I hope you have all remembered to come to the presentation by George on Nigel Uden’s "Catch the Vision of God’s Tomorrow". This will take some time to digest and to make the right decisions. If anybody would like a repeat showing of the slides, please ask me and we’ll try and arrange something.

It was good to hear from Fran Board recently, and I am pleased to put her appeal for sponsorship in this Newsletter – see page 16. We remember the family well, especially Andrea’s musical direction and piano-playing for the production of "Joseph and His Amazing Techni-coloured Dream-coat" – and, yes, it was seven years ago!

Once again I am indebted to Valerie for all her pieces of writing about so much that has happened recently. Wouldn’t the rest of you like to have a go? Events worthy of report in the next issue include the CRE at Esher, the Coffee Morning, the ‘Spring Event’, the Church Meeting, etc. Or try answering Pat’s questions on page 3 – now, there’s a challenge!

Also please heed the appeal on page 12 for somebody to help out with playing the organ on Sunday mornings. Sheila and Charles do a grand job, but we don’t want to wear them out!

Two umbrellas were left behind at the church, possibly after a Memorial Service, of which we have recently had two.

These are both folding umbrellas, one being a dark red or maroon, the other being black with an oval-section handle with a chrome finish.

If anybody knows who used to have an umbrella as described, please contact me.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I still have an elderly adult-sized Hercules bicycle with 26" wheels, 3-speed Sturmey-Archer gear, lights, bell and a carrier frame over the rear wheel.

This is in good condition and is offered to anyone who can use it. If its new owner cares to make a donation, this would be given to a charity that the church is currently supporting.  Contact me at Alan Wood

Evelyn Beer is in Epsom Hospital, recovering after surgery on both knees. We wish her well, and hope that she will make good progress. Our love and warmest thoughts are with her.

Mary Hallifax continues to need our prayers. Mary’s body is so weak, yet her knowledge and understanding of all that goes on is quite remarkable.

It was good to see Marjorie and Ann a few Sundays ago.

Sonia Bentzon is back home, but needs considerable support.

Peggy Smith has moved to her new home in Purley. She seems very pleased with the amenities and the welcome, and we hope she will settle very happily. We shall be delighted to see her on Sundays whenever possible, thanks to Sheila and George.

Sheila’s and George’s son, Simon, with daughter-in-law Sara and their children Abbie and Joel will be leaving these shores for sunnier climes in a few week’s time. They are moving to Perth, Western Australia, where Simon will be working with the Australian Police Force.

Peggy and Joe Wilson will be flying to Rome soon, where their daughter Mary lives with her husband and two children. Mary is being ordained into the Anglican Church. We send our congratulations and look forward to hearing from Peggy and Joe all about the ordination.

And congratulations to Peggy Wilson when she joins the Octogenarians Club in a couple of days’ time!

Our best wishes go to Marion, wife of Ron Perkins, as she faces treatment for cancer.

Len Masters, our caretaker, has been ill recently, and we wish him a speedy return to health.

Pat and Peter Bristol, who moved away many years ago, now live happily in a retirement home near Canterbury. Recently Pat celebrated her 90^th birthday, Peter having notched up his 90^th a year or so ago. They both send greetings to all friends who remember them.

Receiving Palm Sunday Crosses from Tom Rhind-Tutt

The Kindergarten Coffee Morning

The area designated for the Creche, awaiting 
underlay and carpet

St. Mary in the Marsh. I happened to notice the name on a map as Peter and I were driving down to Rye for a short holiday recently. It is a village deep in the heart of Romney Marsh. I liked the name of the village, and I have always liked the sound of the name of the marsh, so we decided to pay it a visit.

The church there was built by the Normans in 1133, replacing the wooden Saxon church on the same site. And before the Saxons, the site was a burial ground for Celts. I felt strangely humbled by the church, now in some disrepair, but still standing and still in use. The spot has been a Christian and pre-Christian religious site for well over a thousand years.

Spirituality in some form will outlast my lifetime and yours. God is bigger than what we do or don’t do, and I find that rather comforting. But the other thing that I thought about is that religion changes. Christianity hasn’t always been as it is now. Spirituality can change and take different forms. On our way back we saw Battle Abbey, which was destroyed by Henry the Eighth. Now that changed the Church! It would have changed the church at St. Mary in the Marsh too, from Roman Catholic to what we call the Church of England.

Sometimes it can be helpful to take a longer view of things. Christianity has been threatened many times in the past, and sometimes that threat has made the Church, painfully and metaphorically, pull up its socks. Although our experience today as a church feels particular to us, it really isn’t, is it?  Is there something to be learned from all this?   

Peace, Pat

(top)

The year 2005 was an historic one for all who yearn to see a world freed from poverty. The ‘Make Poverty History’ campaign must be followed by other equally far-reaching efforts, for example, supporting all our own fundraising efforts such as the St. George’s Eve Barn Dance, and keeping up your annual or monthly contributions to Commitment for Life.

Company Law Reform Bill. Fairtrade is not the complete answer; we also need to see the bigger picture. One way you can do this is to get the amendments to the Company Law Reform Bill through our Parliament. Members of the Trade Justice Movement (TJM) are calling on MPs to back these amendments so that:

(a) Companies are legally obliged to report on their social and environmental aspects;

(b) Company directors are legally obliged to minimise any damage their company does to local communities and the environment;

(c) People overseas harmed by the activities of a UK company are able to take action against it in a UK court’.

If you could all sign postcards, that would be great. Copies of the ‘Take Action’ postcards can be obtained from: TJM, on 020 7404 0530, or Christian Aid, on 020 7523 2248. A supply of these ‘Take Action’ postcards will be available soon in the foyer.

Jubilee Debt Campaign. We are continuing to support this and supply postcards for you to send to your MP from their “Cut the Strings Campaign”. Postcards are available by telephone to:

020 7324 4722 or from info@jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk.

SPONSORED RUN. Many of the Staff at URC CHURCH HOUSE have offered to run for Commitment For Life in the London 10K Run on July 2nd. It would be very encouraging to know that they have the support of the church: sponsor forms are available in the Foyer.

(top)

I have a favour to ask: in June 2007 I’m going on an expedition to India for which I have to raise £3,000. There’s a group of 22 of us going. The trip is for a month, and we are going to trek up the Himalayas. The rest of the expedition will be taken up working in a poor community within Rajesthan where we will be rebuilding and refurbishing a school.

I am raising the majority of my funds through a Saturday job and a cleaning job, but in a few weeks I’m doing a sponsored 15km run in Cheshire to raise more money. I have sent a sponsor form and wondered if you would kindly pass it around at church and collect some sponsors?

Thank you very much,

Fran

The sponsor form is on the table in the foyer.  If anybody would like to help Fran in her quest, please sign on the dotted line  or email Alan Wood!  Valerie and I will be round later to collect your donations.

(top)

On Easter morning nearly thirty people gathered together in Unity Hall for their breakfast. With a choice of a full cooked breakfast or continental style everyone enjoyed the early morning companionship before the Easter service. The breakfast was being held for Christian Aid, and £41 was raised for this.

(top)

(top)

(top)

(top)

At our one meeting since the Easter break we celebrated St. George’s Day by making England flags and colouring pictures of St. George and the dragon.

As we have the help of two girls who are taking their Duke of Edinburgh Award, we have decided to have a special get-together to plan future meetings of the Monday Club so that the girls can have more of an input.

As our first meeting after Easter was on 19^th April, which just happened to be Humorous Day, we asked the Brownies to bring in some jokes and funny poems to share with us all. Many of the Brownies did this and made for a very jovial start to our meeting. The girls then each made a greetings card with a cat jumping out.

The Brownies are now preparing to take their Season’s badge and they started this week by having several relays to collect pieces of seasonal puzzles and putting them together and then in their Sixes they acted out some Spring festivals.

(top)

  (top)

Peggy Smith has moved and is now residing at:

Copy for the next issue should be with the Editor by 21st May for publication on 28th May 2006.  

(top)