from the editor - St John's Felbridge

FROM THE EDITORVICAR: The Rev Stephen Bowen,The Vicarage, Felbridge,West Sussex RH19 2QTTel: 01342 321524;Fax: 0870 9156268stjohnschurchoffice@googlemail.comVicar’s day off: ThursdayASSOCIATE MINISTER:Michael Peach5 Burns Way, East Grinstead,West Sussex RH19 1SATel: 01342 312406michaelstevenpeach@googlemail.comMichael’s day off: FridayI’m really happy to have just joined theExplorer (6-9 yr olds) team. I hope thatI help the Explorers to know Jesus, butI know that I will also learn a lot fromthem, with their bold and simpleprayers, and their fantastic sense of funand the ridiculous (read “joy” - a moretheological word).There’s lots that goes on at St John’s,and I’m really grateful to everyone whohas welcomed me so well into thevarious goings-on.I thought it would be good if the wholechurch could be updated with what thedifferent groups are doing. So if there’sanything you’re up to and you’d like toshare it, please get in touch :-).Cover photo:Trees in the snow atsunriseby Brenda WilkinsonLouise RussellMARCH: Articles for the March Issue to be with Louise Russell bySunday 14th February. Publication 28th February.Please e-mail your articles to parishmagstjohns@googlemail.comor send to Louise at Fircroft, Furzefield Road, East Grinstead, RH192JN.1

STEPHEN WRITES…DEAR FRIENDS,Lent begins in the middle of February– Ash Wednesday falls on the 17th.Do people remember the concept of‘giving something up for Lent’? Ifthey do, it may well be linked in theirminds with some sort of dieting –giving up sweets or alcohol, for thesake of their health.Nothing wrong with that, but it wasnot the original idea! The originalconcept was to get ready to celebratethe great events at the very heart of theChristian faith – the death andresurrection of Christ. This was oftenlinked with the idea of journeyingwith Christ through the forty days ofhis temptation in the wilderness.It was a preparation for the great feastof Easter.Giving things up may seem a negativeform of spirituality – but giving upsweets or alcohol or TV pales intoinsignificance beside the call of Jesuswho said, “Any of you who does notgive up everything he has cannot bemy disciple.” (Luke ch. 14 verse 33).At a time when large crowds weretravelling with him (Luke ch.14 verse25), instead of revelling in suchpopularity, he issued one of hissternest warnings: “If anyone comesto me and does not hate his father andmother, his wife and children, hisbrothers and sisters—yes, even hisown life—he cannot be mydisciple.” (verse 26).What sort of person could make sucha claim on his followers’ completeloyalty? Imagine such words on thelips of any other teacher or leader!It is extraordinary that Jesus, whotaught people to love one another,should ever have used the word‘hate’. Perhaps it was in order to drivehome the point that the loyalty,commitment and devotion he wascalling for must come streets ahead ofour loyalty, commitment and devotionto anyone else in the world. If everthere is a conflict of interests, he mustcome first in the lives of hisfollowers. Even above their concernfor their own lives!What he calls for is radicaldiscipleship – going to the very rootsof our lives. All over the world and allthrough Christian history, trueChristians have served Christ in thatspirit. Nothing else is worthy of aSaviour who gave up his life for us.Yours sincerely,2

IN THE GARDENIt is more difficultthan usual to writethis column whilstthe garden is stillthickly covered in10 inches of snow, as I am finding ithard to even imagine working in thegarden or what joys of early springmay be hidden under the snow. Up to apoint, there is a certain delight in beingunable to do anything outside and justenjoy a guilt-free rest!I imagine that during the prolongedcold spell we may well have lost someplants: the cerinthe certainly and theCalifornian poppies, which wouldnormally survive milder winters, andprobably tender cuttings or anythingthat prefers warmer climes. Last winterwe lost several things, including twolarge oleanders. Luckily, when wewere in Cyprus this year for Christmas,we were able to collect oleander seedpods and hope to start off some newplants.February is a good time to startpreparing the soil for planting,especially for vegetables, by removingweeds then digging in plenty ofcompost. We have ordered our onionsets and seed potatoes. This year wewill try varieties Accord, Maris Piperand Yukon Gold. Real winners lastyear were the borlotti beans andbutternut squash (but you do needplenty of room for the squash) as theyproduced an abundant harvest for littletrouble and the beans were socolourful! It’s also a time whendeciduous shrubs can be moved, ifnecessary, so long as one digs out alarge rootball. This is the month, too,to cut buddleias back to about 2 feetfrom the ground.Snowdrops, sometimes called ‘StAgnes Flowers’ have been flowering insome gardens since January, althoughours are a late flowering variety. Theyare said to be a symbol of purity andtheir appearance coincides withCandlemas, on 2nd February, theceremony of the purification of Maryafter the birth of Jesus. Snowdropsreadily multiply into mature clumpsand if dividing this should be doneimmediately after flowering as theyshould always be planted ‘in thegreen’. Why not pass on a clump to afriend?February should be the month in thegarden when everything starts to comealive again. The birds sing and thecamellias are encouragingly covered infat buds. Bulbs of all kinds arepushing their way through the soil andby the end of the month there shouldbe carpets of cyclamen, crocuses andsnowdrops. Isn’t the natural worldwonderful?Maureen Reynolds3

REGULAR EVENTSThrough the week at St. John’sSundays8am10am5pm6.30pmHoly Communion (2nd & 4th Sundays in the month)Morning ServiceFamily Service (1st Sunday in the month)Raise The Roof (3rd Sunday in the month)Evening ServiceTuesdays12.45 pm Food for Thought, Zion Church2 pm WI first Tuesday of the month in the Village HallWednesdays2 pm Watercolour on WednesdaysThursdays10.30 am WIGS at the Old Pheasantry, Woodcock Hill (home of June Clark)6-7.30pm JAFFA club in the Church hall on the first Thursday of each monthSaturdays8 am Prayer Breakfast on first Saturday morning in the Church Hall(Jesus a friend for all)A fun action-packed evening for children in school years 3-6Meetings on the first Thursday of the month4th February, the Church HallLots to do – Bible teaching, games and craftFor details of how to apply to join contact Diane Francis4

FAMILY LIFEBivvy bags, icicles and honeycombWhen weawoke one January morning to findthe garden, the driveway and the carcovered in eight inches of snow, wedid not, for the first time in severalyears hurtle outside to build asnowman and sledge down the hill inthe backgarden - we knew that schoolwould be closed and that we’d havethe rest of the day to play in the snow!So, while Chris donned his thermalsand wellies, ready to walk to work, wesat and planned how we were going tospend our day, not realising that thatday would turn into five days. At timeslike these I am very glad that I am a‘stay-at-home-mum’, I’m not surewhat we would have done if I’d had tojuggle work, walking the dog andlooking after children. And even if wedid have family members who livednearby, I’m not sure that we wouldhave been able to reach them, beingquite isolated, living on a farm.So, it was just me, the boys and thedog for several days, with Chrisjoining us in the evenings—not havingan excuse for not being able to get towork!Now Pippin needs walking whateverthe weather, so the boys had no choicebut to put on their waterproofs, thicksocks, wellies, hats and gloves to bravethe cold. I really regretted not spending£25 on buying snowboots this year!There were times when one of us gotupset with the other—especially whenit involved cold ice trickling down theneck! And there were times, when,having just spent ten minutes puttingon waterproofs, hats, gloves, coats andwellies, we would go out only to comein again minutes later and take thewhole lot off, because someone hadbeen pushed in the snow or had asnowball thrown in their face and hadgot too cold to stay outside.Hopefully, it will not be thoseinstances that will stick in ourmemories, but these: the fantastic timewe had zooming down a hill on a bivvybag, which worked just as well as asledge once we’d slid down the hill acouple of times; or watching Pippinchase the snowballs we threw;smashing the ice in the pony’s troughwith Grandpa’s axe; makinghoneycomb that stuck our teethtogether; discovering the icicles thathad grown on the old Christmas tree;or walking all the way up a slushyDunnings road into town and sitting onthe floor of Queens’ Walk eating hotchips.Lindsey Saunders5

WHAT’S HAPPENINGSunday services in February7th Feb14th Feb21st Feb28th Feb10am Family Service with Kevin Defriend6.30pm Holy Communion with Stephen Bowen8am Holy Communion with Stephen Bowen10am Morning Prayer with Michael Peach6.30pm Evening Prayer with Stephen Bowen10am Holy Communion with Don Ely5pm Raise the Roof - The Worship Service (see p13)6.30pm Evening Prayer with Stephen Bowen8am Holy Communion with Jack Baker10am Morning Prayer at 10am with Stephen Bowen6.30pm Evening Prayer with Michael PeachForthcoming EventsMon 1st FebTue 2nd FebSat 6th FebSat 13th FebWed 17th FebSat 27th FebTraining to Lead: Understanding a Bible passage,Michael & Lizzy’s house, 8-9.30pmChristianity Explored, Michael & Lizzy’s, 8-9pmPrayer Breakfast, Church Hall, 8-9amMen’s Breakfast, 8.30-9.30pmPrayer on Wednesday 8-9pmBarn Dance, The Haven Centre, Crawley Down,7.30pm (see p17)6

Tribute to Alec King, d. 22nd November 2009These few words show Alec’s worth,Symbolic of his life on earth.Rosemary for the remembrance of Alec’s life,Who in the midst of any Felbridge strifeWould use his voice to rise above the crowdAnd tell District Council, nice and loud,Of the error of their often foolish waySo that Felbridge could live to fight another day.Campaigning tirelessly over many a decade,Felbridge has not let Alec’s achievements fadeAnd on the Village Green, for all who care to see,Are several hornbeam trees planted in his memoryAs longest serving Parish Councillor of thirty-six yearsWho gave freely his time to allay many Felbridge fears.Alec’s interests in life were varied and wideParticularly in the history of Felbridge side.He was instrumental in publishing a local book,As well as a footpath map for those who care to lookAt Felbridge, not driving through but slowly and on foot,Clad in water-proof coat and wellie boot!Now Alec too is consigned to the pages of historyBut his achievements are there for all to see.Think of him as you watch the hornbeams grow,Or when through Felbridge on foot you go,And the past that Alec so keenly preserved,Like him, will be remembered by the community he served.All these words show Alec’s worth,Symbolic of his life on earth.Composed by Stephonie Clarke, on behalf of the Felbridge &District History Group7

FELBRIDGE WILDLIFEMaking TracksLast month's Winter Wonderland maynot have been loved by thoseinconvenienced by all the cold, white,wet stuff but when else could we see acock bullfinch in scarlet, grey andblack, perched on a snow-coveredraspberry cane against a blue sky?Parties of redwings and fieldfaresventuring into gardens often left one ortwo visiting the birdtable; a pair of piedwagtails also bobbed amid the fallenbird seed and four robins disputedpotential territorial boundaries.Above all, it was the presence of somany tracks that rewarded a littledetective work. Here was a foxtrotstraight across the lawn; prints from arabbit that hopped the other way, itsback feet landing ahead of its frontpaws. Here the slotted feet of a deerthat risked the A22 by the pond; here aduck had waddled, there a cat hadwiddled; the stately step of a pheasantdwarfed the pairs of feet of a blackbirdthat hopped it.Now the Great Thaw has come tojustify the term Filldyke February, withgutters, ditches overflowing and eventhe local council's slush fund has allbeen spent.In the warming air, columns ofWinter gnats are appearing ascendingand descending like "the tiny pistonsof a bright machine" as a poet Wilburdescribed.Through it all, a couple of greysquirrels were leaping through ourhorse chestnut branches and onebadger emerged from its deepbracken-lined sett, judging by verysubstantial paw marks.Too soon for the Great GardenBirdwatch, a buzzard flew overWoodcock Hill, a party of sixlapwings headed up the A22 and'Snatch' the local sparrowhawk struckagain.Now, as snowdrops, the CandlemasBells, flower again, Spring reminds usof hope eternal. We shall be traced bythe tracks we leave through life.Peter Bateman8

MISSION UPDATESt. John’s mission giving is helping incountries from Bolivia…Thanks to your giving on Mission GiftDay, St. John’s was able to send£841.94 to Tearfund. This money isbeing used to support its worldwideprojects through the local church,transforming poor communities incountries such as Bolivia.Don Pedro Calderon and his familyhave never had the luxury of a localsupermarket. Living at 3,000m abovesea level in the Andes, their daily menuconsists of potatoes and wheat – stillthe only option for most Quechuapeople in remote areas.Tearfund partner Setesur is workingwith local churches in Chuquisaca andPotosi to train volunteers to promoteeducation in health, nutrition andfarming. Families are building greenhousesand planting fruit trees toimprove their diets.Don Pedro says, “Before, each one ofus went about own business… butthanks to the project we are nowworking together. I have a greenhouseand have learnt how to producecabbage and lettuce, which willimprove our diet. What I am mostpleased about is learning the word ofGod, which is helping us to grow strongin our spiritual lives.”… to ZimbabweThe rains came to Zimbabwe inDecember, but no one complained. Thedry grass steadily turned from brown togreen as the soil was refreshed. In acountry where nearly 2 million peopleare expected to face food shortages thisyear, farmers are busily getting theirseeds in the soil in the hope of a goodcrop that will keep them and theirfamilies alive.Tearfund is funding local partners tohelp with this work. The challenge ofshortages in seeds, fertiliser, cattle forploughing and tools, means that they arehaving to teach new skills in verydifficult circumstances.One partner, River of Life, is traininglocal church volunteers in conservationfarming techniques which they can passon to their communities. These can resultin a threefold increase in crop yieldcompared with traditional methods.Tearfund is also funding the EbenezerAgricultural Training Centre as it takeson 21 new apprentices in a far-sightedproject to encourage a new generation ofbetter educated farmers.Tearfund hopes that 10,000 Zimbabweanfarmers will benefit from its programmesthis year, but the country’sfragile economic and political situationstill needs your prayersGordon Wilkinson9

VILLAGE MATTERSParish Councillor Mrs. Joan Harwoodexpressed her thanks to Mr. Patel forbraving the ice and snow every day totravel to the village shop to keep alifeline open for local residents andmanaging to keep up a supply ofessential foods which were muchappreciated.Felbridge Brownies and Cubs aretaking part in the Bowling Clubcompetition in Crawley on the 20thJanuary - we wish them good luck. TheBrownies are joining the District groupat the Hawth entertainment on theFriday 5th February. This is also thedate for the Guide Centenarycelebration and official opening of theexhibition at the East GrinsteadMuseum.The History Group will be meeting onthe 31st January at 2.30pm and this willinclude a talk on the Wells family ofImberhorne Farm. Frank Wells wasborn at Tilkhurst and becamegamekeeper on the Blount estate.Journals of the family will be includedin the talk. Contact Stephonie on 01342715830 or visit www.felbridge.org.uk.Members of the Womens Institutejoined with others in the Border groupto help decorate one of seventyChristmas trees displayed at Wisleyalong the paths of the gardens whichmade a very innovating and attractivewalk. Another box of goodies for theForces will be sent out just beforeEaster. We plan to include a day oflocal short walks and lunch in futureprogrammes. The speaker booked forJanuary has broken her wrist and wasunable to come, but we had a verypleasant afternoon with Ann Kentgiving a demonstration of Euconic art,with heated wax designs on card.The next WI meeting will be onTuesday 2nd February at the new timeof 1.30pm. The speaker will be talkingabout gardening without aches andpains! Contact 322 302 for moredetails.Nineteen year old Jonty Eggingtonfrom Felbridge has produced, with helpfrom other youngsters, an hour and ahalf long film called RH11. Itconcerns the life of six teenagers livingon an estate and the difficult choicesthey have to make for their future. Itwas shown at the Hawth theatre on17th January to a sell-out audience of500 people. Congratulations Jonty!Daphne AyerstGrowing old is mandatory; growing wise is optional… and growing up is completely unnecessary.10

VILLAGE SHOPLocated on the Crawley DownRoad opposite the School.Buy your newspapers, freshvegetables, meats, and deliciouscakes & bread from Fellowes ofArdingly Bakery here.ATM Cash machine.Fine inexpensive wines and evena dry-cleaning serviceand photocopying!!NEIGHBOURHOODPANEL MEETING24th March at 7pmIn the Village HallPARISH COUNCILMEETINGOn 4th February at 7.30pmIn the Village HallFELBRIDGE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY18th FebruaryThe Village Hall, 8pm1st Hedgecourt Scout GroupFelbridge Village HallWed: Beavers: 6:15-7:15pmCubs/Scouts:6:30-8:00pmSimon Bennett 01342 322237Felbridge Flyers(model aircraft)Stuart Willis01293-402733It’s time to start playing with fire!Paula Blake is taking part in a fundraising event for the St Raphael’s Hospice inSutton, Surrey on the 23rd February...Paula says, “I will walking barefoot over red hot embers burning at over 1200 F. Apparentlyits a test of mind over matter. At my age, I should know better!“It is a very worthy charity and if anyone is interested in joining me, more volunteersare needed! Please visit www.straphaels.org.uk or any sponsorship will be gratefullyreceived at www.virginmoneygiving.com/paulablake.”Paula (01342 714647)11

WHY BELIEVE?This month, Mandy Bowen tells us how she’s grown with God...As a small child of about four, I wentto Sunday school in the afternoons.My parents had become Christians andthat was the change it made to me! Iliked the Bible stories, and learningabout the church, the Lord's Prayerand the Creed were all part of it (Iwasn't so keen on being left therewithout my mum and dad, though, as Iwas a very shy little thing!). So Godhas been someone I believed about formost of my life.It was in my early teens thatmore challenging thingshappened to me and I realisedthat there was a decision to bemade as to whether I decidedto follow Christ for myself ornot. The church and youthgroup I went to were verygood and clear on thesematters, so knowing there was achoice was part of it all and I neededto give it thought!I became a Christian in my mid teens– taking the walk on for myself.Going on from there God has ofcourse never let me down. I haveoften let him down, needless to say.Meeting the “new curate” at mychurch just as I went away to collegewas rather exciting(!) and when wedecided to get married I returned tomy home church as the Curate’s Wife!Being involved with people's lives atdeep levels has sometimes been themeans of my growth as a Christian. Irealise the privilege of that trust, andalso that there is no possibility ofcoping with the ups and downs oftheir lives, or my own, relying on myown strength. This has always drivenme to reading the Bible regularly,making time for God and for churchfellowship, even when it is not easy.Listening to other people expoundingGod's Word, and reading andsharing have been, and ofcourse still are, invaluable tomy growth and goingforward.In my life there have beenspiritual setbacks and thedoldrums, but God neverchanges. When I see peoplemanaging without God, I find it hardto imagine how they cope with thedifficult things or find real deep joy inthe good things. But more than that, Ifeel a sense of urgency that they aremissing out on the biggest thing:knowing God and that he has a planfor them here and now, for the futureand eternally, from before they wereeven born! This is enough to drive meback to God and his strength, not onlyto live out my own life, but somehowpoint them to God.Mandy Bowen12

Church Bulletin Bloopers!The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermontonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile atsomeone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't caremuch about you.Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nurserydownstairs.Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to berecycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceasedperson you want remembered.The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment andgracious hostility.Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church.Please use large double door at the side entrance.Sent in by DaphneTHE WORSHIP SERVICEA service which says it like it means it, withfunky music, dance and drama. Join us forthe next instalment on…Sunday 21st FebruaryRehearsal 3.15pm Scrummy tea 4.30pmService 5-5.40pmIf you’d like to join in playing an instrument, acting, dancing or singing -young or old, beginner or pro - contact Kris Defriend on 01342 312788 ork.defriend@sky.com.13

THE TOY SERVICEOnce again I am amazed at thegenerosity of St. John’s ChurchFamily. On the Monday morningfollowing the Toy Service, I tookone hundred and twenty three toysand games, plus sixty five poundsin vouchers and cash, one case andthree bags full of clothes toWelcare for the children andfamilies in need.Just to see the delight on the faces ofthe staff when I arrived was enoughfor me, and I drove back feeling likeMother Christmas.THANK YOU ALL SO VERYMUCH.Should any one wish to know moreabout Welcare, please ask me; I willbe only too pleased to answerquestions.Rona BinghamAdam and the Three Wise MenIt was Christmas time many years ago. Our son Adamwas about 4 or 5 years old and we were visiting hisgrandparents in London.On a shopping outing, as we walked along a very busyOxford Street with Adam between us, his motherand I suddenly saw an African gentleman, in full,beautifully coloured, African robes, with his wife andfamily coming towards us through the crowd.Adam watched him carefully pass.A little later, as we entered a large department store, an Arab gentlemanwearing full Arab dress and headgear was coming out.Adam showed great interest.Not far inside the store was another gentleman in full eastern regaliacomplete with fez, who passed us heading towards the exit.I felt a tug on my hand and as I looked down, a puzzled looking Adam said,“Daddy, I think I’ve just seen the three wise men!!”14John Dabell

TREE OF LIGHT SERVICESt Catherine’s Hospice Remembrance ServiceThe Tree of Light is a very specialway to remember family and friends atChristmas time. Tree of Light servicesare held in December giving people anopportunity to reflect and remembersomeone by lighting a candle andthe names of those special to uscan be entered in the St.Catherine’s Remembrancebook. On Sunday 13thDecember we held our third Treeof Light Service at St. John’s and itseems this has now become anannual event for us at St. John’s. Iunderstand from the Hospice thatour donations amounted to£258.30.I would like to say thank you toeveryone who helped to make the Treeof Light service such a success. Somany people helped in so many ways:Thank you to Lis Scott for donatingthe tree, Di Giles and Tony Jones inarranging for the tree to be delivered tothe church and the planting. To DavidMiller – without his help the lightswouldn’t have worked at all!!To Barry and Helen and the choir forarranging the music. To Rona whoenlisted the help of East Grinstead FireService once again. They very kindlycame and put the lights on the tree andmade sure everything was safe. ToPeter Burton who offered hisassistance so willingly bothbefore and during the service.To Lyn Skinner and her teamfrom St Catherine’s who servedthe teas and coffees after theservice. To Ann Morley for thebeautiful flowers and also for hersupport and guidance. To AnneButler, who is there for me everyyear! To the Mission Team and theChurch Family who helped in somany ways.It was a very special evening. Over 100people came to the service and lit acandle in remembrance of someoneclose to them. We felt it wasworthwhile and filled a need at whatcan be a very sad time for many peoplewho have lost someone close to them.Jenny YoungThey say kids brighten the home.That's because they never turn the lights off.15

CHURCH CENTRE PROJECTProgress Report: January ’10Praise the Lord! Tandridge DistrictCouncil [TDC] granted planningpermission on 18 th December 2009,subject to a few conditions, whichinclude starting the developmentwithin 3 years. We thank God that thedetailed documents (Design andAccess Statement and SupportingStatement for Special Circumstances)prepared by the Architect DerekKemp, together with the designationof the area of Felbridge being changedfrom Green Belt to Green BeltSettlement during the planningprocess, helped to gain permission atthe first attempt.Details of the application, commentsand approval can still be seen on theTDC web site, using reference number2009/1327 in the planning applicationsearch box, then clicking search, thenview details then view applicationdetails.On 19 th January the PCC approved thefollowing: Setting up a Fund Managementteam to coordinate all the appealactivities. Establishing a target figure forPhase 1 of the works (the mainentrance and social spacealongside the north wall of thechurch). Proceeding with the technicalsurveys required by the Architect(soil investigation, drains &sewers survey etc). Proceeding with a detailed batsurvey during the summer season(a condition imposed by TDC).Other improvements under reviewinclude: Adding better lighting in the carpark Fixing translucent blinds to thesouth windows in the church toreduce glare (final measurementsshould have been taken thismonth) Double glazing the hall windowsand doors (final configurationshould be confirmed with thesupplier this month)Another milestone achieved, but stilla long journey ahead...John Grainger (Chair CCPT)16

BARN DANCESATURDAY27 TH FEBRUARYatTHE HAVEN CENTRE,CRAWLEY DOWN7.30pm – 11pm£15 per person (includes Ploughman’sSupper) or £75 for a table of 6 peopleDrinks available from Licensed BarCome and let your hair down dancing to “Halligan’s Bar” orif you can’t dance have a fun evening watching others try outtheir fancy footwork!For tickets please telephone Cecilia Bliss 01342 718441or Sheila Drury 01342 323865All proceeds to St. John’s Church Building Project17

MISSION PAGEChurch Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS) Summer VenturesI am sure nearly all of us thought aboutthe summer—even if only briefly—during the recent snow and freezingtemperatures. What did we think about:the weather being warm and sunny, ordid we think about going awaysomewhere?The CPAS (and other organisations likeScripture Union) run summer venturesfor children and young people aged 8-18. These are holidays of about a weekwith a range of activities, from thebeach to mountain walking and varioussports or art and drama activities.Whilst definitely adventure holidays,they also include clear, interesting andrelevant teaching on the Christiangospel message, so they are also aninvestment in the lives of the youngpeople.Falcon camps are more specialistventures for children from poorercommunities, often with troubledbackgrounds. Consequently thesecamps have to be heavily subsidisedand require a high leader to child ratio.Falcon Camps often provide thechildren with their first opportunity toexperience the countryside or the seaand this can reveal that there arealternatives to the type of life they haveso experienced so far. A reoccurringcomment from children who haveattended these camps is ‘this is the firsttime an adult has listened to, or taken aninterest in me;’ a sad commentary on18the state of family life, and indeedBritish society, in some parts of ourcountry.Falcon Camps include the sameChristian teaching as other venturesbut obviously tailored to the needs ofthe group. Is it effective? Wellapparently last summer, a coachreturning from one of the camps brokedown. The driver and the leaders gotout to investigate. After a short timethey could see nothing obviouslywrong and the coach restarted. Thechildren let on that since they had beenlearning about prayer all week theyhad prayed for the coach to be fixed sothat they could get home. Theybelieved that their prayer had beenanswered.CPAS asks for people to pray for thechildren and young people who willattend ventures this year and also forthe leaders of these ventures.Becoming a leader on a venture can bethe start on a path to wider leadershipwithin the church.Materials, advice and training forchurch leaders and is a significant partof CPAS’s activities. Attendance at aventure is often the starting point onsuch a journey, although certainly notthe only one. It certainly has been inthe past for more than one child fromFelbridge; shall we make it so again?Glen Jones

TIME TO GET ON YOUR BIKE FORCHARITY CYCLE CHALLENGE IN CUBA!If you are looking for an exciting challenge in 2010and want to make a difference to a very worthycause, please join up for ‘Cycle Cuba’ in aid of TheChildren’s Trust. This special event will take place from 28 thNovember to 6 th December to help raise funds for The Children’sTrust, a national charity which provides care, education and therapyfor children with multiple disabilities and complex health needs, andrehabilitation services to children with an acquired brain injury.The five-day, 350km challenge will start at the Bay of Pigs onCuba’s southern coast, following a route along the Caribbean coastlineto the old town of Trinidad, cycling through forests of pine andeucalyptus before reaching the spectacular scenery of the NationalPark of Topes de Collantes and impressive Escambray mountains.To find out more, please visit www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/cuba. Tosecure your place on this exciting adventure - or if would like aninformation pack providing full details, including registration feeand sponsorship, please email: nina.jackson@btinternet.com ortelephone 020 8748 5669. An informal ‘Cycle Cuba’ InformationMeeting will take place at The Children’s Trust, Tadworth Court,Tadworth, Surrey KT20 5RU on Saturday, 16 th January at 2 pm.Help! Please help!There must be some of you reading this who could find 1-2 hoursonce in 2 months to help clean our church. Many of our dedicatedteam have been serving in this role for years and our numbers ourdropping. Cleaning is not a popular task for any of us but it is onesmall way we can honour God - do join us. To find out more pleasespeak to Carole Grainger or phone 325482.19

Miranda left work early so that she could havesome uninterrupted study time right before thefinal in her Youth Issues class. When she gotto the hall, everybody was doing their lastminute studying.The lecturer came in and said he would revisewith us for just a little bit before the test. They went through thematerial, most of which was in the study guide - but there weresome things he was reviewing that the students had never heard of.When questioned about it, he said that it was in the book and theywere responsible for everything in the book. They couldn't reallyargue with that.Finally it was time to take the test."Leave your papers face down on the desk until everyone has oneand I'll tell you to start," the lecturer instructed.When they turned over their papers, every answer on the test wasfilled in! The bottom of the last page said the following:"This is the end of the Final Exam. All the answers on your test arecorrect. You will receive an 'A' on the final exam. The reason youpassed the test is because the creator of the test took it for you. Allthe work you did in preparation for this test did not help you get theA. You have just experienced...grAce."Some of the group had studied for hours and some just a fewminutes, but all had received the same grade. It reminded them of astory Jesus once told...The owner of a vineyard hired people to work in his field and agreedto pay them a certain amount. At various points throughout the day,he hired more workers. When it was time to pay them, they all receivedthe same amount. When those who hadbeen hired first thing in the morning started tocomplain, the boss said, "Should you be angrybecause I am kind?" (Matthew 20:15).Mikey’s Funnies20

CHURCH FAMILY NEWSNews & ThanksBelated congratulations to Gordon and Brenda Wilkinson who celebrated their40th wedding anniversary on 21st December. Snow, ice and the Carols byCandlelight service (with the power cut thrown in) helped them celebrate in style!Please make time to welcome any new people that you notice are moving into Felbridge.There are a lot of new developments which are gradually being sold andpeople are moving in. It would be good to introduce them to their parish church aswell as being a friendly face.We do thank everyone who put in such a lot of effort over the Christmas period tomake our services attractive and centered on Jesus’ coming. Many thanks to thosewho contributed voices, musical talents, acting skills, decorating and catering.The total raised for the Poppy Appeal was £64.05. Thank you to all who boughtpoppies.David and Julie Legg have a new email: pby5@btinternet.com.We are very grateful for an anonymous legacy of £1,500 towards the building developmentproject. The PCC have also received a legacy of £200 from Daisy Marshallwho died in the summer.Don't be shy… If you would like to help with any of the regular things of churchlife and haven't been asked, do tell us! There are coffee rotas, occasional catering/washing up help, church cleaning, lesson reading, leading prayers, articles to submitfor the magazine, delivery rounds to take on, working on a regular basis as part ofthe children's work teams from crèche through to JAFFA and onwards, playing amusical instrument or using your voice, odd jobs and repairs… the list is endless. Soplease don't hide your talent or willingness; we'd always love to hear from you.Don’t forget to book your tickets for Bible by the Beach, which will be taking placeon Friday 30th April - Monday 3rd May at the Congress Theatre in Eastbourne. Thisis a great weekend for all ages, with excellent Christian speakers, worship and agreat programme for the children. Visit www.biblebythebeach.org or speak toMalcolm or Diane Francis.21

BOOK REVIEWHow to Read the Bible Book by Book by Gordon D FeeHave you ever been stuck in themiddle of Isaiah, wondering where inthe Middle East you’ve landed, whicharmies are marching where, andwhether this comes before or afterKing David? Nope, just me?I find this book immensely helpful inunderstanding the message of eachbook in the Bible. It’s not acommentary, but an aid to reading andunderstanding God’s words foryourself.It’s well written and veryapproachable, giving an overview ofthe book in question, before breakingthe book down into chunks, brieflyexplaining the meaning and context ofeach. It also helps with understandingthe different types of literature found inthe Bible—prophetic, poetic, narrativeetc.MK PLUMB 24/7 Emergency call out Bathroom installations Hot water cylinders Full Plumbing servicesTel. Mike on 01342 300154Mobile 07966 510242CHURCH REGISTER22The Bible covers thousands of yearsof history and it’s always good toknow what was going on for God’speople—be that in Jerusalem orCorinth—so we can see more clearlyhow it applies to us now.Fee and Stuart give the main themesto look out for as you read each book,helping you to understand the broadmessages and arguments. It’s good tosee how current passage I’m readingfits in with the rest of the Bible andthe God’s salvation plan.The best thing for me about this guideis that it’s thorough but simple: awelcome and refreshing break fromthe overly-academic volumes on thereading lists at uni!Louise RussellWILLS WRITTENQualified Lady PractitionerFREE Home VisitTelephone: 01342 314082Organising your family’s futureInheritance, planning & probateMember of professional Will WritersAssociationPeggy Tulett died 19th December 2009, aged 89. The service was at the Surrey andSussex crematorium 15th January 2010.Mandy

PEST CONTROL SERVICESWasps, flies, fleas. All types of rodents and vermin 01342 321373BUTCHERARTHUR FRY, Lingfield Road, East Grinstead 01342 323225CHIMNEY SWEEPMILBORROW & JOYNES, ‘The Flueologists’ 01342 717900All Flues and Appliances Swept and Serviced. Pots, Cowls,Caps, Birdguards. Fireplace Repairs, Stacks RepointedFUNERAL DIRECTORSR MEDHURST, Vine House, Hartfield 01892 770253Caring family firm; home visits; 24 hour service. 01342 315880Memorials arranged: Golden Charter pre-paid Funeral PlansGARAGE & CAR REPAIRS, MOTs & COACHES 01342 325544WOODCOCK HILL SERVICE STATION, London Road, Felbridge 01342 326213KOINONIA COUNSELLINGMarriage problems, bereavement, depression, eating disorders etcJacqueline Lake (ACC Accredited) 01342 718948TV SALES, SERVICE & INSTALLATIONSPanasonic Specialists. Plasma, LCD, Multiroom Systems, Aerial & Satellite.Scott Brothers, 178 London Road, East Grinstead. 01342 321117R J LONGHURST TV-VIDEORepairs—Sales and Home Tuning. LCD, Plasma, CRT TVsplus DVD, CD and microwaves17 Hillside Close, East Grinstead RH19 2DW 01342 323022SPECIALIST GARDEN CENTREBonsai and Japanese Garden suppliesHERONS BONSAI, Wiremill Lane (near Mormon Temple) 01342 832657PAINTERS & DECORATORSD G GURR. Over 30 years experience; Professional and reliableSpecialising in wallpaper hanging. Call for free advice and estimate 01342 321051CLARINET LESSONSElaine Short CT ABRSM 01342 32756323

USEFUL CONTACTSChurchwardens: Anne Butler 01342 313640e-mail: butleranne09@googlemail.comMalcolm Francis 01342 714575e-mail: malcolm_francis@tiscali.co.ukTreasurer: Chris Saunders 01342 325662e-mail: treasurerstjohns@googlemail.comPCC Secretary: Carol Bagshawe 01342 314221e-mail: carol.bagshawe@btconnect.comMagazine Editor: Lindsey Saunders 01342 325662e-mail: parishmagstjohns@googlemail.comCleaning Rota: Carole Grainger 01342 325482Ministry of Flowers: Ann Morley 01342 714645e-mail:annmorley@aol.comChurch Hall Bookings: Sally Hobbs 01342 410929Church Office (closed on Thursdays) 01342 321524Village Hall Bookings: Lynda Railton 01342 322205CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE ACTIVITIESClimbers (3-6 yrs): Lindsey Saunders 01342 325662e-mail: mountainash4@googlemail.comExplorers (Year 2 to 4): Diane Francis 01342 714575e-mail: Diane_Francis@tiscali.co.ukLight Eagles (Year 5+): Dan and Suzy Callaway 01342 321658e-mail: Daniel.callaway@iname.comParish Safeguarding Officer Chris Ely 01342 311614e-mail:christineely2@msn.comRainbows, Brownies & Guides Ann Tucker 01342 317283e-mail: ann_tucker@btinternet.com