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Our monthly magazine - CROSSROADS
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The Editor
Crossroads is our in-house magazine and is published monthly with news and information for the community of St Hilda's
The Editor of Crossroads is Chris Maddock who can be contacted by e-mail to: Crossroads@sthilda.org.
This month - March 2005
“...was crucified, dead, and buried. |
We must make a hell for ourselves, if we cannot find a heaven.
Yes, a hell! The simple language is the best. What glimpse of daylight
can we discern in the trackless abyss?
‘He descended into Hell.’ Mighty words, which I do not pretend
that I can penetrate, or reduce under any forms of the intellect. If I
could, I think they would be of little worth to me. But I accept them as
news that there is no corner of God’s universe over which his love has
not brooded; none over which the Son of God and the Son of Man has
not asserted his dominion.
I claim a right to tell this news to every person of this land. I may bid
him rejoice, and give thanks, and sing merry songs to the God who made
him, because there is nothing created which his Lord and Master has not
redeemed, of which he is not the King; I may bid him fear nothing around
him or beneath him where he trusts in him.
| Remember this simple truth: Alleluia ! He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed Alleluia! A joyous and wonderful Easter to everyone. Greetings from the Vicar and Churchwardens. |
LINE DANCE
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B I N G O
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JUMBLE SALE
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Last month - February 2005
Leading article - The modern nuclear family?
Tradition has it that after the Ascension of Jesus, St John, the disciple whom Jesus
loved, eventually made his home in Ephesus. The remains of Ephesus still stand to this
day in modern Turkey. St John’s Tomb, over which is built a huge basilica, stands on a
hillside outside the city. The tradition that John preached and lived in Ephesus is strong,
and his tomb was venerated there from earliest times.
On the Cross, Jesus asked John to care for his mother: “Thereafter the disciple took her
to his own home.” In Ephesus there is a simple first-century stone house, which is
called the House of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Consequently there has also been a strong
tradition of Mary living in Ephesus; and hence the identification of a first century house
as her home.
By coincidence, about 400 years afterwards, it was to the city of Ephesus that the
Church called its bishops together from across the known world, to meet in a great
ecumenical council. In that council, Mary was a significant part of the discussion,
and she was given the title Theotokos, which means God-bearer, the one who brings
God into the world; and most often, in English as Mother of God.
Mary was, of course, a follower of Jesus also; was present at the crucifixion, and at
Pentecost. It is as Mother of God that most Christians know her. In her capacity as
mother of our Lord, she sits at the core of the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—
and so has become patron to many societies and organisations which consider
themselves as upholding ‘family values’, such as the Mothers’ Union.
But in our culture, especially in its more conservative bedrock, a whole set of notions
of family values have been created which may have nothing to do with the gospel and
more to do with a misguided image. Many talk of an image of what used to be called
the “nuclear family”: mum and dad and the two-point-four children. Furthermore, this
nuclear family is believed to form the moral backbone of society, and which must be
protected from any kind of distortion, without regard to society itself.
For many younger members of our society, the image of the nuclear family just does
not ring true. Many parents are single people living together or apart. Some parents just
do not want the formality of a legally binding marriage service, whether church or state.
We find, time and time again, that only one parent is involved in bringing up the child
and not always the mother.
If the Church thinks that family life is always mum, dad and two-point-four children,
then I would suggest that it is hiding from the truth. Society has always been
complicated and it is no different now, except that people are more open and honest.
We need to reconcile ourselves to the truth of family life and be ready to reach out and
greet individuals and families who may not fit the mum, dad and two-point-four
children image.
This understanding and reality must be accepted if the Church if to become the full
image of God’s Created Family here in Ashford.
Father Chris
Previous articles
Workshops: COMMUNICATIONS (21 August) and EDUCATION & TRAINING (28 August)
Our first two Workshops, led by Fr Lawrence Smith, were well attended and enjoyed by all. You will notice some of the ideas put forward in the Communications Workshop are already being implemented - Better Church Notice sheets on Sunday and 'Here and There' column in Crossroads. And there will be more to come in the short, medium (2005) and long term (2006).
The next two Workshops on WORSHIP / EVANGELISM (Saturday 23rd October) and COMMUNITY PASTORAL CARE (Saturday 30th October) are open to everybody. Do make a note of the date and try to be there.They are interesting and fun and give us all a chance to share ideas for growing our Community. We aim to develop strategies that will enable our Church to support and value the work of lay Christians in our daily lives.
Leading Article for August 2004 - MISSION AT HEART: Spelthorne Deanery
On 30th June the Bishop led a Mission At Heart Service for the whole Spelthorne Deanery at St Hilda's Church. In his address he told us of St Aidan, one of the great early evangelists of our land, who died at Banburgh in the year 651. When the first missionaries retreated from Northumberland to their island monastry at Iona it was Aidan who said that it was important that love dominated in all they tried to do in bringing the Gospel to others. Aidan said, "We must first accept people where they are: we must walk with them on their journey, we must serve them just as Christ came to serve. Our job is to love people into the 'glorious liberty of the Children of God'."
Aidan was sent to lead a new band of missionaries back to Northumberland.
Click here for the full address by the Bishop (in a printer friendly format).
If you would like to hear the Bishop's address, there is a tape recording of the service - see a Churchwarden or Robb Clarke to borrow a copy.
PCC AWAY-DAY, 12 JUNE 2004
Your PCC took an Away-Day to undertake a Mission Audit, to discuss the role of the PCC in building up a healthy Church and to establish a vision for future action within our local community. The day was led by the Rev'd Lawrence Smith, Kensington Area adviser on Mission.
The morning was spent studying of 'The Marks of a Healthy Church':
ENERGISED BY FAITH
rather than just keeping things going or trying to survive.
OUTWARD-LOOKING FOCUS
with a 'whole life' rather than a 'church life' concern.
SEEKS TO FIND OUT WHAT GOD WANTS
rather than letting our own preferences set the church agenda.
FACES THE COST OF CHANGE AND GROWTH
rather than resisting change and avoiding failure.
BUILDS COMMUNITY
rather than functioning as a club or religious organisation.
MAKES ROOM FOR OTHERS
by being inclusive rather than exclusive.
DOES A FEW THINGS - AND DOES THEM WELL
by being focused rather than frenetic.
You will be glad to know that St Hilda's scored pretty well on these marks, but there is always room for improvement!
After an excellent lunch, your PCC did some hard work to identify a number of key areas for further action. As a result we will be holding 'Workshops' open to all members of the Church to study what we should be doing in each of the following areas:
COMMUNICATIONS - Saturday 21st August 2004.
EDUCATION & TRAINING - Saturday 28th August 2004.
WORSHIP / EVANGELISM - Saturday 23rd October 2004.
COMMUNITY PASTORAL CARE - Saturday 30th October 2004.
Workshops will start with tea/coffee at 10 am and will run until 12.30.
If you have something to contribute to these workshops please sign up for one or more of them on the sheets at the back of the Church.
If you have any comments about the Mission Action Programme please speak to any member of the PCC or myself.
Robert Dobbie
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