Right now, thousands of people in Gaza and Israel and the wider region are experiencing devastating loss, trauma and overwhelming need. The situation continues to worsen on a daily basis, increasing the number of people being displaced from their homes.
Our mission partner Tearfund is working with local churches and partners to support their preparations and help them respond to the needs of people across the region.
We have nine glasses celebrating the story of St Mary’s Church in Denham. Each one bears the inscription “St Mary’s Church, Denham Village. Founded 1123”. They are the remaining glasses that were made for a special celebration many years ago. When they are gone, they are gone! As we celebrate 900 years of St Mary’s at this year’s festival, you can own one of these glasses…
You can submit a bid to own one of them. The top nine bidders will each own a special memory of our historic church. This is a secret auction. You can submit your bid until the end of Thursday, 14 September. The winners will be notified by email.
Every penny given in this secret auction will help us look after St Mary’s Church and churchyard. Thank you for your generosity!
“We bought these glasses in Peter Crick’s time [who was Rector of St Mary’s in the 70s and 80s] to sell on the church stall at the May Fayre.We had two batches made (100 in each I think) and we sold them for £5 for 6. They are good sturdy glasses. I use one regularly, particularly when BBQing in the garden. My daughters reminded me that in the 80’s at home we treated them as our best glasses brought out on special occasions!” Gerald Miller (who was our church’s treasurer for many years)
Many people have asked whether the Fayre will be back this year.
On Monday the 6th of February two powerful earthquakes struck Southern Turkey near the Northern Syrian border. The initial quake had a magnitude of 7.8, followed by a 7.5 magnitude quake 9 hours later and a series of aftershocks. Sadly, many people have lost their lives or been injured, and the death toll is still rising. Our mission partner TEARFUND is part of DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee), a group of registered charities working on the front line delivering help and support to those who need it most.
When asked how we should pray, a a church leader in Turkey says: “Please pray for the people who have lost their loved ones and are in sorrow and despair, that God would comfort them. Please pray for the people who are helping and serving. And please pray that the ways would be opened soon, so we can bring more help to the area. God bless you all.”
Heavenly Father,
The news from Turkey and Syria incredibly grieves us. More people in Turkey have been killed in this earthquake than in any earthquake since 1999. The damage in Syria has affected people who have already lost so much in 11 years of civil war. We find it hard to see your hand at work in moments like this. We wonder why because the damage and death seem so random.
In this time, remind us that you are here regardless of circumstance. We know that our world is damaged. We know that there are many kinds of damage we may never understand. Help us trust you are still present, even in moments like this.
We know that rescue workers are still trying to find people. They are working where cold weather makes it vital to find people before they freeze. Keep the rescue workers alert. Help them communicate well. Give their supervisors patience and resiliency as they coordinate the efforts.
We pray for the refugees and displaced people, especially in Syria. So many people have had to leave their homes in the last 11 years. So many were struggling to survive even before this earthquake happened. Without a permanent address or local connections, staying together or finding each other is much harder after a disaster strikes. Help these people to find their family members. Help them to get the medical care and emergency shelter they need.
We pray for all people of good will who live in the areas. Show them how to aid the least of these and show your love in this terrible time. We ask you would particularly help Christians to extend aid when dealing with people who are hostile to Christianity. Help your church in Turkey and Syria to love their enemies exceedingly well in this terrible time.
We thank you for the world leaders reaching out to help in this time. Help them to set aside egos and ulterior motives so they can work together to give the most help to the most people. Move obstacles and move hearts so that charity will defeat apathy.
Lastly, we pray for those who have lost loved ones. Show the grieving people in Turkey and Syria that you are the God who weeps and knows our pain. Help them to grieve and, at the proper time, to see the redemptive things you weave from even the worst circumstances.
Amen.
On February 1st, Joyce Tearall passed away peacefully after a short illness. Her family were with her. Joyce and her husband Bill moved to Denham Green in the 1950s, where their children David and Sarah grew up. When Peter Crick was Rector, she trained as a reader and was a very active member of the ministry team. She was known and loved by many people in our community, hosting church groups, leading services, baptisms and funerals, making pastoral visits and much more. She loved being a dinner lady at Tilehouse School (now Denham Green Academy).
After Bill retired, they moved to Weymouth for a while, until they returned to Denham and lived in St Francis House. They eventually moved to Iver Heath, where Joyce cared for Bill during his illness. On 3 January this year, Joyce celebrated her 90th birthday.
We thank God for the blessing that Joyce has been to our church and community over so many years.
A service of thanksgiving for Joyce will be held at St Mary’s Church on Thursday, 9 March at 2.30pm.
We have recently received newsletters from Samuel Kpagheri (Wycliffe Bible Translators) and Michael Cooper (Church Army).
King Charles welcomes Mr Sunak at Buckingham Palace (Photo: PA)
THE Archbishop of Canterbury has asked people to pray for Rishi Sunak as he starts his term of office as Prime Minister.
Mr Sunak was chosen as the new leader of the Conservative Party on Monday afternoon, and became the new Prime Minister on Tuesday morning, when Liz Truss stood down after several weeks of financial and political turmoil.
After the announcement on Monday, Archbishop Justin Welby posted on Twitter: “At a time of great difficulty and uncertainty for this country, please join me in praying for Rishi Sunak as he takes on the responsibilities of leadership. May he, and all leaders of all parties, work across divides to bring unity and offer stability for those who need it most.”
Last Thursday, in a House of Lords debate on the cost of living, the Bishop of Oxford, Dr Steven Croft, exhorted whoever became Prime Minister to address child poverty as a priority.
“The well-being of the nation is now very fragile,” he said. “To the incoming Prime Minister, I say: ‘Please don’t make it worse. Do all you can to make it better. Don’t allow the costs of the economic downturn to be borne by children and the poorest. . . Blessed are those who consider the poor.”
St Mary’s Church will be open on Monday, 19 September, from 1pm to 8pm, to reflect, pray, light a candle or sign the Book of Condolence.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has written:
As a faithful Christian disciple, and also Supreme Governor of the Church of England, she lived out her faith every day of her life. Her trust in God and profound love for God was foundational in how she led her life – hour by hour, day by day.
In The Late Queen’s life, we saw what it means to receive the gift of life we have been given by God and – through patient, humble, selfless service – share it as a gift to others.
Creator of Heaven and Earth,
Through all our days you fashion us and by your grace we grow.
We thank you for all that was accomplished in your servant Elizabeth.
Throughout her life she glorified your name.
May that also be true for each of us and for our nation;
And may our dearly departed Queen rest in peace and rise in glory.
Amen.
King Charles III delivers his address to the nation and the Commonwealth from Buckingham Palace, London, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday. (Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire)
A prayer for the new King
Everlasting God, we pray for our new King.
Bless his reign and the life of our nation.
Help us to work together
so that truth and justice, harmony and fairness
flourish among us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
