The summer months used to be known as the ‘silly season’ for the press; a time when there wasn’t much ‘real’ news and the papers reported all sorts of daft events to fill up the pages. It feels a bit like that now as I’m writing this column in the middle of June and the papers only seem interested in MPs’ expenses and swine ‘flu!

So this will be a bit of a rag bag of musings. Easter is long past and Christmas is 6 months away. Too soon to start counting the days. It’s Royal Ascot week and the credit crunch doesn’t seem to have made much difference to the outrageous hats being worn there; I can’t comment on the bookies’ profits.

The summer season is upon us; Andy Murray has just won at Queens. Will he go on to claim the Wimbledon crown? By the time you read this you’ll know the result.

The Church also divides the year into seasons, beginning in December with Advent. Last week after Pentecost it entered what is called ordinary time – that will last for 6 months until we get round to Advent again. One way in which some churches, including East Harling, mark the seasons, is by changing the colour of the altar cloths and ministers’ robes. You might think this strange but it is a way of reflecting the mode of the season. It’s not just that Nigel likes wearing gold or Lynn is happiest in red or that I think purple suits me! In Advent and in Lent – penitential times – the colour is purple; at Christmas and Easter and for weddings and baptisms it is white or gold; on saints’ days and at Pentecost we wear red and now that we are in Ordinary time we’ll be decked out in green.

While we’re in the church – have you seen the East Harling Angels? Earlier this month the friends of that church held their annual Meeting followed by a fascinating talk given by Sue Dolling on Anne Herling, the church’s benefactress in the 15^th Century. Sue drew our attention to the angels in the clerestory windows high above our heads in the nave. Sadly after more than 500 years some of these have gone. Originally there were over 100 of these wonderful creatures looking down over the congregation below. They are difficult to see but if you take your binoculars you will be able to appreciate their individual faces and the detail of their wings and

robes. These windows need (expensive) attention to preserve them for future generations to enjoy – but that’s another story.

Harling church is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm so why not take a look inside if you’re passing?

The other subject in the news is swine ‘flu which has now reached Norfolk.

Is it really going to be as bad as predicted? Most sufferers only appear to have mild symptoms but this could change as we come into winter. Certainly with people off work, offices and schools closing will have a disruptive effect. Those who receive communion in church are unlikely to be infected from the chalice – much more likely to pick up the virus from someone’s hands during the sharing of the Peace!

Did you hear the one about the man who rang the NHS help line for advice about swine ‘flu? He couldn’t get through because there was too much crackling on the line.

Well done to Nigel for successfully running in the London Marathon – all that early morning training has paid off and we now have a leaner, fitter Rector. More athletic challenges are looming!

Varlie.

~ Junior Church ~

Sunday Club is for all children age 3 to 11; we teach them about Christian beliefs and Bible stories.

We meet in the Rudd Room for activities and then join the Church for the final part of their service.

“Crossroads”

Sundays  9:45am—11am

Crossroads is for children aged 11-16; we meet for Bible study, discussion and activities.

We meet upstairs at the Sports and Social Club, then join the Church for the final part of their service.

For further information, please call Lynn Fry on 01953 717423

“Tuesday Club”

7pm — 8:30pm (Fortnightly) 

Tuesday Club is for children aged 11-16. Church youth leaders take turns in organising games and activities for them to participate in. 

We meet in the Rudd Room, unless otherwise stated.

A payment of £1 per week is expected per child. (£1.50 if food provided.)

 Shoeboxes - start saving those empty shoeboxes now!We shall be hoping to fill lots to send to those children in need later in the Autumn.



Slum Survivor
 Are you a survivor?
Aged 11 – 18?
Free on 17th & 18th July?

We are planning on spending
a weekend the way a billion people spend their lifetimes. We will be living on
a restricted diet in our own slum houses which we will make ourselves.

We will be completing challenges in the hope of winning extra food rations.

We will be getting sponsors and raise money for poor communities around the
world.

If you would like to get
involved, please contact Rev’d Lynn Fry on 717423 for an application form.
Weekend will finish at Bridgham Church 10.30am on 19th July with a service of Holy Communion.
We hope all parents and villagers will join us there and hear what the Juniors have been getting up to!

ST PETER & ST PAUL’S CHURCH, EAST HARLING, FLOODLIGHTING

You are invited to sponsor the floodlighting of St Peter & St Paul’s to help with the day-to-day running expenses of our parish church. You can choose to commemorate a personal event, an anniversary, or any other special occasion. Alternatively you can simply make a donation. For the month of June the lights will be on between dusk and midnight. A night’s floodlighting costs £5. Please make cheques payable to “East Harling PCC”. .

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All bookings and payments please to :-

Lynda Kennedy, 9 Market Street, East Harling, Norfolk (Tel: 01953 717188)

Please note: for sponsorships to be recorded in Contact on the month requested, details must be received before the 12^th of the previous month (eg 12^th March for inclusion in April edition). Details received after this date will be published in the next available edition.