The Parish Magazine St. Oswald's Church Croxley Green - of - April/May 2020
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The Parish Magazine
of
St. Oswald’s Church
Croxley Green
April/May
2020
1
Because of the Covid-19 virus pandemic, services and
church events are suspended until further notice.
Please see St Oswald's website
stoswaldschurch.org.uk and Facebook page for
announcements.
St Oswald's Church, 17 Malvern Way, Croxley Green,
Rickmansworth, Herts. WD3 3QL
Contacts
Vicar: Revd. Robert Riley-Braley tel:01923 332244
email: vicar@stoswaldschurch.org.uk
Lay-Reader: Tony Barton tel: 01923 897256
email: tony.barton@stoswaldschurch.org.uk
Lay-Reader: Magdalena Pletsch
email: magdalena.pletsch@stoswaldschurch.org.uk
Church Warden: Maurice Lisley
email:maurice.lisley@stoswaldschurch.org.uk
Church Warden: Steve Carpenter
email: steve.carpenter@stoswaldschurch.org.uk
Treasurer: Karen Pryse
email:karen.pryse@stoswaldschurch.org.uk
PCC Secretary: Brian Thomson
email: secretary@stoswaldschurch.org.uk
Hall Bookings: email hall-bookings@stoswaldschurch.org.uk
General Enquiries email: info@stoswaldschurch.org.uk
2
Dear friends,
We are certainly living in unprecedented
times. Like you I am struggling to come to
terms with daily developments and their
implications and, as you can imagine,
there has been a stream of
communications from church authorities
as to how we should respond to the
Covid-19 pandemic.
The Church of England has already instructed that all regular church
services should be suspended and the latest Government directive is
that churches should now remain completely closed. That doesn’t mean
that the life of St. Oswald’s is in abeyance - our church is its people.
However, it does mean that, as our Archbishops have said, we shall
need to become a “different sort of church” in the coming months. I am
writing this letter to begin to spell out what that might mean for us.
In talking to people from the congregation and out and about in the
village, I’ve observed a fair bit of understandable anxiety and some
regrettable denial of the seriousness of the situation, but I have also
been struck by a tremendous positive spirit, good humour and
generosity. People I thought of as “on their own” have spoken of the
support of good neighbours and that is most encouraging.
MU p8, Marylebone Project visit p9, Hymn of the month p11,
Blessed are the meek p13, Croxley Rambler p16, Bible readings
and prayers p20, Memories of growing up in Croxley Green p23,
Hope for the Future? p27, Eco-Tips p29, Intercessions p30,
Poem p33, In Memory p34, Puzzles p35
3
The Parish Council have taken the excellent initiative of setting up a
volunteer scheme to provide help to those who need it. I had initially
thought to set up a scheme for church members but, bearing in mind the
safeguarding and logistical issues, I would instead urge anyone in a
position to do so to contact the Parish Council (email:
info@croxleygreen-pc.gov.uk; tel: 01923 710250) and get involved with
their scheme.
Please do continue to support one another informally. If you or anyone
you are aware of is sick or having to self-isolate, please let me know
(332244) or, if I am unavailable, Tony Barton (897256), Margaret Cox
(460183) or Lynn Williamson (442759).
Because of the need to maintain social distance much of our ministry will
need to be conducted by telephone or over the internet. On Sunday
mornings, I am hoping to put out a short prayer service on Youtube.
Please do check for
announcements on the St
Oswald's website and
Facebook page, also my Rev
Robert Facebook page – and
repost if appropriate to
spread the word. We are
using our Churchsuite
software to keep in touch
with as many people as
possible. If you are not
already and would like to be
included, please email Jane
Brading
(janebrading@hotmail.com).
Radio and TV are a good
source of worship
opportunities. The BBC will
be broadcasting a new
Sunday morning worship
Easter Saturday Taizé service 2019 programme on BBC One as
4
well as Songs of Praise and the regular Sunday Worship services on
BBC Radio 4. Premier Christian Radio (MW 1305, 1332, 1413 & 1566 in
London and Surrey, DAB nationally, Freeview 725) also has a full
Sunday morning programme. More resources will be becoming
available in due course.
For daily prayer, why not explore the Daily Prayer page on the Church
of England website (www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-
us-service-daily-prayer) or use the Daily Prayer app? There are
resources specifically for this time, including ideas for children, at
www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-
liturgy-and-prayer-resources.
In your prayers, as well as remembering the sick, the frail and the
anxious, health and emergency service workers, medical researchers
and national and local governments, please also pray for our 10%
mission giving agencies, especially those which serve the most
vulnerable in our society: ASCEND in South Oxhey, the Church Army
Marylebone Project for homeless women and Alternatives East London.
On a local and practical level, we can donate to the Foodbanks either
through the bins at Rickmansworth Waitrose and Tesco or at the Baptist
Church between 1 and 3pm on Mondays.
I have been thinking a lot over the last few days about the Lenten
subject of Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness. Our current situation
could be seen as a time of trial or temptation. Will we give in to fear,
selfishness and suspicion or embrace courage, hope and caring? No
doubt there will be times when we fail. Thank God that we have a
Saviour who triumphed over temptation and shares his grace with us!
Here’s my mini-sermon based on his responses in the temptation story
in Matthew 4:
“One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes
from the mouth of God” - so let someone else have that can of
beans! And now is an ideal opportunity to dust down your Bible.
The readings for Sundays in April and May are given on pages
20 and 21 so that you can follow them: use the Bible contents
page to find the passage.
5
“Do not put the Lord your God to the test” - so don’t take
unnecessary risks: observe hand hygiene; stay at home except
for essentials; observe social distancing. You are protecting not
just yourself but others too.
“Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him” – remember
you can worship God anywhere. Try to maintain “holy habits”.
You could use some of the prayers provided on pages 21 and 22.
See also the suggestions for broadcast worship above. And, as
appropriate, serve God by serving your neighbour.
With my prayers for you, for our church and for our world,
Yours sincerely,
Robert
St Oswald's flower cross
Easter 2019
6
St Oswald’s Church – who are we?
We are part of the Church of England in the St. Alban’s Diocese.
Our Vision is . . .
to be a joyful, prayerful and caring church;
alive to the Holy Spirit;
welcoming and accessible to all; building
relationships
with God and the community we serve
You will find us at Malvern Way, Croxley Green, WD3 3QL,
just off Baldwins Lane. There is a direct footpath link from Baldwins
Lane into the rear of the church grounds and car park access from
Malvern Way. The office entrance is at the back of the church hall
7
St.Oswald’s Diocesan Mothers’ Union Group
For our February meeting we were entertained by Julie
Carpenter with Magic, Rabbits and Handcuffs.
Julie was born in Watford, educated at Yorke Mead School and moved
on to Durrants School. Whilst in the Sixth Form she was inspired by her
Drama Teacher and enjoyed singing, participating in several school
productions and Chanticleers productions. She followed in her brother's
footsteps joining the Police Force but the experiences were not the most
enjoyable and she left after 7 years.
Julie enjoyed entertaining people and
having fun and set up “Just Games” for
Children’s Parties with Dave Muskett
and their reputation increased greatly
by word of mouth. This developed into
her interest in magic, becoming a
member of the Watford Association of
Magicians, attending Blackpool
Magicians' Conventions and
International Magicians' Conventions.
Her claims to fame have been the “Dick
and Dom in a Bungalow” and “Celebrity
Scissor Hands” on television.
During the afternoon she had our rapt attention performing magic tricks
with cards, ropes, balloons, a treasure box, bandana, rabbits and a
teddy bear. Julie had many of us participate in her tricks. It is easy to see
why both children and adults are enthralled by her shows – we can
thoroughly recommend seeing her perform should you get the chance.
We thank Julie for entertaining us with her suitcase of tricks.
8
During our tea and cake break we celebrated a very special occasion
presenting Eileen with a birthday cake (with candles!), card and present
from us all. In February Eileen celebrated her 90 Birthday.
th
Congratulations to you on this very special occasion!
Dates to note:
September 6 – Cake Sale in the Church Hall after the Family Service.
th
Organised by MU members to raise funds for St. Oswald’s. More
information later.
Janet
A Visit to the Church Army's Marylebone
Project
Stef Robinson reports on an Open Day at one of St Oswald's
10% charity projects
The Marylebone Project is one of projects are more aimed at men.
the charities St Oswald’s gives
regularly to. I had heard a little bit The group taking the train to Baker
about this Church Army project Street on 25 January consisted of
when Des Scott talked to us on a Maurice and Anne Lisley, Robert
Sunday morning, but I was keen to and myself. We made our way to
know more when Robert asked for one of the two buildings and were
volunteers to welcomed with drinks and biscuits.
visit an open People who came to the Open Day
day in London. mostly came from churches who
I knew the supported the project, but there
project was were also those who were
aimed at interested in volunteering or even
homeless applying for a job.
women, which makes it less usual
as homelessness amongst women During the day we heard from a
is much more hidden and most client and a volunteer, and we had a
9
guided tour of the two buildings in
which there were living
accommodation; communal
kitchens reminiscent of student
accommodation (not as messy); job interviews, and there is also
rooms for therapy, socialising and collaboration with an international
courses; catering facilities and bank, where employees give some
rooms that are rented out for time, for example to do renovations.
meetings to generate income. The
project has 112 beds and supported At lunchtime we were treated to a
46 women into independent living buffet prepared by the women who
last year. are being trained in the catering
business, and we really enjoyed it.
Women who come to the project The second house we were shown
have to be referred, and there is is aimed at those women who do
funding from the Council, but there not need as much support anymore,
are also a few places that do not so the staff-client ratio is different.
depend on Council funding in order This is a preparation for
to help women who otherwise could independent living.
not be helped. There is a drop-in
café with opportunities to talk, rest With state-funded support being cut
and feel safe. So far it is only open all the time, the project really needs
to the early afternoon and the our help, and we all thought that it
project would really like to extend was very worth-while.
opening hours to times where their
services may be needed even
more.
Women who stay with the Project
can have therapy, and the courses
(like crafts, music, gardening,
learning catering and IT skills) are
aimed at boosting confidence,
helping to deal with trauma, and
helping with finding and keeping a
job. There is training for interviews,
a clothes store to equip women for
10Much associated with Holy Week is this hymn:
O sacred head, surrounded by crown of piercing thorn!
O bleeding head, so wounded, so shamed and put to scorn!
Death’s pallid hue comes o’er thee, the glow of life decays;
Yet angel-hosts adore thee, and tremble as they gaze.
This powerful Passiontide hymn comes from a Latin original via the
German, and is now found in several distinct English translations as well
as several hybrid versions. It is the last part of a long medieval poem
which addresses the various parts of Christ’s body on the Cross,
believed to have been written in the fourteenth century.
In the mid seventeenth century this part of the poem was translated into
German by Paul Gerhardt (1607-76), a Lutheran pastor who wrote over
a hundred hymns.
The first translation into English was published in 1752. The version
quoted above is by Henry Williams Baker (1821-1877) and dates from
1861. Baker was vicar of Monkland, near Leominster, where the light
duties allowed him to devote time to writing hymns (including O praise
ye the Lord and The king of love my shepherd is) and to be much
involved in the early editions of Hymns Ancient & Modern, where his
version first appeared. The version we had in the New English Hymnal
was made by Robert Bridges in 1899 and opens with the words O
sacred head sore wounded, defiled and put to scorn, which may be
more familiar.
The last verse seeks Christ’s compassion:
In this thy bitter passion, good Shepherd, think of me
With thy most sweet compassion, unworthy though I be:
Beneath thy cross abiding for ever would I rest,
In thy dear love confiding, and with thy presence blest.
continued p.12
11The English versions, as well as Gerhardt’s German, are all sung to the
tune Passion Chorale which was composed around 1600 by Hans Leo
Hassler (1564-1612), not for this purpose at all but for a love song. The
tune was a favourite of J S Bach who used it five times in his St Matthew
Passion and once in his Christmas Oratorio. Bach was adept at
borrowing other composers’ tunes and supplying his own intricate
harmonies – two arrangements are given in the New English Hymnal but
only one in Ancient & Modern.
Quentin Phillips
Dawes Common, Sarratt - Brian Thomson
12Beatitude:
“Blessed are the meek“ by Margaret Cowlard
Without warning, an arrow was shot among the assembled gathering
and we recoiled from our half- dazed state. The arrow was tipped with
the ‘wake-up’ message:
"if you had been there in the Temple and seen the two men praying,
where would you be sitting? Picture yourself in that situation and think
about it - one man outwardly displaying good deeds and the other a
sinner.”
Having read the passage from the Bible describing the two men praying
in the Temple (Luke 18, v10), the Preacher then fired this question at us.
A startling question – a searching question. The Pharisee had faithfully
embraced the dictates of the law and assumed it meant that he was a
good and honest citizen. So why shouldn’t he take pride in such an
achievement?
As for the man at the back of the room, he was a much despised Tax
Collector – a real scoundrel. Something must have touched him, for he
felt a need to pray. Was it possible he could be attempting to mend his
ways?
Well, here was the situation and to me, it didn’t need much thinking. With
the self-assurance of a youth and one only lapping the Christian
‘crumbs’, I returned home knowing the answer. Of course as a Christian,
I would be sitting about halfway up the room and near the front. I was as
good as the Pharisee, wasn’t I? And surely I was far better than the Tax
Collector. I imagined I had reached the right conclusion and would soon
be climbing lofty spiritual heights.
Recently (could it have been that same arrow!) I was pierced by a shot
and I remembered. Oh yes, it was my turn to recoil when I saw my
younger self claiming near spiritual perfection and was horrified. What
arrogance! Who on earth did I think I was? continued p.15
1314
from p.13
I felt quite meek and humbled. It was not for me to judge myself. That
was God’s prerogative. I wonder what he must have thought. But what of
the expression “inherit the earth”? I don’t see this message as
forecasting a literal outcome - I shall not be an heir to riches untold.
Rather, I feel that when Jesus spoke these words, it is possible he was
referring to the coming of the heavenly kingdom: “a new heaven and a
new earth” (Revelation 21, v1).
So in a way, perhaps it is irrelevant as to where I am on the spiritual
ladder as long as my feet are firmly planted on one of the rungs and my
eyes clearly focused on God. The sense of competition and achievement
seems to occupy an important place in our modern culture, but does it fit
comfortably within my Christian faith, I wonder.
Being humbled in the sight of God has enabled me to be more prepared
to fit into his new kingdom. He has blessed me with the ability to think
more widely and understand many other points of view to which I
wouldn’t have given a second thought in earlier times. To live ‘outside
the box’ is nothing of which to be proud, but simply a blessing.
Dear God our Shield and our Defender,
guide and protect my neighbour in this time of
health emergency; deliver them from all harm and
may your love and care ever grow in this place.
Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Amen.
15A CROXLEY RAMBLER'S DIARY
13th March 2020
Brian Thomson wanders from Chorleywood to Sarratt via
Chenies
After all the wind and rain of recent weeks it was good to get outside in
fine, if cloudy, weather. There was a cool breeze and the magnolias
were out in the gardens as I made my way for the train. The Metro
newspaper stands were still half full at 9.40 a.m., suggesting that plenty
of people were working from home because of the coronavirus rather
than taking the underground as usual. At Chorleywood I walked down
the steps to Lower Road and followed the valley through the shops to
Whitelands Avenue and the entrance to Carpenters’ Wood. Stepping
from the suburban street into the wood is almost like entering a different
world. I stood for a while listening to the birds - robins, blue tits, great
tits, a blackbird in the distance and a crow and some jackdaws in the
background. The wood’s name suggests that it might have been a
place where bodgers fashioned chair legs for the Chiltern furniture
industry. Even though the day was cloudy there was plenty of light
through the bare branches of the tall trees illuminating celandines and
violets on the woodland floor. The leaves of smaller trees such as elder
and hawthorn were already showing bright green. Some children had
been busy making bivouacs from fallen branches.
I followed the path into the wood and scared a jay which made off into
the trees. Under foot the ground was less muddy than I had expected
after all the rain. However, on the other side of the railway embankment
it was a different story. Water must have rushed down the track
scouring the slope and then turned the flatter areas into a glutinous
swamp. I picked my way through as best I could and walked up
through Halsey’s wood noticing the ancient banks on both sides of the
track. Beyond the wood, I heard my first skylarks of the year and
stopped to search for them. At length, I caught sight of one high above,
a black dot against the grey clouds, while a red kite quartered the
ground below. Approaching the Amersham road, several dappled
donkeys, which were not doing very much, gazed lugubriously in my
direction. It is easy to see how A A Milne got the idea for mournful
16Eeyore.
Across the main road, on the corner of the lane, I was pleased to see
that someone had planted daffodils on the verge. They made an
attractive show. Hidden behind the hedge is a pond which may well
date from the days when drovers needed refreshment for their animals
while taking them to market. But it is badly overgrown now. I walked
around the edge, looking in vain for frog spawn.
Chenies Manor and St Michael's Church
I took the avenue
leading from the main
road to the stables at
the back of Chenies
Manor and noticed
that a number of
small businesses are
using the buildings
there. My aim was to
look over the Chess
valley from the track
leading to Stony Walk
wood and Little
Chalfont. There is a
delightful view across
'Queen Elizabeth's Oak' at Chenies Manor - the gentle hillside to
Brian Thomson the clustered houses
of Latimer and the
trees beyond. I made my way back to the Manor and walked around
the perimeter of the garden, stopping to look at the wonderfully gnarled
and stunted ‘Elizabeth’ oak (beneath whose shade the Queen is
supposed to have sat) and the neatly clipped hedges beyond. All was
quiet at Chenies School which advertises itself as ‘a caring place to
learn’. Hopefully there was lots of learning going on indoors.
I turned up towards the front entrance of the Manor beside the deep
shade of the ancient yews in St Michael’s churchyard. Leaving my
muddy boots in the porch, I spent a few minutes inside the peaceful
17church. The building dates from the 12th century and was substantially
rebuilt at the end of the 15th century. Superficially it is similar to many
other small Chiltern churches but there is an unusual feature. The north
aisle, constructed in the 16th century, forms the Bedford chapel,
described by Pevsner as ‘the richest single storehouse of funeral
monuments in any parish church of England’. It is almost as large as
the rest of the building and, sadly from my point of view, is not
accessible. However, I peered through a window in the screen which
separates the chapel from the nave. The sun illuminated the stained
glass Russell family coats of arms and silhouetted a monument to a
long dead Duke.
At the bottom of the Manor House drive, near the Green, there is a
substantial house labelled with a blue plaque. The front garden was
bright with daffodils. In 1947 it was the home of the Marquess of
Tavistock. I don’t know if he would qualify for the blue plaque scheme
anywhere else but, as the 13th Duke of Bedford, he was responsible for
opening Woburn Abbey to the public as a way of generating enough
income to keep it going. Chenies’ red brick houses around the Green
make a harmonious picture with their gables and tall chimneys.
Mount Wood and the River Chess
I crossed the grass and headed along the lane which leads to
Mountwood Farm. A footpath leads around the farm buildings,
including the elegant Georgian-style farmhouse, and across a meadow
towards Mount Wood. As I turned the corner two small shapes darted
along the woodland margin - a pair of roe deer, heads and small antlers
erect, unfortunately soon out of sight. You are much less likely to see
roe deer in this area than the dog-like muntjaks, so I felt uplifted.
Bluebell leaves were out in profusion under the trees as I made my way
down the hillside and out onto Holloway Lane.
The lane leads to a ford across the Chess with a small footbridge. The
river was full and flowing fast. I paused on the bridge and noticed a
figure in waders standing in the stream with some kind of device on a
tall pole. He said he was measuring the flow for the Environment
Agency. It was around a cubic metre per second (i.e. 1,000 litres per
second) which compares with dry weather flows that can drop to as
18little as 150 litres per
second. (The average
UK household uses
about a third of a cublic
metre per day.) I asked
him about the water
quality. He said that
someone else had the
responsibility to
measure quality but he
thought it was pretty The Chess by the ford at Holloway Lane -
good. However, I have Brian Thomson
since checked the River
Chess Association website and discovered that there are serious
concerns about the discharge of untreated sewage from the works at
Chesham. There have been a number of incidents over the winter,
caused by the wet weather, which has led to groundwater entering the
sewers, and inadequate capacity at the treatment works. Thames
Water need to invest more to stop this happening.
I walked on past the watercress farm and noticed that the beds were
flooded but empty of cress. Hopefully that doesn’t mean there won’t be
a crop this year. The meadows alongside the lane show ample signs of
high groundwater levels in new ponds amongst the pasture. I paused
by a large oak blown down in the winter gales while some alpacas
grazed nearby - their eccentric ‘Afro’ hairstyles almost covering their
eyes. I continued along Sarratt Bottom, past a cottage with the
delightful name of ‘Cakebread’. Sheep and Canada geese grazed the
meadows on the other side of the stream. Opposite Sarratt Mill I
climbed the hill towards the 18th century manor house of Goldingtons.
Its whitewashed walls make it a prominent landmark at Church End,
Sarratt. Just beyond is the parish church and my objective today, the
Cock Inn, for brief lunch by the fire with daughter and grandson.
Writing this on 24 March, the day after the Government’s instruction to
stay at home because of Corvid-19, I hope it won’t be too long before
my next carefree ramble will be possible.
19EDITOR'S NOTE
There is no Diary in this issue because all of St Oswald's services and
meetings have been suspended for the time being because of the
Covid-19 emergency. We will let you know as soon as they resume.
The latest information will be posted on the church website
www.stoswaldschurch.org.uk and the church's Facebook page.
PLANNED FUTURE EVENTS
- A Musical Evening with Cherith and John Malcolm June 12th
- Café O at the Revels June 20th
- Cake Sale Sunday Sept 6th
- Jumble Sale October 17th
- Quiz October 24th
- Beetle Drive November 7th
- a 1940s themed Dance November 14th
- Christmas Puddings & Craft 29 November 29th
The next edition of the magazine will be published in June. Please send
items for the next edition by Sunday May 17th to
magazine@stoswaldschurch.org.uk
BIBLE READINGS FOR APRIL
SUN 5 PALM SUNDAY
Isaiah 50. 4-9; Matthew 27. 11-54
Thu. 9 MAUNDY THURSDAY
Exodus 12. 1-14; 1 Corinthians 11. 23-26; John 13. 1-17, 31-35
Fri. 10 GOOD FRIDAY
Isaiah 52.13 - 53.12; Hebrews 10. 16-25;
John 18.1 - 19.42
Sat. 11 EASTER EVE
Job 14. 1-14; Matthew 27. 57-66
20SUN. 12 EASTER DAY
Acts 10. 34-43; Matthew 28. 1-10
SUN 19 SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
Acts 2. 14a, 22-32; John 20. 19-31
SUN. 26 THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
Acts 2. 14a, 36-41; Luke 24. 13-35
BIBLE READINGS FOR MAY
SUN. 3 FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Acts 2. 42-47; John 10. 1-10
SUN. 10 FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Acts 7. 55-60; John 14. 1-14
SUN. 17 SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Acts 17. 22-34; John 14. 15-21
Thu. 21 ASCENSION DAY
Daniel 7. 9-14; Luke 24. 44-53
SUN. 24 SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
(SUNDAY AFTER ASCENSION DAY)
Acts 1. 6-14; John 17. 1-11
SUN. 31 PENTECOST SUNDAY
Acts 2. 1-21; John 20. 19-23
A prayer about the Coronavirus outbreak
Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy in this time of
uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support the anxious and fearful,
and lift up all who are brought low; that we may rejoice in your
comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ
Jesus our Lord. Amen. continued on p. 22
21from p. 21
For those in isolation
God of compassion, be close to those who are ill, afraid or in
isolation. In their loneliness, be their consolation; in their
anxiety, be their hope; in their darkness, be their light;
through him who suffered alone on the cross, but reigns with
you in glory, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For those who are worried and for social cohesion
Loving Jesus, you are compassionate to those in need and
heal the sick in body and mind. Look kindly on those who are
fearful at this time. Help us all to put away all thoughts and
actions that separate us from you and from one another.
Give us grace to live our lives confident in your promise that
you are with us always. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, you taught us to love our neighbour, and to
care for those in need as if we were caring for you. In this time of
anxiety, give us strength to comfort the fearful, to care for the
sick, and to assure the isolated of our love, and your love, for your
name’s sake. Amen.
For those who are ill
Merciful God, we entrust to your unfailing and tender care, those who
are ill or in pain, knowing that, whenever danger threatens, your
everlasting arms are there to hold us safe. Comfort and heal them, and
restore them to health and strength; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
For hospital staff and medical researchers
Gracious God, give skill, sympathy and resilience to all who are caring
for the sick, and your wisdom to those searching for a cure. Strengthen
them with your Spirit, that through their work many will be restored to
health; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
From one who is ill or isolated
O God, help me to trust you, help me to know that you are with me,
help me to believe that nothing can separate me from your love
revealed in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
22MEMORIES OF GROWING UP IN CROXLEY GREEN -
PART TWO
Janet Staerck continues her story of
secondary school, shopping, Guides,
Cubs and the dreaded dentist.
I moved on to Rickmansworth Grammar
School, as it was then, so I never had far to
travel!! At all three schools I went home for
dinner, and only very rarely had to sample the
school dinners. I was in Mrs Riddle’s form until
Year 11 and then Mr Packford’s for the Sixth Form. Again I was into
sports and was in all the teams. Money was also being raised for a
Swimming Pool, but this time it was not completed until after I had left.
However, my son, Rob, also went to the School, many years later, so
we did get some use out of the pool. He had Mr Parker as form tutor
who shared Rob’s love of rugby. Later I joined Rickmansworth School
as a member of staff so, as a family, we have had a long association
with the school. I was involved with the celebrations of the 50th
Anniversary and contributed to the wall hanging celebrating this. People
connected with Ricky over the years were invited to make a design
depicting their memories of the school. It was a brilliant piece of work
which took hours to make, showed much creativity and hung in the Long
Gallery for all to see. I hope the hanging is still in pride of place as it
shows important aspects of the School’s life.
I always came home for lunch and would often go across the road to the
bakery (opposite All Saints Church) to buy the milk loaves we always
had which were less than a shilling each (5p!). Whenever we had a
netball or hockey match on a Saturday, we always had cream or iced
buns for refreshments from the bakery. That was always a highlight.
When I was young we did not have a freezer so shopping was a regular
activity. There was a butcher's in the parade of shops on the opposite
side of the road to the Met Station. They always had sawdust on the
23floor. A corner shop was at the top of Yorke Road and New Road and I
would often go on my own to fetch items. There was also Mr Hunt’s
shop at the top of Scots Hill, opposite the School, where we would buy
groceries. The Co-op was where it is now but was divided into a food
section on the left hand side and a haberdashery section on the right.
The lady and gentleman who served in there used to live in Watford
Road. The assistants would fetch the items you requested. In the
haberdashery department I was always fascinated by the wooden
drawer units that seemed very tall but had glass fronts so you could see
what was in the drawers. Most school uniform could be purchased
there. In the food department I remember sitting on a very tall stool
waiting for the shopping to be completed. Some foods would be
weighed out by the assistant and wrapped in greaseproof type paper,
for example butter and bacon - not like today’s prepacked items from
supermarkets.
There was Busy Bees along New Road with
the jars full of sweets, and Wright’s, the shoe
shop which was double fronted, possibly
where Carrs now is. When I was little my
shoes were always purchased there and the
lady serving seemed to be very old, always
wearing black, with her long grey hair
wrapped round her head with a coloured
band interwoven in her hair. She was a
proper lady and we as children had to keep
quiet and still. Wade’s, the newsagents, was
opposite the Co-op and the Library used to
be in Watford Road next door to what was
Penney’s Carpet and Furniture Shop. The Library had wooden shelves
round the wall and down the centre but they seemed so tall to little me!
On Sundays, after our roast dinner we always had a walk, perhaps
around Croxley Woods, or along the Chess Valley towards Loudwater.
Sometimes we would walk along the canal past all the barges, either to
Ricky or to Watford past the Dickinson Mills, where Byewaters has been
built. We would walk miles but would always come back to tea round the
open fire watching the Sunday early evening serial – the one that comes
24to mind is The Count of Monte Christo - we would toast crumpets with
the brass toasting fork over the fire and sometimes chestnuts and then
of course a fancy cake especially for Sunday. It was always a highlight
of the week! I remember one week on our Sunday walk there had been
a tremendous snowfall, and the snow was so deep it came up to the
window sill. We walked on the Green and had a snowball fight and
walked back by All Saints Vicarage where the snow had been piled high.
Me being me, I climbed the heap only to find it was not solid and I fell
into it right up to my neck. It took a while to get me out!
We had Harvest Festival Services up at Killingdown Farm and it always
seemed such an adventure. I remember Anne Oke taking part in the
service when our sons were young. We all enjoyed sitting on the sweet
smelling bales of hay.
I was a Brownie at St Oswalds with Mrs Kingham and Sue Middleton,
and was taught the Maypole Dances by Miss Newman (whose family
had the flower shop along New Road towards the Met Station) in the hall
at the Dickinson’s Guild Hall on the corner of Dickinson Square and New
Road where the flats now are. Then, on Revels Day, we would perform
the routines we had learnt. On Sunday 3rd October 1965 Dickinson’s
Guild Hall burnt down – we could see all the flames and smoke from the
25back bedroom window. It was burnt to the ground, but it was such a
shock to the community of Croxley Green. It was a popular place, with
lots of groups meeting there – shows were often put on, the one I
remember was the Wizard of Oz.
Then I progressed to Guides at All Saints with Mrs Dutton, and I loved it
– the camping, camp fires and sing songs and the cooking over the
open fires. I can almost
hear Miss Nash saying
‘make a chain, make a
chain’ as this was the
easiest and quickest way
to get all the gear from
the van to the camp site. I
can clearly remember
having to clean our shoes
till they shone and
cleaning the Brownie and
Guide Badge with Brasso
and that had to shine too – if not points were deducted!
This led me on to becoming a Cub Leader for many many years at the
Scout Hut in Watford Road, passing all the knowledge onto others. The
fun we had come rain or shine. Once, at Chorleywood Camp Site we
had so much rain that we wore black sacks over our shoulders and we
had to dig a moat round our site. We got so wet – the things we do when
young! I like a few home comforts now though, not least my bed! Whilst I
was part of the Cub unit the building at the back was built by many of the
Dads – quite a feat.
As children we went to the Dentist on the Green – it was the White
House beside the entrance to the Tennis and Bowls Clubs. We always
had to take a letter to school to be excused lessons to go for the dental
appointment. It was not a place I enjoyed going. It always had a funny
smell and Mr Howe had fat sausage-like fingers and always seemed to
try to get them all in my mouth at once! It was a far cry from the dentists
today, and the fear I had then has stayed with me all these years!
26Hope For The Future?
Magdalena Pletsch asks where our hope comes from in
these days of Climate Change and Covid-19 emergency.
In our Spotlight Service in January we asked ourselves this question: is
there hope for the future? News looked bleak at the beginning of the
year: devastating wildfires in Australia, climate change urgency, more
US troops deployed in the Middle East. And since then, COVID 19 has
become a threat and is keeping our streets empty. The panic shows in
stockpiling and empty supermarket shelves. Do we have hope for the
future?
For Christians, hope is rooted in the present: it is rooted in God who
simply loves us, who never stops looking for us. God wants to be in a
relationship with us and wants to use us to bring his Kingdom about.
Every time when we say the Lord’s prayer, we
remind ourselves of this: Your Kingdom come.
Jesus promised to those who believed in him, life in
fullness (John 10:10). He, the good shepherd would
care for them, protect them so they could make
good choices for their lives. After his Ascension his
followers were sent on a journey to become agents
of hope. Wherever they went around the
Mediterranean new communities sprang up,
communities where members of different social and racial background,
where men and women could live together. They made the Kingdom of
God visible in their lifestyle.
We can all show in our in our actions that we have hope for a different
world, a world not threatened by disaster, war, division and pandemic.
How can we be agents of hope now?
A lot of the discussion that followed picked up environmental issues.
We need to educate ourselves about the threats to life on earth in the
future and train ourselves to see opportunities for putting the 5 Rs into
27action: recycle, reuse, reduce, repurpose, refuse. (Follow the regular
tips about this on the pew sheet.) Flying – can we/should we avoid it?
Is offsetting our carbon footprint enough? Do we need a culture
change, a complete rethink about our economic system? Do companies
need to grow continuously and encourage us to consume ever more?
Other voices called us to think about our relationships: sometimes a
friendly smile is all the is needed to encourage hope in others. How do
we see the homeless, the refugees? Are we making an effort to see
people as individuals rather than as a problem? How can we be good
neighbours in the time of COVID 19?
There are many issues we can’t influence directly but we can pray for
inspiration for ourselves and for politicians. We live in a democracy
where politicians only do what people ask for. We need to let our
politicians know that we are concerned about the disadvantaged,
climate change, people suffering because of war. In this way too, we
can be agents of hope.
Spring hazel
catkins
28ECO-TIPS
At the January Spotlight service on ‘hope for the future’ we thought
about things we can do to help with some of the challenges our world is
facing, including our environment. Here are some suggestions for when
life is back to normal:
Reduce waste
• Take a plastic bottle to the hardware store at the bottom
of Baldwins Lane to refill with washing up liquid, laundry liquid,
conditioner and other cleaning products.
• Pass the Party (Croxley) is a community project to help
reduce waste created at children's parties. If you are holding a
children's party book through their Facebook page to borrow re-
usable cups, plates and serving bowls.
• Visit the greengrocer at the top of Baldwin's Lane to buy
fruit and veg in the quantity you need without any packaging.
• Look out for the Green Store, a zero waste shop due to
open in April at 125 New Road, selling a range of package-free food,
detergent refills & household products.
• Buy loose tea or biodegradable teabags e.g. Clipper or
PG Tips.
Re-use, recycle
• Crisp packets, toothpaste products, clean pouches from
baby food and dog food: bring to church for Mim to recycle through
Terracycle.
• Contact lens waste: recycle at Watford Boots opticians
counter.
• Milk bottle tops: recycle at Lush Cosmetics in Watford.
• Padded envelopes: re-use if possible; if not, tear open
and remove inner padding so paper part can be recycled even if
padding can’t.
• Junk mail: if printed only on one side use blank side for
notes or shopping lists before recycling.
More eco-tips to follow in the next issue. Please give suggestions to
Jane Brading.
29Intercessions for each week
The following suggestions for prayer week by week are by no means
exhaustive. They are intended as prompts to encourage our prayers for:
the life of our church; the charities with which we are connected; the
roads of our parish; the village and the wider community.
Sunday 29 March to Saturday 4 April
Parish Magazine
The Marylebone Project (Church Army Women’s Hostel)
Girton Way, Malvern Way, Sherborne Way, Winchester Way
All Saints’ Church
Sunday 5 to Saturday 11 April
Baptism preparation and follow-up
Christian Solidarity Worldwide
Claremont Crescent, Lancing Way,
Winton Crescent, Winton Drive
Parliament and our MP Gagan Mohindra
Sunday 12 to Saturday 18 April
Café O and First Friday
New Hope Trust
Dulwich Way, Lincoln Drive, Lincoln Way, Little Green Lane
Shaftesbury Court
Sunday 19 to Saturday 25 April
Home Group, Prayer Fellowship and Prayer Ministry Team
Church Urban Fund
Baldwins Lane, Kenilworth Drive, Manor Way, Rochester Way
Churches Together in Croxley Green
Sunday 26 April to Saturday 2 May
Sunday School and Creche
Christian Aid
Durrants Drive, Hastings Way, Lewes Way, Norwich Way
Our Parish Nurse
30Sunday 3 to Saturday 9 May
Our Mission Action Plan
Watford Schools Trust
Merchant Taylors Place, Appleby Drive, Gloucester Court, Hertford Cl,
Pevensey Way, St Mawes Cl, Scarborough Drive, Scotney Cl
The Queen and Royal Family
Sunday 10 to Saturday 16 May
Choir and church musicians
The Children’s Society
Dover Way, Ludlow Way, Richmond Way, Warwick Way
Archbishop Justin, the Church of England and the Anglican Communion
Sunday 17 to Saturday 23 May
The Vicar and Readers
USPG
Canterbury Way, Gade Bank, Links Way, Rousebarn Lane
Parish, District and County Councillors
Sunday 24 to Saturday 30 May
Mothers’ Union and Men’s Breakfast
Watford and Three Rivers Refugee Partnership
Dorrofield Cl, Hazelwood Road, Mayfare, Sansom Cl, Watford Road
Our Diocesan Bishops, Alan, Richard and Michael
Sunday 31 May to Saturday 6 June
Companions and Junior Youth Club
A Rocha
Beechcroft Ave, Oakleigh Drive, Sycamore App, Sycamore Road,
Valley Walk
Our local shops and businesses
Prayer List (end of March) We pray for Paula Timmins, Fr. Philip
Cross, Jean Langston, Alan Clifford, Tony Furr, Joan Morris, Myra
Banks, Debbie Clifford and Angela Sedgwick; also for our 10% mission
giving recipients - USPG, CMS, Christian Solidarity Worldwide,
ASCEND, Church Army Marylebone Project, Alternatives Newham,
Watford Schools Trust and A Rocha.
31Jesus Christ
He brought a
message of
love and peace.
Many disagreed with his teachings
and his influence. To make him cease
they nailed him
way up high,
left for three
days dead to lie.
Even now we
remember
His sacrifice,
His victory!
David Hunsberger
(a remote relative of Quentin Phillips, by permission)
32IN MEMORY
Please remember in prayer the families of those listed in our
Remembrance Book for April and May
John HAMBLIN ~ 17th Jan 1938 to 1st April 1998
Bessie TUCK ~ 15th Aug 1906 to 3rd April 2002
Raymond John CHALKLEY - 13th November 1931 to 3rd April 2019
George Edward CULLEN ~ 9th May 1921 to 8th April 1978
Ann Elizabeth WALTON - 14th May 1933 to 11th April 2013
Muriel Christine Edith CHURCHILL ~ 27th Dec 1915 to 19th April 2006
Stanley John CHILD ~ 18th Nov 1905 to 12th April 1989
Sidney James MADGWICK ~ 11th Sep 1904 to 12th April 1989
Marion Rose PARR ~ 15th March 1946 to 14th April 1984
Mary BISHOP ~ 23rd Aug 1926 to 25th April 1998
Robert Stephen WILSON - 9th April 1940 to 29th April 2018
Doreen Constance BARNES - 30th Apr 1922 to 2nd May 2015
Peter GIBBENS ~ 25th Sep 1927 to 6th May 2012
Richard SMITH ~ 14th March 1913 to 6th May 1994
Gladys Patricia BALDWIN ~ 17th March 1903 to 8th May 1990
Martin STRANZ ~ 5th Sep 1890 to 13th May 1976
Norman Roy SCOTT ~ 6th May 1931 to 15th May 1994
Courtenay George TILLEY ~ 18th Sep 1945 to 16th May 2006
Harry Leonard CURNOW - 18th March 1930 to 16th May 2014
Francis George William WOODHOUSE - 5th June 1920 to 18th May 2013
John Graham THOMSON - 12th Feb 1913 to 30th May 1998
Pamela Doris PRATT ~ 25th Nov 1936 to 31st May 2011
33Cryptic Crossword By Richard Lee
21 Stick to where the
little poster should
be placed we hear
(6)
22 Is in the procession to
reach nirvana (8)
23 Bills when I mix with
novices (8)
24 Give life to by mode
management (6)
Down
1 Neat boy to fix a sharp
blade (7)
2 Flowery way to create
a tenor (6)
3 Rush in an
uncontrolled way
to a chosen
Across occupation (6)
6 Nag a carnivore (6) 4 Roughly sketch it, being solidly
7 In a way, each dive was attained built (8)
(8) 5 Beaten around having hard finish
8 Deal with the subject of a at a lower level (7)
number of years or rate of 9 Exist even when moved and
spread (8) wide ranging (9)
10 Company member of 11 Redeem and adapt differently
parliament the Spanish force having moved aimlessly (9)
to act (6) 15 Force to live once,
12 An urgent letter contained outrageously (8)
something soft and mild ((6) 16 Having a disposition for looking
13 Begin again to give the after (7)
paintings a break it seems 17 Disease mutates to the beach
(7) (7)
14 Plotted a course to get a divan 19 Uncover and make vulnerable
somehow (9) (6)
18 Energy poised to become a 20 Distorted to exclude prawns
serial part (7) from the menu that’s held up (6)
20 Keeper of the battle shelter
perhaps? (6) 34Suguru Puzzles by Richard Lee
Each grid below has tiles of between 1 and 5 cells each and the cells of
each of these tiles are filled with digits from 1 up to the number of cells
in that tile with no digits being repeated. Thus a tile made up of 5 cells
would contain one each of the digits 1 to 5. In addition, within the whole
grid no two similar digits are adjacent horizontally, vertically or
diagonally. Can you fill all the cells of the box?
1. 2.
? WILDLIFE QUIZ ?
1 What is the fastest land 8 A group of hedgehogs are
animal in the world? known as what?
2 What is the uk's only 9 Which animal never sleeps?
poisonous reptile? 10 How many legs does a
3 How long do stag beetles lobster have?
spend most of their life underground 11 Which farmyard animal
as larvae; 1, 4 or 7 years? came out top in intelligence tests?
4 How fast can the Peregrine 12 Which animal's name means
falcons fly; 242, 360 or 180 mph? 'river horse' in ancient Greek?
5 Which bird will not land at all 13 What animal is the closest
on its annual journey to and from its living relative to the T-Rex
winter-quarters in Africa? dinosaur?
6 A snail can sleep for how 14 How many tentacles does a
many years; 1, 5 or 3? squid have?
7 A mandrill is what type of 15 What sort of animal is a
creature? fennec?
35Puzzle Answers
1.
2.
WILDLIFE QUIZ 1. Cheetah. 2.
Adder. 3. 7. 4. 242 mph. 5. Swift. 6. 3.
7. Monkey. 8. An array. 9. Bullfrog. 10. 10.
11. Pig. 12. Hippopotamus. 13. Chicken. 14.
10. 15. Desert fox.
Some African Proverbs
The sun does not forget a village just because it is small.
The child of an elephant will not be a dwarf.
If you know something can swallow you, don't let it lick
you.
A wise man shuts his mouth, but not his door.
36HOMOEOPATHY
Lynn Williamson
Homoeopath
L.C.P.H., M.C.P.H., A.R.H.
01923 442759
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through use of this holistic system of treatment.
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Principal Practitioner @ The Osteopathic House
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The Osteopathic House, 38 Church Street,
Rickmansworth, Herts., WD3 1DJ Telephone: 01923 896655
37JAMES PEDDLE LTD
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They pride themselves on giving a caring and understanding
24 hour personal service.
Home arrangements by appointment.
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