St. John's Mag June 2020

3. - 1 -
PARISH CHURCH OF ST JOHN
BOXMOOR
CLERGY
Vicar: The Reverend Michael Macey 01442 243258
Boxmoor Vicarage
10 Charles Street, HP1 1JH
Day off: Friday
Email: vicar@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
Associate Minister: The Reverend Canon Dr Ruth Goatly 07961 980158
23 Beechfield Road, Boxmoor, HP1 1PP
Normally available: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday
Email: associateminister@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk
Lay Reader: Mrs Carole Lewis 01442 231414
61 River Park, Boxmoor, HP1 1RB
Day off: Wednesday
Email: lewicarole@gmail.com
SUNDAY SERVICES
8.00 am BCP Holy Communion (Every Sunday)
9.30 am Main Morning Service:
Week 1 - All Age Eucharist
Weeks 2, 3, 4, 5 - Parish Eucharist
Junior Church (3-11 Sunday School) in Church Hall
(There is no Junior Church on 1st Sunday of month)
11.30 am Weeks 1 & 3 - Holy Baptism
6.30 pm Evening Services:
Week 1 - BCP Holy Communion with hymns and sermon
Week 2 - Choral Evensong
Week 3 - Taizé Service
Week 4 - Evensong and Benediction (at St. Francis)
Week 5 - As announced
WEEKDAY SERVICES
Daily Morning and Evening Prayer:
8.45 am - Morning Prayer (Daily - except Sundays)
9.30 am - Morning Worship (Thursday at St Stephen’s, Chaulden)
5.00 pm - Evening Prayer (Mon/Tues/Thu/Fri at St John’s)
5.00 pm - Evening Prayer (Wednesday at St Francis, Hammerfield)
Monday 7.30 pm - Holy Communion
Tuesday 9.30 am - Tiny Tots for under fives and parents
including Refreshments - Service finishes by 11.00 am
Wednesday 10.30 am - Holy Communion (followed by coffee in church)
(Prayers for Healing on the 4th Monday of each month
(7.30pm during Holy Communion) and the 3rd Wednesday Morning of
every other month (10 am Service of Prayer for Healing prior to the Holy
Communion Service)
Enquiries concerning Thanksgivings, Baptisms and Weddings in the
church office: Tuesdays from 6.30 pm to 7.15 pm (Please note during winter months
6.45 pm to 7.30 pm)

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 -
VICAR’S LETTER
Dear Friends,
Among the pictures, photos, and devotional aides in my study is a
Dad’s Army picture: The platoon are in a field; Pike is sitting on a
fallen tree looking sullen; Mainwaring is chastising him whilst
Wilson, Jones, Frazer and the others look on; and under the
picture is the phrase Stupid Boy! Of all the pictures and photos in the vicarage it is
probably the one I look at most, situated adjacent to my computer monitor.
When I was at Theological College training for ordination I had, on my computer,
the screen saver KISS. Not because I was a Casanova but because it was an
acronym for Keep It Simple Stupid.
But why am I sharing this with you? Both the acronym and the picture contain the
words stupid – do I think I am stupid? Sometimes yes! But actually, more often
than not, I have the very real danger of over thinking my own self-importance or
ability, or the situation and subject I am addressing. Like many, I too can fall into
the trap of pride and thinking it is all down to me.
To the right of my computer monitor is another picture – which I have had since
my baptism – of a little boy crying; dog around his legs; holding what looks like his
school report card in his hands; the words above God Understands. I have often
taken comfort from this picture as it speaks the truth: no matter what I have done
or not done, God understands. For me, these 3 images and sayings combine to
ground me, reassure me, and kick-start me into being a better version of myself,
and hopefully a better priest and shepherd to you – the people God has entrusted
me to love, serve, lead, and care for.
During this pandemic I am not certain I have always made the right decisions or
choices as we have waded our way through uncharted territory. Like many I have
had a steep learning curve regarding the use of technology (and I’m most grateful
to the tech-support offered by members of the parish), discerning what is
appropriate and possible in each situation and what will sustain us. I have tried to
balance work and family life and the new demands and conflictions they present. I
have tried to be faithful to my calling to love, serve, lead and care for you all, but
where I have got it wrong I ask your forgiveness.
Cont’d….

6. - 4 -
I write all this because at the end of June/beginning of July we would have been
rejoicing with those to be ordained Deacon or Priest this year and giving thanks
for those who have been ordained in former years. Indeed, we would have been
supporting Vanessa Hadley-Spencer – former Head Chorister at St John’s – who
was due to be made Deacon in June. This will now most likely take place in
September. I myself will be giving thanks for 15 years of ordained ministry on
3 July. These anniversaries and milestones, coupled with enforced periods of
isolation and respite from the normal pattern of things, leads one to reflect,
examine, and reappraise what we are about and doing. No doubt, as lockdown
draws to a close, there will be things each of us want to do differently as we
move forward. As a Church there will be things we will want to do differently. My
solemn prayer is that in all of this we look to discern what is sustaining and
sustainable; what will build us up as God’s people and help us to share the Good
News of the resurrection; how can we keep it simple.
As ever my prayers and blessings to you all.

7. - 5 -
PARISH DIARY FOR JUNE 2020
OUR CHURCHES & ALL PUBLIC ACTS OF WORSHIP, CLUBS, & GROUPS
REMAIN SUSPENDED WITHIN THE PARISH.
Enquiries regarding baptisms, weddings, or marriage blessings are
always welcome. Please contact the Vicar
Morning and Evening Prayer are said Daily for the Life of the Parish,
currently by the Vicar at the Vicarage.
Worship Resources during pandemic whilst we cannot meet are being made
available at www.stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk/suspended-services-resources
Mon 1 Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth
Tues 2 8.00pm PCC Standing Committee (via Zoom)
Wed 3 11.00am Zoom Coffee Morning
Thurs 4 8.15pm Zoom Happy Hour Drinks
Sun 7 TRINITY SUNDAY
9.30am Parish Eucharist St John’s
Service and Resources will be posted on the Parish
website
10.00am St Albans Abbey Live Streamed Service
https://www.youtube.com/user/stalbanscathedral
Wed 10 11.00am Zoom Coffee Morning
Thur 11 CORPUS CHRISTI - Day of Thanksgiving for the Holy Eucharist
8.00pm Sung Mass St Francis’
Service and Resources will be posted on the Parish
website
Fri 12 St Barnabas, Apostle
8.15pm Zoom Happy Hour Drinks
Sun 14 First Sunday after Trinity
9.30am Parish Eucharist St John’s
10.00am St Albans Abbey Live Streamed Service
https://www.youtube.com/user/stalbanscathedral
Wed 17 11.00am Zoom Coffee Morning
Thurs 18 8.15pm Zoom Happy Hour Drinks

8. - 6 -
Sun 21 Second Sunday after Trinity
9.30am Parish Eucharist St John’s
Service and Resources will be posted on the Parish
website
10.00am St Albans Abbey Live Streamed Service
https://www.youtube.com/user/stalbanscathedral
Mon 22 St Alban, first martyr of Britain
Wed 24 Birth of John the Baptist
11.00am Zoom Coffee Morning
Thurs 25 8.15pm Zoom Happy Hour Drinks
Sun 28 Third Sunday after Trinity
9.30am Parish Eucharist St John’s
10.00am St Albans Abbey Live Streamed Service
https://www.youtube.com/user/stalbanscathedral
Mon 29 St Peter, Apostle
It is anticipated the Government and National Church will decide,
during June, when our church buildings are allowed
to re-open for public and private prayer.
Please see the Newsletter each week
for the most up-to-date information.

9. - 7 -

10. - 8 -
Church Finances during "Lockdown"
Our Treasurer writes: "At the end of April I received an unexpected letter from The
Right Reverend Dr Alan Smith, Lord Bishop of St Albans thanking me for the work I
(and many others) do to maintain the finances of the Parish and, urging us, if at all
possible, to continue payment of Parish Share so that the Diocese can, in turn,
continue to meet ongoing clergy costs. In a subsequent e-mail Archdeacon Jane
has reinforced the need for Parish Share to be paid as clergy are not furloughed
(and indeed working harder than ever) and invited Parishes to share, through a
series of on-line forums, their financial experiences in Lockdown and ideas for
maintaining income. We will, of course, be participating.
So where do we stand?
Happily, St Francis' Church has modest reserves and we have been able to respond
by paying their full Share "upfront". For St John's and St Stephen's the position is
more difficult. Although we receive substantial Planned Giving, which has held up
magnificently (my thanks to all), we rely on Plate collections, Hall lettings, Fundrais-
ing, Fees, Magazine profits and donations (including for coffee and via Smartie
tubes) to balance our books. Sadly all these sources have dried up. We have no
free reserves and , indeed, have Parishioner Loans for the boiler to repay. Whilst
some expenditure has stopped or reduced other items continue to need to be paid
for. The PCC's particular concern is the annual insurance premiums due in May and
June - we must protect our buildings (and boilers) after all we've done to maintain,
replace and improve them and ensure that future generations have somewhere to
worship. To conserve what little cash we have and ensure the insurance premiums
are paid, the Standing Committee on behalf of the PCC reluctantly decided to
suspended payment of St John's and St Stephen's monthly Parish Share after the
March payment. When we can make further payments will be heavily influenced
by when Services can resume, but at present it is hard to imagine anything like
"normal" income levels will be restored before the end of 2020 and our current
plan is to make what payment of the balance of our Share we can in December.
Could we do better?
Well, with his letter the Bishop enclosed a cheque to help support us, explain-
ing "Knowing that I will not be able to take my summer holiday in June, I have
decided to give the money I would have spent to support our churches." Perhaps
you can find a similar reason/basis for a donation?
Cont’d….

11. - 9 -
If you can (and I appreciate not everyone has an income or savings from which to
give) please send a cheque made payable to "PCC St Johns Boxmoor" to the Parish
office or direct to me at 61, Alexandra Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 4AQ. All
monies received will help ensure our buildings can be re-opened as soon as permis-
sible and our clergy's work maintained."
Chris Angell
Creative things you can do with your Bible
Bible Society is urging people to make good use of their enforced time at
home by using their creativity to read the Bible with better appreciation. To
help with this, Bible Society is offering a range of creative Bible-based
resources to help people learn new skills, such as journaling, colouring or
doing crafts that are Bible-based.
These include:
Bless Our Nest (£5.95) – a colouring book filled with Bible verse designs,
featuring colour charts and tools for Bible journaling.
Faithful Paper crafting (£12.99) – now you can create note cards, gift tags
and scrapbook paper, mini cards, bookmarks and envelope templates full of
inspiring Scripture.
Complete Guide to Bible Journaling (£14.99) – offering new creative
techniques for Bible journaling.
Go to: https://www.biblesociety.org.uk

12. - 10 -
Please pray for our fellow human beings in developing countries in this
pandemic
Hopefully the threat of COVID-19 has shown us all that we are all part of one
shared humanity, no matter which country we live in. All of us will have been
severely affected by the outbreak. Our lives have been disrupted, we aren’t seeing
our loved ones who do not live with us and we are forced to stay at home to delay
the spread of the virus. Our churches have been closed, people’s livelihoods
affected along with our physical and mental health in some cases. The food banks
have never been so busy. Our children cannot play with their friends and are
being home-schooled or not at all. Nothing is “normal” any more.
But let us pause for a moment and think of the effect of the pandemic in places
and cultures where social distancing is just not possible. There was a horrifying
picture in the press a while back, of thousands of workers, having been laid off in
Delhi, returning to their villages by bus or train, many carrying the virus. Develop-
ing countries do not have the benefit of our NHS and in many areas there is no
access to soap or even running water.
However, the real impact of the pandemic is not so well known; millions of people
in developing countries are losing their livelihoods and unable to afford food. The
economic impact of the measures taken to fight the virus in Europe is anticipated
to be severe and long term. People living in countries like Afghanistan, Bangla-
desh, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Uganda often live on a day-to-day basis,
earning just enough to feed their families and pay for their children’s education.
Their source of income is usually the informal economy, through jobs such as rick-
shaw and motorbike driving and petty trading.
Governments throughout the world reacted by enforcing lockdowns to protect
lives, following the example of more developed countries. This has resulted in a
sharp loss of income and food stocks that are rapidly running out. In short, whilst
the pandemic is a public health and economic crisis in the UK, Europe and the
USA, it has rapidly become a humanitarian crisis in developing countries.
One figure above all illustrates the scale of the problem. According to the World
Bank, a person is living in extreme poverty if they earn less than £1.50 per day. At
the end of 2019, there were 700 million people living in extreme poverty globally.
Initial estimates suggest that another 500 million people will fall into this category
by the end of the pandemic.
Cont’d…..

13. - 11 -
Please pray for our fellow men, women and children across the globe who have
been on lockdown, just like us, but have no means to survive. Please pray that
world’s wealthiest, developed countries, such as the UK, will continue to
support other countries and help them recover from the effects of this unprece-
dented outbreak. Please pray too for the aid workers who have to put them-
selves at risk to support refugee communities, such as the Rohingya at Cox’s
Bazaar in Bangladesh.
Anne Lyne
****************
Keep an eye out for the elderly
When did you last see your elderly neighbour? Seriously: are they okay?
During this time of social distancing, it is all too easy to assume that the
elderly person you never see is simply safe indoors. But are they?
Isolation can be dangerous: it is too easy for them to have had an
accident and be unable to call for help.
Why not arrange a system with them whereby you agree that you will
give them a quick ring once a day, or even stand outside their house and
wave? It only takes a few seconds to make sure they are still on their
feet, and that all is well.
If you have several elderly neighbours, why not ask a few of your local
friends to help you keep in brief touch with them each day?

14. - 12 -
Coronavirus – Update
June, for many, will mark the end of the 12 week period of isolation requested by
the Government. Some people will no-doubt need to keep isolating and shielding,
whilst others begin to return to work or school. There is still a long way to go
before we return to “normal” whatever that may look like.
I hope you have been to access our Newsletter and the Services we have been
posting on our website. For the last month I have been able to lead Services in
your church which is both a privilege and joy, whilst simultaneously tinged with
sadness and a longing to see you all. I should like to thank Keith Beniston, our
Director of Music, for his musical and technical help in producing these services,
and Stacey Barton for ensuring all the materials and files are available on our
website each week.
At present I do not know when we will be back together as a congregation. The
Bishops are meeting at the end of May/beginning of June to discuss when and how
our buildings may be opened. In the meantime, The Church is still very much active
in this community and I ask you to continue to pray for, and help your neighbours.
Works at St John’s
You may well have seen from the Newsletter that a small group of volunteers have
been making the most of the sunny weather and have been tidying-up the grounds
of St John’s. To date they have repaired the dangerous driveway, removed the
hedges on the south side of church, cut the grass (many times!), weeded the paths
around the south and west side of church, and mended (and are mending)
benches. They plan to repair the broken wall and strip and re-paint metal gates. If
you would like to help with this project you would be most welcome - please
contact the Churchwardens or me.
Social Events
Over the last month we have held weekly online Coffee Mornings and evening
Happy Hour drinks. These have been well attended and always given rise to laugh-
ter and good conversation. Everyone is welcome. If you would like to join one or
both of these please contact me and I’ll send you the weekly link. Details can be
found in the Newsletter.
Cont’d….

15. - 13 -
Corpus Christi Eucharist
This year Thursday 11 June is the day set aside by the Church to give thanks for
the institution of the Lord’s Supper and Holy Communion. In recent years this has
been the feast when those who are authorised to help distribute the Blessed
Sacrament have been affirmed and commissioned in their ministry. This will not be
possible this year – at least not on this feast. I intend to preside at the Eucharist on
this Feast and offer Benediction for you all at St Francis, Hammerfield. This will be
shared on our Website. I know how hard it is for so many not to receive the Sacra-
ment at this time but I hope you have been able to make your Spiritual Commun-
ion.
APCM
At a meeting of the PCC Standing Committee a provisional date for the Annual
Parochial Church Meeting was proposed. We hope this will be held on Sunday 11
October – restrictions allowing.
Tim Lenton recalls one of our best-loved novelists.
Charles Dickens – prolific writer with a social conscience
Popular Victorian novelist Charles Dickens died 150 years ago, on 9th
June 1870.
His books include The Pickwick Papers, A Tale of Two Cities and David Copperfield.
He died of a stroke in Gad’s Hill Place, his country home in Kent, when halfway
through writing The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The last novel he completed – most
of them were written in regularly released parts – was Our Mutual Friend, in 1865.
He had been born in Portsmouth in 1812, the second of eight children. His family
were relatively poor, and his mother wanted him out at work, so he never
received a formal education. Nevertheless, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years
and wrote 15 novels, as well as many other stories, articles and letters. He was
also a staunch social campaigner, particularly for children’s rights and education.
As could be deduced from one of his most loved works, A Christmas Carol, he was
a firm believer in Christian elements such as compassion and redemption, and he
loved the New Testament, while having little time for the Old or for organised
religion. His parents were nominal Anglicans. He is said to have wanted his stories
to be seen as ‘parables’ emphasising the teaching of Jesus.

16. - 14 -
We can claim the gift of sleep
Many of us have had our sleep patterns disturbed in recent weeks. After all, a
pandemic, lockdown and growing financial crisis are hardly conducive to relaxa-
tion.
But the fact is that, whatever is happening out there, we desperately need our
sleep. It is vital for the proper functioning of our brain and heart. Anyone who
has ever been deprived of sleep for a period will remember their ever-
diminishing ability to perform complicated tasks.
Sleep can also help us solve problems. We go to bed struggling with a decision to
make or a relationship to resolve, and we wake up to find a solution presenting
itself. The old advice to ‘sleep on it’ is true: we see things more clearly after
sleep.
The Bible considers our sleep as a blessing from God. As Christians, we can
calmly commit ourselves to His loving care, secure that He who watches over us
“will neither slumber nor sleep” (Ps 121:4). Knowing that God is with us, we can
let ourselves go.
If you are having trouble sleeping, why not memorise one of the verses below,
and repeat it to yourself as you lie in bed tonight?
‘I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.’ (Ps 3:5)
‘In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in
safety.’ (Ps 4:8)
‘In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for He
grants sleep to those He loves.’ (Ps 127:2)
‘When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be
sweet.’ (Prov. 3:24)
‘I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.’ (Jer. 31:25)
As the writer George MacDonald so aptly put it: “Sleep is God’s contrivance for
giving man the help He cannot get into him when he is awake.”

17. - 15 -

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
TIME TO CARE
Can you spare a moment
Give your time to care
To comfort someone lonely
And in a sorrow share
A kindly word is priceless
It lingers in the heart,
And gives to life new meaning
And to hope, a brighter start
Helping hands are needed
In our World today
Let’s look out for someone
We meet along our way

19. - 17 -
Please Note: St. John's Church PCC cannot accept any responsibility for goods or services

20. - 18 -
Nigel Beeton writes: “Simon, my Vicar, was completely unfazed by the
closure of his church in March. The very next week he’d set up ‘Zoom’ and
many of us have been weekly attenders of his ‘virtual church’ for the weeks
now. I realise that many other churches are doing the same, but we’ve had
people join us from all over the place! Of course, we all look forward to
getting back to St Mary’s, but it has brought the congregations together in
ways that we could never have imagined. This poem began one recent
Sunday morning when I said to my wife, Carol, “let’s go and worship at St
Sofa’s”. That inspired her and so the first verse of this poem is hers, not
mine!
St Sofa’s
We worship at St Sofa’s now
Since Covid came to stay
We don’t dress up or do our hair
But still we come to pray!
Our Vicar is a clever chap
A Zoom with his IT
And so we sit down ev’ry week
And meet up virtually!
Our Parish Church stands empty
With praise she does not ring;
But still her people gather round
To pray, and praise, and sing!
The virus is a nasty thing
Yet it has helped us see
The church is NOT a building
But folk like you and me!
By Nigel and Carol Beeton

21. - 19 -
Mothers’ Union offers range of resources
The Mothers’ Union has made a very practical response to the corona-
virus.
As their website explains, “We know that our work and experience in
re-building communities and supporting family life is going to be more
important than ever once the threat of COVID-19 subsides. Our members
will be some of the first in line to support those around them.”
In the meantime, MU has drawn together a range of resources to “help
nurture our members and their friends and neighbours through this
challenging time.” The resources will “help combat feelings of loneliness,
to nourish faith and to help you continue to feel connected to your friends
and community.”
These include: rainbows, prayer cards, prayer resources, puzzles
resources, and Bible study resources. More info at: https://
www.mothersunion.org
BOOK REVIEW
Franciscan Footprints: following Christ in the ways of Francis
and Clare
By Helen Julian, BRF, £8.99
There are many ways of following Christ – each footprint is unique. One of these,
the Franciscan spiritual journey, has been tried and tested over the centuries, and
the experiences of St Francis and St Clare and all those who have been inspired by
their lives still resonate with us. Helen Julian CSF explores the distinctive features
of their spirituality and shows how these practices can be applied to, and become
part of, our daily lives. Discover your own pathway today.

22. - 20 -
JUNE 1940 – a month to remember
June 1940 – 80 years ago – was a dramatic month in the Second World
War, and one which saw two of the most memorable speeches in English.
As the evacuation of Allied Forces from Dunkirk was completed, recently
appointed Prime Minister Winston Churchill told the House of Commons
on 4th
June: “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing
grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the
hills; we shall never surrender.”
Surprisingly he did not broadcast it to the nation: it was not recorded until
1949, “for posterity.” When he spoke, the French had not surrendered,
and the idea that “in God’s good time” the USA might conceivably have to
ride to the aid of a ‘subjugated’ England actually depressed as many
people as it invigorated.
Two weeks later, on the 18th
June, with the battle in France lost, Churchill
did address the country directly with a rallying call in what must indeed
have seemed a very dark hour. “The Battle of Britain,” he said, “is about to
begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation.” He
concluded by saying that if Britain were to last a thousand years, people
would still say, “This was their finest hour.”
*************
A challenge was set during lockdown for a story/poem to be written based
on the 26 letters of the alphabet in order and Chris Angell was the first to
take up the challenge. If anyone else would like to send in their entries to
the Editor, they would be very welcome.
A Church in Lockdown
A becalmed church; deserted empty, forlorn, ghostly, hollow.
Incumbent joyously keeping love moving, nurturing our prayers.
Quietly restoring society.
Tranquil until vibrant with Xmas Yuletide zest. [let's hope].
Chris Angell

23. - 21 -
By the Revd Peter Crumpler, a Church of England priest in St Albans, Hertfordshire,
and a former communications director with the CofE.
Blessed are the truth-tellers (during the pandemic)
ITV News journalist and presenter Julie Etchingham, a practising Christian, has
defended the role played by journalists during the Coronavirus pandemic.
She told the Christians in Media website, “Reporters are coming in for a lot of flak
for the questions they are asking government. But what else are we for? We all
get that this is a crisis like no other; that few in government have ever had to navi-
gate such a challenge.
“But, if we’re still attempting to function as a democracy in the face of this, then
scrutiny is clearly crucial. Many in our frontline services and the wider public are
demanding answers. We are there on their behalf. We don’t always get it right.
This isn’t a moment to trip people up, but urgently to get to the truth.”
As a Christian who has worked in communications for around 50 years, I strongly
support Julie Etchingham’s view. Now is the time for truth and accuracy to be at
the centre of all our communications.
So, yes we need to be praying for and supporting the front-line health service
staff, the public health experts, the scientists researching vaccines to combat the
virus, and the key workers keeping our societies running.
But we also need to be praying for and supporting the men and women working in
and with the media to publish, upload, broadcast and distribute the most accurate
information, without spin or distortion.
So here is a prayer for the media in these challenging days.
Loving God,
We pray for everyone working in and with media in these challenging times.
Encourage all who seek to explain and interpret the fast-changing world around
us.
Embolden the truth-tellers, truth-seekers and fact-checkers.
Promote coverage that builds our shared humanity and where everyone has a
voice.
Bring clarity where there is confusion
Bring knowledge where there is speculation
Bring wisdom and insight when the way ahead seems unclear.
And bring us all to a knowledge of truth that sets us free, and helps keep us safe.
In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.

24. - 22 -
'Music Percentage Club Update’
Congratulations to our April Draw Winners;
Jennie Whitefield 1st £15
Lorraine Ioannou 2nd £8
Sheila James 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
SMILE-LINES
The following are actual call centre conversations….
Customer: “I’ve been ringing you on 0700 2300 for two days. Why didn’t
you answer?”
Travel agent: “Where did you get that number from, sir?”
Customer: “It’s there on the door to your Travel Centre.”
Operator: “Sir, they are our opening hours.”
Caller (enquiring about legal requirements while travelling in France ): “If I
register my car in France, do I have to change the steering wheel to the
other side of the car?”
Then there was the caller who asked for a knitwear company in Woven.
Operator: “Woven? Are you sure?”
Caller: “Yes, of course. That’s what it says on the label; Woven in Scot-
land.”

25. - 23 -
JULY 2020 EDITION - PRICE 60p
Please note the deadline for articles for the next edition of the magazine is
Sunday, 7th June.
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
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26. - 24 -
FROM THE ARCHIVES: 60 YEARS AGO, THE JUNE 1960 PARISH MAGAZINE
We are fortunate that we have had a monthly Boxmoor Parish Magazine
published since July 1886. Although we only have a handful of those editions
which date before 1959 all the magazines throw a light on church life and its
work in the parish.
So I thought you might like to know what the magazine contained sixty years ago.
The cover shows a small picture of an outline sketch of the south side of St
John’s Church and then details the services at both St John’s and St Francis’ and a
list of all the officers in the parish. The cost of the magazine was 4d (equivalent
to about 2p today).
The Vicar was The Reverend Canon Crewe Hamilton, Boxmoor’s longest serving
incumbent from 1927 to 1962. The Priest in Charge at St Francis was the newly
appointed The Reverend H. Bloomfield. The Churchwardens were Mr. G. Seth-
Ward, the Head of Heath Brow School, which was on the site of the present day
Vicarage Close, and Percy Searl, whom many older parishioners remember very
well. Mr. Scarf was the Churchwarden of St Francis. The list of “sidesmen”
contains 21 names, two of whom were ladies. The Choirmaster and Organist was
George Cheshire, who fulfilled the role for many years. Organists at St Francis
were Mr Mayo and Michael Abbis. Harry Cooper was the Hon. Secretary of the
PCC, while Percy Searl carried out the duties of Hon. Treasurer. The Magazine
Secretary was Mary King, a well-known figure in Boxmoor, last Chairman of
Hemel Hempstead Town Council. Finally, the Girl Guides Captain was Mrs Page,
while Brown Owl was Joan Waters.
Holy Communion at St John’s was held weekly on a Sunday at 8.00am and on a
Wednesday at 10.30am and on the first and third Sundays at 12noon. Matins
was the main Sunday service taking place at 11.00am, with Evensong at 6.30pm.
Sunday Schools were held in Boxmoor Infant and Junior Schools at 10.00am, with
the Girls’ Bible Class on Sunday afternoons at St John’s Hall (now Boxmoor Play-
house) at 2.30pm. On Sundays at St Francis there was Holy Communion at
7.30am, Sung Eucharist at 9.30am, Children’s Service at 11.00am and Evensong at
6.30pm.
In his “Monthly Notes” the Vicar commented on the Annual Vestry Meeting held
the previous month, at which Mr Seth-Ward and Mr Searl were re-elected
Churchwardens. Canon Hamilton said, “there is the exciting prospect of having
electric light installed in the church very soon, so that all will be in order before
the autumn comes”. He reported the death of The Reverend Sydney Sewell, who
had been Curate between 1928 and 1934, and lived at St John’s Lodge, 5 Horse-

27. - 25 -
Croft Road, a red-brick Edwardian house, which the PCC sold in the 1950s. What
an asset it would have been in more recent times! The Reverend Arthur Hill
succeeded him and when he resigned Boxmoor did not have a curate until The
Reverend Owen Blatchly was appointed in the mid 1960s. Mention was made of
Princess Margaret’s Wedding in Westminster Abbey on 6 May saying many were
“impressed by its splendour and its simplicity”. The Vicar had attended a
meeting in Central Hall, Westminster on 11 May to hear the Bishop of Johannes-
burg speaking on South Africa and urged parishioners “to pray for all the peoples
of South Africa that justice may be done and the evils of apartheid abolished”.
As we know it took until the 1990s before this was achieved. At the end of the
notes thanks were expressed for the “very generous Easter Offering”, which
reminds us that in those days it was given to the incumbent.
William “Billy” Crook, former Head of Boxmoor School and after whom the shel-
tered accommodation in Green End Lane is named, had written an article on
Christian Stewardship after the PCC had set up such a committee with a view for
members of the congregation “to adopt a pattern and systematic giving week by
week”.
The Mothers’ Union was holding a meeting in St. John’s Hall at 3.00pm on 17
June, the third Friday in the month. The Enrolling Member was Mrs Osmond,
who lived at 10 Charles Street. This address became the Boxmoor Vicarage in
1963 when The Reverend Derek Jackson became Vicar. The original Vicarage in
Heath Lane being demolished for the provision of housing in Heath Brow. It may
be of interest to know that the Home and Family Group also met on the third
Monday evening of the month.
A report was given on the activities of the Youth Club which ranged from country
dancing to a talk on traditional jazz. £5.00 from the latter event had been donat-
ed to the World Refugee Year. It continued “As the evenings were getting lighter
we hope to organise a mystery walk. We have also organised another youth
hostel trip to Ivinghoe over Whitsun”. I wonder what the youth of today would
make of some of these activities!
On 15 May six baptisms had taken place at 3.15pm and among the names listed
was that of Anthony Strange, Pat Angell’s brother. The funeral of Emma Hollick,
aged 83, had been held. The brass topped rails in front of the High Altar, are a
memorial to her. The Reverend Bloomfield offered “hearty congratulations and
good wishes to a young couple, both devoted members of St Francis”.
Cont’d….

28. - 26 -
FROM THE ARCHIVES: 60 YEARS AGO, THE JUNE 1960 PARISH MAGAZINE CONTD
The marriage at St John’s in June of Mr. Peter Garner, server, Church Council
member and occasional assistant organist, to Miss Jean Wilson, a regular Sunday
School teacher, will be followed by the Nuptial Eucharist. Alas! Peter will have to
begin his National Service shortly after his wedding, but happily for us all, he and
Jean have found a flat near St Francis’, which means that we shall not be losing
them”. Jean and Peter continue to play an active role in church life in Boxmoor
and we congratulate them on their Diamond Wedding Anniversary.
A Pageant had been presented at St Francis in April with a cast of 45 and “older
members of our congregation told us there had never been anything like it before
at St Francis”. The church renovation was going to be “a big job”. The roof had
been repaired and paid for, but more fund raising was needed to complete the
work and the congregation was reminded that” it is regular and systematic giving
which counts. We are making an Act of Faith by ordering the contractors to begin
the work as soon as possible. Services will have to be held in the Church Hall while
is being executed. The renovation of the sacristy and vestry will have to be done
by voluntary labour, for which an appeal will be made in due course”.
The magazine also contained the St Albans Diocesan Leaflet and several pages
were called Home Words. One article entitled “The Passion Play Village” explains
how the play came about. When the plague reached Oberammergau at the end
of the Thirty Years’ War in 1648 a dozen elders of the village went to the church
and took a vow that if they were spared they would present the story of our
Lord’s Passion every ten years. Performances of the Passion Play should have
taken place in 2020 and it is perhaps ironic that a world wide epidemic has
prevented this from happening.
Thirty advertisements appear in the magazine. Here is just a selection: Leago and
McInnes, Fruiterer and Florist whose shop is now Boxmoor Off-Licence, R. F. Earle,
Family Butcher, with English meat killed on the premises (now Boxmoor Framing
Gallery); C. A. Smith, Newsagent, which became Parry’s and is now Boxmoor
Village Store; while next door was F. G. Stevens and Co, Funeral Directors, H. P.
Porter Ltd, Grocers at 45 St John’s Road is now the offices of David Doyle, Estate
Agents; and W. H. Charman, Family Butchers, now occupied by Daisy Chain, Family
Jewellers.
It is inevitable that during a period of 60 years lots of changes have taken place in
the church and wider community, but throughout the church has been a constant
in many people’s lives and has continued to serve the Parish of Boxmoor with
dedication and love. Graham Gibbs

29. - 27 -
Schooling during lockdown
Life was turned upside down on March 23rd
, but one thing did not change: our
schools did not close. We just changed the way we worked.
I teach History and Politics at Hemel Hempstead School. I am not part of the
physical school for children of key workers and vulnerable students, but I
continue to teach my students and create resources. I support students in groups
and 1-1. I mark work and speak to my tutees. It is just that I do these things from
home not from school. At 9am on March 23rd
, I sat down in front of my Y13s and
we did an exam question. I did it face-to-face, but I broke no lockdown rules: I
just used google meet.
I write this, not to negate the enormity of the changes schools have had to nego-
tiate, but to emphasise the way they have tried to do so.
It has been a surreal two months. On March 16th
, we were preparing for a partial
lockdown, and anticipating exams would still take place. Two days later Johnson
gave us 48 hours’ notice that neither would happen. I found myself reassuring
exam classes, explaining how we would finish the course and teaching myself to
use google meet.
Students were leaving two months earlier than they should have been. No
speeches, proms or Y13 pranks on their final day (my favourite being when they
camped out on the sports field the night before). These rites of passage are
actually closure; moments to savour before the new chapter begins. While
naturally the focus has been on exams, we should not underestimate the
emotional impact of losing the rituals as well.
The following Monday morning, I and my colleagues attempted to make it
business as usual. Bizarrely, having practiced using google meet on my daughter,
my biggest concern was choosing where to teach. The lightest area in my house is
the utility room, but I didn’t fancy teaching in front of the toilet door. So I chose
my front room, where I could sit on the sofa with my bookshelves behind me,
where Jane Eyre and Harry Potter nestle side by side. Comfy, and suitably
intellectual too.
That lesson, and my Sixth Form google meets generally, are not unlike normal
lessons. I explain a topic, they ask questions, we discuss, and then they work. In
contrast, my Y10 lessons have been a car crash. Cont’d…..

30. - 28 -
In my first one I mistakenly assumed it would only take a minute for them to get
the (online) textbook pages open and download the task. I had then assumed that
they would have negotiated the use of a family laptop (Boxmoor may be an
affluent area, but that doesn’t mean every student has one) and be able to have
my PowerPoint and textbook open at the same time. But the vast majority were
using mobiles and so the textbook’s print was miniscule. I have needed to rewrite
all of my Y10 lessons: what worked in the classroom doesn’t necessarily work
online.
We teach Y10 and Y12 face-to-face each week but it is not possible to teach every
lesson, or every class, this way; most staff have children too. Some are looking
after babies and toddlers; others are trying to teach their own children too. So all
classes are taught, but not necessarily face-to-face.
This term we have had the added issue of working out exam grades. First,
deciding the grade, then ranking each student so that exam boards can adjust
them if they feel a centre has been too generous or severe. My department
taught over 120 GCSE students and 50 A Level: ranking took a long time.
We are learning as we go. The initial plan was for form tutors to phone our 32
tutees every week. Probably a couple of minutes a phone call, right? Mine aver-
aged five times that. It wasn’t our tutees who wanted to talk, it was the parents.
I’m a Y11 form tutor, i.e. 15-16 year-olds. That first week my conversations with
parents ranged from anxiety about grades to concerns about their child’s mental
health to “how do I get him out of bed?” Now it’s moved on to the future: those
who had hoped to do apprenticeships have found companies aren’t recruiting. For
those staying on for Sixth Form, parents want to know how we will manage social
distancing; for those going to college, whether their child’s hairdressing course
will still run.
This is one aspect of lockdown that is an improvement on what we did before. It is
possible, if a student causes no concerns and you have only ever tutored them
rather than taught them too, that they can spend seven years at school without
you ever speaking to their parents. We now speak to them once a fortnight.
Aside from teaching, other work still continues: support staff manage data or deal
with parents or keep the site safe. We run assemblies, House competitions and
give rewards. Some students email us at volume; others we hear nothing from.
This is where my biggest concern lies. My Y10s are effectively two classes now:
those who have kept up with work and those who haven’t, sometimes for reasons
beyond their control. Cont’d…….

31. - 29 -
Lockdown has taken an emotional toll on staff as well as students. We invest so
much in our exam students. We run extra classes, mark extra work, call home
when we’re worried and cheer them on. We wish them luck outside the exam
hall, we speak to them as they leave. We dress up for their prom and sign shirts
on their final day.
So we are finding refuge in moments of insanity. One colleague proudly shared on
WhatsApp the sponge cake he’d made with his 8-year-old daughter to give her a
break from her own schoolwork. There then followed a surreal conversation
about the best way to make a cake rise and the said colleague went back to his
work after they’d licked the bowl clean.
And so, I hope this article has explained why I don’t consider that any school
closed on March 20th
. What can you do for those who work in them? Pray for
health. Pray for balancing work and family. Pray for energy and rest. And pray for
wisdom for those planning how to manage the return of hundreds of students
walking through the doors.
Rosie Akeroyd
Prayer is the mightiest weapon we can find
Prayer makes us patient, understanding, kind
Helps us to right decisions, clears the mind
PRAYER CHANGES THINGS.
Sense of God’s nearness stirs us when we pray
Prayer strengthens us for duty day by day
Transforms our lives, sheds light upon our way
PRAYER CHANGES THINGS.
© Clara Simpson

32. - 30 -
at St John’s
in the month of May 2020
HOLY BAPTISM
No Baptisms were conducted in May
HOLY MATRIMONY
No Weddings were conducted in May
FUNERAL & MEMORIAL SERVICES
1 May Jeanie McKill
4 May James “Jim” Robert Cresswell
4 May Jennifer “Jenny” Susan Rodway
11 May James Leonard “Len” Taylor
22 May Eleanor “Lyn” Bevan
May these soul s and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy
of God, rest in peace.
BURIAL OF ASHES
No Burials were conducted in May

33. - 31 -

34. - 32 -

35. Shield me
O may God shield me, and may God fill,
O may God watch me, and may God hold;
O may God bring me where peace is still,
To the King’s land, eternity’s fold.
Praise to the Father, praise to the Son,
Praise to the Spirit, the Three in One.
From The Creed Prayer, poems of the Western Highlanders

36. Produced and printed by the Parish of Boxmoor