Outreach March 2013 sequential - Buckland Church

It was a sad decision to have to cut down the diseased 14-year-old Cherry tree onour front lawn. It had grown from a sapling I rescued on a churchyard clear up day,thrown onto the trailer for dumping. Although the Church yard at Buckland has longbeen closed for burials we have to thank the Parish Council who pay for the contractto keep it looking neat and tidy for all to see. From time to time, there is a combinedeffort of church members with the Parish Council to do extra work, pruning anddigging over the flowerbeds, as necessary.The Cherry tree sapling was planted by grandsons Charlie and Fred and grew to fulfilmany functions, but producing cherries to eat was not one of them! It was a greattree for children to climb, strong enough for a swing, and I thought it looked good, asa feature in our cul-de-sac, when flowering in the spring. Best of all it attracted manybirds; they all seemed to love it. In the summer the Blackbirds and Thrushes wouldtake all the cherries before they fully ripened, so no harvest there! Jackdaws,Magpies and Rooks seemed to use it as a vantage point and to bicker amongthemselves. In the winter we hung out bird feeders and enjoyed watching a greatvariety of small birds visiting daily. We have missed them a lot since chopping thetree down.Our neighbours, John and Joy Scott are keen bird watchers and I thank them forkindly letting me reproduce the results of the RSPB survey they carried out on 26January 2013. I think it is amazing that within just one hour: 12.15 pm to 13.15pm,and in the village, John and Joy spotted 11 species from their window. They were:Blackbird 2, Blue Tit 4, Chaffinch 2, Coal Tit 1, Dunnock 1, Great Tit 1, House Sparrow3, Long-tailed Tit 8, Robin1, Starling 3, Wren 1, and Blackbird 1. On the same day,but outside of the time period, they spotted a Gold Crest, Gold Finch and a Thrush.I know that on a walk along the lanes and on themoors within the parish it would be most unlikelyto spot so many varieties. I am sure that they spotme first and quietly hide way.While we do miss the Cherry tree, my mind is atrest because every piece of it was recycled insome way. Leaves and twigs to compost, smallbranches for kindling, large branches logged, andthe trunk to my wood carver friend Fuzz Harlowwho has since made us a lovely bowl in memory of a wonderful tree.Richard MabeyThanks to Portia Crossley Photography for our front cover image of Buckland taken from the Garden House. Portia isa photographer based in Crapstone who does location portraits, weddings and commercial work. If you would like toorder a print of this photograph framed or unframed from £10 or want to find out more about Portia's work call her on01822 854708 or go to www.portiacrossleyphotography.co.ukPg 2Swallows have nested in thiscenturies’old barn in Cuxton FarmMarriage is in the news, and in early Februarywe had the debate in Parliament concerning gender neutralmarriage. Surprisingly few MPS attended this debate, andthe Prime Minister was entirely absent. When I watched,at a given point, there were forty one in the Chamber.Clearly there needs to be an allowance for breaks and teaintervals, but we might have expected to see threehundred, different members at different times, sitting during its entirety.As MPs seek to rebuild public confidence after the inflated claims forexpenses, it is disillusioning to see critical legislation debated by aminority.Driving back from taking Becky to Heathrow Airport, it was night-time. Iwas grateful for the cat’s eyes, with the headlamps picking up theirreassuring reflection, and providing safety on the road. It was a suddenrealisation that the nation is driving blind, without the sight to detect theancient boundary stones, risking inevitable collision. It has not been aquestion of discovering a new principle, but of surrendering a trusted andvalued one. We are now adrift in a sea of moral relativism.Marriage is what is called a ‘creation ordinance’, a complementary oneflesh relationship, revealed by God at the dawn of time. It is not asociological arrangement, but a lovingly ordained gift. It is designed forall people and all cultures, in every generation. To change this is to try toflatten the Alps. It is impossible, written into the fabric of life.One hundred and seventy five MPs exemplified courage in resisting thehuge cultural pressure to take the line of least resistance. The Bible wasquoted, and Jesus’ teaching commended - always a brave thing to do inthe public mainstream of life. The Psalmist said: ‘My eyes shed streams oftears because people do not keep your law.’ To see the beautifulherbaceous borders of God’s garden trampled upon, and broken through,will bring tragic consequences. Not least there will be greater pressure putupon conscientious Christian believers in their following of Jesus Christ.Paradoxically this may well bring about the best days for the church.Sincerely,Graham.Pg 3