Parish Magazine

Dear Readers

Have you been as astonished as we have been, at the amazing flowers on the watercress bed in the Hughenden Stream? We cannot remember it ever being like that before. Perhaps, as someone suggested to us last week, it’s because the cows have not been in the park so far this year. Would they have nibbled the flowers?

Despite the changeable weather the park itself is ablaze - as usual - with buttercups and it was lovely the other day to see children testing each other under their chins to see ‘if they liked butter’. The ‘church children’ have been busy with church activities: Lighthouse Live, Rooted and Chris Coyston has recently taken a group from St Michael & All Angel on a camp with other church groups. Our Tiny Tots groups have (at the time of writing) only been able to meet outside in the garden on one occasion, but we are hopeful that the annual Mothers’ Union - hosted picnic for Tiny Tots, parents, grandparents, carers and, this year visitors from other pre-school groups, will be held in glorious sunshine.

This is a special 150th anniversary year for Mothers’ Union, so look out for special events and see below for a potted history of that important organisation that has and does achieve so much. Long may it continue to thrive.

Whether you are a pre-schooler or a very much post schooler, or anything in between, we hope you have a very happy summertime when it finally arrives.

Jane and Christopher Tyrer

Editors

PS what a change in the weather since this was written!

(Not) From the Vicarage

Having journeyed through the great drama of Easter, stood in awe at the Ascension, and been set on fire with the Spirit at Pentecost, June sees the Church calendar take a noticeable turn: the feast days quieten, the colour on the altar frontal changes to green and we enter what the Church calls ‘Ordinary Time’.

At first glance, that word ‘ordinary’ can feel a little underwhelming. After all the joy, wonder and celebration of the past season, it might sound as though we are settling back into something less significant and rather boring. On the contrary, there is nothing ‘ordinary’ about ‘ordinary time’.

Green is the colour of growth. It reminds us that the weeks ahead are not about sitting back with our feet up, but about steady, faithful discipleship: roots going deeper, shoots growing stronger, lives shaped quietly but surely by the love of God.

‘Ordinary Time’ is where our Christian faith is lived out and honed day by day, a calling that in 2026 is anything but easy or predictable.

As I’ve said before, we live in a complex and often anxious world. Many are carrying worries about the future, about family, health, work, the state of society, or the divisions we see around us. It can feel tempting to keep faith private, something confined to a Sunday morning or a personal corner of life. But Jesus never described his followers as hidden or silent. He called them “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world”, both intended to make a difference in the communities they find themselves in.

Most Christian living is not dramatic. It happens in kitchens and workplaces, in classrooms, at school gates and hospital bedsides, among friends, neighbours and families. It is lived out in kindness, patience, forgiveness, integrity and hope.

Ordinary Time invites us to notice these unseen moments. It asks us how we are living the gospel on an ordinary Monday, in a difficult conversation, or when no one is watching. It challenges us to trust that God is present not only in mountaintop experiences, but also in the routines and realities of daily life. Every act of love, however small it seems, has a place in God’s larger story of renewal and hope.

So as the year turns green once more, let’s resist the idea that faith can ever be ordinary. Let’s see this season as an invitation to grow – not louder and busier, but deeper, trusting that God is at work in us and through us, right where we are.

Rev. Helen Peters

Associate Minister

Home: 01494 716772

Mobile: 07792 118357

associate_minister​@hughenden​parish​church.org.uk

June Reflection

Living Fully: Carrying Light into Everyday Life

June arrives with warmth, light, and a sense of openness. The days are long, nature is in full bloom, and there is an invitation to step more fully into life. After months of reflection — beginning gently, listening within, trusting the process, embracing renewal, and reconnecting with others — we are now invited to live out what we have been quietly learning.

Living fully does not mean doing more or filling every moment. It means being present. It means noticing the life that is already here — in small moments, in simple routines, in the people around us. Often, it is easy to wait for something bigger, something more meaningful, before we allow ourselves to feel joy or purpose. But fullness of life is not found in the extraordinary alone; it is found in how we meet the ordinary.

Each day offers opportunities to carry light into the world. A kind word, a patient response, a moment of genuine attention — these are small acts, yet they hold great significance. When we live with intention and compassion, even the simplest actions can have a lasting impact.

In Matthew 5:16, we are reminded: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” This is not about perfection, but about presence. It is about allowing the light within us — shaped through reflection, growth, and connection — to be shared naturally in our everyday lives.

 You might reflect this month:

• Where can I bring more presence into my daily life?

• How can I share kindness in simple, meaningful ways?

• What does “living fully” look like for me right now?

As we move into the fullness of summer, may we carry forward all that we have gathered along the way. May we walk with openness, gratitude, and quiet confidence — trusting that the light we carry matters, and that even the smallest moments can shine.

As this series comes to a close, thank you for walking this path together over these past months. May we continue forward with intention and compassion, carrying what we have discovered into each new season ahead.

Bea Glowacki

Camping with Young Christians

The United Youth Camping Weekend Away was an incredible time of faith, friendship, and fun, centred around the theme “Holy. Chosen. Is.” Some of the young people from St Michael & All Angels joined nearly 300 others for a weekend filled with powerful worship, inspiring talks and meaningful fellowship. 

Throughout the weekend, everyone had the opportunity to grow deeper in their faith while building new friendships with young people from different churches and communities. 

Alongside the worship and teaching, there were plenty of activities to enjoy, including competitive games, 9 square, laser tag, inflatables and lots, lots more. There was also plenty of time spent together laughing and encouraging one another. 

It was wonderful to see our young people engaging so positively, stepping out in confidence and experiencing a real sense of belonging and purpose.
The weekend was both uplifting and memorable, leaving everyone encouraged and excited about what God is doing in the lives of young people today. 

The quiet revival is certainly not quiet anymore!

Chris Coyston

Children & Families Minister

07855 389998

chris@​hughenden​parish​church.org.uk

Growing Hope High Wycombe

Most of us at St Michael & All Angels are familiar with Growing Hope High Wycombe, based at St James’ Church in Downley. This local clinic, offering free therapy to children with additional needs, is part of the part of the national Growing Hope charity, which continues to expand and develop. Here are just a few brief updates.

New Clinics Growing Hope has a vision to see twenty clinics open by 2030 and currently has eight running in different parts of the country. Two more new clinics are on the horizon. Growing Hope Tunbridge Wells is preparing to open later this year and Growing Hope Ipswich, having recently received confirmation of charity status, is moving ahead with plans to open a clinic there.

Support for Churches Growing Hope also advises churches on becoming more welcoming and accessible for families who have children with additional needs. Earlier this year they were awarded a substantial grant from the Church of England’s Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board to enable them to expand their accessibility training to many more churches. The news of Growing Hope’s successful bid was announced in the Church Times in February, which has led to a flurry of interest from churches across the country. You can read the article at growinghope.org.uk/ctarticle.

Podcasts For some months now Growing Hope has produced a series of Conversations podcasts featuring parents, therapists, other professionals, and people living with additional needs, who shared stories, struggles and moments of hope. They are now launching a new Holding Hope podcast, exploring with special guests how organisations and individuals can hold onto the hope of Jesus when supporting people in difficult circumstances. You can listen via the Growing Hope website.

To keep up to date with this fast -growing charity’s latest news, check their website growinghope.org.uk and sign up there for their newsletter!

Charlotte Tester

The Buzz of Housebuilding

For two or three weeks, we have noticed large, single wasps coming into the house, mostly the bedrooms. These are queen wasps looking for a likely place to build a nest.  Up to now, they have been speedily ejected but not squashed!

However, this afternoon (11th May) whilst working on the computer, which is in an upstairs converted bedroom, just such a wasp came through the small window and disappeared down between the filing cabinet and the wall.  On investigation we discovered a small, tennis ball sized object attached the bottom of the curtain.  This was the new nest and the wasp which had now reappeared, was not very pleased with us for disturbing it. Apparently, queen wasps start the building of the nest, lay some eggs and when the eggs hatch, these take over the nest-building while the queen carries on laying eggs. The nests are incredibly beautiful creations with fine 'papier-mache' exteriors and perfectly symmetrical egg cells, all built without the aid of any instruments or measurements. Some nests, like the one we once had in our loft, are enormous and contain hundreds, if not thousands of wasps. These huge nests have to be dealt with by a specialist pest controller.

As for our little nest, wearing rubber gloves my husband detached it from the curtain and turned it over. There were several cells containing wriggling pupae, the start of a new colony. The queen wasp refused my efforts to get her out of the window, so I'm afraid, in the interests of self-defence, she was whacked with a magazine. The nest was taken out and sadly dispatched. We would have loved to have left these wonders of nature to grow, but sorry, not in our house!

Sylvia Clark

(We have tried to keep this article as far as possible from this month’s nature notes: Eds)

Around the local church cafés

St Botolph’s Church, Bradenham - A Welcome for Weary Walkers

St Botolph’s church in Bradenham stands next to the Manor, overlooking the village green and cricket pitch. Outside it is a sign to gladden the hearts passers-by, especially walkers on a hilly Chilterns hike, with an invitation to come in through the ancient south door for refreshments in the church.

Opening Hours: Generally, open every day

Parking: Small car park across the road, on-street parking, and larger car park up the track past the cricket pavilion.

Refreshments available: Tea, coffee and sugar are on a table with cups, saucers and spoons, water and a kettle. Milk is in a small fridge. Squash is also available and there is a tin of assorted biscuits. All on a help yourself basis.

Donations are invited. No set prices. Donation box and card reader available.

Other features: A box of toys for children to play with.

A Gift Tree with items ranging from packets of seeds to home-made jam. Once again, no set prices but donations invited.

A Walkers Corner with local footpath maps and books of walks for people to take in return for a donation or in exchange for another book.

A lovely spot to enjoy a drink sitting on a pew in the church or outside on a sunny day

Charlotte Tester

Two Outstanding Churches in Suffolk

The Sole Bay Team Ministry in Suffolk comprises a single benefice embracing eight exceptional churches: The Church of St Edmund the Martyr, Southwold, Holy Trinity, Blythburgh (“The Cathedral of the Marshes”), St Margaret’s Church, Reydon, St Andrew’s Church, Walberswick, St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Wangford, St Lawrence’s Church, South Cove, St Andrew’s Church, Sotherton and St Mary’s Church, Uggeshall. On a recent short break in Suffolk, we visited three of the churches and report on the two largest. The website for the Benefice is solebayteamministry.co.uk and is well worth a visit and browse.

We start with Holy Trinity, Blythburgh, commonly known as “The Cathedral of the Marshes.” The Diocese is, of course, that of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich and St Edmundsbury Cathedral is situated in Bury St Edmunds. All the offices of the Diocese are to be found in Ipswich, however! The Diocese was founded in January 1914, out of parts of the Diocese of Norwich and the Diocese of Ely.

The Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Blythburgh is set apart from the village itself. The main road separates them. The church is a Grade 1 listed church and, according to the guidebook, “is regarded by some as one of the finest 15th century parish churches in the country.”

A settlement has been there since 654 AD and has been, at various times, a commercial centre, a centre for the carrying out of civil and criminal justice, as well as having a Priory until, of course, 1537, when that was dissolved by orders of Henry VIII. Since then, the local community has been in decline and the merchants, courts, school and reading room have gone. Holidaymakers now abound, with a healthy public house and a village store.

It had endured its periods of plenty and decline. On the 12th August 1944, a US Navy Liberator, piloted by Joe Kennedy, brother of President John F Kennedy and loaded with explosives, blew up over Blythburgh and caused considerable damage. The explosion was caused by an electrical fault and the pilot, Joe Kenndy and his copilot were killed. 21,000 lbs of explosives detonated and remains the largest explosion ever recorded in Britain. There was much damage but no civilian casualties.

The interior is breathtaking in its simple beauty. The windows are of plain glass admitting copious light. There is some stained glass, medieval in date but the main sides are clear and the nave is bright.

Two features call for comment: the pulpit is made of oak and dates from 1670-5 and the organ seems to be modern, as I have been unable to find anything about it!

There are many treasures and interesting features there, but I will not spoil the visitors’ delight in discovering them on a visit. If you are in that part of Suffolk, a visit is highly recommended.

The second church to be described is that of St Edmund, King and Martyr, in Southwold. Like its sister at Blythburgh, it is built in perpendicular style and dominates its surroundings. Whereas Blythburgh overlooks the river Blyth, Southwold overlooks the sea. Despite being in the centre of Town, St Edmund’s is a place of serenity and beauty.

There was no church in Southwold until the 13th century. Worshippers went to Reydon, St Margaret’s or Holy Trinity, Blythburgh. The early church in Southwold was destroyed by fire and its replacement in brick and flint also received large clear glass windows on both sides and over the altar. Once again, we find a church full of light. Whilst it escaped largely unscathed by the Reformation, it did suffer severe damage during the 17th century from one William Dowsing who, with a local man, Francis Verdan, demolished all traces of Catholicism (as they saw what they destroyed). Nevertheless, what is there today is awe inspiring and beautiful.

The pictures that I took and have chosen scarcely do justice to the majesty of this building. The roof, stalls and the panels are probably unique in the form in which they were created; angels, prophets, saints with the events by which they are remembered and so on. The Rood Screen is especially impressive, as is the pulpit, a pre-Reformation (one of the few surviving) trumpet-based structure but the 20th century restorers did a serious amount of well-meaning damage to the original paintings.

Both these churches, important as they are historically and architecturally, are, first and foremost, places of worship. Here the faithful in the communities continue the traditions of worship laid down by the canons of the Church of England.

History is fascinating but cannot hide the fundamental purpose of these wonderful places; a purpose still fulfilled when the tourists are gone.

Christopher Tyrer

Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity

Come together this summer to support local hospice care

Local residents are being warmly invited to come together, have fun and support a vital local cause as Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity launches a vibrant programme of summer events.

The events are a celebration of community spirit, with every pound raised helping to provide compassionate care for patients and their families at Florence Nightingale Hospice in Aylesbury, Butterfly House in High Wycombe, and in people’s homes across Buckinghamshire and its borders.

The summer kicks off with the much-loved Midnight Walk on Saturday 20^th June at Roman Park Hall, Aylesbury. Set against the backdrop of the summer solstice, this uplifting event invites participants to walk five or ten miles in celebration of life and in memory of loved ones. Friends, families and neighbours are all encouraged to take part, with the evening beginning with a calming “Solstice Unwind” session to set the tone for the walk.

Then, on Sunday 2^nd August, the community will take centre stage at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre with a special production of Fame. Featuring more than 100 talented local children, the show promises to be a joyful and inspiring highlight of the summer, with both matinee and evening performances available.

Together, these events offer a fantastic opportunity for local people to connect, celebrate and make a real difference—supporting hospice care that touches so many lives across Buckinghamshire and its borders.

For more information about the Midnight Walk and to sign up, visit www.fnhospice.org.uk/midnightwalk  

Tickets for Fame can be booked by visiting www.atgtickets.com/Aylesbury

Mothers' Union

Spring Meeting - Reading Minster

On a bright, sunny spring day Barbara Willson, Sara Badrick and I travelled to Reading Minster, set in a pretty churchyard with bluebells flowering under beautiful trees whose leaves had just started to unfurl. It was a lovely oasis of peace and colour in the middle of a large and very busy town. Inside the Minster, we joined Mothers’ Union members from several branches within the Oxford Diocese where the MU Diocesan Chaplain, the Revd Mary Harwood, welcomed us for the Wave of Prayer service. 

As we sang the opening hymn, Barbara carrying the Hughenden MU banner, joined members from other groups in the procession of banners which were placed in front of the altar. In the Wave of Prayer Service, we gave thanks for our place in the family of Mothers’ Union worldwide, a family of over four million members, and for the prayerful support which we both give and receive. Following readings from the bible, the sermon was preached by The Right Reverend Mary Gregory, Bishop of Reading. She spoke of Jesus’ words to love one another and to love our neighbours as ourselves, and that included those of other races and creeds.

Part of the service was the admission to the Mothers’ Union of several members of the congregation, including Bishop Mary herself. All present joined in with responses and the ‘new’ members were warmly welcomed with a round of applause.

We then heard messages and prayers from some of the Link Dioceses around the world.

A Mothers’ Union Link Diocese is a formal, prayerful partnership between different dioceses, often in different countries, within the Anglican Communion, connecting members to share resources, stories and mutual support. These links strengthen worldwide fellowship and include resource sharing, e.g. sending financial support or practical resources to projects in less-resourced areas; visits, letters or digital communication to strengthen bonds; joint projects collaborating on initiatives like literacy, community, development or family support. These links are crucial for fulfilling the MU’s mission to support marriage and family life.

The link dioceses were:

Ahoada in a culturally diverse region on the Niger Delta, which is the centre of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and whose MU was founded in 2004.

Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the diocese of which covers most of the huge western part of the country. The MU is involved in many activities throughout the DRC, including work on literacy, livelihoods, tackling gender-based violence and promoting peace. Sadly, there is conflict in the northern part of the Diocese and in the war-torn eastern part of the country.

Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea where the Mothers’ Union was founded in 1949. Many members are considered ‘agents of change’ in their own communities where, amidst the difficulties they face, they work on community development.

Victoria Nyanza in Tanzania where the Mothers’ Union is strong throughout the Anglican Church there. Across the country there are 815,000 members. MU runs many projects in the country, including church and community mobilisation, support for widows and orphans, saving and credit groups, ministry to prisoners and various other educational and health projects.

Warri in Nigeria is a diocese located in Delta State, a little to the West of Ahoada and was founded in 1980. Warri is a large city, one of the hubs of the oil industry in Nigeria. The MU works to encourage flourishing family life and to help children become followers of Christ as confident, compassionate and capable individuals. It urges that all involved in the oil industry will care for the environment and communities in the area.

Following these reports there was a talk from Mrs Buelah Santhosh, wife of Bishop Santhosh, the recently consecrated bishop of the Diocese of Oxford’s link diocese of Nandyal in India. Mrs Santhosh, who was beautifully dressed in a traditional sari, told us about the work she was doing as President of the Women’s Fellowship in Nandyal, part of the international MU family, for women and women’s groups in her area.

The service concluded with the prayer written by Sandra Watuna from Port Moresby:

After a short interval for tea, the Spring Meeting opened with members from various branches giving reports of their plans for this year and for the celebration of the 150^th anniversary of the founding of the Mothers’ Union in 1876.

It was a lovely afternoon of friendliness and fellowship with other Mothers’ Union branches.

Sylvia Clark

The Mothers’ Union: A Potted History

Mothers' Union began in 1876. Mary Sumner, the wife of a rector in Hampshire, formed a group to support mothers from all backgrounds in bringing up their children. After delivering a speech in 1885 to the Portsmouth Church Congress, she inspired many women present to go back to their parishes and set up similar groups.
Over time, the groups that met as Mothers' Union became embedded in their communities. They forged strong links with local people and the Anglican Church. They worked to support one another and give a voice to disadvantaged women while addressing wider societal issues. Driven by Mary Sumner's passion for the role of women in bringing about a better society, the groups proved very popular.
By 1892, membership had reached 60,000 in 28 dioceses, which was to grow to 169,000 members by the turn of the century. In 1893, annual general meetings were organised, and, in 1896, Mothers' Union Central Council was formed.

Mary Sumner

Mission Links in Hull Through the Centuries

Sixteen years ago, my husband David took part with other intrepid cyclists in a fortnight-long sponsored bike ride in aid of Church Mission Society. With overnight stops in places ranging from Manchester to Cardiff and Winchester, they finally arrived in Oxford, home to the CMS office, a logical place to finish. They had started from a church in Hull, and this year, as we were on holiday in the area, we took the opportunity to join the congregation at that church for a Sunday morning service once again.

So why had St Columba’s, one of three churches in the parish of Drypool, been chosen as the starting point for the ride? The original church was destroyed in the devastating bombing suffered by Hull in the Second World War and was rebuilt and reopened in the 1950s. (Some pillar bases were able to be reused, which still have shrapnel marks visible on them.)

The surprising link is William Wilberforce (1759-1833), best known for his many years of passionate campaigning to abolish first the slave trade and then slavery itself in British territories. He was born in Hull and became MP for Hull, then MP for Yorkshire.

Wilberforce was a committed Christian who not only worked for the abolition of slavery but supported many other good causes, from animal welfare to prison reform. When living in London to be near the House of Commons, he attended an evangelical Anglican church in Clapham and became part of a group known as The Clapham Sect, who played leading roles in social reform.

In 1799 the group founded The Church Mission Society! Hence a link between CMS and Hull. Wilberforce was also patron of the parish of Drypool, in the days when individual patrons appointed clergy to their parishes, so CMS has a specific link to the parish. As a further link, Rev Henry Venn, who was vicar of Drypool for two years in the 1820s, later devoted thirty two years of his life to working as honorary secretary of CMS.

St Columba’s has three windows commemorating the founding of CMS. The first of them shows members of the group in Clapham gathered around a table with a silver teapot. (CMS still has that teapot in Oxford!)

Our visit to St Columba’s sixteen years ago was a special time, with bikes stacked against the choir stalls during the service and a sense of excitement among everyone there. Our recent visit was also a great pleasure, as we were warmly welcomed by the vicar and congregation and enjoyed hearing more about the church and the church family. As a congregation they support a couple working in Spain and North Africa, who are CMS mission partners, so the link continues.

Charlotte Tester

Mission: What’s in a Name? Part 1

What are your thoughts when you hear the word ‘mission’? Is it possible that colloquial use has diluted, denigrated or wholly obscured its original meaning? We may at times chance to hear - mission statement, mission accomplished, mission creep, mission critical, on a mission, rescue mission and, dare we add, mission impossible!

Language, we know, changes over time: over 700 years, the word nice shifted from meaning foolish, to shy, to delightful and finally to its modern meaning of giving pleasure; wicked shifted from exclusively meaning evil to a teenage slang term for wonderful; and awful, originally meaning inspiring awe (positive) altered to mean very bad (negative).

To Christians, however, for over 2,000 years its meaning and application remain unchanged and unchanging.

In the Gospels we learn, after a night of prayer on a mountain, that Jesus calls his ‘disciples’ and names twelve of them as ‘apostles’. The twelve include Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon( the Zealot), Judas (son of James) and Matthias (following the death of Judas Iscariot). A disciple, to mark the difference, meant ‘student’, whereas an apostle (from the Greek apostellein) meant "one sent out". The Latin for 'apostle' is 'missio', from which we derive our word 'missionary'.

During his ministry Jesus taught the apostles about God’s Kingdom: the dynamic sovereignty of God over the universe, bringing goodness, happiness and peace. Then, in the knowledge that his time on earth was coming to an end, Jesus sent out the apostles to spread his teachings and to preach with authority: extending the reach of his ministry and for the message of the ‘Kingdom of God’ to be heard abroad.

We know that Jesus himself initiated Christian mission, followed by his apostles and disciples. Most notable among these was Paul, accompanied by Barnabas and Timothy, who spread Christ’s teachings across the Roman Empire. By the end of the 1st century, the Good News had spread through Turkey, Greece, the Middle East and North Africa.

Jesus predicted that his followers would suffer persecution and condemnation (regretfully, even to this day). In the Acts of the Apostles we learn of constant harassment, arrest, imprisonment and miraculous escapes. However, despite these divine interventions, all but one of the original twelve suffered martyrdom for their beliefs and teachings. Many suffered a horrific death, including execution, stoning, being flayed alive and, in one instance, crucifixion (St Andrew). The Apostle John was the only one to pass away peacefully.

Over time, their deep love for Christ, enduring courage, zeal for evangelism and, ultimately the selfless forfeiture of their lives, has inspired the faithful and strengthened the devotion of believers across millennia.

In the 1st Century, the severe risk of persecution notwithstanding, the first Christian missionaries emerged from Judea (Palestine), eminently, the Apostle Paul and other early disciples who spread the word of God across the Mediterranean and North Africa. Later influential missionaries numbered Augustine of Canterbury, sent by Pope Gregory to convert the Anglo-Saxons (597), and the Irish monk Aidan of Lindisfarne (635). Geographical expansion followed. During the 15th Century Portuguese missionaries arrived in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the 18th Century early Protestant missionaries emerged from Germany and England to work in India and the Caribbean.

Mission in the early church was characterised by evangelising, with a determined focus on the Bible and its teachings. This work led to the founding of many communities of believers in different regions. Key approaches included itinerant preaching, embedding churches and actively engaging with communities, caring for the sick, widowed and orphaned for example. Later, missionaries incorporated education and community development with spiritual teaching, training local leaders to continue their work after they had moved on.

Mission Support Group

PS Although not always historically accurate and a difficult watch in places, films such as ‘The Inn of the Sixth Happiness’ (1958), ‘The Passion of Christ’ 2004, ‘Silence’ (2016) and ‘The Mission’ (2023) depict the devotion, resilience, courage and, in some cases, the appalling torment of the missionary working in challenging and often hostile, circumstances.

Princes Risborough Rotary Club

June is here, sometimes known as "the gateway to summer", and it includes the Summer Solstice (from the Latin solstitium - sun stands still). But for us there is no “standing still”! On the 6^th we are running a Summer Lunch for those over 75 in the area who live alone. Also in June, on the 13^th we’ll be supporting NAPFEST in Naphill, and on the 20^th, we will be manning a stall at the Town’s Farmers’ Market, in the King George V field, during which we will be challenging visitors with a question about the Audi R8 V10 Plus on display, with the chance of winning a magnificent Hamper. The Princes Risborough Council is running the Town’s annual Festival from the 4^th to the 12^th July, and our Club have organised “Fun in the Park” (Wades Park) on the Festival’s first Sunday, the 5^th July. This will be a family-friendly, free afternoon including a chocolate hunt, “Tea in the Tent,” vintage and modern farm vehicles, tug of war, dog show, fire engine, a 28-piece brass band, storytelling, golf pitching, children’s games, ‘welly wanging’, and more.

All the above activities are in support of the local community, particularly with a focus on the young and the elderly. This includes 9 local primary schools which are struggling financially, our chess competition for under 11s on the 13^th June, the Youth Club and the Youth Theatre, and providing support to local senior schools, with the aim of assisting the students with their transition into adult life. For the more senior in the community we continue to work with the Princes Centre, which is also where we hold our summer and Christmas lunches for the over 75s. If you know of a cause that would benefit from our support, or would like to donate to our Charity, or if you might consider joining us, with the aim of “giving back”, why not visit our friendly, fun Club of men and women. Visit our website and come to one of our Monday evening meetings at the Whiteleaf Golf Club to see if it might interest you. You can use the following contact details: Go to www.rcpr.org.uk, call David White on 07787 750889, email dwhite2025@hotmail.com

Nature Note

A beautiful psalm, written no doubt for communal worship. Notice how the psalmist invites creation to join in with his fellow worshippers. And, of course, it’s that time of year again when the air is full of scent and song. We don’t hear quite as much as maybe we did not that long ago but if you visit the right spots you will get washed in the most uplifting arrangement of birdsong. The edges of woodland with scrub and small trees are full of attractive song posts.

The list of warblers and other songbirds is extensive, all designed for the pleasure of the listener. Ok, so these songs have very practical applications for the singers, marking territory, attracting mates, but you only have to watch them sing with gusto to see the pleasure, and dare I say pride, that they get from their efforts. And God Himself was pleased with His creative efforts (Genesis 1) so stand back and listen with Him.

These days I visit Otmoor for a first-class selection: the walk from the car park to the first bird feeder area is the orchestra pit with up to eleven warbler species, including grasshopper warbler, finches, thrushes, blackbird and common garden visitors all joined in celebrating spring.

This year whitethroat numbers have been high, I even had one sing at the bottom of my garden off and on for a week before he decided the girls weren’t stopping for a chat so he moved away to more normal locations, Aston Rowant nature reserve is a good spot for these little birds.

They are what is called, by those who study such things, scrub warblers with the genus title sylvia, which also includes blackcap and lesser whitethroat, the former having one of the most delightful songs that you can hear in many local gardens. Other warbler groups cover marshy habitat, woodland canopy, deep bush cover, in fact most areas where insects are found in good numbers.

God doesn’t do things by half, have you noticed? Just as true for birds as, say, apples (300+ varieties) so warblers UK around 15 species, 430+ worldwide.

Insect numbers are where profusion goes stellar- 20,000 species estimated for the UK, 1,000,000+ worldwide although it’s reckoned that there are probably more like ten times that number! For every one human it’s figured there are 1.4 billion insects; tempting to get the fly spray out you might think!

But hold on, in many ways they have extremely important roles. From pollination duties, recycling dead life forms to providing food for so many other creatures.

Don’t forget Genesis 1 at the end of the sixth day of creation, and God saw that it was good. At that point creation was complete, including insects and all other creepy crawlies: invertebrates as we label them. So, if our Good Lord was satisfied and reckoned them good what should our attitude be? Tolerance at least methinks.

I was looking around my allotment last week and marvelling at what we grow without a second thought nowadays.

Potatoes (South America), tomatoes (South America), chillis (Mexico), cucumbers (South Africa), courgettes (from squash in Central and South America), runner beans (Central America), lettuce (Middle East), just a few examples, plus all our natives - rhubarb, carrots, parsnips, cabbage for instance. Food from around the world, a United Nations of Cuisine.

I have a fellow allotmenteer from China who grows different chives, garlic, lettuce, there’s always a new angle on what food to grow. The profusion of God’s provision for us.

I have to admit to buying young tomato plants this year having run out of time to sow seed myself. To make the most of this lapse I bought plants that already had side shoots which I duly removed and which I planted in loose sandy soil standing in water. Most of these cuttings are rooted some two weeks later, the four I purchased are soon to be twelve or so. They will grow more quickly than their parents: several have their first flower trusses.

God loves profusion, as we’ve seen, more than that, He wants the same in His People. St Paul pointed out that He made us each unique in character and spiritual gifting, He delights in every child of His, just as He delights in all of His creation.

When you listen to His winged orchestra remember His pleasure in sharing it with you.

Mike Bevan

(Otmoor RSPB Nature Reserve is at OX3 9UR: Eds)

Bookends

The Last Dress from Paris - Jade Beer

Haute Couture is a different world and one that most people never enter. It is one thing to have a dress made for you, and that is wonderful, but still a million miles from couture. I’ve had two dresses made for me in my life: my wedding dress and the dress I wore to the wedding of one of my daughters. It feels amazing to have something that perfectly fits you rather than deciding which size is the better choice, no matter how expensive the shop.

Just before the Covid pandemic there was an exhibition at the V and A about the House of Dior and that is the closest I will ever get to haute couture I think. It was indeed like looking at works of art. Huge numbers of skilled artisans worked on each dress and the inside of each garment as beautiful as the outside. If you are wearing a Dior dress, you do need to be dressed. Most dresses are in fact skirts and separate bodices, the latter with a large number of tiny fastenings. Impossible to do by yourself. This is not ‘pull it over your head and you are ready to go’ sort of dressing!

So, the House of Dior in Paris is the setting for this novel and I have to say I loved it all. I had never heard of the author Jade Beer and as far as I can see she hasn’t written anything else. You know how, scarily, Amazon knows what you like?! Well, I was buying something online and this book popped up. I had a weak moment obviously (I have many I’m afraid) and clicked the button. The book flopped onto the doormat the following morning; such decadence. Very little delayed gratification these days.

Anyway, we have a time slip structure here. The chapters alternate between Paris in 1952 and London in 2017. Alice Ainsley is the new wife of the British Ambassador in France. She has every luxury that one could think of in postwar Paris which, for some, is full of glamour and privilege. She is, however, bored and suffocating in a loveless marriage and a facade of glittering social occasions. The situation is ripe for drama, passion and assignations, Left Bank assignations inevitably.

In London, Lucille feels trapped, but differently so. She is in a job she hates and feels generally despondent about her life which lacks any meaningful relationships. When her beloved grandmother gives her a birthday gift of a ticket to Paris and also sets her a challenge: find and bring home the Dior gown she wore decades earlier, Lucille has to overcome her initial wariness and take some risks.

Jade Beer conjures up the atmosphere of Paris beautifully. I felt I was sitting outside a coffee shop with a cafe crème and a croissant watching the story unfold. Well, maybe unfold is not the right word as what happens as the story moves forward is that it is gradually stitched together. There are scandals and long hidden secrets and gradually Lucille is able to make sense of her grandmother’s story and this helps to put her own life into perspective and influences the choices that she eventually makes.

This book is achingly romantic and I just love the historic setting. It is a truly gorgeous read. If I have any criticism, it is that the plot gets a tiny bit clunky at the end. It is always tricky tying everything up satisfactorily and anyway I will happily forgive the author. I remember my mother telling me about the ‘New Look’ in Dior’s 1947 collection. The clothes involved extravagant yards of fabric which was such a change from the skimpy, frugal, utility clothes of wartime. The gowns in the story all had names: The Esther, The Debussy, The Mexico. These are real gowns, some of which were in that 2019 V&A exhibition. The whole thing is special although of course also frivolous, privileged and hedonistic.

The story brought to mind the TV series about the wartime of Dior and Chanel, the latter a proven Nazi collaborator. Dior’s sister was part of the resistance and was captured and tortured. His first perfume was a gift for her: Miss Dior, but my favourite is Diorissimo using the scent he loved of Lily of the valley. The other film that this book made me think of was ‘Mrs Harris goes to Paris,’ a much lighter project altogether taken from the book by Paul Gallico.

So, settle down with a coffee and a pain au chocolat and spend a few delicious hours in Paris.

Bonne Lecture … Happy Reading

Susan Brice

June Recipe

Healthy Snacks

In our household pre-meal snacks are part of life now when we have family or friends visiting but in recent years they have become so expensive. Packets of crisps can be £2-£3 and if you add in dips, the price adds up. Even my granddaughter recently said she likes to have dippy for her snacks!

 So where possible, I try to have more healthy snacks and usually make my own hummus (recipe on request!) or it is easy to make a dip with Greek yoghurt or sour cream and herbs or spices. However, I came across these two recipes this winter and both are delicious, the nuts were excellent around Christmas, healthy and much cheaper than buying.

Julia Grant

From the Potting Shed

So here we are dear friends, halfway through the year already. Time really doesn’t stand still does it? As soon as the spring bulbs are out and you’re enjoying the bright, buttery yellow, then they are going over and looking straggly and untidy. I know I should leave the leaves to die down naturally but I often do chop them off, and then there is that magical blue of bluebells and forget- me-nots and now it is time for the roses. Sometimes I just want to hold onto the days and slow them down.

The lady who spoke at the WI the other day was saying it was important to ‘be present’ and to ‘be mindful’ of each day. Well, Beryl and I listened carefully but we weren’t quite sure we got the hang of her talk. Doreen’s cheese scones were lovely though, really tasty. I brought a couple home for my hubby. I was telling him about the talk and he chewed his scone thought-fully before putting his plate on the table and looking straight at me, a twinkle in his eye.

‘Well,’ he said, ‘you’d better ‘be mindful’ Cecily that my dinner’s on the table in good time tonight and as for ‘a present’ well we’ll have to see tomorrow won’t we, eh?’ Goodness, he hadn’t forgotten my birthday then! And then he laughed and laughed at his own joke and needed another cup of tea before he choked on the scone crumbs. He’ll do, bless him.

You enjoy each summer’s day my dears. Make the most of them.

Cecily MacGregor

P.S Ruby was reading my gardening notes the other day and then stood in front of me with a cross expression and her hands on her hips. Annoyingly she was right when she said “don’t tell gardeners they can cut their hedges now because it’s nesting time and the birds need to be left to be quiet.” MacGregor smiled and said “Well done Ruby, that’s one less job for me to do!”