Newsletter: October, 2003

Living Words

Jesus said, “You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf.” (John 5.39)

Books play an important part in developing our awareness and interpretations of the world around us. Babies and toddlers begin with cloth and board books with simple pictures of common animals, toys, places and other things, with or without words. These books are ‘child-friendly’ precisely because they allow a simple first step into the mature imagination, the ‘adult’ interpretation of the world. That’s why it is important what books we choose for our children, and what books are available for their young minds.

Alongside all sorts of good information, children can also learn about our prejudices and phobias, about inequalities and injustices from books. They unconsciously learn accepted social values, whether or not there are written words. Cartoon animals and toys become part of the child’s developing imagination, a part of how a child sees the world, a part that the adult can too easily diminish as ‘childishness’.

All Scripture witnesses to Jesus Christ and Jesus is the centre of Scripture from the beginning to the end. The life, words and miracles of Jesus, recorded in the Gospels, revealed the redeeming love of God, the activity of the Creator in the person of his son. Jesus himself was testimony to God, the source and the essence for the mission of Jesus, yet many did not believe and did not come to Jesus the Redeemer. They still do not. The people amongst whom Jesus lived would have recognised the Scriptures as those books of the Bible that Christians now read as the ‘Old Testament’. The Law of Moses and the words of the prophets would have been well known and well studied in the belief that knowledge of, and obedience to, these Scriptures was all that was needed for eternal life. What was so often missed then were the testimonies that revealed Jesus the Messiah. If we are to recognise the miraculous signs and know the wisdom of the Scriptures, our lives need to give space to the indwelling love of God. Jesus bears the name of God, shares the life of God, and knows the praise of God. The only one who can reveal who Jesus is to the world is God the Father. To know God’s love and reconciliation is to have our imaginations awakened to the love and power of Jesus, God’s Son. Moreover, to know the Son of God is to have the Word of God brought alive in our hearts and minds. God’s Word, revealed to us in our search of Scripture, and made flesh for us in Jesus Christ, reveals that real life is to believe in Jesus the Redeemer, the Messiah, and the Son of God.

The Holy Spirit transforms knowledge of the Scriptures into a guided search for wisdom, truth and the life of Christ. A life and imagination opened up by the Spirit of God to, for and by the love of God sees all humanity and creation within a new paradigm, welcomes the Word which reveals this newness, and the Saviour at the centre of life as the Word of God.

Just as children’s books can encourage children’s imaginations in the interpretation of their world, so can the Word open up God’s people to God’s perspective. It is the childlike imagination which allows the cloud on top of a mountain to become a hat or a beard, the wind to become a hymn, the swaying trees in the valley to look like clapping people, and the bush to hold a mysterious and beautiful story. If adults could only imagine the world differently, let their hearts and minds be awoken to the glory hidden in creation, the compassion and peace of Christ, perhaps the world might become a different place.

Lorna Smith

NEWS IN BRIEF
The recent Young People’s Concert was a great success. We are very grateful to Val Ward and Jan Wilford for all their work in organising the event which raised £325 for the Parish Centre.

St Jude’s Church is open to visitors on Saturdays between 1.00pm and 4.00pm (except the time when weddings are taking place). This can be for anyone who wishes to discuss Baptisms or Weddings with the Vicar or for those who would like to have a look round the Church. Tea and Coffee is available throughout the time.

St Luke’s Day is traditionally the time when we pray for the sick and those who minister to them. As there is a Deanery Synod meeting on the morning of Saturday 18th October (which is St Luke’s Day), there will be Holy Communion for prayers for healing at 6.00pm.

St Jude’s School would like more people who can spare a little time to go into the school and listen to some of the children read. This is a great help to the teachers and is very rewarding for the individuals who help in this way. Offers should be made to Lorna, the Vicar either by telephone or in writing.

We will be carrying out an Autumn clean on Saturday 25th October starting at 9.30am. All help welcome.

DEANERY CONFIRMATION
The Deanery Confirmation fixed for 26th November at St Paul’s Egham Hythe has been cancelled as Bishop John will have moved on to Chelmsford by then. However there will be a Confirmation in Guildford Cathedral on Thursday 6th November (by Bishop Ian). Anyone wishing to be confirmed at this time should contact the Vicar immediately.

ST JUDE’S PLAYERS
This year's pantomime will be Little Red Riding Hood by Paul Reakes (an author whose work has been performed several time before with great success) and will be performed on 5th, 6th, 11th, 12th & 13th December at the Social Hall. This is truly your local pantomime and offers very good value for money. Please make a note of it now and remember to book your tickets nearer the time.

PARISH CENTRE APPEAL
Total raised so far £80,785
Total expenditure so far £9,181
Total promises so far £17,688
Money available for project £89,292
Balance needed £410,708

FROM THE REGISTERS
Holy Baptism:
(21st September) Albie Robert Walter Lamble; Ben Andrew Shephard.

Holy Matrimony:
(31st August) Adrian Daniels and Claire Joanne Hooper, (6th September) Stephen John Gray and Natalie Jayne Hood; (7th) Martin James Robinson and Sarah de Ville (13th) Anthony Simester and Lisa Clare Fletcher; (20th) David Richard Beer and Michelle Louise Gibbins.

Funerals:
(12th September) Constance Minnie Sleep, (18th) Jim McLean; (19th) Patricia Maud Hanks.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

COFFEE MORNING
The next Coffee Morning outside St Jude’s Church will be on Saturday 11th October from 10.00am to 12 noon. All are welcome. Money raised at this Coffee Morning will be sent to WaterAid, the charity which uses small sums of money to raise the standard of living for villages in poor parts of the world by installing a reliable water supply. If you would like to help this charity, please send a contribution to Brian Hooker, 11 Willson Road, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey TW20 0QB.

FLOWER AND HARVEST FESTIVAL
in St Jude’s Church
Friday 3rd October 2–6pm
Saturday 4th October
11am–6pm
Sunday 5th October 12 noon until Songs of Praise Service at 6.30pm

A BURNING ISSUE
A discussion about GENDER
in the light of Scripture - Science – Sociology
the background to the Church’s
debate on sexuality
Speakers:
Canon Maureen Palmer, Sub-Dean, Guildford Cathedral
Revd Stephen Sizer, Vicar, Virginia Water
Canon Michael Hereward-Rothwell Vicar, Thorpe
An open meeting on Saturday 18th October 2003
Christ Church, Ottershaw: 10.30am–1.00pm
(bring packed lunch if you want to stay to discuss further)
Deanery Synod business starts at 10,
for ½ hour.
ALL ARE WELCOME

LOOKING AHEAD
The Christmas Market in aid of USPG will be in St Jude’s School Hall on Saturday 22nd November at 2.00pm.

CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER 2003
2 Thursday Preparation for Flower and Harvest Festival
3 Friday Church open 2.00pm–6.00pm
4 Saturday Church open 11.00am–6.00pm
5 SIXTEENTH SUNDAY after TRINITY – HARVEST THANKSGIVING
8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) 9.30am Youth Eucharist
11.30am Holy Baptism Church open until 6.30pm Harvest Songs of Praise
8 Wednesday 8.00pm Worship Committee at the Vicarage
9 Thursday 9.30am St Jude’s School Harvest Thanksgiving service
11 Saturday 10.00am–12 noon Coffee Morning outside St Jude’s
2.00pm Holy Matrimony 4.00pm Marriage Blessing
12 SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY after TRINITY 3.00pm Holy Baptism
6.30pm Evensong and Sermon
18 Saturday (St Luke) Deanery Synod at Ottershaw
6.00pm Holy Communion with prayers for Healing
19 EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY after TRINITY 12noon Holy Matrimony
25 Saturday 9.30am onwards Autumn maintenance day at St Jude’s Church
26 LAST SUNDAY after TRINITY - FESTIVAL DAY for ST JUDE