Were you at the Presentation on 30^th April? Have you taken a copy of the hand-out produced to assist your reflection on the points raised? Were you at the Church Meeting last Wednesday when the matter was open for discussion?

Sheila Smith says that she ‘was very disappointed at the attendance at the Church Meeting and also at the discussion on the “Catch the Vision” presentation. Perhaps in hindsight it was not the right time or setting to prompt discussion.’

I know that a lot of people have been talking since the Wednesday meeting, and are very concerned with some of the points made. I don’t want to air these in a public journal while things are still ‘sub judice’, but it seems to me that people have now been stimulated to give more thought to the future and where the U.R.C. and in particular, Epsom U.R.C. are going,

Perhaps, as Sheila says, the formal Church Meeting, with a top table and serried rows of chairs, is not the right venue. Maybe what is needed is an informal, non-judgmental meeting, with people chatting in groups, and this ambience may generate some ideas. Some ideas were put forward on Wednesday, but did not appear to generate a response to give encouragement to the proposer.  Pity.

Well, it’s up to you. Why not get together with a few friends over a cuppa and thrash a few points out? Unfortunately, due to various holidays, time is against us, and Sheila says that the report has to be in with Nigel by 30^th June – but this is not a matter that can be rushed. If you look at the diary, you will realise that most groups close this month, so there’s plenty of opportunity for small groups to get a few ideas in to Sheila.  What about at Family Day?

I still have Tom Lockett’s words ringing in my ears . . .

The more observant of you will realise that the platforms and steps have been removed from the front of the church, as it is thought that the steps, having unequal risers and short goings, have contributed to the number of falls that have occurred since December when the platforms were positioned. The handrails are more accessible to where they are needed.  I just hope that this makes falls much less likely as, at least, the platforms were carpeted and gave a softer landing than the unyielding stone of the steps and raised area. Please, everybody, take care.

Evelyn Beer is making excellent progress and is managing so well with her walking, and Jock has had a cataract operation. We wish them both well and remember Phyllis as she oversees their recovery and the running of the home.

Gwyneth has adapted so well to her extensive plaster, having broken a bone in her foot. We feel for you, Gwyneth, but take heart – you’re half way through the six weeks!

We - and Gwyneth - were pleased to see Nicholas and family recently

Lynne is troubled with arthritis in her neck, causing pain and discomfort, but she manages to maintain a cheerful welcoming note for all.

Pat has been discharged following her cataract operation, and this is very satisfying. Shortly she shall be returning to Canada for two weeks to visit her parents. We wish you safe travelling and a happy reunion.

Marjorie and Ann, Dorothy and Frank, and Judith and Clare were all with us for our ‘Spring Event’. [Perhaps we should have had a Wheelchair Race round Unity Hall! Ed.]

We hear that Peggy Smith has settled down well in her new abode. And it’s all change for the Smith family as they bid farewell to Simon and family as they fly off to Australia. Let’s hope the dust settles soon!

Our good friend and member, Alfred Lampty has returned to Accra for a visit to his family for several weeks. We will miss him very much and be glad to welcome him back to his special place at the front of the church. Sheila Carpenter says: ‘When I am at the organ I can see him out of the corner of my eye and his presence there is of tremendous encouragement and support to me.’

We have heard that Len Masters has been given the All Clear. However, we understand that he will not be returning to the regular cleaning jobs but will just be continuing with the DIY-type jobs that arise around the church.

Doris Swan and Paula Philip are both under the weather, and we trust that they will be better soon.

‘We believe in life before death’ has been a slogan used by Christian Aid for several years. What does it say to you? To me, it suggests a focus on the availability and quality of life before we die, particularly for the poorest people of the earth.

I was reading in the paper the other day that once we have enough money to meet our living expenses, the thing that can make us happier is not more money, but better relationships. Money can buy only so much, the rest of it is down to us and what we choose to do with our lives.

What are the things that make you happy in life? It is easy to just keep on doing the same things over and over, get a routine and stick to it, keep busy. What do Jesus’ words about ‘life in all its fulness’ mean to you? I think that it means more than just being satisfied or content or busy. It shouldn’t mean that we simply try to do more things. Maybe it means changing the things we do or the way we do them. ‘Life before death’ should be a concern for us all.

Peace, Pat

Fifty days on from Easter Sunday the Church celebrates Pentecost. It marks the coming of the Holy Spirit on the disciples and believers who were gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem. The event is recorded in Acts 2 and it tells of the Spirit coming with dramatic signs; a sound like a rushing wind, the appearance of flames of fire and the ability given to the apostles to preach the Good News in languages they had not learned.

When Jesus had earlier spoken to his disciples about the coming of the Spirit, he emphasised spiritual power. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you” (Acts 1:8). And that promise was marvellously fulfilled. When the Spirit came on that Pentecost morning, the apostles began to witness boldly. They preached salvation in the name of the risen and ascended Lord Jesus (Acts 2:37-42). On that day some three thousand men and women believed in Jesus as Lord and Messiah and were baptised (v.41).

Later it is recorded that the apostles gave testimony to Christ’s resurrection ‘with great power’ (Acts 4:33). All through the book of Acts we see the Christian church preaching and witnessing, suffering and serving with great spiritual power. Even their enemies spoke of them as ‘turning the world upside down’ (Acts 17:6).

At this Pentecost season we need to recapture the power of the Spirit. Perhaps our lack of power is because something has gone wrong with our spiritual connections. Maybe we are not ‘linked up’ to the Spirit as those early Christians were. I recall an event of many years ago that illustrates the importance of being ‘linked up.’ I had returned home from college during the summer holidays to the farm in Northern Ireland where I had grown up. Some months earlier electrical power had come to that part of the country for the first time.

One evening in late August, I visited one of our neighbours. His farm lay next to ours and I was talking with him in one of his fields. Across his farm and ours there had been installed a line of wooden poles. These poles supported the electric cables. We were standing near one of these poles and it carried a notice stamped into an aluminium plate. It warned that some 33,000 volts of electric power were running through the wires. As we stood there that summer evening, we could hear the current humming in the wires. An hour later I was in my neighbour’s home – and it was lit with oil lamps! He had 33,000 volts of electric power passing over his farm but he had none in his house. He was not ‘linked up’ to the supply.

Often in the church we are like that. We have the services, the programmes, the plans, the personnel – but not the power of the Spirit that convicts sinners and brings them to faith in Jesus. There is little danger that we will turn even the parish upside down, much less the world!  This Pentecost celebration is a time to get ‘linked up’ to the Holy Spirit.

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Let's Look at the Birdie!  
Geoffrey Dunstan

Religious institutions often treat the Holy Spirit like a budgie. They coo at him and want him to fly out of his cage -for a minute or two. But this bird doesn't move. Rather he seems to eye them distantly and beadily. I don't think the Spirit is like a budgie – or even a dove, as he's usually depicted. He's a strange bird indeed, and much wilier than we think. He's, in fact, much like the Almighty, elusive and hidden.

When this bird flies away, how on earth do we get him back into our lives? For this bird means freedom and liberty. Getting the Spirit back into our lives is like catching a rare creature in our gardens.

We mustn't cage him, because caging livestock is nasty, and in this case quite useless. But be prepared, because the Spirit can lead us into some peculiar places, like those in prison, the homeless and the sick. The Spirit's done it all before.

We can, of course, put out our little titbits and nice prayers that we've cooked up for him. But you never know whether he's going to accept them or not. It's said, 'The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.' Too true, so blow us and end all our bribing!

There's only one way to get him that I know of, and that's to trap him. This is how we do it. Let's pretend to be like him and imitate his ways. Don't be ethical, let's be good instead! Do foolish and generous things for people. Don't let's hit them, but let us treat them gently as if we had the wings of a dove.

If we're kind and caring, birdie gets interested and confused. He thinks that we aren't the clumsy things we seem to be, but instead free birds, like himself. If we want to have the Spirit, let's be like the Spirit, and pray that we are so like him that no one, not even the Spirit, can tell us apart.

This small, but active meeting at St. Martin’s Church on 8^th May stimulated a fair amount of useful discussion. Our new Chairman, Councillor Brian Angus, led the meeting and our new Secretary took over from Tom Styche. After 26 years serving the organisation Tom was thanked and given a monetary gift.

The List of Aims and Commitments of Churches Together which had been signed at our church in January was adopted. A copy will be found in the vestibule.

Christmas and Easter Advertisements: It was agreed to continue to put whole-page advertisements in the local paper at Christmas and Easter. But at a cost of about £1000 each, this is not covered by the present level of church contribution and we must expect an update, since it does have other costs to cover as well.

The Dovecote Christmas Carol Service, which has been much appreciated over the years, is in some jeopardy and needs a band of enthusiasts to carry on the organisation of the event. Our own Nigel Uden is undertaking it for this year. Any offers?

Christmas Alone. The Methodist Church have for years run Christmas Dinner and entertainment for those alone at Christmas. At least one member of our church has attended over the years. But the Organiser is giving up after many years’ service and a replacement is needed. There is a band of willing helpers, although additions here would also be welcomed. There may also be some difficulty in actually staging the event in the next two years, owing to extensive refurbishment at the Methodist Church. Should we not be offering help somewhere?

Christian Aid Week. You know that it was decided that we could not continue, as a church, to take part in road collections for this. But we would raise money for Christian Aid and give it directly to our own URC Commitment for Life. We have already raised over £400 by the St. George’s Day Celebrations this year. So, when it is reported that the Catholics of St. Joseph’s send their contribution directly to CAFOD, I reminded them of our own decision which was accepted. But they would like to know how much we raise each year for Christian Aid so that it can be acknowledged as part of the local effort. It was proposed to have a CTE tent on the Market Square during Christian Aid Week.

The nine Lent House Groups were reported upon favourably and the organisers, hosts and leaders thanked. These included one group held at our own church. Each group reported back at the service held on April 30^th at the Methodist Church.

Week of Prayer for World Peace/One World Week. We are looking for a group of enthusiasts to get our local activities organised in October. Any offers?

Derby Day on the Downs: It was suggested that we offered some support to the group who organise a tent for Christian Witness on this occasion.

Ecumenical Services. There has been discussion at recent meetings about running the occasional ecumenical service in Epsom. It was decided to work towards such a service in August this year, but date and venue have to be arranged.

Good Friday Procession of Witness. Arrangements for this year were generally approved. The tent was a good idea – at least it kept the musician dry. But it was thought that the music was rather intrusive.

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The Lenten House Groups this year based their thinking on ‘The Beatitudes’. The group that met on Monday afternoons in the Longhurst Room renewed old friendships, made new ones, and enjoyed the discussions and fellowship and Phyl’s hospitality.

For the follow-up service at the Methodist Church on 30^th April we were asked to provide feed-back from all the different groups. Ours included the following lines which I wrote after one of our sessions:

Lent 2006

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On 8^th May the children all planted sunflower seeds and made sunflowers.

As 15^th May was the anniversary of the birth of L F Baum, the author of The Wizard of Oz, our theme for the evening was the Wizard of Oz. The children each made a mask of either the tin man, the scarecrow or the cowardly lion. It was also National Chocolate Chip Day and so they all played a game, making their own yellow brick road to win chocolate chip cookies. We were very pleased to welcome four new members that evening, and so doubling our numbers.

22^nd May was National ‘Buy a Musical Instrument Day’. The children all made their own rain sticks and other musical instruments and had great fun trying them all out. It was a fairly noisy evening but everyone enjoyed it.

You’ll be pleased to know that most of the Brownies have now got their Seasons badge. We decided to support the ‘Children with Leukaemia’ Marathon event this year and each of the girls were given a printed A – Z book and they had to fill it in with pictures for each letter, either drawing their own pictures or cutting them out of magazines. The girls carried out this project over two weeks and produced some really nice books. We are now waiting for the sponsorship envelopes to be handed in, and hope we have raised a good amount for the charity.

Once again we supported the Spring Event at the church, but this year instead of making cakes for the event, the girls made cornflake cakes, coconut balls, coasters and greetings cards which they could purchase for themselves at the end of the evening with the money going towards the Spring Event as well as the few unsold items.

Our thanks to the six Brownies, our Pack Leader and several members of their families who came to help at the Spring Event, we hope you all managed to find yourselves some bargains. Special thanks to Lindsey Rice-Jones who, having been asked by Gwyneth if she would take part in the Junior Church sketch the following day, very willingly performed as a seed in the Farmer Jack sketch and did it beautifully.

Last Wednesday Anne and I bought two new troughs for the front of the church, and at their meeting the Brownies planted geraniums in them..

4^th Sheila Carpenter

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  WANTED—A GOOD NAME FOR THE AREA NEAR THE CRECHE

SUNDAY ZONE – not ‘churchey’, a link to Friday Zone

HOT SPOT – modern connotations of connectivity

CORNERSTONE – every building needs them!

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Copy for the next issue should be with the Editor by 18th June for publication on 25th June 2006.  

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