THE CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION, HANGER HILL WITH ST MARY’S, WEST TWYFORD

December 2020

www.ascensionealing.org £1

CONTENTS

1

Letter from Simon ............................................................................ 2

Parish News ...................................................................................... 4

Ascension News ............................................................................... 8

St Mary’s News ................................................................................ 9

Calendar, Diary & Registers .......................................................... 11

Sudoku Challenge ........................................................................... 14

Beaufort Players Drama Group ...................................................... 15

Sundry Snippets ............................................................................ 15

Annual Neologism Contest ............................................................ 16

Poem – A Different World And A Different Christmas .................. 17

Who’s Right For Which Job? ......................................................... 18

Adult Colouring Page ..................................................................... 19

Church Launches Anti-Racism Taskforce ...................................... 20

Sudoku Solution ............................................................................. 21

Prayer Section ................................................................................ 22

Supporting Mission ........................................................................ 23

And Finally ...................................................................................... 24

LETTER FROM SIMON

2

December letter:

“Christmas is saved!” scream the headlines, as the Prime Minister announces cautious relaxations of rules after the November lockdown. He also wisely added that there can be no Christmas truce with the virus and the season to be jolly will also be “the season to be jolly careful!”

On one level I can see why this is so important to so many people. Back in pre-Christian times the

darkest days of winter were briefly brightened by celebrations of the December solstice. For many people today, the best they have to look forward to is a few days off with some nice food and drink, and time with their families. These things are important for well-being.

On another level, especially for those of us who are Christians, I can’t help feeling that a stripped down Christmas might not be a bad thing. Jesus was born to a relatively poor family. Mary and Joseph were reliant on a borrowed roof over the head of their new-born. In Jesus’s infancy the whole family became refugees fleeing for their lives, and as an adult Jesus always championed the poor and marginalised against the rich and privileged. Beyond all that he walked with eyes wide open to a criminal’s death, knowingly taking on himself the sins of the world, in order for all creation to be renewed and reconnected with God.

LETTER FROM SIMON

3

That really is something to celebrated but we miss the point if the gifts become more important than the Gift, and the turkey and sherry take over from the Bread of Life and the new wine of the Kingdom of God.

If for one year we can’t sing carols or sit close together in church then that’s a small sacrifice compared the one Jesus made for us. And we’re doing it to save others, just like Jesus did.

But rest assured we will be celebrating Christmas at the Ascension and St Mary’s. Lee and Rae have been working for weeks on a brilliant online Carol Service. We’ll have St Mary’s open for a daytime communion service on Christmas Eve, and there will be a midnight and a Christmas morning service at the Ascension. They will be a bit different from what we normally do, but then the world is a bit different this Christmas. For all that, I guarantee that they will be every bit as special as anything else we do, and my hope and prayer is that, whether you join us in church or online, the Jesus who came into the world in Bethlehem two thousand years ago, will come alive in your heart in a new way this Christmas. A happy Christ-warmed Christmas to you all!

PARISH NEWS

4

Christmas Plant Sale

Saturday 5th December, 12pm-2pm 42 Audley Road, Ealing W5

This event was moved later because of the November lockdown – we hope that new rules will allow us to go ahead. Due to Covid-19 restrictions we can’t have our Christmas Fair this year, but we can have a plant sale outside in Audley Road at number 42. As it is winter most of the plants will be for indoors, to grace your house or to give away for Christmas. Do come and support this as all the proceeds go to the Church of the Ascension and St Mary’s. It was great fun in the Spring, so let’s do it again. Bring your own refreshments - wine, beer or coffee – but please ensure you socially distance as you chat. If anyone has any spare fancy flowerpots please let me know and I will come and collect them. Many thanks.

- Sue Lawes (020 8997 4664) We are also looking at organising an online Christmas Raffle which is normally part of the Fair. This will take place in the evening of the Plant Sale. Look out for further information on the website and by email.

PARISH NEWS

5

Update From Rae Hi everyone! It's been a while since I have had the chance to write anything for the magazine, for a number of reasons, so now is a good time to give you an update on where I am and what is happening at the moment! Firstly, as most of you know, I found somewhere to live - huzzah! I have a beautiful studio room on Corringway, with Gillian and John, Denise and Shahen, Tim and Sarah, Sue and Jon, Robert and Rosy, and Simon and Alison on the doorstep - so there is no getting myself into mischief without being busted! I really appreciated all the cards and flowers that I received when I moved in! Thank you! My new nanny job is going extremely well, with a beautiful family with 3 small children. Thank you all so much for the prayers - looking for work and housing was rather stressful! Beans & Leaves - I am really missing my Friday mornings with ‘the gang' but I look forward to seeing you all once the current restrictions allow. Thank you all so much for the well-wishes and the money that was kindly donated to help with housing costs. Actions, Songs & Rhymes, and Stay And Play - Sadly these groups haven't been able to run since March but we are in talks with our colleagues at the Children's Centre about how we go forward from here. Watch this space - and please pray for this situation because it's so important to these families to be able to open again.

PARISH NEWS

6

Advent Quiet Evening

PARISH NEWS

7

Harvest For The Homeless Back in October we were able to send a carful of food and well over £100 in donations to help the work of Acton Homeless Concern.

Centre Director Ian Breen writes, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the congregations. Like yourselves, we have all had to adapt rapidly to new challenges, making need this year greater than previous, as a result of Covid-19. We need to be able to continue serving food as normal over the cold months as we wish to provide a cooked, hot lunch as we are currently operating as a takeaway service.

“With the continued support of your donations we can ensure that the homeless and needy do not go hungry at this time.”

ASCENSION NEWS

8

The Ascension Friends Here we are towards the end of our second lockdown, so there is still little possibility of meeting as a group just yet but let’s hope that the New Year will bring better news for us all. Normally we would be looking forward to our usual Christmas meeting with lots of festive cheer; from making cards (do I hear some of you breathe a sigh of relief?) to listening to Christmas readings to singing Christmas songs and carols ably supported by Lee and Rae and of course enjoying a special Christmas tea, complete with Christmas cake and mince pies. Sadly this won’t happen this year but we’ll have a super celebration next year. This photo was taken many years ago and you can see the finished result of some fantastic cards. And here’s something to make you smile. Had you ever thought what might have happened if the three wise men had been three wise women? Three Wise WOMEN would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, bought practical gifts, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and there would be peace on earth! Wishing you all a happy and healthy Christmas and hoping and praying that we can meet again soon.

Liz Williams 020 8997 5578 williams13qr@gmail.com

mailto:williams13qr@gmail.com

ST MARY’S NEWS

9

Church Services Are Back

We are not yet at a point where it is practical to run a Sunday morning service at St Mary’s, but the monthly midday Holy Communion on Thursdays will recommence this month. In fact there will be three of them. We will hold our first midweek service on December 10th. On December 24th there will be a special Christmas Eve service to ensure that we have some seasonal worship at St Mary’s and to make Christmas communion available in West Twyford.

Stay And Play

Our popular parent and toddler group has had to remain closed since March due to lockdowns and related restrictions. We have just had a meeting with West Twyford Primary School Children’s Centre and we are making plans to reopen if possible in a limited way in January.

10

CALENDAR, DIARY & REGISTERS

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Calendar December Intercessions

Our regular service times can be found on the back cover. On Sundays the intercessions (which are being used in an alphabetical sequence) are for the people who live or work in the various roads and schools of our Parish.

Weekly acts of worship and Daily Prayer can be accessed via the website. Now, more than ever, please do use the prompts here to pray for the residents of the different streets in our Parish.

Week beginning November 29th (Advent Sunday) Thursday 7.30pm Quiet Evening – Ascension (tbc) and Zoom Saturday 12 midday – Plant Sale (42 Audley Road) Week beginning December 6th (2nd Sunday of Advent)

Western Avenue & West Twyford Primary School Sunday 9am – Holy Communion – Ascension 10.30am – Live All Age Worship on Zoom Monday 8pm – Monthly Parish Prayer Gathering on Zoom Thursday 12pm - Holy Communion - St Mary's Week beginning December 13th (3rd Sunday of Advent)

Abbey Parade & Abbey Road Sunday 9am – Holy Communion – Ascension 10.30am – Live Worship on Zoom

6pm – Carols By Zoom An hour of inspiring music, traditional readings,

and an uplifting Christmas message

Thursday 12pm - Holy Communion - St Mary's

CALENDAR, DIARY & REGISTERS

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Week beginning December 20th (4th Sunday of Advent) Abbeyfields Close & Ashbourne Close

Sunday 9am – Holy Communion – Ascension 10.30am – Live Worship on Zoom

CHRISTMAS EVE - Thursday, December 24th

12pm - Holy Communion - St Mary's An early Christmas communion featuring recorded carols

4pm - Crib Service – Ascension A socially distanced children’s service with our crib puppets

and the Christmas story

11.15pm - Midnight Service – Ascension The traditional start to Christmas featuring live carol performances

CHRISTMAS DAY - Friday, December 25th

10am – Live All Age Worship on Zoom A lively Christmas clelbration

11.15am – Holy Communion – Ascension A short simple service

Week beginning 27th December (Christmas 1) There are no Sunday services this week. Week beginning 3rd January (Epiphany) Sunday 9am – Holy Communion – Ascension 10.30am – Live All Age Worship on Zoom

CALENDAR, DIARY & REGISTERS

13

All live services on Zoom are recorded and posted as videos on the Parish website where they can be accessed for the next week.

PARISH REGISTERS

Funerals

9th November 2020 Konyenasoa Margaret Dafe

Aged 85 of Chestnut Lodge, Ealing

17th November 2020 David Ewart Riley Faulkner CB

Aged 85 of Chorleywood, Herts

23rd November 2020 June Rose Esler

Aged 88 of Audley Road

Our sympathy and prayers for their families and friends.

Among the attributes of God, although they are all equal,

mercy shines with even more brilliancy than justice

- Cervantes

SUDOKU CHALLENGE

14

SUDOKU CHALLENGE

How to play : place a number from 1-9 in each empty cell so that each row, each column & each 3x3 block contains all the numbers from 1-9. (N.B. No number can appear twice in any row, column or 3 x 3 box)

Solution page 21

4

8 9

2 3 6 1

5 2

9 5 6

4 1 2 7

5 8

1 2 8 7 3

3 2 7 6

ARTICLES

15

Beaufort Players Drama Group www.beaufortplayers.org.uk

Normally this is the time of year when we would have already staged our Christmas production, dismantled the set and most probably have cast our Spring 2021 play, but this year, as we all well know, has been thrown into total disarray with our intended Spring 2020 production of ‘Spy Game’ having to be cancelled shortly before opening night, leaving the fully built set still in place in the Ascension Hall. When we do manage to resume our activities, resurrecting the same play would mean having to re-cast several roles to replace those members who have since moved away. If we decide on a different one, then the challenge would be to find one where we can utilise the existing ready-built set, thereby saving us the added disappointment of having to demolish one that took so much time and effort to build, but was never used.

In fact, this is the first time in our 58 year history when we’ve been unable to stage any plays at all during the year. Hopefully we’ll never be in this position again.

Meanwhile, we’d like to wish all our readers and supporters a very happy (and safe) Christmas

- - - o

Where were you? The police officer asked me where I had been between 5 and 6. He seemed irritated when I answered “kindergarten.”

Aliens Aliens probably fly by earth – and lock their doors.

ARTICLES

16

Annual Neologism Contest

Here are some further winning submissions to the Washington Post yearly contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternative meanings for common words.

• Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown.

• Gargoyle (n.), olive-flavoured mouthwash.

• Flatulence (n.) emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.

- from Betty Barker

ARTICLES

17

Poem: A Different World And A Different Christmas

So . . . we have another lockdown Without the sunshine of the first And the times when we could meet up in our gardens Without the current, sudden, cold, wet bursts.

I know it’s not for a long time I hope people will keep to the rules And not hold large gatherings and parties Or keep ignoring the social distancing like selfish fools.

It poses problems for Christmas No usual last minute shopping can be done We will all be doing a lot more online Which takes away some of the Christmas fun.

Hold on . . . I am talking about Christmas Not just the time for crackers and fun But the time to remember the birth of our Lord I give thanks and praise for all that he has done.

Thank you God for giving the world your Son And the beautiful world that surrounds us all Help us live in the way that will please you By helping others find the joy of Christmas when they call.

May we never forget the cold and lonely Those who currently feel trapped in their home alone May we share with them some Christmas Joy, love and laughter By a knock on the door or letter, computer, or phone.

May Jesus be our light in the darkness May he be our strength in every sort of trial May he be our hope when all seems insurmountable And may we be always willing to help others in need, with a smile.

Diana Dishley © 2020

ARTICLES

18

Who’s right for which job?

Does your company struggle with the problem of properly fitting people to jobs? Here is a handy way to decide . . . Take the prospective employees you are trying to place and put them in a room with only a table and two chairs. Leave them alone for two hours, without any instruction. At the end of that time, go back and see what they are doing.

If they have taken the table apart in that time, put them in Engineering.

If they are counting the cracks in the floor, assign them to Finance.

If they are screaming and waving their arms, send them to Manufacturing.

If they are talking to the chairs, Personnel is a good place for them.

If they are sleeping, they are Management material. If they are writing up the experience, send them to Technical Publications. If they don’t even look up when you enter the room, assign them to Security. If they try to tell you it’s not as bad as it looks, send them to Marketing. And if they’ve left early, put them in Sales.

ARTICLES

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Adult Colouring Page

ARTICLES

20

Church Launches Anti-Racism Taskforce

A taskforce has been set up to ensure racial equality in the Church of England.

The Anti-Racism Taskforce will carry out preparatory work ahead of the launch of the Archbishops’ Commission to address racism in Spring next year. It is expected to complete its work by the end of January.

The Revd. Sonia Barron, Co-Chair of the Taskforce, and a former adviser to the Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns, (CMEAC) said: “The Taskforce has been set up at a critical time in the history of the Church of England, with the Black Lives Matter movement pushing racial justice right up the agenda. The Church has an opportunity that it cannot afford to miss – we cannot just pay lip service to issues of racism as we have done for so long. It is vital that we listen to all the different voices out there and having listened, fulfil our mission as a Church, by taking appropriate action.”

Fewer than four per cent of serving clergy identify as being from a UKME background, according to the latest statistics.

The General Synod voted in February to apologise for racism experienced by UKME people in the Church of England since the arrival of the Windrush Generation.

Speaking to the General Synod, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said there was ‘no doubt’ that the Church of England was still ‘institutionally racist’ and called for ‘radical and decisive’ progress to put an end to institutional racism.

SUDOKU SOLUTION

21

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

Advertising: The science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it. Stephen Leacock

And finally, in the build-up to Christmas, remember to drive carefully. It’s not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

9 7 1 3 4 2 5 6 8

5 8 4 9 6 7 3 1 2

2 3 6 8 5 1 4 9 7

7 6 5 4 1 9 2 8 3

8 9 2 5 7 3 1 4 6

4 1 3 6 2 8 9 7 5

6 4 7 1 3 5 8 2 9

1 5 9 2 8 6 7 3 4

3 2 8 7 9 4 6 5 1

SUPPORTING PRAYER

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We’d love to hear from you about prayer. Have you got a story about answered prayer? An insight which has helped you to pray better? An inspiring quotation about prayer? A prayer someone has written which you find useful? A question about prayer you’d like answered?

Our regular monthly Parish Prayer Gatherings continue online on December 7th. Keep in touch with the website, Facebook page and WhatsApp group for prayer information.

For all of us 2020 has been a year unlike any other

we have ever experienced. For some of us it may

have been the toughest year of our life.

But the Bible says “God works all things together for

good” (Romans 8:28). That doesn’t mean that a

deadly global pandemic has anything good about it.

It does mean that God can bring good things out of

even the worst situations.

So as you come to the end of 2020 and look back,

what can you thank God for in this year?

SUPPORTING MISSION

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Supporting Mission at Christma: Emmaus House and Ealing Churches Foodbank

Each month we profile one of the agencies the Parish supports through its financial giving. Through Christmas collections we support two local charities supporting people who are homeless or experiencing other kinds of poverty.

Emmaus House is part of Acton Homeless Concern, set up in 1988 by Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic church. It provides meals, clothing, washing facilities, medical support and counselling to homeless people and is the largest agency of its kind in this part of London. We also support them with our Harvest gifts.

(http://actonhomelessconcern.org)

Ealing Foodbank is linked nationally with the Trussell Trust but supported locally by a partnership of churches and based at St Mellitus Church Hall in Hanwell. They opened in 2013 and

last year they helped 4,916 people who were referred to them. (https://ealing.foodbank.org.uk)

. . . . AND FINALLY

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A Covid Lockdown Poem (author unknown)

I won't arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, I'll sanitise the doorknob and make a cup of tea. I won't go down to the sea again; I won't go out at all, I'll wander lonely as a cloud from the kitchen to the hall. There's a green-eyed yellow monster to the North of Kathmandu, But I shan't be seeing him just yet, and nor, I think will you. While the dawn comes up like thunder on the road to Mandalay, I'll make my bit of supper and eat it off a tray. I shall not speed my bonnie boat across the sea to Skye, Or take the rolling English road from Birmingham to Rye. About the woodland, just right now, I am not free to go To see the Keep Out posters or the cherry hung with snow. And no, I won't be travelling much, within the realms of gold, Or get me to Milford Haven. All that's been put on hold. Give me your hands, I shan't request, albeit we are friends, Nor come within a mile of you, until this virus ends.

Visit of The Magi 2020

PERSONNEL

VICAR: The Revd Simon Reed Tel: 020 8566 9920

The Ascension Vicarage, Beaufort Road,

Ealing W5 3EB e-mail: simonreed@ascensionealing.org

MINISTER at ST MARY’S The Revd Pete Harris, 91 Ashbourne Rd, W5 3DH Tel: 020 8997 7852

e-mail: pete@richard-rose.co.uk

PASTORAL ASSISTANT Liz Williams, 13 Queen's Road, W5 2SA Tel: 020 8997 5578

PARISH ASSISTANT Rae White, 48 Brentmead Gardens NW10 7ED Tel: 020 8965 6075

CHURCH WARDEN: Colin McKenzie, 26 Brentmead Gardens, Tel: 020 8838 4531

West Twyford NW10 7DS

DEPUTY WARDENS: Rosy Sookias (A), 27 Audley Road, W5 3ES Tel: 020 8998 3670

Arby Ghazaryan (M), 69 Abbeyfields Close, NW10

Tel: 07958 555506

PCC SECRETARY: Liz Williams, 13 Queen's Road, W5 2SA Tel: 020 8997 5578

PARISH TREASURER: c/o Rosy Sookias Tel: 07712 856507

c/o Colin McKenzie Tel: 020 8838 4531 e-mail: rosy.sookias@hotmail.co.uk and colin@proof-read.co.uk

PLANNED GIVING: Amir Zarifnia, 23 Crossway, Ealing W13 0AX

e-mail: fidpoint@gmail.com

Tel: 07722 040910

ELECTORAL ROLL:

CHILDREN’S CHAMPIONS

Lucy Pavesi Tel: 020 3532 2524

The Revd Simon Reed (A) – address above

Annlinda Buckingham (M) – 29 Waverley Gardens, NW10 7EE

Tel: 020 8566 Tel: 07817 6766079920

SAFEGUARDING

OFFICERS

Liz Williams (A), 13 Queen’s Road, W5 2SA

Colin McKenzie (M), 26 Brentmead Gdns, NW10

Tel: 020 8997 5578

Tel: 020 8838 4531

SACRISTAN (A): Denise Avanessian Tel: 020 8810 7140

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC: Lee Dewsnap Tel: 07702 126971

CHILDREN’S CLUB (A) Amanda Butcher Tel: 020 8992 4790

JUNIOR CHURCH (M)

HALL BOOKINGS:

Colin McKenzie – address above Tel: 020 8838 4531

Liz Williams (A), 13 Queen’s Road, W5 2SA Tel: 020 8997 5578

REGISTER OF RECOMMEED TRADESPEOPLE – for information comntact

Sylvia Buckingham Tel: 020 8965 9051

John Harrison Tel: 020 8998 2223

PARISH NEWS:

COPY c/o Revd Simon Reed e-mail: simonreed@ascensionealing.org

ADVERTISING Roger Dishley Tel: 020 8567 0275

MAGAZINE Eija O’Gorman (A) Tel: 020 8992 0061

THE CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION, HANGER HILL

Beaufort Road, London W5 3EB

Wheel chair access at front entrance

Sundays 0900 HOLY COMMUNION

1030 ZOOM ONLINE MORNING SERVICE (with Holy Communion) including Children's Group

All Age Service - 1st Sunday of the month

The Church is normally open for DAILY PRAYER 9.00-9.30am and 5.30-6pm weekdays

Other Activities (currently suspended)

• Ascension Friends retired people’s club • Actions Songs & Rhymes Toddler Group • Community Choir

ST MARY'S, WEST TWYFORD

Brentmead Gardens, London NW10 7ED

Sundays 1030 ZOOM ONLINE MORNING SERVICE (with Holy Communion) including Children's Group

All Age Service - 1st Sunday of the month

Thursdays 1200 HOLY COMMUNION (3rd Thurs of month)

Other Activities

• Beans & Leaves Café (OPEN Fridays 1100-1200) Currently suspended - Stay and Play Toddler Group • Coffee Morning • Jazz Club

HOME GROUPS, COURSES, AND YOUTH GROUP

Meetings currently online

Please check the website www.ascensionealing.org to keep in touch with what we are doing online and to gain access to Zoom events.

Copy for next issue must be received by Simon by end of Sunday 13th December 2020.

http://www.ascensionealing.org/