Newsletter: December, 2006

Wilderness

“…the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.” (Luke 3:2)

Airport terminals are strange places. They have a mixed-up atmosphere that seems to come from the excitement of holidays, the weariness of the business trip, the anticipation of returning home, and the boredom of prolonged waiting at unearthly hours of the day or night. They have the clinical feel of a waiting room — except you have to buy your own magazines. Even the shops selling enticing things such as watches, souvenirs and huge bottles of whisky can’t distract you for long from the fact that there is nothing to do except shop. And then there are those endless loudspeaker announcements trying to find people who have got lost somewhere between check-in and take-off. In an airport, you are in a kind of geographical limbo — it’s as if you belong neither to the country you are leaving, nor the country you are going to. For however long you have to wait, you are neither here nor there, and there is little to do except listen eagerly for your gate to be called.

The Bible has its own geographical limbo: the wilderness. Much more than a place of dust and rocks, the wilderness has a special spiritual significance in the relationship between God and his people. It is in the wilderness that God calls Moses from the burning bush to lead his people out of Egypt, and it is in the wilderness that the Israelites wander for forty years while they learn what it means to be the people of God. After his baptism, Jesus is led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, and filled with the power of the Spirit.

So when we read that the word of the Lord came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness, we know that something of real importance is about to happen. John has spent the best part of his life in this geographical and spiritual limbo; just a chapter earlier we read that he was in the wilderness from his childhood until the day he appeared publicly to Israel. Even allowing for the fact that we don’t know how old John was, we can make a good guess that that’s a long time to be hanging about in a desert. It was a measure of the importance of John’s future work that he required the kind of spiritual preparation that only the wilderness can give. And when the word does come to John, it sets off something that will change the world.

John’s call is the drum roll that announces that salvation is near, that something really new and really good is about to happen. It is a turning point in time, which is perhaps why Luke takes such care to locate this event in history, by giving us the names of the rulers of the day. John hears his call and sets off into public life to call people to repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and to baptise them as a mark of their decision to lead a new life. And so he becomes John the Baptist, preparing the way for the Lord.

We all know what it’s like to be in limbo: to feel that we are neither here nor there. Generally speaking, we are creatures who love to have a purpose, and we get restless and unhappy when we lack one. It may be that this “wilderness” is a stagnant time in our lives: a dead-end job or relationship. Some people talk of retirement as a time when they feel lost and useless after many years of work. Some parents talk of feeling strangely empty when their children leave home, and for some children the school years have a kind of aching boredom that can only be described as a wilderness.

Our experiences are all different, but the thing to note is this: that just like the airport, the wilderness is a place where things are about to happen, a place of preparation. It may be a long wait; it may seem painfully boring, it may seem pointless, but the wilderness is where the seeds of change are sown and nurtured. It may not be an easy time (although for some it may be too easy, and that is the problem with it) but it is a time to embrace. It is a time for waiting and listening carefully for the voice of God. And when it comes, who knows where God might lead us?

NEWS IN BRIEF
Many thanks to all those who came along to the meeting about the Parish Centre on Sunday 5th November.

It was good to welcome the Royal British Legion members to St Jude’s again on Remembrance Sunday and we are pleased to pass on £119.25 being the collection at the service for the “Poppy Appeal”.

We were also pleased to hold the Service of Remembrance on behalf of F. Harrison and Son for the bereaved over the last year. This service raised about three hundred pounds which has been sent to the Shooting Star Christmas Hospice.

ALPHA COURSE
St Jude’s is embarking on its first Alpha course, starting with an introductory session in December, and then running the main course from January.

For people with an interest but no knowledge or contact with the Christian faith this is an opportunity to find out more amongst like minded people. Each session starts with a DVD presentation to get things going then it is based on discussion groups, so everyone gets a say, and it explores fundamental issues of the faith with questions covering a wide range of topics, including God and Jesus of Nazareth.

This course has a very good record of ‘meeting people where they are’. That is, addressing matters of faith in modern terms, away from traditional buildings, forms of worship and structures, which makes it a very safe environment to ask those questions that nag away but people do not have the courage to ask in church.

For anyone thinking of being confirmed next year, this is the ideal opportunity to learn more about the faith as preparation for the confirmation of baptismal vows and the start of receiving communion. And I would commend it to anyone who is asking important questions about themselves and the world they live in. Mark Ewbank

CHRISTMAS MARKET
A good time was had by all at the Church’s Christmas Market which was held in St Jude’s School on Saturday 18th November. We are very grateful to Mrs Poulter, Head Teacher for allowing us to use the premises. The market raised £718.15 for the Tuele Hospital project of USPG, a charity we have been supporting with our Christmas Market for many years.

Many thanks to everyone who helped and to those who came along and supported the many stalls. It was well supported and we are all very pleased.

THE CHURCH CLOCK
“What is happening?” you might be asking. Following the overhaul and service carried out a couple of months ago, the clock still does not chime regularly. It was started manually for 11.00am on Remembrance Sunday and then managed to continue chiming for just a week. The reason for the problem is that the autowind mechanism has reached the end of its useful life. It is just worn out. So we now have to make the decision whether to replace this but of course, this will mean going through all the paperwork for approval from the Diocesan Advisory Committee and then applying for a Faculty.

UNICEF CARDS AND GIFTS
Joan Wintour will be selling UNICEF cards and gifts after the 9.30am service on 3rd December. If, however, you would like to have a catalogue or buy cards at another time, please ring her on 01784 437796.

CARE IN EGHAM AND DISTRICT
They need your help!

CARE is a local charity which provides a "good neighbour" service for those who are elderly, sick or disadvantaged in any way. They help with essential transport, shopping and some gardening. If you drive, enjoy meeting people and would like more information please telephone 01784 435202.

SATURDAY AFTERNOONS
As you may know, we keep St Jude’s Church open for visitors each Saturday afternoon between 2.00 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 the Churchwardens (telephone numbers are shown above) or by email to saturdays@stjudeschurch.info. Your help would be appreciated.

FROM THE REGISTERS
Holy Baptism:
(29th October) Shelly Molly Swannack, Mollie Elizabeth Morris, Oliver David Deuchar; (19th November) Leah Alderson, Lewis Wartery.

Funeral:
Christian Beeson.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

CAROL SINGING
This year's Carol Singing will take place on Thursday 21st December. Meet at the Church at 7.00pm. All money collected will go to the Children's Society.

COFFEE MORNING
There will be a Coffee Morning in the Methodist Church porch in Victoria Street on Saturday 2nd December from 10.00am. All are welcome.

COFFEE MORNING
There will also be a Coffee Morning at St Jude’s Church on Saturday 9th December from 10.00am but this one will have a Christmas theme. We hope to have spicy biscuits on sale and there will be a raffle for a Christmas Cake. Mulled wine will be served as well as coffee and there may even be some Christmas goodies on sale as well as jam, preserves, cakes etc. Offers of cakes, preserves etc will be greatly appreciated.

Do come along to join us for a chat.

CALENDAR FOR DECEMBER 2006