Post by JEM on Feb 25, 2014 6:58:28 GMT
FOUNDRESSES DAY SERVICE
of the OLD NEWPORTONIAN SOCIETY
for NEWPORT FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL ACADEMY [Essex] 1588 – 2014
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 23rd 2014
At NEWPORT PARISH CHURCH
The service began by a welcome from the Vicar Revd Neal McLeod
Then we had a song sung by a charming girl from the school Evie Rogers. Now I realise that the School is no longer a real grammar school but I got the feeling that we had started off with a lowing of standards by the repetition in it of the words, “aint” and “yer,yer,yer,” I did not hear clearly the other words but it was very jolly and warmly applauded,
Then we sang together “ Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion city of our God.”
Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken
Text: John Newton, 1725-1807
Music: Croatian folk song; arr. by Franz Joseph Haydn
Tune: AUSTRIA, Meter:87.87 D
1. Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
God, whose word cannot be broken,
formed thee for his own abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded,
what can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
thou mayst smile at all thy foes.
2. See, the streams of living waters,
springing from eternal love,
well supply thy sons and daughters,
and all fear of want remove.
Who can faint while such a river
ever will their thirst assuage?
Grace which like the Lord, the giver,
never fails from age to age.
3. Round each habitation hovering,
see the cloud and fire appear
for a glory and a covering,
showing that the Lord is near!
Thus deriving from our banner
light by night and shade by day,
safe we feed upon the manna
which God gives us when we pray.
4. Blest inhabitants of Zion,
washed in our Redeemer's blood;
Jesus, whom our souls rely on,
makes us monarchs, priests to God.
Us, by his great love, he raises,
rulers over self to reign,
and as priests his solemn praises
we for thankful offering bring.
Ross Rospo , student at the school played 2 charming melodies on the keyboard,which were warmly applauded.
THE READING OF THE BIBLE
Matthew Chapter 25 was read in parts by a group of 4 members of the congregation.
3 Parables of CHRIST'S KINGDOM
ALWAYS BEING READY THE TEN VIRGINS
251"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6"At midnight the cry rang out: `Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'
9" `No,' they replied, `there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11"Later the others also came. `Sir! Sir!' they said. `Open the door for us!'
12"But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
THE TESTING OF THE TALENTS
14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
21"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
21"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
22"The man with the two talents also came. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
23"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. `Master,' he said, `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
26"His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28" `Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
THE JUDGEMENT THE SHEEP and the GOATS
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44"They also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
We then sang “ Majesty, worship His majesty ”
Majesty, worship His Majesty
Unto Jesus, be all glory,
Power and praise
Majesty, Kingdom authority
Flow from His throne,
Unto his own, His anthem raise.
So exalt, lift up on high
The Name of Jesus
Magnify, come glorify,
Christ Jesus the King
Majesty, worship His Majesty
Jesus who died, now glorified,
King of all Kings.
Then came the address by Mr Ken Hall
A MESSAGE FOR ALL.
After cracking a joke and getting us off with a good laugh Ken went on to tell those who didn't know that he used to live at Widdington from where he would walk to his job at the school when he was Head and he recalls leading a Carol Concert in this Church in those days in 1989 and still had the programme of that event.
He mentioned that he and his wife Dorothea were members of Saffron Walden Baptist Church at that time but expressed his appreciation of the Church of England and of this Church in particular..
He expressed his delight gratitude at being asked to speak at this service and his joy and pleasure at the contributions made to the service by the students present speaking of their high standard of musical presentation..
He started off with SERMONS ARE A PROBLEM some preachers get carried away with their enthusiasm while others are boring and others too long.
He spoke of 2 students who devised a scheme where they invented a game involving having 2 imaginary cricket teams and choosing certain words likely to be used in the sermon,and giving them a value in runs, or a role like “wide” or “no ball”, and for “bowled out” or “well caught” and they applied this to the sermons and the whole thing became quite exciting.
At the end of one such sermon the preacher came over afterwards and they feared they had been detected and were in for trouble but he commended the 2 of them that he had never known a couple of people so attentive, interested and excited by his sermons. Those 2 boys who had invented this game were not really interested in the actual sermon content but it kept them going to worship and one did become a clergyman and a canon at Sherbourne
Ken felt a sermon should contain something for everyone, aged 1 to 90.
He had 3 SECTIONS drawn from the will of Dame Joice Frankland [ If you think the name Joice is misspelt that was how it was in that document ]
He called attention to the History of the School written by Fred Thompson Staff member 1937 – 1975 who recently passed his 100th birthday quoting from it concerning our Foundress and her Will
Joyce Frankland was the only daughter of Robert Trappes [ 1479 – 1560 ] a wealthy goldsmith who was also one of the kings Jewellers He had much property including in Essex the manors of Radwinter, Goldhanger and Roding Aythorpe.
Joyce 1531 – 1586 married in 1549 Henry Saxie a merchant venturer and they had 1 son William. Henry Saxie died and Joyce married again to William Frankland Lord of the Manor of St Margaretts in Hertfordshire.. and their country house was The Rye at Stanstead Abbotts. William Frankland died in 1577 and they had had no children. Then in 1581 William Saxie died in a riding accident Joyce died 23 February 1587 - 427 years ago to this day.
Ken referred to the Hero of the Day as Alexander Nowell. He was Dean of St Paul's and Rector of Much Hadham When he head of the death of the son, he rode swiftly to her home to comfort her and found her tearing her hair and crying Oh my sonne! My sonne! Alexander said to her Comfort yourself good Mrs Frankland,and I will tell you how you will have 20 good sonnes tp comfort you in these sorrows You are a widow, rich and childless, and in both the universities their poor youths for whom you could provide fellowships, and scholarships to be bestowed on studious young men, who should be called Mrs Frankland's Scholars. Alexander firmly believe he had been inspired in that situation to make that suggestion.
So she came to make a will covering 41 pages of manuscript in which she made many educational bequests, to colleges at Cambridge and Oxford and to found this school
That the boys of the school she was founding should have a
1 A LOVE OF LEARNING
2 A FEAR OF GOD
3 A COMMITMENT TO BE GOOD MEMBERS OF THE COMMONWEAL
1 A LOVE OF LEARNING
for the development of ourselves which lasts as long as life does and for which school is just a preparation We can all learn something new every day. And for the benefit of others we can help This man and this woman were visionaries in their day
In the 1560's learning was limited to the wealthy. The Church were amongst the wealthy. They shared the common belief that the peasants should be kept largely in ignorance lest learning to read they might want to change the status quo. It was not until the 19th century that that attitude really changed and from the Churches first, with the rise of Sunday schools for children who worked on weekdays Our school rose out of the Reformation. Joyce Frankland was a Radical and she was Right. She and Alexander were 300 years ahead of their time.
2 A FEAR OF GOD
These boys were to have a RECOGNITION OF GOD through Jesus Christ England had gone protestant, King Philip of Spain was determined to change that and raised an armada to invade England but God raised Drake to oppose him, and sent a great storm that wrecked his plans. The Reformation here was typically an English compromise, a desire to turn the clock back The old ways are easier to bear than change. You could be fined for not attending Church on Sundays. There arose in Bedford, a tinker, who was imprisoned 12 years fir being a protestant, a dissenter, who preached the Gospel contrary to the rules of the Church of England Out of being imprisoned he wrote a book
[ in fact several books, HOLY WAR and GRACE ABOUNDING TO THE CHIEF OF SINNERS to name 2 ]
but his greatest work was THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS an all time best seller, published since in over 100 languages apart from the Bible, the most sold book on the planet . From the rise in learning change did come including the freedom to worship by choice or if preferred not to do so. We are here today out of our free choice.
3 A COMMITMENT TO BE GOOD MEMBERS OF THE COMMONWEAL. That was to include the teaching of good manners. And of serving our fellow humans. All doing our bit and living our lives to that end Commonweal and Commonwealth must include
looking after one another, our family, our school, our businesses, our community, our country, the EU Community. Our Commonwealth [ the former British Empire ] and the UN
Ken went on to talk about the 3 Parables of MATTHEW 25
1. THE BRIDESMAIDS The importance of being prepared for anything, equipped and read unlike the 5 foolish bridesmaids who instead of planning in advance to have fuel for their lamps fell asleep and as a result got locked out of the Kingdom. We need to be preparing the world for our LORD's return.
2. THE TALENTS. The wise servants employed the money entrusted to them to make a profit. The foolish less confident man buried what he was given and was punished for not using it. Are we burying our talents or ignoring our opportunities to do good to others..
Or using them to benefit i the world around us. What we do not use we will surely lose.
3.THE SHEEP and THE GOATS We have the opportunity to serve the poor, to feed the hungry, to help the widow and the orphans, to heal the sick and to help prisoners, Then do it. The results for those who fail, will be hard to bear, at least let's fail trying.
Let us serve others, including how we do our daily work and live our daily lives. Properly, Honestly, Conscientiously - aiming for high standards and setting a good example.
Ken took this opportunity to promote FAIR TRADE FORTNIGHT just about to begin, urging us to buy FAIR TRADE products and encourage shops to offer them for sale. For through the extra price of them the producers workers get to be paid a decent wage and children get an education.
He also commended the LENT STUDY COURSES being followed in the churches during LENT
He spoke of work that in retirement he and Dorothea had been able to do for a school in South India. He referred to a retired naval officer, whose son Ken had taught French to who took them out and showed them 3 circles and 3 planks The planks were to be used to bridge the circles but they were all too short but as we were shown on the screen by using 2 planks on one circle to create a platform. The 3rd plank could rest on that and bridge the remaining space. Where there is a will there is a way. We were shown a triangular diagram the corners of which were GOD, US, and OTHERS and all 3 could be linked through the exercise of love..
We are to put GOD first in our lives. That is what we are here for
In as much as we love others and the least of people we love GOD
We all depend on other people - no one is an island.
God shows his love for us through Jesus Christ, his teaching and example, and through the final sacrifice, of Christ on the Cross.
PRAYER
We were then led in Intercessory Prayer for people who had put their requests in the prayer basket and for the poor in general, and for the people of Ukraine and Syria
WE DECLARED TOGETHER
THE APOSTLES' CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
[*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places]
We were then led in Intercessory Prayer for people who had put their requests in the prayer basket and for the poor in general, and for the people of Ukraine and Syria
We concluded the Intercessions with this version of the LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil;
for the Kingdom, the power
and the glory are Yours
now and forever. Amen..
The Headmaster Gordon Farquhar then shook hands with the Vicar, followed by Martin Tomlinson at school in 1964-1968 now President of the Old Newportonian Society and the Head spoke to the congregation about the new links forged between the School and the church, which is embedded in the history of both.
The HEADMASTER Gordon Farquhar spoke of the success of the School Carol service at Christmas at the Parish Church, Reverend Neal McLeod and I are both keen to re-establish this event as one of the Academy's annual events. The efforts and participation of the students demonstrated just why that is totally the right thing to do. He stressed the steps being take to strengthen links with the Church, with which the school has had a historical link for centuries, and with the village both school and church are bridges for the students and for the local community
Then we had a guitar accompanied song played and sung by Ben Winfield member of the NFGS Sixth Form which well deserved the applause that followed
“Singing “ Would you know my name if I saw you in Heaven” written by WILL JENNINGS, and ERIC PATRICK CLAPTON
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you feel the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven..
Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven?
Ill find my way through night and day
Cause I know I just can't stay here in heaven...
Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart, have you begging please...begging please
Beyond the door there's peace I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more tears in heaven...
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you feel the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven...
Songwriters: WILL JENNINGS, and ERIC PATRICK CLAPTON
We then sang together the closing hymn
Jesus is Lord! creation's voice proclaims it,
For by His power each tree and flower
Was planned and made.
Jesus is Lord! the universe declares it,
Sun, moon and stars in heaven
Cry, 'Jesus is Lord!'
Jesus is Lord! Jesus is Lord!
Praise Him with Hallelujahs
For Jesus is Lord!
Jesus is Lord! yet from His throne eternal
In flesh He came to die in pain
On Calvary's tree.
Jesus is Lord! from Him all life proceeding,
Yet gave His life a ransom
Thus setting us free.
Jesus is Lord! Jesus is Lord!
Praise Him with Hallelujahs
For Jesus is Lord!
Jesus is Lord! o'er sin the mighty conqueror,
From death He rose, and all His foes
Shall own His Name.
Jesus is Lord! God sent His Holy Spirit
To show by works of power
That Jesus is Lord.
Jesus is Lord! Jesus is Lord!
Praise Him with Hallelujahs
For Jesus is Lord!
THE OFFERING was collected presented and blessed
THE BLESSING ended the service
We then circulated to chat and share tea or coffee, cakes, mince pies or biscuits. Then we bade farewell
About 80-100 people were present.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
of the OLD NEWPORTONIAN SOCIETY
for NEWPORT FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL ACADEMY [Essex] 1588 – 2014
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 23rd 2014
At NEWPORT PARISH CHURCH
The service began by a welcome from the Vicar Revd Neal McLeod
Then we had a song sung by a charming girl from the school Evie Rogers. Now I realise that the School is no longer a real grammar school but I got the feeling that we had started off with a lowing of standards by the repetition in it of the words, “aint” and “yer,yer,yer,” I did not hear clearly the other words but it was very jolly and warmly applauded,
Then we sang together “ Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion city of our God.”
Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken
Text: John Newton, 1725-1807
Music: Croatian folk song; arr. by Franz Joseph Haydn
Tune: AUSTRIA, Meter:87.87 D
1. Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
God, whose word cannot be broken,
formed thee for his own abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded,
what can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
thou mayst smile at all thy foes.
2. See, the streams of living waters,
springing from eternal love,
well supply thy sons and daughters,
and all fear of want remove.
Who can faint while such a river
ever will their thirst assuage?
Grace which like the Lord, the giver,
never fails from age to age.
3. Round each habitation hovering,
see the cloud and fire appear
for a glory and a covering,
showing that the Lord is near!
Thus deriving from our banner
light by night and shade by day,
safe we feed upon the manna
which God gives us when we pray.
4. Blest inhabitants of Zion,
washed in our Redeemer's blood;
Jesus, whom our souls rely on,
makes us monarchs, priests to God.
Us, by his great love, he raises,
rulers over self to reign,
and as priests his solemn praises
we for thankful offering bring.
Ross Rospo , student at the school played 2 charming melodies on the keyboard,which were warmly applauded.
THE READING OF THE BIBLE
Matthew Chapter 25 was read in parts by a group of 4 members of the congregation.
3 Parables of CHRIST'S KINGDOM
ALWAYS BEING READY THE TEN VIRGINS
251"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6"At midnight the cry rang out: `Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'
9" `No,' they replied, `there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11"Later the others also came. `Sir! Sir!' they said. `Open the door for us!'
12"But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
THE TESTING OF THE TALENTS
14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
21"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
21"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
22"The man with the two talents also came. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
23"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. `Master,' he said, `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
26"His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28" `Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
THE JUDGEMENT THE SHEEP and the GOATS
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44"They also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
We then sang “ Majesty, worship His majesty ”
Majesty, worship His Majesty
Unto Jesus, be all glory,
Power and praise
Majesty, Kingdom authority
Flow from His throne,
Unto his own, His anthem raise.
So exalt, lift up on high
The Name of Jesus
Magnify, come glorify,
Christ Jesus the King
Majesty, worship His Majesty
Jesus who died, now glorified,
King of all Kings.
Then came the address by Mr Ken Hall
A MESSAGE FOR ALL.
After cracking a joke and getting us off with a good laugh Ken went on to tell those who didn't know that he used to live at Widdington from where he would walk to his job at the school when he was Head and he recalls leading a Carol Concert in this Church in those days in 1989 and still had the programme of that event.
He mentioned that he and his wife Dorothea were members of Saffron Walden Baptist Church at that time but expressed his appreciation of the Church of England and of this Church in particular..
He expressed his delight gratitude at being asked to speak at this service and his joy and pleasure at the contributions made to the service by the students present speaking of their high standard of musical presentation..
He started off with SERMONS ARE A PROBLEM some preachers get carried away with their enthusiasm while others are boring and others too long.
He spoke of 2 students who devised a scheme where they invented a game involving having 2 imaginary cricket teams and choosing certain words likely to be used in the sermon,and giving them a value in runs, or a role like “wide” or “no ball”, and for “bowled out” or “well caught” and they applied this to the sermons and the whole thing became quite exciting.
At the end of one such sermon the preacher came over afterwards and they feared they had been detected and were in for trouble but he commended the 2 of them that he had never known a couple of people so attentive, interested and excited by his sermons. Those 2 boys who had invented this game were not really interested in the actual sermon content but it kept them going to worship and one did become a clergyman and a canon at Sherbourne
Ken felt a sermon should contain something for everyone, aged 1 to 90.
He had 3 SECTIONS drawn from the will of Dame Joice Frankland [ If you think the name Joice is misspelt that was how it was in that document ]
He called attention to the History of the School written by Fred Thompson Staff member 1937 – 1975 who recently passed his 100th birthday quoting from it concerning our Foundress and her Will
Joyce Frankland was the only daughter of Robert Trappes [ 1479 – 1560 ] a wealthy goldsmith who was also one of the kings Jewellers He had much property including in Essex the manors of Radwinter, Goldhanger and Roding Aythorpe.
Joyce 1531 – 1586 married in 1549 Henry Saxie a merchant venturer and they had 1 son William. Henry Saxie died and Joyce married again to William Frankland Lord of the Manor of St Margaretts in Hertfordshire.. and their country house was The Rye at Stanstead Abbotts. William Frankland died in 1577 and they had had no children. Then in 1581 William Saxie died in a riding accident Joyce died 23 February 1587 - 427 years ago to this day.
Ken referred to the Hero of the Day as Alexander Nowell. He was Dean of St Paul's and Rector of Much Hadham When he head of the death of the son, he rode swiftly to her home to comfort her and found her tearing her hair and crying Oh my sonne! My sonne! Alexander said to her Comfort yourself good Mrs Frankland,and I will tell you how you will have 20 good sonnes tp comfort you in these sorrows You are a widow, rich and childless, and in both the universities their poor youths for whom you could provide fellowships, and scholarships to be bestowed on studious young men, who should be called Mrs Frankland's Scholars. Alexander firmly believe he had been inspired in that situation to make that suggestion.
So she came to make a will covering 41 pages of manuscript in which she made many educational bequests, to colleges at Cambridge and Oxford and to found this school
That the boys of the school she was founding should have a
1 A LOVE OF LEARNING
2 A FEAR OF GOD
3 A COMMITMENT TO BE GOOD MEMBERS OF THE COMMONWEAL
1 A LOVE OF LEARNING
for the development of ourselves which lasts as long as life does and for which school is just a preparation We can all learn something new every day. And for the benefit of others we can help This man and this woman were visionaries in their day
In the 1560's learning was limited to the wealthy. The Church were amongst the wealthy. They shared the common belief that the peasants should be kept largely in ignorance lest learning to read they might want to change the status quo. It was not until the 19th century that that attitude really changed and from the Churches first, with the rise of Sunday schools for children who worked on weekdays Our school rose out of the Reformation. Joyce Frankland was a Radical and she was Right. She and Alexander were 300 years ahead of their time.
2 A FEAR OF GOD
These boys were to have a RECOGNITION OF GOD through Jesus Christ England had gone protestant, King Philip of Spain was determined to change that and raised an armada to invade England but God raised Drake to oppose him, and sent a great storm that wrecked his plans. The Reformation here was typically an English compromise, a desire to turn the clock back The old ways are easier to bear than change. You could be fined for not attending Church on Sundays. There arose in Bedford, a tinker, who was imprisoned 12 years fir being a protestant, a dissenter, who preached the Gospel contrary to the rules of the Church of England Out of being imprisoned he wrote a book
[ in fact several books, HOLY WAR and GRACE ABOUNDING TO THE CHIEF OF SINNERS to name 2 ]
but his greatest work was THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS an all time best seller, published since in over 100 languages apart from the Bible, the most sold book on the planet . From the rise in learning change did come including the freedom to worship by choice or if preferred not to do so. We are here today out of our free choice.
3 A COMMITMENT TO BE GOOD MEMBERS OF THE COMMONWEAL. That was to include the teaching of good manners. And of serving our fellow humans. All doing our bit and living our lives to that end Commonweal and Commonwealth must include
looking after one another, our family, our school, our businesses, our community, our country, the EU Community. Our Commonwealth [ the former British Empire ] and the UN
Ken went on to talk about the 3 Parables of MATTHEW 25
1. THE BRIDESMAIDS The importance of being prepared for anything, equipped and read unlike the 5 foolish bridesmaids who instead of planning in advance to have fuel for their lamps fell asleep and as a result got locked out of the Kingdom. We need to be preparing the world for our LORD's return.
2. THE TALENTS. The wise servants employed the money entrusted to them to make a profit. The foolish less confident man buried what he was given and was punished for not using it. Are we burying our talents or ignoring our opportunities to do good to others..
Or using them to benefit i the world around us. What we do not use we will surely lose.
3.THE SHEEP and THE GOATS We have the opportunity to serve the poor, to feed the hungry, to help the widow and the orphans, to heal the sick and to help prisoners, Then do it. The results for those who fail, will be hard to bear, at least let's fail trying.
Let us serve others, including how we do our daily work and live our daily lives. Properly, Honestly, Conscientiously - aiming for high standards and setting a good example.
Ken took this opportunity to promote FAIR TRADE FORTNIGHT just about to begin, urging us to buy FAIR TRADE products and encourage shops to offer them for sale. For through the extra price of them the producers workers get to be paid a decent wage and children get an education.
He also commended the LENT STUDY COURSES being followed in the churches during LENT
He spoke of work that in retirement he and Dorothea had been able to do for a school in South India. He referred to a retired naval officer, whose son Ken had taught French to who took them out and showed them 3 circles and 3 planks The planks were to be used to bridge the circles but they were all too short but as we were shown on the screen by using 2 planks on one circle to create a platform. The 3rd plank could rest on that and bridge the remaining space. Where there is a will there is a way. We were shown a triangular diagram the corners of which were GOD, US, and OTHERS and all 3 could be linked through the exercise of love..
We are to put GOD first in our lives. That is what we are here for
In as much as we love others and the least of people we love GOD
We all depend on other people - no one is an island.
God shows his love for us through Jesus Christ, his teaching and example, and through the final sacrifice, of Christ on the Cross.
PRAYER
We were then led in Intercessory Prayer for people who had put their requests in the prayer basket and for the poor in general, and for the people of Ukraine and Syria
WE DECLARED TOGETHER
THE APOSTLES' CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
[*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places]
We were then led in Intercessory Prayer for people who had put their requests in the prayer basket and for the poor in general, and for the people of Ukraine and Syria
We concluded the Intercessions with this version of the LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil;
for the Kingdom, the power
and the glory are Yours
now and forever. Amen..
The Headmaster Gordon Farquhar then shook hands with the Vicar, followed by Martin Tomlinson at school in 1964-1968 now President of the Old Newportonian Society and the Head spoke to the congregation about the new links forged between the School and the church, which is embedded in the history of both.
The HEADMASTER Gordon Farquhar spoke of the success of the School Carol service at Christmas at the Parish Church, Reverend Neal McLeod and I are both keen to re-establish this event as one of the Academy's annual events. The efforts and participation of the students demonstrated just why that is totally the right thing to do. He stressed the steps being take to strengthen links with the Church, with which the school has had a historical link for centuries, and with the village both school and church are bridges for the students and for the local community
Then we had a guitar accompanied song played and sung by Ben Winfield member of the NFGS Sixth Form which well deserved the applause that followed
“Singing “ Would you know my name if I saw you in Heaven” written by WILL JENNINGS, and ERIC PATRICK CLAPTON
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you feel the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven..
Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven?
Ill find my way through night and day
Cause I know I just can't stay here in heaven...
Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart, have you begging please...begging please
Beyond the door there's peace I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more tears in heaven...
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you feel the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven...
Songwriters: WILL JENNINGS, and ERIC PATRICK CLAPTON
We then sang together the closing hymn
Jesus is Lord! creation's voice proclaims it,
For by His power each tree and flower
Was planned and made.
Jesus is Lord! the universe declares it,
Sun, moon and stars in heaven
Cry, 'Jesus is Lord!'
Jesus is Lord! Jesus is Lord!
Praise Him with Hallelujahs
For Jesus is Lord!
Jesus is Lord! yet from His throne eternal
In flesh He came to die in pain
On Calvary's tree.
Jesus is Lord! from Him all life proceeding,
Yet gave His life a ransom
Thus setting us free.
Jesus is Lord! Jesus is Lord!
Praise Him with Hallelujahs
For Jesus is Lord!
Jesus is Lord! o'er sin the mighty conqueror,
From death He rose, and all His foes
Shall own His Name.
Jesus is Lord! God sent His Holy Spirit
To show by works of power
That Jesus is Lord.
Jesus is Lord! Jesus is Lord!
Praise Him with Hallelujahs
For Jesus is Lord!
THE OFFERING was collected presented and blessed
THE BLESSING ended the service
We then circulated to chat and share tea or coffee, cakes, mince pies or biscuits. Then we bade farewell
About 80-100 people were present.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////