Noticeboard

Welcome to St George's, and we welcome you to our online noticeboard. We hope you will find the information interesting. If you wish further information concerning these notices, or about Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals or services of thanksgiving, please contact our priest.

You can now click here to download this issue of the St George's Times in PDF format. (Adobe Reader comes pre-installed on many computers, but if you do not have it, click here to visit the Adobe website and download it for free.)

In addition, click here to visit the archives for previous issues.

You may like to read the sermons from the recent series being preached on The Sacraments during June & July. Click here to see the full list and links to those that have been published so far.

Sunday 25th July 2010: The Feast of St James.

James, son of Zebedee (died AD44) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was a son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of John the Apostle. He is also called James the Greater to distinguish him from James, son of Alphaeus, who is also known as James the Less. James is described as one of the first disciples to join Jesus. The Synoptic Gospels state that James and John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to follow him. According to the Gospel of Mark, James and John were called Boanerges, or the "Sons of Thunder" and also the "Saintly Brothers of Martyrdom". James was one of only three apostles whom Jesus selected to bear witness to his Transfiguration. The Acts of the Apostles records that Agrippa I had James executed by sword.

His remains are said to be in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia (Spain). Saint James is the Patron Saint of Spain. The city where his remains are held, Santiago de Compostela, is considered the third most holy town within the Church (after Jerusalem and Rome). The traditional pilgrimage to the grave of the saint, known as the "Way of St. James", has become the most popular pilgrimage for Western European Catholics from the early Middle Ages onwards. In 2008, 125,141 pilgrims registered as having completed the final 100 km walk (200 km by bicycle) to Santiago to qualify for a Compostela. When 25 July falls on a Sunday, it is a ?Jubilee? year, and a special east door is opened for entrance into the Santiago Cathedral. In the last Jubilee year, 2004, 179,944, pilgrims received a Compostela. This year is a Jubilee year and the number of pilgrims is expected to exceed this figure.

The Way of St James has existed for over a thousand years. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval times, and a pilgrimage route on which a plenary indulgence could be earned. Legend holds that St. James's remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain where he was buried on the site of what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela.

From the Children and Youth Worker

Thank you to everyone who helped make this last term such a success - Sunday School teachers, parents, and staff, and of course the children themselves! We look forward to welcoming you again on September 5th.

Over the summer, children are invited to participate in our worship together. Our booklet, "Let Us Pray" will be available, so children can follow the service, and it includes space to draw and colour. However, we ask that the Community Space at the back of the church be used only for smaller children, not as a playroom for unsupervised older children. The purpose of this space is to provide a relaxing place for babies and toddlers who become fussy during the service, and it is difficult to calm a fussy child, or to breastfeed, if the community space has large numbers of 8-and-9-year-olds playing with the toys.

Older children are welcome to play with the toys before and after the service, but should remain with their parents in church during the service.

Also, we still have about 5 places left for our summer programme for 5-11-year-olds, "Rivers of Living Water," which runs from August 23rd to August 27th, and which includes drama, art, storytelling, outdoor play, worship and music. If you would like to register your child, please email margaret@stgeorgescampdenhill.co.uk

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC)

The DEC was formed in 1963. They are an umbrella organisation for 13 humanitarian aid agencies. At times of overseas emergency, the DEC brings together a unique alliance of the UK's aid, corporate, public and broadcasting sectors to rally the nation's compassion, and ensure that funds raised go to DEC agencies best placed to deliver effective and timely relief to people most in need. I am delighted to say that their chief Executive, Mike Walsh is coming to talk on the 14th October on the subject "where do your charitable donations go after a disaster emergency". Representatives of Christian Aid will be present as well. Please book this important occasion in your diaries now.

From the Church Mouse

In case you missed my letter in last week's Newsletter I pointed out that we mice come in different modes. There are the live variety (creatures of creation) living outside the church and the very useful variety (created by man's ingenuity) which control those wonderful machines which, amongst other miraculous means, receive and send e-mails, produce the weekly service sheets and goodness knows what else. I write this week in my outdoor live mode to tell you about the terrible shock, like an earthquake, which shook the ground a fortnight ago. When I ventured from my hole to look I was horrified to see that the side gate to the church and one of its supporting brick pillars had been knocked for six. A large delivery van, in trying a U turn in the road, had reversed not just into the red pillar box in Aubrey Walk putting it out of use while it awaits repairs, it had also managed to reverse into the church putting the side gate out of action. Such is the damage that a faculty has had to be applied for in order to execute repairs. Hence the unsightly scaffolding poles which block the way from the church to the red back door. Fortunately the security company from the building opposite the church has on CCTV the whole incident or the driver might have got away without being challenged. The insurance company cannot be very happy. Watch how you go, more next week.

Saints of the week, Ss Anne & Joachim July 26th

By tradition Joachim and Anne are considered to be the names of the parents of Mary, the Mother of God. We have no historical evidence, however, of any elements of their lives, including their names. Any stories about Mary's father and mother come to us through legend and tradition.We get the oldest story from a document called the Gospel of James. The legend told in this document says that after years of childlessness, an angel appeared to tell Anne and Joachim that they would have a child. Anne promised to dedicate this child to God (much the way that Samuel was dedicated by his mother Hannah - Anne - in 1 Kings).

For those who wonder what we can learn from people we know nothing about and how we can honour them, we must focus on why they are honoured by the church. Whatever their names or the facts of their lives, the truth is that it was the parents of Mary who nurtured Mary, taught her, brought her up to be a worthy Mother of God. It was their teaching that led her to respond to God's request with faith, "Let it be done to me as you will." It was their example of parenting that Mary must have followed as she brought up her own son, Jesus. It was their faith that laid the foundation of courage and strength that allowed her to stand by the cross as her son was crucified and still believe. Such parents can be examples and models for all parents.

People

We were delighted to welcome Vanessa Riley back to church after her recent stay in hospital and it's good to see that Phillipa Bennard-Kent is continuing to make good progress. it is truly remarkable to report that Stephan Rogge is out of hospital, though he continues to be severely disabled; he is spending the summer in Southern Spain, do please continue to hold him in your prayers. Betty Griffiths was taken to hospital during the week; you may know that recently she broke both her legs and an arm. Thank you to all who have enquired about my brother, Stanley who continues to be very poorly.

Advance Notice

October 4th Grand Harvest Quiz night. Venue to be announced nearer the time.

this page last updated on July 25, 2010