There are two venues and dates for the Swearing-In of our new Churchwardens which PCC members are also invited to attend: these are either Wednesday, 7 May at St John's, Shirley, at 8.00 pm, or Wednesday, 21 May at The Good Shepherd, Carshalton Beeches, at 8.00 pm.

The church and tower will be open on both the Bank Holiday Mondays in May - the 5th and the 26th.

At 6.30 pm on Sunday, 11 May, there will be a joint service held at St Paul's, Roundshaw to mark the beginning of Christian Aid Week. There will be no Evensong at St Mary's on that day.

Buy your tickets now for an Evening of Nostalgia on Saturday, 24 May - full details here.

Ascension Day on Thursday, 29 May will be celebrated with a Choral Eucharist at 7.30 pm.

Advance warning that there is a meeting for all those who regularly lead our Sunday intercessions in church on Tuesday, 3 June at 8.00 pm. Please be there, not only to think about what we are actually doing when we lead people's prayers, but to practice using the microphone!

There is a diocesan Vocations Day at the cathedral on Saturday, 14 June, running from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, led by the bishops of Southwark and Kingston and by Janice Price, director of training in the diocese of Worcester. This is for all those who want to look at their own gifts and the ways in which they might be used in a wide variety of service within the life of the church. There is a fee of £3 for the day. Diana Harries has further information and booking forms, which must be returned to the address given on them by 31 May.

Our thanks to Fiona Mackley for all her work as our Children's Society representative. Fiona is now standing down and Emma Thompson has kindly agreed to take on the role.

Saints in May

Fri 2 Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, 373

Wed 14 Matthias the Apostle

Mon 19 Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, restorer of monastic life, 988

Tue 20 Alcuin of York, deacon, Abbot of Tours, 804

Mon 26 Augustine, first Bishop of Canterbury, 605

Sat 31 Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth

What’s On In May?

Thu	1	MU&OG. Handbell Ringing - a talk by Sandra Winter. Church Centre.	8.00 pm
Fri	2	Social Committee meets at 2 Caraway Place	8.00 pm
Sun	4	EASTER 3
		Commissioning of new PCC at Eucharist	9.30 am
Mon	5	Bank Holiday. Church and Tower open	11 am - 5 pm
Tue	6	Parents and Toddlers group meet in Church	10.00 am
		Magazine Panel meets at 35 Vanguard Way	6.30 pm
		Bible Study Group meets at 23 Mortlake Close	8.00 pm
Wed	7	St Mary's Guild meets at St Mary's Court - Mr Weatherley will give a talk on 'Stained Glass'	2.30 pm
		Swearing-in of Churchwardens at St John's Church, Shirley	8.00 pm
Thu	8	Consecration of the new Bishop of Croydon at St Paul's Cathedral	11.00 am
		Deanery Synod meets at St Dunstan's, Cheam	8.00 pm
Sat	10	Coffee Morning in aid of Tower & Bells Fund will be hosted by Pam Aylemore at 135 Desmesne Road	from 10.00 am
SUN	11	EASTER 4
		Carew Manor Open Day
		United Service for Christian Aid Week at St Paul's, Roundshaw. (No Evensong at St Mary's)	6.30 pm
Tue	13	Bible Study Group meets at 23 Mortlake Close	8.00 pm
Wed	14	Eucharist to be held at St Mary's Court	10.00 am
Thu	15	MU&OG. Church Centre. Speaker to be advised	8.00 pm
SUN	18	EASTER 5
		Finance Committee meets at The Rectory	8.00 pm
Mon	19	Eucharist	7.30 pm
		PCC meets. Church Centre	8.00 pm
Tue	20	Bible Study Group meets at 23 Mortlake Close	8.00 pm
Wed	21	MU Corporate Eucharist	10.00 am
		Churches Together AGM at St Paul's, Roundshaw	7.45 pm
		Swearing-in of Churchwardens at The Good Shepherd, Carshalton Beeches.	8.00 pm
Sat	24	An evening of 'Nostalgia' in aid of the Tower & Bells Fund.	7.30 pm
SUN	25	EASTER 6
Mon	26	Bank Holiday. Church and Tower open	11 am - 5 pm
Tue	27	Bible Study Group meets at 23 Mortlake Close	8.00 pm
Thu	29	ASCENSION DAY
		Choral Eucharist	7.30 pm
Sat	31	Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth Eucharist	9.00 am

From the registers

Funerals

Mar 26 Doris Louise Young, aged 91,

of Avonlea, Rectory Lane.

Mar 28 Desiré Bruno Solari, aged 83.

of 25 Northway.

Music at St Mary's

“'If music be the food of love, play on, give me excess of it.'”

Although Orsino was pining for Olivia, this sentiment captures the effect of the Choir Concert given in place of Evensong on Sunday, 6 April.

The St Mary's choir was augmented by a choir from Worthing, led by their organist, Mr Neil Turner. The theme of the music was, of course, the solemnity of Lent, and the opening chorus - 'Ave, Verum Corpus' by the Elizabethan composer William Byrd - was perfect in sentiment and execution. This was followed by 'Ah, holy Jesu' by Johann Crüger. Then we heard the wonderful Choral Prelude by J S Bach, followed by the thoroughly English pieces, 'Wash me thoroughly' by S S Wesley, and the ever-loved 'God so loved the world' by Stainer. Another J S Bach, 'Christus, der uns selig macht', and the beautiful 'Christus factus est' by Anton Bruckner.

All of these pieces were excellently rendered, and the quality of the singing would not have disgraced a cathedral choir.

And then the Rutter Requiem. How lucky we are to live in an age when first-class church music is still being composed; this piece as recently as 1985. Like all great music, its depth and intensity mean that it has to be heard several times before the full beauty reveals itself. I am in this fortunate position, so every moment was a delight. The whole choir rose to the challenge, and reached its height with James Pedrick's singing of 'Pie Jesu', and the 'Lux Aeterna' by Harrison Benson. We are very lucky to have trebles with such fine voices, prepared to use their talent to the enchantment of us all.

I must, of course, pay tribute to Andrew Wilson, our choirmaster, without whose energy and expertise none of this would have come about. I am pleased to note that, as the choir processed back down the aisle, the whole audience broke into spontaneous applause. A well-deserved tribute to the hard work, dedication and sheer quality of all those who took part.

On behalf of all those who were there, THANK YOU.

Harold Hore

Stand and Deliver

Is there a modern Dick Turpin in the making? Michael Chilcott is planning to ride from London to York to raise money for our Tower and Bells Project. How he plans to relieve people of their money on the way, remains to be seen!

Mike and his bike will leave Southwark Cathedral on Saturday, 3 May. He will head north to St Paul’s Cathedral and St Alban’s Abbey. During the week he will visit Peterborough Cathedral, Southwell Minster and Lincoln Cathedral. His journey will take him across the Humber Bridge and on to his final destination of York Minster.

To help Mike collect his money by legal means, you are invited to sponsor him for this marathon 250-mile trip. He is aiming to get himself sponsored for £1,000 before he sets off north. If you wish to encourage him along his way, please contact Kath Chilcott in church, or by ringing 020 8686 2272, or at 21 Goldaming Avenue.

Jean Kimber

Advance Notice

St Mary’s ringers are holding a parish concert for funds on 9 August .

If you have a talent for entertaining that we may not know about, please sidle up to a ringer offer yourself.

Note - there may be an audition!!

May Day

If the arrival of May makes you feel a bit giddy and irrepressible, you are not alone. May was the month when the ancient pagans used to get up to all sorts! The Romans held their festival to honour the mother-goddess Maia, goddess of nature and growth. (May is named after her.) The early Celts celebrated the feast of Beltane, in honour of the sun god, Beli.

For centuries in 'Olde England' the people went mad in May. After the hardship of winter, and hunger of early Spring, May was a time of indulgence and unbridled merriment. One Philip Stubbes, writing in 1583, was scandalised: "for what kissing and bussing, what smooching and slabbering one of another, is not practised?"

Henry VIII went 'maying' on many occasions. Then folk would stay out all night in the dark rain-warm thickets, and return in the morning for dancing on the green around the Maypole, archery, vaulting, wrestling, and that evening, bonfires.

The Protestant reformers took a strong stand against May Day - and in 1644 Christmas and May Day were abolished together. Many Maypoles came down - only to go up again at the Restoration, when the first May Day of King Charles's reign was "the happiest Mayday that hath been many a year in England", according to Pepys. A truly enormous Maypole went up that year in London - 134 feet high, right where the church of St Mary lies near Westminster. It was the highest Maypole in history, but it disappeared in the interests of science: in 1717 Sir Isaac Newton took it away to support the most modern and powerful telescope in the world.

May Day to most people today brings vague folk memories of a young Queen of the May decorated with garlands and streamers and flowers, a Maypole to weave, Morris dancing, and the intricacies of well dressing at Tissington in Derbyshire.

May Day is a medley of natural themes such as sunrise, the advent of summer, growth in nature, and - since 1833 - Robert Owen's vision of a millennium in the future, beginning on May Day, when there would be no more poverty, injustice or cruelty, but harmony and friendship. This is why, in modern times, May Day has become Labour Day, which honours the dignity of workers. And until recently, in communist countries May Day processions were in honour of the achievement of Marxism.

There has never been a Christian content to May Day, but nevertheless there is the well known 6 am service on the top of Magdalen Tower at Oxford where a choir sings in the dawn of May Day.

An old May carol includes the lines:

                  The life of man is but a span,
                  - it flourishes like a flower
                  We are here today, and gone tomorrow
                  - we are dead within an hour.

There is something of a sadness about it, both in words and tune, as about all purely sensuous joy. For May Day is not Easter, and the joys it has known have always been earth-bound and fleeting.

Christian Aid Week 11-17 May

Christian Aid Week 2003 celebrates people who are changing the world. Some are from the developing world, others are supporters in the UK and Ireland. But all have a common goal - to challenge the causes and effects of poverty and to help change the world for good.

One person who features in the publicity is Roy Ellis, whose wife was the Minister of Wallington Methodist Church and who moved to Street in Somerset three years ago. Roy was a very active campaigner for Christian Aid, organising street collections and support for the Trade Justice Campaign. Some of you will remember him, I am sure.

So I am again asking for house to house collectors for Christian Aid Week. I know people do not relish the task, but without our efforts Christian Aid would not be able to support projects in Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Jamaica and Palestinian territories.

Please make a note of two dates in Christian Aid Week. First the Christian Aid Week Service for all churches in Beddington and Wallington at St Paul's Church, Roundshaw at 6.30 pm on Sunday, 11 May. Also 'The Event' on Saturday, 17 May at Wallington Methodist Church hall from 10 am to 2 pm. There will be tea and coffee and various stalls, so if you are shopping in Wallington on the 17th, please call in and see what is on offer.

Thanking you in anticipation of your support.

Eileen England

Daily prayer topics in May

Thu 1 Thanksgiving for the life and witness of the Apostles

Fri 2 All teachers of the Christian Faith

Sat 3 Theological schools, seminaries and colleges

Sun 4 Commissioning of our new PCC

Mon 5 Christian education in parish churches

Tue 6 Our Bible Study Group

Wed 7 Give thanks for Sunday School teachers

Thu 8 Nicholas Bains, being consecrated as Bishop today at St Paul's Cathedral

Fri 9 All seeking Holy Orders

Sat 10 All who seek a deeper knowledge of Christ and the Christian Faith

Sun 11 Give thanks for the Anglican Church of Korea

Mon 12 Anglican schools, teachers and pupils

Tue 13 All involved in the recruitment and training of clergy

Wed 14 All called to positions of authority in the Church

Thu 15 All in Religious Orders

Fri 16 The work of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission

Sat 17 All bishops, priests and deacons

Sun 18 Give thanks for the Church of the Province of Uganda

Mon 19 Our PCC as it meets for the first time tonight

Tue 20 MU Festival Services tonight and tomorrow

Wed 21 Churchwardens being sworn-in tonight

Thu 22 Our work with children and young people

Fri 23 Our care for the elderly and infirm

Sat 24 The Methodist Church

Sun 25 The Anglican Communion

Mon 26 Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

Tue 27 The Anglican Communion Secretary General and staff

Wed 28 The Anglican Consultative Council

Thu 29 The Anglican Observer to the United Nations and staff

Fri 30 All concerned with social justice and reform

Sat 31 The courage to carry Christ within us and present Him wherever we go

Readings for Sundays and Festivals in May

Sun 18 May Easter 5

Acts 8: 26-40 (page 557)

1 John 4: 7-21 (page 559)

John 15: 1-8 (page 560)

Sun 25 May Easter 6

Acts 10: 44-48 (page 561)

1 John 5: 1-6 (page 562)

John 15: 9-17 (page 563)

Sun 4 May Easter 3

Acts 3: 12-19 (page 551)

1 John 3: 1-7 (page 552)

Luke 24: 36b-48 (page 553)

Sun 11 May Easter 4

Acts 4: 5-12 (page 554)

1 John 3: 16-24 (page 555)

John 10: 11-18 (page 556)

Thu 29 May Ascension Day

Acts 1: 1-11 (page 240)

Ephesians 1: 15-23 (page 243)

Luke 24: 44-53 (page 244)

Music at Evensong in May

Sunday 4 May

Canticles: Brewer in D

Anthem: Blessed Be The God and Father - Wesley

Sunday 11 May

No Evensong at St Mary's

Sunday 18 May

Canticles: Arnold in A

Anthem: O Taste and See - Sir John Goss

Sunday 25 May

Canticles: Stanford in C

Anthem: O Thou The Central Orb – Wood

First Aid

Following the success of a Basic First Aid session last October, it is hoped there will be sufficient interest to arrange another in the near future. The two-hour session would take place in the Centre and is ideal for beginners but also invaluable as a refresher course.

Please let me or Pat Kingsbury know if you would like to take up this opportunity, there is a small charge to cover expenses but it is well worthwhile and could lead to the saving of a life.

June Allen

The Other AGM

The Friends of Beddington Park and The Grange held their first AGM on 19 March. Dee Hyatt was elected Chairman and the committee now includes a Plant Person (Pam Aylmore) and a Dog Warden (Heather Beardmore), as well as all the usual officers.

The Friends of the Parks are pleased that they are getting noticed. The minutes of the AGM record a commendable list of achievements and plans for continuing involvement in park matters. These include lobbying the council to get the boating lake bridge repairs done - this should be completed by last summer - and volunteering to help plant bulbs for next spring. They will also keep us informed about progress of the children's play area and the proposed Beddington Park Cycle Scheme.

Membership of the Friends costs £10 for families, or £6 for individuals. Subscriptions are payable by cheque to 'Friends of Beddington and Grange Parks', and should be sent c/o The Treasurer, Roy Scott, 38 Rectory Lane, Wallington SM6 8DX.

Pat Kingsbury

Early Visit from New Bishop

During his report to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, the Rector revealed that St Mary's could be one of the parishes to receive an early visit from the new Bishop of Croydon as he plans to "shadow" incumbents during a typical Sunday.

Earlier, at the Easter Vestry, Ian Akhurst was elected Church-warden in place of Margaret Freeman, who was warmly thanked for her services. There were few changes to the make-up of the Parochial Church Council. Mary Tapp dropped off (after goodness knows how many years) as did David Kingsley. They were replaced by Carolyn Churchyard and Keith Lewis.

Cassie Tillett, the Treasurer, gave her usual full report and was delighted to say that St Mary's had continued to pay all its bills and debts had fallen from £103,000 in 1997 to just £12,500. However the discovery that the church needed completely rewiring blew a hole in her plans. She was also concerned that the shopping list was falling behind schedule.

Reports were also presented by the ringers, who highlighted the need for new recruits and said that the proposed rehanging of the bells was likely to take place in the autumn of 2004; the Church Centre Management Committee, who pointed out the improvements which had been made over the past year; and the new Families Group, headed by Carolyn Churchyard, which has got off to a good start.

Stewart Kimber

Oblate's rule of life as set out by the Community at Malling Abbey

Saint Benedict wrote his Rule amid the chaos and decadence of the sixth century. Its centre is Christ, our way, our truth and our life. The insights and practices of the Rule are rooted and grounded in the Gospel. They have value in today's world, for those who live outside the monastery as well as for nuns and monks. They are signposts to guide us on our common journey to God.

The principles on which an oblate's rule of life are founded are as follows:

* To attend the Eucharist at least once a week.

* To say at least two Offices a day, preferably Lauds and Vespers.

* To have at least one annual two-day retreat.

* To have personal prayer on a regular basis.

* To set time aside for regular spiritual reading, with preference for the Scriptures.

* To read the Rule of Saint Benedict through at least once a year.

* To commit oneself to seek and serve God within the relationships he has given us, in response to his self-giving faithfulness to us.

* To commit oneself to the demands of journeying on through change and growth to full maturity in Christ, accepting our share in the Paschal Mystery of his death and resurrection.

* To realise in our lives the Benedictine values of balance and harmony, reverence, peace and hospitality. To be faithful stewards of our time and talents.

* To be responsible for our own life in Christ, while leaving others free in the loving and creative hands of God.

* To practice obedience by listening intently for the voice of God speaking to us through other people, the written word, daily events and in our deepest heart. To seek the will of God that we may fulfil His purpose in simplicity, humility and love.

* And finally, to be faithful to the spirit of the Rule of St Benedict and to our personal rule, within the limits, demands and disciplines of the circumstances of our lives.

If the above seems to be a lot to live up to, closer examination will show that it is really no more than the commitment most Christians live out on a daily basis without thinking too much about it. Most of us have some kind of 'Rule of Life' even if it is not written down, and for me, having a specific Rule to live to gives me guidelines and parameters which help me along on my journey to God. Perhaps there may be something in this Oblate's Rule of Life which will be of help to you in your own particular spiritual journey. On we go in the name of Christ. Amen.

Jennifer Davison

PS - Morning and Evening Prayer is said in the Carew Chapel daily throughout the week, except Thursday and Saturday evenings.

Advice to gardeners

The easiest way to tell the difference between young plants and weeds is to pull up everything. If they come up again, they're weeds.

Ascension Day - Forty Days with the Risen Christ

May continues the season of Eastertide, the period of 40 days between Easter and Ascension Day, which falls this year on Thursday, 29 May.

It may seem crazy to call it Eastertide when Easter is clearly over! - but if you look in your diary, you will find the Sundays are numbered Easter 1, Easter 2, and so forth. These are the forty days during which the Risen Christ appeared again and again to his disciples, following his death and resurrection.

The Gospels give us little of Christ's teachings and deeds during those forty days. Jesus was seen by numerous disciples: on the road to Emmaus, by the Sea of Galilee, in houses, etc. He strengthened and encouraged his disciples, and at last opened their eyes to all that the Scriptures had promised about the Messiah. Jesus also told them that as the Father had sent him, he was now going to send them - to all corners of the earth, as his witnesses.

Eastertide ends with the Ascension of Christ.

Songs of Praise

Do you watch Songs of Praise? It is one of the longest running, most popular BBC television programmes. In the 1960s its average weekly viewing audience was 4.5 million. (11% of the adult population.) By the 1990s this had increased to 4.9 million, still a tenth of the UK adult population. Today it often commands a viewing audience of 25 - 30% of those watching TV early on Sunday evenings.

Does it take people away from Sunday evening services? Undoubtedly yes, but research has found that the programme is watched by even more non-churchgoers than churchgoers.

A high proportion of people who watch Songs of Praise are over 65 years old - in fact, 52% of viewers are in this age-group. This represents a quarter of the nine million people in the UK who are 65 or over.

A recent survey by Christian Research has found that 49% of elderly churchgoers find spiritual nourishment from the programme. The same survey found that the older a person is, the more they were likely to watch it. If a person is confined to a wheelchair, or lacks transport to attend church, or is in ill-health, or is in an old people's home, then Songs of Praise is especially appreciated.

What makes it so popular with older people? The clue is probably in the hymns which are featured. As late as 1930, 48% of children attended Sunday School, where they sang and sang and sang..... So Songs of Praise stirs up childhood memories in older people, reminding them of their introduction to the Christian faith, perhaps nourished over the years, perhaps forgotten, and now missed. But always there for them to return to!

Have You Noticed?

It's big and blue and made for you

and tells you what you need to do

For those of you who haven't a clue what I am on about, it is the new (refurbished) notice board at the diagonal church path entrance.

Our 'Fred Dibnah' of the ringing tower - aka Stan Coleman - has come down to earth to carry out repairs at our level.

As I do not use the diagonal path, Stan's wife, Val, had to point it out to me and it made me wonder who else had not noticed.

Mike Morgan

C'mon you choir

April:

St Mary's Under 12's – 5

The Cubs -1

Violets in the Lane

What have Spring, Lent and Mothering Sunday in common? Had you come to the Church Centre on 29 March, you would have heard these three themes cleverly woven together for an evening of music, poetry and prose, in a word-perfect rendering by Selwyn, Cassie, Mary Tapp, Diana Harries and Harold Hore, aptly titled 'Violets in the Lane'.

Spring was evoked by the descriptive 'Under Milk Wood'; by 'Wind in the Willows' where Mole, tired of spring cleaning, scrambled to the surface to scent the fresh spring air outside; and the flowing music of Mendelsohn's 'Spring Song'.

To remind us of Lent, and the lengthening days, the poetry of A E Houseman, Robert Herrick, and an extract from 'Maypoles, Martyns and Mayhem' all provided a deeper insight into the wider meaning of this period.

The first part of the second half was devoted to mothers and the day on which their children honour them. The remaining half was a miscellany of readings and music encapsulating all three themes.

Complemented by an excellent interval supper, it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening illustrating the thought and hard work that underpins such an entertaining and imaginative production.

John Tapp

An evening of nostalgia

Joan and Peter Davalle, best known for their in-period performances of "Good evening, Mr Dickens", will be visiting St Mary's on Saturday, 24 May to present their "words-and-music" entertainment Nostalgia.

Nostalgia is exactly what the name implies. Every item is about the past - what we did, what we thought and what we heard. Some of the famous writers and entertainers in the show are Oscar Wilde, Dylan Thomas, Charles Dickens, Noël Coward and two much-loved voices - Vera Lynn and Gracie Fields.

There are scenes from favourite films and plays. Some might make you shed a tear; others could tickle your funny-bone. There are poems that were probably part of your youth and songs that we used to sing, hum or just whistle.

In short, there is something for everybody in Nostalgia. The curtain goes up at 7.30 pm. Tickets cost £6.00 to include supper and all proceeds will go to St Mary's Tower and Bells Fund.

Snob value

"Speaking of old families," said the aristocrat at the garden party, out to impress a visiting American, "one of my ancestors was present at the signing of the Magna Carta."

"And one of mine," replied the American nonchalantly, "was present at the signing of the Ten Commandments."

Vigil

I wake up in the middle of the night and wonder why. Then the alarm goes off and I realise it is Good Friday. I remember asking Selwyn why it was called "Good" Friday but his answer escapes me. We both go downstairs and find four confused cats who know it's too early to be fed but still line up by their bowls.

The streets are empty and houses dark apart from the few who cannot sleep or, like us, have things to do. When we arrive at church it's in darkness and very still. Our entrance makes too much noise for the occasion and we tiptoe to the Carew Chapel. Bill and Margaret are still in contemplation and stay with us for a few minutes then, with whispered goodbyes, they leave.

We seldom have time to sit and just let our thoughts wander through the events of Easter. So much happened in those few days that the hour of contemplation is not enough and is soon over. The next couple arrive and we leave for home, in peace.

Mike Morgan

We Dug Duggie Dug!

Mummy and I met up with my girlfriend Kerenza and her mummy at their church, St Pat's, on the 12th of April for Duggie Dug’s Praise Party. Mummy said that Doug Horley was a very well known and popular Christian entertainer and writes praise songs for children.

There were loads of people there, little ones like me and big ones like mummy. I didn't know what to expect but it was brilliant - songs with actions that we could all join in with, a massive screen with all my favourite characters on like Bob the builder and Fireman Sam which flashed pictures and words as the songs went along. We did lots of dancing and I didn't know mummy could jump up and down so high! There were amaaaaazing puppets and one song - God's Creation It is Great! - had great big animals popping up and down when they came up in the song. Uncle Andy helped lift the puppets up and down!

Duggie Dug had a pop band who were really groovy and he did illusions that helped us to understand trust and love just like Jesus taught.

Then we all joined in some prayers especially written for us and we ended with a great big sing and dance - and we got a biscuit and a drink of squash to cool us down.

I loved Duggie Dug, he was great. We had lots of fun and made new friends,and we got to say thank you to Jesus for loving us so much.

Matthew Churchyard - aged two and three quarters!

Back To Our Roots

I have long felt that the Christian calendar was somewhat lacking in not placing enough importance on the Passover meal and its significance. I have spent many years with an interest in Judaism and was privileged enough to take part in Succoth whilst in Israel some years ago.

This was the first time I had been able to join the group at St Mary's and felt somewhat nervous as to what would take place. I had a fairly good knowledge of the ritual - but how would it be interpreted in Wallington?

I was greeted by familiar friendly faces, and a couple not so familiar – we were joined by St Mary's former minister, David Richardson, and his wife who were visiting from the USA.

The hall had been transformed - tables laid in the traditional horseshoe shape, candles everywhere and a feast table laden with exotic fruits, nuts and unleavened bread.

Selwyn welcomed us and reminded us that it was, in fact, a party and that people were to enjoy themselves and not worry about 'getting it right' all evening.

We followed the traditional Jewish pattern of the youngest child asking why this night of nights was so special - well played by our very own Katie Seymour. Selwyn and Cassie responded thereafter as the heads of the family. We had various readings and songs (tunefully thanks to Kevin!) interspersed with the ritual taking of bitter herbs (for the bitterness suffered by the Jewish people under Egyptian rule) with salt water (for the tears they had cried), and unleavened bread (the bread didn't have time to rise due to the hasty exodus). We then went on to feast on lamb (very nice indeed Heather!) and many delicious accompaniments washed down with wine - this was all themed to fit in with the type of food and drink that was taken at Passover.

When the feasting was over probably the most moving part of the evening took place - we all took part in Communion, each taking bread and wine administered by the person next to us. It felt so how I had imagined the first Communion to be, bonding the group together as it moved around the room, with Selwyn's familiar voice offering the prayers.

It was a truly special evening and my only regret is that it has taken so long for me to be able to attend one. Gerrie had said it was his third Passover meal and each one had been very moving and very enjoyable.

I feel very proud that St Mary's has added Passover to its Holy Week programme, alongside the powerful Good Friday service and the celebratory early Easter Sunday service they provided me with a very moving, significant 'physical' experience which has left me uplifted and strengthened in faith.

Carolyn Churchyard

Return to home page