22/04/2009 by admin.

was when he came to talk to the men’s breakfast meeting at the Church on the Heath.  He spoke about his involvement in the historic wartime Conferences (1943-1945) in Teheran, Yalta, Potsdam and Moscow between Winston Churchill, Presidents Roosevelt and Truman and Stalin.  These meetings have been much written about; Hugh’s comments gave a refreshing slant.  

He started by reminding us just how much our country is indebted to the Americans.  Without their help the outcome of the last war might have been very different.  Notwithstanding recent difficulties Americans are both warm-hearted and very generous: without Marshall Aid Europe would never have recovered in the way it did. He continued by recounting those occasions when Churchill found Roosevelt particularly difficult and how Churchill often felt sidelined when Stalin and Roosevelt went behind his back.  Like most histories not all the traditionally accepted written accounts of their tripartite dealings are entirely reliable. 

He then gave examples of leading public figures between the two World Wars and the media in the last World War giving very distorted accounts of the Soviet system and Stalin’s leadership.  His great evil, immense cruelty and duplicity were masked by the admiration accorded to the outstanding victories of the Red Army over the German forces.  Those victories, added to the deliberately modest front Stalin presented to Churchill, Roosevelt and other foreign leaders bestowed an image of urbane respectability on ‘Uncle Jo Stalin’ and Russia’s communist system.  Stalin generated great fear in those under him; even his Foreign Minister, Molotov, was heard to stutter when in Stalin’s presence.  Censorship and surveillance were rigid.  In charge of clearing his and other offices of the British Military Mission in Moscow at the end of the War Hugh found and removed some thirty hidden microphones.  A more humorous, yet operationally serious, example was the case of the carrier pigeons carried on arctic route RAF transport aircraft in case of radio failure: they were refused entry or exercise in Russia until they received entry visas – nothing to do with bird flu! 

Hugh pointed to the widespread supposition made in some of the tabloid press and books that towards the end of the War Eastern Europe was carved up at the Yalta Conference in the Crimea and handed over to Stalin by the Western Allies.  In fact Russian troops, the Red Army and the KGB, Secret Police, having driven the German forces out, already occupied much of Eastern Europe. Stalin possessed it without needing to ask. 

Hugh explained that the over-riding objective of both sides in war is usually to bring it to an end as soon as possible.  In February 1945 Russian troops were only 40 miles from Berlin.  In a desperate last throw Hitler aimed to strengthen his front facing the Russians just north east of Dresden by transferring by rail some 30 divisions from  Western and other fronts, as our and Russian intelligence discovered.  The city of Dresden was an important final rail junction for the transfer of those troops.  To prevent the German divisions reaching and holding that front, so prolonging the war, Stalin with his military leaders requested the British and Americans to bomb Dresden and other entrainment points, Berlin, Leipzig and Chemnitz. To achieve the aim of ending the war, still being waged dangerously by Hitler, the Western Allies agreed to Stalin’s request. 

Hugh concluded his remarks by pointing out that although Stalin was the biggest mass-murderer in the whole of human history up to that date, it was Lenin before his early death in 1924, who inspired and instilled into communism its extreme “religion” of hate and murder of political opponents.  Hugh read out the words Lenin wrote in 1915 “We must hate. Hatred is the basis of communism”.  Richard Dexter/Hugh Lunghi  

Posted in Mens Group, Ethics, Faith, Communications | Print | No Comments »

22/04/2009 by admin.

 Readers of our weekly news sheet may remember an invitation for parishioners to visit the Shah Jahan Mosque in Woking on Saturday 14 March.  Although my initial reaction to this opportunity was more than a little hesitant, my wife Jane gently pointed out that meeting with people of different faiths and learning more about their culture and beliefs often helps us to realize that we have much in common.  
 Like many, I’ve often wondered about the mosque as its dome flashed past the train window while travelling to and from Waterloo. Imagine my surprise, therefore, to discover that although architecturally impressive, the Shah Jahan Mosque is in fact quite small.  It was built in 1889 by Dr Gottleib Wilhelm Leitner to cater to the spiritual needs of Muslim students at the Oriental Institute and was the first mosque to be built in Northern Europe. 
 The original Mosque is a great deal smaller than either of our churches and can hold only 60 worshippers.  Although it’s used for prayers throughout the day, as the Muslim population has grown in Woking so has the need for extra space. This has been provided by large halls in the mosque grounds which are used when there is a need.  These are made up of three sections: A men’s section, which can hold up to 1000 worshippers, a ladies’ section, which can hold up to 600 worshippers, and a community hall.  

• Children of Muslim parents are considered Muslim from birth and that there is no equivalent of our baptism service.

• However, there is a naming ceremony for the baby, where its head is shaved and the hair weighed.  Traditionally, the parents donate the weight of the child’s hair in silver to the mosque.

• Apart from one or two small sects, Muslims do not use music in their worship as Christians do.

• The Qur’an was usually printed in Arabic to avoid mistranslation of the Prophet Mohammed’s words.

I came away from the mosque feeling that Muslims and Christians had a great deal in common. We believe in the same God and share the same traditions of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and the  prophets.  The key difference is that although Muslims revere Jesus as a great prophet, they do not believe that He is the son of God.  
 I’m glad I went.  
 Paul Allen 

And another perspective…..

A group of us from churches in Fleet visited the Shah Jahan Mosque in Woking on a Saturday in March. Many of you may have glimpsed the ornate exterior of the mosque outside Woking station from the railway line into London.  It’s a gem of a building and was established in 1889, the first purpose built mosque in Britain.  We were met there by Rev Richard Cook, in charge of interfaith affairs for the diocese who gave a stimulating talk on Islam back in November at P and J.  Richard explained that the mosque was originally built to cater for the spiritual needs of Muslim students at the Oriental Institute in Woking, with funding from the Begum Shah Jahan of Bhopal.  It also acted as a place of worship for visiting delegates from India and as a centre for those in Britain with an interest in eastern cultures and languages.  The mosque became well known in the early 20^th century for its publications and missionary work and helped people in Britain to an early understanding of Islam.  We were also joined by the Imam of the mosque, Mufti Liaquat.  He explained that the original mosque only holds about 60 worshippers and is still used for most of the five daily prayers.  However as the Muslim population of Woking has grown, so has the need for more space and luckily large halls in the Mosque grounds (originally railway sidings) are used for Friday prayers, when over 1,000 people are present and for other festivals and community occasions.  The Imam took us over to the small mosque where we squeezed in along with others who were reading the Koran and praying quietly before the start of the Saturday midday prayer.  He explained about the five daily prayers, how Muslims know to pray in the direction of Mecca and that the ornate writing at the front of the mosque is the first verse of the Koran, the Fatiha, ‘In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate, Praise belongs to God, the Lord of all Being.’  He talked of the way that Moslems have to wash before they pray and that the prostrations of the ritual prayer reflect submission to God.  The word Islam means surrender.  The Imam added that usually only men come to the mosque as women are used to praying at home.  He talked about the reverence Muslims feels for Jesus, one of their main prophets and that in Medina, next to the burial place of the prophet Mohammed, a grave is reserved for Jesus after his second coming.  We were then led over to the main prayer hall to watch the midday prayer, sitting at the back of the hall, having left our shoes outside.  About 60 men were present, some teenagers and a young child.  The Imam led the prayers at the front of the hall with the worshippers performing the ‘salat’ or prostrations of prayer.  After a time, they all moved back, to perform their own prayers, each followed by a prostration.  The whole cycle took around 20 minutes and afterwards people greeted each other, shook hands and then dispersed.    Imam Liaquat came back to talk to us and answer questions.  He said that children from the age of about 4 years accompany their fathers to the mosque.  From about 7 years, children can start to learn the Koran in classes with a teacher, reciting in Arabic which is rarely their mother tongue as most of the Muslims in Woking would be Urdu speakers.  Many children come to the mosque each week for Koran classes in the evenings. 

The Imam was asked whether he uses the term God or Allah and he said for him they are the same.  He is happy to talk of God as we are worshipping the same deity, even though our beliefs and ways of praying differ.  It seemed a suitable point on which to end an interesting and stimulating visit and it gave us all an insight into the traditions of Islam. 

 Jane Jones 

Posted in Faith | Print | No Comments »

22/04/2009 by admin.

(1 Corinthians 5. 7-8)

Jesus sent His disciples to go and prepare the Passover Meal And Jesus said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer … (Luke 8 and 15) 

“Eat this in remembrance of me…” how well most of us know these familiar words, first spoken by Jesus at the Last Supper, and now part of the Christian Communion Service.  I wonder how many of us were aware of the full significance of The Passover meal and why Jews, throughout the world, still celebrate it? 

Sixty nine of us gathered at All Saints Meeting Room on the Wednesday of Holy Week (8 April). Led by Revd Haydon Wilcox we were helped, through a series of tastings and explanations, to trace the same steps that Jesus took at his last supper with the disciples.   We were intrigued to find that on the table in front of us was set a platter containing minced Horseradish root, a lamb shank bone, sweet sauce which tasted a bit like peanut butter, sprigs of parsley, small lettuce leaves, a roasted egg and a cup of salt water.  There were jugs of red grape juice and each of us had a tiny wine glass to drink from.  There was also Matzos, or unleavened bread.   

Haydon explained that The Passover Seder, or Order of Celebration, is usually led by the father/host of the house. Traditionally, the Passover Meal is eaten reclining on cushions to symbolise freedom from slavery (Luke 22 1-14).  We sat on wooden chairs and used our imaginations.   God instructed the Israelites to celebrate the Passover every year and, by being faithful, Jews celebrate it today with joy and thanksgiving, as if it is living history.  The Seder takes place in the evening after sundown because the Biblical day starts at sundown.  But what about the different items on the platter before us?  Haydon explained that the platter is called The Seder Plate.  Symbolism in the Seder includes: 

• Green vegetable – parsley – representing Life Salt Water – representing the Red Sea 
• The Bitter Herb (in this case, Horseradish) – representing the life in Egypt The Horseradish also brought tears to our eyes so that we do not forget the hardships the Israelites endured in Egypt.  
• Charoset (a Sweet sauce) – representing Hope in God 

• The lamb’s shank bone symbolised the Passover Lamb.

• The egg is a fairly recent Jewish addition and would not have been there at the Last Supper. 

Reverently, but with humour, reflecting the mixture of solemnity and thankfulness of the celebration, Haydon talked us through the Seder and encouraged us to taste the different dishes at the appropriate moments. 

Before the meal we were invited to ceremonially wash our hands.  This represented purity.   We were also introduced to the Four Cups of Wine. 

• The Cup of Sanctification – God has set apart the Holy Feast Day.
• The Cup of Judgement and Praise – God’s judgement is poured out but God has also promised a means of deliverance.
• The Cup of Redemption – symbolising the covering of the shed blood of the Passover Lamb (fulfilled for us in Jesus, although this is not recognised by the Jews).
• The Cup of Completion – we give thanks for God’s four-fold redemption: “I will bring you out, I will deliver you, I will redeem you, I will take you to be my people.”  
• A fifth cup, The Cup of Elijah, not one of the four ceremonial Cups, is poured before the meal. 

The Jews are still awaiting the return of the prophet Elijah, but Jesus has told us that John the Baptist was a type of Elijah and has already come (Matt 17. 10-13).  Traditionally, this cup is drunk by the host after the children have looked outside the front door, to ascertain that Elijah is not outside, waiting to be let in.  

Haydon also showed us the special Matzah Cover, which has three pockets.  One Matzah was placed in each pocket. He then removed the middle Matzah and broke it in two.  He wrapped one half in a linen cloth and hid it (in the top of the piano). Traditionally, the children find it later, and eat it after the main part of the meal.  The other half, representing the Bread of Affliction, was shared round the table. 

Traditionally, the telling of the Passover Story is introduced by children asking four questions, the answers to which enable the story to be told.  The importance of family and friends gathering to take part in this intimate celebration was constantly stressed by Haydon.   Although there were no children present, the meal helped us to feel like a family celebrating something special together.  We too, connected with the solemnity and the laughter … and left with a spirit of awe and thankfulness at the sacrifice which our Lord made for us and the wonder of our heritage. 

We also realised how deeply the Old and New Testaments are intertwined.  As Christ said, he did not come to do away with the Old Testament Law, but to fulfil it.  After the Seder Meal, the hardworking team of catering volunteers served a delicious lamb casserole and piping hot baked potatoes followed by Baklava.  

Thanking them, Haydon also thanked Mrs Joan Bradnam, from The Church on the Heath, who has a wide knowledge of Jewish customs and helped him plan the evening.  He also paid tribute to Helen Ledger, who compiled a PowerPoint presentation and the Passover Celebration booklet, which was used for the evening.  

Sally Hastings  

Posted in Faith | Print | No Comments »