to be an option this year, so we had thought to put together a hamper or two to raffle off on the night to help raise some much needed funds for our beautiful church.

Under normal circumstances folk would often bring a plate or two of Christmas fayre to be enjoyed alongside the mulled wine so we wondered if any of you would be happy to do the same as a contribution to the hamper.  It doesn’t have to be homemade by any means, but anything that is could be attributed to the donor making it more of a fun, communal effort. Suggestions to get the creative juices flowing might be a pot of Christmas chutney or cake, a festive knitted scarf, something to hang on the tree or a Christmas table decoration.  The Foxes will make a start with a selection of drinks to be enjoyed over the festive season.

If you are able to make a hamper donation we would be very happy to receive them from Thursday 3rd December onwards or collected if necessary. Obviously if they are homemade perishables, delivery would need to be on the day or as near to it as possible.  Raffle tickets need to be sold on the day but obviously due to the social distancing required this will be difficult so our suggestion is that on the day of the Carols payment is posted in an envelope in The Old Rectory letterbox on Main St and we will allocate all donations with the appropriate amount of ticket numbers.

We hugely appreciate any contributions and look forward to sharing an Alternative Christmas village event with you all.

Kind Regards,
Louise Fox , Anne Harvey, Margie Wall
On behalf of the PCC.

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CHURCH NEWS

An act of remembrance was held outside the church porch on Remembrance Sunday, conducted by Rev’d Jenni Duffy. Those gathered took part in prayer and observed 2 minutes silence. The names of those from the village who died in the conflict were read out as a commemorative wreath was laid;

Please see the rota at the back of the Parish magazine for December’s pattern of services across the Rutland Water Benefice. St Mary Magdalene and St Andrew’s, Ridlington remains open for private prayer on Sundays and Wednesdays 10am – 4pm;

You can still access the weekly services on YouTube or Facebook;

Church flowers: as per tradition, there are no flowers during Advent. A huge thank you to those who decorate the church for Christmas, including: Karen Baines; Louise Fox; Anne Harvey; Sue Hatcher; Jane Moubray; Jan Powley; Pat Roome; Liz Simpson and Debra Thatcher;

Church cleaning rota: thank you, this month, to: Suzanne Baines and Ruth Lees for keeping our church clean and well maintained. There is a church DEEP CLEAN on Saturday 5th December from 9am – 12 noon. Please let Anne Harvey know if you are able to help out and she will organise a rota to ensure social distancing etc…

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BOOKS! BOOKS! BOOKS!

Further items have been added to the small storage area which can be delivered on request.  They are as follows:

The Dalai Lama’s  – “My Land and My People” – first published in 1962 and still in print today.  The story of the Dalai Lama’s early life in humble surroundings, his training as a monk in Tibetan Buddhism and his escape to India to lead the Tibetan government in exile following the bloody subjugation of his people by the Chinese government.

Kevin Danaher’s –  “In Ireland Long Ago” – one for social historians or folk with Irish family roots wanting to know more about life in Ireland pre WW2.  An easy read set out under a number of headings including “Thatch and Whitewash” about vernacular architecture and “Our Daily Bread” on traditional bread types.  A charming book.

Bernadine Evaristo’s – “Girl, Woman, Other” – joint winner of the Booker Prize in 2019, shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2020 and still on the Sunday Times bestsellers list – a novel “written” by twelve very different characters on an entwined journey.  A five-star read.

Antonio Iturbe’s  – “The Librarian of Auschwitz” – “A book is like a trapdoor that leads to a secret attic.  You can open it and go inside.  And your world is different.” “Books are extremely dangerous; they make people think” – just two quotations from the International best-selling novel based on the true story of Dita Kraus who risked her life to keep the magic of books alive during the Holocaust.  A must read.

Contact Debra Thatcher if you would like delivery – 01572 823910 or debrathatcher@hotmail.com

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FOOD BANK COLLECTIONS – DECEMBER

CHRISTMAS FOOD BANK COLLECTION – 2nd December

Not only will 2nd December mark the end of this lockdown period but our Food Bank donations will be collected on that day.  It is the last scheduled collection for this year so please continue to give generously – last year’s Christmas collection was amazing and your kindness was much appreciated.

The collection point is the church porch and particular items have been requested to ensure that all beneficiaries have a Christmas goodie bag.

The items requested cover:

  • Chocolate oranges/Matchmakers/After Dinner Mints
  • Children’s chocolate e.g. gold coins
  • Fudge or similar treats
  • Small jars of chutney and jam (not home-made)
  • Small panettone and chocolate logs
  • Christmas paper napkins
  • Pringles/Cheese biscuits/Snacks
  • Small colouring books/colouring pencils/sharpeners/children’s playing card games.

I would like to thank the kind person who delivered to us an envelope containing money – this has been spent on a number of the goodies listed above which will be added to our donations this week.

Debra Thatcher

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REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY and REMEMBRANCE DAY

Remembrance Sunday

There will be an Act of Remembrance outside the church at 9.30am this Sunday, 8th November, led by the Rev’d Jenni Duffy. Although circumstances are different this year because of the current lockdown, we shall still be able to commemorate those who gave everything for a freedom they would never know.
The shortened service will include The Last Post followed by 2 minutes silence, the Reveille and Kohima Epitaph, followed by prayers and a blessing.

 

Remembrance Day 

At 11am on Wednesday 11th November, the church bells will be rung to mark the beginning and end of a 2-minute silence, along with the nation.

 

 

If you happen to be out walking at that time, you might like to stop on the green opposite the Village Hall on Main Street to commemorate those soldiers who lost their lives in the Great War. It is also an opportunity to show appreciation for those who have lost their lives in the 2nd World War and more recent conflicts.

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RIDLINGTON WALKING GROUP

We have decided to suspend the walking group over the winter months.

Thank you to all those of you who have supported the group. And a special thanks to John Morrell for leading some of the walks when we haven’t been available.

Take care everyone and we’ll meet again in the spring.

Anne Harvey

 

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RIDLINGTON CHURCH NEWS

  • A lovely Harvest Festival was held in the church on Sunday 4th October. As ever, there were some beautiful floral displays in the windows and church porch, so a huge thank you to our flower ladies who decorate the church so beautifully for such special celebrations: Liz Simpson; Jan Powley; Sue Hatcher; Karen Baines; Pat Roome; Jane Moubray and Debra Thatcher;
  • Remembrance Sunday will be marked with a service of Holy Communion, conducted by Rev’d Jenni Duffy on Sunday 8th November at 9.30am;
  • Christmas Hamper: following the success of last year’s Christmas hamper raffle, we are planning to repeat this again this year. You will all receive a flier shortly explaining the details, so please keep a lookout;
  • Please see the rota at the back of the Parish magazine for November’s pattern of services across the Rutland Water Benefice. St Mary Magdalene and St Andrew’s, Ridlington remains open for private prayer on Sundays and Wednesdays 10am – 4pm.
  • You can still access the weekly services on YouTube or Facebook. If you would like any help with this, please let Anne Harvey know and she’ll give you a hand;
  • Church flowers: we are now enjoying church flowers again each week. Thanks for November to Anne Harvey and Pat Roome;
  • Church cleaning rota: thank you, this month, to: Mary Aldridge; Karen Baines; Anne Harvey and Louise Fox for keeping our church clean and well maintained.
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BOOKS! DVDS! and JIGSAWS

Further items have been added to the small storage area which can be delivered on request.  They are as follows:

BOOKS

  • Patrick Kidd’s – “The Weak Are A Long Time in Politics” – Political sketches from the Brexit Neverendum written by the sharp-witted Times journalist covering the period 11th October 2014 (the election of Douglas Carswell as UKIP’s first MP) to 25th May 2019 (Theresa May’s resignation).  It seems like only yesterday….
  • Vince Cable’s – “The Storm” – The last world economic crisis (2008) explained by the former economics lecturer, Chief Economist for Shell, MP for Twickenham and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills who turns his attention to the credit crunch, the property bubble, ever-increasing personal debt: some things don’t seem to change….
  • Angela Stead and Hugh MacBride’s – “Siblings Haven – Safe in Wartime Devon” – A sibling memoir of their early years.  Children of prominent journalists, their father drove them away from the potential dangers of London as WW2 loomed depositing them at a boys’ school on the fringes of Dartmoor run by a malevolent aunt.  Compelling portrait of fascinating characters coping with the challenges of everyday life in extraordinary circumstances.
  • Michael Fairless’ – “The Road Mender” and “The Gathering of Brother Hilarius” – Two titles in one volume, both displaying the Christian writer’s love and keen observation of the countryside and the natural world.  The Road Mender is a series of meditations on the road to Heaven, written and completed just before the author’s death and The Gathering is a great lesson in selflessness and sacrifice

DVD’s

  • DVD – Mrs Henderson Presents (age 12 and over) – a musical film telling the true story of Laura Henderson, an eccentric British socialite who opened the Windmill Theatre in London in 1931, starring Dame Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins and introducing the singer Will Young in his first acting role.
  • DVD – Call the Midwife (age 12 and over) – BBC series about a group of nurses midwives working in East End London in the late 1950s and early 1960s.  This first series is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth who worked with the Community of St John the Divine, an Anglican religious order, and tackles the “Baby Boom” issues of poverty and post-war immigration.
  • DVD – Casino Royale (age 12 and over) – First film to star Daniel Craig as James Bond.  MI6 operative Bond gains promotion to 00 status by assassinating two targets.  Co-starring Dame Judi Dench reprising her role as M, head of MI6.
  • DVD – Ladies in Lavender (age 12 and over) – Two award winning actresses, Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, star in this evocative heart-warming story set in Cornwall in 1936.  Two sisters discover a castaway on the beach below their house and with the help of a local doctor nurse him back to health.  The presence of the musically talented young man disrupts the peaceful lives of the sisters and the community in which they live.

JIGSAW

  • Jigsaw – April Cottage – 1000 pieces – a beautiful thatched country cottage with picturesque garden on the banks of a river populated by swans and mallards.

Contact Debra Thatcher if you would like delivery – 01572 823910 or debrathatcher@hotmail.com