All Saints' and St. Nicholas' Churches
Church of England
Poplar, Tower Hamlets, London E14
Church Mouse Blog 10 (New Year to Easter 2010)
This blog records all of the important, memorable or disastrous events which occur at All Saints and in the Parish of Poplar.
It therefore provides a narrative and pictorial record of the people and events in Poplar.
Welcome to these expectant pages - what will this new year bring? Above all God will guide and support all who love Him. Why should I love Him? Because He first loved me. Thank you Jesus
1st January 2010
The New Year begins
It's been a cold, wet and freezing start to the new year, although new year's day itself was a beautiful sunny day.
Here we have Father Peter conducting the annual midday mass on New Year's day, followed by the scrumptious food and drink provided in the Rectory afterwards. I don't know how the boss does it without fail every year! Even us mouses were filled up and overflowing.
What about new year resolutions I hear you ask? Well perhaps it's best not to make any. The hymn this morning started -
"O Christ, the same through all our story's ages,
Our loves and hopes, our failures and our fears"
Perhaps it is best to just share your hopes with God, and let Him plan your steps. Today is a day for acknow-ledging your failures and fears, and praying for God's help in the coming year to be more thoughtful, caring and loving.
Our "newest" reader, David Howard preached this morning, and many people said it was very good. So your faithful mouse has suggested that it appears in the sermons section. Click here to go to it.For a brief history of David's ministry I can quote him as follows -"For 33 years I worshipped at St Mary's Parish Church,Walthamstow. I later changed my church to St Mark's Church, Dalston where I trained for Readership and was licenced by the Bishop of Stepney on July 22nd 2001.
During my time of service at that church I experienced two interregnums and in the absence of a priest I relied on local clergy only for the services of Eucharist.
About September of last year and with a new incumbent to be imminently appointed to the living I felt guided in my prayers and meditations to leave St Mark's Church and find a new home at All Saints, Poplar .In so doing I joined my wife who had recently become a member of the choir.
I was made welcome at All Saints Church and following prayerful reflection and discussions with Father Alan I offered myself for Readership at the church which was accepted and on November 19th 2008 I was licenced to Father Alan."
Where is the mouse hiding? Well at times I get fed up with Poplar and so escape. I am spending a couple of Sundays here at St Mary's. It is interesting that two churches in this parish are All Saints and St Nicks', and this second picture shows them a long way over the water from St. Mary's.
St Nicks' is close to paradise, whilst All Saints is a short walk from hell. Where on earth am I? On a island - Scilly!
Did you know that our two church wardens are making a bid for sainthood? I can't think of any other reason why they continue to work so hard to keep us all in order. And now they have both started wearing ties - an unheard of liberty. You may notice that they are both wearing the same tie as well! And as you can see from the photo of Fred there appears to be a halo developing around him, although nothing like that is happening to Kevin, at least not yet.
As reported earlier, Kevin had a set-to with St Frideswide a few months ago, and we are expecting him to be turned into stone any time now.
But until that happens, or until they are both translated we can enjoy their concerns for us all and marvel at their improving dress sense. Perhaps they have heard that you can't get into heaven if you don't wear a tie.
12th February 2010
Escape from the Rectory
I was walking around the Church-yard the other day when I bumped into an old friend of mine, shivering and mewling amongst the grave stones. When I asked her what the matter was, she replied that she had just been evicted from her home in the Rectory and so made homeless by the Rector.
Naturally I took her in and made her comfortable in the crypt, and marvelled at how so many people want to get rid of us mouses, when all we want is a liitle warmth, some left-overs and somewhere to make a smell from time to time. Now the Rectory is a "no-go" area for mouses so they will all have to find sanctuary in the Church!
28th February 2010
Just another Sunday at All Saints'
Here we are at the end of February, and one of the coldest winters for many years just dragging on. It's 10.00 on Sunday morning and the All Saints' congregation slowly arrive for "just another Sunday". But somehow I think that God was smiling, and even though several people had found it difficult to get up early enough to be there for the first hymn, the atmosphere was of love and excitement.
Sitting at the back was one of our old saints - Eileen Williams - who had come to visit us. Unfortunately her eye sight is not what it used to be because as your mouse greeted her she immediately commented "Oh you have grown fat". I know we are well stocked up with cheese in the crypt, but I thought I was just pleasantly chubby! On the door to greet people, for the first time, was Bob (the curate's other half). He must have recently read the scripture that says "Greet one another with a Holy Kiss", because, as the photo's below never lie, here he is, delivering a holy kiss! He was also seen picking up wandering babies and acting as a baby-stander, amazing.
Then suddenly this elderly distinguished Ghanain was walking forwards for all the clergy to lay hands on him. Bishop Joseph was making his annual visit to us and his family, and as he was having his 85th birthday he was given a prayer blessing. After the service we all had a lovely feast downstairs in the crypt to help him celebrate. The sermon was given by Modupe, who has completed her training as a Reader, but is still waiting to be licensed. On a sad note it was announced that Hilary (Bishop Stephen's wife) had finally died after a very long illness. Our prayers go out to him in this difficult time.
Then all the kids came up and the Boss went through with them all that they had done. It's lovely to see so many children going to the Junior Church each Sunday. Thanks to all the new helpers who are making it a fun, and fruitful, time for all. Finally we all trooped out to the Garden of Remembrance (in the pouring rain) to lay to rest the ashes of Dolly Hutton, another well loved and regular member of our family for many, many years. Finally I noticed that the confirmation classes have started again - so life goes on.
A day filled with sadness, gladness, hope and love. Just another Sunday at All Saints.
Eileen Williams visits us
Bob greeting people with a Holy Kiss!
Bishop Joseph is prayed for on his 85th birthday
Modupe preaches the sermon
We all share in the feast for Joseph's birthday
We all go down to the crypt to celebrate with Joseph
28th March 2010
Another Easter is upon us
Here we go again
Lent draws to a close and Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday. So this is a good excuse for us to demonstrate to the world around how well we can all sing!!
The service starts with the procession around the churchyard as we all attempt to sing in unison the first hymn (with not a great deal of success).
Then we have the introduction to the Holy Week services, which as usual sounds really exciting. So hope to see you as the week goes on.
The Junior Church seems to grow each week, and the youngsters really seem to enjoy writing either the news for the Jerusalem Chronicle, or as this week, giving a first hand TV report of the events in Jerusalem when Jesus enters on a donkey.
They even incuded the latest football score - Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 (Sorry Tom, the team is obviously going through a bad patch at the moment)
4th April 2010
Easter behind the scenes
Easter is the main festival of the Church year, but did you realise what goes on behind the scenes to make the church look beautiful? Here are just a few of the people who work hard to make the celebrations a success. Thanks to you all.
Sarah cleans the pulpit, and preaches a quick sermon
Jenny and Marion do the flowers -
with some help from Helen!
Isn't it amazing what two men (Kevin and Alby) can do with a cardboard box and some stones - the Easter Garden 2010
- and of course we can't forget all the hard work that goes on down at St Nicks' as they also prepared for a great Easter celebration
And so Easter Day came at last. What a climax after Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Clean-up Saturday and then the 5.30am gathering outside the Church for the Easter Vigil. As I've said before it must be my favourite service, with shouts, bells and poppers to celebrate the coming of dawn and the resurrection. Quickly followed by Champagne, bacon and egg in the crypt laid on by us mouses. Then the Easter mass - and suddenly what are all those empty seats? Was it a fire alarm? No, just another excuse to parade around the church! So at last the boss was able to bring Holy week to a close for another year. Now we can relax and look forward to Spring!
