Newsletter: September, 2006

Gossip

“He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’” (Mark 8:29)

Gossip makes the world go round. None of us can resist the latest rumours and scandals, as newspaper and magazine sales figures make clear. Even if we have ourselves been the victim of false rumours, we can’t quite help believing stories about other people. “No smoke without fire”, must be one of the most depressing maxims in existence, when applied to gossip. We even manage to pass on gossip with a clear conscience. We say, “I have heard… but of course I’ve no idea if it’s true or not.” We seldom expect to be confronted with the person whose reputation is under the microscope, or to be held accountable for the truth or otherwise of the story we are helping to spread.

Jesus’ ministry was attended by a great many rumours. For a lot of the time, he was followed about by large groups of people who had heard stories about him and, in those pre-newspaper days, could only join in the gossip by being there. In the Gospels, we hear the stories of those who come into direct contact with Jesus, but we hear very little about these others, this shadowy mass of people hanging round the edges of all the action. In the tremendous whirlwind of Jesus’ ministry, there isn’t really time to worry about those who are just looking for a sensation. Jesus and the disciples have their hands full with potential friends and enemies, without bothering with those who don’t really want anything in particular.

In St Mark’s Gospel Chapter 8, Jesus suddenly asks his disciples what people are saying about him. The disciples answer so quickly and with so many options that it sounds as though this was a discussion they had been longing for. After all, their own reputations were bound up with Jesus’. They are thoughtful friends. They do not pass on the unkind rumours, the doubts about Jesus’ sanity, the suggestions about his paternity and so on. They only pass on the acceptable gossip, and wait to hear what Jesus has to say.

But then Jesus goes to the heart of it. “Who do you say that I am?” And the disciples go quiet. It is so much easier to pass on gossip, taking no responsibility for it, than to stand up for their own opinions. Only Peter is prepared to risk an answer, and gets very little reward for it. Technically, Peter is right. Jesus is the Messiah. But he is just as much wrong as right, because what Peter thinks is a Messiah is not at all what Jesus is going to be. Jesus is going to free his people and lead them to victory, just like a good Messiah should, but he is going to do it through suffering, and, even then, it might not end up as the kind of triumph his disciples have in mind. Peter has been so influenced by what “everyone says” a Messiah should be that he even tries to contradict Jesus. Perhaps Jesus just hasn’t read the right books and newspapers, Peter thinks, as he tries to teach Jesus what his mission should be.

But centuries of history have shown what comes of trying to do things the way “everyone knows” they should be done. In Jesus, God has come to make plain that there is only one way to change everything, and that is the way that Jesus is walking.

Like the disciples, we would usually rather live with borrowed opinions than venture our own. We would prefer not to stand out against the crowd, and declare what we believe. We, too, would prefer our God to be strong and victorious, so that our own reputations can be vindicated along with his. How very hard it is to allow God to make his own definitions. But that is just what God does in Jesus. God shows us how he defines himself, what his nature is and how he chooses to act. We can reject God, but we cannot make him be a different kind of divinity. This is God, take it or leave it. Jesus is not swayed by what others say about him, or by what his disciples long for him to be. He knows what he must do and be, for our salvation. As his followers, we must keep our eyes fixed on him, and resist any other rumours or definitions of God.

NEWS IN BRIEF
Apologies to anyone who missed the August edition of the St Jude’s Newsletter. In fact, there wasn’t one!! However, here we are back up and running again.

Congratulations to Jane Belson, Rita Berry and Gordon Heafield who have all had hip operations in the last few weeks and who are all up and about again.

CRUSADERS
This year’s Centenary celebrations continue with a thanksgiving at St Alban’s Abbey on Saturday 9th September. Here in Englefield Green, Crusaders start up again on Monday 11th September at 6.15pm.

Some have thought that the name Crusaders is no longer appropriate. With effect from January 2007, it will change to Urban Saints. Now there’s a name to ponder! The local group does need a new treasurer — urgently. Please talk to Rita Berry (433560) if you would like to help.

THE NEW VICAR
We welcome the Revd Mark Ewbank, his wife Vanessa and their children, Rosemary and Robert. Mark takes up the post of Vicar of the parish from Monday 4th September. We hope that they settle into their new home very quickly. Mark previously worked in Chalfont St Peter and we hope he is very happy in his new position here in Englefield Green.

THE SUMMER FAIR
The Summer Fair was held around the Church on Saturday 8th July. Although the weather was fine, we did have to hold down the gazebos in the constant strong gusts of wind.

Prizes in the Plant Raffle were won by Penny Donegan, Ann Hooker, Denis, John Barnes and others who provided only telephone numbers.

The Lucky Programme Draw was won by Jamie Burson.

The prizes in the main raffle were won as follows:
J. Raine (£100), Alice c/o E. Carr (hamper), Dot Syson (whisky), E. Pike, Betty Deadman (wine), Felicity Whiting (picnic blanket), Bendall (sparkling wine), Jackie de Ville (vase), Jackie Codling (toiletries), Carol Gordon (kettle), C. Meyer (drawer liners), Jackie Codling (shopping bag), David Ward (Magna Carta Tea Room Cream Tea voucher), Jenny Flood (toiletries), Pat Spurrell (candle), Jane Windsor (books), Pat Spurrell (gift set), Bendall (toiletries), Joan (a cuddly toy), Val Ward (book).

We are very grateful to all the shops and businesses who advertised in the programme and particularly to F. Harrison & Son and Magna Carta Tea Room who gave prizes as well.

Just nine people were brave enough to submit entries for the Hidden Towns and Cities in the U.K. competition but the only person who had 100% matching answers to those of the Quizmaster was Margaret Willis who wins a small prize.

The takings from the day amounted to £1886.63 with one or two adverts money still to come in.

Many thanks to all those who helped and to all who came along on the day to buy goods from the stalls.

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:
(23rd July) Daniel Goldsmith; (20th August) Lillia Sargeant.

Funerals:
(2nd July) Oliver Edward Crowe; (5th) Dora Tyler; (13th) Phyllis Granados; (27th) Sylvia Patricia Fowles; (4th August) Joan Dunnet; (8th) Kenneth Beasley.

Memorial Service:
(22nd July) Malcolm Phillips.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

COFFEE MORNINGS
There will be a Coffee morning in the Methodist Church porch on Saturday 2nd September from 10.00am.

TABLE TOP SALE
There will be a Table Top Sale around the Church on Saturday 9th September from 2.00 to 4.00pm. Setup will be from 1.00pm. Anyone wishing to book a table should email tabletop@stjudeschurch.info

CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER 2006