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. In past times, the hand-fasting movements of the dances would give young couples license to ‘go into the green’ together. In some regions, a merlin, or renegade friar, would preside over the mock marriages. Any resulting babies or ‘merry-begats’ as they were called in England, were usually not acknowledged by their fathers. These babies were said to have been fathered by God.

The Puritans frowned on May Day. Far too pagan! Geoff Lock Valediction 8th April 2001

Matthew 25 v21 “Well done thou good and faithful servant” says the man who goes away leaving his servants talents with which to invest, as recounted by our Lord in the parable of the ten talents. Less this sound like the beginning of a sermon do not despair, but on this Palm Sunday just seven days into the eight decade of Geoff Lock I can’t think of a better way to commence.

Geoff was the first staff colleague that I had the pleasure of working with in the now longish history of my incumbency. Although he has now officially retired as a Reader I have long since lost count of the number of services he has conducted or assisted at on my behalf both in St Martin’s and latterly in All Saints . It was an especial pleasure then when the Bishop of London appointed him Reader Emeritus- and so in a career that extends back to the days of Vicar George Yeulett he is still serving us.

Geoff will be very surprised indeed to hear me describe him as a Renaissance man but he represents the ideals which first emerged in the sixteenth century of the all - rounder. A person who can turn his hand to writing a sermon or cutting the grass to leading worship to running a staff. You name it and Geoff has been quietly assisting working usually in the background (because he’s that type of chap) and we have been the beneficiaries and the Lord Jesus Christ has been given the glory.

I am deeply conscious of course that although I have known Geoff for a long time – he does in turn go back much further. This is a 80th birthday celebration and as such Geoff is of a generation that knew that last war which of course was one of the definitive events of the last (yes last) century. I would love to have met the young Geoff Lock perhaps bumped into him sitting reflecting in the sun in Palestine or as one of the young people of St Martin’s. Keep your ears open and hear the charming and sometimes amazing anecdotes that slip out about those far off days.

I think that’s why for example, Geoff was able to be so helpful to me when he cared for some of our older members of the congregation as well as being part of the younger group in the Focolare movement. Not many people can do that stand respected in both camps – the young and the old.

Well done then thou good and faithful servant. But lest this sound like an obituary for may I remind you that you are taking Evensong at all Saints next month on Sunday 6th May!

I started with the Gospel of Matthew I will finish with a far more secular source. Geoff has often be described as a gentleman – one of rare breed Chaucer had it right and might have been describing Mr Lock in his Prologue to the Canterbury Tales “he was a verray parfait gentil knight” - and if we could Geoff we would recommend you for such an honour – but we hope that our very grateful thanks, our love and our best wishes for the future will suffice in honouring your eightieth birthday.

Ealing Form Filling Service

If you find form filling daunting and aren’t sure your writing the correct thing, there is a free form filling service in Ealing every 2nd and 4th Monday in the month. Please see the poster on the church notice board for more details. Ascensiontide

In Christian belief, Ascension day (which this year falls on 24 May) marks the ascent of Jesus Christ into heaven on the 40th day after his Resurrection (Easter being reckoned as the first day). According to the first chapter of The Acts of the Apostles, after appearing to the Apostles on various occasions during a period of 40 days, Jesus was taken up in their presence and was then hidden from them by a cloud, a frequent biblical image signifying the presence of God.

A distinctive feature of the feast’s liturgy in the Western churches is the extinguishing of the Paschal candle, first lit on Easter, after the Gospel has been read, as a symbol of Christ’s leaving the earth. Despite the idea of separation indicated in this act, which might be expected to set a note of sadness, the whole liturgy of Ascensiontide, through the 10 days to Pentecost (3 June), is marked by joy in the final triumph of the risen Lord.

On the other hand, Ascension It is one of the hardest images to portray, and artists have struggled with it. It is much harder to paint a “presence” than an “absence” or “departure”. The earliest version of the Ascension, which persisted in the West until the 11th century, shows Christ from the side, climbing to the top of the hill and grasping the hand of God, which emerges from a cloud above to pull him into heaven. The Apostles, assembled below, watch the event. And with the Apostles, we stand and gaze, with awe and wonder. I set out below a poem on the Ascension by John Donne (1572- 1631) which is part of his cycle ‘La Corona’ (the Crown). The seven sonnets in the cycle are linked by repetition of each last line as the first line of the next poem. The crown is closed at the end, the last line of the last sonnet repeating the first line of the first. Ascension

Salute the last, and everlasting day, Joy at the uprising of this Sunne, and Sonne, Ye whose just tears, or tribulation Have purely washed, or burnt your drossy clay; Behold the Highest, parting hence away, Lightens the dark clouds, which he treads upon, Nor doth he by ascending, show alone, But first he, and he first enters the way. O strong Ram which hast battered heaven for me, Mild lamb, which with thy blood, hadt marked the path; Bright Torch, which shin’st, that I the way may see, Oh, with thy own blood quench thy own just wrath. And if the holy Spirit, my Muse did raise, Deign at my hands this crown of prayer and praise

West London Ecumenical Congress

Do you know what Baptists believe about baptism? Do you know what Methodists teach about sacraments? Do you know what Catholics teach about faith and salvation? Do you know what Anglicans believe about Scripture and Tradition? These and other questions will be answered at the West London Ecumenical Congress by ministers and theologians from each of these church traditions. The congress will be held on Saturday 12th May, 10am-1pm, at Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Church Hall, Heston Road, Heston. All are invited. In 1889 a congress of world Socialist parties held in Paris voted to support the United States labour movement’s demands for an eight-hour day. It chose 1 May 1890 as a day of demonstrations in favour of the eight hour day. Afterward, 1 May became a holiday called ‘Labour Day’ in many nations. Government and labour organisations sponsor parades, speeches, and other celebrations to honour working people. The holiday was especially important in Communist countries but has also had special significance for the trades unions and labour movements in Britain and elsewhere.

Mrs Thatcher officially abolished May Day as a national holiday in Britain. However this has been largely ignored and there are now calls for its official reintroduction. Every year some kind of labour event is organised in Britain by the ‘May Day Committee’ which has strong trades union links and has been going for over 100 years.

In the Church of England, 1 May is a Principal Holy Day (St Philip and St James) and the liturgical colour is, appropriately, red!

Visitor from Lake Malawi

St Martin’s will be having a visitor from the diocese of Lake Malawi to stay for a couple of months from 8 September to 11 November. Canon Aidan Misi will be staying at the vicarage and will attend various courses to familiarise himself with Christianity in Britain today. Do please make him welcome. My Favourite Hymn by Clive Davis

In Awesome Wonder – a Reflection on Hymn 380

1 Oh Lord, my God, when I, in awesome 3 And when I think, that God his son not wonder, sparing, consider all the works thy hand hath made, Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in. I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, That on the cross, my burden gladly thy power throughout the universe bearing, displayed. He bled and died, to take away my sin.

Chorus 4 When Christ shall come with shout of Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee: acclamation, and claim his own, How great thou art, how great thou art! what joy shall find my heart! Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee: Then I shall bow in humble adoration and How great thou art, how great thou art! there proclaim: "My God, how great thou art!" 2 When through the woods and forest glades I wander, And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees; When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.

Spring is probably the most looked forward to among the seasons of the year. Summer has the warmth of the sun, Autumn has the colour of bronze and Winter is the time when nature rests. It is Spring that brings forth new growth. We greet Spring as if it is an honoured guest – a time when the house is ‘spring-cleaned’.

It is the most anticipated of God’s seasons. Our eyes savour the first sights of Spring. Look around and see the soft greens of new shoots. In the garden the birds are gathering food for their young. Rivers gurgle like new born babies. Our ears rejoice at the sounds of nature when Spring arrives. Even the fresh morning air seems to revive you. We see all this and our senses come alive again – our very souls feel refreshed. When through the woods and forest glades I wander, And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees; When I look down from lofty mountains grandeur, And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.

This Swedish hymn by Karl Boberg was written in 1981 with three verses. Over the next few years it was translated into many languages. Stuart Hine, a missionary, came across the hymn in 1927 while working in the Ukraine. When he returned to England in 1948 he translated it from Russian into English and added the fourth verse.

It is a hymn that comes to mind when I look around and see all the works God’s hand has made. Next time you are waiting for the service to start, or after receiving Communion, turn to hymn 380. While reading the words, consider all God’s creations and then proclaim:

My God, how great thou art!

The Women’s Group

Holy Communion will be celebrated on Thursday 3rd May in St Martin’s Church.

Our April meeting had to be cancelled as so few members were able to attend. John Houghton is happy to give his talk on Wednesday 9th May so please keep that date free.

Irene Hooper will be pleased to see you for coffee on Wednesday 23rd May at 171 Princes Gardens, W3.

May Dates: Thursday 3rd Holy Communion Wednesday 9th Women’s Group Meeting Wednesday 23rd Women’s Group Coffee Morning Doreen Macrae

THE LANTERN TAVERNA

“Ealing Gazette’s RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2000” “Ealing in Bloom’s LICENSED PREMISES WINNER 2000” “London in Bloom’s RESTAURANT TROPHY WINNER 2000” “E.C.T. Recycling GOLD AWARD 2000” A lively bustling Greek Taverna offering a complete night out. Our speciality is Meze, our recommendation for everyone – leave it to us and enjoy a selection of about 20 dishes. 100 yards from Ealing Common Tube Station

Live Music Every Night 020 8992 4267 Fax 020 8992 8902

5 Grosvenor Parade, Ealing Common, London W5 3NN

E-mail: [email protected]

Opinions: www.lammas.com/food/TheLantern.html