2015 All Events

ALL EVENTS FOR 2015

20150111 Vladimir Choir (u/c)


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Images will be uplodaded in due time

20150405 Easter Vigil and Service


Easter Vigil and Eucharist April 5th


Easter Bonfire  Lighting a bonfire is an old, known since 1559, ritual occurring in parts of Europe. On the first or second day of Easter a large number of Easter bonfires are being lit. For this - often weeks or even months in advance - a lot of wood is being collected, piled onto a heap sometimes more then 10 meters in height. When darkness falls it is being lit. This event draws a lot of spectators.


The northern extremities of the area where this is taking place runs through Denmark and its southern border passes through Switzerland and Austria. The East of the Netherlands is the western border and the eastern border runs just east of the Harz mountains. Bur also outside this area Easter bonfires are being lit.


The Easter Bonfire is most probable from pre-Christian origin, but did change after christianization to a Christian implementation as the light of Easter and a sign of the resurrection of the Son of God, the Light of the World. The fire became a symbol of the victory over Death through Christ's Resurrection at Easter.


Originally on Saturday before Easter, during the Easter Vigil, a spark is cast from a stone as a Symbol of the Light of the Resurrection. However, at St. Mary's Chapel, Weldam prior to the Easter Service a Easter Vigil was held. Everyone gathered in front of the Chapel. The reading fitted for this moment, "Old Testament Reading: [Ex 14: 10-31, 15:20-21]" was read, followed by a prayer and then a flame was lit in a bowl. According to ancient tradition, the light for the Easter Candle was taken from newly kindled fire and not from an already existing source of light. This was the followed by a short prayer. After that five incense grains were attached to the new Easter Candle, symbolising the wounds of Christ.


Then a short prayer followed: "Christ yesterday and today, the beginning and the end, Alpha and Omega, all time belong to him, and all ages; to him be glory and power, through every age and for ever. Amen. By his holy and glorious wounds may Christ our Lord guard and keep us. Amen".


After lighting the Candle our Chaplain Alja continued with the words: The Paschal Candle is lit May the light of Christ, rising in glory, banish all darkness from our hearts and minds. Then proceeding with the words from The Gospel: [Mark 16. 1-8]


After the Gospel reading the The Paschal Candle was raised at the entrance and brought down the aisle into church and was placed on its stand.


On the Saturday prior, the Chapel had been decorated especially for the Easter Service by the ladies of the Flower Guild as with some beautiful flower arrangements.


Also the Ad Hoc Choir had been rehearsing for the Easter Service. Also this year they supported the congregation with their voices.


For full liturgy see: Vigil-and-Eucharist-2015-pew-sheet

20150419 Wardens Change over


  April 26th 2015 - Chaplain Alja Tollefsen flanked by the newly commissioned churchwardens Jeanet Luiten and Blair Charles.

 

At the Annual General Meeting, last Sunday 19th April, the long and dedicated service of Joyce Wigboldus and Everhard Ottens as Church Wardens ended. The departing wardens surprised the Chaplain. They presented her with a brass plaque for St Marys, inscribed with the names of all the Chaplains who served at St. Marys. The plaque will be mounted in a suitable place on the chapel wall.


In a small get-together in the hut, the Revd Alja Tollefsen thanked Everhard and Joyce for the support they gave her during their long service as Church Wardens. She presented them with flowers and book tokens on behalf of the Chaplaincy in gratitude for all their work.


This year's AGM was also Simone's last as Secretary. The Chaplain thanked Simone for all her hard work. During the past 20 years, Simone prepared extensive minutes of nearly every PCC meeting that took place. Also Caroline was praised and thanked for her efforts in the two years she had taken the post of treasurer. Both were also offered a bouquet as a token of our gratitude.


Becoming a Church Warden might be a richly rewarding experience, but the job is not always an easy one. Joyce and Everhard surprised the newly elected Church Wardens, Jeanette and Blair, with a copy of the Survival Guide for Wardens and passed on the Duty Warden badge. The handbook should help them, fresh in office, to understand what is involved in being Church Warden. 


During the Service of Sunday 26th April Blair Charles and Jeanet Luiten did solemnly and sincerely declare that they will faithfully and diligently perform the duties of churchwardens. 

20150531 Baptism Scipio/Maria



20150905 Castle Fair


Rainy but pleasant Fair


An Impression Of Weldam Castle Fair by Victoria de Regt


Well, now I have celebrated my 10th anniversary as a volunteer, it might be a good time to look backwards as well as forwards. To look backwards first: I've known Joyce for so many years, it's hardly credible. We met in Amsterdam over 50 years (!) ago and have always remained friends. Since Joyce moved to Deventer at the end of the last century, after she became a member of St. Mary's congregation, she started helping to organise the Annual Fair. Joyce asked me to join in as a volunteer. And so I did.


I usually arrive in Deventer on the Thursday before. Early Friday morning we leave for Weldam, with a car full of jams, textiles, banners and what not. Work starts in earnest once the stalls are delivered and set up. Over the years, we've developed a sublime technique for fastening the tacks on the skirts around the stalls. Leader of the team is undoubtedly Peter Ribbens. He knows how to speed us up and refine the procedure. But we are not the only people breaking records. Diane is working away at the flowers and the tearoom group led by multitasking Jeanet, is setting up the kitchen. Lub, her husband is checking on electricity, water, and the loos etc. Cor, Louw, Pauline, Dinah Ann and others are general dogs' bodies. Forgive me if I have forgotten someone. After having been part of the team for so many years I know almost all names and it is like meeting old friends. At lunchtime, we all sit down for Jeanet's traditional unsurpassed chicken soup. All tasks are done in a most companiable way, even if it starts raining, as it did this year.


On our arrival on Saturday morning, all the skirts on the stalls were wet and muddy. However, we opened at eleven o'clock, with a beautiful show by Heleen Rauwerda in the rain. She looked regal in her pink outfit with umbrella and an appropriate stylish usage of language. She was certainly effective in stopping people who had been planning a precocious entrance. The people therefore entered the grounds of Weldam in a most disciplined way. The atmosphere, as always, was friendly. People were pleased with the goods they purchased or ate on the premises.


And let's not forget our incomparable Chairman Hans! With his newly acquired megaphone and cigar he was omnipresent and his usual cheerful self, being everywhere where needed! We always wonder how he manages. In the kitchen there was the usual buzzing activity of washer-uppers and Simone of course, looking after her coffee and tea urns. Having been a helper at the Fair for such a long time, I recognise some of the stallholders and others have become real friends. I do appreciate the efforts of the Committee though in trying to find new people every year with exciting crafts and products to sell. For example, this year there were some lovely new stalls. One, selling wool, was called 'de Wolkelder', another was a tapestry restorer Babai, an acquaintance of Count Alfred's and there was a lady Riek Bruggink, with lovely hand-woven shawls.


The quality of baking of the cakes and scones in the tearoom was of unsurpassed excellence. As the weather was not very good, we had little showers every now and then, people tended to linger longer in the tearoom, with the result that sales almost equalled last years. If the weather had been fine, and the number of visitors had been higher, we certainly would have run out of cakes before the end of the day. With fine weather, the shortage of serving staff, which occurred during the afternoon, could have become a problem. The church stall and jams did also very well. And of course, the music enhanced the whole day. The pipers are essential, so are the Morris dancers and the trio playing in the tearoom. And of course, as always, it was thanks to Count Alfred and Countess Christine's hospitality that we were able to have this Fair again this year! I hope to be able to be a volunteer next year, and I want to say to all St. Mary members, thanks for your fellowship and friendship!



20151004 Harvest Festival


Harvest Festival is a celebration of the food grown on the land. Thanksgiving ceremonies and celebrations for a successful harvest are both worldwide and very ancient. In Britain, we have given thanks for successful harvests since pagan times. We celebrate this day by singing, praying and decorating our churches with baskets of fruit and food in a festival known as 'Harvest Festival'.


Harvest Festival reminds Christians of all the good things God gives them. This makes them want to share with others who are not so fortunate. In Churches, people bring food from home to a Harvest Festival Service. In our congregation the harvest goods have been donated to the Voedselbank in Goor.


After the service we gathered for a "bring and share meal". This was quite a success and may well be taken up as a new tradition in our congregation.


20151108 Remembrance Sunday


Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day or Armistice Day) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth countries. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the official end of World War I on that date in 1918; hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice ("at the 11th hour" refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 a.m.)


The day was specifically dedicated by King George V on 7 November 1919 as a day of remembrance for members of the armed forces who were killed during World War I. This was possibly done upon the suggestion of Edward George Honey to Wellesley Tudor Pole, who established two ceremonial periods of remembrance based on events in 1917.


The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem "In Flanders Fields". These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red colour an appropriate symbol for the blood spilled in the war.


(Source: Wikipedia) 

20151213 Christmas Lessons & Carols


On the 13th of December our Chapel was again the scene of the traditional Lessons and Carols service. The ladies of the flower guild had again done their utmost to provide the congregation with beautiful floral arrangements.


The traditional readings, alternating with Carols and supported by additional musicians, were held. After the service a fellowship get together with members of the congregation and guests was organized outside the Hut. Hot chocolate, mulled wine and cakes were served. Like every year this was very much appreciated by everyone present.


The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a service of Christian worship celebrating the birth of Jesus that is traditionally followed at Christmas. The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is told in nine short Bible readings from Genesis, the prophetic books and the Gospels, interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols, hymns and choir music.


The format was based on an Order drawn up by Edward Benson, later Archbishop of Canterbury but at that time Bishop of Truro, in Cornwall, for use on Christmas Eve (24 December) 1880. Tradition says that he organized a 10:00 p.m. service on Christmas Eve in a temporary wooden structure serving as his cathedral and that the purpose of the service was to keep men out of the pubs.


The original liturgy has since been adapted and used by other churches all over the world. Lessons and Carols most often occur in Anglican churches. However, numerous Christian denominations have adopted this service, or a variation on this service, as part of their Christmas celebrations. In the UK, the service has become the standard format for schools' Christmas carol services. 


(Last three alineas - Source Wikipedia)

20151224 Christmas Eve


On the 24th of December our Chapel was again the scene of the traditional Christmas Eve service. In the weeks prior the ladies of the flower guild had again done their utmost to provide the congregation with beautiful floral arrangements. From 22:00 hrs onwards the congregation and their guests were led through an idyllic candle lit path to the Chapel and welcomed in the Service. This year over 110 worshippers were present.

"# Christmas Fair