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Two thirds of teenagers don't believe in God
Nearly two thirds of teenagers don't believe in God, according to a study by Penguin books.
Published: Daily Telegraph 22 Jun 2009
Teenagers even say family, friends, money, music and even reality television are more important than religion.
It also emerged six out of ten 10 children (59 per cent) believe that religion "has a negative influence on the world".
The survey also shows that half of teenagers have never prayed and 16 per cent have never been to church.
The study of 1,000 teenagers aged 13 to 18 was carried out by Penguin to mark this week's publication of controversial novel 'Killing God' by Kevin Brooks.
The book is about a 15-year-old girl who questions the existence of God.
Kevin Brooks, the author, said: "I can't say I am surprised by the teenagers' responses.
"Part of the reason that I wrote Killing God was that I wanted to explore the personal attitudes of young people today, especially those with troubled lives, towards organised religion and the traditional concept of God.
"How can the moralities of an ancient religion relate to the tragedies and disorders of today's broken world? And why do some people turn to God for help while others take comfort in drugs and alcohol?
"These are just some of the questions I wanted to consider... And I wasn't looking for answers."
The research also found 55 per cent of young people are not bothered about religion and 60 per cent only go to church for a wedding or christening.
Only three out of 10 teenagers believe in an afterlife and 41 per cent believe that nothing happens to your body when you die, but one in 10 reckon they come back as an animal or another human being.
A Church of England spokesman said: "Many teenagers aren't sure what they believe at that stage of their lives, as is clear from the number who said they don't know whether they believe in God.
"On the other hand many of these results point to the great spirituality of young people today that the Church is seeking to respond to through new forms of worship alongside tradition ones."
Hanne Stinson, chief executive of The British Humanist Association, said: "It confirms that young people - like adults - do not need a religion to have positive values.
"The 'golden rule', which is often claimed by religions as a religious value, is in reality a shared human value - shared by all the major religions and the non-religious and almost every culture - that predates all the major world religions."
SUBJECT: Australian Prime Minister Calls a spade, a spade
What a Leader - The Whole World Needs a Leader Like This
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - Australia
Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday (6/5/2009) to leave Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.
Rudd angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote:
'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians. '
'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'
'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language.
Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society. Learn the language!'
'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'
'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'
'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'..'
'If you aren't happy here, then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'
Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, WE will find the courage to start speaking and voicing the same truths.
MPs urge Christians not to lose faith in politics
Christian politicians across the spectrum are hoping the current expenses row will not turn Christians off politics. Speaking to the Baptist Times, Tory MP David Burrowes said: ‘The important Christian response is – yes, be concerned, be upset, be angry – but also be one of the few groups in this country to affirm the importance of praying for and supporting politicians and Christians in politics.’ Burrowes is parliamentary chairman of the Conservative Christian Fellowship and shadow justice minister. Christian Socialist Movement director Andy Flanagan and Liberal Democrat Christian Forum spokesman the Revd Simon Wilson also warned against the growth of cynicism.
Source: Baptist Times (14/5/09)
As usual, quite a large number of us have been regularly attending the indoor nets practice sessions at Ewell Castle School on Tuesday evenings since the end of January 2009, so hopefully this will have honed up all our skills in batting and bowling to enable us to achieve even a better performance than last year. By the time you read this we will have played several matches and hopefully won the majority of them!
Match Reports are on cricket.emc.org.uk.
We have a very full fixture list this season (25 matches) including our usual Tour weekend in Somerset during July where we play 3 matches. However, in addition, we also have an evening game in June against our local Epsom & Ewell Council, again at Gibraltar Rec. Our new Fixture Secretary is Paul Pennock and a big thank you must go to him for the work done on this seasons fixtures. Our previous Fixture Secretary was Tom Hill who is now Secretary. (Not too sure whether this is a promotion!!)
A Fixture list of venues, etc are here
Our support last year at our Home matches was quite encouraging. However, there is room for plenty more if you fancy a trip along to Gibraltar Recreation Ground. We even provide chairs and drinks and you will be warmly welcomed if, albeit, you can only stay for a short time.
For you cricket ‘Buffs’ or anyone else really; have a look on our web site. There are write-ups and photos of each game (you may recognise some people!) and a History of the club written by Bob Prescott plus quite a lot of other information as well. This web site is ably managed by Cliff Douthwaite and his time is much appreciated.
Next year, 2010 is our 25th Anniversary and we are already considering some special arrangements for that occasion.
On behalf of all the players and their WAGS, we look forward to seeing you during the coming summer.
Geoff Morris
Cadbury’s announcement cheers chocolate campaigners
Christian campaigners have welcomed the news that Cadbury’s Dairy Milk is to receive Fairtrade certification this summer. Cadbury’s has decided to ramp up the quantity of Fairtrade cocoa it sources to 15,000 tonnes a year.
Christian campaign group Stop the Traffik described the move as ‘a victory for every child held in exploitative labour on the cocoa farms of West Africa.’
Two years ago, the group asked Cadbury’s to make the change, because of UN evidence that thousands of children are working as enforced labourers on Ivory Coast and West African cocoa plantations.
Cadbury’s say the move is in their commercial interests, to stem an exodus of younger farmers from Ghana’s cocoa industry and to increase investment in efficient farming.
Steve Chalke said they look forward to Cadbury’s extending the policy to ‘their entire product range’ and to other manufacturers following their example
Source: Christianity (May 09) - http://www.christianitymagazine.co.uk/
‘Fuzzy-faithed’ UK ‘haunted by religion’
The UK has one of the highest rates of ‘fuzzy faith’ – an abstract belief in God and ill-defined loyalty to Christian traditions, a new EU-funded social survey has found.
However, the Archbishop of Canterbury described the nation as ‘uncomfortably haunted by the memory of religion’, even though it is ‘confused’ and ‘secularised’. The Manchester University Institute for Social Change research uncovered only 12 per cent of Britons who ‘belong’ to a church. Prof David Voas said the UK is ‘on the road to non-religion’, with Christianity gradually being erased from public life and the older generation failing to pass it on.
Speaking independently of the study, Dr Rowan Williams offered 400 listeners at Leicester Cathedral (more below) a more optimistic view. Flower shrines at accident scenes were one example of ‘a society haunted by religion and not clear on what to do about it’, he said. l quote;- The church is still a place where people have got the emotions that won’t go anywhere else.’
Sources: Daily Telegraph (22/3/2009); The Guardian (22/3/2009) with thanks
Britain is 'uncomfortably haunted by memory of religion', says Archbishop of Canterbury
Britain is not a secular country but is "uncomfortably haunted by the memory of religion", the Archbishop of Canterbury said. church attendance may not be as high as it once was but although Britain may have become secularised it is not yet secular.
Rowan Williams made the comments during a speech at Leicester Cathedral, entitled Faith in the Public Square. Speaking to around 400 people from across Leicestershire, he said although British attendance at church may not compare to 200 years ago, the church offered something that could not be found elsewhere.
Put aside your principles and remember: all you need is love He dismissed ideas that Britain is "secular" or "religiously divided" were clichés and said: "I don't believe we are living in a secular society and I don't believe we are living in a deeply religiously divided society.
"I believe we are living in a country that is uncomfortably haunted by the memory of religion and doesn't quite know what to do with it and I believe we are living in a society which is religiously plural and confused and therefore not necessarily hostile."
"We are haunted, we need somewhere to put certain bits of our humanity and there's nowhere else except religious language and imagery," he said.
"The piles of flowers that you see on the site of road accidents are the most potent symbols of a society haunted by religion and not clear on what to do about it.
"The church is still a place where people have got the emotions that won't go anywhere else."
The archbishop hosted a question-and-answer session after his short speech today.
During the session, he said although Britain is now host to a "plurality" of religions and cultures, it is not necessary to deny the country's Christian past. "It's partly that which has turned us historically hospitable to people of other faiths and cultures."
When answering whether the church is governed by political correctness in its attitude to other faiths, he criticised "paranoid bureaucrats" for approaching issues of religion with an "intense anxiety". "The ideal in a plural society is everyone has the respect to say what they want.
"A country in which we are all so nervous about offending each other that we do not say what we think is not a free society."
He also said there was a place for finding a combination of religious law and the law of the land, referring to past comments about Shari law that sparked controversy at the time. "I was not recommending the imposition of Shari Law in the UK. "I was saying that it's a very complex, rather taxing question how the law of the land deals with religious law and comes within it.
"Can we envisage a society in which our fundamental liberties are guaranteed but that they can solve certain problems within their own law, subject to the law of the land?
"I think there still is a case that the law of the state ought to be finding what combination is possible without compromising fundamental liberties."
He also commented on faith schools, and said they would not necessarily mean a "betrayal" of the relationship Christianity had with the state in the UK.
In an effort to provide more information on what we do, the circuit stewards are planning to provide regular updates of interest to churches in the circuit and this is the first one.
Firstly we are very glad to report that Julie Underwood has accepted the post of Ministerial team leader for the Bandon Hill, Carshalton and Wallington churches. Julie comes from Byfleet, has previously studied Chemistry and Psychology and joined the Ministry in 1997. She is keen to work with young people and those on the edge of the church. We are very glad she and her husband Malcolm, who is keen on DIY, will join the circuit. Unfortunately we do not yet have replacements for Rev Yap Kok Kong or the second minister for the above Churches and Epsom.
The circuit requires about 12 people to act as reviewers for the 6 ministers of the circuit and also people to act as facilitators in neighbouring circuits. Anyone wishing to do this work or who knows someone who we could approach should contact the circuit administrator (suttoncircuit.admin@googlemail.com )
Risk assessment:
A circuit Risk Management Group is to be set up and outline proposals for a constitution and remit have been outlined so they can be submitted to the Circuit Meeting. The circuit has taken out insurance of £250,000 to cover the liabilities of the trustees of the circuit. An evening with Liz Ovey was planned to discuss Trustees liabilities but has been postponed until March 24 at Banstead Methodist Church.
Church Stewards Training.
It was felt that Church Stewards are often asked to take up this important job without any form of training advice or job description. In fact some have been asked to write their own job description. The Circuit Stewards are therefore canvassing the local church leadership teams for subjects on which they feel they would like training with a view to having a meeting for Church stewards at which the issues raised can be addressed.
The Circuit is to recruit a Circuit Safeguarding officer.
This person will take the mandatory training modules A-D (still in development) and keep records of people working with children and deal with events as they arise. They will also train CRB checked youth workers in the government module A once it has been finalised. The circuit safeguarding policy drawn up is to be forwarded to Jan Atkins (District Safeguarding Officer).
Youth Watch:
The circuit is to have a Day (7th March at St. John’s Belmont) for all those involved in youth work in the circuit. Themes will include Messy Church, Different approaches to Junior Church, reaching out to children using the church, Teens and Safeguarding. Anyone who wishes to come to this should contact Steve Whatley at Epsom Methodist Church or suttoncircuit.admin@googlemail.com as soon as possible so that we can have an idea of the numbers interested.
Local churches will be organising farewells for Geoff Boxer, Simon Leigh and Rev Yap Kok Kong and the Circuit stewards will be working to ensure that as many as possible can be involved.
Circuit Treasurers have met to discuss the 2009/2010 circuit assessment. The income for this period will be approximately £316567, an increase of approximately £15000 on the budget for 2008/9. This is caused largely by increases to ministerial stipends and pensions over which the circuit has no control. The circuit has granted funds of £35,000 to Carshalton for building works and £14,400 to Banstead towards a family and communities worker.
The circuit stewards are also responsible for manses and are planning for redecoration work at Waverly Way and Hall Road manses ahead of the appointment of the new ministers.
Finally the circuit stewards have divided their responsibilities for local churches as follows:
Adrian Heafford – Carshalton, Epsom, St. John’s
Alan Jameson – Wallington, St. George’s, Sutton Trinity
Val Proctor – Bandon Hill, Banstead, Cheam and St. Mark’s
If anyone has any concerns they wish to raise with the circuit stewards, they now have someone to contact directly.
I've undertaken a huge fundraising project to raise £2,000 for ChildReach International. This charity is an innovative children's charity that works with communities in some of the world's poorest regions, helping them to give their children a brighter future. They support clean water, child health and nutrition, alternative education and child protection projects that are sustainable and have the widest possible impact.
In September I will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. This is a six day excursion and should be a lot of fun but I need your help to do it, in donating to this charity. I am at University in Aberdeen so a lot of my fundraising projects are based here. I am organising parties, selling hand made crafts, bag packing in super markets and providing massage therapy to friends. I have a donation web page, through which you can learn more about what I am doing and the progress being made.
It is www.justgiving.com/eleanoralexander
Any help would be really appreciated, even it's organising your own bake sale in your local school, church or workplace.
Many thanks, Eleanor Alexander
(in case you are unaware Eleanor is the daughter of Una Alexander)
COFFEE CUP
Most of you will be aware that Coffee Cup has been up and running in its new format since June last year(2008). We have been extremely lucky to retain the services of many of the original volunteers and at the same time, we’ve been pleased to welcome fresh faces.
Numbers of customers vary from day to day and the very cold weather in January 2009 certainly affected attendance but nevertheless we are delighted that more than £1,500 has been contributed to the Youth Hall Development Fund from our proceeds to date.
Please continue to support Coffee Cup by coming and enjoying refreshments in the most welcoming café in town.
Janet de Bourcier, Libby Fairweather, Gaynor Howells, Carol Thorley
Do you enjoy singing?
Have you thought about joining a choir, but are put off by the thought of auditions and sight-reading?
Do you have friends who feel the same way?
We may be the group for you!
The only qualification is that you love to sing.
We aim to try a variety of musical styles and will learn as we go, we really hope you will be inspired to get involved.
For further information, contact by e-mail here.
Beth Hill, Abby Janes, Sarah Meech
This is the story of the first Christingle:
One Christmas time back in 1747 at a town in Germany, Pastor John sat at home in front of his fire. He was thinking how he could explain the love of Jesus, and what Christmas really meant to the children in the church. He decided to prepare a simple symbol to help make the message of Christmas fresh and lively for them. Pastor John gave each child a lighted candle wrapped in a red ribbon, with a prayer that said "Lord Jesus, kindle a flame in these dear children's hearts".
This was the first ever Christingle service, in 1968, Christingle services were introduced to the Anglican Church in Britain, and the custom spread quickly:
An orange representing the world with
A red ribbon around it representing the blood of Jesus
Fruits and sweets (usually dolly mixtures) are skewered on 4 cocktail sticks which are pushed into the orange representing the fruits of the earth and the four seasons
Appreciation
Sarah Meech must have been the longest serving member
of the EMC Leadership Team – ever! Sarah joined the team as a youth
representative and concluded as Senior Steward, leading the teams as well as
being the coordinator of the building development group over a number of
years. This is the right time for us to express our warmest thanks to
Sarah, as she has now stepped down from this role, and to thank God for her
sacrificial service to the church. Sarah, please accept our deep
appreciation and our love.
Introducing Christopher Wheeler
Chris regards this appointment as “An exciting opportunity and a fresh challenge in expressing the passion God has given me for young people”
Two years ago he came from his home in Middlesbrough, in the North East, to take up a training role as a Youth Worker in a Kingston church, whilst studying for a degree to equip him for youth ministry. The folk at the church in Kingston are very sorry indeed to be losing him.
Chris’ youth work experience includes having been part of the Boy’s Brigade since he was 5 years old through to his present role as an Officer. He has also had contact with Guides, Scouts and Girl’s Brigade. So uniformed organisations have been part of his life. He has worked with young children, particularly 7-11 year olds, and in his present role concentrates on 11 to 16 year olds. As part of his current job he also works with young adults, 16 to 19, at the local 6th Form College. For quite a while he was working on Council estates, managing and organising band nights for young people who were not connected with the church. He encouraged young Christians from local churches to reach out to their friends and local neighbourhoods, and was working with a Christian youth work charity, ‘Oxygen’, around the Royal Borough of Kingston. This work included supporting teenagers who have been expelled from school.
Chris is a talented young man who plays the guitar, bass, trumpet, drums and keyboard, as well as being classically trained as a singer. He has been part of the ‘MAYC Orchestra and Singers’ and the ‘National Youth Choir of Great Britain’. He has played leading roles in amateur musical productions and was a member of the ‘Middlesbrough Jazz and Blues Orchestra’ – but that is not the only reason why he got the job!
Chris has been commissioned as a Methodist Worship Leader at Southlands College Chapel in Roehampton, where he regularly leads services of worship. He is the Vice Chairman of the chapel, arranging socials and planning chapel events, initiating new ideas for those who come to the chapel, and seeking to relate to students in the wider community of the university. In all these things he is working with other young adults who are university students.
Chris says, “I grew up in a URC Church in Middlesbrough and found my faith in a Methodist Youth Group at the age of 16. My faith has grown greatly through Methodism. What is most important for me is that God has entered my heart and given me a passion to do his will in working with young people, so that they have the opportunity to discover Him.”
A number of those involved in the church’s youth work at EMC, including a couple of young people, met Chris on his interview day – informally over coffee, in a group exercise and in the formal interview. Everyone who met him was absolutely sure that he is the right person for this job. We therefore believed it to be right that we should wait until he has completed his degree in Practical Theology and worked through until the end of his present contract in Kingston, which means that we are looking forward to him joining us at the end of August 2009.
YOUTH MINISTRY APPEAL
Thank you for the generous responses to this appeal. Now we will step forward in faith to appoint a Youth Pastor. We have received promises which take us within £15,000 of the amount needed for the first three years. So we will go ahead trusting the remainder will come from continuing small donations which will soon mount up to complete this task.
We are deeply grateful for your generosity and thankful to God for every gift.
ST GEORGE’S DAY AWARDS
With pride, and with gratitude for his service, we offer our congratulations to Neil Dallen, who has been awarded — a bar to the silver acorn For his especially distinguished service to the Scouts.
This is the second highest award in Scouting and indicates the honour and esteem in which Neil is held within the movement. As a Church we share in honouring him and thanking God for his incredible service to young people and his place in the life of our church.
The Wesley Quilters were invited to participate in creating a lectern fall and a pulpitfall for the new church décor. This task fell to Sue Packham, who has created two beautiful pieces of work. On behalf of us all I would like to our appreciation of her needle work skills, and say thank you Sue, well done.
Dear Webmaster of Epsom Methodist Church
I hope that you do not mind me contacting you but I am hoping that we may be able to assist each other. I run a ministry called Christian House Sitters. Now that we have reached the second half of the year members of your congregation are no doubt starting to plan their vacations. If any of your congregation are interested in having a Christian look after their home and animals while they are on holiday I am sure we can help find the right person.
Our service will not cost them anything. It is free to house owners.
Full details can be found on our web site at http://www.Christian-Housesitters.com
Our full details are listed on the About Us page of our website. These include our physical address and telephone number. On the Media Coverage page you will find a copy of an article published by Church Times.
God bless you,
Ray White
Christian House Sitters
Gospels for the Olympics
Bibles and Scripture booklets will be available to athletes in the Olympic village in Beijing this summer, despite rumours that Bibles would be banned at the games.
In a major breakthrough, Chinese authorities have given the go-ahead for the printing and distribution of:
50,000 booklets the Gospels in Chinese and English
10,000 Chinese-English Bibles
30,000 Chinese-English New Testaments
The Beijing Olympic organising committee has even, for the first time, allowed its logo to be used free of charge on the Gospel portions.
The announcement follows controversy earlier this year over whether the Chinese authorities would allow Bibles to be made available at the Olympics.
James Catford, Chief Executive of Bible Society, said,
‘This is a major and exciting opportunity. We are privileged to be able to support the Church in China in the publishing of these Bibles and Scriptures during the Beijing Olympics.’
The booklets will be available to some 16,000 athletes and officials in the Olympic villages in Beijing and five other cities that are hosting events during the summer.
In other developments:
Places of worship have been set up within the Olympic village to provide religious services to athletes.
The Church in Beijing has been asked to provide people to staff the chapel and conduct worship services and prayers.
Please share this news with your church and friends – and please pray:
Thank God for this unique opportunity to make the Bible available in a country where, only 40 years ago, the Bible was banned.
Pray that people from across the world would encounter the Bible’s life-changing message through the Scriptures available at the Olympics.
Pray for those staffing the Olympic village chapel, that they would be powerful witnesses for God’s embracing love.
Pray for the Bible Society staff who have been working hard to create this opportunity, for continued energy, creativity and passion in their work.
To join Bible Society in supporting the printing of Scriptures at the Olympics,
Hello EMC
Another year (2008) has almost gone. We hope it has been a good year for you. We have had an unusual and exciting time this year. We didn’t go away for the winter last year because we had arranged our tour to New Zealand and Australia, this was an unforgettable experience.
After spending three months at home we set out on our second adventure, this time with our caravan.
The first leg was up to Stonehaven in Scotland to the wedding of Andrew and Rachel. We had a lovely week there and spent time with old friends who we hadn’t seen for years.
Then we drove down to Newcastle where we caught the ferry to Bergen in Norway. We had not been looking forward to the North Sea crossing but it was amazingly calm and even Pat enjoyed the voyage which took us to Stavanger and then up the inner passage to Bergen. A beautiful cruise up the fiords. Disembarking at eleven p.m. on 1st June we drove in daylight to our camp site just outside the town, where we stayed for a week. We never really got used to the continuous daylight.
Bergen was our first experience of Norway and was a delight. A lovely town and very pleasant and helpful people all of whom seem to speak impeccable English.
We then set out on our trip to North Cape. Driving was so easy because there is virtually only one road to follow and there is very little traffic.
Next stop was Aurland from where we visited the scenic Flam railway. We rode up and walked the 20 kilometers' back. From Aurland the road then took us through a 26 kilometers tunnel on our way to Alesund where we spent three nights before going on to Trondheim. We stayed here four nights so we could explore the city. Once again we were delighted with the place and its people. The royal palace, built of wood, as is most of the buildings, and right on the street was a very interesting contrast with the magnificent stone cathedral.
The scenery in Norway is so spectacular it is impossible to put into words. There is a new and better view round each corner and driving this road gives the best of all experiences because at fairly regular intervals the road comes to a fiord and it is necessary to go across on a ferry so you get the view from the water as well as the land.
Our next days drive took us across the Arctic Circle and we stayed at Trofors and Ulsvag before arriving in Tromso. It turned out to be the weekend of the Midnight Sun Marathon which is an annual international event and the city was very busy but we enjoyed our time there. We managed a strenuous walk to the heights overlooking the city and attended a midnight concert in the Arctic Cathedral.
We continued northwards staying at Alta and then arriving at North Cape on 24th June, Midsummer Day. Some 1700 miles from Bergen. We stayed on the most northerly camp site in Europe and at times were surrounded by reindeer as they grazed. We had not planned to arrive at the solstice but it was another great experience because a crowd of people from many nations gathered at midnight to celebrate.
From North Cape our route was due south through a small area of Finland and into Sweden. We followed the Inlandsvegen which travels through the centre of the country being virtually the only road south. The scenery changes dramatically here as all you see for mile after mile is forest. There was very little traffic but we did have to stop a few times to allow reindeer herds to cross. Because we were there in the short summer much of the road was under repair and one section was simply hardcore for 26 kilometers'. Not very good for towing a caravan.
One of our stopovers was at Ostersund where we visited the open air museum which shows historical houses from around 1600 with actors playing appropriate roles. Very enjoyable.
We made a detour west from the Inlandsvegen to Loftsdalen so we could enjoy some walks and then, via the old mining town of Fallun, to the university town of Upsalla. Sadly the town centre has been ‘modernised’ out of existence but we enjoyed the Botanical Gardens and the house and garden of Linnaeus, the father of botany. We also had a day out on the train to Stockholm where the preserved ancient galleon the ‘Vasa’ is a must see attraction.
We then made our way into Denmark crossing the magnificent Oresund Bridge to Copenhagen. We visited the Tivoli Gardens, the Little Mermaid, the Royal Palace and Helsingor (Elsinore) and decided the song is right, Copenhagen is wonderful.
Our next stop was at Odense, the home of Hans Christian Andersen. Near to his house, now a museum, there is a lovely outdoor theatre which gives delightful free shows of the fairy tales.
We spent a few days in the lovely area of north Jutland before going into Germany staying on a very pretty, family run site at Walmsburg near the picturesque town of Luneberg.
After a few days near the spa town of Bad Pyrmont and Hamelin, of Pied Piper fame, we moved on to Landsmeer in Holland. From here we had the opportunity to visit Amsterdam, Delft, Marken and Alkmaar (famous for its cheese market).
Then into Belgium where we stayed in a country park near the lovely town of Gent.
It was now time to return home and after a wonderful tour in which we covered 5,000 miles with the caravan in just over three months we caught the ferry from Dunkerque on 10th September.
Since then we have spent the time catching up with our family and generally settling down but we are now preparing for a trip to find some winter sun after Christmas.
We hope you have a lovely Christmas and a happy and healthy 2009.
God bless you
Pat and Brian Gamble - December 2008
Hello all of EMC 2008
Hope you are keeping well.
We try to send our news letter at Easter time but this year it did not work out for us. We set off on our trip to New Zealand and Australia on 29th January 2008 and after staying in Los Angeles for just 28 hours (eight of which were spent in the airport) we arrived in Fiji on 2nd February having lost a day by crossing the International date line. Cyclone Gene had passed through the island two days before so things were rather untidy and the atmosphere very humid. Denarau Island resort is a great place to chill out and we had a wonderful time there. Even though there was a lot of rain it was warm rain and we soon got used to it.
We flew to Auckland on 6th February where we rented a car. As we drove into the city it was interesting to pass through the suburb of Epsom and see Epsom Methodist Church. For the next week we drove around the North Island to get a flavour of the country. We spent four days in the Tongariro National Park which is high in the mountains. It was quite cold there and we were glad we had taken some warm clothing with us. We had some lovely walks in the forest and lakes of this lovely park.
On 14th February we went to the South Island crossing the Cook Strait on the ferry from Wellington and then had a couple of days in Kaikoura before joining up with our group in Christchurch for the motor home tour. While we were in Kaikoura our Laptop stopped working so we could not easily access our emails.
From the lovely city of Christchurch we travelled south to Dunedin, which has a distinctly Scottish feeling. The next day we had an excursion which took us to Lanerch Castle (which is said to be the only castle in New Zealand), the Colony of very rare Yellow eyed penguins and a ride on the Taieri Gorge Railway (very spectacular).
Then we drove to Te Anau from where we were taken by coach for a cruise on Milford Sound. Then we were travelling again on to Queenstown where we had a day to relax. Next stop was Mount Cook. New Zealand’s highest mountain where we were looking forward to a ski plane flight to the glacier. Sadly the next day we woke to find the mountain covered in cloud so the flight did not happen. By evening the cloud had moved and the mountain was bathed in colour from the beautiful red sunset.
The next day's journey was to Hamner Springs where we arrived in time to visit the famous thermal pools. It was lovely just to sit and soak in the natural hot water (from 24 to 37 C).
Next day we were on the move again to Blenheim. From here we had a helicopter flight to see the Sperm Whales at Kaikoura and next day a cruise and walk on the Queen Charlotte Sound at the spot where Captain Cook landed. Then it was off to the Ferry and back to the North Island.
After overnight stops at Wellington, where we had a tour of the city, and Lake Taupo we arrived in Rotorua on 2nd March. On our first day here we visited the Lady Knox Geyser and in the evening shared a Maori Hangi feast where the food is traditionally cooked in a pit. These days of course they have to use a stainless steel lining. This was followed by an excellent display of the Maori culture. Next day we visited the Agrodome where we were told all about the sheep of New Zealand in a very humorous yet informative way and also saw a sheep being sheared. On again through Auckland to Russell on the Bay of Islands. Russell is a wonderful unspoilt town and from here we had a flight on a fourteen seater plane to the very north of the country at Cape Reinga. After landing on a grass airstrip we went by 4X4 to see the Cape and were driven along a river bed to the huge sand dunes. We also visited Waitangi where the Treaty was signed.
On 8th March we returned our motor home the depot in Auckland and said goodbye to the friends we had made over the last three hectic weeks.
On 9th March 2008 Pat and I flew to Sydney. We had a room overlooking the Opera House and Harbour. It was good to be able to wander round the old streets with lots of cafes and shops and enjoy a more relaxing time after our busy schedule in New Zealand. We took an excursion to Canberra which we really enjoyed although Australians seem to be very deprecating about their capital city. We also visited Manly on the North side of the harbour which has a much laid back feel to it. Their motto is ‘Seven kilometers from Sydney, a thousand kilometers from care’. We returned to Sydney on one of the ferries which cross the harbour.
Then we flew to Cairns. Our hotel at Palm Cove just to the north was lovely. It boasted the most beautiful pool in Queensland. In the four days we had three excursions. We sailed to the outer Barrier Reef and Brian did some snorkeling from Michaelmas Cay. We went into the rain forest on two trips the first on the Sky rail which is a cable car to the tablelands. The views are just amazing. At the township of Kuranda we visited the wildlife park and saw all the Australian animals which we expect to see there and also had a guided tour through an area of rain forest.
The following day we went on a four wheel drive coach across the Daintree River to Cape Tribulation and the Mossman Gorge. Again viewing spectacular scenery.
From Cairns we flew to Ayers Rock where we watched the sunset over the rock and enjoyed a dinner in the open air followed by Aboriginal stories of the stars. We also went to the Olgas, a larger rock formation where we experienced the spectacular colour changes at sunset.
Our final flight in Australia was to Perth. This is a modern city but it’s location on the banks of the Swan River is beautiful and lovely parks have been created all along the river side. We went downriver to Fremantle which has been amazingly preserved with its colonial style buildings. On Easter Day we shared worship at the Uniting Church of Australia in Perth.
On our way home now we flew on to Singapore. What a remarkable city this is for anyone who enjoys shopping. Anything and everything seems to be available at bargain prices. We wandered round to city and through China Town but the highlight of our stay here was afternoon tea at the Raffles Hotel.
We flew back into Heathrow on 27th. March 2008 and were privileged to be amongst the first passengers to use terminal five. Our flight to Manchester was only delayed an hour and two out of three pieces of luggage arrived with us so we did comparatively well.
You will realise that we had a marvellous time and we ran out of superlatives to describe our many new experiences.
We are now planning our next trip. We intend to take our caravan to Scandinavia for the summer and have booked the ferry for 1st June 2008.
Best wishes to you all. Pat and Brian Gamble
Robert Talbot you may remember was on the very early publicity committee setup to ensure the publicity was established for the then new rebuilding project, unfortunately Robert who worked for ExxonMobil was relocated to Russia and as you see below then to Qartar, for those with very long memories below will be of interest. Also his wife Evelyne was much involved in the similar rebuilding at St Josephs Catholic Church.
Dear Cliff,
It is good to hear from you. Unfortunately our visit to Epsom was a very short one (just a few hours) but we were fortunate enough to find the church open and someone kind (Richard Smith) enough to show us around. The expansion and improvements have been very well done. I was impressed by the standard of finish and fixtures and the care taken with the windows, stonework and exterior landscaping (something that often suffers when the budget is under pressure). From time to time I still look at the website and am pleased to see that you are still in charge of that.
Yes, we started up the Sakhalin-1 project in September 2006 and I stayed with the project for another year tidying up loose ends. I’m pleased to say that production uptime during the first two years of operation has exceed our expectations. In October I was asked to come to Qatar for 9 months to try to help rescue another project in difficulties. This has proved quite a handful for quite different reasons than Sakhalin and only now are we getting close to starting it up, hopefully in about a month’s time. After that I hope to be able to return ‘home’ to Houston.
I am now back in Qatar but will get in touch again before I make another visit to Epsom. I have attached a copy of a letter we sent to some friends at Christmas which has some photographs and news of my family.Best wishes, Robert Talbot January 2009
copy of letter with pictures, download Word document (4,043 Kbytes).........here
copy of letter text only, download Word document (43 Kbytes).....................here
Opened September by H.M. The Queen, The National Memorial Arboretum, Croxall Road, Alrewas in Staffordshire now boasts another feature, “The Boys’ Brigade Memorial Garden.” Situated just outside the chapel, the garden entrance is between two pillars of 5,000 year old bog oak, presented jointly by the BB in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic into which has been carved the words “Religion and Discipline.” (Words used by The Late King George V1 in a speech to describe the BB- “the BB was built on twin pillars of religion and discipline”).
Within the garden is a huge granite boulder from Scotland which has a replica anchor affixed and is engraved with the words of the chorus of the famous (BB adopted) hymn “Will your anchor hold?” Opened with due pomp and circumstance on 21st June, the garden, and of course the arboretum, is well worth a visit the next time that you are in Staffordshire.
A reminder that the Open Day at Chatham Dockyard on May 31st has been captured on a DVD, available from RB Video, 4 Cross Avenue, Wickford, Essex SS12 ONA.
01268.473358. Cheques £12.50 made payable to Mrs RB Shorter please.
Former BB members and supporters are invited to join the London Stedfast (yes – that is the correct spelling) Assn – details from Roger Wallis 26 Hambro Avenue Hayes Bromley Kent BR2 7LS.
Colin Thomas
Old Boys Association – The Boys’ Brigade
I was delighted to discover recently, quite by chance, that there are a number of Old Boys of the Boy's Brigade within the membership of Epsom Methodist Church, Norman Dallen, Cliff Douthwaite, Mark Angel, Peter Townsend, Colin Thomas and of course David Winwood [where he learnt to drum] to name a few. Plus Eve Douthwaite who was Officer in Charge of the BB Lifeboy's (now called the Junior section) of the 1st Thames Valley BB Company, which was later designated as the 1st Kingston and Merton Company (New Malden Baptist) when the London Boroughs were reorganised, it is interesting that later (not in the same time period!) Martin Gunton was the Captain of the 14th Kingston and Merton Company whilst his wife Suzanne was Officer in charge of the Junior section of 14 th Kingston and Merton, Suzanne has long association with the BB with the 5th London Company, formerly of Leysian Mission, now at Wesley's Chapel - the oldest continuously running company in England and still plays in the Stedfast Brass Band mentioned below.
There is in fact a world wide Association “The Stedfast Association” which provides numerous BB associated activities for the more mature “boy” at heart. These include a Brass Band and a Bugle Band the organisers of which are currently seeking new members. Hence if you blew a bugle or beat a drum or played any brass instrument, ten, twenty, thirty, forty (etc.) years ago, in the BB, you could take it up again. Your neighbours will be delighted!. There is also a bowls club for the energetic, as well as numerous events throughout the year.
The Stedfast ( London) Magazine, published periodically keeps members informed of current events as well as nostalgic glimpses of the past – a chance to relive your childhood memories. If you want to join there is £10.00 per annum membership fee, (or for the wealthy, life membership for £100) – a snip according to Roger Wallis the Membership Secretary who you can contact in the first instance by phone at 0208 462 1235, or email at roger.wallis2@ntworld.com
For this you will receive the Association magazine periodically from which you will glean that the BB is still very much alive and kicking – throughout the world, and you can wallow in nostalgia as you examine its’ pages. In the current magazine, there is information on an all day event at Chatham Historic Dockyard in May 2008 to celebrate a century and a quarter of BB history, as well as 25 years of the Stedfast Association. The BB in Kuala Lumpur, The Girls Brigade, Beating the Retreat by the Bugle Band at Chelsea Hospital, Spotlight on the 10th Enfield Company and The BB Memorial Garden to mention but a few are also featured.
Report by Colin Thomas (Former Lieutenant 105th London Company The Boys’ Brigade).
The Boy's Brigade 125 Anniversary "Celebration Day" Event at The Historic Dockyard Chatham on Saturday 31st May 2008.
A BIG thank you, to all those who visited or took part in the special event celebrating 125 years of the BB at the Chatham Dockyard. It was a remarkable and memorable day in the history of The Boys' Brigade and our London Stedfast Association.
The London Stedfast Association were proud to sponsor and organise the event as part of their 25th anniversary year. A wonderful sunny day welcomed around 3500 visitors to the site. The car parks were overflowing with some 1000 vehicles that day- including 22 coaches.
We are proud to report that about 700 members from the BB, supported by representatives of the GB ,GA , and Stedfast Associations from around the UK and the Republic of Ireland, were present at this great historical dockyard. Many playing in one of the eleven bands present. Or taking part in the display items covering, marching , team games , or gymnastics in one of the 3 display arenas.
If you missed this unique occasion.. we are pleased to announce that you can purchase the official 2 hour DVD covering the entire BB125 Celebration Day at Chatham.
Available from: R B VIDEO, 4 CROSS AVENUE, WICKFORD, ESSEX SS12 ONA
Please contact Roisin Shorter if you wish to purchase a DVD £12.50 including P&P
Tel: 01268 473358 - Cheques made payable to: Mrs R B Shorter
If you need more information before considering membership you can browse at
www.londonstedfastassociation.org
Rob Frost - A life well lived
With thanks from Share Jesus International
The Frost family and Share Jesus International are sad to announce the death of a great author, presenter, visionary, leader, evangelist, and preacher.
Rob Frost, founder of Share Jesus International, passed away peacefully in hospital on Sunday 11 November 2007 at 11.40pm with his family around him.
He was diagnosed with skin cancer in June and underwent treatment. In the past few days, Rob became very tired and was taken into hospital on Wednesday 7th November 2007. He was in no pain but gradually drifted into eternity with liver failure as a result of secondary melanoma.
Rob set up the mission agency in 1986 with the sole purpose of sharing Jesus in many different contexts and countries.
Rob Frost was in great demand as a preacher, the International Director of the International Leadership Institute based in Atlanta and the author of over 25 books.
He presented Premier Radio's flagship current affairs programme called Frost on Sunday and his weekly TV show on the God Channel is broadcast under the title the Frost Debate.
He lectured in mission and evangelism at London School of Theology and was a regular teacher at theological institutions throughout the UK.
As the Director and then President Emeritus of Share Jesus International, an ecumenical mission agency which he founded 25 years ago, he initiated scores of projects including Easter People, a conference which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year; led missions in hundreds of cities, towns and villages in the UK and across the globe and campaigned on global and national issues. He served as President of Release International, an agency which cares for persecuted Christians throughout the world. Rob also produced and toured with many musicals including Hopes and Dreams which had the number one hit of the Lord's Prayer.
One of the last projects Rob has been working on is the Pentecost Festival which will take place May 9-11, 2008. Andy Frost and the office team will continue to make this dream become a reality and Rob's vision will continue to have an impact across this nation.
Rob will be fondly remembered not just for what he did, but his sense of humour, his stories, his love for people, depth of compassion and his zest for life.
He leaves behind his wife Jacqui, his two sons Andy & Chris and his father Ronald. They will miss him greatly but are thankful for his life and pleased that he is now with his heavenly father.
His family request no flowers but if you wish to make a gift, this should be for Pentecost Festival.
There will be a funeral service in Raynes Park for close friends and family in the next 10 days. We are also holding a celebration service in January and all will be welcome to this.
Details will follow shortly see http://www.sharejesusinternational.com
You can donate to Pentecost Festival by clicking here.
Evangelicals mourn passing of Rob Frost
By Mark Woods
ROB FROST, director of Share Jesus International (SJI) and a leading evangelical figure for many years, died on Sunday (111 November 2007) aged 57. He had been ill for some time, having been diagnosed with skin cancer in June 2007, but had remained active until his last few days.
A Methodist minister, he was in great demand as a preacher and over the years initiated scores of projects including the Easter People conference, which ran for 20 years. He served as President of Release International, which campaigns for persecuted Christians around the world, and lectured in mission and evangelism at the London School of Theology.
His wife Jacquie thanked supporters for their "friendship and prayers", and said, "Rob has now received the ultimate healing. We know that our heavenly father loves us all and that he is holding us."
Tributes to his life and ministry have come from many friends and colleagues. A statement from SJI said, "Rob will be fondly remembered not just for what he did, but his sense of humour, his stories, his love for people, depth of compassion and his zest for life."
The Rev. Joel Edwards, general director of the Evangelical Alliance, described him as "one of the bright light champions for evangelical witness, evangelistic fervour and creativity; an outstanding pioneer"
The Rev. Dr David Coffey, President of the Baptist World Alliance, said "Rob ranks as one of the most creative evangelists and able apologists of his generation. He had a heart for the renewal of Methodism but his reach of friendship extended to all parts of God's family."
His last project was the Pentecost Festival which will take place May 9-11, 2008.
With thanks to the Baptist Times
Tandem adventure paragliding - and experience for yourself the freedom and exhilaration of paragliding.
If you are seeking a new adventure or an experience like none other, see Barbara Phillips of Epsom Methodist Church. Barbara has completed a sponsored paraglide on Friday 27 th July 2007 for the Royal Marsden Hospital, at Bohinj though you can fly from any part of Gorenjska region.
Barbara say " she used the Bible reference to Isaiah Chapter 40 verse 31 to give her strength"
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount with wings like eagles ; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
With no experience, you can safely fly tandem over the stunning views of Julian Alps, it's highest mountains and peaks, over the green meadows and narrow valleys with our fully Certified experienced Instructors, you can rest assured you are in the best of hands. Our primary focus has always been on the safety and comfort of our customers especially Barbara, as she is needed to help SWAP 2007!
More on this website........................here.
Why not stay here at Stonewood in Slovenia?
Stonewood is a well equipped, luxury 2-bedroom apartment, comprising the entire ground floor of Stonewood house, which overlooks the peaceful village of Koprivnik and enjoys an idyllic situation within the Triglav National Park, allowing guests to enjoy all the excitement and action of the ski slopes, restaurants and lakes of Bohinj valley until they are ready to retreat to the peaceful mountain village for a good nights rest. Triglav national Park is home, of course, to Mount Triglav, the highest peak in Slovenia, and the park embraces some of the most stunning natural scenery to be found in the Southern Alps.
Bohinj
Stunning views of Julian Alps and Barbara jubilant on the ground after her flight!
About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and PARENT PROJECT UK - Charity No: 1101971
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a severe muscle-wasting disease which affects mostly young boys. Most children are born apparently well, but the disease progresses rapidly and they usually have to be in a wheelchair by around the age of 10. In the later stages the heart and breathing muscles are affected and many boys die in their early 20s.
The genetic disorder which causes DMD was identified in the 1980s, but progress with research has been slow because the genetic code is complicated and funding has been negligible.
PPUK is a charity which was set up and run by parents whose sons have DMD. It shares research information with other countries and has campaigned vigorously for funding from our Government.
The Department of Health and the Medical Research Council is now committed to funding the type of gene therapy research that could lead to a treatment or cure for DMD as well as for other genetic disorders.
In spite of this, one particularly promising gene therapy research project for DMD currently receives just 1% of the Government's new budget for health research. A clinical safety trial has started, but without further funding, some of this project may have to be cut.
The top specialists in DMD tell us that, for the first time, the dream of a treatment is a realistic possibility, given the funding. In addition to appealing for Government finance for research, families and friends all over the UK are working hard to raise money in many different ways.
Advisor with The Church of Bangladesh Social Development Programme
Meherpur 7100 Bangladesh.
16 December 2007
Dear friends,
Just one week before my wedding, I’ve been doing a fair bit of reflecting. It is amazing how time flies. I have now been back in Bangladesh one year since my time speaking on the work of the CBSDP in the UK, which means an accumulated 3 years in total spent in Meherpur! What I have been doing here I would never have dreamed of if you had asked me as a child: ‘what will you do when you grow up’, let along marrying a beautiful Bangladeshi bride! (Linda shown)
Three years is actually the longest that I have spent in any job. I am beginning to see the benefits of staying put and glad that I turned down the chance of short-term consultancy work.
For after a while, instead of working with colleagues you are instead working with friends, begin to really understand the situation/organisation, can get by in the local language and are, in other words, in an optimum position to contribute. Nowhere is this truer than in the area of arsenic mitigation.
The CBSDP’s work in arsenic mitigation was already well established when I arrived with thousands of tube wells tested, arsenic-safe shallow modified dug wells installed and vitamins given to victims of arsenic poisoning. I had barely heard of the arsenic crisis at all, a fact that I found staggering given that in Bangladesh alone at least 29 million people are currently at risk from arsenic dissolved in the groundwater which is harvested by millions of shallow pump tube wells. I visited badly affected villages and was gutted to hear firsthand from wives who had lost husbands, fathers who had lost children and many, many who had lost dear friends.
Right away I knew that it had to be my main priority during my time in Meherpur, and time wise that has been so.
Installing a Chuli water purifier into a wood cooking stove Firstly, I discovered that my colleagues were poorly resourced with little up-to-date information on the arsenic problem and so much of my first year was made establishing contacts and collecting information from hundreds of sources, eventually resulting in an initial report summarising the current situation of arsenic in Bangladesh and a second report summarising what was known about the situation within the Meherpur District.
With my colleagues Provonjan, Charles and David, I also discussed how we could improve our impact, so we have tried innovative ‘Chuli’ water filters that pasteurise dug well water (through a metal coil imbedded in a clay cooking stove); mapping the arsenic at a village level to better site new arsenic safe wells; using better arsenic test kits; a stronger focus on using nutrition as a route to recovery from poisoning (through kitchen gardens, Soya bean cultivation and eating of lentils) and the raising of awareness of the risk to health through rice cultivated with arsenic contaminated water.
Understandably arsenic contamination of water is a complicated problem and it has taken time to develop our response. So it was a great delight to me, a real highlight of my work, when this year we installed six deep-tube wells (320ft), that go beneath the arsenic containing groundwater layer, in five villages where we had recently tested wells and mapped the pattern of arsenic distribution.
At a time when there is reducing interest from big donors and governments it was fantastic to have money to do all this as a result of donations and collections from churches and other groups in the UK following my talks there last year. Thanks to the many of you reading this who made it all possible! It was an interesting process as a rig was set up and two men turned a giant corkscrew like apparatus for three days, while at the same time another fellow pumped water down to loosen the soil. As they manually drilled in shifts, they sung work songs to keep up their energy and spirits. When they pulled out the drilling pipe sections they all swung on the rope shouting. A tremendous effort! But best of all is that communities in these five badly affected villages of Theraghoria, Bhollobhpur, Rotonpur, Anondobas and Kamdevpur can drink bacteria logically and arsenic safe water from these wells (each providing for 50-100 families).
No longer will they become sick from consuming life’s most precious commodity – water! However, while this year marks my three years of work in Bangladesh, this year is very special for the church here as it marks its 25 years of work to serve the poor: the Silver Jubilee of the Church of Bangladesh Social Development Programme. As a result we have had a host of celebrations in all the places we are working, culminating in a combined celebration with our donors, partners and church links in Dhaka last week, with a great theme ‘Serving humanity is worshipping God’. I helped CBSDP-Meherpur manager Provonjan with his talk and thought that you might be interested in what we wrote: ‘Jubilee was celebrated in Old Testament times every seven and 50 years. It was a time when slaves were released, sold land was returned to its original owners, debts were cancelled and it was a time when the land was left fallow.
It was also a time of celebration. In Luke 4 verses 17-19 Jesus said: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor; He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberation to the captives and to recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed. To proclaim the year of the Lords favour. In other words, Jesus was declaring a period of jubilee.
In our development work we are very much trying to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and proclaim jubilee in the areas in which we work in Bangladesh. Healing the broken hearted through marriage reconciliation, the rehabilitation of trafficked women in our tailoring course and in discouraging dowry; proclaiming freedom to those who are captives of poverty through vocational training and micro credit; helping to bring recovery of sight and the treatment of other illnesses through our hospitals and health programme and setting free the oppressed through advocacy, empowerment and legal support.
Therefore to celebrate a 25-year jubilee of our work in development has double meaning! It was in 1971 when the ministry of service to the poor was begun by the Church of Bangladesh, the very year of its establishment. For when the church leaders looked to where its priorities should lay, the poverty of the country and its members was ‘staring it in the face’. Bangladesh at that time had just won a costly war of independence in which three million were killed, countless injured, rape of women was systematic, property destroyed and assets lost. There was so much physical, emotional and spiritual need in the country. The church responded through the channelling of aid such as food, medicine and clothes and in the process of rebuilding communities. Once the country had got itself on its feet, needs changed and there was a need for a more long-term approach to assistance.
Therefore in 1982, the Church of Bangladesh Social Development Programme concentrated on educating children and adults (which was especially needed as the Pakistani occupiers had routinely killed teachers and educators); social forestry; sanitation; primary health care and organising groups (of mainly women) for mutual support, as well as learning.
In 1994, the Church of Bangladesh started its successful Micro credit Programme, for with its giving of small loans at low interest, poor families could be “helped to help themselves”. Numerous businesses and concerns were set up by women who may have previously lacked money, but had no shortage of enterprising ideas: milk production, poultry rearing, basket making, small shops, rickshaw/van transport, land leasing for crop or tree cultivation, the hiring out of welding or other equipment, restaurants, tailoring… the list is endless.
Grameen Bank’s Mohammed Yunus was last year honoured with a Nobel Prize for the original development of the highly successful Micro credit concept and it has served CBSDP’s beneficiaries as well as it has served Grameen’s. But Micro credit has its limitations so in the last few years CBSDP has been seeking to expand its portfolio of interventions to assist particularly vulnerable groups of people. This has led to its pioneering Women and Child Trafficking Prevention Project, Arsenic Mitigation Project, HIV/AIDS Project and Climate Change Project, as well as a new emphasis community participation and on rights based and advocacy approaches to work. CBSDP has a lot to celebrate, as well as an exciting horizon of new possibilities to live out the concept of bringing Christ’s jubilee to communities. However, while we are celebrating here, the happiest are those whose lives have been transformed – the communities and individuals with which we work.
That is why it was so appropriate that our main celebrations occurred at village, sub-district and district level involving as many of the local people that we have worked with as possible. Here the celebrations reached fever pitch! Thank God…
• For my marriage to Dipty Linda! And that the ceremonies went really well and were really enjoyable (I will write more about it soon).
• For 25 years of exceptional service to the poor by the Church of Bangladesh.
• That we have a nice flat that we will move into shortly, after we have got it ready.
• Please pray for relief efforts to the victims of Cyclone Sidr. CBSDP is involved in aid and rehabilitation work with those affected.
• Please pray for the complete recovery of my father’s sight after a recent stroke, but thank God that he was able to attend my wedding.
• That God would guide us in developing a role for Linda within the CBSDP, as she will work alongside me in the development work.
• Pray that the President and advisors will have the wisdom and ability to ensure peaceful and fair elections, especially in the light of recent student riots around the country.
• Pray that the effects of the Stop the Traffik networks in the UK, Bangladesh and elsewhere would be successful.
• That Sabina would receive justice and obtain compensation from her traffickers.
• Also, pray for our colleagues in the CBSDP, that God would supply his wisdom and blessing to their life and work.
• That I would have time and motivation to improve my Bengali language skills!
• That we will be able to develop wisely the arsenic mitigation project.
• That the love of God would really touch the hearts of the men, women and girls we are working with and that we would be effective in our activities to uplift them.
James Pender
James Pender Advisor Bangladesh Social Development Programme
Meherpur 15 September 2007 Bangladesh
Dear friends,
Last month I was privileged to attend a ‘South Asia Consultation
On Tackling Newly Emerging Vulnerabilities
Leading To Trafficking In Children and Women
To discuss how the church was addressing this problem within the region. Participants came from the Church of North India (CNI), the Church of South India (CSI), the Baptist Church (North-east India), the Presbyterian Church of India, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of India, the Nepal National Council of Churches, the Bhutan National Council of Churches and the Church of Bangladesh.
There were also regional representatives of the Council for World Mission (CWM) from Jamaica, Zambia and New Zealand, not to mention myself who was there to represent CWM Europe, CMS, USPG, the Methodists and the Church of Scotland. As I travelled – up by train (via Calcutta) and then back by coach (via the north-western most tip of Bangladesh) – the journey in itself was a bit of an adventure.
Darjeeling was cool and wet, with cloud blocking out the view of the mountains, but was still fascinating. The consultation was also very interesting, and although I gave a presentation on the Church of Bangladesh’s ‘Women and Child Trafficking Prevention Project’ (perhaps representing five organisations already wasn’t quite enough although as I had helped start it, I was very happy to do so), my official role was to take notes and write a report for those whom I was representing. There were some incredible speakers on the various panels; in fact so much to learn from. One lady whose slogan was ‘you don’t need funding to work, just get on and do it’ had taken her philosophy quite literally and taken 50 formerly trafficked girls from the red light district in Delhi into her family home! She cared for them all from her university lecturer’s salary and even saw that they received good skills training - from embroidery, to opening and running a restaurant, to even taxi driving.
What’s more, some of these girls are even being trained as social activists, to take over in time the work of rescue and rehabilitation! However, I don’t know whether it was my love of a good cuppa, the intriguing history of Darjeeling or the fact that it seemed like the fate of the area was intimately bound up with the British but it was the photos of Anirban that really pulled me in.
He had been asked to take on a photo project in the tea gardens for the Eastern Himalaya Diocese of the CNI.
What he documented was quite disturbing and I wrote about it for my report. I hope that the following story moves you as much as it did me:
Darjeeling is a charming place; the whole town seems to be perched precariously on the side of steep valleys. In the monsoon season the town is draped in cloud with constant rain and drizzle and it must have been reassuringly like Britain for colonialists escaping the searing heat of the Indian plains. In the spring and autumn, Darjeeling is one of the most beautiful locations in the world – looking out onto wooded hillsides and beyond to the snowy white peaks of the mighty Himalayas, with four out of five of the highest peaks in the world visible. Walking around town, up sharp flights of steps, roads winding up and down the hill, seemingly nothing on the level, the British influence is inescapable.
It was startling to suddenly see a clock tower peeping out from behind a row of shops, identical to those in many a town square within Surrey. Peaked roofed country houses deceive you into thinking that you are in the West Country not West Bengal. A teashop is lifted straight from an English seaside resort. Then there’s St. Andrew’s Church, true both in form and in name to its Scottish heritage.
Even getting to Darjeeling you can still use the narrow gauge mountain railway, which snakes its way along precipices and through forests that originally used a Scottish built steam engine.
This ridge top hill station, established in 1835 as a place where colonials serving the British Raj could take their summer holidays, took on a life of its own with the arrival of tea.
The East India Company was desperate to find a way to break the Chinese monopoly on the tea trade and was fortunate to discover a plant related to the Chinese tea bush, but with bigger leaves, in the jungles of Assam. It was soon discovered that tea grown in the Darjeeling hills 2000metres above sea level developed a special flavour. Tea production flourished and many estates were established, even on near vertical slopes, eventually producing 25 per cent of all India’s tea. Tea production is by necessity labour intensive, leaves needing to be plucked by hand and then carefully processed. Firstly, speed fans reduce moisture content; they are then crushed with rollers before being slightly fermented and then dried.
With such a slow process, the British brought Adivasi people from further west to help in the tea gardens as well as encouraging an influx of Ghurkhas from Nepal to come.
The tea gardens can each employ between 800-5000 people. Traditionally workers received various perks such as blankets, accommodation, clothes and some food in addition to wages. They were not affluent but comfortable and able to afford little luxuries such as photos and albums to keep them in.
Tea bushes have a surprising long working life - similar to the lifespan of a man or woman, optimally up to around 70 years or so. However, in the Darjeeling area tea bushes on many estates are much older than this, and with the general quantity and quality of leaves declining so is income. Really new bushes should be replacing old ones for long-term viability. But we live in a world where ‘cost is king’ and bargains are the order of the day, and most people want cheap tea rather than prices that reflect fair wages and the true cost of production. Because of this, owners can’t afford to replant and estates are closing – leaving thousands destitute.
Thirteen plantations have already closed locally and more are sure to follow suit. Unemployed tea pickers and other employees have only ever known work within the tea industry and do not have the skills to easily find other jobs. Some are finding temporary work as manual labourers on construction sites, but many are not so lucky. However, while opportunities for tea plantation workers are shrinking another industry is booming.
Unscrupulous traders in human flesh are moving in to take advantage of the desperate. Starving families are easily convinced to send their children to cities within India, being promised abounding opportunities and good jobs. Cynical traffickers make sure that a girl or boy takes all their photos with them when they leave home, as without a photo tracing them becomes almost impossible.
Even securing a girl rescued from a brothel – where she is being continuously abused – is difficult without a photo and proof of her identity and age as a ‘minor’. When nothing is heard of a son, daughter or sister for years on end, the pain becomes doubly great, as a family doesn’t even have a photo to remember them by. One mother salvaged one tiny photo from her daughter’s school and keeps it in a wooden box with her most precious objects, the safest place in the house. Why she keeps it was a question that she could not really answer, as now she has almost lost hope of seeing her girl again, but it is all she has left.
It is within this context that the Church of North India’s Diocese of the Eastern Himalayas is working, encouraging communities to be vigilant, and making them aware of the real motives of those traffickers promising better futures within cities, assisting with rescues, counselling and rehabilitation. Combating this evil trade is a mountain to climb, but the community of Darjeeling, who’s most famous son Sherpa Tenzing Norgay was joint first to climb the world’s highest peak, are a determined people.
For they know that in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus called us to be ‘light for the whole world.
A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden’ just like Darjeeling. To be neutral therefore is not an option and with Christ’s crucified power they will ‘liberate the captives’ bringing God’s light into their shattered lives. Thank God…
• For the opportunity given by the consultation and the determination of churches within South Asia to get involved in anti-trafficking work.
• For the successful installation of new deep tube wells in Meherpur (I will write more about this soon). Please pray…
• Pray for the success of the CNI in Darjeeling in preventing trafficking from the tea gardens.
• Please pray for the complete recovery of my father’s sight after a recent stroke.
• That arrangements for my wedding to Linda (including my parents coming out for it) would go smoothly and successfully.
• That a new location and accommodation for us after marriage would be sorted out.
• That God would guide us into the right areas that we should be involved with, and in particular an appropriate role for Linda.
• Pray that the President and his advisors will have the wisdom and ability to ensure peaceful and fair elections, especially in the light of recent student riots around the country.
• Pray that the effects of the Stop the Traffic networks in the UK, Bangladesh and elsewhere would be successful.
• That Sabina would receive justice and would obtain compensation from her traffickers.
• Also, please pray for our colleagues in the CBSDP, that God would supply His wisdom and blessing to their life and work.
• That I would have time and motivation to improve my Bengali language skills!
• That we will be able to wisely develop the arsenic mitigation project.
• That the love of God would really touch the hearts of the men, women & girls we are working with and that we would be effective in our activities to uplift them.
James Pender
It is one o’clock on Saturday morning in Epsom town centre and two uniformed figures approach a man still shouting about his recent refusal to a night club, what next… a confrontation?…an escalation?…no instead a friendly chat to help calm emotions and a listening ear to give some welcome attention. These uniformed figures are Street Pastors.
Street Pastors is an initiative designed to help get the church more visibly present on the streets where it can have an impact for good. Street Pastors are ordinary Christian people who have been trained to go amongst the night life and be there to care, listen and help. As Peter Rice the senior Street Pastor observes “Giving someone your undivided attention for even five minutes can be a rare and powerful experience for many people.” Walking people to a safe place, calling an ambulance, listening and offering ideas about people’s life choices or just being a peaceful presence can all be part of a night’s work for a Street Pastor.
Street Pastors is an initiative of Ascension Trust and it has been going nationally since 2003. Already over 700 have been trained around the UK and in the local region schemes are underway in Kingston, Merton and Sutton. Evidence is available to show a significant impact on crime rates, for example in Camberwell the Metropolitan Police’s own data showed street crime falling by 95% during the six month trial of Street Pastors in that area.
The Epsom Street Pastor has been set up with the agreement and support of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, Surrey Police and Surrey County Council.
David Smith, Chief Executive of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council said ‘We are pleased that Epsom and Ewell Borough Council is involved in piloting the Street Pastor scheme in Surrey. We want people to feel safe when they go out in the Town Centre at night, and believe that the Street Pastors will have an important part to play in this.’
Epsom & Ewell Neighbourhood Inspector Ailsa Quinlan said: “the Epsom Neighbourhood Policing team are looking forward to working with the Street Pastors over the coming months. Surrey Police are always looking for ways to work with new partners to improve upon public reassurance and to ensure people using the facilities in Epsom & Ewell during the evening know there are people there to keep them safe.
Street Pastors in Epsom aims to have a patrol out once a month on Friday nights. They are aiming to grow that into weekly presence and to make that viable would love to hear from those interested in volunteering and who have the support of their church leadership. To be a Street Pastor you need to be over 18 (no upper age limit), a church member and able to commit to a 12 session training course in three groups of four Saturdays over a year. The course includes subjects such as counselling skills, drugs awareness, sociology, knowing your community, role and responsibility, and street safety.
If you are interested please contact Peter Rice (email pecanrice@yahoo.co.uk.)
London to Brighton cycle ride
Sunday 17 June 2007
Tony Blakeburn
Robert
Hill
Karin
Junker
John
Brameld
Andrew
Meech
John said “Andrew come with us”. It could have been the call of one of the first disciples, but it was a “simple” invitation to join Karin & John on the British Heart Foundations (BHF) London to Brighton cycle ride. As we discussed and planned the day we found that Robert had challenged Tony to do the same.
For nearly half a century pioneering scientists sponsored by BHF have contributed to advances in prevention, diagnosis and care that have saved and improved the quality of lives of thousands of people across the UK and the world. But “prevention is better than cure”. Not being physically active is the most common risk factor for heart disease, and latest statistics suggests seven out of ten adults don’t do enough exercise. Here us an example of 5 people who have increased their exercise levels.
I am pleased to report that Karin Junker, John Brameld, Robert Hill, Tony Blakeburn, and I all completed the 54 mile London to Brighton Cycle ride on 17 June, raising just over £3,500 in sponsorship for the British Heart Foundation.
Armed with six bananas, four Alpen breakfast bars and Karin & John, I set out from Clapham Common on Sunday morning at 7.12am, delayed from 6.30am. After 3 hours 45 minutes I reached the cheering crowds on the Brighton seafront. (Okay, 10 minutes after Karin & John!). Alas only one banana was able to cross the line with me. Those bananas that did not return shall be forever remembered!
The first hour was one of bike craft, weaving through 26,999 other cyclists. The second hour was more enjoyable as the gaps opened up and we faced the rolling Sussex Wold. Gradually the South Downs came into view, first appearing as a dark line in the distance, then rising up seemingly like the Massif Central. Where was the energy? Where were the crowds now that I needed them? And so to the £3,500 question: did we “rise on eagles’ wings” at the all important Ditchling Beacon climb? Well Karin & John did, but alas, I grew “weary and tired”. Powered by Bacon butties our slightly maturer men did not grow weary either as both Robert and Tony made it up the Beacon. Whatever the ratio of agony to ecstasy on the climb, the descent onto the seafront in Brighton blew away the disappointment and it is a testimony to the efficiency of my brakes that I did not end up lunching in Boulogne!
So as a team we would like to say, “Thank you” for your support, the cheerful responses to our brazen request for funds and your generous sponsorship. Tony Blakeburn’s sponsorship was matched by his employer so I offered to match my BHF sponsorship with a gift to EMC’s development fund. I was grateful that only Neil Dallen offered to bankrupt me! In all then, just over £3,500 has been raised for the British Heart Foundation and £1,000 for the EMC development fund - always assuming that those of you who have pledged, but not yet coughed up, actually pay! Once again, thank you very much.
Andrew Meech
John, Karin and Andrew - sporting cycling shirts provided by Andrew’s firm – celebrate their arrival on Brighton seafront.
Epsom Methodist Church Monthly e-mail Updates
Each month the webmaster circulates the changes to this site, most can be found on the News page. But this is a reminder that certain information has been updated, changed or deleted.
This group mail is sent to all those that wish this and every e-mail is hidden.
Many get this but there is a new option to JOIN (if you do not get the monthly updates) or if you do you may wish to get yourself REMOVED.
Just use the following CLICK here to send a message to the webmaster, in the Subject line put JOIN EMC LIST or REMOVE EMC LIST, it helps if you are joining to add your name/s as some e-mails are not explicit!
You Took My Parking Space at Church
This should wake us up.
One day, a man went to visit a church. He got there early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near him. The driver got out and said, 'I always park there! You took my place!
After Sunday School which is typical in the USA before the Service, the visitor went into the sanctuary for Worship and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, 'That's where I always sit! You took my place!'
The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still He said nothing.
Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, 'What happened to you?' The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye, 'I took your place.'
When you read this, say a prayer. That's all you have to do.
Author Unknown
Our congratulations to Bill Pryor, a faithful member of EMC, who was invited to meet the Queen at Guildford Cathedral on Maundy Thursday. He said it was a fine service in the Cathedral and a lovely occasion all together.
Billy was waiting in line with other guests, as the Queen made her way from one to another. When she came to him, seeing his white stick, she took hold of his hand and put the Maundy money gift into his hand, speaking to him warmly, and Billy was able to speak with her before she moved along.
We are proud of you Billy and very glad that you were able to respond to
The Queen’s invitation. We hope it will be a day you will always remember.
D J Winwood
Who is Who in the EMC Family
There have been questions raised as to the value of putting pictures of the fellowship on a web site. Whilst we have a very useful albumen of photographs in the Church this is not always available at all times whilst the site is available all the time providing one has access to the Internet either at home/work or perhaps in the local library.
But the most useful is that as a family approaching over five hundred with at least four different services on a Sunday, it is very difficult to find out who is who, this gives the opportunity to not only recognise folk by sight but to know their names.
I have been informed that this is most appreciated by new fellowship folk who are able to get acquainted much more easily, joining a large fellowship can be a daunting task. Whilst we have allocated welcomers for each service in most cases this is only a perfunctory hand shake due to time and not knowing people by name.
Whilst there has been for a few years an index of photographs, this has not been of much help if the name is unknown or forgotten.
There is a new requested snapshot album for you to recognise the person you are seeking, with a link to a larger photograph.
So try out this new requested idea and let me have your feedback, PLEASE
Fellowship Pictures
Following reservations from the EMC Fellowship about Identity Fraud, the webmaster has been informed by the I T Specialists via Epsom Police Station, that a named photograph does not represent any such risks.
In general criminal activities are restricted once a photograph for recognition purposes is shown, the Police also say that credit card details, invoices, bank and consumer accounts etc. are the main source of identity fraud and these should be destroyed, best by shredding rather than just binning.
Needless to say that the option not to have individual’s pictures on the site is a matter of personal choice and this will be respected.
Ps I have had my photograph on at least four website over the last 20 odd years and to date have had no problems
Cliff Douthwaite your webmaster
PLEASE WEAR A POPPY.
"Please wear a poppy," the lady said
And held one forth, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on care-free feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun,
"Lady," said he, "may I have one?"
When she's pinned it on he turned to say,
"Why do we wear a poppy today?"
The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there is the symbol for
The gallant men who died in war.
And because they did, you and I are free -
That's why we wear a poppy, you see.
"I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew
and became a man - as you will, too.
"He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he'd seemed with us such a little while
When war broke out and he went away.
I still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said, Goodbye,
I'll be back soon, Mum, so please don't cry.
"But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night),
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.
"Till at last, at last, the war was won -
And that's why we wear a poppy son."
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said, "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
But your son - did he come back all right?"
A tear rolled down each faded check;
She shook her head, but didn't speak.
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me you'd have done the same;
For our thanks, in giving, if oft delayed,
Though our freedom was bought - and thousands paid!
And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne,
By those who gave their very all
When asked to answer their country's call
That we at home in peace might live.
Then wear a poppy! Remember - and give!
~~By Don Crawford with thanks.~~
