The Spire

February 2011

OFFICERS

The Vicar Writes…

Isaac – the Broken Reed

Over Advent, I decide to bone up on my Old Testament reading, and it was a fascinating exercise. There were hosts of stories that have become part and parcel of our cultural heritage – like the story of Abraham down-bidding God in order to save Sodom. Then there was the story of Noah, wrestling Jacob, Adam and Eve, Moses and the burning bush. But all of them were strange – each in their own way raising more questions than answers.

       Then I came across something I did not expect. I knew the stories, but I did not put them together. These were to do with the great patriarch Isaac. I was forced to look at him in a new way. Well, who was Isaac? He was one of the founders of the Israelite nation. One of the people whom ancient Israel and Jewish people right down to today revere and hold up as exemplars of faith in God.

       But perhaps what is most famous about Isaac is the story of an incident in his childhood. It is the story of how Isaac’s father Abraham almost sacrificed his son. The story is in Genesis chapter 22. It is strangely affecting and compelling. You could call it one of the supreme short stories in all world literature. Here it is:

“After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ ²He said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt-offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.’ ³So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt-offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. ⁴On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. ⁵Then Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.’ ⁶Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. ⁷Isaac said to his father Abraham, ‘Father!’ And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’ He said, ‘The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?’ ⁸Abraham said, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son.’ So the two of them walked on together.

9 When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill^* his son. ¹¹But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ ¹²He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.’ ¹³And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt-offering instead of his son. ¹⁴So Abraham called that place ‘The Lord will provide’;^* as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

There are some lovely touches – like the heart-rending, ‘The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?’ But this really is an extraordinary story. Most people have thought of it as an explanation as to why the ancient Israelites abhorred human sacrifice. But this is not quite the case because we do come across such sacrifice at least twice later on in the Bible: Judges 11, and 2 Kings 16 and 21.

I suspect we find it in the Bible simply because it is such a good, albeit very strange story. One of the tribes that went to make up Israel would have had it in their story-telling repertoire, and it was absorbed into the psyche of the whole nation. It became one of the stories that told the ancient Israelites who they were.

There is a prior question about this incident. Usually we just take it as it is, but we must ask: if Abraham was able to save the dreadful city of Sodom by pleading for the innocent Lot, surely he could have argued for life of his own innocent son? Very strange.

This was the most famous incident in Isaac’s life, but what happened afterwards? Well, what we find is a man who is debilitated, who never does anything, who ends up nothing more than a broken reed. It is as if Isaac’s life has been blighted by this incident on Mount Moriah.

And this starts more or less straight away. Just after the passage set out above Genesis 22v19 says: ‘So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham lived at Beer-sheba.’

What is remarkable here is that there is no mention of Isaac. There is mention of ‘young men’, and I suppose that Isaac could have been one of them, but you would have thought that after such a trauma, Isaac would deserve a mention.

Later on Isaac is the only one of the great fathers of Israel who does not go out from the family to find his own wife. A servant has to do it for him. But even when Rebekah comes to him, and he takes her for his wife, the only comment that the Bible makes is ‘So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death’. (Gen 24v67)

Then there comes a somewhat shameful episode when Isaac and his family settle down amongst some Philistines. Isaac knows he has a beautiful wife. Then he does something appalling: ‘When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, ‘She is my sister’; for he was afraid to say, ‘My wife,’ thinking, ‘or else the men of the place might kill me for the sake of Rebekah, because she is attractive in appearance.’ (Gen 26v6When the local king finds out about this ruse, he is furious with Isaac: ‘What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.’ (Gen 26v10)¹¹

Then towards the end of his life when he is old and sick and in his bed, Isaac is tricked by his younger son Jacob and his wife Rebecca into giving him (Jacob) the blessing rightly belonging to his elder son, Esau.

Isaac is really the most unheroic of all ancient Israel’s heroes. So what are we to make of this strange Biblical figure? I think that it is the very simple virtues of being there and being faithful. God does not always want heroes. At base level he wants people to do their duty, to be available, to do what God wants and to hold on to him.

I suspect that someone very like Isaac existed back in those mists of time. I think that his childhood was blighted by what he might have seen as a betrayal by his father. I think that because of this he grew close to his mother and she became his protector. When she died I think Isaac moulded his wife Rebecca into the image of his mother, and she became the initiator. It was her favourite son that inherited the blessing.

But through it all Isaac was remembered and revered. Perhaps he had much greater influence than can be recorded in the stories of a book like the Bible. Perhaps it was just a word or two of wisdom at the right place and at the right time. Perhaps it was the gift of friendship which drew outsiders into his family. We cannot know.

However, it is reassuring that n amongst all the great stories of the Bible there is room for one who was blighted, one who was a broken reed.

                                                                  JAMcK

Elsie Newman RIP

All members of Holy Trinity and Minstead Gardens will have been saddened by the news of Elsie’s death. She had been in church barely a fortnight before she died despite the fact that it was a difficult and painful struggle for her to get to church.

       Elsie and her husband Bill came to Roehampton from North London just as the flats were being built on the Alton estate. Here they raised their five daughters, and Elsie became involved in the local community.

       One of her concerns was the welfare of young mums with young children, and through her gifts of organisation she founded the ‘One o’clock club’ which has kept going right up to today.

       Later on she became a social worker for the local borough and was instrumental in many projects in the area. She also had a sharp intelligence, and she wrote some very penetrating analyses of what should and should not be done for the people living in Roehampton. I know that she was one of the people who were militating for more bus services for Roehampton. When the flats were built, the planners simply overlooked the need for infrastructure for the inhabitants – just one or two buses and a very poor provision of shops.

       Before her marriage Elsie had served in the ATS, the women’s branch of the Army. She was wounded in action, when a bomb blew up the Headquarters building of where she was billeted. One of her friends was killed in the raid. For this she wore a special stripe on her uniform and, sixty years later she was awarded a small pension in recompense.

       Although things were not easy for them she and Bill were extremely generous. They let out a little cottage for the use of family and friends whenever they were not needing it themselves.

       All of the above, however, leaves out all Elsie’s devoted service to the church. She has always been a regular member, serving on the Joint Church Council for many years as well as being a faithful member of the choir.

       For the latter part of her life Elsie suffered dreadful pain with her arthritis. This really blighted so much of what she wanted to do. She couldn’t really go out in the evening because by that time of day her painkillers would wear off, and the only thing she could do was to go to bed at about 7.00pm so that she could keep the pain at bay.

       I think of Elsie as a pioneer in many ways. She was never afraid of authority and she had the strength of will to challenge the assumed place of women in the community and in the church. She did not make a great song and dance about it, but because she was always there, and always willing and able, people simply could not ignore her.

       She was a pioneer in Social Services. She never rose to the top of the tree, but because she knew her home ground, knew its problems and could spot opportunities, she was able to exploit the expansion of local authority services, and make things better for the people of the area.

       In the church, she was not a feminist, but again, because of her dedication and her presence, she always posed the question ‘Why not me? Why not a woman?’ I know that she had run-ins with a number of my predecessors. I do not remember what they were about. They may have had something to do with her direct, or more than direct approach, but I am sure that her challenge was rooted in her passion for fairness, and her love for the Lord.

       Elsie was a modern woman before her time.

                                                                        JAMcK

From Bishop Tom Butler

As you not doubt know Bishop Tom is retiring this spring. Usually in the Spire we print a letter from one of our Southwark bishops about the concerns of the day. As yet they have not produced one for the new year, and so instead, I thought I would tell you a little parable that Bishop Tom gave us in his sermon at the final service at our diocesan clergy conference last autumn.

In the sermon he talked about where he was going to retire to. Evidently it is in the countryside somewhere because his garden is surrounded by a field with sheep in it. The garden is protected from the sheep by a dry stone wall. When Tom was last there during the summer he inspected the wall and found that it was a bit rickety. He decided that it did not really provide a sure enough defence against the pesky sheep. So he thought that he should bolster the weakest and most rickety section of this dry stone wall with some cement and mortar.

He duly filled in the spaces between the stones with the mortar, and soon establishes a firm, stolid section of wall which previously had been the most vulnerable. This took him a day or so. Then on the morning of the third day, when he woke up and looked out of the window, he found to his horror that his garden was full of sheep – doing what sheep do - which is eating everything in sight.

He then grabbed a stick and ran out into the garden to shoo the sheep away. The sheep looked at him, bleated and then scampered to the section of the wall that he had made firm and solid. They jumped up onto the wall there and then jumped down into the field.

Tom then realised that had not been the existence of a wall that had kept the sheep out before, but rather, the existence of a ricketywall. The sheep did not jump onto the top of the rickety wall because they hated the insecurity and movement under their feet. They much preferred the solid bit of wall that he had firm the previous days.

All this made him reflect that even a rickety and seemingly fragile institution like the church, particularly the Diocese of Southwark, might actually do the work that God has called it to do, better than some seemingly robust and solid institutions……..like a bank, perhaps?

                                                                      JAMcK

The Home Alone Lunch

I have been asked by Betty Roberts and Elsie Newman to thank Keith and Christine Rowbottom for the wonderful time they had at the Christmas Day lunch at Minstead Gardens. The food was delicious and plentiful, and the company was delightful. Well done Keith and Christine!

The Christmas Party

Thanks also to David and Valerie Shelmerdine who organised the Church Christmas Party in the weekend before Christmas. It was a super mixture of a church fellowship get together over wine and nibbles and a concert put on by the Trinity Tappers, guest singers and some talented members of our congregation and choir. Everyone who went was very grateful.

Services and events for Midwinter 2010

Sunday 23^rd  January

Third Sunday of Epiphany

12.00pm  Holy CommunionIsaiah 9:1-4; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23
10.00am  Parish Eucharist

3.00pm   Ecumenical Servicefor the Week of Prayer for

Christian Unity at Putney Methodist Church

Sunday 30^th January

Fourth Sunday of Epiphany

10.00am  Parish Eucharist   (P: KR; C: JAM)Micah 6:1-8; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12

12.00pm  Holy Communion

Wed 27^th6.30pm   Sure 24 at Minstead Gardens

Fri 29^th    10.00am  Coffee and Co Minstead Gardens

Sunday 31^st January

Fourth Sunday of Epiphany

Ezekiel 43.27 - 44.4; 1 Corinthians 13.1-13; Luke 2.22-40

10.00am  Parish Eucharist    (P&C: JAM)

12.00pm  Holy Communion

3.00pm   Afternoon Service at Minstead Gdns

Tues 2^nd Feb The Presentation of Christ in the Temple

              6.30pm Holy Communion at Holy Trinity

Wed 3^rd   6.30pm   Sure 24 at Minstead Gardens

Fri 5^th      10.00am  Coffee and Co Minstead Gardens

Sunday 7^th February

Second Sunday before Lent

Genesis 2.4b-9,15-25; Revelation 4; Luke 8.22-25

8.00am    Holy Communion

10.00am  Parish Eucharist     (P: Rev David Innes; C: JAM)

12.00pm  Holy Communion

3.00pm   Afternoon Service at Minstead Gdns

Wed 10^th6.30pm   Sure 24 at Minstead Gardens

Fri 12^th    10.00am  Coffee and Co Minstead Gardens

Sunday 14^th February

Sunday next before Lent

Exodus 34.29-35; 2 Corinthians 3.12 - 4.2; Luke 9.28-36(37-43)

10.00am  Parish Eucharist (P: JAM; C: KR)

12.00pm  Holy Communion

4.00pm   Afternoon Service at Runnymede Court

Tues 16^th 6.30pm   Shrove Tuesday Pancake Party at RCS

Wed 17^thAsh Wednesday

10.00am  Holy Communion & Imposition of Ashes

2.00pm   Lent Devotional

6.30pm   Sure 24 at Minstead Gardens

8.00pm   Holy Communion & Imposition of Ashes

at Holy Trinity

Fri 19^th    10.00am  Coffee and Co Minstead Gardens

Sunday 21^st February

First Sunday in Lent

Deuteronomy 26.1-11; Romans 10.8b-13; Luke 4.1-13

10.00am  Parish Eucharist (P&C: Rev Dr Daniel Eshun)

12.00pm  Holy Communion

3.00pm   Afternoon Service at Minstead Gdns

Wed 24^th2.00pm   Lent Devotional at Holy Trinity

6.30pm   Sure 24 at Minstead Gardens

Thur 25^th 8.00pm   Lent lecture at St Simon’s Putney

Fri 26^th    10.00am  Coffee and Co Minstead Gardens

Sunday 28^th February

Second Sunday Lent

Genesis 15.1-12,17-18; Philippians 3.17 - 4.1; Luke 13.31-35

10.00am  Parish Eucharist (P: JAM; C: KR)

12.00pm  Holy Communion

3.00pm   Afternoon Service at Minstead Gdns

LOCAL COMMUNITY DIRECTORY

Roehampton Ecumenical Parish

Holy Trinity Parish Church

Ponsonby Road SW15 4AA

Sundays8.00am      Holy Communion {1^st Sunday only}

          10.00am        Parish Eucharist (Common Worship)

    12.00noon     Holy Communion (BCP)

Minstead Gardens Methodist Church

Minstead Gardens SW15 4EB

Sundays3.00pm    Afternoon Service

                        Holy Communion (2^nd Sunday)

                        Prayer & Praise (4^th Sunday)

Staff

Vicar:The Reverend James McKinney MA       020 8788 9460

Minister: The Reverend Roy Jackson MA        020 8788 1219

Urban Missioner: The Reverend Keith Rowbottom BSc           020 8704 5896

Licensed Readers:

          Mrs Anne Arnold BA MPhil

          Mrs Em Woodroffe BD ARCO

Churchwardens:

          Mrs Valerie Shelmerdine        020 8780 1030

          Mrs Ann O’Sullivan        020 8876 7102

Church Stewards:

           Mrs Jean Harrison   020 8487 5660 

          Mrs Christine Rowbottom     020 8704 5896