Did anybody notice anything about the paper used for last month’s issue? I’ve had no complaints, but the paper used cost about £1 less per ream than that used previously. So it looks like I’ve got away with it – a good job, really, as I have ordered quite a lot of it!

Holidays

We are in the holiday season – at least, many people I know have been away, but that may be to avoid the school holidays! Anyway, your hard-working Editor is going away for a couple of weeks again, sampling the vintages along more canals in France. It’s OK, you can relax – this is not for sponsorship! But I need to inform you about the changes in NewsLetter publication dates. We have just changed to publication on the last Sunday of the month, so the change is minimal this year: I am planning for the September issue to come out on 21^st August instead of 28^th August. And that’s it; the August and October issues will be out as normal (d.v.).

I asked you last month whether you would enjoy seeing more articles and cartoons from The Parish Pump, a web-site supporting church magazine editors with provision of down-loadable material for use in the magazine. Well, the vote was very close, with those in favour outvoting those against by one vote. OK, so I only got one vote, but on the strength of this I have subscribed for a year, and you can see some of the articles in this month’s NewsLetter. It would have been a slim volume without them! Enjoy!!

Dear Friends,

Have you heard about ‘Catch the Vision’? Of course you have! You’ve been reading the Reform magazine, haven’t you? ‘Catch the Vision’ is being considered at General Assembly which meets 2-5 of July.

Part of the Catch the Vision process is to look at the structures of the Church and see whether they still serve its needs. There are proposals to remove one level of government from the church in an effort to cut down on bureaucracy, and Synod boundaries may change.

There is much more to the debate but the hope is that the ‘Catch the Vision’ proposals will open the way "for radical and various ways for the church to work so that we can deploy our resources as the Spirit guides, not shirk difficult decisions about the priority of mission and give opportunity for the use of the gifts of all God’s people." (‘Catch the Vision’ report for General Assembly 2005).

If you want to know more about this, consult your May 2005 Reform magazine, or the Church secretary or me for more information. If you have access to the Internet, you can go to the URC web site.

Did you know that every single day, 30,000 children are dying as a result of extreme poverty? This year, 2005, is being promoted as the year when we finally have the resources, knowledge and opportunity to end this shameful situation. You can read more about the MakePovertyHistory campaign in the June Reform magazine, including 5 steps to help make it happen. ‘If many little people in many little places do many little deeds they can change the face of the earth’. (African proverb, quoted in Reform).

Peace

Pat

Did you have to visit the bathroom when you woke up this morning? Did you stop a few times during today and make yourself a cup of tea or coffee? Did you know that one sixth of the world's population does not enjoy this luxury?

Over one billion people do not have access to safe drinking water and 2.6 billion have nowhere safe and hygienic to go to the toilet.

The charity WaterAid has a vision of a world in which everyone has access to safe water and sanitation facilities. But there is still a lot to do. The daily reality for many in the developing world is that they wake before dawn to embark on a walk to their nearest watering hole, which can sometimes be several miles away, to collect water for their family. Once they reach their destination they often queue for hours with other women and children to collect a bucket of dirty water.

Clean drinking water is essential to life and a basic human right. Without access to safe water and sanitation people in the developing world are caught in a cycle of ill health and poverty. As a consequence a child dies every 15 seconds from easily preventable water-related diseases.

The power of water is far-reaching. Teme Rata lives in Ethiopia and is a mother of six. Her life was dominated by the need for clean water.

"We used to use springs for drinking, for our cattle and for irrigation," explains Teme. "We used to get so sick from the water. There were many, many worms. I always used to fear for my children when they had to drink the water. I was worried it would put their lives at risk."

Three years ago WaterAid and its partner Progynist began working with Teme's community and now they enjoy the benefits of clean water, minimal sickness and a chance to work themselves out of poverty growing and selling vegetables.

It costs WaterAid just £15 to provide somebody like Teme with a lasting supply of safe water, sanitation and hygiene education.

WaterAid are experts in implementing long term, sustainable projects that will benefit communities in Africa and Asia for years to come. It is committed to helping communities work themselves out of poverty. WaterAid is also engaging with international decision-makers to ensure that the voices of the world's poor are listened to and acted upon. WaterAid is part of the 2005 Make Poverty History coalition calling for more and better aid, trade justice and debt relief for developing countries.

Visit: www.wateraid.org

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During the last pastoral vacancy, when the church was left somewhat in limbo, we talked about praying together, believing that a praying church was a vibrant church, and that God would speak to us through prayer. We talked of setting up Prayer Groups, which seemed important for a time, but which now seems to have been forgotten.

But we had agreed that prayer was important and that as members of our congregation we would pray for the welfare of the church. And it is no doubt that God blessed us. In the meantime the Prayer Fellowship was born, as a group of people faithful to our promise to pray for the church and also for the concerns of the world.

That was some two years ago. Now one wonders just where this is. The author of the monthly Prayer Sheet has tried to set out a few suggestions and ideas for prayer, with every attempt to keep it brief and concise. Hopefully we may yet organise a Prayer Group. But meanwhile it would be helpful to have some feedback on the Prayer Sheet. Is it what we want? Do you use it? How else would you like it? I would be most grateful for comments, favourable or unfavourable. So please have a word with me or drop me a line.

At the close of this morning's service we are all invited to take our picnics to Hessle Top, the home of Jock and Evelyn and Phyllis, for the usual mix of comradeship known as Family Day.  Pat will join us for the afternoon.

There will be no evening service at our church, but Pat will be leading worship at 18:30 at Ewell, to which we are invited.

IMPORTANT: Evelyn and Phyllis ask that, if possible, you don't wear shoes with laces at Hessle Top - an unusual request, you may think, but for your own good, as their dog just 'lurves' shoes with laces, and will have the laces out of your shoes before you know it!

St Swithun is apparently the saint to blame for rainy summers. It is said that if it rains on his special day, 15 July, it will then rain for forty days after that.

It all began when he was made Bishop of Winchester in 852 by King Ethelwulf of Wessex. It was an important posting: Winchester was the capital of Wessex, and during the 10 years Swithun was there, Wessex became the most important kingdom of England.

During his life, instead of washing out people's summer holidays, and damping down their spirits, Swithun seems to have done a lot of good. He was famous for his charitable gifts and for his energy in getting churches built. When he was dying in 862, he asked that he be buried in the cemetery of the Old Minster, just outside the west door.

If he has been left there in peace, who knows how many rainy summers the English may have been spared over the last 1000 years. But, no, it was decided to move Swithun. By now, the 960s, Winchester had become the first monastic cathedral chapter in England, and the newly installed monks wanted Swithun in the cathedral with them. So finally, on 15 July 971, his bones were dug up and Swithun was translated into the cathedral.

That same day many people claimed to have had miraculous cures. Certainly everyone got wet, for the heavens opened. The unusually heavy rain that day, and on the days following, was attributed to the power of St Swithun.

Swithun was moved again in 1093, into the new Winchester cathedral. His shrine was a popular place of pilgrimage throughout the middle ages. The shrine was destroyed during the Reformation, and restored in 1962.

There are 58 ancient dedications to Swithun in England.

I’m certain the As to Ks would all like to thank Pat and Peter for their delightful hospitality on Saturday, 18^th June. We were all invited to afternoon tea and were persuaded to eat as many of the delicious scones with jam and cream as we could manage and to drink our fill of our chosen drink. The weather could not have been better as we all sat out in the garden under the shade of the trees. It was a lovely friendly afternoon when the two congregations could get to know each other better. Thank you Pat and Peter for such a wonderful occasion. Ls to Zs in for a great treat on 2^nd July! We wish them equally good weather.

[P.S. Your editor was there with the As to Ks as NewsLetter photographer, and due to his inability to attend on 2^nd July due to a prior engagement; and Valerie was asked to help Pat with the serving of tea and scones to the guests. Well, that’s our story!]

What several of our members have been waiting for! As you may see from the photographs, the new Public Address and Loop System has now been installed in the Longhurst Room.

There are two pairs of loudspeakers, so that the room may be used both in a lengthways mode, as in our evening services, and a crossways style as for our Church Meeting. A radio microphone and floor-standing microphone stand have been provided for the convenience of users.

It is hoped that this system will be of great benefit to our members. This system has been provided for by a bequest from the late Win Cary.

The Amplifier and Control System in its cupboard

Peggy Wilson would be very pleased to hear from people able to help in filling in the gaps on our Flower Rota.  Do you have somebody to remember, or an anniversary to celebrate?  There are many events or occasions that would go better marked with a floral decoration.

If you have no talent for flower arranging, Peggy would be pleased to receive a donation for the purchase of flowers for your special day.

Evening Church Fellowship
Evelyn Beer

We had a very successful AGM with most of the Committee being re-elected, and Gwyneth taking over from Paula in the Chair. We also had plenty of ‘goodies’ to eat.

The outing for our usual Cream Tea will be on Wednesday, 13^th July, to Garsons Garden Centre. We will be meeting at the church at 2p.m., and transport will be available. Please add your names and numbers to the list in the vestibule if you wish to join us.

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Afternoon Fellowship
Daphne Dawe

With the AGM on Thursday, 26^th May, we now have the summer recess before us. Barbara Wood was willing to continue as our President, and David Philip and Daphne Dawe were also willing to continue as Treasurer and Secretary respectively. Following the meeting we had a very nice afternoon tea.

We certainly would welcome any friends able to join us at our meetings. Our next session will begin on Thursday, 29^th September, at 2:30 p.m. in the Longhurst Room. We meet monthly, and have a break during the winter months of January and February.

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Women's Church Council
Daphne Dawe.

A number of our regular members were not able to be at the June Coffee Morning, so the overall amount raised was less than usual. However, it is thanks to the continuing generosity of so many good friends that we are able to support our chosen charities month by month. There are so many deserving of much-needed financial help. The Coffee Morning on Tuesday, 12^th July, will be for The Princess Alice Hospice, and we look forward to your support.

You will be pleased to know that the Spring Event raised £500 and, again, thanks to all.

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Since the last Newsletter there have been three meeting of Anchor Boys. At the first the boys made paper aeroplanes and then tried to throw them the farthest. The second week the boys melted chocolate and made marshmallow cakes.

Last Monday we celebrated three birthdays by having a birthday cake and making paper hats. Two of the boys had a birthday in June and Sally, who comes to help with one of the boys, was celebrating her 21^st birthday on Tuesday.

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The Brownies have tried to do their bit for the environment and on 8^th June we held a re-cycling evening. The girls made totem poles from cardboard kitchen rolls; skittles from used plastic water bottles and moneyboxes from small Pringles boxes. They also spent some time replenishing the troughs.

For Father’s Day they each made their Dad a card, proclaiming him a winner and a plastic coaster with a paper insert with their own design.

Sixteen girls have been awarded their Cook’s badge and now the Brownies are practising hard to gain their Agility badge. We have now purchased a special mat that the girls can use when doing headstands, etc.

This is the rose donated to the church by the Brownies to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the Brownie Guide Association.  It looks good doesn't it?

Friday Zone

Friday Zone has been as busy as ever lately, with some new younger children joining to replace some of our ‘top tier’ who have gradually left during this year. By the time the children reach 13 to 14, they seem to feel that is the right time to leave and move into other activities.  A handful of our original members are still with us, and it is great to see them taking a more active part in helping to run the club themselves.

Our last session was very exciting indeed, as we all enjoyed a visit from ‘Animazing’.  Steve who runs Animazing brought along lots of reptiles for the children to see, hold, touch and learn about.  He told us about their habitats, eating habits, how to look after the animals etc.  These included a hissing cockroach, bullfrog, giant African land snail, a lizard slow-worm, and an amazing python which the children hel d, stroked etc. It was the largest heaviest snake I have ever seen!  The small Egyptian hedgehog definitely won the prize as the cutest!

Our next session features a girly night, with Sarah coming to pamper hands, nails and feet, and Lesley a hairdresser, to beautify our hair.

The following session will be our last before the summer break, and we will probably show a video and the ever popular pizza!

Friday Zone has lost some of its regular adult helpers over this year.  Consequently we are in need of more help, to ensure we have the right child/adult ratio for safety.  The numbers of children have not decreased therefore we would be very grateful for any additional adult help.  Please see any of the Friday Zone committee if you think you might be able to help out, even on the odd occasion.

Copy for the next issue should be with the Editor by 24th July for publication on 26th June 2005.  

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