The Sunday Archive: The Pilot, September 1994 – Part 6
ST JOHN
From
JOHN OULESS
Ministre Desservant
My dear Friends,
There is a saying that "no news is good news," and I trust that this is correct with regard to the appointment of the next Rector of St John's; for we still have no news to give you about "who" or "when," except that the search is "ongoing" (to use a modern phrase) and does not slacken, despite the holiday season!
One visible item which is obviously proceeding has been the steady rise of the tower and spire scaffolding, which as I write has reached nearly to the top section of the steeple; for the last couple of weeks, trailer-load after trailer-load of poles and shackle-clips have been shunted over the churchyard wall, and erected in position, and should be completed by the time you read this, with the spire hidden behind a maze of poles and platforms, from which the work of pointing and weather-proofing will be carried out — hopefully before the onset of the winter weather. The good news given to parishioners at the last Electoral Assembly "privately" will no doubt receive its proper attention and marks of approbation at a later date.
OUR ROOSTER HAS FLOWN. We are all very sad to have lost our weather vane from the top of the church. There is hardly any commercial value to such an animal so we believe it must have gone out of bravado. If anyone hears any information that will help St John's police recover our quiet cockerel would they please inform them.
IT'S ALL HAPPENIN'! I was told not long ago that "nothing ever happens at St John's," but in the six weeks that I have been your minister, that certainly has not been the case: The first branchage of the year (fourteen infringements noted!); one Parish Assembly - an important one with annual accounts and budget; and two Electoral Assemblies, one for nomination of a new Centenier, and one for that of a Connétable - and all very well attended, too. The church's good wishes go to Mr Cohen and to Mr Hinault on their new appointments.
Stories about organs abound; in a previous parish, mice within; temporary relief, import a cat! St John's chancel organ develops cipher on pedals, organist on hols; Ministre, briefed by mainland organ builder, armed with pliers and cutters for dentistry job, switches on and finds two additional faults as well - discretion the better part of valour, retires with organ untouched, and returns to play for evensong without pedals! We'll graciously let Mr Harris operate on his return to the instrument!
Have you looked out all your treasures for the 10th September Jumble Sale - to the usual delivery point, please, as long as that's not the Rectory - they could be preparing to evacuate to another part of the parish!
Harvest Festival is on 25th September, so hope to welcome you all to worship at the Parish Church on that day.
PS-Don't forget the special Choral Evensong on Sunday 11th September at 6.30 pm at St Mary's with the combined choirs of the three parishes. No evening service at St John's that day.
ST JOHN'S DIARY DATES. September: 1st, Second Branchage; 10th, Church Jumble Sale; 11th, Evensong at St Mary's; 17th, Silent Auction, St Helier; Deanery Conference, St Aubin; 25th, Harvest Thanksgiving. October: 1st, Harvest Supper; 2nd, Pets' Service; 9th, RSCM Festal Evensong; 23rd, BST ends. November: 5th, Church Autumn Sale; 13th, Remembrance Sunday; 27th, Sunday School Prize giving.
HOLY BAPTISM. 10th July, Elliott Christopher Kemp Dorey; 17th, Aimee Joanne Renouf; 31st, Zach Christopher Pygott.
HOLY MATRIMONY. 23rd July, Timothy Ralph Gordon Mitchell and Tina Jane Quimby.
ST HELIER
JOHN SEAFORD Rector
JULY 16th was our Patronal Festival. Many of the congregation supported the Gift Day, together contributing about £3,500. The Churchwardens and I thank those who made a donation because we actually needed the money. It is a great shame, though, that we have to use the Gift Day for our own needs. No sensible person would run their own domestic budget, or any commercial enterprise, relying on a possible and variable windfall each year to balance the books. It really is not an efficient way of managing our affairs. We could raise the same amount of money if every member of the congregation just put an extra 50p in the collection each week.
Then a Gift Day could be an occasional, or even regular, event for something special -such as a capital project of our own, say, to build a proper Choir Vestry; or to fund some project for someone else, like the SEED Bursary Scheme to train a Zairian student at the Church Army College of Evangelism in Kenya or, better still, both.
Also on St Helier's Day Helvetia School came to church to give thanks for the end of term - something which staff and children seemed to do very gladly! That evening the Municipality entertained the Lieutenant-Governor and Lady Sutton, with some delegates from Avranches, to a jolly good meal. It did seem as though the secular parish made a better job of celebrating St Helier than his spiritual successors. Next year St Helier's Day falls on a Sunday so we shall be able to have a full choral Eucharist and perhaps make some other special effort in his honour. Any ideas?
The Pilgrimage was a week late. Fortunately, St Helier is not just the patron of the Town Church, but of Jersey, so the pilgrims were drawn from other congregations and denominations, from residents and visitors, and we caused a bit of a stir as we walked through the town. What a pity we didn't have a marching band to lead us! Another idea for next year if anyone has any suggestions.
However, there was a grand crowd, perhaps not up the numbers of some previous years, gathered in Elizabeth Castle for the service. The Constable welcomed everyone; the Salvation Army provided the music; the Bailiff read the Lesson; the Dean preached; everyone sang and then most went out to the Hermitage where many climbed the steps to see for them-selves the groove in the rock where our patron saint is supposed to have laid his weary body each night.
Maybe, if support for these ancient customs is waning, we should think of some appropriate way of honouring the tradition while, at the same time, making it relevant to today. Again, if anyone has any ideas as to how we might inject some vitality, please give me the benefit of your advice. I calculate that low tide next year will be about 6 pm, so the service will have to be in the late afternoon. Why don't we expect all the churches to join together for one evening service at Elizabeth Castle rather than holding their own individual services, and get everyone to bring a picnic tea and Nave a party, or ask some organisation like the Rotary to hold a barbecue? Already I can hear some pessimist saying, "It'll probably be raining, and what will we do then?" Reactions, please.
This month there are a couple more occasions for us to get up and do something. First, there is the Silent Auction for St Luke's Hospital for the Clergy. This is an Island-wide event, but we are asked to provide tea and refreshments between 4 pm and 6.30 pm for the bidders. We shall need some homemade cakes and scones to energise tired business people at the end of a hard day's work and put them in a generous mood. Volunteers to Mrs Seaford, please.
Later in the month we look forward to a visit of the Chancel Singers. This notable choir will provide a concert for the benefit of Jersey Hospice Care on Saturday evening, and then they will sing at both morning services on the Sunday, concluding with a buffet luncheon with the congregation. Many of the choir will be making their first visit to the Island, and we ought to be able to impress them with traditional Jersey hospitality as a token of our appreciation of what they are doing for Jersey and for us at the Town Church.
Next month we shall celebrate our Harvest Festival. In an urban eclectic congregation it is quite difficult to feel close to the land and the farming community. But it is still right that we give thanks for the produce of the earth and the fact that we have plenty to eat. I hope that many members of the church will accept Deputy Evelyn Pullin's suggestion to join the Jar of Grace scheme. This scheme is administered by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). You have a special jar (Evelyn or I can provide the special labels), and at each meal you drop in a coin, any coin, as a token of thanks. At Harvest Festival, instead of perish-able produce, you bring the full jar to church and the contents will go, through UNICEF, to give a better life to a child in need in the developing world. We who have so much can well afford to give for those who have less — especially children.
HOLY BAPTISM. 26th June, Oliver Johnson, Connie Lopez-Rubio, Kelly Ahearn; 10th July, Stephanie Stretton; 24th July, Scott Kean, 14th August, Shaun Cassin, Nathan Bryant, John Bradshaw, Kirsty-Leigh Aubert, Alexandra Ricou.
HOLY MATRIMONY. 6th August, Paul Luce and Teresa Morris; 12th August, Malcolm Fossey and Heidi Parris.
ST JOHN
From
JOHN OULESS
Ministre Desservant
My dear Friends,
There is a saying that "no news is good news," and I trust that this is correct with regard to the appointment of the next Rector of St John's; for we still have no news to give you about "who" or "when," except that the search is "ongoing" (to use a modern phrase) and does not slacken, despite the holiday season!
One visible item which is obviously proceeding has been the steady rise of the tower and spire scaffolding, which as I write has reached nearly to the top section of the steeple; for the last couple of weeks, trailer-load after trailer-load of poles and shackle-clips have been shunted over the churchyard wall, and erected in position, and should be completed by the time you read this, with the spire hidden behind a maze of poles and platforms, from which the work of pointing and weather-proofing will be carried out — hopefully before the onset of the winter weather. The good news given to parishioners at the last Electoral Assembly "privately" will no doubt receive its proper attention and marks of approbation at a later date.
OUR ROOSTER HAS FLOWN. We are all very sad to have lost our weather vane from the top of the church. There is hardly any commercial value to such an animal so we believe it must have gone out of bravado. If anyone hears any information that will help St John's police recover our quiet cockerel would they please inform them.
IT'S ALL HAPPENIN'! I was told not long ago that "nothing ever happens at St John's," but in the six weeks that I have been your minister, that certainly has not been the case: The first branchage of the year (fourteen infringements noted!); one Parish Assembly - an important one with annual accounts and budget; and two Electoral Assemblies, one for nomination of a new Centenier, and one for that of a Connétable - and all very well attended, too. The church's good wishes go to Mr Cohen and to Mr Hinault on their new appointments.
Stories about organs abound; in a previous parish, mice within; temporary relief, import a cat! St John's chancel organ develops cipher on pedals, organist on hols; Ministre, briefed by mainland organ builder, armed with pliers and cutters for dentistry job, switches on and finds two additional faults as well - discretion the better part of valour, retires with organ untouched, and returns to play for evensong without pedals! We'll graciously let Mr Harris operate on his return to the instrument!
Have you looked out all your treasures for the 10th September Jumble Sale - to the usual delivery point, please, as long as that's not the Rectory - they could be preparing to evacuate to another part of the parish!
Harvest Festival is on 25th September, so hope to welcome you all to worship at the Parish Church on that day.
PS-Don't forget the special Choral Evensong on Sunday 11th September at 6.30 pm at St Mary's with the combined choirs of the three parishes. No evening service at St John's that day.
ST JOHN'S DIARY DATES. September: 1st, Second Branchage; 10th, Church Jumble Sale; 11th, Evensong at St Mary's; 17th, Silent Auction, St Helier; Deanery Conference, St Aubin; 25th, Harvest Thanksgiving. October: 1st, Harvest Supper; 2nd, Pets' Service; 9th, RSCM Festal Evensong; 23rd, BST ends. November: 5th, Church Autumn Sale; 13th, Remembrance Sunday; 27th, Sunday School Prize giving.
HOLY BAPTISM. 10th July, Elliott Christopher Kemp Dorey; 17th, Aimee Joanne Renouf; 31st, Zach Christopher Pygott.
HOLY MATRIMONY. 23rd July, Timothy Ralph Gordon Mitchell and Tina Jane Quimby.
ST HELIER
JOHN SEAFORD Rector
JULY 16th was our Patronal Festival. Many of the congregation supported the Gift Day, together contributing about £3,500. The Churchwardens and I thank those who made a donation because we actually needed the money. It is a great shame, though, that we have to use the Gift Day for our own needs. No sensible person would run their own domestic budget, or any commercial enterprise, relying on a possible and variable windfall each year to balance the books. It really is not an efficient way of managing our affairs. We could raise the same amount of money if every member of the congregation just put an extra 50p in the collection each week.
Then a Gift Day could be an occasional, or even regular, event for something special -such as a capital project of our own, say, to build a proper Choir Vestry; or to fund some project for someone else, like the SEED Bursary Scheme to train a Zairian student at the Church Army College of Evangelism in Kenya or, better still, both.
Also on St Helier's Day Helvetia School came to church to give thanks for the end of term - something which staff and children seemed to do very gladly! That evening the Municipality entertained the Lieutenant-Governor and Lady Sutton, with some delegates from Avranches, to a jolly good meal. It did seem as though the secular parish made a better job of celebrating St Helier than his spiritual successors. Next year St Helier's Day falls on a Sunday so we shall be able to have a full choral Eucharist and perhaps make some other special effort in his honour. Any ideas?
The Pilgrimage was a week late. Fortunately, St Helier is not just the patron of the Town Church, but of Jersey, so the pilgrims were drawn from other congregations and denominations, from residents and visitors, and we caused a bit of a stir as we walked through the town. What a pity we didn't have a marching band to lead us! Another idea for next year if anyone has any suggestions.
However, there was a grand crowd, perhaps not up the numbers of some previous years, gathered in Elizabeth Castle for the service. The Constable welcomed everyone; the Salvation Army provided the music; the Bailiff read the Lesson; the Dean preached; everyone sang and then most went out to the Hermitage where many climbed the steps to see for them-selves the groove in the rock where our patron saint is supposed to have laid his weary body each night.
Maybe, if support for these ancient customs is waning, we should think of some appropriate way of honouring the tradition while, at the same time, making it relevant to today. Again, if anyone has any ideas as to how we might inject some vitality, please give me the benefit of your advice. I calculate that low tide next year will be about 6 pm, so the service will have to be in the late afternoon. Why don't we expect all the churches to join together for one evening service at Elizabeth Castle rather than holding their own individual services, and get everyone to bring a picnic tea and Nave a party, or ask some organisation like the Rotary to hold a barbecue? Already I can hear some pessimist saying, "It'll probably be raining, and what will we do then?" Reactions, please.
This month there are a couple more occasions for us to get up and do something. First, there is the Silent Auction for St Luke's Hospital for the Clergy. This is an Island-wide event, but we are asked to provide tea and refreshments between 4 pm and 6.30 pm for the bidders. We shall need some homemade cakes and scones to energise tired business people at the end of a hard day's work and put them in a generous mood. Volunteers to Mrs Seaford, please.
Later in the month we look forward to a visit of the Chancel Singers. This notable choir will provide a concert for the benefit of Jersey Hospice Care on Saturday evening, and then they will sing at both morning services on the Sunday, concluding with a buffet luncheon with the congregation. Many of the choir will be making their first visit to the Island, and we ought to be able to impress them with traditional Jersey hospitality as a token of our appreciation of what they are doing for Jersey and for us at the Town Church.
Next month we shall celebrate our Harvest Festival. In an urban eclectic congregation it is quite difficult to feel close to the land and the farming community. But it is still right that we give thanks for the produce of the earth and the fact that we have plenty to eat. I hope that many members of the church will accept Deputy Evelyn Pullin's suggestion to join the Jar of Grace scheme. This scheme is administered by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). You have a special jar (Evelyn or I can provide the special labels), and at each meal you drop in a coin, any coin, as a token of thanks. At Harvest Festival, instead of perish-able produce, you bring the full jar to church and the contents will go, through UNICEF, to give a better life to a child in need in the developing world. We who have so much can well afford to give for those who have less — especially children.
HOLY BAPTISM. 26th June, Oliver Johnson, Connie Lopez-Rubio, Kelly Ahearn; 10th July, Stephanie Stretton; 24th July, Scott Kean, 14th August, Shaun Cassin, Nathan Bryant, John Bradshaw, Kirsty-Leigh Aubert, Alexandra Ricou.
HOLY MATRIMONY. 6th August, Paul Luce and Teresa Morris; 12th August, Malcolm Fossey and Heidi Parris.
GOURAY
From
BILL MATTHEWS
Honorary Curate
HARVEST FESTIVAL SUNDAY (2nd October). We hope for a traditional and joyful celebration with preparation on Saturday. Any goods received for display will be distributed afterwards throughout the parish.
PERSONAL VIEWS. I have been asked by many people recently about my views on women priests and atheist clergy and it might be useful to make a brief statement to show where I stand.
Whoever we are in the Western World we have been brought up in a patriarchal society and it is difficult to divest ourselves of prejudicial conditioning. However, I have long believed in equal consideration for sexes. I well remember, as a boy, being at a YMCA conference in Whitby and suggesting that both male and female elements should be represented within the concept of the Trinity. On that occasion I was ridiculed and laughed out of court. Well, I still hold those views but now even more strongly. I think that the time is now right for the Church to acknowledge and demonstrate sexual equality both within the Priesthood and the Episcopacy. That there should be women priests is the consensus arrived at in Synod after a prolonged debate and it is now the moral duty of church members to accept the decision. The decision was always inevitable and although it changes tradition there is no convincing theological or rational evidence against it.
Of course, there are many who find it difficult to accept and I sympathise with them. Some have resigned and will resign their membership and it is sad to see it. What I resent, however, is that the clergy involved should receive compensation. Like many, in my life I have often struggled with decisions made by the Church and felt like resigning on principle. Should that have happened, I would have expected friends and allies to sympathise and be sorry. What I would not have expected nor been entitled to was compensation, no matter how strong my principle was. If there are those who cannot accept the decisions taken by the Church of England then, sad though it is, any unfortunate consequence is their responsibility and that is what they choose.
With regard to those who do not believe in God, we are in an even more difficult position. The Church of England is famous for its breadth and tolerance of interpretation within its fold. Diversity and eccentricity are welcome features. However, when a priest is ordained he freely agrees to uphold the doctrine of the Church as expressed in the Creeds and the Articles of Religion. It is a broadly based confession which allows for differing emphases. But there are parameters which include belief in a pastoral God who is the ultimate source and meaning of life. It is difficult to see how a priest within the Church of England can deny this belief. If there are those who cannot accept such a position then clearly they should resign. One can certainly be agnostic and unsure about many things, including the precise nature of God, but if one is blatantly and assertively an atheist then the position of priesthood is untenable. One can certainly be a good person, a pastor, a teacher, a counsellor and a lover of humanity but without a belief in God one cannot profess to be His Priest. If one cannot say to oneself that "I believe in God" then it is hypocritical and fanciful to hold the Priestly Profession and if resignation does not follow then dismissal should.
I realise that such debates are almost endless and complicated and anyone who takes a stance is open to misunderstanding and misinterpretation. We live in a very liberal and tolerant society but there are some essential boundaries which help to shape the Church and an essential belief without which the centre cannot hold. I believe in God and in the dignity of all humanity because of it.
* *
YOUTH CENTRE. The new Centre in the village, which opened earlier this year, is going well. It is overseen by an admirable group of trustees and led by an enthusiastic management group of volunteers. It is important that as the church we have a wholesome involvement in its development.
Part of its provision is that we are able to use the premises on a Sunday morning and on Thursday evenings. An energetic Sunday School meets at 10 am and invites more children so that good work can continue. Contact the church or just turn up if you are interested.
On Thursdays we would like to develop church-sponsored activities and need helpers for that. From 6th October from 6.30 pm I plan to lead activities for young people. Initially we will play 5-a-side football and other such games but what develops will depend upon the interests of those who turn up and the kind of volunteers who can help. Obviously we want to introduce music and art and drama and suchlike but I will need helpers. No great skills are required but anyone who has a commitment to helping young people can contact me as soon as possible.
GIFT DAY. All the Church Officers wish to thank those who contributed to the Gift Day in July. A total of almost £1,500 was given and we appreciate this response.
TRIP TO FRANCE. We are arranging a trip for Sunday 25th September. It is expected that we will leave St Helier at 10 am and return at 7 pm. We can provide transport from Gorey and hope that we can have a great day out together. Please put your name on the list in the church porch or contact myself (telephone 853255) or see or phone James Clark.
HOLIDAYS. I will be away for two weeks from 11th-24th September. The services will be covered as listed in the panel accompanying these notes and I hope you will give the visitors your wholehearted welcome and support.
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