The Vicarage Blackmore Essex
CM4 ORN
Dear Friend(s)
19 Christmas 81
In November of last year the
Alternative Services Book came officially into use and takes its place
alongside the Book of Common Prayer with which the people of our land have been
familiar for three hundred years. At the presentation of the offerings of the
people in the Service of Holy Communion the minister and congregation say in
the new rite: "Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the
splendour and the majesty; for every-thing in heaven and on earth is yours. All
things come from you and of your own do we give you." These sentiments are
drawn from King David's ascription to the Lord his God as recorded in I
Chronicles, chapter 29. They express my own feelings of wonder and gratitude as
I begin this 25th Christmas Letter from my study in the Vicarage at Blackmore.
It is my hope and prayer that
the year 1981 has gone well for you too. In saying that I do not mean that you
should have had no cares, no frustrations, no times of testing. Sometimes in
Christian experience these are the means God uses to bring us into spiritual
well-being and the first requisite to physical well-being so often is spiritual
well-being. I can think of some who this year have experienced sickness,
surgery, bereavement, who on reflection would say, "This year has brought
its good. Things have gone well for me." They have found that God gives
reserves of courage, endurance and hope. They have found that God is alive in
people bringing through them his provision for the occasion.
To turn to happenings in the
Parishes of Blackmore and Stondon Massey during the year now drawing to its
close. The cure, or care of souls is demanding, rewarding and a joy to my
heart. Our small but loyal congregation at Stondon Massey has been encouraged
on four special occasions when the church was filled. The Deanery Christian Aid
Service in May, The William Byrd concert on the first Saturday in July, the See
Stondon Church Exhibition and Gift Day on 12th September and on Sunday 27th a
Civic Service. Our District Town of Brentwood is twinned with Roth in Bavaria.
Each year we exchange visits. The group from Roth with their hosts, our own
town and parish councillors and our usual congregation heard an excellent
sermon from the Rev. John Fleetwood. We have been able to complete roof repairs
to St. Peter & St. Paul Church at a cost of £2600. We are renewing the
wiring next at a cost of £1000 and plan to follow with sundry repairs to the
church windows which will cost another £680. Stondon's church, which dates from
1115 A.D., well repays the care shown it by the congregation.
Maintaining the fabric is a
continuing challenge where the Priory Church of St. Laurence is concerned and
again the loving care of the congregation is in evidence. For the first time in
800 years water is being layed on. We are over-due for a Quinquennial
Inspection by the Church Architect and I anticipate a further programme of
works to be carried out. Two or three times a month we can count on a full or
almost full church for services but this is not a church-going age. We had a Confirmation
Service with Holy Communion at which the Bishop of Barking officiated earlier
in the year when ten adults and teenagers were confirmed. It was one of the
full occasions. The activities maintained jointly by the Baptists and
ourselves: youth work, bible studies, prayer meetings and shared worship twice
each month, continue. After more than ten years serving the Baptist
congregation Pastor Douglas Francis resigned. He is missed. I am ably and
greatly assisted in serving the two parishes by a retired colleague, The Rev.
John Fleetwood, my Lay Reader Peter Hunt and my parochial church councils.
Other lay help covers secretarial duties, the writing up of parish registers,
the maintenance of the churchyard, cleaning of the church and its brasswork,
the arranging of flowers and not least spiritual tuition.
A link between our two
parishes is the bi-monthly news-letter 'Interaction". The "Minister's
Letter" gives me a chance to convey the Christian message to parishioners
I would not be able to meet in person. And the section "Niblets of
News" enables me to present items of general local interest. I get
numerous indications that Interaction is read quite widely. Our village
activities continue, cultural, dramatic, educational and sporting. Our District
Councillor Joan Hobbs had serious surgery earlier in the year but recovered to
become Vice-Chairman of Brentwood District Council. Next year she will be Chairman.
She is a regular member of our congregation. Bad weather over the Spring Bank
Holiday spoiled much of our programme for the Village Fayre Week-end. The
Blackmore Parish Gift Day left something to be desired as regards weather but
parishioners were generous and brought gifts amounting to £580. In both
parishes the Harvest Services and the Harvest Supper and Barn Dance were well
supported and greatly enjoyed.
A splendid work is being done
at nearby Barrow Farm where the Mitchell family have a school of riding for the
disabled. With help from all around they have erected a fine indoor riding
school. Speaking of schools the Head of our local Primary School has inspired
and brought into being an excellent adventure play area with all manner of
equipment. Parents were generous with their help. A lot of muscle went into the
enterprise. At the other end of the age range a number of parishioners have
died. Most I had known over the twenty five years I have been in Blackmore.
Their going left me as well as their families with a sense of loss. On a
happier note our principal organist Brian Scott who … is on the way to recovery
and hopefully will be in harness again soon after Christmas.
I think I speak for the vast
majority in our country when I say that two events during this year have
brought a lively interest and real pleasure. Of course, I refer to the marriage
of Prince Charles to the Lady Diana and confirmed news that the Prince and
Princess of Wales are to become parents next year. There is so much that is wrong
in the world, so much dangerous brinkmanship in industrial and international
relationships that the marriage and the baby come like shafts of light piercing
a sky full of dark clouds.
Even as I wrote of the royal
babe my thoughts turned to another babe whose birth we shall recall before the
year is out. Already preparations are in hand for the Christmas Services. For
me the Season never looses its mystery and its wonder. Every month I hold the
newly born in my arms when they are brought to be baptised. Sometimes I think
of the aged Simeon for thus he held the Son of Mary and as he looked on the
face of the infant Jesus he saw a potential that would fulfil all his pious
expectations and flood his soul with peace. Then I wonder what potential God
has built into the little one in my arms. What potential for self-will and God
neglect. What potential for loving, serving, suffering as our holy Saviour did.
We ought all to ask ourselves how our potential has developed.
Most of us prefer plain
speech, ambiguity can be misleading. I refer you to the closing passage of
chapter 16 of John's Gospel. His last hours on earth had come and Jesus was
concerned to strengthen and encourage his disciples for what lay ahead. For
three years he had shown them that he came from the Heavenly Father. Being
divine he took humanity that through him humanity might be transformed and
given the very nature of Jesus, the Christ, and made the spiritual children of
God. John tells how the disciples said "Ah, now you are speaking plainly
... we believe that you came from God." Jesus said "I am not alone
for the Father is with me ... in me you may have peace. In the world you have
tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
May the peace of God which
passes all understanding garrison your mind and heart this Christmastide and
throughout the New Year 1982.
With gratitude for your
friendship and Christian affection.
Montague H. Knott
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