G'day from the Vicarage - Jan 2012

Dearly Beloved in the Lord,

Plans for the New Year

Where did Christmas go? I was happy that this year we didn’t have the ice and snow on the pavements. Good numbers of people came out to celebrate Christmas, but I would say fewer over the last ten years than previously. I am glad that people gave over £1000 towards the work of Tear Fund at the Christmas Offertories. A further £500 was raised at the Harvest Talents Auction so we are all even more glad for the work that Tear Fund will do in Christ’s name.

People commented on how well the choir sang at the Carol Service, and also at the Midnight Communion, with the Haydn Little Organ Mass this year, rather than Mozart. Gordon Izatt and Matthew Hobbs were on the violin, and Laura Seddon on the cello. I am only sad that James Murray has told me that he will soon be moving on as Music Director, because of his other commitments during the week. I am hoping he will stay until April, and lead us in Handel’s Messiah on Good Friday. James conducted a brilliant concert in aid of our Spire Fund on the 26th of November. We enjoyed Beethoven’s 7th Symphony and a Haydn double horn concerto. The 30 musicians were students from the Royal Academy of Music, and I doubt there has ever been a better concert in this part of the world.

The Spire Fund has reached over £25 000, and with money from the Legacy Fund, we only need about another £10 000. We will have a final Gift Day on the 8th of April. A Faculty giving us the Diocese of London’s permission to replace it should come soon. Enfield Council have granted planning permission. We plan an evening with the Merlin Magical Society as another fund raising event. The magicians are going to give their time free as a tribute to a former member, Stan Blaney, who was also a member of St Thomas’s. In November we held a Thanksgiving Service for Stan, who passed away earlier in the year, up in the Lake District. The chaplain of the Magic Circle, the Revd Peter Liddelow gave the address, and we enjoyed hearing about Stan’s life, but also from a number of Bible readings that were related.

Thank you to Peachey David who directed a brilliant Nativity Play. We also congratulate her husband Anthony who started last half term as Headteacher of St Paul’s School Mill Hill. Anthony organised the Men’s Dinner, with speaker Jonathan Kuhrt, when over 30 of the men of the church gathered at the Jolly Farmers.

Thank you to Valerie Bostock and Pat Marshall with the team who did the Christmas flowers. The two Star of David arrangements were very effective, and will be seen better now we have put the large candlesticks away. Thank you too to Tom Wells for organising the gifts of hyacinths to bereaved and deserving people in the parish

Our former Reader Thomas Renz is to be collated as Rector of Monken Hadley, probably in early May. Later this year our other ordained former Reader, Michael Moseley, comes to retirement as Priest in Charge of Murton, Bapchild and Tonge. Peggy and Michael plan to move to north Kent.

With Easter in mind we are beginning to plan the Easter Holiday Club – April 10-13th– most likely with a sports theme in mind, given the Olympics this year. An Over 60s Holiday Club is planned for Wednesday 15th February. On the 15th of March the Thursday Fellowship looks forward to a return of David Hooke for a Musical Afternoon. It was so good last October that I hope church members will be inviting their friends.

Christianity Explored is going to start on Thursday 26th January: a number of people over the Christmas services said they would like to join. It will be just after the Confirmation service on the morning of the 22nd of January, when Luke Griffiths, Philip Hobbs, Joseph Weddell, and Azaria Yogendran are to be confirmed. Bishop Sandy Millar will be joining us, who is now retired, and is an Honorary Assistant Bishop in our Diocese.

With thanks for your fellowship in the Gospel, and wishing all our readers a Very Happy New Year,

Christopher

From the Registers

Baptism

Marley Jonathan Clarke

Thierri Asher Clarke

Adaugo Isobel Nwogu

Thanksgiving

Isaac William Picton

Funeral

Callum Boyhan (20 years old)

George Colton (91 years old)

George Scott (81 years)