“DUTY TO GOD”?

I am very sad that the Girl Guides are to change their promise from "to love my God, to serve my Queen and my country" to “"be true to myself and develop my beliefs". In addition from September the 540,000-strong organisation will also promise "to serve the Queen and my community". I can see no good reason to make this change; Lord Baden Powell must be turning in his grave.

I gather the National Secular Society have already expressed their pleasure at this alteration. I’ve been a member of both The Scout Association and The Guide Association having served for over 10 years as Hampshire County Music Advisor for the Guides (until I went to Theological College and moved out of Hampshire). I have always felt that it was a key part of membership of both the Scouts and Guides that it was a religious organisation although not Christian, as such. In fact you could be a member of any religious organisation: Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Sikh, Jainism, Hindu, Baha'i etc. and still make your promise to serve God.

I believe this is a detrimental step of the Guide Association and not one in keeping with the ideals of Lord Baden Powell or his wife Olive

SHOULD WE BE INVOLVED IN THE SYRIAN CONFLICT?

The tragic conflict in Syria where it is estimated that 93,000 people have died already and where there are thousands of refugees who have left the country, is featured daily in the media. It has prompted suggestions that Britain should intervene by supplying the rebels with arms. We are assured that this would not mean military intervention. However, some British military involvement would be inevitable to train the recipients to use the weapons supplied.

The conflict is basically an Islamic one between the Sunni and Shi’ite branches of the Islamic faith. Russia and Iran are already involved and it seems that fighters are now being imported from Lebanon. Our experience should show that intervention in a conflict which has nothing to do with us can only achieve very little; we have the examples of Iran and Afghanistan.

Our involvement should, I believe, be restricted to humanitarian aid. It worries me that any involvement in the supply of arms would ultimately lead to our military forces becoming involved. If there is to be any outside military action surely it should come from the United Nations? We should continually pray for peace in Syria.

11th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Today I played the organ for the Parish Mass at St. Augustine’s, Rush Green, Romford which I really enjoyed doing. During the Communion of the People the choir sang a setting of Faber’s wonderful hymn “There’s a wideness in God’ mercy” based on the the tune Corvedale by Maurice Bevan which fitted in really well with today’s Gospel on which I preached. Prior to ordination I had been an Organist & Choirmaster for some 23 years.When I went  for interviews at Salisbury & Wells Theological College the then Principal the late Canon Reggie Askew had pointed out to me that I might miss the role of Organist. I thought that meant I wouldn’t have the chance to play very much, if ever, in the future. How wrong can you be ! I accompanied many services at College and played for several at Salisbury Cathedral as well.

During my Curacy in Bristol I helped the parish organist of one of the two churches I was at get an excellent two manual organ installed in place of the totally inadequate instrument already there. As this was a church which had orchestral concerts I designed the portable organ for use with orchestras in conjunction with the organ builders for occasions when the organist needed to be part of the orchestra rather than use the super detached console. I took part in the opening recital on that instrument and also took part in recitals at the other church with it’s massive three manual instrument and also played for a number of service. I had a new organ installed when I was Vicar of St. Francis to replace the gallery instrument which was totally inadequate for the building and had started life as a one manual barrel organ of very dubious quality and had a second manual an pedals added poorly.

Over the years I have played for many services at various churches. My love of the organ reached its apotheosis when I took part in a Lunch Time Recital on the organ at the Royal Albert Hall with other clergy members of SSC.

THE COST OF CUTS

 

The National Railway Museum based in York could reintroduce charges or suffer closure due to Government cuts. Admission charges were made up until 2001 when the then Labour Government abolished then as it wished to make the country's heritage accessible to all. Cuts could also affect the National Media Museum in Bradford

The BBC reported on the 6th of June that “In the letter to Culture Secretary Maria Miller, York Council's Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem and Green group leaders said they had serious concerns about the impact of any reduction in government funding for the Science Museum Group (SMG). They wrote: "It puts in jeopardy the vital contribution the National Railway Museum makes to the cultural, tourism and wider economy in this city".  The museum played a "critical part" in attracting tourists to York, who generate £443m for the city each year, they added. "As the finest rail museum in the country, and most probably the world, it would be a tragedy for it even to be under consideration for closure," they said.

The  (SMG) who runs the Science Museum in London and also the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, the National Railway Museum in York and the National Media Museum in Bradford, said it was in a "weak" financial position. A spokesman said that if a further cut of 10% was made it was inevitable that one of the museums outside London would have to close

In my opinion it would be tragic if any museum was closed but, in particular, the National Railway Museum is an important part of our heritage and very well-worth a visit. Tourists come from around the world to visit the York based museum.

ILFORD HOSPITAL CHAPEL DATES

SATURDAY, 22^nd JUNE 2013 AT 3.30 pm

Please come and enjoy our next Concert!

LOVE – ALWAYS & FOREVER

With Soprano Deborah Aloba accompanied by Anne Reece and with light hearted expert narration by Vivyan Ellacott

all followed by a piece of cake and a glass of sparkling wine

Tickets at £10 now available from the Chapel Office: 020 8590 2098 (accompanied children free)

and, also for your Diary:

CHAPEL END SAVOY PLAYERS are performing for us on

SATURDAY, 20^th JULY AT 7 pm

GILBERT, SULLIVAN AND THEIR CONTEMPORARIES

with numbers from the G & S canon but also songs from some of the ‘curtain raisers’ they gave at the Buxton International G & S Festival.

Tickets at £8 now available from the Chapel Office 020 8590 2098 (accompanied children free)

“THE PIONEER” - June Edition

Why not go to St Augustine’s Blog to read the latest extract from the church magazine (click here) by Father Martin Howse SSC. entitled “We Believe”

10th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Today I presided at the Parish Mass at S. Andrew’s Church, North Weald which is still in an interregnum. In my sermon I pointed out that St. Luke’s Gospel emphasised the compassionate nature of Jesus. Like Jesus we should love one another. He had shown his great compassion and love for people when he saw the funeral procession of the only son of a widow in Nain  and had seen how upset she was at her bereavement. Like Elijah who had restored a son to his grieving mother, Jesus restored her son to her. We must love one another even when it is difficult to do so.

After Mass I drove back to Rush Green so I could celebrate our daughter’s birthday in the refreshments after Mass. Her husband had bought a special birthday cake for everyone to share.