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St John the Evangelist Great Stanmore St John the Evangelist Great Stanmore February 2020 Price 50p Martyrs on the façade of Westminster Abbey, London. left to right: Maximili- an Kolbe, Manche Masemola, and Janani Luwum. Peter Williams Photo: Jean-Christophe BENOIST 20 1 PARISH ORGANISATIONS SUNDAY SERVICES Bell Ringers Mission to Seafarers 8am Holy Communion (Order One in traditional language) Peter Scott (Master) 01895 835 623 Valerie Banger 020 8951 4012 9.30am Parish Communion (Order One) or All-Age Communion Elizabeth Bowen (Secretary) 020 8954 5360 Parish Visiting Team Coffee is served in Church House after this service Bereavement Visiting Sylvia Daniels 020 8863 4080 Children 9.30am Junior Church (4-12yrs) in Church House Jean Orpwood 020 3645 0491 Sheila Oliver 020 8954 4976 (also crèche for babies) 9.30am Holy Baptism (after due preparation) Bible Reading Fellowship Rainbows Carole White 020 8421 1510 Francesca Brissimatzakis 07743 040 588 11am Morning Prayer (BCP) (after 7pm ) [email protected] 5pm Evening Service (see Weekly Bulletin for details) Brownies Jean Gregson 020 8952 2866 St John's Church of England School [email protected] Headteacher Mrs J Hester 020 8954 3978 Stanmore Hill, Stanmore HA7 3AD WEEKDAY SERVICES Church Flowers 10.30am Tuesday Holy Communion Peggy Simpson 020 8954 8606 Servers Ian Walker 07947 070613 Holy and Saints' Days as announced Electoral Roll [email protected] Andrea Nicholson 01923 226969 CHURCH OFFICIALS AND STAFF Social Committee Girl Guides Marianne Wright 020 8952 1604 Rector Heather Gregson 07900 056 402 Safeguarding Officers [email protected] Stewardship – Gift Aid The Reverend Matthew Stone Sarra Angel 07743 964 777 Jennifer Neve Home 01923 824364 The Rectory, 14 Chambers Walk Mark Lynch 07982 906833 [email protected] Mobile 07989 378840 Stanmore, HA7 4FN Louise Gregory 07504 527118 [email protected] 020 8954 3876 Junior Church Children’s Champion Beverley McKeon 020 8952 1936 Tea & Chat [email protected] Sylvia Daniels 020 8863 4080 Sue Wright 07958 499682 Assistant Curate Magazine – Editorial Team Sheila Oliver 020 8954 4976 The Revd Jonny Rapson Churchwardens Elizabeth Bowen 020 8954 5360 020 8954 7064 Mark Lynch 07982 906833 Jill Medcalf 020 8420 1514 Little Fishers Parent & Toddler Group [email protected] Jane Prentice 07976 388958 Frances Westcott 020 8952 8665 Edit Rees 020 8951 3893 Magazine – Advertisements Readers Deputy Churchwardens Elizabeth Bowen 020 8954 5360 Welcome & Café St Jean Susan Jones 07964 846148 Magazine – Distribution Rosemary Mackenzie-Corby 020 8386 1640 Jean Orpwood 020 3645 0491 Graham Nicholson 01923 226969 Mick and Sheila Oliver 020 8954 4976 Frances Westcott 020 8952 8665 Lydia McLean 020 8952 5990 Music – Director of Music Hon Treasurer Philip Rees 020 8951 3893 Readers Emeriti Jennifer Neve Mobile 07989 378840 Michael Carmody 01895 831 472 Dr Daphne Johnson 020 8958 7892 Parish Administrator Dr John Mair 020 8952 5044 Karen Stirrup 020 8954 7064 Parish Office, Church House, Pastoral Assistant Old Church Lane, Stanmore HA7 2QX Sylvia Daniels 020 8863 4080 [email protected] www.stjohnschurchstanmore.org.uk Commissioned Children’s Minister Office hours—9am-2pm Tuesday, Beverley McKeon 020 8952 1936 Wednesday and Thursday 19 Magazine preparation schedule The Revd. Jonny Rapson writes: Deadline Sunday Desirable last date for contributions Monday onwards Late entries considered; magazine compiled Weekend Proof reading Tuesday Magazine sent for printing Friday Magazine available for distribution I found myself recently reading the book of Jonah in the Old Saturday & Sunday Magazine on sale in church Testament. A classic Sunday school story with the infamous fish (last in the month) and available for collection by deliverers swallowing Jonah as he seeks to escape his calling to convert the great Assyrian capital, Nineveh. The book of Jonah, although very short, teaches us profoundly about Deadline dates in 2020 God’s unending grace for his people. The Assyrian empire was merciless, brutal and inward-looking, an empire seemingly so far from 16 February - 15 March - 19 April - 17 May - 14 June - 19 July grace that they were facing imminent destruction and judgement from – 16 August - 13 September - 18 October – 15 November– God. 13 December However, despite Nineveh’s distance from God, He wishes to give them a chance to return to Him and seek forgiveness in order to avoid Copy for the magazine — PLEASE let the editors know if material the calamity they face. is going to be late and submit it in A5 format if it uses clever computer techniques. Charged with the task is Jonah., who, in his journey, faces storms, a Send it by EMAIL to the following address: big fish, the violence of the Assyrians and an argument with God. [email protected] - [email protected] Once Jonah is spat out by the big fish he, against all odds, successfully Place it on the table at the back of the church converts the whole of Nineveh, thus securing their rescue. However, Give it to one of the editorial team (see inside back cover) having seen the sinfulness of Nineveh, Jonah becomes angry at God Send or deliver it to for allowing the Assyrian empire to stand. Jonah demands that God 7 Masefield Avenue, Stanmore, HA7 3LU continue with the destruction of Nineveh as planned. Oakmere, Thornton Grove, Hatch End, HA5 4HG This part of the story has an irony to it. Jonah, who once begged for the grace of God in the belly of the fish, now demands that God withdraw his grace from those whom he is charged with saving. But this irony reveals that the book of Jonah is, first and foremost, an To advertise in this magazine, exploration of God’s grace. God’s grace was there for Jonah, and it please contact the Advertising Manager – was there for the Assyrian empire. The beauty of God’s grace is that it Elizabeth Bowen – 020 8954 5360 – [email protected] does not require our ‘perfectness’ to receive it. It is given freely. 7 Masefield Avenue, Stanmore HA7 3LU 18 3 Often we can accept God’s grace for others, but we often resist accepting that God’s grace is given to us amongst our brokenness. appointed Archbishop of the Metropolitan Province of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Boga (in Zaire), becoming the second African to God’s grace is given to all - not a select few. When Christ is crucified, hold this position. a criminal by His side asks that Jesus would remember him when He enters His kingdom. Christ extends His unending grace by saying Arrest and death ‘truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’ Archbishop Luwum was a leading voice in criticising the excesses of the Idi Amin regime that assumed power in 1971. In 1977, Archbishop Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, along with the book of Jonah, reminds Luwum delivered a note of protest to dictator Idi Amin against the us that God’s grace is not bought or sold, but freely given by a loving policies of arbitrary killings and unexplained disappearances. Shortly and caring God. This joy means that, by the grace of God, we will find afterwards the archbishop and other leading churchmen were accused of Christ saying to us on our last day: ‘today you will be with me in treason. paradise.’ On 16 February 1977, Luwum was arrested together with two cabinet ministers, Erinayo Wilson Oryema and Charles Oboth Ofumbi. The same day Idi Amin convened a rally in Kampala with the three accused present. A few other "suspects" were paraded forth to read out "confessions" implicating the three men. The archbishop was accused of being an agent of the exiled former president Milton Obote, and for The Children’s Society Boxes planning to stage a coup. The next day, Radio Uganda announced that the three had been killed when the car transporting them to an The children’s Society boxes are due to be emptied this month. interrogation center had collided with another vehicle. The accident, Please let me have your box at the 9.30 service. Should this not be Radio Uganda reported, had occurred when the victims had tried to possible for you, the Wardens have kindly agreed to take them. overpower the driver in an attempt to escape. When Luwum's body was released to his relatives, it was riddled with bullets. Jenny Gurdon According to the later testimony of witnesses, the victims had been taken to an army barracks, where they were bullied, beaten and finally shot. According to Vice President of Uganda Mustafa Adrisi and a Human rights commission, Amin's right-hand man Isaac Maliyamungu carried out the murder of Luwum and his colleagues. Janani Luwum was survived by a widow, Mary Lawinyo Luwum and nine children. He was buried at his home village of Mucwini in the Kitgum District. He is recognised as a martyr by the Church of England and the Anglican Communion and his death is commemorated on The Church of St John the Evangelist 17 February as a Lesser Festival. His statue is among the Twentieth Great Stanmore Century Martyrs on the front of Westminster Abbey in London. is open each day from 9am until dark Visitors welcome Slightly abridged from the Wikipedia entry for Janani Luwum (See photo on back cover) 4 17 Junior Church Column KIRKWOODS - SOLICITORS Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority SRA No 79929 Beverley McKeon, Junior Church We specialise in Business advice Leader House sale and purchase Wills and probate Remortgages Death duty tax planning Landlord and tenant Divorce and family problems Junior Church is now getting back to normal after the 41a CHURCH ROAD, STANMORE HA7 4AB extended break over the holidays.
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