The Parish Magazine of St Mary, West Malling, St Michael, Offham & TRIO St Gabriel, Kings Hill September 2014 Contributions Welcomed How to Get in Touch The United Benefice of West Malling with Offham Priest-in-Charge: Revd David Green 01732 842245 [email protected] The Vicarage, 138 High Street, West Malling ME19 6NE Reader: Margaret Moore 01732 841238 St Mary, West Malling Churchwardens: John Musker 01732 849109 Becky Clifford 01732 845634 Sunday School: Kerry Green 01732 842245 Tower Captain: Nick Crutchfield 01732 845187 Mothers’ Union: Gail Crutchfield 01732 845187 www.stmaryswestmalling.org.uk St Michael, Offham Churchwardens: Robin Stranack 07881 300742 Stephen Betts 01732 843412 www.stmichaelsoffham.org.uk St Gabriel, Kings Hill Church Council: Jim & Freda Smith 01732 220954 Girls Brigade: Karen Webber 01732 875091 www.stgabrielskingshill.org.uk Pilsdon at Malling Community Guardian: Revd Pam Rink 01732 870279 [email protected] Pilsdon at Malling, 27 Water Lane, West Malling ME19 6HH Parish Magazine Editor: Becky Clifford 01732 845634 Email (for all enquiries) [email protected] This magazine is available for email distribution as a PDF: if you would prefer to receive it in this format, please contact me using one of the methods above and we will arrange for you to be added to our mailing list. We NEVER supply your details to third parties. We offer free publicity for any community events or charitable concerns. The Editor reserves the right to shorten or modify any material submitted for publication. Please note: the views expressed by contributors are those of the authors; copyright for articles rests with individual contributors. If you would like to use any of the material in any way, please contact the Editor for permission. 1 From the Editor The torrential downpour of the last couple of days has come as a bit of a shock in contrast to such a good summer. As I took my usual route to church, clutching my umbrella along with my keys, I came to the conclusion that my choice of footwear – flip-flops – left a lot to be desired. I had anticipated my feet would get wet (I’m not completely silly) but what I hadn’t bargained for was the water rendering my flip-flops as slippery as a skating rink. I gripped hard with my toes to keep them on and slid and slithered my way back home. I contemplated removing the wretched things but thought better of it: even slimy, sodden flip-flops were preferable to bare feet on gravel. As I tottered slowly and unsteadily through the deluge I reflected that there are times when the sheer effort of doing something seems to outweigh the results. I was making progress, but it was irritatingly slow. Life can throw curve balls and when we’re frustrated and weary, we may wonder if it’s worth carrying on. It’s at times like this that our core values and beliefs are put under scrutiny. What’s going on? Why is it happening? How can I deal with this? (Note to self: don’t pick flip-flops in a storm!) You may have come across the phrase, ‘Job’s comforters’: people who are about as useful as a chocolate teapot in times of crisis. It comes from the Old Testament book of Job. At the core of the book are questions about the problem of suffering. And, oh my, is Job suffering. His ‘friends’ are quick to opine upon the reasons for this – in short – he must have done something to deserve it. But Job knows differently: he hasn’t done anything to deserve this, yet he’s reduced to a shadow of his former self, without home or family or – indeed – friends. Job himself says that life teaches you that some really awful people never seem to suffer, yet lovely people do. Despite his friends’ insistence, he refuses to repent: it would be dishonest of him to do so. And, towards the end of the book, God backs him up. Job hadn’t got everything right, but his friends had got it all terribly wrong. I think part of the problem is that suffering has terribly negative connotations: and it’s easy to see why. It’s never a pleasant experience. But if we see all suffering as simply bad, we’re missing out on something. Bishop Desmond Tutu, who knows a thing or two about this subject from experience, wrote: …We all experience sadness, we all come at times to despair, and we all lose hope that the suffering in our lives and in the world will ever end. I want to share with you my faith and my understanding that this suffering can be transformed and redeemed. There is no such thing as a totally hopeless case. Our God is an expert at dealing with chaos, with brokenness, with all the worst that we can imagine. God created order out of disorder, cosmos out of chaos, and God can do so always, can do so now – in our personal lives and in our lives as nations, globally. ...Indeed, God is transforming the world now – through us – because God loves us. [Extract from God has a Dream by Desmond Tutu] With very best wishes, 2 From David The monthly discipline of writing an article for Trio doesn't always come easy. Sometimes the deadline will be approaching and Becky will be circling (in a nice way) and I won't have a clue what to write about. On the other hand, with our double issue in July leaving August fallow, I found myself at frequent points over the Summer itching to write. The Women Bishop's vote (see p.18),my passion for football and England's abject World Cup, the departure of Mr Webb as Headteacher at West Malling School after a very successful few years and, of course, the global situation with Ebola in Africa and ISIS in Syria and Iraq has given a variety of topics to address. For me, Syria and Iraq looms most of all and with the horror of all that continues to take place, as I sit down now, I don't know that there are any words to say. How do you comment or try to reflect on the atrocities taking place at the hands of such extremists who respond only with violence to anyone of any persuasion (ethnic, cultural, national, ideological or religious) who disagrees with them? I'm not sure I can. I'm reminded of the events recorded in the Gospels as Jesus hung on the cross. The sky went dark, the Christ cried out in abandonment. There was silence. Sometimes, silence is the only sensible response to horrific suffering. But silence does not mean inaction has to follow and I prize highly the efforts of all those who, after the silence, choose to be brave and to do what they can to help. There are countless examples, but let me highlight for you the work of Canon Andrew White, sometimes known as the Vicar of Baghdad who leads St George's Anglican Church in that ancient city. Andrew trained for the ministry in Cambridge at the same college where I studied, and since then he has gone on to be a courageous voice in the Middle East. Currently he is being frequently smuggled in and out of the country because of the dangers to his own safety. He is a 'high value target' as the TV spy shows would say. When he is not in Iraq, he bangs the drum loudly for Christians and other minorities suffering violent persecution, aggravating politicians and making sure the media (and therefore the public) know the full extent of what is happening. When he is in Iraq, he smuggles in aid and supplies and financial help to people in desperate need. While some world leaders go surfing, and some make conciliatory noises but play down involvement out of an understandable but entirely miserable sense of self-preservation, Andrew and many others like him are trying to halt disaster. If you have been moved by what you have seen on television, can I encourage you to visit his website at frrme.org and find out what you can do? Alternatively, visit the website of one of the major relief organisations like the Red Cross or Christian Aid and do what you can to help people in tremendous need. David Green 3 What’s on at St Mary’s World War I Vigil One hundred years to the day after the outbreak of World War I was announced, we gathered at St Mary’s to remember. Taken from the liturgy used at Westminster Abbey, the readings alternated between scriptural passages and war poetry. At the centre of the nave was a table with one central, tall candle, flanked by three at each side. At key points in the service, the candles were gradually extinguished until only the central candle was left. After the final reading, that, too was put out and the church was plunged into darkness. Thus it remained until David lit the Paschal candle close to the church door. We left the church in silence. It was a profoundly moving experience. Some service sheets are still available if you would like a copy, from the back table at St Mary’s. Sunday 28th September, 8:00 pm Jeremy Begbie The Music of God and the God of Music A must for Christian leaders, leaders of worship, church musicians and all who find music a deeply spiritual experience. What has music to do with God? Why do so many people turn to music for ‘spiritual’ refreshment, whether it’s hip-hop, rock, jazz, classical or mediaeval? An epilogue to the 4th International Music@Malling Festival, Jeremy Begbie will explore some of the ways in which music works in our lives and how it can stir our souls.