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From The Rectory
 In the time between
Easter and Pentecost (or Whitsun) at the end of this month, our
readings at the Eucharist include the stories from the Gospels
of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances to his followers.
During this period Jesus was preparing them, through his teaching,
for the task ahead of them, namely to continue the work he had
begun in calling people into faith. Jesus promises that
they will not be left alone for such a task but that they will
be empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Father Christopher Bryant, sometime Member of the Society
of St John the Evangelist (the Cowley Fathers) writes about the
coming of the Holy Spirit in these terms:
"As the Apostles waited for the promised power from on
high they must have been weighed down with the responsibility
of their mission. They knew their weakness and they knew
something of the forces ranged against them. Then on the day
of Pentecost their fears and misgivings are swept away as by
a hurricane. The Holy Spirit takes possession of them and
makes them new men. He fills them with new faith, new courage,
new purpose, and new initiative. The sound of storm and
the sight of flame are the outward signs of God's action in heart
and mind. The reality of the risen Christ, reigning with
God yet standing in their midst, comes home to the disciples.
Their hearts go out to God in gratitude and trust. They
are bound together in a brotherhood of love and mutual service.
The changed lives of the disciples and the rapid growth in their
numbers, despite fierce and sustained persecution, showed that
the Holy Spirit had come to stay."
I write on the evening of Easter Day and I give thanks to
God for all those who came and filled our Churches today to celebrate
the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Modern day people of
faith, although perhaps not persecuted as in time past (in this
country at least), still need that new courage and new purpose
which Fr Christopher Bryant writes about as they seek to serve
God in the 21st century. As again we are reminded above, the
Holy Spirit came at Pentecost 'to stay'. Thanks be to God
for that!
Greetings and peace to you all.
Philip
From St Giles' Registers
Cremations at Breakspear Crematorium
| Mar. 16th |
Frederick Charles Greenfield, aged
76 (followed by Thanksgiving Service in St Giles' Church). |
| 22nd |
Nasey Griffon Avery, aged 84 |
| 23rd |
Stanley William Barker, aged 90 |
| 26th |
Ellen (Nell) Clara Pater, aged 98 |
| 31st |
Gordon Ronald Hooper, aged 74 |
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| Apr. 1st |
Ivan Dowling, aged 60 |
| 2nd |
Elizabeth (Betty) Terry Davies, aged 81
(After Funeral Service in St Giles' Church) |
| 5th |
Margaret Barker, aged 86 |
| 7th |
Frederick Aldrich, aged 95 |
From The U.R.C. Elders
What did you give up in Lent - Chocolate, Beer, Wine - or
alcohol in general? For some, the forty days from Ash Wednesday
to Easter Sunday proved a very testing time. A colleague
of mine had successfully given up chocolate but was dismayed
to find that a momentary lapse had caused her to break her chocolate
'ban'. Her friend had offered her a chocolate and she had simply
forgotten. Of course her friend apologised but she felt extremely
bad that she had broken her Lent promise.
Saying 'sorry' can sometimes be very difficult for us to do.
In fact, some of us cannot say sorry. Many of us spend our lives
convincing others - and ourselves - that when things go wrong,
it is always someone else's fault. This probably tells others
more about ourselves, and our shortcomings, than about the person
we are blaming.
So, what is so wrong about being wrong once in a while? What
would happen if we took the blame ourselves when we made mistakes?
What exactly are we afraid of?
Perhaps we are afraid of not being forgiven. Perhaps we do
not believe it is possible to forgive. Perhaps we have difficulty
forgiving others.
In the prayer Jesus himself gave us, we ask God to forgive
us as we forgive those who trespass against us.
The grace of forgiveness is threefold. The one who is forgiven
is freed from guilt and blame. The one who forgives is freed
from the chains of resentment. Both are united more closely to
the Will of God. Forgiveness is an occasion for love, which brings
great healing into our relationships.
With that in mind, let us resolve to love
more deeply and warmly with each opportunity to forgive - or
be forgiven. Let us open ourselves completely to the action of
grace, and allow ourselves to be healed. Let it be a source of
joy to all who know us that our forgiving love can be depended
upon - always.
Jeremy Day
Memorial Service
For The Bereaved
There will be a special joint churches'
service in St Giles' on Sunday 2nd May at 3 p.m. for those who
have been bereaved during the past year. The name of their
departed loved one, whose funeral was taken between 1st April
2003 and 28th February 2004 by the U.R.C. or St Giles' clergy,
will be read out during the service. The preacher will be the
Revd. Paul Hullyer from All Saints, Hillingdon. Members of the
churches' Pastoral Support Group will be present.
After the service, the congregation will be invited to refreshments
in St Giles' Church Hall.
Anyone who would find this service helpful is welcome to attend.
"6.30 Specials"
In St Giles' Church Hall
On Sunday May 30th The Revd. Ken Tombs will
speak on Paul's Illustration of Church Life Body
Matters. Where Do We Fit In?
Ickenham Churches'
Junior Holiday Club
ADVANCED NOTICE: PLEASE NOTE THESE
DATES
Open to all Ickenham children aged 7-11
(those now in school Years 2-6.) Come along and join the usual
fun from Monday 26th July - Friday 30th July, with Grand Finale
7 p.m. Friday 30th July in the Rectory Garden. Registration for
this will be after school on Friday, 16th July at the U. R. C.
Enquiries: Rosemary Hodgson 01895 253217 or Diana May 01895 234813
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