FEBRUARY 2020
A World Upside Down
“Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful
heart,” (Ecc 9:7)
We are in carnival season, though here in England there is not much
sign of it. Is it perhaps because the political scene provides us with all
the entertainment and vision of an upside down world we could wish
for?
Although it is fairly certain that some form of carnival celebrations date
back to the pre-Christian era, carnivals come to us from Roman Catholic
(and to a lesser extent Eastern Orthodox) traditions. Most of Catholic
Europe and South America still has a strong carnival tradition, where,
people are celebrating with feasts, parades of floats, fancy dress
costumes and balls – just think about Brazil or Venice.
The word Carnival is of Christian origin, from the Latin “carne vale”
(remove meat) and in the Middle Ages, it referred to a period
following Christmastide that reached its climax before midnight
on Shrove Tuesday. Carnival represented a last period of feasting and
celebration before the spiritual rigors of Lent. From
an anthropological point of view, Carnival is considered a ritual in which
social roles are reversed and norms about desired behaviour are
suspended: a world upside down. If you remember, last year I shared
some of the ways we celebrate Carnival back home. Children and adults
would join in the spirit of playfulness and pranks so apt for this season:
we put on fancy dresses and masks or a stocking and went begging
around the neighbourhood. It was mostly sweets, cakes and fruits for
the children and a glass of spirits for the adults, and we were very
rarely turned away, as everybody knew that it would incur our wrath
and mischief and nuisance would follow for our host.
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It was and it is a time of jollification, of laughter of enjoying life to its
fullest and heading the advice of the Ecclesiastes.
Here, you do not have this ritual and your most famous carnivals are in
summer, but I would not expect anything else from a country whose
trademark is one of eccentricity. Even so, there is a facet of English life,
which fits in very well with the atmosphere of the Carnival, and that is
the Pantomime. The role reversals, the fun and laughter, the
participation of the audience, the jibes at the expense of the
Establishment are all reminiscent of the best traditions of the Carnival.
February is still a dark winter month and the Carnival under its different
forms as well as the Pantomime bring lightness and laughter to the
drabness and cold. Their joy and appreciation of life`s simple gifts like
food and stories and games bring a special warmth to our soul and
warm the world around us.
Both Carnival and Pantomime are at the same time reflections in an
oblique way on the imperfections in us and around us and may help,
beyond the laughter and merriment, toward a deeper understanding,
compassion and love for our upside down world.
Yes, Carnival will be replaced by Lent, the Panto season will come to an
end, but the upside down world will remain with us. Unfortunately it
will not be the one of our February celebrations – where good
triumphs, lovers are reunited and the malevolent spirits are chased
away – but the present world, where triumphs and loves are ephemeral
and stupidity, greed, violence are all too real.
So let us store the laughter and merriment of February for what lies
ahead remembering, that these times may bring us closer to one
another and give us strength toward righting some of the balance in
our upside down world.
See you at the OMH.
Mária
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PASTORAL NEWS
Congratulations to Vivienne and David Brown on becoming
grandparents again at the end of December and a warm welcome to
Evie Beatrice, sister to Joshua . May God`s blessing be on the child, her
parents, sibling and all the family!
Simon Ian Hare, son of Josephine Hacking passed away after a long
illness on January the 5th, aged 63. The Memorial Service and
Committal was held on January 20th at Babworth Crematorium. We
hold the family in our thoughts and prayers!
SUNDAY SERVICES FLOWERS
Feb 2nd 6-30 pm Rev Mária Pap Mrs Y Brown
Feb 9th 10-45am Rev Mária Pap Mrs C Wycherley
Feb 16th 10-45am Rev Mária Pap Mrs B Northing
Feb 23rd 10-45am Mrs Pauline Smith Mrs P Smith
STEWARDS
Feb 2nd 6-30 pm Mr P Frost
Feb 9th 10-45 am Mrs J Tedds
Feb 16th 10-45 am Mr N Fisher
Feb 23rd 10-45 am Mr R Wain
SATURDAY COFFEE MORNING ROTA CHAPEL OPENING ROTA
Feb 1st Mrs A Binch Mrs J Tedds Mrs L Walton
Feb 8th Miss C Wright Mrs C Wycherley
Feb 15th Ms A Perry Mrs M Sharpe Mr N Fisher
Feb 22nd Mrs A Binch Mrs J Tedds Mrs L Walton
Feb 29th Miss C Wright Mrs C Wycherley Mr N Fisher
DIARY DATES FOR FEBRUARY
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Tue Feb 4th Derek Taylor Yoga Group 5-30 pm
Wed Feb 5th Women’s League 2-00 pm
Fri Feb 7th Words, Music and Silence 5-30 pm
Mon Feb 10th Arts & Crafts 7-00 pm
Tue Feb 11th Derek Taylor Yoga Group 5-30 pm
Wed Feb 12th Meditation 7-15 pm
Sat F3b 15th Music at OMH 12-15 pm
Tue Feb 18th Derek Taylor Yoga Group 5-30 pm
Sat Feb 22nd Pancake Evening 6-30pm
Mon Feb 24th Arts and Crafts 7-00 pm
Fri Feb 28th Movie Night 7-00 pm
Tue Feb 25th Derek Taylor Yoga Group 5-30 pm
Sat Feb 29th Adult RE 12-15 pm
PANTOMIME VISIT
Our annual visit to the Westfield Folkhouse Pantomime on Saturday,
11th January was extra-memorable because the theatre group was
celebrating eighty years of performing to the people in the Mansfield
area and it was realised that the OMH must have been attending for
almost half this time. The outing and party tea afterwards gave
everyone the opportunity to catch up, especially with those from afar
who came, themselves, as youngsters to our Sunday School. Party
games afterwards, like pass the parcel, are still popular and we would
like to thank everyone who supported this event and particularly
Christine Wright who organised the tickets and delicious food.
MUSIC AT OMH
Our first Recital of 2020, titled “French Extravaganza”, will be by given our
own organist Thomas Williams, on Saturday, 15th February at 12-15 pm.
THE FEBRUARY CONGREGATIONAL SERVICE
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This month’s Congregational Service will be at 10-45 am on
Sunday, 23rd February, and will be led by Mrs Pauline Smith on the
theme of “Trees in Winter” – a follow on from the much enjoyed
Congregational Service in JuneYou are invited to 2019 on the theme of
“Trees”. Any poems, readings, song or photographs on Winter time,
particularly trees in Winter will be most welcome – by Sunday, 16th
February, please.
SPONSORED WALK
There will be a short meeting in the Coffee room on Saturday, 8th February at
12-15 pm to discuss the future Sponsored Walk. Would all interested parties
please try to attend.
ADULT RE
On Saturday, 29th February Paul Frost will present our latest RE session on the
topic ”Religious Freedom”. The meeting will commence at 12-15 p.m, as
usual – nice opportunity for a coffee (or tea) beforehand.
NEXT POETRY EVENING
The next Poetry Evening will be on Wednesday, 18th March, when we
will welcome “Poems to mark a revival”. More details in the March
Newsletter.
ARTS AND CRAFTS MARKET
Arrangements are well in hand for the “Arts and Crafts Market” to be held in
the Schoolrooms on Saturday, 28th March from 10-00 am to 2-00 pm. Tables
have already been booked for Jewellery, Wood Crafts, Greetings Cards,
Recycling and Origami, in addition to our own Cake Stall and Chocolate
Tombola. Tables are still available if you know of anyone who might be
interested in hiring one for the day. Derek
NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTIONS
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Subscriptions for the Newsletter are now due. The subscription rates are £5 if
collected from Chapel, £10 if received by post. Please make payment to
Christine or Lynn. Lynn
For Valentine Lovers Everywhere
The Last Kiss
That stroll we took down a country lane,
My thoughts echo back to that night again.
The stars twinkled down from way on high,
As I kissed your lips, and, said good bye.
My troop was sailing to a foreign shore,
Back to action, back to death`s door.
I can`t say when or if I`ll return,
So till whenever, let your love fires burn.
So now my darling, I must haste away,
Think of me please, each and every day.
One last kiss, then we must part,
That kiss I`ll lock inside my heart.
I think of your lips, as time goes by,
The stars will remember, and so will I.
Alistair Hamilton
DEADLINE for March Newsletter is Sunday, 23rd February 2020.
