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November 2021 November 2021

MILBORNE MOVIES BISHOP’S LETTER

Milborne Movies again! Tin of memories
In my loft here at Ramsbury House I have a tin,
Friday Nov 12th at 7.30pm, at the Village which I’ve kept since I was a few years old. Not
Hall, The Causeway, Milborne St Andrew an especially attractive tin (it used to contain
DT11 0JX.
Highland Shortbread), but in it I keep various
Doors and bar open 7.00 odd mementoes and souvenirs from the past. I
haven’t looked inside this for years but can
Tickets cost £5, which includes a drink or recall from memory that it contains an old
an icecream (Contactless payment police whistle; an Airfix Modellers’ Club badge;
preferred) a Charles & Diana commemorative milk bottle top; a selection of keyrings; and
oldest of all, a fossil of a trilobite.
Rocketman In monetary terms they are entirely without worth, and many is the time, when
moving home or clearing out, that I’ve thought, “I should just chuck that old tin”
On the website about films, Rotten and something always makes me hold on to it. I don’t use the contents or even
Tomatoes, the reviews are overwhelmingly think about them much, but somehow these random bits and bobs are part of my
enthusiastic. I am quoting below from one of them, Shah Shahid, of ‘Blank Page story and hold sentimental value. When I am gone, I shan’t mind at all if they are
Beatdown’. thrown away: my loved ones will no doubt look inside and wonder why on earth
‘I absolutely adored Rocketman. [It] is about the life of a musical icon, Elton John. the old fool kept these, smile indulgently and hopefully deposit them in a charity
... But describing it as simply a biopic would be a disservice. Because it’s so much shop.
more. I expect many of you have something like my tin – either of your own or belonging

At its heart, Rocketman is a musical ... about a young boy growing up in London. to a departed loved one; that would hold little significance to anyone else, but
Unloved and neglected ... [he] discovers a talent; playing the piano. As he gets which seem to capture something of the spirit of those who have gone before. I
older, his talent blossoms into a passion... [his] life takes off, and the stereotypical have long been of the view that it is such tiny details of life that are the most
rockstar life of drugs, sex and rock and roll ensues. It’s not an uncommon story. But significant: when listening to the heartfelt stories of those who have been
it’s definitely an uncommon movie. bereaved, it is so often the small things which carry the biggest emotional weight
– the familiar turns of phrase or ways of life; the clothes in the wardrobe we can’t
Taron Egerton ... is fearless and uncanny as the icon, but where Rocketman stands quite be parted from.
out, is in its heart ...the character’s insecurities, motivations, flaws, and talents are
all exposed to the audience. ... And this is all done with the blessing of the real-life None of these things is worthless, we believe, for the Christian hope is that all of
Elton John himself’. life’s meaningful detail is noticed by loving attention of God. In the gospels, Jesus
teaches that not a sparrow falls out of the sky unseen and uncared for by the
He goes on to praise the cast and how the songs work so well, adding to the story. Father - elsewhere in scripture we learn that even the hairs of our head are
He ends up by saying: numbered.
‘I recommend Rocketman to audiences that are fans of musicals, emotional In a month when church life turns to remembrance, we are recalled to the
journeys, and movies about real-life people. It’s one of the best movies of the promise of the risen Christ at the end of The Bible, who announces; ‘Behold! I am
year, and deservingly so’. making all things new’. In him we have firm grounds for the hope that all is not
lost, even in the most grievous situations. We have memories, not only of the past,
in other words, but memories with a future.
+Andrew

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