They shall not grow old

St Helen's Church is closed this year, and so the annual remembrance service moved to our church this year. The church was packed. Revd Malcolm Atherton spoke rather of peace. He wore a red and a white poppy (something I heard some grumbles about).

After the half hour service, all the uniformed groups, and the band, and town council marched to the war memorial - newly cleaned - for the reading of those lines by Lawrence Binyon

They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them......we will remember them.

Fairtrade Harvest

Revd Malcolm, with the help of some children enacting the parts, told us of the life of a tea picker in Sri Lanka. Her standard of living had not gone up in the last 40 years. We all found out thats ours had, but the price we pay for her part in the tea picking had not gone up 'in real terms.' But by us buying Fair Trade tea, she got a little more,and we payed a little more. A just price.

Lord of the Dance

Sarah gave birth to a little boy yesterday. He is to be called Daniel Oliver, This news got a great round of applause in church .... Another baby was baptised during the service this morning. We sang 'Lord of the Dance' and 'All things bright and beautiful.' two songs which are often chosen by the parents of baptised parents ...

Diana's Funeral

I am sure that some people were shocked by the funeral. The coffin was carried out of the church to the singing of the song 'I will go out with Joy... and the trees will clap their hands...' and some people who knew what Diana wished did clap and cheer as the coffin was borne out.

Packed Funeral

The Church was crowded for Gwen's funeral. People who could not get in were standing shoulder to shoulder in the welcome area. About a hundred of Gwen's colleagues from Tesco were there, together with relatives, friends, and people from Church. The bowls placed near the exit for Gwen's charity were piled high with notes.

Sad News

We were told that Gwen had passed away early this morning. She is very well known in the church, where she has served together with her husband R in many capacities for many years. Until a few months ago she was very well known as the customer service manager at Tesco.

Church Meeting

Diana led us in three hymns, interspersed throughout the meeting. I entered, a couple of minutes late, into a thunderous rendition of 'What a friend we have in Jesus.' In a round table discussion we considered what main challenges faced us and what successes and growth areas we had had as a church in the last year. We heard that after Revd Malcolm leaves next July.

Angels

Revd Malcolm described people being like angels. He had once set out on a long bike ride to Rome. A pious friend at the start had written in his diary something about an angel would help and protect him. This sounded very unpractical. Only a little way out, lost in a deserted industrial part of town, he was faced with a T junction. His map only showed the main roads. He was near to tears. Then a lady with a car full of children stopped and asked, 'Can I help you?' She was like an angel. Often in life, just at the right moment people have appeared to him like angels to help. Malcolm asked people to consider what God might be guiding them to do.

Good Friday

We joined all the churches in town for a service in the market place. There we twenty woodern crosses held up for people to see. We sang:

• There is a Green Hill
• When I survey
• Were you there
• No Scenes of Kingly Majesty
• Meekness and Majesty

Revd Malcolm spoke , comparing tortured and powerless Iraqis with Jesus on the cross, subjugated by the Roman Power Scheme. We all stood in the sunshine.

Lent Giving

The Oxford Homeless Medical Fund have send me a Lent Calendar for 2003. They are trying to raise funds to extend the Luther Street Medical Center. It provides medical help for homeless people. Yesterday's entry Ash Wednesday's entry said 'Homeless can mean having nowhere to stay day or night... Thank God for your own home.' Today's entry says '... or it can mean twilight accomodation, probably an unheated room without cooking or washing facilities... Give 10p for every fire in your house and 50p if you have central heating.' So I owe them 60p so far.

The remedial group

The evening Service was quite informal. We had the Story of Samuel hearing God's voice in the temple. Then in two small groups we discussed 'How do we know we are doing God's Will, and how do we listen to God.' After the group discussion we presented out findings. The lot over the other side including Diana and Edna had lots of experiences to relate. But our side was more quiet. One of our group said, 'We are the remedial group over here.'

Diana

A quiet thoughtful evening Service. After some quiet prayer, the preacher asked whether there was anybody who had anything to share. Diana stood up. She quoted Psalm 23 ' Though I pass through the shadow of Death I will fear no evil, for thou art with me...' The verse had taken on new significance for her. Her remissions is over and the leukaemia has taken another turn. The Doctor has given her approximately twelve weeks to live. Diana describes what a blessing this is for she is going to a wonderful place.