What’s on in July?

 

Sat

2

Diocesan Celebration at Lambeth Palace Gardens

May Queen Service

 

2.00 pm

SUN

3

ST THOMAS.    (Warning! Car Boot Sale today)

‘Southwark Celebrates’ at Southwark Cathedral

 

Tue

5

Bible Discussion Group at 14 Nairn Court, Elgin Road

8.00 pm

Wed

6

St Mary’s Guild. Pat Kingsbury will give a talk on ‘Bark’

2.30 pm

Thu

7

MU&OG Dining Out Evening.

(Last meeting. Recommences 1 September)

8.00 pm

SUN

10

TRINITY 7

Bells to be rung to celebrate both VE and VJ Day

 

5.00 pm

Tue

12

Bible Discussion Group at 14 Nairn Court, Elgin Road

(Last meeting. Recommences on 6 September)

8.00 pm

Fri

15

St Swithun. (No additional service)

 

Sat

16

Model Railway Weekend starts

10.00  to

5.00 pm

SUN

17

TRINITY 8

Model Railway Weekend continues

12.00 to

4.00 pm

Tue

19

PCC Meeting. Church Centre

8.00 pm

Wed

20

MU Corporate Eucharist at St Michael’s Church

10.00 am

Fri

22

Mary Magdalene.  (No additional service)

 

SUN

24

TRINITY 9.    (Warning! Car Boot Sale today)

Choral Evensong (Last before summer break)

 

4.00 pm

SUN

31

TRINITY 10

 


Saints  and Commemorations in July

Sun             3          Thomas the Apostle

Mon         11         Benedict of Nursia, Abbot of Monte Cassino, Father of Western Monasticism, c550

Thu           14         John Keble, priest, tractarian, poet, 1866

Fri             15         Swithun, Bishop of Winchester, c862

Tue           19         Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, and his sister, Macrina, deaconess, teachers of the Faith, c394 and c379

Fri             22         Mary Magdalene

Mon         25         James the Apostle

Tue           26         Anne and Joachim, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Fri             29         Mary, Martha and Lazarus, companions of our Lord

Sat            30         William Wilberforce, social reformer, 1833


Celebrants in July

Saturday 2 July               

May Queen Service         2.00 pm   Ven Dennis Ede

 

Sunday 3 July                  8.00 am   Rev Andy Roland

St Thomas                        9.30 am   Rev John Adams

 

Sunday 10 July                8.00 am   Ven Dennis Ede

Trinity 7                             9.30 am   Ven Dennis Ede

                                            11.30 am  Ven Dennis Ede (Baptisms)

 

Sunday 17 July                8.00 am   To be arranged

Trinity 8                             9.30 am   Rev Canon Adrian Esdaile                                 

 

Sunday 24 July                8.00 am   Ven Dennis Ede

Trinity 9                             9.30 am   Ven Dennis Ede

 

Sunday 31 July                8.00 am   Rev Andy Roland

Trinity 10                          9.30 am   Rev Andrew Nunn


Evensong

Coral Evensong on Sunday, 24 July will be at the much earlier time of 4 pm, so that the choir can get to their end-of-year Barbecue Party before the midges come out.

Sadly there is no space for the congregation at the party - much as we would all enjoy seeing you there. But do come to the service to help celebrate the end of another successful choir year.

 

The Sunday 6.30 pm service will continue every week from 31 July throughout August as Said Evening Prayer and Choral Evensong will resume on Sunday, 4 September at its usual time of 6.30 pm.

 

We wish our choir a happy holiday and thank them for the pleasure they have given us over the past year.

 

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Readings for Sundays in July

Sunday 3 July

St Thomas     

Habakkuk 2: 1-4, Page 1109

Ephesians 2: 19-22, Page 1110

John 20: 24-29, Page 1111

 

Sunday 10 July                                                   

Trinity 7

Isaiah 55: 1-13, Page 305

Romans 8: 1-11, Page 307

Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23, Page 308

 

Sunday 17 July                                                   

Trinity 8

Wisdom of Solomon 12: 13, 16-19, Page 311

Romans 8: 12-25, Page 313

Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43, Page 314

 

Sunday 24 July                                                   

Trinity 9

1 Kings 3: 5-12, Page 318

Romans 8: 26-39, Page 320

Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52, Page 321

 

Sunday 31 July                                                    

Trinity 10

Isaiah 55: 1-5, Page 324

Romans 9: 1-5, Page 325

Matthew 14: 13-21, Page 326

 

From the registers

Baptisms

12 June                  Cami Alice Dutfield

                                Jack James McCormack

Weddings

18 June                  Neil Andrew Green and Charlotte Lucy Taylor


What happens next?

It seems a long time since we opened the first envelope containing the first response to our Parish Questionnaire, drew up the first draft of the Parish Profile - now in hard covers, blue ring binder and with a picture of St Mary’s on the front page; and began the hard thinking and discussion involved in writing the Job Description for a Rector of St Mary’s as well as a paragraph about the personal qualities our new Parish Priest will bring.

 

That is now all done and the advertisement appears in The Church Times of 24 June and 1 July.  Two weeks after the closing date, the Patron, Lady Nairne, and the Parish Representatives will meet with the Bishop of Croydon and Archdeacon Tony Davies to draw up a short list and prepare for the interviews later in the summer.

Pat Kingsbury


Model Railway Exhibition

The weekend of  July 16/17 sees a new venture for St Mary’s. The Church Centre and part of the North Aisle will be taken over for a model railway exhibition, organised by your illustrious choirmaster and others. It is planned to show nine layouts, mostly built by local enthusiasts, plus a sideshow with a Thomas the Tank Engine theme, which usually appeals to the youngest sector, and where there are prizes to be won. There will also be a stall where it will be possible to buy vintage models, which is likely to appeal especially to the older child – ie fifty years old plus!

 

There will be buffet car style refreshments available, always one of the most important ingredients of a good show, but definitely no British Rail pork pies!

 

This will be a small show by current standards, and naturally most local residents will be aware of the pressure on car parking space in the vicinity. Visitors will be encouraged to use public transport for their journey, hopefully leaving their cars at home.

 

The layouts will represent modelling in a range of scales, and feature railways in Britain, USA and Finland. If you want to find out more about the world of model railways, then come along, see what is on display and talk to the operators. The show is open on Saturday 16th July morning and afternoon and Sunday 17th July afternoon only. We hope to see you there.

Peter Wood


PCC Notes

16 May saw the first meeting of the new PCC since the APCM.  Ian Akhurst, ably assisted by Pat Kingsbury, chaired the meeting which opened with prayer asking for God’s blessing and for the guidance of the Holy Spirit during our search for a new incumbent.

 

The chairman welcomed the four newly elected PCC members: Pam Akhurst, Eileen England, Chris Morgan and Derek Whiting, and Betty Walker who has been re-licensed as a Reader.  Lots were drawn to see which of the new PCC members should serve for one year (replacing Margaret Freeman who had stood down) and which for the full term of three years. Eileen England drew the one-year vacancy.  The appointments of Pam Akhurst as Secretary, Eileen England as Electoral Roll Officer and Hugh Crozier as Treasurer were agreed by acclamation. (Thinks: do the last three words really mean that nobody else wants to take on the job?  Sec.)

 

In his Treasurer’s report Hugh informed the PCC that he was experiencing some difficulty in keeping the parish up to date with the state of the Shopping List as it was not so easy for him to access the weekly banking figures as it had been for Cassie. Various solutions were suggested to ease the communication problem between those who actually bank the money from week to week and the Treasurer.  Hugh told the meeting that it costs over £300 per week to keep St Mary’s running and that the Shopping List is down at the moment for a number of reasons, including the extra expenses incurred because of Selwyn’s departure. All members of the parish are encouraged to join the stewardship scheme and to give as generously as possible. The Treasurer was glad to be able to end his report with some good news; a bequest of £5000 has been received from the estate of Scottie Bishop. A suitable project will be financed by this generous bequest.

 

The Social Committee report was given by Derek Whiting. He informed the PCC that a number of events had been planned for the rest of this year and gave the following dates:           

 

25 June                  Progressive Supper

16/17 July             Model Railway Weekend

24 September       Harvest Supper

5 November          Alternative Bonfire Night Party

3 December          Christmas Fair

 

Derek invited suggestions/requests for other social events. Another “These You Have Loved”, an outing to Downe House (the home of Charles Darwin) and a parish picnic were the immediate responses. (Do you have any ideas to add to the list?  Speak to Derek Whiting.)

Our churchwardens gave the PCC an update on interregnum matters. They informed the meeting that the official documents had been received from the diocese, enabling us to go ahead with advertising for a new incumbent. The first draft of the information document would soon be available for perusal and comment by the PCC.

 

The new PCC voted unanimously to confirm the decisions relating to the appointment made at the PCC meeting in April, namely the appointment of Pat Kingsbury and Ian Akhurst as the two parish representatives on the selection committee; that resolutions A, B and C on women priests be not considered or voted on by the PCC; and requesting the Patron to advertise the vacancy.

 

Under any other business, concern was expressed that the churchyard was in need of care and attention, particularly with the Flower Festival coming up. Pat Kingsbury told the meeting that Mike Chilcott had been doing a splendid job for a number of years but that it was just TOO MUCH for one person to keep under control. Unless a regular team of volunteers could be found, the churchyard committee had taken the decision that someone would have to be paid to do the job. (Any volunteers?  Please speak to Pat Kingsbury.)

 

The meeting closed with prayer.

 

30 May was the occasion of the second PCC meeting this month. The purpose of this meeting was to consider and, if agreed, to endorse the Parish Profile prepared by the parish representatives.

 

The meeting opened with prayer.

 

Ian Akhurst explained that the churchwardens’ intention in framing the document had been both to show the parish’s present condition as honestly as possible and also to provide a real challenge for a high calibre priest. The PCC was asked to consider whether this was the sort of document it wished to endorse; if not what its preferred shape would be; and, if members were happy with the overall thrust, whether there were any amendments they would wish to make.

 

A few amendments were made. A proposal that the document as amended should be endorsed by the PCC was seconded and agreed unanimously.

 

The meeting ended with The Lord’s Prayer.

Pam Akhurst

Secretary to the PCC

 

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Behind the scenes at the Flower Festival

Work started days before - preparing tables for each display and putting them in place.

 

Then on Thursday, when the parish convoy had collected all the flowers from Covent Garden, the Church Centre became a production line with St Mary’s flower arrangers and Churches Together joining in the task of preparing and conditioning every bloom.

 

Each group had its scheduled slot on Friday so that we would not fall over each other as we worked - nor would we fall over the tiny new born babies sleeping quietly as their mothers arranged their displays.  Tea, coffee and sticky buns from the Centre kitchen kept us going until we all could sit down together for lunch.

 

Thanks again to everyone for all you did, particularly to the masterminder and organiser, Sue - and to everyone who came and enjoyed and contributed, both to the wonderful happy atmosphere and to the collections.  When the tellers finally finished counting the coins, the total was well over £2,000 - of which a substantial donation goes to the charity, Thrive.

 

It was wonderful to see all the thought, work and imagination that had gone into every one of the arrangements

 

“Amazing talent”


                                “I found it hard to choose a favourite”


                                                                                                     “Fantastic”


                                                                                                                          “Artistic, graceful and complementing the architecture”


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 “Overwhelming”


Muriel Hart

Some readers may remember Mrs Muriel Hart.  She died on 3 May this year at the age of 88.  Before moving to Norfolk, George and Muriel had been very active members of St Mary’s.  As well as being Mothers’ Union enrolling member, Muriel had been a leading light in SMYF and the Guide Company.

 

We extend our sympathy to her daughter, Jill, and niece, Ruth.

Betty Walker


Church House Bookshop

The Archbishops' Council has announced that it is hoping to sell Church House Bookshop, Great Smith Street, London, as a going concern. The decision is in line with the Council's ongoing review of its activities and its desire to focus on core functions.

 

Church House Bookshop is widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading Christian bookshops. Its reputation is based on high levels of customer service delivered by knowledgeable staff, a broad range of stock - including the complete range of Church House Publishing and General Synod publications - its mail-order department, and website www.chbookshop.co.uk

 


If swimming is so good for your figure, how do you explain whales?


Ringing to Remember

SUNDAY JULY 10

This date is to be the day of commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the ending of the war in Europe. Although the war actually ended in May, the July date has been chosen as being part way between VE Day and VJ Day.

 

The Ministry of Defence has asked ringers to mark the occasion by ringing at 5 o’clock that Sunday afternoon. Though we all understand the importance of such a commemoration, there are also many who still remember the events of 60 years ago and for whom this special ringing will hold a much deeper significance.

 

We shall be complying with the directive from the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers (the world-wide governing body) which says: “The Central Council wishes to encourage bands throughout the country to ring at 5pm on Sunday 10 July as requested by the WWII 60th Anniversary Commemoration Team Chief of Staff.” Who would dare disobey?

 

So if anyone asks you why the bells are ringing at that time, you’ll be able to tell them!

Jean Kimber

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Recipe for Mum's and Toddler’s Flapjacks

Remove teddy bear from oven and preheat oven.

Grease a shallow 19cm square tin. 

Remove teddy bear from oven again and say: "No, no."

Cream the butter.

Take butter tub away from toddler and wipe down the cupboard doors.

Mix together the sugar and oats and gradually work into the creamed butter, until thoroughly blended.  Remove small plastic dinosaur from mixture.

Take the butter tub away from toddler again and wipe down the cat.

Apply antiseptic and bandages to scratches. Glare back at cat.

Remove crayons from prepared tin and replace with flapjack mixture.

Press this evenly into the prepared tin with a round-bladed knife.

Open the oven, retrieve the now smouldering teddy bear, and open windows and doors for ventilation.

Place flapjack mixture in the oven, and reassure anxious neighbour that house is not on fire.

Bake flapjack mixture at 220 degrees mark 7 for about 15 minutes, until golden brown.

While flapjacks are baking, conduct swift neighbourhood search for toddler, who disappeared out the door when anxious neighbour came in.

Lift toddler out of muddy puddle next door.

Take toddler home, and on way through kitchen towards bathroom, switch off oven.

By the time the toddler has been bathed and changed, the flapjacks will be cool and ready to eat.  This is a good time to discuss with your toddler about why the tub of oats would have been better left alone, and not sprinkled around the living room carpet in a pleasing pattern.


Quiet Day

OPEN QUIET DAY at WYCHCROFT on Tuesday, 12 July, led by

Canon Michael Hart, entitled ‘The Allure of Mystery’. Cost £20

 

Full booking details from: Christopher Archer,

Wychcroft, Bletchingley, Surrey RH1 4HE 

Tel 01883 743041


The Holy Alphabet

A             Although things are not perfect

B             Because of trial or pain

C             Continue in thanksgiving

D             Do not begin to blame

E             Even when times are hard

F              Fierce winds are bound to blow

G             God is forever able

H             Hold on to Him you know

I              Imagine life without his love

J              Joy would cease to be

K             Keep thanking him for all the things

L             Love imparts to thee

M            Move out of 'camp complaining'

N             No weapon that is known

O             On earth can yield the power

P              Praise can do alone;

Q             Quit looking at the future

R             Redeem the time at hand

S              Start every day with worship

T             To 'thank' is a command.

U             Until we see him coming

V             Victorious in the sky

W            We'll run the race with gratitude

X             Xalting God on high;

Y             Yes there will be good times and

                Yes there will be bad, but  

Z             Zion waits in glory where none

                are ever sad!


Your worth

A £5 note found in the gutter, filthy dirty, is the same value as a pristine one. 

Every person, no matter how messed up, is just as valuable to God.


Fairtrade : safeguarding the mark

 Is the Fairtrade movement in danger of being diluted? This question is being asked because a few companies appear to be using the term rather loosely and now that there are more than 500 products on the market (there were only 130 in 2003) consumers can easily get confused.

 

Obviously it is a good thing that there are more Fairtrade products available, including a new Oxfam-backed coffee-shop chain (Progreso) which stocks coffee from the devastated Indonesian province of Aceh.  But the entry of the multi-nationals could be a cause for concern. The worry is that big brands may jump on the ethical bandwagon, enhancing their corporate reputation but not necessarily to the benefit of local producers.

 

The fact that a firm is donating to a charity working in poor countries is not, in itself, a guarantee that its products conform to the criteria laid down by the Fairtrade Foundation for fair treatment of producers.  The Foundation, which controls use in the UK of the Fairtrade mark (seen on packaging) by granting licences, requires that a licensed firm pays certified producers a price that covers the cost of production plus a premium which those people, as a group or co-operative, can spend as they think fit on improving their living conditions.

 

The Fairtrade Foundation was set up by CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Traidcraft, the World Development Movement and New Consumer (a magazine). Although charities had led the way, it was felt that it was important to get commercial manufacturers involved, and to get fair trade into the supermarkets where most people shop (hence the Mark).

 

To learn more about Fairtrade, go to the website: www.fairtrade.org.uk

Daily prayer topics in July

Fri           1              The Zimbabwe Evening at St Augustine’s, South Croydon

Sat          2              The Diocesan Centenary Celebrations at Lambeth Palace

Sun         3              Southwark Cathedral and the Centenary Celebrations

Mon       4              The people of America as they celebrate Independence Day

Tue         5              All who are in positions of authority or influence

Wed        6              The Diocesan Synod meeting tonight

Thu         7              The Zimbabwe Supper at St Matthew’s, Redhill

Fri           8              The General Synod Meeting, 8-12 July

Sat          9              The Glastonbury Pilgrimage

Sun         10           Children being baptised at St Mary’s today and their families

Mon       11           All Benedictine monastic communities

Tue         12           The Bishop of Woolwich, Christopher Chessun

Wed        13           The Mothers’ Union AGM at Mary Sumner House

Thu         14           Holiday clubs for children

Fri           15           Winchester Cathedral, Dean and Chapter

Sat          16           The Community of the Sisters of the Church, Ham Common

Sun         17           Church Hospitals, staff and patients

Mon       18           St Helier, St George and Epsom hospitals

Tue         19           Our PCC Meeting tonight

Wed        20           Peace in the troubled areas of our world

Thu         21           All who suffer as a result of wars and persecutions

Fri           22           Readers’ Conference being held at Swanwick this weekend

Sat          23           Vocations to Lay Ministry in the church

Sun         24           That we will seek first the Kingdom of God

Mon       25           The safety of all on holiday

Tue         26           Young Families at St Mary’s and the Happy Hands group

Wed        27           Those waiting for operations and admission to hospital

Thu         28           The elderly and the disabled and their carers

Fri           29           The Society of Martha and Mary

Sat          30           Bishop Ishmael and Central Zimbabwe

Sun         31           That we may use the earth’s natural resources responsibly

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