April 2022

10 Buckden Roundabout April 2022 Church News Weekly Prayer Roster Each week during the year the Churches, in their prayers, remember the residents of particular streets in the village, those who work in the parish and village organisations. Those to be remembered this month are: 3rd April Mayfield, Springfield Close, The Osiers, Stirtloe 10th April Vineyard Way, Burberry Road, Swan End, Lark End, The Library and its librarians 17th April The churches of the village: St Hugh ’ s, St Mary ’ s, Buckden Methodist Church, also Perry Baptist Church, members of home groups from these and other local churches, ministers and all who make our churches welcoming and worshipful places 24th April Church Street, Mill Road, The Barns, The Old Flour Mills Thought for the Month As I write, I am praying that by the time you read this it has become wholly irrelevant and completely out of date; that Russia has withdrawn from Ukraine, that we are no longer watching a nation under siege, people dead, civilians forced to take arms, millions forced to flee. Either that or it ’ s all been a dreadfully bad dream and you, dear reader, think I am some- what deranged. I fear otherwise. I fear that by the time you read this, Goliath will not have been stopped, that Ukraine and its people will have been further trampled over and scattered, and the world is significantly a less safe place for us all. There is something Daniel like in this situation. Many might remember the Bible stories about Daniel – his adventures in the lion ’ s den being perhaps the most well - known. God, keep- ing Daniel and his friends safe in the face of almost certain de- struction. But this was not the turning point in that ancient saga. Rather it ’ s Daniel ’ s sudden grasp of the reality of the situation of his people, living, reasonably happily, in Babylon for some time. Yes, they were a nation in captivity; but for most, life had become rather comfortable and people compla- cent. Through visions and dreams, Daniel realises the real dan- ger inherent in their situation. I am no historian but the signs of Putin ’ s direction of travel are well rehearsed – Aleppo, Litvinenko, Salisbury and Crimea for example. We in the west have not allowed ourselves to fully ‘ see ’ - addressing these situations seemed just too difficult and too costly. Captive to the comforts of our way of life, we have allowed blind eyes to be turned, heads to plunge into what now, with hindsight, looks like sand. With such a fast - changing situation I don ’ t know where we will be by the time this is in print. But what is clear is that the cost of what is happening will be felt by us all. Sanctions on Russia will hit our pockets, severely, adding to the cost of living which has already rocketed in the last few months. Ways of living with this must be found without demanding that our needs are met first, or business interests are prioritised, ahead of what will help Ukraine and help maintain world security. This does not just mean tightening our own belts; this means looking after those among us who are already living on the edge, choosing between heating or eating, struggling to pay for roofs over their heads. As well as calling out economic injustice, we need to revive the community ingenuity, care, concern and direct practical help for each other that was so abundant in the early months of the pandemic. We need to protect those who will suffer most as we bear the brunt of the implications of sanctions as a means of doing what we can to honour Ukraine ’ s battle against those wishing to oppress and destroy. But will such measures be enough? I don ’ t know. What I do know is that it ’ s time to call on God, however we understand him or her to be, that we will be enabled to stand alongside those who are alone at this time in the lion ’ s den. Rev Sue Buckden Methodist Church The photo here shows members of the Monday Club with SERV (Suffolk and Cambs) volunteers - The Bloodrunners. They recently had a talk from John Gibson, a resident of Buckden, and also raised over £100 for this organisation and their very worthwhile work