Summer 2024 Volume 15 number 2 www.stmaryswoodford.org.uk St Mary’s Woodford Parish Magazine
2 Welcome I find it extraordinary how the world suddenly springs to life in early Summer. The trees are fully in leaf, moving swiftly from those bright yellow greens of Spring into this mature green of Summer, as the branches become heavy and full with leaves, all busy with the complicated process of turning summer sunshine into food. The weeds seem to go from nothing to Day of the Triffids almost overnight, with deep tap roots that demand more of an upper body physical work out than you’d get at the gym! The grass grows with abandon, causing all those with lawnmowers to cast a wary eye at the skies to see if they can get away with leaving it another day or if they need to give it a trim right now to stop it overtaking the whole garden after the next rainy day. The colour green is filling St Mary’s church too over these summer months. Thankfully not ivy growing through the window casements and creeping through cracks in the doors. Our gardeners are more on the ball than that! But green is the colour for the season in church after the festivals of Pentecost (Whitsun) and Trinity. If you look inside the church, you might spot green at the altar, and the clergy might be wearing green stoles if it’s a service. In church, it is called Ordinary Time. This sounds rather like after all the celebration and excitement of Christmas and Easter, things are now a bit flat and boring. After the pizzazz of white and gold, of purple, of red, we settle in for a long stint of green. But green is the colour of growing things, a colour all around us in our gardens and in the street. Green growing things filling our gardens with life and beauty. Green growing things turning simple sunlight and rain into flowers. Green growing things turning flowers into food, into vegetables and fruits, small and tentative right now but over the next few months growing and swelling, becoming tasty and ripe, ready for us to eat and enjoy. Even green growing things where we might not expect them, as dandelions spring up Front cover: Fiona Macaulay, ordinand on placement; Elsie Ainsnya, visiting preacher on Racial Justice Sunday with Elizabeth.
3 through pavement cracks, as tiny seeds from a dropped cheese and tomato sandwich burrow into a crevice near the shops and begin to put forth tiny tomato seedlings. As the days grow longer, and the daylight pours from the sometimes cloudy sky, a veritable riot of growth incessantly takes place. As we notice this green growth all around us, I wonder if we are as able to notice it in ourselves? As we soak up the warmth of God’s love and the refreshing sustenance of God’s blessing, can we see places of growth in ourselves? Where do we find growth happening tenaciously, in places we might never have expected, in challenging situations? Where do we notice the beginning of God’s fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control ripening in our lives? Are we able to see these things in others, maybe in people and places we might not expect? This summer, may we all give thanks for extraordinary ordinary seasons of glorious growth. Revd Rachel Summers, Pioneer Curate at St Mary’s Woodford and at St Peter in the Forest Walthamstow (and across the Mission & Ministry Unit) email: [email protected] There is always a copy of the latest parish magazine on the St Mary’s website www.stmaryswoodford.org.uk To contact the parish office [email protected] or tel 020 8505 3000. You are welcome to do this if you have difficulties accessing any of the links given in this magazine You can find it by scrolling down to the ‘Our Publications’ heading. See also Social Media:@stmaryswoodford For your Prayers: Thanksgiving for the Birth of a Child on 10 March: Reign Elizabeth Botha Cole Baptisms on 19 May: Eliora Patrick at St Mary’s Emma Liebeskind and Joe Mahoney at Christ Church Wanstead by the Bishop of Barking Confirmations at Christ Church Wanstead on 19 May by the Bishop of Barking: Emma Liebeskind Joe Mahoney Lauren Mahoney Funerals: 22 February Christine Dyer 5 March Irene Weekes 14 March Angela Birchnall* 25 March David Godwin* 26 March Andrea Mack 16 April Kate Green 19 April Derrick Williams 24 April Pamela Gardiner 26 April Baby Kofi Amoah 26 April Constance Maidment 1 May Gary Holmes 17 May John Chapman Burial of Ashes: 28 April Eileen & David Ward *conducted elsewhere and held in prayer here
4 Racial Justice Sunday and Pentecost celebration. Life at St Mary’s
5 Life at St Mary’s On Racial Justice Sunday in February we were pleased to welcome Elsie Akinsanya as our visiting preacher. (See photograph on the front cover and facing page.) Elsie encouraged us to embrace inclusion, preparing our hearts to meet and learn from those with different skin colour or cultural heritage from us. Takeaway: “Be a good ally and speak up when you see injustice”. We wrote down what we’ll change as a result of those reflections. Since February, with the help of Fiona Macaulay, our ordinand on placement, we've been gathering countries of heritage for people who are part of St Mary's congregation and we have reached over 25 different countries! Fiona ordered flags for our countries of heritage and these were carried in procession at Pentecost (see photograph below and on the back page) as we gave thanks for God the Holy Spirit and the ability given on the day of Pentecost of each of the many people gathered to hear in their own language. At Pentecost, amid our celebrations and thanksgiving, Elizabeth our Rector encouraged us to revisit the written resolutions from Racial Justice Sunday and to reflect on them.
6 Life at St Mary’s Baby Reign and Mother Margaux: thanksgiving for birth of a child on Mothering Sunday Laura Walker speaking about her London Marathon training at her fundraising bake sale for Haven House in late January. See also page 11. Sunrise at the top of St Mary’s tower on Easter Sunday
7 Women in the bible All the Women of the Bible by M.L. del Mastro Published by Castle Books ISBN 9780785818960 In the chapter on Feminist Interpretation of the Bible the author of ‘How to Eat Bread’ (our Lent Study Book) encouraged us to ‘investigate the stories of Hagar, Judith, Jael or Tamar - stories that are rarely heard in church’. I went straight to this book which details the lives of women who feature in the Bible in over 400 pages of text. There are two sections: ‘The Book of Names’ which is a biographical dictionary, and ‘The Book of Stories’ which brings all these characters to life through fictional narrative (though true to the original texts). If you find these particular stories too disturbing, there are fifty-two other women’s lives to research and ponder on including: Abigail, Anna, Athaliah, Bathsheba, Deborah, Delilah, Dinah, Elizabeth, Esther, Eve, Hannah, Herodias, Jehosheba, Jezebel, Lot’s daughters, Mahlah, Manoah’s wife, Martha, Mary(x3), Mary Magdalene, Michal, Miriam, Naomi, Phoebe, Potiphar’s wife, Rachel, Leah, Rahab, Rebekah, Rhoda, Rizpah, Ruth, Salome, the Samaritan woman, Sampson’s wife, Sapphira, Sarah, Susanna and Tabitha. Penny Freeston Ruth, a caring daughter in law, with Naomi World record for Sally Barton Congratulations to St Mary’s ‘old girl’ Sally Barton for setting a new record as the oldest ever cricketer in international cricket. Sally made her debut as the wicketkeeper in a T20 international match between Gibraltar and Estonia. “The words ‘too old’ are not in my vocabulary”, Sally told a BBC reporter. Despite a tricky artificial pitch Sally only conceded one ‘bye’ and her team, Gibraltar, won comfortably. For more information: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/c255j2eqy2xo
8 Celebrating John Green’s 100th birthday Life at St Mary’s Happy birthday cake for John Thank you to Sheba who moved on from working in the parish office
9 Life at St Mary’s Racenight: Another bumper night of winners and losers, some more so than others. Thank you especially to Lesley and Eric for catering a lovely supper. Richard Walker
10 On Sunday 21st April Richard Sharpe came to St Mary’s to talk about Christian Aid and this year’s focus on Burundi, one of the most densely populated and poorest countries in Africa. Richard told us of Aline, a woman who has succeeded in improving her life and prospects with support from Christian Aid. Through her hard work and resilience, Aline now grows and sells avocados and peanuts, has bought a bicycle which enables her to take greater amounts to market and has installed a solar panel enabling her children to read and complete their homework. Her story can be read here: https:// www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/keyappeals/christian-aid-week/alinesstory Richard also mentioned that Christian Aid Week (12-18 May) starts with a Freedom Walk (11 May). So, on a bright sunny Saturday, Elizabeth, Reuben and I joined more than 130 people for the second London Freedom Walk from All Hallows by the Tower to St Pauls Cathedral – a route of approx. five miles taking in seven city churches, two cathedrals, the Salvation Army international head office and the Mercers’ Company Hall. We walked over two bridges, squeezed our way through Borough Market, ambled past thousands of happy tourists and Londoners, and even a children’s party being held on the Golden Hind. Each of our church stops included a warm welcome, space and time to pause and reflect, and some information on the building’s history. Osai Ojigho, the Policy, Public and Campaigns Director for Christian Aid echoed the talk we’d heard from Richard at St Mary’s when she spoke at All Hallows. Burundi is heavily reliant on agriculture, it’s also one of the least prepared to combat the effects of climate change, including droughts, floods and landslides. The global cost of living crisis has intensified the challenges: more than 70 per cent of the population live in Walking and running for good causes Christian Aid Week and Freedom Walk
11 London Marathon Fundraising: Well done Laura!! “ Thank you so much to everyone who donated to my London Marathon fundraising. I raised £2,841 for Haven House Children’s Hospice. It was an amazing day and I loved every second. I finished the race in 4hr 44min.” Laura Walker Walking and running for good causes poverty and more than half of children are chronically malnourished. Christian Aid has been working in Burundi since 1995 when it first offered humanitarian assistance to people during the civil conflict. Now, alongside local partners, the organisation helps establish Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) which was Aline’s start to finding independence. These community-led groups mean people can save and borrow money, making small businesses possible, offering reliable and diverse incomes so families can eat regularly, get medicine when they need it, and build safer homes. Blessed with a beautiful day, our walk ended at St Paul’s for Evensong, a most fitting way to bring our ecumenical walking group together and to start a week of campaigning and collecting for a most worthy cause. https:// fundraise.christianaid.org.uk/envelope -2024/london-freedom-walk-24 Sheba Lockley
12 Life at St Mary’s This course was one of the Lent modules offered by the Diocese of Chelmsford. It took place at St Mary’s on Saturdays 2nd and the 9th March 2024. The course tutor was Miss Rowena Rudkin, a Reader at St Mary’s with an extensive knowledge of church history. We met in the Gwinnell Room. We live with the legacy of the controversy and warfare of the seventeenth century when politics and religion were inextricably linked. We learnt about the struggles of the period. We heard about the reigns of King James I and the VI and Charles I, the English Civil War, the Commonwealth, the Counter Reformation in Europe and the Thirty Years War, the Peace of Westphalia, Restoration in England, the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in France, the Glorious Revolution in England, the church in Scotland and Ireland and Queen Anne. Handouts including maps were provided and relevant books were recommended including ‘The Reformation’ by Owen Chadwick. The group consisted of members of the congregation at St Mary’s and others from further afield. Participants contributed interesting and informative material. There was plenty of food for thought as we considered the view of Galileo, the power of Congress to authorise the spending of money on wars or not and social details like the use of the Backhaus (bake house) in Germany. We imagined King Charles II hiding in an oak tree in France and finished the course singing ‘The Vicar of Bray’ a song I learnt as a pupil in my Yorkshire village school. Rowena is being encouraged to run another course on church history next year. Cheryl Corney Photographs by Jean Lear A Lent Course at St Mary’s The Reformation (part 2)
13 Racial Justice Sunday prompts Book Review During our evening service on Racial Justice Sunday, back in February, we shared a time of contemplation followed by an exchange of thoughts on the themes of the week. I knew there was a book I had been deeply affected by about five years before and wanted to mention it, but couldn’t remember the title or the author. I did while walking home and I’d like to take this opportunity of recommending it to this much wider audience. It’s called ‘Small Great Things’. The author is Jodi Picoult. It’s a big novel, almost 500 pages, but it’s really more like a drama, with a small but very strong cast of characters. The chapter-headings feature simply a name, the name of the character who is speaking. It’s a great technique for the reader to get an all-round view of the events that unfold as experienced by the different individuals who are centrestage in the drama. Picoult is the internationally bestselling author of almost 30 novels. Her critics acknowledge that this is the most important story she has ever written. But it’s not just ‘important’; it’s also a terrific read with a riveting court-room drama at the core of it. It’s controversial, it’s very shocking and it’s very moving. Picoult herself admitted, ‘Of all my novels, this book will stand out for me because of the sea-change it inspired in the way that I think about myself, and because it made me aware of the distance I have yet to go when it comes to racial awareness’. It took her twenty years to dare to tackle this theme. ‘What right did I have to write about an experience I had not lived? I expect pushback from this book: I will have people of colour challenging me for choosing a topic that doesn’t belong to me; I will have white people challenging me for calling them out on their racism. Believe me, I didn’t write this novel because I thought it would be fun and easy, I wrote it because I believed it was the right thing to do and because the things that make us most uncomfortable are the things that teach us what we all need to know.’ Diana Newlands Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton ISBN: 9781444788037 A shocking read, but you’ll find it hard to put down
14 ITEMS NEEDED ARE: Tinned fish, Tinned fruit, Rice, Packets of noodles, Vegetarian food items (tins or packets), Size 5 and 6 nappies, Sanitary towels, Cooking oil, Pasta sauce, Long life milk, Long life fruit juice, Jam/spreads, Custard/rice pudding, Tinned tomatoes, Biscuits, Shower gel , Treats, Toothpaste, Toilet rolls. ITEMS NOT NEEDED ARE Cereals, Pasta Supporting Foodbanks: more important than ever St Mary’s is a Redbridge Food Bank collection point. Woodford Baptist Church on George Lane is both a collection and distribution point (Distribution 2.30 - 4.30 pm Fridays.) Donate food | Redbridge Foodbank Over 90% of the food distributed by foodbanks in The Trussell Trust network is donated by the public – that’s why your food donations are absolutely vital to our ability to give everyone referred to us a balanced and nutritious three day supply of food. Our shopping list on the left shows the food items that we need right now – all of which should be undamaged/ unopened and before the sell by date. Further information https:// redbridge.foodbank.org.uk/givehelp/donate-food/
15 Easter service at Churchfields Nursing Home On arrival I was greeted by a member of staff who directed me to a lounge where I was met by the Manager, Tess. The lounge was hung with bunting and pictures of the Royal Family, giving a cheerful and British feel to the place. A number of residents sat around in a circle, with one or two more members of the nursing staff on hand. Rowena looked splendid in her vestments, about to give an Easter service to the residents, staff and visitors. Myself and a couple of other members of St Mary's congregation were present: Peter Wall and Stephanie Deudney. The service sheets were handed out - printed in large print to cater for the elderly residents. There were two candles lit on a cloth covered table, which was decorated with gold and white. The service itself included a mixture of readings, hymns and a reflection on the readings. After the service we sat around having tea or coffee and chatting. I was pleased to be introduced to a few of the residents, including Louie Parkes, who is well known to many at St Mary’s. Overall it was a lovely experience, and one which seemed to uplift the residents in some way, regardless of their various states of health. One hymn that resonated with me was Thine Be The Glory. The lyrics can give us all hope of eternal life, but perhaps particularly for those who are nearer the end of their life than the beginning. Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son, endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won Many of the residents were suffering from dementia. This is a cruel illness, but we are told in Revelations there is no pain in Heaven: Rev. 21 Verse 4 (RSV) He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away. Hopefully this verse can give some comfort to those experiencing any kind of pain in this life, and those who care for them. Bryony Bennett shares her experience Rowena, Louie and Stephanie
16 Positive thinking and praying for others Over the years there have been many studies which show that religious people live longer than agnostics and atheists. An article in the Tablet (14 June 2018) discussed an American study (Dr Laura Wallace; University of Chicago Booth School of Business) which trawled through more than a thousand obituaries to find that people whose obituaries mentioned that they were religious lived on average an extra 5.64 years. And there’s not an obvious answer. Wallace states, “We found that volunteerism and involvement in social organisations only accounted for a little less than one year of the longevity boost that religious affiliation provided, There’s still a lot of the benefit of religious affiliation that this can’t explain.” So what makes the difference? It’s all to do with well being and social connections . There may be a benefit from ‘stress reducing’ activities such as meditation, yoga or prayer. Prof Gail Ironson at the University of Miami spent decades studying the ways that people with HIV cope with their infection. She found that people who regularly prayed for others were twice as likely to survive to the end of the study, compared with those who more regularly prayed for themselves. People who pray tend to have a more positive outlook on life – and those who pray for the wellbeing of others tend to live longer. And interestingly, Ironson found that people who believed in a vengeful God showed a faster disease progression—as measured by their declining white blood cell count – compared with those who believed that he was a merciful figure. The Chicago report’s authors also suggested that the enhanced life expectancy among religious people might be a result of their being more likely to abstain from smoking, alcohol and drugs – though such habits, or lack thereof, were not regularly recorded in obituaries – although it might be said that if you have sufficient willpower to get out of bed on a Sunday morning, for example, you may also have enough self-control to resist life’s other temptations. In a Guardian article of 3rd Dec 2022, David Robson writes of his own research and asks the question: what if there were evidence that faith could contribute to better wellbeing? He focuses on social connections - feelings of isolation and loneliness are a serious source of stress in themselves and exacerbate the other challenges we face in life. Even something as simple as getting to work becomes less difficult if you can call on a friend to give you a lift when your car breaks down. Religion can also help people to cultivate positive emotions that are good for our mental and physical wellbeing, such as Religiosity and longevity
17 Positive thinking and praying for others gratitude and awe. Various studies show that regularly counting your blessings can help you to shift your focus away from the problems you are facing, preventing you from descending into the negative spirals of thinking that amplify stress. As Christians, we are encouraged to thank God in our prayers, which encourages the cultivation of this protective emotion. “It’s a form of cognitive reappraisal” says Prof Patty Van Cappellen of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. “It’s helping you to re-evaluate your situation in a more positive light.” “Religious and spiritual traditions give you access to different methods of coping that have distinctive benefits,” says Doug Oman, a professor in public health at the University of California Berkeley. “From the psychological perspective, religions offer a package of different ingredients,” agrees Van Cappellen, “The power of religion is that it gives you this package of ingredients that are pre-made and organised for you.” https://www.thetablet.co.uk/ news/9242/religious-people-live-upto-six-years-longer-than-agnosticsand-atheists-study-finds https://www.theguardian.com/ world/2022/dec/03/beyond-beliefsreligious-faith-happier-healthier-life The Expectation Effect: How Your Mindset Can Transform Your Life by David Robson is published by Canongate Martin Page and Sheba Lockley
18 Prayer and reading An enigmatic nativity This illumination from the Besançon Book of Hours caught my attention because of its unusual qualities. Books of Hours were portable prayer books, intended to be used by lay men and women, who sought a series of prayers imitating the clergy, like the breviary, but easier to use and pleasing to the eye. The illuminations were often aids to prayer and reflected the personal private actions and internalized mentality of believers. The aim of prayer was salvation, not only for themselves personally but also for others: prayers redeemed them and saved their souls. The hours of the Virgin Mary were central to the book. The cult for the virgin positioned Mary in the significant role of intercessor between man and God. The Book would include the readings and prayers that were the focus of the life of the clergy, based on the eight canonical hours of the day: Matins and Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline. The one here is Prime, traditionally illustrated by the baby Jesus with his parents looking on adoringly. Each hour was accompanied by up to three psalms, a prayer and a reading. What would fifteenth century viewers see when opening this page of the Book of Hours? Firstly they would have seen the context of the image within the complete page. The Latin inscription comes from Psalm 70 and reads: ‘Deus in adiutorium meum item Domine, ad adiuvandum’ (‘Oh God, come to my assistance, O Lord make haste to help me’). The capital ‘Ds’ are decorated and emphasised, due to the importance of the word God and also signifying the start of the psalm at the beginning and where a new line begins. The psalm’s significance is that it is a plea to Chosen image: (Fig.1) Manuscript. Birth of Jesus, from the Book of Hours of the ‘Master of Jaques de Besançon’. Fifteenth century, the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. MS 69 folio 48r Vellum. 22.2 x 16.5 cm
19 Prayer and reading (15th Century) seems to be nibbling at Joseph’s halo. The most distinctive feature, however, is the image of Mary reading in bed: Mary has assumed the role of a student and interpreter of the scriptures. One might have expected Mary’s focus to be entirely on the infant Jesus. Seeing the act of Mary reading whilst recovering from childbirth, would lead the fifteenth century viewer to reflect on the importance both of motherhood the significance of reading. My thoughts on looking at this image lead me to believe that it comes from a Book of Hours adapted for a particular individual. The image is too idiosyncratic to be otherwise. In the absence of any proof of ownership my own speculations include that it was perhaps directed to a new mother, giving her permission to read, to have a spiritual/interior life away from the baby. She needn’t adore the baby all the time. It’s fine to hand over the baby to a partner: Joseph is perfectly able to be in charge and will thus share equally in the care of the baby and by implication in the divinity. Without knowing the circumstances of its production and for whom it was intended, this image remains highly enigmatic. Alison Rudd-Clarke God, not only for help, but for that help to come quickly. The viewers’ eyes would then be drawn to the image. They would see the depiction of the nativity, with the usual components of the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the ox and ass in the stable. This scene of the nativity can therefore be seen to fulfil its function as both a celebration of the birth of Christ, whilst simultaneously asking God for help. There are, though, unusual features that make this nativity idiosyncratic and possibly subversive. One of these is the role reversal of the parents of Jesus. It is Joseph taking care of the baby whilst Mary is studiously reading a book; she is not even looking at her baby. The vivid colours also seem to be subverted. Red is often the colour of Jesus’s suffering. It covers Mary’s bed – perhaps foreshadowing what’s to come. The colour of Joseph’s cloak is blue, a colour traditionally associated with Mary. It is as if Joseph, now holding the baby, has assumed the mantle of divinity. Mary is in her bed clothes, inferring that she has just given birth, and are a neutral colour which could suggest to a female viewer a more universal figure that she could identify with. The ox and ass are clearly in their place, behind the fencing, and they show the accoutrements of working animals with the ox wearing a cow bell and the ass wearing a harness/collar. But the viewer would see almost human characteristics in the animals’ faces, and, quite irreverently, the ass
20 In April I was delighted to attend the inaugural “Festival of Faith and Music” in York, sponsored by the Church Times. This festival was an opportunity to celebrate church music in settings ranging from cathedral worship to local church choirs. Music and faith are profoundly interwoven and at the heart of church life . This festival offered talks, workshops, choral music and worship in the inspiring surroundings of York Minster. There were many highlights. Two composers provided insights into the relationship between words and music. They described composing as a musical response to inspirational texts drawn from prayers, biblical passages, poetry, and liturgy, with words preceding the music. They both regard musical composition as God given, and see sacred music as enabling the listener to draw closer to God. Victoria Johnson (Dean of St John’s College Cambridge) celebrated the human voice as the instrument we use to sing, express our identity, and carry our A celebration of Church choral music prayers. To sing publicly involves a leap of faith in which we give of ourselves and become vulnerable. Believing that we all have an identity in Christ and that music comes from God, she asked “How do we find our own unique voices?” She also described bell ringing, choirs, and church organs as the “voices of the church”, while also finding God in silence. Stephen Cottrell (Archbishop of York, and an enthusiastic guitar player!) used the analogy of the tuning fork, gathering voices and instruments into one unified sound. He saw the choral tradition of the English church as a gift to be treasured, with music helping us to tune into God and find the harmony underpinning all life. He described God as the composer, the priest as conductor and the congregation (St Mary’s!) as the orchestra. His vision for church music was refreshingly wideranging, valuing community choirs, Taize and worship bands
21 A celebration of Church choral music alongside traditional church choirs. In “What makes for good worship”, panellists recommended that choirs hold silence before the start of a service, prayerfully mindful that the primary purpose of church music is to worship God, not give a “performance”. While acknowledging that the English choral tradition is vital, they warned against church music becoming an exclusive culture and a barrier to engaging the secular world, especially younger people. In “ What did a church choir do for me?”, the tenor James Gilchrist reflected on being a young chorister, including the benefits of singing a wide repertoire throughout the seasons of the church year. Church choirs offer young people a positive, free musical education as such opportunities in schools diminish. Andy Thomas, a freelance church musician, addressed “Vision and values” and how to avoid tribalism when there are conflicting preferences within churches about music styles. He suggested that diversity reflects different expressions of the body of Christ. What unites singers is the desire to offer their musical gifts back to God while retaining the distinctiveness of each style, either combined in the same service or sung in separate but complementary services. This festival was a glorious celebration of choral singing, within both cathedral services and also the wider programme of live music. The key festival message was that our sacred music tradition must be treasured, but also balanced by a variety of other styles including contemporary music. Variety there certainly was: it was a fabulous experience! St Mary’s needs singers of all ages to join its choir. If you’re interested please speak to our interim choir director, John Bradley, or contact the parish office (contact details on page 3) Kathy Wiltshire
22 News From Muheza, Tanzania After several years of disruption due to the pandemic, we are now delighted to be re-booting the link society. Salisbury has joined Hereford in a new tripartite link with Muheza in Tanzania, working together to strengthen the bonds between medical services in Tanzania and the UK, and hoping to enrich the lives of patients and the professionals who care for them. Muheza Hospice The hospice in Muheza is one of the oldest in Tanzania, having been established by Dr Karilyn Collins in 2002. It is supported by Muheza Hospice Care, a charity affiliated with the Link Society. Despite precarious funding, the hospice in Muheza has gone from strength to strength. In October the Hospice Director, Edgar Ngelangela, took a delegation from Muheza Hospice to the first Public Health Palliative Care Congress in Dar es Medicines for Muheza (MfM Tanzania) started in 1983 by Dr Jeanette Meadway when a former colleague began working at Muheza and found there was an acute shortage of medicines in Tanzania. Hereford Diocese also had a link in Tanzania by encouraging six week exchange placement between Hereford Hospital and Muheza. Drs Richard and Karilyn Collins two GP’s from Hereford diocese were interested in Palliative care especially for HIV Aids patients and began a Hospice and Home visiting programme in 2002. St Mary’s had been supporting this work as MfM declined and the Collins’ have been regular visitors to St Marys for the past 25 years and visited us last year. The Covid Pandemic interrupted all these events and the Muheza Link newsletter is an update on restarting some of these programmes. Muheza Hospice Care is affiliated with Muheza Link Society in Hereford and provides financial support to the hospice. This financial support is crucial as it includes paying the salaries of staff at Muheza Hospice. Regular donations are vital, especially with Gift Aid, but have been tailing off in recent years. For the fantastic work of Muheza Hospice to continue, it relies absolutely on the charitable funding it receives from Muheza Hospice Care. Wendy Littlejohns From the April 2024 Muheza Link Newsletter
23 News From Muheza, Tanzania Salaam. Education is considered very important in Muheza Hospice, both for patients and staff. Every day starts with an educational session for all hospice staff, including the many volunteers. Edgar (2nd on right) with 2 junior clinical officers and a palliative care nurse from Muheza at the Palliative Care Congress, October 2023. Edgar Ngelangela recently secured funding for a new venture taking palliative care to the prison population in the region. This innovative work started two weeks ago with the first visit to Maweni Prison. The hospice team is proud to be embarking on this challenging new chapter, serving terminally ill prisoners who have never before had any access to palliative care. Medical Students Muheza continues to be a popular destination for medical students to spend their medical electives. The students come to Muheza from many different countries. The feedback from these students is overwhelmingly positive. Education Fund The fees from the medical student electives help to support the Link Society’s Education Fund. This fund is then available to pay for educational courses for staff at Muheza Hospital and Muheza Hospice who would not otherwise be able to afford the fees. In recent years the fund has paid for 9 degrees and diplomas for staff at Muheza. New Equipment The plaster cast cutter in Muheza Hospital had become old and blunt, and a request was made to the Link Society for some replacement blades. The manufacturer, De Soutter, was contacted by the Link Society and kindly provided a new saw as well as new blades. 12 year old Daniel, who had been involved in a collision with a motorcycle while cycling and suffered multiple leg fractures, is seen here for removal of the plaster cast using the new cast cutter.
24 Fundraising Muheza Link Society relies on donations and regular giving. Its funds are mainly used to enable Tanzanian health care professionals to come to the UK for educational placements. Muheza Hospice Care is affiliated with Muheza Link Society and provides financial support to the hospice. This financial support is crucial as it includes paying the salaries of staff at Muheza Hospice. Regular donations are vital, especially with Gift Aid, but have been tailing off in recent years. The continuation of the Link Society’s work relies on ongoing fundraising. For the fantastic work of Muheza Hospice to continue, it relies absolutely on the charitable funding it receives from Muheza Hospice Care. Please consider supporting by regular giving or by a one- off donation, or please consider a fundraising event. The accounts are given below. Muheza Link Society: Sort code: 20 39 64 Account no: 50162043 Name: The Hereford Muheza Link Society Muheza Hospice Care: Sort code: 09 01 50 Account no: 05946174 Name: Hereford Muheza Link Society Acc 1 Or donate to Muheza Hospice via the website: muhezahospicecare.org Work is ongoing to modernize and facilitate the process of giving donations, and to streamline Gift Aid. It is hoped that a new website for the Link will also help. Things to Celebrate! Successful reboot of the Link Society Exchange visits have restarted Zoom meetings enable improved communication between Tanzania and the UK Education fund has continued to support diplomas and degrees Muheza Hospice is expanding its remit by providing palliative care in prisons Successful grant application enabled the aging hospice vehicle to be replaced Equipment supplied through the Link Society has improved patient care Hernia surgery has improved Medical students continue to rank the hospital very highly More visits are planned for 2024 (and 2025!) Current Challenges Ongoing concerns about funding, especially for Muheza Hospice Difficulties obtaining UK visas Accommodation at Muheza (may need an upgrade) Websites Making giving easier! Updating our database of supporters and keeping in touch better. News From Muheza, Tanzania
25 A quiz: weather in the Bible Answers: page 35 1 Genesis 31 v 40 Thus I was; in the day the ________ consumed me, and the _______ by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes. 2 Psalm 72:6 He shall come down like _____ upon the mown grass: as ________ that water the earth. 3 Proverbs 25 v 20 As he that taketh away a garment in _____ _______, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart. 4 Matthew 16 v 2 He answered and said unto them, when it is evening, ye say, it will be ____ _____ , for the ____ is red. 5 Luke 8 v 23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a ____ of _____ on the lake; and they were filled with water and were in jeopardy. 6 Exodus 9 v 23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent _____ and ____, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained _____ upon the land of Egypt. Easter flowers: with thanks to the team who arrange flowers at St Mary’s all times of the year: Hazel Lovejoy, Jackie Peacock, Sally Phillips, Angela Tervet, Stephanie Deudney and Barbara Horsnell.
26 St Mary’s gardening and churchyard How lovely are the grounds outside St Mary’s! Thanks to Ian Strachan and Jean Lear and all those who work in the gardening/churchyard teams they lead.
27 Music I come from a long line of tone deaf males. In the Summer of 1944 I leave school with a school certificate and become a farm boy. Then in 1945, Saturday night Hops, the music and social lubricant. Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk is awash with American dance music due to all the United States Airforce bases. Glen Miller is the sound of the time. A kindly lass does much to improve my ballroom dancing. No 1 Miller’s smoochie slow foxtrot ‘the way you look tonight’. In Spring 1945 I am asked by a local farmer if I could help his daughter with school certificate Mathematics. I go over that evening to meet my pupil and am greeted by a blue eyed blond with a figure to die for! She passes the exam. We celebrate and go to the Blue Lagoon Ballroom at the end of Clacton pier with special Jo Loss band. No 2 ‘In the mood,’ in memory of that summer in paradise! On 1st January 1947 I’m called up and end up in far away RAF Valley, birth pangs of a mountain rescue team. It is a dull and dour place. Any pleasure seems sinful. I am demobbed and go on to Trinity, Dublin to study medicine. On day one the best day in the world, I meet Kathleen on the first day of a 60 year relationship. Both are keen dancers but we never had an ‘our tune’ Irish pubs are a musical wonderland. The Clancy brothers are Chris Whitfield’s Desert Island Discs a standout. No 3 Whistling Gypsy by the Clancy brothers. An Italian opera group treats Dublin to delicious, nonsensical stuff. I buy HMV ‘Archie’ . Six of Italy’s opera stars give no 4 the sextet Donizetti’s Lucia de Lammermoor. On the reverse side is no 5 the quartet from Verdi’s Rigoletto. No 6 something from Verdi’s Requiem. At no 7 Kathleen and I are buying Puccini’s Tosca (with Callas and Gobi). Kathleen and I settle in South Woodford. Every week we have a full Gwinnell Room, learning the intricacies of Scottish country dance for young, old, single or married. No 8 any LP with a good range of Scottish country dance music. A book: Rattlebag, a Ted Hughes and Seamus Heaney vast anthology of verse. The wonderful humour of Heaney on a visit to the States observes a skunk hunting in the dusk and writes a poem drawing a comparison to an occasion at bed time, his wife head down, bottom up searching a drawer for a silk plunge nightie! Chris Whitfield
28 We want to share with you something of what it means to have had David Godwin as dad. What exactly it is that Dad taught us? We think there are three headlines: be yourself, stay curious and enjoy the simple things. First: be yourself. There was absolutely no pretention with Dad. He shared, in his own words, his father’s uncomplicated, nonjudgemental approach. He lived with integrity. What you saw, (the open minded, warm, honest, natural, interested, fun, kind man) was who he was. This entirely uncontrived genuineness made him a father and grandpa who loved us in a way which didn’t control or demand – but simply allowed us to be, holding us with an unquestioned love which taught us what love is. Second: stay curious. Dad was interested in the world and in other people – he seemed to know something about everything and had an excellent memory for facts. In some ways Dad stayed forever young, embracing with curiosity the technological and cultural shifts seen through his lifetime and he was always interested in and proud of his grandchildren. Dad loved the diversity of London and Gloucester and would talk to all people with Fond memories of David Godwin What dad meant to us Those who attended David’s funeral in Gloucester Cathedral were struck by how moving the occasion was; also by how well the tribute from David’s children William and Hannah, captured his delightful character and personality. He must have been a wonderful hospital chaplain. Readers of the magazine will recall an article from David about his life story set out in his book ‘Proud Scars’. His mother was a refugee from Dresden and the sole survivor of her immediate family of the holocaust. What did you learn from your dad? Willian and Hannah included their thoughts about this in their tribute, summarised below. How they strike a chord with the man we came to know and love at his relatively short time here at St Mary’s!
29 World Day of Prayer 2024 As this year we were not able to join in worship on the Day of Prayer in Woodford, those keen to join the annual service went to services in Leytonstone United Free Church or Winchester Road Methodist Church Highams Park. On arrival we were warmly greeted and handed a twig from an Olive Tree, a tangible symbol of peace. This year’s service had been written by the women of Palestine with the theme, ‘I beg you to bear with one another in love,’ a theme so appropriate in view of the present conflict within Israel. The Scripture reading taken from Ephesians 4 emphasised for us Paul’s call to maintain the unity of the Spirit of peace. As we shared the Peace together we exchanged the Olive tokens and shared with so many that symbol of a desire for peace, both in giving and receiving this small token of peace over this time of sharing. The prayerful reflection on the opening lines of Fred Kaan’s hymn, ‘Put peace into each other’s hands, and like a treasure hold’. It was for me the high spot of the service. Lord, grant us grace to commit to such sharing throughout our lives. Moira Sharpe openness and interest. He was somehow beyond class or culture. The first iteration of his memoir he titled, ‘who do I think I am?’ reflecting his own rejection of being placed in any one box or category, and instead embracing himself as individual. Dad said how much he valued curiosity and I think he would want us all to cultivate this curiosity in ourselves as, by being curious, we can grow in our understanding of God’s love at work in the world. Third: enjoy the simple things. Music, holidays, eating out, the docks especially Gloucester docks, this cathedral, his narrow boat The Countryman, mars bars, late night crackers and cheese, Cadbury dairy milk chocolate, MacDonalds chocolate milkshake, saveloy and chips, Costa, cold cider, hymn singing, Feast ice creams, a concert, baking a Victoria sandwich, making shepherds pie (with beans in of course), a drive in the car, swimming – ideally in the sea, growing tomatoes, films, the cinema, classic FM, talking with friends, time with family. This list of simple pleasures meant Dad so easily found contentment in life and time spent with him meant that you too would share this contentment. With Dad you could simply be. Things were simple, you were loved and all was well. William and Hannah Godwin Prayers for Peace
30 What can I contribute?
31 What can I contribute? What do you make of the model on the opposite page? What do you think are the similarities, differences, skills and approaches between the roles? How much do you think they overlap or diverge around people and situations? How does this relate to the Church of England’s five Marks of Mission? 1 To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom. 2 To teach, baptise and nurture new believers. 3 To respond to human need by loving service. 4 To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation. 5 To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth. Further information about the Five Marks of Mission at: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https:/ www.churchofengland.org.sites/default/files/2017-11/mtag-the-5-marks-ofmission.pdf A final thought: if being a Christian were a criminal offence, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
32 Family Focus On the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, YACHT members held a fortnightly meeting where we enjoyed burning the old palm crosses (and a Christmas tree) ready for the Wednesday. We also enjoyed some fantastic pancakes and hosted our guest, Tim the Diocesan Director of Ordinands. Logan Smith Easter garden by Junior Church
33 RIDDLE: There are five sisters in the room. Anne is reading a book, Margaret is cooking, Kate is playing chess, Marie is tidying up. What is the fifth sister doing? Sometimes an answer is not obvious. There may be more possible answers than first meets the eye. Or is the answer obvious and there’s a danger of over thinking things? What do you think? Send your thoughts to the magazine at [email protected]
34 Bible reading: a journey of discovery sessions with friends who were much more well-versed than me, and started a collection of religious books I found helpful for my very basic needs. I started to read Bible Study notes published by the Bible Reading Fellowship on a daily basis. Similarly in church I attended random sessions of Bible Study that were offered prior to pilgrimages to the Holy Land and other places, and undertook an Open University degree course on early Italian art history that made me more familiar with so much subject matter. Sometimes a book group I attend focuses on a book from the Bible such as Job or Tobit and I look forward to learning more. Penny Freeston My mother often quoted Scripture from her old-fashioned Authorised Version of the Bible, and from early days I enjoyed looking at the illustrations of the Queen of Sheba, Moses in the bulrushes or Jesus calming the storm. In those days biblical illustration was very detailed, and I especially loved Margaret Tarrant’s Christmas cards and illustrated children’s books. Although our family did not attend church regularly, we learned Bible stories at school and studied Scripture at Grammar School. ‘Songs of Praise’ was frequently broadcast on Sunday evenings and Zeffirelli’s film ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ taught me lots more. I was eighteen when I chose to be confirmed into the Church of England at college in Canterbury, but Bible study stayed on the back burner. I was content to let the texts flow over me in church, familiarising myself with those often read at festivals every year. As a teacher I read my class Ladybird stories of The Prodigal Son and The Good Samaritan and it was only when our older daughter was baptised that I became more familiar with a hardback children’s Bible, that was lavishly illustrated throughout. When I had more time on my hands I would pore through a calligraphy book called ‘Springs of Joy’ that highlighted lovely, memorable passages from Scripture. I also attended some Bible Study
35 Bible reading: a journey of discovery Back cover: Pentecost flag celebration outside St Mary’s (see page 5) Quiz answers (from what is the weather like in the Bible on page 25) 1 drought, frost 2 rain, showers 3 cold weather 4 fair weather, sky 5 storm (of) wind 6 thunder (and) hail, hail
36 A big thank you to everyone submitting contributions and photographs to this edition Please keep them coming, as without them we wouldn’t have a parish magazine: articles, prayers, book reviews, favourite music, recipes, gardening tips etc. We would love some children’s drawings as well: the choice is yours! Email directly using a subject heading to: [email protected] or pass to Penny Freeston who will type up your handwritten copy. Our next copy date is 22nd July 2024 Magazine team: Elizabeth Lowson, Penny Freeston, Cheryl Corney, Bryony Bennett and Peter Wall.