Reflecting with Pamela – June 2010

Reflecting with 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