1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

St John the Evangelist
Great Stanmore
February 2015
24
Price 50p
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PARISH ORGANISATIONS
SUNDAY
SERVICES
Children
WEEKDAY
SERVICES
Holy Communion (Order One in traditional language)
Parish Communion (Order One) or All-Age Communion
Coffee is served in Church House after this service
Morning Prayer (BCP)
Evening Service (see Weekly Bulletin for details)
Holy Baptism (after due preparation)
Junior Church (4-12yrs) in Church House
(also crèche for babies)
Holy Communion
Holy and Saints' Days as announced
8am
9.30am
11am
5pm
9.30am
9.30am
Tuesday
10.30am
CHURCH OFFICIALS AND STAFF
Rector
The Reverend Matthew Stone
The Rectory, 14 Chambers Walk
Stanmore, HA7 4FN
020 8954 3876
[email protected]
Readers
Jean Orpwood
Frances Westcott
Lydia McLean
Readers Emeriti
Michael Carmody
Dr Daphne Johnson
Dr John Mair
Pastoral Assistants
Sylvia Daniels
Stuart Webster
020 3645 0491
020 8952 8665
020 8952 5990
01895 831 472
020 8958 7892
020 8952 5044
020 8863 4080
07971 219918
Commissioned Children’s Minister
Beverley McKeon
020 8952 1936
Churchwardens
Graham Denman
Sylvia Daniels
01923 840 675
020 8863 4080
Hon Treasurer
Jennifer Neve
01923 692672 Office
Parish Administrator
Karen Stirrup
020 8954 7064
Parish Office, Church House, Old Church
Lane, Stanmore HA7 2QX
Email Address
[email protected]
Web Address
www.stjohnschurchstanmore.org.uk
Bell ringers
Peter Scott (Master)
01895 835 623
Elizabeth Bowen (Secretary) 020 8954 5360
Music – Director of Music
Philip Rees
020 8951 3893
Leprosy Mission
Frazer Johnson
020 8954 8566
Mission to Seafarers
Valerie Banger
020 8951 4012
Bereavement Visiting
Jean Orpwood
020 3645 0491
Bible Reading Fellowship
Carole White
020 8421 1510
Brownies
Jean Gregson
020 8952 2866
Parish Pastoral Team
Sylvia Daniels
Sheila Oliver
Church Flowers
Peggy Simpson
020 8954 8606
Peace, Justice & Environment
Valerie Banger
020 8951 4012
Crèche
Grace Nicholson
01923 226969
Electoral Roll
Andrea Nicholson
Rainbows
Francesca Brissimatzakis
07743 040 588
(after 7pm )
[email protected]
01923 226969
Girl Guides
Heather Gregson
Sarra Angel
020 8426 0147
[email protected]
[email protected]
020 8863 4080
020 8954 4976
St John's Church of England School
Head Teacher Mrs J Hester
020 8954 3978
Stanmore Hill, Stanmore HA7 3AD
Servers
Ian Walker
07947 070613
[email protected]
Godly Gossip (Ladies Gr oup)
Jane Prentice
020 8952 3906
Social Committee
Marianne Wright
Junior Church
Beverley McKeon
Stewardship – Gift Aid
Jennifer Neve
01923 692 672 Office
020 8952 1936
Magazine – Editorial Team
Elizabeth Bowen
020 8954 5360
Pat Stevens
020 8954 6525
Frances Westcott
020 8952 8665
Magazine – Advertisements
Elizabeth Bowen
020 8954 5360
Magazine – Distribution
Mick and Sheila Oliver
020 8954 4976
Toddler Group
Sylvia Daniels
020 8952 1604
020 8863 4080
Wednesday Friendship Club
Liz Battle
020 8954 0995
Welcome & Café St Jean
Rosemary Mackenzie-Corby
020 8386 1640
Commissioned Lay Preacher
Jeremy Aspinall
020 8954 8475
Cover drawings by Peter Williams
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Magazine preparation schedule
Deadline Sunday
butions
Monday onwards
Weekend
Tuesday
Friday
Saturday & Sunday
(last in the month)
Late entries considered; magazine compiled
Proof reading
Magazine sent for printing
Magazine available for distribution
Magazine on sale in church
and available for collection by deliverers
Deadline dates in 2015
15 February — 15 March — 12 April — 17 May — 14 June —
12 July — 16 August — 13 September — 11 October —
15 November — 6 December
Copy for the magazine — PLEASE submit mater ial in A5 for mat if it uses
clever computer techniques, and let the editors know if it is going to be late.

Send it by EMAIL to BOTH the following addresses:
[email protected]@live.co.uk



Place it on the table at the back of the church
Give it to one of the editorial team (see inside back cover)
Send or deliver it to
7 Masefield Avenue, Stanmore, HA7 3LU
To advertise in this magazine,
please contact the Advertising Manager –
Elizabeth Bowen – 020 8954 5360 – [email protected]
7 Masefield Avenue, Stanmore HA7 3LU
22
The Rector writes ..............
Desirable last date for contri-
Dear Friends
Having just celebrated another birthday I have come to the conclusion that the older I get, the faster time seems to pass. It seems like
only yesterday that I arrived in Stanmore; before I knew it Emma
had been born, Christmas was upon us and now I am beginning to
think about Lent (which, in case you were not aware, begins on
18th February this year!)!!
“Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return. Turn
away from sin and be faithful to Christ.” Perhaps rather predictably,
these words from the Ash Wednesday service resonate more strongly with me with each passing year. They are a stark reminder of our
mortality and a summons to obedience. They herald the beginning
of Lent.
In popular culture, the season leading up to Good Friday and Easter
is associated primarily with “giving up something”. Whether it is
chocolate, wine or biscuits, whatever is sacrificed is supposed to be
a mark of self-denial, a spiritual discipline practised particularly in
this penitential period.
The converse “taking up something” for Lent does not figure so
prominently in contemporary culture. Yet, paying attention to the
other spiritual disciplines such as prayer, worship and study is equally important in our keeping of Lent. One possibility is to come to
church for prayers or Holy Communion during the week.
Another is to join the study group I am planning to run. A further
opportunity is presented in the special books published to help us
journey through these forty days. It may not be so obvious but
“taking something up” involves a measure of sacrifice too; for
example, we have at least, to set aside some time. For some of us,
time is a rather precious commodity we never seem to have enough
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of!
Newsletter from the Church Urban Fund
Both “giving something up” and “taking something up” are about
deepening our commitment to God; they both require some
sacrifice. This should not surprise us because the Resurrection follows the Crucifixion. Through a greater self-offering, we
experience renewal.
Hope for Lent
During the season of Lent we are encouraged into deeper relationship with God. By our individual and corporate sacrifices, we are
drawn further into the mystery of the Cross.
The
path
to
Resurrection begins with a longing to be a better disciple of Jesus
Christ that finds wonderful expression in the prayer of St. Richard: Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ
For all the benefits thou hast won for me,
For all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me,
O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,
May I know thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly,
And follow thee more nearly:
Day by day.
Amen.
May I wish you a good Lent!
Yours
Matthew
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Disenchantment with our political and economic systems is running very
high. So where might we find genuine hope – hope that will not
disappoint us?
Christians believe that any hope we can really trust must have its source in
the grace and love of God. That is more than a pious platitude – in the
midst of so much cynicism and disappointment, the Church is both showing and telling of a different way to live.
Hope, Actually is a five week Lent cour se which explor es the hope we
find in Jesus Christ, and its power to transform our increasingly anxious
and cynical society.
Each session has a mix of Bible study (on that Sunday’s lectionary
readings), discussion and video stories. It ends with suggestions for prayer
and ideas for action.
Quiz Answers
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Turkey
Hungary
Tunisia
Brazil
Chile
Russia
America
India
Iran
Wales
Haiti
New Guinea
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Panama
Faroes
Iceland
China
Greece
Sudan
Thailand
Honolulu
Denmark
Korea
Yemen
Argentina
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E-Mail: [email protected]
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STONEBRIDGE FUNERAL SERVICE
101 High Street, Edgware, Middx. HS8 7DB
Tel: (020) 8952 0201
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We offer ‘Golden Charter’ and ‘Help the Aged’
Junior Church Column
Beverley McKeon
Junior Church Leader
Junior Church is now getting back to normal after the
extended holidays over the Christmas period. This
month we have been looking at the story of the wise
men and Epiphany and The Baptism of Christ which
were really interesting.
Below are a couple of photos from our Nativity on
Christmas morning.
Thank you to all the children that took part in the Nativity: also a big thank you to all the people who helped
me to organise the morning. I could not have done it
without you.
pre-paid funeral plans as part of our service
DCG Electrical Services
Part P Approved Contractor
Additional lighting and sockets - Full/part rewires
Inspection and testing - Fault finding - Fusebox upgrades
David Gosden
8 Milton Street
Watford WD24 5EU
20
01923 224503
07501 337223
[email protected]
5
Next Youth
Event
As I write
we have
just had
our
first successful
youth
event.
We took 13
young
people bowling followed by pizza at the Rectory. The
evening was a great success and we look forward to
more events in the future. To start with we will be
meeting once a month and the next event is:Youth Movie night on Friday 27th February
Venue and times are to be confirmed but save the
date in your diary.
Our Praise and Worship will continue in Church House
on a Sunday at 9.30 so bring your children along and
see what exciting things we have planned.
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George Herbert [1593-1633]
Tea and Chat — in Church House
Tuesdays – 2.15pm — 4pm
“Swallowing your pride seldom leads to indigestion”.
Anon
Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a coloured pencil long enough to draw on
the ceiling.
G.K. Chesterton
Calling all Bridge Players
We are a much reduced group of keen bridge players
who would welcome new members.
We play in Church House on Thursday afternoons from 1.30pm,
simple ACOL with no inquests afterwards, just tea and biscuits!
Please come and meet us.
Any questions? Ring Olive Oliver on 8204 6446
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Most of us know George Herbert through hymns such as The God of
love my Shepherd is [based on Psalm 23], Teach me my God and
King and Let all the world in every corner sing, which Peter Williams has illustrated on the front cover. He was among the first
devotional poets of the C of E but not only a poet; he was also a
scholar and a priest.
George Herbert was born a younger brother of Edward, Lord
Herbert of Cherbury in Montgomery in Wales. From 1604 he was
educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge. In
1614 owing to his classical scholarship and musical ability—he
played the lute and viol and had a good singing voice — he obtained
a fellowship and in1620 he became Public Orator of the University.
His most famous prose work A Priest to the Temple; or the Country
Parson 1652) describes an ideal English clergyman — well-read,
temperate, a man of duty and prayer, devoted to his flock — which
came to be a model for future generations.
On his deathbed George Herbert entrusted his collection of poems
— The Temple — including those we now know as hymns, to his
friend, Nicholas Ferrar who had them published in 1633 by the
Cambridge University printer. Their success was such that by 1641
there had been six editions.
He seemed destined for high office at court but he suffered from
poor health and, as the political mood changed on the death of James
I, he changed direction. Under the influence of his friend Nicholas
Ferrar, who established a Church of England community at Little
Gidding in 1625, he turned to the study of divinity. In 1626 he was
presented to a prebend in Huntingdonshire and in 1630 he was
ordained priest. He was persuaded by William Laud to accept the
rectory of Fugglestone with Bemerton. Although the church of
St Andrew was originally a chapel-of-ease to the parish of
Fugglestone, the Rectory was in Bemerton, a small village a mile or
so west of Salisbury and it was here that George Herbert spent the
last three years of his life in devotion to the duties of a country
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parson.
In 1630 at his own expense, he restored Bemerton church, which
dates from at least the 14C. Further extensive repairs were made in
1766 and there was more restoration work done in C19 (1866 and
1894-4).
Sources—The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church
www.georgeherbert.org.uk; www.english.cam.ac.uk
Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna [c.69—c.155]
The 26 of January is the Feast day of St Polycarp, who served Christ
for 86 years and was burnt to death in AD155 or 156
He was a leading Christian figure in Roman Asia in the middle of
C2 and, although little is known about his long life, he is an important link between the age of the Apostles and the great Christian
writers, such as St Irenaeus, who flourished at the end of the C2.
He was a stout defender of orthodoxy and devoted much energy to
combating heresy. He wrote an Epistle to Philippians, which is important for its testimony to the New Testament, as it quotes I John,
4.3.
At the end of his life, he visited Bishop Anicetus in Rome; the subjects discussed included the date of keeping the Easter festival and it
was agreed that each Church should maintain its own custom.
It was soon after his return to Smyrna that he was arrested
during a public pagan festival; he refused to recant his beliefs and
was condemned to death. An account of his trial and death was
written at the request of the Church at Philomelium.
According to St Irenaeus, Polycarp “had intercourse with John [the
Apostle or the Elder?] and with the rest of those who had seen the
Lord”.
CHILDREN’S SOCIETY BOX HOLDERS
Our Children’s Society Boxes are due to be emptied this month. I would
be grateful if you would bring them to Church and let me have them after
the 9.30am service.
If this is not convenient please give me a call on 0208429 8154 and we
will make an alternative arrangement.
Jenny Gurdon
8
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KIRKWOODS - SOLICITORS
Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority SRA No 79929
We specialise in
House sale and purchase
Remortgages
Landlord and tenant
Business advice
Wills and probate
Death duty tax planning
Divorce and family problems
41a CHURCH ROAD, STANMORE HA7 4AB
Tel: 020 8954 8555 - Fax: 020 8954 4124
[email protected]
Very Special
Occasions
Wedding Receptions
Parties & Anniversaries
Spectacular Cakes
With over a century’s experience in catering for discerning clients,
Heriot provide an exciting mix of traditional
and contemporary cuisine, served in style
by friendly and immaculately presented staff.
Visit our large website for a wide selection of menus,
information and advice to help you plan your special occasion.
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A heartfelt Thank You to all members of the
congregation for holding us and our family in your prayers just prior to and following the death of John’s Dad,
Fred Corby, on 19th December.
We certainly felt supported by the family of
St. Johns. Thank you also for the cards and messages
which have meant a great deal to us all.
We miss Fred so much but we are deeply grateful
for his long and rich life.
John and Rosemary Mackenzie-Corby and family
St LUKE’s HOSPICE
COFFEE MORNING and SALE
Saturday 28 February – 10am to 12 noon
in Church House
Admission £1 includes tea/coffee
Home-made cakes, toys and other stalls
Tombola and raffle
20-22 HEADSTONE DRIVE, HARROW HA3 5QH
PLEASE COME – EVERYONE NEEDED!
020 8427 7373
www.heriot.co.uk
Co-ordinator — Elizabeth Bowen 020 8954 5360
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THE STANMORE SOCIETY
Exists to serve the place where you live
ITS STRENGTH DEPENDS
ON YOUR SUPPORT
Membership Secretary :
8pm
BERNAYS MEMORIAL HALL
25 The Broadway,
25
STANMORE HA7 4DA
10 Rainsford Close, Stanmore HA7 3DJ
www.bernaysmemorialhall.org.uk
Tel: 07977 929 281
[email protected]
Bookings: 07954 230 210
26
Wednesday
2pm
Friendship Club
8pm
Home Group
Thursday
8-9.30pm
27
Friday
8pm
FIXTUREROSE LIMITED
IAN WALKER, CAT, ATT
28
Home Group
Ringing Practice – newcomers welcome
George Herbert, Priest, Poet, 1633
Youth Movie Evening
Choir rehearsal
Saturday
10am to noon
St Luke’s Coffee Morning, Church House
Tel: 01727 840 351 - [email protected]
ACCOUNTING—VAT RETURN
TAXATION—SELF ASSESSMENT
CHILDMINDER
Friendly, caring, trustworthy, locally based childminder
Available 7:30am-6:30pm Mon-Fri inc. school holidays
Very experienced in childcare, with lots of related qualifications
Good knowledge of Early Years Foundation Stage requirements
Competitive rates
For more information or to arrange an appointment
Please speak to Edit Rees on 020 8951 3893
or at café St Jean on Sunday
10
RELATE - Having family pr oblems?
Call 020 8427 8694
and take the first step to resolving your family problems
with Relate family counselling
15
11am
11.30 for 11.45am
5pm
Matins
Pre-Lent Lunch
Parish Registers
Evensong
Thanksgiving Service
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Monday
17
Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday; Janani Luwum,
Archbishop of Uganda, Martyr, 1977
10.30am
Holy Communion
1.15pm
2.15pm
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19
Wednesday
Little Fishers Babies & Toddlers Group
Tea and chat
ASH WEDNESDAY
2pm
Friendship Club
8pm
Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes
Thursday
8-9.30pm
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6th January
Ringing Practice – newcomers welcome
Friday
8pm
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Saturday
22
SUNDAY
8am
9.30am
11am
Choir rehearsal
First Sunday of Lent
Holy Communion
Parish Communion
Matins
NO Evening Service
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Monday
24
Tuesday
10.30am
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Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr, c. 155
Holy Communion
"I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the
Lord"
Fred Corby
A country quiz
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3
4
5
6
7
8
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10
11
12
13
14
15
16
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19
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A popular bird for Christmas
In need of a good meal
Where the melody is
Where the coffee comes from
Like the weather in winter
Hurry the lady
A happy mongrel
Not out darling
I did not walk
Mournful sounds
Between 79 and 81
Not old twenty one shillings
Suitable hat for hot weather
Sounds like the island of the Egyptian Kings
Freezing place
A shop where bulls should not go
Makes nasty mark on your clothes
Prosecute little Daniel
Where male neck wear originates
Pay respects to female pop star
Spot placed to indicate lion’s lair
You take up this when you start your working life
Wot, no women
Don’t cry for me
Answers on page 21
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Church Diary for February 2015
9.30am
8
1
SUNDAY
8am
9.30am
11am
Presentation of Christ [Candlemas]
Holy Communion
Parish Communion
Matins
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
Anskar, Archbishop of Hamburg, Missionary
in Denmark and Sweden, 865; Blasius, Bishop
of Sebastopol, Martyr, c. 316
10.30am
Holy Communion
1.15pm
2.15pm
4
5
Wednesday
Friendship Club
8pm
Bible Study at Wolstenholme
Thursday
8-9.30pm
Friday
8pm
7
12
Gilbert of Sempringham, Founder of the
Gilbertine Order, 1189
2pm
10am
6
Little Fishers Babies & Toddlers Group
Tea and chat
Agatha, Martyr in Sicily, 251
SUNDAY
Churchyard Working Party & Open Church
Second Sunday before Lent
8am
9.30am
11am
Holy Communion
Parish Holy Communion
Matins
6.30pm
CTW Joint Service, Holy Trinity Wealdstone
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
Scholastic, sister of Benedict, Abbess of
Plombariola, c. 543
10.30am
Holy Communion
1.15pm
2.15pm
Little Fishers Babies & Toddlers Group
Tea and chat
NO Home Group
11
12
Wednesday
2pm
Friendship Club
8pm
Home Group
Thursday
8-9.30pm
13
Ringing Practice – newcomers welcome
Friday
8pm
Choir rehearsal
14
Saturday
St Valentine and SS Cyril and Methodius,
Missionaries to the Slavs, 869 and 885
15
SUNDAY
Sunday next before Lent
Holy Communion at Paxfold
Ringing Practice – newcomers welcome
Accession of Queen Elizabeth II, 1952
8am
9.30am
Holy Communion
All-Age Communion
Choir rehearsal
Saturday
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