St. Martin s Monthly. April 2011

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1 St. Martin s Monthly April p

2 St Martin s Church, Hale Gardens, Acton W3 9SQ (Registered charity no ) Web: stmartinswestacton@btinternet.com Vicar Associate Vicar SS Minister The Revd Dr Nicholas Henderson The Revd Justin Dodd The Revd Bruce Barnett-Cowan Parishes Secretary (9.30am 1.30pm weekdays) Parishes Office, 25 Birch Grove, W3 9SP (Fax: ) Reader Dr Margaret Jones ( ) Reader Emeritus Mrs Lynne Armstrong ( ) Churchwardens Lisa Ambridge ( ) John Trussler ( ) Director of Music Kenneth Bartram (c/o Parishes Office) Sunday School Jackie Nicholls ( ) Youth Group Jackie Nicholls ( ) Magazine Editor Clive Davis (clive.a.g.davis@btinternet.com) Usual Sunday Services 8am: Holy Communion 10am: Parish Communion 6.30pm: Evensong Our Sunday School meets in the Church Hall at 10am except when there is a Family Service. A non-eucharistic Family Service is held on most first Sundays of the month. Every 2 nd Sunday of the month: 2.30pm Holy Communion in Japanese Every Tuesday: 8am Holy Communion Every Wednesday: 10.30am Holy Communion at All Saints and followed by coffee at the Lantern Taverna See the Diary section later in the magazine for other service details. The Vicar is available for consultation and enquiries by appointment. Please ring the Parishes Office.

3 WERE YOU THERE WHEN THEY CRUCIFIED MY LORD? WERE YOU THERE? In the History of the Church there has been much debate, even rancour, over the nature of Christ s presence in the Eucharist. These arguments have even occasionally resulted in physical violence and death, a rather shocking result considering that it was at the last supper that Jesus said This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. When confronted with the question Elizabeth I (smart woman that she was) avoided answering how this was and is reputed to have answered: Twas God the Word that spake it. He took the bread and brake it. And what that word doth make it, I do believe and take it. In one of my favourite hymns ( Lord enthroned in heavenly splendour ) the question is dodged with the line Thou art here, we ask not how. I think that a totally different approach may be taken by asking a different question. Rather than asking how Jesus is present to us we might well ask how we might be present to him. If asked the question Were you there when they crucified my Lord? I can answer with confidence: Yes! I was there. I was there, too, at the side of the road in Jerusalem waving a palm and shouting hosanna while he rode on a donkey. I was there with him at his last supper and I prayed with him when he was in agony in the garden of Gethsemane. I wept at the foot of the cross while he died. I was privileged to be there when the ground trembled and he bust out from the tomb. I was there when he asked Mary Magdalene to tell the others that he was risen. I ve been there many times over the years every time I have participated in the services of Holy Week. During those liturgies time and space become mysteriously fluid and allow us to be present at all those events. This coming Holy Week I intend to be present to him again at those dramatic happenings. I ll be able to answer again I was there. As much as possible I invite you to join me and do the same. Bruce 3

4 BBC celebrates King James Bible anniversary This year, the nation is celebrating the 400th anniversary of The King James Bible and the BBC has been producing a range of programmes to mark this. It has already broadcast, on Radio 4, a reading of the whole book and a series of programmes looking at its creation and its impact on our written language. More programmes are planned and include Songs of Praise at Easter as well as a major new programme presented by Melyvn Bragg. At the time of going to press, The King James Bible: The Book That Changed The World is due to be broadcast on BBC Two at the end of March and will be available on iplayer. In the show, the former South Bank Show presenter sets out to persuade us that the King James Version has driven the development of the English-speaking world over the last 400 years often in most unanticipated ways. Bragg argues that while many think our modern world is founded on secular ideals, it is the King James Version that influenced the English language and its literature more than any other book. It was also, he believes, the seedbed of Western democracy, the activator of radical shifts in society such as the abolition of the slave trade, the debating dynamite for brutal civil wars in Britain and America, and a critical spark in the genesis of modern science. In his quest to uncover the impact of the King James Bible Bragg travels to historic locations in the US, where the King James Bible had a deep impact including Gettysburg and the American Civil War. He also visits Washington's Lincoln Memorial, site of Martin Luther King's I have a dream speech. Meanwhile, on Easter Sunday, April 24, Songs of Praise will feature readings from the King James Bible on Easter Day as actors Bill Paterson and Tamsin Greig read extracts from the Easter story. Then, in May, BBC One s The Big Questions will present a special edition based on issues raised by The King James Bible. Nicky Campbell will host the debate, exploring what relevance the Bible has on society today. 4

5 A further series, When God Spoke English: The Making Of The King James Bible, has already been broadcast on BBC Four. The series, shown in February will be repeated during the year. The author and presenter, Adam Nicolson, revealed why the making of this great and powerful book shares much in common with his experience of a very different national project the Millennium Dome. The programme also delved into recently discovered 17th-century manuscripts, from the actual translation process itself, to show in rich detail what makes this Bible so good. Speaking about the 400th Anniversary programmes, Aaqil Ahmed, commissioning editor for Religion Television and Head of Religion and Ethics, says: The King James Bible had a significant cultural and historical impact and has left such a wide ranging legacy. This anniversary marks an important event in British history that has helped shape our nation and the English language into what it is today. From Melvyn Bragg's fascinating The King James Bible: The Book That Changed The World to our special editions of Songs Of Praise and The Big Questions, I hope that viewers enjoy our eclectic programmes to mark the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible. 5

6 Annual Parochial Church Meeting And Vestry Meeting Will be held on April 10 th 2011 Starting at 11.15am The meetings will elect Two Churchwardens Three representatives for the Ealing Deanery Synod Four members to the PCC (3-year term) One member to the PCC (2-year term) One member to the PCC (1-year term) Nomination forms will be available soon The Electoral Roll will be revised 21 st February and 21 st March, between 2011 If you are not currently on the electoral roll and wish to be, ask the Vicar for an form. rd Sunday 3 10am Mothering Sunday Family Service Tuesday 5 th 3pm Vicar s Tea Party at the Vicarage Sunday 10 th 11.15am Annual Parochial Church Meeting Sunday 17 th 10am Palm Sunday Communion Service FOR HOLY WEEK SERVICES SEE THE BACK PAGE Sunday 24 th 10am Easter Sunday Service 6

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8 Last photo at Lantern Taverna. This photograph of the Wednesday Morning Coffee Group was taken on Wednesday 9th March. It was the last Coffee Morning to be held at the Lantern Taverna. The photograph includes Alki, the proprietor, who is moving to New York. Future Wednesday Coffee Mornings, until further notice, will be at 25 Birch Grove starting around 11.20am. As seen in other Church magazines... Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children. The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility. Weight Watchers will meet at 7pm at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance. 8

9 Changes to Gift Aid from April 5 th As you will be aware, if you Gift Aid your giving St. Martin s can claim the tax thatt you have already paid on thatt amount. Up to now for every 10 you Gift Aid it is worth to St. Martin s (your from HMRC). However, as widely advertisedd this will be changing after April 5 th this year. From April 6 th, every 10 you Gift Aid will be worth to St. Martin s (your 10 = 2.50 from HMRC). Please bear this in mind when reviewing your giving. Mothering Sunday 4 th Sunday in Lent There is an old Jewish saying: God could not be everywhere, and therefore He made mothers. Mother Church, Mother Earth, Mother of the Gods - our human mothers - all of them have been part of the celebration of Mothering Sunday - as the fourth Sunday in Lent is affectionately known. From the beginning it was celebrated as a day when apprentices and servants were allowed to return to their homes. The purpose behind their returning was to visit their mothers and spend the day with them. The people returning to home usually brought some gift with them. The gift often used to be a "Mothering Cake" ", which is a kind of fruitcake or fruit-filled pastry that is also known as "Simnels". This special day became a day of family rejoicing, and the Lenten fast was broken. In some places the day was called Simnel Day, because of the sweet cakes called simnel cakes traditionally eaten on that day. Gradually people started having family dinner on this day and later it became a tradition. In recent years the holiday has changed and in many ways now resembless the American Mothers Day, with families going out to Sunday lunch and generally making a fuss of their mother on the day. 9

10 When God Created Mothers By the time the Lord was creating mothers He was into the sixth day of creation and working overtime. An angel appeared and said, "Why are you spending so much time on this one." And the Lord answered, "She has to be completely washable, run on black coffee and leftovers. She has to have a lap that can hold three children at one time and that disappears when she stands up; a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart." The Lord continued. "She will need three pairs of eyes: One pair to see through closed doors when she asks her children what they are doing even though she already knows. Another pair in the back of her head to see what she needs to know even though no one thinks she can. And of course the pair in the front of her head for looking at a child with love and saying that she understands and loves them without uttering a word." "Lord", said the angel, toughing His sleeve gently, "This is too much work for one day. Why until tomorrow to finish." "I can t," said the Lord, "I m so close to finishing. She already heals herself when she is sick." The angel moved closer and touched the woman. "You have made her so soft." "Yes. But tough!" said the Lord excitedly. "You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish." "Can she think?" "Not only think, but she will be able to reason and compromise," said the Creator. Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. "It looks like you have a leak," she pronounced. "You were trying to put too much into this model." "It s not a leak," said the Lord, "it s a tear." "What s the tear for?" "The tear is her way for expressing her joy, her sorrow, her disappointment, her pain, her loneliness but especially her pride." The angel was impressed. "You are a genius, Lord. You thought of everything. You even created the tear!" The Lord looked at the angel and smiled. "I m afraid you are wrong. I created the mother, but she created the tear." 10

11 Palm Crosses When you come to church this Palm Sunday (April 17 th ), the Palm Crosses you will be given have come from Africa. The Palm Crosses have been produced by villages in Africa who harvest and dry the fronds and then weave them into crosses. By buying the African Palm Crosses we will be supporting the local community. This generates much needed income for these villages to provide them with household necessities and access to medical treatment. Maundy Thursday time to wash feet Maundy Thursday is famous for two things. The first is one of the final acts that Jesus did before his death: the washing of his own disciples feet. (John 13) Jesus washed his disciples feet for a purpose: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. His disciples were to love through service, not domination, of one another. In Latin, the opening phrase of this sentence is mandatum novum do vobis The word mundy is thus a corruption of the Latin mandatum (or command). The ceremony of the washing of the feet of members of the congregation came to be an important part of the liturgy of the medieval church, symbolising the humility of the clergy, in obedience to the example of Christ. But Thursday was also important because it was on that night that Jesus first introduced the Lord s Supper, or what we nowadays call Holy Communion. Jesus and his close friends had met in a secret upper room to share the Passover meal together - for the last time. And there Jesus transformed the Passover into the Lord s Supper, saying, this is my body and this is my blood as he prepared to die for the sins of the whole world. John s gospel makes it clear that the Last Supper took place the evening BEFORE the regular Passover meal, and that later Jesus died at the same time that the Passover lambs were killed. 11

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13 LENT 2011: ETHICS FOR TODAY S CHURCH A Christian response to ethics in a confused and confusing world Thursdays at 8pm in St Martin s Church Hall, Hale Gardens The last two sessions in April are: 7 th April: Ethics and the Third World ~ Sheenagh Burrell Sheenagh is a Willesden Reader, Willesden Area World Development Adviser and Co-ordinator of ALMA: London's diocesan link with the Anglican church in Angola and Mozambique. In the 1990's she taught English for Academic Purposes at SOAS often supporting students doing Development Studies, and also did an MA in Pastoral Studies at Heythrop brought the Jubilee 2000 human chain in Birmingham and, two months later, the signing of the ALMA and life has never been the same since! 14 th April: Personal Moral Theology Rev d Bruce Barnett-Cowan Bruce was schooled in Toronto at Trinity College, University of Toronto. He was Rector of the Parish of Schefferville in northern Quebec from 1978 to 1983 and Co-President (with his wife Alyson) of the Henry Budd College for Ministry in The Pas, northern Manitoba from 1983 to A considerable amount of his ministry in Canada's north was with First Nations peoples. (Tea and coffee included at each session) Each session will cost 2 Cheques payable to: St Martin s Church The Parishes Office, 25 Birch Grove, London W3 9SP Tel:

14 What does being on the Deanery synod mean? The Ealing Deanery is the group of local Anglican churches in the borough of Ealing of which your church is a part, this includes Acton, Ealing, Greenford, Northolt, Perivale, Hanwell and Southall. The deanery synod is a gathering of elected representatives from each church in the deanery plus their clergy. This synod discusses issues effecting the mission and ministry of the churches in Ealing, as well as wider issues effecting the Church of England and its views are passed on up to the authorities above, including the Diocesan Synod and the General Synod for the whole country. The synod also invites high quality speakers on topics which help us to grow in our discipleship of Jesus. It makes decision about how to get churches in Ealing working together where we can do things more effectively together than on our own. The synod uses one of its meetings a year specifically to worship and pray together. It also has a fund of money it can distribute to relevant projects in the deanery A deanery synod rep is automatically on the local church s PCC (Parochial Church Council) for a three year term. Being an elected member means you represent the congregation on the synod. Do I need any qualifications? No, there are no formal requirements. You do need to be on the electoral roll of your church and you do need to be over 16 years old. What sort of person suits this role? Someone who wants to see Jesus made known more in Ealing. Someone who wants to see greater unity between churches in Ealing. Someone who is hungry to learn and grow and someone who is willing to express an opinion in discussions Your commitment Remember when you become a rep you are also on your church s PCC with all its commitments. There are four deanery synod meetings a year on a weekday evening from 7.30pm-9.30pm, the location rotating around the churches. The appointment lasts for three years. 14

15 Our commitment to you We will invite anyone new to the synod to an induction meeting after you are elected. To commission you with prayer at your first meeting and pray for you regularly in your role. To give you training and encouragement in any specific responsibilities you take on. Other opportunities for service: Roles in synod which are elected at the first meeting of the three year cycle are: Lay Chair (who works alongside the Area Dean). For more information on this role specifically, please contact the Area Dean. Secretary, Treasurer and members of standing committee (who agree the topics for synod discussions) Roles to support the Area Dean. Member of the Deanery Finance Team. This team looks at what all the churches are paying in Common Fund and makes recommendations on what levels are appropriate for each church. Member of a deanery team working on co-operation between churches to aid mission in the deanery. For more information about being a synod rep or any other role please talk to your Vicar about it or ring: Rev d Christopher Ramsay, Area Dean of Ealing christopher.ramsay@btinternet.com Copy for the May issue should reach the Editor by 15 th April. The May magazine will be on sale by 25 th April Articles for the magazine should be sent to Clive Davis ( clive.a.g.davis@btinternet.com) 15

16 Why does the date for Easter move about so? When is Easter in any given year? Easy find the first Sunday after the full moon that follows the Spring Equinox (March 20 or 21). What? Most people will tell you that Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox, which is broadly true. If it all sounds a bit confusing, well, here s the history behind it all. It all began with the ancient Hebrews. They based their calendars upon the rhythms of the moon. These lunar calendars worked well for them, and everything was fine. Then Christianity arrived, in the Holy Land, where the first century Jews were still using the lunar calendar. But then Christianity moved on to Rome, which was using a different calendar one based on the sun. (The Gregorian calendar, which we use today, and which is in widest use throughout the world, is based on the Roman sun calendar.) Now establishing certain days in the year became difficult. The results were often confusing. Early church leaders, both Jewish and Roman, agreed that everything to do with the coming of Jesus Christ had been prepared, even the position of the sun, the moon and the stars. They could not agree, however, on how to fix the day for the yearly celebration of Easter. It was not until the fourth century, with the help of astronomers who took into account the position of both the moon and the sun in relation to the earth, that a decision was finally made. At last it was accepted that Easter would always be celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon that follows the Spring Equinox (March 20 or 21). That is what most people will tell you and it is broadly true. But the precise calculations are complicated and involve something called an ecclesiastical full moon, which is not the same as the moon in the sky. The earliest possible date for Easter in the West is 22 March, which last fell in 1818 and won t fall again until The latest is 25 April, which last happened in 1943 and is next due in

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18 Ealing Common Society Annual General Meeting Friday 8 April, 2011 at 8pm St Matthew s Church Hall, North Common Road, Ealing W5 Following our successful Ealing Common Tree Walk last summer, we invite you all, whether members or not, to come along to hear Dr Jonathan Oates speak on Ealing Common a brief history Dr Oates is the Ealing Borough Archivist and Local History Librarian Another date for your diary: Open-City Weekend As part of the Open-City London weekend, the guided Ealing Common Walk will take place on Sunday 18 September 2011 starting at 2.30pm on New Common (corner of Inglis Road and Hangar Lane). En route we will see a range of architectural styles around the Common, places of historic interest, and the death mask of the only Prime Minister to be assassinated. As part of the AGM there will be an exhibition of old Ealing Common photographs. You will also be able to purchase a range of Ealing Common greetings cards. Drinks and light buffet available. The Twenty and the Five A well-worn five pound note and a similarly distressed twenty-pound note arrived at the Bank of England to be retired. As they moved along the conveyor belt to be burned, they struck up a conversation. The twenty-pound note reminisced about its travels all over the country. "I've had a pretty good life. I've been to Las Vegas and Monte Carlo, the finest restaurants in Paris, performances on Broadway, and even a cruise to the Caribbean. " "Wow!" said the five-pound note, "You've really had an exciting life!" "So tell me," says the twenty, "where have you been throughout your lifetime?" The five pound note replies, "Oh, I've been to the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church, and the Anglican Church." The twentypound note interrupts, "What's a church?" 18

19 Saints celebrated in April 25 th St Mark - disciple, apostle, writer of the second gospel Mark, whose home in Jerusalem became a place of rest for Jesus and his 12 apostles, is considered the traditional author of the second gospel. He is also usually identified as the young man, described in Mark 14.51, who followed Christ after his arrest and then escaped capture by leaving his clothes behind. Papias, in 130, said that in later years Mark became Peter s interpreter. If so, then this close friendship would have been how Mark gathered so much information about Jesus life. Peter referred to him affectionately as his son. Mark was also a companion to Paul on his journeys. When Paul was held captive at Rome, Mark was with him, helping him. Mark s Gospel, most likely written in Italy, perhaps in Rome, is the earliest account we have of the life of Jesus. Mark died about 74 AD. Early in the 9th century Mark s body was brought to Venice, whose patron he became, and there it has remained to this day. The symbol of Mark as an evangelist, the lion, is much in evidence at Venice. How God Created Mother God took the fragrance of a flower, The majesty of a tree, The gentleness of morning dew, The calm of a quiet sea, The beauty of a twilight hour, The soul of a starry night The laughter of the rippling brook, The grace of a bird in flight, Then God fashioned from these things A creation like no other, And when His masterpiece was through, He called it simply...mother. 19

20 Holy Week and Easter Services 2011 Sunday 3 rd April: Mothering Sunday 10am: Family Service Sunday 17 th April: Palm Sunday 10am: Holy Communion & Procession of Palms Monday 18 th April: Holy Week 8pm: Holy Communion at All Saints Tuesday 19 th April: Holy Week 8pm: Holy Communion Wednesday 20 th April: Holy Week 8pm: Holy Communion at All Saints Maundy Thursday 21 st April 8pm: Eucharist of the Last Supper Good Friday 22 nd April 12 noon: Liturgy at All Saints 2pm: Service of Pilgrimage at St Martin s Saturday 23 rd April: Easter Eve 7pm: Ceremony of Fire at All Saints Sunday 24 th April: Easter Day 8am: Holy Communion 10am: Easter Parish Communion 6.30pm: Joint Festal Evensong