Writing a week after completing my first year in Ickenham I can say that 2007 has certainly given me cause to look forward to 2008 with enthusiasm.

The buzz and range of activities at the Festive Evening in December was a promising foretaste of the two-yearly Ickenham Festival coming up in June.  Knowing what the churches are hoping to include in and around their tent in Swakeleys Grounds on the Gala Day just heightens the anticipation of a great event for the whole village.

The CLICK Rukiga scheme has been formulated during 2007 to start community links between Ickenham and Rukiga in southwest Uganda and there are well-founded hopes for the ways the links may grow: learning of life there, praying for each other, and contributing resources through a water-supply project, child sponsorship and possibly a volunteer worker.  It will be interesting to see how groups with particular concerns may pursue them, taking up the opportunities offered by this scheme.

Holiday Club was clearly the focus of attention for hundreds of children and family members in the first week of the school summer holidays last year, so I know there is much to be celebrated at the 40^th Anniversary occasion on 12^th July, as well as rapt expectation of the 2008 Club Week, from 28^th July to 1^st August.

The experiment of Live@Five, where people of all ages actively join in informal worship, arranged by a different team each time, will complete its run of six sessions on 24^th February (St Giles’ Hall from 5pm to 5.45pm plus refreshments).  It has attracted around 40-50 people each month so far, and stimulated personal and shared devotion, so we are keenly awaiting comments and review during March to find what will be spiritually helpful for the future.

Having renewed contact with Scouting through visiting the Centenary Jamboree in Essex and Live’07 at the O₂ dome, and joining in Bonfire Night, Remembrance Sunday Parade and Christmas Parties locally, I’m hoping for further ways to give support or encouragement to the various sections of the Scouts and Guides in Ickenham.

Seeing the value of the Pastoral Support Group, with its training and experience in care for the bereaved, I am confident in the service it will give during 2008, at the monthly drop-ins and the annual memorial service where I have been asked to speak.

And there are so many more aspects that I haven’t mentioned, and even more to discover, I am sure, as we explore this year together.  Thanks to all who have extended a welcome, and praise to God for the gift of life.

Bernie

 

By the time this article is published in ICN we shall fast be approaching the season of Lent.  This is the period of forty days which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar.  It is very early this year, with the first day, Ash Wednesday being on 6^th February.  Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter.  By observing the forty days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for forty days.

Purple is the symbolic colour used in some churches throughout Lent, for drapes and altar frontals and for the stoles that the Priest wears.  Purple is used for two reasons: firstly because it is associated with mourning and so anticipates the pain and suffering of the crucifixion, and secondly because purple is the colour associated with royalty, and celebrates Christ's resurrection and sovereignty. 

Lent is marked by fasting, both from food and festivities.  People often ‘give something up for Lent’, usually some kind of indulgence such as chocolate or cakes.  This is linked with the tradition of having pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent starts.  By having pancakes you could use up all the fats and eggs and so on before starting to fast.  As a child I can remember having pancakes on Shrove Tuesday but I wonder how many continue the tradition today?

At the Ash Wednesday services in St. Giles’, churchgoers have the opportunity to be marked on the forehead with a cross of ashes as a sign of penitence and mortality.  The use of ashes, made by burning palm crosses from last year’s Palm Sunday services, is very symbolic.  As each person is marked on the forehead, the priest says remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return, or a similar phrase based on God's sentence on Adam in Genesis 3:19.  Most people keep the cross on their forehead when they leave the church as a sign to all they meet of God’s love and sacrifice.

May Lent be for you a time to reflect on God’s love.

With God’s blessings

Revd Ken Tombs

 

The Revd Donald Howell BD, much loved Minister at Ickenham Congregational Church  (now the URC) from 1962 to 1971, died peacefully in hospital near to his retirement home in Holt, Norfolk on December 28^th. 

During his ministry in Ickenham, Don was instrumental in establishing Holiday Club, encouraging joint study groups with St Giles’ and contributing to what was then a new publication, Ickenham Church News.

After leaving Ickenham, Don served the church at Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield for a further seven years.  Then he trained as a District Nurse, serving jointly with his wife on the nursing circuit in Birmingham for nine years.  They retired to Holt in 1992 and continued nursing in the Sheringham area.  In 1997, Don became a Church of England ordinand, and in the last few years, he served and preached in the parish church of St Andrews where he and his wife had settled so happily. 

He leaves a son Mark, a daughter Carey and five grandchildren to whom we extend our warm sympathy and love.

Eileen Playle

 

Baptisms at St Giles’

Dec 30^th           Emily Roslyn MacLean
Jan 13^th            Samuel Charles McArtney-Roberts
                        Gavin Roberts

Baptism at the URC

Jan 6^th              Ruth Piper

Confirmations at the URC

Jan 6^th              Ruth Piper
                        Adam Wright

Cremations at Breakspear Crematorium

Nov 23^rd          Denis Cookson, aged 71
Jan 11^th            Ivy Woods, aged 93

 

Each Sunday at St Giles’ Church we pray for all the people who live or work in a particular road in the Parish.  During February we will pray for the following roads: 

Feb 3rd            Gilmore Close

Feb 10^th           Grove Close

Feb 17^th           Glebe Avenue

Feb 24^th           Glebe Close

If you live in one of these roads why not join us at our 8am or 9.45am services?  You will be most welcome.

 

As Ken mentioned earlier, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, on February 6^th this year.  There are two Holy Communion services that day, at 10am and at 8pm in St Giles’ Church.  The evening service will include the first in the Churches’ joint Lent study sessions.

Do consider joining one of the Churches’ study groups, which will meet for six sessions during the Lent period.  After that first session during the Ash Wednesday evening communion service, you can choose to attend a group meeting on Tuesday morning, Wednesday evening, Thursday afternoon or Thursday evening.  The groups will be following ‘A Journey of Love’ material produced by Scripture Union.  The focus is on Jesus’ ministry of words and actions.  Please sign up in advance for the groups, which you can do in either church.

Additionally, Adrian recommends a very inspiring booklet produced by the Church Army for daily reading during Lent.  It is called ‘Hope in Word, Hope in Action’, stories of hope from Church Army Evangelists along with a brief reflection and prayer suggestion.  The booklets are free and are available at St Giles’ or at www.churcharmy.org.uk.