March 2023

8 Buckden Roundabout March 2023 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: 5 th March Buckden Surgery: the doctors, nurses, receptionists, pharmacists, health visitors and midwives; those we know who are in hospital, the elderly, disabled and housebound 12 th March Farming communities, Taylor ’ s Lane (West), Hardwick Lane, the residents and staff of Hardwick Dene, Great North Road, Brampton Road, Perry Road, Buckden Wood 19 th March High Street, Ivelbury Close, York Yard, Lion Yard, George Lane, King George Court, Taylor ’ s Lane (East), Wolsey Gardens, Charles Court 26 th March Hunts End, Copes Close, Monks Cottages, Hunts End Court Thought for the Month Hello, good people of the Buckden, Saving string... "I don't know; how long is a piece of string?" I said to Mrs Mc___, repeating back to her, her words. 'Twice the length from the middle to the end' is what I should have said but I had no idea, aged seven. It did make me think, years later and as a teacher, that I would never answer a genu- ine question from a pupil with a facetious turn of phrase like this teacher had. So maybe her answer had served a function. What was my question? I can't remember. It was something, anyway, that had prompted her figurative response with the intent to imply: the answer is unknowable. First recorded in 1888 apparently, in America, that expression my teacher had used. It was an answer in response to a question about the cost of a mile's length of railway (because the cost was un- knowable due to regional differences in topography; whether a bridge would be necessary; and other details, all affecting cost). How long is a piece of string? were Mrs Mc_____'s words. Fair enough, and an interesting answer to some questions, maybe. However...I'd asked a question that had an actual and fairly straightforward answer I'm sure, just one that she didn't know. I was bamboozled with a clever response. String, the length of a piece of it, is not just an unknown quan- tity. It is sometimes a commodity: years later I once found my- self sternly corrected because I carelessly cut a piece of string rather than bother to untie a knot. I was corrected because I didn't see the value of a length of string, uncut. Corrected by a man who had lived through different experiences; a man who had lived through a world war, and shortages, and poverty. This lesson has, like Mrs Mc___'s, given me food for thought since. I have unknotted tangled string since, unknotted knots to save lengths of string for further use, since. Perhaps because of these two string - related memories a sentence I read recent- ly jumped out at me: " The morning is one end of a piece of string on which the day's activities are strung and should be well - knotted with devotion " I cannot find the source for this, other than given as an un- attributed quote itself, but I really like it. The well - knotted end to the piece of string, attached to a tree, or post, or hook, that the day's activities are hung from is, in my day - to - day life, morning prayer. Morning prayer, a well - knotted devotion. Morning prayer is functional, it is like the knot that attaches the string to the post, and it keeps me on the right track. As the psalmist King David wrote: O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch. (Psalm 5:3) The Church of England's Common Worship: Daily Prayer, is what I use, I do what it says on the page, and read the readings (psalms, a reading fom the old and new testaments) morning and evening. I use the book or the app. It is better when I say morning and evening prayer with others, and I am glad that this happens most days. This office of prayer keeps me as a parish priest, like many others, on the right track. It sets me up, it holds before God all there is to do. It asks for God's help and guidance. It is an offering of love for God, who is love. I recom- mend it to you. If you would like to know more you can find it here https:// www.churchofengland.org/prayer - and - worship/join - us - service - daily - prayer or get in touch, and I can show you. Every day I pray for you. Lots of love, Fr David Priest in charge of St Mary's, Buckden, with All Saints', the Offords.