FROM THE URC MINISTER
 “Everyone looks so happy!” said Wesis as the floats passed and we flowed with the crowd along the drive to Swakeleys House and grounds. Conversations and laughter all around and the fun of being together are what struck him on this, his first weekend in England.
Wesis Porop, Bishop of the Highlands Region of the United Church in Papua New Guinea, told us in the United Service of Thanksgiving at the end of Ickenham Festival week, that Papua New Guineans think of the English and other Europeans as people who tend to stay in their houses, living their individual lives. But on Gala Day he found them enjoying a festival and traditional dancing, which his people thought only tribal societies would do.
Rev. Ken Tombs welcomed Wesis’ observations, reinforcing what he was going to say about the importance of community life. God has designed us to live in community, like parts of a body working together. “Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves.” Our different gifts and talents have been given by God so that we can use them for the benefit of each other and build up the community.
Ken drew these thoughts from Paul’s letter to the Romans in the Bible, and applied them to our life as a community in Ickenham. He recalled his boyhood experience of festivals in Southall, and encouraged us to continue to see the value of sharing in community.
This was Ken’s last Ickenham Festival Service before retiring from his work as Curate of St. Giles’ in July. I am very glad to have had Ken as a colleague, Ickenham United Reformed Church is certainly grateful for his ministry, and I am sure there are many in Ickenham who have greatly appreciated his contributions to the community through Holiday Club, through his part in developing the links with Rukiga, through caring for people in illness and bereavement, weddings and baptisms, through his specialism in photography and a host of other ways. We give thanks to Ken.
We give thanks to the Ickenham Festival Team under David Edington’s leadership, and to all who worked to make the 2012 Festival another tremendously worthwhile success in the development of Ickenham’s community.
And you may be wondering, like me, what more will strike Wesis from his Pacific highland perspective as he travels around Britain during July, visiting towns and villages, churches and colleges, Methodist Conference and URC General Assembly, Council for World Mission regional meeting and Window on the World, and returns to Ickenham on 5th August before flying home.
I hope your own adventures this summer, whether in Ickenham or travelling, will be fruitful.
Bernie
TALENT FOR AFRICA
Early warning of another CLICK Rukiga event! There will be a non-competitive but auditioned talent show – ‘Talent for Africa’ – to be held at Vyners School on Friday 19th October at 7pm. Auditions will be held during the last weekend in September. If you are interested in entering, keep the dates free: further details will be available soon. Or you can contact Wendy Williams for further preliminary information, on wendya555@yahoo.co.uk.
FUNDRAISING ON THE UP
Many thanks from the URC for all your support for our fundraising activities in the year to date. As of the end of June our main events had generated over £4000, that’s almost 40% more than in the equivalent period last year. Our recent Auction alone raised a record £1700! We really appreciate all the things we have been given to sell and the interest of all of you who bought them. As well as our own funds, this benefits our four chosen charities for the year.
After a brief holiday lull, look out for our Late Summer Forecourt Sale on Saturday 8th September. If you are able to donate any items, please bring them to the church on the afternoon of Friday 7th September between 3pm and 7pm or phone Richard Piper on 01895 634348 to have them collected. We have storage space, so perhaps we can help you clear the decks a bit!
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