When I’m teaching the Old Testament on the Diocesan Certificate in Biblical and Theological Studies, I often have the joy of introducing them to the Psalms. In many churches these ancient songs are ignored, not part of regular Sunday worship because they can be seen as boring, irrelevant or something that makes the service too long.

It’s a real pity, because the Psalms are wonderful – all human life is there from the great highs of weddings, of victory, of healing and the recognition of God’s love, to the real lows of death, illness, desertion – even apparent desertion by God. The Psalmists don’t shy away from the real things of life – they let God have it like it is. Even the least palatable aspects of our human emotions are in there – our desire to see our enemies destroyed, even their children’s heads smashed against rock (see Psalm 137).

But I’d never really thought of them as laugh out loud material – at least not until I read Psalm 18 at evening prayer recently. It was verse 30 that got me “with the help of my God I can leap over a wall.” Now I have never, ever been able to leap over a wall, so it would be a miracle on the scale of the feeding of the 5,000 if this were to happen to me.

But it got me thinking. With the help of God, what have I achieved that I didn’t expect? The answer, when I stopped to think about it was a great deal. Through God’s presence in my life I have awakened and used and valued parts of my personality and discovered gifts that I didn’t know existed. I have been dragged out of my comfort zone and so grown in confidence and maturity.

What miracles has God worked in your life? What impossible things have you achieved with God’s help?

A Follow Up

Those of you who read the editorial in June will have read about the silver birch tree (RIP) that used to be in the corner of the Rectory garden.

Frances Read (John Read’s widow) wrote to tell us the story behind it. Apparently it was an orphan, rescued by her son, from some clearing work on Headley Common many, many years ago. In fact Frances was surprised it had only just died. I guess that proves the point that when we plant trees (or their equivalent) we simply can’t tell whose life we will enhance.

Justine

What's on in August
SUN	3	TRINITY 11
Wed	6	St Mary’s Guild meets at St Mary’s Court	2.30 pm
Sun	10	TRINITY 12
Mon	11	Magazine Panel meets at 32 Waterer Rise	2:30 pm
Tue	12	'Time for God' Quiet Worship. The Carew Chapel	9:30am
SUN	17	TRINITY 13
Wed	20	MU Corporate Eucharist	10.00 am
SUN	24	BARTHOLOMEW THE APOSTLE
Mon	25	August Bank Holiday. Church Open	2-5pm
Fri	29	'Kith, Kin and Kanine'. The Centre open for coffee & cake.	10-11:30am
Sat	30	Parish Quiet Day West Malling
SUN	31	TRINITY 15

Saints and Commemorations in August

Mon 4 Jean-Baptiste Vianney, Curé d'Ars, Spiritual Guide, 1859

Tue 5 Oswald King of Northumbria 642

Wed 6 The Transfiguration of our Lord

Thu 7 John Mason Neale, Priest, Hymn Writer, 1866

Fri 8 Dominic, Founder of the Order of Preachers, 1221

Sat 9 Mary Sumner Founder of the Mother’s Union, 1921

Mon 11 Clare of Assisi, Founder of the Poor Clares, 1253

" " John Henry Newman Priest 1890

Wed 13 Jeremy Taylor, Bishop of Down & Connor, Teacher of the Faith, 1667

" " Florence Nightingale, Nurse, Social Reformer, 1910

" " Octavia Hill, Social Reformer 1912

Thu 14 Maximilian Kolbe, Friar, Martyr, 1941

Wed 20 Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, Teacher of the Faith, 1153

" " William and Catherine Booth Founders of the Salvation Army

1912 and 1890

Sun 24 Bartholomew the Apostle

Wed 27 Monica, mother of Augustine of Hippo, 387

Thu 28 Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, Teacher of the Faith, 430

Fri 29 Beheading of John the Baptist

Sat 30 John Bunyan, Spiritual Writer, 1688

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Readings

for Sundays in August

Sunday, 3 August

Trinity 11

Romans 9 : 1-5

Matthew 14 : 13-21

Sunday, 10 August

Trinity 12

Romans 10 : 5.15

Matthew 14 : 22-33

Sunday, 17 August

Trinity 13

Romans 11 : 1, 2a, 29-32

Matthew 15 : 21-28

Sunday, 24 August

Bartholomew the Apostle

Corinthians 4 : 9-15

Luke 22 : 24-30

Sunday, 31 August

Trinity 15

Romans 12 : 9-end

Matthew 16 : 21-end

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Paul writes:

This is the first edition of the magazine which I have edited. Most of the work has been done by Chris Morgan and others and all I have had to do is try to fit all the contributions in to the text boxes, which on occasions have had a life of their own!

I know that we should all thank Chris for all her hard work in producing this magazine over her period as Editor. I was impressed by how good the magazine is in comparison to some I have seen.

I would like more of you to contribute, just by telling me what is going on, events to publicise, anniversaries, memories etc. The magazine is a way of keeping in touch with all that goes on in our community both in the church and outside in the parish we serve.

I am glad I came to St Mary’s, you have made me and my family very welcome. I see a body of people trying faithfully to live the gospel message, with all the joy and frustration that can bring.

Christian communities are very human places, and full of very different characters. That is what makes humanity so special, and so of God. This is something to be celebrated as we give thanks to God that all of us share his love, and no one is excluded from his table.

God bless you and those you love.

Your brother in Christ, Paul

Thank you Chris!

Chris Morgan has been Editor of this magazine for the past 6 years, and has done a great job. She has decided to give up the post in preference for being Churchwarden which suits her ability to multi-task very well!

We all thank Chris for her patience, her care and her humour and thanks to Chris and Mike for the hours spent with the photocopier and the stapler. All her panel members appreciate the ‘wicked’ biscuits and coffee which kept meetings going.

You will be missed.

Pat, Jean, Mary, Justine.

Ooh, I've come over all emotional! Seriously though, my thanks go to all who have supported me over my years as editor, especially 'im indoors who has tolerated my mounting hysteria on many an occasion as deadlines approached! The magazine is such a worthwhile mission and I am sure Paul will do an excellent job during his spell at the helm. Over and out ……. Chris

Snippets

It was very special to share Pierre and Jean Delahunty’s Golden Wedding celebrations, and there was not a dry eye as they re-affirmed their marriage vows, they write,

“Thank you, thank you so very much for sharing the above with us on 6^th July and witnessing the re-affirmation of our wedding vows.We want every one of you to know what it meant to us.It really was like getting married the first time with all our family around us - and now we have the family of St. Mary's - that helped us to enjoy the fun and the laughter.

We'd like to say thanks to Justine for choosing such an apt Old Testament extract for Jean to read, not to mention Andrew's input into the service ending with the Wedding March.

Thanks also for all the help provided by Pat Kingsbury, Pam Jordan and Derek Whiting in providing all the refreshments, and of course Sue Ardley for the flowers. Jean & Pierre”

The Friends of Beddington and the Grange Parks have arranged another Batwalk in the Park on Sunday 24th. If you would like to join in meet by the Wildlife Hospital at 8:20pm. If you would like more details about the walk please call Hendryk Jurk at Sutton Council on 020287705821.

Tower Update As many of our readers will know, the bells at St Mary’s have been silent for the past month while we have had some inspection work carried out on the join between the tower and the nave. Some dust and small pieces of rubble were falling, possibly as a result of rain penetration causing weathering, and our architect asked us to stop ringing until the problem was investigated and resolved.

At its meeting in July, the PCC agreed to spend approximately £8,000 to install a weatherproof yet flexible joint between the tower and nave which hopefully should resolve the problem.

As this magazine goes to print, the scaffolding is up and work has commenced, so we look forward to hearing our bells ring out again soon.

Children and Communion Also at its meeting in July, the PCC voted unanimously to ask Bishop Nick for permission to admit children to Communion before Confirmation. This continues the previous policy in place at St Mary’s and brings us into line with new synodical regulations.

Watch this space for details of the preparation courses, but in the meantime if you, or your children, are interested then please talk to Justine or Paul.

Evensong Just to remind you that Evensong will not take place during August whilst our choir takes its summer break. But Evening Prayer will be said at 6.30 pm every Sunday, with Evensong resuming on 7 September.

As many will have already heard, our choir is touring Germany is the holidays. Hopefully we will read tales from their travels in the next magazine.

Praise and Play will not meet during August but will return on 4 September

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St Mary's Duck Day

Yes, it could have rained …. it had been threatening to all week, but the day turned out hot, bright and sunny instead because it was … St Mary's Duck Day

Loads of hard work, loads of planning, loads of excited little ducks itching to get their feet (and heads!) in the water again - that's what it takes to make for a wonderful afternoon. Hats off to all - too numerous to name - who had a hand in putting this event together.

Stephen Deal, was in the park that afternoon picnicking with Carolyn and Rob Churchyard amongst others. Stephen has Muscular Dystrophy but doesn't seem to let that get in his way! He writes regular blogs on 'How to be an inspiration' - life of a disabled husband, father, writer. Carolyn recommends anyone with computer access to read these blogs which can be found at http://howtobeaninspiration.blogspot.com. They are, as Carolyn says, a great read for everyone. Stephen's birthday blog sums up beautifully the atmosphere of the day:-

"Out for a Duck

Yesterday was my birthday. 47 years, and to the surprise of many, still going strong.

The day started early when an excited 4 year old bounced on me singing 'Happy Birthday to you` and asking if I wanted to open my presents yet. When I eventually surfaced and the carers had left, he cheerfully argued with his big brother about who should help me unwrap what. “Open this one, Daddy. It's from Mummy and me and him.” This one turned out to be a rather lovely coffee maker. The day was off to a wonderful start.

That afternoon Polly had organised a picnic in Beddington Park, just down the road. St Mary's, a chocolate box church, on the edge of the park was having a 'Duck Day' by the river that runs through the tree studded open parkland. We set up in the shade of a Hawthorn tree next to the Wandle and waited for friends to arrive. Already, a little way up stream a stall had been set up to sell the yellow plastic ducks that would race down the river from one small bridge to the next. A few fête type games had been erected and there was a small refreshments tent. A few hundred people had gathered for the fun.

What followed was one of those idyllic afternoons that you are occasionally blessed with. Good friends, fine weather and a plenitude of food. Polly had baked a huge number scones which she served with the traditional clotted cream and strawberry jam. It could not have been more English if the Queen had come Morris dancing through our party whilst eating fish and chips and quoting Shakespeare. Many of the friends who came have young children and they joined together in a running, splashing, shrieking game of incomprehensible (to us adults) rules and laughter, punctuated by breathless breaks as yellow ducks floated downstream on the gentle current, racing to the bridge a few yards from us. The Wandle, at this point in it's meandering course, is only about 20 feet wide and just 9 inches deep. With plenty of adults to cast an occasional eye over them they were left to themselves to dip in and out of the water like a raft of otter pups and we grown ups were left to lie on picnic rugs and chat. Someone had thoughtfully brought along a small table for me to rest my plate on and by the time the afternoon drew to a close it was littered with birthday cards and several bottles of wine.

Later, back at home, with two happily exhausted children tucked up in bed, my friend Kevin popped round to wish me a happy birthday and give me some Trappist beer from Belgium, one of the finest drinks on God's green earth. Later Polly and I drank a bottle to accompany the roasted vegetables and leg of lamb she had cooked for me.

This post should be read whilst listening to Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day' (or better yet, Kirsty MacColl's duet with Evan Dando from her album 'Galore`.)"

We are delighted to have added to Stephen's enjoyment of his birthday and hope St Mary's spread love and happiness to many others as well.

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Hear my prayer……

The wonderful music of this lovely anthem by Mendelssohn, filled St Mary's on the evening of June 29th. Tim Boxall's solo was excellent and the whole atmosphere created felt just right for a weekend with so many things that needed our prayers.

The first part of the anthem is an impassioned plea for God to hear our call.

"Without Thee all is dark, I have no guide…"

In the morning, Paul had asked for our prayers for Zimbabwe, in particular for a friend of his who had been preaching on injustice and was likely to pay the price.

"The enemy shouteth. The godless come fast!

Iniquity, hatred upon me they cast! …………..

With horror overwhelmed, Lord, hear me call!"

Gafcon, the Global Anglican Future conference, was taking place in Jerusalem that weekend. Its deliberations and statements were causing confusion, doubts and soul-searching around the world.

"Perplexed and bewildered, O God, hear my cry!"

The newspapers were full of the murder of Ben Kinsella, the 16-year-old brother of TV actress Brooke Kinsella, who had been stabbed to death in Islington. Poignantly, Ben had been so concerned about London's growing knife culture, that, as part of his GCSE English coursework, he had written a letter to Gordon Brown accusing the government of "standing by and watching" as violent crime escalated.

"My heart is sorely pained within my breast,

My soul with deathly terror is oppressed."

In the second part of the anthem, the very familiar "O for the wings of a dove", the writer imagines being able to fly away from it all to safety;

"In the wilderness build me a nest,

And remain there for ever at rest."

- a prayer surely echoed by all those caught up in the varying events of that weekend. But their problems go on. They still need our prayers.

"Hear my prayer, O God, incline Thine ear!"

Jean Kimber

Who Are They?

Where did all the Christian denominations come from?

Continuing our look at other Christian churches, and because Wednesday, 28 August is the day on which William and Catherine Booth are commemorated, it is the turn of :

The Salvation Army

No group of Christians is more instantly recognisable than the Salvation Army. With their familiar uniform, their badge proclaiming 'Blood and Fire,' their music and their ministry on the streets, Salvationists have been serving the Lord and people for almost 130 years.

The Salvation Army was created by William and Catherine Booth and a few supporting friends in London in 1878. Booth was converted among the Methodists as a teenager and was quickly recognised as an evangelist. He married Catherine Mumford in 1855 and became a minister with the Methodist New Connexion. Although a very successful pastor and soul-winner, his passion was for itinerant evangelism. When his denomination refused to release him into full-time evangelism in 1861, he and Catherine left the New Connexion and became travelling evangelists.

Catherine had begun preaching while she and William were in ministry in Gateshead in the northeast of England. Soon she was as much in demand as a preacher as William. With their family the Booths settled in east London and founded the Christian Mission in 1865. From the beginning this Mission was committed to open-air preaching and waging war on drink, gambling and prostitution.

Both William and Catherine Booth came from a Methodist background and William, in particular, was a great admirer of the kind of evangelism that John Wesley had practised. East London was over-crowded and was notorious for its many taverns, gambling dens and brothels. Every day the Booths saw the squalor and poverty in which so many people lived. The Christian Mission published its own magazine, the Christian Mission Magazine. In 1878 it carried an article that described the Mission as a 'volunteer army.' Booth changed the wording to read a 'salvation army' and so the name was born.

From its beginnings the Salvation Army was distinct from the other Christian denominations. Most of its preaching was done outside taverns, clubs and gambling dens and it was direct, personal and challenging. Soon it was reaching people for whom most of the churches had no ministry. Workers began to wear a uniform as Booth saw their mission as a war on crime, poverty and sin.

Workers became 'soldiers,' with ranks ascending to Booth himself as the General. From the start, Booth's 'soldiers' were both men and women, and most of them were the Army's converts. Unashamedly William and Catherine Booth combined their Wesleyan passion for evangelism with social and practical care. The Salvation Army had a holistic ministry from the start. Some of William's reported dictums sum up his vision and concern. 'Go for souls and go for the worst.' 'You can't preach to a man who has an empty stomach. Feed him first.'

The work of the Salvation Army spread very rapidly. By 1884 it was working in the USA, Canada, Australia, France and Germany. The Salvationists opened food depots for the poor, an unemployment exchange, night shelters, a women's hospital, a farm colony, soup kitchens, a match factory and many industrial projects. No other Christian organisation so combined soul-saving and social concern.

In 1887 Booth published a book entitled, 'In Darkest England and the Way Out'. It was an exposure of the terrible social and moral conditions that prevailed among Britain's poor, especially in the large cities. The book was the result of what Booth and his Salvationists saw for themselves every day of the week. No government committee or organisation had the hands-on experience of the Salvation Army when it came to dealing with the appalling poverty, drunkenness, violence and child prostitution that existed in places like the east end of Victorian London.

Booth's fiery pages were a Christian Manifesto to tackle poverty and unemployment and the book became a best seller almost overnight. Booth argued that when the state neglects the poor, then Christians must take up the work. Booth proposed that a £100,000 fighting fund should be subscribed by the public and that a steady £30,000 should be added every year to create work. He pleaded that men and women are made in God's image and must be 'reshaped' to become what God intended.

The book was a daring blueprint of social revolution combined with the Christian gospel of salvation. In one month it sold 90,000 copies and a year later 200,000 copies had been sold. The book had both warm supporters and fierce critics. Thomas Huxley, the well-known atheist, dismissed it scornfully but criticism or opposition did not deter the Salvation Army.

Almost from the start of its work, the Salvation Army made use of music. Brass and silver bands became synonymous with the SA uniform. Salvationists like Richard Slater, who had played violin under the famous conductor Sir Arthur Sullivan, Fred Fry, a self-taught organist, and Herbert Booth, the General's third son, began a revolution when they set SA songs and hymns to popular hit tunes. General Booth was not sure about this practice at first. Then he heard a Salvationist sing Christian words to one of the most popular music halls' tunes of the day, Champagne Charlie. Noting how the crowd thundered their applause at the end, he is reported to have said, 'Why should the Devil have all the best tunes?' From that day Salvation Army music and songs were written and sung to catch the attention of people who did not attend any church. Later the Salvation Army opened its own musical department and in a year or two there were no fewer than 400 SA bands.

The Salvation Army began a Missing Persons Bureau, a service that grew over the years and continues to the present. Another of William Booth's visions was to set up legal aid for poor people. It meant that those too poor to hire solicitors and barristers could still have legal aid in court cases. One of the earliest successes of this service showed the extent of the Army's influence. A governess had been seduced by a wealthy man. The Salvation Army tracked him down and threatened to expose him. He agreed to pay the woman a down payment of £60, also £1 a week for life and a £450 life insurance policy.

Doctrinally the Salvation Army's beliefs show the Booths' Wesleyan background. Their Eleven Articles of Faith speak of Christ dying for the sins of the whole world, salvation by faith in Christ and every Christian believer called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a holy life.

Unlike most other Christian denominations, the Salvation Army, as a general rule, does not have the Lord's Table or baptisms in its services. Although William Booth never seems to have explained fully his reasons for these decisions, two facts must be considered. First, a majority of the Army's first converts, both men and women, were converted drunkards. Booth was reluctant to give them even the taste of wine, fearing that some might succumb to the old craving for alcohol. Instead the Salvation Army emphasised that every meal should be a sacrament and celebration for Christians. Second, the Army dedicated young children to God instead of having a baptismal service with water. This was not an innovation for the same practice was followed in Baptist and other churches that baptise only adults.

Today the work of the Salvation Army has spread around the world. Its Christian message and devotion to social action has not changed from its early days. Salvation Army ministry is a practical expression of what is often called Jesus' Great Commandment. 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart … and your neighbour as yourself' (Matt. 22:37-39).

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Pilgrim Places

Historic Christian Sites in Britain

Canterbury (part 3)

Thomas Becket, the courtier turned priest, was a man of high principle and made it clear that his first loyalty was to God and not to Henry. In a moment of anger Henry expressed the wish that Becket should be silenced. Four knights took the king at his word, broke their way into the Cathedral and murdered the Archbishop on 29 December 1170.

Within months of his death Becket was hailed as a holy martyr and soon pilgrims began to arrive in Canterbury from across England and the Continent to pray at Becket's shrine. There have been many written accounts of Becket's death but none have been so powerful and dramatic as T S Eliot's 1935 work in verse, Murder in the Cathedral.

The visit of pilgrims to Canterbury in honour of Thomas Becket is the scene for one of the nation's most famous literary compositions, Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer began the work sometime in the 1380s and worked on it for at least ten years. There are sixteen Tales in all and a Prologue. The Tales are stories told by pilgrims walking from Southwark in London to Canterbury, and they are told by a range of people from many walks of life, including a knight, a miller, a merchant, a squire, a physician, a cook, a friar, a nun, etc.

When Henry V111 ordered the dissolution of the monasteries Becket's tomb in Canterbury was destroyed in 1540. The priory was dissolved and many of the monks formed the reconstituted cathedral foundation. These were turbulent times in the land. The Reformation begun by Martin Luther in Germany reached England in the 1520s and for two decades it was tightly controlled by Henry who wanted reform in the Church but not a Reformation.

The last Roman Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury was William Warham who died in 1532. Bishop Gregory of Rome had appointed Augustine as Canterbury's first Archbishop and for more than 900 years all Augustine's successors had acknowledged the Pope as Supreme Head of the Church. Now in the 1530s Reformation winds were blowing in England and on Warham's death, Henry appointed Thomas Cranmer as Canterbury's first Reformed Archbishop. In the 17th century England was embroiled in the Civil War between King and Parliament. Oliver Cromwell's parliamentary army smashed much of the Cathedral's stained glass.

In the 19th and 20th centuries the Anglican Church spread around the world and Canterbury Cathedral came to be recognised as the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican communion. In 1867 a gathering of Anglican archbishops and bishops from many parts of the world met in London. The venue was Lambeth Palace, the London home of the Archbishops of Canterbury since the 1300s. These Lambeth Conferences meet every ten years and thirteen have convened since their beginning.

When the fourteenth Lambeth Conference meets in July and August this year Archbishop Williams will preside. The Anglican Communion around the world is deeply split on a number of theological and pastoral questions, not least its attitude to same-sex marriages.

So Canterbury remains, not the earliest Christian site in England but one of the earliest. From Augustine to Rowan Williams, Canterbury Cathedral has mirrored the highs and lows, the changes, turmoil, Reformation and agitations that have marked Christianity in England for 1400 years.

Sutton Deanery Synod

Wednesday, 9 July, St Patrick's. Wallington

Fresh Expressions

Deanery Synod was welcomed to St Patrick's on July 9 by the Revd Martin Breadmore. He said they would soon be celebrating 100 years of a church on the site. Their most recent innovation is the development of a Café-style evening service called Life Time. The "congregation" meets at 6.30 for coffee and cake and a chance to socialise. The service runs from 7.00 to 8.00 and the chairs are arranged round tables. It attracts about 80people.

There was a report from the Diocesan Synod held on July 2 at St John's, Waterloo Road. It appeared to have been a hefty agenda, with the forthcoming Lambeth Conference, training of Non-Stipendiary Ministers, Women in the Episcopate and information regarding areas of regeneration in the diocese all being discussed.

Our main speaker was Canon Michael Hart, who is the Diocesan Missioner. He came to talk about "Fresh Expressions" and other mission developments and issues in the diocese. "Fresh Expressions" are new means of communicating with people. He reminded us that everything used to revolve round the church and parish/village but this is no longer the case. Ways of communicating have changed and other organisations are providing for people's different needs.

The church is being called to try change. We may have been (or still are) comfortable with what we do but we need to take risks. We should not only grow and develop our church as it is but we should try to establish some Fresh Expressions.

We were given examples from around the diocese but were reminded that we needed to provide for our own area and that what worked in one place, might not be suitable everywhere. (We could hardly move our pews around to create a café!) But wherever we felt people could be influenced by the church, we should be there - boot fairs, psychic fairs, Glastonbury, the pub! - anywhere we can communicate with others. Communities are changing fast and we need to make connections. We were asked to go away and think hard about our own church's possible "Fresh Expressions".

And remember - obstacles become opportunities with God!

Jean Kimber

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Pudding and Plonk!

Pudding and Plonk? I hear you say, what on earth does that mean? Well I can think of two more words beginning with P that might fit the bill:

‘Pleasure’ at the thought of delicious desserts,

‘Pain’ at the thought of stepping on the scales the next morning!

However, those of us who were fortunate enough to be at the Rectory on the evening of 30th June were not disappointed. There was on offer: delicious trifle, lovely rice pudding, pavlova, crumble and fruit salad to name but a few.

There was plentiful supply of plonk, good company, lively conversation. Even the weather did its best and you could wander in the garden to see the work that had been done.

So a big 'thank-you’ to Justine and Guy for being such good hosts and to all who provided the delicious desserts. Here’s to the next time for more perfect puddings and palatable plonk!

Oswald, King and Martyr

5 August

Oswald was born about 604 AD and was the son of Æthelfrith of Bernicia, an area of England which became Northumberland. In 616, Æthelfrith's brother-in-law, Edwin, seized the throne and Oswald fled to Scotland to the monastic settlement founded by Columba on the island of Iona. There he encountered the Christian faith and was converted and baptised. Edwin and his court were also eventually converted and were baptised by Paulinus, the first Archbishop of York and a friend of Edwin's wife.

In 632, King Cadwallon of Wales and the pagan King Penda of Mercia, invaded Northumbria and killed Edwin. His queen and the Archbishop fled south and Christianity was temporarily suspended in the north.

However, the following year, Oswald returned to claim the throne. He met Cadwallon in battle near Hexham. His small army was vastly outnumbered and few were Christians. Oswald set up a wooden cross and asked his soldiers to join him in prayer. They did so and promised to be baptised if they won the battle. Against the odds, Cadwallon was defeated and Oswald became king in 634.

His main concern was for the conversion of his people to Christianity and he sent for a missionary from Iona to come and preach to his people. The missionary, Aidan (who is remembered on August 31) did not speak Anglo-Saxon, so the bilingual Oswald interpreted his sermons.

Aidan was soon joined by other missionaries and the church flourished in the north. Oswald travelled to pagan Wessex and chose a bride. She and her father, the King of Wessex, became Christians and the door was opened for the spread of the Gospel to southwest England, thanks to Oswald.

Meanwhile, Penda, the pagan King of Mercia, was still at large and he renewed the war in Northumbria. In 642, Oswald was killed in battle and Penda ordered his corpse to be dismembered and the body parts set up on stakes as a sacrifice to Odin.

Oswald soon became regarded as a Saint and Martyr. The place of Oswald's triumph over Cadwallon became known as Heavenfield and on the site of the wooded cross, stands the church of Saint Oswald, which was rebuilt in 1817. On his special day, perhaps we could remember him and his fight for Christianity with the words of this prayer;

Lord God Almighty, who so kindled the faith of your servant Oswald with your spirit, that he set up the sign of the passion in his kingdom and turned his people to your light. Grant that we, being fired with the same spirit, may ever be found faithful servants of the Gospel.

Jean Kimber

John Henry Newman

1801-1890

11 August

John Henry Newman, a Londoner whose name is always associated with the two cities of Oxford and Birmingham, is commemorated on 11 August.

John Henry was the eldest of six children of a banker, brought up in the family routine of prayers and bible study. He learned to read early and enjoy stories from the bible and contemporary novels. Rreading remained one of his life long loves.

He went to Oxford just before he was sixteen. His father intended him to be a Barrister, but instead he became a Fellow and Tutor of Oriel College. He said this was the turning point in his life and the beginning of his ‘most memorable days’. This was when he got to know John Keble, Edward Pusey and others who together formed the Oxford Movement, or Tractarians. Newman worked tirelessly, wrote many of the Tracts and preached a series of four-o’clock sermons in the University Church, where he was Vicar.

The displeasure of the Anglican Bishops badly affected Newman, he became depressed and disillusioned and resigned his living. In his final sermon he said he parted with all that his heart loved and was turning his face to a strange land. More years of anxiety, prayer and seclusion followed until, in 1846, Newman was ordained in the Roman Catholic Church. What followed was a period of writing and preaching, he was sent to Birmingham where he set up the Oratory. He was made a Cardinal of the Church in honour of his work. He died in Birmingham at the age of 89.

John Henry Newman's gifts were for hard work, inspiring preaching and scholarly and memorable writing. He is sadly best known for his words for Elgar’s ‘Dream of Gerontius’. His life-long love was the Church, which he saw as the divine kingdom on earth.

When we remember Newman on the 11th of August, let us pray for the Church and give thanks for his life-long service, remembering the verse in his hymn, ‘Firmly I believe and Truly’:

And I hold in veneration

For the love of him alone

Holy Church of his creation

And her teaching as his own.

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Women Bishops - yes or no?

After many years of intense discussion and much recent media speculation, the General Synod has now reached a decision. This is the form of motion that was agreed at the recent Synod Meeting.

WOMEN BISHOPS:

Bishop of Gloucester moved:

‘That this Synod:

(a) affirm that the wish of its majority is for women to be admitted to the episcopate;

(b) affirm its view that special arrangements be available, within the existing structures of the Church of England, for those who as a matter of theological conviction will not be able to receive the ministry of women as bishops or priests;

(c) affirm that these should be contained in a statutory national code of practice to which all concerned would be required to have regard; and

(d) instruct the legislative drafting group, in consultation with the House of Bishops, to complete its work accordingly, including preparing the first draft of a code of practice, so that the Business Committee can include first consideration of the draft legislation in the agenda for the February 2009 group of sessions.’

The motion was carried by a division of the three houses of Synod:

House of Bishops: For 28, Against 12, Abstentions 1

House of Clergy: For 124, Against 44, Abstentions 4

House of Laity: For 111, Against 68, Abstentions 2

This means that Synod has confirmed the arrangements for the ordaining of Women Bishops. What follows will be an attempt to provide a framework for that decision to be introduced.

Please pray for patience and understanding for all involved.

Dieudonné Disi

- from the shadow of murder in Rwanda to the Olympic Games

To compete in the Olympic Games is a great achievement for any sportsperson. To reach the Olympics having overcome the difficulties that Dieudonné Disi of Rwanda has faced is nothing short of a miracle.

One day in 1994, the 14 year old Dieudonné and his brothers were called together by their father. He said, "We are all going to die today. Let us pray and prepare to go to heaven." While the family prayed, Dieudonné went outside and hid.

Not long later the rebels came to the house and within minutes his parents and all his brothers and sisters were dead. All his neighbours were killed too. "I lay down in my father's garden and waited for night.

It was perhaps 7pm when I set off through the forest to Burundi. I had never been to Burundi in my life but I knew the direction. It was about 15 miles from my home".

When Dieudonne later returned to Rwanda he joined the army. He followed the 1996 Olympics on the radio - there was no TV at that time where he lived. Mathias Ntawulikura from Rwanda came 8th in the 10,000 metres. Disi thought it was amazing for a Rwandan to come 8th in the world. It inspired him.

A few years later he was working in an office, which overlooked a running track. He wondered if he could run fast. He could and was soon one of the best runners in Rwanda. This was confirmed when he won a silver medal in the Junior African Games in 2000.

In 2004 he achieved the qualifying time for the Olympics and ran in the 10,000 metres in Athens. "I was not expecting to win a medal. Getting to the Olympics was a big achievement in itself. It is not easy to achieve the Olympic qualifying time. Because of my lack of experience 17th was the best I could achieve in the Olympic final".

The following year he took gold and bronze in the Francophone Games. Even that was not straight forward. When it came to the presentation of his gold medal, the organizers told him that they did not have the music for the Rwandan National Anthem. Did he mind if they played the All African anthem? Yes he did mind and insisted on singing the anthem himself!

Losing his family raised many questions in his mind. He asked himself: 'Where are my family now?' He remembered his father praying the day he died with a certainty that he was going to heaven. "In the Bible it says that there is only one way to heaven - Jesus Christ. If you are to get to heaven, it can only be through Jesus Christ. For me Jesus Christ is the way to heaven and the way to God.

"After my family died I stopped praying and turned away from God. One day I realized that if I was ever going to see my family again, I needed to start praying again. I knew that Jesus Christ was the answer and since then I have believed and prayed to him every day".

Whether Disi can win a medal in Beijing or not, it is an amazing achievement to put behind him all the problems he has encountered and become a world-class runner. Out of his tragedy has come a strong faith in Jesus Christ, which will take him through death

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In the Bag

Congratulations to the most popular reviver of congregations, the tea bag which celebrates it's centenary this year.

A hundred years ago a New York Coffee and Tea Merchant sent his customers some samples of tea in silk sachets. Not realising they should open the sachets they put them in the Tea Pot and the tea bag became an instant success in America.

It took at least another 50 years and the invention of the perforated tea bag in the 1960’s before sales took off in the UK.

Now in UK we drink 130 million cups of tea a day, and most of these made with tea bags. Would anyone like to estimate what percentage of these are drunk in church halls?

Twenty Years Ago

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America comes into existence, creating the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States of America.

Comic Relief hold the first "Red Nose Day", which raises £15 million in the United Kingdom for charity.

South African archbishop Desmond Tutu is arrested along with 100 clergymen during a five-day anti-apartheid demonstration in Cape Town

In Dublin, Ireland, Céline Dion wins the thirty-third Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland singing "Ne partez pas sans moi" (Don't leave without me).

Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute Wembley Stadium, London.

Ben Johnson is stripped of his gold medal in the 100 m sprint at the Seoul Olympics for failing a drug test.

Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan: After more than eight years of fighting, the Red Army begins its withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The usual 20 Years Ago feature returns in September.

Praying in August

Our local community:

Pray for Pupils, Parents and Teachers as they start their summer holiday’s. May they know joy, peace, love and refreshment.

For all holiday schemes, especially at Springfield. That those involved may have a fulfilling and fun time.

For all those for whom holidays are a lonely experience that they may find companionship.

The World

For all people who will welcome holiday makers to their countries and homes.

For Peace in Zimbabwe, and justice for all it’s people.

The Church

For our own Anglican Communion, for all involved in the Lambeth Conference.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

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Justine writes:

Saints and Commemorations in August

From the Registers

Baptisms

Weddings

Funerals

Thinking of you

Thank you Chris!

Snippets

St Mary's Duck Day

Hear my prayer……

Who Are They?

Pilgrim Places

Sutton Deanery Synod

Pudding and Plonk!

Oswald, King and Martyr

John Henry Newman

Women Bishops - yes or no?

Dieudonné Disi

In the Bag

Twenty Years Ago

Praying in August