Just
look where you last saw it
The
Seven Last Words from the Cross
Saints
and Commemorations in April
Readings
for Sundays and Festivals in April
Annual
Parochial Church Meeting
Mental
health: the last workplace taboo?
sos
…. sos …. sos …. sos …. sos …. sos
This morning I spent a very frustrating half hour looking for some papers I needed for a meeting. I hunted high and low, going through all the papers on my desk, ransacking my study trying to find them. And then it suddenly struck me – a last ditch thought I grant you – maybe they were in the place where they were supposed to be in my super duper new filing system. I doubted that was possible, but I was at the clutching at straws stage and so I looked and lo and behold the file was there, exactly where it was supposed to be. So I learned to trust myself, and recognise that my admin is in fact better than I think it is.
I’m sure that it’s a frustration that many of us have had in our lives – where did we put the house keys / car keys / our glasses. But so often things turn up where they should be – in the files, on the hall table, on the end of our noses. it’s not that we haven’t looked, we simply didn’t see.
So perhaps it’s no wonder that the disciples didn’t believe the women when they came back on that first Easter morning to say that they couldn’t find the body of Jesus. “You’re over-wrought” they might have said, “You haven’t slept in days.” “He was there, you just don’t want to admit it, you couldn’t bring yourselves to see the truth, but rationally you know he had to be there.”
Yet the God of Jesus Christ is a God of surprises, who overturns the normal way of doing things, who unsettles us and shakes us from our comfort and our slumber. The women were right, they didn’t find Jesus where they last saw him because Jesus doesn’t live by the rules but lives to shake them up. We so often can’t find God where we expect to because God doesn’t live by our rules, God doesn’t know how we think a divine being “ought” to behave, so God is out there with the poor, the hungry, the dirty, the lonely and the desperate, touching lives, healing wounds, bringing new life and new hope. We can’t put God efficiently and tidily in the file marked Sunday and expect that all will be well come next week, because God will be out there, turning the world upside down while we’re not looking.
This year, our service at 1pm on Good Friday will be a series of meditation on the theme of the Seven Last Words from the Cross. The seven words in their traditional order are:
Father forgive them, for they know not what they do
Today you will be with me in paradise
Behold your son: behold your mother
Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani
I thirst
It is finished
Into your hands I commit my spirit
These seven short sentences or sayings, the dying words of Jesus have become a focus of meditation and reflection in music and in words for Christians and are an appropriate way to begin our Good Friday Worship as we seek to explore their resonances and importance for us today.
The service will be made up of short reflections by various members of the congregation on each of the Bible passages, music led by the choir to aid our contemplation, and periods of silence when we can allow the words of Jesus and the cross itself to speak in our hearts as well as our minds. All too often we try to put words into God’s mouth – here we will try to let God speak to us as together we approach the mystery of the Cross.
Justine
What’s on in April?HOLY WEEK |
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PALM SUNDAY Procession of Palms and Sung Eucharist Passover Supper in the Centre (No Evensong tonight) |
9.30 am 6.30 pm |
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Eucharist Holy Week Meditation and Compline |
9.00 am 7.30 pm |
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Eucharist Holy Week Meditation and Compline |
9.00 am 7.30 pm |
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Eucharist St Mary’s Guild meet at St Mary’s Court Stations of the Cross |
10.00 am 2.30 pm 7.30 pm |
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MAUNDY THURSDAY Eucharist, washing of feet and stripping of the Altar A vigil of silent prayer will be kept in the Carew Chapel following the end of the Eucharist until the start of tomorrow’s afternoon service |
7.30 pm |
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GOOD FRIDAY Churches Together Walk of Witness starting at St’s Church, Milton Road, Wallington Meditation and Music led by the choir Liturgy of Good Friday |
12 noon 1.00 pm 2.00 pm |
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Easter Eve Morning Prayer |
8.30 am |
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EASTER DAY Vigil and First Eucharist of Easter Eucharist Sung Eucharist Choral Evensong |
5.30 am 8.00 am 9.30 am 6.30 pm |
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….. the rest of April |
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Mon |
9 |
Easter Monday Bank Holiday. Church open |
1.00- 5.00 pm |
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Tue |
10 |
St Mary’s Court Communion Magazine Panel meets at 35 Vanguard Way |
10.00 am 10.45 am |
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SUN |
15 |
EASTER 2 The President at both morning services will be the RevAndrew Wilson Said Evening Prayer (no Evensong) |
6.30 pm |
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Tue |
17 |
Time for God quiet worship. Carew Chapel St Elphege’s Patronal Festival. All Welcome |
9.30 am 8.00 pm |
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Wed |
18 |
MU Corporate Eucharist |
10.00 am |
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Thu |
19 |
‘Praise & Play’ for pre-school toddlers MU&OG. ‘Bring & Buy’ and a talk by Mark Tomlinson of the Sutton Faith & Belief Forum. The Centre |
10.00 am 7.30 pm |
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Sat |
21 |
Women’s World Day of Prayer Coffee Morning. The Centre |
10 am to 12 noon |
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SUN |
22 |
EASTER 3 |
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Mon |
23 |
St George. Said Eucharist |
10.00 am |
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Wed |
25 |
Churches Together Prayer Meeting at St Patrick’s |
8.00 pm |
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Fri |
27 |
Kith, Kin & Canine Coffee Morning. The Centre |
10.00 - 11.30 am |
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SUN |
29 |
EASTER 4 Easter Vestry and Annual Parochial Church Meeting |
11.00 am |
Mon 9 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Lutheran Pastor, Martyr, 1945
Tue 10 William Law, Priest, Spiritual Writer, 1761
William of Ocham, Friar, Philosopher, Teacher of the Faith, 1347
George Augustus Selwyn, First Bishop of New Zealand, 1878
Mon 16 Isabella Gilmore, Deaconess, 1923
Thu 19 Alphege, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1012
Sat 21 Anselm, Abbot of Le Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury, Teacher of the Faith, 109
Mon 23 George, Martyr, Patron of England, c304
Tue 24 Mellitus, Bishop of London, First Bishop of St Pauls, 624
Fri 27 Christina Rossetti, Poet, 1894
Sat 28 Peter Chanel, Missionary in the South Pacific, Martyr, 1847
Sun 29 Catherine of Sienna, Doctor of the Church, 1380
Mon 30 Pandita Mary Ramabai, Translator of the Scriptures, 1922
Every Sunday we pray for people living and working in two or three roads
in the parish. The roads in April will be:
Sunday 1 April
Crichton Avenue & Rookswood Avenue
Sunday 8 April
Sunday 15 April
Royston Avenue & Sandhills
Sunday 22 April
Iberian Avenue & Goidell Clpse
Sunday, 29 April
Plough Lane & Plough Lane Close
Sunday, 1 April
Palm Sunday
Isaiah 50 : 4-9a
Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke
Sunday, 8 April
Easter Day
Isaiah 65 : 17-end
Acts 10 : 34-43
Luke 24 : 1-12
Sunday, 15 April
Easter 2
Acts 5 : 27-32
Revelation 1 : 4-8
John 20 : 19-31
Sunday, 22 April
Easter 3
Acts 9 : 1-6, 7-20
Revelation 5 : 11-end
John 21 : 1-19
Monday, 23 April
St George’s Day
Revelation 12 : 7-12
2 Timothy 2 : 3-13
John 15 : 18-21
Sunday. 29 April
Easter 4
Acts 9 : 36-end
Revelation 7 : 9-end
John 10 : 22-30
28 February Pamela Marian Aylmore, aged 79 yrs
Apologies to Sheila Helps who found herself being congratulated in Snippets last month on the occasion of her Golden Wedding anniversary to some chap called Bob! Bit of a shock too for her actual husband, Don. Sorry Sheila and Don about the mix up in names - hope you had a wonderful celebration.
Labyrinth The URC Church in Wallington is holding a Labyrinth during Holy Week – a chance to pray in a different way. The church is open from 10-12 every morning and 7-9 every evening during Holy Week. All welcome.
Ringers’
Congratulations to James Pedrick in gaining a Distinction in the Grade 8 piano exam. And a warm welcome to him in his new rôle as St Mary’s Organ Scholar .
Lunches in the Centre have featured large lately. On Shrove Tuesday over 40 people sat down to a hot meal with pancakes. Then on a Saturday in the FairTrade Fortnight, more met for a buffet of fairly traded food and coffee, followed by a fashion show. 'Home- grown' models paraded Tshirts and trousers, shirts, skirts and jackets - all obtainable from the catalogue of the FairTrade company ’Opportunities Through Trade’. Trade was brisk and we look forward to seeing some of these fashions again "as worn at St's". Thank you to the models - Carolyn, Derek, Katie, Lorraine, Marion, Mike and Pat, and to the many helpers in the kitchen.
Women’s World Day of Prayer
75th Anniversary Celebration will be held at City Temple, High Holborn on 28 April at 2 pm. Ticket holders only - contact Mary Williams 01446 406262
Bank Holiday Monday, 7 May
BEDDINGTON PARK OLDE FAYRE.
St Mary’s will be having their own tents which will include children’s games and a tombola. A busy day - the church will be open in the afternoon as is usual on bank holidays for people to browse and enjoy the beauty of the building.
Sunday, 13 May
The CHRISTIAN AID WEEK service this year will be held at St Mary’s at 6.30 pm.
Saturday, 19 May
‘WORDS AND MUSIC’. Another evening of entertainment in church. The theme this time will be Food & Drink. Watch for more details.
Stop Press ….
Saturday, 1 September
PARISH
4 February 1928 - 14
February 2007
Pamela Aylmore was a good friend to many people. She was a very special friend to St Mary’s ringers. Although she did not attend the church very often, she loved to hear the bells and when she learned about our project to re-hang them, she was straight in offering to fund-raise for our cause.
She arranged Coffee Mornings, held lunch and tea parties and gave talks. All her profits from these activities she donated to our funds. In return, we kept her updated as to our progress and informed her of all our own fund-raising events. It was very unfortunate that she was not well enough to attend the Service of Re-dedication in March 2005. We knew she was with us in spirit.
Pamela was an only child who nursed her mother at home while still managing to work. She had left secretarial college at 17 and gone to work at Cable and Wireless as a shorthand typist. During her 38 years with them, she worked her way through a very male-orientated world to become only the second woman to reach the rank of Senior Manager.
During her early years, politics took up some of her time and amongst her other many and varied interests were bowls, the Townswomen’s Guild and gardening.
Pamela was a kind, generous and thoughtful lady who had a wonderful sense of humour. She was also a great story-teller. She gave talks around the country raising money, not only for the bells, but for organisations such as Guide Dogs for the Blind and St Raphael’s Hospice. She cared very much for Beddington Park, too, where she walked her beloved dog, Conker.
By last Christmas Pamela was very poorly but she was still thinking of others. We were able to give her a copy of Chris Kimber’s DVD of the Re-hang, which she apparently watched several times! The ringers received a farewell Christmas present from her, in the shape of a large, delicious box of chocolates!
We are so grateful to Pamela and we shall always remember her generosity.
(and
with thanks to Betty Walker for her input)
29 April
Catherine of Siena should be the patron saint of anyone who has grown up in a large family, and mastered the two vital skills for survival: how to stand up for yourself, and how to make peace with others.
Catherine had siblings! At least 19 of them. Her father was a Sienese dyer, and Catherine was the youngest. Her parents wanted her to marry, but Catherine did not. She became a nun instead, a member of the Dominican Third Order.
Perhaps after sharing a house with at least 22 people, Catherine wanted some peace and quiet: in any case she spent six years in solitude, giving herself to prayer and penance. Then she moved back into the world, through nursing the local sick people, and then beginning to travel. Catherine travelled frequently, with a number of her ‘disciples’ – a mix of Dominicans and Augustinians, and even an English Friar. Wherever they went, people listened to their proclamation of the total of love of God through Jesus Christ, and their calls to reform and repent. There were some spectacular conversions.
Catherine could not write, but soon someone else was taking down her ‘Dialogue’ by dictation – it ran to 383 letters. Catherine’s thoughts centred on Christ crucified, the supreme sign of God’s love for man. The quality of these letters made them widely read for years to come.
A godly woman who could lead and teach…. soon new opportunities presented themselves: in the last five years of her life, Catherine found herself involved in the politics of both State and Church. This included trying to make peace during the Great Schism in the Church after 1378, when Pope Gregory XI died, and two new popes – bitter rivals – claimed the papacy. Catherine wore herself out in trying to promote peace, had a stroke on 21 April 1380, and died eight days later.
Catherine soon became Siena’s principal saint, loved for her writings and her example of godliness and self-sacrificing love. Her house and an early portrait survive at Siena, and her memory lives on today: she was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1970, nearly 600 years after her death.
TOGETHER IN DIALOGUE
TWO
FAITHS, ONE WORLD, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
…….. well, first to Croydon’s Fairfield Hall on a wet Sunday afternoon in late
February to find out what this event was all about. It was advertised as a
discussion between Bishop Nick of Croydon and Imam
First impressions are always important and when we arrived we found that our Islamic brothers and sisters had put on a great display of literature which was free for the taking. Unfortunately the Christian stand was a bit lacking - something commented on by Bishop Nick during the course of the afternoon.
The backgrounds of both Bishop and Imam were given to us and then they came to centre stage to start the dialogue. There was also a panel of learned people on hand.
Bishop Nick was, as ever, excellent with his ability to discuss his subject and engage the audience. The Imam was of course unknown to us, but he had great presence, a good many things of interest to say and also had a good dry sense of humour. No wonder he and Bishop Nick are good friends.
It was surprising to hear that the Imam found practising his religion in the UK was far freer and less politically stifled than it was in Islamic countries. He also said that many Muslims were not yet ready to engage with those of other religions at this type of event.
This was the first attempt to put together such a large public debate, and it had not been easy to achieve. The ethos behind the event was to recognise that there were undoubtedly some non-negotiable differences between the Islamic and Christian doctrines, but the way forward was seek ways of accepting these differences and living with them. The audience participation time brought out some general questions which were well answered and a question from a Jewish member of the audience commenting on the seeming lack of humour in the Islamic faith - something belied by the Imam’s obvious sense of fun. When specific questions about the Islamic faith were made, for instance the apparent lack of freedom of Muslim women, it was recognised that to deal with such questions would take much longer than the three hours this event lasted. We were promised another similar occasion which could perhaps be used to deal with these many issues.
Three hours had sounded like an awful long time to listen to a debate, but the time flew by and at the end we were encouraged to enter into conversation with other attendees. Downstairs in the foyer we were approached by a most personable and confident young girl - fully robed - who it transpired was a 6th form student at the Virgo Fidelis Convent School. She was at pains to stress that her way of dress was her choice alone and she had not been pressured into it. We voiced the usual reservations about how the inability to read her facial expression made conversation difficult and how it could be perceived that this style of dress seemed to put up even more barriers. She accepted our views and comments with good grace and her conviction was undeniable..
We came away from what was a very worthwhile few hours, happy that we had attended and with lots of things to read. We look forward to and recommend the next promised event.
Mike & Chris
Morgan
COFFEE MORNING
at St Mary’
Saturday, 21 April 10 am to 12 pm
Admission 50p
Raffle and Stalls
If you are on the Electoral Roll of St Mary's (Anglican-speak for our official membership list) you will be eligible to vote during the Annual Meeting itself, which takes place in the Church at 11 am on Sunday, 29 April.
The minutes of last year's Annual Meeting, this year's Annual Report and Financial statement from the PCC, and the Agenda for this year's Meeting, will all be available in good time, from Sunday, 22 April at the latest. Among the business of the Meeting is the election of Churchwardens and the PCC for the coming year. If you are considering standing for election in any of these capacities, then once again you need to be on the Electoral Roll, and the relevant nomination forms will be available in plenty of time, from Sunday, 22 April if not before. If there have been no applications for postal votes, the PCC will be declared during the Annual Meeting and commissioned at the 9.30 am service on Sunday, 7 May.
However, you may want to take part in this year’s elections but are not able to attend the meeting itself. In that case you can apply beforehand for a postal vote. Application forms for these will also be available in plenty of time. Once again the system will then spring into operation. It works like this:
Return your application form to Pat Kingsbury or to Pam or
Voting papers will be counted on Thursday 10 or Friday 11 May, by people who have not been candidates in any of the elections. All candidates will be notified of the result that same day, and the new PCC will be announced and commissioned during the 9.30 Eucharist on Sunday, 13 May.
The first meeting of our new PCC will be on Tuesday 15 May at 8 pm.
Prisoner of War to Parish
Priest"
….. a
new book by John Read, to be published on 2 April
John was working in a bank when Singapore was invaded by the Japanese in late 1941. He was captured and sent to work on the Burma Railway and later a zinc smelting factory in Japan.He survived and when he returned to Britain trained, was ordained and became a parish priest.
He spent over 20 years as Rector of St Mary's before his 'retirement', moving with Frances, his wife, to Icklesham, East Sussex.They remained in contact and have visited us many times since leaving. John died in July 2004 before completing the revision of his book and Frances has "enjoyed the challenge" of completing and publishing it.
If you are interested in ordering a copy
(priced £8), have a word with Heather (020 8647 9102) who will arrange a bulk
order from
16 April
Born in 1842, Isabella Gilmore, the sister of William Morris, was a nurse at Guy's Hospital in London and in 1886, was asked by Bishop Thorold of Rochester to pioneer deaconess work in his diocese. The bishop overcame her initial reluctance and together they planned for an Order of Deaconesses along the same lines as the ordained ministry. She was ordained in 1887 and a training house developed on North Side, Clapham Common, later to be called Gilmore House in her memory. Isabella herself retired in 1906 and, during her nineteen years of service, she trained head deaconesses for at least seven other dioceses. At her memorial service, Dr Randall Davidson predicted that "Some day, those who know best will be able to trace much of the origin and root of the revival of the Deaconess Order to the life, work, example and words of Isabella Gilmore." She is described as having a spirituality that was sane, holistic and plain. Certainly she was involved in all aspects of life, from the spiritual wellbeing of those she trained to sorting the drains at the house in Clapham.
The Diocese of Southwark in which Gilmore House stood remembers Isabella in a variety of different ways. The Cathedral has a chalice which incorporates some of her rings and those owned by other members of the Order of Deaconesses. The Library in the Cathedral has a portrait of her on prominent display and there is a stall named for her in the Choir. Perhaps more practically, the house on North Side was sold in the 1970’s and the proceeds split between Rochester and Southwark Diocese. A trust fund was established with the money which Southwark received, and the income from that is used to help in the training and equipping of Christian women in their ministry. The Fund is used to fund academic courses, conferences, retreats and can help towards sabbaticals for women in authorised ministry (including SPA’s, Readers, Church Army Officers, members of religious communities). Both Jenifer and Justine have benefited from this Fund. Isabella’s legacy and determination live on, and the fruits of her labours can be seen today.
A book about her life, written by the Revd Canon Clare Edwards (now at Canterbury Cathedral but previously in the Croydon Episcopal Area) will be published later on this year.
Isabella Gilmore died in 1923.
Justine
Holy Trinity Church, Wallington
Tuesday, 27 February 2007
We were welcomed by the Reverend Stephen Coe of Holy Trinity, who said that their theme verse for the year was 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing) which was relevant in their church life at the moment. They are having a series of sermons on what it means to be Church.
The main speaker for the evening was Richard Jones from the ‘BibleLands’ charity; he is the Regional Representative for the South of England. He spoke about Christians and Middle East issues. He told us he was a full time member of staff for ‘BibleLands’ and he relates across all denominations. He began by giving three disclaimers:-
He would not be able to do justice to the situation.
He was bound to upset someone because the issues are contentious.
He was not giving the official line in any political context. His was a Christian ministry seeking to work amongst all where there is poverty and need.
He had recently returned from the Middle East and his experience was to engage and meet with people and listen to the Church in Palestine and Israel. He told us of his meeting with Elias Shakuv of the Malcites denomination, who follow the Orthodox Liturgy. He met him in Ibilene where there is a large school and university for 4000 students. In Bishop Elias’s village, Muslims and Christians had lived together over many generations without problems, until recent times. The Bishop is working for reconciliation between the various factions, seeking to build bridges, and he has written a book entitled ‘Blood Brothers’. On the steps of his church the Beatitudes are printed in the three languages of the Holy Land.
Hope School, just outside Bethlehem, is a Christian school but many Muslims attend. In Bethlehem there is a rehabilitation centre for the wounded and injured and BibleLands funds this.
Mr Jones spoke about the impact of the Israeli Security Fence. This wall dividing Israel and Palestine divides families, prevents people from getting to their places of work and cuts them off from their ancestral lands; whole olive groves have been ‘grubbed up’ and built upon. The wall itself is built on Palestinian land and new settlements on the Israeli side are built up very quickly. Rachel’s Tomb, important to both Jews and Christians, cannot be visited because it is surrounded by the wall and observation towers.
BibleLands also works in Hebron, two hours south of Bethlehem. Although no Christians live in the town, there is a Christian school, staffed by Christians, but the pupils are Muslim. The parents are happy to send their children there because they get a good education. There is some opposition to the school and they need a new building - land for this has just been acquired.
In Hebron, we heard of an example showing how the faiths can live, work and worship alongside each other. The tombs of the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and the Matriarch Leah are situated in a Mosque. The other side of the building is a Synagogue, but it is the same building and Jews and Muslims visit the tombs from their respective sides.
In Jerusalem there is a Children’s Centre for children with
special needs. BibleLands work in partnership with
the Christian Church there. What is very concerning is the emigration of
Christians out of
We were asked the question, “How do we as Christians view
the issues in the Middle East?” General Synod has discussed disinvestment from
the
Richard Jones ended his talk by showing slides of the many BibleLands funded projects and we were given an information pack to take away with us.
Date of the next Deanery Synod meeting is Thursday, 24 May 2007 at St, Sutton, where the Venerable Dennis Ede will be speaking about ‘Churches and Publicity’.
Everyone is welcome to attend, although non-elected members cannot vote.
Jenifer Davison
Deanery Representative
Allan Palmer recently went to a talk given by Dominic Cowle on ‘The Great Dance Crazes of the early 20th Century’. It transpires that one of these ‘The Cake Walk’ started with plantation slaves. With the heightened focus at the moment on the slave trade, it is interesting to learn of one the very few lighter sides attached to those unpardonable times. We have Mrto thank for the following information:
The Cake Walk originated in Florida with plantation slaves who got the basic idea of having couples walking solemnly together from the Seminole Indians. Strutting while leaning back and certain hand movements were features of some African Kaffir dances, and added to this was the challenge of walking with buckets of water on the head while high stepping By 1850 this had developed into elaborate parodies of white dances and social behaviour with strutting, prancing, bowing, flirting and promenading with high-kicking steps. At this time it was known as the ‘Chalk Line Walk’ but when some plantation owners, far from being offended, found this dance entertaining, they invited their friends to watch and set up competitions, awarding a cake or molasses candy to the winning pairs, hence the dance’s name. After the 1861-65 Civil War, the dance grew in popularity and sophistication, spread by the effects of emancipation and the minstrel shows. It had its peak of popularity between 1895 and 1905 and a revival of interest around 1915. The catchy and snappy rhythms of this dance lent themselves perfectly to the ragtime band pieces of the day. A cake walk featured in Lehar’s original Merry Widow cabaret scene in the 3rd act, and Debussy also wrote one.
A report of a Mothers’ Union meeting appeared in the 1914 parish magazine. I thought it might be interesting to compare it with today’s thinking and activities.
It was apparently a foul day when this meeting took place in the Village Hall, as “it presented a bright and cheerful appearance, in total contrast to the outside.” About 10 minutes before the meeting time, only one member had arrived (slight panic, I should think) but very soon there were between 60 and 70 members and those who had come any distance were congratulated on their courage at facing the unfavourable weather. (No such courage appears to have been shown around the country on that snowy day in February!)
The Rector made some opening remarks and then a Mrs Lucas “gave an excellent and sympathetic address” . It covered the War and how it affected the women of England. I quote: “ While the men were doing their duty at the Front and giving their lives that the homes of England may be protected, it remained with the womenfolk to be ceaseless in their devotion to their homes, living day by day chaste and temperate lives, setting an example of courage and fortitude to their neighbours, so that those who are spared to return may find them better in every way, and be assured of a good welcome”. There’s a challenge!
After a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker, all were entertained to tea, kindly provided by the President, Mrs Moon, who expressed her satisfaction at seeing so many members present. The singing of the National Anthem concluded the afternoon’s proceedings. (They left “Jerusalem” for the WI the following year!)
I wonder what feelings those members took home with them that November afternoon. Would they have been inspired or daunted by the exhortations presented to them? How would you have felt?
New research shows that Britain’s bosses badly under-estimate the extent to which employees, including managers, suffer from stress, depression and other mental ill-health. Nearly three in every ten employees will have a mental health problem in any one year and as a result over 91 million working days are lost each year.
The large-scale survey, commissioned by the charity Shaw Trust with support from the insurance company Unum Provident and other major businesses, was carried out in a cross-section of 550 British firms. A number of experts involved in the field of employer relations were also interviewed, as well as employees who had turned to the Shaw Trust for help after experiencing problems. The trust helps disadvantaged men and women into work.
“Having a job means moving from a place of exclusion to inclusion, from poverty of choice and lack of control, to independence and stability,” says Tim Cooper, managing director of Shaw Trust. “Exclusion from the labour force, media and society means that people struggle daily to have a sense of identity and dignity, contributing to a downward spiral. With support and the removal of discriminatory barriers, people with mental ill-health can make a valuable contribution to society and have the same right as everyone else to do so.”
Separate research by Unum Provident found that the majority of employees (77cent of both males and females) believed that admitting mental ill-health to their employer would damage their career prospects. Older workers were particularly concerned, with 80 per cent of 45-54 year-olds believing that such an admission would impact negatively on their career.
The taboo surrounding mental ill-health needs to be broken so that problems can be identified at the outset. The Government recently announced the launch of a 3-year initiative called ‘Action on Stigma’, urging employers to sign up to a set of anti-stigma principles, including making changes to ensure that people with mental health problems are treated fairly and equally with others.
For further information go to www.shaw-trust.org.uk/mentalhealth or if you want to pick up any issues raised in this article, please contact Justine on 020 8647 1973
4thBeddington Rainbows
CAN YOU HELP?
The 4th Beddington Rainbows urgently need one or two people to help at their meetings.
We meet in the Church Centre on Mondays, 4.30 - 5.45 pm
If you can offer to help please contact Jenny Terry on 020 8669 2970
“Carousel” began with an apology for the blue paper magazine (of which I complained last month). It was due to a misunderstanding by the printers. They’d offered to reprint it but, as it was already late, it had been decided to leave it and put up with the howls of protest.
There was an article by Mary Tapp on the word “quiet”. What does that word mean to you? “Calm”, “undisturbed”, “without bustle and restlessness”, were some of the meanings she suggested. Twenty years on, it is a difficult word to define, let alone experience.
The Boys Brigade’s Junior Section choir had taken part in an Eisteddfod competition. Both it and the Chime Bar team had been specially mentioned for their presentation and effort. Their Annual Display, on April 10, was to be held in Carew Manor and there was an invitation to join them at the London Rally in the Royal Albert Hall.
Kath Chilcott had written about Young Leaders in the Guide Movement. She pointed out that it was not necessary to have been a Brownie or Guide to train as a Young Leader. It was for ages 15 to 18, after which they could start their Adult Leader Certificate. She urged people to think about this scheme, maybe recommending it to any young person who might enjoy the challenge. I’m sure this plea could be echoed today.
The Chancellor’s reasons for turning down St Mary’s building application (referred to in the February magazine) were the subject of a long article. In short, his decision was that “considerations of preservation……… outweighed the pastoral need of the congregation”. Do you think this should be true in the 21st century? Or would you agree with the comment made then that, “to give such weight to a building against people, is idolatry” ?
In a break with tradition, the APCM was to be held in the Village Hall. In “Twenty Years Ago”, Stewart Kimber commented that 100 people had supported the 1967 APCM and he felt things had changed so little, a similar number would be recorded in 1987. In 2007? I think not.
The Sutton Faith and Belief Forum
I attended the Sutton Faith and Belief Forum on 15 February on behalf of St Mary’s. Meetings are held about every six months and the chairman is Mark Tomlinson.
The Muslim Community was well-represented, as were Christian parishes. There were a few Jewish representatives and two members of a Christian Spiritualist Church. Also attending were Lord (Graham) Tope, lead Councillor for Community, and Commander Bob Reid, Sutton Borough Commander for the Metropolitan Police, who was the keynote speaker.
Commander Reid’s keynote speech was followed by the discussion groups, a reporting back and community updates, with a presentation by the Sutton Council for Voluntary Service concluding the evening. Commander Reid was high in praise of the SCVS.
Commander Reid’s address came at the end of two weeks of appalling gun crime in South London, with three young men murdered. He said there was a gang culture in nearby Croydon. Gun crime had reduced in the Sutton area in recent years but it had replaced knife culture to an extent. The ages of the miscreants was falling. We were shown a chilling video made by and for young black men in South London. They were playing with genuine firearms which seemed quite cheap - £40 for a handgun and £500 for a machine-gun.
Commander Reid also told us about Trident, the specialist unit at Scotland Yard dealing with black-on-black crime. (How, I wonder, does it handle the many different cultures in which Afro people are found?).
I think the Faith and Belief Forum should also embrace culture and ethnicity when appropriate. If the Christian message is not seen as totally appropriate in a multi-faith context, may I quote a guru of my youth, Bertrand Russell: “Love is wise and hatred is foolish”.
Allan Palmer
NB Mark Tomlinson will be speaking at the MU&OG evening on Thursday, 19 April at 7.30 pm
A very dirty little fellow came in from playing in the garden and asked his mother: “Who am I?”
Ready to play the game, she said, 'I don't know. Who are you?'
“WOW!” cried the child. “Mrs Smith next door was right. She said I was so dirty that my own mother wouldn't recognise me.”
The following items from the Diocese’s Zimbabwe newsletter may be of interest to readers. As the current political unrest is receiving much mainstream media coverage, these extracts focus on the Christian picture in our link diocese of Central Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe Trip 10-25 April
2007
20 people from the Croydon area are due to leave for Zimbabwe on 10 April. Their schedule begins with a few days at St Patrick’s Mission hosted by the Anglican Church Men. They will then disperse to various parishes for a few days, sampling true Zimbabwean life in towns, townships and rural areas. This will be followed by a 3-day trip to Victoria Falls. Then they go back to the parishes for four days, before returning to St Patrick’s for the last weekend, where the Diocese will be holding a Choir competition, which we have been asked to help judge.
Members of the trip will be sharing their impressions, with photos, video, and music in the Croydon area on the evening of Wednesday, 11 July. Venue and exact time have yet to be confirmed.
Where does our money go?
A total of £11,360 was raised in the Croydon Episcopal Area during
2006 for various projects in Zimbabwe. On top of this was a further £8,000
raised by the Bishop’s Lent Appeal for St Patrick’s Hospital building project,
and a donation of £1,700 toward ordinand training
from an offering taken at the retirement of David Gerrard,
Archdeacon of Wandsworth. Of this and funds accruing
from 2005, £14,400 was sent on to Central Zimbabwe during 2006 and a further
transfer of money should soon be on its way. Around £4,027 has been raised so
far in 2007. Some enterprising trip members from
Bishop Ishmael writes:
“The prevailing unfavourable economic conditions have dealt a heavy blow on our projects as the cost of building materials has shot up to unaffordable levels. The hospital project is progressing but at a very slow pace. Cement is now very expensive and all steels have been priced beyond the reach of many. We had raised a bit of money during our Harvest Thanksgiving festivals but this will not be enough to fund the project adequately. The problem is not our inability to raise funds but that our currency is losing value at such an alarming rate. Setting targets is no longer useful unless it is today’s target with a project to be completed today! It becomes extremely hard to operate in such an environment.”
Zim date for your diary:
The Bernard Mizeki Festival at Southwark Cathedral.
Wednesday, 13 June, 6.30 for 7pm.
Join in the big event of the Zimbabwean Christian calendar, commemorating their most famous Christian martyr.
Sun 1 For the faithful observance of Holy Week
Mon 2 All who suffer betrayal and those who betray the trust of others
Tue 3 That we may forgive as we are forgiven by God
Wed 4 That we may triumph over evil
Thu 5 Thanksgiving for the Sacrament of our Lord’s Body and Blood
Fri 6 Thanksgiving for Our Lord’s Atoning Sacrifice
Sat 7 That we may offer our love and our lives to Christ
Sun 8 Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
Mon 9 Alleluia to our God who has broken the power of death
Tue 10 Alleluia to our Lord who has won for us life eternal
Wed 11 That the Good News may be proclaimed throughout the world
Thu 12 For all who seek to lead others to the Risen Lord
Fri 13 That we may rejoice in the power of the Risen Lord
Sat 14 For all struggling peoples that they may find hope in God
Sun 15 That we may have firm faith in our Lord and not doubt him
Mon 16 All who are new to the faith and the newly baptised
Tue 17 Families who are grieving the loss of a loved one
Wed 18 The emergency services and all who risk their lives for others
Thu 19 St Elphege’s Church on their Patronal Festival
Fri 20 The anxious, the depressed and the dispirited
Sat 21 All who watch over the sick and the suffering
Sun 22 That we may walk with God and know his presence
Mon 23 The people and the Church of England
Tue 24 All who work for little or no reward
Wed 25 Thanksgiving for the Gospel of St Mark
Thu 26 Our local clergy fraternity
Fri 27 Our families, friends and neighbours
Sat 28 The 75th Anniversary of the Women’s World Day of Prayer
Sun 29 Feed us Heavenly Father with your Word
Mon 30 Our Link Diocese in