The Sunday Archive: The Pilot, October 1997 - Part 7
All Saints and St Simons
From GEOFF HOUGHTON Priest-in-Charge
A MONTH ago a huge swathe of the community found themselves deeply shocked by the tragic loss of Diana, Princess of Wales. Countless people who had never met her experienced many of the symptoms of grief they would normally associate with the loss of close family or friends. The prolific outpouring of grief very evidently lifted the lid on losses and hurts suffered in the past, the pain of which may never have been properly vented or expressed. For example, I heard of one man quoted in the media, who said he cried more for Diana than he did for his wife.
In a healthy manner, we should all have picked up the pieces of our own lives and moved on from that tragic week. But, there is at hand Clarkson House's new Community Bereavement Service. Initially set up for families with a hospice link, the service has now been improved and extended and is now available to all in Jersey, free of charge. If you would like to know more, contact Clarkson House in confidence on 876555. Let us hope that part of Diana's Legacy will be a freer expression of grief, so that ordinary people feel less obliged to put on a stiff upper lip, unhealthily bottling up their feelings.
It will have been a delight to have witnessed the confirmation of six youngsters at the end of September. Most of them are the fruit of many years' faithful work by the Junior Church. They have now graduated from Junior Church but would like to go on meeting. Appropriately, even if ambitiously, they are calling their little group the "Saints." We should expect to find them sharing in much more of the mainstream worship as well as in their own activities. Young and old will each need to meet one another half way with appropriate forms of worship. We are still looking for the right person to give leadership to our fledgling group and would be very pleased to hear from anyone who could consider this modest commitment.
THE HARVEST SUPPER will be in the Church Hall on Saturday 4th October, starting at 6.30 pm. Adults £3 per head and children free! Please contact the Vicar or Churchwardens so that we have an idea of numbers. All are very welcome.
LEPROSY MISSION. We look forward to welcoming Michael Woosley from the Leprosy Mission on Sunday 12th October. Please make a special effort to attend the evening service (7 pm) at which he will be our guest preacher.
HOLY BAPTISM. Jessica Lisa Le Cone (10th August); Ryan Hogan (17th August); Emily Georgia Cleave (24th August). Thanksgiving for, and Blessing of infant Zahra Le Breton (24th August).
FUNERALS. Barbara Elizabeth Mary Payne, aged 68 (9th September); David Arthur Harrison (16th September). RIP
St John
From ANDY THEWLIS Priest-in-Charge
THURSDAY 11th September was, in many senses, a typical working weekday, with its usual diversity of activity. Administration, pastoral visits, evening meetings and some time relaxing as a father playing with the children.
My day had begun reading Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians, reflecting especially upon chapter 5, verses 16-18: "Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances."
It is so important, isn't it, to enjoy the gift of life that is ours. The mountain of paperwork sitting on the desk was metaphorically trans-formed into a small molehill as I pondered the joys of Parish life, emerging as they do from that great sense of community, of belonging and friendship within St John, of which the local church is an important part.
I smiled too as I reflected upon the fun of family life. Whilst most young children play Doctors and Nurses, Mums and Dads, or School Teachers, Hannah, our four-year-old enjoys playing "Baptisms." The game always begins with an imaginary trip to the shops to buy party food and 100 bottles of champagne. The patio becomes the church and eventually the service begins with Hannah giving out the notices, because the "sermon man" has once again failed to turn up. It is fascinating to watch Hannah perform, sharing in her innocent fun and realising that this young thespian is modelling herself upon a clergyman she knows. For Hannah, the local church is real, relevant and an integral part of her life.
However, Thursday 11th September was no ordinary day, for it was the day that the whole Diocese were invited through the monthly Intercessions to pray for the life of St John. It was good to be reminded that we are part of the wider Church and encouraging to be upheld in prayer. In praying for the parishes of the Diocese, our Bishop, Michael Scott-Joynt requests items for thanksgiving and specific prayer needs for the future. A healthy model for us all to imitate in October, fulfilling the wise advise of Paul in 1 Thess 5: 16-18, in looking backwards with grateful hearts, whilst crucially committing the future prayerfully to God.
Amongst other items, do remember to pray for this year's Advisory Council Away Day, to be held on Saturday 4th October, led by the Rev Francis Mason, entitled "Increasing Active Membership."
MARRIAGES. 16th August, Michael Slous and Susan Devenish; 23rd August, Nigel Symons and Philippa Bleasby; 6th September, Wayne Rogan and Angela Stevens.
FUNERALS. 1st September, Beryl Howell-Baker
From ANDY THEWLIS Priest-in-Charge
THURSDAY 11th September was, in many senses, a typical working weekday, with its usual diversity of activity. Administration, pastoral visits, evening meetings and some time relaxing as a father playing with the children.
My day had begun reading Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians, reflecting especially upon chapter 5, verses 16-18: "Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances."
It is so important, isn't it, to enjoy the gift of life that is ours. The mountain of paperwork sitting on the desk was metaphorically trans-formed into a small molehill as I pondered the joys of Parish life, emerging as they do from that great sense of community, of belonging and friendship within St John, of which the local church is an important part.
I smiled too as I reflected upon the fun of family life. Whilst most young children play Doctors and Nurses, Mums and Dads, or School Teachers, Hannah, our four-year-old enjoys playing "Baptisms." The game always begins with an imaginary trip to the shops to buy party food and 100 bottles of champagne. The patio becomes the church and eventually the service begins with Hannah giving out the notices, because the "sermon man" has once again failed to turn up. It is fascinating to watch Hannah perform, sharing in her innocent fun and realising that this young thespian is modelling herself upon a clergyman she knows. For Hannah, the local church is real, relevant and an integral part of her life.
However, Thursday 11th September was no ordinary day, for it was the day that the whole Diocese were invited through the monthly Intercessions to pray for the life of St John. It was good to be reminded that we are part of the wider Church and encouraging to be upheld in prayer. In praying for the parishes of the Diocese, our Bishop, Michael Scott-Joynt requests items for thanksgiving and specific prayer needs for the future. A healthy model for us all to imitate in October, fulfilling the wise advise of Paul in 1 Thess 5: 16-18, in looking backwards with grateful hearts, whilst crucially committing the future prayerfully to God.
Amongst other items, do remember to pray for this year's Advisory Council Away Day, to be held on Saturday 4th October, led by the Rev Francis Mason, entitled "Increasing Active Membership."
MARRIAGES. 16th August, Michael Slous and Susan Devenish; 23rd August, Nigel Symons and Philippa Bleasby; 6th September, Wayne Rogan and Angela Stevens.
FUNERALS. 1st September, Beryl Howell-Baker
Grouville and St Peter la Rocque
From FRANCIS MASON
Priest-in-Charge
AS I write the dust is beginning to settle over Les Pres Manor as another successful Harvest Fair is completed. God was very gracious in granting fair weather — though the forecast was not good earlier in the week. This year, of course, all our plans were thrown into potential disarray by the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. I am pleased to say that immediately we heard the date of the funeral we decided to postpone the event by a week. (This was before it became apparent that everything would come to a standstill on Saturday 6th September.) The Fair Committee met the challenge and within a few hours had reorganised what had taken many months to prepare. In respect to this our thanks go particularly to Matt Le Maistre whose phone was red hot on Monday 1st September. Catherine Moisan (née Le Maistre) has inherited her mother's talent for organisation; seen in the energy she gave to the event.
It was good this year to have a Fair Committee to spread some of the responsibilities and we thank those involved and each of the many stallholders for their valuable time and effort. What I always find very encouraging about our fair is the complete lack of competition and jealously between stalls — we do seem to work well together as a team. I would like to give a special mention to those young people who got involved either by helping on the stalls or setting up their own — I shall not forget those wet sponges in a hurry!
Finally on this subject, thank you to all who contributed financially or materially in some way. It was a great day.
As I write Bishop Michael is due to visit the Jersey Deanery to share his vision for the Church into the next millennium. Our Deanery Synod representatives and Church Officers will have joined those from all the other Anglican churches on the Island to hear him speak on 23rd September. It is becoming every clearer that the Church of England (indeed, all the major denominations) have reached a critical point in history and how we respond over the next few years to the demands of the society in which we live will determine the shape of our future in the next millennium.
From FRANCIS MASON
Priest-in-Charge
AS I write the dust is beginning to settle over Les Pres Manor as another successful Harvest Fair is completed. God was very gracious in granting fair weather — though the forecast was not good earlier in the week. This year, of course, all our plans were thrown into potential disarray by the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. I am pleased to say that immediately we heard the date of the funeral we decided to postpone the event by a week. (This was before it became apparent that everything would come to a standstill on Saturday 6th September.) The Fair Committee met the challenge and within a few hours had reorganised what had taken many months to prepare. In respect to this our thanks go particularly to Matt Le Maistre whose phone was red hot on Monday 1st September. Catherine Moisan (née Le Maistre) has inherited her mother's talent for organisation; seen in the energy she gave to the event.
It was good this year to have a Fair Committee to spread some of the responsibilities and we thank those involved and each of the many stallholders for their valuable time and effort. What I always find very encouraging about our fair is the complete lack of competition and jealously between stalls — we do seem to work well together as a team. I would like to give a special mention to those young people who got involved either by helping on the stalls or setting up their own — I shall not forget those wet sponges in a hurry!
Finally on this subject, thank you to all who contributed financially or materially in some way. It was a great day.
As I write Bishop Michael is due to visit the Jersey Deanery to share his vision for the Church into the next millennium. Our Deanery Synod representatives and Church Officers will have joined those from all the other Anglican churches on the Island to hear him speak on 23rd September. It is becoming every clearer that the Church of England (indeed, all the major denominations) have reached a critical point in history and how we respond over the next few years to the demands of the society in which we live will determine the shape of our future in the next millennium.
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