Is
it good planning, or coincidence, that this month we can join in the
celebrations of The Queen's Golden Jubilee AND the Ickenham Festival?
Whatever the reason there is indeed cause for celebration. For those of
us who were around at the time of the Accession and then the Coronation of Her
Majesty The Queen, there is nostalgia. Britain was emerging from the
post-second world war austerity but close enough to re-capture the deep sense
of community which was around at that time; hence the simple street parties
which typified what went on, the atmosphere of which lingers with those of us
who enjoyed them. Fifty years later much of that sense of community has
been lost in many places. Happily not so in Ickenham. I hear that
in some places in the village there will be street parties over the long Bank
Holiday weekend. Within ten days of that weekend, we shall immerse
ourselves in the Ickenham Festival which, as ever, promises to be a real
celebratory event for this community. Our thanks in advance to David
Millen and his Committee who work tirelessly to put on the Festival, work which
is on-going between each Festival. We shall be pleased to welcome anyone
who is able to come to the Festival Inauguration Service at St. Giles' on Sunday
16th June at 0945. The preacher will be the Revd Andrew Gandon, Vicar of Harefield.
This is also the season of celebration within the Christian church world-wide;
the time of the Feast of Pentecost when we recall that, after Jesus had ended
his earthly ministry, God sent the abiding presence of his Holy Spirit to be on
the church and with all those who seek to serve him.و Not only was there great jubilation but the
experience of a new on-going power in the lives of those formerly timid
disciples of Jesus who had been charged with the task of spreading the good
news of forgiveness of sins andو
salvation to all people. Without that power, given to those early
followers of Christ, the inheritance of faith which each one of us can
experience would have not been possible. Of course, it was all part of God's
overall plan for his created world and no coincidence.
I suppose I mustn't forget to mention the World Cup as part (perhaps!) of our
celebration this month! However, you spend your leisure time in June, enjoy
what is on offer and give thanks to God for his rich blessings to each one of
us.
Greetings and peace to you all.
Philip
April 28thووووووو ووووWilliam Scott Bridgewater
وووووووووووووووووووووووووو Charlotte Aileen
Connelly
April 27thووووووووووو Warren Few and Heidi Louise Calcutt
May 4thوووووووووووووو Gordon Wilson Scarlett Daly and Nicole Louise Childs
May 5thووووو وووووووووCarrie and David Hamer
Cremations
at Breakspear Crematorium
Feb. 15thوووووووووووو Miriam Edith Dudley, aged 86
Mar. 15thووووووووووو William Eric Smith, aged 89وو (Our sincere apologies for both of these
oversights)
Apr. 19thوووووووووووو Dorothy Crabb,
aged 89
ووووووو 23rdوووووووووووو Josephine Clark Letchford, aged 86
ووووووو 29thوووووووووووو Norman Frederick Edwards, aged 75
May 3rdووووووووووووو Doreen Emily Archer, aged 87
ووووووو 8thووووووووووووو Dalby
Eric Francis Huntley, aged 95
ووووووو 15th ووووووووووووArthur Buck, aged 92
Apr. 27thوووووووووووو Kathleen Mair
ووووووووووو
وThe first television programme I remember
watching, at the age of four, was the Queen's Coronation. I expect that will be
true for many of you as well! We arranged a street party for the children of
our road, but it rained and it was held in our house.
For me it seems a long time, almost my entire life, that the Queen has reigned. When so much has changed she has provided a valuable stability and continuity to national life. I can also remember being held up so as to see the Queen when she came to visit my home town, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and noticing that she is not very tall - and yet has a commanding presence. Many people are fascinated by every detail of the life of the royal family, and there has been much material for the press and T.V. to draw on, especially recently. But I think that what is more important is what the Queen represents.
In ancient Israel the king was anointed to be God's servant to lead his people and care for them. Although there is not the same relationship between God and any nation today, the Bible tells us that rulers are God's servants for our good, that we should honour them, and pray for them so that we may live peaceful lives in all godliness and holiness (see 1 Peter 2, Romans 13 and 1 Timothy 2). The Queen has publicly professed her faith in Jesus Christ and her desire to serve him, and we must thank God for the benefits of her reign. And we must remember that it is Jesus who is God's anointed (Messiah) to be Lord of all. He is the same yesterday, today and for ever, and it is by submitting to his reign that we all, Queen and people alike, come to know God's peace and security.
God bless you all.
RICHARD