Newsletter September 2007

The Divine One

“There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)

In recent years, the music industry has witnessed a phenomenon described as “popera” or cross-over music. Modern love songs are performed by classically trained voices: soloists like Andrea Bocelli and Katherine Jenkins, or groups such as Amici Forever and G4. By far the most successful act is the international quartet Il Divo: four men from Spain, France, Switzerland and America, whose three studio albums have knocked even Robbie Williams off the top spot in the charts.

A fourth, less well known, album features a collection of music for Christmas. Among obvious favourites (like “O, Holy Night”) is a modern offering called simply “Rejoice”, about returning to faith. Like all Il Divo numbers, it begins gently, with each tenor or baritone voice taking a line or two, before building to a soaring climax of harmony and power. And the chorus is: “Come and rejoice! What was lost is found!”

To their fans, this rousing finale is like a taste of heaven. Purists grumble, claiming that pop and classical don’t mix, but there is something other-worldly about the sound of voices in harmony, which has been denied to those who shy away from classical music.

Purists grumble in St Luke’s Gospel, Chapter 15, too, as the Pharisees complain about Jesus socialising with “sinners”. If “this fellow” were really a prophet, if he were really the messiah, if he were really the Son of God, what was he doing mixing with such people? In reply, Jesus tells two parables, each echoing that same wonderful chorus: “Come and rejoice! What was lost is found!”

Both stories, however, challenge our received wisdom. If you were a shepherd, would you really leave 99 sheep at the mercy of wolves and weather, and dash off into the wilderness to look for one silly stray? If you lost a coin, would you go to such extravagant lengths as that woman, calling friends together to celebrate finding it?

But that, of course, is the point of a parable. Jesus told stories to make people think, make them question their assumptions. And, most importantly, to tell us something about the nature of God and God’s dealings with us. To God, every sheep is important, however silly, whatever scrapes they get themselves into. Every single human being is loved by God, however far they may have wandered from the path, and God will go to any lengths to rescue us.

We might not like to think of ourselves as sheep (silly creatures with no mind of their own). We might not even like to think of ourselves as sinners (they’re the yobs, the rapists, the dictators). But the story is aimed at all those who, like the Pharisees, think themselves above reproach: at all those who cultivate a them-and-us attitude, and put other people into the “sinner” category because they’re different, because they don’t match up to our standards, because they’re of another race, creed, “class”, sexuality or gender.

Of these two parables, the story of the lost sheep gives us the traditional picture of God as a shepherd, familiar to the first listeners from Hebrew Scriptures, our Old Testament, and one of the many male images of God. Only Luke, with his interest in women’s faith, records the parable of the lost coin. The women around Jesus would surely have treasured up this story and passed it down, this story that wonderfully includes a woman as the God-figure, this story that uses an illustration from the household. They would not think the woman mercenary or foolish. Had she been saving for years for her daughter’s wedding? What joy she would feel on finding that coin!

God has been saving for years, too. God has been saving since the beginning of creation, loving us extravagantly, forgiving us unconditionally, patiently waiting. God saved the chosen people from slavery in Egypt and, as we recall in this Eucharist, God saves all people from sin and death, through the cross. We are all sinners but, in Jesus, God’s love reaches out to us, searching for us until we’re found. We only need to repent, which simply means to recognise that we’re lost and to listen for the voice that’s calling us (in prayer, Bible study, worship and everyday life) to a joyful reunion.
,br>The name Il Divo was coined by analogy with opera divas, but of course “Il Divo” means the divine one. Jesus himself is our divine one, who came into the world to save sinners. The ultimate cross-over act. God’s love song.

FROM THE VICAR
If September is the month of ‘mists and mellow fruitfulness’, perhaps we are looking forward to it this year since it may offer a seasonal change from resolutely grey skies and heavy rain.

As the agricultural cycle is slowing down, the life of the village quickens when schools re-open and we start noticing students around the place again. That makes it also a time of renewal when timetables for the coming academic year start to run and we get the first hint of Advent, the start of the Christian year.

Hopefully we have all been re-invigorated by a summer break and are ready to dust ourselves down for the last quarter of the year.

The church certainly has a couple of initiatives on the go which will be moving forward during this time and, we hope, in time, adding to quality of village life. The project to refurbish the Methodist church and make it a community hall has taken a number of steps forward this year and with further meetings planned, the possibility of funding seems closer, raising our hopes that it will all become a reality.

St Jude’s Church is also pressing ahead with its long-running building project to have a parish centre next to the church. A meeting about this is scheduled for September during which I very much hope the broad outline of what we are trying to build will be agreed and then we can move on to the means of achieving it. So September brings us new annual cycles and new initiatives, which are perhaps a welcome burst of energy as we move towards the end of the summer.

Mark Ewbank

HARVEST THANKSGIVING
Please note that the Harvest celebrations will take place at the 9.30am service on Sunday 7th October. The Harvest Supper will be in the Church Hall at 7.00pm on Saturday 6th October. Tickets will be available soon.

HOLY CROSS DAY
Holy Cross Day is a Christian Day of recognition for the Cross on which Jesus was crucified as a central symbol of the Christian religion. It falls on Friday 14th September and will be marked by the celebration of Holy Communion in St Jude's Church at 10.00am

STUDY GROUPS
Did you know that there is one study group which meets regularly throughout the year and not just during Lent? It starts up again after its summer break on Sunday 2nd September.

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:
(5th August) Grace Kathleen Henley, Oliver James Patrick Hewitt, Victoria Charlotte Daley; (12th) Joseph Warren.

Holy Matrimony:
(4th August) James David Pope and Nicola Jane Thomas; (12th) Ju Omura and Raluca Elena Boroianu; (18th) Mark Terence Francom and Karen Jane Pullen.

Funeral:
(4th August) James David Pope and Nicola Jane Thomas; (12th) Ju Omura and Raluca Elena Boroianu; (18th) Mark Terence Francom and Karen Jane Pullen.

Thanksgiving:
(17th August) William Edward (Ted) Burrough.

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 1st September from 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 SEPTEMBER 2007

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