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Epsom United Reformed ChurchNewsletter for March 2005 |
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Alan Wood I’m looking out of my window, and thinking of Shelley’s line in his ‘Ode to the West Wind’: If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind? It would appear, in this case, that the answer is a resounding YES! However, reading the poem, there is another optimistic section that again gives us hope: O thou,Who chariotest to their dark wintry bed The winged seeds, where they lie cold and low, Each like a corpse within its grave, until Thine azure sister of the Spring shall blow Her clarion o'er the dreaming earth, and fill (Driving sweet buds like flocks to feed in air) With living hues and odours plain and hill. With this in mind let’s look forward to the Spring Event! Also bear in mind the Easter Monday Walk that’s being planned. I know Easter is early this year, but come and join us and make a good crowd. Church news is very sparse this month; without the Brownies’ activities the magazine would be thin indeed. Surely more of you must have something worth saying! Come on, surprise me. Although Gwyneth is making good progress and is looking much improved, she still has some way to go to a complete recovery. Lynne and Del are both back home together and, with help from Social Services, we sincerely hope that their convalescence will continue as the days progress. It has been good to have Top Vaughan back with us – may her improvement continue. Sheila Carpenter’s son-in-law, Malcolm, has been home for some time now and we hope he is making progress to a complete recovery. We think of Marjorie Thomson and Mary Hallifax, and look forward to warmer weather to give the opportunity of getting out more. Our love goes to all these friends and, indeed, to any of the church family experiencing health concerns or are anxious in any way. God bless you all. Musings from the Minister 
Dear Friends; Last week, I attended one of the Churches Together in Ewell Lent talks, which was held at the Ewell URC. The speaker for the evening was Rev. Barry Preece, who talked about contemplative spirituality. He was a most engaging speaker, using PowerPoint to illustrate his talk. What a great piece of technology PowerPoint is! It is interesting to see such things as contemplative spirituality side by side with modern inventions. We heard about contemplative spirituality from several different religious traditions, and then about some of the English contemplatives such as Julian of Norwich. I had only a vague idea of what this kind of spirituality was, and left feeling as though I would like to find out more. I guess you could call it non-verbal prayer. In groups, we were asked if there were opportunities for reflective time with God in our churches. It seems as though we are a pretty talky lot generally! If there is quiet, we almost feel duty-bound to fill it with words. If there is some interest, we could invite Barry Preece to teach us more about contemplative spirituality. Any takers? Have you heard about MakePovertyHistory? It is being widely supported by churches and groups throughout the country. Is this something we need to be involved with? It offers us particular opportunities to influence the people who can make it happen. Peace Pat Secretary’s
Letter I do hope you are recovering from the nasty "infections and bugs" that have been doing the rounds lately. Perhaps the cold winds and snow will kill them off! We still have the remains of a large snowman, built with help from our granddaughter in our garden, though he is diminishing by the hour. I am always amazed by nature, through all the cold and snow the snowdrops and daffodils still continue to grow and hold their heads up to any sun they can find. God’s creation is certainly a wonderful thing. Did you remember that it is four years on 31st March that we had great celebrations to commemorate the opening of Unity Hall? What a success that has been, everybody that uses it says it has a good atmosphere. It is a good outreach to the community, and certainly reflects its very appropriate name. Talking of names, please think very carefully for a name for our choice. There is more information in the Newsletter about the procedure. Unity was a very wise choice for the hall, perhaps we can come up with an equally inspiring name for our Church. It is in your hands. Our new membership classes are beginning this week with a simple meal in the Longhurst Room. Please think and pray for all those involved, for those attending the classes and for Pat, Phemie and George who are giving guidance. Easter is not far away, being very early this year. Details of all the Services for the Epsom Churches will be published in the local paper the week before Easter. The details of our Services are at the end of this Newsletter. I hope you all have a peaceful and joyful Easter.
NEWS FROM EWELL. There will be a Fellowship Lunch at Ewell on Sunday 20th March at 12.30p.m. There will be a list on the notice board next week. These lunches are always excellent, so please make every effort to come; you will certainly enjoy it! Easter Monday Walk On the basis that we are currently getting rid of all the cold weather for this winter, the weather for Easter Monday, 28th March, will be splendid! Therefore we are again planning a circular walk round our locality. The venue this time is Ashtead Common, but we'll be starting and finishing in Epsom Common. The plan is to meet at the Stew Ponds Car Park on Rushett Lane, 0.7 miles east of the Malden Rushett cross roads, ready to move off around 11:30 The we go south along the eastern boundary of Newton Wood, and over the railway in Lower Ashtead to 'The Woodman' for lunch. After feet have been rested, thirsts slaked and stomachs comforted, we go north again and visit the earthworks and the site of the Roman Villa, Tile Factory and Bath House. Then via the clay pits and back to the car park. The walk will be about 5 miles, and we should be back at our cars by about 15:00/15:30. Please share cars where possible: the common is a popular area and the car park is not huge! Come equipped for the weather, and you will probably need boots, as it's a bit muddy in places. You may need a bottle of water and nibbles for the walk. If you have any queries please contact me, Alan Wood. St. George's Day Celebration - Saturday, 23rd April A Celebration is being planned, with 'bangers and mash and entertainment. Theevent, in Unity Hall, will be in aid of Christian Aid. Plans are very sketchy at the moment, so for now, book the date and watch this space. If you can offer a suitable item for the Entertainment, please let our Secretary, Mrs. Sheila Smith, know all about it. REMINDER TO ALL KNITTERS So far I have had a disappointing response to my call for people who are willing and able to knit squares and hats for charity. This is a very worthy cause and everything will be accepted gratefully. For the blanket squares I omitted to say that they should all be knitted in garter stitch. I look forward to receiving lots of beautiful squares very soon and possibly a few hats. If you missed it, the pattern is in the Newsletter of February 2005. Evening Church Fellowship We had a very interesting visit on 7th February from Carol and Peter of ‘The Young Carers’ Project’, and we were surprised at the number of activities arranged for the members by the organisation. These include Swimming and Bowling, and indoor play for assorted age-groups, especially during Bank Holidays and school Half-Terms. The Beetle Drive, which now appears by popular demand to be an annual event, will be on 7th March. : Rags - to Riches – to Rags! Phyl Cary At midnight on December 31at 2004 the World Trade Organisation scrapped the main quota system that governed the global clothing and textile trade – the Multi-Fibre Agreement – ending 30 years of protection for one of the developing world's most vulnerable industries. Across the world as many as 27 million people might be thrown out of work, but Bangladesh is likely to be one country most affected, because they have so few alternative resources. Sales of garments and textiles to the US and EU accounted for 84% of all the country's exports in 2000, contributing 80% of its hard currency earnings. The UN predicts that 1 - 1.5 million people will lose their jobs in the garment trade and other related industries. Already the effects are being felt. 25-year-old Farida used to work as a machine operator making trousers and shirts, earning £22 a month. But because there are so few orders for the factory she has lost her job and now her husband has demanded a dowry payment that she could never afford. She has managed to find work in a factory sorting scraps of cloth for colour, but earning only £10 a month - not enough to live on. The garment industry had given thousands of women the chance to work, but also levels of self-reliance and confidence, as well as a way of clawing their way out of extreme poverty and domination by the male population. Salma Ali, the executive director of the Bangladesh National Women's Lawyers Association told Christian Aid, "I am very worried. These women will have very few choices. They are used to city life and don't want to go back to the villages where there is no electricity or running water. Many of them are single.... some will be able to migrate and get a better job, others will be the victims of trafficking" So much for all the hard work which has been put into trying to raise the prospects for life for Bangladeshi women, traditionally tied to the home and dominating males. Afternoon Fellowship We meet again on Thursday 31st March at 2:30 p.m. in the Longhurst Room, after our winter break. Mrs Betty Hurley will entertain us again with some more ‘Musical Moments’. Anyone wishing to be with us will be most welcome. Women's Church Council Our February charity, The Brigitte trust, benefitted to the sum of £100. On 8th March our next Coffee Morning with Bring-and-Buy Sale will be for the Rainbow Trust. Do come, between 10:30 and 12:00, and support this excellent charity that does so much for patients and their families coping with terminal illness and life-threatening conditions in children. Do You Remember The Church With No
Name?
Read Sheila's letter, and put you suggestion in the box in the foyer. The new name is due to be chosen at the next Church Meeting on 16th March. Anchor Boys The programme pack has finally arrived and we hope to put in place the new structure for badges as soon as possible. We continued at the beginning of February with just four boys, learning that Gerraint had been finding it too tiring by the end of the week so he wasn’t coming any longer. The week before half term the boys cut out paper doilies and decorated biscuits for themselves. After half term we were very pleased to welcome a new member, Jayan Gunasekera, who has just had his fifth birthday. He was the third king in the Junior Church musical at Christmas, and has a sister, Nekmee who was also in the musical and has just left Brownies. The boys each made a Mother’s Day card and a coaster for his mother, and then they each made a cardboard rocket for themselves. During 2004 a year of prayer has taken place across East and West Sussex. Now with the full support of the church leaders in Surrey we are looking to "Pick up the Baton" of prayer from Sussex and hold a year of prayer across Surrey. The main emphasis of "Picking up the Baton" will be amongst Churches Together Groups, encouraging them to take up the challenge of praying for their communities using the 24/7 prayer model (covering a whole week in prayer). This may sound rather daunting but help and guidance will be available and if a whole week is not covered totally in prayer it will not be viewed as a failure, we would just encourage you to get as much cover as possible. In Sussex many Churches Together groups have been pleasantly surprised at the interest and support they have received from churches, as well as individual members, and are now beginning to see positive changes taking place in their communities. The main launch event for "Picking up the Baton" will take place at Guildford Cathedral on Saturday 19 th March 2005, with an evening celebration and prayer event led by Dave Bilborough at Christ Church, Woking. On the Friday 18th March we are looking to put on an event specifically for the young people across the county.If your Churches Together Group would like to offer a week, at this early stage, that would be most helpful. We are looking for groups to especially fill those first few week immediately after the launch. If you would like someone to come and speak to your Churches Together Group about "Picking up the Baton", please contact Linda Ashford on 01784 462396 (email: DEME@insideoutchurch.com) who will be able to help you.'Catch the Vision' - Update I write to you as a member of a church in the Wimbledon District, as an elder but also as a member of David Cornick's Catch the Vision Steering Group. What's happening? - read on. I do hope that you were fully involved in the discussions around the proposed vision statement last year and are aware that Assembly endorsed the vision prayer. Each and every church in the URC has been sent prayer cards and we are hoping that you will use them. More copies are available from Church House for the cost of postage. Since the last Assembly there has been a lot of work by the various groups set up by the Steering Group. Many people have been involved and it's good that things are coming together. Where we are in the process: · The group set up to look at our structures have almost completed their work after consultation with the Moderators;· The Steering Group has met with the Ecumenical, Training and Ministries Committees and are considering how their work is taken forward in the light of CtV (this includes Equipping the Saints);· The finance group has concluded the financial review and the results are being assessed;· Community regeneration is continuing to be discussed;· The Steering Group has just met with the Moderators and there will be further discussion at the Mission Council in March.The next General Assembly is an important milestone in the Catch the Vision journey. We will be presenting a report and we anticipate that the contents will be along the lines of: Towards new ways of being church Towards deeper engagement in mission Towards a new spirituality for the 21st century Towards a more rigorous, slimmer organisation Towards renewed ecumenical commitment We will not be presenting the blueprint of how everything should be done - we are not the URC's magic wand. We do want to challenge and, hopefully, achieve alignment on the key issues. There will be more to do after Assembly. We are anxious that any debates are not dominated by discussion on structures and finance but more about what we wish to be always in the context of reality. Please use the prayer cards and continue to pray for our church and the work of all the CtV activities. There are no simple answers to complex issues but we are well on the way to mapping the way ahead. With best wishes Linda Austin Are the Ten Commandments still relevant? A new programme asked the public and celebrities what their moral code would be today, Here are the original ten: Thou shalt have no other gods before me. These are the twenty commandments voted for by the British public, in no particular order: Appreciate what you have. Do you agree with these? What would yours be? Have you made a note of this yet?
Church Street, Epsom Saturday, 21st May 10:30 am
PLANTS, PRESERVES,BOOKS, GOOD-AS-NEW GREETINGS CARDS COSTUME JEWELLERY P LOUGHMAN’S LUNCHESAdmission £1.00
United Reformed Church 12th Epsom Brownie Guide Pack Although we have had half term, the Brownies have been very busy for the last few weeks. With Easter being so early this year, we had to celebrate Shrove Tuesday (on Ash Wednesday) and make Valentine’s Day cards on the same evening. Eighteen Brownies have now earned the Brownie Traditions badge so well done to them. I received a telephone call after the Brownie Meeting before half term to inform me that the snowdrops were ready for picking at ‘The Durdans’. I knew I could not wait until after half term to take the Brownies as the snowdrop season is very short, so I rang several of the Brownies who had said they would like to pick snowdrops and arranged to go on the morning of Saturday, 19th February. So four of us, Rebecca and Miranda Roberts, Tawny and I went to pick snowdrops and there were plenty for the congregation on Sunday. The money raised from them goes to the ‘Lest We Forget Association’, and we thank all members of the congregation who made a donation.
I should also like to thank the members of the congregation and families of the Brownies for their support for our coffee evening and cake sale. This was a very lively occasion on a not particularly nice evening for venturing out. We are very pleased to announce that we raised the magnificent total of £73.61p. for the victims of the tsunami.
At half term two of our Brownies moved on to Guides and another left us having reached the age of ten. We wish all of them very well in the future. We have already had three new recruits to replace them so our numbers remain the same. Last Saturday was the District ‘Book Bonanza’, a fun day for Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. A Young Leader, Hania, Anne Richardson and I were involved in the arrangements for this event based on the fact that it was close to the International Book Week. Only three of our Brownies went, but they all enjoyed it very much.
We were very pleased to welcome the Mayor of Epsom and Ewell, Cllr. Brian Angus, to open the event. He read ‘Cinderella’ from Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes, ‘What to do with a Wet Afternoon’ by John Rice and ‘The Wolf Poem’ by Catherine Storr. He stayed with us for most of the afternoon and joined in with some of the activities. Fairtrade Fortnight—1st -13th March Our choice could tip the balance in favour of the poor."The sugar jar is empty. Can I really make a difference by choosing this bag or that from the supermarket shelf? Lord, guide my hands." Our choice could tip the balance in favour of the poor. Our choice could tip the balance in favour of the poor. Our choice could tip the balance in favour of the poor. "I keep trying new varieties of tea - a range of Fairtrade teas - each one so refreshingly different. I feel good about buying Fairtrade, especially when I read the story on the pack." Our choice could tip the balance in favour of the poor. Dear Lord, you have paid the full price, and your whole life was about sharing and loving and putting yourself out for those who were vulnerable. Help me in my security to recognise the difference that I can make in simply putting you first on my shopping list and seeing what happens. Copy for the next issue of the NewsLetter should be with the Editor by 27th March for publication on 3rd April 2005. And Finally . . . "Dear Milkman . . . "I have just had a baby. Please leave another one." |
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