January 2009

The New Year | The Art of Listening | 150th Anniversary | Christmas at St Jude's| The Revd James Rattue

Methodist building | From the Registers | Calendar

The New Year

Before the modern calendar was adopted in 17xx, the year began on Lady Day, March 25th. I always find it slightly mind-boggling to think of the year starting at a completely different point, though there's no reason why it shouldn't, as there are all sorts of calendars as well as the one we're used to. The Church's liturgical cycle actually begins on the first Sunday of Advent, for instance, so at St Jude's we've been in a new year since the end of November!

The New Year is an ambiguous sort of time. I often wonder why we celebrate it, and I suppose it's something to do with survival and hope. We've made it through another cycle of the Earth, and the next one is completely open and undecided, ours to do with as we will - all of that summed up in the moment when the clock ticks round to midnight on New Year's Eve. Completely arbitrary, but somehow still exciting! How positive we find that thought depends on whether we think we've got much to look forward to in the coming twelve months.

Some of the future is predictable. I, for instance, know that, all other things being equal, my time in Englefield Green will come to an end in January and that I have to find a new job by June, or I'll end up selling the Big Issue outside Waitrose in Weybridge. But none of us knows exactly what's coming. The world looks very different at the end of 2008 than it did at the beginning. We might have expected that our leaders ought to have predicted the collapse of the housing bubble and the banks that relied too much on it, but they didn't. The result is that 2009 is going to be a very tough year for very many people, and given the other problems the world faces in terms of climate, energy supply, and food provision, it may be tough in ways we can't yet envisage. (Another reason for me avoiding selling the Big Issue is that not many people may want to buy it by then.) How will we face these stresses? Will we be charitable to our neighbours, and thoughtful about our lives, realising what little control we actually have over things? Or will we retreat, and put up the shutters against need because we ourselves have less to spare - or turn on others out of frustration and anger? It will be our choice to make.

Starting the New Year on Lady Day made a certain amount of sense as it was technically the feast of the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would bear the child Jesus: the commemoration of his conception rather than his birth. She said 'yes' to God's request, not knowing what it would mean for her or for the world. Each New Year we have the same experience. We can allow events to bring to birth something in us, and whether that is positive or negative depends on the choices we make. Perhaps the choice will be starker in 2009 than in most years.

I pray that you have a stress-free New Year and make the very best of whatever 2009 brings. May you do wonderful things this year, and God do wonderful things through you!

James Rattue

THE REVD JAMES RATTUE
Many of you will know that about six months ago, the Vicar was called up by the Territorial Army to be a chaplain in Afghanistan. We were very fortunate in being offered The Revd James Rattue (the curate from Weybridge) to be with us during Mark's absence.

The Vicar has returned home recently and expects to be allowed back to work in the parish quite soon. James will therefore be returning to his home parish probably before the end of January.

We would like to be able to give him a sensible leaving present to show our gratitude for all that he has done for us in the parish and invite contributions for this. If you would like to help in this way, please let us have cash or a cheque by about the middle of January. Cheques should be made payable to St Jude's P.C.C. Envelopes should be marked 'J.R.' contribution' and may be brought to Church or dropped through the letterbox of the P.C.C. Secretary, Brian Hooker, at 11 Willson Road.

CHRISTMAS AT ST JUDE'S
We were delighted to welcome so many people to our services over Christmas and to have such a good crowd join us for Carol Singing on 22nd December - this raised about £170 for the Children's Society.

Many thanks, too for all the help in decorating the Church and especially the children for their help with the Christmas tree.

ART OF LISTENING
The remaining sessions of this course have been cancelled because of insufficient numbers.

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. The celebrations have been launched with a special calendar featuring some spectacular photographs of places of significance in and around Englefield Green. These calendars which will make excellent Christmas presents for family and friends, are available for you buy at £6 each from the Church. We now also have celbration mugs on sale.

The concerts and recitals have now been finalised as follows:

3rd January at 4.00pm - Organ Recital by Geoff Chew

7th February at 4.00pm - Brass Quartet "Davo"

7th March at 4pm - Organ Recital by Sam Rathbone

4th April at 6.00pm - Piano Recital by Val Ward

2nd May at 4.00pm in Royal Holloway Chapel - Summer Concert

6th June at 4.00pm - Mosaic Choir directed by Karen Falkner

4th July at 4.00pm - Vocal Recital by Ruth Hopkins and Edward Small (piano)

1st August at 4.00pm - Jazz Trio - Two Bats and a Bass

5th September at 4.00pm - Mixed Recital - local musicians

3rd October at 4.00pm - Voices Anon Choir directed by Guy Bunce

7th November at 4.00pm - Students from Royal Holloway Music Department

5th December at 4.00pm - Christmas Concert - Brass and Organ

METHODIST BUILDING
Please note that the Methodist Church in Victoria Street is now to be known as The Village Centre.

FROM THE REGISTERS

Holy Baptism:
(27th December) Elaine Barrett

Holy Matrimony:
(29th November) Clive Burrows and Samantha Hammond; (30th December) Anthony Cook and Catherine Chew.

Memorial Service:
(15th December) Amelia Haley.

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CALENDAR FOR JANUARY 2009

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