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FROM ST GILES’ CLERGY

Depending on when in the month you read this, I will either be just about to, or will have just retired from my ministry as Honorary Curate of St Giles’.  For the past 17 years it has been a great privilege and great fun to serve the people of Ickenham and I have made many friends I hope to keep on seeing in the years to come. 

I took a close look at a map of Ickenham recently, and with the exception of the new streets on the former US Navy Base, I think I have visited at least one house in all but three roads in Ickenham, whether it has been to arrange a wedding, a baptism or a funeral, or simply to visit someone in need. 

I have been fortunate to have been at such an active church at the very heart of the Ickenham Community.  You only have to look at the church’s involvement in the Ickenham Festival to know what I mean.  We had Lunchtime Music, beautiful flower arrangements for the Flower Festival, tea and scones on the Rectory Lawn in aid of our link with Rukiga in Uganda, a Men’s Breakfast, conducted tours of the church, the Prayer Tent, Refreshment Tent and Rukiga Stall on Gala Day.  We would have rounded all this off with the Open Air Service of Thanksgiving in the grounds of Swakeleys House if the weather had not intervened!  Indoors at the URC was a happy alternative location however.  Add to all this our Covenant with our friends at the URC, and St Giles’ has certainly been the place to be. 

Central to all the activities at St Giles’ is Sunday worship.  It provides the beauty of the liturgy of both the Prayer Book and Common Worship, a wide range of wonderful hymns and a welcome that is second to none.  Throughout the years it has been my pleasure to be involved in House Groups, Confirmation Groups and discussion groups of all kinds and of all levels. 

One of the great things at St Giles’, is the way people just ‘get on and do things’.  Whenever I have arrived to take a service, the altar is already set, the linen beautifully laundered and the service sheet available.  The church is clean and polished and the church yard immaculate thanks to the ‘Holy Mowers’, and so I thank all the people who have made it so easy for me to do the things that I have had to do. 

Many people have asked what I am going to do with all the extra time on my hands.  Well, I am not sure I will have any!  I have already been booked to take two services each Sunday up until the end of December!  This will mean preaching every week, something that I have not had to do at St Giles’.  Let’s hope that some of my previous sermons can be re-used, although you have to be wary of serving up ‘cold cabbage’ – it doesn’t always work! 

Finally, I would like to leave you with one of my favourite Bible quotes, which goes like this:
   “And what does the Lord require of you?  [Nothing except]….to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Ken Tombs

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 July and August we pray for the following roads: 

July 1st               Hoylake Crescent
July 8th              Ickenham Green
July 15th            Irwin Close
July 22nd           Ivyhouse Road
July 29th            Kempton Close

Aug 5th              Kenbury Close
Aug 12th            Lawrence Drive
Aug 19th            Lodore Green
Aug 26th            Long Lane

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