1 St Etheldreda with St Clements: The Parish Newsletter

Week beginning Sunday 20 October 2019 – Feast of St Luke the Evangelist (also the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity ) 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 Feast of St Luke ...... 2 Sermon ...... 3 Flower of the Week ...... 4 My Favourite Hymn ...... 5 Thanks for Jack Lewis’ Baptism ...... 5 Tweet of the Week: A bit of Saintly wisdom for the grandchildren ...... 6 News and Action ...... 6 Report on PCC Meeting, Tuesday 15 October ...... 6 Parish Calendar ...... 7 Appeal for financial help for Sherife who is being poured out like a libation...... 8 Special Dates Ahead – the Parish Calendar ...... 8 First Communion – Second Course ...... 8 Confirmation Classes ...... 9 Dates ahead – for your diaries ...... 9 Regular Events ...... 9 Service Schedule ...... 9 Regular Services ...... 9 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

2 Feast of St Luke

The Early Church ascribed authorship of both the book known as Luke’s Gospel and the book known as the Acts of the Apostles to this man, Luke. He was apparently born in Antioch in Syria and is mentioned a few times in the Bible. There is no conclusive evidence but neither is there contrary evidence and the authority of figures such as Jerome and Eusebius is high. Luke’s Gospel and the Acts are riveting and the Acts particularly well worth reading straight through. In this picture taken from the Hours of the Duchess Anne of Brittany he is shown in Eastern iconic style holding a picture of the Virgin Mary. He is supposed to have been very close to her and to have cared for her in her old age. He is said in Paul’s letter to the Colossians to have been a healer i.e. a doctor and he is referred to in Paul’s second letter to Timothy (which was the second reading on Sunday) as being still with Paul in Rome when Paul so movingly refers to his own imprisoned and threatened condition as like being “poured out like a libation”. A libation was a sacrificial pouring onto the ground of wine by Romans following the Greek custom in honour of the gods of the Classical pantheon or of the dead. Many of us when we are going through severe trials and difficulties and especially mortal sickness or weakness could empathise with that image of being poured out onto the ground. Some of our worshipping community and those whom they love are going through this very experience through age or disease now It is possible that Luke was there as Paul’s physician. It is easy to think of him being one of those quiet people who observe and then record. Who ask gentle probing questions and remember the answers and the stories. Pray for all who are being poured out as a libation now as St Luke would undoubtedly have prayed constantly for Paul But we need to teach others to come to Jesus and to learn to pray to his Father, his and our God. We are so glad to have Josh Stenner with us now in this Parish – working with us all but particularly with young people. It is Josh who be leading our new Youth Alpha courses and who will be with us at St Clement’s for our Parish Mission Day on Saturday 9 November to open his ideas for future youth projects in the Parish. The need is great Josh was asked by Father Ross to preach on Sunday the Bishop having granted licence for him to do so. He was very moving and here are his words.

3 Sermon

Just outside of the town where I grew up, there is a beautiful vineyard surrounding the hills. From what I've been told (albeit from the staff that work there), it is one of the biggest single-plot vineyards in Western Europe and I have to say, the wine is quite enjoyable. Over the past month, from early September to this weekend, the time of harvest has come. Staff have been out working in pairs collecting from variety to variety as each vine ripens to perfection. And as of this weekend, all the grapes have been picked and pressed and we excitedly await the fruits of their labour. It seems rather fitting that we reflect on St Luke the Evangelist just after celebrating harvest two weekends ago. And perhaps it is no coincidence that Jesus often uses vineyards in his parables. Wine was, in those times a sign of life, abundance and joy. But in order to enjoy that wine, it requires hard work and being aware of and responding to the different seasons and the ever-changing weather (especially our British weather). Our commission as the Church, the people of God, is to proclaim the Good News to all the world. But in this story, the disciples are not sent out alone. In our Gospel reading, Jesus follows the path of the 70 that went before him. Likewise, if we are the 70 that come after Him, we also follow in the steps of all those who have walked before us; both in this parish in , in the UK and in the wider world. We are not sent out by the owner of a single vineyard for a single harvest, but instead are sent by the God of this entire universe for all nations and generations. And by the Holy Spirit, we are called to go out in community and in partnership, with those for whom we already practise peace. Jesus sends his workers out as a team then, and he does still now, and I Jesus sends out his workers 1 truly believe we are to go into our immediate world as peacemakers; removing the barriers and walls that we so often put up to divide ourselves from one another. Our task as the next disciples of Christ, is to start building bridges between the in-group, and the “out-group”, between those with, and those without. To do this is dangerous, and it will at times be met with opposition. But Christ seems aware of that and calls us to offer our peace to all those in our world who would receive it…and boy does the world need it. So how do we share this peace? Contrary to the other religious groups going around at the time, Jesus' disciples are instructed to not take anything with them; he requests a certain level of 4 vulnerability. Today, we might need to look deep into our own hearts and consider how close we have been to being vulnerable and dependent on God for the work going on in our community. Are we in our own lives, willing to open up to those around us, and commit to seeing the peace of God grow in our community? Just like a harvest in a vineyard, each year can look different. Some clearly good years, some apparently bad years. But it seems the trick to success lies on how well we respond to the different seasons of life. The world we live in today can be vastly different to that of 50 years ago, or that of even 10 years ago. As Christ calls us out into this world, to channel his peace into our community, are we aware of the different climate? Are we equally willing to be vulnerable to the differing needs of each season? Or perhaps the needs of each generation?

Finally, in a world of exclusion and isolation, can St Eth's and the wider Church be a place of inclusion and acceptance of those who need peace? Can we take an interest in the lives of those around us and commit to seeing their growth, even when [or especially when] they are different to us? Or have a different view to us? And as we go out into this world together, let us be awake to the presence of the Holy Spirit. God Himself with us and working through us and most importantly, in us. Let us be a people aware of His movement within our lives, and in the lives of those around us and let us never be closed to the growth He still has planned for each of us; through each season. Today as we consider our community mission and the role of the evangelist, may we like St Luke, start to believe that labourers are few. May we fully trust in God as we realise the importance of peace in our community. Let us ask Him to guide us in seeing the unique value of all members and how each one of us can play a role in seeing God’s kingdom increase here on earth. Let us ask Him to bless us with His empowering Spirit so that we see members beyond our own perceptions and impressions and by so doing allow them not only to share in God’s work but to experience His peace, hope and love. Amen. Flower of the Week

Thanks to the Marions we still have beautiful Harvest flowers in the Sanctuary (and the chrysanthemums at the Porch entrance are still doing well Grapes are fruit and you can’t have fruit without there is first a flower. So here are the flowers of the vine. But flowers have to be pollinated before, having died, the fruit is produced 5 Fruit of the vine then turned into wine. This is a picture of the Denbies Vineyard which Josh was speaking about – it is near Dorking in near the village of West Humbl My Favourite Hymn

I am the Vine, you are the branches I am the Vine, you are the branches He who abides in Me and I in him He who abides in Me and I in him He it is that bears much fruit He it is that bears much fruit For apart from Me you can do nothing For apart from Me you can do nothing (repeat) He it is that bears much fruit If you abide in Me and My words abide in For apart from Me you can do nothing. you

Ask what you will and it shall be given to you

Listen and enjoy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5kNVGuFr-s Thanks for Jack Lewis’ Baptism We remember Jack Lewis’ Christening last week; a very happy occasion. Here is an appreciation from Ned Lewis.

Father Ross, Ken and everyone else at St Eth’s, thank you all for a such a wonderful service last Sunday, and for making it so personable.

Jack couldn’t have asked for a better christening – he thoroughly enjoyed himself! Everyone at the church was so welcoming so thank you - all our friends and family had the best time.

We also loved seeing Jack make in an appearance in the newsletter.

6 Tweet of the Week: A bit of Saintly wisdom for the grandchildren Occasionally one comes across a posting that might solve an issue by imparting Godly advice. Come to think of it, where are my Marigolds?

News and Action

Report on PCC Meeting, Tuesday 15 October There was a good meeting. The following topics were discussed and decisions taken:

 Children’s Provision – the Play Group is regularly “full up” with 20 + children and their parents. The Sunday Club is now so numerous it is split into two groups: “Little Lambs” aged up to 3 years and “Angelic Angels” for 4 and upwards (the children apparently chose their names). The split means that, although each Little Lamb is accompanied by a parent, we still need more people willing to volunteer one Sunday a month to be on the rota. Barbara Ashby and Julia Agnello provide full information and there is a programme of activities prepared well ahead. First Communion there are 4 children who will take their first Communion with us on Sunday 17 November Please support them and their families  Choir and Music – we have one more youngster in the choir welcome Barbara and the Brass Band is doing more with us (next up Remembrance Sunday followed by Christmas Carols) and 7 so we want to support them. Their next fund raising concert is at 3.30pm on 15 December we need to encourage people to attend and to help with cakes for the interval tea  Youth Work – Josh Stenner and Julia Agnello will be running a Youth Alpha starting next month anyone between the ages of 14 and 20 welcome to come along  Works - the Parish trees are now safe and the new signage (especially for St Clement’s) is on the way. We need to prepare for a very substantial amount of repair work probably next year  Finances – we will be running a Stewardship and Gifting scheme starting in January. We need all to consider what gifts we can make to the work of the Parish of our time, skill and money. Father Ross is arranging for the Rev. Mary Spredbury to come and speak Martin Chapple will write an article in the Newsletter soon explaining how the money is used in the Parish and in the Diocese  Community Work – Father Ross is developing connections with all local schools but is particularly concerned with the plight of the children (excluded from main stream education) who attend The Bridge AP Academy located between Finley Street and Greswell Street Already some members of our worshipping community are offering their help. We need more to join them  The Parish Mission Day – arrangements were discussed for Saturday 9 November at St Clement’s This is a vitally important event for planning future work and action in our Parish – all should be encouraged to attend at least part of the meeting  Future Events – a Parish Calendar taking us into the New Year was agreed – it is very full

Parish Calendar

Please note especially that there will be no weekday services during the first week of November in the absence of Father Ross in Leicestershire

28 October 2019 Visitation by Archdeacon Clement’s Patronal Festival so there will be St 3 November 2019 10.30am All Saints Day Clement’s Pie with coffee after the service and First Sunday – Lunch 24 November 2019 6.00pm St Clement’s 3 November 2019 6.00pm All Souls – St Patronal Festival – said Communion service Clement’s Evening Service “Remember in 26 November 2019 PCC Meeting November” 1 December 2019 Advent Sunday and First 4 to 8 November 2019 No services – Father Ross Sunday - Lunch on retreat Launde Abbey 8 December 2019 5.00pm Carol Service at 9 November 2019 10.30am to 3.00pm Parish St Etheldreda’s Mission Day at St Clement’s 15 December 2019 10.30am Christingle 10 November 2019 10.30am Remembrance service Sunday – NB 11.00am Silence 15 December 2019 3.30pm Fulham Brass 17 November 2019 First Communion Sunday Band Concert (includes tea in interval) (sherry and cake) 24 December 2019 3.00pm Crib Service 20 November 2019 7.00 for 7.30pm Deanery 24 December 2019 11.30pm Midnight Mass Synod Meeting – St Paul’s, 25 December 2019 10.30am Christmas Day 22 November 2019 7.00pm Archdeacon’s (Wednesday) Farewell service and reception at St Paul’s, Hammersmith 5 January 2020 Epiphany Sunday – First Sunday – Lunch 24 November 2019 10.30am Caring for the Environment speaker from A Rocha UK - St 15 March 2020 Bishop of – Confirmation Service

8 Bishop of Kensington’s Teaching on the Incarnation

Bishop's Teaching Evenings - The Word Made Flesh: How the Incarnation Changes the World Various dates | All are welcome! At the heart of the Christian faith is the belief that Jesus Christ is not just another teacher of wisdom, but God with us, the divine Word made flesh. In these teaching sessions running up to Christmas, Bishop Graham will be exploring the dramatic implications that belief in the Incarnation has for us today and the difference it makes to life as we know it.

 16 October/All Hallows Twickenham/7.30pm  22 October/St Mary Abbots/7.30pm  31 October/Holy Trinity Sloane Square/7.30pm  5 November/St Paul’s Hammersmith/7.30pm  3 December/St Mary’s Sunbury/7.30pm  3 February 2020/St Leonard’s Heston/7.30pm

Appeal for financial help for Sherife who is being poured out like a libation Father Ross and Heidi Bury would like to bring to our attention the plight of Sherife, daughter of Julia Chittel who works on the All Saints, Fulham Parish Team. Sherife and Julia helped with advice on setting up our PlayGroup last year. Sherife read one of the lessons at our Carol Service in December 2018. She is very sick. Below is the web address of a funding page to assist in raising money to support Sherife’s medical treatment and welfare https://www.gofundme.com/f/shine-for-sherife- immunotherapyfund?sharetype=teams&member=2839304&pc=fb_co_campmgmt_w&rcid=r01- 1568150976329ea06e9bea3a4526&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fb_co_campmgmt_w

Special Dates Ahead – the Parish Calendar  Parish Mission Day - Saturday 9 November The Rev. Jonathan Rust will lead us in thinking about and discussing and planning for the future of our work in the Parish. We invite everyone to come to St Clement’s Church Hall on Saturday 9 November starting at 10.30am and finishing at 3.00pm – please bring a sandwich lunch (there will be food available for those who forget or cannot). Those of you who will remember the Mission Day we had in January 2017 will know how interesting and lively it was and how much we have achieved since then. Please watch this space for more detail First Communion – Second Course Father Ross is running a Course with the intention of having a service for those who are ready to take their First Communion on Sunday 17 November. Please contact Father Ross on [email protected] if you are interested in joining this or a later Course 9 Confirmation Classes Father Ross is going to start a class if there is anyone who would wish to be prepared for Confirmation. The Bishop is coming to our Parish in order to confirm candidates in March next year. Help the churchwardens with another opportunity to carry their staves about !! Please contact Father Ross on [email protected] if you are interested

Dates ahead – 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 Friday 10.30am to 12 noon PlayGroup 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 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

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 10 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 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, London 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 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 11 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]

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 out of which the cost of our priests and Bishops and all the services which the Diocese provides are paid has just 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. 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, Simon Hatherell, Rebecca Hatherell, Benedictra Clarke, Margaret Lauder, Ken Bromfield, Stella Boateng, 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]