S.O.S. WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP
Membership of the W.F. has been declining over the past few years to the extent that there is concern it may not be able to continue. Many long-standing members, and others, are now unable to attend because of failing health. The W.F. confesses to ‘mounting years’ but its members remain ‘young at heart’. If there are any women “out there”, with free time on Wednesday afternoons, who would like to join the Fellowship, then they would be welcomed warmly. The meetings are weekly in the U.R.C. Hardwick Room at 2.45 p.m. and consist of a mixture of devotional, social and instructive programmes. 2005 will be the 60th Anniversary year, so we invite you to help us celebrate it with an influx of new members.
If you have any questions then please speak to Eileen Playle: Tel. 01923 821886 or Barbara Main: Tel 01895 634724
INNER WHEEL CLUB OF ELTHORNE-HILLINGDON
Invite you to a CHARITY CRAFT FAIR on Thursday, 4th November from 12 noon to 2 p.m. in Ickenham Village Hall. There will be a variety of stalls and refreshments will be available. Proceeds will go to ‘Whizz Kidz and Cystic Fibrosis.
HALF OF HALFORD ROAD NEEDS TWO PERMANENT ICN DELIVERERS
The good news is that part of Edinburgh Drive has a new permanent deliverer, but we have now lost both our long time volunteers who, between them, delivered ICN to half of Halford Road. The October and November editions have been covered temporarily, but we cannot guarantee deliveries from December onward unless two permanent volunteers come forward. Telephone the Editor, a.s.a.p. on 01895 632442 if you are prepared to help.
More volunteers are needed on a continuing basis. It may well be your road next!
ORGAN RECITAL - SATURDAY 13TH NOVEMBER AT 7.30 P.M.
Continuing the very successful series of organ recitals this year, we have arranged for Paul Ayres to play a selection of popular organ music on Saturday 13th November. Paul will introduce the music and highlight some of the themes, which will include the famous Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (BWV 565) by J. S. Bach, Arrival of the Queen of Sheba and the Royal Fireworks music by G F Handel, the Barber Adagio and other well-known pieces. We look forward to welcoming Paul back once again and are sure of another memorable evening of music making. Admission is £5 payable at the door.
NEW ST GILES’ CHURCH WEBSITE UP AND RUNNING
The absolutely super new St Giles’ Church website has now been uploaded. It looks really professional, and contains a wealth of information. The history pages are yet to be completed. You can access the site direct through www.stgileschurch.co.uk or via the menu in ICNOnline www.ickenhamchurchnews.co.uk
HELLO FROM JAMES MOONEY-DUTTON
Greetings from Norwich
It is now four weeks since I left St Giles’. As I sit in my office in Norwich, it seems a very long time ago that I was still in Ickenham!
I would like to begin by saying a huge thank you to all those who gave me such a kind and “prayer-filled” send off from St. Giles’. I really appreciated it.
My association with St Giles’ goes back almost 13 years when I joined the choir. After a brief spell in the choir of Westminster Abbey, I returned to the area and shortly after became Assistant Organist, a job I enjoyed immensely right up until the end.
I am now settled in nicely in Norwich. I am living on Bishopgate, a road just behind the Cathedral with houses owned by the Cathedral, in a house on my own getting to grips with the whole washing, ironing and cooking saga!
My work duties include playing for a minimum of two (normally more) Cathedral services a week and taking probationers’ rehearsals at eight o’clock two mornings a week. As Assistant Director of the Girls’ Choir, I accompany or conduct them every Tuesday. I have a certain amount of responsibility at my desk in the Cathedral office being in charge of visiting choirs. I am delighted to have the St Giles’ Choir booked in to sing on April 9th and 10th next year! Aside from my duties at the Cathedral, I am directing a local based chamber choir, The Viva Voce Singers with whom I intend to do a performance of The Messiah next term with orchestra and soloists.
I am afraid to say that you haven’t got rid of me from Ickenham entirely! I will be back for things like Holiday Club but before then I will be back to play for Philip’s last service in October.
Once again, a heartfelt thank you for all your good wishes and do come and visit Norwich!
James Mooney-Dutton
All Saints, or All Hallows, is the feast of all the redeemed, known and unknown, who are now in heaven. When the English Reformation took place, the number of saints in the calendar was drastically reduced, with the result that All Saints’ Day stood out with a prominence that it had never had before.
This feast day first began in the East, perhaps as early as the 5th century, as commemorating ‘the martyrs of the whole world’. A Northern English 9th century calendar named All Hallows as a principal feast, and such it has remained. Down the centuries devotional writers have seen in it the fulfilment of Pentecost and indeed of Christ’s redemptive sacrifice and resurrection.
The saints do not belong to any religious tradition, and all Christians can appreciate their lives and witness to Christ. Richard Baxter, writing in the 17th century, wrote the following:
He wants not friends that hath thy love,
And made converse and walk with thee,
And with thy saints here and above,
With whom for ever I must be...
As for my friends, they are not lost;
The several vessels of thy fleet,
Though parted now, by tempests tost,
Shall safely in thy haven meet....
The heavenly hosts, world without end,
Shall be my company above;
And thou, my best and surest Friend,
Who shall divide me from thy love?
1,255 ancient English churches were dedicated to All Saints. We have a newer one in Long Lane.
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