CADOGAN CONCERT
 The evening of Friday 15th July was full of celebrations at Cadogan Hall, Sloane Square in London for Hillingdon Choral Society and Hillingdon Philharmonic Orchestra. They were celebrating their 30th and 25th Anniversaries respectively as well as founder conductor Peter Williams’ 60th birthday.
A large, responsive audience enjoyed an evening of English music followed by favourite pieces from the opera repertoire, performed by some 100 singers and accompanied by over 60 musicians. Some past singers and players had come back specially to take part. Three fine soloists, all having sung with Hillingdon Choral before, enchanted the audience with the famous duet from ‘The Pearl Fishers’, ‘Nessun Dorma’, and ‘Oh My Beloved Father’ by Puccini. The evening ended with the grand and inspiring Easter Hymn from Mascagni’s ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ and everyone joining in a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ to the conductor.
The Choral Society’s new season starts on Monday 5th September at 7.45pm in the URC. New members are particularly welcome. If interested, just turn up on the night and join in!
WEA COURSES 2011 / 2012
The courses for 2011 / 2012 arranged by the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) offer their usual stimulating mix of topics. ‘Literature Appreciation’ and ‘Poetry’, ‘IT ~ Photoshop and Desk Top Publishing’ and ‘Keep Fit with Core Stretch and Tone’ are joined this year by ‘Gardens of Greater London’, ‘British Art Groups 1830-1939’, ‘Know your Opera’, ‘Know Your Film Music’, ‘Film Studies’ and ‘Six Events in British History that Every Adult Should Know’.
 Classes are held at the Compass Theatre in Ickenham, and enrolment week starts on Monday 19th September. You can attend the first session on any course free of charge, to see if it is to your liking. So come along and try any that catch your eye!
Details of the courses arranged by all WEA London branches are given in our brochure, available in local libraries and some bookshops. Or you can contact Caroline Field on 01923 824922, Chris Hammond on 020 8995 2081, or visit the WEA website (www.wea.org.uk).
 PAT SPARKE
We regret to report the death on 2nd August, (shortly before her 89th birthday), of Pat Sparke, known and loved by many Ickenham residents. As featured in the March 2008 ICN, Pat came to Ickenham as a Land Girl (pictured) when aged 19, and worked on Cyril Saich’s Home Farm (now the site of the Church Place development). She later became Cyril’s Housekeeper and Secretary, a role she fulfilled until Cyril’s death in 1989.
A GUIDE TO PRAYER
 Having conducted the St Giles’ confirmation service in November, Bishop Edward Holland returned recently to Ickenham to address the Men’s Breakfast on the subject of ‘Prayer in a Busy Life’.
“We are all different,” he told us, “and we all pray in different ways, which can change as we get older.”
Prayer is an expression of love and a time when we open ourselves to God. We should do this regularly and often. For we are all children of the Father and, just as we need regular contact with our own loved ones, so we should with God.
We should be confident in our prayer - not begging – instead requesting what we feel we need, in an expression of faith and hope.
Jesus taught us that we should go into a room, shut the door and “pray to thy Father which is in secret”. So somewhere silent and still works best. The Bishop, for instance, has a favourite chair in his home; some people like to use their church, but the place needs to be comfortable and private, where we can relax and reflect on our love for each other. Choose a time of day that works for you. Some people find early in the morning is best – others late at night.
The word ‘ACTS’ can remind us of the basic elements of prayer:
- Adoration ~ to know God’s love for us
- Contrition ~ not so much guilt as sorrow for our failures and realisation that forgiveness lies at the heart of love
- Thanksgiving ~ counting our blessings
- Supplication ~ the humble request for our true needs
There is no need to be too talkative. Rest in God and let Him do the talking. Instead, be aware of our surroundings and the many things we should be grateful for.
Meditation is an important adjunct to prayer. We should regularly study and reflect on Bible lessons, but also on other objects – perhaps a picture, a candle or a flower. All are reminders of the wonders with which God has surrounded us. Jesus talked about the birds and the flowers – signs of God’s generosity and His presence in all things.
About prayer, Jesus said, “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them”.
AFN
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