ORGANISTS’ TRAINING.

St Giles’ has an history of training young organists, and several have gone on to be scholars at Oxford and Cambridge colleges, with James Mooney-Dutton presently the organ scholar at Norwich Cathedral. In January, a master class was held at the organ in Kiltegan, the home of John Miley, with the famous teacher James Parsons who is Director of the Oundle Organists’ Schools. The photograph shows Paul Burke, Chris Girdlestone and Robert Dixon undergoing tuition.
John Miley

JUNIOR CHURCH CHRISTMAS COLLAGE

Are you a regular user of the St Giles' Church Hall? If so, as you go in, make a point of looking at the large board on the right of the main door of the front hall. During the past year, the board has displayed a series of murals - at Easter, Harvest and Christmas. The children, and young people of the Junior Church, the Ickenham Brownies, and the Jack and Jill Mother and Toddler Group have created these. The recent Christmas mural shows all the events in the Christmas story.

CAROL SINGING FOR “SAVE THE CHILDREN”

At 10 o’clock on the morning of Christmas Eve, a few members of the St Giles’ Junior Church, with friends, gathered outside the Village Hall ready to sing carols and to collect money for the “Save the Children”. This carol singing is a regular event in the church’s calendar and has been taking place on Christmas Eve for over 30 years. On some occasions only a few people have been able to come; other years have seen a large gathering of children and adults. 2003 was a bumper year with 30 singers and instrumentalists! Due to a number of people suffering from heavy colds, only 15 people were able to take part in 2004. Nevertheless, due to the efforts by singers, violinist and guitarist, the collection totalled £235. The presence of Father Christmas was a great attraction for those children who were in the Village helping their families with the last bits of shopping.

For many who regularly take part, this occasion starts the celebration of the birth of the Christ child. We welcome anyone who is willing to join us. We are not a choir but just a group of people who wish to make a contribution to a charity while proclaiming to the folk of Ickenham the good news of Jesus’ birth. Do think about joining us on 24th December 2005!
Jenny Reid

TWO CHURCHES’ ASIAN TSUMANI COLLECTION

Our two Ickenham Churches made special collections for the Asian earthquake/tsunami appeal during 2nd and 9th January. The Mothers’ Union held a ‘Wayward Prayer Meeting’ and a collection from this was added to the total. At the time of going to press St Giles’ Church was able to send to the Disasters Emergency Committee about £1,000 and the URC had amassed a further £905 for Christian Aid. When one considers the claimable tax benefit, of some 30%, on charitable giving, the amount raised was around £2,600, and will probably rise in the weeks to come.

We give thanks for the safe return of local people, caught up in the disaster, including Sarah Cumming, 22, of Warren Road, and former student of Vyners School. Our prayers go out to all those families in which loved ones perished, and for all those, at home and abroad, trying to help in the current emergency, and the many ongoing disasters and war situations we hear of continually.

CHRISTMAS CHARITABLE GIVING

The two Christmas Eve Family Services at St Giles’ Church amassed some £565 for Hillingdon Mayor’s Charities. SOUNDBEAM - a new programme of music education for children with special needs, and A Transport Incubator for Hillingdon Hospital.

At the U.R.C. the Christmas Day collection raised £354 of which £177 went to Christian Aid’s Bethlehem Appeal and £177 to the URC Retired Ministers’ Housing Fund.

The U.R.C. Junior Christmas Service raised £260 for the UNICEF ‘Joy of Grace’ appeal.

U.R.C. COFFEE MORNINGS

Half of the revenue raised by the U.R.C. monthly Coffee Mornings is given to charity. During 2004, £750 was divided equally between Charles Curran House, The Sunshine Homes, and Grangewood Special School.

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