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FROM ST GILES’ CLERGY
 Since Boxing Day, like many people, I have learnt a new word – ‘Tsunami’. It hasn’t taken long for it to become part of our everyday conversation because it carries with it a huge significance, one that has shocked people all around the world. The financial response to this disaster has been truly heartening, as has the desire to pray for those whose lives have been torn apart. Please continue to pray and to give beyond the time when media attention wanes. Societies like the Church Mission Society (CMS) will become more active in the countries affected when the Disasters Emergency Committee has met the initial problem. CMS, which is one of the mission organisations supported by St Giles’ specialises in sending personnel with particular expertise to provide more long-term support for communities and individuals. CMS has begun an appeal for financial help and is looking for people with relevant skills to consider going to South East Asia.
The transformation from paradise to place of terror, or as a local newspaper put it, ‘From Heaven to Hell’, makes us think about the source of true happiness, tranquillity and peace. Even the most beautiful places on earth cannot completely satisfy our longing for paradise. Ultimately, our longings can only be fully met by being in a relationship with God through Christ, which sets us on a journey that will take us to a flawless paradise, eternity spent with God. During Lent, the Ickenham Churches will combine for small groups and midweek talks (please see Lent article for more information). In the small groups, we are going to be looking at Jesus’ teaching about the source of true happiness using material called ‘Life Attitudes’. It is a peculiar fact about faith in God that it often grows stronger when faced with adversity, and so we pray that God’s presence, comfort and strength will be very real to all those affected by the Tsunami. Those of us not directly affected can also be growing in faith in God as we reflect on these events.
The Revd. Adrian Guthrie
Baptisms
2004
Nov. 14th Jade Mary Crick
George Leo Frederick Stone-Sobol
Diane Simone Stone
28th James Christopher Smith
Sarah Jane McCutcheon
Dec. 18th Paul Woodhead
20th Rory Jonathan Orlando Chilton
30th Lilly Jane Baxter
Cremations at Breakspear Crematorium
2004
Nov. 23rd Jack Hopperton, aged 85
29th Ronald William Wells, aged 75
Doreen Davis, aged 70 (after service in St Giles’ Church)
Dec. 2nd Edith Fielding, aged 89
3rd Geoffrey Williams, aged 77
Gladys Elsie Duval, aged 77
10th Penry Thomas, aged 90
16th John Christie, aged 66
17th Linda Dresser, aged 67
22nd Paul Woodhead, aged 65 (after service in St Giles’ Church)
31st Richard Best, aged 88
2005
Jan. 7th Margaret (Peg) Hodge, aged 85
10th William (Bill) Sharp, aged 94 (after service in St Giles’ Church)
21st Ivy Eileen Wiltshire, aged 82 (after service in St Giles’ Church)
Burial at Northwood Cemetery 2004
Dec. 1st Lisa Watson, aged 37 (after service in St Giles’ Church)
FROM THE U.R.C. REGISTERS
Nov. 30th Thanksgiving service for Gwen Milner Gardner , aged 91 (taken by The Revd Adrian Guthrie)
HOSPITAL COMMUNION SERVICES 2005
More Volunteers needed urgently
The next Sunday when volunteers are needed to collect patients from wards for Communion services in the hospital chapel is: Hillingdon Hospital, Sunday 16th January. More dates will be published in future months. This small service is very much appreciated by patients who have no family available to help them. To continue this service we need to supplement our regular team with more volunteers to provide cover for unavoidable absences. Anyone who is prepared to spend a couple of hours on occasional Sunday mornings, please contact Alan Grove on 020 8868 9220.
ICKENHAM U.R.C. CAREERS SUPPORT CENTRE
Ickenham U.R.C. is currently operating a support group for people who are unemployed, or looking for help. This initiative comes at a time when organised support for people seeking work is patchy. The Centre gives free advice to local people and offers practical support including training and advice on such topics as CV writing and updating, completing job applications, job-search methods and other related topics.
It is providing a rolling programme of training, and advice, relating to these subjects over a six-week programme.
The centre is open Each Monday between 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., is staffed by a qualified careers adviser, and is supported by volunteers
So if you are in need some help, or advice, please come along.
CHURCH HISTORY DVD AND VIDEOTAPE
2005 sees the 670th anniversary of St Giles’ Church.
The 1985 video of St Giles’ Church History has now been transferred to DVD using the original one-inch ‘C’ broadcast tape. For those wishing to have a copy in DVD – R or + R format please contact the Editor. The DVD is fully packaged in either a standard DVD, or jewel, case, and costs £8. The videotape is still available at the same price. Some 700 copies have been sold to date, and the video has become something of an historical document in its own right. Most new DVD players will play the aforementioned formats. Some older and new, cheaper, players might not. If you are not sure, the Editor can bring you a copy to see if it functions on your player. Usually the formats displayed are written on the front panel of the machine.
EALING MAGISTRATES’ COURT
Your Editor has received, recently, from Graham Chamberlain of Ealing Magistrates’ Court, a tribute to the Revd. Philip Robinson, the recently retired Priest-In-Charge of St Giles’ Church. Philip’s long term, and distinguished, record as a Justice of the Peace was noted in glowing terms.
Editor
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