I woke us this morning and could hear nothing apart from a bird or two in the pear tree outside our window. The street traffic was nil and I thoroughly enjoyed this!

Two days ago a brother and sister came to visit me with regard to my taking their mother’s funeral. When John and Irene arrived at the Vicarage, the first thing they said was what a wonderful surprise it was to find this beautiful oasis of peace and calm having walked down the Greenford Road from Sudbury train station. They knew they were coming to the church of All Hallows but knew nothing about the area.

John had travelled up from Brighton and his sister lives in Wealdstone but they knew nothing in advance about the Parish area in which their mother had once lived. So it was a surprise to them when they arrived that the church setting should have plenty of ground space ‘set apart’ but not removed from the hustle and bustle of life.

Apart from less traffic and noise what else will this month of August offer us? Well, quite a lot actually. The ‘Elson Ensemble’ our local builders have moved on site to begin the much needed urgent repairs to brickwork and roof area plus other matters which need attending to.

The added extra to the job list is a repair to our church floor. Many years ago when All Hallows church was in its prime the heating system seemed to require a deep and wide chamber beneath the Nave area  which today is where the present Junior Choir children sit.  The underground chamber emerged through an elegant wrought iron grill which two years ago was removed and replaced by the renovated wood floor. The work needing to be done in this instance is to seal off access to the remaining damp ground (prevalent to this area as many of you will know) and replace the repaired area with beautiful parquet wood floor.

Mark, our newly Ordained Curate, is learning the first steps in ‘how it is all done’ and is spending reflective times over the month of August on Sunday’s and Thursdays getting to know the people and the area. I hope you enjoy reading his contribution to this month’s magazine.

Last month, I mentioned the impending redecoration about to take place in my study and the fact that the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel could be seen but much work needed to take place to reach the goal!

I am into my 8^th year at All Hallows and use all manner of things to bring creativity into our church life. The storage for all of this has been gathered from many sources and the ‘vicar’s study’ has become the storage hold!

So, for the past couple of weeks sorting, shifting, recycling, shredding and jumbling has been the order of my life among the many other aspects of my job which make the world go around. However, the end of all the chaos is near! In order to see the finished results come and pay a visit in the early autumn months and make sure to wear your sun glasses; shielding you from the autumnal glow both inside and out!

During this month of August many of us will use the time to clean up, clear out and perhaps even move on to distant places. Holidays, known too as Holy days, give us stopping points to take stock and enjoy the good things that God gives us. I am hoping that all our parish community will have time to have fun and enjoy in some manner or other.

I am planning at the back of my mind, to find a way to say ‘thank you’ to all those who have toiled in the newly created Healing Garden over these past months. It will be their time to ‘stop and rest’. Watch this space, Garden Gang! God Bless you all. Take care and have fun.

It’s all change at the moment; lots of hands to the plough to ensure that good things will happen. This of course, is appropriate as we approach the time of Ordinations all over the country. Many gifted men and women coming together in Cathedral and parish to offer who they are along with their time and talents for active ministry to the glory of God and for His people.

At this very moment, I am still in the throws of making preparation for welcoming Mark Dean to the Parish church of All Hallows as our newly Ordained Curate on Sunday the 4^th July. Please read what Mark has written about himself and his family in this edition of the magazine.

I have received a couple of emails from the Chaplain to St. Paul’s Cathedral over the past couple of weeks giving last minute joining instructions to the clergy attending the Service. For those of you who have attended a Service at St. Paul’s you will remember how efficient they are in time keeping. I have sat with the ensemble of clergy for a variety of reasons and you can observe watches being looked at as we come to the final moments before the Organ strikes up a chord and all are summoned to their feet for the opening procession. Only once have I been in that great auspicious place when the starting time overlapped. I am sure someone had to answer for this error and thankfully it wasn’t me!

Cathedral and Parish life is very different in one sense but similar in another in as much as we are both places offering worship, hospitality and ministry to people on their life journey. St. Paul’s is a central location in the beating heart of city life. Architects in recent years have done wonderful things not only in as much as cleaning and repairing the building inside and out but also the surrounding working and social areas have been made more friendly and welcoming to locals and tourists alike. Gareth and I attended the Maundy Thursday Service in the Cathedral and afterwards sat in a café overlooking Paternoster Square. People from the offices were having their lunch breaks in similar places to where we were; eating, chatting and mobile phones in active service. There was an overall good feeling about the place and we enjoyed being caught up in it. As St. Paul’s gets its staff in order to make the Cathedral a place of service to the people for the Ordinations, we too at All Hallows make preparation to receive Mark, Erika and Anna into the fold of community life. We hope they will be happy with us for the next 3 years and we can give and receive from one another.

Once the large celebrations in the Cathedral are over and the smaller ones in the Parish Church come to a close, Mark will be one with us as he finds his feet in the common ground of day to day life which we all share. Life goes on for everyone and talents are shared between many to make our offerings more pleasing and acceptable for the good of God and his church.

Over the past weeks this has indeed been the case regarding a hive of activity taking place in the church grounds where a ‘project in hand’ is quite literally gaining ground in a more productive way. Those who have  offer an assortment of gifts; some the skills of engineers who know the land, drainage, soil etc. Others are mechanical master minds, knowing the amount of water to cement mix to get the compound ready for mixing, pouring and setting. Others are skilled with the spade and fork and are not shy to turn up ready to get dug in deep! Luke, aged 16,   is obtaining hours of community work for his Duke of Edinburgh Award, and by doing this has become an important member of the labour force along with others with the heart for community work. ‘Many hands make light work’ and the example of the church gardening is but one way to emphasise that we each need one another if we are to make good things happen.

Over the next month or two we will begin to relax a bit. This is a good time ‘to weed’ not only the flower beds, but to sort out our own lives too. I have quite a lot of this to do myself in the way of sorting out my study in order to make it more productive for the change in ministry I am now involved in. Painting and decorating will need to take place once the sorting of papers and books happen. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel but know there is a fair amount of work needing to be done first. Fortunately Gareth is good with a paint brush and especially painting the ceiling and skirting board; being a skill which he has developed over many years of being home owners.

Before I sign off for this month, keep each other in prayer as we go into times of rest and re-creation. Summer is a time to ‘let go’ and enjoy but do this safely. Remember that Sandra Welch is ‘calling’ for lots of jumble to be sorted in your homes over the summer which gives profit to the YMCA and enables the church to receive funds for the our Building Project which is just about to get started. Bring all jumble to the church and we will do the rest – very easy and very rewarding for everyone.

God Bless, have fun, and take care!                            Pamela

Greetings to all of our readers! The month of May will soon be behind us but what a busy month it has been! We began the month, Sunday 2^nd May, celebrating the life and good works of a lovely lady, Peggy Gibbs, who devoted her life not only to her immediate family but to her church family too in the way of music and in many other aspects of church life. People came to Peggy’s celebration from further afield as well as from her parish community. It was a fitting way to give thanks for her life.

On the following Saturday, 8^th May the Willesden Episcopal Area held a Quiet Study Day at All Hallows led by The Revd. Ann Coleman and Mrs. Penny Pedley. The day was organised for Lay ministers to put aside their work load, share quality time doing nothing apart from resting and waiting upon God to feed and nurture them.

It was on Monday the 10^th of May that we were to hear the news that another one of our very much loved church family members had died. Molly Collard was a lady of great dignity, wisdom, interest, full of fun and great warmth. The news of her death brought sadness to us all. In a few weeks time, Saturday 12^th June, a service of Thanksgiving will be held at All Hallows for Molly at 11.30am. We hope that this Service will provide an opportunity to share memories of Molly in a fitting manner.

The celebration of the feast of the Ascension took place on Thursday 13^th May and surprising it was too, to have such a good turn out. The augmented choir, not solely the Gospel Singers or the Junior Choir, but  a mixed group of ‘others’ came together on the night and offered their service of voices to enhance the liturgy in a fitting and meaningful way.

Starting on Friday evening the 14^th May and running through the weekend and coming to completion on the Sunday afternoon of the next weekend, the Ealing Festival Vocal section set up home at All Hallows for the adjudication of many fine talented singers from all ages and stages of life. This is the 3^rd year the Festival has come to All Hallows and for both Gareth and for me, it probably was the best year yet. Gareth and I enjoy hosting the hospitality side of the Festival.

The support for the staff is a priority of ours and the long term support of the Festival is also part of our agenda. Living in the London Borough of Ealing and being within the Ealing Deanery as a member of clergy, I feel that All Hallows should offer support in as many ways that we can as a church community. Hosting such a Festival offers us an opportunity to be gracious hosts.

On the 14^th May not only did we have the richness of the Festival singers but the richness of many personalities gathering in the Vicarage to reacquaint themselves with one another before we leave for our annual parish retreat in less than a weeks time. This year we will return to Abbey House in Glastonbury; a slightly shorter stay of 5 nights this time around. Abbey House is fortunate to have the ancient Abbey grounds within a stones throw of the retreat centre which means that the retreat group has easy access to peace and quiet for walking, resting and reflecting and, for us as a group to hold our out of doors service of Holy Communion.

On Saturday 22^nd May, our annual Caribbean evening fund raising event took place in the church hall and those who attended enjoyed themselves greatly. All those who were involved with the organisation and the carrying out of tasks under the leadership of Ronnie gave of themselves generously and tirelessly; a great team spirit was shared by all! If this wasn’t enough to be happening on the weekend read below.

On Sunday 23^rd May, those of you who live within very close proximity to the Church may have witnessed a great multitude of people standing in the church grounds when we celebrated the festival of Pentecost; remembering the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the first disciples and giving thanks to God that the same Holy Spirit is with us today; anointing people with a variety of gifts to share outwardly to others. At the end of our 10am Service, one of our church members, Kayode, quite new to the church, carried the Easter ‘flower filled’ cross into the church grounds. In a few days time (Saturday 29^th May) Kayode will take Marina to be his wife and I pray that the same Holy Spirit who gave new life and breath to the first disciples will give Kayode and Marina great encouragement and joy as they begin married life together.

You will now understand how the Month of May has flown by and within this time span much other work has been going on quietly behind the scenes as it does on a week to week basis. Chrissie and Brenda continue to beautify the church with their flower arrangements. Many teams of people give generously of their time welcoming people at the door to a variety of Services, and other team players clean God’s house so that those who enter it will find a place of beauty.

Keep in touch with the month of June! It is just around the corner and holds many fun times too…Look out for the Family Fun Day 19^th June and make sure you are here to celebrate. Rosemary is hard at work ensuring that good things will happen on the day.

Many Blessings from Pamela

This past year has been one of business, refreshment, joyful and solemn moments. There has been much to celebrate within the church and parish community. You will have heard via the varied Reports that life has been enriched by the coming together of many at our Services of worship, a variety of out – reaching events and the week by week engagements of groups in our church hall. Thank you to you all for your contributions to the life and ministry of our church within the community of All Hallows.

It is a great pleasure that it falls upon me at the Annual Meeting to reflect upon the pastoral matters of the church and community and to look ahead to what we will endeavour to engage with in the year to come.

This past year we celebrated many ‘good news stories’. Trevorlyn, Ryan, Jaden, Sophie, Hayden and Indiana were received into First Holy Communion. Talisa and Jaden were Baptised as well as Alice Grace. Bishop Pete came to All Hallows on Harvest festival Sunday and Confirmed Anne, Doreen and Talisa (as well as Baptising Talisa and Jaden).

We celebrated the joyful news surrounding the birth of Jaheim to Lorraine and Nigel and Kathryn to Helen and Mark. Special birthday celebrations took place within the year – Simone and Cavell both turned 16, Natasha and Jade turned 18. Ivy had a wonderful day celebrating her 90^th, Elsie celebrated her 90^th with a surprise family celebration at the Grym’s Dyke Hotel and Beryl celebrated her 80^th with a large gathering of family and church friends at her home.

In the rhythm of life there is the sadness of coming to terms with the death of those whom we love. This past year Eileen was bereaved of her sister Babs and Birdie suffered the loss of two of her family members in close succession; Berris McIntosh and Zena Burrell. Coralita Harris sister to Calvin Armstrong also passed away unexpectedly. Rosemary and John Thorndycraft had to come to terms with the untimely death of their Niece Helen who battled through the crippling effects of cancer. Just after Christmas, the church family suffered 3 bereavements in short succession; Eileen McNamara followed by John Shaw whose funeral Services took place at All Hallows.

Quite unexpectedly and soon after John’s death we were to learn that Peggy Gibbs passed away leaving the church family very bereft of well loved community members. Peggy’s funeral Service took place in Sussex where there are many family connections with a time of giving thanks for her life to be held at All Hallows on Sunday 2^nd May.

Last but not least in the order of those mentioned above, it was with great sadness that the church family learned of the sudden death of Fr. Frank Brand; long term serving Vicar of All Hallows.

Much of the above speaks of sad times at All Hallows, but the goodness we celebrate and share in all of this, is that the church family gathered together to support one another during these difficult times.

We have had many new members joining the life of All Hallows within the past year and it is constantly being told to me, that the way we rally around as a ‘family unit’ celebrating and commiserating is what makes people feel they want to be part of what is happening here.  I wish to express my appreciation for your considerable input to make good things happen beyond ours immediate interests.

Our current Mission Statement is: ‘Come in! Taste and see how good the Lord is’. This is a positive invitation which people have genuinely taken to heart. People have a desire to be part of what is on offer so it is relative and important that we, as a community church, endeavour to make the good news of Jesus Christ a living part of our lives, within our worship and vibrant as we witness to the community.

Towards the end of 2009, steps were put into place, with the sanction of the PCC to draw up a Mission Action Plan in our church to embrace the next 3 years which will enable all of us to draw upon the gifts of our church and community members. It might be important to mention here that since 1993 there has been a Mission Action Plan initiative every 3 years; 3 years giving time to deal with our plan of campaign.

For the 2009 Planning meeting, a core group of people representing the life of the church, gathered together to share thoughts about what we already do, what we would like to do and to ‘dream the impossible dreams’.

Following this, the material was sifted through and a further meeting took place of a core group of 8 who looked at the mission and ministry of All Hallows church and how we might function better as the Body of Christ which St. Paul speaks of in his letter to the Corinthians, if we involve a wider group of people from the church family and community; many members with many and specific gifts.

It is very apparent that All Hallows is gifted with talented people who are generous in their time, talent and financial giving. This too was part of the lifeblood of those from the very beginning when the Parish of All Hallows laid its first foundations.

Priest and people pulled together through prayer, hard work, steady commitment and tremendous challenge to provide a place of worship for this Parish community.

Today, we are the people who are blessed by the toils of our ancestors who were not afraid to rise to the challenge. We have much to celebrate and give thanks to God for.

You could say ‘why rock the boat and look to do things in a different way. If something has worked well in the past why encourage change’? This is a good question and deserves an answer.

Change for the sake of change can achieve nothing. It shows a degree of boredom, indifference and decay.  In the end there is no heart and soul to the cause.

Change where there is prayer, creative inward and outward thinking, discussion and activity can open us up to new ways of being the people God wants us to be.

Taking the challenge to ‘do things differently’ is truly a challenge. We have to be people who are ready to let go and let God take us into unchartered waters. Many of you here today will have explored new ways of’ being you’ in your daily living. As you have walked with God you have gone down roads which have opened up all sorts of possibilities and challenges.

Change can up – end us and disrupt our lives but it can also move us on and give us the opportunity to explore horizons once hidden. This is why we are going to be a church who encourage change; not for the sake of it but, because we are willing people who are prepared to accept the gifts God has for us which will enable us to explore the  horizons once hidden yet yearned for.

All Hallows is a church which has dedication at its heart; dedicated to God by dedicating our lives to serving His people. That is why we share the invitation ‘Come In! Taste and see how good the Lord is. Our utmost desire is to share the living good news of Jesus Christ.

All Hallows is a church which is seeing steady growth. Not just in numerical terms but also in the spirituality of its people. Services both on Sunday and week days are well attended.

People’s involvement is becoming more consistent and committed. Reaching out beyond the boundaries of the church takes place through a variety of out reach ministry; Joy in Uganda, Christian Aid, Shooting Stars Children’s Hospice, Children’s Society, Anthony Nolan Foundation, Caribbean Evening Fundraiser and the Family Fun Day. The Ealing Festival vocal Section return to All Hallows annually for the good acoustics; but more than this, they find it a place which has an atmosphere that bodes well with individuals who come to use their God given talents in the way of singing.

Reaching out takes place via our well maintained church grounds which are continually being monitored for signs of growth and decay. Just when you think no more beauty can be incorporated, a new project comes into fruition and gives people in the community an opportunity to stop rest awhile and take stock of the beauty of nature.

Our two local schools see All Hallows as a place to enhance their knowledge of the Christian Faith and in particular, Mandeville Schools, see All Hallows as a place of quiet and peaceful respite for both staff and children.

Outreach comes in the way we support our quarterly charities and in the way we healthily maintain our giving to the Common Fund which overseas the finances of the wider church.

By now you will understand that the depth and breadth of the church family needs to be included and involved so that we can harvest the gifts and celebrate the diversity of all the people whom God brings our attention to. By doing this, we are able to offer equal opportunity for each person to develop his or her potential.

Our Mission Action for 2009 – 2012 will highlight the ministry of teams. We will focus on 5 key areas identified as requiring serious consideration

Maintenance

Mission and Outreach

Hospitality

Publicity and Outreach

Fundraising

• 2 leaders will be required for each team
• Leaders to approach others to form teams
• possible suitable individuals identified

We will endeavor to:

• encourage a team spirit within the Church
• encourage members to use and share their gifts and skills

Where, we have invited people to ‘Come in!’  Taste and see how good the Lord is’, I should like us to further this by informing ourselves and those whom we minister to, what sort of missionaries we are.

Below is the Mission Statement which I read on the notice board of a very culturally diverse Episcopal Church in Charleston South Carolina, one of my previous homes in America a place which I have just returned from visiting. See what you think of this and could it describe us as a church in the not too distant future?

‘To be a mission – orientated integrated church which lay and clergy alike give of their time, talent and treasure to enable us to be

Community of Christ

Community of Caring

Community of Inclusion’

As we endeavor, grow, sometimes fail, celebrate and journey together as community may we do this with the graciousness of the Father, the Commitment of the Son and the Unity of the Spirit.

May our thanks be foremost to God and our blessings upon one another as we draw this Annual Meeting to a close and look forward to scanning the horizons once hidden yet yearned for?

May God be with us as we minister together, lay and clergy alike in love, support and service throughout this year and beyond,

Pamela Heazell

Vicar All Hallows

Easter Greetings to all of our readers. To all those who will access this article via our church website, thank you for making contact with us through our electronic post box. The current Church Website was designed by Mark, one of many Church of England Ordinands who will be Ordained this coming July as Deacon in St. Paul’s Cathedral.

On Maundy Thursday, there were literally hundreds of licensed Christian workers making representation as Bishops, Deacons, Priests, Lay Readers and those from Religious Orders, attending the annual Chrism Mass in St. Paul’s Cathedral. Mark was at St. Paul’s and for him it was an opportunity to take time out of his busy life and stake stock of what it will mean to represent the Church as an Ordained Minister. You will read more about Mark and his development over the next months and years as he will be ministering at All Hallows as a trainee Curate after his Ordination takes place.

For those of us in Holy Orders who attended the Chrism Mass, the annual gathering of colleagues provides opportunity to meet up with those whom we have not seen for many years, such as in my case. Before the Service begins, all those who will robe in appropriate vestments, go down into the Crypt and once suitably attired and the gathering Prayer is said, the opening procession into the Cathedral begins.

Entering through the great West Door into a magnificent setting for a Service such as this one is quite honestly, an awesome, memorable and uplifting experience. For those, who stood outside the Cathedral witnessing hundreds of church ministers filing past them, they may well have wondered what was so important about this particular event that it brought together many Clergy and religious representatives.

So, why were we there? Why was I there? Because, it is on Maundy Thursday that we hear together the message told afresh which Jesus gives to all of his people, both lay and ordained; ‘a new commandment I give to you that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’  With this message in the forefront of one’s mind, Bishops, Priests and Deacons are left in no doubt that ministry is about being of service to one another with love and commitment.

There will have been other clergy such as me who will have re-enacted the command which Jesus talked to his disciples about, at the night of his last supper with his friends, before he went to the cross. Feet or hands might have been washed between members of the congregation; the Priest leading by example. The sharing of the last supper will have taken place; bread being blessed and broken and wine being poured out and shared; all examples of taking and sharing in love for one another.

On Good Friday the atmosphere of the long Holy Week is heightened with intense drama. The cost of being a servant to others is shown to us by our great high priest; Jesus. He speaks these words to us “Greater love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friends”. Jesus came into the world not to be served but to serve and his service went way beyond the extra mile. On Good Friday Jesus went to great lengths to teach us the cost of true discipleship as he laid down His life for His friends.

By the time this copy of Reach Out is available for our readers, the community of All Hallows will have shared in the joyful celebration of Easter. The journey through Holy Week will have been well travelled and we will have arrived in the garden of our Lord’s delight with the stone removed from the entrance of the tomb and Jesus waiting to greet us. There is something indescribably wonderful about that first glimmer of light on Easter Day. Whether it dawns wet or dry, warm or cold, there is something special that only God can make possible; renewal of our faith journey as we cross over from Good Friday death to Easter new life.

To all of our readers, those close to home and those on distant shores I am sending you very best wishes as we hopefully move into warmer days ahead. Please take time to walk around the church grounds and see beautiful signs of spring. Marion and Roland will have written an up-to-date report on what is going on in the garden and you will soon hear the activity of the lawn mower on a regular basis as spring moves into summer. Keep an eye out for rubbish on the church grounds and if you could possibly pick up the lone beer can or empty crisp packet that would be most appreciated. In the next few months you will find an advert or two giving date and time of the Community Family Fun Day which we hope you will be part of as we share the good news of what your local parish church can offer you.

May the Risen Lord Jesus live among us in our homes and community and may our service to one another be generous, enriching and sincere.

Blessings upon each of you,          Pamela

Another month has passed us by. Looking through our past edition of ‘Reach Out’ I see that I made a very bad assumption! I started out by saying that January had parted company with us in great haste. January ‘by name’ might have moved hastily on but both January (and February) ‘by nature’ has stayed around to give us all something to talk about…the weather!

Gareth and I really enjoy watching the weather channel. It is not only  the facts and figures which interest us but the way in which the forecasters have an element of charisma in what it is they are about to deliver to their public. There is one particular person, Rob McElwee who can usually be seen wearing a grey suit and a flashy tie reporting for the BBC. Rob joined the BBC in 1991 and in his previous job worked as an RAF forecaster in the 617 Squadron. He must be appreciated by others as well as his elite following in North Greenford because a fan club has been set up dedicated to this charismatic figure.

What is it that makes some people stick out in the crowd? In this instance it is the presence of the man. He appears to be tall and has a very open face, delightful smiling eyes and a great sense of humour all which he uses to attract attention to the message he is delivering. He sweeps his hands across the image of the weather map and guides his followers to engage interestingly along with him.

Gareth and I find ourselves, more often than not, laughing out loud as we watch Rob on his zealous mission to deliver the good and bad news. It is not the factual aspects set before us which causes such merriment but the way this particular individual can turn the most dreary of all weather into such compelling entertainment.

Mid way through March will be engaging with one of the world’s most charismatic figures who has ever come to this earth; one who literally turned the world upside down to get the message out loud and clear to those who desired the good news and to those who were curious but doubtful that this man was in his right mind and had anything useful to say.

The people in question waiting for a just ruler to preside over them wanted a charismatic leader and they wanted him to be their ideal King; dressed in fine robes, smart in appearance and doing deals with high powered and influential people.

Yet the man who turned up on their doorstep was the most ordinary and nondescript person they could ever find. He baffled everyone by his antics; spending time laying his hands on the sick, healing the blind, and feeding thousands with a few loaves and fishes. He could be found entertaining children with his stories, casting out demons, walking on water, keeping company with the lowly (including one caught in adultery) and going completely wild by turning tables over in the temple; outraged by corrupt behaviour in his midst.

In the people’s opinion this man was not fit to be King and in the end they ran him out of town to a hill top like a common prisoner. They whipped him and stripped him, gave him an old heavy wooden cross to carry, placed a crown of thorns on his head and in the end watched him die in the blistering sun. Yet, right to the end they were not sure who he really was and what this man was about.

They thought that from the beginning they had every right to label him as an imposter but his behaviour baffled them. He said strange words as he hung on the cross near to death; ‘Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’ could be heard from the parched lips of this unbecoming blood spattered human being.

Charismatic’s get attention. Jesus got attention and it was not for his benefit that he sought it. Jesus was out to do the business which his father appointed him to do whether it was popular or not. He used every means to attract attention so that people would learn from what he said and by what he did. He did not come into the world to deliver a message which made people feel warm and cosy but a message which gave everlasting hope. More often than not his words caused anger and landed him in trouble with the authorities.

In modern day terms, we might say that Jesus had a fan club. In the Gospel stories we read of many encounters where Jesus is surrounded by a single person, an intimate group of 12 disciples and thousands who had heard about him and wanted to learn from his message of hope and redemption.

Christians join processions on Good Friday. People stop and stare and continue to be baffled that Jesus attracts the attention of so many followers in this modern day society. Where will you be this Good Friday? The King of all Kings wants our attention to be focused on him and to play our part in His Father’s redeeming work in the communities in which we live. Jesus is our Good News and we can all be part of this; no one is excluded from His fan club. Blessings upon you as journey through Lent together.                                      Pamela

January has parted company with us in great haste. It hardly seems as if yesterday we were preparing for the great festival of Christmas and here we are at the end of January bringing Christmas to a close with the celebration of the Christ Child in the Temple.

In the Gospel of St. Luke (Luke 2. v22-40), we read the story of Mary and Joseph taking their first born Son to the Temple and offering him to the Lord. It was a custom of ancient Law that the first fruit offerings, whether this be the first male child born or the first offerings of a crop yield, should always be presented to the Lord with thanksgiving. It was also at this time that the naming of the child would take place.

Later on in the Gospel we read that God was faithful to his longstanding servant Simeon and granted him his hearts desire which was the longing to see the promised messiah who would bring justice, healing, love and peace to all the worlds people.

As it had been revealed to Mary by the angel and anointed by the Holy Spirit that she would conceive and give birth to Jesus, the Son of the most high, so it was that the Holy Spirit gave special insight to Simeon that he would recognise the ‘Christ’ (Jesus) when he was brought to the Temple. Simeon then took the child into his arms and gave thanks to God that before he came to the end of his life he had his longing fulfilled.

At the festival of Candlemas, we bring our Service to a close holding the light of Christ ( small lit candles). Each person among many gathers together waiting in a sense of awe and great wonder as the Christ child is lifted tenderly from his crib and placed on a table central to the congregation symbolising that although Christmas has come to a close, Jesus remains in our midst.

The candles at the crib are then blown out and the procession of priests and people gather at the Font for the closing words; the Song of Simeon which is otherwise known as the Nunc Dimittis. The hand held candles by the congregation are then blown out.

For me, as well as the Spiritual enlightenment of this beautiful Service, there is also the practical aspect to consider and that is, how to provide a way to round off a Season of celebrations in the fullest and most meaningful way. By the natural invitation of the church structure from the start of Christmas to its completion, there is ample time to give every attention to fine detail and for the climax to be memorable.

In the next couple of weeks, we have turn around time in the church which we use in both literal and Spiritual terms. It is a good time to make an inventory of items used for our major festivals and to order in more communion bread, wine and candles for example. It is also the time of year, in preparation for our Annual Church meeting, that the Church wardens walk around the church making an inventory of all items present and hopefully not missing.

Spiritually people have time to reflect, taking stock of what has been happening to them over the past busy months and looking towards the season of Lent preparing for the great church festival of Easter.

From the feed back I get at All Hallows, I believe that people appreciate structure which provides all of us with a means to keeping track of our Spiritual journey and having stopping places along the, way during the various Seasons to appreciate and digest the purpose of it all.

It is hoped that our publicity can be enhanced for Easter via banners which are in the process of being created. Having visited a church in Northolt last week, I sat in my car reading the words of their Christmas banner hung prominently for all to see. The words welcomed people to come and worship with them and celebrate the Good News. All Hallows extends that invitation too.

The mention of publicity calls me to ‘go public’ in this edition of Reach Out by extending my gratitude to those who have already been involved in printing, collating and stapling our Parish booklet; advertising to every home in the parish what will be taking place over Lent and Easter with the inclusion of what else All Hallows has to offer via Services and community outreach. Thank you too to the many others, who will walk the streets from house to house in the next few weeks ensuring that relevant publicity is distributed.

Here is wishing you the very best of health and happiness as we go together on our journey of exploration praying that we will both give and receive in our relationships.

Blessings,    Pamela

Happy New Year to all our readers!

I have spent this afternoon getting used to writing 2010 as I have tackled ‘pending’ correspondence. This past decade has flown by. It only seems like yesterday that I stood in the ancient church of St. Mary’s with St. Nicholas taking a Service to pray in the new millennium. Listening to the peeling of bells ringing out at midnight was breathtaking. Everyone’s enthusiasm to put behind the old and welcome in the new was inspiring.

Yesterday at All Hallows I sat listening to Stephen preach and felt very happy to follow his advice re: not rushing in and making promises that inevitably we will not keep or find impossible to keep in this new year let alone new decade. Stephen gave us 3 particular words/thoughts of advice (1) Watch (2) Wait (3) Walk.

If we keep watch in a state of peaceful contemplative waiting we will be given the signs and signals we need to set off walking with our God in the ways that lead us on the right path. If we are full of our own thoughts and plans taking no heed of what God is trying to say to us, we will miss his directions that will not only lead us on the right path but keep us there.

I decided to begin today (4 January 2010) with the business of re-ordering my study. This is always a long and arduous task following our busy major festivals such as Christmas and Easter. It is a task that I know will help me to work in a more structured and productive atmosphere but I also know that to achieve this goal, much time and thought has to go into the process.

This morning, Gareth, my husband had to come to terms (happy but slightly daunted) by the fact that his structured life of the past 36 years has now come to a cross roads and he needs to find a new sense of order to his day. Having got up every morning at 6am ever since we took up residence here at the Vicarage, Gareth is getting used to the fact that he no longer has to get up early in order to catch the bus and then the train to Swiss Cottage to arrive at school for the start of the working day.

This morning I was up and out of bed (instead of Gareth) making a cup of tea for us both in order to ‘break the 6am chain of habit’ which has become part of the normal pattern of our lives. You may have guessed by now that Gareth is officially retired.

I am working hard at making sure he makes this transition carefully and slowly so he can enjoy engaging in the fine art of Watching, Waiting and Walking in the way that God has mapped out for his future as he stands at the proverbial cross roads of life.

Going back to my study tidying – I was pleasantly surprised as to how quickly my Father Christmas grotto (named by the grandchildren) once again resembled the study of a working Vicar. Everything has its place and everything eventually did find its place with careful and methodical planning.

Gareth has spent this after noon tidying away mountains of past papers which support the labours of a teacher for many years. Being head of Geography for a large number of his teaching life has necessitated in him having much baggage to dispose of. In his careful and methodical planning, he too has spent today finding a place for his redundant but some, much loved, belongings. Many unnecessary items however, may well end up being dealt with at the recycling paper depot of Ealing.

In a few weeks time the festival of Christmas will be coming to an end as we close Christmas with the child Jesus being presented at the temple; Mary giving thanks to God for her first born child. The prophet Simeon prayed that before he came to the end of his life, he would be granted his desire to see the messiah, the hope and lasting redemption for God’s people.  Simeon and the prophetess Anna (who was daily praying in the temple) watched waited and followed their path of obedience as God had directed them to do. God granted Simeon his wish and Simeon had the joy of holding the child Jesus in his arms before his life came to an end.

The beautiful and most poignant words of the joy filled song of Simeon now follow. I hope they are words which inspire us to watch, wait and walk in the way which God has mapped out for us this coming year with the patience and faithfulness of the prophet Simeon.

‘Simeon took him in his arms and praised God saying, ‘Master now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’  St. Luke 2 v29 – 32

Blessings and Peace for this New Year to you all,

Pamela

Welcome!

Shepherds watch their flocks by night

Mary arrives on her donkey

The angel announces the Good News to Mary and Joseph

Christ is born in Bethlehem

Tell the Good News to all the world!