St Martin's Magazine
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May 2001 30p St Martin's Magazine “For lo the winter is past; the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing is come ” Song of Songs 2:11 St Martin’s Church Hale Gardens, Acton St Martin’s Church, Hale Gardens, Acton, W3 9SQ VICAR – The Revd Nicholas Henderson, 25 Birch Grove, W3 9SP. Tel: 020 8992 2333. (Also vicar of All Saints Church, Ealing Common and Chaplain, Acton Hospital) ASSOCIATE VICAR – The Revd Richard Bartlett, All Saints Vicarage, Elm Grove Road, W5 3JH. Tel: 020 8567 8166. (also Chaplain Twyford C of E School) NON STIPENDARY PRIEST – Alec Griffiths, St Martin’s Cottage, Hale Gardens, W3 9SQ. Tel: 020 8896 9009. PARISHES SECRETARY – Parishes Office, 25 Birch Grove, W3 9SP. Tel: 020 8992 2333. READER EMERITUS – Geoff Lock. Tel: 020 8992 2455. READERS – Dr Margaret Jones. Tel: 020 8997 1418. Lynne Armstrong. Tel: 020 8992 8341. CHURCHWARDENS – Clive Davies, 1 Park Way, Ruislip Manor, Middx HA4 8PJ. Tel: 01895 635698 John Trussler, 19 Gunnersbury Crescent, W3. Tel: 020 8992 4549 TREASURER - Arden Anderson, c/o Parishes Secretary. DIRECTOR OF MUSIC – Kennerth Bartram. Tel: 020 8723 1441. SUNDAY SCHOOL at St Martin’s – Rosemary Hart. Tel: 020 8992 4915. BROWNIES at St Martins – Jenny Bartlett. Tel: 020 8567 8166. YOUTH GROUP – Michael Robinson. Tel: 020 8992 7666. WOMENS GROUP – Doreen Macrae. Tel: 020 8992 3907. Anne Holbrook. Tel: 020 8992 1020. SUNDAY SERVICES 8.00 am Holy Communion 10.00 am Parish Communion (Sunday School in Church Hall for this service) 6.30 pm Evensong 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sundays Taize Evening Service 4th Sunday All Saints’ Vicarage May 2001 As time goes by… Three years ago as I write, we were surrounded by boxes with the rather daunting task of deciding what to pack and what to throw away, as we prepared to move to Ealing to begin a new chapter in life. Some of you, I am sure, will know that feeling of mixed emotions of excitement of facing the future, and sadness of leaving the present and past behind, in a house move, all too well. Then, three years ago later this month, on Ascension Day, I was licensed as Associate Vicar here, by our then Archdeacon. A lot can happen in three years, and time can pass very quickly. ‘Three’ is one of those numbers of significance in the Christian faith. God has revealed himself in three ways as Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. Things often happen in threes in the bible: three Wise Men came to visit the baby Jesus; Jesus was tempted three times in the wilderness by the devil; Jesus was accompanied by his three closest disciples – Peter, James and John at his transfiguration on the mountain; Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day; and his ministry lasted probably about three years! A lot can happen in three years – the course of human history was changed in just three years by the ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. So what have we been doing in the last three years? How do our lives compare with that great life? Why not take time to stop and reflect – spiritually where have you been in the last three years, and where, with the grace of God, are you going? I’m forced to look both backwards and forwards this month – my Ministerial Review is on Ascension Day! Time to look at all areas of my ministry - the things that have worked well and not so well; the things that I both enjoy and dislike; to identify areas for improvement and things to let go of. In just beginning this process I’m afraid my life, like I suspect many others, rather pales into insignificance over the past three years in comparison with the world changing three- year ministry of Christ. But let us not lose heart, for the band of disciples that Jesus gathered around him to usher in the Kingdom of God, were no greater people than you and me; yet they allowed God to use them, to shape them, to lead them, so that they could continue Jesus’ world changing three year ministry. In their following of Jesus and continuing after him they knew all too well, at times, feelings of mixed emotions - sadness at leaving the present and past behind and excitement in facing the future. As we celebrate this great season between Easter, Ascension and Pentecost let us in spirit journey with those first disciples reflecting on the past three years, preparing for the future, accepting our commission, as we too seek to do our part to bring in the Kingdom of God in this place. Richard Bartlett Dates for your Diary 24th May Ascension Day service All Saints at 8pm 3rd June Pentecost Family Service will be a Eucharist, but will include some liturgical dance to celebrate the Holy Spirit. Pentecost Evensong will be a service of readings and prayers for Pentecost. Messages to the Flower Ladies (Who blushed and went all shy when we typed this out … but thank you , its nice to be appreciated). I would like to congratulate Judith and Rosamond for the wonderful flower’s for Easter and the Easter Garden. Thank you for the thought and hard work that went into making the church look so wonderful. Dorothy Davis Dear Editors I realise that I am talking to one and the same people as I type this, but would still like to express my thanks for the lovely flowers we enjoy at St Martin’s week by week. The Easter display was really lovely, and it remains to delight us today, a week later. Thank you for your time, effort and inspiration. Lynne Armstrong (for the rest of the congregations, I am sure) Tuesday House Group Following on from the studies last year of how to read the gospels is has been suggested that we next take a look at a book on John’s gospel called “Water into Wine” by Stephen Verney. It is described as “An introduction to John’s Gospel”. There is quite a lot in the book and probably too much to cram into a few weeks. However the chapters are nice and short and the plan is to take the first few chapters and see what progresses, possibly with a view to continuing with it later in the year. The House Group meets at 40 Creswick Road (except when noted) and all meetings begin at 8pm. For further details please see Rosemary Hart. The dates are as follows: 29 May 5 June 12 June (Flat 40 Gunnersbury Court, Bollo Lane) 19 June 26 June A Call to Prayer 2001 Nine days of prayers between Ascension Day on 24th May and Pentecost on 3rd June. Pray each day for the unity, work, witness, needs and mission of the Anglican/Episcopal family of churches around the world. Listen out for details at church. A Brief History of May Day May day is the only major festival of pre-Christian Europe that was not adapted by the Christian church for its own purposes. Part of a yearly cycle that includes midwinter and harvest celebrations, it stands midway between the long, cold nights of winter and the days of plenty at summers end, with symbolism and ceremony that reflects its pivotal position. Across Europe the key symbol of the day is fresh spring growth. Traditional dramas enacted on May Day in many European countries commemorated the triumph of summer over winter, while in England the focus was on dancing and pageantry. Youths elected a king and queen of the May to preside over the day’s proceedings; sometimes they dressed as Robin Hood and Maid Marian, with members of their entourage representing Friar Tuck, Little John, and Robin’s other merry men. Although the origins of May Day are unknown some people believe that the celebrations began with the tree worship of the Druids. Others believe they go back to the spring festivals of ancient Egypt and India. The English and other peoples whom the Romans conquered, developed their May Day festivals from the Roman festival of Floralia. In this festival, held in April, the Romans gathered spring flowers to honour the goddess of springtime, Flora. In medieval times, May Day became the favourite holiday of many English villages. People gathered spring flowers to decorate their homes and danced around a ‘Maypole’, holding the ends of ribbons that streamed from its top. They wove the ribbons around the Maypole until it was covered with bright colours The May Pole is the most familiar feature of May festivities, but it has three distinct interpretations. In some cultures, the May Pole represented the world center, or alternately, the hub of the Wheel of heaven. In ancient times, the intricate dance of weaving cords around the pole was a magical attempt to direct Nature, which had become topsy-turvy over the course of time, back in order. Today the dance is performed by any who wish to participate in weaving the magic. In other cultures, the May Pole was the Tree of Life, or a symbol of it. This is where the Savior was sacrificed in order to cleanse the earth. Holy Communion, eating his flesh and drinking his blood was possibly restricted to the priest class, but symbolic May Wine was liberally imbibed by the whole community. Hundreds of years later, the Christian lunar festival of Easter would replace the ancient solar festival as the time of renewal and rebirth. The third meaning of the May Pole is the male principle of fertilisation.