ST. MARY'S CHURCH - PURLEY ON THAMES ********************************************************************** ** SUNDAY SERVICES 9.30 a.m.First Worship - An informal service including All Age Teaching (creche provided) 11.15 a.m.Parish Communion 6.30 p.m.Evening Worship RECTOR Rev. Roger B. Howell, The Rectory, 1 Westridge Avenue, Purley on Thames Tel: 417727 CURATE Rev. Brendan Bailey, 10 Knowsley Road, Tilehurst Tel: 451411 READERS Jean Rothery Wally Watkivs Tel: 843625 Tel: 426170 CHURCHWARDENS Mary Barrett David Jordan Tel: 842166 Tel: 415994 CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR CHURCH HIRINGS Jackie Benstead Liane Southam Tel: 429116 Tel: 428243 BAPTISMSEnquiries about baptism should be made to the Rector (417727) WEDDINGS Enquiries about weddings should be made to Jackie Benstead (429116) FUNERALSEnquiries about funerals should be made to the Rector (417727) 1 LETTER FROM THE CURATE JULY 1996 Dear Friends, Summertime and the livin' is easy ......... This will be the last edition of the Parish Magazine until September. Some the groups that meet in the community will be taking a well earned break. Soon the schools will be out for the Summer. Many of you will have planned your holidays by now. Two of the highlights of the Summer will be the Old Tyme Music Hall performances in July and the two Holiday Clubs in August (details elsewhere in this issue). I know that much preparation is going on behind the scenes to ensure that everything is ready for these events. However, this doesn't mean that the Church will be closing down or that God will be having a break. There are still services throughout the summer, although there will be no evening service during August. We will continue to have services at 9.30 and 11.15 each Sunday morning. On the first Sunday of the month there will be a single main service at 9.30 a.m. A recent Bible passage from one of the services relates to the story of the prophet Elijah. He challenged the followers of one of the pagan gods to prove his power. When this didn't happen Elijah began to tease them, saying that the god might be asleep, or on a journey or busy with something else. Then he showed the power of the True All- 2 Powerful God who answered Elijah's prayers instantly and decisively. The God whom Elijah worshipped and served is the same God who was to show his power to save and help his creation by coming to earth as a human being in the person of Jesus. But unlike the pagan god in the story of Elijah, God didn't leave everything again. No, God is still active in the world and concerned for it and the people of the world. God who we worship as Christians is always aware of what is happening in the world he made. And is concerned for us all. No holidays or time off for God. It's a 24 hour a day, all year round occupation. But this is no chore for him. Rather it is a labour of love. There is a verse in John's Gospel which sums this up wonderfully: "God so loved the world, that He gave His only son, Jesus Christ, so that whoever believed in Him should not perish but have everlasting life". While you are relaxing in the garden or on a beach somewhere or walking in the countryside, say thank you to God for the world he has made and which he cares for. And remember to thank God for caring so much that He sent Jesus to know us and to save us from ourselves. Have a wonderful summer. With love in Jesus. Brendan Bailey FLOWERS IN CHURCH If you would like to contribute to the floral arrangements in church, to remember a loved one or celebrate a special occasion, please contact Mollie Bridge on 426722 who will give you details about how this can be done. Jackie Benstead PARISH REGISTERS Weddings 25th May Nicholas Kapp and Andrea Roberts 1st June Steven Morris and Victoria Wild 3 8th June Matthew Gray and Rosamund Baxter LETTER TO THE EDITOR St. Mary's Church in Purley have been magnanimous in their hospitality for a very small relatively unknown ancient sect of Christianity, the Coptic Orthodox people, on whose behalf I have the pleasure to write this synopsis by kind invitation of the Rev. Roger Howell. Firstly, I would like to put on record our immense gratitude to the Parochial Church Council in granting us permission, with a true Christian spirit, to use your Church for a monthly Saturday Service. We are truly touched and indebted to you all. I am a local General Practitioner in Tilehurst and was brought up in the Coptic Orthodox faith. It was upon my request that this venture has come to fruition through your kindness. Our Church goes back to the days of St. Mark the Evangelist, who laid its foundations in Alexandria. It prides itself in being true to the letter of the New Testament without variation, corruption, diplomacy, or political correctness. It is an Apostolic Church with a Pope at its head based in Alexandria, and Bishops throughout the world assisted by Priests and Deacons. Its cornerstones are the seven sacraments as laid by Christ Himself, and is very traditionalist. My own personal slight regret in this respect is with regard to our Church's stance on communicating with other non Orthodox Churches. Consequently no-one who is baptised in any way other than (by complete immersion) in an Orthodox Church is allowed to have communion. I sincerely hope that in due course this will change. However, we remain in communion with all other Orthodox faiths, namely Greek, Russian, Armenian etc. Our Priests are either Monks or already married, but once ordained they are not allowed to marry. The Pope and Bishops, however, have to be Monks. Women are not ordained. Homosexuality is an anathema. The Coptic language is akin to the Greek alphabetically and phonetically and is interspersed throughout the liturgy to preserve the heritage. The largest mass of followers is in Egypt and there are pockets in most nations now, although the ones in the Arab world are very much restricted and closely "watched" by the Islamic governing bodies. We believe in Saints and in their intercessions. St. Mary the Virgin holds a special place in the Orthodox Church and is most highly venerated but not worshipped. A large 4 number of our Saints were martyred in the course of their fellowship. The Church and its "diligent" followers practice the biblical fasting discipline at regular intervals throughout the year. Our Christmas falls on the 7th January and our Easter follows the Jewish Passover Feast annually, hence the reason why it does not fall at the same time as the variable western Easter. In all other respects apart from the above it is similar to a very high Church of England. During one of its Two Hour (!) Eucharistic Services a visitor would be excused for thinking that it is a unique mixture of a Synagogue, Catholic Church, and High Church of England. It goes without saying that any members of St. Mary's at Purley are most welcome to attend our Saturday services. I hope to fix the dates well in advance with Roger Howell. Dr. George B. Boulos REQUEST FROM PURLEY PARK TRUST We are looking for people to help with befriending our residents, particularly one who is a regular attender at St. Mary's Church. Some of the things envisaged are meeting with them from time to time for a coffee and a chat, perhaps taking them to and from church or for an occasional drink. If you are interested in this, please contact Jo Stafford at Purley Park on 427608. ARCHIE WHITE (1915 - 1996) Archie died 7th May, just five weeks after his wife Jessie on 2nd April. He came to live in Wintringham Way early in 1950 and soon became a member of Purley Park Property Owners Association, taking part in all the activities and giving his time and energy towards the welfare of this estate. During this time he made many friends, all of whom will greatly miss him as will the few of us remaining who knew him in "the good old days". Bob Skerritt ENGLEFIELD GARDENS Englefield Garden Centre is now opening on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, 9 am - 5 pm as the new base for the horticultural activity of the Thames & Chiltern Trust. The work carried on at Englefield will provide training and work experience for people with learning disabilities and will include sales to the public. Initially the emphasis of these 5 sales will be on plants and it is intended to offer a range of garden centre goods in due course. 6 7 8 LUNCH POT If you haven't got down to St. Mary's on Thursdays between 12 noon and 1 p.m. to sample our delicious salads, then you had better hurry up as our last session before we close for the summer holidays will be on Thursday, 18th July. We re-open on Thursday, 15th September when we will be back to warming homemade soups along with the usual jacket potatoes, rolls etc. See you soon Nicki Woodward NANCY AYERS My mother, Nancy Ayers recently celebrated her 80th birthday at Hillcrest Nursing Home, Looe. My wife and I would like to thank all the people who sent her cards and also the many people who have written to her over the past few months. She is no longer able to write but she does appreciate all your messages.