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St Etheldreda with St Clement: The Parish Newsletter

Week beginning Sunday 19 January 2020 The Parish newsletter is produced weekly to keep everyone informed about what is going on, past and future. We also welcome notes and articles from parishioners and others. If you know someone who would like to receive our newsletter please contact [email protected] The table below is a summary of the topics we are covering in this issue. We now have an archive of Newsletters on our website https://www.stethsfulham.org/Groups/327488/Newsletter.aspx We also referred to our Church seeking interest from our local community, and the potential role of our Newsletter in that process. You might have neighbours and friends who are not part of our congregation who may like to receive the Newsletter because it does contain news about local issues and people. All we need is an email address and their permission.

Contents Second Sunday after Epiphany ...... 1 Sunday morning address by Rev Mary Spredbury ...... 2 Hymn of the week triggers a memory from 1955 ...... 3 Flower of the Week – Elephant’s Ears ...... 4 Tweet of the week: Einstein’s Quantum Riddle...... 5 Dates ahead – for your diaries ...... 6 Cake Sale to raise Funds for Victims of Australian Bush Fires ...... 6 Report on last week’s Parochial Church Council meeting ...... 6 Confirmation Classes – Tuesday and Thursday Evenings ...... 7 Dates ahead – Parish Calendar for your diaries ...... 8 Regular Events ...... 8 Service Schedule ...... 8 Regular Services ...... 8 Dates ahead: The Parish Calendar ...... 8 A Warm Welcome and Grateful Gifts ...... 9 Parish Communications ...... 10 There’s Community work going on and work to be done...... 10 Other help wanted ...... 10 Giving and Volunteering ...... 11

Second Sunday after Epiphany What does the word “Epiphany” mean? It’s Greek and means making public or revealing what might otherwise have remained hidden or unknown. Another term is to “manifest”. Before 2

Christmas there was a General Election and all the political candidates had “manifestos” – statements of their intentions and beliefs. So what is happening during this short season of Epiphany? Most churchgoers know that the Feast of the Epiphany is the visit of the wise men from the East to see the baby, Jesus. Jesus is, Christians believe, God incarnate – God in human form. Why? So we humans can see and understand in our own terms who and what God is. God is revealed to the wise men in the form of the baby, Jesus. Well that’s the Feast but there are four Sundays of white and gold before we hit the green altar frontal and vestments again for a short period before Lent when everything goes purple The readings on each of these Sundays are intended to show different aspects of the revelation that Jesus shows us God’s nature and intentions. Last week we had the story of the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan after which God spoke and revealed that Jesus is his son with whom He is pleased. This week we had John the Baptist telling Andrew, one of his own followers, that Jesus is the Messiah spoken of by the prophet Isaiah and Jesus then telling Andrew and his brother, Simon, to “Come and See” where and who Jesus is and they decide to follow him. Next Sunday that calling to followers is repeated. They are to leave their daily concerns and give their time and their skills to Jesus – they are fishermen but they are to become fishers of men, of people. The revelation is that Jesus is concerned to draw to him all people. Again there is a reference to Isaiah where God made that clear to the prophet. The last Sunday in the series will be Candlemas when the story is told of the baby, Jesus, being brought to the Temple in Jerusalem where he is recognised by both Simeon and Anna as the Light of the World long awaited and now revealed to them We, as Christians, need to be reminded. It is our task to show God’s nature and intentions by doing what Jesus has commanded us to do – to go to all people and show them how good is God in human form, to give and not to count the cost Sunday morning address by Rev Mary Spredbury Mary is Parish Finance Adviser (Westminster and Kensington) Mary thanked Fr Ross, for the invitation to St Etheldreda’s. Her underlying theme concerned the importance of giving in the context of our Christian journey. There are many biblical examples that cited giving and gifts. We have recently celebrated Epiphany when the Magi presented the holy family, in particularly the baby Jesus with – myrrh, frankincense and gold. In fact they offered themselves. We can use this example as we offer ourselves in our calling as Christians, our time, our gifts and abilities, our money, our experience and indeed, our lives. We do so as to offer our lives to God, to live out our faith in our day to day lives. That means using what we have for the God’s work. A third of Jesus parables and teaching are about money or possessions. For example the widow who gave a small coins, (which was her entire wealth), and the rich young man who is told to sell all he has and give it to the poor. 3

We are also called to be faithful with the financial resources that God has entrusted to us. Their source is usually derived in one way or another from our work that uses the wonderful skills and abilities wrought in us by God. Thus we are called to be grateful to God, who made us and loves us and saves us – George Carey a previous Archbishop of Canterbury said that the question we each need to ask is “how can my giving reflect something of God’s love for me?” – not my love for God which may ebb and flow and is, as we know, never adequate; but God’s overwhelming generous compassionate and never ending love for each one of us.. That is what we are called to think about. That is a challenge to each of us – does our giving to the church in any way reflect God’s love for us. Sometimes it is fear that holds us back, often when we consider other ‘priorities’. Jesus tells his followers (that includes us) “do not be afraid”. Perhaps it boils down to giving away a share, or a proportion of what we have been given, possibly monthly when we receive our salary or pension. St Etheldreda’s under Fr Ross’s ministry commits us to growing the church congregation, embracing engagement with the local community, particularly working with young people. All of this is a share in God’s mission where giving our time and financial resources will enable us all to take part in meeting that end. The Reverend Mary entreated us to think and pray about our part in this, for example to give regularly and to consider joining the regular giving scheme via a monthly standing order, perhaps to increase our gift. Fr Ross has the forms to enable this. They are also available at the back of the church Hymn of the week triggers a memory from 1955 (Ken Bromfield) Last Sunday, Pauline, our friends and I took our customary January National Trust break at Blickling Hall in Norfolk. My annual job was to find a local church for our Sunday worship. This year it was at Aylsham Parish Church (St Michael & All Angels). This lovely church dates back to the 11th century. One of the hymns we sang was ‘God is working His purpose out’. It was written in 1894 by Arthur Campbell Ainger as a tribute to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Edward White Benson. The tune sung in this version is called ’Benson’. The hymn refers to God being always at work to generate his will for the world and for humanity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb8tJF0HWM0 The effervescent evangelical tenor of this hymn reminded me of a ‘service’ that I attended in 1955, probably the biggest religious event in the history of the Borough of Hammersmith. 67,000 people took part in a Billy Graham ‘crusade’ (rally) at White City . Later that day, over 120,000 attended another rally at Wembley.

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This contemporary American Newsreel includes a scene at White City Stadum, two miles from St.Eths. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGHU5IYOr58

1 God is working his purpose out, 3 We shall march in the strength of as year succeeds to year God, God is working his purpose out, with the banner of Christ unfurled, and the time is drawing near: that the light of the glorious gospel Nearer and nearer draws the time, of truth the time that shall surely be, may shine throughout the world; When the earth shall be filled we shall fight with sorrow and sin with the glory of God, to set their captives free, as the waters cover the sea. that the earth may be filled with the glory of God,

as the waters cover the sea. 2 From utmost east to utmost west,

wherever foot has trod, by the mouth of many messengers 4 All we can do is nothing worth rings out the voice of God: unless God blesses the deed; Listen to me you continents, vainly we hope for the harvest-tide you islands look to me, till God gives life to the seed: that the earth may be filled nearer and nearer draws the time, with the glory of God, the time that shall surely be, as the waters cover the sea. when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God,

as the waters cover the sea.

Flower of the Week – Elephant’s Ears When children talk about someone trying to overhear what they are saying they say that they have “flapping ears” or, sometimes “elephant ears” . We hope that your ears were flapping during Sunday’s service whilst Mary Spredbury talked about giving. Oh; elephants never forget do they? Have you thought about why it’s called a Sunday “service”? There is “self service” and then there is God’s service – let’s do it properly There is a houseplant called “elephant ears” but this week’s Flower of the Week is also called “elephant ears” Bergenia Schmidtii – it’s the shape of the bold green leaves. It has been chosen for this week because it is one of the earliest flowers of the garden year and they are so hardy that they grow all over the Parish in gardens and in the parks and cemetery and in some of the Fulham Palace Road verges 5

Tweet of the week: Einstein’s Quantum Riddle This tweet has been selected because there were deep questions that arose from a recent BBC 4 documentary, ‘Einstein’s Quantum Riddle’. For example “Is our reality defined by sensible laws of order, or by weird and random connections across space and time? The universe consists of masses of atoms and sub atomic particles. But what if these elements shared a secret channel of communication, whatever their distance of separation? It is a theory known as quantum entanglement. There is a cause and effect relationship that was long rejected by Albert Esinstein as "spooky" science. The theory surmises that two particles act and react to one another across a span of light years (billions of miles), thus there must be a hidden communication system at work. Perhaps the oddest twist is the "observer effect"; that is the theory that the mere observation of a phenomenon inevitably changes that phenomenon, whereby instruments that, by necessity, alter the state of what they measure in some manner. This seems to undermine the basic assumption behind all science: that there is an objective world out there, irrespective of us. If the way the world behaves depends on how – or if – we look at it, what can "reality" really mean? Does this presume an occurrence that could not be observed or firmly substantiated requires a leap of faith? It’s something that many scientists were unwilling to assume. The BBC 4 TV programme is utterly fascinating. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000db95 Now ask yourself, where or whether your set of Christian beliefs fit into all of this. If you watch the programme, this becomes an intriguing thought.

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Dates ahead – for your diaries Cake Sale to raise Funds for Victims of Australian Bush Fires

Jean Hodges and her daughter, Dawn, are going to bake and sell cakes next Sunday morning after the service to raise funds to support the victims of the truly terrible bush fires which have been raging in over the last month or so Please come to the Lower Hall after the Sunday service and either buy a cake or biscuit to eat with your coffee/tea or to take home with you.

Report on last week’s Parochial Church Council meeting The January meeting was held in the Lower Hall at St Etheldreda’s Church as usual. Here is a summary of the main points (and please look at the Parish Calendar towards the end of the Newsletter)

 Statistics – we will be lodging our Mission Statistics with the Diocese by the end of January (this means our numbers). The attendance numbers for December and the first two Sundays in January look good: average Sunday morning church attendance 66 adults, 14 children (60 communicants). Christmas special services had been well attended: Carol Service estimated 400 (including performers); Christmas Eve Crib Service 60 adults, 20 children (next year we are not letting grown ups in without a child….); Midnight Mass 78 adults, 4 children (70 communicants); Christmas Morning 110 adults, 16 children (112 communicants). This is December when everyone is so busy and often away and, hard to remember now we are warm again, the heating was not working…. 7

 Ministry team we may have the youngest youth support worker in the Diocese – Olivia is only 3………… However, we are also delighted with the increasing contribution being made by both Julia and Josh to enabling us to be a blessing to the Parish. We are doing everything we can (financially and otherwise) to enable them both to continue in their work for us all.  Outreach there is still much to be done to make our work in Fulham Cross Academy and The Bridge effective and of real benefit to the young people. Everyone can help by getting to know as much as possible about these projects and then finding ways to contribute. A special report is to be included in the Newsletter next week  New Signs for Old we are promised the new signs which have been on order for some months now. Keep your fingers crossed and then look through them at St Etheldreda’s and St Clement’s at the end of this week……….  Building inspections the Archdeacon has instructed Chris Daley (yes – brother of Irene) who is the Diocesan surveyor to carry out the next Quinquennial (5 yearly) inspection of our buildings and to make recommendations. We are, as so often, ahead of the game in that Chris has already inspected the structure of St Etheldreda’s Church and made recommendations – the external works required are likely to be costly especially because they involve scaffolding. James, the Hero of the Flower Room Tap, and Martin Chapple are working on improving the heating system at St Clement’s Hall. We will be carrying out our annual health and safety inspection in the Spring – it’s quite fun and you get to see bits of the buildings you have never visited before so if anyone wants to help please speak to Doreen Agyei (sits at the front of church on the left facing the choir)  Finance being accountable to you all and to the Diocese and to the general public (we are a registered charity) as well as fund-raising to enable us to work collectively to give our very best to God through the people of this Parish is a tough job. Martin Chapple reported on progress. Although our bank accounts are quite healthy (the Shepherds Bush Housing Association which leases Ely Court and Clifford Haigh House from the PCC has paid arrears of ground rent of £720 and Father Ross was able to report a substantial anonymous Christmas present to the Parish for which the PCC is very grateful) we are facing increasing expenditure on buildings, plant and equipment and people and we want to do so much more than just keep the show on the road. The draft Annual Report and Accounts for 2019 will be ready for PCC approval in March and the 2020 Budget next month. The PCC fully supports Father Ross in his efforts to galvanise us all to give and not to count the cost – have you ever noticed that whenever you give to charity you never miss the money afterward?  Communications we have very successfully started to use Eventbrite to advertise our special services and other events – it’s a new thing to be told by someone coming to a service “I’ve got a ticket”. We are all encouraged to introduce ourselves to newcomers and use the Pew Cards. Try using your own name during the Peace. Sidespeople and the Welcome Team generally will be wearing red ribbons so people know who to approach if they have questions

Confirmation Classes – Tuesday and Thursday Evenings

Father Ross is going to start a class if there is anyone who would wish to be prepared for Confirmation. The Bishop of Kensington is coming to our Parish in order to confirm candidates on Sunday morning 15 March.

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Dates ahead – Parish Calendar for your diaries

Regular Events Every Monday Evening – Bible Study Group at 7.00pm at Jean Ellwood’s home. Please telephone Jean on 020 8748 8234 or email [email protected] for details. Every Wednesday 9.30am at St Eths Lady Chapel – Prayer Group Every other Thursday 7.30pm in Kenyon Street – House Discussion Group please contact [email protected] Every Friday 10.30am to 12 noon Play Group is led by Julia Agnello and takes place at St Etheldreda’s Church. Excellent coffee and tea is provided and all parents/carers and their children aged three and under are very welcome. Julia [email protected] welcomes help so please go along and talk to her at St Eth’s on Friday morning Service Schedule Regular Services St Etheldreda’s Church: Sunday (Eucharist) 10.30am, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (Morning Prayer) 9.30am and Thursday (Eucharist) 11.30am. St Clement’s Church: Sunday (Evening Prayer) 6.00pm. A wonderful half hour to prepare for the week ahead Sunday Club for children – Every Sunday during the Eucharist from 10.30am in the Lady Chapel at St Etheldreda’s Church – all children 11 and under welcome. Lots of fun First Sundays – bring and share lunch in the Upper Hall at St Eths for all comers on the first Sunday of every month at 12 noon after the morning service throughout the year

Dates ahead: The Parish Calendar

2 February 2020 Candlemas First Sunday Lunch – last year everybody attending the lunch brought their own candle and candlestick and the table looked marvellous. Let’s do it again 4 February 2020 Hammersmith & Fulham Deanery Synod 7 for 7.30pm at St Stephen’s and St Thomas, Shepherds Bush (probably last Synod as Area Dean for Rev. Tim Stilwell) 11 February 2020 PCC Meeting 16 February 2020 Rev. Canon Dr James Hawkey (Canon Theologian at Westminster Abbey) to preside and preach 25 February 2020 Shrove Tuesday – we may have a Pancake Party 26 February 2020 Ash Wednesday – service at 8.00pm 1 March 2020 Lent Course Sunday (1) Preacher Rev. Ken Blanton (hospice chaplain) – also First Sunday Lent Lunch could fundraise for Mr Blanton’s hospice? 8 March 2020 Lent Course Sunday (2) Preacher Andrew Goodhead (Methodist minister and hospice chaplain) 9

15 March 2020 Lent Course Sunday (3) and Confirmation service Preacher Bishop of Kensington – reception for candidates afterwards 22 March 2020 Lent Course Sunday (4) and Mothering Sunday (also marking Feast of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary (actually on Wednesday 25 March)) Preacher Father Ross 24 March 2020 PCC Meeting 29 March 2020 Lent Course Sunday (5) Preacher and presiding in Father Ross’ absence Rev. Ann Cowley (assistant priest at St Andrew’s, Fulham Fields) 5 April 2020 Palm Sunday (also First Sunday Lent Lunch) – either Bishop’s Park procession with All Saints or Normand Park ecumenical service and procession to St Andrew’s for combined service 6 - 10 April 2020 Holy Week – events to be decided but will be Maundy Thursday service(s) and Good Friday church open all day (perhaps 24 hours of continuous prayer in both churches) 12 April 2020 Easter Sunday 26 April 2020 Annual Meetings NB First anniversary of induction of Father Ross on 30 April – we may celebrate with a lunch after the Annual Meetings or alternatively celebrate on Sunday 3 May which is the First Sunday and we would have lunch anyway. 31 May 2020 Whit Sunday/Pentecost 7 June 2020 Trinity Sunday – First Sunday Lunch (NB we may participate in the Big Lunch project again and have lunch on the Patch) 20 June 2020 Ely Cathedral Pilgrimage on this Saturday is being considered by Events Committee A Warm Welcome and Grateful Gifts The Welcoming Team Every Sunday morning someone has to fold the Pew Notes and put out the hymn books and service sheets and the children’s pew bags ready for those who come. But that’s not what it’s all about. We hope that we are a hospitable Parish. We need to give a warm welcome and help to all those who come – and as the PCC reports, the service schedules show that more are coming. Contact: [email protected] Please join us. The Offertory Team The bread and wine needs to be carried up to the Sanctuary and the collection needs to be made every Sunday. Please lend your hands and feet and join in (you need to be a little bit older than 5….). Contact: [email protected] Please join us The Sanctuary Team We are still seeking people to be prepared to carry the chalice at services as well as people to carry the processional cross and the candles and to serve the altar. Full training provided. Contact [email protected] Please join us The Reading and Praying Team We need to add to the numbers of people who are willing to stand up and read in church or to lead our intercessions so that we have cover and variety. Contact [email protected] Please join us The Social Team Every First Sunday in the month we have a bring and share lunch and we have many other social events during the course of each year which require organisation and help. We are renowned 10

for our hospitality and friendliness. Contact [email protected] or [email protected] Please join us with your ideas, your catering skills or just to help fetch and carry The Buildings and Garden Team Martin Chapple [email protected] works every day to ensure that our buildings and gardens are at their best – light bulbs, leaks, major building project management, tree grubbing up – he does it. He also needs help. We are very grateful to a few people who are much improving the tidiness and beauty of our churchyards at both St Eths and at St Clems but it would be good to have more Please join us

Parish Communications The Parish Office and Father Ross Contact details are: Landline 020 7736 3809 (with answering machine – please leave a message) Website www.stethsfulham.org Email [email protected] Mobile 07962274381 with voicemail - please leave a message Post at The Vicarage, Doneraile Street, SW6 6EL (NB there is no letterbox at St Eths)

Meetings – by appointment or at St Etheldreda’s Church Fridays 2.00-4.00pm Newsletter Contributions We are communicating more widely via our Newsletter and social media. (a web site, Facebook and Twitter). Its success will depend on participation of as many of our congregation as possible. The Newsletter, for instance, uses standard headings. We want to expand this. We hope to include your ideas, impressions about anything that you may deem relevant or interesting; even better if accompanied by a photograph. You might wish to offer a poem, a prayer, a saying, a piece of interesting information or to let us know your favourite hymn (or verse) and, perhaps, your reason for liking it. Why not start today? Simply email [email protected] with a copy to [email protected].

There’s Community work going on and work to be done. We are very keen to explore the possibilities for greater community engagement. Some ideas are already being discussed but if you are inspired to join in with ideas and action please contact Father Ross on [email protected]

Other help wanted (If you are involved with or want to support a project please get in touch) Fulham Foodbank at St Matthew’s, Wandsworth Bridge Road - they are still in need of supplies and volunteers. Look at their website for details www.hammersmithfulham.foodbank.org.uk

Homelessness Project St Andrew’s, Fulham Fields provides food and clothing and a shower to about 100 homeless people every Saturday. They also help with advice and correspondence addresses to help 11

people to get back into accommodation and work. Do get in touch and see if you can help www.standrewsfulham.com. They are really needing toiletries (especially feminine sanitary products) and underclothing including T shirts

Crosslight – train to be a debt counsellor at St Paul’s, Hammersmith like Ken Bromfield and Nigel Stevenson already are. This is something we may start running in the Parish Fulham Good Neighbours – This is an excellent local charity which has been in existence since 1966 based in Rosaline Road. The general idea is and has always been to promote local action to ensure the wellbeing of our neighbours here in Fulham. The website is www.fulhamgoodneighbours.com and the address is 70 Rosaline Road, SW6 7QT and the telephone number is 020 7385 8850. Office hours are 9 to 5 on weekdays. Barons Court Project - 69 Talgarth Road W14 9DD a registered charity which supports people on low incomes who are vulnerable to mental ill health and/or homelessness. They are provided with space to rest, company and sometimes to stay and food and drink, companionship and advice and assistance www.baronscourtproject.org . Volunteers and donations in cash and kind always welcome Fulham Cross Academy (formerly Fulham College) - work experience and mentoring (see above in PCC Report) if you are interested in providing post GCSE work experience for Year 11 boys or in teaching them employment skills or mentoring individuals please get in touch with Father Ross [email protected] The Bridge AP Academy between Greswell and Findley Streets – a school for those children aged 11 to 16 who require an alternative to mainstream schooling. They are desperate for help especially if you can commit to reading with a child for an hour a week. As with Fulham Cross Academy please get in touch with Father Ross to offer your services.

Giving and Volunteering We are all (and always) so grateful to everyone who offers their time whether as servers, flower arrangers, welcomers and sidespeople, readers, cashiers, singers, maintenance group members, cooks, children’s helpers, PCC members, Deanery Synod representatives There is nothing like taking part for building our common life as Christians in this part of Fulham Please give some thought to what you could do – stretch out and lend a hand. (for the kinds of things we do see News and Action section of the Newsletter above) We are also dependent on the generosity of all those who give financially, whether regularly or occasionally. Our contribution to the Common Fund of the Diocese of London out of which the cost of our priests and Bishops and all the services which the Diocese provides are paid has been agreed by the PCC for 2020 at £70,000 against a standard cost of £85,000. We have certainly had value from the Diocese over the last year and we would like to get to 100% of standard cost in the next few years. It is the Diocese which paid for the Vicarage works and which found Father Ross for us. Whether your contributions are large or small it goes to the work of this Parish. We do encourage all those who can to join the Planned Giving scheme either by putting cash or cheques in the envelopes or by direct debit through their bank (ask Martin Chapple [email protected] or go on the website). We also urge those who are tax payers to sign Gift Aid forms. We try to run a tight ship and we make our Halls work for us Please be generous 12

Please make any offers of help to the Churchwardens (Martin Chapple and Caroline Grieve) or any member of our Parochial Church Council: Irene Daley, Ursula Chapple, Doreen Agyei, Rebecca Hatherell, Benedictra Clarke, Margaret Lauder, Ken Bromfield, Lisa Johnson. If you ever have any questions or want to talk about what is happening or make suggestions for what could be done please do not hesitate. Emails to [email protected]

IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO GET THE NEWSLETTER PLEASE ASK THEM TO CONTACT US on [email protected]