A Reflection from our chaplain Chris...........
So how will we live?'

I hear a number of people at the moment talking of how fast international politics is moving and changing. We might find ourselves on different pages as we reflect on these changes with friends or relatives. Such questions can feel emotional and intense, as they often speak to deeply held values within each of us.
I happened upon a recent article by Sam Wells, vicar of St. Martin in the Fields, in London which hit on some of these themes. He was reflecting on a passage from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah (55.1-9), a recent Sunday reading. He wrote:
'If you want to try to change the world, you've broadly got three options: you
can work with the powerful – not necessarily sharing their goals or methods,
not always endorsing their slogans or ignoring their lies, but nonetheless
patiently correcting their wrong turnings and softening their harsh judgements
Alternatively, you can work against the powerful. You can campaign for the
dignity of suppressed peoples and groups. You can highlight miscarriages of
justice, you may denounce, and upbraid and protest.

But that choice – between a pragmatism that risks complacency and an
idealism that flirts with self-righteousness – doesn't comprise the full set
of options. There's a third approach, and that is to seek to model what a
better society might look like: to practice a renewed politics and try to
inspire others to join you, and in their own context do the same.

If you think about it, both the Old and the New Testaments assume that
third kind of politics ...........
Using that passage as his starting point, he ends up summarising five principles of that third kind of politics:
As the bedraggled and bewildered chosen people make their way back from
Babylon and ask themselves what kind of society they want to belong to
after the trauma of exile, these are the five principles of politics Isaiah
offers them. It's a society where everyone belongs. It's about shared things
of enduring value – what Augustine calls “common objects of love” . It's
about building trust. It's about becoming a society others want to join. And
it's about seeing the dynamism of giving people a second chance.'

Those five values resonate with me! You may agree or disagree , but I hope they
may be useful 'grist to the mill' as you ponder what you will model and how you will live in the emerging context of today. In peace, Chris

SAINT OF THE MONTH

RICHARD OF CHICHESTER (C.1197 - 1253)
Ever wonder where the prayer ...

'May I know thee more clearly, love thee more
dearly, and follow thee more nearly, day by day' comes from?

Richard of Chichester, a bishop in the 13th century wrote it.
He began life as Richard de Wych, of Droitwich, the son of a yeoman farmer. But Richard was a studious boy, and after helping his father on the farm for several years, refused an advantageous offer of marriage, and instead made his way to Oxford, and later to Paris and Bologna to study canon law.

In 1235 he returned to Oxford, and was soon appointed Chancellor, where he
supported Edmund, Archbishop of Canterbury, in his struggles against King Henry III's use of Church funds.. After further study to become a priest, Richard was in due course made a bishop himself. He was greatly loved. He was charitable and accessible, both stern and merciful to sinners, extraordinarily generous to those stricken by famine, and a brilliant legislator of his diocese. He decreed that the sacraments were to be administered without payment, Mass celebrated in dignified conditions, the clergy to be chaste, to practise residence, and to wear clerical dress.

The laity were obliged to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days, and to know by heart the Hail Mary as well as the Lord's Prayer and the Creed.
Richard was also prominent in preaching the Crusade, which he saw as a call to
reopen the Holy Land to pilgrims, not as a political expedition. He died at Dover on 3 April 1253. In art, Richard of Chichester is represented with a chalice at his feet, in memory of his having once dropped the chalice at Mass!
And, of course, he is author of that famous prayer, now set to popular music, which runs in full:
Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ
for all the benefits thou hast given me,
for all the pains and insults which thou has borne for me.
O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,
may I know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly,
and follow thee more nearly, day by day

Normally Richard of Chichester is commemorated on the anniversary of his death on 3 April. This year, however, because we are still in the Easter season, he is 'shunted off'' to 16th June.

Well Done George!

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh has become the Royal Patron of the Omnibus Theatre, Clapham. The Duke is a long-time advocate of the performing arts and arts education and whose dedication aligns with the theatre's mission in creating transformative artistic experiences. 

Omnibus Theatre opened in November 2013 following a seven-year community campaign led by Mr George Owen MBE, the President, and St John's Church council member to save the old Clapham Library from developers. This much-loved Victorian building was transformed into a theatre maintaining the heritage of the Library as a civic space for all. Since then, Omnibus Theatre, which receives no core funds, has gone from a fledgling arts centre into an award-winning independent theatre, home to an ambitious programme driven by the library's legacy of sharing stories. 

Monsieur Benjamin Prischi, organist at St. John's Church, playing his grand piano - 'Seiler', a German Make. The model is 'Louvre' built in 1990. To avoid transporting the piano backwards and forwards, a place has been found in the Chancel of the Church in the space below the decorative pipes of the former organ. Look for it next time you are in church. 

We all thank Ben for providing this addition to the musical instruments of the church.

We look forward to hearing him play his piano in concert or with his friends during a Jazz at St John's session.  Next Jazz at St John's concert Friday 07 February, 18h30, 15€ at the door.

Beware!

Vulnerable people are not always obvious. They are not only children, the homeless, the mentally ill. We can all be vulnerable from time to time, through grief, loneliness, illness or simply by being new in town. When we are vulnerable we are less vigilant, less alert to danger, less able to distinguish the conman from the genuine person offering help. 

Not too long ago, a member of our congregation who had recently moved to Menton was enticed into a car parked outside the church, by someone with a friendly face that he thought he recognised. He asked me to share his story: 

 “I was outside the church and the driver of a large, clean, white Mercedes Benz waved to me, and beckoned me to the car. He looked British, middle aged, round faced and quite jolly. As the sun was shining brightly, I could not clearly identify him, but as I didn't want to offend (we were meeting many new people and forgetting names) I waved back and went to the open door. He said 'I have a present for you, get in, I'll show it to you.' Stupidly, I got into the car, and immediately, I knew that something was wrong. Close-up, I realised I didn't know the man at all. He then showed me a red jewellery box, opened it, and there was a Rolex. He said it was a gift. I immediately got out of the car, assuming he was trying to sell the watch.” 

Fortunately no financial or physical harm occurred on this occasion but we can all learn from it. The vast majority of people are kind and generous but we need to be on our guard for that rare individual who is out to harm us and keep an eye out for others, as well as ourselves.  

Jacqueline James, Safeguarding Officer St John's Church, Menton

Life at St. James-the-Least
The Rectory,
St. James-the-Least

My dear nephew Darren, 

 Visits from your parishioners are always welcome. But I did not expect them to return to you complaining because our pews are uncomfortable. 

 Pews are meant to be uncomfortable. The unshakeable belief of our congregation is that the more uncomfortable the pew, the holier the worship must be. By the same token, an 8am Service is more fervent than one at 11am, since it is much more socially inconvenient. If you add on enduring sub-zero temperatures and damp, then sainthood clearly beckons. The fact that a twenty-first century body is in constant danger of sliding off the seat and requires knees to be folded somewhere near ears at least helps to keep minds focussed – apart for Colonel Wainwright, who still manages to sleep peacefully throughout Matins every Sunday. 

 I could point out that your chairs make kneeling almost impossible – although I suspect that posture is not encouraged in your church, as people would then be unable to read the words on your overhead projector or wave their arms about quite as easily during the hymns. While the majority of our congregation find the Anglican crouch perfectly adequate, you can see those who flop to their knees on hearing “let us pray” from the clouds of dust sent up from suddenly compressed hassocks, which were purchased to commemorate Queen Victoria's Accession. 

 I may also point out that our box pews are very useful for modern times. Once a family is seated, with the door firmly shut, then any toddler is penned in and unable to use the aisles as a racing circuit. Medieval carpenters were clearly forward thinking people. Admittedly, box pew doors do tend to stick and few manage to look dignified while they wait for step ladders to be brought before they can climb out. 

 If only you would remove your chairs and substitute benches without backs, turn off all heating and replace carpets with slate slabs, I am sure your congregation's religious zeal would soar.  Your loving uncle, Eustace

Coins for Funds

Do you remember 'Barbara's Bottle'

which used to be at the back of the church to collect any current euro or sterling coins which were no longer needed by people returning to their home countries or which were weighing too heavily in their purses? Well, Beatrice has now taken on the collecting of such coins in aid of our Church funds, so please give the coins you no longer want to Beatrice or The Rev'd Chris. Thank you.