G'day from the Vicarage - Sep 2010

The Vicar's letter from the quarterly Parish Magazine.

Dearly Beloved in the Lord,

New Staff

We have welcomed Kaushal David as Assistant Minister. Kaushal has come to us from Moulton Parish Church in Northamptonshire, where he was on the staff for the last four years. Kaushal’s wife Anette and children Amaelia and Anastasia are living in Denmark this year, as school places were not available at the time Kaushal was appointed. Anette is Danish, and the girls learn Danish anyway, so this is an opportunity, rather than a set back. Kaushal comes originally from Sri Lanka, and studied at Oak Hill College some years ago. Kaushal is going to be helping us to be more evangelistic.

We have also welcomed Ricky Vaiphei, as a Careforce Volunteer. Ricky comes from Maniupur in the north east of India. He is a keen sportsman, as well as having studied the Bible in Calcutta. Ricky is living in the boys’ flat above the hall with Tom Brown and Adam Thrift.

We have also welcomed Sarah Morris, who is part time on the Youth and Children’s Worker course at Oak Hill College. Sarah has come to us from St Leonard’s Exeter, where she was a Ministry Assistant for the last two years, since graduating in Archaeology. Sarah is living with Kathryn Smith (who is now full time on the Youth and Children’s Worker Course) in the girls’ flat in Gerrards Close.

From Oak Hill College we have Simon Martin placed with us. Simon is married to Nicola, who is soon expecting twin boys. They already have the joy of Freddie who is about 2 years old.

Lively Events

This year in the Children versus Parents Cricket Match on the 12th of September, the Children won by about thirty runs. We thank John and Janet Mason, Martine Cagnetta, and the others who provided the tea.

Two men in the congregation are both in bands, and on the 25th of September the bands will meet in the Large Hall. Luigi Sterlini is in a band “Eat the Lemon”, Mohan Yogendran is in a band, “Soul Conviction”. We are having a concert, with food and with a licensed bar.

A different sort of music will take place the following Friday night, 1st October, when our adult choir will be holding a “Meet, Eat and Sing”. Maybe there are more people out in the congregation who would be interested in singing with the choir – perhaps for Good Friday, or the Carol Service?

On Saturday morning 2nd October we are going to hold our first men’s breakfast in the Wetherspoon’s pub in Southgate. Kaushal David will be talking on “Why I am not a Buddhist”.

The following weekend there will be a Guest Service but also it is our annual Youth Group Weekend Away, this year at St Mary’s Maidenhead Centre, with Adam Thrift speaking from the Book of Proverbs.

One of our young people, Giorgio Sterlini, is organising a Quiz Night at 7pm in the Large Hall on 16th of October, in aid of his World Challenge trip to India.

On Saturday 30th of October, there will be a “Not Halloween Party” in the Large Hall. We are regularly getting 50 children at @Toms and @Tomix, so it will be interesting to see how many come to this event.

On Saturday 13th November there is our ‘Taste of Talents’ Craft Fair, with proceeds for the Kirima School in Uganda. Other events to come are: Saturday 20th November Annual Men’s Dinner; Saturday 4th December Make A Gingerbread House Night; and then the Christingle on the 12th of December, and the Nativity Play and the Carol Service on the 19th!

Change in the Sunday Club

To try and help children we now have the Creche, 0-3; Stepping Stones 3-5; Scramblers School Years 1 and 2; Climbers Years 3 and 4; Explorers Years 5 and 6; Pathfinders years 7-9.

From the Registers

Thanksgiving after Childbirth

Jorja Marina Hodge

 Baptism

Alejandro Ioan Dascaliuc

 Wedding

Michael Lamin and Amanda Muller

Funeral

Annie Reece Sweeting

With thanks for our fellowship in the Lord,

Christopher