Newsletter: January, 2008

Vicar's Letter | Good News | Prayer Course |

From the Vicar
As I write on New Year’s Eve, we are naturally beginning to look forward to 2008 with our hopes and fears for the future.

In my diary, there are already the better part of 20 weddings booked for next year and more will follow. Each of those dates represents the hopes and fears of whole networks of families and friends. These young people still care enough about the church to come to be married there in an age when they certainly do not have to and when the church has a reputation for sometimes being quite hostile. They do this even though their own lives may be far from perfect with many sharp edges of painful experience.

I cannot help but compare this with the news that there was recently a secret service for gays in London, particularly when my comment – ‘Has there been a special service for married clergy?’ – was not added. And I am left wondering, whatever happened to that guiding light of the church that it had nothing to hide in its rituals because they are always public?

Which is why my new year’s resolution is that when a couple are prepared to go the extra mile and come to church, I will go two extra miles for them.

Mark Ewbank

Good News

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

Can you recall as a child that awful feeling of dread when something you had done wrong had been discovered and a penalty was soon to follow? Perhaps, you may have been lucky enough to be let off a punishment. What relief!

Jean Valjean, in Victor Hugo's novel Les Misérables, had such fortune. Despite his criminal past, a bishop gave him refuge under his roof. Valjean, however, repaid the bishop's generosity by stealing his silverware. Yet, when Valjean was caught, the bishop did not demand his punishment, as might be expected. Indeed, he actually enabled Valjean to escape justice by telling the police that he had given him the silverware as a gift. Valjean was so staggered by this undeserved treatment that he turned away from crime and devoted his life to others.

John's Gospel Chapter 1, also throws up a surprise, a surprise about how the coming Messiah would deal with his people. The other Gospels focus upon John the Baptist's warning that the Messiah would bring judgement to sinners and so all are in need of repentance. This expectation of the Messiah would not have surprised his listeners, who would have been familiar with the Old Testament prophets and their warnings of judgement. However, the Fourth Gospel shows the Baptist had also grasped something much more unexpected about the coming Messiah's mission.

Our Gospel reading appears to be set after John has baptised Jesus. It seems that it was only in the act of baptism, and specifically in the Holy Spirit coming down and remaining upon Jesus, that John recognised him as the Messiah.

John also seems to have received revelation about what Jesus' mission would involve, calling him "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (1:29). This image probably recalled for many the paschal lambs sacrificed at Passover time in gratitude for God's deliverance of his people from Egypt. It may also have reminded people of Isaiah 53:7: “like a lamb that is led to the slaughter”. This is part of the so-called “Suffering Servant” passages, which Christians hold as prophecy about Christ. John was predicting from the start of Jesus’ ministry that the crucifixion would be no mistake: Jesus was to die as a sacrifice for our wrongdoing, a sacrifice unlike previous animal sacrifices as it would be totally successful in dealing with sin.

John's revelation goes even further, though: Jesus would pass on to his followers the same Spirit which had come down on him in baptism, so that not only would their past sins be forgiven but they would have his strength to forgive future sins.

So there was an unexpected aspect to the Baptist’s message: that the Messiah’s coming would not inevitably bring punishment but the possibility of complete forgiveness. This did not contradict the Baptist’s call for repentance reflected in the other Gospels, for Jesus would take those repented sins and wipe them away. On top of this he would also help in the ongoing struggle with sin through his Holy Spirit. What good news!

However, this good news that God freely forgives our sins can seem just too good to be true. So some of us continue to be weighed down by guilt over sins we have asked God to forgive. Others worry whether they really can be forgiven for sins they have stumbled over so many times before or fear that some of their sins are just too bad to be forgiven.

Such doubts are unsurprising, for our own experience of freely given forgiveness and unconditional love is limited. In everyday life few forget wrongdoings, many hold grudges and everything has to be earned. So we really need continually to remind ourselves of God's goodness, and what better description of that than the father in the "Prodigal Son" parable (Luke 15:11-32)? What an image of God! Despite being snubbed by his ungrateful son and having his name dishonoured by his child's riotous living, the father spends every possible minute watching and hoping that his son will return home. When that son is a mere speck on the horizon, he spots him, runs towards him and throws his arms around him; no angry words, no rejection, no punishment - only joy, love and acceptance. He even throws a party for his undeserving son!

So when the inevitable doubts do come, cling tightly on to that image of God: a Father who longs to forgive and who longs to help us by his Holy Spirit. That really is good news for each and every one of us!

TALKING WITH GOD
The Basics of Prayer
Ever wondered whether anyone is listening when you talk with God? Ever wondered why prayer is not always answered? Don’t know how to pray? If so, or you just want to find out about prayer, then you are warmly invited to attend our discussion series.

What is prayer and why is it important?
(The Revd Mark Ewbank — St Jude’s)

Who is listening?
(Father Vlad — Roman Catholic Chaplain to Royal Holloway)

How do I pray?
(Linda Ashford — Methodist Pastor)

Is prayer always answered?
(Andy Gilmore — Canaan Bookshop, Staines)

What does a Praying Church look like?
(James Butler — East to West)

Refreshments will be served each week (with pancakes on Shrove Tuesday)

Tuesday evenings starting 8th January at 7.45–9.15pm in the Methodist Church Hall, Victoria Street.

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.

CAROL SINGING
Carol singing this year took take place on Friday 21st December and was attended by a record number of people (43!). Over £200 was raised for the Children’s Society. We are very grateful to Ruth Hopkins for organising this mammoth effort and to Susie Harben for providing the refreshments afterwards.

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:
(2nd December)Charlotte Rose Baker; (9th) Joshua William Dover, Kai Thomas Dover.

Funerals:
(30th November) Josephine Smith; (7th December) Maurice Little; (18th) Beatrice Downer; (20th) Jena Greenaway, Samuel Glasheen.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

COFFEE MORNINGS
There will be a Coffee Morning in the porch of the Methodist Church in Victoria Street on Saturday 5th January from 10.00am. Please do come along for coffee and a chat.

Coffee mornings at St Jude’s Church will take a break now probably until the Spring of 2008. Hopefully the weather next year will persuade us to have more of them.

METHODIST COMMUNION
On Sunday 6th January, the 9.30am service will be a Methodist Holy Communion and will be conducted by Linda Ashford, Methodist Lay Pastor.

STAY AND PLAY
A new parent and child group will be held in the Methodist Hall, Victoria Street, every Tuesday from January 15th, 10.00am – 12noon.

Parents (or carers) of children from prebirth to pre-school are welcome. The cost will be 50p per session.

This group is under the care of the Haven Children's Centre based at Egham Hythe School.

To offer help to do refreshments, or for more information, contact Social Worker Jane Perry on 07872 170460.

NEW YEAR LUNCH
Lunch will be available in the Methodist Hall, Victoria Street on Tuesday 1st January at 12.30 for 12.45pm to celebrate New Year’s Day. Tickets priced £4 are available (newyear@stjudeschurch.info) or from Margaret or Rita in Church. All are welcome.

LENT IS SOONER THAN YOU THINK
The 6 week Ecumenical Lent Group will start on Wednesday 6th February 2008. The aim is not to make it an intellectual exercise but rather an opportunity for everyone to discuss their thoughts on what things are important for living a good life. All are welcome regardless of beliefs or culture. On 9th January there will be an informal get-together over coffee and cake at 9 Larksfield in order to get to know each other before the first meeting. To find out more please phone Jacqueline/Andrew on 01784 434139 or Maria/John on 01784 438392.

CALENDAR FOR JANUARY 2008

Newsletter Index