Newsletter: January, 2003

Epiphany - Showing Forth

Bright neon streetlights hide an awesome secret from city dwellers — a secret, which has fascinated humanity since the beginning of time — the expansive beauty of the night sky lit by twinkling stars and the changing face of the moon.

A wonderful children’s story from Switzerland tells of the curiosity of a duckling to discover the secret of the moon’s beauty. His father, who did not know anything about the moon, tells him to ask a wise old swan. The swan invites him to his island at nighttime, to learn where the moon lives, and advises the duckling to look, listen and think, so that he may learn the secret of the beauty of the moon. It takes all the duckling’s courage, strength and resolve to get to the island that night.

As he swam closer to the swan’s house, the moon got bigger and rounder, and he comes to believe that perhaps the moon lives with the swan. The wise swan taught him that the moon lives with everyone, rising and sinking for someone in the world all the time. The duckling joyfully returned home, having learnt the simple, yet awesome truth of the secret of the moon’s beauty — the moon never stops sharing.

The story of the wise men is very familiar to us, dramatised in nativity plays everywhere at Christmas time, and celebrated at Epiphany, the sixth of January. The story of the star guiding the wise men to Bethlehem has a timeless message of wisdom. The wise men were clearly wise in more than one sense of the word. They had studied the constellations of the stars, and they knew the Jewish interpretation of the Scriptures. They were learned men, prepared to act on their knowledge and follow a strange star’s movements, sure of finding something important, someone important, in the end.

These men were careful in who they listened to. Hearing and listening are two different things. The wise men heard Herod’s advice and his request for them to let him know the outcome of their search, but they listened to God’s warning in a dream and did not go back that way. They knew what they were searching for but, whether they realised it or not, a wonderful secret wisdom was about to be revealed to them.

They were to discover a new life-inspiring wisdom by the light of the star over Bethlehem, the place where they were to find the Child who was born to be King. The wise men attended to this child as to any future king, perhaps not quite recognising the fullness of the moment and the Child. Their responses of joy, worship and gift offering to this child destined to be King of the Jews can only begin to touch the profound awe, the indescribable life-inspiring, life-giving secret of the star in the night-sky — God’s Wisdom revealed with, in, and by the Christ Child.

With the benefit of hindsight, believers and their church communities know the whole story of Jesus’ life. He who began life as a baby grew up knowing all that we know of the joys and pains of human life. He learned the Scriptures and traditions of his Jewish community. He heard, saw, reached out and spoke to many people in many situations who neither understood, listened, nor knew of this new way of living that Jesus called the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension revealed the activity of God the Holy Spirit in the world, for all time and all places.

God in Christ has opened the way to life in and with God. The awesome gift of the Holy Spirit shares the secrets of God’s grace to believers, a grace that Christ has made available to all who believe. The presence of God’s grace marks every part of the life of the church as a community of believers. It is grace, which, at high and low points, reminds us of God with us, Emmanuel. Grace speaks to us of the sharing presence, wisdom and power of God when we see beauty in creation, compassion at work, new birth and loving relationships, and grace enables forgiveness, restoration and renewal.

Lorna Smith

NEWS IN BRIEF
Congratulations to Geoff and Jenny Chew on the birth of their second grandchild (Sarah Elizabeth Comrie) born in America (6lbs 8ozs). All are well.

There will be a tea party on 5th January from 3.00pm to 5.00pm at the Vicarage to celebrate the 80th birthday of Beryl Russell. All are welcome.

We were pleased to welcome so many people to our services over Christmas and are very grateful to those who decorated the Church including the Christmas Tree. Over sixty children took part in the Crib Service on Christmas Eve and the Church was packed for Midnight Mass.

On the Thursday before Christmas (the coldest day in December) over thirty people crowded into the Vicarage for the Wassail Evening. It was a very relaxed occasion with humorous readings and much joyful singing of well known carols. It raised £217 for the Parish Centre Appeal.

We are very grateful to Tim Stones, the local Councillors and their friends, who raised a total of £150 for the Parish Centre Appeal at their Christmas Gathering.

CAROL SINGING
We were delighted to have thirty people turn up for Carol Singing on the Monday before Christmas. With such a good turnout we did not get too upset when the heavens opened and the carol sheets turned soggy. Many thanks to all who turned up and to those who gave so generously. We collected £115.97 which will be sent to the Children’s Society (together with the collection at the shared Carol Service).

FROM THE REGISTERS
Holy Baptism
(8th December) Anthony Joseph Howard, (15th) Thomas Ethan Windle.

Funerals:
(3rd December) Miriam Hampstead; (5th) Benjamin Smith; (9th) Phyllis Ruby Burton; (17th) Eileen Alice Murray; (18th) Alfred Garden; (19th) Susan Wilson; (23rd) Rosemary Watford.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS AND INFORMATION

COFFEE MORNING
Coffee Mornings (and the people who organise them) now take a well-earned break. The next one will be on Saturday 12th April from 10.00am in Church.

ROYAL HOLLOWAY COLLEGE AT ST JUDE'S CHURCH
We are delighted that the RHC Choir will be singing Evensong at St Jude’s Church on Thursdays 23rd January, 30th January, 6th February and 13th February. This is while the organ in being overhauled in the Chapel. The services will take place at 6.15pm and all are welcome.

MARRIAGE PREPARATION EVENING
The Marriage Preparation Evening on Sunday 19th January at 7.30 for 7.45pm at the Vicarage is not only for those who have already booked weddings to take place during 2003 but also for anyone who is considering marriage during the year but has not yet contacted the Vicar.

GRAFFITI MORNING
The Writing on the Wall
This is an opportunity to try your skill at spray painting at the hall behind the United Church, Egham High Street before the demolition workers get there. This is for anyone regardless of age and is between 9.30am and 12 noon. It will cost £1 admission — bring your own paint.

CALLING ALL BRIDGE PLAYERS
There will be a Bridge Tournament in The Jurgens Centre on Wednesday 22nd January from 2.00pm–5.00pm with afternoon tea, a draw and prizes. The money raised will go to the Parish Centre Appeal. Please contact Audrey Mattingly (the organiser) on 01784 433615 if you would like to book a table.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES
Tuesday 4th March (Shrove Tuesday) Musical Evening (Music by Scott Joplin, Gershwin, etc, poetry and prose).
Tuesday 11th March (10.00am–11.30am) Coffee Morning at the Vicarage.
Sunday 15th June (3.00pm) Deanery Service at St Jude’s Church.
Saturday 21st June Village Fair on the Green.
Saturday 12th July Garden Party in the Vicarage Garden.
Saturday 16th August 10.00am–11.30am at 45 Laurel Avenue.
Sunday 28th September Harvest Thanksgiving.
Saturday 22nd November Christmas Fair.
Thursday 18th December (7.30pm) Wassail Evening at the Vicarage.

CALENDAR FOR JANUARY
1 Wednesday 10.00am Holy Communion (Naming of Jesus)
3 Friday Symonds Stage School Enrolment Evening 6.30–9.00pm (Church Hall)
4 Graffiti Morning at The United Church, Egham 9.30am to 12noon
5 SECOND SUNDAY of CHRISTMAS 8.00am Holy Communion (BCP)
9.30am Family Eucharist
6 Monday 8.00pm Holy Communion with hymns (The Epiphany)
12 THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST 6.30pm Evensong and Sermon
14 Tuesday 8.00pm Worship Committee meets at the Vicarage
15 Wednesday 8.00pm Affirming Catholicism lecture in Guildford Cathedral
19 SECOND SUNDAY of EPIPHANY 6.00pm Ecumenical Service at Royal Holloway College attended by the Churches on the Green.
(beginning of Week of Prayer for Christian Unity)
7.30 for 7.45pm Marriage Preparation Evening at the Vicarage
20 Monday 7.45 for 8.00pm Churches on the Green Committee Meeting (Vicarage)
22 Wednesday 8.00pm PCC Meeting at the Vicarage
23 Thursday 6.15pm Royal Holloway Choral Evensong at St Jude’s Church
25 Saturday 9.15am Holy Communion (Conversion of St Paul)
26 THIRD SUNDAY of EPIPHANY
27 Tuesday 8.00pm Deanery Synod Meeting at St John the Baptist, Egham
28 Thursday 6.15pm Royal Holloway Choral Evensong at St Jude’s Church