From Canon David Banting
Sir, - "Happy New Year" - the greeting I received at the
church door on Advent Sunday morning.
It has prompted me also to open my brand-new church diary to
look and plan ahead. I do so with words from Psalm 90.12, given me
many years back in the fly-leaf of a diary, in my mind: "So teach
us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." I foresee
time out for a number of reasons. I confess that I sometimes adapt
the quotation "If you're too busy to pray, you're too busy," by one
letter, and make it "If you are too busy to play, then you're too
busy."
So may I throw down a gauntlet? In 2014, the dioceses of
Chelmsford and St Edmundsbury & Ipswich both celebrate
centenaries. The (episcopal?) idea of a cricket match between the
two dioceses to celebrate has been mooted. My own outfit at
Chelmsford has not fielded a team in the Church Times Cup
for two sad seasons now, and I believe the same to be true for
those who live over the border in Suffolk.
Nevertheless, I do not seem to be able to find anyone in Bury St
Edmunds or Ipswich who is there to receive the gauntlet, let alone
pick it up. Any offers? We can be as rivalrous or as relaxed as we
like. We could meet at home or away - Bury or Chelmsford, or on
neutral territory - perhaps Cambridge suggests itself; so long as
we end up in some hostelry for a feast. Who will answer the
challenge?
DAVID BANTING (aged and trundling all-rounder)
15 Athelstan Road
Harold Wood
Essex RM3 0QB