Spring 2014

Volume 5, Issue 1 www.stmaryswoodford.org.uk

St Mary’s Woodford Parish Magazine

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Welcome As we celebrate Easter, we remember that Jesus died and rose again to bring new life to all people who put their trust in him. This is good news to share! Last year, Bishop Stephen asked every church to celebrate the centenary of Chelmsford Diocese by organising ‘proclamation events’ in 2014. These would be enjoyable and/or useful events that church members could happily invite their friends to, and at which some aspect of Christian truth would be presented, in an attractive way so that people would be tempted to join a ‘nurture course’ such as the Just Looking course that we run at St Mary’s from time to time.

In November, at our open meeting about the growth of our church, people put forward many suggestions for what events we might organise, which would be of interest to people we know. Since then the Church Council has selected three viable possibilities: (1) a day learning about good health and well-being, (2) a coach trip to visit churches of artistic and historical interest, and (3) adding a spiritual dimension to our Food and Fun Day in May.

Have we got it right? Are these things that you could invite people to? Let us know, because they will succeed only if you invite, and if those you invite do come.

Happy Easter!

Front Cover: the Chapel at Pleshey, where we held our retreat in March.

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Baptisms 19th January Robert Laurence William Laurence Anna Laurence Funerals 2nd January Hilda Cottee

9th January Peter Elliott 3rd February Frederick Fulling 4th February Lilian Workman 28th February Ruth Gunn 13th March Jean Morgans 3rd April Janneke Williams

Parish Register

Saturday 17th May Food and Fun Day Bring friends, family and neighbours to St Mary’s for a range of

activities, and a great selection of food and drink. 11am - 3pm.

Saturday 12th July Bradwell Pilgrimage Come with us on a coach from Woodford, to the village of

Bradwell-on-Sea, and join other pilgrims for the last two miles

to the historic chapel built on the coast

by St Cedd in AD654, where we will be

celebrating 100 years of Chelmsford

Diocese with a service and activities

for all ages. www.bradwellpilgrimage.webs.com

Forthcoming events for your diary

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Life at St Mary’s

The Pleshey Lenten retreat

The theme of the retreat was: ‘Peter - a disciple like us?’

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So still and so quiet, simply searching my heart Difficult questions that tear me apart. Have I denied a friend who's in need Living each day at too fast a speed? Hiding the faith that may render a jeer "I'm not religious", the phrase that I fear. Has my faith been enough from wisdom above To point a clear path for the ones that I love? Those sleeping on pavements; little ones dying So what have I done to stop all the crying? A two pounds, a five pounds, a crisis lunch fee For some down and out to be well fed like me. Forgive me, I'm trying in a roundabout way To draw a bit closer as day follows day. For so many years your teachings I've heard So will try a bit harder to follow your word. Amen. Valerie Geller

A Poem inspired by the Pleshey retreat: Caring and Sharing

We are collecting non-perishable food for the Redbridge Foodbank. The collection box is now in the church foyer every Sunday.

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Welcome to our campanologists! The bell ringers ring most Sundays between 9.30 and 10am.

There have been bells at St Mary’s since the 16th Century. The 1552 Inventory of Church Goods at St. Mary’s show us there were three bells in the Tower and also a sanctus bell, which is rung at the most important point during Holy Communion.

We now have eight bells in total, making a full Octave, plus the Sanctus bell. Six bells were cast in 1721 with a further two made in 1930. The tower and the bells were fortunate to escape any damage as a result of the 1969 fire.

Our bell ringers took part in the cultural Olympiad celebrating the London 2012 Olympics on 27th July 2012. They joined bell ringers from all over the country and rang for three minutes.

On Sunday 23 March a Quarter Peal was rung in memory of Jean Morgans: 1260 changes of spliced Grandsire and Plain Bob Doubles. Those ringing were: 1 (Treble) Kate Walker; 2 Philip Petchey; 3 Jan Stenton; 4 Sue Blows; 5 Andrew Barnham; 6 (Tenor) Dennis Ellisdon.

The tower will be open for the Food and Fun Day on 17th May for visitors to see the bells for a small charge.

They can also go up to the roof to see a 360 degree view of London & Essex!

St. Mary’s bells have rung for over 300 years, providing a service to church and community. New members of the band are always welcome: practices are held on Monday evenings, with ringing on Sunday mornings and occasionally other times by arrangement.

For more information on the history of the bells a leaflet is available on request entitled ‘The Bells of St Mary’s, A Short History of Woodford Parish Bells’ by Adam C. Redgwell. Contact St Mary’s tower captain Liz Ruff on 020 8505 4540.

Life at St Mary’s

St Mary’s Bell Ringers

From left to right: Jan, Philip, Andrew, Sue, Dennis, and Kate

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Each second Wednesday of the month at 8pm members of Woodford Wives meet in the Gwinnell Room, often to listen to a speaker, followed by an opportunity for discussion. Recent talks have been entitled 'The Bethnal Green Tube Disaster' and 'Holidays on a Narrow Boat'. Visitors to the meetings are always welcome and I was one of the visitors in February.

The speaker for the evening was Carole Goddard, a Reader and part-time chaplain at Chelmsford Prison. She has previously spoken to Woodford Wives about Thailand - 'Three Worlds in One' and about her work with some of the children whose parent is serving a sentence. On this occasion Carole was speaking on the subject of 'Gay Marriage'.

An interesting discussion followed Carole's caring and informative presentation and I left the meeting reflecting on the evening. I shall look with interest to the subjects of further Woodford Wives meetings! Kit Dobson

For more information about Woodford Wives contact Joan Ware 020 8505 6727

At a recent house group meeting there was a discussion about a psalm which was either a favourite or had some special connection. The Psalms mentioned were Psalms 8, 23, 46, 51, 90, 91, 103, 121, and 150. Three of these have musical connections - Psalm 23 (Brother James's Air), Psalm 51 (Miserere by Allegri), Psalm 150 (from singing in our choir days). Do other people have favourite Psalms with special connections to share in the magazine? If so send in your contribution to: magazine@stmaryswoodford.org.uk

Woodford Wives

Favourite Psalm discussion at Church House Group

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On 19th June 1986 Kathleen Whitfield held the first gathering of the Fellowship Committee. At a previous PCC meeting the members had all been requested to form small groups intended to reach out into all aspects of church life and look to the future. Kathleen had the task of Fellowship among church members and people outside with the hope of bringing them into our church family. On that June day we first outlined our aims and objectives: 1. Ideal to have church open daily with tea/coffee urn available.

2. Identify all Gwinnell Room activities with view to DROP-IN CENTRE - this to be a priority. Possibility of open invitation to Scottish dancing on Monday evenings and Snooker Club on Tuesday evenings. Need softer lighting and re-covering of armchairs etc. 3. Saturday morning coffee/market.

Life at St Mary’s

27 years of the Fellowship Committee

4. Notice Board. INFORMATION. Need to refurbish present board. Need for second board by Memorial Hall drive. Ian Noble to investigate. 5. Pack to be used for new people, baptism visits, parish visits, stewardship campaign etc. 6. Need to spot new faces. Follow up important for those new to St Mary's. 7. Students - how can we help? 8. Parish holiday - investigate various kinds, costs etc. 9. House groups - wide range of ages, activities. Some study, some meals etc.

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10. Dissemination of information. Planner in Gwinnell Room. Notice board between hatch and door. Co-ordinating group - maybe Fellowship Committee.

11. Crowd in porch on Sunday - difficult to find people - solution?

12. Senior football team - could play inter-church league. Where are we now?

Some of these plans were executed and, in fact, are still going strong. Others were taken up and for various reasons were not successful or dropped as untenable. We introduced the Race Evening as a one-off occasion hoping it would bring Fellowship to the fore. By request of the people participating, 2014 will be our 14th repeat and the last one organised by this committee.

We have added the May Day Meander to our activities and enjoy the contact with our non church-going people who put articles in their front gardens for families to find, and who telephone me if I am a little late thinking I had forgotten them.

We will miss arranging the shared Harvest lunch enjoyed by all.

There are many other events that we could organise but feel the time is right to close the committee. We thank you for all your support over the years which has been greatly appreciated.

Joan Ware

(This work will be taken up by the new Events Committee soon… would you like to be part of it? - Editor)

‘The marks of Jesus are silently impressed on His true disciples in the normal procedure of life in society as well as in the crises of suffering and martyrdom’. Herbert Henson Bishop of Durham 1920-1939

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Lent is not exactly known as the good humour season of the church. This understanding is to do with the idea of having to give something up; preferably something we don't want to give up. (Otherwise what would be the point?) It gets really serious when we read 1 John 15:13 "For greater love has no one than this, that a person lay down his life for his friends." Since we are lucky enough not to live in a war zone, I can only think of situations like a house fire or a car crash where people have risked their own lives in order to save someone else.

But is there another meaning in these words of Jesus? Is there another way in which we are called to lay down our lives; a way which happens every day? Every time you stop what you are doing and turn to pay attention to someone else, you lay down a very brief time of your life. Every time you care for someone else, you are giving

that person some of yourself, some of your life. Every time you stop and put your arms around someone who hurts, you give something of your very being to that person. Every time you stop and join with another in some moment of sadness or joy, every time you look into the eyes of a struggling friend or lonely person, you briefly lay down your life. It is a high and holy moment and you and I have the opportunity to lay down our lives - and not just during Lent - but all the time.

Chris Meikle

Lent

What should I give up for Lent?

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Wendy Littlejohns and I were offered tickets to the Opening Service to celebrate the Centenary of the Diocese of Chelmsford which we happily accepted.

The opening hymn was ‘Jesus Redeemer, you set us free' and the liturgy was interspersed with a beautiful hymn, 'This is our world'. The words and music were composed by Jan Payne and sung by the Cathedral School. Part of the chorus included the words: 'We are the keepers of the past and of the future too, So what happens next is up to me and you'. It was magical and I would love to hear our Junior Choir sing it at St. Mary's.

The Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford, gave the sermon. He told us he had never wanted to go to the Holy Land because the Holy Land was already here in Essex! There, apparently, was a sleeping giant about to awaken at any moment. Essex be prepared!

Some hymns were accompanied by the Organist and Master of the Choristers of Chelmsford Cathedral and others by All Saints Band whom

we recognised by sight and sound. To finalise the service we were

asked to turn and face towards the back of the Cathedral where a huge screen showed the image of Christ digitally composed of all the photographs taken of the congregation previously entering the church, and yes, technology does work! We were asked to raise our hands towards the image as a sign of commitment, love and friendship. Wendy and I agreed it was a moving service and will leave us with a reminder of not only the past one hundred years but of a hopeful and bright future.

Shirley Lealman

The Church beyond our Parish

Service in Celebration of Chelmsford Diocese Centenary

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On Good Friday last year I witnessed the Passion of Jesus in Trafalgar Square, acted out by the Wintershall Players from Surrey.

The square was packed with people from all nations, yet you could have heard a pin drop. Meanwhile, buses, helicopters and planes went about their daily business but the sound system was so good we could hear every word.

The audience sat on the ground or the steps leading up to the National Gallery for two hours. I had taken a collapsible chair but unless I had arrived very early and managed to sit at the side, the ground was my only option with a shawl as a makeshift cushion. There were two performances at 12 and 3pm; no tickets were needed. A huge screen relayed the play live but it was better to sit near the front and watch the action.

As the play unfolded we saw Jesus riding in to the square on a donkey, Roman soldiers, some on horseback,

marching from St. Martin-in-the-Fields and doves flying out from baskets as Jesus turned the traders away from the Temple. When Jesus carried his cross down the steps in front of the National Gallery a woman from the crowd wiped his face and an Afro-Caribbean man in modern dress stood up to help him carry it, both assuming the roles of Veronica and Simon of Cyrene. The agony of both Jesus and the two thieves nailed to crosses, and his previous scourging, was brutally convincing. When the time came for the Resurrection, the stone from the constructed tomb was rolled away, the sun came out and Bach’s ‘O sacred head sore wounded’ hymn echoed across the eerily silent square.

Who would have believed it would be possible to fill Trafalgar Square on a bitterly cold, but mercifully dry, day with Archbishop Vincent Nichols leading an audience/congregation of up to 20,000 in the Lord’s Prayer at the end of such a poignant moving experience?

The Passion of Jesus returns to Trafalgar Square on Good Friday, 2014. For details visit www.wintershall-estate.com Penny Freeston

The Passion of Jesus in Trafalgar Square

The Passion re-enacted in London

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When I was recently asked 'Which is your favourite gospel?', I had to admit that I felt it was an impossible question. Each of the gospels has something different to offer because each one comes from a different perspective. Matthew's gospel was possibly written for a Jewish audience since the author makes repeated references to O.T. prophesies. It tells of Jesus' life and works in order to prove his authority and identity as the promised Saviour. This gospel also has The Lord's Prayer and the Beatitudes to commend it. Mark has an appeal as the earliest gospel and is based on eye-witness accounts. It's short and accessible and was used for the compilation of Matthew's and Luke's gospels. It's action-packed and illustrates what Jesus did (rather than what he said). Jesus proves his divinity through his miracles. Luke's gospel contains some memorable parables and also the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis without which our Service of Evening Prayer would be sadly diminished. The gospel gives us a polished and literary account of Jesus' birth, life, ministry, death and

resurrection. For me, Luke's gospel also has appeal because it gives a voice to women, who were so undervalued

in society at that time. Elizabeth, Mary (mother of Jesus), Anna, Mary Magdalene, Martha and Mary of Bethany as well as women in parables and women who were healed. The first person Jesus appeared to after his resurrection was a woman. Only in John's gospel does Jesus talk about himself and his divine role in the eight 'I am . . ' statements. The prologue identifies Jesus as 'the Word' of God and the miracles are recorded as signs of Jesus' ministry. His last teachings and actions include a different account of The Last Supper, including the washing of feet but not the sharing of bread and wine. Most of John's gospel is unique and is spiritual rather than historical. So which is my favourite? Having considered each one, I suppose, if I had to choose then I do like the style and content of Luke's historical account and explanation of Jesus' teaching. But I also like John's spiritual approach. In short, I need both. Chris Meikle

A favourite Gospel ?

The Bible

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At the end of 2012 I spent 3 months working as a volunteer in Uganda. I worked with Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU). Professor Anne Merriman (pictured opposite) founded HAU in 1993. Anne is an inspiration in her clear determination to pursue her goals with a sense of fun and life. She started life as a nun with the Medical Missionaries of Mary and her Christian faith is at the heart of her life and work.

HAU was developed as an African model of palliative care that is affordable, accessible and culturally acceptable. In its twenty years of existence HAU has cared for 21,818 people. Provision of strong painkillers is crucial. Core tasks were to work with the government to change legislation to allow morphine into the country, educate healthcare workers (including nurses) to prescribe and administer morphine safely and produce inexpensive solutions of morphine for patients to self-administer. Anne has worked tirelessly in advocating palliative care and the provision of morphine in sub-Saharan countries. In 2003 Anne was awarded an MBE for her work on relief of pain throughout

the world. In 2013 she was awarded the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad by the Irish President. Anne has recently been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Education plays a major role in expanding palliative care and pain relief throughout sub-Saharan Africa. In 2009 the Institute for Hospice and Palliative Care (IHPCA) was accredited by the National Council for Higher Education in Uganda as an Institute of Higher Learning. IHPCA, developed from the education department of HAU, provides short and long courses for a wide range of health care professionals, including a degree course in palliative care. Nurse led care is the foundation of African palliative care due to the shortage of doctors.

Working as a volunteer was an amazing experience. I went there to learn. It was a challenge after 38 years of working in the NHS and the last 17 years as a chronic pain specialist. Harder still was being unable to speak the language. Interaction and connection with people is the best foundation for any therapeutic relationship. There are over 39 different languages as well! There’s a huge amount of suffering and hardship from ill health in Uganda where 50% of the population never see a health care professional.

One memorable experience on my first visit to Uganda in April 2012 was visiting the paediatric ward in Mulago

Loving your neighbour

Hospice Africa Uganda

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Hospital, Kampala. There was barely room to move between the children’s cots. I felt out of my depth with such sick young children. Josephine, the senor palliative care nurse from the hospice, asked me to examine a beautiful child, Maryam, aged 1 year old who had lymphoma. When had I last done that? I had alcogel in my pocket and hastily cleansed my hands. As I put my hand on her tummy, I held Maryam’s gaze and mimicked her facial expression by pursing my lips. Yes, we had connected. I felt the enlarged spleen. Maryam’s father was pleased to report she had eaten porridge today. He explained to Josephine that his wife had left and taken their other children to her parents’ village. In effect, leaving him. She wanted Maryam back in the village. She was convinced her daughter was ill because she had been cursed. The witch doctor would remove the curse and make her better. The father didn’t believe that and told me he “didn’t want to lose this one”. I could sense his desperation.

Months later at the end of my visit in 2012, I attended a hospice bereavement meeting where the palliative care staff present problems they had found difficult to manage. Maryam had spent most of the last eight months of her life on the ward. Josephine supported the father throughout that time. It had been a battle of witchcraft against modern medicine, wife against husband and life versus death. During those months he

had taken Maryam back to the village (several hours by bus) and it had been an unhappy time. They ran out of medication including morphine for pain relief. With Josephine’s tireless support, Maryam went home to her village to die with enough morphine to ensure she wasn’t in pain. Josephine received a text saying Maryam had died comfortably. I could see how caring for Maryam had taken its toll on Josephine. The depth of involvement and the inevitable pain of grief at the death of a child have an effect on carers. Maryam’s beautiful face and her father’s sadness are etched on my memory.

If you’d like to know more or even donate to Hospice Africa Uganda just take a look at the website http://www.hospiceafrica.or.ug

Hospice Africa Uganda is a charitable foundation. Financial restrictions of major American donors has created a real need for all donations.

Barbara Duncan

Professor Anne Merriman

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What, who and how? Firstly - Readers. In a nutshell, Readers are lay people who are trained and authorised to preach and teach in a pastoral context. They come from all walks of life and it’s the insights they gain from their varied experiences of life that they bring to their ministry which can offer a different perspective on life. There are other valuable forms of lay ministry which are formally recognised eg pastoral assistant, parish evangelist, authorised local preacher or youth worker, but at present Reader ministry is the only lay ministry that is authorised by the canons or laws of the Church of England and has been so since the first Readers were licensed back in 1866.

By 1909, there were 1,000 Readers compared to 20,000 paid clergy. Today, there are fewer than 10,000 paid clergy but there are now more than 10,000 active Readers all of whom, to my knowledge, are unpaid. Most Readers are licensed to their parish priest but some are licensed as chaplains.

What do Readers do? Essentially, they preach and teach and lead worship; they may also administer the elements at Holy Communion,

although they cannot preside. They may take communion to the sick and housebound using pre-consecrated elements; they may conduct funerals, carry out pastoral work, assist with preparation for baptism, confirmation or marriage, and offer other assistance according to how God is calling them to use their gifts.

Having briefly described the ministry of Reader from a historical and current perspective, changes are afoot! In the Diocese of Chelmsford (and some other Dioceses), no more Readers will be trained as such. Instead, there is a new lay leadership role - which can include the aspects of

Answering the call

Readers and Licensed Lay Ministers

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ministry currently associated with Readers - which will be called ‘Licensed Lay Minister’. LLMs will preach and lead worship and develop their additional ministries according to their gifts - as Readers presently do. The main difference will be that LLMs will be expected to exercise their ministry both within and beyond the boundaries of their own parish. The reason being that, in view of the declining numbers of clergy, LLMs may be licensed not to their parish priest but to their Area Dean so that they can serve in ministry units or clusters which could incorporate several parishes working together. They will be called to expand their ministry in the same way as Readers to enable the priest to focus on those elements of ministry which only he/she can do.

So, how do you become a LLM? Most important of all, you have to feel that God is calling you into this ministry. It may be that you have been fulfilling some other role within the church (as I did as teacher) and God is calling you on, or it may be that you sit in church during the sermon and feel that that is something you could do. Or it may be that someone who knows you well suggests that you have the necessary gifts to fulfil such a role. May I suggest that you don’t ignore any such promptings because that’s how the Holy Spirit can work: through people and through events.

In my own case, I was advised to

explore my calling by completing the two year evening course, ‘Course in Christian Studies’, and future LLM candidates would be expected to do the same or give evidence of equivalent learning. After that, we students were asked if we felt God calling us on into ministry of some form or other. After discussions with the local area Warden of Ordinands, I decided to apply for Reader training, had to undergo a selection process at Chelmsford and then followed two and a half years of training (evenings, Saturdays and a weekend). The future training of LLMs will be for two years and focus on the development of knowledge, skills, and Christian formation. It will be delivered in co-operation with St Mellitus College.

Should you feel called to this ministry or indeed to become an authorised local preacher (which would restrict you to preaching in your home church and training would be different) then may I encourage you to talk to Ian and don’t be put off by feeling inadequate. Throughout my training, I had the same feeling, and even since my licensing, I have worried that I would not be able to find the right words to use in preaching, or in prayer, or in pastoral situations. Rest assured that, if God is calling you on to this ministry through the power of his Holy Spirit, that same Holy Spirit will always be there to guide you through. Chris Winward

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Welcome! You join us today for the latest of the St Mary’s 4,000 guineas, our annual charity bazaar steeplechase two-miler struggle over hard ground and many hurdles to raise funds for a variety of good causes, supported generously by the good and gracious of Woodford and its environs.

The Form certainly looks good. New runners this year include the much fancied ‘Furniture’, and wild card ‘Mrs Christmas’, (regarded only as a long shot if the going is soft), and unknown rank outsiders ‘Lottery’ and ‘Pictures’ not really given much chance yet by the bookies, but who knows, they’ll probably surprise us given the riders’ youth and enthusiasm. Also featuring the regular favourites, ‘Preserves’ at 5:4 on, noisy boys on ‘Bottles’ at 10:4, ‘Lunches’ at 12:2, and Bric-a-brac at 3:1 carrying a bit more this season, as well as a good showing expected from ‘Refreshments’ and ‘The Door’ both at 5:1.

Mounts with new riders this year include ‘Jewellery’, ‘Cards’ and ‘Raffle’ on which all bets are off as these look very useful and possible ringers to me. Another much fancied runner will be ‘Cakes’ ridden by Woodford Wives in colourful new silks for this race. The smart money seems to be showing a late interest in ‘Books’ at 10:1 and ‘Jigsaws’ at 12:1, with a

possible late show from ‘Lucky Dip’ anticipated at 10:11 (just in jest ladies).

The sweet smell of success may be with ‘Toiletries’ for the first time in 2013, but the play will certainly not be with ‘Toys’ if they move as quick as previously (not seen for dust). A surprise late entry from ‘Donations’ may affect the whole outcome positively, whereas also-rans ‘CDs & DVDs’, ‘Gifts’, Parish’ and the ever popular ‘Brownies’ and ‘Guides’ are likely only to make up the rest of a rather crowded field today I suspect, although always most welcome naturally.

Much traffic bunching after early doors soon led to a thinning out of the field and some clear running from the front for ‘Bric-a-brac’ and ‘Preserves’,

Life at St Mary’s

The Annual Charity Bazaar

Would you buy a used horse from this man?

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photo finish to win the St Mary’s approx 4,000 guineas in a mag-nif-i-cent showing of community fellowship out on the Memorial Hall track today, no Steward’s Enquiry anticipated.

So it just remains for me to say a big thank you to all volunteer helpers, runners and riders who’ve helped make this occasion a marvellous race, and also to all those that turned out to part with their hard earned cash at the bookies and over the tote.

Crikey, I seem to have got mixed up with Race Night somehow, (something else I’ve been roped in to help run)…so, ahem, sorry about that; maybe you can still use this though, …hopefully? Thanks anyway everybody.

A full Race Card of Runners, takings & placings can be seen in the Gwinnell Room, (courtesy mainly of Jane Fone and Bazaar Treasurer, Mike Lovejoy).

Richard Walker

neck and neck, making all the early running. As anticipated ‘Lunches’ and ‘Refreshments’ made a strong showing in the middle part of the race, but ‘Bottles’ and ‘Raffle’ defied the punters with a late surge to feature strongly in the latter furlongs.

So as we now join the race commentary with 3 furlongs remaining {read at increasing speed!} and the runners are coming off the last bend and into view and approaching the 2 furlong marker and the final fence, Walker’s Folly. And it’s ‘Bottles’ leading ‘Lunches’ and ‘Preserves’ from the rest of the main bunch by a length as the runners approach the final jump and, … ‘Bottles’ is it? ….Yes, ‘Bottles’ is the faller, …

He’s unseated his double act riders, the noisy boys, Tweedle-Dum & Tweedle-Dee (you know which is which fellas) who don’t appear to have injured anything other than their pride thankfully.

And so now ‘Lunches’ takes up the running from ‘Preserves’, with ‘Furniture’ making a late surge on the rail up the inside; and the crowd start to go wild as ‘Raffle’ gets called at the climax and it looks like there could be a surprise payout for many lucky punters. But into the final furlong, and it’s the late ‘November Sales’ on his sturdy mount, ‘Preserves’, just edging ahead from ‘Lunches’ and who’s surely going to take the nod at the post in a Snowden

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ISBN: 1-841-01334-X (BRF) A companion volume to the Advent book I recommended in the last edition, this book is sub-titled ‘Musical Meditations for Lent and Easter’.

It brings together a daily Bible reading and comment for every day from Ash Wednesday to Easter Monday together with reflection on a wealth of music that has some special relevance to the themes of the season, from Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s St John Passion to Carnival of the Animals and Peter and the Wolf! Music lovers will enjoy trawling through reflections on fifty pieces of music that may or may not be familiar. Requiems by Duruflé, Mozart, Fauré, Verdi, Berlioz, Brahms, Howells and Britten

are included. There are also weekly Lent study notes based on the text to use with groups.

Gordon Giles invites his readers to join in this musical pilgrimage. ‘Let us sing through Lent, towards the cross and beyond into the realm of Easter joy and light, where in the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ we may sing the new song of redemption, of love and of praise.’ Penny Freeston

Book Review

The Harmony of Heaven by Gordon Giles

O God, my Father, give me all through today sound sense to see what is right to do, and strength of will and purpose to do it. And, if I am not able to do it the first time, give me perseverance to keep on trying. O God, my Father, give me all through today an eye which is quick to see what I can do for others, and willingness to do it. Help me not to do things with a grudge; and help me to do what I am told to do at once, and not to need to be told to do it again and again. Help me today to bring happiness wherever I go, so that I may find happiness in making others happy through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. William Barclay

A prayer for the day

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Looking at the important and historically interesting buildings in London is an exciting pursuit, but it can also be expensive. We are fortunate in South Woodford to have such easy access to Central London, but even so days out exploring our heritage can be costly.

We are of course all welcome to visit Westminster Abbey quite free of charge to attend services there. We have a book called ‘If Statues Could Talk’ by Francesca Fenn and Margie Skinner which contains a voucher for one to four children and one or two adults to visit and explore Westminster Abbey free of charge. (You will have to pay your own fare up to town.)

If you would like the book please answer the following questions and put your answers and your contact details into an envelope marked “For Cheryl Corney” and put your envelope in the letter rack in church by the end of April.

Cheryl Corney

The Church beyond our parish

Would you like to visit Westminster Abbey?

1 From which order were the monks who came to worship on the site of Westminster Abbey in the middle of the tenth century?

2 Which very special occasion took place in Westminster Abbey on 2nd June 1953?

3 Why would you like to visit

Westminster Abbey?

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Puzzle

Outsides and insides

Do you recognise the local churches shown here? Do you know where they are? Can you match each inside image with the right outside? Answers on page 25.

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The Memorial Hall has been a fixture in our lives for more than a century, and Barbara Slaney managed the building for more than a quarter of its life. After an incredible 36 years at the Hall, 33 of which as the manager, Barbara has recently taken a well deserved retirement and her newly-appointed replacement is Tamsen Mann, whom many of us know already at St Mary's.

The Memorial Hall is a remarkable institution, strangely ambiguous - we may often use it, but not know much about what makes it tick:

Is it our church hall? – sort of Is it independent? – not really Whose interests does it serve? – St Mary's, the Parish and the people of Woodford Should St Mary's and everyone in the church take an active interest in the Hall – definitely Though nominally independent, and

run by a Trust of its own, the Trustees are all St Mary's people chaired by Ian. So it is very much part of the church family - perhaps our half-brother, or a cousin we didn't know we had.

Tamsen has joined the team at an exciting time for the Hall, when we are

seeking to raise substantial sums for maintenance and improvement work to bring the building and its services up to the standards of the 21st century. First on the long list of work is replacement of the floor in the front hall and new lavatories with disability access. Many readers will already have contributed through events in the Hall to start the process, for which we are extremely grateful.

Our Church and the community

ALL CHANGE AT THE MEMORIAL HALL

At the All Age Service on 30th March Ian thanks Barbara for her service at the Memorial Hall

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Outsides and Insides - Answers. From left to right: Baptist Church, George Lane, plus banner St Anne Line RC Church, Grove Crescent, plus statue Salvation Army, Daisy Road, plus tambourine Methodist Church, Derby Road, plus altar St Mary’s, High Road, plus stained glass

Answers (upside down)to Insides and Outsides puzzle

Fond farewell from Anne Casson

Moving away

The trustees want everyone in St Mary's to feel that it is our Hall, and hope to write much more regular bulletins about what's going on there.

Nick Hayes

Coming from a very busy ministry in a rural Dartmoor Benefice, I arrived in Snaresbrook in April 2013, looking for a church where I could make friends and be fully involved in the life of the church. Making friends in a new church can be difficult; regular worshippers are anxious about saying ‘hello, are you new here?’ in case they discover that you have been coming to the church for the last ten years. A few worshippers braved my husband and me – enough to make us decide to settle at St Mary’s. Jane O’Regan was the first to take action to make us feel this was the church for us. She encouraged me to join St Mary’s wonderful choir and linked us up to Ian Tarrant.

St Mary’s is so lucky to have such a dedicated priest as Ian. It’s impossible to explain great ministry – one recognises it, but to explain how it’s achieved is beyond words or analysis – but nevertheless, it is worth mentioning some of the special things about your priest. He is a humble man: if he has asked a Reader to take a service, he does not muscle in to show how important he is, but sits in the congregation, worshipping and letting himself be led in prayer and learning with everyone else.

John and I will not forget our time at St Mary’s and we thank Ian and everyone else who made us welcome and helped us on our spiritual path. Anne Casson

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For the first two months at St Mary's Woodford, I was still trying to find my feet and it was actually quite hard to engage the young people. Getting to know everyone was quite difficult and what made things challenging was that even those young people that I saw on a Sunday morning were coming to church irregularly. As the weeks went by, I noticed a simple, yet obvious pattern to when young people were attending church. Of course! They would only attend if their parents were attending that Sunday!

With that in mind, the beginnings of an idea emerged, ‘Project RE:Charge’. In order to build relationships with young people, I had to spend more time with them, and forty minutes every fortnight was not enough, so I decided to ask to meet up with these young people on Thursdays after school instead. The idea was really simple: bring some pizza and snacks, then talk to them, play a few games, and pray!

On the first evening, I think only three or four young people turned up. As you can imagine, it was quite awkward sitting in the Gwinnell room, eating pizza and trying to make conversation. As a few weeks went by, I started to collect lamps with coloured bulbs to change the appearance of the room and also the atmosphere. I also managed to recruit my friend Pete

Barnardo (a CRB checked youth worker!) to help out too.

By sharing food, it brought us closer together, and so we began to share parts of our stories, opening up our lives to one another. Each week, it was becoming less awkward, and they started to bring some of their friends. Currently, we see about fifteen young people each week from Davenant and Woodbridge Schools, with a wide variety of backgrounds. The evenings have evolved to incorporate a short talk, contemporary worship and a lot more prayer! We have also seen God

answer some of these prayers and most weeks they have a story about what God has done!

Although this project has only been running for a short while, I can see a change in these young people. Their faith has started to mature, and they are starting to think more about what they believe and why. To some young

Youth Work at St Mary’s

Project RE:Charge

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people, this is more than food and community. This is church. There's food, laughter, lights and music and although it may look very different from our Sunday morning Eucharist, it is a community of young people who meet up, have fun, pray and share life together, which is church. If you would like more information, or would like to get involved (as a young person OR an adult) please email Jon at youth@stmaryswoodford.org.uk

Feedback from ‘RE:Charge’ members

Ollie: "Youth club is the highlight of my week! I always bring my friends and it is almost like a little community."

Elizabeth: "It's about having fun with other people."

Nick: "The best thing about youth club is talking about God and stuff."

David: "It's crazy and there's food!"

Clara: "Everyone gets together and we're all friends!"

Jon To Youth Worker

The three Faiths Forum meeting on 27th February at Barking Mosque

The main speaker was Bishop Stephen Cottrell, the Bishop of Chelmsford, whose subject was ‘Drawing Closer to God – an Exploration of Christian Spirituality’. The subject was very appropriate preparation for Lent for discussion at the al-Madina Mosque, which is a well-known centre for Sufi worship, the expression of spirituality in the Muslim tradition.

Iman Sohail Siddiqui, welcomed us and responded to Bishop Stephen’s talk. Another Anglican bishop sat at the top table – Bishop Trevor Mwamba, who had served as Bishop of Botswana and who is now working at St Margaret’s Church in Barking. Rowena Rudkin

Faith

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Music

Farewell to Frederick Stocken Frederick Stocken, our Director of Music at St Mary’s since 2011, has recently left us to take up a post of organist at Southwark Catholic Ccathedral.

Frederick was a chorister at Southwell Minster where he also studied the organ. He became an Associate of the Royal College of Organists winning five prizes, later winning a further three prizes when he became a Fellow. He was an organ scholar of St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. As well as organ compositions such as ‘Archangels’ and ‘Faith, Love, Hope’, Frederick’s compositions also include an instrumental work, ‘Lament for Bosnia’, a Mass, two symphonies (the first commissioned for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), a violin concerto and a ballet, ‘Alice’.

Though Frederick sees himself musically primarily as a composer and organist, he has nevertheless also made a strong impression as a choral director. Over one and a half millennia ago St Augustine exhorted Christians to, ‘sing with your voices and with your hearts and with all your moral convictions. Sing not only with your tongue but with your life’. That is an admirable aim, but for most of us though the spirit is willing the vocal equipment is distinctly limited. As far as the choir is concerned, the task of Director of Music

the congregation in worship through music which is greater than the sum of the parts of the individuals involved.

Speaking to fellow choir members and members of the congregation confirms that Frederick has been very successful in achieving this. Adjectives to me from others about Frederick include ‘dedicated’, ‘inspired’, ‘charming’, ‘engaging’, ‘witty’ and ‘talented.’

People have also spoken of his evident deep faith and the wide range of his contribution ranging from championing Tudor church

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music to developing music at the Taizé services whilst also referring to his optimistic and affirmative compositions as being ‘new romantic’.

When I asked Frederick what abiding memories he will have of St Mary’s he said, “I have never been organist of a church where so many people thank me for the music after a service – it’s not just the same people; and it has been wonderful that my efforts, such as they are, have been so appreciated. I have felt supported throughout my time at St Mary’s, and Ian and I have had not a single disagreement, which is more than can be said for many organist/rector relationships! I have felt very at home at St Mary’s, and will especially miss the choir, of course, many friends, and, last but not least, our wonderful organ. Please continue to cherish your music!”

We wish Frederick all the best for the future. He will be missed.

Peter Wall

This will be a very different kind of Concert for St Mary’s as Encore! perform songs from musicals and light operetta with an entertaining and theatrical twist. Performed in aid of the Memorial Hall, two of the members of Encore! are former members of St Mary’s choir and still sing with them from time to time ie Ian and Heather Gray.

Encore! was formed in March 2012 from a group of friends who performed regularly as Principals at the Queen’s Theatre in Barnstaple, North Devon. With songs from a selection of shows such as ‘Oliver!’, ‘Fiddler On The Roof’, ‘Blood Brothers’, ‘The King and I’, ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ , ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and ‘Les Miserables’, we are sure there will be something for everyone to create a memorable, first class evening out for all the family. Tickets are £9 for adults, £8 for concessions and under 18’s free - so make a note on your calendar or diary now so you don’t miss it. Further details will be on the notice sheet after Easter.

DEVON CREAM COMES TO WOODFORD

Some of the very best singers in North Devon will be coming to perform at St Mary’s on Saturday 31st May 2014 in the form of a theatrical group called Encore!

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Family

focus Welcome to our children’s pages reporting on all children’s activities at St Mary’s

On Sunday 2nd March the Seekers enjoyed a fun party in the back hall with entertainment kindly purchased by Sarah from the Auction of Promises. (Uncle) Bob entertained the children with magic tricks, animal balloons and party music. Even Bob’s rabbit came along, much to the children’s delight. ‘Hair & Nails’ was supplied by Sam and her mum Ellen, whilst Bev provided face painting. With jelly and ice-cream, cakes and more on offer, everyone had a really jolly time.

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On Sunday 30th March, the Brownies led the All Age Service for Mothering Sunday, with a grand finale of a song about building community, which was sung by all. Flowers were then given out by the children to all the deserving Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunties and friends.

Mothering Sunday

Left: the 9th Woodford Brownies; Below: Seekers George, Ellodie and Phoebie with flowers at the Service, kindly prepared by Bev and helpers.

Seekers are Fundraising for the Makutano boys Sunday 6th April Sponsored walk around the church during the 10am morning service And coming soon... Cake Stall and Tombola. Donations welcome please!! See any of the Seeker’s leaders for more information

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JOKE TIME! Q. Why couldn't Jonah trust the ocean? A. Because he knew there was something fishy about it. Q. Where was Solomon's temple located? A. On the side of his head. Q. How does Moses make his coffee? A. Hebrews it.

Church Troop needs your help

Church Troop meets every Sunday after the service (except split services)

and offers creative fun for all children. It is run by Julie Roberts with help from Sam, Shirley and Bridget. The children enjoy the sessions and Julie receives very favourable comments from members of the congregation who enjoy seeing the children happy and occupied. Activities vary from arts and crafts to sunflower growing and birdhouse varnishing. The children have also planted seeds in the Churchyard.

If you are available on Sunday mornings and would like to help out or have any creative ideas, please see Julie, or email

her at joinhands@stmaryswoodford.org.uk.

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Children’s Book Review

Bible Stories for Children The New Testament ISBN 978-1-84810-406-8 UK RRP £12.99 Miles Kelly Publishing, www.mileskelly.net

This collection brings together more than 40 of the best-known stories from the New Testament. Wonderfully illustrated, each tale has been imaginatively retold for younger readers. Simple notes with each story provide extra information and set the scene. Includes famous favourites such as Follow the Star, The Good Samaritan and The First Easter.

Millie received this book from the

Seekers for good attendance. We

have enjoyed it enormously and both

look forward to reading it each

night.

Sam McCarthy

Calling all Children!! Have you read any interesting or exciting books lately? Let us know and we’ll feature it in the next issue.

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Each one of us here will have our own special picture of Jean, and they will all be different. But whether you have known her for a long time or only very recently, these memories will reflect the qualities of a life well-lived. She had great strength of character, but was gentle and compassionate, she was straight as a die and totally trustworthy, but uncomplicated and loving. She was the sort of person we all want to have as our sister, mother, grandmother and, as far as I am concerned, together with many others, as our friend. And we shall miss her.

I met Jean back in the 1970s when I first came to St Mary's. She had been involved with St Philip and St James before its merger with St. Mary's. When she and her husband Morgan moved to Woodford in 1956, their

home in Hillcrest Road became the base for a teenage club called the Youth Guild, including such members

as Tony Robinson and Peter Lawrence and others

still in our congregation or

related to current members. Jean, with her own young children, became involved in the Sunday School and soon became Leader, a position she held for many years. As her children grew older, she fulfilled a

personal ambition to be a teacher by

becoming a Nursery Assistant at

Snaresbrook College. Her network of local contacts and friends was increased by her involvement in the Townswomen's Guild. She became an efficient and caring chairman, with the knack of making all the members feel valued. She was recently given the well-deserved honour of being

Jean Morgans 6/1/1932 - 3/3/2014

Obituary

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made the local Federation President. The residents of Hillcrest Road

benefited too, from her friendship. She had time for her neighbours and as the television programme says; they became good friends. People from all these backgrounds would crowd into her home for the coffee mornings she arranged for her special charities: The Manna Centre (for the homeless) and

the Save the Children Fund. After Morgan died in 1992 and her

children had left home to pursue their own careers and raise their own families, Jean's life in the church continued and expanded. She took on more responsibilities as Churchwarden, salesperson, and hostess of many house groups. She was always one of the first to sign up and encourage others to take part in study groups and nurture groups, synods, retreats and prayer activities. She will be sorely missed.

Back in 2010, her daughter Catherine, asked her to complete a book about herself. In it she says this: ''Without a doubt my favourite toys were my doll and pram. My ambition was to grow up, get married and have children."

When I visited Jean, a day or two before she died, she was lying in her sitting room, facing the wall which had become a picture gallery of her grand- children. That dream had come true. God bless you, Jean.

Alison Clarke

I lift up my eyes to the hills —

from where will my help come?

My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

He who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your

shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and for evermore.

Psalm 121

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A

BIG

thank you to everyone submitting contributions

and photographs to this edition Please keep them coming, as without them we wouldn’t have a parish magazine. Articles, prayers, book reviews, favourite music, recipes, gardening tips etc. We would love some children’s drawings as well: the choice is yours! Email directly to: magazine@stmaryswoodford.org.uk or pass to Penny Freeston who will type up your handwritten copy. Our next copy date is 25th May 2014. Magazine team: Penny Freeston, Beverley Fuentes, Cheryl Corney, Ian Tarrant, Sam McCarthy, Peter Wall.