FROM THE URC MINISTER

The King James Bible was published 400 years ago.  The Queen featured it in her Christmas message, and the Archbishop of Canterbury in his New Year message.  BBC Radio 4 devoted 7 hours on Sunday 9th January to readings from its pages, spread through the day.  The anniversary is being celebrated in many other ways during 2011, which some organisations have designated the Year of the Bible.

Presenters have emphasised the literary quality of this version of the Bible, which was produced at the same time as Shakespeare was writing his plays and sonnets.  It was designed for reading aloud in the churches, with vivid use of that style of English.

Documentaries have also pointed out that the translation project arose from a conference at Hampton Court a year after James VI of Scotland came to the throne of England as James I.  The King was eager to establish peace between the rival factions in the Reformation.  The Church under Elizabeth had authorised the Bishops’ Bible (1568) whereas the Puritans preferred the Geneva Bible (1560) produced by English speaking exiles in Calvinist Geneva.  Scholars from the various parties worked together to compile the Bible which all could use.  It became the version which King James authorised in 1611.

We don’t speak 17th century English any more, but some people are familiar with reading and hearing it, and find it moving and meaningful.  Some like to worship in that language, as used in the Book of Common Prayer from the same period. 

But if you are not familiar with the churches in Ickenham, please don’t think that we use that language all the time!  Most of the services in both churches use recent translations of the Bible, and we speak to God and to each other in our ordinary language.  We sing recent hymns and songs in modern English expressing current praise and concerns, as well as some older hymns if they still convey what we want to sing.  The Lord’s Prayer is still regularly said together in 17th century English, but often with the words on the screen to read and think about.

What is important is to hear God speaking and to understand, to feel free to speak to God and to each other, and to encourage each other in the life we live for God in the world today.

Bernie

FROM ST GILES’ CLERGY

This year across the country there will be a series of events to mark the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. 

The Authorised Version (as it became known) that we read today is not the exact text published in 1611.  Hundreds of changes in vocabulary, grammar, spelling and punctuation have been made over time.  Not all have been improvements: a disastrous mistake was made in 1631, when, in a reprint by the Royal Printers, Robert Baker and Martyn Lucas, the word 'not' was missed out in the 7th commandment.  It read: 'Thou shalt commit adultery'!  If you can find a Bible with this mistake it is worth a lot of money, but they are very rare.  Printers Baker and Lucas were fined £300, equivalent to about £35,000 today, and they had their printing licence withdrawn. 

To mark this 400th anniversary, at St. Giles’ we shall read from the King James Version on some occasions.  In particular, it will be used at the service of Nine Lessons and Carols next December. 

Of course, the King James Bible was never meant to be a ‘Bible for all Time’.  The translators would have recognised that, as their work superseded previous translations, so their own work would be superseded as grammar, language and knowledge of Hebrew and Greek texts changed over the years.  There are now many translations each with their own appeal. 

However, what is important is not what version you use, but that you read it and understand what the Bible teaches.  As it says in 2 Timothy Chapter 3 verses 16-17:  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (King James Version)  Or if you prefer “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (New International Version)  Or in yet another translation “Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way.  Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us”. (The Message) 

But it’s not a matter of how you say it, more a matter of do you believe it.

Ken Tombs

 

WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER

The Women’s World Day of Prayer is a worldwide movement of Christian women of many traditions, who come together to observe a common day of prayer on the first Friday of March.  Each year, the programme is prepared by a different group of women.  This year, the women of Chile have prepared a service entitled “How Many Loaves Have You?” to be celebrated in 170 countries. 

The service for Ickenham and Ruislip will be held at 1.30pm on Friday 4th March in St Giles'.  Although the service has been initiated by women, the invitation to attend is warmly extended to all – men and women, young and old.  The service will last about an hour, but please stay on afterwards if you can, when delicious refreshments will be served in the church hall. 

If you have any questions, please contact Juliette Guthrie on 01895 622970. 

 

FROM THE CHURCHES’ REGISTERS

Baptism at St Giles’
Jan 9th                        Isabelle Claire Williams

Weddings at St Giles’
Dec 3rd                        Benjamin John Parsons and Abigail Mary Winn
Dec 4th                        Andrew Lindsay and Anna Prewecka

Cremations at Breakspear Crematorium
Dec 6th                       Edward Ross, aged 67
Dec 7th                       Patricia Tomlinson, aged 74
Dec 13th                    John Mitchell, aged 79
Dec 17th                    Derek Carrington, aged 81
Dec 30th                    Christopher Godar, aged 53 (after service at St Giles’)
Jan 13th                     Robert Tillyer, aged 88
Jan 18th                     Joan Brownlie, aged 81

 

ST GILES’ CHURCH STREET PRAYER LIST

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

Feb 6th              The Chase
Feb 13th            The Greenway
Feb 20th            The Grove
Feb 27th            The Mallows

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