August 2009

The Blessed Virgin Mary | Village Centre | 150th Anniversary | Pictorial Exhibition

2010 Calendar | Methodist building | From the Registers | Calendar for August

Confessions | Stamps | Evensong | Summer Fair

The Blessed Virgin Mary
On the 15th August, the Anglican calendar celebrates the festival of the Blessed Virgin Mary so here are some teachings about her to give us something to think about through a (hopefully) balmy summer month.

When did Mary live?
The gospels provide no information about when Mary was born or when she died. If, however, Jesus was born in about 4 BC and was her first child, then Mary was likely born no earlier than 20 BC. Christian traditions have filled in the considerable gaps here by creating numerous stories of Mary's life, which are just that - stories.

Where did Mary live?
The gospel texts describe Jesus' family as living in Galilee. Luke, Matthew, and John, though, describe her origins as being in Bethlehem, which is in Judea. According to tradition, her parents were Anna and Joachim.

What did Mary do?
Mark portrays Mary negatively, showing her as among those who think Jesus is deranged. The other gospel writers depict her more positively and as helping Jesus' ministry in some instances. Luke, for example, places her at the Last Supper with Jesus' apostles and as one of those who receives the Holy Spirit. The differences in portrayal are likely due to the fact that the stories and characters were all created for the specific theology of the authors.

Why was Mary a Virgin?
In Catholic tradition, Mary is referred to as the Virgin Mary because of the doctrine of her perpetual virginity: even after giving birth to Jesus it is believed she never had sexual relations with her husband, Josephus, and never gave birth to more children. Many Christians also believe that Mary remained a virgin. References to brothers and sisters of Jesus in the gospels suggest that Mary did not remain a virgin. However these passages are ambiguous. They could also refer to cousins, within a close-knit extended family.

The Assumption of Mary
This is the traditional belief held by some Christians that the Virgin Mary at the end of her life was physically taken up into heaven. The Roman Catholic Church teaches as dogma that the Virgin Mary, "having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory." This means that Mary was transported into Heaven with her body and soul united, like Enoch and Elijah, making her, like them, an apocalyptic figure - that is to say, one associated with the end times. As a result we can see allusions to her in the book of Revelations.

Why was Mary Important in Christianity?
Mary has in recent years become the focus of feminine aspirations within Christianity, much to the chagrin of those Christian leaders who would prefer to keep Christianity a male-dominated religion. Because Jesus and God are typically described in exclusively male terms, Mary has become the most immediate female connection to divinity that Christians have had. The strongest focus on Mary has occurred within Catholicism, where she is an object of veneration (Many Protestants mistake this for worship, something they consider blasphemous).

Questions about the place of Mary in the church always rouse strong feelings among believers, both for and against. By reflecting on traditional teaching about her and our own feelings, we can learn something about our own faith.

Fr Mark

What is a Village Centre?

The heart of the village? The centre of the village? A place for people to meet, have a relaxing cuppa and chat over light refreshments? Maybe the village centre is the church or the village green. What would YOU like it to be?

Coming soon – Englefield Green Village Centre

After years of jumping through legal hoops, planning applications and so forth we are pleased to say that our vision to turn the Methodist Church (a Grade two listed building) in Victoria Street into The Village Centre is drawing nearer.

The rear of the premises will be rebuilt and together with the front part of the building will offer:

Somewhere for everyone to meet, chat, drink tea/coffee/ soft drinks enjoy cakes etc; a general meeting place which will aim to become the ‘hub’ of the village. Meeting rooms will be available for hire, as well as having a new kitchen and toilets.

As well as being a place to meet and rooms for hire, our vision is that it will be somewhere where you can find a listening ear (in confidence), find advice on a whole range of issues, make new friends, feel wanted…..almost a second home.

We can have film nights, quiz nights, dancing (sorry no alcohol!) children’s parties and much more. We feel that Englefield Green has lost out in so many ways over recent years and it’s about time we had some good news.

It is hoped that phase one (the rebuilding of the rear of the premises) will start late summer and phase two (the refurbishment of the interior at the front) will follow as soon as we can raise the rest of the money.

If you would like to support The Village Centre appeal, then please send your donations, of whatever size, to Mrs D. Lewis, 17 Beauforts, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey TW20 0DW. Cheques should be made payable to “Englefield Green Methodist Church” but earmarked The Village Centre Appeal. Please enclose a SAE if you would like a receipt.

Thank you in anticipation of your support.

Linda Ashford, Methodist Pastor and the Village Centre Development team

BOYS' BRIGADE
The Boys Brigade has expressed an interest in setting up a unit in Englefield Green, based at St Jude’s Church. To do this they need a team of local adult volunteers to run it. If anyone is interested in getting involved please would they contact the Vicar. All volunteers will need to undergo normal child safety checks.

CONFESSIONS
Following a request which came out of discussions at the Alpha course, Mark wishes it to be known that he is available to hear confessions by arrangement.

EVENSONG
There is a service of Evensong according to the Book of Common Prayer in St Jude’s Church at 6.30pm on the second Sunday of each month. In August this will be on the 9th. Although Evensong in larger establishments with big choirs can leave the congregation with little to do except listen, here in Englefield Green we have three or even four hymns and the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis to sing as well as join in with the said passages. The congregation is small but regular and it would be so good if more people came along to ensure that this old traditional service can continue to be conducted in our Church.

150th ANNIVERSARY
On 28th October 2009, St Jude’s Church will be 150 years old. To celebrate this anniversary throughout 2009, there will be regular events of many kinds. All free admission with donations welcome!

Saturday 4th July 2009 4.00pm, in church: Song recital, programme to be announced (Lieder, opera, show songs) (Ruth Hopkins and Geoffrey Chew).

Sunday 12th July 2009 11.15am, in church, after the 9.30 morning service: St Jude's School presents their annual show, "Hoodwinked" (a take on the Robin Hood story), It's lively and tongue-in-cheek, and there are some catchy songs and it will last no longer than an hour.

Saturday 18th July 2009 afternoon, in the churchyard around the church: St Jude's Summer Fair, with announcement of results of local art competition for children.

Saturday 1st August 2009 4.00pm, in church: Piano recital with solos and duets mainly by Chopin and Schubert (Catherine Chew and Geoffrey Chew).

Friday 7th August to Sunday 9th August 2009, during the day: Runnymede Art Society exhibition in church (some pictures will be on sale, a proportion of the proceeds to go to church funds).

Plus exhibition of pictures illustrating the life of the church and the community during the 150 years since the church was built, in church, at all times when the church is open, including Saturday afternoons 2.00–4.00pm.

Details of the concerts recitals may be found on a link from the home page.

PICTORIAL EXHIBITIONS
As from Saturday 31st January, there will be pictorial exhibitions at St Jude's on Saturday afternoons, with reproductions of documents and historic images illustrating events and personalities in the life of the church and the parish over the past 150 years. These will change from time to time during the year. Some of them may need the help of the public in identifying people shown in them, so we hope for your contributions!

SUMMER FAIR
The Summer Fair was on Saturday 18th July, a day marked by fine weather!

We are very grateful to all those who ran stalls and came along and joined us for the afternoon. Entertainment was provided by members of the Thames Valley Accordion Club and our thanks go to them for giving up their time. We were also pleased to host the Children’s Art competition and to be able to announce the winners.

They were:
Years 5 and 6:
First Prize Laura Nixon (Year 6)
Runner-Up in Year 6 Thamina Nessa
Runner-Up in Year 5 Mathilda Taylor

Years 3 and 4:
First Prize Finlay Swinglehurst (Year 3)
Runner-Up in Year 4 Robert Fleming
Runner-Up in Year 3 Amelia Leach

Highly Commended:
Year 6: Bronte Penney, Ross Hebditch
Year 5: Ben Sudworth, Grace Smart, William Coveney
Year 4: Ben Ford, Emily Matts
Year 3: Joy Stahlberg, Elizabeth Carter

The winners in the Grand Draw were:
£100 — Colin Belson, Hamper — only a telephone number provided, Boots set — Ken Dickenson, Wine — David Fowles, Desk Fan — Kidd, Spa set — Liz Chew, Sherry — Val Ward, Cava — J. Wintour, Chocolates — Andrew Sheer, Tie — Brenda Meyer, Butcher’s voucher — Ken Dickenson, Wine — Pat Summers, Gin — D. Fone, Brandy — R. Taylor, Hand Care set — Eleanor Ward, Fruit and veg basket, Joan Wintour.

Many of the village’s shops and businesses were kind enough to advertise in our programme again and we ask you to return their kindness by supporting them whenever possible.

All of this made it possible for us to raise just over £2400 for our building fund.

The winner of the local quiz competition which was sent round with last month’s Newsletter was James McKee. The answers are shown below. The winner of the Cathedrals competition was Val Ward. Congratulations to both.

LOCAL QUIZ ANSWERS
Question 1
Initially they were lettered after the initial of the destination so it was A for Ascot. In 1946 they were numbered clockwise starting at the Thames estuary: Gravesend came first so it was 701.

Question 2
The Enclosure Act for Egham came into effect that day.

Question 3
Two trains collided in Egham Station, killing seven people.

Question 4
Trevetham, Lady White's house at the end of Ridgemead Road, was burnt by suffragettes.

Question 5
From Vega Willson, the daughter of the developer.

Question 6
Mr D J Mince, friend of Colonel Egham, in Beachcomber's writings.

Question 7
James - Laurence W James (1930-33), James Cecil Williams (1933-1945) and Hedley James Vallins (1945-1965).

Question 8
Century Road.

Question 9
At the Air Forces Memorial, etched on the glass.

Question 10
1991, on the top of a downpipe.

Question 11
The Strange Quest of Adrian Babbington, in Arthur Marshall's autobiography Life's Rich Pageant (1984).

Question 12
This is the opening line of Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem Alastor, which he wrote in a cottage by Bishopsgate in 1815.

Question 13
It was a rifle range and drill hall, for the Englefield Green Rifle Club.

Question 14
Danny Blanchflower, of Spurs.

Question 15
Two allowable answers: either Joseph Noble, who ran a nursery on the site, or William Ventris Field, later Lord Field, who lived in Bakeham House and owned the land.

CALENDAR 2010
Given the popularity of the calendar produced last year in recognition of 150 years of St Jude's Church, we will produce another one featuring the Church and the surrounding area, for sale in about October. If you have any photographs that would make a good scene for the calendar please speak to Louise Bunce or email them to L.Bunce@ brookes.ac.uk.

STAMPS
Rita Berry on 433560 would be pleased to hear from anyone who collects stamps for a charity.

METHODIST BUILDING
Please note that the Methodist Church in Victoria Street is now called The Village Centre.

FROM THE REGISTERS

Holy Baptism:
(28th June) Evie Millard; (19th July) Isla Phillipson, Elliot Smith.

Holy Matrimony:
(11th June) Mark Pateman and Svetlana Dubrovskaya.

Blessing:
June and Graham Thorpe.

Funerals:
(2nd July) David Cox; (7th) Winifred White.

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CALENDAR FOR AUGUST 2009

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