2014 remembrance nov mag

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ALL SAINTS NEWS 1

NOVEMBER 2014

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NOVEMBER 2014

I am writing this after my first Clergy INSET day led by your Bishop.

Bishop Pete has a clear vision for the Diocese of which we are a part – a vision he spells out under the three headings above.

The Bishop spoke of our being confident. Christian confidence is confidence in the gospel: that God has given himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ, to die in the place of all who put their trust in him. The apostle Paul writes that we should ‘encourage one another and build one another up’ (1 Thessalonians 5.11). The best way to do this is to remind one another of the sure and certain hope that we have in the gospel.

The Bishop spoke of our being creative. Creativity is evident in the energy and activity that are signs of life. Christians are those in whom God’s Holy Creative Spirit lives. As we say in the Nicene Creed the Holy Spirit is ‘the Giver of life’.

The Bishop spoke of how real compassion is shown in our sharing the best news that we have: the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Bishop is calling us to engage with our community and be inclusive. There are words that are sometimes (wrongly) attributed to St Francis of Assisi: ‘Tell the gospel at all times and use words if necessary.’ Gospel news is multi-faceted but it is also verbal. The aphorism sounds like we can bring the gospel near by being there, by being kind and loving but these are signs of the gospel. The gospel also requires articulation. In the image of God, we are to reflect our Creator and use words. It will also take confidence to do this, and creativity, if we are to reach a people with a language they can hear.

So this is the vision for the Diocese. I find it encouraging. Over the next few months, we shall continue to pray for the ways in which we might engage with such a vision. I ask that you pray for those around you and encourage the Spirit to be active in our midst.

Vicar Rachel.

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SAT/SUN NOV 1 & 2nd ALL SAINTS CELEBRATIONS: This is our special “patronal” celebration, when we remember our “patron saint”, which in our case is all the saints, literally all those who walked in faith before us. We are also celebrating the 109th birthday of our church, since it was consecrated on All Saints’ Day in 1905. To mark the occasion we will be celebrating in church on Sunday with a special service and our best gold altar frontal, followed in the hall with a glass of wine and refreshments!

Why are we called All Saints?

We can surely claim to have the most exciting history of any church in Ealing! All Saints was founded in memory of a British Prime Minister, Spencer Perceval, who lived with his family on a small estate where our church now stands, and who was shot dead in the House of Commons in 1812. All Saints Day was his birthday. This year our celebrations have reached new heights, and we are hosting a live performance and recording of a radio play about Spencer Perceval in the church on Saturday evening.

ALL SAINTS WEEKEND is our gift weekend Scripture tells us that a church that is giving generously will flourish in numbers and joy! Numbers as in people, you understand! The Gift Day provides an opportunity to make a one-off extra gift, like a birthday present, over and above our regular giving. Our planned giving (Stewardship) is another aspect of our giving to God. Now may be a good moment to consider whether you would join our stewardship scheme. There are 2 articles further on giving insights into church giving.

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NOVEMBER 2014

The Kingdom Season All Saints’ Day marks the end of Ordinary time, and the beginning of The Kingdom Season. Look out for the change in colour in church: finally our fragile green altar frontal will be packed away, and out will come the kingly red.

The Kingdom Season, covering the Sundays of November, are the closing weeks of the church year. Over the year, we follow the events of Jesus’ life or look closely at his teachings; but during Kingdom season we pause to consider the nature of Christ’s Kingdom, both the one promised us in Heaven and the one here on Earth. The emphasis is on the people, the ordinary saints, who have followed the faith and continue to bear witness to His glorious name. So it is natural that the season begins with All Saints’ Day, and contains All Souls when the faithful departed are remembered. The last Sunday is the Feast of Christ the King.

Remembrance at All Saints: November is the month for national remembrance, focussed at The Cenotaph and war memorials all over the country. All Saints too will be holding its own Act Of Remembrance, including a laying of the wreath and the 2 minute silence.

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NOVEMBER 2014

For our community here, November remembrance is also very personal, as we think about and remember three people who were particularly significant in their time with us: Kenneth and Rosemary Bryant, and Michael Koutas, whose anniversaries all fall within these weeks. Please hold them and their families in your prayers and hearts during this time.

Sunday, November 9th: Our Parish Worship at 10.30am will include The Act of Remembrance: 11am: The Two Minute Silence and The Laying of The Wreath.

Junior Church will meet as usual to create their own Remembrance Offering.

“We will remember them” TWO BROTHERS: A HUMAN STORY. We have 2 memorials in our church dedicated to local participants in WW1: The stone panels on The Chancel walls record those who went but did not return, and The Roll of Honour, currently out for restoration, records those who fought, the dead recorded in gold lettering.

That document tells us that in our community, as nationally, WW1 was all too much a family affair: there are more than 10 pairs of brothers, and some listing 3 from the same family. To bring these “facts” into a human focus, here is a glimpse into the lives of two such brothers: The “Myrings”: Gerald and Frank.

We could bring them to mind in the two minute silence. On their Enlistment Medical Reports, we glimpse a striking picture of these 2 young men: Gerald enlisting immediately in September 1914, is described as 6’ tall, with a 37inch chest and of good character, whilst Frank, in July 1917, also age 18, is, we are told, 5’10” with a 33’ chest, blue eyes and fair hair, and with a “keen and efficient” character. Did their different height and build lead to joshing between them we wonder, (knowing what brothers are like), and did it have a bearing on their chosen paths into this war?

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Frank, the younger brother, was born in 1899 into a family living at 50 Windsor Road. The household consisted of his parents, older brother Gerald and sister Hilda, along with granny, auntie and a young domestic servant. His father Charles was a master builder. By 1911, the family had moved to 5 Grange Park, and they now had a cook as well. (Building was probably a flourishing business in Ealing: much of Northfields was built around this time).

When the war with the Kaiser began in 1914, Frank was a schoolboy at Castle Hill School, but neither he nor his brother could escape the coming storm. As it turned out though, both of them saw surprisingly short active service, albeit with tragically different outcomes. Gerald joined the 11th Battalion of the County of London Regiment as a rifleman and was posted with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in July 1915, earning the 1914/15 Star campaign medal. Frank, on the other hand, remained at school until 1916, when he enlisted into The Royal Flying Corps as a cadet. After training school, learning about wireless, the Lewis gun and morse code (achieving 6 words per minute), he was promoted to a 2 nd Lt and posted on April 1918 to army observation tasks, aged nearly 19. By now, the RAF had grown from just 113 aircraft in 1914 to 22000 planes, and the casualty rate among crew, as planes became more lethally armed, grew to an average 1 in 4, the same as men in the trenches.

As it turned out, Gerald’s military service lasted 1 year and 268 days, ended by a gunshot wound to the shoulder. Now unable to lift his arm above 45’, this wound earned him a medical discharge in June 1916, and he returned,( surely with great relief?) to his family in Grange Park, with a weekly pension of 26 shillings awarded for 6 months. For Frank, as his brother returned home, his war service was just beginning, and for him there would be no joyful family reunion. After just 5 months in his observation role, he was posted as missing and then killed on August 30th 1918, aged 19 years and 1 month. Both brothers are remembered on our Roll of Honour. Gerald continued on in his father’s trade of building, moving out to Ruislip but keeping his business in Ealing: in 1953 it is recorded as being at 67 The Grove. Frank’s name, on the other hand, stands carved into our Remembrance panel on the left side as you go up the chancel steps. Find him, as you wait to receive communion, and perhaps offer a silent prayer of gratitude.

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NOVEMBER 2014

Your church needs you... if We are going to make a 'joyful noise.

Please get in touch Revrachelemma@gmail.com

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NOVEMBER 2014

Please give to Your Church: the best investment into your Future I am David Allen and I am the Stewardship Officer, so I administer the planned giving into the church and assist the PCC with the budget/accounts.

All information on giving and givers is totally confidential and only I am aware of this information eg the exact names and amount of giving, in any form, from any one person is not made known, even to Rev. Rachel.

We all give in many ways, in time, skills, energy and as well as financially. But I specifically want to take this opportunity to thank all of those who give financially.

These are hard financial times and I realise this is sacrificial.

As a church we have a vision; this has an internal and an external out-working.

The internal is related to us as individuals, families and as community and our spiritual growth; the services, the worship, the groups, the youth group, children’s work, football team etc‌.and includes even gutter cleaning and repairs to the building.

The external is related to our community and reaching out and being a light; the night shelter, the food bank, EFIG etc. It also includes supporting other ministries and poorer churches.

Our vision needs our church to be here, and this needs money.

Although we are part of the Church of England, The Church does not receive state funding. All the money we need to operate comes from ourselves: everything we want to do comes from the income we receive.

Thus we give. We give as we are part of this community, the family of God, who support the vision. At a high level we need about ÂŁ100,000 a year for this current vision. We ALL SAINTS NEWS 9

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gain income of just over 50% from Gift Aid, the Hall, the telephone mast, events and a few other things.

The other half must come from our giving: that is about £50,000. At the moment the majority of this comes from around 35 households, on average therefore about £120 per month per household. But this has been falling and that impacts what we can do now and in the future.

There is a saying that what we spend our money on shows where our hearts lie, and the Bible speaks in many places about this. So please take some time to think if there is a way that you could give, or whether you can increase your giving. Even the smallest amount really helps.

We have a budget and the more we know about what we might receive the more we can plan and the more things we can do, or do some things in a better way.

So, whatever the amount, please could you consider giving under Planned Giving, that is Standing Order or via Regular Envelopes. You can always still top up via the weekly Collection Envelopes. Importantly, however you give, if you are a tax payer, please do it via Gift Aid as we get an extra 20%.

I can tell you when you give to the church and the work of God, your reward on your investment is incalculable. It is not impacted by the ups and downs of the world’s economies: God’s promises do last forever. David So please invest into this: Your Church, Your Family, Your Community.   

Consider what you can give Consider increasing your giving Consider giving via Planned/Regular Giving

If you want any further information or explanation please speak or contact me.

Davida.allen@btinternet.com ALL SAINTS NEWS 10

NOVEMBER 2014

Welcome Back!

We were all delighted and relieved to welcome three members of our congregation back into church after their operations and long months of recuperation: Gladys Simeon, Eileen Atkinson and Joanna Edwards. They had a celebration cake to share.

TAKE PART: THE PILGRIM TOUR OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY The next Churches Together Ecumenical visit will be a Pilgrim Tour of Westminster Abbey on Wednesday Dec 3rd at 6.15pm.

It will take the form of a prayerful Abbey tour, led by one of the Canons and lasting about an hour and a half. if you would like to join the visit,please contact Noreen BarnesHoggett, noreen29@googlemail.com or on 020 8997-4935.

These visits provide the opportunity of finding out about the work of other London churches and of promoting inter-faith understanding amongst Christian groups from many different local churches.

A Thought for Gift Day by David Scott.

I once met the chief Treasurer of the Church of England: a nice fella who came here to speak at a men's breakfast. A nice bloke with a difficult job, which iinvolves keeping churches, which are a mark of the physical presence of God here on earth, going. This takes money, your and my money.

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Having said it is all about the money, can I explain what I mean by this‌.

I grew up going to church at St Mary's in Sheering Essex. I was a crucifer and I was in the choir. The church its community was a big part of my life. It was a cornerstone and I could not imagine life without God or church.

The church in Sheering had been around since just after the Norman Conquest, its oldest part, the tower had been built around 1160. Since 1160 that Church has seen many, many changes, famine, plague, almost the entirety of history since the Norman Conquest, Kings and Queens, civil war and a wealth of vicars and parishioners. 900 years of history. That Church is still there today because of gift days and contributions, serving faithfully as a magnet for the worship of God and Jesus Christ.

Why is this important? Many people have different journeys in faith. However when you want to come back to God, he is always waiting for us. Vicars and fellow Christians come together to share bread and wine and peace and fellowship with other Christians. All of this happens in one of his houses, a bricks and mortar Church.

Like All Saints.

Can I tell you a little about our church?

We found this Church through Susan, who lives in our road and she introduced us, saying it was welcoming and children-friendly.

Never was a truer word said.

We carried our children into this church, introduced them to God, though I suspect he already knew them, had them christened and confirmed. I have had some of my most spiritual moments in this building. And now they are growing up and serving here from Panto to crucifer and chorister.

Many of you walked in here, grew up here and have felt, like we do, the family spirit and Holy Spirit this building offers as a window to God. It is part of our lives and part of our homes. You have experienced this here not because of luck but because through depression, world wars, strikes, unemployment and even a riot, it survived. Though all these times, too many to mention, those who came here before us gave their time and their money. This is the gift they left for us. When we looked for fellowship and a place ALL SAINTS NEWS 12

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to worship, we walked in here and can call it our home; it was ready for us. Waiting as God waits for us to welcome us home.

Because of the generosity of the past, this legacy has been left for us. Now in 100 years’ time, what is going to be left? If we do not give on this Gift day and throughout the year then this gift we were given will eventually disappear. We now need to do our part. And part of that Is to part with our money!

I know it is hard. None of us are as well off as we were seven or eight years ago. Times are hard and money is tight. However, I would ask you to look around at this Church. Take a moment to remember the good memories and the hand of God here for you and me and for countless others. This is worth preserving. IF you can afford to give or give a little more, please do. Do it today, not next week because if you are like me, then these things can be forgotten.

We need to support our Church, not just our Church but the whole Church as it supports us, and this is not just for us, but like those who supported it in the past, we need to do it for those in the future too. We are now the custodians so let us think hard, and if you can, please give a little more. Let All Saints be supported, for the next hundred years will need God and the Church as much as it has in the past 100 years.

JUNIOR CHURCH NEWS! DIARY NOTE: Due to our service of Remembrance on November 9th, our Altogether Worship will move this month from the 2nd to the 3rd Sunday: NOVEMBER ALL TOGETHER- SUNDAY NOV 16th.

ALL THE SAINTS: A THOUGHT FOR ALL SAINTS DAY! Where are all the saints?

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We can find plenty in the Bible: all the “senior� angels: the Archangels like St Gabriel and St. Michael and so on.

Then there are The Apostles: St Peter, St James, St John etc, not to mention then also St Paul of course.

After that, are we searching for those rare human beings who are so perfect, so selfless, so holy that they may as well themselves move in with the angels: maybe Mother Theresa?

Actually, we are looking for saints that are a bit more normal than that, a bit more human: good humans but humans that do get cross sometimes, but most of the time are cheerfully living amongst us.

Ready to help and support those around them, and yes maybe not usually putting their own needs first.

Amongst our family and friends, and those who we meet along the road of life, we find lots of people who inspire us through their example in living, and their faith and trust in God. Think about the people you know, in church and elsewhere: who inspires you?

And as we listen to the instructions that Jesus has given us, week by week in Junior Church, we have a path to follow, so in answer to the question on All Saints Day, where are all the saints? We can answer with confidence: Here we are!!

(PS Mother Theresa was a truly inspiring human being who totally belongs up in the Saints club).

A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3.The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson."If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.' Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"

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GRADUATION, FUTURE HOPE & EBOLA FEAR: AN E.F.I.G. REPORT FROM NIGERIA. After our vibrant and exciting EFIG Celebration Day held in July, we can bring you more news from “our” girls and their families.

Graduation: Esther, Grace, Ediomo and the twins Esther and Abigail have now all completed their secondary education. The results from their final exams, the West Africa School Certificate, are expected any day, and as with students everywhere, these results will determine their next steps in life.

It is a tremendous testament to the vision of EFIG and the character of the girls themselves, that they now have a choice about what path to take in life.

Their hopes for the future are the first fruits of EFIG’s first decade.

Since EFIG was launched,  to tackle the issue of Florence, Gladys’ daughter under-nourishment and a Trustee of EFIG, amongst the children, resident in Port-Harcourt, has donated land has been been both surrogate mum, transformed into a small farm providing both food tutor, & social worker, for the and skills, families.

She has ensured that:  money was found to give

 



school fees have always been paid on time, the girls have been closely supervised to ensure regular and timely attendance, transport to school provided when needed.



the girls a midday meal 7 days a week.

In emergency, medical bills have also been paid.

Technically, EFIG’s responsibility for the girls ended with the completion of their end of school exams.

However, it is essential that the girls & their families are able to use their school achievements to improve their lives, and so EFIG “transition support” is vital.

So what next for the EFIG graduates?

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If all goes well, Ediomo would like to progress to university to pursue her dream of medicine, both the Esthers are considering nursing and Grace and Abigail will go out into business.

Educating their girls is a tough choice for many of these families, living in serious deprivation, because they rely on their older children to bring in a little money for food, rather than sitting in a classroom.

Therefore, now that their school education is completed, the EFIG Trustees have looked carefully at how best to support them into the next phase of their life.

For the brightest students, like Ediomo, further study and training is an option. EFIG is deeply grateful to existing Sponsors who have declared their willingness to continue their support into university. For other girls, going into employment is the best course.

To help these girls start small businesses of their own, EFIG have set up The EFIG Enterprise Employment Scheme.

EFIG provides a grant of between ÂŁ200 to ÂŁ500 to cover the start-up costs of a local business venture. It is hoped that with this grant and ongoing advice, the girls can establish their independence and support their families.

The Ebola Threat: The day schools in Nigeria have only just started their new school year, delayed from September, and the boarding-schools have yet to return. The government have brought in tough new hygiene measures to prevent the spread of the disease, such as insisting all schools have running water, at least 2 flushing toilets & strict hand-washing routines. Let us pray to God that these are sufficient to keep our girls safe.

New Sponsors: Meanwhile, EFIG is looking for new sponsors to launch their programme in Ghana.

Please speak to Gladys if you are moved to support in this way.

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REMEMBERING DOROTHY JOHN On September 12th, 2014, a memorial service was held for Dorothy John, a very long time member of the All Saints’ community.

Whilst with us, Dorothy was for many years, a stalwart of the choir with Rosemary Bryant and Janet Shaw. Dorothy was an educated woman with a lively intellect. This one time member of the women’s Greenham Common camp (protesting against nuclear weapons, for those too young to remember!) was always an interesting and challenging conversation partner.

Dorothy grew up in the little town of Milford Haven on the west Wales coast and most of her life centred on the local Congregational Chapel where her mother’s family had worshipped for generations.

There was a lot of amateur music making in the town, and Dorothy learnt the piano and sang in the choir.

She had vivid memories of the eve of D­Day when the harbour filled with landing craft which disappeared overnight. Dorothy became a student at the local grammar school, and enjoyed both her studies and long walks over the Pembs Coastal Path with her corgi. Dorothy never lost her love for her home town, and regularly spent long weeks there over the summer. It was a particular disappointment for her that after she moved back there in late life, her health did not allow her to go back out on those paths.

At 18, she left Milford to pursue a teacher training course in Worcester. After working in Hertfordshire and Bristol, Dorothy moved to London in 1961. She shared a flat in Maida Vale, with her father, whom she had only recently rediscovered, as her parents had divorced when she was a baby. During this time, she studied for a degree in Sociology and Economics at Bedford College, University of London, graduating in 1965. A proud and significant achievement in an era when few studied at university, let alone women.

Dorothy became a college lecturer, teaching at Hackney Technical College for 21 years, promoted to Senior Lecturer. Her students came from a wide background and ability levels and were a constant

challenge. Outside of her career, Dorothy led an intellectually active life: a member of The Fabian Society and CND, and travelled widely in Europe and further afield.

Dorothy moved to Ealing in 1972, and after her father’s death in 1977, she joined All Saints Church. She served on the PCC and in the choir, and spoke often of St. Micheal’s Convent, Ham Common where she went for spiritual refreshment. Outside of church she was active in the local community: vice­chair for 8 years of The Ealing Family Housing Association. When she retired, she continued to look for new challenges: adding German to her languages, taking art & singing classes, and enjoying the London arts scene.

She returned to live briefly at Milford Haven, to a wonderful house looking directly out over the Sound. We were lucky to visit her on several occasions, and it was our great pleasure to take her to one of her favourite places: St David’s Cathedral. It was also a joy to behold her book­lined library­conservatory. However, as infirmity crept up, Dorothy decided to return to Ealing.

In her typical independent style, Dorothy never married, deciding early on that she didn’t want to be someone’s wife or mother, and always felt she made the right decision, instead she created a warm, welcoming home for her many friends and their children: in her home in Milford, she added a spiral staircase to her loft room so they could enjoy sleeping up there when they visited.

Her own end of term report does not do herself full credit: “worked reasonably hard, especially in the subjects in which she was interested – but could have done better”.

She passed away peacefully on July 13th, and again in her own indomitable spirit, she left her body to medical science.

In her own words, she found life fascinating and looked forward to discovering life after death.

ALL SAINTS’ DIARY Forthcoming Special Events: Saturday, 1st Nov 7pm Sunday, 2nd November

Wednesday, 5th Nov: Sunday, 9th November: Sunday, 16th November: Saturday, 29th November: Sunday, 30th November: Sunday, 14th December: Sunday, 21st December:

The Spencer Perceval Radio Play ALL SAINTS DAY & GIFT DAY 10.30am: Eucharist, Junior Church & refreshments, launch of website and new newsletter 4pm: All Souls’ Service of Remembering Bonfire Party: 6pm to 8pm.

Remembrance Sunday Altogether Worship Advent Fair, 3.30 to 6.30pm Advent Sunday 10.30am All Together Christingle 6.30pm Nine Lessons and Carols.

WEEKLY EVENTS SUNDAYS:

8am: Holy Communion Book of Common Prayer Side Chapel 10.30am: The Parish Eucharist with Junior Church, followed by coffee. (2nd Sunday: The Parish All Age Eucharist) 6.30pm: 4th Sunday: Taize, music & silence WEDNESDAYS 10.30am: Midweek Eucharist & Reflection 7.45 to 9pm: Youth Group.

FRIDAY 9.30 to 11.30am: Mencap Community Café, Parish Hall.

CONTACT US: All Saints’ Church, Elm Grove Road, Ealing Common.

W5 3JH (The Spencer Perceval Memorial Church. All Saints is a Fairtrade church.

Vicar Rachel Marszalek 07906 632972 revrachelemma@gmail.com Monday is a day off.

The Parish Office: 07760 925 462 administrator@allsaintsealing.org.uk web-site: www.allsaintsealing.org.uk

Church Hall: 07507 624949 hallbookings@allsaintsealing.org.uk *************************************************************** *************************************************

If YOU have something of interest to include next month, please send to me.

Editor: Mo Perkins. mo.oliver@btinternet.com

Deadline for submission of articles: November 26th