1

FROM THE EDITOR

IF YOU don’t read anything else in this
Stephen Bowen is
magazine read page 23. The poem by John
Stott really gives you something to think
continuing to make slow about. Going to church on Sundays and
progress at home. He being part of the church community feels
safe and comfortable in a world where
and Mandy are very horrible things happen a lot of the time. It’s
grateful for your easy to deceive ourselves that we haven’t
got time to help because we are so busy
prayers and good working to earn money so that we can live
wishes. in a house which is probably bigger than
we need, or that we need to protect our
family or perhaps we are busy organising
church teas and social events. It makes you
wonder if you’ve got your priorities right.
But it is easier to do nothing, isn’t it?
VICAR: The Rev Stephen Bowen Easier to pretend that woman lying in the
(on sick leave) sleeping bag on the cold pavement isn’t
really there or that someone else with more
ASSOCIATE MINISTER:
time will help her.
Michael Peach
5 Burns Way, East Grinstead, Well there is something you can do. Look
West Sussex RH19 1SA at page 22 for details. I wonder how much
Tel: 01342 312406 food we all throw away without really
michaelstevenpeach@gmail.com thinking about it, because we forgot it was
Michael’s day off: Friday in the fridge. We could have given it to
someone who needed it! And there it is
rotting in the bin, adding to the landfill
sites.
Cover photo: Incidentally, we’ll be discussing how to
reduce waste at our eco group meeting on
Dahlia By Peter Bateman the morning of 9th July. It’s at my house,
please let me know if you are coming.
Lindsey Saunders

JULY: Articles for this Issue to be handed in by SUNDAY17TH JUNE

Publication: 1st July
Please e-mail your articles to parishmagstjohns@gmail.com, put them in the editor’s
pigeon hole in the south porch, or post them to Lindsey Saunders at The Bungalow,
Saint Hill Farm, Saint Hill Green, East Grinstead, RH19 4NG.

1
FELBRIDGE WILDLIFE
Heavy Plant Crossing.
NOT A GIANT marrow but a sign
that might warn of the disruptive
machinery that will continue to infest
the A22 and Imberhorne Lane until
next month. A Lingfield sub-species
is also reported. Both have
contributed to an unseasonal amount
of pedestrian traffic in the Felbridge
area. This has led to more
parishioners appreciating the
flowering plants on the verge, while
they feel to be on the verge of a
more serious reaction.
The churchyard wall
supports the lovely
pheasant's eye, blue
flowers of germander
speedwell of the veronica
family, the deeper blue
spikes of self heal, of the
prunella family, the tiny
flowers of eyebright and
the shining fronds of
silverweed. Purple heads
of knapweed attract a few
burnet moths, while white
flowers on broad leaves
indicate garlic mustard known to
small boys as Stinking Willie.
Elsewhere, the lady's smock of last
month has been replaced by the
white umbrellas of Queen Anne's
Lace and beside Hedgecourt are a
few six foot stems of the giant
hogweed and hemlock water
dropwort, both potentially deadly.
2
Bird song diminishes as nesting
birds wear themselves out with
feeding and breeding, but there is
still a respectable evening chorus.
A Story of Death and Life
- A neighbour with a Bird
CAM nest box saw
seven tiny bluetits. Two
days later they found
seven fledgling blue tits
dead inside the nest,
with no apparent cause
of death. It seems
possible that both the
adults were taken by a
predator. As I write, a
robin is tending five
young in a most
surprising nesting place here. We
hope for a good outcome!
Young animals, rabbits, deer, foxes
and badgers are abroad and would
normally run the risk of becoming
road kills. Since British contractors
seem not to work at night, they may
be quite safe.
Napoleon stated that an army
marches on its stomach. The big
black slug goes everywhere on its
stomach, as do all other
gastropods. A warm, damp June
evening will encourage all the slugs
and snails to forage freely. Not only
the moon shines in June.
As a footnote to the wonderful Bible
By the Beach Conference, Joan
and I took some very fresh air at
the top of Beachy Head, where we
heard the unmistakeable gruff,
gutteral croak of a raven. After a
hundred years' absence, ravens are
back breeding in Sussex.
Peter Bateman.

VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED
Do you have an hour or two to spare during the week?
Littlefair Care Home in East Grinstead would appreciate your time being part
of the daily activities that take place here. Do you have a particular skill that
you can offer? Flower arranging? Story telling? Baking? Open ears? Or
simply time to assist the activities co-ordinator in the different activities of the
day.
If you are interested in being part of our voluntary team please contact
Hannah Taylor the Activities Co-Ordinator for more details.
Email: activities@littlefair.net
Mob: 07742322612
Littlefair Care Home
Warburton Close
East Grinstead

PLEASE HELP!
There must be some of you reading this who could find 1-2 hours once in two
months to help clean our church. Many of our dedicated team have been serving in
this role for years and our numbers are dropping. Cleaning is not a popular task but
it is one small way we can honour God - do join us. To find out more please speak to
Carole Grainger or phone 325482.
If you prefer using a mouse to a mop or a keyboard to a vacuum cleaner then the
church laptop projection team would be glad to hear from you. Further information
from any laptop operator or contact John Grainger on 325482 or email
john@malcolmgee.plus.com

3
WHAT’S HAPPENING

Sunday Services
3rd June 6pm Holy Communion with Frank Gough
10th June 8am Holy Communion with Alan Mathers
10am Morning Prayer with Don Ely
6pm Evening Prayer with Michael Peach
17th June 10am Holy Communion with Mike Walton
6pm Songs of Praise with Michael Peach
24th June 8am Service with Don Ely
10am Service with Michael Peach
6pm Service with Don Ely

Next month
1ST JULY - FAMILY SCAVENGER HUNT - find out more about the
amazing world God has made. Details still to be arranged. Contact
Sharon Hoskins for further info on 313917.

4
THROUGH THE WEEK

Mondays
 Connections 2-4pm on 11th June in the Church Hall
Tuesdays
 WI 12th June at 1.30pm in the village Hall
Wednesdays
 Watercolour on Wednesdays in the Church Hall at 2pm
 1st Felbridge ( St John’s) Brownies
 Monthly Prayer on Wednesday (non-homegroup weeks) at 8pm
 Monthly Afternoon Prayer meeting on at the home of Di Giles
Thursdays
 WIGS at the Old Pheasantry, Woodcock Hill at 10.30am (home of
June Clark)
 Girls Bible Study in the Church Hall at 4pm

Fridays
 1st Felbridge (St John’s) Rainbows
 1st Felbridge (St John’s) Guides
Saturdays
 Prayer breakfast on 2nd June at 8am—9am
 Men’s breakfast on 23rd June at 5 Burns Way from 8.30—10am

Felbridge and District Horticultural

Society
21st June at 8.15pm Talk by Stephonie Clarke
on the history of the Felbridge Horticultural
Society

5
VILLAGE ISSUES
Felbridge W.I.
OUR RESOLUTION meeting began with fish and chips for 32 members, followed
by trifle. After the Resolution decision we had a Beetle Drive which caused much
hilarity and, possibly, some cheating!!
Our Craft group are busy making bunting for the Jubilee celebration and also items
for our Craft stall at the Felbridge Country Show on 16th June. We are also having a
‘fruit pie’ stall so lots of our members are going to be very busy. and we are looking
forward to displaying our new W.I. banner.
The National Federation of Women’s Institutes support countries that suffer from
drought and poor harvests and the speaker at our next meeting on the 12th June will
be Mr. Buckingham who will speak on the subject of ‘A cow for Africa’. We start at
l.30pm – do come along.
Daphne Ayerst

There is a small upright piano in a medium

brown wooden case, currently standing in the
committee room at the village hall, which
needs a new home. There is no price attached
to it, just that the new owner must collect and
a donation to village hall funds would be ap-
preciated.
The piano does need tuning but otherwise
looks in reasonable condition.

Lunch Club for the retired Felbridge Village

The Lunch Club meets the 3rd Store new opening
Thursday of every month in the times:
village hall between 12-
1.30pm.The 2 course meal costs Mondays-Saturdays
£3.00 and changes every month.
All retirees welcome. For more 8am to 7:30pm
information please contact Mary
Taplin on 01342 325548 Sundays
8am to 4pm.

6
 FELBRIDGE COUNTRY SHOW
NOT LONG to go now till the 16th June and Felbridge’s Jubilee
Country Show. Everything is in place for a really great day out for all
the family, and there are still some tickets left for the Family Disco in
the evening. The weather for June is forecast to be hot and sunny, but
even if it is not, you don’t need to be concerned as many of the events
are either in the Village Hall or the three marquees in the grounds.
There will be displays in the Arena and in the Hall, sporting events at
the sports fields, pony rides, a miniature train and plenty of delicious
food and beautiful craft stalls. Our judges are standing by for the many
competitions and you will have the chance to vote for your favourite
entries. Will you win one of the coveted People’s Choice Jubilee
Medals? The final date for entries to the competitions is June 1st, but
– strictly between ourselves – if you pop it in my letter box at 8
Rowplatt Lane a little late, I’ll try not to notice the date!
The important thing now is to attract a good crowd. This is a BIG
opportunity for us to come together and celebrate as a community. We
all have a close interest in helping our local organisations to flourish
and this Show gives us the chance to see all the valuable work being
done. A good turn-out will help them all to raise much needed funds
to secure their future.
So let’s all get together to make the 2012 Felbridge Jubilee Country
Show a huge success - a Show this village can be really proud of.
Rosemary Archer

7
IN THE GARDEN
THE FARMER will never be
happy again;
He carries his heart in his boots;
For either the rain is destroying
his grain
Or the drought is destroying his
roots.
The Farmer by A P Herbert
As I write, I am gazing out of the
window at lashing rain and strong
winds, the grass is so long that we
cannot see the path and I’m weeks
behind in the garden. Let’s hope
that, by the time you read this, it will
have begun to feel like June!
My most important job now is to
catch up with the backlog after the
wet weather. There is so much still
to do that I have to ignore the lush
growth of weeds while I get on with
the planting that is running so late.
Even so, I do try to remove the
flowers before they go to seed and
create a worse problem later; there
has been an amazing crop of
dandelions this year and I don’t want
a worse one next.
What we should be doing now is
removing the axil growth from
tomatoes and watering regularly to
avoid split fruit. It is also time to plant
biennials for next year: wallflowers,
sweet williams and bellis are all such
8
good value, flowering for weeks or
even months, and so easy to grow
from seed.
Courgettes, squashes and runner
beans can all be planted out now and
the annual battle to protect your
produce from pests starts. We don’t
need to drench our crops in chemicals
if we use physical barriers such as
insect-proof netting; butterfly netting;
gravel, or copper bands against slugs
and more netting to keep the birds off
the fruit. Do remember though - you
can’t eat or make jam with everything
and it seems that the future of wild
birds is substantially in the hands of
gardeners, so leave some for the
birds.
I am sure you all know the glorious
early summer herbaceous borders at
Nymans. On June 15th there is a walk
with some of the gardening team
(11am, booking essential), who
promise to share some of their
secrets. I can’t get there myself, as I’ll
be too busy preparing for the
Felbridge Country Show on the 16th.
If you hear any good secrets there, do
come and share them with me. You
will find me on the Felbridge
Gardening Club stand in the
Horticultural Marquee for most of the
day on Saturday.
Rosemary Archer
TELL ME WHY?
Why are Christians so arrogant?
CHRISTIANS claim that they know the
truth about God and that other routes to
knowing God don’t work – isn’t this a
supremely arrogant attitude? In a
country and an age that knows about
many religions and spiritualties how can
Christians claim to know the truth?
The instruction that we should ‘be
tolerant’ is something that we have all
been taught by our society. There is
much that is good in this – it is right that
Christians respect and care for all sorts
of people with different backgrounds
and beliefs. However, being tolerant
can sometimes lead on to saying that
everyone’s truth is right, or at least right
for them.
The Bible presents quite a different
picture to this. Peter was one of the first
disciples, and when on trial before a
group of religious leaders he makes this
statement about Jesus:
‘Salvation is found in no-one
else, for there is no other name
under heaven given to men by
which we must be saved.’ (Acts
4:12, NIV)
The Bible’s clear message is that Jesus
is the only way to God – the only way to
be on good terms with our Maker.
Now if one day I decide that I know all
about God, and that I am right and
everyone else is wrong then that would
be supremely arrogant. Who am I to say
I know all about God?
9
However, this is not what Christians are
doing when they say that Jesus is the
only way to God the Father. Instead we
are saying that God himself has said that
the only way to him is through his Son
Jesus Christ. This changes everything,
for surely it cannot be arrogant to simply
pass on what God has said? Indeed,
surely it would be arrogant if we claimed
that all religions are equally true – for
that would imply that we knew better
than God – that he had said one thing but
that we knew better!
Paul, another of Jesus’ early followers,
addressed a group of thinkers and
philosophers in Athens. Paul says that
people have followed all sorts of
religions and beliefs, but that this should
not continue:
‘.. now he commands all people
everywhere to repent. For he
has set a day when he will judge
the world with justice by the
man he has appointed. He has
given proof of this to all men by
raising him from the
dead.’ (Acts 17:30-31, NIV)
Christians should always speak with
respect and concern with people
whatever their beliefs. However, God
has said that the way to him is through
Jesus and his death which can deal with
all our wrongdoing before him.
Wouldn’t it be arrogant not to listen to
what God has said?
Michael Peach
CURRENT ISSUES: POACHING
Tigers - worth more alive than dead
IN MID-APRIL, we listened to
award-winning wildlife photographer,
Paul Goldstein from Wimbledon talk
about tigers, cheetahs, leopards, polar
bears, lions and other predators that are
in serious peril, facing major problems
of survival as a result of habitat loss
and poaching.
Poaching is having a major impact on
many endangered, threatened or
protected species. The main reason for
poaching is providing ingredients for
traditional Chinese medicines.
Some of these potions use rhinoceros
or Saiga antelope horns, tiger or
leopard bones, musk glands from musk
deer, or bear gall bladders. Other
protected species affected by poaching
include sea lions, macaques, pangolins,
crocodiles, green sea turtles, freshwater
turtles, tortoises, water monitor lizards,
cobras, rat snakes and giant clams.
Animals such as the tiger are worth a
fortune on the black market and
conservationists are trying hard to
persuade people that if we don’t take
action, some species will face
extinction within just a few years.
Goldstein is so passionate about saving
tigers from extinction that he ran the
Brighton Marathon, travelled to
Heathrow and flew to Africa to climb
Mount Kilimanjaro, then got back just
in time to complete the London
10
Marathon… all carrying a 13kg tiger
suit strapped to his back!
He said that in the past century the
number of wild tigers has dropped
from 100,000 to 3,200 and they now
only occupy 7% of their historic
territories. There are less than 450
Siberian tigers left in the wild
Practically every single part of a tiger
can be sold: teeth (to treat fever), claws
(for insomnia), bones (used as a
stimulant for fatigue), eyeballs (for
epilepsy and malaria), brains (a cure
for laziness and acne), the tail (to treat
skin diseases) and fat (for rheumatism
and muscular ailments). The 25kg of
bones in an adult tiger are worth
around $120,000, the pelt up to
$50,000. There is no evidence that any
of these potions has any medical value.
Goldstein is trying to persuade people
that tigers are worth far more alive than
dead - wildlife photography and other
responsible ecotourism trips can
generate over $100 million per tiger!
The demand for alternative medicines
is rapidly increasing in the West, so if
you buy any, please check the label
carefully. Remember too that the Bible
instructs us to protect the environment
and the animals of His creation.
Gordon Wilkinson
WORLD MISSION GIFT DAY
THIS YEAR our World Mission Gift Day will be on Sunday 8th July – do put the
date in your diaries and plan to be there!
At our morning service we look forward to welcoming Gift and Kathryn Asiku ; Gift
(what an appropriate name for the occasion!) is Ugandan, from the area where the
Laceys are working; Kathryn comes from England, and they work with Wycliffe
Bible Translators in Uganda. They are also friends of Chris and Lindsey Saunders,
and have visited St John's with them! Do come along to hear more about the work
they are involved in, as well as their life in Uganda.
After the morning service we are hoping to have a 'bring-and-share' lunch to which
everyone is warmly invited – including families – so it provides an excellent oppor-
tunity for everyone to get together, meet Kathryn and Gift, and avoid cooking Sun-
day lunch! At the evening service Andy and Joan Brown will tell us more about the
time they spent recently on the Mercy Ship – a floating hospital – while it was
moored off the coast of Sierra Leone. Some of us have already heard something
about their experiences, and our appetites are whetted to hear more about the surgery
Andy was able to carry out, and the rehabilitation work which Joan was involved
with during their month on board.
As usual, there will be envelopes in the pews (unmissable green ones!) to encourage
us to make our offerings for God's work throughout the world. Since this is our main
annual source of giving for Mission, please be thinking and praying in advance about
how much the Lord is prompting you to give. In these days of financial constraint,
when we all have so many demands on our resources, the Societies and Agencies we
support are feeling the pinch even more as donors feel unable to give as generously
as before. For those who are tax-payers, Gift Aid increases the value of our gifts at
no extra cost to us, and makes a big difference to the recipients. St John's supports
nine different charities and mission partners, both at home and abroad. As a church,
we pledge to give away at least 10% of our income to Mission, most of which is
given during Mission Gift Day. Last year we raised £10,306.00, which was very en-
couraging. It would be wonderful if, despite this time of economic hardship, we were
able to do even better this year! As well as making a donation to Wycliffe and the
Mercy Ship this year, the rest of the money is divided between all nine organisations
which we support, with the larger proportion going to our Mission Partners.
Perhaps you'd like to tear out and keep these pages as a reminder to pray for all our
Mission links! Details about each of them are as follows; information can also be
found on the church website, www.stjohnsfelbridge.co.uk, under 'outreach', and have
a look at the noticeboard at the back of church, which highlights a different society
each month.
Anne Butler (Mission Team Co-ordinator).

13
LINK PARTNERS:

NATASHA KASPROWICZ – Working with UCCF (Universities and

Colleges Christian Fellowship.)
Natasha is known to many of us, as she grew up at St John's. Having
worked for several years amongst students in Russia, she is now based
in London where she has the responsibility as Team Leader for co-
ordinating the outreach to students in the various London universities,
although she is based mainly at University College. Last year and this
they held two Missions to students in London, and are now busy with
following up and encouraging those who committed themselves to
Christ or expressed interest.
Dan and Suzy Callaway are the church reps for Natasha, and
distribute her prayer letters.

ALLAN AND ANNE LACEY – Link Partners with CMS (Church

Mission Society), working in NW Uganda. They are into their second
tour of service, having 'postponed' their retirement in order to use their
combined experience overseas. Allan is working with the Diocese to
improve training, educational facilities and resources for clergy and
lay staff, and has recently had the honour of being appointed as a
Canon of the Cathedral. Anne, a trained nurse tutor, is helping to
improve nurse education and community health in the surrounding
area. They have faced many challenges, including health issues and
separation from their family, but feel sure they are in the place of
God's choice for them.
Our church rep is Barbara Cottier, who also worked with CMS in
East Africa.

ANDREW AND MARIA LEAKE – have worked in Northern

Argentina for many years, now under the aegis of CMS. They are
engaged in the long-running campaign to support the rights of the
local indigenous people in Salta Province, whose homelands and
natural resources are threatened by widespread commercial
deforestation and and agriculture. They are now in the process of
buying up land to be protected and conserved for the Indian
population, to preserve their way of life and provide sustainability.

14
They have three teenage children – Tomas, Cecilia and Carolina.
Barbara Cottier distributes their prayer letters, and further
information can be obtained from Phil and Rosemary Tadman who
have long-standing links with South America.

OTHER AGENCIES:

CHURCH ARMY trains and sends evangelists to work in Anglican

churches and in projects with children, homeless people and the
elderly, both here in the UK and abroad. For several years we have
supported the Marylebone Project, which provides a safe centre for
vulnerable women and helps them move back into the community
when they are ready.
Di Giles, ex-Church Army Sister, is our church rep.

CPAS (Church Pastoral Aid Society) aims to help local churches by

training and advising leaders, and providing resources – spiritual,
practical and sometimes financial – for the whole church, but
especially for Youth Groups like Pathfinders and CYFA. They also
organise activity holidays for young people during the summer.
If you'd like to know more, or find out about the holiday camps, speak
to our church rep Glen Jones.

SCRIPTURE UNION seeks to make God's good news known to

children, adults, young people and families, and encourages people of
all ages to meet with God daily through Bible-reading and prayer.
They publish a wide range of literature, including children's stories
and, more recently, a series of books to be used with dementia
sufferers; and have set up an interactive website – www.wordlive.org
– as well as offering training, support, and a variety of holiday events.
Bible Reading Notes, in various formats and for all ages, are available
from Gill Matson.

TEARFUND works through local churches and Christian agencies to

open up a brighter future for the world's poorest communities, and to
see lives and situations transformed by God's love through the

15
generosity of Christian people. It also campaigns for social justice and
human rights, particularly the need for clean water and proper
sanitation in every community. Tearfund is best known for its rapid
response to disasters, supplying vital supplies of food, water, shelter
and medical equipment. The charity is actively involved in long-term
development work and helps educate communities in disaster
preparedness.
Gordon and Brenda Wilkinson are the Southeast Reps, and also sell
'Created' fairly-traded craft goods at local events. Prayer updates are
displayed in the church porch each week.

WELCARE is a local charity, working with families who are in need

through poverty, isolation, family breakdown or homelessness. They
aim to help and support families by providing practical care such as
toys, clothing, debt management advice, counselling and friendship,
through volunteers and trained social workers. Recently we were able
to provide food items for distribution to those in real poverty, and each
Christmas we hold a 'Toy Service' to provide some happiness for
families who otherwise would have no cause for celebration.
Speak to our rep, Rona Bingham, for more information.

ST. CATHERINE'S HOSPICE in Crawley is well-known to many of

us, either because we have visited friends or family members there, or
have visited their Charity Shop in London Road! The Hospice
provides palliative care to people with progressive, life-threatening
illness, offering them the opportunity to live life as fully as possible
and to die with dignity. The Chaplain, Mike Neville, and the staff are
trained to care for the physical, emotional and spiritual care of each
patient and their families, whether in the Day Centre or as in-patients.
Hospices are not funded by the NHS, so our support is vital. In
December we hold a 'Tree of Light' service at St John's, in memory of
loved ones who have died, which attracts more people each year.
Jenny Young is a volunteer at the Hospice, and has plenty of
information.

16
 FELBRIDGE HOTEL & SPA OFFERS
Fathers Day Lunch on Sunday 17th June
Treat your Dad this Fathers Day by enjoying a 2 or 3 course lunch in
the Bay Tree Restaurant.
2 course lunch just £19.00 per person or £24.00 for 3 courses. All the
Dads will receive a gift.
For a real treat why not dine in the award winning Anise Fine Dining
Restaurant for dinner? 2 courses in Anise are just £30.00 or 3 courses
just £37.50
Type in this link to see the menu:
http://www.felbridgehotel.co.uk/fathers-day-lunch.html
To make a reservation in one of our superb restaurants please call
01342 337700 or email events@felbridgehotel.co.uk

Connections is a new series of events for Seniors. We will

meet monthly for tea, coffee and cake, a short informal talk
from the Bible about things that matter, and lots of different
activities and games. There’s even a newspaper corner!
Hand massage is available too! Or you can simply spend
time sitting and chatting. A great opportunity to meet old
friends and make new ones – all welcome! Our next meeting
will be on
Monday , 11th June 2pm-4pm,
in St John’s Church Hall.
For more information please do contact Don Ely or
Michael Peach.

19
BOOK REVIEWS
A book for daily reading -
available from East
Grinstead library
THE BIBLE SPEAKS TODAY
SERIES: GENESIS 1-11
by David Atkinson
I have just finished using David
Atkinson’s book Genesis 1-11,
which I started before I knew he
was to take the Confirmation
service at St John’s on 20th May. I
found his book extremely helpful,
CONFIDENT
CHRISTIANITY
I have only been a Christian for
about 6 years. When I was looking
into Christianity I met some
Christians that definitely did not
seem to have committed
intellectual suicide at the church
door. Being a bit of a 'funny
sausage', one of my main
stumbling blocks to believing in the
Bible was that I did not believe that
two things that were contradictory
could both be ultimately true.
Specifically, if science was an
objectively true description of
reality, then the Bible could not be
true if it contradicted science.
Thus began quite a lengthy journey
of finding out more about what
Christians actually believe and
what the Bible actually says (rather
20
covering, as it does, a wide range
of current issues.
It is not a straightforward academic
commentary in the old sense, but a
much more devotional read, with
plenty of comment on issues which
are even more relevant today than
they were when the book was
written. I am looking forward to his
visit to us this month. Incidentally I
am reading Joyce Baldwin’s
Genesis 12-50, also borrowed from
East Grinstead library.
Frank Gough
than what people had told me), as
well as dipping in to other areas
such as science, theology and
philosophy. I subsequently
discovered that this area of study is
usually referred to as 'apologetics',
which means the defence of the
truths of the Christian faith.
Confident Christianity is a newly-
released book by Chris Sinkinson
at Moorlands College. It provides
an easy to follow and engaging
overview of the different
approaches to apologetics, as well
as how apologetics have developed
over the centuries to respond to the
changing intellectual environment
of the times, from Greek philosophy
to post-modernism. It is particularly
interesting to see how the apostles
themselves used apologetic
techniques in the spread of the
early church. The second half of
the book contains a chapter each
on four of the main topic areas that
are often controversial, dealing with
historical evidence, science, human
suffering and the existence of other
faiths.
I would recommend this book to
anyone with an interest in
investigating more about the truths
behind the Christian faith, and how
to defend them to non-believers in
an intellectually honest way. It is
also really good for developing both
an overarching and underpinning
understanding of apologetics for
those that may have looked into
some of the topics in a piecemeal
way.
I personally find that the more I
grow in confidence in God and his
promises the more this helps my
Christian life. Of course, there's no
need to have a sophisticated
understanding of God to have a
relationship with Him. However it
does help when dealing with life's
'funny sausages'…
Joe Clease

The Big Village Sports Day

Celebrating the arrival of the London 2012 Olympic Flame
Grange Meadow, Bletchingley - Friday 20 July 2.30 - 4.30pm
Residents from across the district are invited to welcome the Olympic Flame
and take part in The Big Village Sports Day organised by Tandridge Trust.
This will be a celebratory sports event in Grange Meadow, Bletchingley,
providing fun for all of the family. Entrance and Activities are all FREE OF
CHARGE and there will be a huge host of exciting activities for young and
old to try.
The event will be a chance to participate in sports you may not have had the
chance to try before. We have teamed up with Pentathlon UK to provide
tasters in Olympic sports such as Fencing and Shooting hosted by elite
athletes from the GB squad. We will be joined by professional football
coaches from Chelsea FC who will be setting up an inflatable-sided pitch for
coaching and fun matches.
Become a medal winner by participating in one of the sports challenges
such as timed rowing, cycling and our fun five ring Olympic challenge
suitable for all ages. You can also try out ancient Olympic challenges such
as pottery, comedy and archery.
Get creative with the Olympic torch and ceramic medalmaking workshops
running throughout the afternoon. There will be a Junior Arts Station for all
things craft, face painting and even circus skills and a comedy corner joke
challenge for those brave enough. Surestart will be providing an exciting
activity zone for under 5’s with sports, soft play and parachute games.
For more info please visit www.tandridgetrust.co.uk or call 01883 724599.

21
EAST GRINSTEAD FOODBANK
Reaching out to people in
need
13 MILLION PEOPLE live below
the poverty line in the UK. Every
day people in the UK go hungry for
reasons ranging from redundancy
to receiving an unexpected bill on a
low income.
Families in OUR area are
struggling. Local professionals say
that requests for food parcels have
increased due to the current
economic climate. Wanting to help
address this need, Trinity is
currently entering into partnership
with The Trussell Trust
(www.trusselltrust.org) a Christian
organization which empowers local
communities to combat poverty,
and we are very much hoping that
YOU will want to join us and make
it a truly ecumenical project.
The Foodbank Project
Foodbanks show Jesus’ love in
action by giving food to people in
crisis in the local area, providing
short term emergency relief.
Church-based Foodbanks engage
the whole community in providing
food to local people going hungry.
Food is collected at ‘Supermarket
Collections’: These are events held
at supermarkets where volunteers
give shoppers a ‘Foodbank
shopping list’ and ask them to buy
an extra item or two for local people
22
in crisis. Food is also collected from
churches and through local groups
and schools.
The Foodbank stores or ‘banks’
food donated by the community,
and can be drawn on by people in
crisis. It is a simple and unique
concept designed to help
individuals in crisis by providing free
emergency food for three days (10
balanced meals). Three days is the
period assessed as the minimum
time it takes for the appropriate
agencies to be in a position to
assist. This period can be extended
if necessary.
Food is drawn as a result of
referrals from registered Care
Professionals such as Social
Services, Health Visitors, Probation
Officers, Church Pastoral Workers,
schools, CAB and others working in
front line services.
Vouchers redeemable at the
Foodbank, which will operate out of
Trinity’s Welcome Café, will allow
clients to exchange their voucher
for 3 days of tinned and dry food for
their family. This enables volunteers
to come alongside those in need,
offer them a cup of tea or coffee,
provide a safe non- judgmental
place in which to sit and be heard,
and to find out about possible areas
of help.
This is where you come in! We will
need volunteers to help in the
following areas.
 To collect food - with enough
people on a rota this may only
require a commitment of a
couple of hours once or twice a
year.
 To sort and pack the food.
 To meet clients in Trinity’s
Welcome café when they come
to collect food parcels.
 If you think you would be able
to offer some time to support
this project or would simply
like to know more, please
contact Trinity’s Administrator
on EG 302862 or send an
email headed EG Foodbank to
admin@trinitymethodist.org.uk

I was hungry and you formed a humanities group to discuss my

hunger.
I was imprisoned and you crept off quietly to your chapel and
prayed for my release.
I was naked and in your mind you debated the morality of my
appearance.
I was sick and you knelt and thanked God for your health.
I was homeless and you preached to me the spiritual love of
God.
I was lonely and you left me alone to pray for me.
You seem so holy, so close to God,
But I am still very hungry –and lonely –and cold.
This poem, based on Matthew 25, is written from the point of view of
a homeless woman, written by John Stott in Issues facing Christians today

23
CALLED TO SERVE THE LORD
COLLEEN REDIT, now in her mid-
seventies, was called to do mission
work in Chennai forty years ago. From
small beginnings, teaching a few girls
to sew and do embroidery work, she
now has a large team of people
reaching out and helping three
thousand poor people every day.
Colleen realised that helping people to
earn a living gave them self respect and
improved their lives, but she soon saw
that they had other needs. Through the
Christian Missions Charitable Trust
(CMCT) she is meeting many of these
needs. Gordon and I were fortunate to
be able to visit some of the projects
earlier this year and were inspired and
humbled by what we saw.
The Haven of Hope Handicraft Centre
provides training and work for at least
30 women at the Centre and many
more in the slum areas of Chennai and
in Leprosy villages to the north of the
city. Every day at the Headquarters
starts with worship and bible teaching.
Colleen set up a crèche for their babies
and then saw the need for their children
to be educated. CMCT now has 500
children in its Nursery and Primary
School and 1,000 in the Secondary
School. There is an adult education
scheme and a Vocational Training
Unit. CMCT’s city centre headquarters
also houses a Hospital and an Eye and
Dental Department.
24
The Women and Children’s Home
provides a safe haven, much as Welcare
does here in Surrey. There is also an
Orphanage and a Child Sponsorship
Programme.
It was a real joy to visit one of the
feeding programmes in the slums - a
total of 400 elderly folk are given a
nutritious meal every day and a regular
distribution scheme provides hundreds
of families with basic foods. The Social
Service Team get to know the families
and we were deeply moved to see the
love, kindness and genuine concern that
they show to the people they are
helping.
When the Tsunami struck Southern
India, CMCT adopted one of the worst-
hit villages, rebuilt over 100 homes and
replaced their fleet of small fishing
boats. The village now has a school,
health centre and sewing and
embroidery training centre.
It was truly inspiring to see what one
woman can achieve with God’s help.
We are not all called to do great things,
but we can all pray for projects like this
one and show God’s love to our
neighbours through small acts of
kindness. Some of the Haven of Hope
Handicraft items are available through
Tearfund’s ‘Created’ catalogue of
fairly-traded craft goods - so that is
another way we can help.
Brenda Wilkinson
BIBLE BY THE BEACH 2012
A GROUP of us went to Bible by
the beach again last Bank Holiday
weekend. Although the weather
started off wet, it by no means
dampened anyone’s spirits. We
found it a very uplifting experience,
but the best bit was coming home
to listen to Benjamin praising God
with arms outstretched in the
garden!
Here are a few comments from
others who came with us:
A wonderfully uplifting
experience. Marvellous
opportunity to worship The Lord
Jesus in company with many
hundred other Christians and
receive such a depth of sound
Bible teaching from so many
gifted speakers and
musicians. I'm still waking up
singing the songs in my
head. Roll on May 2013. - Peter
and Joan.
The sun was not with us but the
love of God’s son shone all around
in the praising, the teaching and the
fellowship – totally refreshing and
encouraging. Oh we do love to be
beside the seaside! - Gill
At Bible by the Beach I've
been refreshed, encouraged
and stimulated by brilliant
25
teaching, amazing music
and a much deeper
knowledge of Jesus Christ in
all the Scripture. Wherever
you find yourself to be Bible
by the Beach is the best fuel
you can get on the pit stop
of life !!!. Absolutely
memorable. Don't miss it
next year!!" - Gaby
'Ponder anew what the Almighty
can do.'
We sang these words on the first
evening, and for me they set the
theme of the weekend. The great
teaching and amazing worship
enabled me to 'ponder anew'.
Being away for the weekend
allowed me to really give God
space, and made me focus on the
message of the gospel. If you have
not been to Bible by the Beach,
think about coming next year. It’s a
treat not to be missed!
Malcolm & Diane
CHURCH FAMILY NEWS

News and Thanks

Stephen and Mandy would like to express their gratitude for all the love and
concern expressed by the family at St John's over the past 8 weeks or so.
The practical help and messages of encouragements have been amazing. It
has meant a great deal to us to know that people have been praying and to
see God at work. We know it has really made a difference, so please don't
stop now!
Thank you too for the beautiful orchid that Ann delivered to us at Easter -
another reminder of your care for us both. It was wonderful that he finally
came out of hospital on 8th May. There is a long way to go for Stephen in
his illness and as he recovers, with more trips to Kings to come. But we are
grateful for God's goodness in all of this and continue to pray that He will be
honoured and glorified. Thank you all.
Congratulations and best wishes to Jane Judge and Paul Matthews who
were married in St John's on Saturday May 12th.
Congratulations to Rosie Archer, Amy and Oliver Marshall, Rowan
Saunders, Hannah Jones and Alice Medlam on their Confirmation on 20th
May and to Adam Grimwood, on his Confirmation and Baptism. Bishop
David Atkinson led the Service. Our love and prayers are with them all.
Congratulation to Rona on the presentation of her Girlguiding UK long
service award for 50 years service, From all at 1st Felbridge ( St John's )
Rainbows, Brownies and Guides.

Weddings
Jane Judge married Paul Matthews on Saturday 12th May.
Baptisms
Adam Grimwood was baptised on 20th May.

26
PEST CONTROL SERVICES
Wasps, flies, fleas. All types of rodents and vermin 01342 321373

BUTCHER
ARTHUR FRY, Lingfield Road, East Grinstead 01342 323225

CHIMNEY SWEEP
MILBORROW CHIMNEY SWEEPS, ‘The Flueologists’
All Flues and Appliances Swept and Serviced. Pots, Cowls,
Caps, Birdguards, Fireplace Repairs, Stacks Repointed 01342 717900

FUNERAL DIRECTORS
R MEDHURST, Vine House, Hartfield
Caring family firm; home visits; 24 hour service. 01892 770253
Memorials arranged: Golden Charter pre-paid Funeral Plans 01342 315880

GARAGE & CAR REPAIRS, MOTs & COACHES

01342 325544
Woodcock Hill Service Station, London Road, Felbridge
01342 326213

KOINONIA COUNSELLING
Marriage problems, bereavement, depression, eating disorders etc
Jackie Lake 01342 718948

TV SALES, SERVICE & INSTALLATIONS

Panasonic Specialists. Plasma, LCD, Multiroom Systems, Aerial & Satellite.
Scott Brothers, 178 London Road, East Grinstead. 01342 321117

For Fairtrade gifts and jewellery that help lift people out of
poverty, call Brenda Wilkinson on 01342 311516 for a
catalogue and to place your order, or log on to
www.createdgifts.org.

When you contact any of our advertisers, don't forget to mention that you saw
their advert in Parish News. For advertising enquiries, contact
Gordon Wilkinson on 01342 311516 or John Dabell on 01342 317745.
 USEFUL CONTACTS
Churchwardens: Phil Tadman 01342 322835
e-mail: philandrosemary@sky.com

Andy Brown 01342 314267

e-mail: brownemail@btinternet.com
Treasurer: Chris Saunders 01342 325662
e-mail: treasurerstjohns@gmail.com
PCC Secretary: Sheila Drury 01342 323865
e-mail: sheila.drury1@hotmail.co.uk
Magazine Editor: Lindsey Saunders 01342 325662
e-mail: parishmagstjohns@gmail.com
Cleaning Rota: Carole Grainger 01342 325482
Ministry of Flowers: Ann Morley 01342 714645
e-mail: annmorley@aol.com
Church Hall Bookings: Sally Hobbs 01342 410929
e-mail: hobbsfamilysja@gmail.com
Village Hall Bookings: Lynda Railton 01342 322205

CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE ACTIVITIES

Stars (3-6 yrs): Sally Hobbs 01342 410929
e-mail: hobbsfamilysja@gmail.com
Comets (Year 2-4): Diane Francis 01342 714575
e-mail: diane_francis@tiscali.co.uk
Meteors (Year 5-6): Gaby
e-mail: gabriella.cicala@gmail.com
The Rock (Year 7-9): Michael Peach 01342 312406
e-mail: michaelstevenpeach@gmail.com
Parish Safeguarding Officer Chris Ely 01342 311614
e-mail: christineely2@msn.com
Rainbows, Brownies & Guides Ann Tucker 01342 317283
e-mail: ann_tucker@btinternet.com

28