Church Re-Development Launch
Sunday March 5th 2000
If you missed this special day of celebration, which coincided with the Church Anniversary, when we formally launched the project to re-develop the premises of Epsom Methodist Church.
Then the following covers the Celebration in full
The Church Development Launch Celebration Service will long be remembered by all who were able to attend.We were especially pleased that the Mayor and Mayoress of Epsom and Ewell, Councillor and Mrs Eber Kington, and the Chief Executive of the Council, Mr David Smith and his wife, were able to join with us.
With hardly a spare seat to be found, the sense of a special occasion was very evident. From the opening hymn, ‘Crown Him with Many Crowns’ sung with piano and organ accompaniment, to the wonderful closing hymn ‘Love Divine, All Loves Excelling’ there was a real sense of God’s presence with us.
The EMC Mission Statement
‘Our purpose is to respond to God’s love in Christ for everyone by being a focus in the town for Christian teaching worship and care.’
Welcome by Rev. David Coote
Hymn
Crown him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon his throne;
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns
All music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of him who died for thee,
And hail him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity.
Crown him the Son of God,
Before the worlds began;
And ye, who tread where he has trod,
Crown him the Son of Man,
Who every grief has known
That wrings the human breast,
And takes and bears them for his own,
That all in him may rest.
Crown him the Lord of life,
Who triumphed o'er the grave
And rose victorious in the strife
For those he came to save.
His glories now we sing,
Who died, and rose on high;
Who died, eternal life to bring,
And lives, that death may die.
Crown him the Lord of peace,
Whose power a sceptre sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease,
Absorbed in prayer and praise.
His reign shall know no end,
And round his piercèd feet
Fair flowers of paradise extend
Their fragrance ever sweet.
Crown him the Lord of love;
Behold his hands and side -
Rich wounds, yet visible above,
In beauty glorified.
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
For thou hast died for me;
Thy praise and glory shall not fail
Throughout eternity.
Declaration of Faith – Rev Simon Leigh
Minister:- In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
People:- Amen.
Minister:- God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them.
People:- His love and mercy are for ever.
Minister:- God sent his Son to open the way for all people to find fullness of life.
People:- His love and mercy are for ever.
Minister:- The Spirit of God is power and peace in the lives of men and women.
People:- His love and mercy are for ever.
Minister:- God calls his Church in every age to reveal his goodness to the world.
People:- His love and mercy are for ever.
Minister:- God has called us together to be his church in Epsom today.
People:- His love and mercy are for ever.
Minister:- God has called us in this place to respond to His love in Christ for everyone by being a focus in the town for Christian teaching worship and care.
People:- His love and mercy are for ever.
Prayers
A Focus:- In the town – A potted history – Tom Styche
John Wesley did not visit Epsom when travelling round the country on horseback preaching the Gospel – the nearest he came to Epsom was Leatherhead.
Wherever he went vast crowds flocked to hear him and influenced by his preaching they set up their own meeting places to share together what they had heard, and to study the Bible.
A small group met in Cottages on Epsom Common, and each week their numbers grew. When the weather was fine, they met on Stamford Green.
In 1835 a Mr & Mrs Harrowell moved to Epsom and were very disappointed there was not a Chapel, the nearest being the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Cheam Road. Sutton. So each Sunday they used to walk to Sutton where services were led by a Minister, and then walk back to share what they had heard.
Numbers continued to grow, there was a presssing need to do something, urged on by Mr & Mrs Harrowell, the elders looked round the Town, and behind Furniss Corn Shop, in the fields, there was a Barn. Which in 1847 the Elders purchased and adapted it, it becomes known affectionately as "The Pretty Rustic Chapel" the Chapel in the Country.
Week by week the numbers grew, the members did not just sit back and enjoy their new home, they went out into the Community to help the poor and needy, the sick, and so much more.
Numbers continued to grow, and grow, (in addition there were occasions when services were interrupted by chickens wandering in, and on one famous occasion a donkey strolled in and took some persuading to leave.)
Once again, the Elders were asked to do something, they did not have to look far because from the Chapel, looking across the fields behind the High Street they could see Waterloo Road. So they went out of the Chapel, down the path past Furniss into the High Street, turned left at the Crossroads, and next door to an Ironmongers there was a plot of vacant land.
A deal was struck, and so it was that Chapel Number two was built and opened in 1863 – at a cost of £1, 300. Four years later, a schoolroom and classroom were added. A familiar story!
However numbers continued to grow, and the Services were packed also the children’s services – and members continued to serve the Community, they actually started a Slate Club when on Saturday afternoons members came and paid their penny "dues". When there was a death in the family money was drawn out to help meet the funeral cost (and save the indignity of a paupers grave) the fewer the funerals the greater the share out at Christmas which helped purchase those little extra goodies, the weekly Slate Club finally closed in the early 50’s, its prime purpose and function having been overtaken by the new National Health Service.
By the turn of the Century, the situation had become quite critical and once again, the Elders/ Trustees were asked to try to resolve the problem, which is what they did.
They came out of the Chapel, glanced to the right to the crossroads, on the corner The Spread Eagle Hotel, and just beyond and almost opposite Ashley House, there was vacant farm land own by Farmer Atkinson who was sympathetic to the Wesleyan.
The site purchased was sufficient to build this present complex, but it was decided to purchase the whole of the site – as an investment for the future - (what foresight).
The intention was to build a Large Hall and two adjoining Halls – The Large Hall to be used for the time being as the place of worship - and then when finances permitted a Church would be built on the remaining land, and the adjoining Halls used for the large Sunday School and rapidly growing week day activities.
So it was on March 11th 1914 this complex was opened, being the third Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in the town centre, the cost including the site was £7,700.
During the First World War, the Halls were occupied for a time by the Royal Welch Fusiliers and friendships were made which existed for many years.
Membership continued to grown on through the 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and in 1959, the Church Hall was built, in 1962 the Transept was built to accommodate the large congregations, in 1968 we made the front entrance larger and more comfortable, which can also be used to provide additional seating, then in 1984 we built the Church Office and adjoining rooms.
In the early 50’s two Nissen Huts were acquired and adapted to meet the needs of the Scouts, in the 60’s these were replaced by the present totally inadequate Headquarters.
The vision of those early Wesleyan Methodists to be an active, outreach church in the centre of the Town has remained as we have grown numerically and spiritually, rebuilt or extended our premises to meet each and every new situation in the life of our Church and Community.
The new church banner PEACE 2000 produced by the Wesley Quilters Group was Dedicated by the Rev. David Coote
A Focus:- For worship – Carol Stringer
In any church, worship needs to be at the very centre of its life for if we do not take time to be with God we cannot know what his vision is for us, we cannot know what his Holy Spirit has to say to us. It is through worship we can support each other in our Christian journey.Most people have a preference for the type of worship they like and here in Epsom we are trying to develop a variety. On a Sunday, we have four completely different services. At 9 o'clock, it’s normally very traditional but at 10.30, anything can happen. Up to 100 youngsters join us at the beginning of this service and the first 15 minutes or so are devoted to them before they go off to their own sessions. The service in the church continues with a variety of modern and traditional approaches.
Once a month our uniformed organisations come on parade and this service is usually very noisy and lots of fun, but with a message. We feel it is important to show our youngsters that following Jesus is not a miserable business. At 5 o’clock our Chinese congregation hold their service and it is a wonderful answer to prayer that Rev Yap will be arriving this week to be their minister. On occasions, we have a combined service with translation from English to Chinese. The translators are absolutely brilliant although this hasn’t improved my knowledge of Chinese.
Our evening service at 7 o’clock is a quieter and more reflective time, sometimes with a theme running over several weeks.
Then on a Wednesday, we have a morning communion service with bible study.
Therefore, with this variety we hope that everyone has the opportunity to worship in the way they feel comfortable with and so draw closer to God. We hope that through corporate worship we can gain strength and encouragement to go out from here to try and live our daily lives, as God would want us to among family, friends, and in the community. How fortunate we are that there is something for everyone.
Congregation remains seated during this hymn.
Solo first verse by Sarah Meech.
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here;
Come bow before Him now with reverence and fear.
In Him no sin is found, we stand on holy ground;
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here.
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around;
He burns with holy fire, with splendour He is crowned.
How awesome is the sight, our radiant King of light!
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around.
Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place;
He comes to cleanse and heal, to minister His grace.
No work too hard for Him, in faith receive from Him;
Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.
Song – Members of the Chinese Congregation
A Focus:- For care – Malcolm Boyd
The concept of ‘care’ is a central part of our mission because it embodies that love and compassion for our fellow human beings that was so important in Jesus’ ministry. There are many examples to show that Jesus was totally inclusive in his ministry. He was equally happy to demonstrate his loving care for Jews and Samaritans, for the outcasts of society, the sick, for children and for the roman oppressors.
I believe that God has given us a vineyard and we are the workers in the vineyard charged with the nurture, love and care of those entrusted to us.
How do we demonstrate our care for others?
We certainly seek to be inclusive in our attitude, to be aware of the needs of others and to extend our love and care to people in all walks of life.
The more visible ways are our mission to young people in Junior Church and the uniformed groups; our nursery for toddlers; our care and share group for the older people, our prayer pyramid for those who are ill and our open doors during the week for coffee. We have a pastoral care system where everyone in the church is linked to a person who has undertaken to keep in touch.
The less visible are the many ways in which our members are involved in the community in caring for others. I am thinking particularly of voluntary helpers in hospitals, helpers and listeners in Dovecote and drivers who help the housebound. In these and in many other ways, we try and bring to others the message of God’s love and hope.
At this time of renewal of our church and its mission, I hope that we, as Christ’s workers in the vineyard, will be better able to provide that
Christian care for others so that
He may be truly glorified.
Christian Care is seeking out the needy
Christian Care acknowledges no barriers
Christian Care is Christ within us– reaching out
Christian Care is God’s love in action
Reading John Chapter 4 verses 1-14 –– Rev Michael Whelton
1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
12 ¶ Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet
Guides – Yours is the Kingdom
from Hopes and Dreams
Scouts – The house on sand and rock
Stamford Green School Choir
Hymn Born in Song Hymn Born in Song Hymn Born in Song Hymn Born in Song Hymn Born in Song Hymn Born in Song
God’s people have always been singing.
Born in song!
Hearts and voices raised.
So today we worship together;
God alone is worthy to be praised.
Praise to God!
For he is the one who has made us.
Praise to God!
We his image bear.
Heav’n and earth are full of his glory;
Let creation praise him everywhere.
Christ is king!
He left all the glory of heaven.
Christ is king!
Born to share in our pain;
Crucified, for sinners atoning,
Risen, exalted, soon to come again.
Sing the song!
God’s Spirit is poured out among us,
Sing the song!
He has made us anew.
Every member part of the Body;
Given his power, his will to seek and do.
Tell the world!
All power to Jesus is given.
Tell the world!
He is with us always.
Spread the word, that all may receive him;
Every tongue confess and sing his praise.
Then the end!
Christ Jesus shall reign in his glory.
Then the end
Of all earthly days.
Yet above the song will continue;
All his people still shall sing his praise.
A Focus:- For Teaching – Keith Halstead
It is sometimes said that Christianity is caught not taught; and there's certainly an element of truth in that. Any church will seek to bring people into faith through example and friendship; and we trust that we are such a church.
Nevertheless, it must also be true that Christianity is taught. Otherwise people like our ministers; David, Simon and Michael would be redundant. However, we are glad that they aren't redundant. We are grateful for those who go into full time Christian ministry to teach the Gospel. We are also grateful for all those who undertake Sunday Junior Church teaching, house group leading, Alpha and Disciple course leading or any other function where Christian faith is taught. Because the Bible is a huge book which presents a massive problem of interpretation and application? Its contents need to be taught; and within its pages, we find that challenge to radical commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.
This building project is all about that. It's about Jesus, His Kingdom, building His kingdom, and teaching about Him. We trust that Epsom Methodist Church will always be a Centre for such teaching.
Pilgrim Singers – From Snakes and Ladders
Address – No other foundation - Rev.David Coote
1 Corinthians Chapter 3 verse 11
'For no one can lay any foundation other than
the one already laid which is Jesus Christ'
A visiting preacher stood at the door of the church after the service, shaking hands with one person after another who thanked him for his sermon. 'A wonderful message' 'Marvellous' A powerful Word' 'Tremendously helpful' the preacher was deeply flattered. Then a strange looking guy came up to him, muttering, 'Talked to long! he decided to ignore him and continued shaking hands. Then the strange little man reappeared 'Load of nonsense!'
The preacher tried to take no notice but the man kept on rejoining the queue and each time he came up to the preacher he complained about something different; 'Didn't understand a word' 'Irrelevant' Bored to tears'
Finally, the preacher could stand it no longer 'Who is that man? Asked the preacher 'Oh don't worry about him' came the Church stewards reassuring reply 'He's not quite with it. He just spends all his time repeating what everyone else says' I hope that when you leave here you wont want to say Didn't understand a word, Irrelevant, bored to tears. But rather I hope that you will leave with a sense of optimism encouragement and excitement, for this celebration marks an important milestone in the journey to the refashioning of these premises for church and community in the 21st cent.
This month is of course an absolutely crucial month for it ends with our gift weekend. What is pledged or given then will to a significant degree determine how long its going to take us to reach our destination. A good response could mean that we will be able to start building within the next two yrs. A really good response earlier. But there is no going back for we believe that the God who in His wisdom and grace has brought us thus far is challenging us to go forward. We know that the Church of God is not a building the church is a people but buildings from great Cathedrals to little village chapels have through the centuries stood as a reminder of a spiritual dimension of life and express a congregations understanding of itself and its faith.
The building that we now occupy comes to us as a gift. It is a tangible expression of the faith and the vision of a previous generation. And today we give thanks to God for those who have built up the life of this church. We honour them best when we do not fossilise what they have done but build upon it. The public face of Epsom is changing and we as a church have been challenged to look again, at how those buildings along with everything else that we do can best reflect our sense of mission and purpose.
The design that we are seeking after is obviously constrained by cost and space and planning conditions but it is driven by a desire to say that God is very much alive and as relevant a factor in 21st century life as ever He was in former centuries. We wish the design to affirm our theology our belief in a God who desires to break down barriers so the physical dividing line between what goes on in theses buildings and what goes on in the world around us will be more transparent. The thresholds will be easier to cross; accessibility to all parts of the building will be improved. The new entrance linking the Hall and this worship space will provide many practical benefits as well as encouraging us to see a unity in our weekday and Sunday activities. We will make more adequate provision for our youth and children's work including of course the Scouts and guides who have for many years been an important part of the life of this church.
This worship area will be made more flexible for different styles of worship and visibility improved. A new prayer chapel open for most of the time will provide a haven of peace in a busy town. We will provide accommodation for the new Chinese minister (Rev Yap Kok Kong welcome Sunday 13 March, 2000) and more community activity. It would tedious not to say boring for me to go on for our objectives are in this small appeal brochure distributed from today. And in a moment we will see a short presentation of what the building will look like based on the Architects model and on some sketches from Bob Knight.
We bear the title Methodist in the name of this church. Few of us would be troubled unduly if the name Methodist has to be dropped in some future scheme of Church unity with others churches. And maybe before many years have passed this church will simply be called a Christian Centre. But part of the genius of John Wesley and indeed of his brother Charles in the early development of the Methodist church in the 18 th century was their capacity to respond to the needs of there time. In the beginning, one could speak of the Methodist people being a movement. That this church at this time through its various councils has taken the step to move forward with a programme of development is living proof that it has not left behind the innovative genius which was what in the first instance made the Methodist church a growing witness in the land.
Our purpose is to respond to God's love in Christ for everyone by being a focus in the town for Christian teaching worship and care.
There's no other basis for the work in which we are engaged. There is no other foundation. What we do is motivated by our desire to respond to Gods love in Christ. It is His love and Spirit, which will enable us to play a constructive part in the life of our town alongside those who seek the common good. We do not place ourselves over and against the town. We are part of it we engage with it and by Gods grace, we will help to make it and the wider world beyond what a loving God desires it to be.
It is interesting to note that before every meeting of the Town Council there is read a verse of Psalms 127
'if the Lord does not build the house the work of the builders is useless'
or as it is normally said in more traditional language
'Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it'.
As it is for the town so it is for us. We go on in faith building on the foundation, which is Christ, confident that the God who has led us this far will be with us until and beyond the task of Church Development is complete.
The Promise of the future
Chronicles Chapter 29 verses 1 to 18 – Julie Mottershead
10 Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.
11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine ; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
16 O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.
17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.
18 O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:
Hymn
The Offertory was taken during this hymn
Angel voices, ever singing
Round thy throne of light,
Angel harps, forever ringing,
Rest not day nor night;
Thousands only live to bless thee,
And confess thee
Lord of might.
Thou who art beyond the farthest
Mortal eye can scan,
Can it be that thou regardest
Songs of sinful man?
Can we know that thou art near us
And wilt hear us?
Yea, we can.
Lord, we know that thou rejoicest
O'er each work of thine;
Thou didst ears and hands and voices
For thy praise design;
Craftsman's art and music's measure
For thy pleasure
All combine.
In thy house, great God, we offer
Of thine own to thee,
And for thine acceptance proffer,
All unworthily,
Hearts and minds and hands and voices,
In our choicest
Psalmody.
Honour, glory, might, and merit
Thine shall ever be,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Blessèd Trinity;
Of the best that thou hast given
Earth and heaven
Render thee.
Dedication of offerings
Prayers – Led by members of the congregation
Glory to God – Peruvian Chant -.Beth Hill (Leader)
Hymn – Love Divine all love excelling
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down,
Fix in us thy humble dwelling,
All thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesu, thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.
Come, almighty to deliver,
Let us all thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve thee as thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
Glory in thy perfect love.
Finish then thy new creation,
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see thy great salvation,
Perfectly restored in thee:-
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee,
Lost in wonder, love and praise!
Following this service, members of the Chinese congregation provided excellent food and refreshment.
