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CHURCH NEWS
Weekly Prayer Roster
Each week during the year the Churches, in their prayers, remember the residents of particular streets in the vil-
lage, those who work in the parish and village organizations. Those to be remembered this month are:
1st May
Buckden Surgery: the doctors, nurses, receptionists, pharmacists, health visitors and mid-
wives; those we know who are in hospital, the elderly, disabled and housebound
8th May
Farming communities, Taylor’s Lane (West), Hardwick Lane, the residents and staff of Hard-
wick Dene, Great North Road, Brampton Road, Perry Road, Buckden Wood
15th May
High Street, Ivelbury Close, York Yard, Lion Yard, George Lane, King George Court, Taylor’s
Lane (East), Wolsey Gardens, Charles Court
22nd May
Hunts End, Copes Close, Monks Cottages, Hunts End Court
29th May
Manor Gardens, Manor Close, Glebe Lane, The Grove
STUDY LUNCHES
The regular monthly study lunches continue on Monday May 9th,
and then on Monday June 13th and Monday July 11th
Methodist Church Hall 12.30 pm to 2.00 pm Contact:
Ann Brittain
on
812012
Thought for the month
Spring now seems to be in full swing. I love this time of the year. Days are growing longer and (hopefully) warmer.
There is the beauty and colour of blossom and spring flowers, which somehow seem particularly bright against the
receding backdrop of the winter drabness, and ahead we can look forward to the potential and promise of sum-
mer.
In our church year, also it is a time of promise and potential. This month we celebrate Pentecost, the old Whitsun,
the time when the early church began its journey out from Jerusalem; a journey which would transform the world.
On any view it is a remarkable story.
The church then comprised just over a hundred believers, ordinary people hiding in a distant place on the edge of
the Roman empire. They believed that their lord, Jesus, was not just a great moral teacher, but he was the Son of
God. And that although He had apparently been executed by crucifixion, his disciples claimed he had been raised
from the dead and was promising a deep fullness of life and eternal reconciliation with God for those who be-
lieved. Incredible though it sounded, within little more than a generation the faith they professed had travelled from
Jerusalem to the household of the Emperor in Rome, the centre of the then known world. And further this had
happened without political or military support. Indeed, it suffered periodically intense persecution throughout its
early years but continued to grow until it became the official faith of the Roman empire in AD312. And so the
Church has continued to proclaim its message of peace, hope and relevance to daily life. At St Mary’s along with
all the local churches we welcome the opportunity to invite people to hear this incredible story.
One of the most public adherents of the Christian faith is Her Majesty the Queen, who speaks warmly and humbly
of the help and support she has received through her faith. As we are all aware Her Majesty celebrates her 90
th
birthday this year. The weekend of 10-12 June has been designated as the national celebration weekend, as this
coincides with the Queens official birthday. And here in Buckden the churches will be holding a joint service in the
evening of 12
th
June to which all will be welcome. Further details to follow in next month’s Roundabout, but you
may wish to reserve the date and join us to celebrate the Queen’s remarkable reign.
Rev Jes Salt
Priest in Charge,
Buckden and the Offords