FROM ST GILES’ CLERGY
When I turn to Internet Explorer on my computer, one of the sections I see has a list of news headlines which, if I want to, I can look at in more detail. On January 14th I turned on to see the latest situation in Haiti, after the massive earthquake that had devastated the country the day before.
To my amazement this event was 16th in a list of 19 headlines, preceded by such things as ‘How to avoid bad cheap mortgages’, ‘Where is Gran Turismo 5?’ (a Playstation game late to materialise from its manufacturers) and ‘Watch the new A-Team trailer’, about a remake of the classic 1980s television programme.
I don’t know how the news items are prioritised: but surely an event which has affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in one of the world’s poorest countries, leaving at least 75,000 people dead should have been right at the top of our thinking?
But I suppose I should not have been surprised. Some of the things higher up the list (like those mentioned) are those which affect our own selfish desires, rather than events which impinge on the lives of others with whom we have no direct contact.
If you read your Bible it is clear that Jesus had compassion for all, no matter who they were or what their circumstances. We, too, should follow his example and in times of trouble, be prepared to share what we have with those in need.
The relief organisations have been mobilised and as I write, expert rescue and medical teams are on their way to Haiti to assist. All these organisations need financial help. The best way of giving is by donating through the Disasters Emergency Committee (www.dec.org.uk), an umbrella organisation for 13 humanitarian aid agencies, including Christian Aid, World Vision and Save the Children.
Perhaps by the time you are reading this, the Haitian Earthquake will no longer be appearing in our newspapers or on the Internet unless we make a specific search, but the need for help in rebuilding that country will be a long term project. So do what you can now, before it goes from your mind.
Ken Tombs
FROM THE URC MINISTER
You may have noted that each issue of Ickenham Church News usually has, on the first or second page, an article by me as minister of Ickenham United Reformed Church, and an article by Adrian or Ken, from the staff of St. Giles’ Church of England. ICN is a joint enterprise - one example of our partnership in serving the community of Ickenham.
This year we will be celebrating 25 years of the covenant between the two churches. A group is making plans for the celebrations. These will include a special service on the morning of Sunday 25th April, so you may want to note that in your diary.
There will also be a review of the partnership this year, to consider how it is doing and how it might develop. We would like your help in this review. We would like to hear what you, the people of Ickenham, think about the partnership between these churches and its value in the community. In order to gather your comments we intend to ask you some questions in a forthcoming ICN.
The review is being organised by the ‘sponsoring body’ for local ecumenical partnerships, Churches Together North Thames, which covers the north-western quarter of London. There are over 20 local ecumenical partnerships of different kinds in the ‘North Thames’ area, and CTNT plans to help all of them with reviews over the five year period 2009 - 2013.
The purposes of these reviews are to help the churches more widely to learn from the benefits and struggles of such partnerships, and to support the local churches in taking an objective look at their life together and their future planning.
It is at a time like this that my two jobs overlap and feed into each other. I am not only the minister of Ickenham URC, but also the Ecumenical Officer of Churches Together North Thames, responsible for facilitating this broader sharing and support. So I look forward to Ickenham’s contribution to these developments.
If you would like to look at ecumenical activity between the churches even more widely across England, I recommend exploring the website of Churches Together in England, www.cte.org.uk.
Bernie
WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER - FRIDAY 5TH MARCH
The Women’s World Day of Prayer is a worldwide movement of Christian women of many traditions, who come together to observe a common day of prayer on the first Friday of March. Each year, the programme is prepared by a different group of women. This year, the women of Cameroon have prepared a service entitled “Let everything that has breath praise God”, to be celebrated in 170 countries.
Locally, the service for Ickenham and Ruislip will be held at 2pm at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, in Pembroke Road, Ruislip. Although the service has been initiated by women, the invitation to attend is warmly extended to all – men and women, young and old. Please come along, and stay on afterwards, when refreshments will be served in the Church Hall.
