St John the Evangelist Great Stanmore

February 2020 Price 50p

Martyrs on the façade of , 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

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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

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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 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 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 , 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 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)

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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. The children are enjoying Tel: 020 8954 8555 - Fax: 020 8954 4124 being back and seeing their friends. [email protected]

THE STANMORE SOCIETY BERNAYS MEMORIAL HALL Exists to serve the place where you

25 The Broadway, live ITS STRENGTH DEPENDS STANMORE HA7 4DA ON YOUR SUPPORT

Membership Secretary : www.bernaysmemorialhall.org.uk 10 Hewett Close, Stanmore HA7 3BW Bookings: 07954 230 210 Tel: 07947 423 215 [email protected]

Thank you to all the children who took part in the Nativity. DCG Electrical Services Also a big thank you to all the adults who helped me to Building Regulations organise the Nativity. I couldn’t have done it without you all. Part P Approved Contractor Additional lighting and sockets - Full/part rewires During this month we have looked at the Baptism of Christ and at being disciples. Our Praise and Worship will continue in Inspection and testing - Fault finding - Fusebox upgrades Church House on a Sunday at 9.30, so bring your children along and see what exciting things we have planned. David Gosden 01923 672400 [email protected] 07501 337223

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We have created a permanent Prayer Station in our Prayer Space so that HALL FOR HIRE pupils can continue to pray for our Ugandan school and pupils.

CHURCH HOUSE, OLD CHURCH LANE, STANMORE HA7 2QX CHURCH HOUSE HALL AND GROUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR HIRE Sharing our gifts with the children

Janani Luwum, , A Modern Martyr Jill Medcalf After reading about St. John’s School links with Uganda, I felt it appropriate to find out more about Janani Luwum, whose death is remembered on February 17th. : Janani Jakaliya Luwum (c. 1922 – 17 February 1977) was the Archbishop of the from 1974 to 1977 and one of the most influential leaders of the modern church in Africa. He was arrested in February 1977 and died shortly after. Although the official account describes a car crash, it is generally accepted that he was murdered on the orders of then-President Idi Amin. Since 2015 Uganda has a public holiday on 16 February, to celebrate the life of Janani Luwum. Early life and career FOR ALL ENQUIRIES Luwum was born in the village of Mucwini in the Kitgum District to PLEASE CALL THE PARISH OFFICE Acholi parents. He attended Gulu High School and Boroboro Teacher Training College, after which he taught at a primary school. Luwum ON 020 8954 7064 OR EMAIL: converted to Christianity in 1948, and in 1949 he went to Buwalasi [email protected] Theological College. In 1950 he was attached to St. Philip's Church in WWW.STJOHNSCHURCHSTANMORE.ORG.UK Gulu. He was ordained a deacon in 1953, and the following year he was ordained a priest. He served in the Upper Nile Diocese of Uganda and later in the Diocese of Mbale. In 1969 he was consecrated Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda at Gulu. After five years he was

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St John’s School Uganda Link

By Mrs Elizabeth Boulter (R.E & Worship Subject Leader)

We have been very busy this year building relationships with our wider global community. We have created links with a new and upcoming kindergarten in Uganda. To mark our partnership with the ‘Royal Child’ kindergarten we lead a Uganda Day in school. Pupils were invited to attend school wearing the colours of the Ugandan Flag: Red, Black and Yellow. Pupils had a fun packed day exploring Uganda through dance, drama, cooking, singing, writing and a trip to our Ugandan Prayer Space. The Day concluded with a whole school assembly where pupils shared all that they had achieved and St Luke’s Hospice Bring and Buy learnt throughout the day. Coffee Morning

What are you doing with your extra day this year? On Leap Year Day, Saturday 29th February, we shall be holding our Annual Bring and Buy Coffee Morning from 10am to 12 noon in Church House.

We hope as many of our regular supporters will be able to come, bringing treasures to sell and pennies (or pounds) to spend. We shall have all the usual stalls, including a Cake/ provisions stall, Tombola, Raffle and all the other goodies, which always make this event go so well.

We invite you to join us this year, especially if you have not done so before, including any who would like to run a stall or help with them. We set up on the Friday evening at 6pm and complete our preparations on Saturday morning from 9am.

Please contact me or Pat Hodgson, as soon as possible if you Sean, our supporter from the ‘Royal Child’ kindergarten in Uganda think you might be able to help us, for all or part of the time, visited our school. He led assemblies in both schools where he spoke so that we can make this a special time supporting a local about the Kindergarten. This gave us all a greater insight into the work charity. Thank you for all your past support, here’s to another already achieved and further work required. We presented Sean with year of successful fundraising.

story sacks for the Kindergarten made by our Year 6 pupils. We also Jean Orpwood (St John’s Link for St Luke’s) presented him with a link book created by each class across the school TEL: 020 3645 0491 and a framed St John’s School cross. Sean was very grateful and excited to be taking such wonderful gifts back to the Kindergarten.

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24 Monday Church Diary for February 2020

25 Tuesday 10.30am BCP Holy Communion 8pm Home Group (JP) February 2020 8pm Home Group (FW)

26 Wednesday ASH WEDNESDAY 1 Saturday Brigid, Abbess of Kildare, c. 525 8pm Ash Wednesday Service

27 Thursday George Herbert, Priest, Poet, 1633 2 Sunday PRESENTATION of CHRIST in the NO bell ringing practice TEMPLE [Candlemas] 28 Friday 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Communion 11am Matins 29 Saturday 11.45am Matins Communion 11am St Luke’s Coffee Morning 8pm Compline 3 Monday Anskar, Archbishop of Hamburg, Missionary in Denmark and Sweden, 865

4 Tuesday Gilbert of Sempringham, Founder of the Gilbertine Order, 1189 Tea and Chat 10.30am CW Holy Communion 1.15pm Little Fishers Babies & Toddler Group Tuesdays in Church House 2.15pm Tea and Chat 11th February — Visit of children from Aylward School 8pm Home Group (JP) ALL ARE 5 Wednesday

WELCOME 6 Thursday Martyrs of Japan, 1597 8-9.30pm Bell Ringing Practice – newcomers welcome

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15 Saturday Sigfrid, Bishop, Apostle of Sweden, 1045; 7 Friday Thomas Bray, Priest, Founder of the SPCK and SPC, 1730 8 Saturday 16 Sunday SECOND SUNDAY before LENT 9 Sunday THIRD SUNDAY before LENT 8am Holy Communion 9.30am All-Age Service 8am Holy Communion 11am Matins 9.30am Parish Communion 11am Matins 5pm Evensong 5pm Engage - 10 Monday Scholastica, sister of Benedict, Abbess of 17 Monday Janani Luwum, Archbishop of Uganda, Plombariola, c. 543 Martyr, 1977

11 Tuesday 18 Tuesday 10.30am BCP Holy Communion 10.30am CW Holy Communion (by extension) 1.15pm Little Fishers Babies & Toddler Group 2.15pm Tea and Chat 2.15pm Tea and Chat – Aylward School visit 19 Wednesday 8pm Home Group (KP) 3.30pm Wolstenholme Study Group 8pm Home Group (FW) 20 Thursday 12 Wednesday 8-9.30pm Bell Ringing Practice – newcomers welcome

21 Friday 13 Thursday

8-9.30pm Bell Ringing Practice – newcomers welcome 22 Saturday

14 Friday Cyril and Methodius, Misionaries to the Slavs, 869 and 885 23 Sunday SUNDAY next before LENT 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Communion 11am Matins Noon Pre-Lent lunch

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