Monthly News from the Rectory

Blog September 2024

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 17:09:15 GMT

Plus CA Change

‘PLUS CA CHANGE’

‘Change is in the air’ - Every good thing must come to an end – but then again so must every bad thing too. Whatever our own personal theories about life, politics, religion and so on we are governed by an unseen force which has a major influence on our way of life. This force creates patterns or seasons during the year and over the decades of our lives too.

Hopefully some of us will have enjoyed the ‘summer season’ this year with families having the benefit of some extra time together. Grandparents, aunts and uncles and other family relatives may also have enjoyed some time with the younger members of their families. Some will miss them dearly when school is back but at the same time breathe a sigh of relief as the noise, disruption and turmoil eases off.

The long school and college holidays provide a break in the drudgery of trying to balance work and home life for many, also a welcome break for the teachers and school staff too. Although the holiday period is still running as I write this there are signs of changes in the weather with the remnants of a hurricane blowing through and some flowers well past their best. It is time then to get back into routine as the new term looms, the challenge of new schools and starting college, picking up all of those emails waiting at work and rapidly disappearing into a pile of challenges and problems waiting for us.

However Autumn season awaits and even nature itself will have a dramatic upheaval as our inescapable climatic routine kicks in. But although we will miss the bright greens of foliage and the glorious mixed hues of our flowers and shrubs some thing equally beautiful waits as various shades of yellows, gold, red and brown take over. Change is in the air!

But behind and amongst all of this there a master being in charge – our Creator God. The supreme Lord of all that is seen and unseen who built the perfectly balanced universe and a very special planet earth with everything in abundance. The same God who gave all of this to the beings he created too called humankind and he gave it freely – it was not earned or deserved necessarily.

Despite the changes in times and seasons our God does not change in nature and remains as the source of all love, generosity, wisdom and good. As we strive to succeed, prosper or even just survive, our creator is watching over his universe. His will is that we should all live our lives to the full as a community built upon caring, sharing, love and forgiveness amongst ourselves whilst respecting the awesome beauty and self-restoring powers of nature.

Of course too we should speak to him and thank him every day in our prayers knowing that he looks forward to our returning to his heavenly kingdom at the end of our time.

These are the only requirements of our creator; please keep in touch with him, you’ll be surprised how your life can change for the better despite everything else going on.

The season of God’s love never ends!

Happy New Year 2024!

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 13:57:58 GMT

Your approach to life, values and beliefs

Happy New Year! – January 2024

I wonder if you have ever had an experience or realisation that causes you to think hard about your approach to life, values and beliefs. Maybe now it might be the inspiration behind a really worthwhile New Year Resolution. Call it a sort of Epiphany if you like.

Maybe the realisation that we are becoming a little out of sorts with old friends and acquaintances and that we need to put a lot more effort into personal relationships; or maybe that things aren’t quite so bad as they might have seemed recently and that in fact a more upbeat and thankful approach to life would not only improve our own outlook but also that of other around us.

Well both resolutions would be admirable and bound to improve the quality of life for all but there are other aspects to having an Epiphany and the one that I am really hoping you will encounter is considerably more profound and far-reaching in its effect. I am talking about an inescapable truth which manifests itself both in our hearts and in our minds and that is the realisation that the Christmas story was not just a nice tale or notion but really happened and changed the face and future of the world and its inhabitants for ever.

God himself came down to earth in the likeness and personage of a human being called Jesus Christ in order to communicate his messages and teachings first-hand. Jesus demonstrated the finest values and characteristics such as humility, service, care, compassion, love and comfort, all of which would encourage and enable all around him to flourish and prosper.

To start with only a relatively small number of people believed and understood him but each of them experienced a profound and heart melting Epiphany and the impact upon their lives led them to convince others that this was the real thing and that it had to be preserved and evangelized throughout the world until all peoples of the earth had an opportunity to experience this Epiphany in their lives. And so remarkably 2.4 billion people throughout the world adopted this faith in Jesus Christ over the next two thousand years.

The question is, have we truly experienced this Epiphany of belief for ourselves in our own hearts and minds? Because until we do, then we cannot absorb the real benefit of this relationship with Jesus. When our Epiphany dawns there will be no doubt left and a completely different state of heart and mind will become apparent.

The elation and exhilaration of proclaiming our belief in Jesus Christ to all and anyone will replace all previous doubts or self-consciousness. The ability to face up to the possibility of failure and instead of shrinking back, to press on placing ourselves in his hands. The resilience to face unworthy criticism and false accusation with a smile in the knowledge that Jesus knows the truth and that is good enough for us. The courage to face up to inescapable truths or outcomes in the knowledge that he will be there to see us through any amount of physical or mental suffering.

These are the sureties of our Epiphany when we finally and wholeheartedly confess Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and put our whole selves in his hands. Who needs New Year resolutions now!

Christmas 2023

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 08:27:46 GMT

Some Very Early Christmas Thoughts

Literally two days after Remembrance Sunday and here I am sitting down to write an article for the December magazine with thoughts about Christmas uppermost in my mind. The Henley lights ‘switch-on’ just 10 days away; the Christmas Tree Festival in St.John’s the same; The Court Leet annual service on the same weekend; carol singing at Memory Lane Café on 12th December; a special Nine Lessons and Carols Service at St. John’s on the 17th and carol singing round Ullenhall Village on the 21st December too. All of this building up to the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services in various churches and The Community Christmas Day Lunch in the parish hall.

Couple all of this with Christmas food and Christmas present shopping, local community and family parties and celebrations and we begin to realise that things are moving so fast we are in danger missing something very important. It begins on 3rd December – can you guess what it is? Well the answer is a three-week period called Advent which ends on 24th December. To many this represents no more than a day-by-day count-down to Christmas accompanied by a daily reward from a dated window on our Advent Calendar. But is there any more to it than that?

The answer is yes of course! All of the very enjoyable events above are building up a feeling of excitement in anticipation of Christmas Day arriving. Advent runs alongside all of this but potentially adds a new dimension to the build-up. Advent suggests that we slow down our expectations and appreciate them in a much greater depth and think about both long term and short term together. Setting aside some time to reflect upon the blessing and real values and relationships in life that belong in the life of every Christian believer. Values that were God given to created mankind but somehow as good as disappeared until the birth of Jesus Christ.

The birth of our Saviour marked a major turning point in the lives of mankind as a whole and his teachings and ultimate sacrifice on our behalf set the scene as to how we should live out our lives and the astonishing hope of eternal life when we ultimately pass on. We all have an equal opportunity for God’s blessing and grace and it is never too later to take time and find out just how much our lives can be improved and the lives of all those around us too. Why not drop in and see us at any of our services in Henley and Ullenhall churches (details on website henleyullenhall.church) or simply Google ‘Jesus Christ’ to find out more.

Have a lovely Christmas but make the most of Advent too!

Malcolm Aldridge

Reader

November 2023

A very Happy New Year to you all with a rush of hope and optimism

Sun, 02 Jan 2022 21:07:08 GMT

The Rectors Blog January 2022

From the Rectory: Dear Friends,

A very Happy New Year to you all. That is certainly my wish, and as they say, ‘hope springs eternal’. Despite all the difficulties we face, the New Year brings a rush of hope and optimism. Even as I write this, the spring flowers are pushing up their green leaves. Also I am so impressed with a number of individuals who are already planning good things for Henley in the coming year. Some people just can’t help themselves – they keep on coming up with good ideas! God bless them because we certainly need them! As we head into a New Year with the frustration that the pandemic is still with us, I am reminded of the good spirit that helped people through the Second World War. That period of hardship went on for six years! It certainly inspires me to ‘Keep calm and carry on’.

We often refer to difficult days as dark times. In dark times we need light. The cycle of nature will help with the inevitable lengthening of daylight hours. Hopefully we will gradually receive the light of good news – of progress and breakthroughs. But while we wait for such things it is so important that we should be like a light to one another. Jesus famously referred to himself as the Light of the World, but he equally called each one of us to shine. We receive this inspiring challenge at our baptism, and often a candle is given to us to represent that call. What a great thing it is to know that we are all trying to find ways of brightening other people’s lives. So, whether you find yourself being a guiding light, a comforting gentle light or a dazzling ‘bright ideas’ light, thank you! So, once more, Happy New Year, and may Christ indeed be the light of your world.

John Ganjavi

The build up to Christmas is well under way in Henley

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 12:03:02 GMT

Rector Blog - December 2021

From the Rectory: Dear Friends,

Sometimes the lead-up to an event can be more exciting than the event itself. Do you think this applies to Christmas? The build-up to Christmas is well under way in Henley. We have already sent shoeboxes full of goodies to children around the world, the WI have done a similarly great thing for the homeless in Birmingham, the town’s Christmas lights are in place, and the Christmas Tree Festival will start in St. John’s on 4th December. Then, of course, there is the Henley Advent Calendar with windows being lit up every day as well as Christmassy shop fronts. In all my years in Henley I have never known a more exciting build-up to Christmas! Maybe it’s because it’s a double rollover. Last year, when people expressed their disappointment at the prospect of a low-key Christmas, I suggested to them that in 2021 we could enjoy ourselves twice as much. Let’s hope it doesn’t become a triple rollover!

It is almost impossible to put the brakes on the busy momentum each December, but Advent is supposed to be time for quietness and reflection. How crazy a thought is that! But it’s also a good one, and here is the secret to making Christmas as great as the build-up to it. During Advent we are invited to contemplate the themes of hope and salvation – to think of how Jesus is indeed the light that shines in the darkness. We are to remember how faith brings such a positive and profound meaning and purpose to life. We often talk of Christmas Joy. Joy is a deep experience – it’s about that irrepressible sense of elation deep within the soul that passing troubles cannot snuff out. For many, Jesus is the source of such joy. If we want to make Christmas as great as the lead-up to it, then let’s do what is necessary so that Advent happiness leads to Christmas joy.

John Ganjavi

Guy Fawkes Day to Remembrance Sunday

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 11:59:53 GMT

Rectors Blog - November 2021

Dear Friends,

Guy Fawkes Day with its jingle ‘Remember, remember’ sets the scene for the whole of November. Soon after the fireworks, we have Remembrance Sunday (Service: 10.45 am). The following week we shall host the annual Court Leet Service (11 am). And then on 28th November it will be Advent Sunday with an extra 6 pm Service, candlelit in St. Nicholas’. Remembrance Sunday makes us look back a hundred years. Court Leet Sunday takes us back to mediaeval times, and Advent Sunday takes us back thousands of years. Each event takes us back in time and helps us to understand who we are today. We are people with a history that has shaped our values and our character. If you are a pessimist, you will see the negative common theme of human error and villainy. If you are an optimist, you will see that despite human failings we have always maintained a sense of righteousness and justice. Even in our darkest moments a light has shone. Advent, in particular, focusses on our longing for salvation. We do this, not out of despair but because we cannot help but see a vision of what might be. We just need a bit of help to make it happen. As Christians, we mark Advent with the annual invitation to Jesus – for him to enter our lives afresh as the one who can make our hopes and dreams come true. Another word for Salvation is well-being. Advent revives the vision of a healthier self, a healthier community, society and world. And with the vision comes the belief that a better future is most definitely possible. Make November special with thoughts of vision, hopes, dreams, and salvation.

Autumn is a season of hope

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 11:55:46 GMT

The Rectors Blog October 2021

Dear Friends,

Autumn is a season of hope. Flowers and trees prepare for the winter in the hope that spring will eventually come again. And, therefore, with a beautiful display of rich colours, nature sows its seeds. A message of hope in the face of adversity is exactly what we all need. The pandemic is stubbornly still with us (if not so much here, then definitely in many parts of the world). We have enjoyed the lifting of many restrictions, although we know that serious vigilance is still called for. And then there are the COP26 climate talks that will take place in Glasgow at the beginning of November. Scenes of fires and floods from across the world have shocked us all, and any hope for the future depends on concerted international effort by all nations and individuals. The world must seem like a really scary place at times, but hope comes to our rescue. We are already looking to 2022 as a year when the pandemic will finally be under control across the world. We also hope that by next year serious measures will be in place to prevent the planet overheating.

The Church has always been careful to draw a distinction between hope and wishful thinking. The main difference between the two is that there are good reasons behind hoping whilst wishful thinking is plucked out of thin air.

Autumn is a season of hope, only because we can clearly see nature doing her bit. And our hopes for 2022 depend on us doing out bit. On Sunday 3rd October our 10 am Service in St. John’s will be our Harvest Festival. The following Sunday will be our Climate Sunday. At both main 10 am Services we will be focussing on what God is calling us to do in order for us to enjoy a genuine hope for the future. I invite you to join in. At both Services we will be taking sensible measures to keep us all safe, so bring your mask and your smile as we encourage one another.

The Start of the Harvest Season

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 08:29:22 GMT

The Rector’s Blog - August 2021

Dear Friends,

Happy Lughnasadh (pronounce lunasa). The 2nd August used to be celebrated as the start of the long Harvest season, and it used to start with the pagan feast of Lughnasadh. Traditionally, wars would end as ceasefires were called so that men on both sides could return home to bring in the harvest. So far, so good. But spare a thought for the king – if the harvest failed, the king would have to take personal responsibility and sacrifice himself so that his blood might fall on the ground as a gift for the nature god who, hopefully, would reverse the people’s fortunes. Now there’s a lesson in leadership, responsibility and accountability!

Harvest time brings with it many traditions. It also reminds us of our dependency on the earth. Food in our shops ultimately arise out of the ground. In some eyes, this dependency on the earth is fascinating and magical. We are inspired to have a go and produce our own miniature harvest from our allotment and greenhouse. Some go so far as to try and achieve self-sufficiency. But if harvest time teaches us anything, it tells us that we are not just dependent on the earth, but we are also dependent on many others for our food. I dare to say that there is no such thing as self-sufficiency. Somewhere along the line somebody else’s help becomes vital.

As this pandemic drags on we have all been challenged to consider what we need in order to live well. Along with food and medicine we have recognised the need for encouragement, hope, cheerfulness, re-assurance, company, human touch, even religion. We have always been aware of the misery of loneliness, but we have now learnt a long lesson about the evils of isolation. Maybe all this has led to us re-evaluating the relationships we depend on. Maybe we have sought to refresh friendships, re-commit ourselves to contact with family, care more for our neighbours. Spiritually speaking we often talk about the presence of God in our lives. Maybe we have been forced to reconsider what this means to us and how real it is. If any of these experiences have been in your life recently, and if you have come through them more positive and strong, then just maybe the pandemic months have not altogether been a waste of time.

Many ancient religions believe that all creation shares in the one universal life force/spirit. Aboriginal thought in particular talks about the necessity of all creation living in harmony with everything that exists. Recently in church we heard a Bible reading from 1 Corinthians 12 where, blow me down, the same time-honoured thought was expressed. As harvest begins and we consider our dependency on what the earth produces, let’s also remember our dependency on one another, and God, and seek to live in harmony with each other.

The past all merges into what is labelled as yesterday

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 12:28:36 GMT

The Rector’s Blog - July 2021

Dear Friends,

It doesn’t take Einstein to tell us that time is a funny old thing. We all know that sometimes time goes very slowly. Then it can go too fast. Things that happened a long time ago are fresh in the memory, but we can’t work out why we have gone upstairs. My particular problem at the moment is that I am thinking back to a long time ago and I can’t remember exactly in what sequence things happened. I have, therefore, come up with a theory!

I reckon there are only three days: yesterday, today and tomorrow. The past all merges into what is labelled as yesterday. There is no necessary sequence. There is no ‘only recently’ or any ‘long time ago. There is just yesterday. And whatever there was, well, it’s past. It’s part of yesterday. In a similar fashion all the future is Tomorrow. It doesn’t matter if it is in a few minutes’ time or in a century hence. All that is yet to come is labelled as Tomorrow. And what links all future events is that none of them have happened yet. And then there is Today. Ah, glorious Today. The joy of the present moment. The Here & Now. The moment in which we exist, fully exist. I opened the marmalade jar, and inside the lid there was a caption: ‘Savour the moment’. Well, there’s my theory: Yesterday is gone, Tomorrow is yet to be, Today is everything. I think I need a break! Maybe tomorrow. Oh no, that’s the future.

In Genesis 1 we read about what happened on the fourth Day of creation: And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.’ And it was so. God made two great lights – the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the fourth day.

Whatever Time is, and whatever theory we might have about the past, the present and the future, the Storyteller who gave us Genesis 1 says that God created the cycles of days and years so that we might recognise and mark ‘sacred’ times. Louis Armstrong sang the ever popular ‘What a wonderful world’. In the song we hear the lyrics: “I see skies of blue and clouds of white, the bright blessed day, the dark sacred night, and I think to myself, what a wonderful world.” Maybe we all need a break to see more clearly the blessedness of each day and the sacredness of each night.

Salvation is a global issue.

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 15:58:15 GMT

The Rector’s Blog - June 2021

Dear Friends,

I hope you are all well and managing to keep up to date with events. Between me writing this article and it being published all manner of things could change. So, today’s optimism or pessimism can change within the space of a day. Today our Prime Minister is expressing an optimistic note that on 21st June all restrictions will be lifted. There is also optimism that our vaccines will protect us from extreme reaction to the Indian variant of the COVID virus. People are rushing to book a break, and there is pressure on churches and schools to go against advice and lift restrictions now. Please, could someone from the future time travel back to us and tell us how things are going to pan out! Whilst the balance of views today tilts towards optimism, the news is broadcasting a devastating clip from a poor woman in India who lost her life to COVID. This lady was a dentist in her thirties. She, and her unborn child, became victims of this awful disease. Prior to her death, this lady recorded herself pleading with the world to not trivialise the dangers of this virus.

In June 2020 I wrote the following: “Year after year we have been made aware of people suffering across the world. Whether it is abuse, discrimination, poverty or disease, we have seen the adverts and heard their stories. In all these awful situations people have had to face a diminishing of their experience of life – and that’s an understatement. How much worse it is when they look up and see others enjoying life oblivious of the needs of others. We can all cope with a great deal of suffering and deprivation provided we know that we are not overlooked and ignored. Empathy is so important.”

It is understandable that we want to celebrate the hope of better days to come, but let’s hope that we won’t forget the lessons we have learnt. Number one lesson could well be that the human race is one people, and the major issues we face affect us all and their solutions involve us all. At the time of Jesus people had a narrow view of life. Religion was there to advance the prospects of their corner of the world. Jesus challenged this parochial attitude to life, teaching that the person who lives beyond our sphere of interest is still our brother or sister. Jesus is often referred to as the Saviour of the World. Whatever we make of that claim, what is increasingly apparent is that Salvation is a global issue.

The Spring Equinox Has Come and Gone

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 16:09:39 GMT

The Rectors Blog April 2021

Dear Friends,

As I write this, the Spring Equinox has come and gone. The days are brighter and we naturally feel an uplift. Easter celebrations are imminent with the usual spirit of victory and optimism. The pandemic, however, drags on. Despite the great progress of our vaccination programme, we watch what is happening in the rest of the world with concern. As a World Health Organisation official has said, ‘We are not safe until everyone is safe’. Those who are in positions of power and influence face the challenge of being fair and non-partisan on a global scale. And God bless those facing the logistical challenge of delivering the political decisions. Now, while tackling the pandemic occupies all officials, another argument brews. Legislation is being passed that will limit people’s ability to protest during the pandemic. And that is making many protest. At the heart of all these concerns we note the key word, ‘power’. Those is power are busy trying to find the best way of using their power, and those who are not in power and busy trying to curb the power of those in power. We could say that wherever there is power, there is temptation and mistrust. It has ever been thus.

When thinking about Jesus’ ministry, we often spiritualise his message. We think about Jesus wanting to restore our relationship with God the Father. We caricaturise his teaching as addressing sin, and the need for all to repent. On second reading, however, we might detect a different story. Jesus was the champion of the people, and his work was not dominated by concerns about their eternal damnation and salvation. They were already on the same side. The true sinners that Jesus had in his sights were the power-brokers of his day. Whether it was in the palace, in the temple, or indeed in the home, Jesus confronted the abuse of power wherever it took place. He showed a different way of exercising power that always started with love. Power should only be exercised within the context of compassion, understanding, forgiveness, mercy, justice and peace. Only then is power really effective. Those in authority considered this radical view…and crucified Jesus. But on the third day he rose again. Happy Easter.

John Ganjavi

The human touch and one of the casualties is thankfulness

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 13:19:46 GMT

March 2021 Blog from the Rector

The Rector’s Blog - March 2021

Dear Friends,

When I go to a shop and buy something, the cashier gives me a receipt and I say ‘Thank you’. What am I thanking them for? They are only doing their job! But it would be very strange not to say thank you. It’s the natural and polite thing to do. These days, however, a lot of purchases happen via the internet. I purchase the product, and there is no-one to thank. Occasionally the company might contact me to write a review, but there is no individual person at the receiving end to thank. Come to think of it, when I come to the end of watching a programme on the television, I don’t say thank you to the screen nor do I applaud the actors. When our interaction is with a screen, we lose the human touch and one of the casualties is thankfulness.

Many years ago a friend of mine used to always end their letters with ‘Thanks’. I have caught the habit from him. On many occasions, however, the thank you doesn’t follow on from anything in the text of the letter. But I still add the word ‘Thanks’. It’s a kind of habit. Should I give it up? I don’t think I will. I would rather say thank you too often than too little. It just has a positive ring to it, and it expresses a spirit of thankfulness. It’s good to have ‘grateful’ as our default position.

When I pray, I often find myself starting with, ‘Dear Lord, thank you…’ even before I have thought about what I am grateful for! And then, when I do think of something I wonder if God is the right person to be receiving the thanks. Should I address God and say, ‘Thank you for all the kind people in the world’, or should I be addressing the kind people themselves. Oh dear, what a dilemma. ‘Lord, thank you for putting up with my ramblings’!

I want to say thank you to so many for the hope we now have in overcoming this pandemic. I want to also express my joyful gratitude for Spring and for all the signs of life around us. And as Easter approaches, well, say no more! Yes, there is a lot to be thankful for. Let’s make a point of making sure that those who should be receiving our thanks actually receive it…including God. Thank you.

John Ganjavi

Crab Apple Trees Full of Mistletoe

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 13:46:23 GMT

December 2020 Blog

The Rector’s Blog - December 2020

Dear Friends,

It was a very pleasant discovery to come across a crab apple tree full of mistletoe. One branch hung over the pavement, and I thought to myself, ‘If I stand here long enough I might get lucky and be able to bump elbows with someone’! During this pandemic we have had to improvise. In church we have had to refrain from shaking hands during the Sharing of the Peace, and instead we wave at one another…but it’s not the same. We have learnt to foot-tap and elbow-bump instead of hugging and kissing…but it’s not the same.

I did some research and I found out that the very earliest references to kissing can be found in Indian literature. When Alexander the Great invaded India he came across this custom and introduced it to Greece. There we are: the Greeks can claim that they introduced kissing to Europe! I also learnt that the lips have lots of nerve-endings and therefore they are possibly more sensitive than fingertips. If we want to really feel something it is useful if we can brush it against the lips. Kissing is useful! It also triggers the production of enjoyable chemicals in the brain. How very scientific.

The reason why I am sharing all this kissing information with you is to help us appreciate a phrase that was coined to describe Christmas. Back in the 1600s Thomas Goodwin, a chaplain to Oliver Cromwell, described Christmas as the time when ‘Heaven kissed the Earth’. This is a beautiful way of describing that glorious moment when Jesus was born. We can now apply our knowledge of kissing to understand what happened in Bethlehem. Through Jesus’ birth God made real contact with us. Nothing else could have been the same. The birth of Jesus was personal, emotional and moving for both God and us. As in any birth, Christmas is a true moment of glory – a time for angels to burst out singing, and for shepherds to rush off to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

At Christmas time we are all invited to visit the Manger. The experience leaves us glowing and joyful as you would expect from visiting any new-born baby. In the case of Jesus’ birth, however, it all means so much more. God shares the Peace with you and me with a kiss.

Happy Advent, and Merry Christmas when it comes!

John Ganjavi

It was a dark night, and deep in a field farm machinery........

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 19:34:41 GMT

Blue Moon for Harvest Time!

The Rector’s Blog - October 2020

Dear Friends,

It was a dark night, and deep in a field farm machinery was at work with the help of their powerful spotlights. It was an impressive sight. Despite the technological advances, however, we still have nostalgic images of manual labour working by the light of a harvest moon. Yes, but which is the harvest moon?

I have always been interested in folklore and I have prided myself in my knowledge of country traditions. But recently I have had to correct myself. I have always thought that the harvest moon is the full moon in September, but this is wrong. The harvest moon is the full moon nearest to the autumn equinox, and this year it falls on 1st October. The full moon on 2nd September was the ‘corn moon’. Sorry, but these things fascinate me. The full moon on 31st October will be the hunters’ moon. It will also be a blue moon as it is the second full moon in a calendar month. I can already hear you saying ‘Get a life’!

‘Once in a blue moon’ means something that does not happen that often. What are the things that happen in your life once in a blue moon? Getting an answer right on University Challenge? Cleaning skirting boards? Phone a friend? (Incidentally, the last blue moon was in March 2018 and the next one will be in August 2023.) So, this October we literally have a rare occasion – a blue moon – and maybe this is a good time to do something we don’t often do. What might that be? Contact someone we haven’t been in touch with for a long time? Master some new technology? Join in with Sober October? Read the Bible cover to cover? Be nice to somebody we usually ignore? Unclutter the attic? Write memoirs? Smile more often? Set a whole day aside for Bible reading and prayer?

The ‘blue’ in Frank Sinatra’s ‘blue moon’ song is just a play on words and has nothing to do with infrequent events. But the lyrics talk about ‘standing alone, without a dream in my heart, without a love of my own’. Now there’s a thought: Romance aside, how about being more optimistic and creative in October – learning to dream again, and learning to love more? And Jesus? In Matthew 16 Jesus encourages us to learn how to interpret the signs of the times. I’m just pointing out that there’s a blue moon coming. Interpret it as you wish.

John Ganjavi

Games Shows and Catch Phase Bingo!

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 09:00:33 GMT

The Rector’s Blog - September 2020

Dear Friends,

I’m giving you a warning: I’m about to say something very irritating. Here is comes, ‘So, now look, basically, at the end of the day, we need to do some blue sky thinking and run it up the flagpole.’ Apparently those are some of the most irritating phrases we hear people use. The one that gets me is, ‘There are lessons to be learnt’. When I hear it I wonder why they didn’t already know what the now need to learn. And how can I check that they have learnt their lesson? But let’s not be too harsh on our politicians. After all, have you learnt any lessons recently? Have there been moments when you have thought, ‘I should have known that’?

Do you have a favourite quiz show? The Chase, Tipping Point, Tenable, Rolling in it? University Challenge? Mastermind? I often think, ‘I should have known that’ once I’ve heard the answer. But all these game shows are about knowledge – knowing facts. There don’t seem to be any game shows where people’s wisdom is tested, contestants faced with real life scenarios and they have to make the right choices. But hang on, maybe that is what the soap operas are about. We watch people being buffeted from one dramatic situation to another and we shout at the telly, ‘They should have known better’ or ‘They should have seen that coming’.

It’s September and it’s time for children to go back to school. No doubt there are lessons to be learnt! Our schools are places where our children get educated. They acquire information, but more importantly we hope they will be made ready for adult life so that they avoid crises where they might end up saying, ‘I should have known that’, and ‘There are lessons to be learnt’.

If you had a chance to go into a school and take a lesson, what age range would you choose and what would you want to teach? What are the lessons we’ve learnt which we would want to pass on? Would it be ‘Choose your friends carefully’ or ‘Build a reputation as a good person’? Here are some of the things Jesus would want to teach: ‘Forgive, and you will be forgiven’, ‘Be courageous’, ‘Being generous is very rewarding’. And the one I like most, ‘Remember that the angels sang when you were born’.

John Ganjavi

The Rectors Blog - August 2020

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 10:00:14 GMT

A Delay in Seeing the Combine Harvesters

Dear Friends,

If you are travelling out and about you might wonder where all the combine harvesters are. Traditionally the long harvest season begins early in August but things are delayed this year because of the very wet weather we had back in January and February. Having said that, certain dates retain their significance and, whatever the weather, 2nd August is the feast of Lammas (Loafmass) when Communion bread is made from the first-fruits of the fields and brought to church. In pagan circles this festival is known as Lughnasadh (pronounced lu-naza) and it has some great traditions behind it.

In ‘days of yore’, if men were away from home fighting battles, a ceasefire would be called at Lughnasadh so that warriors on both sides could go home and attend to more important things such as bringing in the harvest. After all, what’s the point of winning a war if you are going to go hungry for the rest of the year? The local king would also travel home with them, but his would be a more anxious journey. On returning, if the harvest were good the king could relax but if the harvest were poor he could be seized upon and his blood spilt onto the earth as an offering to the nature gods for a better harvest next time. What accountability! The king’s life depended on providing for his people. Modern day politicians might want to take note!

Thinking a bit more about the Lughnasadh ceasefire, it reminds us that whatever reason might lie behind our arguing and fighting, there are always more important things in life that demand us to cease firing at one another. In the Beatitudes Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God’. One way of ending and argument is to fight it out to the bitter end. On the other hand we might want to anticipate the final cost of such warring and realise that in winning something we might lose a lot more. Wisdom is about knowing when to do battle and when to call a truce!

15th August is VJ Day when the World War 2 ended in the far-east. The nature of that campaign and how it ended may well illustrate the points made here. Let’s remember the sacrifice of many, the horrors of war and the heroic efforts of peacemakers.

John Ganjavi

God Communicates in Mysterious Ways

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 14:59:06 GMT

The Rector's Blog - July 2020

Dear Friends,

There is an old story of Moses coming across a tree that seemed to be on fire and he heard the voice of God coming out of the flames. I can’t match that story, but let me tell you about my recent BBQ.

During a recent heatwave we decided to grill some home-made pork kebabs on the BBQ. I made a glaze with olive oil, mustard and honey and as the kebabs sizzled I drizzled on the glaze. I was rather pleased with myself. Anyone watching would have thought “He knows what he’s doing” – except I didn’t. The kebabs were OK but the flames had burned most of the glaze off the meat. I now realise that I would have been much better off if I had marinated the meat to let the flavours soak in. That’s the end of my story…but then came the voice of God!

It occurred to me that the olive oil, mustard and honey were like the good things we experience in life – the random acts of kindness and generosity that make things special. Some people, like myself, have moments of inspiration when we have a surge of energy and we come up with good ideas to help others. But then the busy demands of life force us to go back to ‘normal’. Our good deeds are like the spicy drizzle that excites for a while. On the other hand amongst us there are true saints who are always caring for others. Day in and day out you can depend on them to be thoroughly good. In my silly illustration it is as though they are marinated in goodness. It’s in their DNA.

I thank God for all who have waves of enthusiasm and inspiration to do something wonderful for others, even if it is for a season. And I truly thank God for those who year in and year out can always be depended on for help and support.

Oh yes, I mentioned the voice of God. Well, he said to me, “John, when it comes to the good qualities in your life, how do you see them? Drizzle or Marinade?” God communicates in mysterious ways, but he has certainly got me thinking.

John Ganjavi

June Blog from the Rectory

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 08:56:49 GMT

Restrictions and Hardships

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

Well, we are certainly learning a thing or two about life. One recent lesson is that we are prepared to cope with restrictions and hardship provided it’s justified and fair. Part of the fairness is seeing that we are all in this together. It is very difficult to cope with limitations if we see that others are free. It is difficult to go without when others are seen to have plenty. We can cope much better when we know that we are all in it together. These are the things we have been thinking about recently, but there’s nothing new about them.

Year after year we have been made aware of people suffering across the world. Whether it is abuse, discrimination, poverty or disease, we have seen the adverts and heard their stories.

In all these awful situations people have had to face a diminishing of their experience of life – and that’s an understatement. How much worse it is when they look up and see others enjoying life oblivious of the needs of others. We can all cope with a great deal of suffering and deprivation provided we know that we are not overlooked and ignored. Empathy is so important. It is comforting when others say that they feel our pain, provided we believe them. And that believing comes when we not only hear their words but also see their actions. We know this to be true for us, and we are experiencing it to a certain extent during this pandemic. We can cope with a lot provided we know that we are all in this together.

Maybe one of the good things coming out of this pandemic will be a greater awareness and understanding of the needs of others. In a world where crises can flare up from nowhere and suffering can strike indiscriminately, where people can be struck down by illness through no fault of their own, and a life of poverty and misery can be down to the luck of where you were born, in a world where so much seems unjust and unfair we can bring a sense of justice and fairness by recognising in others our brother and sister, to respect their right to dignity, and to share their burden through words and actions.

Recently some of us believe we have tasted injustice, we have been tempted to shout out ‘Be fair’, we have felt the frustration of a world divided between ‘them and us’. And the importance of togetherness has been made very clear. Then let us rouse ourselves and champion the cause of so many in our world who might be too weary to even say ‘Remember me’.

John Ganjavi

From the Registers:

We give thanks to God for the lives of Rita Hurst, John Breaker and John Langford.

May Blog During Lockdown

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 10:25:57 GMT

VE Day 75th Anniversary During the COVID-19 Lockdown

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

8th May is the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

A lot of comparisons are being made between the war years and what we are going through now. The enemy now is a virus and the armed forces is the NHS. At the age of 103 Vera Lynn sings again to lift our spirits and a 100 year old Captain (now Colonel) Tom Moore inspires us. We are strongly reminded that 1945 is not that long ago. I recall the celebrations we have enjoyed over the years to mark the milestones – drumhead Services in St. Nicholas’ churchyard, parades and street parties. On these occasions many of us thought that we were recalling an event that was slipping away into the mist of history. And yet now we reconnect with those days. We call to mind the importance of community spirit, of resilience, of cheering each other up, raising the morale through care and comedy. Amidst the celebrations, however, we still sound the Last Post and focus on War Memorials. We are reminded that the joy of overcoming the common enemy is tempered by the sorrow of lost victims and heroes. We show our appreciation of others by waving and clapping, but we also salute which has a different feel to it. A salute is a sign of respect and honour, and there are plenty of people who deserve our salute.

Of course, as a Christian minister, you would expect me to think of God in all of this. Where do we see Jesus in this present war? The obvious answer might be that we see Jesus in our hospitals caring for the sick, in our homes consoling the anxious and bereaved, in our fundraising and every generous act, and with our scientists as they search for a cure. Depending on your view of God you will have a different image of him in mind in these varied settings. For me, one of the strongest images is that of Jesus standing in a street at 8 pm on a Thursday evening applauding the frontline key workers. He applauds those who feel they have no choice but to work, and those who deliberately choose to work for the benefit of others. Both 75 years ago and today we see Jesus saluting every act of kindness and every sacrifice made out of love.

John Ganjavi

Enquiries:

Please contact the Rector on 792570 or johnganjavi@btinternet.com for any enquiries about Sunday Club, Church Services, Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, or any other pastoral matters.

From the Registers:

We give thanks to God for the lives of Barbara Sunderland, Ray Harrison, Penny Baker, Gerald Smith, Philip Tillman, Dennis Cox and Tom Butler.

April Update in Very Unprecedented Times

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 11:23:45 GMT

Coronavirus - COVID-19

A message from the Rector:

I hope you are all keeping well. It has been a hectic couple of weeks, catching up with new instructions from the government and the Church of England and setting up new ways of being in touch with people in Henley and Ullenhall. I am so grateful to the many who have so readily volunteered to help others. In Henley there are around forty volunteers covering the whole parish delivering groceries and medication whilst others are offering to deliver newspapers. In Ullenhall, many residents were already in a neighbourhood network and offers of help are now plentiful. Each day we hear of new national initiatives to help people in practical ways as well as cheering us all up. Admittedly we also hear of thoughtless people acting in irresponsible ways, but for every one sinner there are a hundred saints.

Church members in Henley and Ullenhall are receiving spiritual input from me every week via email, church websites and letterbox. We all could do with a bit of spiritual help, especially as there are more people turning to prayer than before. Even I looked for some inspiration! I watched the Sunday Service on the BBC. It was broadcast from Bangor Cathedral. The Service was led by the dean of the Cathedral and the preacher was an ordained ex-nurse. I was so impressed that I found a way of getting in touch with them to thank them. To my surprise I got a quick response from the dean, thanking me for thanking them! I was tempted to contact them again to thank them for thanking me for thanking them, but I resisted. There are so many people doing great work for others and expressing our thanks is definitely in order. This was particularly evident in the applauding that went on nationwide for the NHS workers.

I want to finally return to my suggested ratio of a hundred times more saints than sinners in the world. For me this is a very important point because it says something very significant about human nature. It suggests that there is such a thing as common humanity and common decency. It also shows that we all have something good at our core. This message is at the heart of Jesus’ teaching. He entered a world in which too many people had a low opinion of too many people. And then there were many who believed that human beings generally were not capable of sorting the world’s problems out. Dejected, depressed and saddled with a low opinion of themselves their only hope was for a mighty divine intervention. Well, we got the intervention – not to clear up our mess, but to silence the peddlers of doom and gloom. I doubt if they will thank me for this, but I think that every volunteer is doing a divine job! Thank you, and Happy Easter when it comes.

John Ganjavi

Is Spring Just Around the Corner?

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 10:37:32 GMT

Lifespace - A Charity Helping Young People Cope With Life Pressures & Challenges

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

Well, the name of the month is March and the name of the season is Spring. March & Spring – sounds good, doesn’t it! There is a real sense of moving forward. If the thought of marching and springing forward is too much for you then maybe a gentler step of two forward will be more manageable.

Since the beginning of the year we have welcomed new faces at our church Services…people who have taken steps forward and joined in. Have you been thinking about coming along? There are some special Services in March you might like to attend.

Sunday 1st March is the first Sunday of Lent and in our Services we will be focusing on the Charity we will be supporting this year. We have chosen a local Charity called Lifespace that helps young people in our area to deal with the pressures and challenges of life. Come along and find out more.

Sunday 22nd March is Mothering Sunday and our 10 am Service will be an enjoyable Family Service. Whether you have children with you or not, come and join in with a Service that should be both fun and meaningful.

Sunday 29th March is called Passion Sunday as we remember Jesus’ passion and suffering for our sake. On this occasion we will be offering the opportunity for you to come forward for anointing and laying on of hands as we pray for Healing and Wholeness. If you want to know more, please contact me.

Finally, let’s look ahead to July when we will be celebrating the 850th anniversary of St. Nicholas’. As part of the celebrations we would like to invite those of you who were married at St. Nicholas’ to gather for a renewal of vows celebration. If this interests you then please contact me as soon as you can so that we can have an idea of how many might be interested.

Whether you feel like marching, springing or just tiptoeing forward, I hope and pray that God will bless you with the motivation and energy to do whatever will lift your spirits. The strap-line at the top of this page says: ‘Henley in Arden Parish Church – celebrating life in the heart of Henley’. We look forward to doing exactly that together with you.

John Ganjavi

Enquiries:

Please contact the Rector on 792570 or johnganjavi@btinternet.com for any enquiries about Sunday Club, Church Services, Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, or any other pastoral matters.

Transition Challenges

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 13:29:38 GMT

Brexit is happening and Lent is just around the corner

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

What does it feel like? Being in a transition period? That’s what we are now in. We have now left the EU but the rest of the year is a ‘transition period’ as we sort out a trading arrangement. During this time nothing might seem different and yet everything is different.

Harry & Meghan are also in a transition period. During the next year they will be working out their new arrangement, balancing out their public and private lives. Being in a transition period suggests that a major decision has been made but everything might change or even unravel.

Ready to get your head around a big word? Here it is: Escatology. It’s a religious word describing the stage of history we are in now. Apparently we are in an end game. According to those who know about these things, 2000 years ago Jesus won the ultimate victory over all that is evil. All that is left is to mop up the last pockets of resistance. It’s the famous “They think it is all over. It is now”.

Engagements can be seen as transition periods when couples are as good as married, although they aren’t.

Transition periods are understandable but they are not easy times. They can be unsettling, and we can be restless and unsure until they are over. Despite all the promises and reassurances we can’t feel confident and settled about any new relationship until the new arrangement is fully signed, sealed, tested, certified and operational. We await the full benefits.

In day gone by when people chose to become Christians they were put into a transition period when they could fully assess the implications of their commitment. The season of Lent (the 40 days leading up to Easter) was seen as the classic transition time when converts prepared for their baptism.

This year Lent begins on 26th February. We are invited to look carefully at our faith. Where are we in our relationship with God? Are we still testing it out as in a transition period, or have we made the decision and settled the matter?

John Ganjavi

Enquiries:

Please contact the Rector on 792570 or johnganjavi@btinternet.com for any enquiries about Sunday Club, Church Services, Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, or any other pastoral matters.

From the Registers:

We welcome, through Baptism, Charles Vito Ferro-Hill.

We give thanks to God for the lives of Graham Powers and Roy Cowdrill.

A Very Happy New Year

Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT

1170 thirty generations have come and gone

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

A very Happy New Year to you all. As a new year starts I think about all that will be going on in our country and in our world in the coming months. At the same time I am aware that 2020 is the 850th anniversary of St. Nicholas’. Since it opened its doors for worship in 1170 thirty generations have come and gone. No doubt the church marked many a major occasion in the life of our nation. At the same time endless personal moments have been marked and celebrated. Later on this year we will mark these 850 years with some special events of our own – most probably in July. Watch this space!

Historic places have an effect on us. They make us think about the passing of time. As we reflect upon all that has come and gone, we realise that these present days will also pass. One day we will all be history! Strangely enough, as well as reminding us of the transitory nature of life, historic places also give us a sense of stability. They stand in their ground, solid and enduring.

This strange combination of what is temporary and what is enduring is sometimes referred to as the ‘temporal and eternal’. One of the old prayers of the Church talks about us ‘so passing through things temporal that we lose not the things eternal’.

Of course there are some things that by their very nature are temporary and need to be enjoyed while they last. There is a lot to be said for enjoying the here and now. The Christian would want to pass through ‘things temporal’ with a lot of cheerfulness and a lot of fun. But not reckless fun. That’s the difference. I guess it is a case of ‘Let today’s fun lead to tomorrow’s contentment rather than tomorrow’s regrets!’ How great it is to wake up remembering a great party...without nursing a cracking hangover!

There is a saying ‘Tomorrow never comes’. Our historic places say otherwise. Tomorrow does come. Tomorrows come at the rate of one a day. Tomorrow we will look back on this day and we will ask ’What on earth did I do with my life’. May God bless us so that 2020 may be a great year as we live it...and also when one day we look back at it.

John Ganjavi

Enquiries:

Please contact the Rector on 792570 or johnganjavi@btinternet.com for any enquiries about Sunday Club, Church Services, Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, or any other pastoral matters.

Christmas Considerations

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 22:32:59 GMT

Bright lights, tinsel and the packed cafes and bars

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

For a lot of people Christmas is not going to be as they had expected. Our heart goes out to those whose homes have been flooded. They find themselves in unfamiliar temporary accommodation with serious financial uncertainties. For some Christmas will be different because of the changing political landscape as parliamentary jobs change hands. Sadly for some Christmas will be almost cancelled due to unexpected personal losses.

Christmas is a time when we like to know that all is well. We bring out the familiar decorations, maybe spend what we have saved, cheer ourselves up with the prospect of extra entertainment and generally do whatever we can to feel merry as we travel through the darkest days of the year. We like to feel that we have survived the passing year, secure where we are now and hopeful for the future. For many of us this is exactly what the festive season will be like, but for some it will be very different and unsettling.

In the midst of the bright lights and tinsel, the packed cafes and bars and the relentless advertising jingles two people quietly make their journey towards a stable. School Nativity Plays and Church Services invite us to travel with Joseph and Mary as they make their way to Bethlehem – two people who had had their world turned upside down in a most unexpected way. Both bemused and bewildered they make their journey. It wasn’t all glorious and angelic for them. It shouldn’t surprise us if they were frightened. In a strange way they were both travelling and at a standstill. How could they plan anything? What could they hope for? What on earth was going on?

Then Jesus is born. Joseph and Mary’s lives were still full of uncertainty and confusion, but something wonderful had happened to eclipse their fears. Maybe this is how we can all deal with unsettling and uncertain times. In the midst of the chaos we find something good to focus on and hold onto. A light shines in the darkness.

Wishing you all an Advent & Christmas full of wonder,

John Ganjavi

From the Registers...

We welcome through Baptism Oliver Matheou Richardson

A Month of Remembrance

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 11:25:21 GMT

Remembrance While Looking Forward

Henley in Arden Parish Church – celebrating life in the heart of Henley.

November 2019

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

Recently I was invited by our Church of England Primary School to be part of a careers morning. Representing a variety of careers we adults sat around the Hall while groups of children took their turn to interview us. I took the opportunity to ask the children what careers attracted them. As you can expect many of them wanted to follow in their parents’ footsteps and quite a few wanted to work with animals. I was pleased that a handful were interested in doing my job, but I was more intrigued by those who wanted to be ‘You-Tubers’ when they grow up. These children saw a lucrative future in sitting in front of a screen and joining in with online competitions. I guess I was slightly worried in an old fashioned way, but what do I know!

The world is changing at a fast pace. On the one hand we are being encouraged to travel less to reduce our carbon footprint whilst on the other hand trips to outer space are becoming possible for those who can afford it. We are eating more than ever before whilst at the same time we are worried about future food supplies. We need more housing and yet there are too many empty rooms in our present homes. DNA engineering might be able to correct many medical conditions whilst at the same time antibiotic resistant super-bugs threaten our health. Our political system is in disarray and yet there are more activists than ever protesting on our streets. Some of our children will work in the entertainment industry as You-Tubers and some of our children will hopefully solve the enormous problems facing our world.

The world is changing at a fast pace. I am convinced that all our problems are solvable. We can rely on inspiration and ingenuity but we also need a strong moral compass. It goes without saying that I believe we also need a strong and reasoned faith more than ever before.

In many ways November is a month for looking back to historic challenges and achievements. We also will be looking back to our time honoured traditions. Spare a thought, however, for all parents as they seek to equip their children educationally, socially, morally and spiritually for the future.

John Ganjavi

From the Registers:

We welcome through baptism Jude Harris Farmer.

We offer wedding congratulations to Matthew & Gemma Payne (Brinkworth) and Steve & Lynne Rutherford (Timms).

We give thanks to God for the lives of Mary Best, Helen Dunn and Brian Brinkworth.

Harvest Festival, Wholeness & Healing

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 12:45:03 GMT

A good month to start coming to church!

Henley in Arden Parish Church – celebrating life in the heart of Henley.

October 2019

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

We would love to welcome you to church every Sunday. If you are one of the many who have been thinking about coming to church but haven’t yet, then there are three special Services coming up that might be of particular interest to you.

On 6th October the 10 am Service is our Harvest Festival. This will be a Family Service in which we will sing the well-known harvest hymns, have fun thinking about harvest and collecting produce for the Stratford Foodbank. If you are able to join us you might like to bring along some of the following items requested by our local Foodbank: Rice, Breakfast Bars, Rice Pudding, Tinned Fruit, UHT Juice, Vegetable Soup, Powdered Milk, Small Jars of Coffee, Tinned Sweetcorn, Washing Powder/Liquid.

On 13th October our 8 am & 10 am Services will focus on ‘Wholeness & Healing’. If you would like to come along to one of these Services you might want to spend some time beforehand thinking about various aspects of your life – your relationships, your faith, your health in body, mind and spirit. There might be something that you particularly want to bring before God and pray that he might strengthen and help you for the better. During the Service you will have the opportunity to receive an anointing with laying on of hands as you seek God’s blessing. At no point will you be asked what your prayer request is; that can stay private between you and God. Please contact me if you want to know more.

3rd November is All Souls weekend and we give thanks to God for loved ones who have journeyed on from this life to the next. The altar will be covered in lights in their memory. If you wish to have a candle lit for a loved one, and their name mentioned in the prayers, please let me know at the Rectory by Sunday 27th October. I will need your name, their name, and the connection between you. Thank you.

John Ganjavi

Enquiries:

Please contact the Rector on 792570 or johnganjavi@btinternet.com for any enquiries about Sunday Club, Church Services, Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, or any other pastoral matters.

From the Registers:

We welcome through baptism Ocean Zephyr Lewis-Wing.

We offer wedding congratulations to Nathan & Hannah Cons (Rawbone) and James & Emily Williams (Bennett).

So.. It's Septembers Blog

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 18:02:44 GMT

Here are some of Jesus’ wise words from Matthew 7

So…who started this trend of starting every comment with ‘So’! Until recently the favourite opening line for politicians was ‘Now look’. And what happened with the good old favourite opening words ‘Well’ or ‘Umm’?

Do you get annoyed with over-used phrases? The one that gets me is ‘There are lessons to be learnt’. I often wonder ‘Why didn’t you know that already?’

‘So’, here are some things we should know already:

1. If you cut the branch you are sitting on, you will fall.

2. Ignore warning signs at your peril.

3. Smile, and the world will smile with you; weep, and you will weep alone.

4. Don’t listen to yourself at 3 am in the morning.

5. Popularity comes not from being interesting, but by being interested in others.

6. It is wise to take out insurance against having missed something in the ‘terms and conditions’ of your insurance policy.

7. A system is only as good as the people who work it.

Here are some of Jesus’ wise words (from Matthew 7)

1. ‘Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

2. ‘Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

3. ‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.’

4. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them.

There are indeed ‘lessons to be learnt’!

John Ganjavi

Enquiries:

Please contact the Rector on 792570 or johnganjavi@btinternet.com for any enquiries about Sunday Club, Church Services, Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, or any other pastoral matters.

From the Registers:

We welcome through baptism Georgia Evelyn Leaver and Joe Daniel Leaver.

Summer Time

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 09:03:35 GMT

Schools Out For Summer!

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

The school holidays are upon us.

As is customary the weather, on the first day of the holidays, was overcast. But temperatures soon started climbing and the news is of records being broken for the hottest day and night in our country. Recently I have conducted weddings here and elsewhere on days that should have guaranteed good weather. But instead cloudy skies and the occasional drizzle marked the occasions. The weather does not always bow to our wishes, and despite humorous suggestions none of us can control it. It is a strange combination of thoughts that one the one hand nature is governed by absolute laws whilst it can still be unpredictable.

There are many people who can be moody and unpredictable although at the same time they come good in the end and always deliver. Maybe that is how we see our new Prime Minister! But how about you and me? What are we like? In my job I am often asked to explain what God is like.

The typical Victorian image of God was of a deity unmoved by the turmoils in human life. Pictures were painted of Jesus with an expressionless face, looking up to heaven rather than down to earth. In contrast, the Bible paints a very different picture. In the Old Testament we come across a God who engages with people, arguing with them, caring for them, and occasionally persuaded to change his plans by them. In the New Testament the shortest verse is two words: Jesus wept. Here we have the Son of God deeply moved by events. So, did the Victorians get it all wrong? I guess the point they were making was that God’s true character remains the same at all times and in all circumstances. So, here is our God: passionate and caring, open to being moved by events, and yet always true to his core character – Love. God is surprisingly approachable and utterly dependable whatever the weather.

John Ganjavi

Enquiries:

Please contact the Rector on 792570 or johnganjavi@btinternet.com for any enquiries about Sunday Club, Church Services, Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, or any other pastoral matters.

From the Registers:

We welcome through baptism Daniel James Hargreaves, Remy Stephen Arthur Reynolds, and Margaux Lillie Thompson-Gardner.

We offer wedding congratulations to Jonathan & Katie Wilde (Adams).

We give thanks to God for the life of Les Goodman.

Lunching With Old Friends

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 14:22:24 GMT

July's Blog from the Rectory

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

I recently had lunch with a friend I hadn’t seen for 44 years. The conversation was easy and enjoyable. We had been at school with each other, and we lost touch when we went to university. That was a time when the world was opening up for us; opportunities beckoned and careers were being chosen. Now, my friend has retired. That long span of time known as our ‘working life’ is over for him.

Retirement can be a very challenging time. It is not just about having no more employment. Suddenly life catches up with you. You realise that you are no longer young. Also, retirement can bring on a crisis of identity as we are no longer defined by what we do for a living. It is not surprising that at such a time it is good to meet up with friends from school days. It helps us regain a sense of who we are. It is almost like saying ‘Now where were we before adult life overwhelmed us’. Thank God for life-long friends! We will now keep in touch more regularly.

Here are some words from King David in Psalm 139: You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

He goes on to say: My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand – when I awake, I am still with you.

David then goes on to have a rant about his enemies! But the point is made – God knows us best. He is the true life-long friend. He holds us together in every crisis.

John Ganjavi

20/20 Eurovision

PH779999 — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 09:06:20 GMT

June's Blog seen through euro tinted spectacles!

Henley in Arden Parish Church – celebrating life in the heart of Henley.

June 2019

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

On 18th May we experienced the annual humiliation otherwise called the Eurovision Song Contest. Assuming we will never do well we still enjoy the excuse for a party. And let’s be fair, the programme always offers remarkable stage productions and plenty to talk about. (Honest!) For example, Madonna was interviewed and she reminded us how music brings us all together. What do you think? It would have been good if Ukraine were there alongside Russia, and maybe Syria or Lebanon alongside Israel. Why not…if Australia can be included. But, never mind, lots of nationalities were represented and they all had a good time.

Talking about what brings us together, it interested me that the German Eurovision song was sung in English. In fact many countries chose to sing in English. Being able to communicate in a common language certainly helps us get together and to get on with each other.

This brings me to the story of the Tower of Babel . In Genesis chapter 11 we read the story about how everyone had a common language. And so they got together and decided to build a city with a tower that reached to the heavens. But God intervened and caused confusion by giving them all different languages. This is an odd story. At the time it was a cautionary tale against urbanisation. It was also a word of warning against the idea that we could achieve anything we wanted if we all worked together. I told you it was an odd story! Anyway, the good news is that another historic event took place to reverse the message of this story.

Fifty days after the Resurrection, (at Pentecost) Jesus’ disciples experienced an extraordinary event in which the Holy Spirit came upon them like heaven-sent dynamite. An explosion of activity followed in which people of every language under the sun heard the Gospel in their own language. Prior to this moment, religion had been a local matter with each nation claiming exclusive rights to God. Through this dramatic development a new message of love and salvation was going to sweep the world, hopefully uniting people from every tribe and language. The Church became the first missionary organisation with a global message for everyone.

What can unite us is a positive good news story about the value of each individual life that respects diversity of culture and opinion – a message that reminds us just what can really be achieved when we all work together for the common good. (It’s amazing what the Eurovision Song Contest can make you think about!)

John Ganjavi

May is the month that the England springs into bloom

Fri, 03 May 2019 08:56:51 GMT

How was Easter?

Henley in Arden Parish Church – celebrating life in the heart of Henley.

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

I missed it! Due to illness I missed all the Easter Services. The most talked about, thought about, written about, argued over and believed event in all history was celebrated, and I missed it. Thank goodness the Easter season goes on for seven weeks. Plenty of time to catch up. And then there are other important festivals which are unmissable. On Thursday 30th May we will be celebrating the next festival – Ascension Day. According to the Bible, forty days after the Resurrection Jesus ascended to heaven in a dramatic fashion. Extraordinary and significant. He entered heaven. Will we?

So many of us speak so assuredly about going to heaven when we die. Where does this idea come from? The festivals take us step by step through what we need to know. Don’t miss them! We will be marking Ascension Day on Thursday 30th May with hymns and prayers 7 am on the Mount, and then 7 pm in St. Nicholas’.

Another date for your diary is 10 am on Sunday 19th May. The annual Civic Service is an opportunity for us to get together as a community, to give thanks to God for one another and to pray for God’s blessing on our town. Please come along if you can.

Finally, I have been very busy mapping our churchyard and locating graves going back a hundred years. Soon we will need to make serious decisions about the churchyard, its capacity and maintenance. I need your help in locating 30 graves. Check the list below; you will see names and the year they were buried. Thanks for your help.

John Ganjavi

Can you help me locate the graves of the following people? Any information would be helpful.

Annie Elsey 1951, Charles Freeman 1954, Jonathan Taylor 1954, May Crompton 1957, Vera Knight 1966, Walter Clifford 1969, Thomas Beard 1972, Thomas Daniel White 1973, Ernest John Edkins 1974, George Henry Hodges 1976, John Henry Spike 1976, William Wilkes 1976, Lilian Grace Croft 1977, Barbara Cathrine Hartwright 1978, Ellen Lily Box 1979, Mary Hodges 1979, Wilfred Middleton 1983, Ruby Doris Taylor 1983, Alfred Frank Vaughan 1984, Annie Newbold 1984, Henry Hughes Nash 1985, James Graham Sparshott 1988, Elizabeth Alice Wilkes 1988, Basil Percy Bryant 1990, Albert Walter Edkins 1990, Hazel Chatwin 1991, Edward John Malins 1993, Raymond John Swain 2005, Brenda Lilian Hadley 2007, Ann Margaret Roberts 2007.

April, Easter & Remembrance

Thu, 04 Apr 2019 16:49:13 GMT

Spring is Sprung - well nearly!

Henley in Arden Parish Church – celebrating life in the heart of Henley - April 2019

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

Two thousand years ago people were far less knowledgeable than today. They had no access to industrial power or any of the inventions of the electronic world. We refer to their way of life as primitive. Their need to make sense of the world, however, was as strong as ours but due to their ignorance they came up with fanciful ideas. Superstitions arose along with far-fetched religious opinions. And yet however much their life was different from ours, it was equally real. The realities of life and death were all around them. They knew when someone was alive and they certainly knew when someone was dead.

On 19th April we will be remembering someone who died on a cross, and on the 21st April we will be celebrating their resurrection. The witnesses to these events may have had a primitive lifestyle compared with our sophistication, but nevertheless they understood what they had experienced. Someone they had known very well had died, and three days later we was alive. Soon a whole new world order would be established based on their encounter with the risen Jesus. The world’s calendar would soon use Jesus’ birth date as a pivotal point for the whole of history. The witness accounts of those ‘primitive’ men and women would come to be known as ‘gospel truth’.

Every Sunday we hear a reading from one of the Gospels. We hear the stories of men and women. For a little while we are transported back in time and we stand alongside them. It is extraordinary how, despite nearly 2000 years separating us, it is so easy to identify with them. They lived, they had responsibilities, they had joys and sorrows, they had hopes and fears, and they had insights and questions. They lived real lives, and when they met Jesus they believed they had met the real thing.

I hope you don’t mind that I haven’t made any reference to present day issues. Occasionally there are moments when we have to stop, stand back, and remember the bigger picture. Happy Easter, and may God go with you.

John Ganjavi

Enquiries:

Please contact the Rector on 792570 or johnganjavi@btinternet.com for any enquiries about Sunday Club, Church Services, Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, or any other pastoral matters.

From the Registers...

We welcome, through Baptism, Henry Joseph Marlow.

We offer wedding congratulations to Julian & Samantha Turner (Waterfall).

We give thanks to God for the lives of Jane Jones and Patricia Ralphs.

From the Rectory March 2019

Thu, 28 Feb 2019 09:50:26 GMT

March thoughts of Ash Wednesday and beyond

Henley in Arden Parish Church – celebrating life in the heart of Henley in March 2019

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

Every time there is a weather forecast the presenters cheer at the thought of sunshine and above average temperatures. In the next breath they warn about climate change. Then there is a cheery comment about needing a drink followed by a sad story about alcohol abuse.

Just one more example (while I’m in a grumpy old man mood): we see thousands of children going on protest marches about saving the planet, but no-one spells it out that our lifestyles need to change for the sake of our environment. Yes, we need political action, but we also need to make changes in our own lives. What all these stories have in common is that what we have intellectually decided to be important needs to work its way into our conversations, attitudes and lifestyles. “Don’t just believe it. Do something about it.” I think it is a Jewish philosophy that says we cannot claim to believe something if there is no evidence in our life to prove we believe it. There’s nothing new about this view.

As Eliza Doolittle sang in My Fair Lady: Words! Words! Words! I'm so sick of words! I get words all day through; First from him, now from you! Is that all you blighters can do? Don't talk of stars burning above; If you're in love, Show me! Tell me no dreams Filled with desire. If you're on fire, Show me!

Wednesday 6th March is Ash Wednesday – the start of a serious season in the church leading up to the joy of Easter.

During Lent we are invited to do something based on what we believe. Less words, more action. It’s a time to follow Jesus in a more determined way. Our determination to act upon our faith will be shown as we use ash to make the mark of the cross on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday. There will be Services in St. John’s at 10 am and 7.30 pm on that day. Pop in to St. John’s during March and see what’s on the table at the back of church by way of suggestions of what we can do to make Lent special.

John Ganjavi

Enquiries:

Please contact the Rector on 01564 792570 or johnganjavi@btinternet.com for any enquiries about Sunday Club, Church Services, Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, or any other pastoral matters.

From the Registers...

We give thanks to God for the lives of Susan Morgan, Kevin O’Brien and Susan Osborne.

February 2019 Blog

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 12:46:18 GMT

Welcome to a very cold February from the Rectory

Henley in Arden Parish Church – celebrating life in the heart of Henley.

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

It was only the third week into January and I noticed snowdrops blooming. We had a spate of mild weather and the birds started chirping as though it were Spring. For goodness sake (if I may address plants and animals for a moment) don’t you realise what time of the year it is! We sophisticated humans have developed diaries and calendars. We know where we are in the year. It is, however, an interesting exercise to see how much of our understanding of time is in harmony with nature.

A year follows the solar cycle, and the months roughly follow the lunar cycle. Each day is one revolution of the planet. But there is no natural law to say that there must be 24 hours to a day and 60 minutes to the hour. The world could (if it really had nothing better to do) divide the day into 20 hours and each hour into 100 minutes. Let decimals rule the planet! But what about the seven day week?

Have you ever wished for an extra day or two in the week? A ten day week would give us three extra days! At first sight a seven day week seems like an arbitrary division of time – like 60 minutes and 24 hours. But take a second look at the facts. There are many natural seven day cycles governing the way our bodies function. Whichever way you interpret the Creation Story, it seems that the establishing of a seven day rhythm to life was not a random decision made by the storytellers. And again, whatever you make of the ‘10’ Commandments, the fourth Commandment addresses the seven day cycle and hallows one day in seven as a day of rest. Jesus picked up this point and explained that having one day off in seven is not about being forced to conform to a command, but it is actually good for us.

It isn’t that long ago that Sundays had a different feel to them. The young found them boring and the rest of us found them restful. Times change, but have they changed too much? Have we got a healthy rhythm to our lives? Within our weekly cycle have we allocated enough time for our physical, mental, social and spiritual well being?

John Ganjavi

Enquiries:

Please contact the Rector on 792570 or johnganjavi@btinternet.com for any enquiries about Sunday Club, Church Services, Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, or any other pastoral matters.

From the Registers...

We give thanks to God for the life of Michelle Fossett-Dudley.

From The Rectory January 2019

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 12:34:19 GMT

Christmas Reflection

Henley in Arden Parish Church – celebrating life in the heart of Henley.

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

Happy New Year to you all. The start of the year is a time for hoping and wishing. I hope that 2019 will be a year of happy moments and solid joy for us all. Let’s pray for God’s blessing that we might start the year with renewed strength and inspiration. Let us support one another in our careful planning and the determined efforts to pursue our goals. What! Does everything have to be down to us? How about hoping for unexpected happy moments, and how about being at the receiving end of other people’s kindness? Well, there is always hoping and good luck to us all. However, I am sure that only a few of us would want to rely just on chance for our happiness and joy. The healthier option is to grasp life and to make the most of each day. I hope you enjoy the following version of the 23rd Psalm:

The Lord is my pacemaker – I shall not rush.

He makes me stop and rest for quiet intervals:

He provides me with images of stillness,

Which restore my serenity.

He leads me in ways of efficiency

Through calmness of mind, and His guidance is peace.

Even though I have a great many things

To accomplish each day, I will not fret –

for His Presence is here:

His timelessness, His importance will keep me in balance.

He prepares refreshment and renewal

In the midst of my activity,

By anointing my mind with his oils of tranquillity.

My cup of joyous energy overflows.

Surely harmony and effectiveness

Shall be the fruits of my hours;

For I shall walk in His house forever.

John Ganjavi

Enquiries:

Please contact the Rector on 01564 792570 or johnganjavi@btinternet.com for any enquiries about Sunday Club, Church Services, Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, or any other pastoral matters.

From the Registers...

We welcome through baptism Elizabeth Beatrice Quick and Jessica Violet Gladys Jones.

December - Celebrating life in the heart of Henley.

Sat, 24 Nov 2018 10:21:51 GMT

December 2018

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

On a recent day out in London my son and I visited the Harrods Christmas department – just to browse but not to buy. We admired the great variety of baubles, but our favourite was a colourful bauble in the shape of a shish kebab. We were too stunned to laugh. (If you don’t believe me, check out the website.) As their advert says ‘Enter a different world’.

Sometimes Christmas time is just that – entering a different world. We save up for it, we plan and we hope. We transform the dark December days with sparkle and glitter. We remember Christmases gone by and we try our best to re-create the dream. ‘Christmas is for children’ we say, and so we all become children again. We hope for miracles and we create magical moments. And why not. We spend so much time dealing with life as it is; what’s the harm of occasionally stirring the imagination and wondering what might be.

We think of our own lives and we ask whether we have got it right. ‘Is this as good as it gets’? This is quite a question under normal circumstances. If, however, we are dealing with a deep sadness and loss or if we are finding it all too much, then the question can be very urgent. Can we hope for better days? Can we still dare to dream? The extraordinary power of Christmas is that it nudges even the most reluctant towards positive action. Even broken hearts find the energy to wish others a Happy Christmas. And then it begins to happen – by thinking of others, by doing something good, we find a deep sense of wellbeing. Once more we find the redeeming power of being good and doing good. This could well be the heart of Christmas magic.

So let’s all become children again. Avoid being cynical or pessimistic. With childlike imagination let’s see the wonder of what might be. And then with adult experience and ability let’s create magical moments for others. Are you old enough to have learnt the lesson of working with glitter? Use it to make something for others, and you will find a lot of it rubs off on yourself.

Wishing you all an Advent & Christmas full of wonder,

John Ganjavi

Enquiries:

Please contact the Rector on 792570 or johnganjavi@btinternet.com for any enquiries about Sunday Club, Church Services, Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, or any other pastoral matters.

From the Registers...

We welcome through Baptism Harrison Mills.

We give thanks for the lives of Alan Bant, Stuart Ross and Nicholas Marlow.

October 2018

PH779999 — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 22:01:53 GMT

Henley in Arden Parish Church– celebrating life in the heart of Henley.

October 2018

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

Every time I look at the news channel I am told there is some ‘breaking news’. My immediate reaction is that something has just happened that I must be alerted to. Then I realise the same story has been ‘breaking’ for the last six hours. The ‘Breaking News’ caption is just a tool being used to grab my attention by making events sound more exciting than they are. And while I am on the subject, what about the regular exciting news alerts about the next meteor shower, super moon, passing comet and planets alignment? We get excited and stay up to watch the spectacular scene only to end up with a cloudy sky! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not turning into a grumpy old man. I am just slightly bothered that things need to be sensationalised to grab our attention and, despite events often not living up to the hype, we fall for the next jolt and breaking news.

Excitement is great, and we all enjoy the occasional quickening of the pulse. At the same time there is huge merit in learning to enjoy the ordinary pace of life and the predictable routines of everyday living. How wonderful it is to have settled into a rhythm of life with its ebbs and flows, with plenty of the usual and the occasional extraordinary.

Contentment in life is a prized possession. In Philippians 4: 11-13 St. Paul says: I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him (Jesus) who gives me strength.

Finally, Sunday 4th November is All Souls weekend and we give thanks to God for loved ones who have journeyed on from this life to the next. The altar will be covered in lights in their memory. If you wish to have a candle lit for a loved one, and their name mentioned in the prayers, please let me know at the Rectory by Sunday 28th October. I will need your name, their name, and the connection between you. Thank you.

John Ganjavi

Enquiries:

Please contact the Rector on 792570 or johnganjavi@btinternet.com for any enquiries about Sunday Club, Church Services, Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, or any other pastoral matters.

From the Registers...

We welcome through Baptism Piers James Harris.

We offer wedding congratulations to Chris & Chelsea Harfield (Bailey).

We give thanks for the lives of Hilary Morrison and Patricia Lee.

The Rector’s Monthly Message – August 2018

PH779999 — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 12:28:07 GMT

Is it hot enough for you?

From the Rectory - Dear Friends,

Spare a thought for our farming community as the prolonged hot weather affects the crops. For some of us the hot weather is inconvenient, but for some it endangers their livelihood. We would all like to think that our way of life is robust with deep reserves of everything we need. In reality life is more delicately fine-tuned than that. In recent debates about trade we have learnt how industry relies on precision timing for supply chains and deliveries. Delays cost millions. Similarly in farming, get a weather calculation wrong and the harvest can be ruined. But hey, we are all convinced that this heat-wave is a blip and that next year we will be back to soggy summers. What if we are wrong?

Self-sufficiency is promoted as a virtue. In the face of unpredictable climates we are encouraged to rely on ourselves. Furthermore we are commended if we live well within our means. Cushioned against the uncertainties, we can make our way carefully through the weeks and years. All this sounds like good advice, and yet something about this way of life worries me, especially if it is extended into every area of life.

There is another vision of the world in which I rely on you and you rely on me. We are dependent on each other. Not over-dependent or a burden but nevertheless dependent. This way of life requires us to be aware of each other, loyal, reliable, and dependable. Our natural position would be to be involved and supportive. This could be very healthy. After all, we promote ‘closely-knit families and communities’ as to be admired.

In an uncertain world let us remember the story of Cain & Abel in Genesis 4. The punchline is clear – we are our brother’s keeper.

John Ganjavi

Enquiries:

Please contact the Rector on 792570 or johnganjavi@btinternet.com for any enquiries about Sunday Club, Church Services, Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, or any other pastoral matters.

From the Registers...

We welcome through baptism Abbie Fendick.

We offer wedding congratulations to Freddie & Annika Thornton (Theilgaard).

We give thanks for the life of ‘Mim’ Tomes.