Paul
reflects on ‘A year at St Mary’s’
Saints
and Commemorations in July and August
Readings
for Sundays in July and August
Regeneration
at Deanery Synod!
The
Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Thank
goodness for church ladies with typewriters.
Protecting
life is the most important thing
Statement
in Support of Armed Forces Day,
St
Mary's Men’s Group Future Events
Albinoni
Strings and St Mary’s Voices
Melanie’s
Summer/Autumn Walks 2009
The 15th of June marked my
first year as Curate at St Mary’s and I thought I would share some reflections
of that time with you.
It has been a busy year and
a fulfilling one, there have been moments of great
laughter and of great sadness, of success and not quite getting it right. But for me that is
what life offers us, if it was all plain sailing we would not know how to deal
with the storms.
I have been made welcome and
even when I have trod, metaphorically, on toes I have been offered the benefit
of the doubt. At least that is what I
think I have been offered!
Like all Christian
communities, St Mary’s has its own rhythms, traditions, ways of doing things,
and characters. Remember it can be
daunting for an outsider to try and understand what it is they do not know they
do not know! I have suggested that the
diocese runs a seminar for Priests and congregations entitled ‘Dealing with
Eccentricity’ because both sides, if that is the right way of putting it, have
to get used to the special and ‘peculiar’ characteristics of the other.
A Priest has to come to love
their congregation, and it is sometimes hard for that to happen quickly, but
you are a loveable lot at St Mary’s and I have a great affection for each and everyone of you.
Remember also that you
minister to all including the Priest, and they need your support and
understanding sometimes. All of us have a ‘dark night of the soul’ sometimes
and we need help when things seem burdensome or just plain annoying. As a Priest your faith is challenged
constantly and it would not be a good Priest who did not ask, ‘where is God in
all this?’ many times during the week.
I have prayed for all of you
each day, and for all the souls in this parish that
they may know the love of Christ in their lives. Those of us who have that faith know the
peace that Jesus can bring in a turbulent world, if we can see him in the
busyness of the world.
I thank you for helping me,
for advising me, and for being honest with me.
There is nothing worse than things said about someone that they are not
able to respond to. It is a mark of
Christian community that we can love each other in honesty . I thank Justine for all her advice and guidance, you should treasure her she is a good priest and
person of God. I also thank each and
everyone one of you, I hope the next year is even better than the last.
JULY
Wednesday 1
Eucharist - Carew Chapel -
10am
Saturday 4
Men’s Breakfast in the
Centre – 8.30am – 9.30am
Sunday 5
Trinity 4 – all services at
the usual times
Nurture Group meets after
9.30am
Wednesday 8
Eucharist - Carew Chapel –
10am
Saturday 11
BBQ at Church 4:30pm
Sunday 12
Trinity 5 – all services at
the usual times
Teddy Bears Abseiling Day –
Fun and Games –
for people and bears of all ages (see Inset)
Wednesday 14
Eucharist - Carew Chapel –
10am
Corporate Eucharist for
mentors of the Mother’s Union
Thursday 16
Praise and Play for
preschool toddlers – 10am
(the
last before summer break, resumes September)
Sunday 19
Trinity 6 – all services at
the usual times
Choral Evensong – 5.30pm –
(the
last before the summer break)
Wednesday 22
Eucharist - Carew Chapel –
10am
Men’s Group meet ‘The
Plough’ 7:30pm
Saturday 25
Bell ringer's outing to
Eastbourne
Sunday 26
Trinity 7 – all services at
the usual times
Evening Prayer will be said
at 6.30pm
AUGUST
Saturday 1st
Men’s Group Breakfast
8:30—9:30am
Sunday 2
Trinity 8 – all services at
the usual times
Evening Prayer will be said
at 6.30pm
Wednesday 5
Eucharist – Carew Chapel
10am
Sunday 9
Trinity 9 – all services at
the usual times
Evening Prayer will be said
at 6.30pm
Wednesday 12
Eucharist – Carew Chapel
10am
Sunday 16
Trinity 10 – all services at
the usual times
Evening Prayer will be said
at 6.30pm
Wednesday 19
Eucharist – Carew Chapel
10am
Sunday 23
Trinity 11 – all services at
the usual times
Evening Prayer will be said
at 6.30pm
Wednesday 26
Eucharist – Carew Chapel
10am
Friday 28
The Centre opens for Coffee
and Cake 10 – 11.30am
Sunday 30
Trinity 12 – all services at
the usual times
Evening Prayer will be said
at 6.30pm
Monday 31
Bank Holiday – the Church
open – 2 – 5pm
JULY
1 John and Henry Venn, Priests, Evangelical
Divines, 1813 and 1873
3 Thomas the Apostle
6
Thomas More, Scholar, and John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, Reformation
Martyrs, 1535
11 Benedict of Nursia,
Abbot of Monte Cassino, Father of Western
Monasticism, c.550
14 John Keble, Priest, Tractarian,
Poet, 1866
15 Swithun, Bishop
of Winchester, c.862
15 Bonaventure, Friar, Bishop, Teacher of the
Faith, 1274
16 Osmund, Bishop
of Salisbury, 1099
18 Elizabeth Ferard,
first Deaconess of the Church of England, Founder of the Community of St
Andrew, 1883
19 Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, and his sister Macrina, Deaconess, Teachers of the Faith, 394 and 379
20 Margaret of Antioch, Martyr, 4th Century
20 Bartolomé de las Casas, Apostle to the Indies,
1566
22 Mary Magdalen
23 Bridget of Sweden, Abbess of Vadstena, 1373
25 James the Apostle
26 Anne and Joachim, parents of the Blessed
Virgin Mary
27 Brooke Foss Westcott, Bishop of Durham,
Teacher of the Faith, 1901
29 Mary, Martha and Lazarus, Companions of
our Lord
30 William Wilberforce, Social Reformer, 1833
31 Ignatius of Loyola, Founder of the Society
of Jesus, 1556
AUGUST
4 Jean-Baptist Vianney,
Curé d'Ars, Spiritual
Guide, 1859
5 Oswald, King of Northumbria, Martyr, 642
6 The Transfiguration of our Lord
7 John Mason Neale,
Priest, Hymn Writer, 1866
8 Dominic, Priest, Founder of the Order of
Preachers, 1221
9 Mary Sumner, Founder of the Mothers'
Union, 1921
10 Lawrence, Deacon at Rome, Martyr, 258
11 Clare of Assisi, Founder of the Order of Minoresses (Poor Clares),
1253
11 John Henry Newman, Priest, Tractarian, 1890
13 Jeremy Taylor, Bishop of Down and Connor,
Teacher of the Faith, 1667
13 Florence Nightingale, Nurse, Social
Reformer, 1910
13 Octavia Hill, Social Reformer, 1912
14 Maximilian Kolbe, Friar, Martyr, 1941
15 The Blessed Virgin Mary
20 Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux,
Teacher of the Faith, 1153
20 William and Catherine Booth, Founders of the
Salvation Army, 1912 and 1890
24 Bartholomew the Apostle
27 Monica, mother of Augustine of Hippo, 387
28 Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, Teacher of the
Faith, 430
29 The Beheading of John the Baptist
30 John Bunyan, Spiritual Writer, 1688
Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne,
Missionary, 651
July 5th
Ezekiel 2:1-5
2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Mark 6:1-13
July 12th
Amos 7:7-15
Ephesians 1:3-14
Mark 6:14-29
July 19th
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Ephesians 2:11-22
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
July 26th
2 Kings 4:42-44
Ephesians 3:14-21
John 6:1-21
August 2nd
Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15
Ephesians 4:1-16
John 6:24-35
August 9th
1 Kings 19:4-8
Ephesians 4:25-5:2
John 6:35, 41-51
August 16th
Proverbs 9:1-6
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:51-58
August 23rd
Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18
Ephesians 6:10-20
John 6:56-69
August 30th
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9
James 1:17-27
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Every Sunday we pray for people living and
working in two or three roads in the parish. The roads for July/August are:
July 5 Therapia lane & Elberon
Avenue
12 Brookmead Road & Oakmead Road
19 Rosemary
Close, Cinnamon Close & Saffron Close
26 Homemead Road
August 2 Chiswick
Close & Twickenham close
9 Mortlake Close
16 Windsor
Gardens & Kingston Gardens
23 Richmond
Green
30 Richmond
Road
Jean Kimber writes:
Two letters have arrived on
my doormat recently. One was from the Royal Marsden
Hospital thanking us for the £280 we sent them as a result of the Handbell Concert held in church. Many
thanks to everyone who gave so generously. One of our group
is seriously ill and is currently undergoing treatment there and she was very
pleased to hear of our donation.
The other letter was from a
local Cub group. A dozen or so small cubs came to discover what went on in a
bell tower. There were too many to take all at once, so Paul kindly took half
round the church (with his own form of a treasure hunt!) while the ringers
entertained the rest. A change-over ensured both groups enjoyed both
activities.
There were the usual worries
about how noisy it would be, (yes, it is a bit but they loved it!) the dark (it
isn't) and falling down the stairs (no one ever has). Up in the bell chamber
they ignored my advice to cover their ears, preferring to show how
"brave" they were. They were excited but well-behaved and that
includes the adults they brought with them - though they were probably more
nervous than the cubs!
Asked what they thought of
the evening, they summed it up as "awesome"!!
We have received this sad
news from Barbara and John Clayton members of St. Mary's Youth Fellowship
(circa 1940s plus).‘We have recently received the news
that one of our former members has just died.Not only
was he a member of SMYF and a former choir boy,but he
was the Organist and Choirmaster at St. Mary's Church for many years; his name
was Geoff Hunnisett.‘
Monica Phillips would like
to pass on her thanks to all those who showed her such care and consideration
on the death of her husband John. She was touched by the love that she was
showed at that time, and the continuing support she receives.
In our
quest to bring to your attention all the facets of the 9.30 service, we come
to….
They are there a good half
hour before most of you, so while you're enjoying your second cup of tea, spare
a thought for…….the Ringers
These people are not
"fair-weather friends". Come rain or shine, frost, snow, fog, the
dark, Boot Fairs, etc. they're there, announcing the presence of the church to
all who hear. It takes a great deal of commitment on their part - no lie-in
after Saturday night revels, no morning (or evening) off, no summer break and
no breakfast if you're running late!
Ringers are a team and rely
on each other; if people don't turn up, the bells don't get rung. They can't
call on just anyone to come and deputise. Ringing is a complex skill and it
takes a long time to train someone to be a competent Sunday Service ringer.
Many hours have gone into producing those people who are "up there"
Sunday by Sunday.
Because they don't actually
take part in the service, except for the Sanctus Bell (which requires a
different skill, not necessarily mastered by all ringers!) they often feel
forgotten once the service starts. Please remember that, over the years, the
sound of the bells has drawn many people inside the church who
might otherwise have walked on by.
Several times a year the tower is open to visitors and, not only have people been
able to get a better understanding of what the art involves but new and
"returned" ringers have been gained from such events. If you haven't
paid a visit, make a mental note to come next time.
A bonus for St Mary's
community is that over 80% of the ringers are seen in church and at social and
fund-raising events - a much higher proportion than found in many other towers.
Their art may be a bit of a mystery but get to know them and you'll find
they're pretty normal!
They always do their best to
produce the most acceptable ringing they can on Sundays but if occasionally it
doesn't sound as good as it should, remember - perhaps the ringers had a heavy
night….. but at least they're there!
Remember! God hears every
prayer - but not all prayers are answered in the way we might expect or desire:
we don't always pray for his will to be done!
How to start?
Use your hand.
Your fingers can be used to
bring to mind different things to pray for.
thumb
this is the strongest digit on your hand. Give thanks for
all the strong things in your life, like home and family, relationships that
support and sustain you.
index finger
this is the pointing finger. Pray for all those people
and things in your life who guide and help you. Friends, teachers, doctors, nurses, emergency services and so on.
middle finger
this is the tallest finger. Pray for all the important
people who have power in the world, like world leaders and their governments,
members of parliament and local councillors, the Royal Family, other world
leaders and their governments.
ring finger
this is the weakest finger on your hand. It can not do
much by itself. Remember the poor, the weak, the helpless, the hungry, the
sick, the ill and the bereaved.
little finger
this is the smallest and the last finger on your hand.
Pray for yourself.
When should I pray?
Traditionally, prayer times
have been morning and evening, but you can choose a time which is best for you.
It helps to be somewhere quiet, where you can have some time for yourself.
You can pray anywhere -
walking, standing, sitting, whatever feels comfortable.
Prayer activity is a
discipline - it can be difficult at times, just like keeping fit, being on a
diet, or keeping weeds down in the garden! Little and often is best, but don't
give up! No prayer, however inadequate you may feel it to be, is ever wasted or
of no value.
Prayers for those who have contracted the Swine Flu Virus
The almighty Lord,
who is a strong tower for all who put their trust in
him,
whom all things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth
obey,
be now and evermore your defence.
May you believe and trust
that the only name under heaven
given for health and salvation
is the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
May our Lord Jesus Christ,
who healed the sick and brought comfort to those in
need,
by his risen presence be with all who have contracted
this virus,
take from them all that harms and hinders them,
and fill them with his healing and his peace.
Amen.
The Revd Mark Williams
welcomed Deanery Synod to St John the Baptist, Belmont on June 3. He gave us a
brief portrait of the church. It began as a parish church in 1915 and the
nearby Methodist congregation moved in in the 1980s.
The worship and administration have been joint since
the mid-1990s. The church is kept open every day from 10.00am - 5.00pm. Folk
from the Marsden, both patients and relatives, come
in on a regular basis, as the hospital is in the parish.
The main topic was
"Regeneration in the Diocese of Southwark" and the speaker was Terry
Drummond, the Bishop's Chaplain. He reminded us that the church should be the
catalyst for the community. It should be active in all "Quarters" of
towns, such as shops, businesses, entertainment venues as well as housing
areas. All geographical areas have different requirements and we must look at
our own areas to identify them. Regeneration includes infrastructure,
transport, parking and affordable housing to cover all needs.
The church's task is to
translate words of government into how we work with local communities and
public authorities and to decide what contribution it can make to
policy-making.
The parish representatives
were asked to consider what links their church made with their communities and
individual families. Group discussions revealed difficulties in assessing how
we could change policies to benefit our communities but also discovered different
ways of engaging with them outside the church. (Sutton Street Pastors were one
way of taking the church out into the community and on a lighter note, St Mary's Duck Day was cited as another!)
The meeting included the
election of Diocesan Synod representatives, both clergy and laity. The next
meeting is on November 12 at Christchurch, Worcester Park and the subject is
"Publicity and Press".
Commemorated
on 30th July
John Bunyan is best known as
the writer of “Pilgrim’s Progress”, a book which has been described as the most
popular work of Christian spirituality ever written in English and the most
characteristic expression of the puritan religions on outlook to come out of
Seventeenth Century England – all this besides being a good story full of vivid
characters and realistic situations. It
is said that the “Pilgrim’s Progress” was, next to the Bible, the book most
likely to be found on an Englishman’s bookshelf throughout the Eighteen and
Nineteenth Centuries.
Bunyan was a Bedfordshire
man, the son of travelling tinkers, enjoying the life of the country, visiting
tour fairs where he bought books of adventure and folklore, dancing, bell
ringing and sports on village greens. At
16 he joined the Parliamentary Army and began to mix with people from the left
wing sects attracted to Cromwell’s Army – people who questioned everything,
religious authorities, public organisations and the current forms of religious
practice itself.
When he left the army and
returned to Bedford, Bunyan joined the Separatist Church, receiving baptism by
immersion and gradually giving up many of the sports and pastimes he had
previously enjoyed. He became a leader
and pastor, but imprisonment followed, for holding services not in conformity
with the Church of England. It was
during his imprisonment, which lasted 12 years, that
Bunyan did much of his writing and it was the painful experiences of this time
which enabled him to be a sympathetic minister to other people in their
sufferings.
After release from prison,
Bunyan continued to travel round the country to minister and to preach. He died in London and is buried here, in Bunhill Fields, the traditional burial ground for
non-conformists of his time only a stones throw from St Paul’s Cathedral.
July 31
According to the Gospels,
Joseph of Arimathea, "a city of Judea"
(Luke 23), was the man who donated his own prepared tomb for the burial of
Jesus after the crucifixion. He was apparently a man of wealth and probably a
member of the Sanhedrin, as he is known as a "counsellor". He was a
secret disciple of Jesus and when he heard about Jesus's
death, he went to Pilate to ask for the body. Pilate, reassured by the
centurion that Jesus was really dead, gave Joseph permission.
Joseph bought fine linen,
wrapped up the body and laid it in the rocky tomb, with a huge stone across the
entrance. Joseph's role seems to fulfil Isaiah's prediction that the grave of
the Messiah would be "with a rich man in his death" (Ch 53).
There are many legends
surrounding Joseph of Arimathea. He is considered the
original guardian of the Holy Grail. It is said he brought it to England and
spread Christianity, even before Augustine. His association with Glastonbury
arose because it was there that Joseph rested on his travels. He set his
walking staff in the ground and it sprang to life, blossoming as the
Glastonbury Thorn.
Some legends claim Joseph
was a relative of Jesus, specifically Mary's uncle. Other speculation makes him
a tin miner and his connection with Britain came about because of the abundance
of tin mines here.
One version, popular in the
Romantic period, even claims Joseph had brought Jesus to Britain as a boy and
that this was the inspiration for the line in William Blake's hymn Jerusalem:
"And did those feet in ancient time,
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the Holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant
pastures seen?"
Who knows? But may we not
rest until, "we have built Jerusalem in England's green and pleasant
land."
August 15
This is probably a
misunderstood date in the Christian calendar for many people. Assumption means
"taken up" and there is a commonly held belief, mainly by the Roman
church, that when Mary died, she was physically taken up into heaven. This
means she was transported to heaven with her body and soul united. It has
become a major festival in many countries.
The Orthodox, Western
churches and Protestants, such as the Lutherans, prefer to celebrate the "Dormition of Mary" or "the Falling asleep of the
Mother of God". This tradition says that Mary underwent a normal physical
death but her body, as with her son's, was raised from the dead and joined with
her soul in glory. This is a promise Jesus made to us all.
Anglican churches around the
world celebrate the day under whichever name is preferred. Whatever our own
beliefs, we surely recognise the important part the Virgin Mary plays in our
faith and hold her in our memories on the day of her death.
"Holy Mary, Mother of
God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death."
These sentences actually
appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:
Ladies, don't forget the
rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around
the house. Don't forget your husbands.
The peacemaking meeting
scheduled for today has been cancelled due to a conflict.
Miss Charlene Mason sang
"I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the
congregation.
At the evening service
tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.
Eight new choir robes are
currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the
deterioration of some older ones.
Low Self Esteem Support
Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
The Church of England
website has today published a new section called ‘Protecting Life - Opposing
Assisted Suicide’ at www.cofe.anglican.org/protectinglife.
It summarises quickly and simply the Church’s position in the sometimes
confusing assisted suicide debate, listing key principles behind its position,
offering a short guide to terms used in the debate, and providing a
downloadable Powerpoint file of key points for use in
churches.
“The Church of England is
opposed to any change in the law, or medical practice, to make assisted suicide
permissible or acceptable,” says the introductory website page. “Suffering, the
Church maintains, must be met with compassion, commitment to high-quality
services and effective medication; meeting it by assisted suicide is merely
removing it in the crudest way possible.”
The Bishop of Winchester, Rt Revd Michael Scott-Joynt, has
welcomed the publication of the pages by the Mission and Public Affairs
Division of the Archbishops’ Council, saying: “Parliament has a particular duty
to care for the very many who in illness, pain, fear and loss of their
faculties may be more vulnerable, compared with the resolute and articulate
few, to the influence and persuasion of others or indeed to the persuasion of
their own care and anxiety for their families.
“This is especially
important as distinguished voices are suggesting that dependent sufferers are
‘wasting the lives of those who care for them, and have a duty to die to stop
being a burden on others’. No wonder that most disabled people, and their
organisations, are passionately opposed to changes in the law relating to
assisted suicide.
“Parliament also has a duty
to defend the integrity and trustworthiness of the medical and nursing
professions – again with an eye especially on the need of the most vulnerable
to be able to trust those professionally engaged in their care.”
July and August
1989
Carousel welcomed home David
and Mary from their sabbatical in the Seychelles and congratulated their
daughter, Charlotte and Chris Kimber, who had just passed their Driving Tests.
(I well remember Chris's first comment, "Look out South London - here I
come!")
The flower displays
celebrating 25 years of the Brownie Movement had been greatly admired and
congratulations and thanks were offered to all who had helped.
There was to be an Open Day
on August Bank Holiday followed by a barbecue at Rectory Lane Hall. As far as
the ringers are concerned, it was a never-to-be-forgotten experience! The
reason will come to light in a later edition.
The MU had had a most
successful Barn Dance but I'm left wondering why it was reported they had such
glorious weather. Did they dance outside?
They also heard a talk on
Healthy Eating. How different would ideas on that subject be 20 years on?
The Guides were holding a
Barbecue at the Guide Headquarters, Wallington Green. It was to celebrate the
local Brownies' 10th birthday.
In Stewart Kimber's 20 years ago for July August 1969, he
mentions that most of the July magazine was taken up with the PCC's desperate plea for more money! A determined effort
was to be made to find 100 families who would promise £30 a year - in 1969 it
was described as the weekly equivalent of two packets of cigarettes or an
hour's pay. What would that be now?
"Waterbrooks"
had reminded people that July 1969 had seen man's first landing on the moon and
Stewart recalls sitting on the floor of his holiday home holding his infant son
so that he could say he saw it too! (Remember the occasion, Nick?) Stewart also
noted in the 1969 register entries, the same son's Baptism. It's scary to
realise he's now 40!
An article entitled "Eine Kleine Nacht
Hike" was a gangster-style story of the SMYF night hike to Polesden Lacey. It must have been
quite a hike - literally - as they arrived home at 2.30am!
How about a day out at Worthing on 15th August?
St Botolph’s
Church Hene are holding one
of their regular Coffee Concerts with Coffee at 10.30am and an hour’s recital
beginning at 11am. Andrew Wilson will be
at the organ giving a programme of not-too-serious music. After that you can take in the sea air, go
out to lunch or what-you-will.
Search for a New Name Continues…
The front-runner at present
is Kofee, Kake and Konversation or, if you prefer, Coffee, Cake and
Conversation, keeping the alliteration and reflecting the spirit of the Friday
Coffee events.
The Centre will be open as
usual on the last Fridays in July (31st) and August (28th) for 10 – 11.30am and
everyone is welcome to drop in.
Instant coffee (or a cup of
tea) and a piece of cake £1.50
Freshly made ground coffee
and a piece of cake £2.00
Plus, of course, unlimited
chat and Konversation!
July and August are times to
relax, so our recommendations are not at all taxing. The first is fifty percent picture book, with
just enough text to keep you awake. “The Cloud Book, How to Understand the
Skies” by Richard Hamblyn in association with the
Met Office is full of wonderful photographs of more kindsof
sky pictures than you ever thought existed.
Then if, like Alice in
Wonderland, you think a book is no use without pictures and conversation, what
about relaxing with Gwen Raverat’s “Period Piece”? Gwen Raverat was a
member of the Darwin family and this is her illustrated memory of her childhood
in Cambridge and the eccentricities of her may
relatives – very topical in this year of Darwin conversations.
And, if you like to travel
vicariously, why not join “Two Middle
Aged Ladies in Andalusia” by Penelope Chetwode , an exploration back in time in wild and unfrequented
places. Penelope Chetwode,
who was named by John Betjeman, is one of these
Ladies. Read the book to find out who
the other one was.
The Kapillan of Malta - Nicholas MonserratIf
you've been to Malta and Gozo it's a must but even if
you haven't it's a truly great story.
A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini (author of the
Kite Runner). A fascinating insight to life in Afghanistan,
giving much more understanding of that beleaguered country.
Deception Point - Dan Brown (if you
haven't read The Da Vinci Code you ought to; if you
have and you didn't enjoy it, this is totally different). It is n extremely
gripping book - I couldn't put it down, so it's highly
recommended for holiday reading when you won't get interrupted!
No time for Goodbye - Linwood
Barclay. Lighter reading but if you like a ost unusual mystery, this is it!
From The
Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams,
Recent years have brought
home to all of us the tragic costs of war, in a way most of us have not
experienced before or have not experienced for very many years. We ask our service personnel to carry a huge
load on our behalf – not only in the physical risks they run, but also in the
making of almost impossibly difficult and sensitive operational decisions. We know how high the human costs are, and how
much we owe to those who live daily with such costs.
The professionalism and
responsibility they regularly show, as well as their courage in the field, are
deeply appreciated, and it is right that they should be nationally recognised
on this Armed Forces Day. It is also an
opportunity to give thanks for all those who have served their country in past
conflicts, for their sacrifice and example.
As we continue to pray for
the peace that God wills for his creation, we pray also for all currently
serving in the Forces and for their families – for inner strength, and for
commitment to a vision of justice and stability in the world which will sustain
them in their labours.
Recipe as used at the Men's Breakfast 4/7/09
Ingredients
375g/13oz plain flour
225g/8oz cornmeal
1 tbsp salt
4 tbsp baking powder
110g/4oz sugar
480ml/17fl oz milk
2 free-range eggs
110g/4oz butter, melted,
plus extra for greasing
Method
1. Preheat the oven to
200C/400F/Gas 6. Grease 23cm/9in square baking pan with melted butter.
2. In a large bowl, combine
all the ingredients together. Mix until you have the consistency of a sponge
cake batter.
3. Stir to combine
thoroughly, then pour into the prepared baking pan.
Bake for about 20 minutes in the top of the oven.
4. The cornbread is ready
when it has a golden colour and is springy to the touch. Allow to cool slightly
before cutting.
22nd July Meeting at ‘The Plough’ 7:30pm
1st August Breakfast 8:30 to 9:30 Church Centre
19th August ‘Celtic Spirituality’ 7:30 Church
Centre
On 24th June, I went to
Southwark Cathedral library to a meeting to meet Elizabeth Mukuwanda,
wife of Bishop Ishmail of Central Zimbabwe and leader
of the Mother's Union. She has 4 children and 4 grandchildren but also cares
for her late brother's 5 children.
Her Secretary, Bereta was with her and she also cares for other children
as well as her own. It was Bereta who spoke mostly
about the situation in Zimbabwe. There has been an improvement recently but,
during the drought, there was no food in most shops. She had taken $500 from
the bank to buy food from one shop but they needed 2-5 million dollars. People
had to walk to work if possible but several did not manage. Teachers could not
get to school and many were closed. People lived on forest food and, if they
were lucky, one helping of porridge a day with no sugar. Then hampers arrived
from South Africa and were shared out between families. They had no seeds to
plant and animals had been used for food or payment. If a bus ride were
necessary, a chicken was offered to the driver.
Some people collapsed at work from hunger. People could not get to the
hospital and there were no drugs there, even for HIV patients. Many
grandmothers now act as parents to fatherless children.
The USPG had a feeding programme for children and teachers at school. They also
supplied seeds for each family. Universities were often closed as fees were
$1800 a term. Some students went to South Africa.
Money came from the Lambeth
Conference which paid for books and pens for the schools. Bereta
issued a huge thanks to the MU for the help received from them.
Staff in the MU office are
receiving no pay. Yet with 35 branches and 2600 members in the
diocese and up toa 4 hours trip to reach some
members. They are organising a conference in August in Gweru.
There will be a singing competition, an exhibition of MU uniform and of Church vestments,
all handmade. This will be held in a high school and will last 4 days. In
October, there will be a larger conference on a showground.
We joined in the Wave of Prayer in the cathedral later. Our Wave of Prayer will
be during their conference. Please pray for them. .Afterwards, I went to an
exhibition at the Cotton Centre, passing a shop called, "Absolutely
starving" with shelves full of food. It quite upset me, thinking of those
who were really starving and with nothing on sale. I wanted to change the name.
PamVernon
The Albinoni
String Orchestra are old friends of St Mary’s – a
group of some twenty players who have delighted us with their music many times
in the past.
June 6th this year was no
exception, and après-concert conversations ranged over which piece was whose
favourite. There was a wide variety to
choose from. The short but striking
Miller’s Dance from de Falla’s “Three Cornered Hat”,
Tchaikovsky’s lovely Elegy and Humoresque and Rutter’s
Suite for Strings were only three of the many.
This concert was also
special for two other reasons. Firstly,
this was the first time the orchestra had been joined by St Mary’s Choir. They gave us excerpts from Faure’s much loved Requiem and his (undeservedly) less well
known Cantique de Jean Racine – both of these items
conducted by Neil Turner with Andrew Wilson at the organ.
Secondly, this concert was
special because it featured the first performance of Ian Butterworth’s Two
American Pieces, arrangements of traditional American melodies; it was a
particular privilege to hear this new work conducted by the composer.
The concert raised £762
which was divided equally between the British Heart Foundation and St Mary’s
Church funds. Our thanks go to all the
performers, including Stephen Lewis, the solo harpist, who gave freely of their
time and their talents for our great enjoyment and for the benefit of two very
worthy causes.
Following the great success
of our pilot earlier this year, another short study course is to be held on
four Monday mornings in the Centre from 10 – 12 noon.
If you enjoy reading and
feel you would like to get a little more out of a book by discussing it with
others, then why not come along. You will be most welcome.
These are the two novels we
shall be looking at this session:
“The Shipping News”, Annie Proulx, October 26th and November 2nd
“The Return of the Native”,
Thomas Hardy, November 30th and December 7th
Interested? Please phone Jackie on 0208 395 8239.
Sunday 26 July Carshalton Station 11.30 am
Carshalton Lavender 2009 Harvest Visit to
Wilderness Island and Stanley Road Allotments for barbecue lunch/refreshments
and other attractions. Bring your own
scissors! 3-4 miles, easy, circular
Tuesday 11 August Mitcham Junction Station (bus stop on bridge) 5.15 pm
Walk
around Mitcham Common. Pub stop at end. 3-4
miles, easy, circular
Sunday 27 September Carshalton Station 2.05 pm
Guided walk through grounds
of Carshalton House (St Philomena’s) with visit to Water Tower &
Hermitage. £4.00 to
include tea, biscuits and guide.
Need 10 for tour to go ahead so please call Melanie to book. 1-2 miles, easy, circular
Saturday 10 October Mitcham Junction
Station (bus stop on bridge) 2.15 pm
Walk
around Mitcham Common. Pub stop at end. 3-4
miles, easy, circular
Come and join us for an
hour’s walk around Beddington Park or Waddon Ponds
every Friday morning at 10 am. Meet by
St Mary’s Church, Church Road, Wallington SM6 7NJ (Buses: 407 from Sutton, 463
from Mitcham).
On the last Friday of the
month there is a Kith, Kin and Kanine morning with coffee and home-made cakes
(donation of £1.50 towards funds) with tour of this historic church.
Any questions please call
07944 833605 or email melanie.nunzet@gmail.com
Spider Foray on Mitcham Common (run by Wild Merton – London Wildlife Trust)
Saturday 19 July, 10.30 am,
Mill House Ecology Centre, Windmill Road
Bat walk (run by Sutton
Nature Conservation Volunteers)
Saturday 29 August, 8.20 pm,
meet at London Wildlife Hospital, Beddington Park
A talk on the birds in
Beddington Park (by David Smith)
Wednesday 16 September, 7.30
pm at the Grange (Friends of Beddington Park meeting)
Concert of jazz and popular
music from 1920-1940 (with Hugh Crozier on the piano, he’s brilliant!)
Saturday 3 October, 7.30 pm,
St Mary’s Church, Tickets on door (£7 with concessions)