A CONTEMPLATION IN COLOUR
Anne Whitlam took ‘colours’ for her theme when leading the Good Friday All-age Service in St Giles’, a joint service attended by members of both churches. Everyone was given a swatch of five different coloured wools, which Anne used to guide us through the story of the Crucifixion.
We were invited to suggest what each colour brought to mind, such as white -“a symbol of purity and holiness”; red – “the colour of love” but also “danger”. During each of five bible readings, we focused on one of the colours. This was emphasised by Anne draping fabric of that colour over a cross surmounted by a crown of thorns.
Hymns were sung, including, “There is a Green Hill Far away”, and prayers including one saying sorry to God and asking for his saving and help.
After the service “The Walk of Witness” around the village took place in sunny but crisp conditions, whilst Bernie was present at the URC for any less able folks to go there and be guided through the photographs of Gollon’s Stations of the Cross which were on display. (See article in April’s ICN for more details.)
At strategic points around the walk, Anne led prayers for the relevant activities and those involved – for transport and transport workers at West Ruislip station, for example. The procession paused in the URC for prayer before ending back at St Giles’, where a frugal lunch was shared in the Church Hall.
Later, a service, remembering “The Last Hour”, was conducted by Adrian, exploring the purpose of Christ’s death on the cross through a series of short reflections and prayer.
AFN
BERNIE’S LAST SUNDAY SERVICE
As mentioned in his article on page 2, Bernie is retiring at the end of this month. His last Sunday service with us will be on 19th May at 11am in the URC. Mark it in your diary now, and please join us to say our farewells on the day and to wish Bernie and Gwen God’s blessing wherever the future takes them.
VILLAGE HALL AGM
The Village Hall Association Ltd will be holding their AGM on Thursday 2nd May in the Village Hall. Please note that bookings for hire of the Village Hall premises are organised by Wendy Arnold on a new telephone number – 01344 628865.
CHRISTIAN AID WEEK
Don’t forget to look out for your Christian Aid Week envelope; it will be delivered very soon. Please give whatever you can to the volunteer who will come and collect it between 12th and 18th May, during the national house-to-house collection campaign.
Be inspired – go to www.caweek.org to see details of this year’s campaign. If you have any queries, contact Ickenham’s coordinator Juliette Guthrie, on 01895 622970 / julietteguthrie@gmail.com.
SPRING HADN’T SPRUNG!
When a good crowd turned up at the Village Hall on 6th April for the Horticultural Society’s Spring Show, they were all still waiting for Spring to commence! Nevertheless, there were plenty of daffodils (many grown by President Roger Trigg), orchids, camellias and other plants to admire, a record entry of photographs, some exceptional handicrafts and an amazing number of men’s cakes.
With sixteen Bara Brith cakes, all baked to the same recipe, the judges had plenty to choose from. Winner Sean Storey had joined the Society only a week earlier – just in time to bake his cake and put in his entry! He also cleaned up with first prize for his tomatoes and second prize in woodcraft – and all on his birthday too! “He’s a much better cook than I am”, claimed his missus, Gemma.
Proudly displaying her phalaenopsis orchid plant which won her a Certificate of Merit was Jenny Moffat, who also picked up a further certificate for her photograph of wild flowers at the Olympic Village. Jenny lives in The Grove where she tends fifty more orchid plants. “They inspired me when I first saw them growing wild in Singapore”, she told us.
There was a big round of applause for the children’s contribution to the show – another record with 65 entries. Ten year old Ben Cason collared a Certificate of Merit for his ‘creation made from scrap materials’ - a tin dog named ‘Rebel’. Ben used baked bean cans, nuts and bolts, beer tops for eyes, candles for feet and a huge spring for its tail. Ben attends Glebe Primary School and wants to be a builder. “I enjoyed helping when we had the builders round and later when I put our shed together”, he told us.
Prize-giver for the event was Ian Harvey, one of the many volunteers who opened their gardens to view during last year’s Ickenham Festival. He was honoured to be asked to take on the role, and astonished by what Ickenham folk had produced, despite the ghastly weather. All in all, an exceptional show!
AFN
