The Indian summer we were promised did arrive, with blue skies, warm weather, and a chill-out afternoon of activities. I’m talking about the St Giles’ Church Fun Afternoon at Willow Tree Centre. I count it nothing short of a miracle that the sun shone just in time after weeks of drab weather. Some are sceptical about miracles, and it is true that they require faith, for divine intervention can never be proved or disproved.
So what was the miracle? Was it the timely improvement in the weather? Was it that so many bought tickets? Or was it God’s hand in guiding us to choose this particular date? I’m not sure I know, but it certainly caused me to praise God!
In the latter weeks of the summer we’ve had a poster outside St Giles’ which says “Praise God, come rain or shine”. Admittedly, it’s much easier to praise God when things are going well. I like to think we would still have been able to give thanks to God even if it had been raining for the Fun Afternoon. But I’m glad our faith wasn’t tested in that respect this time! It’s interesting that it takes faith to believe in a miracle and it takes faith to accept that God is in control when things don’t work out as we had expected. Perhaps the poster designer had in mind the verse from Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always”. If you are facing a situation where you would love God to work a miracle, it might be right to start with praising God, not for the difficulties you are facing, but because he can be trusted to help us through all situations, whatever the outcome.
I’m grateful to a dedicated committee and to everyone who helped set up, cook, clear away and transport things and people to and from the excellent site in Breakspear Road North. It was a great afternoon enjoyed by all ages and it provided an excellent opportunity for us to get to know one another better. If you missed it this year, don’t worry - I have a feeling there will be something next year in a similar vein.
Adrian
“That’s true, isn’t it?” I heard a young man saying to his friend, “Peace is when people get along.” They had just read the placard being carried by the group walking through Ickenham as part of Hillingdon’s Week of Peace, 2008. The placard bore the winning poster from the competition for schools and youth groups run during last year’s Week of Peace.
This year’s venture was a series of walks organised by Cllr David Routledge, the councillor with special responsibility for links with Hillingdon Inter Faith Network. The walks were based on an ancient custom called “Riding the Marches” which was used to ensure that everything was in place. “Walking across Hillingdon is a deliberate statement of intent to show that we want Peace right across the Borough,” he said.
The seven walks during the week from 8th-13th September passed 50 places of Christian worship, nine of other faiths (including Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Jewish), three hospitals, a university and an airport all of which have multi faith chaplaincies, three schools, a school of theology, a youth centre and an event to launch a youth leadership programme, five police stations – one of which had an open day - the Hillingdon Racial Equality Council office, the ANZAC Cemetery at Harefield, RAF Uxbridge, and the Civic Centre three times.
Adrian and I were glad to be able to join in the walk which came through Ickenham, and to hear about the involvement of others on different days. We are grateful to David and the Hillingdon Inter Faith Network for this contribution to the range of Week of Peace events organised across London and internationally.
Whether you are concerned with issues in society or personal relationships, it is worth remembering the slogan from 11 year-old Emily Wrycraft, “Peace is when people get along”.
Bernie
FROM THE CHURCHES’ REGISTERS
Baptisms at St Giles’
Aug 24th Sadie-May Sarah Morris
Oliver Freddie Phillips
Sept 14th Zoe Maia Johnston
Isabelle Carole Ann Booth
Holly Lavender Booth
Weddings at St Giles’
Aug 29th Tomas Patrick Spear and Rhiannon Elizabeth Jones
Sept 13th Steven Clark Parker and Michelle Anne Payne
Cremation at Breakspear Crematorium
Sept 1st Joan Richardson, aged 84
ST GILES’ CHURCH MONTHLY STREET PRAYER LIST
Each Sunday at St Giles’ Church we pray for all the people who live or work in a particular road in the Parish. During October we will pray for the following roads:
Oct 5th Rectory Way
Oct 12th Roker Park Avenue
Oct 19th St George’s Drive
Oct 26th St Giles’ Avenue
If you live in one of these roads why not join us at our 8am or 9.45am services? You will be most welcome.
