FROM ST GILES’ CLERGY

Just an ordinary day?
From now on, until All Saints Day (1st November), the hangings in church go green, to remind us that we are in ‘ordinary time’. Now’s the season when there’s loads of potential for growth in the garden, and it’s a time when we can grow in our faith too. It may be ‘ordinary’ time, but that doesn’t mean it is mundane. Recently, I was reading the gripping and inspiring story of Paul and Silas in the book of Acts in the Bible. They had been arrested, beaten and thrown into prison for sharing their faith about Jesus Christ. But even in these dire circumstances in their prison cell, they were still praising God by singing hymns and psalms.

That reminded me of a book I read as a teenager, called ‘From Prison to Praise’. The punch line of which is that praising God should be as much a part of our lives as breathing. I then recalled a verse in the Bible - ‘Rejoice in the Lord always’. The six-letter word at the end of that phrase has huge implications. In order to grow in our faith, we have to trust God whatever the circumstances, and praising God is a practical expression of that faith.

When we’re up against it, I guess the last thing we might want to hear someone say, is ‘Rejoice in the Lord’, but through this process, we are taken beyond our circumstances and God’s presence seems to grow a little closer to us. Often our situation won’t change dramatically, although our faith in God will help us cope, and it will certainly be a time of growth for us. Sometimes, something extraordinary happens as it did for Paul and Silas in that prison cell. As they sung hymns and psalms, an earthquake caused everybody’s chains to fall off and the prison gate flew open!

Wow, Paul and Silas’ faith must have grown that day! But so can our faith grow through more ordinary events. By rejoicing in the Lord always, let’s make this ‘ordinary time’ a fertile period of growth in our relationship with God.

INDUCTION SERVICE FOR THE NEW RECTOR
The Revd Adrian Guthrie is being inducted as Rector of St Giles’ on 4th July at 7.30 p.m. in St Giles’ Church. If you would like to attend, please sign the list in either church before 19th June. Please note that from 1st June, his contact details will be: The Revd. Adrian Guthrie, The Rectory, 38 Swakeleys Road, Ickenham, UXBRIDGE, Middlesex UB10 8BE. Tel: 01895 622970

FROM ST GILES’ REGISTERS

Baptisms
Apr. 17th     Adam Thomas Ferguson
May 8th      Sam Hurst
                  Charlie Eric Kristensen

Cremations at Breakspear Crematorium
Apr. 25th     Bryan John Davis, aged 68 (after a service in St Giles' Church)
May 4th       Sylvia Irene Vince, aged 89
       13th      Molly Demmar, aged 78

FROM THE URC ELDERS

You know summer is coming when…
     - You need to wear your sunglasses to drive to work in the morning (and more often than not in the evening as well)
     - The grass needs cutting on a weekly basis.
     - It’s time to stock up on antihistamines (and tissues!!)
     - You end up being asked by family and friends if you can drop them at the airport for their holidays.

I was reminded that summer approaches recently when an appeal was made in our Sunday morning church service for help with this year’s Holiday Club. Being born and bred in Ickenham, Holiday Club played a large part in developing my faith and understanding of Christ’s word. It strikes me the format of the Holiday Club is a winning formula – after all it hasn’t changed that much since I attended in the 70’s, or helped as a leader in the 80’s. However, it has moved on and everyone involved has played a part in developing it and keeping it the success it is now! I won’t attempt to list the leaders I can remember, as I’ll only miss someone out. However, my period as a helper was at the time when the late Revd. Liz Davies was part of the team and from this, and my involvement in the U.R.C., I forged a very influential relationship with Liz that helped develop my faith. My faith serves as a reminder that Holiday Club really does continue to be a real focal point in the lives of Ickenham children and of both churches in our community.

Holiday Club helped me to appreciate all the things I am freely given in my life – most of which, but not all I hasten to add – I probably take for granted! Many events in my life have resulted in me taking stock with the result that I think I appreciate everything I have. The children in Ickenham are lucky that a large group (probably around 100) adults and young people are very willing to give their time and talents freely to do God’s work. As a member of the Junior Church staff at the URC I gain great pleasure and joy leading the small group of teenagers we have. They are a lively bunch, always happy to participate in any discussions and often challenge my thinking – which is good for me from time to time. It was great to join forces with youngsters from St Giles’ for the morning when the Covenant Service was conducted at the URC.

As a regular Holiday Club helper, it was the influence of Liz and the then U.R.C. Minister, Alan Cassingham, that encouraged me to continue working with children by joining the U.R.C. and teaching in Junior Church. That was over 20 years ago, and with the exception of a few years, I have always been involved with the Junior Church in some way. It’s changed over the years (doesn’t everything?) but I enjoy the interaction with the children today as much as I did over 20 years ago. I’m just glad that God has given me the talents and encouragement to do my bit in developing the faith and witness of our children. After all, they are our future.

Jeremy Day (Elder)