My evening with her (5th August) was a pleasure I will never, ever, forget (nor the 499 who were with me) being with her for the evening. For who is "she?" She is, "a 3-cylinder superheated 4-6-2 Pacific type Express Tender Locomotive - exhibited at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924." She is "Flying Scotsman" (4472) and is a truly wonderful sight to hear, see, smell and behold. She brings a lump to many throats at the mention of her name - so there! But you may be thinking how sad I am, sad maybe, but certainly NOT in any way lonely.

But, she has her problems. "Prince William" was coupled up right behind her tender to make sure that her compressor (if it failed again) was taken in hand quickly. And, "David" (from London) helpfully informed me that her, "top stays are weeping badly." So, if you have read thus far, you may be rightly thinking, this is either an obsession, a fanatic with a problem, definitely someone in need of serious counselling! Yes, yes, yes, to all of them. I am in the grip of, "the good old days," if not the, "glory days," someone with nostalgia flowing out of control. "Yes," I say, "yes and yes again!" But, say what you like, every seat was taken, all August seats (500 every time) are sold and platform 5 at York was grossly overcrowded. The unexpected icing on the cake was the "Black 5" which stormed in on platform 4 with "Blood & Custard" stock as we were about to set off. Loved it? I nearly died!

You may well want to use words like, "obsessive," or even, "manic." Perhaps there is a fine line between the two. But I ask you to turn to the opening words of a much loved Easter hymn, "We Have a Gospel to Proclaim." It reminds us to think about what is really important, what really matters. So, our passions, interests, or whatever, need to be put to one side when we come to worship our Redeemer. We don't need to be so taken up with "safe" things like: churchyards, gutters, toilets, kitchens, magazines, pews or seats, hymnbooks, hymns, hymn-tunes, buildings, who said what to whom and why, or who is (or isn't) here and what they're are wearing. These have their place in the importance hierarchy, but that we have a Gospel to proclaim is what we should be really about - with an infectious enthusiasm and with that at always at the top of our agenda.

Our proclamation of the Gospel is what really matters, this is what we should be steamed up about, this should be our driving force, our means of signalling what we believe and are about, where our journey is taking us, showing that we are on the right lines, knowing where we are going and with what purpose. We have a Gospel to proclaim - and that Jesus is Lord. Just shake your head knowingly (if not pityingly) when you hear that sad little people (like me) are eager to share with you "that the gradient in the Gas Works Tunnel is 1/105." If you don't know what I'm on about, don't even bother to ask.

Somehow I missed the article, paraphrased below, when it was published in our magazines almost two years ago. Perhaps you did too. I know that I am not alone in believing that mine is an extremely fortunate generation; we have seen the country enjoy an extraordinary period of peace and prosperity. At the same time increasing media coverage has left us with no excuse for being unaware that life has been, and continues to be savage, brutal and threadbare in many countries.

Others must share that impotent sense that ‘something should be done’ when one can make so many excuses for doing nothing. I feel that I must be more involved, in situations where there is, for example starvation for lack of irrigation, disease for lack of even the simplest medicines, or abject poverty exacerbated by conflict or unjust trading conditions. I feel the need to learn more about the work of those organizations worldwide, which are attempting to relieve the suffering. It’s so difficult to know where to start: so easy just to send a donation to salve the conscience.

To those of you who feel as I do, perhaps we might pool our ideas: if we share knowledge, research and resolve, we might surprise ourselves by realizing not only that ‘something can be done’ but we could indeed do something.

Would you ring me (843332) with name/phone number so we might get together next month to share concerns and ideas?

Teresa Rose

Paraphrased from Oct 2002 Article

When the Lower Wharfedale Cluster was set up, a Justice and Peace Group was formed, aiming to keep international issues before our eyes by organising education, displays and fundraising and by providing a range of opportunities for us to think through and pray about issues of Justice and Peace and act where we can.

If you think about images conjured up, would not the world seem a brighter place if there was justice for all and worldwide peace? Our world seems constantly besieged by war, famine and poverty. What are we meant to do about it all? Can we change anything? Well, there are plenty of examples in the Bible to guide us today:

“Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice…” (Deuteronomy 24, 1-7)

As for Peace, it appears so difficult to achieve and maintain. In fact true Peace comes only from God but with his help we can spread it and help others to find it;

There is already a great deal of work being done by many committed and caring people in our parishes, in the UK and world wide so why do we need more? The Gospel calls us to action but each one of us has to decide how to live and react to the call to Peace and Justice in our own lives. I do believe that there is so much more that we can learn and strength we can give to each other by sharing ideas, information and resources. Awareness of local, national and international concerns from unbiased sources can help us decide what we feel able to do and realistically achieve. You may feel strongly about environmental issues, disadvantaged children, older people, marginalized people from whatever cause, inequality, trade injustices, human rights …. the list is endless!

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Holy Baptism

2nd May 2004, Bailey George Kitchen, All Saints' Bramham
23rd May 2004, Oliver David Connor, St Luke's Clifford
20th June 2004, Lewis Harvey Hodgson, All Saints' Bramham
27th June 2004, Mollie Grace Jennings, St Luke's Clifford
25th July 2004, Henry Isaac Daniells, All Saints' Bramham
25th July 2004, Matthew Anthony Buchanan, All Saints' Bramham

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