February 2025

10 Buckden Roundabout February 2025 Church News Weekly Prayer Roster Each week during the year the Churches, in their prayers, remember the residents of particular streets in the village, those who work in the parish and village organisations. Those to be remembered this month are: 2nd February High Street, Ivelbury Close, York Yard, Lion Yard, George Lane, King George Court, Taylor ’ s Lane (East), Wolsey Gardens, Charles Court 9th February Hunts End, Copes Close, Monks Cottages, Hunts End Court 16th February Manor Gardens, Manor Close, Glebe Lane, The Grove 23rd February Park Road, Falcon Way, The Marinas, and those who live and work there Thought for the month. In memory from Bob Baxter As many readers of Roundabout will know, January saw the funeral of Bob Baxter – a well - known and much - loved gentle- man who lived all his life here in Buckden. Our Methodist Chapel was the place he loved to be most of all and the church family feel honoured and privileged to have his presence amongst us for so many years. He was our senior steward right up to his death and throughout his life was a cornerstone of the life of the church although many of the jobs that he dili- gently carried out over the years were done with so little fan- fare that its only in his absence that the full extent of the roles he carried out are completely coming to light. Bob like things to be done properly and left comprehensive instructions about his funeral. The reading he chose from the Gospel of John, was in part a familiar one about how God has prepared a room for each and every one of us. But unusually Bob asked for the rest of the passage to be included. It de- scribes how the disciple Philip, even after hearing doubting Thomas ’ questions about who Jesus was, remained uncon- vinced; Philip struggled to ‘ get it ’. In the end he was told that if you can ’ t understand God or can ’ t take it all in, if you really find it hard to believe that this guy Jesus who wandered about on earth some 2000 years ago, who died and rose again was God, here with us - than at least look at the evidence in the life of Jesus who was then among them. Church attempts imitate Christ and over time has not always done so very well. But we can look to the lives well lived, lives such as Bob ’ s. Friends of the village packed his funeral. None of us had ever heard a bad word said about Bob, or Bob say a bad word about anyone else for that matter. He was a gentle, quiet and humble man, kind and unassuming but knew he own mind – what he was prepared to go along with and what he was not. He was loyal, diligent; a man with impeccable manners – a true gentleman. A spiritual person but one with a twinkle in his eye – he loved a good joke and he loved and cared for others throughout his life. What really shone through was in the way Bob was, the way he lived his life, Bob engendered much friendship and caring and love from those around him. And we all became more loving and caring people because of the re- sponse his ways called out from us. We understand God as Love. Bob dwelled with and among us for many years. We have much to remember. For anyone who today is unsure about the God to whom Bob looked to throughout his life, may I suggest you look to Bob, and those like him. Bob who was here, amoung you, who many of you knew, saw, lived with, spent time with, cared for and enjoyed times with. Look to Bob ’ s and learn from him. Revd. Sue Confessions of a Baptist Minister An excerpt from “ Confessions of a Baptist Minister ”, written by local author and Perry Baptist minister. “ It was the afternoon of Thursday 12th June 1986. As I drove through into Port Ellen it seemed like a normal day, yet there was something that was very different as I drove along Freder- ick Crescent. It was quite eerie even. It was a sight that re- minded me of my past, yet a sight I never expected to ever see again. Almost hovering above the island housing was a Nim- rod, which was the last aircraft I had worked on when I served as an Electronic Technician with the Royal Air Force at RAF Kinloss in Morayshire in the north east of Scotland. I was amazed at the sight. What on earth was it doing here? ” The answer, along with many other answers in life, can be found in the book. Confessions of a Baptist Minister by Jon Magee is published by AuthorHouse UK Jon Magee is a Baptist minister currently serving in Cambridge- shire, England, having been in full time pastoral ministry for nearly 42 years. He had a nomadic youth living in Singapore, Yemen, Kenya, Cyprus, Malta, and Germany. Jon was later to study at the Bible Training Institute and the Baptist College, both of which were in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1983 he was or- dained as a Baptist Minister and has ministered in Scotland, England, and briefly in USA. More information can be gained from the author by phone at 01480 700810 or email perrybaptistauthor@gmail.com