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PAX June 2021

Pax                  JUNE  2021

Price:  40p.

The Parish Magazine for the Benefice of St. Ippolyts with Great and Little Wymondley

VICAR

The Reverend Ginni Dear, The Vicarage, Stevenage Road, St. Ippolyts SG4 7PE                   01462-237032

Email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CHURCHWARDENS

St. Ippolyts

Jane Veasey, Gosmore Cross, Newlands Lane, Gosmore SG4 9BD                                        01462-434254

Clare Reid, 6 The Bury, Codicote SG4 8GG                                                                           07765-264452

Great Wymondley

Cherry Carter, 2 Church Green, Great Wymondley SG4 7HA                                               01438-724919

Caroline McDonnell, 1 Graveley Road, Great Wymondley SG4 7EX                                                07975-798132

Little Wymondley

Mike Allardyce, 81 Whitney Drive, Stevenage SG1 4BL                                                        07967-831968

David Palmer, 198 Cleveland Way, Great Ashby, SG1 6BY                                                   01438-367912

Visit our website - www.stippolytschurch.org.uk

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THINK POSITIVE

I never thought I would ever look forward to having my hair cut but it has happened in the past month.  Sartorial elegance has never been my strong point but, blessed though I am with more hair than most other

men of my age it was good again to look less like one of those objects that were once put into fields to scare

off crows.  It has been marvellous too to see my grandchildren again after months apart and to have to warn the neighbours in advance that screams heard in our garden would not be from child abuse but sheer larking around.  As I write this we are about to be allowed to have meals out with friends and even to hug them.  As we reach

the height of summer we are finding restrictions at last being lifted and life potentially getting closer to what it was once like.

Of course problems remain.  We talk about a return to normality but we have no idea of what that normality will be like.  There will be long term effects of the virus.  The education of young people has suffered dreadfully, there are huge financial and employment problems to be met.  People are finding it difficult to get an appointment with their GP and there has especially been an upsurge in mental illness.  Then there is the more immediate problem of holidays, where it is safe to go and whether a holiday might have to be cancelled at the last moment.  We are not going to return to where we were (if we ever do) for a very long time and we must accept that.

We need however to remember three things as we look forward to the future with more optimism than we would have done (say) in March.  The first is that it is negative to live lives of fear.  As a sufferer from OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) I know that arguably the most dangerous phrase in the English language is 'What happens if...?'.  We waste our lives if instead of taking sensible precautions we also allow our lives to

be taken over by a terror of the virus returning and affecting us.  There is too much to live for to do that;  life

is too short and too precious.

The second is that as the danger recedes we must never ever forget the work done by those who created and distributed the vaccine that has been the gateway to where we are now - or those who have worked so hard

to help the victims of the virus, often at a cost to themselves (my younger daughter who is a hospital sister

has had the virus twice).  If ever people have been doing God's work it is them.  We have taken the medical profession for granted for too long;  this must surely stop now.

The third is that the Church is always there for you and always will be, Covid or no Covid.  For all the superficial changes in its life and practices its message remains as unchanging as its buildings.  We are there

for you and we always will be.  And since God cares as much for those without faith as He does for those

who believe it is there for everyone.  So if you need us, just contact us!

Have a great summer and think positively!

                                                                                                            With very best wishes, Paul.

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SERVICES FOR JUNE

SUNDAY 6th JUNE

8.00am.          Holy Communion (BCP)                    St. Ippolyts Church

9.15am.          Parish Praise                                        Great Wymondley Community Garden

     (bring a chair)

SUNDAY 13th JUNE

9.15am.          Holy Communion                               St. Ippolyts Church

SUNDAY 20th JUNE

9.15am.          Holy Communion                               St. Mary’s Church, Little Wymondley

4.00pm.          Family Service with picnic                   St. Ippolyts

     (bring your own picnic and blanket)

6.30pm.          Evensong                                             St. Ippolyts Church

SUNDAY 27th JUNE

9.15am.          Holy Communion                               St. Ippolyts Church

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FAMILY SERVICE WITH PICNIC

Sunday 20th June at 4.00pm. in St. Ippolyts Churchyard (inside if wet).  Bring your own blanket and a 

picnic for after the service (that way we can comply with Covid restrictions as we mustn't share food).

                                                                                                                               Reverend Ginni 

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BIBLE STUDY

The next Bible Study Group meetings will take place on Wednesdays 9th and 23rd June.  We will meet on

Zoom at 2.20pm. with a cup of tea and we begin our Studies at 2.40pm.  We will be continuing our study of

The Acts of the Apostles.  If you would like to join us please telephone Margaret Edmonds (01462-452340)

or Clare Larsen (01462-453541) for further information.  New members always most welcome.

                                                                                                                                    Clare Larsen

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NEWS FROM THE WYMONDLEYS

ST. MARY’S LITTLE WYMONDLEY

Last month we were able to resume services in St. Mary’s, and it was lovely to be back.  After a Spring cleaning session, to brush off the dust and cobwebs, we put some of the pew runners and hassocks back and it looks like our dear church again.  The service was very well attended and we were pleased to welcome some new members to our congregation.

A.P.C.M.

We were able to have our annual meeting last month, planning to meet in The Vicarage garden, but took to the safety of the church to avoid the gales and rain.  I am pleased to report there are no changes to our P.C.C., David Palmer and Mike Allardyce continue as churchwardens, Angie Tether as treasurer and I as secretary.  We were pleased to welcome Peter Steele, our organist onto the P.C.C.

The complete list of members is as follows:

            Reverend Ginni, Chair

Mike Allardyce, Churchwarden

David Palmer, Churchwarden

Peter Steele

Harold Lindsay

Melanie Whittick

Anthony Stratton

Rosemary Chambers, Secretary

ASSORTED DUCKS ………..

We have two ducks nesting in the garden, one is just outside the back door under a shrub.  We can see her

from the kitchen window, her partner sits dutifully on the lawn to keep watch and escorts her down to the door to get a daily meal, he patiently lets her eat first and then takes his.  Our dog knows she is there and is fascinated, so we have to keep her at bay, so far so good.  I expect any day to look out and see a clutch of ducklings, more mouths to feed.

Our other mum to be is at the top of the garden, I couldn’t see her nest until one day I was weeding and she suddenly emerged from a large planter box on the patio.  When I looked, she is sitting on the soil, the level has dropped some 30cm. and we have a box hedge around the edge, so she is well protected, but the ducklings will need an air lift to get out.  I check her every day in eager anticipation.  She flies out and comes to find me to

feed her, gets cross if I don’t go immediately, so I drop everything;  she has me well trained.

                  Rosemary Stratton

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WYMONDLEY PARISH COUNCIL

The Parish Council will return to face to face meetings at the Wymondley JMI School.  The dates for the

next three meetings are as follows:

Monday 21st June         Monday 19th July          Monday 6th September

Meetings will start promptly at 7.30pm.  Members of the public and press are very welcome to attend and

should ensure they arrive at least 5 minutes before the start time.  They will need to wear a face mask whilst in the school hall (unless a medical exemption applies) and should bring hand sanitiser.  Contact details will need to be provided to the Clerk to enable NHS contact tracing if necessary.  They should not attend if they have any COVID-19 symptoms on the day.

The Parish Council has published its first Annual Report on its website.  For environmental and cost reasons

it will not be published in hard copy.  The Annual Report provides a review of the activities of the Council and the Financial Report for year ending 31st March 2021 and can be viewed at https://wymondleypc.org.uk/parish-annual-assembly/

Sharon Long

Clerk to Wymondley Parish Council

Phone:  07733-853263

E-mail:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

                                                                                                  www.wymondleypc.org.uk

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ST.MARY’S GREAT WYMONDLEY

Almost June already!  How time flies!  Where does it go to?

So many jobs to do in the garden at this time of year to try and get everything up and running for a good growing season.  All hampered by the strange May weather we have been having lately;  frosts, sun, rain,

hail and unusually strong winds.  The continual rain just lately has given the grass and weeds a heyday!

Earlier on though the weather was good for the fruit blossom and we are hoping for a good fruit harvest.

In the churchyard there has been a big increase in the cuckoo flower also known as lady’s smock, mayflower or milkmaids.  They are a major food source for the Orange Tip Butterflies which drink the nectar and lay one egg on each flower head so that the caterpillars feed on the flower seed.  I hope they leave some seed to spread for next year!  Luckily the Orange Tips also feed and lay eggs on Garlic Mustard or Jack by the Hedge which also grows in the churchyard verges.

 IMG 5311 Great Wymondley church 1IMG 5329 GW Flowers 1

The Great Wymondley swifts are back to nest under the eaves of the apse on the north and east side of the church.  We first saw them on 18th May which was rather late and we were worried that they might not return.  It is possible that they were here earlier and we did not see them with the low cloud or they could have stopped off somewhere warmer in Europe on their long journey from Africa sensing that the weather was not good here.

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

Our PCC is now made up of the following members:

Ginni Dear

Cherry Carter

Caroline McDonnell

Mike Bradly Russell

Peter Mackenzie

Paul Harding

CHURCH RESTORATION BOARD

The big white board at the bottom of The Green is being taken up to the church to dry off so that it can be re-painted and brought up to date.  The Restoration is still not complete and Fundraising continues.

5.

FAMILY SERVICE SUNDAY 6th JUNE

The Family Service for Great Wymondley will be held at 9.15am. at the Community Garden.  You can park

on the hard standing at the edge of The Green or by the Village Hall and walk up the road to The Green Man. Cross the road carefully as it is by the junction and walk up the No Through Road and the Community Garden is on your left.  Alternatively walk up through the churchyard where you might see the swifts high in the skies. Go to the top left hand corner and go along the track past the allotments.  You will pass our allotment where a lot of the fruit for the Church Jam is grown.  Turn left and carry on down past the houses and the parked cars and the Community Garden will be on your right.

Bring a folding chair to sit on if you can and a mug if you would like tea or coffee afterwards.  As we will be outside we will be able to sing!  If the weather is bad the service will be held in the Village Hall as the church here is still closed.


We look forward to seeing you.

We hope that you are enjoying some of the freedom that Stage 3 is giving us all.  Stay Safe.

                                                                                                                                    Cherry Carter

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WYMONDLEY BAPTIST CHURCH

Well, this past month has brought us plenty of rain!  When it started, after a dry spell, the general feeling

was 'Oh Good! the gardens really need it!'  But now, we are longing for the bright dry sunny days of June.

However, when we think of water of which there is plenty in our land at this time, we are very thankful and

we remember the times when we longed for the rain on dry hot days.  We are also so aware of the countries

which suffer many months without rain and long for the sound of raindrops!

We have recently been celebrating Pentecost and we have been reminded of the words of Jesus, as recorded in John's Gospel:  ‘On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice:  'If a man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.  By this He meant the Holy Spirit whom those who believed in Him were later to receive.’  And we know, when we read The Book of Acts that when the Holy Spirit did come, the Believers were transformed as we saw when Peter preached that powerful sermon and 3000 people were added to their number in one day.  So the Holy Spirit brought about the birth of the Church and we can still experience that new life promised to the woman at the well in John 4 v14.  ‘Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’

We also see in the Old Testament the importance of water as we read in Jeremiah 17:  ‘Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.  They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes;  its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year

of drought and never fails to bear fruit.'

We are forever thankful for the vaccine and for the great improvement in the Covid situation and the way things are beginning to get back to a kind of normal.  We are all fairly cautious as new variants of the virus can appear, so we will announce when the Chapel Hall is open for activities again.  We hold services in the Chapel every Sunday with the usual guidelines and these services are also on zoom.  Anyone wishing to attend, please email the church on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or the church phone 07531-081621.  If you are joining from your home on zoom dial in at 10.30am. for a 10.45am. start on 01314-601196 or 02030-512874.  Please use the link https/zoom.us/j/8675752648 or download the zoom app. and join using ID 86775752648.  Any problems please phone 07531-081621.

'First Tuesday' will be on 1st June when we 'meet' with Will and Lynne Andrews for coffee and chat from 10.30am.  Join us if you can on zoom link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9128138308.

Tuesday evening is the time when we pray together without zoom.  At present this is still from our homes and we will announce when we meet together in the Church or home again.  So why not join from your home as we pray for our community, our loved ones, our neighbours, our country and our Queen.  We continue to pray for the NHS and for those still suffering with new strains of Covid.  We pray for the Government in all their decisions and we pray for the parts of the world struggling with increased numbers of Covid sufferers and fatalities.  We have also joined in with the worldwide prayers of 'Thy Kingdom come' from Ascension Day to Pentecost.

On Wednesdays 9th and 23rd June The Community Bible Study Group meets at 2.20pm. and a warm welcome is extended to all who wish to join this.  At present we are still on zoom and the link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3707228114.  There is also weekly Bible Study at 7.30pm. on the same zoom link as the Church service and fortnightly at 11.00am.  Both open to all.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all in our villages who are poorly at this time or who are missing and mourning loved ones.

Sundays in June:  10.45am. - 12 noon

6th        Martin Watson

13th      Bryan Field

20th      Tim Wells (Fathers' Day)

27th      Matt Summerfield

"Let your living water flow over my soul.

 Let Your Holy Spirit come and take control

 Of every situation that has troubled my mind.

 All my cares and burdens on to you I roll.

 Jesus.....Father......Holy Spirit......."                            John Watson

                                                                                                      Marjorie McCarley  (01438-727050)

7.

NEWS FROM ST. IPPOLYTS

STOP PRESS !!

Plant Sale in aid of Send A Cow

At Audrey and John Burr's, 15 Grange Close on Thursday 10th June 10.00am. - 12.30pm.

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ST. IPPOLYTS PARISH COUNCIL

The next meeting will take place on Monday 14th June at 7.30pm. in St. Ippolyts Parish Hall.  A copy of

the Agenda will be displayed in the notice boards and on website www.stippolyts-parishcouncil.org.uk.

There is always an Agenda item for Public Participation where residents can ask questions and raise issues. Please contact Susan Mears on 01462-421409 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

GOT SOME GET UP AND GO?  BE A PARISH COUNCILLOR

Wanted four Parish Councillors (2 in north ward and 2 in south ward)

“Someone should do something” - could that someone be you?

Are you interested in community life?

Would you like to “make a difference” to your local parish?

If you would be interested in being co-opted onto St. Ippolyts Parish Council, please apply by email to the

Parish Clerk by Friday 4th June, co-option to take place on the Monday 14th June Parish Council Meeting.

For more information about being a Parish Councillor, please see our website.

                                                                                                                                    Pam Skeggs

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ST. IPPOLYTS PARISH HALL

The next management meeting will be held on Wednesday 30th June.  User Group representatives welcome.

In accordance with the government’s roadmap Step 3 we were able to welcome back some of our users on Monday 17thMay for permitted activities and Step 4 no earlier than Monday 21st June hopefully for a new normal.  By following the mantra of hands, face, space, we can all keep ourselves and others safe.

For enquiries, please contact Sam Kelly, Bookings Secretary, on 01462-423291 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

or visit website www.stippolyts-hall.co.uk.

Diary dates:

Management Meeting              Wednesday 29th September 2021

Christmas Fair and Raffle         Saturday 27th November 2021 from 2.00pm. to 4.30pm.

AGM                                        Tuesday 22nd March 2022 at 6.00pm.

                                                                                                                                    Pam Skeggs

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ST. IPPOLYTS PCC

Our PCC for the coming year will be made up of the following people:

The Reverend Ginni Dear - Vicar

Jane Veasey:                Churchwarden

Clare Reid:                  Churchwarden

Michael Hooper:         Treasurer                                             Jenny Sheach:              Safeguarding Officer

Roger Cox:                  Secretary                                              Shelagh Cox

Howell Davies:            Reader                                                 Anne Steel

Dee Soden:                  Deanery Synod Representative                        Frances Williams

Irene Isaac:                  Deanery Synod Representative

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DEADLINE

The next issue of Pax will be a double issue covering JULY and AUGUST.  Material should reach Clare Larsen, 24 Ninesprings Way, Hitchin SG4 9NN (tel. 01462-453541 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) by Tuesday 15th June, please.  Or given to Rosemary Stratton by Saturday 12th June.

                                                                                                                                    Clare Larsen

8.

Family Service and Picnic St Ippolyts
A thought from Revd Paul Lanham