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FROM ST GILES’ –
Together, God’s family in Ickenham and Rukiga

Eleven of us are safely back from visiting our link community in South West Uganda.  We are not the same people who went.  The word which we often used amongst ourselves was ‘overwhelmed’ – by the people, their welcome, their friendliness, their poverty, their joy, and their stories.

Many Ugandans are Christian.  The gospel came to Uganda in 1877 when the Kabaka (king) of Buganda, invited Church Mission Society to send missionaries to tell him and his people about this new faith, Christianity.  Over the following few years a number of palace staff became Christians.  When the Kabaka died his son, aged 16, succeeded him.  He heard Christian converts talking of a heavenly kingdom and King Jesus and saw this as a threat to his kingdom.  He ordered the Christians on his staff to renounce their faith.  They all refused and forty six were tortured and burned to death.  We made a moving visit to their memorial site.  The youngest martyr was a young Roman Catholic aged 14, called Kizito, the name of one of our two drivers: a Roman Catholic young man in his 30s and a fine Christian. 

Kizito’s parents died when he was 13, so he had to leave school and help his two elderly grannies and his siblings.  He made bricks; after months of hard work he had 500 bricks to sell, which paid for driving lessons, enabling him to work as a driver for a white family in Kampala.  His diligence impressed them and they sent him to train as a tourist driver.  He is now a qualified driver and guide; a prestigious but poorly paid job - and he is only paid when he is working.  

As the only family member with a job Kizito maintains the small village home for his grannies and younger family, and rents a house in Kampala for himself, a nephew and 3 teenage nieces.  He also pays for them to go to school.  If the girls were in the village they would be married already.  Giving them an education is giving them a future.  He is happy that his earnings support the family and that God is making this possible.  Jesus said ‘I have come that they may have life and have it to the full’ (John 10.10).  We were often ‘overwhelmed’, and challenged, by the lives of those it was our privilege to be with.

Liz Wadland

FROM THE URC ELDERS
If you were to conduct a survey asking people their favourite month, I reckon April would be at, or near the top.  April seems to mean that Spring has really arrived.  The likelihood of snow and frost has lessened, daylight hours are longer, the sun feels warmer, and the garden has come back to life.  An advert for a health supplement currently includes the line “Spring all year round”.  What a clever, eye-catching phrase by the advertising agency!

We still have a few weeks of Lent this month.  If you’ve given up something you really like for the 40 days, I applaud your self-discipline.  Of course, for those who have given up chocolate for Lent, Easter provides the opportunity to make up for lost time!   I’m not good at giving things up for Lent, but I do my bit by resisting Hot Cross buns.  I avoid eating them before the Easter weekend; then I really enjoy one on Good Friday!

Most Christians would say that Easter is the greatest festival of the year.  Even secular authorities recognise its importance: I understand that Easter Sunday is the only day in the year when it is illegal for large retailers to open. (Garden centres must feel they’re suffering particularly!)  The churches of course arrange a lot of special services and other activities at this time and I’m going to put in a shameless plug for our joint churches’ Maundy Thursday evening musical presentation of Maunder’s “Olivet to Calvary”, in the URC.

Many of us will take advantage of the long Easter weekend; we will have some time off work, and children will be off school.  Perhaps you will go on a short holiday, visit friends and relatives, or invite them to your home.  However you celebrate, have a safe and joyous Easter.
Alison Tucker

ABBEYFIELD
– ROOMS AVAILABLE

Abbeyfield Ickenham now has comfortable, en-suite vacancies for permanent or respite elderly care.  Phone 01895 632486 between 9am-2pm on weekdays for more information or to arrange a visit.  Abbeyfield is registered with Hillingdon Council’s Supporting People scheme, and you may qualify for financial support.

TRAIDCRAFT BIG BREW

Another successful coffee morning, run jointly by the URC and St Giles’ to raise money for Traidcraft Exchange (the charitable arm of the Traidcraft foundation),was held on Saturday 8th March at the URC as part of Fairtrade Fortnight.  Supporters included members from both congregations as well as folk coming in after spotting the bunting and large cup outside!  

As usual, the popular Traidcraft stall attracted lots of attention with its range of fairly-traded products.  Traidcraft produce will also be available at the Good Friday lunch in St Giles’ Church hall on 18th April and Festival Gala day on 14th June.  Come and find us!
MB