Articles from the Parish News
Contents:
Message from the Vicar
Prayers and Reflections for Christian Aid Week:
11-17 May 2008
Spring Term at Holy Trinity School
Meetings of the PCC
The Gardening Quiz
Parish Roundabout
Message from the Vicar
Dear friends
Alleluia, Christ is Risen!
The month of May begins on a ‘high’ as
we celebrate Ascension Day on May 1st. This day, 40 days after
Easter, celebrates the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry and his return
to the Father. We read in the Gospels that during the 40 days after
the resurrection Jesus appeared to over 500 people: we give thanks
for their witness, and the witness of all those who followed after
them, enabling us to share in this joy. We celebrate the Ascension
with a Eucharist at 8pm followed by setting off a rocket and popping
champagne outside – come and join us if you can – we might even be
joined by a few people coming to the Church Hall to vote in the
London Mayoral elections that day!
Ten days after the Ascension comes
Pentecost – 50 days after Easter and the Birthday of the Church. We
read all about it in Acts 2, where the frightened band of disciples
is given power from on high to proclaim the Gospel of Christ. Peter,
the one who had denied Jesus three times, preaches the first
Christian sermon, and the disciples are given the ability to
communicate in diverse languages, so that all who hear them are able
to understand the message of the Good News.
It is rather appropriate that
Pentecost this year also marks the beginning of Christian Aid week.
The disciples at Pentecost were sent out into all the world to
proclaim the words and works of God in Christ. Christian Aid week
reminds us again of how the majority of people in the world have a
far poorer lot than us, and that a significant part of Jesus’
ministry was with a ‘bias to the poor’; and so the church’s ministry
should remain today. Please give generously as we join churches all
over the land in supporting this important Christian cause.
One week later comes our Dedication
Festival, Trinity Sunday; a time to give thanks most especially for
our own church and our shared ministry past, present and future. It
is a great pleasure that we welcome as our guest preacher Canon
Peter Hardman, who was Rector of Wareham in Dorset where I served as
Curate, and where Jenny and I were married. Peter was my ‘training
incumbent’, and was therefore extremely influential in my
ministerial training: it will be lovely to have him, and Frances his
wife, with us for the day; there will be more fireworks and
celebrations after the 10am Parish Communion as we celebrate Trinity
together.
A familiar visitor to the parish will
be arriving on Ascension Day and will be with us during the next
couple of months: Archbishop Mauricio of Brasília and his wife,
Sandra, who will be here for English language training in
preparation for the Worldwide Lambeth Conference for Anglican
Bishops which begins in July. They will be visiting a number of
churches around the country, but spending quite a bit of time here,
which is very good news for us. If their English turns out to be
half as good as Thiago’s they will have done extremely well!
Add to this selection of highlights
the Church Fete on May 10th, and we see that the month of May
begins, and remains on a ‘high’. This month gives us a number of
occasions to celebrate and witness to the wider community of
Northwood the Good News in Christ that we have to share. Please join
with us in as many events as you are able; and give thanks to God
for his infinite goodness to us.
Your friend and Vicar,
Richard
Back to Contents
Prayers and Reflections for Christian Aid
Week: 11-17 May 2008
Ever-present God, fill me with your Spirit,
and send me out to make a difference
to the voiceless, the powerless and the poor.
Help me to know that I stand with all who seek justice
and I go with the strength of your Spirit.
Take my prayers, my time and my envelopes.
Use them with others’ to achieve amazing things.
For the sake of your people, and to the glory of your name. Amen.
Lord Jesus, you were anointed to bring good news
to those who felt no good news,
to proclaim freedom to those imprisoned by injustice,
and recover health and wholeness to all the world.
You took up the cause of the oppressed.
You proclaimed the year of the Lord’s favour.
At the heart of your ministry was action.
Remind us of the unlikely group of people
you gathered around you to perform your work of love,
and empower us to bring your good news
so your kingdom will come and your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven. Amen
Ten things to know about Christian Aid:
1 We believe in life before death – we are passionate about rooting
out poverty.
2 We fund long-term development work, respond to emergencies, and
challenge
the unjust systems that make and keep people poor.
3 We are the official development agency of 41 church denominations
in the UK
and Ireland.
4 We help people of all faiths and none.
5 We believe in helping people to find their own lasting solutions
to poverty.
6 We work through more than 600 partners – local organisations – in
nearly
50 countries.
7 We challenge those with power to change things that have an
adverse
affect on poor communities, such as international trade rules and
climate change.
8 We don’t give money to governments – we work directly with local
organisations on the ground.
9 We spend money where it’s needed most. For each £1/€1.43 given in
2006/7,
83p/€1.19 was used for direct charitable expenditure. The remaining
17p/€0.24 was used to raise the next £1/€1.43.
10 You can find out more at
www.caweek.org or
www.christianaid.ie or by calling 0845 7000 300.
Back to Contents
Spring Term at Holy Trinity School
It has been an interesting, busy and
exciting Spring Term at Holy Trinity School. Here are some of the
highlights:
We started the New Year with a new
Headteacher and a new building project. Both have settled down well!
Mr. Norris brings enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to the school,
and under his leadership we have commenced initiatives such as the
teaching of French to all Junior age children. We hope to extend
this to the Infants in the near future. All the children have been
fascinated by the building of the new Nursery which has meant many
enthralling machines at work on a fenced-off area of the playground.
As always, our children meet new challenges with interest and
tenacity, so although they currently have only a small area of
playground, they are making the most of it, and also of the many
lunchtime clubs we have organised to remove some of them from the
playground at peak times.
The Spring Term has brought several
successes to Holy Trinity School. Much media publicity has focused
on how unhealthy British children are. However, we are currently
working towards achieving “Healthy Hillingdon” status, so our
children are becoming more aware of the importance of exercise and
eating healthily. We have held two healthy eating assemblies this
term, one of which was a “Ready, Steady, Cook” style assembly where
a team of Year 6 children prepared a healthy packed lunch in front
of the whole school. They then went on to repeat this at Rosedale
College in Hayes in the Borough final of a Healthy Lunchbox
competition, and thanks to their hard work and enthusiasm,
competently supported by Mrs. Clarke, Mrs. Hamwijk and Mrs. Smith,
they won the competition. If you’d like to find out more about the
delicious food they prepared, watch out for our Holy Trinity School
Recipe Book which will be published in the Summer Term!
One of the many highlights of this
term was Science Week. Over the course of a week, every child in the
school performed exciting experiments, listened to people who use
Science in their job talk and learned about famous scientists who
have influenced our lives. Our children are always keen on Science,
but this has raised the profile of Science in school even more, and
many of them are now considering careers in the Scientific world!
arch 26th was a very exciting day for
both children and adults at the school, as the Choir was one of only
12 schools selected in the London area to sing at the Royal Albert
Hall in a fantastic concert entitled “Prom Praise for Schools”. We
took 40 children to rehearse in the afternoon before performing in
the evening with the 80 piece All Souls Orchestra. We were joined
for the evening’s entertainment by another 30 Holy Trinity children
who sang in the audience, not to mention a host of families and
friends. Prom Praise was a truly memorable experience – we can’t
wait till the next one in two years’ time!
This year, as many of you know, our
Spring break has fallen two weeks after Easter. This gave us the
perfect opportunity in school to focus on the entirety of Holy Week.
Our Spiritual Development Group, which comprises members from School
and Church, planned and carried out a variety of interesting
activities which helped our children to realise the true meaning of
Easter. These activities ranged from a visit to the Labyrinth to a
re-enactment of the Last Supper, and culminated with a special
Easter service on Maundy Thursday.
All in all we have managed to pack in
a host of new and exciting adventures into the Spring Term. We look
forward to seeing the new Nursery start to grow next term, as our
children also grow in maturity and experience. The Summer Term will
see two School Journeys, to Wales and Dorset, an end-of-year
production, Sports Day, Healthy Week, various fund raising events
for the new Nursery and our final leavers’ assembly where we say
goodbye to our Year 6 children. We will be starting our new “Ready,
Steady Breakfast Club” which will provide before school care (and
breakfast!) for some of our children, while after school our Cool
Kids Club plus extra-curricular activities ranging from cricket and
rounders to athletics and multi-skills, all mean that our children
will have the opportunity to be healthy and happy, learning in a
safe but challenging Christian environment.
Mair Henton
Deputy Head of Holy Trinity School
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Meetings of the PCC
In 2008 we have held two full PCC meetings; one on 30th January
and the other on 2nd April. Brief details of the proceedings are as
follows.
30th January 2008
In the Vicar’s Report Richard gave details of the various services
held over the Advent and Christmas period and thanked everyone who
made the Church such a welcoming place to be. He also talked about
the Parish Visiting Team, and future church events.
As Treasurer David Walter presented the draft 2007 Financial
Statements and Budget for 2008 to the meeting for approval.
The Vicar, Richard reported that the post of Director of Music had
been widely advertised and that there were two applicants who would
be interviewed at the end of the month and early February.
Richard then reported that the post of Assistant Priest had been
advertised and that it was hoped to interview applicants on 12th
March.
Brian Watkins as Chairman of the Finance Committee gave a brief
report on the search for a new house for the Youth Minister, Kevin
and the proposed sale of 99 High Street.
The Youth Minister Kevin Draper then gave the report on the
activities of the various youth groups.
Carole Hamwijk gave the report on the School. The new Head Teacher
had settled in very well, and the school was now going from strength
to strength.
John Barraclough gave a report on the progress of the planning and
building of the new school nursery.
The various committee reports were then given and discussed.
The PCC was reminded that the date for the Fete was 10th May.
The CTN Service of Christian Unity had been held at St Matthews on
20th January.
The meeting ended at 9.30pm with the Grace.
2nd April 2008
The vicar reported that he had received the resignation of the
Treasurer, David Walter, and that Brian Watkins would act as
treasurer until a replacement is found.
In the Vicar’s Report, Richard gave details of the various services
and activities since the last meeting. He also reported that two
candidates were interviewed for the post of Director of Music and
Richard Bates had now been appointed.
He went on to report that the Reverend Elaine Dando had been
appointed as Assistant Priest.
Kevin Draper gave his report on all the Youth Ministry activities.
Carole Hamwijk reported on Holy Trinity School. Two points were that
the school was fully staffed, and that it had achieved first place
in the London Borough of Hillingdon Healthy Eating competition.
Brian Watkins gave a brief report on the proposed sale of 99 High
Street, and the search for a suitable replacement house.
Nigel Washbourn reported that the new sound system was now operating
in the Church, and that quotes would be obtained for painting the
Lady Chapel ceiling, external decoration of the Hall, and enclosing
the South Door porch.
Ann Kentfield reported for the Mission and Outreach committee. A
review of our pattern of worship had been undertaken and one aspect
was that there was a lot of support for the Encounter service. A
mission action plan was being prepared, using the many suggestions
and opinions voiced in the questionnaires.
The next Churches Together in Northwood event was going to be Songs
of Praise on 20th July.
The meeting ended at 10.00pm with the Grace.
Christopher Rogers
Back to Contents The Garden
Quiz
1. The following are often found in smaller gardens ; what are
they? (a) Trug (b) Dibber (c) Chiminea.
2. These may be found in Country House gardens : (a) a Ha Ha (b) a
Pergola (c) Topiary (d) a Belvedere (f) a Gazebo (g) an Ice House.
3. How do Perennial, Biannual and Biennial Plants differ?
4. What type of lawn never needs mowing, releases a fragrance when
trodden upon and does not turn brown in dry weather?
5. Which comedian, born in 1947, passed his medical exams while
writing and performing in the radio series "I'm Sorry I'll Read That
Again" and helped to create the TV comedy "The Goodies"?
Answers
Back to Contents Parish
Roundabout
The Sadler family is uppermost in our minds at the moment as they
try to come to terms with the very tragic death of their beloved
Emily. Emily touched our lives at Holy Trinity and we share in their
grief as we pray for their whole family.
On 7th April we gave thanks for the life of Dorothy Richardson who
had died on March 29th at the age of 85. We learnt that Dorothy had
been brought up in troubled times in Ireland and that she had led an
adventurous life prior to meeting Ben in London some 50 years ago.
We send Ben our love and condolences at this time.
By the time this issue goes to press, Christopher Rogers will have
stood down as Churchwarden at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting on
April 22nd. Chris has occupied this office for the past seven years
and, during this whole time, he has been a tireless and faithful
servant. We thank Chris most warmly for all he contributes to the
life of our church at Holy Trinity.
Mary Chesterman would like to thank all those who gave so generously
to this year’s Mission to Seafarers Lent Appeal. We raised over £500
and £66 of this came from gift-aided donations.
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open to God