Judith Ellis has been at the New Cottage Hospital for a couple of weeks. She is due to have her plaster removed early this week. Judith is in good heart, and we all hope for some encouraging news very soon.

Alfred Lampty is back home and regaining strength. We look forward to having him back with us in due time.

The news of Betty Hay is encouraging.

Peggy Eldridge has one or two problems, confining her to her home.

To Dorothy Dobby, Mary Hallifax, Marjorie Thomson, and Lynne and Del: we think of you all and send our love.

We remember all these dear friends in our prayers.

 'Last Post' and 'Reveille' were sounded from the gallery to denote the beginning and end of the Silence on Remembrance Sunday

Dear Friends,

Who would like to have more people in our congregation? Why do you want more people? If you could choose people for this congregation, who would they be?

These questions have been going over in my mind for some time, regarding both the Epsom and Ewell URCs. With this in mind, I have visited over the past month, three other URCs, for their morning worship, to see what they are doing. In talking with colleagues from the URC and from other denominations, we are not alone in our problems with numbers, which may be of some small comfort. However there are URCs that are thriving, and growing, and I wondered what made them thrive. I don’t have all the answers, nor do I want to suggest ideas that are totally out of our context. I have, though, put some thoughts together about what we might do.

One thing that we need to do is to demonstrate that we are able and willing to use the sort of technology that young people know about. I say ‘young people’ loosely, meaning children and adults who regularly use modern ways of communicating. How can we use more computer/DVD technology?

Secondly, we need to find ways of connecting with young people through music. Traditional music is not always the way to do this. To that end, I have purchased some CDs that have modern music accompaniment for mostly newer hymns. Organists, please do not be alarmed! This will not replace you! It would only be for occasional use.

Thirdly, we need to get our advertising right. We need posters that are bright and attention-grabbing and that are attractive to younger people, not just to ourselves. Our notice boards are super, but we do need to rethink what we put on them and how. We need to ask ourselves what our notice boards say about us, and what we would like them to say about us, not just the words we use on them, but the images that are conveyed by them.

Fourthly, I hope that we can continue doing the things we are already doing.

Lastly, I wonder if we really believe that we have something to offer people? Are we convinced that the Gospel really matters to the people of today, to the people of Epsom and Ewell? One of the things I noticed when I went around to a couple of other URC congregations was the conviction, not just on the part of the minister but of the congregation as well, that what they are about really matters. I wonder if we feel disheartened sometimes? That no one really cares about the churches? I wonder if we need to do something about this?

I know the last paragraph started with ‘lastly’, but that doesn’t mean that I am finished! One of my objectives is to make regular visits to children’s groups that meet on the premises of our two churches, and try to build a closer relationship with them. I have always intended to do this, but haven’t quite succeeded.

As regards the other things I have suggested, I can’t do them on my own. We have to do them together. Will you support them? Can we put our money where our mouth is, so to speak, in our mutual desire to involve more people in our Christian fellowship, to be more inclusive of others who may not share the same taste in music or presentation? Hopefully following our meeting with Stephen Thornton on 24 November, we will have some more ideas of ways forward.

Christmas Blessings. 

Pat

My thanks to all those who attended the A.G.M. and good wishes to those who were elected to the Elders, Finance and General Purposes Committee and the Women’s Church Council. It was especially good to elect and welcome Joan Davies to the Women’s Church Council. As you will know Phemie Young, Chris Keates and Barbara Wood did not stand for re-election as Elders this time. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for all the time spent and the work they have done as Elders, it has been much appreciated. At the moment the Elders are seven in number, so this does stretch the duty rota somewhat: don’t be surprised if the non-serving Elders are asked to help out now and again. I hope we shall have more nominations for the next A.G.M. Incidentally if you were not at the meeting and would like a copy of the "Reports from Organisations" there are some spare on the table in the Foyer, they make interesting reading.

Now we begin the run up to Christmas. I know I must be getting older, the time seems to be passing faster each year. You will probably have noticed from last week’s service sheet that there are exciting events taking place in Epsom and Ewell over the next few weeks. I shall not mention them here as I know the Editor will be advertising them, but I hope we shall all be in good heart for Christmas.

I hope you will all be writing your letters to Santa! I wonder just what would you ask for? It seems it would be a never-ending list if we could put all the things in the world to rights. I wonder what Jesus would ask Santa for? Perhaps that we here on earth should stop and listen to what He has to say to us, to visit the Stable and listen to the Christmas message once again.

I hope you all have a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas.

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CHRISTMAS GREETINGS 2005

Had any surprises lately? I have: the totally unexpected blessing of satellite navigation in my new car (I call her Betty) - never again can I arrive late legitimately telling you I was lost! I was also surprised by the delight of a windfall due to an overpaid bill. In quite another realm, Bethan, Jess and I have been overwhelmed by the kindness that has been shown throughout a year when Jess, our daughter, has been far less well than we would have wished; we are deeply grateful to so many of you - thank you.

So, yes, life is full of surprises. Some of them, of course, are grimmer than others as the personal lives of too many of you in 2004 will have testified. In the same way, as we celebrate Christmas we will mark the first anniversary of the tsunami that surprised us all in the most terrifying way imaginable on Boxing Day 2004. Even that horror, though, brought with it the heart-warming surprise of humankind's generous response as money was given for the rebuilding of communities and of devastated lives.

Of course, one might say it's bit sad that we are surprised by human kindness - after alL most of us know _ more nice people than nasty ones, don't we? But for me, the absence of surprise would be more worrying - it would suggest that we have started so to take for granted things like decency, generosity and thoughtfulness that we no longer give them the value they truly have as building blocks of a humane society.

It's not all that different with the incarnation, I think. Here is one of the core events, one of the fundamental doctrines on Christianity: that God is amongst us in the living Lord Jesus Christ, full of grace and truth. Some measure of understanding of that has been part of my life since, at the piano stool, my mother taught me 'Jesus loves me, this I know'. Every Christmas we recall it, celebrate it, contemplate how to respond to it. It's part of the warp and weft of life. Yet still 'the Word made flesh' surprises me. And thanks be to God that it does. For surprise is what stirs wonder, wonder is what affords faith, and faith is what breeds hope. I hope and pray that I will never lose the surprise at the heart of Christian discipleship. It keeps my faith alive, it transforms many a disaster into a moment of opportunity, and it inspires one to remember whose the glory is.

As the United Reformed Church goes through its process of review and re-formation it seems to me that there is a tendency towards tiredness and disappointment. Even pessimism about where it will all get us to. As one of you put it to me, 'the vision is so ordinary'. And so it will be if it is rooted in our ideas, initiatives and energy levels. It's Christmas we need - every day in the church - so that we never lose our surprise, our wonderment that the Word is flesh and dwells amongst us full of the grace we need, full of the truth we crave.

So as Christmas comes round again - be surprised by the God whose we are and whom we serve; by hope for the church, hope for yourself, hope for the world, hope.

Love, Joy and Peace be yours, this Christmas and for 2006.

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On Thursday, 24^th November, a number of people from Epsom and Ewell U.R. churches attended a meeting at Ewell by Stephen Thornton, Minister of Fleet U.R.C.

The subject was ‘Growing Churches’ and it was a most interesting evening. What a pity that the audience couldn’t have been bigger.

In the months ahead I am sure we will have a lot of discussion on the ideas passed to us. Certainly Mr Thornton has had success in increasing the congregations of other churches. Watch this space!

Now that our son John is beginning to feel better, he has asked me to thank you as a chuch at Epsom for your thoughts and prayers during the months his wife Sheila was suffering the effects of cancer.

It was a long painful experience and it has taken him some time to think clearly again after she passed away on 8^th August.

Flowers in memory of Sheila will be placed in the church in December to commemorate her birthday on 18^th December.

As I write, I would like to say how much we appreciate the NewsLetter each month. It helps us keep in touch with all that goes on at church, and we do not feel cut off now that we cannot attend each week. We are so interested in the activities that take place from time to time. Needless to say, we miss the fellowship of the church and our weekly diet of worship.

Christmas means different things to different people.  

This is what Christmas means to me.  Decorations in our homes, and in the shopping centres.  Father Christmas, the light in the children's eyes, the wonder of a Christmas tree, the carol singers, the noise, the bustle, the preparation.

The busy street.  I turn up a path, none too well lighted; I am conscious of the stars shining; the heavy door gives beneath my hand, the quiet comes out to meet me.

I step inside, the aisle is only partly lighted, the candles glow on the altar, there is a peace here.  A few people, some sit quietly with their own thoughts, others kneel in prayer.

I move up the church, and there, in an alcove, is what I have come to see, the Nativity. The animals, the shepherds, a few lambs, Mary, and Joseph, an angel. The manger is empty now, waiting to be filled.

The lights on the Christmas tree by the altar are twinkling and they beckon me.

I move up the church. I sit and wait patiently. Later, there will be a midnight service, the lights in the church will blaze for all to see.  In my heart, I hear the bells, and later, much later, the Christ child will fill the waiting manger.  I close my eyes, and, in the stillness, it is almost Jesus' birthday:

There's only ever been one Golden Morning.
            The earth was blest, and angels sang;
            The birthday of the Lord is Christmas,
            God sent his son to live as man.

  4^th December    Sheila Carpenter

11^th December    Ron Perkins

18^th December    Rebecca Drake

p.m. Malcolm Sanders

25^th December    Charles Senior

  1^st January         Rebecca Drake

  8^th January         Ron Perkins

15^th January         Rebecca Drake  

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On Thursday, 24^th November, a number of people from Epsom and Ewell U.R. churches attended a meeting at Ewell by Stephen Thornton, Minister of Fleet U.R.C.

The subject was ‘Growing Churches’ and it was a most interesting evening. What a pity that the audience couldn’t have been bigger.

In the months ahead I am sure we will have a lot of discussion on the ideas passed to us. Certainly Mr Thornton has had success in increasing the congregations of other churches. Watch this space!

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Letter from Geoffrey Dunstan:

Dear Friends,

Having served the church at Walton-on-the-Hill for the last three years, I'm now returning to join with you in membership at Epsom.  Having said, in the words of an old music-hall ditty, to the Walton congregation, 'Cheerio, chin-chin!  Nahpoo! Toodle-oo! Goodbye-ee!', I shall worship at this church.  So greetings and good wishes to you all.

I hope your Christmas will be more welcoming than what that Romanian family experienced!

A happy Christmas and a good new year!

Here’s the first and most important date for you to put in your nice new 2006 diaries! We are holding yet another Burns Night, with the proceeds again going to The Shooting Star Children’s Hospice

The Shooting Star Children's Hospice in Hampton Hill is a local charity raising funds to maintain and run the much-needed children's hospice, Shooting Star House. Like shooting stars, each life-limited child is unique and shines bright but, like a shooting star, they are gone far too soon.

There is currently only one bed available per 6 children living with a life-limited condition providing specialist hospice care in the whole of the UK and, before Shooting Star House, Children’s Hospice opened, there were none in this area.

The Shooting Star Children's Hospice receives no statutory funding. They rely entirely on voluntary donations and need £2.5 million a year to sustain the care service provision.

Our Burns Night celebration will be held on 28^th January in Unity Hall and will be as near to the traditional format as we can make it. The cost will be £15 per head, bring your own wine, and proceedings will start at 19:00. So to get you up and going again after Christmas – and Hogmanay! – please book the date now.

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New Committees following the A.G.M. (alphabetical order):

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The Monday Club celebrated Hallowe’en by colouring Scooby-Doo pictures of Hallowe’en and making a cardboard Scooby-Doo. The following week the children made spinners that had the effect of putting birds into cages. They made very successful parachutists at the next meeting and last Monday we started to prepare for Christmas and they each made their own advent calendar.

To all Newsletter readers,

A very happy Christmas and peaceful new year

From all at 12^th Epsom brownie Guide Pack

The National Blood Service will be at Unity Hall on Boxing Day from 09:30 to 13:30. If you are able, and need to get rid of the excesses of Christmas Day, give them a visit. Perhaps we can make sure that Unity Hall has some decoration to help bring the Christmas message to our visitors? Any ideas?

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List of Meeting Dates for the House Group 
meeting at the home of Sheila and George Smith. 
They are:-

19^th December.
16^th January 2006
20^th February
20^th March
24^th April

All are welcome! Please let Sheila or George know if you wish to join this Group

Meetings start at 7.30pm.

Decoration at the Church

The ladies of the Women’s Church Council will be decorating the church for Christmas on 17^th December. They would appreciate your gifts of greenery, ivy, fir, and so on with which they can weave their magic and make the church look really special for this special season.

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Don't forget our Lunchtime Carol Singing on Thursday, 8th December, from 13:10 to 13:40.  It is timed to be accessible for local office workers, so bring your lunches and join in with some popular carols, with readings and prayers.  This will be followed by traditional refreshments in the foyer.

Since April I have been running the Kindergarten (the Playgroup that uses the hall). I wanted to say thank you to all of you who have offered me so much support in these early days of my new business.  I have been lucky to meet many of you, I am sure that there are many of you yet to meet.

The playgroup runs Monday to Friday mornings and is going well, I receive so many warm comments about the hall.

I do have a few places left for the new term so, if you are or know someone who may like a place for their child, please give me a call.

Also in the new term I am looking for a new deputy supervisor, so if you have a childcare or teaching qualification and you may be interested in joining the team, please call me.

Please come along to our Nativity play, and join us later for refreshments.

In closing, may I wish everyone at Epsom United Reformed Church a very merry Christmas

Louise Kirby
Email: please contact Louise via Alan Wood

  4th December       TBA

11^th December       TBA

18^th December       Lynne Lewis in memory of Sheila                        

25^th December        TBA                      

The list is available for our flower suppliers and arrangers to book their special dates for next year.

Have you got an anniversary to commemorate, a loved one to remember, or birthday to celebrate around this time? Say it with flowers at the church, and give Peggy a break!

The Friday Art Group meets Fridays from 10:00 – 15:00 in the Longhurst Room. New members are always welcome. For those who like to paint portraits, models are provided. Perhaps you would like to be a model? If you are interested, please get in touch with Yvonne Law, 01737 361826.

Afternoon Fellowship 
Daphne Dawe

What a great afternoon we had at our meeting in November!  It was a pleasure to welcome a number of interested friends.  Alan and his friend David gave us a wonderful account of their sponsored cycle ride down the length of the Canal du Midi, from Toulouse to the Mediterranean coast, illustrated with superb photography.  It was a most informative afternoon and we do thank Alan and David for their presentation.  A collection for the Princess Alice Hospice of £60 demonstrated our appreciation.

Now we look to our meeting on Thursday, 15^th December.  Barbara Wood and Gwyneth Smith are arranging “A Christmas Celebration”, with Charles Senior contributing.  We would welcome any friends able to join us at 2:30 p.m.

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Our November programme, "A Visit to Iceland", was extremely interesting and showed that the weather there is so different from our own. We thank Phyl for such an unusual programme.

On 5^th December we are having a Video Evening with "The Snowman", with Christmas Eats afterwards,

The Epsom Methodists have invited us to their annual Carol Service on Monday, 12^th December. It starts at 7:45 p.m., and there are refreshments to follow. Transport will be available if needed; please contact me.

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Mike Westbrook has devised another of his quizzes. See Mike if you would like to enter. The Quiz Sheets are available from him, cost £1.00

Ewell URC is again holding its Advent Workshop. This year it is on Saturday 17th December, 10.30 a.m. – 2.30 p.m., and will be followed by a Christingle Service at 2.30 p.m. Booking forms available from Viv Baker on 020 8644 2133. Viv says that she is rather short of helpers, so if you (adults and young people over the age of 12) are able to lend a hand, give her a call.

Then Ewell are holding their ‘Carols by Candlelight’ on Wednesday, 14th December, at 7.30 p.m. Anybody and everybody are invited to join them.

You are then invited to greet Christmas Day in a Midnight Communion, Saturday, 24th December at 11.30 p.m.

They send Christmas Greetings to all at Epsom.

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The November Coffee morning for S.S.A.F.A. was the usual meeting of regular friends spending a social hour together in fellowship, which enabled us to send £100 to aid needy serving and ex-service personnel of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

The December Coffee Morning is on Tuesday, 13^th, from 10:30 until 12:00. We always choose a charity for children and young people at Christmas, and this year we will be supporting Tadworth Court. We look forward to your company.

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Copy for the next issue should be with the Editor by 27th December for publication on 1st January 2006.  

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