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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

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THE VICAR’S LETTER
Dear Friends,
One of my favourite Bible stories is The Walk to Emmaus (St
Luke 24: 13ff). In this passage two of Jesus’ disciples are
walking to Emmaus from Jerusalem. Suddenly they are
joined by Jesus, but, thinking he is dead, they do not recognise him. They
talk about the events of the past few days in Jerusalem: of Jesus’ death on
the cross and of his alleged rising to life again. The stranger listens and
walks with them, helping them to understand the prophesies concerning
Jesus’ death. As evening falls they share a meal, and as the stranger blesses
and breaks the bread, so the disciples recognise him to be the risen Christ,
and immediately – filled with the joy of the resurrection – they go into the
world to proclaim this Good News.
Lent, in many ways, could be regarded as our journey to Emmaus; a time of
walking with Jesus, seeking to know him more fully and living in his love
more deeply. During Lent we have been encouraged to ask questions about
our faith, just like those first disciples obviously did as they walked. We
have been encouraged to spend time listening to Jesus – in prayer and
through reading the Scriptures, discerning his call for each of us, and being
both comforted and challenged by the transforming message he brings.
And we have been encouraged to discover afresh the joy of the Gospel and
how we can share this message of salvation with those around us.
After the journey, after Lent, comes the clearest revelation of Jesus. He
breaks the bread at his friends’ table and is instantly recognised by them as
their risen Lord. Every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist we too
bless and break the bread, and the risen and glorious Christ comes among
us in that bread and wine to feed us for our journey of faith in him. But
more than that, we commemorate and celebrate the Easter Mystery: Christ
has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. The Eucharist – the meal of
God’s Kingdom – is a celebration of Christ’s victory over sin and death. In
thanksgiving we rejoice that Jesus broke the chains of death and opened
the gates of heaven.
Cont’d….

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This is our Easter joy! I pray that this joy may be yours this Easter as we
celebrate afresh the Resurrection of Christ. For Alleluia! Christ is risen. He
is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Every blessing
That Day
That day was a day like never before
As the Saviour died and the darkness grew,
Earth shuddered and rocks were split apart
As the veil of the temple was torn in two.
The centurion who witnessed all these things
The earthquake, the One who was nailed to the wood,
Seeing Him die could only say,
‘Surely this man was the Son of God’.
He rose as conqueror of the grave,
Death was defeated, the stone rolled away –
And man was released from all his bonds,
Christ rose as victor that glorious day.
The Light had pushed the darkness back,
He now stands resplendent for all to see,
Forgiveness, redemption all wrought on the cross,
The eternal fruits of Calvary.
By Megan Carter

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PARISH DIARY FOR APRIL 2022
Enquiries regarding baptisms weddings or marriage blessings are
always welcome.
Please contact the Vicar.
Morning Prayer is said Daily at St John’s at 9.00am.
You are most welcome to join the clergy in prayer.
Evening Prayer is said privately for the life of the Parish unless details are below.
St John’s is open daily 9.30am-5.00pm for private prayer
(10.30am-5.00pm on Saturdays)
Services marked † will be streamed on our website:
https://stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk/live-streamed-services
Fri 1 7.00pm Choir Rehearsal St John’s
Sat 2 7.30pm Quiz Night St John’s Hall
Sun 3 Passion Sunday: Fifth Sunday of Lent
8.00am BCP Holy Communion St John’s
10.00am All-Age Eucharist St John’s
10.00am Sung Mass St Francis’
11.30am Morning Worship St Stephen's
12noon Holy Baptism St John’s
12noon St John’s Lunch St John’s Hall
7.00pm Sonare Concert St John’s
Mon 4 7.30pm Holy Communion St John’s
8.00pm Lent Course St John’s
7.45pm Together on Monday Club
The Rainbow - Carole Lewis St John’s Hall
Tue 5 9.30am No Tiny Tots - School Holidays
Wed 6 10.00am BCP Holy Communion followed by coffee St John’s
5.00pm Evening Prayer St Francis’
Thu 7 9.30am Holy Communion St Stephen’s
10.00am Lent Course St Stephen’s
Fri 8 12.30pm Christian Aid Lent Soup Lunch St John’s Hall
5.30pm Junior Choir St John’s Hall
7.00pm Choir Rehearsal St John’s
Sat 9 7.30pm Chipperfield Choral Society Concert St John’s

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Sun 10 PALM SUNDAY
8.00am BCP Holy Communion St John’s
10.00am Parish Eucharist St John’s
10.00am Sung Mass St Francis'
11.30am Morning Worship St Stephen's
6.30pm The Crucifixion by John Stainer St John’s
- sung by the Parish Choir
Mon 11 Holy Monday
11.30am Mountbatten Lodge Holy Communion
Mountbatten Lodge
2.00pm Burial of Ashes - Patricia Paris St John’s
8.00pm Holy Communion and Reflection St John’s
Tue 12 Holy Tuesday
9.30am No Tiny Tots - School Holidays
8.00pm Holy Communion and Reflection St John’s
Wed 13 Holy Wednesday
9.00am Service of Prayers for Healing St John’s
10.00am Holy Communion and Reflection followed by coffee
St John’s
5.00pm Evening Prayer St Francis’
8.00pm Stations of the Cross St Francis’
Thu 14 MAUNDY THURSDAY
8.00pm Parish Eucharist with washing of feet & stripping of
the Altar followed by The Watch of the Passion until
10.30pm St John’s
Fri 15 GOOD FRIDAY
10.00am All-Age Stations of the Cross
Nb. Starts at St Mary & St Joseph’s
2.00pm An Hour at the Cross St John’s
Sat 16 Holy Saturday/Easter Eve
Morning Churches decorated for Easter
8.00pm First Eucharist of Easter with Vigil & Easter
Ceremonies St Francis’
Service begins outside (weather permitting)
Sun 17 EASTER DAY
8.00am BCP Holy Communion St John’s
10.00am Parish Eucharist with Holy Baptism & Easter
Ceremonies St John’s
Service begins outside (weather permitting)
10.00am Sung Mass St Francis'
11.30am Holy Communion St Stephen's

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Mon 18 Easter Monday - Bank Holiday
Pilgrimage to St Albans Abbey St Albans Abbey
Tues 19 Easter Tuesday
9.30am Tiny Tots: Stay & Play & Service St John’s Hall
Wed 20 Easter Wednesday
10.00am Holy Communion followed by coffee St John’s
3.30pm Friendship Tea St John’s Hall
5.00pm Evening Prayer St Francis’
8.00pm Baptism Preparation St John’s
Thu 21 Easter Thursday
9.30am Boxmoor Primary School Year 1 Visit St John’s
Fri 22 Easter Friday
5.30pm Junior Choir St John’s Hall
7.00pm Choir Rehearsal St John’s
Sat 23 Easter Saturday
11.30am Burial of Ashes - Gladys Smith St John’s
Sun 24 Second Sunday of Easter
8.00am BCP Holy Communion St John’s
10.00am Combined Parish Eucharist St John’s
11.30am APCM St John’s
3.00pm Messy Church St John’s
Mon 25 St Mark the Evangelist
7.45pm Together on Monday Club St John’s Hall
Tue 26 St George
9.30am Tiny Tots: Stay & Play & Service St John’s Hall
Wed 27 10.00am Holy Communion followed by coffee St John’s
5.00pm Evening Prayer St Francis’
Fri 29 7.00pm Choir Rehearsal St John’s

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Lent Course
I hope those who have been, or are attending our Lent Course The Joy of the
Gospel are finding it helpful and insightful for their journey of faith. During Easter
Season we shall explore further how we might share with one another the living
joy of faith in Jesus Christ, and how we can live that joy in our everyday lives.
Mothering Sunday
Thank you to our Flower arrangers who made our posies again this year – first
time in 2 years. I hope everyone who wanted a posy was able to have one. Thank
you to our Junior Choir for singing and to our Rainbows, Brownies, and Guides
who returned to Church Parade.
Holy Week and Easter
Please see the list on page 12 of the Magazine for details of all our services during
Holy Week and Easter. This is the most important Festival of the Christian year
and I urge you to make your Communion on Easter Day as The Church celebrates
afresh the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the new life he brings. If you are going
away for Easter please make it a priority to find out the service times at your
nearest church.
You may find it beneficial to come to one (or more) of the services during Holy
Week as we travel with Christ towards his death and resurrection, and explore
through prayer, readings, and meditation the sacrificial cost of Christ’s love for us
all. You will be most welcome.
Palm Sunday: Procession of Palms
Pre-Covid, we have adopted a recent tradition of processing from Boxmoor Play
House (our former Church Hall) to St John’s Church to re-enact Christ’s entry into
Jerusalem. We are going to try and resurrect this procession again this year. The
Liturgy will begin at 10.00am in the Playhouse arriving into Church about 15
minutes later. I hope as many as possible will be able to participate in this public
expression of our faith. If you do not feel able to walk this route we look forward
to joining you in Church. It was a very powerful public witness last time we did it
with both the circus and running club meeting on the same day.
Services during Holy Week
Each evening during Holy Week there will be a special service as we reflect on the
final week of Christ’s earthly life. The addresses this year will be given by myself

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at the Monday and Tuesday evening Communion Service (8.00pm) at St John’s,
and at the 10.00am Communion Service on Wednesday (St John’s). On Wednes-
day we shall once again be invited to walk the way of the cross at St Francis
Church (at 8.00pm) in a very moving and prayerful service. There will also be the
opportunity to ask for prayers for healing on Wednesday morning at 9.00am at
St John’s.
Maundy Thursday: symbolism and volunteers
On this solemn evening when we recall Christ’s last supper with his disciples, his
betrayal, arrest, and abandoning, we will also recall Christ’s gift of the Holy
Eucharist and his command to love one another. During the Holy Eucharist we
will wash 12 people’s feet in a re-enactment of Christ’s act of loving service to
his disciples and friends. If you would like to have your feet washed please let
me know otherwise I will just have to ask you!
The Eucharist will be followed by a Watch before the Blessed Sacrament until
10.30pm as we pray with Christ that we may not fall into temptation, and try to
stay awake one hour recalling Christ’s words to his disciples in the Garden of
Gethsemane.
Good Friday – All Age Stations of the Cross
On Good Friday morning, at 10.00am, we shall once again be joining forces with
our neighbours at St Mary and St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Boxmoor to
hold an ecumenical All Age Stations of the Cross. The service will start in St Mary
and St Joseph’s Church and then we shall walk along the moor to St John’s
observing the Stations of the Cross as we go. Please encourage children of all
ages to come along to public witness to the faith on Good Friday. Last time we
did this over 100 children with accompanying adults took part. Do please
encourage any young people you know to join this pilgrimage.
Good Friday – Walk of Witness in Hemel Town Centre
Churches Together in Hemel Hempstead are organising an event for Good Friday
– although it is not the usual annual walk of witness into the town centre.
Instead this year you are invite to rendezvous in the Old Market Square, with
bags of recycling (not glass) for a short open-air Service. The Service will begin at
11.00am. All are welcome.
Easter Day
I look forward to celebrating with you the joy of the resurrection at Easter.
At St John’s our service will begin at 10.00am, outside (weather permitting), with
the lighting of the Easter Candle. We will renew our baptismal promises and
welcome new members into the faith, and we will sing with joy of the resurrec-
tion. It is hoped there will be an Easter Egg Hunt after the service. Cont’d….

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At St Francis’, the Vigil will be celebrated at 8.00pm on Saturday evening –
followed by Fizz and Chocolate – and there will be a Sung Mass of Easter at
10.00am on Easter Day.
At St Stephen’s there will be Holy Communion at 11.30am.
Messy Church
Our next Messy Church – Messy Easter – will be on Sunday 26 April, 3.00-
5.00pm. Lots of craft, fun, food, games and worship. Please let families and
young people know it is happening. Our Messy Lent in March was a delight –
messy at times. Thank you to our leaders and those who came for making it such
fun.
APCM
As noted in last month’s magazine our Annual Parochial Church Meeting this
year will be held on Sunday 24 April – immediately following a combined Parish
Eucharist at 10.00am. This is your Parish. You have a voice. During the meeting
we shall seek to elect 6 members of the congregation to the PCC, and (re)elect
our Churchwardens. Please give some thought between now and then as to
whether you could help shape the future of the Parish by serving on the PCC. The
term of office is usually 3 years. Reports will be posted on our Website with
some hardcopies available at the back of our churches for those who prefer
hardcopy.
My sincere thanks to those whose term on the PCC is up for election for all they
have done over the last 3 years in building-up our common life and shaping our
vision. They are Rosie Akeroyd, Phil Barton, Glen Clayton, Mark Harbour, Rosie
Shaw, and Di Tovey.
Thank you to our Churchwardens: Job Rombout and Marian Davies for their
support and leadership, and to Chris Angell and Richard Lyne who have been our
Treasurer and Secretary respectively.
Electoral Roll
This year the Roll will once again be open for amendments. It is interesting to
note that many of our regular worshipping community are not currently on the
Roll. Please consider adding yourself, or amending your details if they have
changed, so that the Roll can give as accurate an account of our worshipping
community as possible. This has been an invaluable tool for contacting members
of our fellowship during the pandemic.
Help for Ukraine
Throughout March we have been horrified but the atrocious invasion of Ukraine
by President Putin and the Russian Army. We have marvelled at the determina-
tion of the Ukrainian Army and volunteers to defend their homeland – a modern-

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day David and Goliath battle. We have wept for those who have become refugees,
and for those who grieve loved-ones. And we have shown compassion by giving
what we can to alleviate their plight. Over the coming weeks and months more
may be required of us as we seek to care for the outcast and suffering. Please
continue to hold the people of Ukraine in your prayers and for a swift end to the
violence.
Parish Choir
One of the side effects of the pandemic has been the suspension of the Parish
Choir at the Sunday morning Eucharist. Although we have had some excellent
recordings played to aide our devotions and worship there is nothing like a ‘live’
choir. Those who joined us over Christmas or who attend our monthly Choral
Evensong can testify to the superb offering our choir is currently making. During
Holy Week our choir will once again be in residence – singing at all the major
services and offering for us Stainer’s Crucifixion on Palm Sunday evening. Thank
you to Keith Beniston, our Director of Music, and all the choir for all your hard
work behind the scenes. I hope you will be able to hear our choir as they lead our
devotions.
St John’s Day Celebrations – Sunday 8 May 2022
The Feast of St John the Evangelist (our patron Saint), as many will know falls on
27 December. Coming hard on the heels of Christmas and St Stephen’s Day it is
rare that we actually celebrate St John. St John does however have another feast
day – 6 May. We shall therefore celebrate St John this year on the Sunday 8 May. I
am waiting confirmation of our invited guest preacher – more details to follow in
the Newsletter.
Canon Hamilton Memorial Window Painting
Congratulations to Carole Lewis on winning the stunning painting by Graham
Cutts of this stained glass window. Carole’s joy on winning was palpable and it
now takes pride of place in her sitting room. Thank you to all who took an interest
in this project. All proceeds have gone to Church Funds.

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PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING ON TUESDAY 15 MARCH 2022
The PCC met in St John’s Hall on Tuesday evening 15 March 2022,
chaired by the Vicar. He felt that there was a joyful spirit in the pews
and that the parish was doing well. 55 people had attended the Ash
Wednesday services, mostly the morning one, and some 90 people had
been present at the recent All-Age Sunday service. In the circumstances
this was good, showing people were re-gaining confidence and coming
back to church. He had been visiting those on the electoral roll whom he
had not recently seen in church, and the number on his list was now
down to around 15.
The meeting considered the Covid measures in force in church and
noted that some relaxation of them might soon be appropriate. The PCC
approved the parish draft contingency plan for future pandemics.
The Vicar briefed the meeting that there had been disappointing devel-
opments in our Mission Action Plan goal to create a church-based Youth
Club. The Vicar’s contact in the YMCA had left the organisation, seem-
ingly without replacement, leaving nobody to engage with. So, it seems
we will need to start again, but at least we now had an expert report on
how we needed to proceed and some funds allocated with which to do
so.
On other MAP goals, a working group on the environmental goal had
been formed and they recommended the parish joined the Dacorum
Climate Action Network which was agreed. The parish Lent Course was
underway with 15-20 attendees, and after Easter there would be a wash
-up meeting to decide the way forward with such courses.
Chris Angell reported on the financial situation of the parish, underlining
that we were on course so far to meet our 2022 break-even budget. We
had no immediate problem with cashflow thanks to donations, and he
was taking mitigating action in the face of NatWest’s threat to impose
charges on the parish bank account. The PCC endorsed the parish 2021
accounts and the nomination of the independent examiner, both to be
put to the forthcoming APCM. Cont’d…...

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The completely new arrangements and rules on safeguarding being intro-
duced by the diocese were discussed. It was felt disappointing that those
who had hitherto done everything asked of them to comply with the
rules were now being starkly asked in a very woolly way to start again
from scratch.
The installation of the new streaming equipment in St John’s was nearly
complete and the training to work it would soon take place. But there
was a problem with the often inadequate bandwidth available through
the parish’s existing internet connection. The Vicar said that they would
let the system settle down and then decide how to tackle this. An
improved wi-fi connection would, of course, benefit more that just the
streaming equipment and would make the Hall more attractive to rent.
The Diocesan Secretary had recently attended the Deanery Synod and
briefed them on the financial position of the diocese, which information
the Vicar shared with the meeting. There was discussion on the situation
in Ukraine and on Ukrainian refugees. A parish support group was
formed under the chairmanship of Job Rombout. It was also agreed to
explore the feasibility of housing Ukrainian refugees in the unoccupied
Curate’s house in Beechfield Road.
Reports were received from PCC Committees, daughter churches, the
Deanery Synod, and the wider church in Hemel Hempstead.
This is necessarily a summary of the meeting, but if anyone on the Parish
electoral roll would like to see the full minutes of this PCC meeting, then
the PCC Secretary would be glad to provide them.
Richard Lyne
PCC Secretary
01442 260998
pccsecretary@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk

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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
The Call
My blood so red
For thee was shed,
Come home again, come home again:
My own sweet heart, come home again!
You’ve gone astray
Out of your way,
Come home again, come home again!
Anonymous, 17th
century

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Please Note: St. John's Church PCC cannot accept any responsibility for goods or services

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Howgoesit?
Back in his February Notes the Vicar opined that your Treasurer would
doubtless keep you all updated on financial progress in 2022. Having
finished the formal accounts for 2021 - full gory details at the APCM later
this month - I've now had time to cast my eyes over what's been happen-
ing in January, February and early March and how it compares with what
we hoped for (the budget). Happily, nothing untoward is apparent. It's a
bit early to spot trends with any confidence but broadly Collections have-
n't recovered as quickly as anticipated, but the shortfall has been more
than matched by some unexpected and generous Donations. Meanwhile,
expenditure has been commendably modest. We fixed energy prices until
2023 so this most likely source of shocks has yet to bite us and, as things
stand, we should better our break-even target over 2022 whilst paying our
full Parish Share. (A hostage to fortune if ever I saw one and highly
dependent on substantial fundraising which is planned but yet to be
delivered!). There are obvious clouds on the horizon - Russia's outrageous
actions and the not over yet Pandemic to name but two - so we'll need to
remain vigilant for now and not spend any windfalls lightly.
Chris Angell, Honorary Treasurer
Tree planted at Lambeth Palace as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy
The Archbishop of Canterbury has planted a fig tree in the garden at
Lambeth Palace as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy to celebrate Her
Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.
The Archbishop of Canterbury said: “The beauty of trees reminds us of our
responsibility to care for God’s creation, for each other and for genera-
tions to come. It’s a fitting tribute to Her Majesty The Queen’s seven
decades of service, and the trees we plant this year will be a sign of our
gratitude and celebration of this remarkable occasion for many decades to
come. I encourage everyone to get involved in The Queen’s Green
Canopy, and plant a tree to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.”

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Our stained-glass windows
Following on from Graham Gibbs’ interesting article in the March maga-
zine on the Canon Hamilton Window, and the raffle of Graham Cutts’
lovely painting, I wonder how many people who read this magazine are
aware that there is now a new section on the parish website about all our
stained-glass windows.
The information on the website was provided by Graham Gibbs and the
photos all come courtesy of Annie Mitchell, from David Mitchell’s collec-
tion. The final version of the text was put together and vetted by
members the Communications Committee, then uploaded to the website.
The website now also has a Brief History section, preceding the item on
the windows, though as yet we do not have a very good selection of really
old photos. If anyone can find better (usable) photos, the Comms team
would be very grateful. Of course, if any readers would like to give us
more information, or to dispute that which we have used, please do let us
know.
This information can be found on our website under the About tab (see
below)
https://stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk/about/our-stained-glass-windows/
https://stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk/about/a-brief-history/
Anne Lyne

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'Music Percentage Club Update’
Congratulations to the winners of the February Music
Percentage Club draws:
Sheila James 1st £15
Catherine Holness 2nd £8
Peter Garner 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
The Circle of Peace
By Ken Lewis and Trevor Dennis, SPCK, £10.99
The Church is very good at challenging people to love their neighbours, but
it is not so strong on encouraging us to also love ourselves.
Yet encountering the love of God sets us free to live as we were intended
to live – loving ourselves and those around us. Through Bible passages,
stories and exercises, the authors encourage us to throw off the sense of
apprehension that bothers so many, and to enjoy living to the full in God’s
exhilarating company.

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MAY 2022 - PRICE 60p
Please note the deadline for articles for the May 2022 edition of the magazine is
Sunday, 3rd April.
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/A4 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 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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Contact Telephone Number ………………………………………………………………………...

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St James the Least of All
On how maintaining the churchyard can lead to turf wars
The Rectory
St James the Least
My dear Nephew Darren
Consider yourself fortunate that your churchyard consists of no more than a
small, paved area, and that keeping it tidy requires ten minutes of picking up
discarded takeaway boxes on Sunday morning. Our four acres of grass and
randomly placed gravestones absorbs a large portion of the time and energy of
half the parish.
By getting different people to adopt sections of the churchyard, the hope was
that an element of competition would be introduced; Major Rutherford would
never let Admiral Crompton’s section look tidier than his and the local farmers
would want to show the amateurs that they knew far more about land mainte-
nance.
Sadly, human nature has got in the way – as it invariably does. Miss Timmins has
declared her section a nature reserve, so that the cuddly field mice and darling
hedgehogs have somewhere to live in. This now means that crossing from her
patch to the next feels like crossing from Kew Gardens to the Amazon Rainforest.
Two feet high grass and a profusion of dandelions give way to manicured lawn
with any weed daring to pop its head above the parapet being beheaded in
seconds. Miss T is toying with erecting a fence round her plot, to keep her dear
furry friends safe and Sir Horace is threatening to have it electrified, to make sure
they do not defile his grass billiard table.
Mr Tremble, a retired health and safety officer, whose well-meaning advice on
avoiding accidents is such a burden, is applying to have all the gravestones on his
patch levelled, so that no one could be killed by having a fall on them. The fact
that this has never happened in 600 years, seems an irrelevance to him. On the
other hand, his neighbour spends summer evenings painting his stones with sour
milk, in order to encourage lichen. Mr Tremble’s warning that some lichens can
be quite poisonous have so far fallen on deaf ears.

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A local farmer, who maintains the boundary walls, generously planted cherry
trees all around the perimeter; not only for their looks in Spring, but so that the
birds would have somewhere to roost. Sadly, Lady Lipton, while resting from
maintaining her plot, tends to stupefy them when she smokes her briar pipe.
The only area which no one dares criticise surrounds the mausoleum of the
Luscombes, maintained by the gardening staff of the present Lord. It contains
such a collection of rogues and miscreants that parishioners fear their anger at
being disturbed may even cross the divide of death.
I hesitate to admit it, but the thought of an area of concrete with a few pizza
boxes scattered round does at times hold a certain attraction.
Your loving uncle,
Eustace

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The Berkhamsted Walk – Sunday 8th
May 2022
Join in the Berkhamsted Walk to raise funds for The Children’s Society.
The walk is Berkhamsted’s longest-standing sponsored walk and since
1968 has raised over £300,000. The money raised is given to The
Children's Society, who work tirelessly on projects to help children of this
country facing neglect and abuse, with nowhere else to turn.
All walks this year start from Kitchener’s Fields, Castle Hill, Berkhamsted
HP4 1HE - by the Cricket Club. There is an 18 mile walk for the adven-
turous, a 12-mile Bluebell walk and a family friendly 6-mile walk.
Find out how you can participate and register
at www.berkhamstedwalk.com.
To find out more about The Children's Society's work, take a look at their
website: www.childrenssociety.org.uk

- 27 -
Little Miss Rosina Weitzmann, daughter of our former curate Father Ben
and his lovely wife Elizabeth is five months old already (photos taken in
February 22) and clearly quite a character. How time flies! Carole
SMILE-LINES
Comfort
As the new vicar in the community, I tried to have a friendly word for
everybody. And so, even while I sat in the reception area of my doctor’s
surgery, I felt ‘on duty’.
Just then a woman rolled an elderly man in a wheelchair into the room. As
she went to the receptionist’s desk, the man sat there, alone and silent. I
was thinking I should make small talk with him when a little boy slipped off
his mother’s lap and walked over to the wheelchair.
Placing his hand on the man’s, he said companionably, “I know just how
stupid you feel. My mum makes me ride in the pushchair, too.”
Photos by kind permission of
Elizabeth Weitzmann

- 28 -
He too
When the blackest clouds enfold us
When the strongest winds may blow;
When our dearest friends have sold us
And we have nowhere to go,
In the depths of great despairing
Through the sharpest jabs of pain
There we find our Father, caring
Giving shelter from the rain.
For He too, one dreadful Friday
Saw His most beloved Son
On a cross, raised by a highway
Naked, bleeding, cruelly hung.
Yes, He too has felt the starkness
And He too has been betrayed
For He too has known the darkness
And the price which must be paid.
As you weep, reach out your fingers
Feel His gentle, loving hand,
Feel the care just He can bring us
For your life is known and planned.
He too knows the path before us
And He too has fought the fight
Only Jesus can assure us
On our journey to the light.
By Nigel Beeton

- 29 -
St John’s Lunch Club is held one Sunday a month and open to anyone
who cares to sign up on the list in church. On Sunday, 27 February as
always it was a lovely occasion with excellent food and fellowship. Amaz-
ing value for £6 too. We are so blessed to have people who give of them-
selves and their culinary skills so willingly, aided and abetted by family
and friends. A very big Thank you to all concerned.
Carole
Photos by kind permission of Carole Lewis

- 30 -
at St John’s
in the month of February 2022
HOLY BAPTISM
20 February Leo Billy Avis Maynard Road
May the Lord of his great mercy bless this child and give him
understanding of his wisdom and grace.
HOLY MATRIMONY
No weddings took place in February
FUNERAL & MEMORIAL SERVICES
2 February Ann Lewis Mountbatten Lodge
7 February Riccardo Carmelo James Criscenti Dunstable
May these souls and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy
of God, rest in peace.
BURIAL OF ASHES
9 February Vera Edith Jessie Trustram Anchor Lane
24 February Karen Deborah Smith Wilkinson Way

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SMILE-LINES
What a hoot
One evening a bird-loving vicar strolled over to his huge country church-
yard, and just for fun, hooted softly, like an owl. To his delight, an owl
hooted softly back. The next night the same thing happened, and again,
the night after that. Soon it became a regular habit, and every night for
the following year, no matter what the weather, the vicar would go to
the churchyard and hoot back and forth with his feathered friend. The
hoots became longer and more complicated, and the vicar kept a careful
log of the ‘conversation’.
Just as he thought he was on the verge of a real breakthrough in inter-
species communication, his wife had a chat with the neighbour who lived
in a big house and garden next door to the church. “My husband comes
here each night,” she said, to “hoot to the owl in the churchyard.”
“That’s odd,” the neighbour replied, “so does my husband.”

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