All Saints' Church Emberton
The LAMP Group of Parishes
Emberton, Filgrave, Tyringham, Little Linford and Haversham
Church of All Saints, Emberton
Connecting people with Jesus Christ and each other
A Prayer for All Saints’ Church
Heavenly Father, please help us at All Saints to better serve our community and bring your message to everyone in a way that glorifies you and enhances the lives of those we touch. Amen.
THE RECTOR'S PAGE
Donald Trump is one, amongst many, who frequently like to paint themselves as victims. Do you? Those who follow Mr Trump believe that the multitude of court cases against him are no more than Democratic Party conspiracies. It's beyond my paygrade to comment but I do note that the sympathy and consequent support generated inside his followers is sometimes overwhelming and difficult to understand. When I tell the grandchildren that they need to look after their old decrepit grandad (me) rather than jumping up and down on his tummy, I am also trying to get sympathy as the victim of their violence! Of course I am not really a victim, but that sympathy is nice to have and a hug makes it better.
Real-true victims are usually helpless, like the hostages, the homeless and starving in Gaza or the sex workers on the roundabouts in southern Spain or those imprisoned for defrauding the Post Office when they didn't. Victims are sometimes people abused, even to death, for their principles, like past and present Christian martyrs.
Claiming to be a victim, unfairly treated, creates a following, a sympathy, an outrage and a demand for justice. Alexei Navalny,together with much of Ukraine (and many who would not dare speak up in Russia) are victims of the present Soviet leadership. The people of North Korea are victims of their tyrannical regime and I could name a dozen other countries and groups that suffer as victims of oppression and violence. Their victimhood is not of their own making, but serves to remind us what immense evil there really is in the world.
By all accounts Jesus never sought sympathy for himself, and whatever you think of the God-man, he was well regarded as a teacher and healer, not only in the Bible but also in other historical texts . His torture and death were as a victim of the establishment unwilling to have its power undermined by anyone, and as I type that I realise how little has changed in so many places, almost certainly because human nature has not changed. There was overwhelming integrity in the victimhood of Jesus which saw him make a personal choice to walk to his own death in Jerusalem. 'Greater love has no one than when they give their life for their friends.' Now that is a real victim whom I'm willing to follow.
Being a victim of children doing violence on my tummy is minor (most of the time), but standing up for the teachings of Jesus who tells me to love my neighbour and my enemy, that is a principle worth being a victim for.
Best wishes
Adrian
Revd. Adrian Low
Area Dean and Priest for the Lamp group of parishes
Haversham, Little Linford, Tyringham & Filgrave, Emberton
The Rectory, High Street, Haversham, MK19 7DT
rev.adrian.low@gmail.com 07883717642 www.thelampchurches.com
PLEASE CHECK OUT THE NEW LAMP GROUP WEBSITE!
All Saints' church is normally open during the day and you are welcome to visit. However, it will currently be locked until 14th January. If you need to access the church, please contact one of the wardens (details below).
Sunday 14th April
11:00am Holy Communion
Sunday 21st April
6:00pm Evensong
Sunday 28th April
11:00am Café Church
Sunday 5th May
6:00pm Something Else on Sunday - SEOS
Thursday 9th May
7.00pm Ascension Day Service at St Mary's, Haversham
Sunday 12th May
11:00am Holy Communion
Other events you might like to come to:
Monthly Lunches
Following on from our very successful Lent Lunches we are now back to our usual lunches held on the first Thursday of each month in church. We will be supporting different charities each time, and all are very welcome, starting at 12.30pm.
Every Thursday
Our Churchyard working party on Thursday mornings is now back! Coffee is served at 11.00am for visitors and workers in the church. All are very welcome.
All Saints' News
For up to date Church news, please visit our Facebook page, as well as this webpage, and there will also be some posts on the WhatsApp group, Emberton Echo. https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsChurchEmberton/
PATHWAYS
The Diocese of Oxford magazine
USUAL PATTERN OF SERVICES
1st Sunday of the month
6.00pm Something Else on Sunday
An evening service with a difference. It uses video, soundtrack, and readings. This service offers a very different way to present some key biblical messages which we hope will deepen understanding and offer new perspectives. Please do give it a try.
2nd Sunday
11.00am Holy Communion
A Communion Service using modern liturgy. The children meet in the Gathering Area in church for Children's Church at about 11.45am.
3rd Sunday
6.00pm Evensong
A Book of Common Prayer Sung Evensong with sermon. Hymns are taken from a selection of books.
4th Sunday
11.00am Café Church or Parish Praise
A Family Service in the Gathering Area at the back of the church, with a short talk suitable for all ages, together with refreshments.
Please check news and prayer leaflet for further information, or the Church Notice Board for any changes.
To arrange Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals at All Saints’, please contact the Revd Prof Adrian Low.
The Parochial Church Council and Friends of All Saints' encourage the use of the Church for other community events, such as concerts, theatrical evenings, workshops, etc. Please contact the PCC Secretary in the first instance.
The church is always here for you Any enquiries should go to our Priest-in-Charge, the Revd Prof Adrian Low 07883 717642, or the Churchwardens: Maddi Forrester 07769 923787, or Sheila Watts 07703 279165.
Improvements to the Church
Our latest improvement is the wonderful new notice board at the churchyard entrance. This has been purchased with a generous donation in memory of Ken & Elizabeth Turner, and by the Parish Council.
Outreach
All Saints’ regularly supports the MK Food Bank, the Tearfund, and Crisis at Christmas. Various charities are also supported at the monthly Thursday lunches.
Choir
All Saints’ has an enthusiastic small choir, who lead the singing at Sunday Services. Choir members enjoy joining the Royal School of Church Music for some of their ‘Come and Sing’ events. The Choir is supported by the "Emberton Occasionals" at Weddings and special Services. For further details please contact Hilary Proud via the Rector.
Bell Ringers
There is an active band of bell ringers, who ring All Saints’ 6 bells before Services, and also practice on a Tuesday night 7.45 – 9.00pm. New recruits are very welcome. Please see the Bell Ringers’ page on this website, or contact Sheila Watts 07703 279165 for more information.
Children’s Church
The Children’s Church meets in the Gathering Area in church on the 2nd Sunday each month at 11.45am under the leadership of Maddi Forrester and Judith Taylor. See the photographs for some of their activities, and please contact Maddi Forrester, 01234 714903, for more details.
Homegroup
The Homegroup meets on alternate Monday evenings to discuss various aspects of the Christian message. The group includes people from other parishes, and new members are always welcome. Please contact Judith Taylor on 01234 240690 to find out more.
Friends of All Saints’
All Saints’ is supported by the Friends’ group (FOAS), who are a registered charity. They work with the Parochial Church Council to preserve and protect the fabric of the Church and Churchyard and to raise funds to assist with improvements to make the building suitable for use by the community for a wide variety of activities. Please see the FOAS page on this website.
A Brief History of the Church
It is believed that the building was constructed between 1340-1410. It is in the ‘Decorated Gothic’ style. Work began on the Chancel, with its magnificent east window and progressed through to the building of the tower. During this period, England was at war with France and the Black Death killed thousands of the population resulting in a shortage of skilled masons. This led to wages and prices soaring, which explains why the decoration becomes plainer on the west side of the Church.
Unusually we have a portrait in brass of Reverend John Morden, who was the priest when the Church was completed. His brass records that he gave two bells, one of which had the inscription ‘In Multis Annis Resonet Campana Joannis’ (John’s bell shall sound for many a year).
An interesting ‘rumour’, for which there is some corroborative evidence is that the remains of Sir Everard Digby, hung, drawn and quartered for his part in the Gunpowder Plot, lies buried in the Chancel.
By the mid 19th Century, the Church was in danger of falling down. Very extensive restoration work was undertaken by the Reverend Campbell Hulton - many of his relations and descendants gave generously to the scheme and are commemorated in the mural tablets and windows which are such a dominant feature of the Church interior. Restoration and improvements continue to this day, with the recent addition of cloakroom and kitchen, as we strive to bring the building into the 21st Century.
Who’s Who?
Rector: The Revd Professor Adrian Low, The Rectory, Haversham, MK19 7DT. 07883 717642 rev.adrian.low@gmail.com
Curate: The Revd Kimonie Nicholls. 01908 610956, 07760 115834 kimonie.nicholls@outlook.com
Churchwardens: Maddi Forrester, Cedar House, High Street, Emberton, MK46 5JB. 07769 923787
Sheila Watts, 28 Gravel Walk, Emberton, MK46 5JA. 07703 279165
Parochial Church Council Secretary: Janet Gamlen 01234 711729
PCC Treasurer: Warwick Clarke 01234 713174
PCC Members: Louise Cook, Candy Godber, Colin Jamieson, Bill Moody, Hilary Proud, Libby Wemyss
Safeguarding Policy
All Saints' operates a Safeguarding Policy, promoting a safer church. Click here for a copy of the Parish Safeguarding Policy.
Safeguarding concerns? Contact Angela Laval on 01234 713979/07976 560365 or alaval100@gmail.com.
General Data Protection Regulations
Please click on this link for the Data Privacy Notice
Churchyard Regulations
Please click on this link for the Diocese of Oxford Churchyard Regulations
For up to date news: www.facebook.com/AllSaintsChurchEmberton
