MAVIS KNIGHT
1928-2005

Mavis, a long time, and regular, worshipper at St Giles’ Church was Ickenham Ward Councillor with unbroken service from 1982 through to 1998.

Born in 1928 she was deputy Mayor of Hillingdon Council from 1993 to 1994, but never became Mayor because her Party lost control of the Council in the year she might have succeeded. She was asked to stand again in 1998, but by then had made up her mind to retire. However, Mavis did not disappear from the local scene for she returned as Mayoress to support Maurice Lancaster during his term of office from 1999 to 2000.

Mavis, who died on June 22nd, left two daughters one of whom lives in Cumbria and the other on Isle of Dogs.

We will all miss her greatly.

The next Sunday when volunteers are needed to collect patients from wards for Communion services in the hospital chapel is: Hillingdon Hospital on Sunday 14th September. More dates will be published in future months. This small service is very much appreciated by patients who have no family available to help them. To continue this service we need to supplement our regular team with more volunteers to provide cover for unavoidable absences. Anyone who is prepared to spend a couple of hours on occasional Sunday
mornings, please contact Alan Grove on 020 8868 9220.

Each week at St Giles’ Church we pray for all the people who live or work in a particular road in the parish. During September we will pray for the following roads: 4th Tayfield Close, 11th Thorpland Avenue, 18th Church Place, 25th Albany Close.

If you live in one of these roads why not join us at our 8 a.m. or 9.45 a.m. services. You will most welcome.

Because of rising food costs, the monthly Ploughman's Lunches (held at the United Reformed Church) are to have their first price rise in many years. From September these popular lunches, which consist of soup and cheese & ham ploughman's, will cost £2.50. A sweet is available for an extra 25p.

All are welcome at these lunches, which are organised by the Ickenham Churches Christian Aid Group. The dates for the rest of 2005 are Sept.2nd, Oct.7th, Nov.4th and Dec.2nd.
Celia Miller.

On 8th June a talk entitled “The Christian Effect on Jewish Life” was given at St. Giles’ Church Hall, Ickenham by Rabbi Dr. Michael Hilton of the Kol Chai Reform Synagogue at Hatch End. The Hillingdon branch of CCJ holds around 10 meetings a year at different locations within the Borough, and this was the first time a meeting has been held in Ickenham. The welcome and hospitality extended by St. Giles Church, which included a conducted tour of the church, was very much appreciated.

Rabbi Hilton commenced by saying that when his book “The Christian Effect on Jewish Life” was published 10 years ago it was considered pretty way out to claim that Christianity had influenced what everybody thought of as the older religion. It was obvious that Judaism had influenced Christianity, but the other way round – how could it be? Now it is generally accepted that Jews couldn’t have lived in Christian lands for 1,500 years without it having some effect. Judaism today is not the Judaism practised at the time of Jesus. With the destruction of the Temple animal sacrifices ceased, “Rabbinical Judaism” substituted, and Jewish practice and thought has evolved over time to the present day.

There are many examples where, over the years, Judaism has been influenced by, or in some cases, directly copied the Christian Church. These include such matters as aspects of architectural design of synagogues, especially in the Victorian period, the practice of wearing robes for liturgical worship, the adoption of the title “Reverend”, the introduction (mainly by Reform Jews) of a Confirmation Service at which the candidate was asked and responded to a number of well-rehearsed questions on his life and the bible, which equates with the concept of the Christian Catechism. Today the Rabbi undertakes duties much in the same way as a Christian minister, i.e. he visits the sick and presides at weddings and funerals etc. Originally Rabbis were scholars; the community undertook visiting the sick etceteras, and the Rabbi did not normally even lead prayers in the synagogue. Also the format and rationale of many Jewish festivals such as Pentecost, Shavuot and Chanukah have been modified as a result of Christian influence. Rabbi Hilton argued that Judaism and Christianity had influenced each other’s theological insights regarding the concept of the Messiah, but it was apparent from questions raised from the floor at the end of his talk that members of the audience found this viewpoint controversial.

Rabbi Hilton said that much interface dialogue helps to preserve the myth that the Judaism of ancient times has continued virtually unchanged. But this is not true. Once Jews acknowledge a Christian influence more openly, they shall have a clearer understanding of how they can relate to Christians in a pluralist society. And in that way Jews and Christians can meet as equals. He concluded his most interesting talk by expressing the hope that God will guide future discussions between the two faiths.
Bernard Tiley

Oliver is a very talented young organist who was appointed to Kings College three years ago at the age of 16, and we are privileged that he has been able to find time in his very busy schedule to give a recital at St. Giles. We look forward to a great evening of music making. Full details of the programme appear on the church notice board.

Admission is £6 at the door, which will include a glass of wine or other refreshments at the interval. We look forward to seeing you there on this very special occasion.

At the time of going to press there was very encouraging, but unofficial, news of a new Ickenham Village Post Office. All preliminaries, and interviews, have taken place successfully, and it is hoped that building conversion works will start soon to allow for a possible early October opening of the counter in Mace Convenience Express.