S W O R DL E P. April 2010 PARISH MAGAZINE. ST MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS CHURCH (Anglican) Mildred Ave. / Durban Rd. Watford

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1 April 2010 S W O ST MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS CHURCH (Anglican) Mildred Ave. / Durban Rd. Watford R DL E P PARISH MAGAZINE Price 60p WEST WATFORD FREE CHURCH (Baptist) Church opposite the shops Tolpits Lane, Watford 1

2 A Pastoral Letter... From Fr Geoff Dear friends, In what is known as The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. The job of a Church, then is to make disciples. Sometimes the Church has concentrated too much on baptism, assuming that when someone is baptized the job of making a disciple has been done. Sometimes people think that when we have been taught in Sunday School, had our confirmation classes and been confirmed, that also is job done. It is much better to think of the Church as a school for disciples, providing a place where we can continually learn how to be disciples. Among the teachers in this school are God himself, Jesus, the pattern of prayer and worship, but the teachers we often forget are our fellow Christians. We can learn a lot simply by walking the path of life and discipleship together, and learning from each other. Our life together in the Church, and the way Church life proceeds, provide us many opportunities to learn discipleship from each other, and to share our own discoveries, if only we recognize that we have something to learn. Our discipleship doesn't just happen at Church. We are meant to be disciples in our homes, at work, and in our communities as well. If we are doing so much at Church that our family suffers, or doing such long hours at work that our family suffers, or even allowing the demands we feel our family makes on us to drain all our energy, we are not making the most of our discipleship. Church, family, work, community, should all balance and feed each other, so that we learn our discipleship from fellow Christians, family members, and friends and colleagues, without one dominating and taking away our energies for all the others. And remember, Jesus is with us always, to the end of time. Best Wishes Fr Geoff 2

3 ST MICHAEL S MOTHERS UNION DIARY Thursday 5th April am Corporate Communion in the Lady Chapel followed by a meeting in the choir vestry for coffee. We hope that Fr. Geoff will tell us about his experiences of Lindisfarne. The M. U. Branches this year have been asked to raise funds to help families in Mozambique where unemployment is around 75% and the illiteracy rate for rural women is 65%. We may use this as our project this year. Pat Gandy ST MICHAEL S SALE & COFFEE MORNING We plan to have a Sale & Coffee Morning on Saturday 24th April from am noon in aid of church funds. We have in recent years had a January sale, which we hadn t organised this year, and doubt if we would have had any customers with the weather as it was. We will be having a cake stall, raffle, etc. And your support would be most welcome. Yours sincerely, Norma Twitchin & Sylvia Moring FINAL COPY DATE FOR MAY SWORD:- Midday on Sunday 25th April 2010 Please submit copy before this date if possible - hard copy, floppy disc or to dhbeach@sky.com 3

4 THE ANNUAL MEETINGS Annual Vestry Meeting followed by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting The Annual Meetings have to be held before the end of April each year and the date for this year is 28 April 2010 The Annual Vestry Meeting is held for the purpose of electing churchwardens for the forthcoming year. The Annual Parochial Church Meeting has a much longer agenda including the annual accounts, reports from various people, election of parochial church councillors and sidespeople. If any elections are needed then only people who are on the Electoral Roll can vote so it is important to make sure you are on the Roll (the revision closes on 4 April so do not delay). During the next weeks there will be nomination forms available in church we shall need nominations for churchwardens and PCC members. Please think about these positions and consider who you can nominate, making sure that anyone you suggest has agreed to be nominated. Completed forms should be given to Vicki Matthews. The Annual Vestry Meeting is at 7.45 pm and the APCM is at 8 pm. At present we are not sure where the meetings will be held so look at your agenda which will be sent to every member of the Electoral Roll. THE PEACE HOSPICE STARLIGHT WALK is taking place at Midnight on Saturday, 22 May. Volunteers are urgently needed to marshall the route for the 1500 ladies taking part. If you can help please telephone Simon Fowle on or simon.fowle@ntlworld.com Thank you. 4

5 TODDLER CLUB The Toddler Club that meets in the choir vestry on Monday mornings is a lovely, friendly, supportive group of mothers and their babies from birth to school age. Lesley Kinch does a great job running this. The programme is free play, elementary craft work and a little service at the appropriate level. This consists of simple prayers, a Bible story and songs/choruses with actions and instruments. Then we have coffee/juice, cakes (made by Lesley).When it is someone s birthday they have a birthday cake complete with candles. This is served by Pat Gandy, Fay Storey, Anne and Pete Coley who also help to set up and clear afterwards. Lesley relates very well to the children who all love her- also the parents. For some time I have enjoyed being part of this delightful group but at the moment I seem to be required for grandmotherly child caring duties in Charlbury on the other side of Oxford on Mondays so really temporary help is needed. If you would like to consider helping do please contact Lesley or me. Thanks Gill Heath PLAINSONG IN CAMBRIDGE A visit to the historic city of Cambridge will be arranged for Friday 21 May 2010 if enough people are interested. To some extent, the number may affect the content of the day's programme. Of course, it will only be possible to see a very few of the many places of interest. The programme will leave you some free time. I hope that it will be possible to have lunch in an historic college room. At 6.00 p.m., by permission of the Dean (Revd Dr James Gardom), a short organ recital will be given by Andy Benoy in Pembroke College Chapel, which is the first completed work of Sir Christopher Wren. Then at 7.00 p.m. we shall have the opportunity to take part in Evensong in the Chapel, led by the Dean, sung to plainsong. Other details will be announced later. I would welcome comments and suggestions. Participants must make their own way to Cambridge (the journey by road takes about an hour and a half). It is expected that there will be enough cars to accommodate everyone. Parking is difficult; guidance will be given. The charge (including lunch but excluding travel) will be in the region of 20 per person. If interested (but without commitment at this stage), please sign the list at the back of the Church, where some additional information is provided. Graham Mordue. 5

6 ASWA Committee Member Installed as Chancellor of the Diocese of Southwark On Friday 19 th February I went to a very special service at Southwark Cathedral along with another member of the ASWA committee and our Chairman, Rt Revd Richard Llewellin. The service was Choral Evensong with the Installation of Honorary Canons, the Canon Missioner and the Chancellor of the Diocese of Southwark. Philip Petchey has been a member of the ASWA committee for a few years, and is our resident barrister. I don t think many of us knew about his connections with Southwark Cathedral, but recently we became aware that, after having been Deputy Chancellor of the Diocese for a while, he was to be installed as the new Chancellor that is, the chief legal officer for the Diocese, a judge in diocesan circles! So we just had to go in support. It was a beautiful service, with lovely music sung by the cathedral choir, a mixed group of choristers, not the traditional all-male ensemble. We had the opportunity to meet Philip afterwards, still in his official attire, to offer our congratulations at the reception. Sponsored ASWA Tree Walk in Battersea Park on 8 th May 2010 I shall be taking part in a sponsored walk in May to raise funds for ASWA. The walk will follow the Tree Trail in Battersea Park. The park has over 4,000 trees, some of which date back to the original layout of So, over the next few weeks I shall be asking for sponsorship on Sunday mornings! ASWA is not a wealthy society and needs to raise funds to continue its work within the Church. ASWA s purpose is to raise awareness among Christians that animals matter to God as well as people, and that we, as Christians, have been given the important responsibility of taking care of the rest of Creation, including all the non-human species. We remember that when God made his covenant it was with all living things. Each year ASWA sends out free packs of literature to churches celebrating Animal Welfare Sunday, comprising a suggested Order of Service, a general booklet to introduce the concept of Animal Welfare Sunday and sermon notes with accurate information and scriptural links for the year s theme. We have a presence at various events and fairs throughout the year, such as Greenbelt, where we meet both Christians and non- Christians, and we hold an annual service. Please sponsor me so that I can do my bit to help ASWA continue its work. Sarah Dunning 6

7 CONFIRMATION SERVICE Congratulations to the 14 candidates, named below, who were Confirmed at St Michael's on 24th February 2010 by the Rt Revd Christopher Foster, Bishop of Hertford Tola Dabiri-Hughes Lana Olwen Hughes Laurence Edward Kimberly Katherine Ann Olewnik Laura Grace Olewnik Linda Ann Olewnik Alex Ogendo Otieno Annah Awvor Otieno Grace Anago Otieno Christine Atiena Otieno Anusha Marie Simon Manjula Lianne Simon George Calum Tunmore Charlie Finbar Vos (Baptized and Confirmed) We wish them well as they journey on in their Christian faith 7

8 DIARY OF EVENTS FOR APRIL END OF MARCH 28th SUN PALM SUNDAY (BST begins clocks go forward) Holy Communion (Pres: Fr Geoff) SUNG EUCHARIST (Pres: Fr Geoff) Passion Narrative (Crèche ) followed by a Bring-&-Buy Sale Publicity Committee Evening Prayer (Off: Fr Geoff)) 8.00 am 9.30 am am 6.30 pm Holy Week 29th Mon ) Meditation on 3 Stations of the Cross followed by Eucharist 8.00 pm 30th Tue ) ditto 8.00 pm 31st Wed ) ditto 8.00 pm APRIL 1st Thu MAUNDY THURSDAY No 10 am Celebration Communion to Fairhaven Choir Practice pm Eucharist of the Last Supper followed by Stripping of the Altar and Vigil through the night 2nd Fri GOOD FRIDAY The Last Three Hours 12 noon - Way of the Cross for all the family (12-1 pm) Last Seven Words from the Cross (1-2 pm) Good Friday Liturgy (2-3 pm) 3rd Sat Parish Walk leaving church at am Easter Workshop pm Easter Vigil and Eucharist am 8.00 pm 3.00 pm 9.00 pm 4th SUN EASTER DAY Holy Communion (Fr Geoff) 8.00 am SUNG EUCHARIST (Pres & Preacher: Fr Geoff) (Crèche) 9.30 am Evening Prayer (Off: Fay Storey) 6.30 pm 5th Mon Bank Holiday Pilgrimage to St Albans (starting with prayers in the Lady 9.00 am Chapel) 6th Tue Service at The Chase Care Home 3.00 pm 7th Wed Bring-&-Share Lunch pm 8th Thu St Anthony s during morning Choir Practice pm 8

9 11th Sun Easter 2 Holy Communion (Fr George) SUNG EUCHARIST (Pres & Preacher: Fr George) with Crèche and Sunday School) Service of Thanksgiving & Praise Youth Group Lunch?Service at River Court Evening Prayer (Off: Fr Geoff)) 8.00 am 9.30 am am am 3.00 pm 6.30 pm 13th Tue Intercessory Prayer Group (Choir Vestry) 2.30 pm 14th Wed Service at Home Manor (Violet) 3.00 pm Bible Study (John ch 12) Choir Vestry 8.00 pm 15th Thu Mothers Union attend the Service of Holy Communion am followed by a meeting in the Choir Vestry (Speaker: Fr Geoff) All welcome Choir Practice pm 18th SUN EASTER 3 Holy Communion (Fr Geoff) SUNG EUCHARIST (Pres: Fr Geoff; Preacher: Martin Heath) (Crèche and Sunday School) THE SIX O CLOCK SERIES: A TAIZE SERVICE 22nd Thu Choir Practice pm 23rd Fri ST GEORGE 24th Sat Sale for St Michael s with coffee noon Kids Saturday pm 25th SUN EASTER 4 Holy Communion (Pres: Fr George) SUNG EUCHARIST (Pres: Fr Geoff: Preacher: Violet Allen Smith) (Crèche and Sunday School) followed by Bring-and- Buy Sale Evening Prayer (Off: Fr George) 28th Wed ANNUAL VESTRY MEETING followed by the ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING 8.00 am 9.30 am 6.00 pm 8.00 am 9.30 am 6.30 pm 7.45 pm Morning Prayer is said daily in the Lady Chapel (Monday to Friday) at 9.00 am. A service of Holy Communion is held every Thursday at am. Both this and the 8 am on Sunday morning are Order One in Traditional Language. The Toddlers Group meets in Church (or Choir Vestry) every Monday from am except on Bank Holidays. Tea, Coffee & Squash are served in Church every Wednesday from until noon. On the first Wednesday of the month this is followed by a bring-and-share lunch. 9

10 SUNG EUCHARIST DUTY LIST (March) Sunday 4th April Easter Day Deacons V Allen-Smith, M Simon Intercessor N Hart Chalice M Simon, A Kiddle Lesson Readers tba Sidespeople A Makin, C Dixon, P Ricketts Crèche L Kinch, A Makin Sunday 11th April Deacons Intercessor Chalice Lesson Readers Sidespeople Crèche V Alvarez, V Allen-Smith P Beach V Allen-Smith, A Kiddle tba D Beach, H Moring, V Blacklock, N Roche, K Roche Sunday 18th April Deacons Intercessor Chalice Lesson Readers Sidespeople Crèche A Eccleshall, J Wareham J Adams B Hutchinson, J Wareham tba N Hart, J Alexander, P Hart A Makin, A Mc Donald Sunday 25th April Deacons Intercessor Chalice Lesson Readers Sidespeople Crèche M Simon, V Allen-Smith A Eccleshall S Moring, V Allen-Smith tba P Coley, I Bilson, A Coley N Roche, A Mc Donald 10

11 HEAVEN OR HELL? A little Tale (or Tail) with the General Election not far away! A politician died. When he arrived in Heaven St Peter told him that he was a Border Case and they were not sure if he should be in Heaven or Hell. The decision will be yours St Peter informed him But to help you, you will spend a day in Heaven and then a day in Hell So the first day he spent in Heaven and the second day he entered the special lift and descended to Hell. On the third day he returned to Heaven and was met by St Peter. What have you decided? asked St Peter. Well said the politician The first day in Heaven was very nice. Wonderful singing with heavenly choirs, splendid scenery and everything so peaceful with no worries or cares. I found it very relaxing. However, when I arrived in Hell it was a hive of activity with everything going on. You could go to the races or the casino, there were beautiful women around and you could do what ever took your fancy, it was marvellous. So what will it be? asked St Peter Heaven or Hell. Definitely Hell replied the politician. So be it said St Peter But there is no return! The politician re-entered the special lift and again descended to Hell. The doors of the lift opened and he stepped out but the scene that greeted him was one of absolute horror. Fire and brimstone, Hobgoblins and other terrible creatures were all around and there were terrible screams and shouts. Just then the Devil walked over and said Welcome to Hell. We are so pleased you decided to join us. But, but stammered the politician yesterday when I was here it was nothing like this Well said the Devil yesterday we were electioneering but now you have cast your vote everything is back to normal. Editor 11

12 St Michael and All Angels Church, Watford Make! Learn! Worship! Saturday 3rd April 2010, 2-4pm Kids Holy Saturday The second in a new series of Workshops for children aged 5-11 Younger children welcome with parental supervision Young people 11+ welcome to help Ring for further details. Future dates, April 24th, May 29th, June 26th, July 24th, and more! 12 St Michael and All Angels PCC is a Registered Charity No

13 PASTOR: GARTH WOODHEAD Regular services: Every Sunday: 10.30am Family service. The children leave the main service at around 11am for Sunday School. Holy Communion is celebrated the 4th Sunday of each month. Refreshments are served in the back hall after the meeting. In addition: Every Sunday at 2.30pm the French speaking church meet for bible teaching and worship. Every Friday at 7pm the Indian speaking church meet for bible teaching and worship. Joint services for April: TBA. The Herts Baptist Forum s Prayer Link: Not available BMS Prayer Guide: Please pray for:- 28th March - 3rd April: Peru 4th April - 10th April: Thailand 11th April - 17th April: India 18th April - 24th April: Afghanistan 25th April - 1st March: Baptist Annual Assembly. 13

14 EASTER MESSAGE Easter is almost upon us. It seems no time since the shops were full of turkey and tinsel with everyone rushing to buy presents. Now the supermarket shelves are packed with Easter eggs. We were reminded the other day, by one of our grandsons, of the Easter egg hunt we hold at ours. The eggs are carefully hidden in different parts of the house and, on arrival, each grandchild is given a bag and sent off to search for eggs (with a watchful eye to ensure that there are fair shares for all). So, yes, we, like many, have entered into some of the commercialism of Easter. In the egg hunt there are different sorts of eggs, different sizes, different wrappers - all very tempting, all need to be collected. Today, for us, it is so easy to surround ourselves with many different sorts of pleasures that we may lock out the appropriate time, respect and honour due our Saviour. When you review those concluding hours of Jesus life culminating in His crucifixion on the cross, you are drawn again to the pain, the suffering, the rejection by everyone including His Father. All of this for we who are so undeserving. Then follows the resurrection, the overcoming of death, our promise of a new life, a never ending life, a life without pain and suffering, and a new home prepared for us by Jesus. What joy there is waiting for you and I. Thank God for Easter each year to remind us what Jesus has done. Thank God that we are given time to celebrate His amazing love. Now let s play our part and give Him all the honour and glory due His name. Garth. 14

15 What else is going on? Wednesday 7.30pm: Housegroup / Prayer meeting. The first Weds of each month is a joint prayer meeting of the Free, French and Indian churches. The last Weds of each month from 2.30pm pm there is a service at Rivercourt which the residents look forward to and enjoy. Please join us if you can. Next service is March 31st. Every Tuesday from 9.15am pm: Cafe West. We enjoy it, so would you! Good Friday 3pm: We will have a short devotional service. Easter Sunday 10.30am: We celebrate. April birthdays: 1st: Beatrice Collings 5th: Sneha Matthew 7th: Enid Ashby Tail piece: Say A Prayer Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his grandmother s house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served When little Johnny received his plate he started eating immediately. Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer said his mother. I don t need to the boy replied. Of course you do his mother insisted, We always say a prayer before eating in our house. That s at our house the boy explained, but this is grandma s house, and she knows how to cook!! Lesley Patterson 15

16 JUMBLE SALE SATURDAY 10th April WEST WATFORD FREE CHURCH 10AM - 12 NOON FREE ADMISSION!! REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE. BOOKS TOYS CDs VIDEOS CLOTHES TOILETRIES BARGAINS FOR EVERYONE! 16

17 St Michael & All Angels Church Tel:- (01923) Web site: Vicar * Revd Geoffrey Calvert St Michael s Vicarage, 5 Mildred Avenue Hon. Asst. Curate * Revd George Ochola BTh 57 Whippendell Road Readers * Mrs V Allen-Smith 40 Park Avenue * Dr M Heath 72 Harwoods Road Churchwardens Mr P Chandler 115 Kensington Avenue Mrs S Moring 6 Cassiobury Park Avenue Joint PCC Secretary Mrs P Beach 18 The Gardens Mrs V Matthews 134 Mildred Avenue PCC Treasurer Mrs C J Deeley 5 Greenbury Close, Chorleywood Hall Secretary Mr P Jenkins 86 Mildred Avenue Sacristan Mr J Wareham 26 Belgrave Avenue Organist & Choirmaster Mr A Benoy Flat 1, Prince Michael of Kents Lodge, Stratford Road SWORD Magazine Mr D Beach 18 The Gardens Gift Aid Secretary Mr R Ward 67 The Chase Electoral Roll Secretary Mr H Moring 6 Cassiobury Park Avenue The Children s Soc. Secretary Mrs N Twitchin 78 Princes Avenue Brownie Guides Mrs S Mulligan Creche Mrs A Makin 37 St James Road Sunday School Mrs K Jenkins 86 Mildred Avenue Kids Club & Youth Group Mrs J Talbot 35 Kings Avenue Young Children & Grown-Ups Lesley Kinch Flat 21, Ashridge House, Chenies Way Mothers Union Mrs P Gandy 15 Lynbury Court Wednesday Coffee Morning Mrs J Dickinson 23 Whippendell Road Social Committee Mrs N Brighton 87 Kings Avenue The names of members of the Parochial Church Council and their membership of the various committees will be found on the Church Notice Board. * Members of the Pastoral Team. For the Month s Diary of events and details of all Church Services please turn to the centre pages of this magazine. West Watford Free Church (Baptist) Pastor Mr Garth Woodhead 184 Hagden Lane Church Secretary Mr A Cockram 139 Briar Road, Kingswood St Michael s Reg. Charity No