Newsletter: August, 2004

Rescued

In the introduction to a service, the priest told the congregation that the guest preacher was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service. With that, an elderly man stepped up into the pulpit and began to speak.

“A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Cornish coast.” He began “When a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to the shore. The waves were so high that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the sea as the boat capsized.”

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story. The aged minister continued with his story, “grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life: To which boy would he throw the other end of the life line. He had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian and he also knew that his son’s friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of the waves. As the father yelled out, ‘I love you, son!’ he threw out the lifeline to his son’s friend. By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered.

By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old minister’s mouth. “The father”, he continued “knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and he could not bear the thought of his son’s friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save the son’s friend.

How great is the love of God that he should do the same for us. Our heavenly Father sacrificed his only begotten Son that he could be saved. I urge you to accept his offer to rescue you and take a hold of the life line he is throwing out to you in this service.” With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair and silence filled the room.

Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man’s side. “That was a nice story,” politely stated one of them, “but I don’t think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son’s life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian”.

“Well, you’ve got a point there,” the old man replied glancing down at his worn bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face. He once again looked up at the boys and said “It sure isn’t very realistic, is it? But I’m standing here today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up his only son for me. You see ……… I was that father and your priest is my son’s friend.”

Lorna C. Smith

NEWS IN BRIEF
Dr Margaret Moore came to Englefield Green in 1914 when her father was appointed Professor of Chemistry at Royal Holloway College. She was just six years old. She spent many years away from the village but returned after she had retired. She has been a faithful member of the congregation for many years and we were very sad to hear that she has now died at the age of nearly 96.

NEW BISHOP FOR GUILDFORD
It has been announced that the Rt Revd Christopher Hill, currently Bishop of Stafford in the Diocese of Lichfield, has been appointed the new Bishop of Guildford.

SUMMER FAIR
The weather for this year’s Summer Fair was certainly not the best we have experienced (at least that’s what we thought as we stared down at the layer of hailstones on the grass!). However, in spite of this we had a good day and many people turned up to support us for which we are very grateful. We are also very grateful to all those who worked so hard in such adverse conditions.

The Marks and Spencer voucher for the lucky programme was won by R. Mummery.

Sixty-two people returned entries for the London Stations Quiz and 14 of these were 100% correct. The winner picked out of a hat was Mrs Vera Taylor who received a Boots voucher.

The oldest teddy award in the Teddy Bears’ Picnic was won by Beryl Russell.

The prizes in the Grand Draw were won as follows: £100, Enid Hardy; £50 Loch Fyne voucher, A. Bates; Hamper, C. Julien; Hair Voucher, M. Oades; Wine, John Dickenson; Cosmetics, Brenda Meyer; Biscuits, Sellars; Table Cloth, Joyce Apps. Many thanks to those who sold the tickets and, of course, to those who bought them.

The grand total raised by the Summer Fair for the Parish Centre Appeal was £1469.80.

LONDON STATIONS QUIZ ANSWERS
The answers were as follows:

SPONSORED WALK
The Stephanie Marks Appeal was launched by Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Trust in June 2003 to raise awareness of diabetes and the sum of £2.5 million to provide a specialist diabetes unit for this area. Stephanie was a pupil at Sir William Perkins’ School when she died as a result of diabetes in June 2002. She was 17 years old.

On 12th September there will be a sponsored walk at the school to raise money for the project. Emma Bendall (15) and Olivia Bentley (13) both of whom are members of St Jude’s Church and pupils at Sir William Perkins’ School will be taking part in the walk and are looking for sponsors. If you would like to sponsor them, please telephone Diana Bendall on 01784 435822 or complete a form in Church.

MURDER MYSTERY EVENING
Christ Church Players and St Jude’s Players will present Father Ciaran Gets a Lodger in the Social Hall, Harvest Road on Saturday 18th September at 7.45pm.

The evening takes the form of a play presented as a “who dunnit?”. The audience competes in teams (tables of 8 to 10 people) to guess the murderer for prizes in various categories.

Tickets cost £10 which includes a fish and chips supper are available from Alan and Erica Crouse on 01784 435813. All proceeds from this will go to the Christian Aid Sudan Appeal.

PARISH CENTRE APPEAL
Total raised so far £105,686
Total expenditure so far £9,127
Total promises so far £17,688
Money available for project £114,247
Balance needed £385,753

FROM THE REGISTERS
Baptism:
(18th July) Craig Anthony George

Holy Matrimony:
Steven George Bridgeman and Emma Kate King

Funerals:
(14th July) Margaret Moore, (16th) Chloe Denise Violet Moss, (22nd) Florence Mott, (29th) Henry Orchard.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

CREAM TEAS
There will not be a regular Saturday afternoon Cream Tea in August. The next Saturday one will be on 11th September. However, please do come along and support the special event on Sunday 8th August as detailed below.

CREAM TEAS
Sunday 8th August
at St Jude’s Church
(St Jude’s Road)
3.00–5.00pm
All proceeds to the Sudan Appeal

CALENDAR FOR AUGUST 2004