Magazine for (January & February 2002)

Deadline for March issue news is the 
19th of February.
Items to  me;
Rev Daffyd Robinson
The Rectory, Station Road, Willoughby
Tel/Fax 01507 462045
E-mail
dcr@willgp.f9.co.uk

Rector's Thoughts.

Whether or not you like Harry Potter there is no denying
that it is a phenomenon that has propelled the author into a
world she did not expect. As she states  If you had told me
what was going to happen, I would not have believed you. If
you had convinced me of the truth, I would not have been
able to handle that. The reality has been a strange and
terrible thing sometimes.

What makes the stories so powerful? In part the hype
generated by the media and the money spent on selling the
idea to us that it's so good. The stories also tug at our
deep sense that there is more to this world that a pure
scientific notion of truth. J K Rowling tells a tale that
although deals with the unreality is grounded in our
experience enabling us not to be lost in the telling. This
is a trait of any good story teller.

In an earlier period Arthur C Clarke wrote science fiction
stories that at the time seemed impossible (as did HG
Wells). Over the years some of the ideas now seem possible.
He based his writings on basic rules, three of which are;

1) When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that
something is possible he is almost certainly right. When he
states that something is impossible, he is very possibly
wrong. 
2) The  only way of discovering the limits of the possible
is to venture a little way past them into the impossible. 
3)  Any sufficiently advanced technology is
indistinguishable from magic.

The Christian story when written was telling a truth so
advanced that to those not associated with reality it became
magic. The early disciples did not have the weight of the
media money to promote  The Jesus Story. People became
involved because they experienced what happens when you go
beyond reality  (they believed possible) and a phenomenon
was born.

Phenomena. s go out of fashion and have their distracter who
will rubbish the good and the subtle. Harry Potter will be
out of fashion in 7 years but will have its loyal fans
forming societies for sad HP anoraks.

Is that how those who go to church are seen - as sad Jesus
anoraks?

The Christian story is out of fashion and people think that
science proves it wrong. True science has enabled a lot of
myth to be removed and helped us to sift generations of
political power struggles from the core story.

Beware Truth is never just what we think is possible. At the
centre of our search of the Jesus story is a reality beyond
magic, science and our ability to fully comprehend, that
compels us to give thanks for a man born 2000 years ago and
love a world beyond our comprehension. If that makes us sad
Jesus anoraks so be it - but beware, you may find the love
of God pulls you in when you are not looking. Then you will
find that 'reality' is far bigger and beautiful than you
could have imagined.

Register:
 Olive Scoggins (Ashes  W)

Carols around the village  £52.56 which was made up to
£55.00. With our thanks. This years charity was Church
rewiring.

Rewiring: We have had about a 1/4 of the cost by donations
for which the PCC is very thankful.

AGM's
Group PCC Sun 27th January 3.00pm Willoughby Church
Mumby PCC Tues 12th February 7.15pm in Church
Willoughby Tuesday 5th March 7.15pm in Church
Ulceby 13th March 7.30pm at Jenny Jones', 9 Acres Cottage.

Lent Groups: Mumby Wednesday 7.00pm  from 20th February.
Willoughby ??

Introduction to Spirituality
9th February 2002
@ Mumby Church
2.00pm - 4.00pm
With Rev Daffyd Robinson
Cost £3.00 (£2.00 concessions)
The objective of the afternoon is to  develop concepts of
spirituality leaving plenty of time for questions and
introduce the basics of meditation (the tool of
spirituality) with practice.
Contact: Daffyd 462045"Slides of Willoughby"
18th January @ 7.30pm Willoughby Village Hall

What do people do in clock factories?
How many weeks belong to the year?
Why did the crab get arrested?
Christmas Challange. Ans. below

Willoughby

Ladies Luncheon Club
Christmas Lunch, at the Haywain, was a very jolly affair for
the 21 ladies who arrived there on December 11th.   Pre
lunch drinks, with the excitement engendered by the raffle,
set the atmosphere for a delectable lunch.   I'm tempted to
quote Robert Burns - Fair fa your honest sonsie face. 
Great chieftain of the pudding race, but as that refers to
the haggis - I'll substitute the Christmas pudding, with
apologies to the Bard.
There was one amongst us who was tempted to a second
helping!   Mums the word!
Raffle winners - Margaret Rushton and Sue Hickman.
Next venue - Willoughby Arms on Tuesday January 8th.

Bingo
On behalf of all those who go to and enjoy the Monday
evening Bingo sessions in the Village Hall - a sincere thank
you to Linda, Mavis, Francis, Sharon and Adrian for running
the show, to Ivy, Mary and Joyce for serving the mid-
session refreshments and to Keith, our caller, who keeps us
all alert.
Aware that all proceeds go to the running of the Village
Hall, new players will be welcomed into a convivial bunch of
players.
                                                      
Sheila Kemp
Radio Village Correspondent
Due to having a new addition to the family I will have to
give up being the Village correspondent on Radio
Lincolnshire.  It only involves 5 minutes of your time every
3 or 4 weeks to tell the listeners about forthcoming events
in and around the village.
It will help keep Willoughby on the map and give free
publicity to local organisations.
If you want to find out more information about this contact
Alison Evans on 01507 466523.
I will  continue to be the Village correspondent for
Willoughby, Sloothby and Welton for the Lincolnshire
Standard.                                                         
Alison Evans

Willoughby Playingfield Association
The Coffee Morning held at the home of Sheila Jones on
December 15th made the magnificent sum of over £160.   Our
thanks go to Sheila and to everyone who supported us. The
raffle tickets were drawn out by Kyle (the only child there)
and numerous prizes there were. Vera Webb won guess the
weight of the cake, the dolls name was won by Kyle, Spot
Santa was won by Angie and guess the number of buttons on
the Snowmen was won by Mavis.
Tombola did a brisk trade and the cakes went like magic.
There will be a Children. s party/dancing on Friday January
11th 2002 - 6.30 pm - 8 pm. Villoughby Village Hall.This
will be for primary school age and toddlers.  Games will be
played, prizes will be given and a good time will be had by
all.   It is hoped there will be a tuck shop.  Any children
left without a parent will be supervised safely. Admission
£1.       For more information ring Linda 466359.

December brought a plethora of events both fundraising and
seasonal to the Willoughby Arms, fast becoming a home of
warm geniality and generosity.   
£60 was raised for the Asthma.