Newsletter: October, 2006

Rich and Poor

How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!
(Mark 10:23)

When a rich man approached Jesus to ask how he could attain eternal life, Jesus told him to keep the commandments. Interestingly, Jesus only mentioned those commandments which had something to do with social justice — you shall not murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honour your father and mother — and omitted entirely the four commandments which mentioned God.

The man replied that he had always assiduously kept these commandments. But it was clear that he had not experienced eternal life through keeping them. We’re then told that Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” The man was shocked by this response and went away grieving, because he had many possessions. The passers-by and the disciples were shocked too, because the prevailing wisdom of the day recognised that those who were rich were especially blessed by God, and those who were poor were sinners. Jesus was asking the man to deny his God-given wealth and become like those who were considered to be under God’s punishment. How could being under God’s punishment produce treasure in heaven?

“How can anyone enter God’s kingdom, then?” asked the perplexed disciples. “If the rich who are blessed by God can’t enter and obviously those who are punished by God can’t enter, then who is left?”

Jesus replied with those comforting and encouraging words, “For God all things are possible.” Wealth is a gift from God which helps to produce good living standards, good medical care, good global communications and is vital to make poverty history. But as a number of lottery winners have discovered, wealth should carry its own health warning.

Among problems experienced by lottery winners are additional strains to relationships; the end of privacy; the emergence or increase of security problems and even threats to physical safety. But perhaps the greatest problem with wealth is that it keeps us secure. We tend to rely so heavily on our wealth that we no longer need to rely on God.

When Jesus sent the seventy-two disciples out on a mission (Luke 10:1-17), he did not allow them to take with them anything which would enable them to feel secure. He refused to allow them to take money, a bag for possessions, or spare sandals. They had to exist without any fallback position, so that they learned to rely utterly upon God.

Those of us who live in the West all have possessions which help to cushion us. Most of us are relatively secure. We can survive without thinking about God. But as our society relies more and more upon its riches, so it gradually forgets how to connect with God and loses any understanding of treasure in heaven. If we notice that happening, we should beware, for we may soon find ourselves in the position of the rich man who went away grieving because his very soul was invested more in possessions and property than in God.

Thoughts

It was back in August that I saw huge fields of wheat being harvested down in Wiltshire. Here in Englefield Green the signs of autumn came later and in a different form. There are walnuts all over the pavement just down the road from the vicarage and in Windsor Great Park, the conkers are just ripening on the trees. The air is just beginning to cool. These reminders of the season have several messages for us. They tell us that time is passing and another summer that cannot be brought back is gone. From that we should learn to use the time we have wisely. The fruits of the harvest remind us also that our daily needs are met from the earth and we have had another year of plenty since the last autumn. We should remember to give thanks to God for that and also ask that we will be cared for by Him in the year to come. The time of harvest also reminds of Christ’s words, that we are called as believers to harvest people into God’s kingdoms. We can see those very people, busy about the village every day – particularly now that the college has reopened.

Every one of those people is precious in God’s eyes, because they are all made in God’s image, even if we cannot always see it! The season of the harvest reminds us that we are called to spread the Word, whatever we do in our daily life, and to welcome people into God’s family.

Mark Ewbank

NEWS IN BRIEF
Good News! The Church clock is nearly working properly again! It has been cleaned but the chime winding gear needs further attention.

FROM THE NEW VICAR
I was born in the early hours of the morning on a balmy autumnal night in Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, two years after my parents went out there to be missionaries through USPG. I missed St Mark’s Day by minutes, but got the name anyway – well, I was supposed to be Helen. I grew up on Cyrene Mission, twenty miles south of Bulawayo, going away to both junior and senior boarding school. I left school towards the end of the war that turned Rhodesia into Zimbabwe (during which time my parents risked their lives keeping the school open), and so spent 18 months national service on active service as an infantry medic.

From there I went to Queen’s, Oxford, like my father and grandfather, and studied PPP (specialising in Psychology and Philosophy). After that I worked for two years with the Abbey National and it was during this time that I met Vanessa.

Having been sponsored by the Bishop of Matabeleland, I then went to Westcott House, Cambridge, for theological training. At the end of my first year, Vanessa and I were married in the college chapel.

At the end of three years we went back to Bulawayo and I subsequently worked in three different parishes, including 8 years in a township parish, as well as a short period as a troubleshooter in a parish that wanted to declare UDI from the diocese, stop paying its parish share, and elect its own priest.

During this time, I was also on Diocesan Synod and the Diocesan Training Team, as well as being Diocesan Youth Organiser (a job I did single-handed). Because of a shortage of suitable housing, we were given permission by the bishop to buy a smallholding of our own and it was this that involved us in the turbulence of the farm invasions in 2000.

Having young children, we had to protect them, left the farm and began preparing to leave the country. (At the time, a lot of people thought we were over-reacting to a few local disturbances).

In April 2000, I came over to the UK and set a record by finding a post in 10 days before heading back to help with the packing. And so we arrived in Chalfont St Peter in July 2000 and I spent 6 busy years there, as Senior Curate, including a spell running the parish during an interregnum.

Being an assistant priest gave me the opportunity to do some more study and so I completed a Master of Theology in Pastoral Studies at Heythrop College, University of London (It is the college stickpin that I have in the side of my cap.) So altogether I have now been 19 years in the ministry. And still counting.
Mark Ewbank

ROBERT PITT
Robert Pitt has been our organist and choimaster for over five years but now he has a two year contract in Greece. If anyone wishes to contribute towards a present form him, they should send their donation to Brian Hooker, 11 Willson Road, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey TW20 0QB. Cheques should be made payable to St Jude’s PCC.

UNICEF CARDS AND GIFTS
Joan Wintour will be selling UNICEF cards and gifts after the 9.30am service on 22nd October and 19th November. 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.

WINDSOR HALF MARATHON
Liz and Cath Chew completed the half marathon in 2 hours 20 minutes — they actually ended up finishing within 28 seconds of each other. You can see their results at www.runwindsor.com/results 2006.php?query=C (look at the chip time rather than the gun time, as it took a few minutes to get to the start line).

They ran this to raise money for the Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals Fund to say thank you for the incredible care that Geoff Chew (their father and one of our Churchwardens) received.

They are very grateful to everyone who has donated towards the cause - you've already raised over 150% of our original target (hurrah!) and money is still coming in, which is fantastic. And if you haven't yet got round to donating, please still do so! Their fundraising site is at www.charitiestrust.org/fundraising/sponsorme/lizandcath. It would be amazing to double their original £1000 target and the Hospitals Fund will be able to use every penny you can spare.

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:
(27th August) Amelie Lewis.

Funerals:
(4th September) John Bowyer; (15th) Patrick Cooper; (20th) Ann Watson.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

COFFEE MORNINGS
There will be a Coffee morning in the Methodist Church porch on Saturday 7th October from 10.00am.

COFFEE MORNING
There will be a Coffee Morning outside St Jude's Church on Saturday 14th October from 10.00am to 12 noon. Please come along and suport us. Offers of cakes, jams, preserves etc would be most welcome.

CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER 2006