Newsletter: October, 2005

The Great Feast

“Again he sent other slaves, saying...’ Everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’” (Matthew 22:4)

When Pippa was small, she loved Aunt Jane and her cats, especially as Aunt Jane had no children of her own and made a great fuss of Pippa. But as Pippa grew up, she drifted away from Aunt Jane, apart from Christmas cards and the occasional flying visit on a Sunday afternoon. Aunt Jane was loath to let the association with her only niece slip, so she fell into the habit of ringing Pippa most weeks.

By the time Pippa was married and had children of her own, the weekly phone calls from Jane Aunt had become a real nuisance. Now that Aunt Jane was old, the phone calls were long and rambling, and Pippa was so busy, what with the children and home and work. Although she still loved the old dear, in her hectic life Pippa really did not have time for Aunt Jane’s reminiscences.

When Aunt Jane died, she left her money to the local Cats’ Home. Pippa was stunned, mortified and furious. “After all I did for her,” she complained to her husband. “When I think of those phone calls I endured week after week for years, and this is how she repays me! I wish I hadn’t bothered!”

It seems that although she did not realise it herself, Pippa’s love for Aunt Jane had waned over the years. Pippa still loved her aunt, but her love was somewhat pale. It extended to putting up with the minimum that duty required but it did not extend to giving of herself, especially when her aunt’s demands upon her increased. Consequently Pippa failed to experience the love her aunt offered her, and failed to gain the final reward.

Perhaps Jesus was expressing concern over a similar attitude when he told the story of the king who planned a great wedding banquet and invited all the guests. Presumably the guests were happy enough originally, for we are not told that any of them refused the invitation. But later, when the banquet was prepared and the servants were sent to collect the guests, they no longer wished to attend. Some guests were now too busy to spare the time. Some were so angry at being reminded of their original acceptance that they actually killed the messengers.

Because the original guests had proved unworthy of the banquet, the king insists that others enjoy the feast and so the servants go out into the streets and bring in anyone they can find, both good and bad, adds Matthew. Since both good and bad were brought in from the streets, it seems a little strange that Matthew should then add an extra parable that is only found in his Gospel. When the king comes to greet the guests he spots a man without proper wedding robes. When the king asks the man why he has no robes, the man does not know what to say. The king, in what seems to be a harsh judgement, has him bound and thrown out.

In this last little parable Matthew is presenting the kingdom of heaven in its two aspects of both here and now, and in the future. The joys and wonders of the kingdom can be experienced in this life and anyone can experience them. But when it comes to the final judgement, perhaps only those who have grown towards God in this life by learning to love unconditionally, will find themselves ready for the final delights that the kingdom has to offer. Like Pippa, many of the Jews of Jesus’ day did their duty. Some of them were unflagging in their zeal for duty, but their hearts were untouched by love. These were the original guests who spurned the invitation. But Matthew was writing for the early Christian Church and so the parable also sounds a warning for the Church. Some of those who had joined the Church were failing to grow in love. They were not wearing wedding garments and so their entry into the kingdom in the final analysis was in doubt.

We are all welcome to God’s amazing, brilliant, fantastic banquet, which is far superior to anything we can ever imagine. We can begin to experience it right now and the church community should help us to experience the kingdom. But church in itself cannot guarantee us a place in the kingdom after we die. For that, we need to follow Jesus in heart as well as mind and to learn to love unconditionally, just as Jesus loves us.

Lorna Smith

NEWS IN BRIEF
Rita Berry reports that she has just read The Lost Art of Forgiving by Johann Arnold. It is subtitled ‘Stories of healing from the cancer of bitterness’ and, being a book of stories, is very readable. Nelson Mandela said it is ‘A much needed message’.

The theme for the next meeting of the Deanery Synod will be Development — 'Make Poverty History? Free v Fair Trade, Debt and Bra Wars'. This is on Saturday 15th October at Christchurch, Virginia Water, from 9.30am to 12.30pm. All welcome.

VICAR’S RETIREMENT
You will remember from the July Newsletter that we announced that Lorna, our Vicar, is due to retire on health grounds at the end of October. Her last service at St Jude’s will be the 9.30am on Sunday 30th October and there will be a Retirement Tea during the afternoon of the day before.

To show our gratitude for Lorna’s ministry here, we will be making a presentation to her just before she leaves. If you would like to be associated with this present, please send your contribution to Brian Hooker, Churchwarden, 11 Willson Road, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey TW20 0QB. Cheques should be made payable to St Jude’s PCC. It would be good to be able to give Lorna a worthwhile gift from St Jude’s as a reminder of her time with us, so all donations will be very welcome. Please try to send your contribution by 28th October.

THE CHURCH CLOCK
Many of you will have noticed that the Church clock only chimes intermittently these days and while I am sure that a few may be pleased, many have said that they miss it. The problem is that the clock has not been overhauled since the mid 1960s and is now in need of some serious attention. We have been quoted in the region of £1400 plus VAT to undertake this work. If anyone feels so strongly that this is worthwhile project that they would like to contribute, please get in touch with Brian Hooker, Churchwarden, 11 Willson Road, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey TW20 0QB. Any contribution would be very gratefully received.

CHARITY CHRISTMAS CARDS
It’s that time of year again! There will be Cards for Good Causes at the Multi Charity Christmas Card Shop at Cordes Hall, High Street, Sunninghill from 27th October to 17th December — opening hours as follows: Monday–Friday 10.00am–4.00pm and Saturday 10.00am –1.00pm. You may shop on-line at www.cardsforcharity.co.uk. All charities receive at least 81p in every £1 from their card sales, out of which they have to pay for the production and distribution of their cards and any applicable VAT.

SATURDAY AFTERNOONS
As you may know, we keep St Jude’s Church open for visitors each Saturday afternoon between 1.00 and 4.00pm. To do this safely and adequately requires at least 3 people at all times. To keep this running, we must have a rota of people who would take a turn — obviously the more offers we have, the less often each one would have to do. If you can help with this, say, once every two months, please contact either the Vicar on 432553 or the Churchwardens (telephone numbers are shown above) or by email to saturdays@stjudeschurch.info. Your help would be appreciated.

FROM PRISON TO PEACE
Former Cabinet Minister, Jonathan Aitken, is coming to Egham Church on Sunday 2nd October at 7.30pm to share his story of Prison to Peace. Jonathan was a high profile Cabinet Minister in John Major's government before his infamous collapsed libel trial with the Guardian newspaper and then his conviction for perjury and perverting the course of justice. He was made bankrupt and his wife divorced him. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Jonathan became a Christian and he is coming to Egham to share his story of how he came to faith and how his life has changed. Everyone is welcome, the event is free and doors open at 7.00pm.

VOICE TRAINING
There will be a Voice Coaching Class at Staines Methodist Church on Saturday 15th October from 10.30am to 4.00pm. This is for preachers, worship leaders or anyone who speaks in public (church or elsewhere) and will be led by professional actor, John Talbot. It is free — please contact Paul Murphy on 01784 435204 to enrol.

CHRISTMAS MARKET
This will be in St Jude’s School on Saturday 19th November from 2.00 to 4.00pm and will as usual be in aid of USPG. Please make a note in your diary, now and help us support this worthwhile charity.

FROM THE REGISTERS
Holy Baptism:
(28th August) Grace Elizabeth Harvie; (4th September) Mariella Louise Mattingly; Hugo Jackson Storm Folkemer; (11th) Edward Jolyon Mullins; (18th) Genevieve Cecily Bo Beeson.

Holy Matrimony:
(2nd September) Terence Francis George and Susan Angela Olding; (3rd) Robert Edward Jeffries and Brigitte Hass.

Funerals:
(1st September) Harold John Williams; (14th) Catherine Irene Roberts.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

COFFEE MORNING
There will be a Coffee Morning in the Porch of the Methodist Church in Victoria Street on Saturday 1st October from 10.00am to 12 noon.

CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER 2005