here - Parish of Heston

St Leonard’s Parish
Lent 2015
Church, Heston
Issue 21
New Connections
SO WE ARE IN INTERREGNUM AGAIN…..
It's not our first and it won't be
our last Interregnum – although
let’s hope that we can find a new
Incumbent who will be with us for
many years to come!
Interregnum is the time period,
literally, "between reigns", and it
is the time between Fr David
leaving St Leonard’s to start his
retirement and our new Vicar
taking the helm.
During an Interregnum, or “Vacancy
in the Benifice” as it is sometimes
known,
the
Churchwardens
automatically
become
the
sequestrators of the Benefice, along
with the Arch Deacon or Area Dean.
Sequestration
is
simply
an
ecclesiastical and financial legal
term for taking control of the income
of the Benefice. This will primarily
come from room rental fees and
marriage, baptism and burial fees
that are paid during the vacancy. In
addition, the Churchwardens are
required to:



Ensure that services are
maintained in the parish church
and that the costs of visiting
clergy are paid
That the pastoral needs of the
parishioners are looked after
The vicarage and any other
property of the benefice is
looked after
In practice, the Churchwardens will
be helped by the PCC, but the
primary responsibility is theirs
during a vacancy.
Those of us working in the “private
sector” are used to the idea that as
soon as someone's retirement date
is announced, their job is advertised
internally within days and externally
within weeks. The new recruit can
quite often be in post in time to
participate in a structured handover.
That’s not so in the Church of
England, although there is a welltrodden path to follow.
The following list of activities is by
no means comprehensive, but is an
indication of the things that will be
happening during the Interregnum:
Welcome to the first
issue of New
Connections for
2015
Inside this issue

PCC
meets
with
the
Archdeacon to be briefed on the
process for the selection and
appointment of a new vicar (this
is often referred to as the “PreSection 11” meeting and was
held on 10th February 2015).

Receive “Section 11” forms from
Diocese

Further meeting with the Arch
Deacon to review the Parish
Profile and our statement of
requirement for a new vicar.
From the Scriptorium
2
Quick Introductions
3
Rend Your Hearts And
Not Your Garments
4
Ann’s Licensing
5
Icons: Windows into the
Kingdom of God
6
Almond & Cranberry
Biscotti Recipe
Things I Am Thankful
For….
(Continued on page 5)
Parish Diary
Parish Contacts
7
8
1
FROM THE
CRIPTORIUM
Whilst the Scriptorium pixies were scratching
around for something to write about, I was thinking
about the word “Change” - it seemed appropriate
now that we have moved into the Interregnum.
A quick Google search came up with a huge selection
of different uses and idioms for the word “change” –
here is just a tiny selection:

I don’t like change.

We're living in a time of great change.

We need a change of management.

A change in lifestyle.

It's nice to see him smile for a change.

"Why not - it'll make a change."

She felt that she needed a change.

Let's change the subject.

Give me five minutes to change out of my work
clothes and I'll be with you.

Could you change the baby?

I had to change trains twice to get here.

Could you change a £10 note please?

If he wants to carry on living here, he's going to
have to change his ways.

I almost didn't recognise her - she'd changed so
much.

That was 20 years ago and things have changed
since then.

Nothing changes, does it?

How often do you think he changes his shirt?

When the wind or the tide changes, it starts to
move in a different direction:

Do you think the new management will make any
fundamental changes?

When I first met him I didn't like him, but I've
changed my mind.

His attitude has definitely changed for the better.
2
The scriptorium in the heart of the Heston Science Park
So, as David and Ann move on to the next stage in
their lives, we must move on, too. We must inevitably
jump out of the very comfortable and happy “groove”
that we had settled into over the last six years.
As we go through the process of looking for our new
Vicar, the only thing that we can absolutely guarantee
is that there definitely will (and must) be change. That
said, we must make sure that any changes aren’t made
just for change sake.
Let’s hope and pray that the Church Wardens, closely
supported by the PCC and the Archdeacon find the
right candidate for St Leonard’s. Looking through the
list again, perhaps there are some potential questions
for the interview. I’ll leave it to you to decide which!
Chris Yorke
QUICK INTRODUCTIONS
Following Fr. David and Ann’s
recent retirement, we have moved
into a period of Interregnum.
During this time Fr. Ken and Fr.
John have kindly agreed to
provide ministry and pastoral
care in the parish, until such time
as a new vicar is appointed. Both
Fr Ken and Fr John will be
familiar faces to most of the
congregation. Indeed, Fr Ken has
taken some services at St
Leonard’s during the last year, or
so. I thought that you would be
interested to read their short
biographies:
++
Fr. Ken Tombs
Taking early retirement was the best
move I ever made, because it
allowed me to act as a full time, non
- stipendiary Curate at St. Giles’
Church in Ickenham, where I had
served my title (the church where
you are placed after your ordination)
and to indulge my passions of travel,
photography and good food!
In July 2012, on reaching 70, I had
to retire from St. Giles’ Church and
after searching for a place to
worship, I alighted on St. Leonard’s
Church where I have enjoyed
worshiping for the last one and a
half years. However, it does not feel
as though I have retired, since I
receive many requests to cover for
clergy colleagues who are ill or on
holiday - hence my rather erratic
attendance!
++
Fr. John Kafwanka
My main career was as a teacher. I
actually spent all of my 33 years in
teaching at the same school where I
taught physics. The school was a
large comprehensive school in
Acton of some 1250 students and
for the last 11 years I was Deputy
Head. The school was sold to the
Church of England and became a
church school in 1981.
In the late 1980’s I felt the call to
ordination and I started training in
1992 at Sarum College in Salisbury.
While training, I still continued with
my teaching career. I had thought
that after my ordination in July 1995
I would be a priest in the school for
ten years or so, however, the
opportunity came for me to retire in
1997 at the age of 54.
training
programme
and
are
passionate about ministry among
children and young people.
They have two young children,
Mwila 13, and Limbani 9.
In 2006 the Kafwanka family moved
to London, where John was
appointed to take a post at the
Anglican Communion Office, where
he works as Director for the Mission,
promoting the Church's role in God's
mission in the world. The Anglican
Communion
Secretariat
is
responsible
to
coordinate
international
cooperation
and
collaboration
in
the
Anglican
Communion, a worldwide Christian
family found in 165 countries and
with around 85 million members.
John’s work involves fostering
collaboration
of
mission
relationships that are characterised
by mutual learning, mutual sharing,
mutual
support
and
mutual
accountability among churches in
the Anglican Communion.
This
involves significant travel for John.
For the last eight years, John has
been attached to St John's Church
in Isleworth until December 2014.
The Revd. John Kafwanka K is
Zambian and was ordained priest
there over twenty years ago. John
has parish ministry experience in
Zambia and Australia.
The Kafwanka family is looking
forward to being part of St Leonard's
Church community and the wider
Heston community.
++
John was the Principal of St. John’s
Seminary (the national theological
college for the Anglican Church in
Zambia) before taking up work with
the Church Mission Society (CMS
Britain) as Regional Manager for
Southern
Africa
(i.e.
Angola,
Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique,
South Africa and Zambia).
John is married to Martha. They
met while on a Sunday teachers
3
REND YOUR HEARTS AND NOT YOUR GARMENTS
Searching
back
through
the
Scriptorium archives, I found the
following piece written by Ron
Crankshaw for Lent 2004.
Joel Ch. 2 Vs. 13. “Rend your
hearts and not your garments.
Return to the Lord, your God, for
he is gracious and merciful, slow
to anger, and abounding in
steadfast love”.
With those words from the prophet
Joel, Jesus demonstrated so
beautifully the wonderful story in the
Gospel reading for this evening. I
would like to begin by telling you a
story.
Mark was a self made man. He
grew up in a small town in
Hertfordshire; went to school in the
places around the world; Paris,
Bonn, Moscow, New York, but she
wouldn't leave the children at home
to be looked after by someone else.
So Mark went by himself.
One night, twenty years later, after a
two-week trip, Mark walked through
the door to be greeted by Kathy
saying, "Welcome home dear. By
the way I don't want to be married to
you any more."
Mark stared at her in shock. He
almost stopped breathing. All that
business acumen and the smooth
talking that had helped him so much
in the past, just slipped away from
him. For the first time in his life
Mark was speechless as his heart
was ripped and torn apart with each
word she spoke.
One evening, the two of them were
working late into the night. Terry
began to pour his heart out to
Sarah. He wasn't happy in his
marriage. He wanted to get out of
it. He said that he wanted to spend
his life with someone just like Sarah.
Upon hearing this, Sarah's heart
melted and the two of them started
to see each other.
However, feelings of guilt and
remorse began nagging at Sarah's
conscience.
Sarah watched her
best friend's expression cloud up
every time she mentioned Terry's
name. Sarah couldn't even bring
herself to tell her parents about
Terry. What would they think about
their only daughter seeing a married
man?
Perhaps what was missing from Mark and Kathy's life was knowledge of the
presence of God.
poor end of the town and struggled
to make ends meet when he went to
University. He got married soon
after he had graduated.
Mark and his wife Kathy, struggled
during those early years of their
marriage, often wondering where
the money would come from to pay
the mortgage, the electricity and gas
bills and buy the food, together with
all the other bits and pieces that are
needed in their home.
Somewhere along the way, things
got a little easier financially. Mark
got a job working in the city of
London. Commuting into the city
took only an hour and half each
way. He worked 12 hour days, so
that his company would know that
he was a hard worker.
Next came the business trips that
took him away from home for a
week or two at a time. He offered to
take Kathy with him to exciting
4
Sometimes things that happen to us
tear our souls. "Rend your heart
and not your garments” says the
prophet Joel.
Perhaps what was missing from
Mark and Kathy's life was
knowledge of the presence of God.
They had made no space for him in
the busy materialistic world.
I would like to tell you another little
story now. Sarah, a delightful thirtyyear old single woman, had a very
full life but she desperately wanted
to meet the right man and get
married.
At the office, she found herself
working closely with a man by the
name of Terry. He was a charming
man, but he was already married.
Terry paid Sarah a lot of attention.
She ignored it as best she could,
because she knew he wasn't
available.
The people at the office had also
begun to whisper to each other
whenever Terry stopped at her
desk. She knew deep in her heart
that this relationship was wrong.
Sadness, pain, jealousy, and shame
all took their turn in cutting away at
Sarah's heart.
"Rend your hearts and not your
garments” says the prophet Joel.
Sometimes things inside of us tear
our hearts.
Rending our hearts makes us open
to the transforming power of God's
love. When our hearts are insulated
with self-indulgence, when our
hearts are encrusted with feelings of
shame or doubt, fear or anger;
God's light cannot shine through
and make us whole.
As we enter Lent, we come each
with our own hurts and needs. We
desperately want to be made whole.
(Continued on page 5)
REND YOUR HEARTS AND NOT YOUR GARMENTS (CONT)
(Continued from page 4)
We come knowing that we need to
come in faith, to reach out to God and
others, to touch each other's souls and yet we hold back.
Sometimes we are afraid to come in
faith, because that one thing that we
are asking for might not happen - and
then we lose faith! At times we come
with our faith in our heads, asking
questions that keep God as a
concept. Our fears and our minds
keep us separated from God.
Rend your heart and sweep out your
soul. Perhaps this is something that
Lent was designed for, so that we
can do just that - sweep out our souls
and come clean to God.
It has been said that we need to
reach rock bottom before we are able
to turn around and reach out and take
God's outstretched hand. Sometimes
we have to spend all of our mental
and emotional energies before we
are able to offer our broken and
contrite hearts to God.
What's in your heart, mind, soul, and
body that saps away your energy,
imagination, and joy? What prevents
us from offering our heart to God?
God's healing power brings about
wholeness.
Healing is not a cure. Healing is
about being made right with God and
with other people. Healing allows us
to have a new perspective on what is
happening in our lives.
SO WE ARE IN INTERREGNUM AGAIN (CONT)
(Continued from page 1)

Appoint
two
"Parish
Representatives" (these reps will
be part of the panel who will
conduct the actual interviews for
the new Vicar)

Finalise our Parish Profile for
prospective
candidates
and
complete “Section 11” Form

Advertisements placed in the
Church Times and Church of
England Newspaper and on the
Diocese of London website

Candidates apply on a Common
Application form

Diocesan
staff
produce a
shortlist of those who best match
our
Parish
Profile
&
requirements

Interviews held with the best
candidates (potentially a 2-day
process)

Offer the post to the best person

Receive acceptance of offer

Successful candidate gives up to
three months’ notice to existing
parish

New Vicar
Leonard’s
arrives
at
St
Assuming that we don’t need to
advertise more than once for the
post, it is anticipated that the
minimum timeframe for entire the
selection process would be about ten
months. So, if all goes exceptionally
smoothly, we could possibly have a
new Vicar taking our
Christmas
2015
services. However,
it is more likely to be
Lent 2016.
May we use this Lenten season to
spend time reflecting on the places in
our lives that are broken and need to
be healed; the places that now stand
empty and need to be filled.
The prophet Joel invites you to come
to God and,
"Rend your heart and not your
garments.
Return to the Lord,
your God, for he is gracious and
merciful, slow to anger, and
abounding in steadfast love."
Rev’d. R Crankshaw
(First published March 2004)
Ann’s Licensing
On the afternoon of 8th February,
twelve members the St Leonard’s
congregation travelled down to
Essex by minibus, to attend the
Licensing of Rev’d Ann Coleman.
She is now Associate Minister of
Dodddinghurst, Bentley Common,
Kelvendon Hatch and Kavestock in
the Diocese of Chelmsford. There
will be two priests covering four
churches.
It was a most enjoyable service,
followed by refreshments. Ann and
Fr David were so pleased for St.
Leonard’s representatives to be
there. Ann said they both felt really
supported.
Sue Buckle
We
are
very
fortunate, that we
have Fr Ken and Fr
John taking most of
our services during
the
Interregnum.
(See page 3).
CY
5
ICONS: WINDOWS INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Ann Coleman’s last sermon at St
Leonard’s before she and David
retired, was about iconography. It
was absolutely fascinating and
several people asked if it would be
possible to re-print it in NC. Ann has
very kindly written a new piece for
us:
universe as an act of pure love
outpoured. He sends his only Son to
save humankind as a pure act of
love. In the parables, Jesus tells of a
father who waits with longing for a
lost son and rushes out to meet and
embrace him when at last he comes
home.
I have long been fascinated by
Icons. To the eyes of Western
Christians
they
can
appear
strange,
but
their
very
‘strangeness’ draws us to an
encounter with the mystery of God
– A God we can never ‘box up and
make in our own image’.
As Archbishop Rowan Williams
reflects in his book on icons, ‘Ponder
these Things’, this is a God who ‘’will
not be separated from us, not be
shut out from any corner of our
being’’. This may turn our idea of
God upside down just as embracing
this God will certainly turn our lives
upside down!
We live in a postmodern world where
the moving image is what we focus
on but, as one contemporary artist
Bill Viola has remarked, religious art
asks us to stop, be still and ponder.
Icons do just that. In the words of
Timothy Ware, ‘They depict silence.
There are no actions displayed, no
open mouths. The icon invites the
Christian to enter into contemplation,
prayer, and silence’ (Ware,1979). As
we ponder on these sacred images
we begin to see something of the
nature of God and His call to each of
us.
Michel Quenot in his book, ‘The Icon:
Window on the Kingdom’, expresses
it thus;
an icon is “theology in
imagery, the icon expresses through
colour what the Gospel proclaims in
words” (Quenot, 1991). Each colour
used, each gesture, each expression
in the eyes of the figure have a
particular significance.
The icon
writer, for icons are written not
painted, will spend time in prayer and
fasting before beginning their work
and their period of training is lengthy.
and also of green, the colour of the
earth and of youth and white the
colour of purity. His eyes are totally
focused on his mother. Mary is
dressed in red, the colour of vitality
and beauty and her robe is lined with
blue, the colour of heaven, with
touches of gold showing how God’s
splendour has touched her life
through the incarnation. Mary’s hand
points towards her son urging us to
focus on him.
In some depictions of the Eleousa,
her eyes are staring out at us
beckoning us in to this relationship
with her son. In others, she is
focused on her son, both her child
and her Saviour. But does this child
lie sweetly in Mary’s arms? No.
Rather he is embracing Mary with
passion, his arms around her neck.
One foot is thrust out pushing himself
up towards her with great energy. It
is almost as if he is hungry for that
human caress and love that every
child longs for.
So for a few moments, pause with
me before the icon of Loving
Kindness- the Eleousa.
As parents know, sometimes we
almost have to calm such an
exuberant baby who grabs hold of
our garments and even our face. Is
that the way God behaves?
What do we notice? Look first at the
Christ child. He is dressed in gold,
the colour of the splendour of God
In one sense, of course, God does
not need us – He is complete in
himself. However, God creates the
6
Mary’s sombre gaze reminds us that
when she said ‘Yes’ to God, it took
her to the foot of the cross. Her gaze
challenges our faith. Will you extend
your arms to embrace my child as I
did? Will you say ‘Yes’ to God?
Rev. Ann Coleman
(Archbishop Rowan Williams book,
‘Ponder these Things’ Canterbury Press
2002 priced £7.99 offers a rich way to
ponder on the icons of the Virgin).
The Eleousa (or Eleusa) (Greek:
Ἐλεούσα – tenderness or showing
mercy) is a type of depiction of the Virgin
Mary in icons in which the infant Jesus is
nestled against her cheek.
In the
Western church, the type is often known
as the Virgin of Tenderness.
ALMOND & CRANBERRY BISCOTTI
The word Biscotti translates from the
Italian as “twice baked”, which gives
these biscuits their characteristic
hardness. However, with the addition
of a small amount of fruit, they are
transformed into a slightly softer biscuit,
but still great for dunking!
A great aid to contemplation over a cup
of coffee - or even a cup of hot
chocolate.
Makes about 40+ pieces
Ingredients:

250g plain flour

¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

2
medium
temperature
eggs
at

220g caster sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

500g almonds (skins on )

25g dried cranberries

25g mixed peel
room
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
Line two large baking trays with nonstick baking paper.
Sift the flour and bicarbonate of soda
together. Use an electric mixer on
medium speed to beat the eggs, sugar
and vanilla until thick and pale (5-6
minutes). Add the flour mixture and
beat on low speed until just combined
and forming into soft dough. Use a
wooden spoon to stir in the almonds &
fruit.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly
floured work surface and divide into
four equal portions. Use lightly floured
hands to shape each portion into a log
about 12cm long.
Transfer the logs to the lined baking
trays, leaving about 7cm between
each. Use your hands to flatten the
logs slightly so they are about 8cm
wide.
Bake for about 25 minutes (swapping
the trays around halfway through
cooking) or until the logs are light
golden and firm to touch. Leave on the
trays for 45 minutes to cool.
Reduce the oven temperature to
130C/250F/Gas 1. Put the logs on a
chopping board and use a sharp
serrated knife to cut them diagonally
into 8mm thick slices. Return slices to
the lined trays and bake for another 20
minutes (or a little longer), swapping
the trays around halfway through
cooking, until light golden.
Leave on the trays for 5 minutes, then
transfer to a wire rack to cool
completely.
If stored in an air-tight container or tin.
will keep for up to 3 weeks (but not in
our house!)
Things I Am
Thankful For….
…the clothes that fit a little too
snugly, because it means that I
have enough to eat.
…the taxes that I pay because
it means that I'm employed.
…a lawn that needs mowing,
windows that need cleaning
and gutters that need repairing,
because it means that I have a
home.
…the mess to clean up after a
party, because it means that I
have been surrounded by
friends.
…my shadow who watches me
work, because it means that I
am out in the sunshine.
…my
huge
heating
bill,
because it means that I am
warm.
…all the complaining about our
government, because it means
that we have freedom of
speech.
…the piles of laundry and
ironing, because it means that
my loved ones are nearby.
…the spot I find at the far end
of the carpark, because it
means that I am capable of
walking.
…the lady behind me in church
who sings off key, because it
means that I can hear.
…the alarm clock that goes off
in the early morning, because it
means that I'm alive.
…weariness
and
aching
muscles at the end of the day,
because it means I have been
productive.
For all this - I am thankful!
Lynda Hardy
7
PARISH DIARY
ST LEONARD’S
PARISH CHURCH,
HESTON
Parish Staff:
February 2015
April 2015
17th:
Tuesday Social - Shrove
Tuesday pancakes etc.
2:00pm
2nd:
Maundy Thursday (services to
be announced)
3rd:
18th:
Ash Wednesday - Eucharist
and imposition of ashes.
8:00pm
Good Friday (services to be
announced)
5th:
Easter Day - Eucharist 8:00am
Festival Eucharist 10:00am
During the Interregnum please contact the
Parish Office
Churchwardens:
Dawn Rabin Tel: 07984 825760
Geoff Tobutt Tel: 0208 570 1850
Parish Web Site
http://www.parishofhston.co.uk
N e w C o n n e c t i o n s i s p u b l i s h ed
p e r i o d i c a l l y b y H e s t o n P ar oc h i al
C hur c h C ounc il
C o p y r i g h t © 2 0 1 5 H e s t on P C C
E dit ed & pr oduc ed by C hr is
Y or k e
Any contributions for consideration for
inclusion in the newsletter should be sent
to the Editor.
22nd: Lent 1 - usual services 8:00am
& 10:00am
March 2015
1st:
Lent 2 - usual services 8:00am
& 10:00am
8th:
Lent 3 - usual services 8:00am
& 10:00am
15th:
Lent 4 - usual services 8:00am
& 10:00am
E-mail: [email protected]
22nd: Lent 5 - usual services 8:00am
& 10:00am
29th:
Palm Sunday - usual services
8:00am & 10:00am
USUAL SERVICES
For more information contact:
The Parish Office
147 Heston Road, Heston
Sunday
Middlesex TW5 0RD
Phone: 020 8570 2288
Fax:
020 8572 8785
E-mail:
[email protected]
Eucharist
8:00 am
Sung Eucharist
10:00 am
Monday
N/A
N/A
Tuesday
N/A
N/A
Wednesday
Cancelled during Interregnum
Check with Parish Office
9:00 am
Check with Parish Office
11:00 am
Thursday
Friday
Saturday (first in the
month)
8
N/A
Requiem Eucharist
N/A
9:30 am