December 2021

10 Buckden Roundabout December 2021 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: 5th December Vineyard Way, Burberry Road, Swan End, Lark End, The Library and its librarians 12th December 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 19th December Church Street, Mill Road, The Barns, The Old Flour Mills 26th December The Parish Council, The Village Hall and Playing Field Trust; those who help to run the Village Hall, and the activities there Thought for the Month With the messages from COP 26 ringing in my ears I have been trying not to eat or drink anything wrapped in plastic and, let me tell you, it ’ s not easy. Actually, nearly impossible. Trying to live differently in this respect involves a lot more than picking up different products in the supermarket! But a good way to lose a bit of weight! COP 26 coverage has been debating whether systemic change (changes affecting business, industry, and production etc) is our only chance of stopping the reality of climate change or whether it ’ s down to the changes that individuals make – with many arguing that the latter is unlikely to make any difference at all. No doubt industry will adapt to the reality of what gov- ernments require. But the distances government can require business to go depends much on what we are prepared to do differently or go without. Turkeys don ’ t vote for Christmas and consumer land needs consumers to consume. The reality is that, yes, we need systemic change, but what we do has an impact on bringing that about. Don ’ t let anyone tell you that how you behave doesn ’ t matter. No doubt the media ’ s em- phasis on climate change will quickly diminish but I am hoping that the learning of needing less, gained during lockdowns, is part of our ‘ new normal ’. I am hoping that climate concern has started to change our shopping behaviour. I am hoping our choice of Christmas presents this year is very different. Christmas is about the arrival of a baby who became hope; hope of a different way of being and living. Living differently, swimming against the tide, is what Christians aim to do in fol- lowing the example of Jesus. The big thing is this; by ourselves Christians know we will fail, again and again and again. Living differently is only possible because of the change that Jesus still brings, 2000 years or so after his death on a cross. The reality of his present presence is the gift of Christmas, a gift that empowers and makes the impossible possible. On the topic of empowerment which makes things possible, I have been greatly inspired by two women with children with learning disabilities who set up WAVE for Change establishing spaces for mixed ability friendships, including WAVE church, the Challenge Group for parents adjusting to the birth of a child with additional needs, and WAVE café. WAVE has been featured on Women ’ s Hour and Songs of Praise, and the founders, Bernice and Celia, received the Archbishop of Can- terbury ’ s prestigious Langton Award for Community Service last year. An event is being planned in the new year to share learning and experience. If you have children with learn- ing disabilities and would like to know more and/or be involved please do get in touch with me on sue.bakermaher@methodist.org.uk . Find out more about Wave here: https://www.wave - for - change.org.uk Number 1 Christmas Quiz 1. OK, let ’ s start recent. What was last year ’ s Christmas number one? 2. 2009 had a distinctly un - Christmassy Christmas number one. What was it? 3. The Spice Girls dominated the 1990s. What was their first Christmas number one? 4. It was 1984 and Ethiopia was in the news. Need I say more? 5. Noddy yelling. Is that enough to identify this mega hit? Answers on page 12 Sudoku