July 2010 Trinitarian Newsletter, Holy Trinity Sloane Square

8/8/2019 July 2010 Trinitarian Newsletter, Holy Trinity Sloane Square

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TrinitarianThe Newsletter for the Congregation & Friends of

Holy Trinity Sloane SquareJuly - September 2010

And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how theygrow; they neither toil nor spinMatthew 6:28

Ive recently spent a week celebrating Chelsea

in Bloom, and I was invited to view the ChelseaFlower Show after hours. A secret garden!

The first place I went to was the rose garden.Each rose individual and unique named after anindividual, some famous, some I had neverheard of. I of course stopped to smell theroses.

I have to say the show simply took my breath

away banks of colour, gardens full of exoticplants and flowers I have never seen before, aswell as simple country gardens full ofhollyhocks and sweet peas. What struck meabout it all was the sense of fun and joy thatwas had in creating such beautiful gardens.

As well as awaking all my senses it was also aspiritual experience. Each plant and flowercame from a small insignificant seed. Within

that seed the potential for exquisite beauty.Gardeners are the ultimate optimists. What could be more an act of faith than plantinga seed? All the flowers of tomorrow are the seeds of today. To plant a garden is tobelieve in the future.

In the same way God has placed in us the seed of love which if nurtured and cared for

will blossom into people of exquisite beauty.

Jesus reminds us of the lilies of the field which didnt strive or work to be so beautiful they simply turned their faces to the sun and allowed the warmth of Gods love and therefreshing rain of his compassion to help them reach the sky.

God has placed in us the seed of love which if nurtured and cared for willblossom into people of exquisite beauty.

Gods Creation


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So lets encourageone another to take astroll in the garden orpark and to marvel at

Gods creation...So lets encourage oneanother to take a strollin the garden or parkand to marvel at Godscreation and vow to begood stewards of thebeauty he provides.

As I mentioned, I

wandered through therose garden andnoticed every rose wasnamed after a person. Ihave discovered thereis a Rambling Rectorrose!

The Revd Rob Gillion

Rector

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An Uplifting EveningMax Morgan-Witts

Trustee of the Trinity Arts and Crafts GuildThis was truly surprising; the first night of the Guilds annualexhibition actually fulfilling almost for the first time its name:Arts

and Crafts. For this was not only art in the conventional sense ofpaintings and sculpture, and craft in the form of jewellery, but theperforming arts were included, music, dance, poetry.

The vitality and talent of the young performers was heart-warming.They made one feel good. They provided a perfect start to theevening. Combined with the work of the artists which this yearwas of a commendable standard there really was something foreveryone. And there were three early sales: a sculpture plus twopaintings sold almost before they had been hung.

Father Rob and his wife Janine had worked hard to revive theoriginal intention of the Guild, to encompass the arts in its many andvaried forms. On the basis of this evening, they have succeeded.They, the artists, and the performing artists are all to becongratulated on providing us with this years most memorable andenjoyable beginning to the Guilds annual 2010 exhibition.

A reflection

Almighty God youhave created the

heavens and theearth and made usin your own image.Teach us to discernyour hand in all yourworks and to serveyou with reverenceand thanksgivingthrough JesusChrist our Lord who

with you and theHoly Spirit reignssupreme over allthings now andforever. Amen.


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A Close Encounter inWalton Place

Robin Hellier

I do not expect to be inspired at ten oclock on a Saturday

morning but life is full of surprises. Invited with othermembers of the Holy Trinity PCC to St Saviours in WaltonPlace, soon to be our sister church in a combined, enlargedparish, I crossed the threshold for the first time unpreparedfor a morning of revelation.

What to do with a redundant barn of a Victorian church but to sell part of it andreconstruct what remains as a series of multi functional spaces. It is a triumph. I haduneasily anticipated an arts centre masquerading as a church but St Savioursremains, magnificently, a place of worship with a palpable spirituality evident in the

comfortable and welcoming ground floor reception, the vast basement receptionroom and, above all, in the luminous chamber which floats on the first floor wherethe congregation worships under the serene gaze of angelic corbels. It is easy, insuch a room, to understand how a tradition of contemplative worship flourisheshere. These rooms, variously, serve as theatre, concert hall, green room, schoolroom or party room but we are never in any doubt that we are in church.

Our morning progressed with a series of presentations about the life and theministry of St Saviours. Notably, the church is home to the Intermission projectwhich uses drama to reach out to some of the most underprivileged and vulnerable

youngsters in London. The church proffers a hand to those of different faiths and nofaith at all but always celebrates generosity and good will.

The St Saviours tradition is rather different to the stately progression of the liturgicalyear as we celebrate it in Holy Trinity but it was very clear, as the members of thetwo churches took communion together at the conclusion of the mornings activity,that the traditions of the two churches will march along very happily together in theservice of our community.


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OUR NEW CHURCHWARDEN

Martin Cleveland is no stranger to Holy Trinity as for thelast seven years he has been part of the team thatenables the church to function as a wonderful place ofworship and mission.

It was after his wife, Joan, died at the end of 2002 thatMartin moved to Beckenham and was introduced to HolyTrinity by his daughter, Lisa, who lives in Chelsea.

By profession Martin is a Chartered Structural Engineerand has been associated with projects throughout thecountry from the Chapter House at Truro Cathedral inCornwall to a Communications Facility in the ShetlandIslands.

He was born in Yorkshire but his parents and two younger sisters moved to Kentwhen he was seven years old. He went to Beckenham Grammar School and afterfurther studies at what was then the well respected Brixton School of Building, butnow the South Bank University, qualified as an Engineer in 1964. Following hismarriage to Joan in the same year at St Johns Church, Eden Park they lived inTonbridge in Kent and he commuted daily to London. After several moves, includinga spell in Cornwall, their final property was in Abingdon near Oxford where they livedfor over twenty years. He was confirmed at St Johns in 1953 and throughout his lifehas been involved with the church. Invariably he has been responsible for financial

and property matters and this has continued at Holy Trinity where he is officiallyDeputy Treasurer but he also spends time attending to fixing things. Martin will beable to do it!

Our new Churchwarden is very fond of the outdoor life. Indeed for the last two yearsof employment he swapped a warm office for a site Portakabin and complete withmuddy boots and a hard hat supervised the construction of a multi-million poundtransport facility near Oxford. He thoroughly enjoys walking, especially along coastalpaths, and finds that it is so easy to be aware of the presence of God in the solitudeand in the beauty of nature. Early on Saturday mornings he can be found driving his

MG sports car along the country lanes in Kent. He has always been passionatelyinterested in cars especially those with an MG badge.

Soon after he left Abingdon Martin became a volunteer Mystery Guest visitingvarious hotels throughout the country. He had to report on every aspect of his onenight visit from the initial booking of the accommodation to his payment of the bill ondeparture. Examination of the condition of the room was generally straightforwardbut to make an assessment of the restaurant and public areas required someingenuity to ensure that the staff did not become suspicious.

Martin was absolutely delighted when Fr Rob asked him if he would consider beingappointed as Churchwarden and completely overwhelmed by the reception hereceived at the Sunday service following the Annual General Church Meeting. He islooking forward to continuing to work with and support the team and members of thecongregation in the furtherance of Gods Kingdom here in Chelsea.


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New PCC MembersWe are delighted to welcome three new PCC members


Andrew BakerI came to worship regularly at HolyTrinity following my moving to Pimlicoin September 2008 after a life-changing series of events. I received,equally from everyone at Holy Trinity,wonderful support and a warmwelcome. I appreciate hugely themusic, the diversity of all thecharacters, and also the beauty ofthe church itself.

Caroline Watts

I worshipped at St Barnabas, Addison Road for over 20years and Nick and I married there 10 years ago. Recentlywe moved to Battersea and it became rather a journey tonorth-ish Kensington so we decided that we wanted toworship closer to home. We had met Rob and Janinethrough mutual friends and with my background in classical

music, the idea of worshipping at HTSS was attractive. Inaddition Rob is very supportive of the 2011 Trust, which Iadministrate. It has been established to celebrate the 400thanniversary of the King James Bible next year and the

impact that the KJV has had on this countrys culture and history over the last 400years, as well as internationally. As HTSS has a great outreach ministry we hopethat we can reach out to some of the thousands of people who have never seen aBible, let alone read one, in this country. I look forward to my relationship with theliving Lord being enhanced by the worship at HTSS and seeing how we can reach

the thousands who have no knowledge of God.

Lawrence DeneaultI have been in the financial services industry for over 24years. In early 1990 I represented a client in Istanbul, andstayed in Europe ever since. My wife Magdalena and Imoved to London in 1997. We started attending services atHoly Trinity over a year ago, and felt that after a long search,we have finally found our church home. I have been involvedwith various charities over the years and was a member ofthe Parish Council for St. Judes Anglican Church, (London).In the early 90's I was involved in the production of animatedchildren's films teaching young children non-violent resolutionto conflict.


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Confirmation Eucharist Sunday 23/v/10 Pentecost11.00 am Holy Trinity, Sloane Square by Bishop Kenneth Stevenson

Readings: Acts 2:1-17/John 14:8-17.

One of the reasons that we have gathered here thismorning is to focus on thirteen people, who are shortly to

be confirmed. Each one of them will come up to kneel infront of me, and using their name, their individuality, Ishall lay my hands on them, in the name of the wholeChurch. I know that they will have their support-partieshere, family, friends, well-wishers people who mayhave known them and come to love them over sometime, even in some cases many years. You, thesupporters, will know their characters, their mannerisms,the little things that make them recognisable to you andto others; the head, the smile, the way they walk, theway they speak, and perhaps how they might be a littleshy or nervous in the presence of strangers. All thesethings, and much more, are them, and it can all be veryendearing! Try to wind back the film of their lives toearlier times, and youll see the seeds of what they havenow become.

This mornings gospel cant tell us all this, of course. Butit does tell us about one of the followers of Jesus whos already cropped up before. Its Philip,who suddenly asks Jesus to show us the Father (God), and we shall be satisfied. (Jn 14:8)Come on Jesus, hes saying, get on with it, stop doing and saying such strange things. Weve

had enough of it. We want some concrete results. Were practical folk. Were running out ofpatience with you.

But.. before we look at how Jesus handles such an interviewer and Jesus in the Gospels issuperb at dealing with the Jon Snows and Jeremy Paxmans of his age lets wind thisparticular film back and see what Philip has been like so far. We have three clips to help us.The first two show him as someone who is a kind of go-between, who gets people to Jesus.

So, right at the start of Jesus ministry, when Jesus tells him to Follow me, he responds bybringing someone else to Jesus, called Nathaniel, encouraging him to join the gang as well (Jn1:43-44). The second is when strangers who are around decide to come to Philip in order tosay, we want to see Jesus (Jn 12:21-22), and he gets on with it. Philip is approachable to theoutsider he doesnt terrify them with great words and deeds. Hes practical about people. Andthen, thirdly, we see another side to his practical nature. When he realises Jesus suddenlyneeds to feed five thousand people, he remarks that a years wage wont be enough to pay forit (Jn 6:7), not knowing that for Jesus five rolls and two small preserved fish are somehowgoing to be enough. So hes practical about worldly things as well, a sort of on-the-spottreasurer, who can eye up a situation and tell you exactly what youll need.

This character Philip now asks Jesus to show us the Father. It is not just his request. It is ourrequest yes, we who like to think we are practical people, desperate for our faith to work, tohave results, to have outcomes, that we can feel, and see, and touch. Thats what the worldseems to cry out for. Its what our culture yearns for. And if nothing tangible or impressivecomes of it, then lets discard the whole game of Christianity as a sham, give up coming here

and Jesus in the Gospels is superb at dealing with theJon Snows and Jeremy Paxmans of his age


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week by week to listen to the Christian story and break bread together and simply go home.We are Philip, with his mannerisms, his questions, his impatience, his endearing habit of beingon the edge, amenable to the outsider, and perhaps refreshingly not always looking at theinside game of the Church, with all its sometimes tedious preoccupations and irrelevantcontroversies.

We want Jesus to show us the Father. We desperately want our search for meaning, for

coherence, for love, for mercy, for purpose, for forgiveness, and much else to be met,suddenly, once and for all, now, and for ever. And how does Jesus reply? Whoever has seenme has seen the Father. (Jn 14:9) Hes saying, Ive been with you all this time, and I am the

one who can show you God because I am the human face of God, walking with you,conversing with you, washing you, feeding you, challenging you, healing you, helping you tosee life in an entirely fresh way, and encouraging you to do exactly the same for other peopleas well.

So how do we rekindle that vision of Jesus as the human face of God in our lives? Well, ourthirteen confirmation candidates, of several shapes and sizes, and ages and interests, are in away proof of that human face of God. They are living witnesses to what we are trying to be andto do not just this morning, but tomorrow, next week, and for the rest of our lives. That may not

sound spectacular in the worlds eyes, but, as Jesus tells us in the gospel, they are the greaterworks the greater works - of God (Jn 14:12), even if they may seem very small, insignificant,intangible and unimpressive. We may stumble, we may doubt, things might get very tough, ourfaith may become weak, or dull, or even at times rather boring. But we keep going, and wecome back for more, with new questions, new problems, new challenges, new opportunities.And the gift of Gods power, Gods Holy Spirit, will abide in us (Jn 14:17), and will descend onus as an all-age gift an all-age gift - where, in the words of this mornings first reading, theyoung can indeed see visions and the old can dream dreams (Acts 2:17: Joel 2:28).

And how does Jesus reply? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. (Jn14:9) Hes saying, Ive been with you all this time, and I am the one who canshow you God because I am the human face of God, walking with you,conversing with you, washing you, feeding you, challenging you, healing you,helping you to see life in an entirely fresh way, and encouraging you to do

exactly the same for other people as well.


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WHAT IS LIVING FAITH?

Living Faith for the Future is an exciting vision forexploring holistic mission at Holy Trinity.

There is never the need to reinvent the wheel ifwe can discover where an appropriate wheel lies.

We have an exciting opportunity to share with theDiocese of Oxford in this vision and to explorehow it can be developed to fit the particular styleof mission and ministry here at Holy Trinity.

The supportive literature for Living Faith clearlyoutlines what is involved in the development ofthis exciting and challenging vision for the church.

WHY DO WE NEED IT?

Its not about rejecting the past and starting allover again. Nor is it a heavy handed strategy. Itis about resetting the compass, and offering fresh

direction. What Living Faith offers is a touchstoneto remind us all of the values we try to live by andthe directions we need to take if we are to befaithful to Jesus Christ in the 21st century.

Its rather like a palette of colours which we canuse in our own unique way to create that work ofvibrant, colourful and distinctive beauty, which isour particular response to Gods mission.

WHAT IS THE VISION?

The transformation of all human life under God.

WHAT ARE THE VALUES?

Contemplative: attentive to God. Devoteyourselves to prayer (Colossians 4.2)

Creative: imaginatively releasing and harnessingall the gifts of all Gods people. We have gifts thatdiffer according to the grace given tous (Romans 12.6)

Continuous: rooted in scripture, faithful to thetraditions we have received and seeking to givethem fresh expression. For I received from the

Lord what I also handed on to you(1 Corinthians 11.23)

Accountable: to God and to each other as webuild for tomorrow as well as today. Give to Godthe things that are Gods . (Luke 20.25)

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE?

To join with God in creating a caring, sustainableand growing Christian presence by enablingevery individual within our local Christiancommunity in this part of Chelsea to live and

share the love of God, seen in the life of JesusChrist.

WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES?

SUSTAINING THE SACRED CENTRE

This is about encouraging all of us to deepen ourenjoyment of God, and to recognise Godspresence in everyday life.

MAKING DISCIPLES

This is about the core task left to us by Jesus. Itusually takes the form of accompanying people

on a journey to faith by the intentional use ofnurture courses, mentoring, or simple friendship,and then encouraging them to follow Christ ineveryday life.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD

This is about recognising that a holisticunderstanding of Gods action in the world, social justice and prophetic witness cannot be put in abox as a specialism or an extra, but is at the heartof the calling of every Christian community in its

own context.CREATING VIBRANT CHRISTIAN

COMMUNITIES

This is about shaping communities of gracewhich exhibit the character of Jesus. Suchattractive communities are genuinely hospitable,deeply engaged with their communities, andpassionate about God.

SHAPING CONFIDENT, COLLABORATIVE

LEADERSHIP

This is about developing leadership using all theresources available to the local church. It willinvolve a mixture of consolidation and new workto build up shared ministry in teams, withappropriate training and support.

HOW WILL ALL THIS BE INTRODUCED AT

HOLY TRINITY?

In September we will launch a series of five Biblestudies on St Johns Gospel.

The aim of these studies will be to explore the fivepriorities of the Living Faith vision.

The Living Faith Bible Studies will be held in HolyTrinity Church on Wednesday evenings 7.30pm 8.50pm.


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Springtide GalaAlexandra Stevenson

The Chelsea Schubert Festival is in its fifth year. In addition to the myriad of events planned

for September, this year we had a Springtide Gala, which coincided with Trinity Arts week,the Chelsea Flower Show and finished on Trinity Sunday. Coming at the end of a sun-filledand vibrant week, this three day mini festival not only warmed our audiences up forSeptember but was a delightful microcosm of all that the festival and indeed Trinity Arts isabout. Friday night was a theme of Reflections on Love: Andrew OBrien and myself,accompanied by Marc Verter, sang everything from Schubert to Novello, whilst trainedactors Rob and Janine Gillion trod if not the boards but the marble floors of the art-linedchurch with dramatic extracts ranging from Shakespeare to Tom Lehrer. On Saturday, thePerformance Laboratory of the GSMD led a workshop for students travelling from far andwide; enthusiasm and musicality prevailed as master classes were given on authentic

Classical performance. Ilona Domnich, an exquisite soprano gave a moving song recital inthe evening with great integrity. On the Sunday afternoon, following a triumphant SchubertMass in G in the morning, the festival ended with a sumptuous performance of the SchubertOctet, played on period instruments. This weekend was truly diverse, enriching, exciting andfull of promise of things to come. Arts and musical styles were fused and audiences wereinspired and delighted. We must thank the Gillions for their unforgettable performance andmuch appreciated support over the weekend.

Living Faith Bible Study Dates

Wednesday 22nd September Sustaining The Sacred CentreWednesday 29th September Making Disciples

Wednesday 6th October Making a Difference in Society

Wednesday 13th

October Creating Vibrant Christian CommunitiesWednesday 20th October Shaping Confident, Collaborative Leadership

12th - 19th September 2010(Under the umbrella of the Trinity Arts and Crafts Guild)

The week long festival will present a superb array of musicians both new to the festival andsome who have performed for us in the past. The festival will be opened by the worldrenowned singer baritone Jonathan Lamalu accompanied by Marc Verter and will close withNick Mulroy singing Schuberts great Miller cycle. The Chelsea Schubert Festival SongCompetition will continue into its second year involving students from across the country anda Schumann day of concerts and lectures will be held to celebrate the great composers 200th

anniversary.

Please check the website closer to the time for more information:www.chelseaschubertfest.co.uk For tickets contact: 07554 658 458.

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Sophy Robertson-Smiths paintings will accompany this festival.


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The Awareness Foundation is pleased to announce the Awareness Forum Lectureat Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Street, London SW1X 9BZon Thursday 28th October 2010 from 7.30pm to 9.00pm

Guest Speaker: Dr George SabraDean of the Near East School of Theology, BeirutInternational Consultant, Awareness Foundation

Christian Responses to Islam in the Near East

Tickets are 5.00. Tickets can be purchased at the door or please contactthe Awareness Foundation office to reserve a place.

Tel: 020 7259 0619 or 020 7730 8830 Email: [email protected]: www.awareness-foundation.com

INVITATIONThe Trinity Arts and Crafts Guild presents:

The opening night for a dazzling exhibition of quilts entitled

THE FABRIC OF LIFE by textile artist Vicky GlynTuesday 7th September from 6.30pm

All welcome!Wine and light refreshments and a chance to preview this exhibition.

Especially for this show at Holy Trinity, Vicky is doing a new work entitled

Trinity Sunday

Exhibition on from 8th September to 19th September.Mon - Fri 10.00am - 5.00pm. Saturdays 10.00am - 4.00pm. Sundays 1.00pm - 5.00pm.

Works for sale in all price rangesand an illustrated booklet of Vicky's work for sale.

If you saw the Quilts at the V&A exhibition (on until July) you will appreciate Vicky'scolourful and radiant quilts at Holy Trinity. Others who think of quilts as just dull floraleiderdowns or bedspreads will have a happy surprise when they see these.

Vicky does contemporary art quilts with a spiritual aspect to them. Geometric rather thanpictorial, they are contemplative works, glowing with light and inviting the viewer to pauseand reflect. Seven of the quilts are a series on the theme of Revelation. Others dealwith a wide experience of life, from vineyards and flower shows to expressions of faith,hope and vision.


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Some Dates for your diary


Sunday 18th July

11:00am Vocations SundayPreacher The Revd Martin Breadmore, the new Kensington AreaDirector of Ministry.

Thursday 9th September7.00pm Mothers Union Meeting

To be held at St Saviours Church, Walton Place, London SW3 1SASpeaker to be advised

Sunday 26th September

11.00am Harvest SundayPlease bring gifts of non perishable food to the church office by the 26th.These will be given to the West London Churches Homeless Concern.

Forthcoming Concerts at Holy Trinity

Tuesday 13th July7.30pm Avarice and Envy The Music of Craving, LondiniumWednesday 21st July8.00pm City Consort of VoicesSaturday 2nd October7.30pm The Elysian SingersSaturday 30th October7.30pm UCL Music SocietyTuesday 9th November

7.00pm Flanders and SwannPerformed by Michael Mates and William Godfree to raisefunds for the charity Hope and Homes for Children.

Saturday 13th November7.30pm Thomas's Choral Society

Holy Trinitys Christmas CardsPlease support Holy Trinity by purchasing your Christmas cards from the church.

Christmas cards and order forms can be collected from the church office.We have six designs featuring photographs of Holy Trinitys beautiful windows.

A pack of ten cards of the same design costs 4.95.

CARDS FOR GOOD CAUSES SHOPOpens 25th September until 20th December 2010


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HOLY TRINITY SLOANE

SQUARESloane StreetLondon

SW1X 9BZUnited Kingdom

Phone: +44 (0)20 7730 7270Fax: +44 (0)20 7730 9287

info@holytrinitysloanesquare.co.ukwww.holytrinitysloanesquare.co.uk

Rector & Area Dean of Chelsea: The Revd Rob GillionEmail: [email protected]

Assistant Priest: The Revd Graham RainfordEmail: [email protected]

Awareness Foundation

Director: The Revd Nadim NassarAwareness Foundation phone: +44 (0)20 7730 8830

Email: [email protected]: www.awareness-foundation.com

Ann Dent

Morning & Evening Prayer is said daily, Monday to Friday, at 9.00am & 5.00pm

Saturday 10.30am & 4.00pm

The Eucharist is celebrated on Wednesdays at 6.30pm, and Thursdays at 1.10pm

On Sundays, the Eucharist is said at 8.45am, and sung at 11.00am.

July 2010 Trinitarian Newsletter, Holy Trinity Sloane Square

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