NOVEMBER 2019

HUSKING BEE
After the celebration of Harvest in September or October, November is
a last ditch effort to gather what is left of the fruits of the Earth. It may
be that harvest was abundant or the weather was inclement and
delayed the work, yet even after the celebrations are over, the work
goes on.
In my childhood memories November remains an extraordinary month,
among other things the month of the Husking bee. Out of all the
blessings of the Earth, corn and potato are the staples of our food and
the corn was the one which withstood the vagaries of weather better,
so it would be left to be gathered last. If the weather permitted, we
would husk it on the field but most of the time it was taken home in
carts and decanted in the barn or summer house in a big mound
waiting to be dealt with. And this was the time when the
perambulation of the neighbourhood families started, a time of
common work and fun. Each night one family would host a husking bee
and other farmers, neighbours, relatives would come to husk the corn,
to tell stories, to gossip and to make merriment, to drink the spirit or
wine on offer and eat the cake or baked apple provided.
As children we had a grand time. We scaled the mound, we threw corn
at each other and generally made a nuisance of ourselves, but nobody
minded. Sometimes the stories would err on the side of the lewd, so
someone would cry out: “there`s a beam in the house” (our variant of
the little pitcher having long ears), so we would be sent on an errand. It
took us a little time to figure out the game of the grown-ups and then
we would pretend to go, but stick our ears close to the door to hear the
end of the story. Sometimes the older uncles and aunties would make
us corn dolls with reminiscences about their own childhood, when
there were no fanciful toys and even if there were, nobody would
spend good money on it. We would listen to their stories about the
past with awe and to their scolding about the extravagant ways of the
children and youth of today with derision.
Besides helping each other this was a community time, a bonding time
when many a young man made his first moves toward the young girl he
fancied; feuds and misunderstandings got an airing and sometimes
were put to rest; ideas and practices on farming were exchanged,
future plans discussed and approved or discarded.
With the advent of modern technology and the triumph of
individualism we lost the opportunity of many communal tasks and
gatherings, which nurtured and strengthened a given community, yet
we still need each other as our forbearers did. We may have plenty of
resources and opportunities to entertain ourselves but nothing can
supplant the human touch, the exchange and banter, the buzz and
kinship of the community.
Nights are getting longer and colder and we are retreating again around
the light and warmth of our home. It takes a special effort to give it up
and face the dark and the cold to get to your community but it is worth
it. In November we offer plenty of opportunities at the OMH to be
together, to get to know each other better, to strengthen our bond
which each other.
So let us make November our Husking bee month. As our parents and
grand-parents gathered to husk the corn, let us gather together, taking
down the protective layers of our mind and soul in the light and
warmth of our community for a time of learning and fun.
See you at the OMH.
Mária

SUNDAY SERVICES
FLOWERS

Nov 3rd 6-30 pm Rev Mária Pap Mr Philip Randall

Nov 10th 10-45am Rev Mária Pap Mrs J Tedds
Nov 17th 10-45am Rev Mária Pap Mrs E Packard
(in memoriam)
Nov 24th 10-45am Rev Mária Pap Mrs J Hacking

STEWARDS

Nov 3rd 6-30 pm Mr P Frost

Nov 10th 10-45 am Mrs J Tedds
Nov 17th 10-45 am Mr N Fisher
Nov 24th 10-45 am Mr R Wain

SATURDAY COFFEE MORNING ROTA CHAPEL

OPENING ROTA
Nov 2nd Charity Coffee Smile Train Mrs L Walton
Nov 9th Ms A Perry Rev M Pap Mr D Wright
Nov 16th Mrs A Binch Mrs J Tedds Mr N Fisher
Nov 26th Miss C Wright Mrs C Wycherley Mrs L Walton
Nov 30th Ms A Perry Rev M Pap Mr N Fisher

DIARY DATES FOR NOVEMBER

Fri Nov 1st Words, Music, Silence 11-45 am

Hallowe’en Party (See page 5) 6-30 pm
Sat Nov 2nd SMILE TRAIN Coffee Morning 10-00 am
(See Page 5 ) Until
REMEMBERING OUR DEAD 12-00 noon
(See page 5)
Mon Nov 4th Committee Meeting 7-15 pm
Tue Nov 5th Derek Taylor Yoga Group 6-30 pm
Wed Nov 6th Women’s League 2-30 pm
Sun Nov 10th REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY 10-45 am
Mon Nov 11th Arts and Crafts 7-00 pm
Tue Nov 12th Derek Taylor Yoga Group 6-30 pm
Wed Nov 13th Meditation 7-15 pm
 Fri Nov 15th Pudsey Drive (See Page 5) 6-30pm
Tue Nov 19th Derek Taylor Yoga Group 6-30 pm
Wed Nov 20th Poetry Group (see Page 5) 7-15 pm
Fri Nov 22nd Film Evening 7-00 pm
Sat Nov 23rd Adult RE Francis David 12-15 pm
(See Page 6)
Mon Nov 25th Arts and Crafts 7-00 pm
Tue Nov 26th Derek Taylor Yoga Group 6-30 pm
Sat Nov 30th Christmas Fair 10-00am until
1-00 pm

THE NOVEMBER CONGREGATIONAL SERVICE

This month’s Congregational Service will be at 10.45 a.m. on Sunday,

24th November, and will be led by Paul Frost on the theme of “Peace”.
You are invited to contribute a reading or poem or song or piece of
music on the theme of international peace or the individual’s need for
peace, or peace among neighbours, or the peace of the environment
by Sunday 17th November, please.

THE FIRST CHARITY COFFEE MORNING, held on 5th October, was a

great success. The SANDS charity (Still Birth and Sudden Death Society)
raised £120. Their leader, Maxine, said that most importantly for them,
it was a chance to raise awareness and start conversations about the
often unspoken tragedy of a baby’s death. The SANDS group offers
support to the mothers and families affected. They were a lovely group
of volunteers and have booked our premises for their Christmas party
this year.
HALLOWEEN PARTY – Friday, 1st November at 6-30 pm
Come in costume for a wickedly good time of fun with Ghost stories,
pumpkins, games and activities. Light refreshments will be served.
REMEMBERING OUR DEAD – Saturday, 2nd November – 10-00 am
until 12-00 noon

The Chapel will be open for prayers and candles.

THE NEXT CHARITY COFFEE MORNING will be on Saturday, 2nd
November and will be organised by our own Women’s League in aid of
‘Smile Train’. This is a charity which provides surgery to correct cleft
palate conditions in countries all over the world. Please put the date in
your diaries and bring along your friends and family to support this
worthwhile cause.

PUDSEY DRIVE
By popular demand Pudsey will be here on Friday, 15th November, to
host his ever popular PUDSEY DRIVE. Proceedings will commence
at 6-30 pm. Refreshments will be served and there will be a Raffle. Gifts
of Raffle Prizes will be very welcome. Admission £2-50
POETRY EVENING
There will be a Meeting of our Poetry Group on Wednesday, 20th
November, starting at 7.15 p.m.. You are invited to bring a favourite
poem of your choice to share with us, and to tell us something about
the Poet other than the dates of their birth and death. Do remember
that everyone is welcome – with or without a poem.

ADULT RE

Our next session in our series of RE meetings will be given by Mária on

the topic “Francis David and the question of Religious Tolerance. We
will explore the life of Francis David and his contributions to the
Proclamation of the Edict of Torda (1568).

CHRISTMAS FAIR

This year we will be holding a Christmas Fair on Saturday, November

30th commencing at 10-00 am and open until 1-00 pm. There will be
our usual stalls but if you know anyone interested in hosting a stall
please refer them to either Ann or Michael.
ADVANCE NOTICE – St Nicholas Party
A St Nicholas Party for Children and Adults will be held at 6-30 pm on
Friday, 6th December. We will learn about St Nicholas’s life and deeds,
the customs associated with him around the World, followed by games,
surprises and light refreshments. Children are asked to bring a spare pair
of shoes.
THE DECEMBER CONGREGATIONAL SERVICE
The December Congregational Service will be incorporated into the
Carol Service to be held at 6.00 pm on Sunday, 22nd December. Offers
of readings, poems, songs and mince pies will be welcome.

APPEAL

Raffle prizes for our November activities would be greatly appreciated

as well a cakes for the Smile Train Coffee Morning and for our
Christmas Fair Cake Stall.
HARVEST TIME FOR THE SOUL
Alistair Hamilton

Autumn time is the time for gathering in the harvest of

the crops that humankind have been growing throughout the
Year.

Depending on a number of factors we either produce a good

crop or a poor one.

These factors include a good fertile soil and good weather

conditions. The crops harvested are good to replenish the
needs of our material bodies, but what about food for the
inner spiritual self? This we very often forget.

So, what should we grow and store up for our own

spiritual harvest at our Earth’s journey’s end?
 Are we sowing seeds of kindness, love and compassion? Not
only to help our own spiritual growth, but to help our
little ones grow up in a world of understanding, free of
hurt, hunger and abuse. Also, in turn, doing the same for our
animals and natural life.

Are we trying to help those who are ill in mind and body?
The elderly, the weary traveller on life’s pathway?

If we can truly answer in the affirmative to all these

Things, then we know, in the Autumn of our Earth lives, we
Have truly stored up well for the greatest of all,
The harvest of the eternal soul.

DEADLINE for December edition is Sunday, 24th November 2019.

THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH

These thoughts are from unknown authors obtained from two books
published by the Girl Guide Association.

Don’t worry about the future, the present is all that you have,
and the present will soon be the past.

Wealth means having few wants, not having many possessions.

Both from Seeking, edited by Alice Forbes and Anne Mable, published
in 1997.

Unlike humanity’s frontiers

 God’s frontiers may be crossed without permit or passport.
There is a frontier we may cross
Deep within our own hearts.
There is a frontier we may cross
As we reach out in loving concern to another’s need.
Always we live on the frontier.

From Sharing, edited by Averil Taylor, published in 1980