St. John's Magazine - Aug 23

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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

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THE VICAR’S LETTER
Dear Friends,
If someone were to ask what is the most worrying feature of
current church life, some might say it was dwindling congre-
gations, or the age of those who attend. These things may
cause concern, although we should not believe everything we read about in
the press about church attendance – ours is actually growing at the
moment! But there is something else that is worse.
This is the clear reluctance of many to take on tasks within the church.
There may be many reasons for this – and they may be linked to the age
question – but there are also other factors. One is the apparent dislike of
responsibility. People may feel they do not want to be the one that makes
the decisions or who gets the blame if things go wrong. They may feel,
rightly or wrongly, that they have “done their bit” already, possible else-
where in an earlier life and it is therefore time for someone else to do the
work.
These ideas and attitudes need to be looked at carefully. It could be that
people have picked up some rather unhelpful contemporary attitudes. The
Christian faith works within our culture and encourages and celebrates all
that is good in it, but not all in our culture is good. In particular there is the
tendency to think it is acceptable and even beneficial for us to be selfish
sometimes. This is particularly clear in advertising, where we are often
encouraged to think that we have a right to acquire luxurious things, have
fabulous holidays, and own the latest electronic gadgets. To coin a phrase
from a TV advert, it is the “because you are worth it” culture. Have you
ever considered the phrase, “retail therapy”? It implies that self-indulgence
is good for your health; a very doubtful idea. In this kind of cultural atmos-
phere, the idea of doing things for nothing and often unseen without
thanks or recognition, is a bit strange.
In the Christian tradition there is something that flies in the face of this. It is
the idea of sacrifice. The idea of voluntarily giving something that costs us
is basic to our faith. The New Testament suggests that it is this, rather than
self-indulgence, that really is good for us. It liberates us from self and
enables us to contribute. Cont’d.

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The whole life of Christ could be described as an act of sacrificial giving. His
self-sacrifice was extremely costly, in fact it cost him everything – but it
made his resurrection possible.
In the future the Church is going to need more people to give their time
unselfishly and to take responsibility without fear. There is no doubt about
this. Clergy figures for the next few years can be predicted from the
number of ordinands in training and those clergy reaching retirement age.
It is highly probably that more parishes will be joined together and more
and more lay people will have to take responsibility if the Church is to
continue in every community. The future will be very challenging for
church people. If we/they want the Church to continue in our/their
community we/they will have to face the implications and decide on how
much we/they are prepared to sacrifice our/their time and energy and also
our/their material wealth to see it happen.
Every Blessing,
Teach us to pray
Lord, teach us to pray. Some of us are not skilled in the art of prayer. As
we draw near to thee in thought, our spirits long for thy Spirit, and reach
out for thee, longing to feel thee near. We know not how to express the
deepest emotions that lie hidden in our hearts. …We know that we are
closest to thee when we have left behind the things that have held us
captive so long. ….we pray that thou wilt give unto us only what we really
need. ….give us the vision, the courage, that shall enlarge our horizons
and stretch our faith to the adventure of seeking thy loving will for our
lives.
By Peter Marshall (a former chaplain to the US Senate, lived 1902 – 1949)

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PARISH DIARY FOR AUGUST 2023
Enquiries regarding baptisms weddings or marriage blessings are
always welcome.
Please contact the Parish Office.
Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer will be said privately
for the life of the Parish during August.
St John’s is open daily 9.00am-5.00pm for private prayer
(10.00am-5.00pm on Saturdays)
The Parish Eucharist continues to be live streamed via our website
www.stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk/live-streamed-services
The Vicar will be unavailable 1–13, 25–31 August. During these times please
contact the Churchwardens if you require priestly ministry.
Wed 2 10.00am Holy Communion followed by coffee St John’s
Sun 6 The Transfiguration of our Lord Ninth Sunday after Trinity
8.00am No Service in August
10.00am Parish Eucharist St John’s
10.00am Sung Mass St Francis'
11.30am Morning Worship St Stephen's
Wed 9 10.00am Holy Communion followed by coffee St John’s
Sun 13 Tenth Sunday of Trinity
8.00am No Service in August
10.00am Parish Eucharist St John’s
10.00am Sung Mass St Francis'
11.30am Morning Worship St Stephen's
Tues 15 11.30am Tiny Tots Picnic St John’s
Hall
Wed 16 The Blessed Virgin Mary
10.00am Holy Communion followed by coffee St John’s
Cont’d.

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Sun 20 Eleventh Sunday of Trinity
8.00am No Service in August
10.00am Parish Eucharist St John’s
10.00am Sung Mass St Francis'
11.30am Morning Worship St Stephen's
Wed 23 10.00am Holy Communion followed by coffee St John’s
11.30am Wedding Rehearsal St John’s
Thur 24 St Bartholomew, Apostle
3.30pm Wedding: Vinosh Sivaneswaran & Juliet Cumberland
St John’s
Sun 27 Twelfth Sunday of Trinity
8.00am No Service in August
10.00am Parish Eucharist St John’s
10.00am Sung Mass St Francis'
11.30am Morning Worship St Stephen's
Wed 30 10.00am Holy Communion followed by coffee St John’s

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Tiny Tots Picnic 2023
Tuesday 15 August
11.30am - 1.30pm
Bring your own rug and food
In the grounds of St John’s*
*If wet, this will be in the church hall

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Parish Administrator
Throughout July it has been a joy to see Hilary Kemp, our administrator
return to work. All is going well, and from this month she will be returning
to her normal hours. I have been most grateful to Penny Pomroy who has
deputised for Hilary during much of her time off sick, as she has really
helped in the smooth running of our Parish.
Summer Fair
Congratulations to the Fundraising Committee for the lovely Summer Fair
they organised for 8 July. Despite storm and tempest the projected net
amount raised is just over £2000 which is a splendid effort. So many
people came up to me saying what a wonderful event it was, invoking
memories of childhood village fetes on the Green. What a wonderful
witness we gave – being part of and building community - and showing
we are a church that is alive and kicking – especially in these post-Covid
Lockdown years.

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Confirmation Service
This year there will be a Deanery Confirmation Service at St John’s on
Sunday 26 November at 6.30pm. If you are interested in being confirmed,
or would like to explore what this means, please speak to the Vicar.
4 people have already expressed an interest in being confirmed. Dates for
preparation sessions are being confirmed.
Summer Services
A reminder that during August this year there will be no Sunday 8.00am
celebration of Holy Communion. All other services will continue as normal
with the exception of daily Morning and Evening Prayer which will be said
privately and not at Church. All services resume again in September.
Please also not that Junior Church will take a well earned break during
August – returning on the 2nd
Sunday in September.
Our Junior Choir will return for choir practice in September and will sing
again at our Harvest festival at the start of October.
Tiny Tots Picnic
On Tuesday 15 August we will be holding a BYO Picnic in the grounds of St
John’s – near the hall – for our Tiny Tots families and Junior Church
members. 11.30am-1.30pm. You will be most welcome.
Harvest
Writing in the basking heat of July it doesn’t seem possible to be thinking
about Harvest, and yet the fields are turning golden and the farmers are
bringing in the harvest. As usual we shall offer to God our thanksgiving for
his gifts in creation and those who bring-in the harvest.
Our celebrations will include a special All Age Eucharist on 1 October; a
Quiz Night on Saturday 30 September at 7.30pm, and a collection for the
Bishop of St Alban’s Harvest appeal to provide Chickens for families in
Uganda. More details of these events in the September issue.
Autumn Sermon Series: Mission and Ministry
During September and October the Ministry Team will be running a
Sermon Series on Mission and Ministry. Following in the footsteps of
Christ, the Church is called to proclaim the nearness of God’s Kingdom;
forgiveness in the name of Jesus, and life and love for all people. Cont’d.

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Often, we – The Church – are not very good at telling other people about
the Good News we have inherited. The sermon series will hopefully give
us some food for thought and some helpful tips for sharing our faith.
St Francis Patronal Festival and Open afternoon: Sunday 8 October
On Sunday 8 October at 4.00pm there will be Sung High Mass with
Benediction in celebration of the Patronal Festival of St Francis, Hammer-
field. All are welcome to join in giving thanks to God for the life and
ministry of St Francis of Assisi, and for the witness of the Church in that
part of the Parish. Refreshments will be served after the Service. Guest
preacher will be announced. The service will be preceded by an Open
Afternoon at St Francis combined with Cream Tea. Please do come along
and support.
********
Allotments come of age as 2023 marks the 21st
year of National Allot-
ments Week
Much beloved by gardeners across the UK, allotments are cherished for
the space they provide to grow one’s own fresh vegetables, among other
things.
This year the theme is Soil Health. As National Allotments Week explains:
“Good soil health is widely accepted as way to improve yield when
growing edibles, but also contributes positively to biodiversity and the
environment as the world faces more climate challenges. The NAS hope
that this National Allotments Week will inform and educate gardeners
old and new about the benefit of caring for the soil and the creatures
that inhabit it.”
More info at: https://www.nsalg.org.uk

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Remembering Ralph Vaughan Williams
It was 65 years ago, on 26th
August 1958, that the British composer Ralph
Vaughan Williams died. Among his most famous compositions are The
Lark Ascending, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis and A Sea Sympho-
ny.
Despite increasing deafness, brought on by exposure to gunfire when he
served in the Second World War, Vaughan Williams was still composing
into his 80s. He died, aged 85, the night before recording sessions began
on his Ninth Symphony.
The son of a vicar, the composer – himself an agnostic, although he edited
the English Hymnal in 1904 and wrote several hymn tunes – was born in
Down Ampney, Gloucestershire, and was related to Charles Darwin and to
the potter Josiah Wedgwood. He played violin and piano and was a keen
collector of folk songs, the tunes of which he included in many of his
compositions.
Vaughan Williams was married twice: first to Adeline Fisher and after her
death in 1951 to the poet Ursula Wood, who was an occasional collabora-
tor on his compositions. He was also a lifelong friend of the composer
Gustav Holst.
The Lark Ascending – probably Vaughan Williams’ most famous piece –
was written in 1914, but its premiere was delayed by the First World War.
It was eventually given in 1921 by the violinist Marie Hall – for whom
Vaughan Williams had written it.
His ashes are interred in Westminster Abbey. His work was almost unique
in the variety of music types he employed. It included nine symphonies,
concertos for piano, violin, oboe and tuba, five operas, chamber, ballet
and film music and songs and song cycles – among other things.

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

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Toe-tal
FOOT CARE
Safe, hygienic, friendly service for all the family
For the treatment of corns, callus,
ingrown or thickened nails,
nail trimming, cracked heels
In the comfort of your own home
Call Graham Spendlove, MCFHP, MAFHP
Qualified Foot Health Professional
Book now 07799 033974

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Herts Musical Memories deliver vibrant, therapeutic music
sessions designed to help connect people to their memories
through singing. The group is aimed at people worried about
their memory or their voice, those living with dementia, their
carers, or anyone who likes to sing and have fun - everyone
is welcome!
The Hemel group meets on Tuesday afternoons at
St George's URC Hall. For more information please call
07515 633486.

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Transfiguration
(Luke 9:28-36)
Praying on the mountain top
We saw amazing things,
Moses and Elijah
And Jesus, in dazzling white, his face shining.
The Lawgiver, the Prophet
And the Lord.
Written Word, Spoken Word,
Living Word
In glorious splendour.
It was so good to be there,
On the mountain top.
Father, help us
When we are back down in the valley,
In the everyday muddle and mess,
To remember your voice,
To see through the clouds
To Jesus, the one you sent
To complete the Law and the Prophets.
Help us to rejoice in knowing your Son.
Tuned in by your Holy Spirit,
Help us to go on listening.
By Daphne Kitching

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On why it is so hard to read
The Rectory
St James the Least
My dear Nephew Darren
Your suggestion that every month at clergy meetings, someone should
review a book of theology they have been reading, was bound to be
greeted with uneasy resistance. It would mean that the majority would
have to start opening books, rather than just occasionally dusting them.
Possessing books does not necessarily imply that they are ever read.
Your high church colleagues will only read the Racing News, low church
members the Railway Review, liberals the Knitting Weekly and those
with tendencies towards non-conformism, the Vegetarian Times. Clerical
studies may be lined with books, but they are largely for effect – and to
hide damp patches on the wallpaper. Anything with hard covers will
have been bought with the best of intentions - but somehow the vicar-
age lawn or the church hall drains will have taken precedence. And from
what I know of your colleague over at St Crispin’s, the only books he will
buy will be to colour in.
I do try to keep up with my reading, but sleep mercifully intervenes after
the first 10 minutes. On those days when I sit by my study window, so
passers-by can see me deeply occupied in intellectual activity, it is most
useful that my large tome on the letters of Eusebius can easily conceal
an Agatha Christie inside it.
I confess that I was once gloriously put down when I tried to impress one
of our blue stockings by mentioning a new edition of a Dostoevsky novel.
She replied: “I have never read Dostoevsky in translation.” It only
confirmed my suspicions that she had worked as a Russian spy in earlier
years.
Cont’d…..

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I was hugely impressed when, during the bitter cold of last winter, the
Earl of Stowe, whose library would comfortably contain one of our
cathedrals, told me he was slowly getting through its contents of tens of
thousands of volumes. It was only some time later that I discovered he
meant he threw the occasional one on the fire, when he was running low
on wood.
No, my dear Darren, the only literary activities that will spark interest
will be crosswords for the majority, or diocesan reports for the truly
dedicated – with weighty tomes being used as door stops.
Your loving uncle,
Eustace
**********
Church of England awards £16.3 million for mission including outreach
to young people
Apprentice youth workers, youth ministers, children and family workers,
as well as chaplaincy aimed at students in further education, are to be
funded as part of major awards to dioceses recently announced by the
Church of England.
A total of £16.3 million has been awarded by the Strategic Mission and
Ministry Investment Board to five programmes. The money will support
parishes and clergy as they spread the Christian faith and increase the
Church of England’s engagement with young people.
The plans reflect the Church of England’s goal of doubling the number of
children and young active disciples in the Church of England by 2030.
The aim is that churches more fully reflect the age and diversity of their
communities.

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'Music Percentage Club Update’
Congratulations to the winners of the June Music
Percentage Club draw:
Richard Lyne 1st £15
Sheila James 2nd £8
Peter Garner 3rd £4
If you know of someone who would be interested in joining the Music Per-
centage 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.
SMILE—LINES Best position for effective prayer
Three ministers sat discussing the best positions for prayer while a
telephone repairman worked nearby. “Kneeling is definitely best,” claimed
one minister.
“No,” another contended. “I get the best results standing with my hands
outstretched to Heaven.”
“You’re both wrong,” the third insisted. “The most effective prayer
position is lying prostrate, face down on the floor.”
The repairman could contain himself no longer. “Sorry,” he blurted out,
“but the best praying I ever did was hanging upside down from a
telephone pole.”
BOXMOOR PARISH WEBSITE
If you have posters for an event which you would like
to appear on the church website, or if you have taken
photos of a church event and would like them to
appear on the website, please email them to
webteam@stjohnsboxmoor.org.uk so that the website
team can access them easily. We are an active parish
and it would be nice to show that.

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SEPTEMBER 2023 - PRICE 60p
Please note the deadline for articles for the September 2023 edition of the maga-
zine is Sunday, 6th August.
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/A4 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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Staying Safe together in Boxmoor
Neighbourhood watch is a great way to keep yourself and the community
safe. It strengthens communities by sharing information about crime and
safety and ultimately bringing people together to keep our whole county
safe, and its free to join.
Hertfordshire Constabulary uses the award winning OWL system (Online
Watch Link) created especially to support Neighbourhood watch.
Currently there is 1637 households within the ward of Boxmoor that
receive these messages by email or landline phone. That is the equiva-
lent of 40% of all the households within Boxmoor. Across the county as a
whole there is over 1 in 3 households on the OWL system. You can join by
visiting www.owl.co.uk/herts or alternatively contact me directly.
The messages will be sent from the police to your local area so that you
are not overwhelmed with information that does not necessarily affect
you. We also work alongside our partners providing you with helpful
advice, for example trading standards with any current scams.
Members can do as much or as little as they like. You could volunteer to
be a street or ward coordinator. More people looking out for their locali-
ty helps to generate a greater sense of security. Coordinators help their
neighbours stay informed by inviting them to join OWL and ensuring that
their details are updated if they change or move. Boxmoor only has a
few of these coordinators at this time so if you feel you could help please
contact myself for any further details.
There is also the OWL app that you can download onto your phone for
free, this allows you to keep up to date with the alerts.
Daniel McManus
Contact email: Daniel.mcmanus@herts.police.uk

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Hatfield House Chamber Music Festival: “A Family Affair”
Thursday 28 September – Sunday 1 October 2023
The annual Hatfield House Chamber Music Festival invites internationally
renowned musicians to perform in the historic setting of Hatfield House
each year under the expert artistic direction of cellist, Guy Johnston. The
2023 theme “A Family Affair” explores repertoire which highlights the
importance of relations between composers as well as celebrating family
connections between artists, in the magnificent surroundings of Hatfield
House. Community has always been at the heart of this musical gathering,
but never more so than this year.
Ensembles made up of great friends, a married couple, siblings and family
connections will appear throughout the weekend including Orsino Winds,
Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective, Julian Bliss Jazz Quintet, Johnston
Brothers, Bevan Family, Ruby Hughes, Huw Watkins, Ben Goldscheider,
vocal consort Ensemble Pro Victoria, and Orion Orchestra.
For full details of all the Festival concerts and to buy tickets, please
visit hatfieldhousemusicfestival.org.uk
**********
Songs of Praise - Sunday, 23 July
Ruth Merry (daughter of the Revd. Rex Merry) was on BBC1's 'Songs of
Praise' again with her terrific friend Pam Rhodes. This is the third time
they have been on the programme together but this time it's extra special
as it was celebrating Pam's faith journey and how they met on her very
first programme 36 years ago, while Ruth was on the Easter pilgrimage to
St. Albans Abbey. They have been firm friends ever since and It was an
honour for Ruth to be able to celebrate with her.

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Parable: The Strength of a Seed
At this time of year, we enjoy the fruits of our gardens, fields and hedge-
rows: vegetables ripen, crops are harvested, and berries begin to show
bright among the leaves. Much of this growth started with a few seeds in
spring: the miracle of life coming from small dead-looking things. There is a
league table of long-lived seeds. The winners so far are from the narrow-
leafed campion, buried by squirrels in the Siberian permafrost over 30,000
years ago. When those seeds finally germinated, they became healthy
plants that flowered and produced seeds of their own.
The Bible contains many links between seeds and spiritual growth, and the
parable of the sower is the most famous (in Matthew 13). A person may
hear or experience something of God which has the potential to germinate
into a life of following Him, resulting in the fruit of others coming to know
God too. But things can happen that snatch that seed away, killing it
before it has finished germinating, or choking its growth.
What about the knowledge of God that gets trampled, churned too deep
in the mire of life to receive the warmth and light it needs to develop into
faith? Buried seeds don’t always die, but they can lie dormant, remaining
alive but inactive until the earth is turned over. The possibility of that mo-
ment of connecting with something divine, scrap of knowledge, or snatch
of conversation resulting in a changed life may seem infinitesimally small,
but it’s not zero. The seed may be incredibly tough, just waiting for a
chance to grow.
The Gospel narrative plays on the fact that it took a long time for the
disciples to understand the full implications of Jesus’ teaching: a germina-
tion process that took many of them three or more years. They could have
been discouraged, but Jesus was not. I don’t think it’s too much of stretch
to draw out of the parable of the sower to include the observation that it
can take a long time, sometimes decades, for people to work their way
through the various barriers, sticking points, and phases of forgetfulness
that may keep them from following through on their spiritual experience.
When we finally receive – or are open to – the encouragement, challenge,
or experience that helps our faith in Christ grow, we can experience the
rich fruit of a transformed life.

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Spiritual Disciplines: Rest
‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest.’ (Matthew 11:28).
Today, the spiritual discipline of rest is a challenging one. We are
pressured to cram more and more activities into fewer hours. This has
been described as ‘hurry sickness’ and is an enemy of our spiritual life.
August is a month for resting, and so is a good time to look at this disci-
pline.
God instituted the discipline of rest in the creation of the world. He
created everything in six days and rested on the seventh (Gen 2:3). He
instituted the Sabbath, a weekly day of rest (Lev 23:3). However, it is
helpful to draw a distinction between busyness and being hurried. Busy-
ness is an outward condition, while hurry is about our inner state,
resulting from too many competing priorities. Jesus was often busy but
never hurried!
What questions should we be asking about getting more rest?
Balancing Rest and Work:
What is a helpful rhythm of work and rest in our lives? How can we take
seriously the Sabbath principle of having one day a week to rest and not
work? How might we use our time differently eg taking a long walk or
having an unhurried conversation with a friend?
Using Our Leisure Time Creatively:
When we actually take a break we often end up simply watching TV,
surfing the net, shopping unnecessarily or eating when we are not
hungry! Can we choose leisure activities that really refresh us? It’s not a
case of more leisure time, but using the time we have more creatively.
‘The solution to an over busy life is not more time. It’s to slow down and
simplify our lives around what really matters.’ (The Ruthless Elimination of
Hurry: John Mark Comer).

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Keeping out of (legal) trouble
“Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? As you are going with
your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the
way…,.” (Luke 12:57)
How do you avoid disputes and problems with tradespeople and the type
of small businesses that we use every day? Here are some ideas:
Use only recommended tradespeople. Ask your friends in church or
neighbours to tell you who they use.
Try to use someone who is a member of a recognised trade organisation.
They often carry membership logos on their advertisements. (But check
that they are actually members, by going to the website of the trade
group!)
Does their business advertisement have a postal address and landline?
Watch out for advertisements which say: “we have a people working in
your area.” This may not be accurate.
Ask for references. If you are spending thousands on building work, ask
what customers they have already had locally, and go and speak to them.
Put things in writing, get estimates and quotes in writing, with dates.
How much will it cost, and when will it be done, are basic things to get
straight!
Think about how you will pay. Is cash the best way? Get a receipt. If you
are paying by cheque or bank transfer, is it to same company that did the
work?
Don’t get pressured into making decisions until you are really sure. Make
your mind up in your time. Talk to your family and friends for advice.
by David Pickup, a solicitor

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at St John’s
in the month June
HOLY BAPTISM
18 June Freya Anna Evelyn Meade Highcroft Road
18 June Milo Wright Horsecroft Road
May the Lord of his great mercy bless these children and give them
understanding of his wisdom and grace.
HOLY MATRIMONY
There were no Weddings in June
FUNERAL & MEMORIAL SERVICES
8 June Winifred Mary Jones High View Lodge
14 June Marie Gweneth Meset St Agnells Lane
28 June Joyce Dorothy Prestedge Long Chaulden
29 June Olive Wicks Wharf Road
May these souls and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy
of God, rest in peace.
BURIAL OF ASHES
There were no burials of ashes in June

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SMILE LINES
Ecumenics of a crisis
During a recent gathering of local faith leaders, the church caught fire.
The Methodists gathered in the corner and prayed.
The Baptists cried, “Where is the water?”
The Anglicans formed a procession and marched out.
The Quakers silently praised God for the blessings that fire brings.
The Lutherans posted a notice on the door declaring the fire was evil.
The Roman Catholics passed the plate to cover the damage.
The Jews posted symbols on the door hoping the fire would pass over.
The Congregationalists shouted, “Every man for himself!”
The Fundamentalists proclaimed, “It’s the vengeance of God!”
The Charismatics praised God for another falling of the Holy Spirit.
The Christian Scientists concluded that, actually, there was no fire.
The Presbyterians appointed a chairperson who was to appoint a
committee, to look into the matter and submit a written report.
The secretary grabbed the fire extinguisher and put the fire out.
Baptism
A minister was officiating at the baptism of the youngest son of a Duke
and asked for what the baby’s name would be. The answer came: “His
name is George Edward David Anthony Carrington-Smyth de Winters
Cunningham Digby Cecil Barrington….”
“One minute please,” interrupted the minister, “I’ll go fetch another
bucket of water!”
Shout
Verger’s advice to visiting preacher: “You’ll ‘ave to shout very loud in this
‘ere church, vicar. The agnostics are somefink terrible!”

36. Produced and printed by the Parish of Boxmoor