August 2008

God's Love | Coffee Morning | Picnic | Christian Aid Barbecue| For Such a Time| Teddy Bear Party

Photographs needed | Crusaders | Summer Fair | From the Registers | Calendar | Stay and Play

God's Love

This story of a Canaanite woman’s encounter with Jesus is not a comfortable one to hear, nor an easy one to understand. It seems out of character for Jesus to reject a distressed woman seeking healing for her child. It is unlike him to use such dismissive words to anyone, humiliating someone in the presence of others.

It might help us in our understanding of it to set this story in context and look at the events, which lead up to it. At the beginning of chapter 15, Matthew tells us that Pharisees and scribes come from Jerusalem to question Jesus. We can be sure these questions are not asked with minds open to a new understanding and deepening of faith. They are challenges thrown at Jesus in order to discredit and condemn him. They ask why Jesus’ disciples don’t follow the traditional Jewish rituals of hand washing.

Jesus doesn’t answer their question. Instead he launches a ferocious attack on the way they themselves use traditions to undermine the spirit of God’s law. He calls them hypocrites – people who give the appearance of worshipping and honouring God but who in fact put their own interests first, harming others in the process.

These Pharisees, then, accuse Jesus of breaking tradition while Jesus insists that in fact he is the one calling people to live according to God’s laws, not human distortions of it.

After this encounter with his critics Jesus talks to his followers about what makes someone clean or unclean. He explains the teaching in more detail to his disciples who (not for the first or last time) haven’t understood him. Jesus says that food we eat is processed and passes out of the body. It’s a physical function having no moral implications.

However, the way we speak and act does have moral implications affecting ourselves and other people. Our words and deeds can be said to be unclean but they come from our hearts, not from our bodies and diets or the way we eat.

It is after this teaching that Jesus goes to the district of Tyre and Sidon where the Canaanite woman comes to him to beg him to heal her sick daughter. At first Jesus ignores her. Perhaps he is struggling within himself about how to respond. His compassion and love for all suffering people would move him to respond with healing. But he is also aware of his calling as God’s Chosen One from and for God’s chosen people.

As he struggles the woman continues her cries for help and the disciples suggest that the best way to silence her would be to grant her request. Perhaps partly still talking to himself and perhaps in a questioning way Jesus says, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Now the woman comes right up to him, kneels in front of him and again asks for help.

Jesus knows that his critics would reject this woman and would consider Jesus unclean for having spoken to her. He voices their thoughts, saying, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”

Her quick, witty retort that even the dogs eat what the children don’t want releases the tension and we can perhaps imagine Jesus’ smile and delight in finding such faith in an “outsider” when it had been missing among the “chosen people”. His love and compassion flow freely once more and the daughter is healed.

Jesus demonstrates vividly that while he might be ritually unclean (by speaking to a Gentile woman) his words and actions are loving and healing, reflecting God’s gracious acceptance of all people.

This whole chapter presents us with challenges about how we live out our faith in our homes, congregations, communities and places of work.

We're powerfully reminded that we can say and do all the right things but it's what's going on in our hearts that matters and what is going on in our hearts will always somehow be shown in our lives and relationships. We're reminded that God looks to the very centre of our being but does so with love and compassion, always wanting to forgive and heal so that we can live lives free from guilt and able to love others as we have been loved.

Finally, we are reminded that we, too, are called to love beyond all boundaries, ignoring social niceties and prejudices because no one is ever outside the reach of God's love - which is for all people everywhere and always.

COFFEE MORNING
There will be a Coffee Morning in the porch of the Methodist Church in Victoria Street on Saturday 2nd August from 10.00am. Do come along for a cup of coffee and a chat.

PICNIC
Join us in a picnic in Windsor Great Park on Sunday 10 August - meet at St Jude's Church at 12.15pm with your food, drink and friends. We will then go by car or walk to the park. There is no need to book in advance.

SUMMER FAIR
The Summer Fair took place on a pleasant day in July (12th) and the rain held off until the last minute but even that had its benefits. We were very grateful to all those who helped carry the unsold items from the stalls into the Church!

We were pleased to introduce two new items this year. Four people ran their own stalls in the Table Top Sale and there were 13 entries in the Photograph Competition. In third place was Cassandra Gouriet, second place, Alan Fone and the winner was Lucy Whiting. Commendations went to Maureen Thomas, Alan Fone (2nd entry), Vicki Yates and J.E. Morrison.

Winners of prizes in the Grand Draw were as follows: Dave Olive (£100), David Fowles (hamper), Guy Bunce (liqueur), Pat Crimmin (armagnac), D. Barnes (hanging basket), Christine Lenthall (lap tray), Annette Taylor (wine), Terrey (perfume), Mike Brooking (Jamie Oliver shaker), Mr Moore (chocolates), Vera Long (Body shop goods), and the tickets for the Last Night of the Proms were won by Val Ward. An additional prize was won by Jennefer Kensey.

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. Please support them.

The grand total raised by the Summer Fair and Programme will be in the region of £2400 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.

CHRISTIAN AID BARBECUE
Mike and Lou Ashford are holding a barbecue in their garden on Saturday 2nd August, 1.30-7.30 (late lunch/early supper). Tickets are £5.00 - ask at church or phone Paul Murphy on 01784 435204 as soon as you read this!

TEDDY BEAR PARTY
There will be a Teddy Bear Party on Sunday 7th September, 3.30-5pm, for the children (and their young siblings and parents) christened in St Jude's Church during the last year.

The celebration will start with some fun and games, followed by a special Teddy Bear's Service and ending with a Teddy Bear's picnic in the Church grounds (subject to weather and bring your own picnic).

If anyone has a collection of Teddy Bears that they don't mind showing to and being held by small children, could they please let Claudia know.

More information from and offers of support gratefully received by Linda Ashford / Claudia Tubb. Many thanks.

PHOTOGRAPHS NEEDED
As part of our 150th celebrations next year we are designing a calendar to sell, featuring local scenes of delight such as: 'The Green', Royal Holloway, Windsor Great Park, local schools, pubs, and of course, St Jude's Church itself. We really need people to provide good quality photographs and the best ones will be included in the calendar (they can be digital or prints from negatives). Please give (or email) photos to Louise Bunce ASAP (l.bunce @brookes.ac.uk) or by the latest Sunday 3rd August.

CRUSADERS
At an end of term barbecue, Jill Moss was thanked for being an Assistant Leader - Jill has done the refreshments each week for about ten years. There is now an offer of a new person, but it would be useful to have a 'relief'. Any offers?

Also, Rita is still trying to keep the money straight, in the absence of a treasurer. Anyone who could do that small but essential job, please contact Andrew on 436576 or Rita on 433560.

STAY AND PLAY
A person to do refreshments at the Tuesday Morning Toddler Club would be very useful. Contact Jane Perry on 464396 at the Haven Centre, Egham Hythe.

FOR SUCH A TIME
On Friday 29th August at 8.00pm there will be prayer on behalf of children and young people, including those starting new schools, friends, relatives and neighbours, and local teenagers. This will be at the Victoria Street Church Hall.

FROM THE REGISTERS

Baptisms:
(13th July) Joseph John Alderson, Henry James Watts; (20th) Louise Oliver Hodgson, George Edward Hodgson.

Funeral:
(1st July) Pat Sheehy.

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CALENDAR FOR AUGUST 2008

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