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From the Rectory
 The celebratory events of the Ickenham
Festival will dominate the scene this month; and rightly so.
The extensive programme planned promises to provide something
to be enjoyed by all of us who are privileged to live in such
a strong community-minded place. As ever, we are grateful to
David Millen, and his Committee, for all the preparatory work
that they have done towards making the week a success. Both our
Churches in Ickenham are pleased to host events, details of which
you will find in the Festival Programme and elsewhere in this
edition. The inaugural Festival Service will take place in St
Giles' Church at 0945 on 13th June, and we hope the newly elected
Mayor of Hillingdon, and our Ward Councillors, will attend it.
The service of Thanksgiving for the entire week will be held
in the U.R.C. at 1100 on 20th June and a party in the Rectory
garden, for that congregation, will follow it.
The sense of community has always been strong in Ickenham, and
the Festival among other regular events and activities, helps
sustain that good feeling in a world that, sadly, is often dominated
by objectives, which fail to recognise the value of 'belonging'.
Let's rejoice and give thanks for all God's blessings to us in
this place and make time for ourselves to enjoy the Festival
once more this year.
Greetings and peace to you all.
Philip
From St Giles' Registers
Baptisms
| May 9th |
Sam Brian Barrett
Emma Louise Slater |
Cremations at Breakspear Crematorium
| Mar. 18th |
Doris Jessie Bushel, aged
91 (after service in St Giles' Church)
Basil Frederick Sheppard, aged 80 |
| Apr. 6th |
John Frederich Bree, aged 80 |
| 17th |
Patricia Alice Peverett, aged 87 |
| May 10th |
Jean Mary Spittle, aged 65 (after service
in St Giles' Church) |
| 17th |
Henry Arthur (Jim) Davies, aged 93 |
From The U.R.C. Elders
"Love your neighbour as yourself".
Leviticus 19:18
In the tenth chapter of St Luke's Gospel
we read Jesus' reply to an expert in Law who asked what is meant
by "neighbour". There followed the well-known story
of "The Good Samaritan". We have to keep
in mind the bad press given to Samaritans in Chapter 9 of that
gospel (verse 51) to understand that Jesus was choosing the unlikeliest
of characters to be the "goodie" in the story.
Nevertheless, it is clear that the questioner would have liked
a much less demanding definition of "neighbour".
After all, he wasn't merely being asked for a passing benevolent
thought for this neighbour once in a while, but, rather, a deep-seated
identification and empathy with the life experiences of the other
person.
Perhaps, instead, we have to learn that a fixed focus on who
does and doesn't deserve our love, is the very thing that can
get us, and for that matter, the whole world, into trouble.
Wasn't Jesus really referring to the readiness and willingness
to look beyond ourselves to look outward as well as inward?
Better still is the realization that loving our neighbour and
loving ourselves don't have to be separate! It's so much nicer
to share our hobbies, interests, entertainment etc with others.
Last month, in Christian Aid Week, we were to consider our neighbours
across the world, but it was the collective efforts of our neighbours
locally that achieved the results. Working together, individuals
can pool their talents and strengths to great effect.
This month we continue the theme of recognizing our neighbours'
best qualities as organizational talents, performing abilities,
crafts, handiwork are all shared in the neighbourhood for this
festival year. There is little to compete with the wonderful
sense of community that lingers beyond the main week of events,
becoming a talking point for considerably longer.
So let us all rejoice in our extended family here in Ickenham,
and make the most of this opportunity to get to know one another
in the jubilant atmosphere of holiday and celebration!
Dennis Dove
From The U.R.C. Registers
Baptism
|
Apr. 18th |
Ben Stephen Holland |
Cremations at Breakspear Crematorium
|
Apr. 29th |
Joan Margaret Wiseman, aged 84 (following
service at the U.R.C. taken by the Revd. Guthrie) |
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