Newsletter: August, 2003

Lammas-Tide

“Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.” (John 6:56)


A newly married couple, thrilled with the automatic bread-maker given them as a wedding present, looked forward expectantly to waking to the smell of freshly baked bread wafting from the kitchen.

They quickly became accustomed to that delicious homely aroma as they put their present to immediate use. The wonderful smell of newly-baked bread, however, was never quite matched by the quality of the bread itself. They followed the instructions meticulously but somehow the bread seldom came out as intended. The loaves barely rose, and were sometimes a soggy mess. Oh dear!

Determined not to be beaten, they re-read the instructions and (in the small print!) discovered some helpful hints, among them a firm recommendation that a special sort of yeast should be used in bread-makers. Thereafter they woke to the smell, and the taste, of excellent, wonderful crusty loaves — and marvelled at how a small amount of one simple ingredient could be so important, so vital, and make such a difference.

John, as so often, is not seeking to report Jesus’ words with strict accuracy, but to convey the real significance of what Jesus said. In St John’s Gospel Chapter 6 he recounts Jesus’ teaching about spiritual food. Jesus uses bread — a symbol of daily life, a very simple, basic but vital commodity — to make his point. He describes himself as the “living bread”, bread that “came down from heaven”, and he emphasises that whoever eats this bread would live forever.

His listeners, perhaps not surprisingly, challenge this, thus giving Jesus the chance to reiterate that he is talking about spiritual food, and about eternal life, life beyond the frontier of death. It is the eternal life of Jesus within those who believe which holds out the promise of life forever.

The Jews would have had some understanding of the concept of “bread from heaven” for they knew of the manna that had sustained their ancestors during their desert exodus (even if it had not extended their life-span beyond the normal expectation). What was this bread from heaven Jesus was talking about, that would enable them to live forever?

Re-working an image sketched by the much-loved and respected theologian, William Barclay, try to imagine a man surrounded by well-stocked bookcases. Much know-ledge is available to him in those books, but as long as they remain on the shelves — unread — all this array of knowledge is outside him, beyond him. But when he takes a book from the shelves, opens it and reads it, it becomes part of him. It fills his mind and his imagination; some parts fire his heart; others lift his spirits. Thereafter, whether the book is in his hand or on the shelves he is able to feed on it, on its wisdom, know-ledge, inspiration.

In our re-enactment of Jesus’ command at the Communion table we eat bread and drink wine, representing the broken body of Jesus and the blood he spilled for us. The bread remains bread, the wine remains wine, but by consuming it in faith, we take Jesus’ body and blood, his humanity and his divinity, into ourselves, into our very being. He becomes part of us, as we become part of him. A small piece of bread, and the merest sip of wine, simple, natural everyday things — and yet so important, so vital, and they make such a difference.

Lorna Smith

NEWS IN BRIEF
We were sorry to hear that Mrs Marjorie Rhimes has died after a short illness. She and her husband Laurie lived in the police houses in Bond Street for many years before retiring and moving away. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this sad time.

WORKAID
Congratulations to Margaret and Bernard Taylor on raising £157 for WorkAid at a Coffee Morning at their house on a very wet Thursday morning in July. WorkAid collects carpentry and gardening tools which are no longer required and then sends them out to parts of Africa where they are put to good use.

BISHOP OF GUILDFORD
The Rt Revd John Gladwin, our Bishop, is to succeed the Rt Revd John Perry as Bishop of Chelmsford.

We, at St Jude’s Church, have enjoyed several visits from Bishop John which we have enjoyed immensely. However, sad as we are that he is leaving, we offer him our sincerest congratulations on the appointment and wish him and wife, Lydia, every happiness in the future.

DEANERY CONFIRMATION
The next Deanery Confirmation will be at St Paul’s, Egham Hythe on Wednes-day 26th November at 8.00pm. The Vicar would be pleased to hear from anyone who is interested in being confirmed.

WEDDINGS AT ST JUDE'S
The Chapel of Royal Holloway College shares our marriage registers. This means that when they have a wedding we are unable to have one at the same time. As weddings at Royal Holloway are getting more popular, you are advised to get in touch with Lorna, the Vicar, as early as possible with your booking to avoid disappointment over dates.

You would do well to book for 2004 now and even 2005 if possible. A deposit of £25 is payable (this is not normally refundable in the case of a cancellation).

CHILDREN'S SOCIETY
Ann Pym, Elizabeth Emmett and Sue Kensey have been the “St Jude’s Children Society Committee” for a long time. They write:

“The Children’s Society will be having a Coffee Morning at 6 Spencer Gardens on Saturday 27th September from 10.30am to 1.00pm. There will be a Bring a Buy stall, a Raffle and Produce.

Please bring your Children’s Society box with you to be counted, but it will not be returned to you. After 9 years, it is time to hand over and sadly there is no one to hand over to.

Please help us to make it a really good last effort, helping children who really need our help. We are hoping for donations of goods, unwanted presents, raffle prizes ( a donation of money is always welcome if you cannot be with us on the day).

And a Very Big Thank You to everyone who has supported and helped us in so many ways over the years.”

Many of us have had these collecting boxes for a number of years and we put our small change into them often raising £20 or £30 each year which we hardly miss.

Surely there must be someone who will take on the annual task of receiving them, counting the cash, paying it into the bank and returning the boxes. If you would like to help, please talk to Brian Hooker, Churchwarden who will pass on the message to the Committee to ensure that the boxes can be returned after the count on 27th September.

ROYAL HOLLOWAY COLLEGE
Details are now available for the forthcoming courses introducing the main areas of Christian Theology at Royal Holloway. This includes A Christian Understanding of Jesus Christ, Towards a Christian Understanding of God and Christian Ethics this Autumn. More details from 01784 443950 or by calling in at the Open Evening on Monday 22nd September at 8.00pm in the Chapel.

THE GARDEN PARTY
The weather was glorious for the Garden Party on 12th July and the gazebos were invaluable for shade from the sun.

We are very grateful to all those who helped and all those who came along on the day to enjoy lunch, afternoon tea and to spend time (and money) on the various stalls. We are particularly grateful to Colin and Lesley Doe from F. Harrison and Son who provided the limousine transport for the elderly (and rides for the children) for the afternoon.

The prizes in the Grand Draw were won as follows: £100 — Janine Streeter, hamper — Martine Dawlings, bottle of whisky — Brettell, soap dish — M. Trickett, bottle of sherry — Roy Gouriet, teddy bear — Bendall, bottle of whisky — Vera Long, Hair Advice Centre token — Mrs Osborn, bottle of gin — J. Bryant, glass dish — M. Gee, sparkling wine — E. Chew, Chrysanthemum — M.McDonnell, bottle of wine — M. Hider, toiletries — S. Critchlow, bottle of wine — A. Mattingly.

The total raised by the Garden Party for the Parish Centre Appeal was £1796.02.

FROM THE REGISTERS
Holy Baptism:
(6th July) Harvey James Stanley Badger, Jaime Ada Maggie Hancock; (20th) Amelia Yvonne Chantelle Daley.
Holy Matrimony:
(28th June) Tony Beadle and Tracey Robinson; (12th July) Paul Ingram and Sarah Bayliss.
Funerals:
(10th July) Norman William Leslie Stratten; (24th) Pauline Olive Oates; (25th) Eric Apps.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

COFFEE MORNINGS
The August Coffee Morning will be on Saturday 16th August at 45 Laurel Avenue from 10.00am to 12 noon. All are welcome.

The next Coffee Morning outside Church will be on Saturday 13th September from 10.00am.

CREAM TEAS
There will be cream teas and tea and cake outside the Church (inside if the weather is wet) on Sunday 17th August between 3.00pm and 5.00pm. All proceeds from this will be for the Parish Centre Appeal so do come along to support us. The Church will be open from 2.30pm.

CALENDAR FOR AUGUST 2003
2 Saturday 2.00pm Holy Matrimony
3 SEVENTH SUNDAY after TRINITY 8.00am Holy Communion (BCP)
9.30am Sung Eucharist 11.30am Holy Baptism
6 Wednesday 10.0am Holy Communion (Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord)
7 Thursday 2.00pm Holy Matrimony
9 Saturday 2.00pm Holy Matrimony
10 EIGHTH SUNDAY after TRINITY 6.30pm Evensong and Sermon
16 Saturday 10.00am to 11.30am Coffee Morning at 45 Laurel Avenue
17 NINTH SUNDAY after TRINITY
3.00pm–5.00pm Cream Teas outside St Jude’s Church
24 TENTH SUNDAY after TRINITY (St Bartholomew the Apostle)
30 Saturday 11.00am Holy Baptism
31 ELEVENTH SUNDAY after TRINITY 3.00pm Holy Matrimony