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Sunday 26 April 2020
Third Sunday of Easter
This week's REFLECTION
'Supper at Emmaus', Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610)

THIS WEEK'S READINGS
Acts 2.14a-36-41 · Psalm 116 · 1 Peter 1.17-23 · Luke 24.13-35

‘Oh, how foolish you are...’ (John 20:v25)

Do you feel the mutual exasperation in this story? When the disciples meet the risen Jesus, they cannot believe that he does not know the news. Indeed, they are so surprised as they have to stop walking to be able to tell him. But the risen Jesus is even more direct back. ‘Aaagh!’ might be a good translation of ‘Oh!’ (v.25). He then describes them as being ‘without understanding’, ‘obtuse’, ‘dull’, ‘slow’. ‘Dumb’ might be a good coloquial translation.
 
I am grateful that we have glimpses of the exasperation of Jesus, including the risen Jesus. As a theological educator and a parish priest, I experience lots of exasperation…as indeed do my students and parishioners at times! Sometimes, we are just too slow to ‘get it’. And while I do not excuse my own bad temper or pomposity, a little plain speaking together might help the Church to become a more honest institution, as well as a more effective one…
 
But Jesus does not leave it there. Loving-patience is the undergirding value and he works with those dopey disciples until they begin to ‘get it’ and then there is that unforgettable moment of recognition and reconciliation.
 
Plain talking and deep loving don’t have to be opposites. ‘Speaking the truth in love’ can be a cover for verbal abuse. Or it can be a moment of mutual love in Christ.
 
Alan Bartlett
 
Keeping in touch with your Church

If you wish to contact the Parish Office for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact us by using the Parish Mobile as all members of staff continue to work from home.
Parish Mobile 07842 486514
...and don't forget to access our news and notices through our website
www.sloanechurch.org
...and you can find our online services LIVE on Facebook
www.Facebook.com/sloanechurch
...or RECORDED on our Youtube Channel
bit.ly/2Y5i7uf
... and lots more on our Twitter Page
www.Twitter.com/sloanechurch
Live weekday services return this week

With an electrical fault and broadband failure at the Rectory now repaired, Fr. Nicholas will be resuming live services from the Rectory this week.
ABOVE: Diana Gayford celebrating her 100th birthday in happier times in 2017

At 103, Diana Gayford is our oldest Home Communicant living . We  asked Diana, who was born at the end of the First World War and was a young woman in her early Twenties when the Second World War began, how she compared the experience with the Coronavirus Pandemic...

In one important way the war was worse because it was the young people, mostly young men, who were getting killed. In today's situation it is mostly old people who are dying and we old people are going to die in the near future anyway so it is not so important for the country as a whole. However in other ways the war was very different. We all felt we were fighting a just war against something very evil, the Nazi Regime, and we realised that sacrifices had to be made. I remember writing endless letters of sympathy for their loss to the parents of boys I had played with as children or danced with as teenagers and I know those boys all realised the risks they were running and felt they were doing the right thing. In the same way Londoners and other city dwellers faced endless nights of bombing with bravery and cheerfulness and the loss of homes and belongings became relatively unimportant if one was alive and uninjured.

Many good things came about as a result of the war. The traditional class distinctions seemed to fade somewhat and people were valued for what they did rather than where they came from. People were more friendly and even talked to each other and shared sandwiches on trains, something unheard of before the war. Two major issues which altered the future of our country actually came about during the war, The Beveridge Report which fathered The Welfare State including the NHS and the Education Act which promised free secondary education for  everyone in the country.
I wonder what the future will be like as a result of the present disaster? We have no feeling today that we are fighting a just cause and we do not even know why this catastrophe has blighted the world. Is it the Good Lord's way of reminding us that we live in a world that is full of inequalities and unfairnesses and that most of us do little to alter the situation?  Is it because of the inefficiency of our rulers or of the World Health Services or is it Nature's way of dealing with an over populated world? Perhaps some good will result as many people are showing immense bravery in caring for the sick and others are working tirelessly to help the poor and needy. The many inequalities that we hoped the Welfare State had obliterated have been highlighted again so maybe the world will become a fairer and happier place. I wonder!

Diana Gayford
                           

Music is far from 'purrfect' for Lola the cat

One of our almost nightly rituals is to put on a little concert with our cat Lola being the sole captive audience. Even when we gave her a selection from CATS, she wasn’t that impressed!

Michael and Salendar Ashcroft
 
OBITUARY

THE REVEREND DOUGLAS JEYES LENDRUM BEAN  MA [1925-2020]

We were sorry to learn of the death on April 3 of Fr. Douglas Bean who in retirement joined the congregation and supported the clergy team at Holy Trinity.   In the second of two obituaries his friend, Jeannette Hartley celebrates Fr. Douglas's life...

Douglas was born in London in October 1925 and educated at Lancing College, Sussex, Worcester College Oxford and Ely Theological College.  At the end of WW2 he served with the Royal Navy in Ceylon and was involved in cypher work.  He often reminded us that his fondest memory of his time there was of the navy blue silk stockings worn by the Wrens!

Douglas was a gifted musician and played the piano to concert standard.  He also played the cello but his most remarkable gift was his ability to play a perfect tune on a garden saw.  This "instrument" travelled in a homemade leather case which also accommodated his cello bow, and he would entertain his friends every Christmas with superb renderings of Silent Night and other carols.  A few years ago he took part in the Britain's Got Talent contest in Windsor and was placed fourth out of 60 contestants.  He was self-taught at the age of eight.

He had a remarkable career in the Church, serving at St George's, Windsor, in the 1950s as a minor canon where his organist and choir master was Sir William Harris, the well known church composer.  Whilst there Douglas wrote the words to "Hymn Holy, in Him abide" to which Sir William obligingly wrote the music. He also served at St Paul's in London, Westminster Abbey, St Pancras Church in London and was for a while Rural Dean at Reading. During his time in London he also served as a chaplain to the Royal Naval Reserve at HMS PRESIDENT.  

On becoming a Friend of St George's Chapel some years ago I was delighted for the opportunity of attending the Garter Ceremony.  Temporarily forgetting that Douglas had served at St George's and not wishing to attend alone, I enquired if he would like to escort me.  "Have you ever been to the Garter Ceremony, Douglas?"  I enquired.  "Been to it!" he roared.  "I used to take it!"  That put me firmly in my place."

In retirement he lived in a cosy flat in Islington with his little Jack Russel Hugh-Beau, and his last three years were spent comfortably at Ramsay Hall, a residence for retired clergy in Worthing, where he was kept warm and well fed with a delicious three-course lunch every day.  His loyal and friendly cat Mr Mercury will miss him terribly - as will we all.

Douglas was twice married and had three children, Teresa, Richard and Stephen, and four grandchildren.  He passed away in Worthing Hospital in the early hours of Friday 3 April, in his 95th year.  Farewell to an enigmatic and great character, and a very dear friend to many.

Jeannette Hartley

A time to keep on giving

The present situation is having a dramatic financial effect on many people and organisations. Holy Trinity is not immune from this. Without public worship on Sundays and weekdays our income from giving is dropping by at least £1,000 per week. Some members of the congregation already give by standing order, direct debit or through online payments. If you are not doing this already, we would be so grateful if you could start:

Holy Trinity Church PCC
Natwest
Account Number: 23364580
Sort Code: 60-19-26


...or if you prefer to send a cheque, please do not hesitate to do so:

The Treasurer
Holy Trinity Church
146 Sloane Street
London SW1X 9BZ

 
THOUGHTS FOR THESE DAYS


Praying as a family

Kathryn Kane explores different ways to engage your family in prayer at home. 

When your children were little you may have set times when you prayed together as a family such as at mealtimes or before bed;  or you may be a family where you’ve never or rarely prayed together and it’s something you’d wished you’d done; or maybe you’ve never felt confident to pray out loud in front of others, including your nearest and dearest, and now it feels too late and cringy to start praying together as a family, especially if your children are now in their teens.

The good thing about a change in routine (even if it was brought about by a virus) is that it gives the opportunity to change. Not being in ‘normal’ times means that there may be the opportunity to suggest trying new things together.

Below are three suggestions of ways to pray as a family without it feeling too awkward.

Praying at doorways:

Many Jewish homes have a mezuzah at each doorway within their home (but not the bathroom). A mezuzah is a parchment containing the prayer found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, it acts as a reminder to pray and ask God to bless the house or room. Assign everyone in the house a room to write a short prayer for, think about the activities that happen there, for example, Kitchen: Thank you for the food that we have to eat; Bedroom: Bless …with a good night’s sleep. Attach the prayers to the doors of these rooms with blu-tak and encourage everyone to notice them and pray them as they move about the house.

Thankfulness jar (bowl/box/suitable container)

Looking for God’s blessings in a time when it is easy to feel overwhelmed or fearful is good for us and is a way to thank God for his goodness. Find a time when you are together, may be a mealtime in the evening. Talk with each other about the best bit that day. Each person writes the thing that they are most grateful for that day on a strip of paper and places it in the jar as an act of prayer. The jar acts as a reminder of God’s goodness to your family.

Out Loud!

What shall we pray about? One of my friends has a chalk board in her kitchen where family members can add people or situations to pray about, post-it notes or a sheet of paper up on the fridge would work just as well.

Build faith and expectancy: Have a conversation about a time when God answered your prayers.

Using other people’s prayers: The Church of England has written daily prayers.

Write your own, or just speak out your own, they don’t have to be long or complicated or use fancy words. Take it in turns to lead the prayers.  God enjoys hearing from you and your family.

Kathryn Kane is the Secondary School RE Adviser for the Diocese of London Board for Schools


Parish Diary
 
All services are closed to the PUBLIC but available online at www.Facebook.com/sloanechurch
 
SUNDAY 26 APRIL
Third Sunday of Easter
Intention: Parish and People                   
11.00am  The Eucharist


Monday 27 April
Christina Rossetti, poet, 1894

Intention: The sick

Tuesday 28 April
Peter Chanel, missionary, martyr, 1841

Intention: Doctors and Nurses
10am Morning Prayer

Wednesday 29 April
Catherine of Siena, teacher of the faith, 1380

Intention: Teachers

10am The Eucharist

Thursday 30 April
Pandita Mary Ramabai, translator, 1922

Intention: Shopworkers
10am Morning Prayer

Friday 1 May
Philip and James, Apostles
Intention: The clergy
10am Morning Prayer

Saturday 2 May
Athanasius, bishop, teacher of the faith, 373

Intention: The Government


SUNDAY 3 May
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Intention: Parish and People                      
11.00am  The Eucharist
WHO'S WHO and CONTACTS

RECTOR
The Revd. Canon Nicholas Wheeler
E-mail: rector@sloanechurch.org

HONORARY ASSISTANT
The Rt. Revd. Dr. Michael Marshall

CHURCHWARDENS
Jeffrey Kabel
Carolyn Hallett


ASSISTANT CHURCHWARDENS
Gill Dunley
John Renz

TREASURER

David Fairlamb

PCC SECRETARY
Martin Bonham

PARISH ADMINISTRATOR
Sophie Wilson
E-mail: parishoffice@sloanechurch.org
Telephone: 020 7730 7270

FACILITIES AND EVENTS MANAGER
Clinton McMaster
E-mail: manager@sloanechurch.org
Telephone: 020 7730 7270
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Holy Trinity Church · Holy Trinity Church · 146 Sloane Street · Chelsea, London SW1X 9BZ · United Kingdom

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