Newsletter: March, 2004

Blame

“..do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you..(Luke 13: 4b-5a)

Just imagine the furore that would arise if anyone suggested that the victims of the Holocaust, or innocent children killed by a paedophile ring, had “brought it on themselves”? Yet there was once a school of thought that assumed that if something terrible happened to you, it must be some kind of ‘pay-back’ for past bad behaviour on your part, or of your family.

Jesus confronted this question directly from one questioner, putting him right. The idea that innocence should be blamed for evil is abhorrent, going against everything we understand about justice. However, in the past people had to find meanings for terrible things, which happened. Even now, people generally dislike mysteries and uncertainties unless they can dress them up in creative and beautiful stories, preferably with happy endings, which soften the anguish which uncertainty can generate.

They often create meanings, or worse, identify people upon whom blame can be laid. Such scapegoats can be people of a different colour or social class, ethnic group or religion. In ancient Israel, it was the victims of disaster themselves. As if it were not bad enough to have been made an unintentional victim in the first place and then to be blamed for your own misfortune!

Jesus tries to remove forever the notion of personal blame through sin for accidents and unavoidable disasters, such as blindness from birth. Nevertheless, he implies that if people do not work to change their lives, to accept his promises and have faith in God they might end up worse off than those whose disasters he describes. Not because God will impose punishments upon those who stray (after all, elsewhere Jesus tells us about himself as loving shepherd who goes out of his way to rescue a sheep which has strayed). But we call down upon ourselves all kinds of risks when we do not accept the best that is on offer. That is Christ himself and his relationship with God, of which we are heirs and which contains everything necessary for happiness.

What he is asking of us is a light burden and may save us from a much worse fate. There is terrible uncertainty about living without God, with no foundation that will bear our weight when we need to lean on something/someone other than ourselves in time of trial. The foundation that Jesus offers, the strength which will carry us through when tragedy strikes, is love. This does not mean the tabloid newspaper notion of love which disperses like summer mist when the first trials occur. It is the love which seeks justice, which tolerates hardship and welcomes difference, love which endures in spite of our weakness.

Jesus offers us both the opportunity to accept the love, which strengthens and enables us to grow, and also the ability to see beyond the superficial in others and to love them unconditionally as Christ loves us. It is upon this foundation that a perfect world (the Kingdom) will be built. It was love that designed the Incarnation, love that inspired Mary, love that carried Jesus through his ministry to his passion and death. It was such love, which conquered death, for him and us. Nevertheless, Jesus makes it clear that without adopting his brand of love and following in his footsteps, we place ourselves and the future of the world in greater uncertainty and at greater risk.

Jesus invites us to arm ourselves against possible disasters and to be able to cope when they occur. But even Jesus cannot make himself responsible for us and our safety if we ignore his warnings and his teaching, however much he might desire to do so. Jesus goes on giving us “another chance”. One of the secure aspects of Christianity is that every day we awake, we can turn over a new leaf and try afresh to live well.

If we are serious in our intention to become the people Christ calls us to be, then love is our yardstick and action is our proof. Love is the measure of the Christian because Jesus loved unto his very death, which is about as far as it goes. The horrendous acts of people against their neighbour are not a failure of love on the part of the victim, but in the perpetrator who has ignored Christ and his warnings. We are made for love and it is this love which will save us and our world.

Lorna Smith

NEWS IN BRIEF
We are sad to report that Mrs Agnes Shade has died peacefully in Oxford at the age of 90. Many people in the village will have fond memories of her as a teacher for some years in St Jude’s Infants School.

ST JUDE’S CHURCH CHOIR
St Jude’s Church Choir has now diminished in numbers to such an extent that it is in danger of disappearing completely. If you would like to to help prevent this from happening and would like to join, please come along to a 9.30am service and talk to the organist afterwards. Sung services include modern and older music, workplace clothing is provided and it would be great to be able to have “choir only” items again.

TEDDY BEAR CLUB
The Teddy Bear Club has grown and developed over the past 6 years just like its members. They are open to age groups from new born babies up to nursery age with toys for them all. The older children can also enjoy creative activities such as painting and model making, and they have a quite corner for them to sit back and enjoy a good book.

At Christmas they had a party on the last day of term with a children's entertainer, and they are holding a raffle with all the proceeds going to the St Jude’s Parish Centre Appeal. In the past they have had Easter bonnet days and this year hope to celebrate Easter with a Treasure Hunt.

The Club likes to think that its success is represented in its popularity. They have 23 families attending regularly and 13 families are on the waiting list.

The Teddy Bear Club is open on Tuesday Mornings from 9.15 to 11am (term time only) at the Methodist Church Hall in Victoria Street and costs £2 a session.

Raffle tickets are available from Sue, Jackie, Joyce and Pat at the church if you would like to try your luck.

PARISH CENTRE APPEAL
Total raised so far £87,881
Total expenditure so far £9,181
Total promises so far £17,688
Money available for project £96,388
Balance needed £403,612

Donations during February were:- £356

ELECTORAL ROLL REVISION
It is now time to update the current Church Electoral Roll. This list is nothing to do with the Register of Electors. If you wish to be able to vote at the Parish Annual Meeting, you need to be on the list. Please check on the copy of the Roll at the back of the Church. If your name does not appear and you would like it to, please collect a form and return it by the end of Sunday 4th April.

BAPTISM
On Holy Saturday (10th April) at 8.00pm there will be an opportunity for older children and adults to be baptised in preparation for confirmation. Please let the Vicar know if you are interested.

CONFIRMATION
The next Confirmation for this Deanery will be in Guildford Cathedral on Sunday 16th May at 3.00pm. The Vicar is now collecting names of anyone who would like to be confirmed at this time.

FROM THE REGISTERS
Funerals:
(10th February) Phoebe Smith; (12th) Sheila Hall; (18th) Hans Nissen; (20th) Harriet Butcher; (23rd) Kathleen Hunt; (26th) Mary Rose Windsor.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

COFFEE MORNINGS
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.

MOSIAC
Mosaic is a fairly new Chamber Choir which is soon to celebrate its first birthday. The choir consists of music graduates and highly experienced choral singers. Karen Faulkner was, for many years, Director of Music at Sir William Perkins's School, Chertsey, and several of the singers and the accompanist, Catherine Chew, were music students at the school.

MOSAIC aims to entertain the audience with a wide variety of styles, performing music from the Renaissance to the present day, both sacred and secular. Composers range from Tallis to the Beatles. The choral music will also be interspersed with instrumental solos performed by some of the multi-talented members of the group.

Whilst they thoroughly enjoy singing and performing, they hope that their skills can be of benefit to others and to this end they will perform in St Jude’s Church on Saturday 20th March at 7.30pm in aid of the Parish Centre.

MOSAIC will also be available for fund raising concerts for other charities and worthy causes. If you would like their help, please telephone 01483 831954.

ENGLEFIELD GREEN
METHODIST CHURCH
Centenary 1904–2004

Programme of Events

Thursday 4th March
10.30am Decorating the Church with the theme of Celebration.
7.00pm Holy Communion

Friday 5th March
2.00pm Women’s World Day of Prayer service with Mrs Pat McIntosh, preacher.
Refreshments follow.

Saturday 6th March
10.00am Coffee in the Porch.
2.30–4.00pm Centenary Capers —
Fun afternoon for children followed by a Bring and Share Tea.

Sunday 7th March
2.30pm Celebration Service with the Revd Sue Loveday, preacher.
Tea and Celebration Cake afterwards.

LENT GROUPS 2004
The following groups will be meeting during Lent—
Sundays at 8.00pm
Geoff and Jenny Chew at The Vicarage

Mondays at 2.00pm (Book 3)
Val Ward at 29 Alderside Walk

Tuesdays at 7.30pm (Book 1)
Roy and Cassandra Gouriet at 12 Larksfield

Tuesdays at 7.30pm (Catholic Basics)
Fr David Maskell at the Jurgens Centre

Wednesdays at 11.00am (Book 2)
The Revd Lorna Smith
at St Jude’s Church

Wednesdays at 7.30pm (Book 1)
Ann and John Pym
at 6 Spencer Gardens

Wednesdays at 8.00pm (Why Course)
Rita Berry at 16 Laurel Avenue

The Books
Face to Face Cost — Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
Knowing and Growing — David Adam
Using the Jesus Prayer — Chichester Diocese.

FURTHER AFIELD All singers are invited to join in singing Maunder’s Olivet to Calvary in Guildford Cathedral on 22nd March at 6.30pm. More information from 01737 844656.

On 27th March in St Peter’s Shared Church, Chertsey, there will be Messiah from Scratch. More information from Rosemary Richards (01784 442100).

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES
Sunday 24th March at 4pm, Stations of the Cross at The Church of the Assumption.

Tuesday 6th April at 7.00pm Seder Meal at the Jurgens Centre.

Sunday 27th June at 6.30pm Songs of Praise at St Jude's.

Sunday 26th September at 4.00pm Harvest Service followed by tea at St Jude's.

Quiz Evening Saturday 1st May 7.30pm

Auction of Promises Saturday 26th June 7.30pm.

CALENDAR FOR MARCH 2004