Newsletter August 2007

Choosing the better part
“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?” (Luke 10:40)
There was much rejoicing among 50-somethings when the BBC television series Dr Who was revived, amid many memories of hiding behind the sofa when the Daleks appeared, and covering one’s ears during the scary music. The special effects in the new series were as good as ever, but the best thing was the relationship between the Doctor and his assistant, Rose, a thoroughly twenty-first-century girl with plenty of courage and ideas of her own. In one episode something peculiar is happening in London, and while the Doctor has some pretty wild ideas about how to find out what it is, Rose is more practical. “Why don’t we just ring a doorbell and ask someone?” she enquires. “That’s what I like about you,” says the Doctor, “the domestic approach.”

In St Luke’s Gospel Chapter 11, Martha exemplifies the domestic approach. Her sister Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet, drinking in his words, enjoying the moment. But someone needs to get the supper ready, give instructions to the servants, make sure there’s enough to drink, check that the house is clean enough. Martha takes responsibility for all this, and we can imagine her clattering around as she gets more and more cross that she isn’t getting any help from Mary. Eventually she explodes. “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?” she demands of Jesus. As far as Martha can see, Jesus is encouraging Mary to sit around doing nothing while Martha has it all to do. Anyone who has ever cooked and cleaned for a family knows how she feels.

Jesus’ reply to Martha sounds like a rebuke. “Mary has chosen the better part,” he says, “which will not be taken away from her.” He is telling Martha to calm down, and see that it’s not entirely true that Mary is doing nothing. She is doing what is right for her at that moment, regardless of what Martha may want her to do. Martha has let it all get on top of her, and built up resentment, which she needs to let go. The practicalities are important, of course, but there are other things that are sometimes more important, including the claims of the kingdom of God.

Martha probably knows that, really. According to John’s Gospel, she has her own moment of theological insight on another occasion, when she understands that seeing the signs of God at work is more important than anything else in the world. John’s Gospel tells us the story of the death of Martha’s brother Lazarus, and the way Jesus brings him back from the dead. Martha asserts her faith in the power of Jesus even before Lazarus returns. “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world,” she proclaims.

That’s all we hear of Martha in the Bible, but tradition gives us another story. Legend has it that Mary, Martha and Lazarus were expelled from Palestine and travelled on a raft to France, where they were involved in missionary work. Martha was in charge of a convent, but, busy as ever, also found time to preach, heal the sick, and raise someone from the dead. Then the local people asked for her help. A ferocious dragon was lurking in the River Rhone, killing and eating anyone who tried to cross. So off Martha went to deal with the dragon. She found him in the forest eating a man. She sprinkled holy water on him and put a cross in front of him, so that he became as gentle and tame as a lamb, and then she tied her belt round his neck and led him into the city.

It is a legend, but somehow one can imagine it. The woman who is quite willing to yell at Jesus for not telling Mary to help, who can tell Jesus off for being too late to save Lazarus, and then come out with a magnificent statement of faith, is the kind of woman who might well confront a dragon with nothing more than some holy water and a cross.

Sometimes you need the domestic approach. It may seem occasionally that our churches have enough people who roll up their sleeves and get on with the practical stuff, just like Martha, and they are very important people. This story reminds us, though, that sometimes the practicalities can get in the way of time to think, and to discern the truth. We need theology and action, busyness and quiet contemplation, if we are to both hear the word of God, and do it.

FROM THE VICAR
As I write, floodwaters are covering large swathes of the country. Hopefully as we get into August, they will have subsided, but it is going to be months before houses and businesses dry out enough to get back to normal. It is certainly a time for us to be grateful that we live on a hill. However, we are not immune to the effects. The Thames flows past the bottom of our hill and it would not take much for it to overflow into Old Windsor. I do not have any specific instructions about what to do if that were to happen.

In my previous parish, the civil disaster committee told clergy to stay at home near the phone, and not to rush to the scene. If people did start coming up the hill because they had been driven from their homes, it is a challenge to know what we would do. The schools are closed so there might be some space there. The Methodist Chapel could be used at short notice. There is a little room in St Jude’s in the social area and the choir vestry, but not much.

Would we like the Good Samaritan be prepared to pay to put people up? Would we make rooms available in our own homes? It is certainly a time to consider how we may be asked to practise Christian charity.
Mark Ewbank

NEWS IN BRIEF
Congratulations to Geoff and Jenny Chew who celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary on 22nd July.

SUMMER FAIR
The Summer Fair took place on a windy but pleasant Saturday in July (14th) and was enjoyed by all. We were pleased to have some ladies from Dance Connections (telephone 07771 565719 for more information) giving a demonstration of line dancing.

We were also able to welcome children from St Jude’s School who dressed up as book characters for a Fancy Dress Competition. Leon Smither (as Harry Potter) and Katie Hider (as the Witch from Hansel & Gretel) were first and second in the 7–11 age group and Alexander Cooke (as Hiccup the Viking from How To Train Your Viking) and Clara McKee (as Vanessa from Five Dolls in a House) were first and second in the Under 6 group. Congratulations to all of them.

The winners in the Grand Draw were as follows: The Harbens (£100), Kidd (hamper), Chris Kingwell (liqueur), Sheila (cosmetics), Gouriet (meat voucher), Robin Barnes (whisky), Jon-Jo K (champagne and glasses), Bendall (whisky), Pat Crimmin (champagne), Pat Crimmin (cushions), Colin Watts (grape scissors), Joyce Falkner (coat hangers), Marjorie (dog), Joan Raine (chocolates), Fr Mark (wine).

The lucky programme prize was won by Vance Knowles and the nearest in the Treasure Hunt was Amber Stratford.

We are very grateful to all the local shops and businesses who supported us by advertising in the programme. They were all listed last month in the separate leaflet issued with the Newsletter and copies of the programme are still available in Church. A complete list of them will also be included in our website. Please support them.

The grand total raised by the Summer Fair and Programme will be in the region of £2060 which will help towards the costs of maintaining the church building (downpipes, pointing, electric wiring etc). Lastly, many thanks to all of you who came along on the day and bought items from the stalls and raffle tickets.

STUDY GROUPS
Did you know that there is one study group which meets regularly throughout the year and not just during Lent?

This is run by Geoff and Jenny Chew and it meets on the first and third Sunday evening each month. It is normally at The Mount, Malt Hill, Egham (almost opposite Middle Hill where it joins the A30). Please telephone Jenny on 435664 for more details.

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:
(8th July) Mia Hales, Kyle Barrington.

Holy Matrimony:
(23rd June) Michael Philip Brown and Lorna Rosanne Smith; (7th July) David Samuel Graham and Emma Michelle Fairway; (8th) Philip Charles Howley and Natalie Anne Farrar; (21st) David Lewis Bevan and Sarah Louise Illsley.

Funeral:
(4th July) Ruth Rowland, (16th) Virginia Powell.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

ORGAN MARATHON
Dave Fisher who was our organist not so very long ago will be undertaking an organ marathon in which he will play for at least eight hours in aid of the Sam Beare Hospice and the organ fund for Lyne Church. If you would like to sponsor him or for more information, please telephone 01932 874858.

TABLE TOP SALE
This will take place on Saturday 8th September outside St Jude’s Church from 2.00–4.30pm. (setup from 1.00pm). Tables are limited and will cost £7.50. Apply to tabletop@stjudeschurch.info or leave a message on 01784 434254. With the weather as it is at moment, it seems important to say that stall holders will need to provide their own waterproofing. But if it’s really wet, we will move inside the Church building.

COFFEE MORNING
There will be a Coffee Morning on Saturday 4th August 10.00am–12noon in Englefield Green Methodist Church porch
All are welcome.

PLEASE NOTE
Please note that on Sunday 16th September, the 9.30am service will be a Methodist Holy Communion and will be conducted by Linda Ashford, Methodist Lay Pastor. The 8.00am service will be a said Holy Communion service according to Common Worship as usual.

OPEN MORNING
Plans are in hand to redevelop the Methodist Church in Victoria Street into a Church and Community Centre. This Open Morning on Saturday 8th September from 10.30am to 12.30pm provides an opportunity when community groups and individuals can come and see the plans and look inside the building. For further information contact 01784 434133 or 433560

In anticipation of this redevelopment, the Methodist Church has pews for sale. 5' ones are £70 and 12' ones are £50. The money raised will go the redevelopment fund. Please telephone 01784 435103 or 07779 137305 if you are interested.

CALENDAR FOR AUGUST 2007

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