PARISH Magazine and St George’s, Waddon April / May 2020 ‘Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.’ – Victor Hugo Letter from St George’s: A Journey to Pentecost and Beyond A Soldier for Christ: Patronal Festival of St George’s, Waddon Farewell to Mother Pat Celebrating the Ministry of Mother Pat ‘The Parable of the Great Supper’ by Cicely Mary Barker Memories of St George’s £1.00 Note – a suggested price; 2 or more, 60p each At the time of publication of this issue, all public worship has been suspended God our Father, by whose mercy the world turns safely into darkness and returns and all London church buildings closed until further notice. In place of our usual again to light: we place in your hands our unfinished tasks, our unsolved Parish Diary pages we offer some prayers, and some online resources for children problems, and our unfulfilled hopes, knowing that only what you bless will prosper. and young people shared with us by our Diocesan Team for Children and Youth. To your love and protection we commit each other and all those we love, knowing that you alone are our sure defender, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer in Lockdown Church of South India The doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked… (John 20.19) Ever present God, Resources for family worship at home can be found at: be with us in our isolation, http://www.going4growth.com/growth_in_faith_and_worship/faith-in-the- be close to us in our distancing, home be healing in our sickness, be joy in our sadness, Engage Worship are adding a new family prayer/worship activity each day: be light in our darkness, https://engageworship.org/engage-at-home-daily-family-prayer-and- be wisdom in our confusion, worship-activities be all that is familiar when all is unfamiliar, that when the doors reopen ‘1277 - Make Them Count’ Facebook group – ideas and support for Church- we may with the zeal of Pentecost based work with toddlers: inhabit our communities https://www.facebook.com/groups/1277makethemcount/ and speak of your goodness to an emerging world. https://www.pinterest.co.uk/debbieh1605/ For Jesus’ sake, Topics include: Major festivals, Under 5s, Film clips, Creative prayer, Colouring Amen. sheets, Science, Outside activities, Songs for children, Bereavement Christ be with me, Christ within me, Talking with children about coronavirus: Christ behind me, Christ before me, https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about- Christ beside me, Christ to win me, coronavirus Christ to comfort and restore me. Some helpful things to say when talking with an anxious child: Christ beneath me, Christ above me, https://lemonlimeadventures.com/what-to-say-to-calm-an-anxious-child/ Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Loving God, we know that you love all children, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger. we ask that you keep our children safe and happy in these uncertain times. from ‘St Patrick’s Breastplate’ Amen. Cover image: shutterstock.com/Denis Belitsky All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way Lockdown All over the world people are waking up to a new reality Yes there is fear. To how big we really are. Yes there is isolation. To how little control we really have. Yes there is panic buying. To what really matters. Yes there is sickness. To Love. Yes there is even death. So we pray and we remember that But, Yes there is fear, They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise but there does not have to be hate. you can hear the birds again. Yes there is isolation, They say that after just a few weeks of quiet but there does not have to be loneliness. the sky is no longer thick with fumes Yes there is panic buying, but blue and grey and clear. but there does not have to be meanness. They say that in the streets of Assisi Yes there is sickness, people are singing to each other but there does not have to be disease of the soul. across the empty squares, Yes there is even death, keeping their windows open but there can always be a rebirth of love. so that those who are alone Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now. may hear the sounds of family around them. Today, breathe. They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound. the birds are singing again. Today a young woman I know The sky is clearing, is busy spreading flyers with her number Spring is coming, through the neighbourhood And we are always encompassed by Love. so that the elders may have someone to call on. Open the windows of your soul Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples And though you may not be able are preparing to welcome to touch across the empty square, and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary. Sing. All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting Brother Richard Hendrick, OFM A Tribute to Mother Pat Mothering Sunday at St George’s. The previous Sunday had therefore been her last Sunday Eucharist at St George’s before retirement and, most sadly, no one This edition of the Parish Magazine was always intended to be a tribute to the could have known it. ministry of the Revd Patricia Vowles, whom we all know and love simply as Mother The good news is that, when Coronavirus has died down and we are once again Pat. And, because she would be the first to say she didn’t want it to be all about singing God’s praises in our churches, I have asked Mother Pat to return so that her, we have also taken the opportunity for it to focus on St George himself and she can celebrate the Eucharist one last time at St George’s and so that the whole other aspects of St George’s Church which is situated at the heart of the community community in Waddon can say a hearty, and much deserved, farewell to a whole- Mother Pat has been serving in. The articles reflect many aspects of Mother Pat’s hearted, good and faithful servant of the church and the community. ministry, including tributes from three Bishops, and an interview with her. We can also read about Cicely Mary Barker’s painting of the Parable of the Great Supper which hangs in St George’s. A Bible study on the footwashing in John’s Gospel reflects Mother Pat’s call to serve those to whom she ministers. The magazine features too her own valedictory, and inspiring, letter on Pentecost and the work of the Holy Spirit. Parish Magazine Committee This magazine is bittersweet because we were always going to be saying farewell Rodney Vaughn - 020 8651 4547 to Mother Pat in it and also celebrating her work and legacy. It coincides with a Liz Watkins - 01737 553615 / 07973 172807 time for all our churches which is quite bewildering and unprecedented and that is Editing, design and layout: Liz Watkins first the suspension of public worship, which was a massive blow in itself, and then Commissioning: Rodney Vaughn, Fr Andrew the closure of churches so that they cannot be open even for personal prayer. Advertising: Rodney Vaughn That is a real blow for a church like St George’s which a vital hub in the life of Contributions may be handed to the Minster Office or emailed to [email protected] Waddon. St George’s exemplifies commitment to its community both in the Please supply ‘soft copy’ where possible. offering of worship in the Eucharist for, and on behalf of, the community and also as a place known to many as a social and learning space and heart of Waddon Deadline for the June / July issue: Thursday 21 May 2020 Community Outreach, all of which is hard to disentangle from Mother Pat’s Please note: The views in the articles of the magazine reflect ministry. the opinions of the writers and not necessarily those of the editorial board. Another traumatic moment occurred when we realised, on 17th March, that with public worship suspended Mother Pat could not celebrate the Eucharist on a new beginning, suddenly, having been fearful at the prospect of teaching and Letter from St George ’s preaching. These flames spread throughout their spiritual body, and wow –a transformation of such magnitude that the people hearing them thought they were Dear friends, drunk or mad. Greetings from your sisters and brothers in St George’s. This is my last letter, as One minute they were scared and locked themselves in a room for days, next my retirement on 3 May will come so very quickly now. For my last letter I just they were in the centre of town, not just preaching in their own language, but in wanted to focus on Pentecost. I believe that it would be really great if our team others, too. They were no longer a ragbag of labourers and fishermen, but a knew by 31 May that final preparations were being made for the Team Ministry skilled team of communicators, preaching with such energy and passion that the (whatever decision is made about the name). Also for St George’s a very special hearers were in no doubt about the power of the gospel message.