Christian Focus Winter1st December

8/14/2019 Christian Focus Winter1st December

1/36

N Roman mythology Janus was the god of gates, doorsdoorways, beginnings and endings. He was also known as the

figure representing time because he could see into the past withone face and into the future with the other. In the New Year asmany of us face an unsure future some may be reminded of a versequoted by King George VI in his broadcast Christmas message atthe outbreak of war in 1939.

I

1

Price

25p

Magazine of the Church in Abingdon -a partnership of thirteen churches

HURCH

SERVICES in

ABINGDON

I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year,

"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the

unknown. And he replied, Go out into the darkness, andput your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you

better than light, and safer than a known way."

Winter 2009


2/36

RELIGIOUS SOCIETY ofFRIENDS Abbey CentreAudlett Drive 10.15 am

ST HELENS PARISH CHURCHWest St Helen Street(Church of England) 10 am

ST EDMUNDS ROMANCATHOLIC CHURCHRadley Road 8 am, 9.30 am,11.30 am and 7 pm

THE SALVATION ARMY

West St Helen's Street 10 am(also 4 pm 2nd Sunday in themonth)

CHRIST CHURCHNorthcourt Road (Church ofEngland) 9.30 am, 11.15 amand 6.30 pm

CHRIST CHURCH ON LONGFURLONGLong Furlong Primary School,Boulter Drive (Church ofEngland) 10.00 am

PEACHCROFT CHRISTIANCENTRELindsay Drive 10.00 am

ST MICHAEL AND ALLANGELS Park Road (Churchof England 9.30 am

ABINGDON BAPTISTCHURCH Ock Street10.30 am and 6.30 pm

ALL SAINTS METHODISTCHURCHAppleford Drive 10.30 am and6.30 pm

TRINITY CHURCHConduit Road (Methodistand United Reformed)

10.30 am and 6.30 pmABINGDON COMMUNITYCHURCHThameside School, CotmanClose, Abingdon 10.30 am

ST NICOLAS CHURCHMarket Place(Church of England) 11 am

2


3/36

Abingdon Town Centre

Chaplaincy Diane Livesley(All Saints)

ARIOUS people have asked me if I could writesomething about the Abingdon Town Centre Chaplaincy

or ATCC as we call it. So here goes! Ive tried tosummarise the overall aim of the project, but also to focus on the

personal aspects of what it means to be a chaplain.

VMany towns around Britain have town centre chaplaincies. One ofour nearest is in Swindon. Chaplains are ordinary people (andsometimes ordained clergy) who give a regular chunk of their timeto visit local shops and businesses. They get to know the staff andact as a listening ear and a friend on the street. There is no hardsell of Christianity involved chaplains have to be aware of thedifferent spiritual inclinations of those they come into contactwith. The approach is one of friendship among people of any faith(and none).

We launched ATCC on June 29th at St Nicolas Church. Theproject is supported by Church in Abingdon and by AbingdonTown Council as well as by our local police. At present there areseven chaplains and each of us covers one part of the town centre.The shops and businesses around town are generally verysupportive of the idea and, speaking personally, I have been madeto feel very welcome when I visit people.

Here I feel it is right to move to my own personal experience andinvolvement. For several years Ive had a vague feeling that weought to do something to support Abingdon. Over the last coupleof years a lot of shops have shut and several businesses haveclosed. Part of this is to do with the economic situation. Part of itis because owners have reached retirement.

3


4/36

Whatever the reason, the overall impression on visitors, shoppersand other traders has been rather negative. I feel that Abingdonneeds a bit of tender loving care. There are still many peopleinvolved in making our town tick. Each shop employs severalstaff. There are small businesses tucked away where we dontalways notice them. People are doing their best to make a livingand to provide services that the rest of us need. I am a Chaplain

because I feel that it is important to offer support to everyone whoworks in our town. Ive lived in Abingdon for over 20 years andalready know a lot about the shops and businesses because I usethem regularly.

This summer I started visiting the shops and businesses on mypatch which is East and West St Helens Street. At first, callingin on people can seem rather daunting even if, like me, youknow the town well. There is always the thought Well, goodness,what do I say? What do I do? What happens if . . .? However, Ireally believe that it is the right thing for Abingdon to have achaplaincy, so I feel that I simply have to take the first steps ontrust. I believe that God will be with me and that he will help meto know how to use the time to best advantage. We all have atendency these days to expect instant results. But any form ofrelationship takes time and investment. None of us knows exactlywhere a relationship will lead us. When I got married, forexample, I could not foresee exactly how things would work outor what I would be doing ten or twenty years down the line. It isthe same with chaplaincy work.

Over this summer Richard Bittleston and Colin Pattenden haveorganised training sessions for the chaplaincy team. We operateon a confidential basis, though we might be able to suggest otherhelp agencies to those who need them. One of the really positivethings about being part of the chaplaincy team is that we all get toknow more about one another. We come from varying traditionswithin the church, but I think it is fair to say that we share andlearn all the time.

4


5/36

For example, when we last met, one of the chaplains shared withus the idea that we might think of ourselves as sowers of seed.Those who sow the seed are not necessarily the ones who see itgrow to harvest. They just do their job of sowing the seed. Otherinfluences help it to grow. The image that means a lot to me isthat of salt and light. Christians are called to be salt and light intheir communities. A little of each goes a long way, but itsabsence leaves a big hole.

It is always tempting to think that because we are individuals wecant do much. But once we begin to see ourselves as pieces inGods much bigger jigsaw puzzle, I believe that we start to have

more confidence in our own ability to make a difference. It iscertainly worthwhile to try. If you would like to find out more about the Abingdon TownCentre Chaplaincy, visit the website at www.atcc.org.uk .

Domaine des Courmettes

and A Rocha France

OMAINE desCourmettes is a

two square mileestate on amountainside inProvence, an hourfrom Nice but withvery diverse floraand fauna. Les

Courmettes is itsmassive 18th century house, nearly 3000 feet up. It wouldmake a splendid hotel, but the Protestant foundation that

D

5


6/36

owns it (thanks to an American donor, in 1918) want it tominister to a wider public. It has had several roles, mostrecently as an activity centre, until the company went out ofbusiness.

A Rocha is an international Christian mission, 25 years old,and it exists to recover the Biblical mandate to care forcreation, which the western church has so sadly neglected.A Rocha France, one of 18 national organisations, is 10years old, and is based near Arles. Their work includeseducation, research, and conserving a biodiverse wetlandarea, with local landowners. Then in 2008 les Courmetteswas offered to A Rocha France for 20 years. It was a hugestep for a small organisation but they believed it right toaccept.

A Rocha France hasno funds. We metmany fine people living

on a shoestring, andfacing difficult choicesabout their future.

It is therefore essentialthat the first is for lesCourmettes to start to

generate an income.

For that the house must be made habitable, so that it canhost events like weddings and business meetings. As Iwrite, on Sunday afternoon, there is a scout jamboree in thegrounds outside. As with any old building, there is no end ofodd jobs and things needing fixing. Insulation is a high

priority, to minimise the heating bills in winter, with solarheating to follow. So we have been painting and decorating,

6


7/36

repairing and gardening, concreting and insulating. It maynot be obvious, but A Rocha's work is frontline mission.The world faces huge environmental threats, and a practicalfaith that cares for the earth is good news to those who fearfor the future, and even more to the millions whoselivelihood depends directly on the land. It has grown veryrapidly, with a continual need to adapt and to live with ashortage of funds. In France the church is weak, and thereis no tradition of churches sending out workers andsupporting them.

Religion in France is seen as a private matter, with no partto play in the secular state. Spiritually the opposition comesfrom freemasonry, which is strong in Nice and dominateslocal politics. So the mere existence of A Rocha, a religiousbody, working in conservation, a secular function, is achallenge to the accepted way of thinking. It is a wonderfulplace, in spectacular countryside.

One of A Rocha's core principles is community, and theoperation of the centre reflects this. Life revolves around thecommunal dining room, where we gather after breakfast topray and plan, as well as for our shared lunch and informalevening meal. The plan is for residents and volunteers tolive in one wing as a visible Christian community, while therest of the house serves as a base for many activities, forresidential and transient visitors.

Volunteers are needed for a variety of jobs, and of courseyou can combine that with a holiday in the area.Especially desirable would be volunteers staying for a monthor more, and French language to help with administrative

tasks and welcoming visitors. Non-working visitors are alsowelcome, paying hotel rates to help with the finances. The A

7


8/36

Rocha web site is www.arocha.org. You can contact me on01235 521931 [email protected].

Christmas this and every year

N his Delight, first published in 1949 and, I

believe, re-issued this year in an anniversaryedition, J. B. Priestley remembered a Christmas Day of

pure delight, and I could not buy one like it for a

thousand pounds.IAmong the young Priestleys presents was a red and

white football shirt and a football. He spent themorning on a snow-covered field as a solitary Robinson

Crusoe . . . now dribbling along the wing past four

imaginary opponents, now dashing in towards invisible

posts and nets to score tremendous goals. In the

afternoon when parents and relatives, somulent afterthe huge Christmas dinner of that time, were

muttering and snoring . . . he went to play with the boy

next door. That boy had been given a miniature

printing press which printed nothing but two smudgy

ducks and the boys spent the whole afternoon printing

hundreds of them.

8


9/36

In that little essay Priestley looked back 45 years.

I can now look back more than that and I see myself

afresh with just as much innocent Christmas delight.

The smell of Christmas afternoon and very

occasionally I catch a nostalgic whiff of it yet was a

blend of oranges and cigar smoke. The activities (when

the grown- ups awoke) were Murder or Charades in

which uncles dressed up as ugly sisters, with hilarious

results, or Consequences or similar. At dinner theChristmas pudding had money in it; the quality of the

bird was a serious matter; the men did the washing

up.

The presents were bought out of hard earned wages

by people who had known what it was to be poor. There

were crackers, a decorated tree, paper hats and silly

mottoes. Before all that was the Christmas Day

service and towards the end of the day my father (a

baker) would have to go to work for a couple of hours

as it was business as usual for him the next day.

Like Priestleys delight, mine too was so innocent. But

then, what could be more innocent than that child laid

in that manger and watched over by that mother?

What did the shepherds bring apart from delight at

the child? As for the wise men, well, they travelled far(A cold coming we had of it . . . a cold coming we had of

9


10/36

it) and carried precious gifts because they were

coming to a king. But even more than their gifts they

brought themselves and if T. S. Eliot had it aright (and

surely he did) they were changed for ever.

We returned to our places, these Kingdoms,

But no longer at ease here, in the old

dispensations

With an alien people clutching their gods

And how do we come to Christmas now? Perhaps on

tip-toe for there is still wonder in our hearts and not a

little awe. With love because that is a gift we offer to

and receive from others because He makes it possible:

We love because He first loved us. With that

innocence which enables us to simply to be glad for

gladness sake, to give for givings sake and to

treasure, for their own sake, those with whom we are

blessed. And in a humility born of wonder kneeling

before that child, that Word made Flesh; that miracle

of giving of which Charles Wesley wrote:

Stand amazed, ye heavens at this:

See the Lord of earth and skies;

Humbled to the dust He is,

And in a manger lies.

And finding our own delight?

10


11/36

John Rowland

THRSE of

LISIEUXT Thrse of Lisieux has beenmuch in the news in

recent months, as herrelics toured Britain andwere venerated by anextraordinary number of people. I do not propose tdiscuss the question ofrelics: some find themhelpful, others repellent,and your viewpoint

probably depends as much on temperament as on upbringing.But the recent publicity sent me to find out about St Thrse.

S

She is a relatively recent saint, born in Alenon in Normandy on 2January, 1873, the youngest of the five surviving daughters ofLouis and Zlie Martin. Both parents were pious Catholics whohad themselves in youth wished to enter religion and brought up

their children in the same spirit. Zlie Martin died when heryoungest daughter was only four, after which her father moved toLisieux to have the assistance of an aunt in bringing up his girls.

11

Hilary Clare(St Michaels)


12/36

Thrse was first taught by her elder sisters and then byBenedictine nuns. In 1882 her second sister, Pauline, became anun in the Carmelite convent at Lisieux, to be followed four yearslater by the eldest, Marie. Thrse also desired to enter the sameconvent, but was refused because of her extreme youth (onlyfourteen).Following an audience with the Pope (who told her to obey hersuperiors) she was finally given permission by the local bishop toenter at fifteen, and was received as a postulant on 9 April, 1888.When, in 1894, her father died after several years of mentalillness, her third sister also entered the Carmel, and the fourth(refused entrance to the Carmel) became a nun in another order.

Meanwhile Thrse had gone through all the preliminary stages,her name in religion being Thrse of the Child Jesus, to whichwas added and the Holy Face, to which she had a specialdevotion. In 1895, at her sisters suggestion she wrote an accountof her childhood, to which she later added an account of herreligious life. After Thrses death on 30 September, 1897, aged

twenty-four, from tuberculosis, her sister edited theseautobiographical pieces, which were published as the Story of aSouland became immediately and immensely popular.

SWEETNESS and SIMPLICITY

Thrses appeal lay in her extreme sweetness and simplicity, andthat of her little way in its complete application to everyone,however humble. She taught that it was not necessary toaccomplish great acts of heroism:

"Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show mylove? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can

prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowersare every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and thedoing of the least actions for love."

12


13/36

Nor was it necessary to be very learned:

"Sometimes, when I read spiritual treatises, in whichperfection is shown with a thousand obstacles in the wayand a host of illusions round about it, my poor little mindsoon grows weary, I close the learned book, which leavesmy head splitting and my heart parched, and I take the HolyScriptures. Then all seems luminous, a single word opensup infinite horizons to my soul, perfection seems easy; I seethat it is enough to realize one's nothingness, and giveoneself wholly, like a child, into the arms of the good God.Leaving to great souls, great minds, the fine books I cannotunderstand, I rejoice to be little because 'only children, andthose who are like them, will be admitted to the heavenlybanquet'."

And on prayer she wrote:

"For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look

turned toward Heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love,embracing both trial and joy; in a word, something noble,supernatural, which enlarges my soul and unites it to God....I have not the courage to look through books for beautifulprayers.... I do as a child who has not learned to read, I justtell our Lord all that I want and He understands."

With her emphasis on the way the trials of ordinary life could beoffered to God she was not unlike John Keble in his well-knownhymn:

The trivial round, the common task,Would furnish all we ought to ask, -Room to deny ourselves, a road

That brings us daily nearer God.

13


14/36

The movement to canonise Thrse began in 1914 and wascompleted in 1925, only twenty-eight years after her. Variousmiracles of healing (including curing the seven-year-old Edith Piafof blindness) have been attributed to her intercession.

Her feast day, originally 3 October, is now celebrated on 1October. She has become increasingly popular, and is held to bethe patron saint of aids sufferers, aviators, florists (she issometimes known as the Little Flower), illness, and missions. (hergreat desire to become a missionary was defeated by her illness.)In 1944 she was named as a co-patroness of France alongside Joanof Arc.

The ordinary girl who lived for so short a time in such narrowsurroundings stands today beside the other ordinary girl who ledFrance to victory in the fifteenth century.

ONE CANNOT LIVE

BY BREAD ALONE . . .

. . . but, at St Edmunds Centre in Abingdon each month,

much more is provided for elderly, and perhaps lonely,

folk living in the surrounding parishes of Abingdon. Herethey will socialise and enjoy a splendid meal provided by a

dedicated small team of helpers. Although those who

attend are mostly members of St Edmunds, those of

other parishes are equally welcome. However, numbers

attending appear to be increasing which is putting

pressure on those providing the lunch. If anyone wouldbe interested in joining the Cooks Rota they would

receive an encouraging response from Justin Gosling

14


15/36

(01235 523310). Also, anyone interested in attending

and would like transport should contact Mary Mulqueen

(01235 534873).

SLOW DANCEHave you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round?Or listened to the rain slapping the ground?Do you run through each day on the fly?When you ask How are you? Do you hear the reply?When the day is done do you lie in your bedWith the next hundred chores running through your head?

Youd better slow down, dont dance so fast,time is short, the music wont last

Ever told your child, well do it tomorrow?And in your haste not see his sorrow?Ever lost touch, let a good friendship dieBecause you never had time to call and say, Hi?

Youd better slow down, dont dance so fast,time is short, the music wont last

When you run so fast to get somewhere,You miss half the fun of getting thereWhen you hurry through your day

It is like an unopened gift - thrown away

Life is not a race - do take it slower

15


16/36

Hear the music before the song is over

This was a poem written by a teenager in a New

York hospital terminally ill with cancer - Ed

VISIT to ARGENTANGROUP of 13 people from various Abingdon churches

visited Argentan, our twin town in Normandy, between 8and 12 October. This was a most enjoyable weekend whichstrengthened the links between the church communities in bothplaces.AMost of the party,leaving cars at

Portsmouth, crossedto Ouistreham, the

port for Caen, on theThursday afternoon.The out-of-seasonferry (the Mont StMichel) was more

than half-empty, thesea was calm, and thefood on board adelicious foretaste of things to come! Even the fact that, becauseof the hours difference in time (France is an hour ahead) wearrived in the dark at 9.30 p.m., did nothing to damp our spirits. Awelcome party was ready for us at the ferry terminal, and in under

an hour we arrived in Argentan to meet our hosts for the weekend.

16


17/36

It would be difficult to speak too warmly of the kindness andgenerosity of our French hosts, which turned the weekend into amost memorable experience and a real forging of friendships.Possible language difficulties proved, with good will on bothsides, to be nothing of the kind, and everyones efforts tounderstand and speak the other tongue were great bondingexperiences! Especial thanks must go to Pierre Sillire, theorganiser at the Argentan end.The first morning of our stay was devoted to a visit to the Museumof Lace, a craft for which Argentan was famous in the 17 th and 18th

centuries and which is still practised today, though of course not tothe same extent. The museum is housed in an elegantly restored

bourgeois town house, standing in a garden that has beenredesigned to contain plants used in lace-making and with bedsand topiary displaying lace patterns. After the Lace Museum wewent on to a reception at the Hotel de Ville (town hall), where arepresentative of the mayor greeted us over delicious and lavishrefreshments.

We returned to our host families fordejeuner a repast to whichthe word lunch could not possibly be applied and in theafternoon were driven to Ses, a tiny town a quarter the size ofArgentan but which is the seat of the bishop of the diocese. Wehad plenty of time to admire the cathedral, a fine example of 13 th

and 14th century Gothic, and were privileged to have a specialopening of the Museum of Religious Art. Perhaps the mostsurprising thing we saw here was Thomas Beckets comb,apparently left behind on a fleeting visit to Argentan In theevening we gathered for a meal, provided by a local organisation, Amities Internationales, which included a Norman speciality cold rice pudding, but whata cold rice pudding!

Then came the main purpose of the weekend, a conference toexplain to our French friends about the ecumenical movement inBritain and about the history and work of the Church-in-Abingdonin particular. John Clare (St Michaels C.of E.) spoke in French

17


18/36

about the history of the movement and Maurice Tubb (All SaintsMethodists) about the Church-in-Abingdon, his English beingtranslated by a retired Anglican clergyman who now lives in theneighbourhood. Charles Miller (team rector, St Helens C.of E.)then gave a description of parish life. Questions were taken andsome lively discussion followed. Of course the situation inArgentan, as elsewhere in France, is quite different from that inEngland: there, the Roman Catholic Church is the predominantChristian denomination, and although there are Protestant andEvangelical communities they are very small and were notrepresented on this occasion. But Christians in both countries havein common the increasing fight against secularism and against thedrifting away from church of so many young people.

Saturday morning was free from formal commitments. Weenjoyed strolling round Argentan on a shopping expedition withour hosts, visiting both the traditional small shops in the centre oftown and the mammoth supermarket on the outskirts. (ThinkTesco meets Homebase and at least double it ) Our purchase of

local delicacies (Camembert and Livarot cheeses) had to beseverely quarantined on the journey home!

In the afternoon we visited the interesting parish church of Silly-en-Gouffern, of especial relevance since the Premonstratensianabbey there was lavishly endowed by our own would-be-queen theEmpress Matilda, daughter of Henry I, who had Abingdon

connections. Silly-en-Gouffern has fared rather better thanAbingdon it has managed to keep at least part of one of the twochurchesbelonging to the monastery! (The second church, parallelto the one surviving, was built for the local villagers and forwomen, who were not allowed to set foot in the brothers church.)After yet more municipal hospitality we were shown more of thecountryside, ending up at the National Stud at Haras du Pin.

Unfortunately we were just too late to see the visitor centre, butwe were able to admire the splendid buildings and catch glimpsesof some of the horses.

18


19/36

On Sunday we attended mass at St Germain, the main church ofArgentan. Members of our group took active parts in the service,reading a lesson, joining the offertory procession, playing theorgan, and Charles Miller both read the Gospel and concelebrated

with Pre Christophe Pechet the parish priest. This meant that wewere able to have the great joy of receiving communion alongsideour French brothers and sisters in Christ.

The form of the service was of course fundamentally the same asthe Church of England eucharist, but with natural differences ofusage. Hymn singing is not a French Catholic tradition although

at one point the congregation burst into the tune Amazing Grace! and the singing was led by a (female) cantor, the congregationjoining only in responses.

Following mass we were able to look at the church in detail,admiring the restoration of its splendid Gothic nave and 16 th

century choir and sanctuary virtually all but the shell of the

building was destroyed in World War II.

In the afternoon we came back to St Germain at 17.00 for an organrecital given by Fabrice Penin, a distinguished local organist, and

by our own Richard Bittleston from Trinity. Almost inevitably,this was followed by refreshments in the sacristy and vestriesturn out to be vestries the world over, with cupboards for robes &c

rubbing shoulders (so to speak) with flower-arrangingimpedimenta.

Then it was home for supper and an evening watching Francedefeat the Faroe Islands at football. We were up again at 5 a.m. torendezvous at 6.30 for the drive back to Ouistreham to catch the8.00 ferry. By the time we reached England, of course, ourgetting-up time had slipped back to 4 a.m., but this did nothing tospoil the memory of a truly marvellous and heart-warming visit toFrance.

19


20/36

We look forward to welcoming our friends from Argentan on areturn visit in the not-too-distant future.

Involvement in Community

The Neighbourhood ActionGroup

WONDER if you know what the Neighbourhood ActionGroup is? The NAG, as it is commonly known, is a multi-

agency problem solving group of key community agenciesand other members of the local community. These includelocal councillors, chamber of commerce, members fromeducation, fire service, neighbourhood watch and the police.Over the past two years I have been involved in my role asCommunity Missioner at Abingdon Baptist Church and inrecent months taken on chairing the meetings.

I

The aim of the NAG is to put together action plans andimprove community safety and generally enhance the localcommunity for residents, visitors and workers in the town.

Through a process of consultation with the community theNAG identifies priority issues and then seeks to addressthem. For example, initially the major concerns wereconnected with anti-social behaviour. As a result a numberof steps have been taken to help reduce the problem. Inparticular we have been seeking ways to bring older and

20


21/36

younger folk together and help overcome the fear of crimeand improve mutual respect and understanding.

A recent survey has shown that anti-social behaviour is nowless of a concern and the new priorities are policing in thetown, groups of young people and street lighting. As theseare quite broad issues to look at, a more focused study isbeing done to explore the specifics such as times, areasaffected, expectations etc.

Above all, the NAG is an excellent place to network, buildrelationships with other agencies, creatively work together

and be informed about our community. I believe this is keyfor the church, so that we can ensure we remain relevant inunderstanding the community in which we are set.

I am delighted that the Church in Abingdon governing bodyhas now recognised membership of the NAG as a CiA role.In other words, when at some time in the future, I move on,

somebody else from the churches would represent the faithcommunity. This is something I would like to start workingtowards now and would like to hear from anybody who feelsthat this is something that God may be calling them to. Itwould be appropriate to start coming along to meetings atany time to get a feel for what the NAG is about and how itoperates.

If you are interested and would like to chat further pleasecontact me either by email or phone.

Colin Pattenden [email protected] Tel. 0123552993

Pastor at Peachcroft

21


22/36

The role of Youth Pastor at Peachcroft ChristianCentre has been undertaken by Lawrence Shamawho has arrived in Abingdon with his wife Catherineand their four children. Formerly working inBlackbird Leys and the Rose Hill area of Oxford hisnew job will be within the Desire Network. He willalso be supporting lunchtime clubs in schools amonghis other youth work at Peachcroft. We welcome him atwish him every success.

Curate at StHelensE welcome to

Abingdon

the Revd Dr Simon

Thorn, the new part-

time curate at St

Helens, his wife

Rachel and their son

Jacob. They live at Radley College where Simon is Head of

Science. Simon first thought about becoming a priest when

he was a pupil at Winchester College but instead studied

physiology at Bristol University where he went on to train

as a neuroscientist. After completing his PhD, he became a

biology teacher, first in Winchester, then in Perth

(Scotland) and was appointed head of Biology at Radley

College in 1997. Earlier this year he enjoyed a sabbatical

term researching the neuroscience of dyslexia at Oxford

W

22


23/36

University. He has spent the last three years in part-time

theological training on the Oxford Ministry Course at Ripon

College, Cuddesdon. Rachel is a classical soprano and gives

regular recitals around Oxford and further afield. Jacob

is also a keen singer and musician and until earlier this yearwas a chorister at Magdalen College. As a family, they

particularly enjoy art, walking their two whippets and

making music.

A VISIT to SISTER

JULIANS CELL at

NORWICH

SISTER Julian was an anchoress, taking her name fromthe church to which her cell was attached i.e. St Julians (the

patron saint of ferrymen) in Norwich.This church was bombed during theSecond World War so the buildingswe saw had been restored. SisterJulian had a number of visions (thatshe referred to as showings)during a serious illness when shehad been given the last rights andwas at the point of death. Shemeditated on the meaning of thesefor 20 years before publishing themin the first book to be written by awoman in English. Her views wererevolutionary at the time (1363) when the church was divided,

23


24/36

having a Pope in Avignon and one in Rome. If she had beencondemned as a heretic she could have been burned at the stake,so it took courage to publish such unorthodox views. As ananchoress she was confined for life to her cell at the church,having only a visiting servant for her needs. One cell windowopened on to the street (through which she could give spiritualhelp to whoever asked for it) and one window opened into theadjacent church for her devotions and to receive mass. This wasthe time of the Black Death that first came to Norwich in 1349and recurred several times thereafter. It was also the time of theHundred Years War.

We dont know her real name, or anything else about her apartfrom her time as an anchoress. There were about 40 anchorites in

Norwich at that time. No miracles are recorded, so she could notbe beatified in sainthood. It is recorded that she was visited by awoman called Margery Kempe in about 1413. One translation ofher work from medieval to modern English is Revelations ofDivine Love, a Penguin publication, by Clifton Wolters in 1966.

The internet is also a good source of information about her.The Churchs teachings during her time were focused on sin,death, punishment and hell. Her visions made her focus on thelove of God, the passion of Jesus and the forgiveness he boughtfor us. She was led to visualize all that God made as an objectsmall enough to hold in the hand. It was small enough to disappear

altogether but she understood it would last forever because Godloved it.

What, do you wish to know your Lords meaning in this thing?Know it well, love was his meaning. Who reveals it to you? Love.What did he reveal to you? Love. Why does he reveal it to you?For love. [...] So I was taught that love is our Lords meaning. AndI saw very certainly in this and in everything that before God

made us he loved us, which love was never abated and never willbe.

24


25/36

Despite the very real existence of pain and sin, in ourselves and inour world, says Sister Julian, all shall be well, and all shall bewell, and all manner of thing shall be well. It is through herunshakeable confidence in the transformative power of Godsunconditional love that this extraordinary claim comes as anassurance that resonates in our own troubled times with a

profound ring of hope.I visited Norwich with a group from St Helens Parish Church,Abingdon. This was intended to be (and, indeed, was) anenjoyable and bonding time together. On the way to Norwich,we visited Ely and Wynmondham Abbey. The next morning, wewent to St Julians church.

The church had been destroyed by bombing during the war andthen restored using some of the original rubble. We entered andadmired the churchs construction and artifacts chatting to eachother about this and that. Then, in small groups, we entered thesmall cell that had been Sister Julians.

In there, we fell silent. Somehow, the atmosphere of this smallarea got to us. We looked at a single, flickering, candle andimagined Sister Julian being in there with only God for company.

Our Rector reminded us of the story of the conquering Romansoldier who entered the Temple at Jerusalem. He looked at thevessels of gold. Then, thinking that the inner sanctum must beeven richer, he entered and was amazed to find it empty He found

the quiet emptiness more awesome than the riches outside.Thus, the simplicity if that little cell reminded us of how weshould empty ourselves of all clamour and distractions to getnearer to God. H.S.

Quality Matters Harry Simpson 2009

25


26/36

There are numerous stories detailing the origin of "Silent Night,Holy Night," which is quite possibly the favourite among allChristmas carols. The most popularly-told tale is one whose rootsare to be found to Austria.

In the winter of 1818 at St. Nicholas' Church in Obendorf, avillage not far from Salzburg, Joseph Mohr, assistant to the priest,was faced with something of a dilemma. It was only days beforeChristmas, and the church organ, so vital in providing music forthe services, was broken. It would be months before the organ

could be put back into working condition by which time,Christmas would be long past. Mohr's solution to this problemresulted in one of the most popular Christmas carols of all time.

Two years previous, Mohr had written a simple poem, easilyunderstood by the people of the village, which expressed thewonder of the birth of the Christ Child. Mohr had asked his friend,

Franz Gruber, the organist at St. Nicholas' Church, to composemusic for his poem, so that they might sing it together using theaccompaniment of a guitar.

26


27/36

Thus, the newly-composed carol was first performed during theChristmas Eve midnight service held at St. Nicholas' Church onDecember 24, 1818. It did not, however, instantly receive theworldwide recognition that it has since garnered. It was not untilsome years later, in 1825 when Carl Mauracher was rebuilding the

broken organ, that a handwritten copy of the words andaccompanying sheet music was discovered in the organ loft.

Mauracher was from an area in the Tyrol Mountains where therewere many travelling folk choirs who performed throughoutEurope. He returned with the carol to his home and it soon becamea favoured song with the travelling singers. Thus, did the

popularity of "Silent Night, Holy Night" spread as these choirsjourneyed the countryside, singing their songs.

In some versions of this story, it is said that mice had eaten thebellows of the organ. Still others maintain that Gruber himself had broken the organ, or that frequent flooding of the area oftencaused rust and mildew to affect the condition of the church organ,such that it became unplayable.

In all truth, it is unknown whether the organ was truly brokenduring the Christmastime of 1818. It is rumoured that perhapsMohr simply wanted a new carol for the service and was fond ofthe guitar as an accompanying instrument. Other tales suggest that

both the poem and the music were hastily written on thatChristmas Eve.

In 1995, a manuscript entitled "Silent Night" was unearthed,written in Mohr's hand. It is dated 1816 and credits the melody toFranz Gruber. Nevertheless, no matter what the details of thecircumstances regarding the contribution of this carol by JosephMohr and Franz Gruber, they gave the world what is considered

by many to be one of the most beautiful of all Christmas songs.

27


28/36

Crash Pad Scheme Could you help?

XFORDSHIRE Emergency Access Supported Lodgingsaims to respond to a crisis in the home life of a 16 -25 year

old. Crash Pad provides a room in an approved hosts home givingtime to mediate between the young person and family or carers.They also aim to put a support plan into action and engaging themwith appropriate services in order that they may move on. Young

people are referred by social and housing services and a swiftscreening takes place to ensure suitability for the scheme.

O

What a Crash Pad hosts?

These are people recruited from the local community who providethe accommodation for up to six weeks and work alongside ayoung persons support worker in order to help them move on tosomewhere more suitable long term or back to the family home.Hosts are given funding of 170 per week and paid a retainer of

25 a week when not occupied.

Hosts undergo an assessment procedure including a series ofinterviews, references and checks and an induction, as well asongoing training. They need to provide a bedroom for sole use,and use of kitchen, laundry facilities, bathroom and communalareas as well as food for the young person as agreed.

Procedures are put in place should a young person break theagreed house rules and there are regular supervision meetings.

There are no age limits for hosts although you should not have anychildren under 12 years at home. Above all you need patience,compassion, understanding and a good sense of humour!

There is a plan to pilot the scheme in the Abingdon area so if youare interested in becoming a host please let Colin [email protected] or 01235 529938.

28


29/36

The Church in Abingdon-a personal impressionMY wife and I moved to Abingdon in 1987, so we arrived before theChurch in Abingdon was inaugurated. I still remember theInauguration Service held in St Helens church when the originalcovenant was signed by representatives of the participatingchurches and their respective denominations. It was a solemn, butexciting service which I subsequently learned was the culminationof several years talking, planning and negotiating.

Since then I have been involved in the Church in Abingdon inseveral ways, partly as a member of one of the participatingchurches, and partly as a member of the Executive Committee,Governing Body and Leadership Team. This gives me a broad

personal perspective that I now want to share with the othermembers of the Church in Abingdon.

The first thing that impresses me is the name The Church inAbingdon. It has been said before but bears repeating; it issignificant that we call ourselves this rather than (say) ChurchesTogether in Abingdon for the name affirms that even with all ourdifferences in practise and teaching, we still belong together underthe Lordship of Christ.

a. The second point that I would make is one that I have to

come to understand since arriving in Abingdon, havingbeen a member of a large Baptist church in London. This isthat what we have in common as Christians is far moreimportant and significant than our differences. Of course itis quite understandable that we differ

b. it works in proclaiming the gospel, as individual churches

and as groups of churches, for example in the joint AlphaSupper which has led into a number of Alpha courses, itworks in mission to the local and worldwide community

29


30/36

through the various Task Groups, for example ChristianAid or Church Twinning, and other bodies that haveformed because we work together, as we are all individual

people with our own personalities, experiences, upbringingand understanding. And this is good for I have come to seethat my understanding of our God is very limited and is(and has been) made larger as I have shared with others. Iwonder if one of the things that we shall do when we get toheaven is to tell others what we see and know of God, andlisten to others telling us of their unique perspectives.My third thought is the Church in Abingdon is very active.But what does it do, you may ask. My answer is that:

c. it meets for worship regularly, often week by week atseparate times and in separate places, but sometimes

jointly, for example at the yearly Celebration meeting, orthe Unity service at the end of the Week of Prayer forChristian Unity,

d. it works when we meet to study and pray together, forexample at the Lent Lecture courses or in the home studygroups that have been organised from time to time,

e. it works as we share news of our individual churches,though our newsletters, e-mail lists etc,

f. it works when we serve the local community, for example

through the coffee shop and other facilities at 35 OckStreet, or though our involvement in The Abingdon Bridgeproject for vulnerable young people.

I am quite certain that the Church is Abingdon is right forAbingdon, and being a member has brought growth and blessingto my own Christian experience. I pray that it will be the same foryou. Jonathan Wheeler

Church in Abingdon

30


31/36

Volunteering Opportunities

Hands of Friendship

An integrated Christian group for adults with learning difficultiesbased at All Saints meeting fortnightly on Tuesday evenings from6.30pm to 7.30pm. Each evening includes a Bible story focus,new slot, music, craft and refreshments. Help required inprogramme planning, supporting the friends and getting to knowthe carers. For details contact Diane Livesley on 53025735 Ock St Caf and Hospitality Centre

This valuable service offered by the Church in Abingdon urgentlyrequires Catering Assistants to help prepare, cook and serve thefood in the servery. Basic cooking skills an advantage buttraining given. Most important, a friendly disposition and enjoybeing part of the Ock St. team. Particular help for Mondays butother days considered. Times from 9.15am to 2.15pm (or partsthereof) and volunteers can work either weekly, fortnightly ormonthly. For more details contact Jan Hughes on 530080

College Faith Team

Colin Pattenden (Community Missioner Abingdon Baptist Church)is looking to expand the team based in Abingdon FurtherEducation College. The aim is to connect with staff and students,bringing a spiritual dynamic to the work of the college. This has

led to involvement in tutorials, and bringing in special projectssuch as the Foodbank and Christian Aid. The team also supportthe Equality and Diversity fortnight. The Faith Team is part of theStudent Support Services and works in conjunction with teammembers at the Witney Campus. A heart for working with youngpeople, a flexible approach and good communication skills arevital for this evolving initiative. Contact Colin on 530080 [email protected]

Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG)

31


32/36

The Church in Abingdon have decided that the role as a memberof the NAG should become a CiA responsibility. The NAG is agroup formed from stakeholders in the community who are thereto respond together to concerns raised by the public, in order tocreate a safer and more pleasant environment to live and work.

Meetings take place every 5 weeks on Wednesday evenings forno more that two hours. This is a great opportunity for a CiAmember to input into the life of Abingdon and to network withother agencies to enhance our town. Contact Colin on 530080 [email protected]

Abingdon Town Centre Chaplaincy ATCC

ATCC was launched in June this year and is now a team of 7chaplains connecting with business and services in the town indifferent ways. The aim is to provide support to people in theworkplace through being a listening ear and friendly face. Anunderstanding of the town and support agencies is useful andsome of the work involves signposting. There are also

opportunities for conversation for those exploring faith issues andmuch more. We would like the team to grow and to cover more ofthe town. If you would like further information contact RichardBittleston on [email protected] or Tel 520282

Bereavement Support Group

Shortly to be launched this initiative aims to encourage thosegoing through the grieving process to come together and findmutual help and support. It is hoped that a group will meet once amonth, looking at different aspects of grief but giving time toshare and reflect. If you are interested in the project a planningmeeting is to be held at St. Helens Parish Centre on ThursdayNovember 12th at 7.30pm. For more details contact Tim Heweson [email protected] or Tel. 01865 735646

Being a Christian

32


33/36

and a CouncillorWAS asked how being a Christian affected my being a

Councillor and here is my attempt at an answer.

ITo me being a Councillor is a way of putting something backinto the community in which I live. I think my being aChristian doesnt particularly affect that idea because there arelots of people of all religious and political views who wantmuch the same things as I do for the Vale of White Horse. I

think we all want the Vale to be a pleasant place to live whereeveryone is treated fairly and given opportunities to develop andimprove their locality and their lives. The problem comes withtranslating those ideals into Council decisions because what pleases some people doesnt necessarily suit everyone. TheCouncil has a policy of reminding us of our responsibilities andeach Full Council meeting actually opens with Prayers where a

local clergy person is invited to address the councillors in a sortof thought for the day followed by a short prayer. It is truethat some members leave the room for that part of the meeting,but they are small in number.

For the most part my daily work involves representing residentsof Northcourt ward in matters relating to planning, housing,rubbish collection, parking and dog waste bins. I try to listensympathetically and ensure their views are heard and consideredfairly, especially as housing problems, in particular, causepeople to be in a very worried state.

I am concerned about the environment and support Councilefforts to increase recycling, even if it involves a bit of extra

effort for residents; and at this point I must say that I support thejoint Rubbish and Recycling contract the Vale has with SouthOxfordshire District Council. This started in SODC in June

33


34/36

2009 and commences in the Vale of White Horse in October2010. The changes may slightly inconvenience us all until weget used to the new system of wheelie bins, but recycling willincrease, landfill will decrease and the costs due to joint

working with another district council will be reduced. That hasto be good for local taxpayers.

Where to allow all the extra houses, which central Governmentsays must be planned for in the Vale, is a painful issue as no onelikes change when it comes to more houses nearby. Howeverdecisions must be made and to help me decide how to vote I

keep my Christian ideas of fair play and justice in thecircumstances in mind. We cannot hold Not in my Backyardviews when people need somewhere to live. It can be hard toget the balance right though.

I recommend being a local councillor as a way of being moreinvolved in the community and providing an opportunity to

learn more about what goes on, and even to have a small inputinto the decisions that affect us all.Laurel Symons

Women's World Day of Prayer

Come and join in a round the world service of prayer and

songs prepared by Christian Women of Cameroon

Friday 5 March 2010, 10.30am Salvation Army 7pm AllSaints Methodist Church

All welcome, women, men and young people

More details from your church representative

Christmas Crossword

34


35/36

Across1 Transportation over snow (4)3 Seasoned ingredients (8)6 Baby's bed (4)8 Period from Dec 24th to Jan 6th(4)9 Red-breasted bird (5)1 Twelve days after Christmas (8)12 Alcoholic drink served bowl (5)13 Jolly (5)14 News (7)15 Goes with the turkey (9,5)19 A type of tree used atChristmas (5)20 The colour of Santa's hat (3)22 ____ log; traditionally burned at

Christmas (4)23 Sanctified (6)24 Cured leg of pork (3)27 Christmas song (6,5)29 Found under the Christmastree? (8)30 Grace (8)31 Snow falls in this season (6)32 Given at Christmas (4)

Down1 Bright celestial body (4)2 Christmas tree type (4)3 Take aback (8)4 No room here! (3)5 Elvish colour (5)6 Sweets; flavoured sugar (5)7 Container usually found in astable (6)10 Beginning of life (5)13 Amazing event (7)14 Written after Christmas? (5,3,6)15 Formal events (10)16 Ring out from churches (5)17 Accompaniment for food (5)18 Printed or written greeting (4)

21 Month in which Christmas falls(8)25 Nature of God (6)26 One was born in Bethlehem (5)28 Sweetened milk drink, witheggs and alcohol (6)29 Pastry dish (3)

Answers on Page 25

35

CHRISTIAN FOCUS MAGAZINEMany of you appear to be pleased with the new format of the magazine and

the change of style. For some time the cover price has remained at 1each year for the four issues. However, with the introduction of colour,

the cost of printing has increased considerably. The CiA will still subsidise

the magazine as before but in the New Year each issue will cost 40p

(1.60) per annum. Thank you for your continuing support.


36/36

ANNOUNCEMENTDue to a problem with the ISP (Orange) I have been unable to send or

receive emails since late September. This may have resulted in some

contributions to CF not being received for inclusion in this edition.

However, I am with a new ISP and my email address is

[email protected] and I hope all will be well in future. Ed.

Published by the Church in Abingdon and printed by Print-Mart, 7 Foliat Drive, Wantage, OX12 7AN

DEADLINE FOR COPY FOR THE NEXT EDITION OF CHRISTIAN FOCUS

IS FEBRUARY 1, 2010.

Copy or photographs should be sent to the editor, Ron Moss, at 5 The

Lodge, Bayworth Lane, Boars Hill, Oxford OX1 5DF. Telephone 01865

321537. E-mail address: [email protected]

Copy should be sent by e-mail, as a Word document, on a CD, typed orprinted.

EDITORIAL PANEL

Hilary Clare (St Michaels)01235 525898Margaret Ellwood (All Saints) 01235 526636

Neil Hancox (St Edmunds) 01235 524534Margaret Langsford (Trinity).. 01235 521536Denise Mulvey (Abingdon Baptist Church) 01235 520603Judy White (Christ Church) 01235 521369Felicity Fletcher-Campbell (St. Helens) 01865 739430Ron Moss Editor 01865 321537

Documents

Christian Focus Winter1st December