Greetings to Everyone

Hoping you are all well and beginning to enjoy the weather which seems to have turned the corner but I hesitate to say it too loudly in case it goes away again!
 
In this edition of the newsletter I have written a little bit about Donald (my husband for those of you who did not know him) who died ten years ago on 1st June.  It is amazing how quickly time has gone but never the memories and the time he spent at Golders Green in retirement. He so enjoyed being with everyone.
 
Donald loved his time in parts of Africa spent when he was very young. At one point he told me he wanted to be ordained and stay in Tanzania (he knew he had a calling for ordination from a very early age). I have to say I am very glad he didn’t.  He was deeply influenced by Father Trevor Huddleston, as he was then, and his activism for those who were discriminated against and oppressed. Trevor Huddleston’s influence stayed with Donald for the rest of his life. While I was thinking about his time there I came across an article in the Anglican-Lutheran Society’s magazine called “The Window” which I have reproduced for the newsletter.  “The Window” is the A-LS magazine full of stories and information from all over the world wherever there are Anglicans and Lutherans. Donald was an active member of the Anglican-Lutheran Society for many years up until he died. I am now one of their trustees and as a result have made a wide circle of friends and acquaintances from so many counties. This article is about a young Tanzanian priest who, inspired by the reforestation initiative started by his bishop, encouraged young people to understand the value of tree planting and the necessity of replanting trees lost due to deforestation which is affecting the country badly.  He talks of how they have been affected by Covid but how they still carry on this work while finding ways pf protecting each other to keep them safe. We have something in common with these young people as there is a project in the UK for planting trees to help save our environment but nothing as serious as the climate change and conditions that they are experiencing.
 
Please remember our regular Wednesday evening prayer time at 7.30pm. The link below is in Tony’s update. This Wednesday we will be having a more social time when we can get together for a chat and exchange of news with each other. Hoping to see you.
 
Love and good wishes - Sally

 

 

 

Just a quick update - as of the end of last week there had been some 14 inquiries for the new position, so we do need to pray that these will turn into applications.
 
You will find with this newsletter one sign in for both church and prayer meetings - this is the personal room of the churchwardens account on zoom.  This should mean that we will no longer need to change the log in every 7 weeks.
 
Please could I remind everyone to be careful when walking around the front of the church.  Keith noticed some bricks had come lose out of the wall around by the side with West Heath Drive and the wall leading up to the Lady Chapel entrance is looking worse.  The PCC had been discussing plans to renew the front but this is held up in the Barnet Planning system.  We will push this matter with our architect.
 
Two last things - thank you for those who attended our APCM.  I know we live in different times and the various issues around COVID stop cause for concern.
 
Second, our services in June are going to be held in person starting this Sunday with Reverend Rachel G followed by Father John H on 20th June.  The services in between, 13th and 27th, will be more informal from church.  I would like to get back to members of the congregation leading us in prayers at all services this month so if you would like to do so please let me know.
 
See you on Sunday in person and on Zoom and enjoy the rest of the week.
 
 
The new meeting links are as follows – please note this is for all - the church services and the prayer meetings
 
Church Wardens is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Church Wardens's Personal Meeting Room

 

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Meeting ID: 858 554 5365
Passcode: J4FbKf
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Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aemYT2p1YY
 
 

 
 
It is hard to think that it is ten years, on the 1st June, since Donald died at home with us all with him. We think of him a great deal, his humour, his kindness, his concern for people.   
 
I found some of the pictures of him at Golders Green, a church he loved, among people he loved and served as honorary curate since he retired in 1996. He loved being with people and joining in with all the social activities and discussions, particularly the choruses and dances. Having spent time in Tanzania and Kenya in his early days he had a great fondness for African songs and learned some of the languages, enough to discuss with visitors from those countries when they came to St Paul’s Cathedral on his pastoral-care duty days. He especially loved to preach and was a fine, learned theologian as well as a radical thinker who never hesitated to berate injustices and inequality, which often made people sit up and think and made some say, “Donald if you carry on saying things like that you will never be a bishop!”. Goodness knows what he would be saying today. I still have a whole sheaf of his handwritten sermons in my study that I keep thinking I should get typed up and reproduced so others can read them. Someone from our old parish talked recently about his sermons that she had valued and had taught her so much, but also her lasting memory of him was of dancing round the altar with the children all singing, “The Lord of the Dance” with such gusto and enjoyment. I like to think of him carrying on dancing and being alongside us with his love, warmth and especially his humour which we, as a family, miss so much.
 
 
 

 
 
The Rev Frank Mexon M graduated from Tumaini University, Makumira in 2019, was ordained in January 2020 and appointed the Youth Coordinator for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) in May of the same year. In the “Voices from the Communion” series he shared his plans to further engage ELCT young people in the life of the Church and to care for creation through a reforestation scheme begun in 2005 under ELCT Presiding Bishop Dr Fredrick O S’s leadership (LWI) inspired by the reforestation initiative started by Bishop Shoo. From this initiative, young people have grown to understand the value of tree planting and the necessity of replanting trees lost due to deforestation. Also on the horizon are camps, seminars and missionary trips. Missionary trips for the young people are very important to areas within Tanzaniasuch as Zanzibar, Kigoma and Tabora.

The purpose of these trips is to offer the youngsters the opportunity to preach the gospel in neighbouring communities. This is done through sharing the Word of God, singing and diaconal or social services to those communities. How have the young people remained engaged during COVID- 19 restrictions? How has it been challenging? As for sanitation, we are taking precautions to decrease the infection rate. However, if COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly, we will postpone the youth consultation until next year, of course, but the greatest challenge is ministering to young people who struggle with unemployment, which is one of the consequences of COVID-19. What does it mean for your Church, your work and you to be a part of the communion of Churches? I am grateful for the Lutheran World Federation global youth programmes and climate justice initiative. These programmes give young people throughout the communion of Churches a platform from which to discover their potential. Our young people have developed small projects about care for creation and climate justice and the prevention of gender-based violence, for instance. Being a part of the communion of Churches has provided an arena for youth involvement in different initiatives and projects here in Tanzania. Who inspired you to pursue the ministry? My father! He has always encouraged me to strive for my goals in life. He was sure that I would become a pastor but, even though my father is a pastor in the Southern diocese, it was not easy for the rest of my family to accept my decision to pursue ordination, but they stood by me regardless. I am inspired by and appreciate the work of my predecessor, the Rev Anza A, who led the youth desk for years. I hope with hard work, my skills and with God's grace, I will continue the work that he began. Growing up in the Church, I have seen how God blesses his servants and this inspired me to enter the ministry. I believe service for God is a blessing. What are your goals for the youth ministry in 2021? It is my hope that 2021 will bring more opportunities for young people to participate in different activities and projects. One of my goals is to continue increasing the number of young people who participate in Church programmes. This year, we are preparing a consultation for young people from all 26 dioceses of the ELCT in June in the Tabora Region (West Central Diocese). We have plans to participate in tree planting throughout various regions. From The Rev Frank M (wearing red stole)
 

 

 
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light.
For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

 
 

 
 

 
https://youtu.be/KXCmPrKmvko
 
https://youtu.be/z-Fs8ZLuizo
 

 

You may wish to join in worship during this time through television and radio.
Check online, in the Radio Times and elsewhere for details:
Songs of Praise BBC 1, Sunday afternoon, variable times
Sunday Worship BBC Radio 4, Sunday, 8.10am Choral Evensong BBC
Radio 3, Wednesday Daily Service
BBC Radio 4 (Longwave only), weekdays, 9.45am
Big Sunday Service Premier Christian Radio, Sunday, 7am, 8am, 10am Easter Sunday Eucharist A service is usually broadcast on the BBC on Easter morning
Free 24 hour telephone church service 0800 804 8044
Online resources Church of England Daily Prayer https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-service-dailyprayer
https://mailchi.mp/b9d86a4acdc7/coming-up-from-st-pauls-cathedral-1274047?e=377e26b1db St Paul’s Cathedral have a number of resources available for us to use.
Church of England Online Resources during this time https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronaviruscovid-19-liturgy-and-prayer-resources
Go On-line to " ps://www.achurchnearyou.com", put in Area or post code and find a local church that broadcasts Worship.
Prayers from Christian Aid https://www.christianaid.org.uk/pray/churches/coronavirus-prayers
https://pray-as-you-go.org/ Pray as you Go (a short service each day in the Jesuit Tradition)
LICC have some great resources on their website https://www.licc.org.uk/
Especially on Covid-19 https://www.licc.org.uk/ourresources/prayer-journeys/presence-pressure-purpose/