The Power of Prayer Everyone

ST CHUR RI CH CH SUMMER Christ Church, Copse Hill, West Wimbledon, SW20 0HG 2 0 1 7 Suggested donation: £2.50 Welcome The power of prayer everyone... In our noisy busy ...and a very warm world there are few welcome to Michael places where we Burns, our Priest- in -Charge. Thank can find stillness, so let’s you all who have make our lovely church a contributed such house of prayer, writes interesting articles, especially Michael Michael Burn... who was very keen n Acts 1/14, we read: “All were to contribute from constantly devoting themselves the start. Naomi to prayer”. And it is prayer that is and I would be the crucial and most important very pleased to Iaspect of our faith – as it is of many have your thoughts faiths. Prayer is what we are called and comments on to do – for without prayer nothing this edition and, of will happen or work properly. It is course, ideas for the almost always when we can do next one. You can get nothing else that we can at least pray. in touch by emailing For it is prayer that marks us out as me at brendafclark@ people of faith. btinternet.com, or When the news broke of the having a chat after terrible and evil terrorist attacks services to Naomi recently in Manchester and London, and myself. many millions will have prayed – because there was nothing else we could do. I’ve found myself repeating Brenda Continued on next page In the beginning was the word... ...well, actually three words. In preparation for Michael’s licensing on Wednesday 26th April, the children collaged letter tiles, which spelled out “Welcome to Michael” and suspended them across the stage in the Church hall. See page 8 for more from the festivities on Michael’s special evening... 2 Harry’s communion service Once a month a group of us from Christ Church visit Harry Watson in his home at Carter House and hold a small Communion service with him. We use the readings and hymns from that Continued from previous page Sunday’s 10am service – with some impressive singing by all and Brenda on the piano. We’re these words from an Iona liturgy: our lovely church is for – to be a house often joined by some of the residents who “Goodness is stronger than lies; of prayer where we can find stillness, appreciate it very much. The next service is on Light is stronger than darkness; quiet. I yearn for Christ Church to be Sunday 6th August afterthe 10am service. If you Love is stronger than evil; known as a place where prayer has can join us please add your name to the list or let Life is stronger than death”. soaked into the walls. Yes, lots of words me know. Lifts are available. Hazel Bate After his ascension, Jesus left are spoken, lots of music is played and human beings to carry on his work of sung – but also this must be a place spreading goodness, light, love, life. where quiet and stillness abounds. And maybe it is the word ‘beings’ I found this recently which spoke to For all the Saints... which is crucial – for as someone has me as it might to you: put it we are human beings and not “Be silent. Be still. Alone. Empty human doings. Sometimes we just before your God. Say nothing. Ask have to try ‘to be’ much more than nothing. Be silent. Be still. Let your God July 25th we have try ‘to do’. look upon you. That is all. God knows. But do remember one important God understands. God loves you with JAMES THE point. We don’t actually have to use an enormous love, and only wants to APOSTLE words to pray. For many it is enough to look upon you with that love. Quiet. be still, quiet, silent. Of course in our Still. Be. Let your God love you”. noisy busy world there are few places where we can find stillness, quiet – but ames was one of the Twelve Apostles maybe that is exactly what a place like of Jesus, and traditionally Jconsidered the first apostle to be martyred. He was a son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of John the Quiet before the10am service Apostle. Saint James is the patron saint of Spain and, according to legend, his hrist Church is a very friendly church and everyone likes to chat – a remains are held in Santiago de very attractive and important feature of this church. However, many Compostela in Galicia – the name people also appreciate some quiet time before the service begins. C Santiago is the local evolution of the Can we encourage you, once the organ starts to play at 9.55, to get into the habit of sitting quietly as we get ready for the service to begin? Obviously Latin Sanctu Iacobu, “Saint James”. the stewards will need to continue welcoming people as they arrive, but it The traditional pilgrimage to the grave would be good if we can try to reduce unnecessary chat to a minimum. A of the saint, known as the ‘Way of St. helpful mantra to remember is: “Before the service speak to God. During James’, has been a popular pilgrimage the service let God speak to you. After the service speak to each other!” since the Middle Ages and its modern Michael Burns revival stems from Walter Starkie’s 1957 book The Road to Santiago. 3 OUR CHURCH Can I hear bells? Yes, and contrary to popular belief, they’re not a recording – there is someone actually up there ringing! Wendy Hamilton gives us a tour of the belfry... have been surprised to discover that many people believe our bells to be mechanical! But am happy to ‘Ireport that there is a person pulling the six ropes in different sequences. The ropes are attached to our six beautiful and very heavy bells by a series of pulleys. They were cast in the 19th century at a foundry in Loughborough. I often wonder how they were transported to Christ Church. Was it on a cart along the Ridgway, and was there a ceremony for their first ringing? We now only have four people who ring regularly. Gerald Bates rings conscientiously once a month, John Davey mostly at Evensong and Simon Rocksborough Smith and I when ever we can. We make sure there is always someone available for weddings. You can play hymns and other Approached via the vestry, the belfry (above) is 47 steps up a spiral staircase. The six bells are tunes on them if there are only six housed in the steeple which has air vents, so is cold in the winter, but the pulley cubicle has a heater! notes in the melody, but we mostly play traditional “changes” which have been rung by bell ringers over the ages. We have charts propped up in front of us for that purpose (some must be decades old) but I very much doubt whether any one would notice if we pulled the wrong rope! The cubicle where the pulleys are is about the size of a phone box so it’s a one man operation but a really happy and satisfying experience and not heavy work. We would love to welcome more volunteers who’d like to have a go –and can manage the 47 steps up the spiral staircase to the belfry! Please have a word with Michael or the Wardens if you think you might be interested. 4 We are the meeters and greeters ’ve been part of the stewarding team at Christ ‘I Church for several years. Pat Spencer organises the rota and we are each on duty every four weeks. Every Sunday there is a team of four, two at each entrance – but this is becoming difficult as we are short of volunteers at the moment. I arrive at church about half an hour before the 10am service to Cabaret & goulash! put the service sheets, weekly news-sheets and hymn books Christ Church Social together to give out to the Committee certainly Christ Church Goulash congregation as they arrive. We know how to put on great aim to be a welcoming team, YOU WILL NEED stock, passata, especially looking out for visitors entertainment and raise • 1 kg stewing steak tomato puree and and new people. We also take the funds to boot... cut into cubes peppers, stirring all collection bags around during the • 3-4 tbsp. seasoned the time. singing of a hymn. At the end of n May 6th we were treated flour Add bouquet garni. the service we collect up the books to a musical evening • 3 tbsp cooking oil 3 Transfer to an and service sheets and tidy up the straight from the West End • 3 onions chopped ovenproof dish and church generally. in the form of Fenton and • 2 green peppers cook at 180c until We really do need some more OMiller. Fenton, accompanied by one deseeded and sliced bubbling and then stewards to carry out this very of the UK’s most accomplished • Half a pint of beef turn the oven down important role. If you think you pianists and composers Charles stock and cook slowly until might like to do it, please have a Miller, started the show with the • 1 x 500 ml carton the meat is tender. word with Pat or one of the ‘MC’ number from the show passata Cook at 180c to begin stewards. Thank you. Paul Sinclair Cabaret and announced that • 3 tbsp tomato puree with.

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