Notes from around the Parishes, May 2018

Great Massingham, Little Massingham & Harpley

So now we’re in the merry month of May, sitting comfortably at the crossroads of
Spring and Summer. This month many historical influences are strongly felt. “Cast not
a clout until May is out” is an old warning not to shed winter clothing too early in the
year.
The wind at North and East
was never good for man nor beast,
so never think to cast a clout
until the month of May be out.
Let’s hope the weather improves so that ‘clouts’ (clothing, rags, patches ) can be cast
with impunity!
The Anglo-Saxons called this month thrimilce because then cows could be milked three
times a day. The present name, from the Latin Maius, probably refers to Maia the
goddess of growth & increase. May is a month of blossom. Virgil says that Roman
youths used to go out into the fields and spend May Day dancing and singing in honour
of Flora - another goddess, this time of fruits and flowers.
The English have long celebrated May Day with games and sports (particularly archery
and Morris dancing) and the setting up of the maypole on the village green for dancing
around with long ribbons. There was also a competition for the prettiest girl, the May
Queen. May used to be a popular girls’ name - and is still occasionally used.
May Day was also (in times mercifully gone by) the festival day for London chimney
sweeps.
It also has deep political connotations for the Labour movement, being International
Labour Day.
“Here we go gathering nuts in May” from the children’s nursery song is probably a
corruption of “knots of May” referring to the old custom of gathering posies (knots) of
flowers or hawthorn twigs on May Day. May blossom is another name for hawthorn.
There are no nuts to be gathered in May!
In the Church calendar, May is the month of Ascension Day and Whit Sunday - also
called Pentecost, of Whitsun weddings, works outings and public holidays; of the
coming of the Holy Spirit to inspire and invigorate the life and worship of the Church. It
is a welcome time of renewal and new growth.
We would do well to tap into this resurgent Maytime blossoming and growth - we really
need it in our lives, our communities, our churches. If a few people do a lot all of the
time it’s really hard work for them; but if many people regularly do a little it can be far
less burdensome – fun even!
Finally, Mayday is an internationally accepted radio signal word for distress/danger used
by aircraft or ships. It comes from the French for ‘help me’ (m’aider). In these
troubled times globally perhaps we should pray fervently that this May, mayday will not
be needed.
With my love and prayers, Reverend Judith +
 SERVICES ACROSS THE GROUP in May
Weds, 2nd May 9am Holy Communion at St Lawrence’s, Harpley
Sunday, May 6th ~ Easter 6 (Rogation Sunday)
0930 Family Service St Lawrence’s, Harpley
1100 Holy Communion St Mary’s, Great Mass
0830 Holy Communion All Saints’, Ashwicken
1030 Holy Communion St Botolph’s, Grimston
1030 Morning Praise St Nicholas’, Gayton
3pm Prayer Meeting St Andrew’s, Little Massingham
Note: The evensong service at Congham advertised last month will not take place today.
Thursday, 10th May Ascension Day
7pm A quiet meditative service at All Saints’, Ashwicken

Sunday, May 13th, Easter 7 Christian aid Week begins

1030 Group Holy Communion St Mary’s, Gayton Thorpe

4pm The Gap Pott Row Methodist Chapel

Weds, May 16th ~ 9am Holy Communion at St Botolph’s, Grimston

Sunday, May 20th ~ Whit Sunday (Pentecost)
0930 Holy Communion St Andrew’s’, Little Massingham
1100 Family Service St Mary’s, Great Massingham
1115 Sung Holy Communion St Lawrence’s, Harpley
0830 Holy Communion All Saints’, Roydon
1030 Holy Communion St Nicholas’, Gayton
1030 Morning Praise St Botolph’s, Grimston
Sunday, May 27th ~ Trinity Sunday
1100 Holy Communion St Mary’s, Great Massingham
0830 Holy Communion St Andrew’s, Congham
1030 Family Service St Nicholas’, Gayton
3pm Celtic Service St Mary’s, Gayton Thorpe
Sunday, June 3rd ~ First Sunday after Trinity
0930 Family Service St Lawrence’s, Harpley
1100 Holy Communion St Mary’s, Great Mass
0830 Holy Communion St Mary’s, East Walton
1030 Holy Communion St Botolph’s, Grimston
1030 Morning Praise St Nicholas’, Gayton
3rd June 3pm Prayer Meeting St Andrew’s, Congham
Weds, 6th June 9am Holy Communion at St Lawrence’s, Harpley

From the Registers:

18th April Funeral of Janet Drewery at St Mary’s, Great Massingham

Prayer Group Wednesdays ~ 7:30pm to 9pm May 9th & 23rd

@ ‘Cobwebs’, Gt Mass the home of Kim & Alan Frazer (Tel 01485 520930);
Bible Study The Bible study group which started in Lent will continue meeting
monthly ~ 2pm on Tuesdays at 2,Old Post Office Court in Harpley ~ next
meeting Tuesday 22nd May . We will study St Matthew’s Gospel using a
guide from the Grove series recommended by Judith. Please let her know if you
would like her to buy one for you (approx. cost £5).
New members welcome. More details from Rev’d Judith (01485 601251.)
Annual Church Meetings are held in April. At St Lawrence’s, Harpley, Jean
Pocklington was re-elected as Churchwarden and Rosemary Mehers as lay
member of the Deanery Synod. Grateful thanks go to Lucy Brown, who, after
many years’ service as Churchwarden has decided to step down and take a well-
earned break. In a large, wide-spread Group of churches such as our Benefice,
the clergy rely on all of us to help with the smooth running of our churches. See
the penultimate paragraph of Rev’d Judith’s letter – please consider whether
you have a talent that you can use to support her in her ministry.

Change to Local Bus Service

The local Stagecoach service X29 (King’s Lynn/Fakenham along the A148) will
th th
cease on 28 April and Lynx takes over from April 29 . Lynx route 49 will
operate 5 or 6 buses per day in each direction ie about one every two hours and
there will be nothing at all on Sundays. Last busses ~ leave KL at 1740 and
arrive in Harpley at 1819 or leave Fakenham at 1730 arrive Harpley 1750.
West Rudham Parish Council has expressed concern to the County Council
transport department, our local MP and County Councillor and has been told that
the current timetable may be revised if a need is demonstrated. It is hoped that
a more frequent service will be reinstated. The Go to Town bus service 22 also
operates through Harpley and Massingham.

Please send items for inclusion in the June issue of the ‘Parish Notes’ to the editor by
17th May ~ Rosemary Mehers rosemarymehers@hotmail.com or Tel: 01485 521866
A Mobile Post Office Van Service is planned to start soon. Since the PO in
East Rudham closed a Postmaster has been appointed to run a mobile van
service visiting Bircham, East Rudham, Harpley, Hillington, Sedgeford,
Thornham & West Newton. Proposed times are : at the Green, East Rudham ~
Mon, Tues, Thurs 8.00-10.00am, & Weds 3.15 to 6.00pm. ~ in Harpley at the
Village Hall / Rose & Crown?? ~ Mon 1045 -1145am. The public consultation
closed on 13th April; we await more news!

Dates for your Diary

Archdeacon’s Charge: Bank Holiday Mon May 7th from 10am at Holkham Hall;
£5 adults, children free ~ At 11am Walk or run up to 10 miles in aid of your chosen
church or organisation and the East Anglian Air Ambulance; bring a picnic, lots of
things to do. www.dioceseofnorwich.org/news/events/archdeacons-charge

Congham Coffee Morning Sat 5th May

10am to 12 noon at St. Andrew’s, Congham

Ashwicken Coffee Morning and Plant Sale

Sat 12th May 10am to 12 noon
at All Saints’, Ashwicken; bring along your spare plants!
Saturday 19th May at 7.30pm St Botolph’s Grimston presents
THE MATTHEW BASON MUSICAL VARIETY CONCERT
Tickets - £10 (includes punch and nibbles)
from David Ellis 01553 674286 or Joy Smith 01485 600402.
at The Gallery in the Barn
Don’t miss this exciting event to be held in The Barn at Wensum
Farm House, Pockthorpe PE31 8SZ, (by kind permission of Lord and Lady
Romney) on Sunday 20th May, 12 noon until 4pm. Local arts and crafts
people will be exhibiting work (some for sale). Free entry ~ donations will be
given to The Norfolk Hospice & Rudhams’ MUGA & Playing Field Fund. This is
always a very social afternoon with wine, juice and delicious canapés flowing.

Open Gardens in Harpley ~ Sat 30th June & Sun 1st July. At least six
great gardens to visit; flower display, stalls and refreshments in Church
A week-end not to be missed so reserve the dates now!

Our Ministry Team:

Team Rector Rev’d Jane Holmes, The Rectory, Gayton 01553 636227
Team Vicar Rev’d Judith Pollard, The Rectory, Grimston 01485 601251
To arrange Baptisms, Marriages, or Funerals please contact the Rev’d Judith (her day off is Friday).