What’s on in June?
Fri	1	St Mary’s Guild Garden Party at 31 Carleton Avenue	2.30 pm
Thu	2	MU&OG. Members’ Evening. The Centre	8.00 pm
SUN	5	TRINITY 2
Mon	6	Social Committee meets at 2 Caraway Place	8.00 pm
Tue	7	Bible Discussion Group at 14 Nairn Court, Elgin Road	8.00 pm
SUN	12	TRINITY 3 Guides and Brownies at 9.30 Eucharist
Tue	14	Bible Discussion Group at 14 Nairn Court, Elgin Road	8.00 pm
Wed	15	PCC Meeting. The Centre	8.00 pm
Thu	16	MU&OG. Members’ Evening. The Centre	8.00 pm
SUN	19	TRINITY 4
Sat	25	Progressive Supper
SUN	26	TRINITY 5
Tue	28	Bible Discussion Group at 14 Nairn Court, Elgin Road	8.00 pm

Pre-Confirmation classes

……. begin on Sunday, 5 June at 11in the Carew Chapel. Anyone thinking about Confirmation, please feel free to join us.

Celebrants in June

Sunday 5 June

Trinity 2 8.00 am Revd Andy Roland

9.30 am Very Revd Colin Slee

Sunday 12 June

Trinity 3 8.00 am Ven Dennis Ede

9.30 am Ven Dennis Ede

11.30 am Ven Dennis Ede (Baptisms)

Sunday 19 June

Trinity 4 8.00 am to be arranged

9.30 am Revd John Adams

Sunday 26 June

Trinity 5 8.00 am Ven Dennis Ede

9.30 am Ven Dennis Ede

Evensong in June

At St Mary’s Church we are so blessed in that we have a full choir of adults and boys whose standard of singing can be likened to that of cathedral choirs; we are so fortunate too that we have such an excellent choirmaster and organist. Together they work hard to produce a high standard of music for our worship and enjoyment. It is only at Evensong that you can hear some of their magnificent anthems. The scripture readings reinforce the teaching we have received at the Eucharist in the morning, and the intercessions are punctuated by silence, giving space for private prayer.

If you are not in the habit of attending Evensong at 6.30 pm on Sundays, why not commit to coming along at least once a month to this time of evening praise to our God?

Jenifer Davison

Evensong will take place every Sunday in June. The following choral items will be sung throughout the month:

Anthems and Motets

Attwood: Turn Thee Again, O Lord

Balfour Gardiner: Evening Hymn

Blake: And Now Another Day Is Gone

Bruckner: Christus Factus Est

Byrd: Sacerdotes Domine

Kalinikoff: I Will Love Thee O Lord

Palestrina: Come Holy Ghost Our Souls Inspire

Tallis: If Ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments

Tye: O Come Ye Servants Of The Lord

Canticles

Archer in F

Arnold in A

Moore in Fauxbourdons

Stanford in A

Sumsion in G

What is marketing?

You see a gorgeous girl at a party.

You go up to her and say, "I am very rich. Marry me!"

That's Direct Marketing

You're at a party with a bunch of friends and see a gorgeous girl.

One of your friends goes up to her and pointing at you says,

"He's very rich. Marry him."

That's Advertising.

You see a gorgeous girl at a party.

You go up to her and get her telephone number.

The next day you call and say, "Hi, I'm very rich. Marry me."

That's Telemarketing.

You're at a party and see a gorgeous girl.

You get up and straighten your tie; you walk up to her and compliment her hair.You open the door for her, pick up her bag after she drops it, offer her a ride, and then say, "By the way, I'm very rich, will you marry me?"

That's Public Relations.

You're at a party and see a gorgeous girl.

She walks up to you and says, "You are very rich..."

That's Brand Recognition.

You see a gorgeous girl at a party.

You go up to her and say, "I'm rich. Marry me"

She gives you a nice hard slap on your face.

That's Customer Feedback.

Highlights

Explore the fabulous historical buildings and architecture of the capital city

Enjoy the atmosphere, entertainment and buzz of the South Bank on this great family day out

Meet Dora the Explorer!

Itinerary

Join over 2,000 walkers on this fantastic family day out in the capital city. Explore the sites of London from the Globe Theatre to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben as you cross the many Thames Bridges on this exciting tour of the city.

Starting at Tate Modern walkers choose between a 5 or 10 mile circular route. There is a quiz en route, entertainment at the start and finish and prizes for the highest fundraisers. All walkers receive a goody bag and a medal in appreciation of their efforts. To take part walkers must register on the day between 10am and 12 noon. The start is outside Tate Modern, Bankside SE1.

RW: Friday the 13th May saw the Licensing and Installation of our good friend and former Rector, Selwyn, to the Wensum Group of Parishes in Norfolk, so it was only natural that we at St Mary’s should give thought to how we could offer our support as well as our prayers on such a prestigious occasion.

Some of our number opted to make their own way (and in some cases stay) but, thanks to Ian’s kind organisation, the rest of us were able to travel by coach so, altogether, a goodly number of friends from St Mary’s were able to be present.

JK it’s a long way to go, especially on your own! Luckily, I had another purpose to my journey - lunch with a couple of ex-Beddington ringers, now living in

East Harling. This is a village a couple of miles off the A11 between Thetford and Norwich. It’s close enough to Snetterton race track to hear the cars on race days.

RW After a somewhat roundabout journey (sic) - and rather later than planned - our coach party arrived at the “Parson Woodforde” at Weston Longville where we met up with our other travellers for an excellent buffet, again organised by Ian. Having fortified ourselves after our travels, we crossed the road to the beautiful All Saints’ Church where the service was to be held.

JK Unlike the coach party, I missed the pleasures of Streatham High Road on a Friday afternoon, the delights of the South Circular and the excitement of the Blackwall Tunnel. I sailed round the M25 and the M11 with no problems.

RW We were greeted in a most friendly and welcoming fashion by officials of the church, our bell ringers were invited to participate in the bell ringing, and we were seated in pews specially reserved for us. I would have wished for more time to explore the lovely old historic church, but I found the whole atmosphere quite fascinating, particularly the old wall paintings which, I was informed, were hundreds of years old and had, comparatively, only recently been uncovered.

JK All Saints has a nice light ring of six bells, their tenor being just over half the weight of ours. They are rung from a gallery at the back of the church. This gallery is glassed in, mainly for the comfort of the ringers but it also provides some sound control.

JD (Sorry, Jean, it was fascinating to see the bell ringers at work through the glass partition, but you couldn’t hear the bells until you went outside.)

JK We were very warmly welcomed by the local ringers and I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by an old friend who I hadn’t seen for a good many years. He used to live in Maidstone and was part of the ringing group of our younger days. He knew I was coming but I wasn’t expecting to see him. (Ringers know someone everywhere!) For the “service touch”, we rang with three of their ringers and three of ours, which was very nice.

JD Diana will not be forgotten by the Bishop and other clergy in thefor a long time, as descending from the ringing chamber she missed the bottom step and fell forward in full prostration atfeet of them all. Fortunately she was not hurt, but the Bishop must have been completely overwhelmed at this unusual act of veneration!! (Or, as the crucifer commented, “That was very elegantly done”.)

RW The service itself will long remain among our treasured memories. In his sermon, the Bishop of Norwich went out of his way to welcome our group “from the flesh-pots of Southwark” and proceeded to underline, in a most thought-provoking manner, the very foundation of the raison d’etre of our presence and purpose there. The hymns, “At the name of Jesus”, “Love divine”, “O Christ the same” and “Thine be the glory”, gave all of us the opportunity to contribute our heartfelt tributes to a memorable occasion.

At the end of the service, after a short organ voluntary, the bells were rung in celebration of Selwyn’s new ministry, and it was with happiness and pride that we were able to see our own ringers joining the “home team” in this tribute. ……It was arranged that we should ring after the service to accompany everyone’s departure but people wouldn’t depart! They stood chatting and watching us, so eventually we stopped - and then they went.

JD After the Service we made our way along the lane past the Rectory to the Village Hall where a splendid spread of buffet food was laid out together with wine and soft drinks. The Archdeacon in a speech at the Hall said of course they knew we came from the leafy groves of Beddington (an attempt no doubt to smooth our ruffled feathers after the earlier ’flesh-pots’ comment!) It was good to see Selwyn and Cassie again but sad of course, as this was our final farewell to them and their ministry here in Beddington and, as the Bishop said, it was a new beginning for them and for the Wensum Group. For us too it is a new beginning, a time of challenge, a time to look forward and not back.

JK We set off home about 9.45pm. I noticed a notice on the motorway to cheer the coach party - BLACKWALL TUNNEL CLOSED. I was indoors by 12.20 and the coach arrived at the church at 12.45. My round trip had amassed 311 miles. As I said, it’s a long way there - and back!

RW Our coach party were much relieved that the journey home was more direct and in fact we arrived back at St. Mary’s in just three hours. Our grateful thanks are extended to Ian for his excellent organisation which enabled us to participate in such a wonderful event, and to Heather for looking after us on the coach. It was a privilege to be able to support Selwyn and Cassie on such a great occasion, and to offer our love and best wishes actually in their new environment. As has been said so many times before, we shall miss them both terribly but now, having been with them on this occasion, clearly happily settled in their new surroundings, I, personally, console myself that our loss is the Wensum Group’s gain, and we must now meet the challenge of our own future.

Reg, Jean and Jenifer

The Flower Festival and ‘Thrive’

A percentage of the money raised over the Flower Festival weekend is being donated to Thrive.

So what is Thrive? It is the national horticultural charity that exists to enable disadvantaged, disabled and older people to participate fully in the social and economic life of the community.

It supports a network of specialist projects that run programmes of horticultural activity for training, employment, therapy and health. It provides expert advice on easier and accessible gardening for everyone, including older or mobility-restricted people.

Since 1978 Thrive has used knowledge and experience of how gardening and horticulture can be used to help people in different ways, according to their needs. The projects can help people increase their self-esteem and build confidence, gain qualifications and the chance to move into employment. They can rebuild lives after illness and accident and maintain or improve quality of life.

Thrive has 38 staff and 100 regular volunteers. Half the staff, and most of the volunteers, run programmes at the Garden Project centres. There they devise and run tailor-made programmes for clients, most of whom have been referred by local social services.

Other staff and volunteers work from the national office and resource centre in Reading. This provides services to the 1600 projects in the Thrive network, such as training courses, information and advice and resources for the projects.

Thrive has joined with Loughborough University in a major research project “Growing Together”. It is also involved in a study called “Horticulture in Secure Settings” to look at the benefits of such activities in prisons and secure psychiatric settings.

This is a worthy and suitable charity to receive contributions from our Flower Festival.

Sutton Deanery Synod

The Deanery Synod met on Thursday, 12 May at St Patrick’s Church, Park Hill. The Rev Martin Breadmore welcomed us and gave us an overview of his parish, following which the Rev John Thewlis gave a brief introduction to the Windsor Report on Issues of Human Sexuality.

He said that the report was not interested in what had been done, but how it had been done. The ordination of women went through the proper channels, whereas the dioceses of New Hampshire and Westminster had not gone through the proper channels with regard to gay bishops and same sex unions.

The question arose as to how we discern right from wrong. In the early church authority wasn’t static, it was according to the dynamic inbreaking of God’s Kingdom. The Report reminds us that we are more than just Christians of 2005, there is tradition and history to be considered. How do we know when it is the Spirit leading and not the devil? We need caution, process and right reading of scripture, and scripture puts the ultimate authority on God. On the other hand, the point is made that we don’t always follow St Paul, for example, women’s emancipation through social changes and the spirit of the age encouraged the church to change its ways. The Report assumes the process with regard to homosexuality is different from the process of divorce. Should we be using the same mechanism with regard to homosexuality? Who decides? The Bishops? The theologians? There have been confrontations before between bishops and theologians, ie St Paul the theologian against St Peter the diocesan bishop, and the theologian won! Rev Thewlis ended by saying, “The Ratzinger option can’t be for us!!”.

The Rev Martin Breadmore then explained the exercise they undertook with regard to this issue, at St Patrick’s. He said that as Christians we need to work through our response to people with difficulties in sexual relationships. With regard to same sex relationships we need to look at it without any outside pressures.

So they set aside three Sunday evenings for discussions. The first Sunday they spent hearing people’s stories: Paul Collier, an active homosexual priest; Stefan, a Freedom Trust celibate; and members of the congregation. Afterwards there was an opportunity to ask questions. On the second Sunday they looked at the issue from a theological point of view: Paul Collier and his theology; the Freedom Trust and their theology. The third Sunday was just the people of St Patrick’s looking at the way people approach the Bible. They then had an exercise to establish where members were on this issue by answering pre-set questions on slips of paper which they placed on a grid under sections: ‘Strongly Agree’, ‘Agree’, ‘Disagree’, ‘Strongly Disagree’. The DCC saw the results and after discussion decided to adopt the Evangelical Alliance statement that “Active same sex relationships are not of God”.

Finally, the Rev Michael Oades gave a brief introduction to the Rochester Report with regard to women bishops. He said that the report was not one of answers, but of questions, as there are arguments for and against. The report does not come down on one side or the other.

The date of the next meeting is Monday, 3 October, at St John’s, Belmont.

Jenifer Davison

Deanery Representative

Age Concern Sutton

Marion Harper of Age Concern Sutton Borough recently gave a talk to the Mothers’ Union & Open Group. We’ve not had any articles about Age Concern for a long time, so Marion has sent this information about their local activities:

Age Concern Sutton Borough is an Organisation member of the Age Concern England Federation, and is the key voluntary sector provider of services to older people in the London Borough of Sutton. We exist to improve and maintain their quality of life.

We operates from the Granfers Older People’s Community Centre, a purpose built centre to serve the older people of Sutton, and also offer a comprehensive advice and insurance service four mornings a week at our Civic Centre offices, below Sutton Library. We offer range of social, leisure and learning activities for older people. These include a drop-in café open five days a week, exercise – tai chi and chair based exercise and social opportunities such as the Euro Asian day centre open Tuesday and Thursday, whist drives, sequence dancing and bingo.

The 2001 census results indicated there are 54,616 people over the age of 50; 33,668 age 60+, which is above the London average, and there are 76,400 households in Sutton of which 10,592 (13.9%) are occupied by older people living alone.

Our objectives will be monitored and reviewed by the Board of Trustees and will ensure that the diverse and changing needs of older people in the borough of Sutton continue to be met.

Among the services we provide are:–

- Information & Advice (including insurance services)

- Advocacy Service – working alongside older people to help them resolve problems such as financial matters, family problems, caring issues,

residential care, eviction notices

- Monday Lunch Club situated on the Roundshaw Estate for frail and isolated older people, open every Monday during the school terms

- Homeshare (day care in the homes of trained volunteers)

- Home Security Project – a free home security assessment and the fitting of smoke detectors and a range of door & window locks

- Ageing Well / Handyperson scheme – a partnership between Age Concern Sutton Borough and LB of Sutton offering access to an Occupational Therapy Assistant and

Handyperson intervention. This is a chargeable Service for fitting grab rails and providing OT equipment. Grants can be obtained for older people on benefits or

with savings below £6,000

- Small Job Service – a chargeable service; we give recommendations and quotations in most aspects of home maintenance (no plumbing or electrical work)

- Hospital Discharge Support Scheme based at St Helier Hospital provides short term support following an attendance at A&E or following discharge from hospital

- Charity Shop

- Helping Hands project – we introduce older people to self employed helping hands who assist with tasks such as cleaning, washing, ironing, shopping or whatever

else is required. This is a chargeable service.

Age Concern Sutton Borough has good links with health & social care agencies and the voluntary sector and is also able to refer older people to other agencies in the borough. We are also actively engaged in the local planning process.

Tel: 020 8770 4092 or 4097

Or at: Lower Square for our information service

Tel: 020 8770 4090

Marion Harper

Top of the Document

Who can preach the sermon?

Have you ever wondered how people 'make it' into our pulpit? Preaching the Word of God is taken seriously in the Church of England's Canon Law. A sermon is to be preached in every parish church as least once each Sunday – unless the Bishop has agreed that there is an exceptional reason for omitting the sermon.

The Church of England is also very clear about the people who can preach these sermons: only those who are ordained or licensed by the Bishop as Readers or lay workers can preach. This is to safeguard our doctrine – our understanding of the Christian faith. Only those who have been approved and trained by the Church can be entrusted with this special responsibility.

There are of course times when it is appropriate for someone else to preach - perhaps a representative of a missionary society or some other church organisation. But even in these circumstances the 'minister having the cure of souls' (usually the Vicar, Rector or priest-in-charge) should ask for the Bishop's agreement.

The last part of the Canon about sermons explains why we should take preaching so seriously: 'The preacher shall endeavour with care and sincerity to minister the word of truth, to the glory of God and to the edification of the people.'

St Justin (c100–165)

1 June

Justin Martyr is regarded as the first ever Christian philosopher.

He was born at Nablus, Samaria, of parents of Greek origin, and was well educated in rhetoric, poetry and history before he turned to philosophy. He studied at Ephesus and Alexandria and tried the schools of the Stoics, the Pythagoreans, and the Platonists. Then in c 130 Justin became a Christian, and never looked back. His long search for truth was satisfied by the Bible, and above all by Christ, the Word of God.

This apologist and martyr is known as the most important early ‘apologist’. He went on to offer a reasoned defence for Christianity, explaining that it was the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecies. Justin’s aim was evangelism: he thought that pagans would turn to Christianity if they were made aware of Christian doctrine and practice.

Justin’s martyrdom took place in the reign of Marcus Aurelius, along with six other believers. At his trial, whose authentic record survives, he clearly confessed his Christian beliefs, refused to sacrifice to the gods, and accepted suffering and death. As he had previously said to the emperor: “You can kill us, but not hurt us.”

Good results from the Church Commissioners

The Church Commissioners – who manage assets worth more than £4 billion on behalf of the Church of England - achieved a return of 13.6 per cent on their investments in 2004. This placed them in the top three per cent of more than 700 similar funds.

As a result of this above-average performance over the last ten years, the fund is able to distribute £37 million more each year to the Church than if the investments had performed only at the industry average. The Commissioners contribute around 18p in the pound of the cost of running the Church.

The Church Commissioners have also completed the sale of their Millbank site in central London to the House of Lords for £65 million. They will move out of 1in 2007, when around 100 staff will join other staff of the National Church Institutions in refurbished offices in Church House, Great Smith Street.

Daily prayer topics in June

Wed 1 Our Happy Hands & Young Families Group

Thu 2 The Mothers’ Union and Open Group

Fri 3 Local and national governments

Sat 4 Readers Celebration at Southwark Cathedral

Sun 5 Environment Sunday - that we may care for our world

Mon 6 For a fairer and wiser use of the world’s resources

Tue 7 Thanksgiving for our Scriptures and the guidance we receive from them

Wed 8 The local clergy fraternity

Thu 9 Evangelists and missionaries

Fri 10 Home carers, nurses and doctors

Sat 11 Thanksgiving for all who help and encourage others

Sun 12 Our Guides, Brownies and Rainbows

Mon 13 The overcoming of world poverty and debt

Tue 14 All affected by HIV and Aids

Wed 15 Our PCC Meeting tonight

Thu 16 Those who suffer from loneliness or neglect

Fri 17 St Mary’s Guild and the residents of St Mary’s Court

Sat 18 Young married couples and their families

Sun 19 Those being prepared for Confirmation later this year

Mon 20 Refugees and displaced persons

Tue 21 All planning courses and events for the summer holidays

Wed 22 Those who suffer and die for their faith

Thu 23 Ely Cathedral, Dean and Chapter

Fri 24 That we may witness to the love of Christ in our lives

Sat 25 The Methodist Church and their conference 25-30 June

Sun 26 The Sunday School and crèche

Mon 27 Vocations to the religious life

Tue 28 Teenagers caught up in drug and alcohol addiction

Wed 29 Thanksgiving for the lives and witness of SS Peter and Paul

Thu 30 Our link dioceses in Zimbabwe

What’s on in June?

Pre-Confirmation classes

Celebrants in June

Evensong in June

Anthems and Motets

Canticles

Readings for Sundays in June

From the registers

Baptisms

Weddings

Funerals

What is marketing?

London Bridges Walk 2005

Highlights

Itinerary

Saints in June

Weston Longville

Christian Aid Week

The Flower Festival and ‘Thrive’

Sutton Deanery Synod

Age Concern Sutton

Who can preach the sermon?

St Justin (c100–165)

Daily prayer topics in June