A minister from India visited Ickenham in September, Revd David Rajan from Bangalore.  I was glad to welcome him with a meal at the local Birothi Restaurant, after his week of English meals while attending a course.  It was good to have his help to choose dishes, and then to see him eating deftly with his hand, as I had learned was customary when I visited Bangalore in February.

David took part in the Harvest service and lunch at the URC, and spoke of Harvest thanksgiving in South India.  We joined in calling out the word for “It’s bubbling!” – the cry which declares the harvest meal is ready to serve, and gives the name for the celebration.

David’s visit was one of the partnership links between Karnataka Central Diocese of the Church of South India, and our Thames North Synod of the URC.  The purposes of the partnership include learning about each other’s societies and church life.  

One of the places I was asked to take David was Bromley-by-Bow in East London.  And it was an eye-opener for me as well.  A few years ago the small United Reformed congregation there wondered what it could offer its local community.  It found several artists wanting space for workshops.  The church had rooms, and gave free use of them on condition that the artists gave training in return for local people. 

That was the start of what is now a thriving centre in a multi-cultural community.  It includes a health centre, where the patients are sometimes prescribed art therapy.  And it has one of the largest adult education enrolments in the Borough of Tower Hamlets.  David and I had a quick glimpse of people with many abilities and disabilities, interests and needs, busily sharing what they could offer to each other.

Regular attenders at the coffee mornings at Ickenham URC told me that a few years ago, proceeds from the coffee mornings went to support the developments at Bromley-by-Bow, and two groups from Ickenham visited then.  It was good to see the progress in that work now.

It reminded me of the work we saw in Bangalore of the Association of People with Disabilities, developing each other’s skills in horticulture, embroidery, paper-making, desk-top publishing, wheel-chair assembly and repair, career guidance, and more.  David hadn’t heard of the APD centres, which are in other parts of his big city.

So through his visit we both learned more about our own countries, as well as about each other’s.  And I learned more about what Ickenham people have been doing too.

Bernie

 

During September, most of the Willesden clergy went to a conference in the small town of Merville near Lille in France.  One of the speakers was 80 year old Jean Vanier.  In 1964 he founded the L’Ache Communities, where people who are severely disabled both mentally and physically live alongside able-bodied people, doing everything and sharing their lives together.  There are now 134 such communities in 30 countries throughout the world.  It was inspirational to hear Jean talk about his Christian faith; how he had felt called to do this work, and gave up his job as Professor of Philosophy at Toronto University to do so.  He told a story which at first sight seems so simple but which, after some thought, has a depth of meaning.

A young boy of 11 who was severely handicapped went to take his first Communion.  After the service there was a party which everyone attended.  The boy’s uncle said to his mother “Wasn’t that a wonderful service?  The only pity is that your son will never understand what it was all about.”  The boy, who overheard this, went to his mother and said “Don’t worry mummy, Jesus loves me as I am.” 

Jean asked “Can we say ‘Jesus loves me as I am’?”  He went on to note that the boy had discovered a great truth – he didn’t have to be what his mother would like, what his uncle would like, or even what he would have liked to have been himself.  For Jesus, who knows us intimately, it is enough just to be as you are. 

For me, it is good to know that Jesus accepts me as I am, with all my faults and failings, and that he is always there to guide me, to comfort me and to share in my sorrows and my joys.  I hope that you too can feel able to say “Jesus loves me as I am.”

Ken

 

Baptisms at St Giles’

Oct 12^th           Emily Grace Hiu Tung King
                        Rudi Borley

 

Wedding at St Giles’

Sept 20^th          Kieran Andrew Ash and Jennifer Marie Malham

 

Service of Blessing at St Giles’ after a Civil Marriage Ceremony

Oct 4^th             Nick and Anne Godfrey