4. - 2 -
PETER D HANNABY
Painter & Decorator
Interior and Exterior work
Undertaken
For competitive quotations
Please call
Mobile: 07765 250092
Home: 01442 288956
MAGAZINE ADVERTISING COSTS
Why not use this parish magazine to advertise your business. There
are eleven issues per year with double issue in December/January.
Charges are: Full Page £115 per annum
Half Page £80 per annum
Quarter Page £60 per annum
For part year charges are pro rata of the annual rate rounded up to
the nearest whole pound (e.g. 1 month/issue full page 115/12 =
9.58 rounded up = £10 charge)
To discuss your requirements or for further information, please
contact Sally Bates, 01442 266912 or 07792 768236
or email: magazine@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
5. - 3 -
LETTER FROM THE ASSOCIATE MINISTER
You may have read in last month’s magazine a piece I wrote about a book
“Mandala: Way-Wandering”, that had been sent to me by an old friend.
He had written it as a reflective account of his life, people he had met
along life’s way, conversations, and his own exploration of faith and
meaning. I wrote it intending it to be the magazine letter, but I had
mis-read the rota and it was not my turn. But now it is my turn, so I am
thinking again what I can say for this month’s magazine and this book is
still very much in my mind.
In part, this is because now also it has been announced that I will be
leaving Boxmoor at the beginning of November and my journey in life and
ministry will be taking yet another turn. It causes me to reflect on how
often paths in life cross, sometimes through choices we make, sometimes
without us realising, and we meet people, experience events that help
shape who we are, prompt us into new ways of thinking and being.
I first came to Boxmoor when I was ordained in 2009. By then I had
already spent 5 years in a different form of church ministry. After a year
training in Cambridge I came to Boxmoor and spent a happy three and a
half years in ministry here as a curate. Between leaving in January 2012
and returning to Boxmoor in 2018, I served as a priest in two parishes in St
Albans, a parish in Welwyn Garden City as well as some short and two
longer periods of time in the Diocese of Kagera in Tanzania where I had
the privilege of both teaching in a theological college and preaching in
many parishes that could not be more different to this. It has been a rich
tapestry of experience and learning. But it does not end here as I prepare
to leave and go on in a different form of ministry again.
Cont’d…….
6. - 4 -
At the end of that piece on “Way-Wandering”, last month I spoke of how
the book reminded me to be grateful for the many people who have
been important to me in my own journeys in life and ministry - many of
whom of course are here in Boxmoor. In some ways it feels far too soon
to move on, but I believe God has made it clear it is the right time for this
next step, and I will not be going without gratitude for this time back
here in Boxmoor.
So thank you to all of you here for all that you are, all that you have
shared and all that I have learned in these last two years and those who
also were part of my journey when our paths crossed before.
I will miss the people of Boxmoor but will not be far away and maybe in
some way again in the future can look forward to our paths crossing
again.
God bless, and thank you
7. - 5 -
PARISH DIARY FOR OCTOBER 2020
ALL CHURCHES OPEN FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP
SERVICES WILL BE SUBJECT TO RULES AND GUIDANCE
ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL CHURCH & GOVERNMENT
PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS TO KEEP YOURSELF AND OTHERS SAFE
CHURCH CLUBS & GROUPS REMAIN SUSPENDED
Enquiries regarding baptisms, weddings, or marriage blessings are
always welcome. Please contact the Vicar.
Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer are said Monday-Friday, 9.00am & 5.00pm
respectively, for the life of the parish, in St John’s unless otherwise stated below.
St John’s is open daily 9.30am-5.30pm for private prayer.
The Parish Eucharist and worship resources will continue to be recorded and
made available at www.stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk/suspended-services-resources
Thurs 1 8.15pm Zoom Happy Hour
Sat 3 8.00pm Virtual Harvest Quiz (tbc) Zoom
Sun 4 HARVEST FESTIVAL
8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) St John’s
10.00am Parish Harvest Eucharist St John’s
Guest: The Bishop of Hertford
11.30am Morning Worship St Stephen’s
6.30pm St Francis’ Patronal Festival, St Francis’
High Mass & Benediction
Guest preacher: Fr Benjamin Weitzmann
Mon 5 8.00pm PCC Standing Committee Zoom
Tues 6 9.30am Tiny Tots (TBC) St John’s
Weds 7 10.00am Holy Communion St John’s
11.00am Zoom Coffee Morning Zoom
Thurs 8 8.15pm Zoom Happy Hour Zoom
Sun 11 Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) St John’s
10.00am Combined Parish Eucharist & APCM St John’s
No services at St Francis’ or St Stephen’s today
6.30pm Choral Evensong St John’s
8. - 6 -
Mon 12 7.30pm Holy Communion St John’s
Tues 13 9.30am Tiny Tots (TBC) St John’s
Weds 14 10.00am Holy Communion St John’s
11.00am Zoom Coffee Morning Zoom
Thurs 15 8.15pm Zoom Happy Hour Zoom
Sun 18 Bible Sunday
8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) St John’s
10.00am Parish Eucharist St John’s
10.00am Mass St Francis’
11.30am Morning Worship St Stephen’s
12noon Baptism (TBC) St John’s
6.30pm Taizé Service St John’s
Tues 20 9.30am Tiny Tots (TBC) St John’s
Weds 21 9.30am Prayers for Healing St John’s
10.00am Holy Communion St John’s
11.00am Zoom Coffee Morning Zoom
Thurs 22 8.15pm Zoom Happy Hour Zoom
Sun 25 Last Sunday after Trinity
8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) St John’s
10.00am Parish Eucharist St John’s
10.00am Mass St Francis’
11.30am Holy Communion St Stephen’s
6.30pm Evensong and Benediction St Francis’
Mon 26 7.30pm No Holy Communion Service this week
Weds 28 Sts Simon & Jude
10.00am Holy Communion St John’s
11.00am Zoom Coffee Morning Zoom
Thurs 29 8.15pm Zoom Happy Hour Zoom
9. - 7 -
From our Director of Music, Keith Beniston
Choral Evensong Unlocked
It was with an air of unusual excitement that Paul Davies and I, ably
assisted by Marian in the middle, heaved the choir stalls into the Lady
Chapel on Friday morning. Distances were carefully measured out and
chairs suitably placed ready for the first choir rehearsal in many months.
At the start of the rehearsal itself it did feel very strange with around
twelve choir members, loyal regulars and a few visitors, unnaturally
spread out, looking more as if they were preparing for some kind of party
game. However, once we all got used to it, a good, united tone started to
emerge, which was refined on Sunday afternoon.
A fine service was eventually held on Sunday evening, delivered with a
sense of enthusiasm and anticipation that all, be they singer or listener,
have so much missed. Most of us will have seen and perhaps even tried
clever technical stitch-jobs bringing individuals in their homes together so
as to sound like a choir, and it can’t be denied that such activity has done
much to maintain morale and a sense of belonging for many choirs during
these frustrating months. There is, however, nothing quite like that act of
human cooperation and integration where individual voices, often of
indifferent individual merit, combine to create glorious harmony. It was
good to see a substantial congregation by normal evensong standards,
and the comments afterwards were full of joy. The music that we had
created, complemented by Nicholas’ robust organ playing, embedded in
the age-old service format with its familiar words, had clearly touched
and uplifted all present.
As things stand, within the legal limitations we hope to resume, as far as
possible our usual monthly evensong pattern. The next one is planned for
October 11th
. All will be very welcome.
10. - 8 -
Return to worship at St Stephen’s!
After a gap of 6 months, we finally reopened the doors at St Stephen’s on Sunday
13 September and what a return it was! The vicar celebrated the Eucharist and
distributed the sacrament in one kind only, as permitted at present, at the later
time of 11.30 am. Most of the St Stephen’s regular congregation were able to be
there, duly wearing their face masks, and we were delighted to welcome 3
couples who, in normal times, would be worshipping at St John’s. “Welcome” is
perhaps not quite the right word, for it is difficult to extend a typical St Stephen’s
welcome when everyone is wearing a mask and has to stand or sit 2 metres apart
and when you cannot chat over coffee after the service, but we hope those who
joined us did feel welcome! There was, of course, the usual St Stephen’s
scramble to find more chairs from the back room for our visitors. In the end, we
were 16 worshippers including the vicar – a fitting celebration of our return.
The congregation had last met together on a Sunday back in March, and at that
time we were also embarking on Ruth’s Lent Course following the Thursday
morning Eucharist. Who could have guessed then how long it would be before
we could open the doors again.
We had arrived early to open all the windows and the door to ensure adequate
ventilation (and, thanks to God, we were blessed with a warm sunny day); and to
locate the hand sanitizer bottles strategically alongside the labels provided by the
vicar by the entrance door, and to put hand sanitizer and paper hand towels in
the loos instead of fabric towels, plus supplies of disinfectant spray and paper roll
to sanitize surfaces. The vicar had positioned the usual chairs in a manner to
socially-distance the congregation, with the knowledge of who come as couples
who can sit together, and who comes alone. It was therefore a lovely surprise
and a blessing to have to go and find extra chairs.
Mike had also set up a CD player on top of the piano, so that recorded music
could be played, as at St John’s. Such strange times! No piano, no singing. It really
does feel odd to be banned from singing – somehow even odder at St Stephen’s
than at St John’s. For me, singing praise is such a fundamental part of worship
that it’s only half-worship without. Thank God that Choral Evensong also
returned on the same evening!
Anne Lyne
11. - 9 -
The A-Z story challenge?
A Treasurer’s Post-Lockdown Dream
Across Boxmoor’s churches donations enhance funds.
Giving heightens income.
Joyously, keen loyalists meet now outstanding Parish Quota.
Restored, Service takings upsurge voraciously,
Whilst Xmas yields zillions.
[Then I woke up!] Chris Angell
Would you like to take up the challenge? Please email your entries to the
Editor, Sally-Anne Bates at magazine@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
The subject is 2020 Visions. I look forward to receiving your entries.
12. - 10 -
Answers will be published in November’s edition of the magazine - Good luck!
October Quiz
1 Also called Rap, 1970's/80's inner US city African music style
2 Nick name for the Royal Navy
3
Colloquial name for a pet - cat, dog, rabbit etc. Pets Factor
game.
4 Cricket fielding position far behind the batsman
5 Zeus, Hera, Apollo, Poseidon are examples of these
6 Debut single by Mumford & Sons '….. …. Man'
7 Products treated in such a way that they last longer
8 A Heptagon is this shape
9
Does not win, but gets into tournament if somebody drops
out
10 Affectionate nickname of Tessie O'Shea
11 English singer-songwriter and left-wing activist
12 Unable to see things unless they are close to the eyes
13 Little fairy tale hooded girl, involving a big bad wolf
14 Released the song 'All around my hat' in 1974
15 Water, only drink available to first man in the bible
16
Staffordshire area famous for A34 murders during late 1960's
17 Late actress Janet Waldo voiced this cartoon character
18 October 2019, Andy Murray beat this Italian tennis player
19 Abba song - in a rich mans world (3 words the same)
20 Youngest Scottish celebrity chef to win a Michelin star
21 French fashion designer, famous for the woman's suit
22 Young man selected to work in coalmine in World War 2
23
English Blonde Bombshell, was married to Alan Lake 1968-84
24 John …... ….. Tolkien. What are other two Christian names
25 South Coast limited over cricket team name
13. - 11 -
SMILE-LINES
The language of church-going
BULLETIN: Your receipt for attending the service.
HOLY WATER: A liquid whose chemical formula is H2OLY.
HYMN: A song of praise usually sung in a key three octaves higher than
that of the congregation’s range.
INCENSE: Holy Smoke!
JUSTICE: When your children have children of their own.
KYRIE ELEISON: The only Greek words that most Catholics and Anglicans
can recognise besides gyros and baklava. (it means Lord have mercy)
PEW: A medieval torture device still found in many Anglican and Catholic
churches.
PROCESSION: The ceremonial formation at the beginning of the service,
consisting of altar servers, the celebrant, and late parishioners looking for
seats.
RECESSIONAL: The ceremonial procession at the conclusion of the service
– led by parishioners trying to beat the crowd to the car park.
RELICS: People who have been going to church for so long that they actu-
ally know when to sit, kneel, and stand.
TEN COMMANDMENTS: The most important – and oldest – Top Ten list.
USHERS: The only people in the church who don’t know the seating
capacity of a pew.
14. - 12 -
Retirement from Licenced Ministry
It was announced on Sunday 6 September that after 10 years ordained Priest, and
nearly 2 years with us, The Reverend Canon Dr Ruth Goatly has decided to retire
from licenced parochial ministry. Ruth’s final service here will be on Sunday 1
November, 10.00am at St John’s. It has been a huge blessing sharing Ruth’s
ministry in this Parish especially her preaching and teaching, friendship, and
wisdom. She will be sorely missed. If you would like to express your gratitude and
best wishes to Ruth a collection is being organised. Please see the Newsletter for
details.
Covid-19 update
On Wednesday 9 September the Government announced that social gatherings of
more than 6 people were no longer to be permitted in the bid to reduce the spread
of this horrible virus. Mercifully, churches and all places of Worship have been
exempt from this legislation as we are not deemed a ‘social gathering’ and because
we are following the guidance concerning precautions to the letter. So our Services
are permitted, but I have taken the decision that any meeting that takes place
outside of Worship is to continue to be conducted virtually on Zoom for the fore-
seeable future. The only meeting we will be holding in person is our APCM which
will take place as part of the Sunday Eucharist and be subject to all the precautions
already in place. (More details of the APCM on next page)
I should like to express my sincere thanks to all who have been working so hard to
make all our churches and halls Covid-Secure, and for the ministry of welcome that
has been extended by our sidespeople.
Returning to Public Worship
It has been wonderful seeing all our churches returning to something like normal,
with services now taken place regularly at both St Francis’ and St Stephen’s as well
as the Parish church. Numbers are generally holding up although, understandably
for health reasons, not everyone has returned to Public Worship yet. If you
haven’t yet returned I hope our on-line presence is helpful. We are taking all the
necessary steps to make Church as safe as possible and for you to feel comfortable
in the surroundings.
Cont’d…...
15. - 13 -
Returning to Public Worship
Average numbers of people attending each service (*data is limited in some
cases), are:
Sunday 8.00am Holy Communion up to 12 people capacity 65
10.00am Parish Eucharist up to 45 people capacity 65
10.00am Mass (St Francis) up to 14 people capacity 25
11.30am Service at St Stephen’s 16 people* capacity 20
6.30pm Holy Communion 2 people* capacity 65
Choral Evensong 41 people* capacity 85
Wednesday 10.00am Holy Communion up to 18 people capacity 65
If you are worried about being around too many people you might like to try one
of the less populated services – you will always be made most welcome.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting
The APCM and Meeting of the Vestry will be held on 11 October 2020 in St John’s
Church. There are 5 vacancies for the PCC and 3 vacancies for the Deanery
Synod. Nomination forms are available from, and must be returned to the PCC
secretary at least 24hrs ahead of the meeting – email pccsecre-
tary@stjohnsboxmor.org.uk . Reports are published on our Website. If you need
a hard copy of the reports please let the Office know and we’ll ensure these are
printed and sent to you.
Harvest Festival
Our annual celebration of the Harvest and all the bounty God provides in
creation will shortly be upon us. Restrictions will prevent our usual festivities but
our celebrations will include a special All Age Eucharist, Sunday 4 October at
10.00am, at which the Bishop of Hertford will preside and preach, and a
monetary collection for the Bishop of St Alban’s Harvest Appeal: Creating a Buzz
in Nepal, and a collection of high-needs items for our Local Food Bank, DENS.
Creating a Buzz in Nepal is a scheme conducted in partnership with Tearfund. It
aims to help as many Nepalese people as possible who are still rebuilding their
lives following the devastation and loss inflicted on the country in April 2015
when almost 22,000 people were injured and 9,000 people died in two huge
earthquakes. Much of the infrastructure collapsed, livelihoods lost, and families
made homeless. Creating a Buzz involves training people to become beekeepers
so as to produce their own honey, both for themselves and to sell. It will
stimulate both the economy and help pollinate creation – a thoroughly worthy
appeal of our support.
Cont’d….
16. - 14 -
Virtual Quiz Evening
Since we are not able to meet socially in groups of more than 6 it has been
decided to try and conduct a virtual quiz. This will be on Saturday 3 October,
8.00pm. To join this quiz you will need two internet enabled devices – one for
Zoom and another for Kahoot. The Zoom platform will enable us to interact and
for you to see the questions, the Kahoot app will enable you to answer the quiz
electronically and play against the other teams. We are limiting the Quiz to 20
teams of up to 4 players in each team. Entry will be £5 per player. Please contact
the Vicar to sign-up your team and so joining instructions can be issued.
St Francis Patronal Festival
On Sunday 4 October at 6.30pm there will be Sung High Mass with Benediction
in celebration of the Patronal Festival of St Francis, Hammerfield. All our
welcome to join in giving thanks to God for the life and ministry of St Francis of
Assisi, and for the witness of the Church in that part of the Parish. Our guest
preacher is no stranger to this parish: Fr Benjamin Weitzmann, former Curate
and now Vicar in Portsea. There will be no morning service at St Francis on this
Sunday.
Choral Evensong
After a 6 month lay-off it was an absolute delight to hear our choir lead choral
music in worship of almighty God on Sunday 13 September. Despite the break in
singing, and having to necessarily sit so far apart, the standard of music making
was superb. The hairs on the back of neck stood on end as they sang Psalm 150
and Magnificat. I am most grateful to our Director of Music, Keith Beniston, for
all he is doing to enable music to be played during our services but it was some-
thing other to hear the choir singing live with such heart and faithfulness. If you
missed it, a recording is still available on our website.
Children’s Praise & Picnic
I’m delighted to report that 10 children and their families came to the Children’s
Praise at the start of September. It was lovely to have children back in church –
especially Church families – and enjoy their enthusiasm and energy. More
services like this are being planned so watch this space…
Notices cont’d on page 21
18. - 16 -
HALLS FOR HIRE
ST JOHN’S HALL - Well equipped hall suitable for use by special interest
groups, clubs and societies. Ideal for family parties and special occasions.
Please contact Hall Bookings Secretary on 07939 226977 or email:
hallbookings@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk for further information and availabil-
ity.
ST STEPHEN’S HALL, CHAULDEN - (opposite Tudor Rose) - Sunny Hall with
tiled floor suitable for dancing and exercise groups as well as being ideal for
children’s parties. Please contact Jean on 01442 257023 for further
information and availability.
ST FRANCIS HALL, HAMMERFIELD - Well equipped hall suitable for use by
special interest groups, clubs and societies. Ideal for family parties and
special occasions. Please contact Hall Bookings Secretary by email: stfran-
cishallbookings@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk for further information and
availability. More urgent queries can be handled by leaving a message on Paul
Davies mobile phone: 07802 442908
Don’t ‘go it alone’
If you are helping others at this time, remember to still leave space and
time for yourself. Going the extra mile for other people all the time will
only ensure one thing; your collapse. Work in teams. Even the Good
Samaritan did not attempt to help the injured man all on his own; he
brought in the innkeeper. By sharing the problem, they solved it!
*********
SMILE-LINES
Ten Commandments
A Sunday School teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with
her five and six-year-olds. After explaining the commandment to
‘honour thy father and thy mother’, she said: “Is there a commandment
that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?”
Without missing a beat, one little boy answered: “Thou shalt not kill.”
19. - 17 -
Please Note: St. John's Church PCC cannot accept any responsibility for goods or services
20. - 18 -
FROM THE ARCHIVES: ST JOHN’S CHURCHYARD
Anyone who has visited or passed St John’s Church in recent weeks will
have noticed that a small group of volunteers have been working in the
grounds and doing a wonderful job of improving their appearance. The
hedges on both sides of the church building have been removed and on
the south side, already replaced with a raised bed of very colourful
dahlias and sunflowers, which later in the year will make way for rose
bushes; some of the slabs have been relaid and all have been tidied up;
the north and south doors have been revarnished; the memorial benches
have been repaired and repainted; the entrance gates have been stripped
-back and repainted; and the masses of ivy removed from the exterior
wall by St John’s Road and covering the grave stones by the east wall
adjoining the plot where the town War Memorial is situated.
I have at home a handful of Parish Magazines which comprise the earliest
ones we have in our archives and which I have borrowed to browse to see
if I can glean any articles which might interest readers today. The church
grounds were very different when I was young and so I was pleased to
find this item in the October 1960 magazine which Canon Crewe Hamil-
ton wrote in his ‘Monthly Notes.’
“A meeting of the PCC of more than usual moment was held on 12 Sep-
tember. More will emerge in due time of what was said and of certain
prospects for the future. My notes will be very brief. Early this year, the
Borough Council agreed in principle to take over the care and mainte-
nance of the churchyard of St John’s Church, as they had previously done
in the case of St Mary’s Parish Church. The result in the latter instance
has been to beautify the surroundings out of all knowledge. We look
forward confidently to the same result here, but these things take time.
At the moment, the part of St John’s Road opposite the north entrance to
the churchyard is up, and it is quite difficult to make your way in! This is
naturally and inevitably the case in a New Town and we recognise the
necessity.”
Two months later he reported in the magazine: “We are grateful to the
Town Clerk (who would have been the long serving Mr William Kirk) and
to the Borough Engineer for coming to explain to a meeting of the PCC
21. - 19 -
proposals for taking over the maintenance, care and improvement of St
John’s churchyard. They did so very lucidly and all those present enjoyed
a very interesting and pleasant exchange of views. We look forward very
much to seeing the work carried out as soon as it is in order to
commence it.”
So it is practically sixty years since the church grounds took on the
appearance we know today. The headstones from the graves were
placed along the east boundary wall and the island of trees and shrubs
was made in the north east sections of the grounds. I wonder how many
of you remember the rose beds which lined each side of the paths lead-
ing from the gates in St John’s Road and Station Road and the long rose
border on Boxmoor Trust land by the low west wall? Later, several
flower beds were also made here and were a great joy to those passing
the church from London Road into the town centre. Sadly, about twelve
years ago the local authority decided that due to financial restraints all
the flower and rose beds would have to be grassed over and we had
many comments from people who missed this “landmark”, especially the
riot of colour in Spring and Summer. The green space by the south door
was designated as a Garden of Remembrance for the burial of ashes in
the mid 1960s when The Reverend Derek Jackson became the Vicar.
In the book “Boxmoor in Camera” by Roger and Joan Hands, published in
1993, there is an old picture, taken from the north-east corner of the
churchyard showing the gravestones in situ. They range from large cross-
es, table top tombs, small obelisks and headstones. It is now only the
headstones that have been preserved. It is interesting to reflect that the
churchyard has been “closed” since 1878, which means that no new
burials could take place unless space was available in an existing family
plot. An exception was made to the then Vicar, The Reverend Alfred
Richings, who with his wife and son, was granted permission to have a
grave in the churchyard. The date coincides with the opening of the
cemetery in Heath Lane.
The photograph also shows some of the tall hedges which originally lined
the paths to the church doors from St John’s Road and Station Road.
Another notable feature is the amount of ivy which covered the East end
of the church. Cont’d…..
22. - 20 -
It surrounds the East Window and reaches right up to the roof. The same
can be said for the ivy growing on the east wall of the Lady Chapel. In
“Around Hemel Hempstead in Camera” produced by Eve Davies in 1990
there is a photograph dating from about 1922 of the clergy and choir
sitting outside the north side of the church and ivy is growing up to the
roof between the windows. I am sure so much dense foliage on the
building would not have been good for the Bath stone.
To return to the October 1960 Parish Magazine in the second paragraph
of his ‘Monthly Notes’ Canon Hamilton states: “Following the installation
of electricity in St John’s (the cost of which was covered through the
generosity of a parishioner) another matter came up for explanation and
discussion at the PCC, the repair and redecoration of the church both
within and without. Mr Murray-Leslie (who lived off Anchor Lane) had
gone very thoroughly into this whole question with the Committee giving
a lucid explanation of which was needed, both urgent and not so urgent,
and you will be hearing more about this very soon.”
It is good to note that each generation has strived to maintain the church
and grounds to the highest possible standards. During this time of the
coronavirus pandemic we know that people are appreciating we have a
lovely church in which to pray and light a candle and grounds in which to
sit and find peace and tranquillity. We thank those who have given their
time in recent weeks to continue to enhance and beautify the church-
yard.
Graham Gibbs
23. - 21 -
All Souls’ Services: Monday 2 & Wednesday 4 November
There are many in the Parish who have lost loved ones, both in recent months or
years, and in years gone by. Although they have died, our prayer and certain
hope is that they live on with Christ in his eternal Kingdom. Names of departed
loved ones will be read out at both the 8pm Requiem Mass for the Departed at
St Francis on Monday 2 November and at the 10.00am Service of Holy Commun-
ion at St John’s on Wednesday 4 November. Plans are in place so that candles
can still be lit in memory of loved-ones and, should you wish for names to be
read out, please provide these on the relevant form at the back of our churches.
Annual Service of Remembrance
Over the past year the Ministry Team has taken, or assisted with, many Funerals
and Memorials of parishioners. At our Annual Service of Remembrance, to be
held (regulations permitting) on Sunday 1 November at 4pm, we shall be inviting
friends and families of those who have died during the past 12 months to
remember their loved ones before God and to give thanks for their lives. All the
music will be provided by the choir and plans are in place so that candles can still
be lit in memory of loved-ones. Should you wish to remember loved ones from
previous years you will be most welcome.
Confirmation Service
If you are interested in being confirmed this autumn, or would like to explore
what this means, please speak to me or Ruth. Dates for preparation sessions are
being confirmed but will likely start in mid-September – details will appear in the
Newsletter. The Confirmation Service is scheduled to take place on 15 November
at 6.30pm in St John’s.
24. - 22 -
'Music Percentage Club Update’
Congratulations to our August Draw Winners;
Carole Lewis 1st £15
Job Rombout 2nd £8
Jennie Whitefield 3rd £4
If you know of someone who would be interested in joining the Music
Percentage Club and supporting Music at St John’s in this way there are
forms in church or please contact Mark Harbour on 01582 841019 or see
him in church.
Mark Harbour - on behalf of MASJ
BOOK REVIEW
Joseph – a story of Resilience
By Meg Warner, SPCK, £12.99
You may think you know the story of Joseph, but this
book will make you think again! It invites you to think
deeply about Joseph’s character and how he responds
to the traumatic events that threaten to overwhelm
him.
Lacing her commentary with telling anecdotes from her own life story,
Meg Warner shows how a deeper understanding of Joseph’s story can help
you develop the vital quality of resilience: the will and the strength to
endure life’s hardships and rise above the effects of trauma whenever it
may strike.
25. - 23 -
NOVEMBER 2020 EDITION - PRICE 60p
Please note the deadline for articles for the next edition of the magazine is
Sunday, 4th October.
You can e-mail direct to magazine@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk or leave articles in
magazine pigeonhole or deliver direct to 27 Beechfield Road. Please note any
articles sent by email should be in A5 format (MS Word or MS Publisher
preferred). Thank you. Sally Bates, Editor, Tel No. 266912 or Mobile 07792
768236.
PLEASE NOTE
Website for St John’s Boxmoor is:
www.stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
E-mail: office@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
Website for Music at St John’s is http://masj.org.uk
Facebook Page: St Johns Church, Boxmoor
NEWSLETTER: If you would like to receive a copy of the weekly Newsletter by
e-mail, please contact Alan Munford - alan.munford@btinternet.com with your
e-mail address and he will arrange to send it to you.
Please send any items for inclusion in the Newsletter to the Parish Office at the
email address: newsletter@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
SUBSCRIPTION TO MAGAZINE
If you would like to receive a copy of St John’s Parish Magazine on a regular
monthly basis, please email alan.munford@btinternet.com or telephone him on
01442 242543 or complete your details below and return tear-off slip to:
Mr. Alan Munford, 16 St Nicholas Mount, Hemel Hempstead HP1 2BB
Name…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Address ………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
...........................................................................................................................
Contact Telephone Number ………………………………………………………………………...
26. - 24 -
Family Tribute to Linda Gair
given at her funeral by the Vicar.
What can one say about Linda? This fun loving, kind, caring, considerate person,
who drove like a mad-man on the streets of Hemel and lanes of Kent at high
speed and yet stuck to the speed limit on the motorways! Who was always late
for everything (which was why she drove like she did!) – although sadly she was
far too early for her own funeral!
Linda Margaret Gair was born on 26 August 1946 to her parents Olive and Tom,
and spent a very happy childhood in Hayes, Kent. She went to Baston School
where she particularly enjoyed sport and excelled in throwing the javelin. This
skill was helped by playing cricket with her brother, Roger. In later life, despite
often separation through being on different continents for work, Linda and Roger
were always close and she doted on his children, Nicola and James, whom she
became particularly fond of whilst they were at Boarding School as she would
find something fun or interesting for them to do at the weekends or on exeat.
Linda was always interested in people, and in helping others if she could. In the
1970’s she organised numerous charity walks around the Kent countryside and
participated in a charity fayre at the Knox Johnsons house all in aid of the NSPCC.
In Hemel Hempstead Linda became a member of Hearing Dogs, raising money for
training dogs to have the skills of assisting deaf people. She also trained in clean-
ing and maintaining hearing aids and would set up a table in Hemel Hospital to
overhaul the hearing aids of older people who came for treatment with a special-
ist Doctor. This enabled the patient to spend longer time with the Doctor. She
also visited those in sheltered accommodation checking and refurbishing their
hearing aids as well as many members of the congregation here.
Linda herself suffered from poor hearing most of her life - which she bore with
great fortitude - and, as she got older, she became profoundly deaf and used a
combination of hearing aids and lip reading skills to communicate with others.
She invested in a personal loop system that fitted around her neck and attached
to a small microphone which guests were invited to speak into. The microphone
could be fitted to her husband’s Robert’s collar so they could communicate with
one another in a restaurant or in a car. At times the microphone was attached to
a pointer which would be thrust into the face of an individual so she could hear
what was being said. In restaurants people found this amusing so she just said
she was from the BBC doing an interview – always one for setting people at their
ease!
27. - 25 -
Linda met Robert, on a skiing holiday in Austria in 1978 where she had broken
her leg in a skiing accident. They planned to marry but Robert got a job in
America. Linda, not wanting to go to America, let Robert pursue his engineering
career but when he returned to the UK after a 10 year stint they married in
1993. Robert’s job always meant overseas travel was possible and sure enough
Linda spent a happy first placement in Saudi Arabia – much to Robert’s amaze-
ment. Linda had taken up golf and she and Robert played together at the aptly
named Dunes Golf Club in Al Khobar – Linda proving to be good at this sport too!
And whilst in SA Linda became an active member of the British Wives’ Associa-
tion who organised trips all over Saudi Arabia from the Yemen border to the top
of the Red Sea, so long as they used a travel agent and had a letter from their
husbands allowing this, such was the Saudi custom. The next assignment was in
Nigeria. Robert spent 4 years there and Linda two weeks. Obviously not very
pleasant place to be.
Linda was a very organised person when she wanted or needed to be. This
reflects her time working for the Ministry of Defence in one of its more sensitive
departments! But shortly after wedding Robert she retired. This not only
enabled her to travel with Robert but also to look after her mother, Olive, who
lived with her in Hemel for many years. When Robert retired in 2004 they
purchased a villa in Spain near Alicante where they enjoyed the weather and
hospitality of the locals at least 4 times a year, and she nearly always set off the
airport security due to her artificial knees.
Linda was an active Church member and part of the Holy Duster crew – even
getting Robert on the odd occasion to help out as a guest cleaner. She was an
Altar server (often putting on her robe just as we were about to start the
service!) and she coordinated our care of newly baptised families. Every Christ-
mas and Easter Linda would also help deliver our greetings to every house in the
Parish, usually delivering more cards than anyone else as this was a way for her
to maintain her daily exercise to keep her knees supple and the arthritis and
polymyalgia at bay. Linda and Robert were also members of our Monday club
and would meet with other church members and listen to lectures on topical
items. Linda also founded a small Ladies Lunch Club. This was a select group who
sought to care for and encourage each other, whilst being fun and interesting.
One of Linda's joys in life was giving presents. She would spend time thinking
about appropriate presents for each member of the family and for friends and
was always very generous but it was the love she gave with the presents which
was so very special.
28. - 26 -
Family Tribute to Linda Gair cont’d…..
given at her funeral by the Vicar.
After a trip to Spain, Linda became agitated on the return journey on March 19
afraid of the coronavirus and possible catching it and would not go shopping.
Neighbours assisted by sharing their home delivery system with Tesco. Eventually
Linda’s agitation was diagnosed as Acute Anxiety and was receiving treatment.
But troubles occurred with her computer left her increasingly anxious and discon-
nected and eventually controlled her life. Now totally dependent on Robert for
telephone calls and other means of communication, she became increasing
concerned about his health and in the end felt she could not cope on her own if
Robert passed away. This led to her untimely and shocking death on Wednesday
12 August.
Linda was a unique and wonderful person, always thinking of others and wanting
to make the most of every opportunity. She will never be forgotten by those
whose lives she touched.
29. - 27 -
Christian Reflection given at the Funeral of Linda Gair
by The Right Reverend Peter Wheatley, former Bishop of Edmonton and Linda’s
cousin
The tributes we have heard should help to put into perspective the recent suffer-
ing of Linda - the occlusion of the mind and its delusions. She was a loving, caring
person. She was loved by her husband and family and she was part of the
Church here and of the wider community. St Paul says, ‘We have only earthen-
ware jars to hold this treasure.' We all have our fragilities, but it was treasure.
She and Robert generously made a home here for Olive, her mother, in her old
age. Throughout her life Linda sought to serve others. In the Civil Service she
was the right person to care for the pensioners. She gave time to voluntary work:
the NSPCC in Kent, the hearing dogs charity here, and in the churches where she
worshipped.
In the story of the death and raising of Lazarus in St John's Gospel, Martha
reproves Jesus when he eventually arrives: 'Lord, if you had been here, my
brother would not have died.' Like Martha we can all imagine how circumstances
might have been different. In reply Jesus raises the discussion to a different level:
'Those who believe in me will never die.' And this discussion is amplified in the
Gospel we heard read: 'Do not let your hearts be troubled. In my Father's house
are many rooms'. Jesus discouraged unnecessary speculation about what lies
beyond the grave. 'Have you not read what was said to you by God. I am the God
of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is God not of the dead,
but of the living.' The patriarchs are alive as are his hearers. There is a firm
belief in resurrection but also of the importance of living in the present moment.
'Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.'
The Scriptures speak of our being already dead through our Baptism. We have
renounced sin and evil and undertaken a new way of living. 'You have died,'
writes St Paul, 'and your life is hidden with Christ. When Christ, who is your life, is
revealed, then you too will be revealed with him in glory.' Linda's life is hidden in
God for eternity. 'May she be given a merciful judgment, so that reconciled to
the Father, carried in the arms of the Good Shepherd, she may enter fully into
everlasting happiness in the company of the eternal King together with all the
saints.' May she rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen
30. - 28 -
September Quiz Answers
Hope you enjoyed the Quiz and good luck with October’s Quiz
Thanks to Alan Munford for providing the Quizzes
1 Gina G
2 Prenton Park
3 Cigarette Cards
4 Boys' Brigade
5 Classic Car
6 Congestion charge
7 Mr Mash
8 Two Tribes
9 Tiny Tim
10 Garden Gate
11 General Grievous
12 Naughty Narwhal
13 Hugo Horton
14 Boris Becker
15 One One One
16 Mary Magdalene
17 Community Chest
18 Bilbo Baggins
19 Secret Service
20 Buster Brady
21 Potala Palace
22 Dunkin Donuts
23 Via Veneto
24 Jungle Juice
25 Irish Islands
31. - 29 -
The Revd Peter Crumpler is a Church of England priest in St Albans, Herts,
and a former communications director for the CofE.
Need for healing
Heavenly Father,
We bring to you all those struggling with their mental health just now.
We pray:
For everyone who is smiling, when inside they’re in pain.
For everyone who is saying they’re fine, when inside they feel drained and
empty.
For everyone struggling with fear and worry as the easing of the lockdown
brings new anxieties.
Be with them in their suffering, as so much of their world has been
stripped back and emptied.
When loved family and friends have been taken by illness,
or made distant by lockdown.
Pour your healing balm into their pain and sadness.
May you walk with them besides still waters
May you speak to them in a still small voice.
May you heal them, and fill them, and bless them with your abundant love
and fullness of life.
And may they know that they are loved by you for the beautiful unique
person that they are, created in the image of their heavenly creator and
loving Lord.
In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Amen.
By the Revd Peter Crumpler
32. - 30 -
at St John’s
in the month of August 2020
HOLY BAPTISM
No Baptisms were conducted in August
HOLY MATRIMONY
No Weddings were conducted in August
FUNERAL & MEMORIAL SERVICES
27 August Pamela Parsons Mountbatten Lodge
May this soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy
of God, rest in peace.
BURIAL OF ASHES
7 August Vera Knight Bovingdon
35. Miscellaneous observations on our Christian pilgrimage
Keep the faith…but not from others! – Anon
What we take in by the Word we digest by meditation and let out
by prayer. – Thomas Manton
Success can feather our nest so comfortably that we forget how to fly. –
Vance Havner
To find your place and to fill it is success. – P Brooks
The Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t. –
Vance Havner
