G'day from the Vicarage - July 2010

The Vicar's editorial from the Quarterly Magazine...

Dearly beloved in the Lord

Looking Backwards

The church worked together magnificently for the Space 2010:Lift Off! Holiday Club. Our teenagers had helped Mark Weddell, Tom Brown and Kathryn Smith make a space-age set, including a rocket suspended from the ceiling. Matt Naegeli (who has sadly for us moved back to America) directed the young people in a fun play, which included a smoke machine and a three headed monster. There was Bible teaching about the life of the apostle Peter, and we were pleased to welcome 179 different children who attended on a least one day, with average numbers per day of 154. We don’t charge for the Holiday Club, but were glad that, as usual, donations covered the cost. About 70 members of the church were involved in running the club, including Rita Eyre who ran a crèche for the children of leaders in the Vicarage. Next year Easter is very late, so the Holiday Club will be in the first week of the Easter holidays, 12-15th April. 

We held some other ‘get to know you’ activities: the Digital Photography “I love Oakwood” competition had some fine entries, which you can see on the web, among the photo galleries.  The African Evening in aid of Careforce raised over £500. Irene Namono organised a thrilling display of dancers from Uganda and other countries. The Greek Night was a balmy evening: the children were able to play on the lawns next to the terrace, where George Georgiou prepared the barbeque. Indoors, Fotoulla Santis and some friends led us in Greek Dancing

At the Church Annual Meeting we elected Peter Shepherd and Mark Weddell as Churchwardens. Mark replaced Charles Maycock, who had served for eight years. There were also three new members on the PCC: Bina Thambiah, Peachey David and Andrew Peel. Andrew Mitchell and Bill Bostock came off, after many years’ service.

On the 3rd of May Frank Freston passed on, at the age of 95. Paul was able to join Roger, and was with him before he died. We thank God for all the practical things that Frank did for St Thomas’s.

On the 13th of May, the Bishop of Edmonton baptised Benjamin Weddell and confirmed Matthew Cowley, Paul Edwards, Baraka Njenga, Matthew Hobbs, Benjamin Weddell and Katy Myers.

Almost on the same day, two little Benjamins were born at Chase Farm Hospital, one to Martijn and Laura Mugge, our Oak Hill students; and one to Jon and Briony Mackley (another grandson to our editor Mike Davis)

This year we didn’t hold a Fun Day, but we held a Church Family Hog Roast, at which we celebrated my 50th birthday, with the choir singing an altered “Advance Australia Fair”. I was glad to reach my 50th without mishap, especially because I finished the London Marathon. I raised over £3500 for the Alzheimer’s Society and for the Kirima School in Uganda. Thank you to all who helped.

On the 13th of June we held a 40th Anniversary Organ Recital, because the organ’s inaugural recital took place 40 years ago. Mr Peter Smith FRCO, the organist of Cheshunt Parish Church, who had been present at the opening recital played a lively and varied mixture. In my opinion if you weren’t there, you missed out.

At the Thursday Fellowship in June (Third Thursday of the month) Peter Pytches spoke about his schooling, his national service in REME, his university days at UCL where he was converted to Christ, then theological college and serving as Curate in Parkstone, then Cromer; then as Vicar in Plymouth, then back in Parkstone; Lecturer at Oak Hill, then Vicar of Christ Church North Finchley and finally Jesus Church. He gave great tribute to Beryl for all her help in the ministry.

Looking forwards

Having celebrated being 50 here with my church family, I am going with Donald to Sydney to celebrate with my “birth family”. Donald will have finished his GCSEs so it is good time to take him too. I enjoy doing something new when I visit Australia, otherwise all my time is spent visiting friends and relations, and plan to make a trip to Ayers Rock. Also of course, a main purpose is to visit my mother who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, and can no longer travel.

Sadly I will miss this year’s St Thomas’s tide Choral Evensong, July 4th at 4pm at which our Area Dean, Rev. Dr Richard James, from Christ Church Cockfosters will be preaching. I will also miss accompanying Matthew Hobbs to a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, in connection with his membership of the Air Training Corps – lucky Margaret will go instead! We were happy to read in the Queen’s Birthday Honours that Harriet Mitchell’s sister, a Lt Colonel in the army, who has been responsible for many logistics in Afghanistan was made O.B.E.. Our former Administrator Andrew Rawding is serving out there as Padre with 40 Commando Royal Marines.

I am glad that I will be back in time for the Children’s Concert on Sunday 11th July at 4pm. The junior choir have been rehearsing a home made “oratorio” on the life of Daniel.

The time will soon come to say farewell and thank you to Robert Mendy, who has been our Careforce Volunteer for the last two years. Robert is returning to The Gambia. One of our former Careforce Volunteers, Jo Benson, will also be leaving us, to go and serve with OMF in Japan, helping missionaries look after their children while the parents learn Japanese. The ‘Bring and Share Lunch’ to say farewell will be held on 18th July.

A few weeks later, on the 8th of August, we will welcome our visiting missionaries from Tanzania, Rich and Paula Osborn; and also we will welcome our new Careforce Volunteer, Ricky Vaiphei, who comes from Manipur in north eastern India, and has been working for the last year in Bexleyheath.

With thanks for your partnership in the gospel,

Christopher

From the Registers

Baptism

Benjamin Weddell

Bethan Mary Lewis

Funerals

Sydney Lockett

Frank Freston

Doris Rose Johnson