Newsletter: January, 2004

AMAZING GRACE

But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. (Matthew 19:30)

Amazing Grace is one of the most popular and best-loved hymns. The tune to which it is usually sung is traditional. The words date back some two hundred years. They were written by the Revd John Newton (1725-1807) during the time he served in the parish of Olney in Buckinghamshire. However, this was in later life. As a younger man, he had made his money in the slave trade as captain of one of the ships used as transports. By his own confession, he had spent his money as “an infidel and libertine”. Then came a remarkable conversion. He dedicated his life to God, and entered the ordained ministry. Amazing Grace, therefore, describes something of Newton’s spiritual journey, and may even reflect St Paul’s conversion long before: I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind but now I see.

In similar vein, Paul was looking back on his former way of life as he wrote his letter to Christians in the Roman province of Galatia: “You have heard, no doubt, of my former life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the Church of God and was trying to destroy it.” His message was the same as Newton’s, so much later in time: Amazing grace.. that saved a wretch like me.

Paul, in fact, uses the word of himself as he writes to the church at Rome. Both he and Newton are heavily weighed down with self-recrimination for their previous way of life, and they seem never to be entirely free from their memories of former years. However, not all of us carry this burden of guilt as we seek to serve God. Therefore, if we do not consider ourselves to be “a wretch”, like John Newton and perhaps Paul himself, what kind of people are we? How would we describe ourselves?

In essence, we are probably not very different from the people Paul was dealing with as his Christian converts, and to whom he wrote his letters. For example, he writes to the church at Corinth: “Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.” Also, they had allowed themselves to be divided into factions so that there were quarrels among them (1 Cor 1:11, 26). In other words, the people that Paul was dealing with, and the issues he had to tackle, bore distinct similarities to those which are to be found in any average parish church today. Nevertheless, he can say to them, “Consider your call, brothers and sisters” (1 Cor 1:26). In addition, he seems quite confident in using this phrase. The words seem to bear the mark of positive encouragement, rather than that of a desperate rallying-cry, when all else has failed.

In similar vein, Paul writes, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise: God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor 1:28). These words reflect again Paul’s experience of conversion. He set out from Jerusalem powerful, not to say arrogant, confident of being able to use his knowledge of the Jewish Law to confront and persecute Christians wherever he found them. Now, looking back, he is content to recognise his own limitations, and to realise that the only source of power and wisdom, as well as of love and forgiveness and acceptance, is God himself.

It was Peter who said, in typical fashion, “Lord, we have left everything to follow you”, adding, no doubt with an eye to the future, “What then will we have?” The answer was not perhaps what he expected. Jesus promised no tangible reward in this life, but “eternal life... a hundred-fold … at the renewal of things”. The key was then, as it still is now, self-giving and personal commitment, as we saw in the life of John Newton, and as we celebrate today in the life of St Paul. Most of us will not have such a vivid experience of conversion as they did, yet, ordinary and undistinguished as we are; God calls us because he needs us. He has a purpose for us to fulfil. We give ourselves as we enter his service. So the “first will be last, and the last first”.

Lorna Smith

NEW YEAR
And I said to the one who stood at the gate of the year “Give me a light that I may walk safely into the unknown.” And the reply came back: “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That will be better for you than a light and safer than a known way.”

ST JUDE’S AT CHRISTMAS
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. The shared Churches on the Green Carol Service was well attended and many children took part in the Crib Service on Christmas Eve and the Church was full for Midnight Mass.

NEWS IN BRIEF
Fifteen people turned up for Carol Singing on 22nd December and raised £90 for the Shooting Star Trust which is building a hospice for children in the Hampton area. This, together with the cash collected at various Christmas Services including the Shared Carol Service, means that we have sent a total of £1255.92. Many thanks to those who sang round the houses and to those to gave so generously.

The Arsenal team signed football was won by Will Wilford (aged 12). We are very grateful to all those who supported this venture which resulted in the sum of £965 being raised for the Parish Centre Appeal.

ST JUDE’S SCHOOL
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.

PARISH CENTRE APPEAL
Total raised so far £87,394
Total expenditure so far £9,181
Total promises so far £17,688
Money available for project £95,901
Balance needed £404,099

Raised last month
Coffee Morning £186
Arsenal signed football £965
Donations £306

FROM THE REGISTERS
Holy Baptism:
(7th December) Oscar Martin Calvey

Funerals:
(10th December) Lilian Rose Osborn; (16th) Audrey Horsburgh, Edwin Swindin; (17th) Beatrice Berrett; (22nd) Doris Warburton; (24th) Charles Chandler.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

COFFEE MORNING
Coffee Mornings now take a break for a while. We would normally start again in April but as the second Saturday in April is Holy Saturday with Easter Day next day, we have decided to start them again in May. The next one will be on Saturday 8th May from 10.00am.

RELIEF WORK IN IRAN
Following the devastating earthquake in Iran, many organisations are working to raise money for the relief of those made homeless.

We at St Jude’s Church will hold a fund- raising Afternoon Tea and Cream Teas in Church on Saturday 17th January from 2.30pm to 4.00pm. There will be tea, sandwiches, cakes etc as well as cream teas and a bring and buy stall. Please help us raise money for this relief work in Iran by making cakes, scones etc, providing items to sell on the stall and helping on the day. Offers of help to the Vicar, please (01784 432553).

DIOCESE OF GUILDFORD
As we look ahead to the appointment of the next Bishop of Guildford, all in the Diocese are invited to join in “Prayer for a See of Change”. This will take place on Wednesdays (9.30am–10.00am) in the Lady Chapel at the Cathedral from 7th January – 30th June 2004 (not 7th April). It will also be at 8.00pm on Wednesdays 28th January, 10th March and 21st April.

Anyone leading this is invited to use a set form of readings, details of which are posted in Church. All in the Diocese are invited to pray at these times.

MARRIAGE PREPARATION
The Marriage Preparation Evening on Sunday 18th January at 7.30 at the Vicarage is not only for those who have already booked weddings to take place during 2004 but also for anyone who is considering marriage during the year but has not yet contacted the Vicar.

CALENDAR FOR JANUARY 2004
1 Thursday 9.15am Holy Communion (Naming of Jesus)
4 SECOND SUNDAY of CHRISTMAS 8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) 9.30am Family Eucharist
6 Tuesday (The Epiphany) 9.15am Holy Communion
7 Wednesday 8.00pm Churches Together in Egham at St John the Baptist, Egham
9 Friday Symonds Stage School Enrolment Night in Church Hall 6.30–9.00pm
11 THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST Holy Baptism at 9.30am Sung Eucharist 3.00pm Holy Baptism, 6.30pm Evensong and Sermon
17 Saturday Afternoon Tea in St Jude’s Church for Iran Relief 2.30–4.00pm
18 SECOND SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY 11.30pm Holy Baptism 7.30pm Marriage Preparation Evening at the Vicarage
20 Tuesday 7.45 for 8.00pm Churches on the Green Committee Meeting at the Vicarage
21 Wednesday 8.00pm PCC Meeting at the Vicarage
25 THIRD SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY (Conversion of St Paul) 6.00pm Ecumenical Service at Royal Holloway College attended by the Churches on the Green for the end of Week of Prayer for Christian Unity