Alan’s thanksgiving service

Alan was a remarkable man and his talents were many and varied. He must have been a joy to teach with his enquiring mind and application to detail and hard work. It is no wonder he became Head Boy at school and a Music Scholar at Oxford University.

His interests were far ranging from Science to Music to Football. He worked in Physics and then teaching, en route tobeing engaged in education at the highest level. His contribution to the latter earned him an OBE.

In his early twenties, with a beautiful tenor voice. he was looking for a partner to sing duets with; and this is when Christine came into his life.

Later lsobel and Ian entered the scene and when they were teenagers and Alan was Principal of Paddington College the family moved to Abingdon. It was a full life for them; Alan had a daily trek from Didcot to London and back, so evenings were short and busy, but they had already settled at Trinity Church having a firm Congregationa/URC background. Obviously they gravitated to the Choir!

When retirement came Alan's energies were poured into Trinity and the Church in Abingdon. Alan was a great inspiration and the wide reaching success of 'Abingdon Alive' was partly powered by Alan, then secretary of the CiA. His energies benefited Trinity in many ways. He organised Home Study Groups; was an Elder; hosted, with Christine, numerous parties for the Choir and the visiting 'Ginger Group' of young people. He became Church Secretary and in that role kept a firm hand on Church Meetings, Committees, notice boards, weekly notice sheets and, dare I say it, even our Ministers.

He wrote numerous letters, especially to visiting preachers during Interregnums, all meticulously handwritten as the art of computers hadn't quite reached him. With Isobel's and her family's help he didn't feel the need of such technology. They had moved to North Leigh some time before and he revelled in his garden and the nearness of Isobel, her husband David and their three sons.

But increasing immobility due to arthritis was taking its toll, and he became more dependent on Christine for transport and on Church Members to help inside the church. But all this did not stop him from taking a very keen interest in the details of life at Trinity. He still had his finger on the pulse. Even if his trips to watch Southampton Football Club play had ceased, his trips to Concerts and Covent Garden had not. It was in preparing to go to one of those that he had a stroke.

Alan's faith was steadfast, but not inflexible. He was a seeker after truth and a stickler for detail. Trinity was greatly blessed by Alan being among us.

Freedom

Preacher spoke on freedom and all the gods that can keep us captive ... money, sex, power, TV, (internet), religious legalism. The list can go on. But he said by following them we become enslaved. Following God is freedom as not slaves but family....

Vain Words

My brother has written a book for kindle so I downloaded a kindle reader and read his book. Then I went on to look for other books. John Wesley's diaries were under £1 so I got them too and started to read and was suprised what a good read they are. On a boat to America Wesley realises despite all his Christian piety that he is afraid to die, and compares that with some German Christians who seem ready and full of faith. He asks their pastor about the contrast ...

The pastor responded, “I must first ask you one or two questions. Have you the witness within yourself? Does the Spirit of God bear witness with your spirit, that you are a child of God?

Wesley was suprised and did not know what to answer. The Pastor noticing it asked "Do you know Jesus Christ?”"

Wesley paused and then answered, “I know he is the Saviour of the world.”

To which the pastor replied, “True. But do you know he has saved you?”

Wesley responded, “I hope he has died to save me.”

Wesley writes in his journal afterwards, “I fear they were vain words.”

Handing on the Mantle

This morning I joined with the Friends (or Quakers) at the Abbey Centre. 

I normally go to Trinity. Today the Revd Diana was taking the service and I like her enormously. Revd Richard is very ill and so we have other people filling in. Revd. Diana was there today speaking on 'handing on the mantle'.

I could have gone to the civic service at St Helens - it is the first one since I ceased to be a town councillor. Returning from the dog walk I did see them parading down East St Helen Street but walked on. The mantle has passed on to others after all.

As I was setting off to the Friends the Salvation Army were just about to start, and I said hello to the Officer at the door, thought for moment I should try them, but walked on.

I went to the Friends and sat quietly. "Walk humbly with your God." At times I am far from humble. "Time to seek God in the stillness." My mind is so often so busy and distracted. Time to be told by someone who stood up to speak that love is seen best in bad circumstances. "The greater the darkness, the greater the light of love" she said.

Day by Day

Reverend Richard said that the following verse would be prominently displayed through this year...

Day by day
Day by day
Oh Dear Lord
Three things I pray
To see thee more clearly
Love thee more dearly
Follow thee more nearly
Day by day

clearly, dearly, nearly... was a natural progression to be followed every day.

This was the start of the annual dedication service. Instead of singling out the people who lead junior church, and other areas, Revd Richard said that all of us who have some part to play in young people's education, or whatever, should commit ourselves to do this in God's way.

To know Jesus

Today the preacher said to get to know Jesus it was not enough to study or read books.

After reading and study we would only know Jesus from the outside. To know Jesus we must do as he does and act as he says.

It was not a new idea but, perhaps because of the preacher's sincerity, it struck me as something new.

Soup Kitchen

This morning the service was led by Revd. John Rowland (Kennington) with a talk by Mrs Smith from the Oxford Soup Kitchen.

About 20 years ago Mrs Smith saw a bright light, rather like Saint Paul. Out of the light she saw a man with with tattoes on his face, picking bits from the rubbish bin. She asked 'Lord what can I do' and she heard a voice or idea say 'Soup Kitchen' and so for 20 years she has run a soup kitchen for people who have nobody else to turn, those who society has given up on.

The John Rowland spoke powerfully on Costly Grace, quoting the bible and Dietrich Bonhoeffer ...