Ickenham Church News

At the back of St Giles’ Church we have a stained glass window near the door leading to our crèche facility in the newly redecorated Tompson room. The inscription on the glass is very apt – it is based on a quote from an old English version of the Bible – ‘Suffer the little children to come unto me’. Despite the word ‘suffer’, Jesus was actually affirming children, rather than telling us to tolerate them. Another version translates Jesus’ words as ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them’.

Times have changed in society and in the church. We don’t just want to tolerate children, we want to celebrate their life and presence among us. We don’t think children have to wait to become adults before they can be part of the church community, because adults can learn from children and not just vice versa.

This edition of ICN is the first of two where we want to communicate the good things going on in both churches for children. You’ll find information about activities for toddlers to ten year olds. In September, we’ll have details of eleven plus provision.

We hope to see lots of you at a special family service where leaders and children from several of the children’s and youth activities at St Giles’ Church will be taking part. (I mentioned this in my article last month.) The service is at 9.45am on Sunday 2nd June. Over coffee after the service, you’ll be able to chat to the leaders about the groups. But don’t worry if you don’t read this until after 2nd June; just ring up either church office if you have further questions.

To help us consider the needs and interests of children in all we do, St Giles’ Church has recently appointed a Children’s Champion, Chris Thompson, and we plan to work towards the Diocese of London Children’s Charter.

In bygone years, churches would have been the main providers of youth activities for the local community, and although we are pleased that we now share that responsibility with others, churches are still very active as this edition of ICN illustrates.

Children help keep churches contemporary and comprehensible – if we can communicate our faith to the next generation, it probably means we have understood it well ourselves. If we are prepared to learn from children, we have learnt a secret of what pleases God – ‘Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these’. (Matthew 19.14 Good News Bible)

This edition also reports on Bernie’s retirement, and all of us at St Giles’ want to wish Bernie God’s blessing as he moves on from Ickenham to the next phase of his life. Thank you Bernie, for all you have contributed to Ickenham life and to our joint church activities – you’ve been a children’s champion too!

Over a hundred friends and relations attended the St Giles’ Thanksgiving Service for Mike who died on 6th May. Adrian, who conducted the service, described Mike as “a dapper and charming gentleman”. He married Kitty in 1953 and they had just celebrated their Diamond Anniversary. The couple moved to Ickenham in 1983. Mike leaves two children and four grandchildren.

The Society For Disabled Artists (SODA) is a small charity that encourages people with disability to paint. In ICN March 2012 we wrote about how it was started in 1979, by Sydney Nightingale from Northolt, then ably assisted to grow by Gill Kelly, the wife of then St Giles’ Rector Paul Kelly here in Ickenham. Now nationally established, the charity is looking for a new Treasurer. Could you help?

If you have basic book-keeping skills, some time to spare and are interested in this voluntary role (for which expenses would be paid), then why not get in touch for further details. Contact Tim Scott (National Chair of SODA) on 020 7735 4077 or via tim.scott@southwark.anglican.org.

DROP-IN FOR THE BEREAVED. Third Monday of each month. St Giles’ Church Hall, 2pm to 3.30pm. A friendly, informal opportunity for a chat, over a cup of tea, with other bereaved people and bereavement visitors. The next meeting is on Monday 17th June (then Monday 15th July). Just come along, or ring the Rectory (622970) if you would like to talk to someone first.

Cremations at Breakspear Crematorium
Apr 17th           Joan Gunnell, aged 91
Apr 23rd           Edwin “Eddie” Hales, aged 93 (after service in St Giles’)
Apr 30th           David Lapham, aged 88
May 3rd           Marjorie Wright, aged 78
May 13th          Peter Clark, aged 69
May 16th          Michael Harvey, aged 83 (followed by service in St Giles’)
May 17th          Dorothy Stephen, aged 87 (after service in St Giles’)

Each Sunday at St Giles’ Church we pray for all the people who live or work in a particular road in the Parish. During June we will pray for the following roads:

June 2nd            Turnstone Close
June 9th            Tweedale Grove
June 16th           Vinlake Avenue
June 23rd           Vyners Way
June 30th           Wallasey Crescent

If you live in one of these roads why not join us at our 8am or 9.45am services? You will be most welcome.

This month, receipt is acknowledged, with grateful thanks, for donations from:
Spotlight Musical Theatre Company; Mrs G Willicombe of Porlock.

Please note that items for the July edition of ICN should be with the team by 12 noon on 13th June. Remember there is no separate August issue, so if you’d like us to promote any events taking place then, we’ll need to know about them for the July issue.