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Development- Youth Hall September 2008
Our Gift Aid Secretary, Peter Wilson has just informed me that the tax refunds for the tax year ended 5 April 2008 has now been received. Tax recovered from donations to the Development Fund amounts to £10,600. Every year the fund benefits from this welcome addition. We are very grateful to all the donors who have signed the Gift Aid Declaration and to Peter Wilson for ensuring that the claims are submitted punctually. The Contractors have not yet issued the final bill for the Phase 1. Indications are that we are within the budget. That should leave just over £60,000 available for the Youth Hall after allowing for the final payment.
Richard Chandra-Rajan (Treasurer, Development Fund)
Youth Hall
You may be delighted to know that the church made a detailed application to the District Advance Fund for a grant towards the costs of the Youth Hall. After a visit from those who administer this fund, an inspection of our site, an interview about our hopes and intentions, and a pledge from the Scout’s about their contribution, we have been awarded the maximum grant of
£50,000 towards this project.We are grateful to God and to the Methodist Church for this support.
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
Early Warning and Request
On Saturday 18th October 2008 at 6.30 pm we would like to share an evening of multicultural celebration and to include a contribution from every nationality represented in the church. There are more nationalities than you may first think! We would also like the same spirit to be carried in to the Sunday worship at 10.30am on the 19th October and hope that you may be willing to participate.
We are arranging for an early evening celebration, so that families can come with children, to join others in our community for an international gathering.
There will be no charge for this evening and there is no need to book!
At the Epsom Methodist Church 2008 Pentecost Service members of the fellowship read the scriptures in
Shanghais, Korean, Melanesian Pidgin, Hebrew, Ghanaian, Ashanti, Urdu, German, Latvian, Portuguese, Spanish, Welsh, Cantonese, Tamil, French including English, Irish and Scottish
Please - think of a song, dance, poem or instrumental contribution that you could bring from within your own culture. Would you be willing to prepare some food which is distinctive of your own culture? It would be great to have a variety in food and in presentation to create a wonderful party for all the world, who could then join us in worship on Sunday.
If you have an idea and are willing to bring a contribution could you please give a note to David or Hazel, with your name and contact details, with an indication of the culture and nationality being represented and a note of the contribution you would bring to the ‘performance’ or to the food table.
We hope to be hearing from you soon.
In thanks and expectation. David Winwood and Team
Breaking news: Gospels to be specially printed 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,
We have just completed the third quarter of the church’s financial year. The giving for these 9 months totals £70,754.90. This compares with £62,246.88 (2003/4), £62,169.14 (2004/5), £68,284.43 (2005/6) and £65,877.17 (2006/7) over the past 4 years. As you can see it is a significant increase. I really am encouraged. This helps us to balance the books for this year and also gives us more confidence for next year.
I am presenting the budget for 2008/2009 to the Church Council tomorrow (as I write). At the moment, even with your increased giving, it is slightly in deficit. As I said last month, this is because of the huge increase in fuel costs. Even today the pundits were forecasting a 47% increase in gas prices and 21% in electricity prices over the next 12 months. That would add a further £4,000 to our gas bill alone.
You will recall the recent catastrophic disasters in Burma (cyclone) and China (earthquake). I was able to send a cheque for £365.16 to MRDF for the Burma appeal and £231.75 for the China appeal. Thank you so much for supporting the recovery work being carried out in these two countries.
You are also continuing to support the work in Zimbabwe. When you read this, you will probably have a better idea of how the presidential elections have gone. But, until then the people of this beleaguered country are suffering dreadfully. Over the past 9 months you have contributed £2,700 (and a further £521.79 in recovered tax).
Thank you – for your continued regular giving – for your response to appeals – for your response to continuing situations – and also to many of you who are also helping to fund a youth pastor and the new youth hall.
Richard Smith
When we were still in the planning stage of our development, a challenge was given to think of different ways of fundraising to help the project along.
A small group shared ideas about opening a weekly buffet style lunch in the Lower Lounge in the style of the former “Lunch Break” 1990- 1998, but with the addition of a hot Dish of the Day.
It was decided to open on the first Wednesday in January 2006 and to plan for six months or so, to see if the concept worked.
Two and a half years on, Wednesday Lunch has become a popular venue for a group of residents who live nearby as well as supported by church friends and contacts.
At the end of May the total sum of £11,675 had been donated to the Development Fund as well as making a monthly contribution towards the cost of using the Lower Lounge and facilities. This total included a monthly donation of £50.
Although greatly enjoyable, it was really hard work. From setting up the room with tables the night before, to shopping, preparing the meals, serving and clearing away at the end, to restore the room from a Restaurant to a Lounge once more, made our efforts unsustainable in the long term.
However, now that Coffee Cup has re-opened, our Wednesday Lunch can follow on in the open and inviting part of the church where tables and chairs are already in place, and a lighter style of meal can be served. Although not so much profit will be made, any surplus monies will go to supporting the fund for the Youth Hall. Bon Appétit
EMC Wednesday lunch staff.
is happening soon!
New format for a new building,
THREE FULL DAYS
Wed 20th, Thurs 21st, and Fri 22nd August.
Games, crafts, songs, plenty of Summer Worship And Praise
and a new afternoon activity session.
Loads of fun and laughter guaranteed!
Disco for all on Sat 23rd and SWAP Celebration Service Sun 24th
Come and join up with old friends or meet new on
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
EMC Mission & Development
By now you would all have experienced the joy of worshiping in our renewed Church. The possibilities for the diversity of use are becoming evident even at these early stages. We are thankful to God for his forbearance with our impatience and for guiding us through the many challenges on the way. During the course of this project I have kept you up to date about the funding through the EMC web site as well as the reports to the EMC Finance Committee and the Church Council. As we prepare for the formal dedication of our renewed premises, this seems an appropriate time to recap once again how the project to date was funded. Here is the financial summary.
Project Cost: Construction Cost 1,293,000 Work outside QS budget
45,000
Professional Fees
238,000
Total
1,576,000
Funded by:
Personal Giving
865,000
Rents received
31,000
Fund-Raising events
74,000
External Grants
606,000
Total
1,576,000
EMC raised £970,000 (62%) of the cost and £606,000 (38%) of the funding came from sources outside EMC. Following is the breakdown of external grants:
Generation Church
1,000
Norwood & Newton Settlement
10,000
Joseph Rank Trust
35,000
Methodist Church- London Committee
10,000
District Advance Fund
50,000
Circuit Advance Fund
500,000
Total
606,000
The Sutton (Surrey) Circuit Meeting on 30 March 2006 was a major turning point. The proposal by a member from another Church in the Circuit that “EMC be granted up to £500,000 from the CAF (Circuit Advance Fund) towards the development project” was adopted by that meeting. That provided the confidence and impetus to move forward resolutely.
Our chances of obtaining these external grants would have been severely hampered had it not been for the substantial sums raised from within the EMC community. We are deeply grateful for your prayers and for your generosity with your time and gifts to support this phase of the redevelopment.
The next phase is to complete the Youth Hall as early as practical. We have already bought the land for this purpose. The infrastructure for the supply of utilities is now in place. The Youth Organisations and the Church are actively engaged in raising the further £500,000 needed to finance the final phase. The amount we are able to raise during the next 6 months would be critical to unlocking the possibilities for further external grants.
Richard Chandra-Rajan (Treasurer- Development Appeal)
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 EMC, Norman Dallen, Cliff Douthwaite, Mark Angel, Peter Townsend, Colin Thomas and of course David Winwood [where he learnt to drum] to name a few and not forgetting Eve Douthwaite who was Captain of the BB Lifeboy's (Junior section) of the 1st Thames Valley BB Company.
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
LIGHT FROM THE ISLES - Pilgrimage 23-29 May 2009
Since my short reconnaissance trip to Scotland in April, I am more convinced than ever that I have just the right formula for our 2009 Pilgrimage. “Light from the Isles” became the obvious title when I saw the fantastic scenery, basked in the ambience of the Western Isles and fell silent in places that inspired so much of our early Christian history. I have been truly encouraged by the response from Carshalton and Epsom Methodist Churches and other friends. Clearly people enjoyed our 2005 North East England pilgrimage and are now ready for more.
The scope of our pilgrimage is wider this time. We will take in not just parts of the North East, such as Holy Island and Durham, the resting place of St. Bede and St. Aidan; but also sacred sites such as Whithorn in Galloway, where St. Ninian established his early church. Then it is on to Glasgow, where we will view the Cathedral and the Necropolis, which has to be seen to be believed. From there we will progress along Loch Lomond and stay in the glorious fishing port of Oban.
From Oban we will be able to journey west across Mull - a glorious coach ride over the mountains to Iona which is reached by a small ferry across the Hebridean Sea. There we will visit the abbey of Iona, built on the ancient site of St. Columba’s church. This is a truly wonderful place where the veil between heaven and earth feels gossamer thin. Having whetted our appetites for things Celtic we will press on to Edinburgh and the mysterious Templar Church of Rosslyn, made famous by the Da Vinci Code.
Along our route we will visit Dumfries, home to Scotland’s national poet Robbie Burns. At Whithorn there will be a mix of things spiritual together with our own Scottish night, reminiscent of a Burns night celebration, complete with haggis, tatties and neeps! We are told that another spirit sometimes creeps into such occasions, but as good Methodists ?
Pilgrimage is part of a soul making process; its benefits are hard to define but no-one returns quite the same. If this appeals to you then tell me now. I will be restricting our pilgrimage to thirty places to ensure that everyone experiences the benefits of a smaller group.
Limited to 30 places to create a more intimate group.
Our 2009 half-term holiday pilgrimage offers a wonderful opportunity to discover Lindisfarne, Isle of Whithorn and Iona where the light of Celtic Christianity was kindled in 4th-6th century Britain. These are truly wonderful places where the veil between heaven and earth feels very thin. Our journey begins and ends in the North East allowing you to travel by plane, train or motor car. You may even care to add a few extra days at the beginning or end of our journey. We will offer help to arrange your travel to and from the North East in small groups, if you wish.
A wonderful pilgrimage for £550 - Single room supplement £75
Included
● Luxury coach travel in Northumbria, Galloway and the Western Highlands
● 6 nights bed and breakfast accommodation in comfortable hotels
● Scottish Evening - Burns Night style
● 6 dinners
● Ferry and coach trip to the islands of Mull and Iona
● Entry fees to Burns House, the Whithorn Experience and Rosslyn Chapel
Not included
● Travel to and from your pick up/drop off points in the North East
● Lunches and drinks at dinner
● Personal donations and expenditure
● Holiday insurance
We recommend early booking. For further details please call us:
Tour Leader – Rev Simon Leigh Tel 020 8835 2523
Tour Managers – David and Sue Forty Tel 020 8643 5520 - Email sue_forty@lineone.net
Itinerary
Saturday 23 May
We arrive in the North East at our coach pick up points and enjoy the drive into Northumbria. We hold our welcome meeting before dinner at the Lindisfarne Inn, close to the causeway leading to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.
Sunday 24 May
We walk along the sands at Bamburgh before crossing the Lindisfarne causeway at low tide. After a moment of reflection at the foot of St Aidan’s statue, we have free time to experience the island community while it is cut off by the tide. We hope to hold our Aldersgate Day service in the island church before returning to the Lindisfarne Inn for dinner.
Isle of Whithorn fishing harbour
Monday 25 May
We follow the route of Hadrian’s Wall across to southern Scotland. We stop for lunch in the pretty town of Dumfries and visit the last home and mausoleum of the Scottish poet, Robert Burns. We continue west to reach our two hotels at the tranquil Isle of Whithorn overlooking the Solway Firth. Dinner is served in the Steampacket Inn tonight.
Tuesday 26 May
We enjoy a relaxing day in and around the Isle of Whithorn. Our two hotels are close to St Ninian’s Chapel and there is a pilgrim walk along the shore to St Ninian’s Cave. In the afternoon we visit the Whithorn Experience and site of St Ninian’s Candida Casa (“shining light”) built in 397AD. We return to the Steampacket Inn for our Scottish Evening – to be celebrated Burns Night style.
Wednesday 27 May
Today’s drive is northwards along a glorious coastline to reach Glasgow by lunchtime. We ascend to the amazing Necropolis overlooking Glasgow Cathedral with time to make brief visits to the Cathedral and the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art. In the afternoon we drive along the shores of Loch Lomond and arrive at the 4 star Caledonian Hotel on the quayside at Oban. Hotel dinner is served.
Thursday 28 May
We journey by ferry and coach to Mull through glorious scenery and reach the remote island of Iona. Here we can have our lunch and visit the abbey built on the site of St Columba’s church. We return to the mainland for a relaxing dinner and evening together.
Friday 29 May
Perhaps stroll along the quayside at Oban before our mid morning departure for Edinburgh. South of the city we visit the mysterious Rosslyn Chapel with its Knights Templar and Da Vinci Code connections. Our coach drops us at our departure points for our return to home or optional additional days away.
Youth Hall Fund Raising
Here is an opportunity to support fund raising for the new Youth Hall,. Some of you will know that Tony Froud will be cycling across the north east of Spain at the end of April 2008 in order to raise funds for the Youth Hall. This is a 420 mile trip so he will need to cover around 60 miles per day. This is an invitation to support Tony in this venture by sponsoring him.
Please use this online very secure site.............here
Please note this site is used by all the major charities and is a quick and easy way of paying online,
without the need for cash or cheques, so be brave and move into the 21 st Century!
Most credit cards are accepted and you can sponsor with a Gift Aid addition if you are a Tax payer.
Thank you, Tony and Bernice Froud.
See a selection of pictures for this ride.................here
There are also forms in the Epsom Methodist Church Office.
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.
