Newsletter: July, 2004

Celebrity Lives ...

..Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? (Matthew 20:22)

Celebrities can make money from books in which they reveal secrets of their own lives and the lives of others. If the secrets revealed are those of politicians or members of the royal family then the book is likely to bring in very substantial sums indeed.

What would have happened if our technology and information systems had been around two thousand years ago? Would James, one of the “inner circle” of Jesus’ followers, have been approached by a publisher to record memories of life with Jesus? Would a newspaper have paid for the exclusive rights to serialise the book? Who would have made attempts to stop publication through fear of what it might reveal?

Perhaps James would have jumped at the chance to have his stories about Jesus published throughout the world and to use the money for charitable work. We’ll never know, of course, but what we can perhaps guess from the Gospel writing we do have, is that the central character on every page in the book would have been Jesus, not the author. All the other people and events would have been described in terms of their relationship with Jesus and what he said and did.

Perhaps this would have been one chapter of James’ book: “How could we ask Jesus to give us special places in his Kingdom? He’d already spoken often enough about the first being last and the last being first. He’d shown us that the people who aren’t respected in our society matter to God. He treated children, women, lepers and gentiles as equals and he was always reaching out to people even when he was exhausted.

I think John and I were still captured by the vision we saw on the mountain top when Jesus talked with Moses and Elijah. We glimpsed God’s glory in a way we never had before and Jesus was at the centre of it. We were the only ones there except for Peter and I suppose it gave us the idea that we were special to Jesus. Jesus soon put us right, though. He asked if we were prepared to experience what he would have to experience and when we said we were he told us that even so he could not guarantee us any place in his Kingdom — that was for God his Father to decide.

I don’t know if at that time I could have said I’d be prepared to suffer as Jesus did if I’d known what that meant: his terrible sadness at that last meal we had together; his anguish, almost despair, in Gethsemane and the pain of harrowing torture and death. I still fear that I may have to face death as he did. The lesson he gave us that day wasn’t new but it was the lesson we all found the hardest to learn. Jesus is raised from the dead. He is the Christ yet whenever I picture him, he’s with people, healing, teaching, encouraging, always giving of himself, never demanding. If God’s Messiah lived like that what can I do but follow his example? It’s not easy, though, never easy — life in the Kingdom of God is a free gift but it costs everything.”

James and the others have to be taught over and over again the lesson of humility, of putting others first and not wanting to be the centre of attention or rewarded with honour and glory. It’s a lesson that we, too, need to be taught again whenever we’re tempted to do things in the hope of gaining thanks, rewards or power over other people. It’s a lesson we all need to learn if we are to offer service to others in the humility and love of Christ.

There is a world of pain and suffering, oppression and injustice around us and we are called to serve the victims, the outcasts, the persecuted and the rejected not so that we’ll gain favour with God but simply because that is what Jesus would do and it is what God is doing through those who offer themselves for service in love and obedience. God calls us to be different in a world that values power, riches and fame— are we able to respond to that calling even if it means drinking the cup that Jesus drank?

Lorna C. Smith

NEWS IN BRIEF
There will not be a Cream Tea at St Jude’s Church in July as we are hoping that everyone will come along to the Summer Fair.

The Diocese of Kebbi in Nigeria is now linked to our Runnymede Deanery. During his recent visit to England, the Rt Revd Edmund Akanya, bishop of Kebbi, came to Englefield Green and took part in an assembly at St Jude’s School. The children and staff had an opportunity to ask questions about his diocese and people in Africa.

We have received an enquiry which some one out there may be able to answer:— “Having noticed many graves in St Jude’s cemetery belonging to members of the Canadian Forestry Corps, I wonder what was the Corps association with Englefield Green?”

If anyone can answer this please let us know and we will pass it on.

CONGRATULATIONS
Firstly we congratulate Mrs Vera Long who celebrated her 80th birthday last month.

Congratulations also to Paul and Karen Cooper on the birth of their second child, a little boy, a brother for Jordan and a grandchild for Brenda and Colin Meyer.

COFFEE MORNING
Margaret Taylor’s Coffee Morning recently raised £101.40 for Calibre (a charity for blind and partially-sighted people). Many thanks to those who supported this.

NEW COLLEGE CHAPLAIN
It has been announced that the new Anglican chaplain at Royal Holloway will be the Revd Dr Tim Rose who will take up his new post in September.

TODDLERS’ PROPERTY LAWS
1. If I like it, it's mine.
2. If it's in my hand, it's mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
5. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
6. If I'm doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it looks like mine, it is mine.
8. If I saw it first, it's mine.
9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.
10 If it's broken, it's yours.

Does this ring any bells?

Perhaps some one would like to write a similar list for teenagers?

PARISH CENTRE APPEAL
Total raised so far £104,035
Total expenditure so far £9,227
Total promises so far £17,688
Money available for project £112,496
Balance needed £387,504

June’s receipts included donations of £5540.52, and money raised from the following events: European Tour Caddies £1160, Royal Holloway Garden Party stall £170, Village Fair stall £336, Cream Teas at Church £88. We are very grateful to all who helped and especially for the kind donation from the European Tour Caddies.

FROM THE REGISTERS
Funerals:
(8th June) Joan Bold; (18th) William Hall; (22nd) Jeffery William Baldwin.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

SUMMER FAIR - 10th JULY
We will be pleased to welcome you at St Jude’s Church’s Summer Fair which will take place in the grounds of St Jude’s School in Bagshot Road on Saturday 10th July from 12.30pm to 4.30pm. We are very grateful to the Head Teacher for allowing us this privilege once more.

Lunches will be served from 12.30pm and other refreshments will be available all afternoon. There will be all the usual stalls including a Grand Draw, a tombola books, CDs and tapes, Cooks’ Corner, hand crafted greetings cards and sideshows including a human fruit machine, hoopla and children’s games.

A country dancing display will be given by children from St Jude’s School at 2.00pm and then the Teddy Bears’ Picnic will start at 3.00pm. The Grand Draw will be at 4.15pm and the Fair will end at about 4.30pm.

The Teddy Bears’ Picnic is open to all Teddies of any age and prizes will be given for the following categories: biggest, smallest, best dressed, scruffiest, oldest and most amusing. Judging will take place after the Parade which will be followed by Tea consisting of “hunny” sandwiches, biscuits, tiny cakes and chocolate bars with cartons of drink.

Please do your best to come along and support this major social event in St Jude’s Church’s calendar which will be raising money for the Parish Centre Appeal.

LONDON STATIONS QUIZ
With this newsletter you will have received a quiz entry form for the London Stations Quiz. Entry costs just £1, you will find it fun to do and you may win the Boots voucher prize. Entries may be sent to Joan Wintour, Greenacre, St Jude's Road, Englefield Green Egham, Surrey TW20 0BY or may be submitted at the Summer Fair before 3.30pm on 10th July at St Jude’s School. Readers of this on the internet will have missed the opportunity to enter the quiz. However, if you are interested, please email brian.hooker@stjudes.info and I will send you a copy.

CALENDAR FOR JULY 2004