News Bites
Christmas at St. James' 2009
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A Village Remembers
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Teady Bears' Picnic
Our Vestry Group (for youngsters aged 10 plus) had a fashion show in which their teddies and other toy creatures strutted their stuff on the catwalk! |
Giant Puzzle …
More on the Festival Festival Photos
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Sing Choirs of Angels
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An old tradition climbs the heights
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Midges and Mystery: Ascension Day morning:
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LLB... ?
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Holy Week and Easter 2009 Easter Day began with the traditional Easter fire being lit before dawn, from which the newly blessed Paschal Candle is lit and the light of Christ thus symbolically enters and illuminates the still dark Church. It was a very moving service, followed by a celebratory breakfast in the Church Hall. The later Parish Communion was very well attended - and followed by the (now traditional) Easter Egg hunt for the children.
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Spring Cleaning
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Football v. W. Moors |
Our photo gallery contains a selection of photos that give a glimpse of some of the services and other activities that featured as part of our Christmas celebrations : The Christmas Bazaan, Christingle Service, the children's nativity and 'Blessing the Crib' service and 'Carols be Candlelight'. 
Young and old gathered on Remembrance Sunday by the war memorial and afterwards in Church where 10 candles were lit by members of the congregation ranging from under 9 years to over 90 years old. All were drawn together in remembrance - and in hope and resolve to help make a better future. 
Our second Teddy Bears' Picnic again invited all our families and those who have brought a child to be baptised at St James' during the past several years. It began with a short service of blessing in Church and continued with a picnic and games in and around the Church Hall and Vicarage garden.
The curious spectacle of the Alderholt Giant rumbling through the streets again caused a stir. Jeff Pink's tiny Noddy-like car in the vanguard, bearing a grand sign saying ‘Giant', seemed to both slow the oncoming drivers down and bring a smile to their faces. The police stewarded the parade with their usual care and good humour. Salisbury has its ancient giant, but theirs is now confined to a museum. Only ours braves the streets and brings the traffic to a halt in favour of children in fancy dress. But several voices asked the question, what are the origins of this unique local custom? One heard speculation about its origins in the ancient pilgrimage to the burial place of St James in Spain . For a thousand years English pilgrims set sail from Poole to La Coruna and walked the remaining 140 miles to Santiago de Compostela. There they would have encountered carnival giants and perhaps on returning might recall their adventure of a lifetime by such means. Vicar Philip remains impartial on the question, simply expressing the view that if the Alderholt giant makes people smile, and reminds them that all of us, like James the pilgrim, are on a spiritual journey, and challenges us to ‘think big', then it's OK by him, and never mind the history! 
St. James' Choir had an inspiring day at the Salisbury Diocesan Choral Festival. We sang a wide variety of music, and it was good to catch up with old friends again and to enjoy some relaxiation by way of a communal picnic on the cloister lawn following the afternoon rehersal. 
For generations, the people of Cripplestyle Chapel near Alderholt, have climbed Kingbarrow Hill to celebrate Whit Sunday with an open-air service. The Alderholt Family of Churches (made up of St James' Parish Church, Crendell Methodist Church and Camel Green Tabernacle) arranged this year's 'pilgrimage up the hill' to gather around the traditional flag erected for the day and to enjoy the stunning view for miles around and a short service with hymn singing that could be heard back across the fields in Crendell. 
Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday, 40 days after Easter, and we celebrate an early morning service at St James' followed by a legendary big breakfast. This year our communion at 6.30am was outside in mild, still weather: it was beautiful and prayerful - but also ideal for little bitey things! People's devotions, as a consequence, were punctuated by much waving of arms - and everyone was keen to be close to the incense! 
Every Church family likes to celebrate its member's joys as well as support them in their sorrows. Angela Jordan recenty graduated in law after 6 or 7 years hard work. Most of the congregation not being fluent n Latin, there were some original suggestions as to what the initials of her degree, LLB, stand for. 
Palm Sunday commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The worship on this day reminds us that we are all a part of that crowd that welcomes him - and also of that crowd that cries 'Crucify him!' This year we had fine weather as we gathered by the Church Hall to bless the palms and process to the Church, with the music group doing their best to keep us all somewhere in tune... In Church the Vestry Group (our youth group) presented a dramatised reading of the Passion: several people described it as 'incredibly moving.' 
On the Saturday before Palm Sunday it was time for the big annual spring clean of the Church. No corners were left untouched (an old surf board mast and pole can take a duster to the most out of the way parts of the roof!) There was a good turn out (our pic shows some of them), a great atmosphere - and handy refreshments at the Church Hall raised a bit of cash for our Little Jims carers and toddlers group. 
This fine-looking squad represented St James' Church in a friendly football match on 1st March against St Mary's West Moors, played at Alderholt Recreation Ground. The game was played in a good but competitive spirit. West Moors had all the early posession until Alderholt scored through a nice move involving Harry Brenan and Phil Botto, put away by Sam Shears. West Moors deserved their equalizer but by the half time whistle St James' seemed the stronger. In the second half, Alderholt again took the lead through Harry Brenan. Then a penalty was awarded against Pip 'the hand of God' Martin. It was missed and the defence held strong against all further attack, while Justin Tivey and Frankie Martin scored to secure the 4-1 win. 