A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS
 This past Christmas has been a different experience for us. Instead of helping to organise the children to take crib figures to the Chancel at St Giles’ Church, as I usually do twice on Christmas Eve, Andrew and I had two contrasting spiritual experiences on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day while we were on holiday in Thailand.
The reason for our being in Bangkok was to attend the wedding of the daughter of long-term Thai friends of ours, the first time we had visited them in their wonderful country (well summed up by hostess Suebsai as “untidy but happy”).
Nativity scene outside Christchurch Bangkok
Diana pours ceremonial water over wedding couple’s hands
 On December 24th we awoke before dawn to participate in the religious part of the marriage, when the bridegroom and his family approached their garden in procession bearing gifts, which were then exchanged ceremonially.
Then ten saffron-robed monks arrived to sing mantras for an hour while passing a long thread between them; the forty or so guests could contemplate during the rhythm of the chanting, which I found quite uplifting, or dip in and out, take photos and gossip! The later, very swish, reception for hundreds of beautifully clad people, took place in the Palace Gardens on the banks of the River Chao Phraya and we were the only Europeans present, but of course they all spoke English.
The following morning we went to Christmas Day communion at Christchurch, Bangkok. Its literature proclaims it as “An International congregation of Christians from many different nations and denominational origins”. It is part of the Diocese of Singapore in the worldwide Anglican Communion, and is a delightful church built on land given by King Mongkut (as played by Yul Bruynner on film) in 1861. It was a conventional service, full of the joys of the Lord, expertly conducted by the Vicar, in sweltering heat, before a congregation of about 150 people. By some fluke we ended up in the front row. We “Hark the herald…ed” with glee, but the carol we enjoyed most was “The Twelve Hours of Christmas”, to the well-known ‘partridge and pear-tree’ tune. Its last verse – try it! – was:
“At the twelfth hour of Christmas,
the world in darkness lay.
Wise men went riding,
dawn’s light has broken,
local people dozing,
many sheep are bleating,
with shepherds watching,
all heaven blazing,
angels are singing,
P-e-a-c-e on earth.
For on Christmas Day in Bethlehem,
sheltered in a stall,
Our Saviour Christ is born.”
At the end of the service we emerged blinking in to the sunlight for cool drinks and welcoming chat. We had many other happy adventures on that great trip, but certainly that service was one of the highlights.
Diana May
CHRISTMAS CHARITY COLLECTIONS
 
The two St Giles’ Church Christmas Eve Carols For The Family services raised a total of £518.79 for the Helen and Douglas Hospices for Children and Young People, while the Junior Church Carol Singing in the Village made £225 for Save the Children.
The Village Carol Singing saw the biggest choir for many years assembled near the CO-OP.
St Giles’ Church Christmas Tree Festival, and Market, raised a total in excess of £3,366 with the Christmas tree display in church making £224.52 and the Silent Auction a whopping £1,243. Congratulations to all concerned and we all look forward to an even bigger range of decorated Christmas trees next December. This year certainly was a tremendous success.
ABBEYFIELD ICKENHAM NEEDS TWO VOLUNTEERS
Sadly our very committed Chairman, John Foxford, died suddenly just before Christmas and we are looking for a female or male successor with chairing and coordinating skills, and an interest in, and a commitment to, care of the elderly.
In February 2007 Ruth Gear, our Secretary, will be retiring from her post after many years of dedicated service. We are hoping to find someone with minute taking skills who, preferably, has computer and word processing skills too.
The remaining members of the committee are very experienced and will help any willing volunteers to settle in:-
We have already a
- temporary Acting Chairman (who is one of our ex-chairmen), Derek Hughes.
- very talented Treasurer, Brian Hague, with years of professional financial experience.
- very green fingered Garden/Grounds Maintenance Manager, Peter Cotmore, who works hard to ensure our residents have a lovely garden environment to enjoy.
- very practical and practised House Maintenance Manager, John Davis, who responds to the housekeeper’s and residents’ needs to maintain a safe but comfortable home.
Founded in the 1960’s Abbeyfield, Ickenham is the local arm of a national charity. It provides self-contained accommodation for elderly people who wish to live in a sociable, supportive environment. Lunch and tea are provided daily by our excellent housekeeper, but otherwise residents can be as independent as they wish. Indeed some are still members of local groups and churches.
The house is at 26-28 Court Road and was created by the joining of two semi–detached houses. It now has a rear extension enabling us to cater in total for seven people in bed-sitters with en-suite bathrooms.
Please give these roles your serious consideration.
We can promise you support and a friendly team to work with.
If you would like to discuss either role, or visit the house, please ring Derek Hughes on 01895 624414 or 07793727259.
VOLUNTEER NEEDED FOR S.O.D.A
The local group of S.O.D.A. (Society of Disabled Artists) that is based in Community Close, Ickenham, will shortly need a voluntary helper on Monday afternoons, 2 – 4 p.m. in term time, who would be prepared to assist and to do some simple accounting as their Treasurer.
Will anyone who would be interested to come to our aid please contact Mrs. Chalkley (Group Leader) at 54 Milton Road, Ickenham. Tel. 01895 637063
PARISH PUMP
Receipt is acknowledged, with grateful thanks, of the following donations towards the cost of ICN:
Linda West from Cheshire, Swakeleys House Bowls Club in memory of Mary Elizabeth Stubbs deceased via Brenda Peake, Anonymous from Copthall Road East via the Rectory, Mike and Kitty Harvey via the ICN bottle in church, Anonymous of Hoylake Crescent via Susan Hayes, Anonymous of Eleanor Grove via editor, Joan and Ann of Boniface Road, Anonymous from Wood Lane, Ruislip via Don Gwilt, Hillingdon Decorative and Fine Art Society, Ickenham W.I. via Janet Collinson, Anonymous via David Thorpe, the Revd. Archie Markby from Fordingbridge via Alan Grove, Sally Pierce from Farnham Common, Mr and Mrs P Birbeck from Ely, Valerie Lane from Lincolnshire, Gwen Willicombe from Porlock.
Copy for the March edition should be with me by 13thFebruary.
|
