Wanstead's Got Even More Talent
On 3rd December 2011 Wanstead showed that it had even more talent- an appreciative audience watched and listened as members of the parish "became" singing stars- some from yesteryear.
The Wanstead Flower Festival
On 10th and 11th September 2011, the Parish held its annual Flower Festival coinciding with and complementing the Wanstead Festival held by Redbridge Council on Christ Church Green and Wanstead High Street.
This year we have chosen “Charities” as our theme in our flower arrangements. Charity is a very personal thing. Many people will be able to identify with a particular charity or charities which they like to support because of the remarkable work they do. The charities represented here mean different things to different people too. Some have touched people we know and love and others offer help and support to people we have never met.
As a parish, we constantly seek to reach out both to our local community and to communities beyond our shores, including links with RAMFEL, Gulu, Uganda and Traidcraft. Additionally members of our church community have done all kinds of sponsored events-cycling, dancing, walking, swimming and running- to raise money for our different charities. Last year for instance, a group completed the three peaks challenge and raised a spectacular sum for breast cancer charity, spurred on by the sudden and tragic death of one of our young mothers. For the past two years one of young parishioners, wheelchair-bound himself, has taken part in a half-marathon to raise funds for the blind children in Gulu Primary School, Uganda.
1.Traidcraft
Arranged by Ann Larkin
Traidcraft fights poverty though trade, helping people in developing countries to transform their lives.
Our Malawian village is typical of those supported by Traidcraft Exchange. This charity works hard to build relationships between producer, seller and buyer. Traidcraft Exchange trains people in marketing and financial management. The flowers surrounding the village are carefully chosen as they attract bees and bee-keeping is a major occupation for many women in Malawi. Bees are important, not only for the production of honey, but also for our food crops which depend on pollination by bees.
2. Comic Relief
Arranged by Caroline McCarty and Lorraine Buckley
Since its launch in 1985 Comic Relief has raised over £650 million to tackle poverty and social injustice across the UK, Africa and some of the world’s poorest counties. Our years the money has been used to in Africa to educate people about HIV and AIDS and to teach women to read. It has helped street children from Bangladesh to Brazil and supported communities affected by terrible conflict and natural disasters. Across the UK it has helped disabled people challenge discrimination, provided escape routes for women living with domestic violence and much more.
3. United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
Arranged by Christine Harrison and Beryl Darling
USPG is a mission agency of the Anglican Church focused on sustaining the church’s capacity for mission, particularly through leadership development and health work.
4. Institute of Cancer Research & Everyman
Arranged by John Kempton
The ICR is one of the world’s leading cancer research organisations and cancer charities. It works in partnership with the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation to research into the causes, prevention, diagnosis and methods of treatment of cancer.
Prostate and testicular cancer affects almost 39,000 men each year in the UK. Everyman’s mission is to save men’s lives by raising funds to support research into prostate and testicular cancer and promoting greater awareness of these diseases.
5. Barnardo’s
Arranged by Margaret Adams
Barnardo’s is the UK’s leading children’s charity, with over 400 projects across the country transforming the lives of children and young people every day.
6. MS Action
Arranged by Ann Larkin
MS Action provides therapies for people with Multiple Sclerosis and Cerebral Palsy, enabling them to exercise and stay strong and active. There are nearly 100,000 people in the UK with Multiple Sclerosis. MS is at present incurable but patients are not entitled to long term NHS physiotherapy. MS Action provides centres for such therapy.
7. Breakthrough Breast Cancer
Arranged by Sally Newland
The charity aims to save lives and changes futures through research, campaigning and education, removing the fear of breast cancer for good.
8. Mothers' Union
Arranged by Beryl Darling, John Kempton and Diane Horne
The Mothers’ Union is an international Christian charity that seeks to support families worldwide by supporting marriage and family life, especially through times of adversity, we tackle the most urgent needs challenging relationships and communities. Our members are not all mothers or even all women. The Mothers; Union provides a network through which members can serve Christ in their own community-through prayer, financial support and actively working at grassroots level in programmes that meet local needs. We lobby local and national governments on issues affecting family life and campaign to challenge legislation that neglects the vulnerable and marginalised.
9. Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Arranged by Wendy Lewis
The RNLI saves lives at sea. It provides a 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service around the coasts of Great Britain as well as a seasoned lifeguard service on many of the busiest beaches in England and Wales. The RNLI has saved more than 139,000 lives since its foundation in 1824. Through the years there have been countless stories of courage against a background of technological developments and social change.
10. Great Ormond Street
Arranged by Stacy Smith
GOSH was the first institution in the UK to offer inpatient care to children only, over 150 years ago. Since then it has grown to be the UK’s leading centre of specialists under one roof.
11. Wateraid
Arranged by Sally Newland
Wateraid and its partners use practical solutions to provide safe water, effective sanitation and hygiene education to the world’s poorest people. They also seek to influence policy at notional and international levels. They work in rural and urban areas and have programmes in Africa, Asia and the Pacific region.
12. Macmillan Cancer Support
Arranged by Donna Houghton
Macmillan provides practical, medical and financial support and push for better cancer care. As well as helping with the medical needs of people affected by cancer, Macmillan also looks at the social, emotional and practical impact cancer can have and campaigns for better health care. Macmillan Cancer Support’s goal is to reach and improve the lives of everyone living with cancer in the UK.
13. British Heart Foundation
Arranged by Felicity Hepworth
The BHF aim to reduce cardiovascular disease in the UK so that it is no longer a major cause of disability and premature death. They do this by providing research funding and by providing information to people to help reduce their own heart health risk. Cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and coronary heart disease is the biggest cause of preventable death. 200,000 people will die of cardiovascular disease in the UK in 2012-more than one in three deaths.
14. Help for Heroes
Arranged by Sarah Edrich
Help for Heroes helps to provide better facilities for British service men and women wounded since 11th September 2001. The charity statement is simple: “We are strictly non-political and non-critical; we simply want to help.”
15. Great Ormond Street-J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan
Arranged by Sarah Edrich
J.M. Barrie gave all the rights to Peter Pan to Great Ormond Street Hospital in 1929 and this was confirmed when he died in 1937. Since then the hospital has received royalties every time a production of the play is put on as well as from the sale of Peter Pan books and other products.
16. Gulu Primary School
Arranged by Stacy Smith
The parish have supported Gulu School for the blind in Gulu, Northern Uganda for several years. We have been able to assist in the building of the perimeter wall to safeguard the children and the water supply, paid for the refurbishment of a girls’ dormitory, provided several Braille machines and assisted with the feeding of the children and improving the fabric of the boys’ blind school. Our most recent project is to set up sponsorship opportunities for the children in the blind school.
17. CLIC Sargent
Arranged by Donna Houghton
Every day 10 families are told their child has cancer. As the UK’s leading children’s cancer charity, CLIC Sargent is the only organisation to offer them all round care and support. That’s because they are there every step of the way:
· During treatment- providing specialist nurses, play specialists, Homes from home.
· In hospital and at home- offering specialist social care and support in the community-services for young people, holidays, and grants.
· After treatment- helping survivors, supporting those bereaved.
Many thanks are due to all who made the Flower Festival such a success, but especially our dedicated group of flower arrangers whose skill delights and inspires us.
The Installation and Induction of Liz as the new Rector
On 27th March 2011, the parish celebrated Liz's new ministry as Rector. In a splendid service Liz was instituted by the Rt Revd David Hawkins, Bishop of Barking and inducted by the Ven Elwin Cockett, Archdeacon of West Ham. Christ Church was packed and it was standing room only reflecting the warmth of the welcome and good wishes extended to Liz. Music was provided by the orchestra of Wanstead Church School and the school choir sang a selection of hymns- traditional and new before the service.
The procession into Christ Church- Liz with Jill Leonard, lay chair of the Deanery and the the Ven Elwin Cockett, Archdeacon of West Ham.
The Bishop of Barking arrives
The Wanstead Church School choir
During the service the Bishop handed the mandate to the Archdeacon and instructed him to induct Liz into the benefice. The Archdeacon placed Liz's hand on the church door saying:
" By the direction of the Bishop, I induct you into the real, actual and corporeal possession of the benefice and the parish churches of St. Mary and Christ Church."
The churchwardens then gave Liz the keys to the parish churches and she tolled the bell to make public the start of a new ministry. Liz was then presented with a map of the parish.
The Bishop invited the congregation to welcome its new Rector and the Area Dean introduced representatives from the parish deanery and civic life of the community.
Sheba Lockley welcomed Liz on behalf of the children's and young people's groups.
The children from the Church school presented Liz with momentoes of the occasion.
Cllr Chris Cummings, the Mayor designate of Redbridge extended a welcome.
The clergy.............
and the congregation welcomed Liz. The parish bought Liz a cope as a gift to mark the occasion.
LIz, the Archdeacon and the wardens processed around the church and symbols of ministry were presented to Liz by representatives of church and community: a flagon of water at the font; a Bible at the lectern; a book of prayers at the prayer desk and the chalice and paten at the altar.
The new Rector leaving church
Afternoon tea in Christ Church gardens completed the celebrations.
The welcome cake!
Liz chose Jeremiah 29 11-14a as the lesson for the service:
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and pray to me, I will hear you.
When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord.