From the Rector

Religion and people of faith who practise it in its many forms often attract the attention of a media industry whose hunger for news of scandal or tragedy seems insatiable.  So the threatened burning of the Holy Quran by a pastor in Gainesville Florida on the ninth anniversary of what we’ve come to know as ‘9/11’ was followed quickly by the issues inevitably given an airing in anticipation of the visit of the Pope exposed Christians in a way that could have made us all feel very defensive.

When truth, in the guise of religious faith, is offered to a fragile world via the agency of human beings and earthly institutions there is invariably going to be a bit of a mess to clear up.  After all you can’t usually get to the flesh of ripe fruit without having to peel away skin or crack a husk.  The resulting detritus seems to get everywhere and only the savouring of the contents makes the effort worthwhile.

The challenge to the believer is how to offer, through healthy and inspired missionary activity, fruit that will last and without causing offence.  Christians are bound by their professed discipleship of Jesus to” go therefore and make disciples of all nations” according to the gospel imperative which appears at the end of Matthew’s gospel.

A Christian is one who is sent to proclaim the truth as revealed by God in Christ.  It’s ‘what we do’.

I write these words on what happens to be Holy Cross Day when the church remembers that God made, through the passion of his own son, an instrument of painful death to be for us the means of life and peace.  As a direct result of this the followers of Jesus are asked to ‘gladly suffer’ in the face of assaults from within and beyond its community.  Therefore neither the scandal of abusive behaviour by official representatives of institutional religion in any number of our Christian denominations nor the outrages perpetrated by fanatical extremists against people of other faiths and beliefs can justify either the wholesale dismissal of the gospel truth or the burning of any writings held sacred by people of faith.

Mission has always left some sort of mess whether it came in the form of Spanish or Portuguese imperial adventure in South America or a version of Dutch Reformed Christianity which sought to uphold the horrors of apartheid in southern Africa up until recent times.

St .Faith PCC’s Parish Development Committee is working on identifying clear mission objectives that, alongside our sister churches in Havant, will present and proclaim a faith that humbly acknowledges the mess of mission past.  We shall all wish to heed the sentiments of the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches who wrote the following words in his letter to the heads of Muslim religious communities throughout the world on the occasion of the end of Ramadan: “Religious leaders have a unique role and the moral responsibility to work towards reconciliation and healing within their own communities and between communities”.

Quite so.  We may also be guided by a prayer written by Canon Alan Amos rector in the Diocese of Canterbury at a time of threats of book-burning:

‘Kindle a flame of sacred love’

Lord save us from kindling passions of hatred;

Rather grant us grace

So that through acts of faith and love

We may call others to the life of holiness and transformation.

Grant your wisdom where there is lack of understanding,

Insight where there is a spirit of aggression,

Humility when we are tempted to proclaim all the answers:

Through Jesus Christ our Lord,

Amen.

Peter Jones

Holy Cross Day (14^th September)

From the Editor

This month, on 21 October, it is the 205^th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar - last month it was the 70^th anniversary of the Battle of Britain – but are people interested these days?  If we had lost these battles we would probably be speaking and reading this in German, assuming we still had a Church of England.  When one hears the lack of knowledge on quiz programmes one can see that the teaching of history is not one of the top subjects any more.

You may have read in the September edition of the “Pompey Chimes” (pages 12 & 13) the draft diocesan budget for 2011 and the four suggested options.  Should option 1 be accepted then our parish share will increase by £2,130 to £49,171; option 2 it will increase by £1,710 to £48,751; option 3 it will increase by £389 to £47,430; and for option 4 it will decrease by £31 to £47,010.  At a meeting for Deanery Treasurers on 6 September that was attended by Bishop’s Council members, Diocesan Staff and Havant Deanery Parishes, St. Faith’s voted for option 2 for the reasons given in the “Pompey Chimes”.  The Bishop’s Council will set the budget in November.  It should be noted that the parish share accounts for almost 50% of our total annual income but our annual stewardship donations account for just under half of the parish share.

Colin Carter

Mission to Japan??

‘Why are missionaries like prunes?’

‘Because they go into the interior to do good!’

Should missionaries go to Japan?  Should they tell people there to believe in Jesus, even if the Japanese who believe are persecuted, lose their jobs and cannot find a marriage partner?  Isn’t Japan an ancient civilisation with its own system of beliefs that is as equally valid as ours?  Shouldn’t we Christians rather feel guilty for all the mistakes made in the past by Christendom and make amends by good works minus the preaching?  Shouldn’t we atone for our superiority complex by being tolerant of any faith?  And anyway aren’t Christian ministers needed here with the widespread social disintegration we see in this country?

The popular image of a missionary is a young man in a pith helmet who tramps off into the jungle to educate the natives about Western scientific ways, heal their diseases and teach them morality with Bible stories.  And so it seems patronising and anachronistic to send missionaries to other cultures.  And it seems intolerant, bigoted and superior to tell them their traditional beliefs are wrong, and that we are right.  And Japan which is at least as developed as us surely shouldn’t need missionaries!  These are serious questions and they are best answered by going back to first principles and asking ourselves what should we believe, what is the Christian faith and what is our mission.  Protestants have always gone to the Bible to find the answers to these questions.  They have done this because they saw people within the Bible, including Jesus, doing the same thing.  They went to previous revelation to determine the will of God, what to believe and how to act.

The Bible clearly teaches that God made the world and all the people in it.  Furthermore he is not indifferent to how they behave.  In Old Testament times he issued strict judgments not just on the Israelites but on the other nations at that time.  In the New Testament the barrier between Jew and Gentile is broken down and all people without distinction are told to repent and believe.  Jesus’ own message was summarised by ‘repent and believe the good news’ (Mark 1:15).  Paul tells the educated Athenians ‘In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent’ (Acts 17:30) just like he had told the ignorant idolaters in Lystra ‘We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them’ (Acts 14:15).  These are kind invitations (with wonderful promises too) but they are still imperatives: it is not optional whether you repent and believe.  And there are threats if you don’t.

Why should this be so?  The New Testament teaches that the one God has provided only one way of salvation, not many different ways.  Jesus and his apostles after him taught that all people are sinners, that Jesus died for the sins of the world, and that believing in him gives everyone eternal life.  And without eternal life everyone faces eternal death.

So what should the mission of the church be?  Simply, it is to obey Jesus’ Great Commission to ‘go and make disciples of all nations’ (Matt 28:19).  This is so important that God’s plan to save the world will not be completed without it.  So the educated Japanese just like the natives in the jungle have the same need to turn from their idols and turn to the real God, because although their external circumstances differ their relationship with God is exactly the same.

Incidentally the popular image of a missionary is wrong.  Missionaries have always made the preaching of the gospel their priority along with planting churches which have indigenous leadership.  Of course we don’t teach Western scientific ways though it helps to know that stones fall not because they are pulled down by demons but because a great God made the law of gravity!  We don’t teach Western culture either (in Japanese church we bow to each other not shake hands... or kiss on both cheeks - some things take getting used to!).  Poverty relief and other acts of mercy, etc., are not substitutes for preaching the gospel but attend it because true love does both because people need both.  And incidentally the Bible stories are not tales with a moral like Aesop’s Fables, rather they point to Jesus as our way of salvation.

Finally why go to Japan rather than do evangelism in UK?  Because although the UK does have social problems caused by its widespread rejection of the Christian faith there are still more Christians here to do the work than in Japan.  Two of every 100 people in the world are Japanese but only 0.25% of Japanese are active Christians.  It has been said ‘why should some people hear the gospel twice when many others have never heard it at all?’

Thank you for reading this polemic.  Next time Glenda will write a much more interesting article about what we actually do!

Rod Thomas

Hello Pub-Swan – Report 2010

The new and unique Children’s Book sold in aid of Naomi House Children’s Hospice for children in the 7-10 age group

The two highlights of this last year have been, firstly the production of the new video for the website, www.pud-swan.org  and secondly the latest £1,000 donation to the hospice on 24^th July, making a total of £3,000 raised from the sales of the book, since it was first published just before Christmas 2007.  Thank you to all readers who have helped in this endeavour.

The video was kindly produced without charge, by TVPP a local Andover television production company as their contribution to the work of Naomi House - do visit the website and see the children interacting with the story.  Incidentally, the first twenty pages of part one is now available for all to read on Google Books.

The whole set of three parts [in a slip-case] is still on sale for £20 - each part may be purchased separately for £8.99.  Orders may now be placed ‘online’ via the PayPal button on the website, or through any major bookshop and it is also available from the official Naomi House website ‘shop’ - not forgetting also, from the author and publisher, who can be contacted on 01264-365190.

As readers of my previous two reports will remember the book is interactive in so far as the readers are encouraged to do all their own illustrations, and is entirely educational in its story line, thus promoting imagination and learning.

‘It makes a good gift and supports a good cause’

Bryan Beggs

The Rector reminded everybody that this was the 9^th anniversary of ‘9/11’ before welcoming the Mayor of Havant, Cllr Yvonne Weeks to open the Fair. 

As the weather forecast was for rain, the stalls and events were split between the churchyard and inside the church.  The rain, in the form or a short sharp shower came only at 2.10pm!  The Fair also coincided with the annual Historic Churches Ride & Stride when people from other churches visit. 

Our grateful thanks go to Helen Faulkner and her splendid team for making this year's fair a huge success - Jane Rowthorn (Grand Draw, beer & Pimms tent, organising marquee and banners), Colin Hedley (banner, health & safety, logistics), Geoff Jones (arranging donations), Jane Hopkins (publicity), Kate Walsh (stalls), Helen Belenger (stall layout), Roger Simmons (finance), Armineh Pogosian, Peter Jones (admin, guidance, weather booking & announcements); all the stall holders and their helpers; and all the many people that helped in their own way which makes it impossible to list their names.

A big thank you to Waitrose for providing the food for the barbeque – and to Martin Poliszczuk & Jeremy Toole who did the cooking; to the Southsea Rowing Club for the loan of their marquee; to the “Mr Bigstuff” band and to the Dynamo Youth Theatre for providing such superb entertainment; to the 2327 Havant Air Training Corps for their assistance throughout the day and for taking visitors to the bell tower;

to the market traders for the loan of gazebos and for helping with power; and all the companies and shops that contributed prizes for the grand draw – the 1^st prize (£100) was won by Mrs B Stearne; 2^nd prize (£50 voucher for Spencer’s Restaurant, Emsworth) was won by my daughter Colleen, which was very timely as she was married in St. Faith’s on 13 September thirteen years ago and enjoyed a super meal on the day – Monday - while Beryl and I babysat! - and 3^rd prize (Rob Paul Studios) was won by Louise Hedley – there were 21 other prizes.

Besides the usual stalls – cakes, plants, tea & coffee, Jennie’s jam, tombola, bottle, books, jewellery, bric-a-brac, and the likes, this year Warblington School, with whom St. Faith’s has a very good liaison, put on an Art & Design display (some of which is going to remain in the church) and the Council had a stand for the “Havant Public Service Village”.

The Fair closed with a spectacular release of balloons with a prize of a trip to St. Malo for the person whose balloon travels the farthest.

Initial figures show that just under £3,000 was raised which is a real credit to all involved and all those who supported us.

Click here for pictures of the Fair: www.stfaith.com/town%20fair%202010.htm

Colin Carter

Lord Haw Haw

Recently, our daughter Laura drew our attention to a property item in ‘The News’ about a house in Southleigh Road, Warblington adjacent to the ‘One-Stop’ shop which was described as the home between the wars of the wartime propagandist Lord Haw Haw.

For those of us who lived through the Second World War, Lord Haw Haw was an Englishman broadcasting from Berlin on behalf of Nazi Germany.  His broadcasts started with the words, spelt phonetically, as “Jairmany Calling”, and were treated by the British listeners with a mixture of contempt and ridicule.  Most households heard it a couple of times, out of curiosity, and then switched it off for the duration of the war.  He started broadcasting propaganda for Nazi Germany on 18 September 1939 from Reichssender Hamburg.  The ‘Daily Express’ radio critic, Jonah Barrington wrote of his first broadcast, “He speaks English of the haw-haw, dammit-get-out-of-my-way variety”.  He was promptly dubbed “Lord Haw-Haw”.

His real name was William Joyce and he was born in April 1906 at 1377 Herkimer Street, Brooklyn, New York.  His mother, who was a Protestant, was born in Crompton, Lancashire and his father, a Catholic, in County Mayo, Ireland.  Both had immigrated to America, although for different reasons.  He came looking for work and she came because of differences with her family.  As we shall see next month, the place of his birth proved highly significant.  The family moved back to Ireland in 1909 but in 1922 moved on to London where they opened a grocery shop.  William tried unsuccessfully to join the army and enrolled at Battersea Polytechnic where he obtained the equivalent in those days of four A Levels.  In 1924, he started a degree course at London University.  The same year he joined the Conservative Party, although he was captivated by Mussolini’s Fascist movement in Italy which at the time was more successful than Hitler’s movement in Germany.  He led a gang of Fascists at a Conservative election rally in Lambeth which was attacked by a gang of Communists.  In the fracas, he was held down while a thug slashed his face, scarring him for life.

There now comes into our tale one of the most charismatic but deeply flawed politicians of the 1930s.  Sir Oswald Mosley was tall, handsome, urbane, titled and swashbuckling.  He was a Wykehamist, a member of the Royal Flying Corp in the First World War and an Olympic fencer.  When he married the daughter of Lord Curzon in 1920, King George V and Queen Mary attended the wedding.  It was said that Mosley could have been leader of both the Conservative and Labour parties.  He started as a Conservative and, in protest at the treatment of Sinn Fein prisoners, crossed the floor to join the Labour Party, which he eventually left because of their failure to deal with unemployment.  In 1932, following a visit to Mussolini, he formed the British Union of Fascists.  Such was his personal magnetism that Mosley attracted to his cause politicians of the calibre of John Stracey, a future Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer, Aneurin Bevin, founder of the National Health Service and Winston’s son Randolph Churchill.  As we will see next month, William Joyce was also under his spell but not the dockers of the East End of London, who when Mosley’s black shirted thugs marched down Cable Street in Dockland, poured from their homes to give them such a good hiding that they never again attempted their thuggery on London streets.

Roger Bryant

St. Faith’s Church – becoming the heart and soul of Havant -Some Key Diary Dates

October Opportunities

Sunday 3^rd            10.30am  Patronal Festival of St. Faith

Sunday 10^th          9.30am  Parish Eucharist – “hands on healing” -

                                Canon Nick Fennemore

Sunday 24^th          9.30am  Family Service – for Bible Sunday

Sunday 24^th          6.30pm  Taize Service

November Notables

Tuesday 2^nd          7.00pm  All Souls Service of Remembrance

Sunday 7^th             5.00pm  “Come and See”

Sunday 14^th          10.45am  Remembrance Sunday Service

Saturday 20th       7.00pm  St. Cecilia Concert

Sunday 28^th          9.30am  Family Advent Service

Sunday 28^th          5.00pm  Christingle!

December Definites

Sunday 5^th             3.30pm  Hampshire Recorder Orchestra Concert

Sunday 12^th          3.00pm  Rotary Club community Carol Service

Friday 24^th             4pm  Christmas Eve Crib and Carols

Friday 24^th             6pm   Christmas Eve Crib and Carols

Saturday 25^th        9.30pm  Family Eucharist

Boys Town, India

We have learnt from the International Children’s Trust (ICT) that the boy, Nagamani, who we sponsor in Boys Town in Gummidipoondi, India, has successfully passed his 10^th standard (GCSE level equivalent).  This is a wonderful achievement for Nagamani and we are told that overall the results from the boys were good.  Nagamani, along with three other students, has chosen to go to polytechnic college rather than continue with his academic studies to 12^th standard at school.  As Nagamani is going to attend polytechnic, he will be leaving the Boys Town to return to his native home and our sponsorship of him will no longer be needed.  However, there are a number of new boys who have recently joined the Boys Town who are in need of sponsorship and we are considering sponsoring another child.  The ICT is grateful for the support of St Faith’s Church to sponsor Nagamani over the past five years and has asked us to please pass on their sincere thanks to this parish for its support.  By sponsoring a child at the Boys Town we will be helping boys like Nagamani to continue with their education in a safe, organised environment, away from the threat of child labour.

Roger Bryant PCC Secretary