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 FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to the March edition, and

at some point, I hope, welcome to
Spring!
Please note that an over-zealous
VICAR: The Rev Stephen Bowen, devil has found his way into the
The Vicarage, Felbridge, next page, usurping ‘In the Garden’
West Sussex RH19 2QT all the way to p19.
Tel: 01342 321524;
Fax: 0870 9156268 And I hope you like the addition of
stjohnschurchoffice@googlemail.com some silly cartoons this month...
Vicar’s day off: Thursday
Louise Russell
ASSOCIATE MINISTER:
Michael Peach
5 Burns Way, East Grinstead,
West Sussex RH19 1SA
Tel: 01342 312406
michaelstevenpeach@googlemail.com
Michael’s day off: Friday

Cover photo:
Swan at Arundel Wildfowl
and Wetlands Centre
by Brenda Wilkinson

APRIL: Articles for the April Issue to be with Louise Russell by Sunday
14th March. Publication Sunday 28th March.
Please e-mail your articles to parishmagstjohns@googlemail.com
or send to Louise at Fircroft, Furzefield Road, East Grinstead, RH19
2JN.

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STEPHEN WRITES… or does he?
Yet again the vicar appears to have
failed to write a letter of his own this
month, but has sent a copy of an email
which he claims has fallen into his
hands. It all seems very suspicious as it
appears to come from a senior devil to
his nephew—Editor
RE: St John’s Felbridge
From: wormwood@inferno.com
Sent: 13th Feb 2010 15:28:17
To: krampus@veryhotmail.com
Krampus: That email I sent you in
September about the work at St John’s
did get out. Please make sure your
internet security is set at a higher level
in future.
I would have made more fuss about it,
but for the fact that it didn’t seem to do
any harm. For some reason they all
loved reading it and thought it was a
great joke.
But it didn’t make the slightest
difference to their behaviour! They are
still quite oblivious of the fact that they
could do our cause serious damage by
making more of a priority of their
ridiculous religion.
I am contacting you at this point in
time, Krampus, because it is that
dangerous time of year again.
Generally speaking, our team have done
a magnificent job on the mid-winter
festival. Most have them have
forgotten whose birthday it is supposed
to be, and think it is all about Santa
Claus, presents and food.
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We have not yet
achieved such a
positive result with
that other celebration, the
springtime one. We thought we had
scored a big early hit with the name
Easter—it actually has nothing to do
with those unmentionable events that
took place 2000 years ago. It derives
from a goddess of a quite different
religion. It looked like a master-stroke
at the time, but we have failed to
capitalize on it.
Despite heroic efforts with chocolate—
often moulded into egg shapes for
some reason—they still can’t quite be
weaned off harking back to those
ghastly events in Palestine.
Start your campaign early, Krampus.
They have a preparation time called
Lent that has already started.
Concentrate on the idea that it is about
dieting for the sake of their physical
health. That is clever, because it is a
good thing, but not the best thing (from
the Enemy’s point of view, I mean).
Don’t let them start thinking about
preparing to think deeply about that
awful Friday that they laughably call
‘good’.
(We thought it was ‘good’ once—we
thought we had won such a mighty
victory that day… but enough said
about that.)
If they start thinking about what it
means, dwelling on the fact that the
Enemy made this incredible sacrifice
for their sake… I can hardly bear to
write about it. As if they could ever be
worth that sort of sacrifice! As if any
supernatural power in his right mind
would ever conceive of doing such a
thing! Such weakness! You wouldn’t
catch our Master Below contemplating
anything like that!
As far as the Sunday after the Friday is
concerned, the old idea that it never
really happened is still worth a bit of a
push. Most of them nowadays don’t
seem to care whether it did or it
didn’t—and that’s helpful to us too.
If they should get the idea that it
means that the Master’s Son is Boss,
we’re sunk.
My advice is concentrate on the
chocolate, bunnies and chicks! A
useful distraction! Oh, and get them
all to go away on holiday so they don’t
think about that terrible time too
much! It’s hard for them to think it
really is all that important if nobody
turns up to make a song and dance
about it.
Must go now. Keep tempting them
with anything you can think of! Big
things and little things—keep up the
pressure constantly. Never let them
think they’ve got any time to focus on
these issues—that works well.
Your uncle
Wormwood
We cannot guarantee that there are no
worms, Trojan horses or viruses in this
incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database:
270.13.35/2270 - Release Date:
07/29/09 06:12:00
With apologies to readers who know
and love The Screwtape Letters by C.S.
Lewis.

JAFFA CLUB SPECIAL

Jaffa Club (Jesus a friend for all), a club for children in school
years 3-6, continues to meet once a month on the first Thursday of
the month. We have a busy time with games, craft and Bible
teaching, and of course we continue to eat oranges and Jaffa cakes!
On Thurs 1st April we are holding a JAFFA CLUB EASTER SPECIAL.
This will run at usual Jaffa time of 6.00-7.30pm in the church hall.
So if you are in School Years 3-6 and would like to come along and
try Jaffa, do give me a ring or email to book a place.
Diane Francis
01342 714575 Diane_Francis@tiscali.co.uk

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REGULAR EVENTS
Through the week at St. John’s

Sundays
8am Holy Communion (2nd & 4th Sundays in the month)
10am Morning Service
Family Service (normally the 1st Sunday, but this month it’s the 2nd!)
5pm Raise The Roof (3rd Sunday in the month)
6.30pm Evening Service
Tuesdays
12.45pm Food for Thought, Zion Church
2pm WI first Tuesday of the month in the Village Hall

Wednesdays
Brownies
2pm Watercolour on Wednesdays
Thursdays
10.30am 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 month
Fridays
Rainbows
Guides
Saturdays
8am Prayer Breakfast on first Saturday morning in the Church Hall

Help with Coffee, please!

The B team for the coffee rota - which now consists of only
me and Ann White - will be further depleted on the 30th
May as I am away. It would be good if we could get
another member of the church to join us permanently, but
if not, some help for Ann on the 30th May would be
gratefully received.
Linda Barker

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 FAMILY LIFE
When your living room is an army camp

several times when they are arguing

BOYS! Exasperating yet loveable! As
over breakfast. My sense of all
twelve year old Rosalind from Jean
reasonable judgement disappears and I
Birdsall’s The Penderwicks said, ‘Will
turn into an ogre! An ogre, that is,
I ever understand boys in my entire
when I forget to ask God to help me
life?’ (The Penderwicks is,
out of the battlezone. When I
incidentally, a great children’s book
remember to ask, He pours water onto
and also a good reminder for parents
the smouldering volcano, cooling it
about the importance of taking the
from within and something in that
time to listen to your children.)
water helps me to see things
Rosalind was saying this in reference differently.
to a handsome teenager she had met; I
One of the things I discovered recently
am, of course, referring to my two
was that some of the fighting was a cry
adorable sons! How God created two
for attention. My two adorable boys
such different boys within the same
were intensely jealous of each other.
family is a constant source of
Although I thought that I was giving
amazement to me! Yet, despite their
the boys a lot of my attention, I wasn’t
differences, they both take an obscene
actually giving it to them in the way
amount of pleasure in fighting,
they needed. One of the things we
whether it is fighting each other or
learnt at a parenting course a few years
playing imaginary armies. Before they
ago, was that children require love to
were five years old, they were making
be expressed to them in different ways.
guns out of Lego and turning the living
My youngest son needs cuddles and
room into an army camp.
my eldest needs time. Now, although I
I’m sure a psychologist would knew this, I had forgotten it—I hadn’t
probably tell me that this comes from been listening to them effectively.
an innate desire to hunt, stemming
I wouldn’t go as far as to say that the
from our caveman ancestry, yet this
arguing has stopped now, but I do feel
doesn’t stop me feeling like a
a little less like a smouldering volcano
smouldering volcano when the noise
all the time!
levels reach those comparable with
bombers flying overhead. Nor does it Lindsey Saunders
stop me feeling like a squash ball
being hammered against the wall

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WHAT’S HAPPENING
Sunday services in March
Please note that the Family Service this month will be on the 14th, i.e.
the second Sunday of March, due to Mothers’ Day.
7th March 10am Morning Prayer with Stephen Bowen
6.30pm Holy Communion with Michael Peach

14th March 8am Holy Communion with Stephen Bowen

Mothers’ 10am Family Service with Michael Peach
Day 6.30pm Evening Prayer with Stephen Bowen

21st March 10am Holy Communion with Andy Brown

5pm Raise the Roof - The Worship Service (see p13)
6.30pm Evening Prayer with Don Ely

28th March 8am Holy Communion with Jack Baker

10am Morning Prayer at 10am with Michael Peach
6.30pm Evening Prayer with Stephen Bowen

Forthcoming Events
Tue 2nd March PCC 8pm
Sat 6th March Prayer Breakfast, Church Hall, 8am
Sat 13th March London Men’s & Women’s Convention: The
God Confusion
Wed 17th March Prayer on Wednesday 8pm (see p18)
Sat 27th March New Harmonie fundraising event, 7.30pm (see p17)
Sun 28th March APCM 11.15am
Thu 1st April JAFFA Club Special, Church Hall 6pm (see p3)

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 HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY SMITH!

Harry will be 100 years old on 13th March 2010. His

friend, Eddie Harper, tells us about his life…

Harry’s life started in a little village near Chesterfield.

Schooling started at the age of 3 years and finished
when he was 14. He then took an apprenticeship of 5
years, finishing with a move to Reigate, where at
Buckland Road Church, he met his wife-to-be,
Alice Mary. Their marriage was to last 60 years. Alice died in 2001.
Working at Reigate, Harry formed a bond with Edward King, and the two
became partners as ‘King and Smith Hairdressers’. That partnership was to
last 48 years, during which time they owned three different shops in East
Grinstead.
In 1940, Harry and Alice’s daughter, Margaret, was born. She now lives in
Cheltenham.
Harry joined the Royal Navy in early 1942 and was demobbed in 1946.
During his first service, he was awarded seven medals! This was due to the
many theatres of war that his ship was involved in. After the war, he
continued with his partner in business until retirement aged 75.
Harry, who lives at 16 Halsford Park, has been in the house for 74 years. He
and Alice attended St John’s, starting in 1937, twice on Sundays - 8am and
Evensong.
Harry now has a mobility scooter which enables him to get out
and about.
Asked what he wanted for his birthday, Harry replied,
“Nothing really. Well, it would be nice to see a few visitors
now and again.”
God Bless you, Harry Smith!
If you know Harry, please pop in and say hello at
3pm on Saturday 13th March, in the Church Hall.

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FELBRIDGE WILDLIFE
Spring Preening

"Behold the fowls of the air.” average. Felbridge flora and fauna
Matt. 6v26 seem to bear this out. The cold
resulted in more pochard staying on
Last month's bullfinch is still around,
Hedgecourt Lake. A bittern, driven
now with its sombre coloured mate,
out from the frozen fens, was at Weir
stripping the buds from our ornamental
Wood reservoir and I was reminded
prunus. Joan is not impressed.
of Mark Twain's exclamation, ‘Cold?!
All the birds around us are now If the thermometer had been an inch
wearing their Spring plumage, males longer, we'd all have frozen to death!’
resplendent, most females relatively
Belatedly, the male hazel catkins are
inconspicuous if they are going to be
releasing their golden pollen for the
sitting on eggs. One kingfisher was
March wind to carry on to the tiny
literally so stunned by its own
scarlet female flowers. At last, the
magnificence when it flew at its own
first celandines and coltsfoot are
reflection in a window and was picked
sending up new heads.
up by a parishioner until it recovered
its senses. A peacock butterfly has emerged
from hibernation in the church to
Recent research shows that birds have
flutter against the West window after
a special receptor in their brain that
Evensong. Moles are throwing up
measures increasing daylight length.
their mounds of soil spoil as they dig
Only when this is adequate for survival
tunnels into which worms and beetle
of a hungry brood of nestlings, are the
grubs will fall to nourish them. Yes,
bird's reproductive urges switched on.
again, we stand on holey ground.
This past Winter has been the longest
Peter Bateman
and coldest for 31 years and the Spring
flowers are up to four weeks later than
A man climbs to the top of Mount Sinai to get close enough to
talk to God. Overwhelmed by the Lord’s glory, the man exclaims,
“O Lord, what does even a million years mean to you!” To his
surprise, God replies: “About a minute”. The man ventures a fur-
ther question, “And what does a million pounds mean to you?”
“Oh, about a penny,” the Lord replies. The man looks
very thoughtful… “Lord,” he asks, “would you give me
a penny?” “Why of course,” God replies, “in a minute.”

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 WHAT IS A TIME BANK?
Find out from the Church Army Marylebone project
The Marylebone project for cooking, organising social events, dance
homeless women launched classes, reading lessons, painting,
its latest initiative on the massage and translation. For the women
23rd September 2009— of the Marylebone Project, the Time
a Time Bank. At a small Bank will give them a means of sharing
ceremony in Elgood skills they already possess with one
House, a symbolic another, for everyone’s mutual benefit.
ribbon was cut by a
The first dozen residents of the
representative from the (anonymous)
Marylebone Project (London’s largest
foundation which has funded the
hostel for homeless women) signed up
development of this ingenious idea. The
to their Time Bank at the official launch.
Marylebone Project Time Bank has
One of the residents, Poly, was delighted
now joined the ever-expanding ranks of
to win the competition to design
Timebanking UK—the national
Marylebone Time Bank’s new logo,
umbrella charity which supports time
winning herself a laptop for her work.
banks and whose slogan is ‘Time to
give and take’. It is envisaged that the Time Bank will
engage increasingly with the wider
So what is a Time Bank? In short, it
Marylebone community, including the
enables people to generate ‘credit’ for
local church, St Paul’s, with whom
whatever skills they possess; credit
Church Army has a strong link. If this
which can then be used to ‘buy’ skills
succeeds in expanding the membership
from another member of the Time
then it is possible that future residents of
Bank. For example, if Katherine walks
the Project may be able to start small
Emily’s dog for an hour, she has
businesses, via the Time Bank.
generated one credit. Katherine can
now spend that credit by asking Jack to Is a Time Bank something that St John’s
wash her car. Katherine has given time could do?
to Emily and can now take it from Jack.
Sent in by Di Giles,
The various services offered by Time an extract from the Church Army
Banks are limited only by the skills of website, www.churcharmy.org.uk
their members and include: gardening,

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to
become children of God.
John 1v12

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VILLAGE MATTERS
Felbridge W.I. were very pleased to District Councillor Ken Harwood
welcome three new visitors to our provided me with the following
meeting in February. All visitors are information...
welcome to come for three meetings
Felbridge Parish Council have taken
before deciding to join as members. We
steps to widen the entrance to the
had a very entertaining and interesting
Village Hall, but due to various hold-
talk on ‘Gardening without aches and
ups, this will not take place until
pains’ by Mr. Spriggs, who
Easter.
demonstrated different types of
gardening tools which can help to A temporary flashing 40mph sign has
relieve muscle strain. been placed on the A22 at Woodcock
Hill whilst we are waiting for one
We have booked a lunch at Rowfant for
which will be put in a more appropriate
the 12th March, and an afternoon walk
place.
around Tilgate park, with tea, is
planned for April. Our next meeting is Potholes! Both the District and Parish
on Tuesday 2nd March at the new time Councils have been pressing Surrey
of l.30-3.30pm, when we will be given County Council to take emergency
tips on Quick and Easy Entertaining. action to rectify the pothole situation
Phone 322302 for more details. on Copthorne Road. If you wish to add
your voice of complaint, log into
The mobile library will be situated at...
eastsurreyhighways@surreeycc.gov.uk
The Glebe 10-10.20am ref:83062912.
Village Hall at 10.25-11am Do visit Hedgecourt Lake – ten young
Whittington College 11.05-11.35am swans have taken residence chasing off
on the following days: 9th March, 6th the old cob who had been there for the
April, 4th May, 1st & 29th June, 27th past 17 years. He is now in one of the
July, 24th August, 21st September, 19th lower lakes.
October, 16th November, 14th
December. Daphne Ayerst
And also at Rowplatt Lane 3-3.15pm
on 10th & 24th March; 7th & 21st
April; 5th & 19th May; 2nd, 16th &
30th June; 14th & 28th July; 11th &
25th August; 2nd & 22nd September;
6th & 20th October; 3rd November; and
1st & 15th December.

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 NEIGHBOURHOOD
VILLAGE SHOP PANEL MEETING
Located on the Crawley Down
Road opposite the School. 24th March at 7pm
Buy your newspapers, fresh In the Village Hall
vegetables, meats, and delicious
cakes & bread from Fellowes of
Ardingly Bakery here.
ATM Cash machine. PARISH COUNCIL
Fine inexpensive wines and even MEETING
a dry-cleaning service
On 4th March at 7.30pm
and photocopying!!
In the Village Hall

FELBRIDGE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

18th March
The Village Hall, 8pm

1st Hedgecourt Scout Group Felbridge Flyers

Felbridge Village Hall
(model aircraft)
Wed: Beavers: 6:15-7:15pm
Cubs/Scouts:6:30-8:00pm Stuart Willis
Simon Bennett 01342 322237
01293-402733

The Big Church Day Out 2010

Sun 30th & Mon 31st May ~ Wiston House ~ West Sussex
Sat 29th May ~ Stanford Hall ~ Leicester
The BigChurchDayOut is the UK’s largest one day event for the
church and a great opportunity for you and yours to join with others
from across the country—the family of God celebrating together the
faith that’s bigger than any one of us. Tickets from £13.
For more info and tickets, visit www.bigchurchdayout.com

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WHY BELIEVE?

I was born in EG, a long enough time from school. She became a Christian,
ago to receive many kind offers of not with a ‘holier than thou’ attitude,
help in this year’s snow!! When we which can repulse, but with definite
visit the Chequer Mead Theatre, I am convictions about Jesus himself,
reminded of happy school days, which attracted me.
playing marbles in the playground, or,
I accompanied her to a girls’ ‘camp’
with our gas masks over our
at Pevensey Bay, where I learnt that it
shoulders, spending time in the air-
was not only good to believe in Jesus,
raid shelter, singing. On the sad
but also right to acknowledge him
occasion when the Whitehall cinema
publicly, as he commands. So on the
was bombed and some of my school
last night of this camp, I told others
friends were killed, I had tried to go to
that I belonged to Jesus. When I got
the cinema that day too, but there were
home, I read Paul’s letter to the
no seats left when I arrived late at the
Romans, and suddenly everything in
box office.
the muddled world seemed to make
I was sent to Sunday School at St perfect sense. I could see more
Swithun’s, and when I was older I clearly—not intellectually (I knew I
read Bible stories to the younger had much to learn), but emotionally
children. Eventually, I was confirmed, and spiritually. God was real; Jesus
but, although I never doubted the facts had died and risen to save the
of Jesus’ life and death, for me, world—even me, not only for life
confirmation was more of a ‘rite of after death but NOW, too. I was sure
passage’ than a great commitment to that God loved me, now and always.
God. Stainer’s Crucifixion, performed
Was it just a passing teenage
on Good Fridays in the church, moved
delusion? No way! Now, many years
me emotionally to appreciate what
later, I still say, ‘Jesus Christ is the
Jesus had done for me, but it was not
same, yesterday and today and
until the sixth-form at grammar school
forever!’
that I began to ask questions.
Celia Esau
I borrowed a philosophy book on
‘Time’ from a school friend, which
made me think about the universe,
eternity and all that. Around the same
time, another friend and I held
‘elevated discussions’ on the say home

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 A few notices from Churches Together
in East Grinstead
Friday 5th March ~ Women's World Day of Prayer - details in
the Notices Sheet. Service prepared by the women of Cameroon.

Saturday 6th March ~ A multi-culteral event in Haywards Heath

11am-3pm. A free coach leaves East Grinstead at 10am.

Monday 29th March ~ Trinity Methodist Church are holding a

Prayer 24/7 for the whole of Holy Week

Friday 2nd April ~ Good Friday Walk of Witness behind the

cross starting at 10.30am from Trinity Methodist Church to the
High Street for the open air service at 11am.

Ok, so we fused the piano, but the roof remains just about
on its rafters. Come and help us remedy this terrible
situation and raise that roof!...
Sunday 21st March
Rehearsal 3.15pm Scrummy tea 4.30pm
Service 5-5.40pm
If you’d like to join in playing an instrument, acting, dancing or singing—
young or old, beginner or pro—please contact Kris Defriend on 01342
312788 or k.defriend@sky.com.

13
CURRENT ISSUES: CHURCH AND EARTH
What’s the Church of England doing about climate change?
In November 2009, the Church of
England launched ‘Church and Earth'
its environmental strategy for the next
seven years. The plan includes
ambitious emissions reduction targets
for the Church as a whole, and puts
education and young people at the
heart of the Church's climate change
strategy, with all 4700 church schools
nationwide aiming to achieve ‘eco-
school' status and implementing
Government policy on education for
sustainable development.
The Bishop of London, Dr Richard
Chartres, who leads for the Church of
England on climate change and the
environment, said:
“The challenge facing the human race
in the 21st century is in our relation
with the earth and in particular how
we are going to help one another to
adapt to the reality of rapid climate
change. The Christian community is
being recalled by this crisis to a more
genuinely Biblical view of creation
and our place within it.
“It is clear that the effects of climate
change will be felt first by some of the
most vulnerable communities in the
world and those least able to bear the
costs of adaptation. Neighbour-love in
the 21st century embraces Pacific
islanders and those who make a living
in the low lying delta regions of the
world as well as our children and the
inhabitants of our own islands.
14
“The Church of England has gone
beyond rhetoric in producing Church
and Earth, a challenging plan for action
which makes serious demands on our
community, our schools and churches.
This has been conceived as part of the
preparation for the Copenhagen
Conference.”
At the conference in November in
Windsor, in the presence of the UN
Secretary General, the Church of
England set out its commitments to
include:
Carbon reduction target of 80% by
2050, with an interim target of 42%
by 2020
All church buildings to have carbon
footprints calculated and
recommendations made by 2012
Tree-planting to be encouraged on
church land
‘Eco-twinning' between UK and
developing world parishes, faced
with early effects of climate change
New Climate Justice Fund offering
aid to churches in the developing
world
All dioceses to target Fair Trade
status before 2016
Edited from
www.shrinkingthefootprint.
cofe.anglican.org
 NEWS FROM GIRLGUIDING
1st Felbridge (St John’s) Rainbows, Brownies and Guides
2010 saw the start of a busy year
for the Rainbows, Brownies and
Guides at Felbridge with lots of
new and exciting events planned
to celebrate the Centenary of
Girlguiding UK. 2010 also marks
the 60th Birthday of Brownies and
Guides at Felbridge!
The Rainbows and Guides are
looking for people to come and
join the fun of the Girlguiding UK
Centenary with them. If you
like craft, adventure, fun,
games, friendship, and
being part of a team then
this could be for you.
Rainbows are aged 5-7
years, and Guides are 10- 14
years old. Both units are looking
for Adult leaders to join them at
Felbridge on Friday evenings.
Without any new helpers the
units may have to close!
Guides are also looking for new
members, girls ages 10 – 14 years,
to join them, and are planning on
holding an open night for those
interested in joining.
Waiting lists for Rainbows and
Brownies – It’s never too early to
put your daughter’s name down
for Rainbows and Brownies as the
sooner their name is on the
waiting list, the sooner they will
15
get a place when they reach the
right age - spaces permitting.
For more details on either helping
with any of the units at Felbridge,
putting names down on the
waiting list, or to find out more
about joining Guides or their
open night, please contact Mrs
Ann Tucker 01342 317283 or
email felbridge_rbg@hotmail.co.
uk
Tesco for clubs and schools
and Sainsbury’s Active
kids voucher schemes are
due in to start up in the
coming week and once again
the Rainbows, Brownies and
Guides are collecting them to
enable them to get new
equipment for the units which in
the past have included a tent, and
other camping equipment, games
and craft supplies.
We will have an envelope on our
notice board for vouchers to be
put in - Thank you for your help
and support.
East Grinstead museum has a
display all about Girlguiding in
East Grinstead and Felbridge
which will be in place until 9th
May. For more details please see
the flyer on our notice board.
Ann and Louise Tucker
CHURCH CENTRE PROJECT
Progress Report: February ’10
This has been a quiet time after the
granting of planning permission by
Tandridge District Council [TDC] on
18th December 2009. Details of the
application, comments and approval
can still be seen on the TDC web site,
using reference number 2009/1327 in
the planning application search box,
then clicking search, then view details
then view application details.
This month...
The Finance Team is meeting to
review the Project Budget.
The Fund Management team is
meeting to coordinate all the appeal
activities.
The Architect has invited
quotations for the first group of
technical surveys required (asbestos
survey and soil investigation).
16
The Architect has invited
quotations for a detailed bat survey
during the summer season (a
condition imposed by TDC).
Other improvements include...
A copy of the car park lighting
report was sent to the Diocese to
forward to the architect who is
reviewing the car park (and access
road) completion.
Final measurements have been
taken for the translucent blinds to be
fitted to the south windows in the
church to reduce glare.
We are still awaiting confirmation of
the final configuration of the double
glazing for the hall windows and
doors.
John Grainger (Chair CCPT)
 St John’s presents
“From Tin Pan Alley
to Abbey Road”
A journey through popular music,
1890s – 1960s with

New Harmonie
at
St John’s Church, Felbridge
th
Saturday March 27 at 7.30pm.

Tickets: £6.50
Tel: Cecilia 718441 or others on the
Fundraising Committee

Funding for this concert is being provided by

The Sussex Community Foundation
(Grassroots Grants)

17
THE POWER OF PRAYER MEETINGS
Let St John’s be a power-house of prayer
Who taught us how to pray?
Matt 6:9 and Luke 11:1 The disciples
said, ‘Lord, teach us how to pray.’
Jesus said, ‘When you pray say, “Our
Father, in heaven, Hallowed be your
name…” - and here we have the pattern
of a prayer, the Lord’s Prayer.
When did Jesus pray?
Jesus prays in a solitary place Mk1 :35
When he is needing to be close to his
heavenly Father Lk 9:18
Giving thanks before a meal Lk 9:16
Jesus prays for himself Jn 17:1-5
for his disciples Jn 17:6-19
for all believers Jn 17:20-26
When troubled at Gethsemane Mt26:36
….And on many other occasions.
Who started Prayer Meetings?
Such meetings appear in Acts. Shortly
before Pentecost, a gathering of
disciples prayed in an upper room in
Jerusalem (Acts 1), and later a meeting
of believers (Acts 4).
A principle of shared prayer between
ordinary believers is supremely
established by the Lord Jesus in the well
known words of Mt 18
“For where two or three come
together in my name, there am I with
them”
What is the result of a Prayer
Meeting?
They devoted themselves to prayer (Acts
2:42) … And the Lord added to their
number daily (2:47) … They were filled
with the Holy Spirit (4:31).
18
So, what about our prayer meetings at
St John’s? Should we as Christians be
attending these meetings? Are we put
off by feeling that we can’t pray
aloud? Well, we don’t have to; to be
present is important, and to say
‘Amen’ when someone else has
prayed is important too.
What does ‘Amen’ mean? It comes
from the Hebrew verb ‘to be firm/
sure’. It means ‘truly’ or ‘let it be so’.
1Cor14:16 shows that the New
Testament worshippers learned to say
Amen. Why not come to a prayer
meeting, and may we together prove
the promises of Christ.
Let St John’s be a Power House
of prayer.
Prayer at St John’s...
 Prayer Breakfast - 1st Saturday of
the month, Church Hall, 8-9am
 Prayer on Wednesdays (POW) - 3rd
Wednesday of the month at the
Vicarage, 8pm
 Women’s Intercessory Group
(WIGS) - June Clarke’s house, The
Old Pheasantery, Woodcock Hill,
Felbridge, 10.30am - 12noon
 Prayer Chain - Monday evening
telephone link
 Prayer Partners/Triplets - Two or
three people gather regularly at an
agreed time.
Di Giles
 IN THE GARDEN

The snow has gone and after all that common native – Primrose vulgaris. I
enforced inactivity in January- like the soft creamy colour and the fact
February, we can at last get busy in the that they seed freely as can be seen in
garden. One blessing of the very cold our woods, hedgerows and on the
January is that pests don’t do well, railway embankments. They are in full
particularly the aphids. March is an flower during April and May, but in
unpredictable month, caught between sheltered spots in mild winters they can
winter and spring, but there is more flower in early January.
daylight, the sun rises higher in the
I have often attempted to grow
sky, which helps to warm up the soil.
mistletoe, but without success. This
It also means that the herbaceous
Christmas I was given a present of
perennials are beginning to grow
mistletoe seeds and have followed all
rapidly, so they will start to need
the instructions by pressing the seeds
support.
onto the bark of the apple trees and
Two plants at their very best now are protecting them from the birds—so
the beautiful hellebores and the wish me luck!
primroses. Hellebores can be in flower
There is so much to do this month...
from January to April, depending upon
Herbacious perennials that need to be
the variety. The H. niger is commonly
properagated or are flowering poorly
called the Christmas Rose and the H.
can be divided. Hardy annuals such as
orientalis, which blooms a little later,
calendula, centaurea, cosmos, phlox,
is the Lenten Rose. At this time of the
delphiniums. poppies, sweet peas and
year I always wish that I had planted
hollyhocks can be sown now and
far more of them. It’s a pity that many
summer bulbs like gladioli and lilies
of them hang their beautiful heads
may be planted. Time, too, to mulch,
down, but newer varieties not only
weed and get out the mower. But be
come in lovely colour combinations
warned: ‘One of the most pleasing
but some do also hold up their heads!
sounds of springtime to be heard all
I want to write in praise of the over the country, is the contented
primrose. They are such lovely cooing of osteopaths as Man picks up
flowers. The name is often used to his garden spade!’
refer to all the colourful polyanthas,
Maureen Reynolds
primulas, cowslips and oxlips as well
as the native primroses, but my
personal favourite is always the

19
BOOK REVIEW
‘The Radical Disciple’
by John Stott
The Radical Disciple is John Stott's
51st book - and is partner to The
Living Church: The Convictions of a
Lifelong Pastor that many of us at St
John’s found so very helpful a few
years ago.
In The Radical Disciple, John has
selected some characteristics of
Christian discipleship to expound and
explore. Each subject is addressed
with Biblical clarity of thought so
typical of his writing, on wide ranging
issues...
John Stott has spent a lifetime
thinking, teaching, preaching and
writing, with great insight and with
great care. This new book is as
helpful as ever and he concludes The
Radical Disciple with a poignant
farewell to his readers.
One review by Mark Meynell summed
it up thus: ‘In The Living Church,
[Stott] expounds the key hallmarks of
what constitutes Church life, in all its
diversity, challenges and joys.
In The Radical Disciple, he expounds
20
the key hallmarks of a Christian's
life, again in all its diversity,
challenges and joys. These two books
form a fitting conclusion to John
Stott's legacy, one which it will
probably take decades fully to
appreciate.’
It remains to be said that if this
legacy is to be sustained and grow,
then people need to give themselves
to it deliberately. One way is for
people to pray for and give to the
Langham Partnership - for which he
appeals at the end of the Radical
Disciple - you can do that by going to
the Langham Partnership site.
But the best way is surely for us to
live just as we are called to in these
two books... just as, in fact, he
himself has sought to live. "
The book can be obtained from
Rosemary Tadman, who runs the the
church bookstall. Price £8.99 and
worth every penny!
Mandy Bowen
 CHURCH FAMILY NEWS
News & Thanks
'Many thanks to everyone who has prayed for me, sent cards and get-well messages
while I was in hospital, and helped me in various ways. I have appreciated it so
much.' Marion Baker

Congratulations to Tim and Susi Neale on the birth of their second daughter, Martha
Carys, 7lb 4oz, born 14th February in time for Lily to celebrate her 2nd birthday on
15th February!

A very Happy Birthday to Harry Smith, long time member of the family of St
John's... who is 100 on March 13th! We wish him God's every blessing. See p7

Many congratulations to Ken and Caroline Coomber of Rowplatt Lane who

celebrated their diamond wedding on 11th February.

Congratulations to Vic and Linda Barker who are now grandparents to Henry Louis
John, a son to their daughter Hannah and her husband (who are in Melbourne
Australia) and brother to Matilda.

Mandy Bowen

Blame it on Bruno...

21
 East Grinstead Choral Society
Director Richard Jenkinson

Fauré Requiem

Gounod Messe Solennelle ‘St Cécile’

Saturday 20th March at 7.30 pm

St Mary’s Church, Windmill Lane, East Grinstead

Tickets £13 (£12 concs)

from Gill Matson, Joan Bateman, Anne White or Sheila Drury

MK PLUMB 24/7 WILLS WRITTEN

 Emergency call out Qualified Lady Practitioner
 Bathroom installations FREE Home Visit
Telephone: 01342 314082
 Hot water cylinders
Organising your family’s future
 Full Plumbing services
Inheritance, planning & probate
Tel. Mike on 01342 300154 Member of professional Will Writers
Mobile 07966 510242 Association

CHURCH REGISTER
David Brian Babb died aged 82. His funeral was at Surrey and Sussex
crematorium 5th Feb 2010.
Mandy Bowen

22
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 & JOYNES, ‘The Flueologists’ 01342 717900
All Flues and Appliances Swept and Serviced. Pots, Cowls,
Caps, Birdguards. Fireplace Repairs, Stacks Repointed

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

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
Jacqueline Lake (ACC Accredited) 01342 718948

TV SALES, SERVICE & INSTALLATIONS

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

R J LONGHURST TV-VIDEO
Repairs —Sales and Home Tuning. LCD, Plasma, CRT TVs
plus DVD, CD and microwaves
17 Hillside Close, East Grinstead RH19 2DW 01342 323022

SPECIALIST GARDEN CENTRE

Bonsai and Japanese Garden supplies
HERONS BONSAI, Wiremill Lane (near Mormon Temple) 01342 832657

PAINTERS & DECORATORS

D G GURR. Over 30 years experience; Professional and reliable
Specialising in wallpaper hanging. Call for free advice and estimate 01342 321051

CLARINET LESSONS
Elaine Short CT ABRSM 01342 327563

23
 USEFUL CONTACTS
Churchwardens: Anne Butler 01342 313640
e-mail: butleranne09@googlemail.com

Malcolm Francis 01342 714575

e-mail: malcolm_francis@tiscali.co.uk
Treasurer: Chris Saunders 01342 325662
e-mail: treasurerstjohns@googlemail.com
PCC Secretary: Carol Bagshawe 01342 314221
e-mail: carol.bagshawe@btconnect.com
Magazine Editor: Louise Russell 01342 323692
e-mail: parishmagstjohns@googlemail.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
Church Office (closed on Thursdays) 01342 321524
Village Hall Bookings: Lynda Railton 01342 322205

CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE ACTIVITIES

Climbers (3-6 yrs): Lindsey Saunders 01342 325662
e-mail: mountainash4@googlemail.com
Explorers (Year 2 to 4): Diane Francis 01342 714575
e-mail: Diane_Francis@tiscali.co.uk
Light Eagles (Year 5+): Dan and Suzy Callaway 01342 321658
e-mail: Daniel.callaway@iname.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
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