Susan’s Reflections
Janus, the Roman god for whom this month is named, famously looks both forward and back. By the time you read this the great season of feasting and joy with which we celebrate the incarnation will already be a memory. With the coming of Epiphany the gift the three wise men bring will be a strangely bare home, with the tree ousted and the fairy lights back in the loft.
It is now the dark time of the year; for although we have passed the winter solstice these January days seem darker without the cheering glimmer of Christmas to come. For it all comes in a bit of a rush, Christmas, New Year, Epiphany and then afterwards the long cold slog through Lent before the days feel lighter and warmer and Easter is on our horizon again.
For us at St Peter's May 8th is a major landmark as we look forward. It is the day when David Neno is to be collated and become properly "our" vicar. This January we are half way through our interregnum. How are we doing?
By the grace of God, by virtue of the combined gifts of the churchwardens, the extended standing committee, the PCC, the staff team, the choir and music director, and our administrator and thanks to the patience and loving support of the congregation, we find ourselves still on our feet. And - so much more than this - still being Christ in this place for our parish and all who pass through our doors. This is a testament to the generosity of those who are giving so much of their time and attention and to the faith of the Church.
In one of his last sermons to us here, Mark Powell preached very powerfully about the idea of the shepherd and the flock. He reminded us as we felt sad at losing him as our shepherd that each of us is called to this ministry. We are each of us called to be a shepherd to each other in our needs and in the world. This must and should go on regardless of who does or does not live in the vicarage.
This is all very strong and true, but there has been a sense of something, or more accurately someone, missing. The model of parish ministry most of us understand and have been nurtured by values a person who can focus our own efforts and ministries. A person whose vision can help clarify our own. A person we do not always have to agree with, but who speaks out of a deep commitment to our collective life. A person we shall call our vicar.
This is still in the future. In the meantime we should resist the temptation to hibernate and instead encourage each other to grow in our own pastoral gifts. In this way we shall look forward to all that we can offer this year as well as all that we hope to receive. In the beautiful words of St Paul, (whose feast day also falls this month), "Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace and the God of love and peace will be with you." (2 Corinthians 13 v 11)
Susan Peatfield
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Carol Service
On the evening of Sunday 18th December, in a quiet candle-lit church, a solo voice sang the first verse of ‘Once in royal David’s City’. So began, in a very traditional way, our annual Carol service.
Led by our Director of Music, Mark James, the choir sang six especially selected pieces: ‘Welcome Yule’, ‘Adam lay Ybounden’, ‘Jesus Christ the apple tree’, ‘The Angel Gabriel’, ‘Bethlehem Down’ and ‘A Spotless Rose’. These were interspersed with six Readings, three of which were taken from the nativity story from Luke’s Gospel, and were read by representatives from different areas of the St Peter’s family – the Junior Church, the Choir and so on.
At the centre of the service were eight Christmas carols which included favourites such as ‘O little town of Bethlehem’, ‘While shepherds watched’, ‘O come, all ye faithful’ and ‘Hark! The herald-angels sing’. We were delighted to have a number of visitors to this service who joined heartily into the singing.
The service concluded with the brilliant voluntary ‘Festival toccata’ by Fletcher, played on the organ by Mark.
Afterwards, mince pies and mulled wine were served in the Church Hall and Churchwarden Richard Peatfield took the opportunity to thank the clergy team for organizing the service; the Director of Music and choir for their wonderful music, and all the helpers who decorated the church, ensured everything ran smoothly and provided the refreshments.
Trevor Bates
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Top Diocesan Synod
A meeting of the London Diocesan Synod took place 0n Tuesday 6th December at St Mary’s Church, Islington.
The Bishop of London opened with an address outlining the state of affairs at St Paul’s.
The main item was the acceptance of the Budget for 2012, which was carried unanimously.
Church Growth and Impact – Another Capital idea – the presentation was followed by a discussion. There were many views expressed supporting Church Plants, with the proviso that there was money to fund them.
The Diocesan Advisory Committee presented its 2010-2011 Annual Report – there was emphasis on how many procedures had been made easier.
The Area Scheme Review – presented by Clive Scowen in the absence of the Bishop of Willesden – this was much as had been previously reported.
Diocesan Synod Elections 2012 – the Scales of Representation were approved, as were the choice of voting paper, using the Single Transferable Vote method.
Rosamund Rowe
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Financial Update
2011 |
November |
Year to Date |
Income |
£14,366 |
£125,867 |
Expenditure |
£13,417 |
£125,442 |
Surplus / Deficit |
+ £949 |
+ £425 |
A surplus of income over expenditure of nearly £950 in November has taken our overall financial position to a small surplus of £425 after eleven months of the financial year.
Rosamund Rowe
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