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Epsom United Reformed ChurchNewsletter for February 2005 |
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Alan Wood What a shame that Unity Hall was only half full for the Burns Supper. Premises and catering could certainly have coped with double the number. Perhaps the £20 price tag put some people off. But I have spent that much at a restaurant: at our Burns Supper the food was as good and there were seconds, and there was dancing as well! But it was a very good sum handed over to the Shooting Star Hospice. It was good to see some representatives in Unity Hall. Following on from this Scottish celebration, I see that 23rd April, when we English celebrate St George’s Day and the birth and death of our own Immortal Bard, is on a Saturday. Would anybody like to organise anything for that? I’ll help where I can! I print a Christmas Greeting received from Will and Deb McKinney. Will did a pulpit exchange one summer some years ago while Geoffrey Dunstan was our minister; he and his family were made very welcome in our community and were very much at home while they were here. There is news on page 7 of the Membership Classes, which start on 2nd March. Looking at the syllabus, it looks interesting enough for people who are already members, but need a refresher course. Go on, and ask Pat. I’m sure they’d love to see you. Congratulations to Gwyneth on her 60th Anniversary. I would like to be able to say that I remember it, but I was probably round the back in Junior Church with Dr. Griffiths who, I seem to remember, wore a gown and mortarboard! The Brownies are doing their bit to keep the Tsunami Appeal in the headlines. This time they are holding a Coffee Evening and Cake Sale. See page 19 for details. I hope they do well. This is the largest NewsLetter so far, with 32 pages. It can’t get any bigger: the collator only has a capacity of eight trays, and anyway, it takes me too long. But Daphne’s appeal at the last Church Meeting for more contributions seems to have helped, so keep them coming! I’m grateful as ever to David Philip, whose supply of one-liners seems inexhaustible! Joe Wilson recently had a ‘Pacemaker’ fitted. We sincerely hope he will benefit as a result. Gwyneth is not at all well, but we hope she will soon be feeling much better. This Friday, 4th February, Gwyneth will have been a member of this church for sixty years! Our congratulations and good wishes go to Gwyneth, and we earnestly hope that she will be able to worship with us on Sunday. Top Vaughan was admitted to Epsom General Hospital at the beginning of the week. She is in Gloucester Ward. Our love and prayers are with Sheila Carpenter, her daughter Judith Rice-Jones and family, following a serious accident involving Sheila’s son-in-law. He has been in St Thomas’ Hospital, and the latest news was that he should have been home by this weekend. Lynne is slowly adjusting to being home again and is looking forward to the return of Del from Appleby House when she is a little stronger. Marjorie was looking very much better and was in good form when visited this week. Mary Hallifax recently had a birthday, and we wish her well. A number of our folk have been under the weather with coughs, colds and viruses, and Joan Davies has been very weak. Our love and concern to all and may they soon be feeling better. Julie Swales (née Warner) made contact recently, having heard from postal subscriber sister Hilary about the video ‘Out of the Ashes’. She will by now have received a copy, and will no doubt have got close to the TV to see if she can find herself! She also advised us that her husband, Jim, had a brain tumour, and was going to have an operation this month. The outlook was good, and our love and best wishes go with him. We hear that Elaine Edward’s father is not very well. It’s a long way for Elaine as she travels up and down to Norfolk to visit him. We hope for a good outcome soon. Musings from the Minister 
Dear Friends, As I write this, it has been a year since Peter and I moved here. It has been quite a year for both of us, being one of changes and adjustments. We have enjoyed getting to know the congregations and the area, and have taken many pleasurable walks. Peter is getting used to traveling to north London for work, and my eye problems are gradually being sorted out and I can now drive again, which is a great relief. Thank you for your support and understanding during the time when I could not drive. It always sounds trite when we say that we can learn from our experiences, but I think we often can. I have always been the one to be able to offer lifts to people and to be independent. When I couldn't drive because of eye problems, I was the one who needed lifts, and I did not always find it easy, being an independent sort of person. I learned that sometimes it is just as blessed to receive as it is to give!Another thing. I saw a whole lot more when I was walking. Trees. Houses. Gardens. People. Then there is all that time to think and reflect. 1 walked by the butcher's in Ewell so many times that I started buying our meat there! And having our milk delivered helps keep the milkman in business. I started shopping at Sainsbury's on the internet – just wonderful!), while Peter gets the vegetables from the market in Epsom. It hasn't all been bad! Because things have turned out as they have, I can say that it has been an opportunity to try to do some things differently. It isn't so for everyone, I know. I hope that I will appreciate driving more, but that I will drive less too. Can we do this sort of thing in other areas of life too? What about our church? Things aren't as they used to be, so do we keep on doing things the same way or do we try to find new ways of doing things? Something to think about! Peace Pat Secretary’s
Letter What a busy week the last week of January was! I am sorry I was not there to share it with you. George and I as many of you know were in Spain with friends at their villa; this was booked a long time ago. We all had a very enjoyable time, but were very surprised one evening when the wind blew up and the clouds gathered and down came the snow. I can honestly say I have never seen snow on a Spanish beach, or on a swimming pool in Spain for that matter. We didn’t have quite enough to build a snowman!! Having said that, when the sun shone, which it did a lot of the time, the temperature was very comfortable, the sky very blue and we were able to eat outside a few times in the sunshine. I gather the joint Service at Ewell was a success and hopefully we can repeat this at Epsom. I have received an email from the Secretary of the District Council to thank Epsom for hosting the last meeting of the District Council. I would like to thank the Women’s Church Council for providing the refreshments, and Barbara Wood for delivering our report. The Christian Question Time sounded interesting (a pity we were not better represented). It sounds that Pat did very well. I saw the programme and menu for the Burns Night Supper: it looked very entertaining and delicious. I believe a substantial amount was raised for "The Shooting Star Trust". Many thanks go to Phemie Young for cooking the supper and to her band of workers. We were sorry that our flight back from Spain was so late and we missed the fun. Looking ahead now, don’t forget to be thinking of a name for our Church. Please put an explanation as to why you chose the name along with the name in the box in the Foyer. Easter is very early this year. Ash Wednesday is 9th February and there will be a Communion Service in the Longhurst Room at 10.30 a.m. to mark the beginning of Lent. Last, but certainly not least, Gwyneth Smith, one of our long-serving Elders, is celebrating sixty years of Church Membership at Epsom this month. This is some achievement, and we send her our love, congratulations and God’s Blessings. If you have any special occasions in the near future please let me know, then we can all share the event. (top) JOHN BEANE'S ESTATE CHARITY You may not be aware of the above charity, which was founded in 1772 on the death of the Reverend John Beane. He left in trust assets, the income of which was to be used to support non-conformist ministers in Dorking and Guildford and to help the needy also in Dorking and Guildford. Over the years there has been a number of changes to the objectives of the Charity and support is now offered to all Ministers of both the United Reformed and Congregational Churches in the administrative County of Surrey. In addition to the support given to Ministers there are two subsidiary charities linked to the main charity whose objectives are "to relieve either generally or individually persons who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress", again within the administrative County of Surrey. Churches are often aware of people who are in need whether it be short or long term. If within your Church or local community you are aware of such an individual please remember there is a Christian Charity that may be able to help. Your Church Secretary has an application form which contains the address and telephone number. BURNS’ SUPPER On Saturday, 29th January, 31 people enjoyed a Burns Supper in Unity Hall. It gave me great satisfaction to hand over, after deduction of expenses, the grand sum of £577 to the Shooting Star Trust. I am really grateful to so many who helped in lots of ways and joined in with all the fun of the evening. It is not possible to name all those who helped, but I hope they will read this and accept a very sincere Thank You; you are all so kind and generous. [Thanks are also due to you, Phemie, who master-minded this project from start to finish and who did so much of the cooking. Thank you for my first Burns Supper, and my first taste of haggis; I look forward to your next one! Editor.] Some photographs of a great evening:
Friday, 4th March, 2005 10:30 a.m. Christ Church, Epsom Common : Speaker: Rev. Sue Hall8.00 p.m. Baptist Church, Church Street, Epsom; Speaker: Christine BaileyCHURCHES TOGETHER IN EPSOM – January 24th 2005. This was the occasion of the Annual General Meeting of CTE. But it was more than just a business meeting. As a token that Churches Together in Epsom intend to be even more "hands on" and committed to the local community a short, but impressive service was held in St. Joseph's Church before the main meeting as a recommitment to personal Baptismal vows and pledges. We sang hymns, prayed together, listened to the Gospel and pledged our commitment together. Then we were invited to gather around the font. If we so wished, we could dip a finger in the font and make our own personal sign. The Mayor and Mayoress of Epsom and Ewell were present and took a keen interest in proceedings. Afterwards we gathered for tea and coffee and to meet people we have come to know as friends and colleagues in God's work. Of course these meetings, are always open to all members of the churches of the group. As it was the Annual General meeting, part of the meeting was taken up with formal matters, such as electing officers for the coming year: e.g., Barbara Cairns is retiring as Treasurer after ten years. Some bullet-points are worth mentioning:
Lent House Group arrangements are on their way and forms must be handed in by the end of January. The form of the Good Friday Witness, which had been somewhat altered in 2004, was generally approved, although some people deplored the lack of any message or gospel. What do you think? It is up for discussion. Some interesting items in "Any Other Business" included an announcement by Epsom Methodist Church that they now had two trained Counsellors on their staff, open for consultation by anyone interested, and a Scout/Guide/Brownie/Cub Gangshow "4-7-11" is being planned for The Epsom Playhouse on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th February at 7.30 p.m. and on Saturday, 19th February at 3.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. Tickets are available from the 4-7-11 Box Office on 01737 813554 (Buy 10 tickets – get one free). For further details please telephone the Show Producer, Neil Dallen on 01372 728187 or Monica Chiles, Publicity, on 01372 721974. Membership Classes A series of Membership Classes has been proposed for anybody interested. Plans have now been made, and meetings have been arranged for 2nd, 9th, 16th and 30th March and 6th April; these dates are not set in concrete, and there can be flexibility there if needed. The meetings will be held at the church and in the Longhurst Room whenever possible, from 6-7 pm. Topics to be covered will include:
Hopefully it will be largely discussion-led, with opportunities to ask questions and to exchange opinions. People of all ages are welcome to come. If people wish to become a church member, but are unable to attend the meetings due to difficulties getting out, other arrangements can be made for them. The first gathering, on 2nd March, will begin with a meal. The group will be led by George Smith, Phemie Young and the minister, Pat Hall, with input from other church members from time to time. There is no obligation, upon completion, to become a church member, but we hope that some of you will! The Kindergarten A belated Happy New Year to you all and a big thank you for allowing us to celebrate our Christmas Nativity in your Church. It was fantastic. As you can see by Alan's photographs in the January newsletter, we really had a 'full house'. It was a lovely morning, made especially special with Sheila Carpenter playing the piano for us. After the play we all went into the hall for refreshments.
As Tom Lockett mentioned in his notes, changes at The Kindergarten are being considered. It is true that some changes are in the pipeline but I can assure you that The Kindergarten will certainly be continuing with the same dedicated and lovely staff in the same location and with the same conditions. I am continuing as the owner/supervisor for the time being.If you would like to come for a visit please ring 07729 057617 for a prospectus or more information. "Canal du Midi" Cycle Ride – an update I thought that you would like to know that the amount raised in sponsorship for the Princess Alice Hospice has reached a staggering £4,137. I find it amazing that people have contributed so magnificently to this cause, and I bring my thanks, and those of the Hospice to all those who have helped. I’m sure that you would also be interested to know that David and I have prepared an illustrated talk on our travels. We have whittled the photographs down to about a hundred, and they are at this moment being transferred to CD for ease of viewing and projection (oh yes, all the latest technology – no slides put in upside-down or back-to-front as in my Dad’s day!). Although our first live presentation will not be until 21st March – to Shepperton Rotary – we expect that the talk will last about 45 minutes. We have also prepared a shorter version to finish in half an hour. If any organisations or groups out there would like to see our presentation and also support the Princess Alice Hospice, then please get in touch with me, at alanandval@ntlworld.com or on 020-8397 8307 or mobile 07976-265159.A Very Interesting House One of my hobbies – when I can find the time – is researching my Family Tree. It so happens that my father’s grandparents were from Bethnal Green: one of them, John Wood (b. 1828) was a master bootmaker while the other three, together with other members of their families, were silk weavers. I have therefore been trying to find out about silk weaving, the Bethnal Green/Spitalfields area, Huguenots and other facets of their lives. Some months ago I came across a website www.19princeletstreet.org.uk . 19, Princelet Street, Spitalfields, near Liverpool Street Station, was built in 1719, and became the home of the Ogier family, who had escaped from persecution in France. They entered the silk weaving trade and prospered mightily.
As most Huguenots moved on, the elegant Georgian houses were sub-divided into lodgings and workshops. At 19 Princelet Street, in about 1770, the attic windows were altered to let in more light for weavers to work; later occupants of the house followed other trades and professions, including Mrs Mary Ellen Hawkins who used it as an industrial school, and Isaiah Woodcock who was a carver and gilder. The Irish came, and later the Jewish emigrants from Eastern Europe. One little group of early arrivals, mostly from Poland, formed the Loyal United Friends Friendly Society to help newcomers, just as the Huguenots had pioneered such self-help groups in the late 17th and 18th centuries. They took a lease on 19 Princelet Street. In 1869, in the garden where the Ogier children once played, the Jews erected a synagogue. Underneath the synagogue, they created a place where people came together, and – much later – prepared to fight together, against intolerance and fascism, when they met to plan their defence against Oswald Mosley and his Blackshirts, whom they successfully prevented from marching through their area. 19, Princelet Street, having started as a Huguenot home and then having had a synagogue built in its back garden, is as cosmopolitan as the rest of this part of London; the house is now getting an international reputation as a Centre for Immigration and Diversity. The Spitalfields Centre charity (registered charity 287279) was set up to preserve 19 Princelet Street, and to create there a permanent exhibition and educational resource telling the stories of the many diverse peoples and cultures who created our society. Their work brings people together across cultures and generations, and helps to build the understanding and respect needed to create a truly diverse, fair and equal society.
I was able to visit the house only by having arranged to tag onto a group from an American university on an educational visit to UK. As you will see from the web-site, 19 Princelet Street is in a very poor state of repair. Only some of the rooms are open, and I was unable to get to view the garret rooms. They need some £3m of funding to make the building safe and to restore it the way the charity intends. Susie, our guide for the afternoon, was very eloquent and knowledgeable, and made a very strong case in favour of immigration, not only to the immigrants seeking a place of refuge, but also to the host country, benefiting as it has done from the cross-fertilization of cultures over the centuries, from the Anglo-Saxon and Roman, Norman French, and Huguenots, up to the modern day. If you get the chance to visit, I urge you to do so. It will give you much food for thought. The building is not often open to the public, but it can be visited free every Sunday in May, and during Refugee Week, 19-26 June, from 12-5pm. Their telephone number is 020 7247 5352. Commitment for Life Our own URC-based organisation for Collecting for Christian Aid is repeating the two great calls for giving:
Details of these have been given in the January Newsletter pages 7 to 9. We have received a ‘thank you’ letter from Commitment for Life for the £1310.95 which we had recently donated, presumably collected during the last 12 months from monthly, annual and special collection giving. Happy Anniversary On 4th February, 1945, Gwyneth Evans, aged 14, was received into membership of Epsom Congregational Church by the minister, the Rev. S. John Bates. It was the end of the war and paper was scarce, so I do not even have a certificate to prove it, but Sheila has found the old record book with my name and the date. A few weeks later, Dr. Griffiths asked me if I would return to Junior Church and teach the under-sevens. Sixty years later, I am still here, gladly looking after children, and the church is still my second home. Raymond became a church member at Taunton School and transferred his membership in 1947. So much has changed through the years, and so many wonderful
people have enriched the life here that I look back in gratitude for my long
association. I grew up in the church with my dear parents and sister. I married
here, and my children were baptized here, as was I. (Philippa was the last baby
christened in the old building before the fire.) Evening Church Fellowship The January meeting, at the earlier time of 7.30 p.m., was another Video Evening presented by Gwyneth, featuring Joyce Grenfell and Morecambe and Wise, their brand of humour always being well received. The hilarious evening ended with eats and drinks. For the meeting on 7th February we will be welcoming Carol Church from Mid Surrey ‘Young Carers’, which will be a very different subject for us. Come and join us, and hear what Carol has to say. Women’s Church Council Our first Coffee Morning of the new year was for the Alzheimer’s Society and we were able to forward £100.00. The February Coffee Morning date is Tuesday, 8th, between 10:30 and 12:00, and will be for the Brigitte Trust. A local charity based in Dorking, this is a voluntary organisation offering emotional support and practical help to people with a serious illness who wish to remain at home. Please make a real effort to come and support this much-needed and worthwhile project. District Council met at Epsom on Wednesday, 26th January, a very cold, wintry evening. We were pleased to welcome folks with coffee and refreshments – received with appreciation, particularly the filter coffee! A Weekend Retreat A Bible Study group that meets at the home of Marjorie and Tom Rhind-Tutt has arranged a weekend at the Ladywell Retreat Centre at Godalming, from Friday, 1st to Sunday, 3rd April, 2005. An invitation is extended to any friends at the Epsom and Ewell United Reformed Churches to join them. There will be a number of cars going to Godalming so everyone from the Epsom area should be able to have a lift. The cost of the weekend is £80.00. I have further details and booking forms if anyone is interested. May I emphasise that I must have the booking form and £30 deposit as soon as possible. May we inform our readers that Unity Hall now has its very own Public Entertainment Licence. This means that groups or organisations selling tickets to the general public for events in Unity Hall do not have to go and get their own individual licence, thus saving them considerable trouble and expense. It should make the hall more viable as a venue for fund-raising functions by charities. A Gem from Coventry Cathedral
Around the walls of Coventry's 14th Century Cathedral are set 'hallowing places' that encourage us to take our faith into the world: In INDUSTRY - God be in my hands and in my making From Transworld Radio Network letter for November 2004. 12th Epsom Guide Company Elaine would like you to know that, after working single-handedly for six months, she now has a helper who is going to go into uniform. Amanda Laws is the mother of Bethany, who was in Valerie’s Brownie Guide Pack and has now joined Elaine’s Guide Company, so Amanda has had a link with the movement and Unity Hall for some years. We are pleased for Elaine, who is also District Commissioner, and trust that they will have a long and happy association.
Valerie Wood Two Brownies left over the Christmas period but we now have four new Brownies. At our first meeting after Christmas each Six was asked to produce their own pantomime for everyone to see at the end of the meeting. Although I told the Brownies that that could make up their own story and use whatever characters they liked, we ended up with three versions of Cinderella and a slightly unusual version of Peter Pan.
The Brownies spent two weeks on working for their Brownie Traditions Badge. For the first week they learnt some of the knots that Brownies used to be taught, and in Sixes they demonstrated how Brownies had changed since it first started. For the second week they learnt how the union flag is made up, sang the first verse of the National anthem and made a poster showing what they thought Brownies would be doing in ten years time. On 2nd February we celebrated Chinese New Year a week early. Each Six made a dragon and then the girls completed a Chinese New Year word search, made a Rooster magnet and a Chinese fan.
On Wednesday 26th February, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. the Brownies are inviting everyone to a coffee evening and cake sale to raise funds for the victims of the tsunami. We hope as many people as possible can come and help raise a good total. Some of the proceeds of the magazine that the girls produce have already been sent to this cause. ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý12th Epsom Brownie Guide Pack cordially invites you to a coffee evening and cake sale On Wednesday, 26th February 2005 At Unity Hall From 6 p.m until 7 p.m. To raise funds for the victims of the tsunami ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý CALLING ALL KNITTERS Do you want to knit something, but have nobody to knit for? Many charities are pleased to receive knitted woolly hats for children or adults to put in shoeboxes with other essential items to send to various places in the world. It can get very cold even in Africa at night and woolly hats are very welcome. If you prefer you can knit squares that can be made up into blankets, these are also very welcome. The pattern for the hats and blanket squares is given below. If you do find you have some time to produce either of these items, please give them to me and I shall ensure they get to where they are needed. There is no time limit to this as there is always a need for hats and blankets. Happy knitting! Pattern for Blanket Squares: Using Double Quick Knit wool and size 7 (4¼mm) needles cast on 28sts. Knit until work measures 4 inches. Cast off. N.B. 4" squares would be ideal, but if it doesn’t come out at this exactly, it will still be gratefully used. Pattern for Child’s/Adult’s Woolly Hat: MATERIALS: A 150 g. ball will provide two Adult size hats or three child-size hats. DO NOT USE BLACK OR VERY DARK COLOURS. For either size: A pair each of No. 8 (4mm) and No. 10 (3¼mm) knitting needles. TENSION AND MEASUREMENTS: Worked at a tension of 24 stitches and 29 rows, to measure 10 x 10 cm over the stocking stitch, and 37 stitches and 29 rows to measure10 x 10 cm over the un-stretched rib, using No. 8 (4mm) needles, the hat will measure all round 42.5 cm (16½ inches), for the child’s size, and 49.5 cm (19½ inches) for the adult’s size, and the scarf will measure 86 cm (34 inches) in length for the child’s size and 120.5 cm (47½ inches) in length for the adult’s size, excluding fringe. ABBREVIATIONS: To be read before working: K., knit plain; p., pearl; st., stitch; s.s., stocking st. (k. on the right side and p. on the wrong side); tog., together; increase, by working twice into the same st.; dec., decrease (by working two sts. tog.); single rib is k.1 and p.1 alternately. NOTE: Instructions are given for the child’s size. Where they vary, work figures within brackets for the adult’s size. HAT TO MAKE: With No. 10 (3¼mm) needles cast on 101 (119) sts. and, beginning the odd-numbered rows with k.1 and even-numbered rows with p.1, work 24 rows in single rib, increasing 1 st. at the end of the last of these rows on the first size only – 102 (119) sts. Change to No. 8 (4mm) needles and, beginning with a k. row, s.s.
36 (48) rows. Break yarn leaving a long end. Run end through remaining sts., draw up tightly and join back seam. TO COMPLETE THE HAT: Press with a warm iron over a dry cloth. Make a pom-pom (optional) and attach to top of hat. Fold brim in half to right side. Anchor Boys We started the new term with only four boys, and we do not know if Gerraint has left or if there is some other reason why he has not attended. Our theme for the first week back was Australia and we sang ‘Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport’ and the boys joined up the dots to produce a picture of a kangaroo and then they made a stand-up kangaroo. At our next meeting the boys had a wonderful time making peppermint creams. The next meeting had the theme of monkeys and the boys made finger puppets of monkeys. For the last Monday in January the boys made their own game of ‘Snakes and Ladders’ and then played the game several times. The new programme pack arrived on Friday, 4th February, just as this magazine was being put to bed. Even though it was about six-months late, it does have a fair amount of useful material; unfortunately, it is generally structured for more than four boys! As you know, Junior Church is sponsoring a young girl, Muna, through the Bible Lands Society. This letter has recently been received: "Dear Auntie and friends at Epsom United Reformed Junior Church, Muna wants to thank you from all her heart for the Christmas money gift with which she got a doll in a blue dress, a soft ball and candy. On the 23rd of December we had an annual Christmas party at the school. All the children sat in the big hall singing carols in Arabic and English, then Santa came and gave presents to everyone. The weather has been cold and wet with snow only on the high mountains. Muna is now back at school after the Christmas holidays. She sends you all her love and wishes for a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year. God bless!" (Written on her behalf.)
[On the reverse of the letter, on which she had drawn her picture, Muna had also written ‘Muna Thank You’ but it is too faint to scan. Ed.] Flowers in the Church The flower rota has been on the notice-board since early January and, gratefully, many dates have already been filled. However, some gaps still remain. Fresh volunteers are needed to join the gallant band
of folk who keep the church so colourfully decorated throughout the
year with flowers of remembrance and celebration. Please fill a gap
– soon! News from Postal Subscribers Hilary Edgar (née Warner) writes from Hartley Wintney in Hampshire: "I like to keep in contact with you all at Epsom – although I don’t recognize some of the newer (last 30 years) members, it’s nice to hear news of the oldies!! "This is my third year as Church Warden which has been quite challenging in a very mixed Parish, but encouraging, too. We have a Children’s and Families’ Worker employed full time and the growth in that area is very encouraging." Liz Crocker sends greetings to all. "Hope you are all well. It is good to keep up with news of folk." Christmas Decorations Once again we had our own very special lights for the Carols by Candlelight Service. It is almost unthinkable now to be without them and we thank Neil and Wendy Stuart once again for the hours of toil they put it to making this possible. And this year we had two Christmas Trees! For the one in Church we are grateful to Gwyneth, Alan and Valerie for providing and decorating the tree. Valerie says that she has already purchased new decorations for next year at post-Christmas prices! But the special surprise came when another tree appeared in the Vestibule. This was a present from the children and staff of Friday Zone, who set up and decorated it, and we very much appreciate the gesture of doing something for the Church at Christmas. Christian Question Time The ‘Christian Question Time’, held at Epsom Methodist Church on Thursday, 27th January, was well attended, with many local churches represented. The evening was excellently chaired by rev. David Winwood, minister of Epsom Methodist Church. He had been provided with some thirty or more questions, but time only permitted for six or eight, which were dealt with in depth, and sometimes with considerably differing views. The panel comprised Colin Holmes and Pat Hall, ministers of Epsom Baptist and Epsom United Reformed Churches respectively, together with a representative from the Generation Church, the vicar of Christ Church, Andrew Facey, a Roman Catholic priest from Battersea, and Alan Bradley, minister at Epsom Methodist Church.Among topics discussed were: whether God ever seeks revenge; homo-sexuality within the church, and desecration of the universe through ill-use of the world’s resources. Coffee Mornings in Unity Hall I hope that you were able to get to yesterday’s Coffee Morning; this one was arranged by Friday Zone. The next in this series of Saturday morning Coffee Mornings in Unity Hall will be on 7th May and will be arranged by the leaders of the Afternoon and Evening Church Fellowships. Go on, make a note in your diary now – while you remember! And while I’ve got your attention . . . Coffee on Sunday Mornings Phyllis and Evelyn have taken on the duty of organizing the rota for coffee on Sunday mornings, but they need people to make offers of help. Go and have a word with them, please, and see where they can fit you in. Copy for the next issue of the NewsLetter should be with the Editor by 27th January for publication on 6th March 2005. And Finally . . . Last night I dreamed that I had written 'Lord of the Rings'. This morning I realised that I'd just been Tolkien in my sleep. |
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