ST. JOHN'S MERROW DECEMBER 2018 - PARISH MAGAZINE - A community growing in faith
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
ST. JOHN’S MERROW
PARISH MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 2018
+
Our Vision is to be:
A community growing in faith
Magazine price 50p
0St John the Evangelist
Epsom Road, Merrow
www.saintjohns.org.uk
St John’s is open every day of the week from 9am to 5pm
for quiet time and personal prayer
PLEASE FEEL WELCOME TO VISIT US
Sunday Services are listed on page 2
Services during the Week:
Morning Prayer at 8.30am: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday only
Evening Prayer at 5.00pm: Monday, Tuesday and Friday only
Wednesday: Holy Communion at 10.30am
in the St John’s Centre Merrow Hall
CLERGY
Rev’d Rona Stuart-Bourne Rev’d D Verschoyle
Rector Asst. Curate
WHO’S WHO PARISH CONTACT DETAILS PAGES 18 & 19
(See page 23 for contact phone numbers for further information)
Mondays 9.00 - 10.00am Contemplation (Contact Rector)
9.45 - 11.45am Babies & Toddlers group
5.00 - 6.00pm Merrow Community Gospel Choir
(Phone Parish Office for information)
Tuesdays 7.30pm Bell ringing practice
Wednesdays 10.15 - 11.30am Wednesday Coffee Club
Fridays 6.30pm Choir Practice (Parish Office for info.)
1DECEMBER SERVICES 2018 ~Year C
2nd December - ADVENT SUNDAY, purple - Year C begins
BLuke 21:25-36
1 Thess 3:9-end,
8am Holy Communion - BCP
10am All Age Communion Service - Common Worship
This service will include a SILENT EUCHARIST led by Rev Dermot Verschoyle
4pm Christingle Service - followed by a children’s tea in the Centre
NOTE NO EVENING PRAYER THIS WEEK!
9th December - 2nd Sunday of Advent, purple
Phil 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6
8am Holy Communion - BCP
10am Service of Holy Communion - Common Worship
6.30pm Evening Prayer
16th December - 3rd Sunday of Advent, purple
Phil 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18
8am Holy Communion - BCP
10am Service of Holy Communion - Common Worship
6.30pm Carol Service – followed by mince pies & mulled wine in the Centre
23rd December - 4th Sunday of Advent, purple
Micah 5:2-5a, Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)
8am Holy Communion - BCP
10am Service of Holy Communion - Common Worship
4pm Crib Service
24th December - Christmas Eve, White
Heb 1:1-4, John 1:1-14
11.30pm Midnight Mass
25th December - CHRISTMAS DAY, White
Heb 1:1-4, John 1:1-14 or Isaiah 62:6-end, Luke 2:1-20
8am Holy Communion – BCP
10am Service of Celebration for all the family with Communion
No evening service
Continued on next page
2DECEMBER SERVICES 2018 ~Year C
30th December - First Sunday of Christmas, White
Col 3:12-17, Luke 2:41-end
8am Holy Communion - BCP
10am Service of Holy Communion - Common Worship
6.30pm Evensong
6th January 2019 - The Epiphany, White
Eph 3:1-12, Matt 2:1-12
8am Holy Communion - BCP
10am All Age Communion Service
6.30pm Evening Prayer
From the Parish Registers for October 2018
BAPTISM
7th Harper Violet PICKFORD
WEDDING
27th Laurence CHINERY to Ola Yinka ENI-OLOTU
FUNERAL
31st Shirley Ann FIRKIN
Contemplative Prayer
Every Monday morning 9-10am we meet in the Quiet Room in
the Centre to listen to the readings for the coming Sunday,
reflect on them to music, and then discuss them.
We all find that hearing what other folk think about the
readings can help us to engage with them on a far deeper
level. You would be so welcome to join us, and we can pretty
much guarantee you will find it enjoyable.
Rona
3Walk where Jesus walked.
Some of you have visited the Holy Land before, indeed please read a
piece below which was written about just such a trip. In September
2019 St John’s is joining with a parish in rural Hampshire to walk where
Jesus walked, and I encourage you to book a place on our faith-
enhancing, spiritually-inspirational pilgrimage.
We will visit a variety of destinations including Bethlehem, Galilee, and
Jerusalem. Standing where it is believed Jesus gave his Sermon on the
Mount, where he fed the 5,000, and where he was born brought a
richness, an understanding, and a light to my faith which was
transformative. I would love that for this congregation: forms are
available in St John’s Centre Office.
As I write I have just met with Colin Foard (the master craftsman who
made our lectern) to plan a new prayer wall which will be located on
the back of the pew in the Prayer Area. We have decided to model it on
the ‘Wailing Wall’ in Jerusalem. This wall is a focal point for prayer in
Jerusalem, as people write prayers to God and slip them into the cracks
in the wall. We will have the opportunity to ‘post’ prayers into and pin
prayers onto our prayer wall. I hope it will enhance the large variety of
ways in which St John’s encourages prayer.
This month can be a difficult month for so many; the bereaved, the
lonely, those with low income, victims of domestic abuse and some
suffering mental health issues. There is a service for those suffering at
this time; it began in America and was called Blue Christmas. It has
been renamed ‘Longest Night’ in the UK, and the words are simple and
beautiful, showing that the gift of the Christ child is just as much for
those who are suffering and in pain, as for those who are full of jingle
bells and rolling in tinsel.
My request to our community here at St John’s, is that as we gather
together with our friends and family, please also look out for those
neighbours who are left out, or feeling lonely, and who find this time a
particularly difficult one. The joy of the Christ child, when shared with
both the excited and excitable, and with the lonely and sad, will be
enriched for us all, and we will enable God’s Kingdom here in Merrow
for all, not just those for whom life is going well.
4As a colleague said recently, there is a yearning in the world for a
greater meaning in life right now, and we believe we have the answer
to that search: the hope which the Christ Child brings. Pilgrimage,
Prayer Wall and Loneliness at Christmas, what links them all? God’s
longing to be closer to us, and as Richard, Bishop of Chichester
famously said – Dear God, we pray that we may see Christ more
clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly, day by day.
We can all endorse that this Christmastime.
With love, Rona
TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND (An “A-Ha” moment)
There were many “Wow” factors and “A-Ha” moments on my recent
trip to the Holy Land, but perhaps it was significant for me that the best
one occurred on the final day. It was like the final piece of a jig-saw
falling into place, completing the picture.
I was standing on Mount Zion, outside the House of Caiaphas, and I
was staring across the valley to the Mount of Olives. It was peaceful for
a change. Gone were the hordes of Pilgrims, beggars and street sellers
plying their trade. I could clearly see the Garden of Gethsemane. It was
here, that Jesus was betrayed by a kiss. He would have been
manhandled and marched down the Mount of Olives passed Dominus
Flevit (Jesus wept), treading the same path he would have done the
previous week when he had been welcomed as a hero to lay palms for
Him to walk on. These places actually exist folks! They would have
dragged him up to where I was standing and placed in the dungeon
under the House of Caiaphas. I had just been in that dungeon, now
sanitised with smooth floors and modern lighting for health and safety
reasons no doubt, but for Him it would have been dark, cold and dank.
The next day Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate on the pavement to be
judged and sentenced, and then marched around the old city of
Jerusalem to his crucifixion. Then it dawned on me. This actually
happened, and here is the proof. Why are we still “celebrating” after
2000 years? Why have millions of Christians built Shrines and Churches
on each significant site, again and again? It really happened, and He
died to save us. [Written by Tom Mabbort, 2009]
5Wednesday Coffee Club
Only two more Coffee Mornings for 2018, the
5th and 12th of December. Come along and join
in, especially on the last date as the choir will be
leading us in singing carols, having been lubricated with mince pies and
a small tincture of celebration sherry
On that last day we will be saying goodbye and ‘thank you’ to hostess
Wendy who has helped us for five years, so if you think you might like
to help us out once every five weeks or so, do call in or make contact
with me on 538217
Thank you and Happy Christmas to all the hostesses; Barbara and
Teresa who are there every week and Rosanne and the volunteer
drivers who regularly get the less able to the Centre for the meeting.
And finally, while everyone talks about and experiences ‘the spirit of
Christmas’, let us carry it through to next year and offer each other
twelve months of that spirit. Maybe you cannot love your neighbour,
but at least be nice to them!
Paulene Lambert
St. John's Church Magazine
We need HELP please!
We are looking for a volunteer(s) to deliver 16 magazines
in the Trodds Lane area of Merrow.
The Meldrums, who have done this delivery for many years, are
happy to collect the money for 2019 and show the volunteer the
houses concerned, but feel unable to continue delivering
monthly.
Please contact Angela Rye, 570478, Barbara Lawrence, 577164
or Michelle in the Parish Office if you can help.
Thank you
6Together in Christ
Christians in Merrow
St John the Evangelist, Merrow
are delighted to invite you to a showing of the
BBC film The Nativity
Friday Dec 7th 7.00-8.15pm
Friday Dec 14th 7.00-8.30pm
ADVENT DISCUSSION GROUP
Main Hall,
St John’s Centre
We will be showing an hour of the film
on Friday 7th and the remaining hour on
Friday 14th Dec. Both will be followed
by a short act of worship, then a
discussion on our response to this
powerful film. Refreshments will be
provided on both evenings.
Everyone is very
Welcome.
Advent Meditation
May this eternal truth be always on our hearts
That the God who breathed this world into being
Placed stars into the heavens
And designed a butterfly's wing
Is the God who entrusted his life
to the care of ordinary people
became vulnerable that we might know
how strong is the power of Love
A mystery so deep it is impossible to grasp
A mystery so beautiful it is impossible to ignore
[from Celtic liturgy for 1st week in Advent - Faith and Worship website]
7Saturday 15th December
When I was 10 years old, my mates and I went caroling round the
houses; two quick verses of Good King Wenceslas, out of tune, and a
chorus of “Christmas is coming and the Geese are getting fat….,
“and a grubby hand held out for a coin or two.
When I was twenty, it was the church group, lanterns and carol
sheets round the neighbourhood singing good cheer and collecting
for charity.
Now I am older, the Politically Correct Regulations have driven
Christmas carols off the streets.
Except that I can, once again, carol Jesus’ Coming by joining the St.
John’s contingent and those of the other local churches and the
community to sing our hearts out on
The GREEN beside the BUSHY HILL CENTRE
at 4pm on Saturday 15th December.
Bring a torch to shine on the words, a brolly to keep the rain off,
and a very loud voice and 45 minutes later enjoy mince pies and
mulled wine in the Community Centre. See you to sing for Advent.
8Praying as I can, not as I can’t
I don’t pray in the conventional way, but in a moment of silence I relax in
a nice comfortable armchair, looking at the sky through my window and
breathe steadily.
I let my mind clear of everything, with my eyes closed, I go over what has
happened during the day. I think about the good things and the not so
good things, and maybe how I could have handled them better,
and perhaps see things in a different way next time, instead of jumping in
feet first, without thinking.
I haven’t always prayed in adulthood, but going to Sunday School as a
youngster, it was I suppose, the next thing to happen in my life, and in
times of stress has helped me pull through and, I hope, made me
stronger. O dear Lord, listen as I pray,
Keep me safe along the way,
So I may praise you every day. AMEN
Ron Bailey
Invitation
Christ Church invite you and your church family to a brand new
Christmas musical ‘Lodestar’ on 6th, 7th and 8th of December.
Performances are at 7.30pm on Thursday 6th and Friday 7th and at
5.30pm on Saturday 8th. Tickets are £12 for adults and £6 for children
under 11 and can be obtained from the website
www.christchurchguildford.com/lodestar or by post at Lodestar
Bookings, Christ Church, 23 Waterden Road, Guildford, GU1 2AZ. Postal
applications should include name plus date, type and number of tickets.
Cheques should be made payable to Christ Church Guildford PCC.
Lodestar is a quirky nativity telling the story of the wise men’s quest to
find a child, who will become king of the world. It is a wonderful
opportunity to bring non Christian friends to a show that could start a
conversation about faith and the real meaning of Christmas. Everyone
attending will receive a free copy of the Follow the Star booklet – part of
the Church of England’s 2018 Christmas campaign – which invites them
to journey in the steps of the wise men to meet with Jesus through 14
Your SHAPE
daily reflections beginning for God’s
on Christmas ending on 6th January.
Service
Eve and
[See flier and letter of invitation at the back of church and in the Centre]
9A series of sessions to enable people to understand the
unique SHAPE God has made you
The sessions will involve looking at
* Spiritual gifts (God’s Unique gifts to you)
* Heart's Desire (what motivates and excites you)
* Abilities (your talents, knowledge and skills)
* Personality (your character, qualities and strengths)
* Experiences (what you have gained from your life experiences)
A new group is starting in January 2019 – meeting fortnightly
mostly on a Saturday morning (10-12) in St John’s Centre.
Dates:
1. 26th Jan 2. 9th Feb
3. 23rd Feb in the afternoon. 4. 16th March
5. 30th March 6. Final session date to be confirmed.
Several people in our church took part in the SHAPE sessions that
were held last summer. Ask Rona or Margaret Dean who they are if you
would like to talk to one of them about it.
We would love you to participate.
If you are interested, please speak to Rona or Margaret
and put your name on the list!
Thinking about GIFTS!
"Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, FORGIVENESS To an opponent, TOLERANCE
To a customer, SERVICE To every child, A GOOD EXAMPLE
To all, CHARITY To a friend, YOUR HEART
To yourself, RESPECT."
Oren Arnold
10About our Cathedral.........
Details of all December Services can be found
on the Cathedral website or at the back of church
It was rather windy on the top of Stag Hill and the trees
were fast shedding their leaves. But there were still some wonderful
colours to see; deep reds and bright yellows and rich browns, golds and
some leaves still green all against a powdery blue sky with scudding
grey clouds. But I digress! I’m here to continue our theme from last
month about the Cathedral kneelers.
I’ve already written about some historical aspects of the subject so this
month I want to discuss the kneelers themselves. Well, I was in for a
shock when I started my investigations. Did you know that there are
1604 individual kneelers and that they are all different? There are
kneelers portraying just about everything from Sputnik 1 to leaping
stags, from futuristic cityscapes to farm implements from builders’
mallets to racing cars and aeroplanes, local churches and Girl Guide
badges and Scout troop flags and, of course, religious icons. The list
goes on. All of them follow the same design of the background below
an ascending diagonal in blue and above the diagonal in bright colours.
Against the backdrop of this pattern the embroiderers have worked
their magic with great imagination in skilful detail. Looking through the
designs it became apparent that most kneelers were completed in the
1950’s and early 60’s hence topical themes of the time, like Sputnik.
But other designs evoked memories of earlier days; a horse-drawn
plough, architects tri-squares and compasses and important people of
the day. It is a wonderful and unique collection of work executed by
some dedicated people in the creation of a rare and lasting gift to our
Cathedral. Nick Bond
Merrow Dramatic Society present
ROBIN HOOD ~ a traditional family pantomime
24th – 26th January Merrow Village Hall GU1 2QY
Performances 7.30pm Saturday matinee 2.30pm
Tickets £12 children £8 (Thursday all tickets £8)
Available from: 07586 801163 or online: merrowdramatic.org.uk
11Colour and Vestments
Most churches use colour to highlight the main thrust of a service at
some particular time. For example, feasts of Our Lord are normally
white e.g. for Christmas and Easter, whilst penitential seasons are
purple. Colours are used for the Chasuble which is the vestment worn
by the priest celebrating the Holy Eucharist. The stole worn by the
clergy is a coloured strip of cloth about 6 foot long worn round the neck
and hung down vertically for a priest and diagonally across the body
from the left shoulder for a deacon.
The normal Eucharistic dress for the clergy starting from the inside out
is first a normally black cassock buttoned down the front and reaching
to the ankles, also used as an outdoor dress when on parish duties.
Over the cassock is a white alb down to the ankles, often with a hood.
Then comes the amice which is a square white cloth with coloured
fabric around one edge with tapes from the front corners and worn
around the neck and fastened across the body with the cross tapes.
This is omitted when using a hooded alb. Over this is first the stole and
then the chasuble, which is an oval, embroidered cloth with a hole for
the head which has been worn for Eucharistic purposes since the time
of the first church and is modelled on both the Jewish priestly costume
and the Roman court dress and is exactly like a Mexican poncho. The
stole is held in place by a cincture of white and tasselled rope around
the waist. Both the chasuble and the stole are of the appropriate colour
for the day.
Also in many churches there is an altar frontal, a lectern fall and pulpit
fall which are embroidered cloths, again of the colour of the day. The
colours used in our church are a slight variant on the Sarum usage,
which would have been used in this church from medieval times until
the Reformation. White or gold is used for all feast days of Our Lord
and for All Saints Day and feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) and
for Trinity Sunday as well as for Baptisms, Marriages and Ordinations.
Red is the colour for Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Pentecost and
Martyrs. Violet is used for the penitential seasons of Advent and Lent
and also for funerals. Green is used for all other days which are known
as Ordinary Time.
Michael Stoughton
12View from a Pew
How the November View from the Pew resonated with me! My life’s
journey through Christian faith differed from November Anon’s; it
veered from Welsh fervour through fundamental evangelical to a
calmer, more thoughtful approach. In my latter years, I too have
appreciated the chance to ponder on God’s grace and to ask him how
to respond. I regret the times when I thought that playing Action Man
was the only way to reap the harvest.
But I have a couple of caveats.
The first relates to modernisation. I do believe that we have to try to
understand what God is saying in the context of the twenty-first
century. To over-emphasise the point, if we didn’t, we would still be in
favour of slavery pre-Wilberforce times. And our thoughts on warfare
and peace would still echo to the jingoistic celebrations of the times of
Waterloo and Trafalgar.
The second relates to style of worship. What suits me and my simple
faith does not suit the young generation and its view of worship. We
can see that in the lack of children and young people attending our
services.
The conundrum for us all is; how do we continue to enjoy our faithful
approach to God and yet be prepared to enable new forms of worship
through which young people can approach God. Can the two run side
by side within one church with both learning what each has to offer to
the glory of God? ANON
Dignity
What does it mean to be dignified? Dignity is often connected with
something one retains, keeps or even protects because it says
something about how you feel about yourself or even, how you would
like others to think of you. In October the Invictus games were held in
Australia with men and women who have suffered some sort of injury,
physical and/or mental whilst serving in Her Majesty’s armed forces.
Each one of these chaps will have spent some time in recovery and
rehabilitation and will have submitted themselves to being naked to be
washed and cleaned, loo’d and shaved. It’s something we are not told
13about, rather their massive belief in themselves to overcome the fear
of achieving their full potential is what is reported.
As I have become increasingly unable to do things for myself because
of breathlessness, I have been aware that rather than loosing my
dignity as Winifred ‘wipes my bottom’ as it were, quite the opposite
seems to be happening. I feel as if I am being dignified by her. It
doesn’t quite tally with what dignity is supposed to be about, does it?
And yet that is how I felt and feel. Winifred was dignifying me with love
by doing the work she does. The first time this happened made me cry.
I was overwhelmed firstly by my submission and then by the feeling of
being dignified. I was dignified not because I had a smart hat on, I was
hatless, or a new shirt, I was naked, but because God had sent an
angel to lay hands on me, to care for my most basic needs and my
response was to feel dignified in way that made me feel like Jesus did
hanging naked on the cross.
The Romans thought it would make him loose all self worth, and feel
humiliated in front of his mother by stripping Him naked and exposing
his genitals but they were wrong. Jesus’ mother was there, John was
there, Mary Magdalene was there to dignify his death by their presence.
As appalling as the conditions must have been for Jesus overnight
before his trial, the flogging and trial that ensued, Jesus was dignified
by the women who were there at His end and to this day, all who fall at
the foot of cross do the same, they dignify Him.
Dignity is such a powerful and beautiful blessing, and it is bestowed
upon us by others. It is not something we wear, earn or inherit. It is
something we have by His grace to let others serve us even if we must
lose all sense of modesty in doing so. And then, pure and spotless as
we become, the moment we rise in glory into His glorious light will
become the ultimate moment when our dear Lord dignifies us by
holding us against his cheeks with tears of happiness, for we are the
apple of his eye. The lovely portion from Hosea 11 sums this up ‘I was
to them like those who raise infants to their cheeks.’ We will be known
by how dignified we have been in our life time on this earth, and that is
the gift God gave us, the gift of having the grace to let others dignify
us.
God’s blessings to you all
Dermot
14MBE (Member of the British Empire)
On Wednesday 31st October, Robert Avis attended Buckingham Palace
to be presented with the MBE by the Duke of Cambridge, Prince
William. The citation reads “for services to the community in
Guildford”. We know his work for the church and community in Merrow;
his membership of the PCC team and times as Church warden; his
leadership of the St John’s Centre project; and his work on the two
major re-orderings of the church. He has also served as a trustee of
Age UK Surrey for some ten years, three of which were as Chairman.
Amongst other activities, he has been a trustee of Sunset Homes,
served on the MRA committee and (to use his own words) ‘signally
failed to build a youth centre in Bushy Hill’. I asked Robert to write
something of the day’s experience. Editor
Robert writes:
The morning sun sliced Buckingham Palace into wintry shade and
autumnal warmth as the palace officials separated me from my guests,
Gwenneth, son and daughter-in-law, guiding them up the Grand
Staircase to the Ballroom and me through the Green Drawing Room to
the Picture Gallery. There the seventy recipients of the Honours were
briefed on the ceremony to come. The Duke of Cambridge would be
presenting the Decorations. The portraits on the Picture Gallery walls
sardonically viewed the somewhat nervously waiting recipients.
We talked amongst ourselves and I was struck by the variety of
awards. One, an army officer, had built bridges between the
communities and the Army in Woolwich after Lee Rigby’s murder;
another worked at the development of the video games industry in the
Welsh Valleys.
We watched the early investitures on a screen, anachronistic amongst
the resplendent gold ornamentation, glittering chandeliers, rich red
carpeting and pictures on the walls of the Picture Gallery. The Duke
entered the Ballroom attended by the Lord Chamberlain and two
Gurkha Orderly Officers. On the dais were five duty Yeomen of the
Guard. Lifeguards stood unmovingly to attention, their helmets and
breastplates reflecting the lighted chandeliers. The Countess of
Wessex’s String Orchestra played the National Anthem from the
balcony.
15By twelve noon my turn approached. A Gentleman Usher sorted a
dozen of us into the next batch and guided us to the entrance to the
Ballroom. I was fifth in the group; “Mr. Robert Avis for services to the
community in Guildford”. The Prince had taken the Decoration from a
velvet cushion and was reminded by the Equerry in Waiting of what the
Honour was for. He approached me, I moved towards him (after
bowing). He pinned the medal on my lapel and asked how long I been
with Age UK Surrey and then questioned me about our church centre. I
fear my responses were rather garbled but then he was holding out his
hand to shake and offering me his congratulations.
Two steps back; bow; exit left and ushered to the rear of the Ballroom
to watch the remainder of the investitures. Then it was all stand for the
National Anthem and the Duke leaving with his Gurkhas, his Yeoman of
the Guard (which included one lady), the Lord Chamberlain and others.
So it was over bar the official photographs, meeting up with family and
generally celebrating what had been a real state occasion for us all.
Merrow
Community Gospel Choir
Christmas Concert
Saturday 22nd December
at 6.30pm
St John’s Centre GU4 7AA
Merrow Community Gospel Choir
is delighted to ask you to join them for their debut
performance following the launch of the choir in September.
The concert will last about half an hour and, as well as the
choir singing music they have learnt so far, there will be
audience participation as well.
Refreshments will be served after the performance
Please come and support this new venture
16PAST WARS ~ FAMILY MEMORIES
Andy Nunney writes
Now come with me in my TARDIS to the banks of the River Severn in
Stourport on Severn, Worcestershire. It is early afternoon on
September 3rd 1939. Les Nunney, about to turn 15, is walking with his
best friend, Lional Chell, a few months older. They talk of the
announcement made earlier that day by the Prime Minister that the
country is now at war with Germany. Lional turns to Les. “I wonder if
we’ll get involved?” he says.
The next year Les leaves school and goes to work for the Great
Western Railway at Stourport station. In a ‘reserved’ occupation he is
unable to volunteer until 1944 and he joins the RAF as a Halifax
navigator, serving until 1948, when he is demobbed; unable to stay as
he wished. His proudest possession his framed ‘Wings’ certificate,
signed by King George VI. At his funeral it is placed upon his coffin.
Now come in my TARDIS again, this time to Holland. It is now August
1985 and Les and his wife Gill are on holiday visiting the Venray War
Cemetery where Les kneels at a grave, reference V. D. 7. He lays
flowers on it, his eyes brimming with tears, he reads the gravestone;
Flight Sergeant (Nav.) Lional Hawkins Chell, 3rd February 1945. He died
when the Halifax of 10 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
crashed near the village of Haelen in the Province of Limburg and
Nunhem, with the loss of all on board. For Les, Lional will be one of
those who shall grow not old.
Les’s father Isaac also served his country in the Great War on the
Western Front. Both men are still remembered; not least in the shape
of my son Zac. His proper first name is Isaac; his last name, like mine,
is Leslie. Their names liveth for evermore.
Christmas Bazaar 2018 ~ Interim result >£2,100
Many Thanks to Dermot and the TEAM of “Boyz” ~
Mark, Richard, Tony, Peter and Joe for stepping up and taking on
the task of organising a VERY SUCCESSFUL and enjoyable event.
To the AMAZING stall holders for their hard work and the punters
who all came to have a good time and spend their money!
Ed.
17SOME DIARY DATES
DECEMBER
Sunday 2nd ADVENT SUNDAY – Year C begins
4pm Christingle Service in church followed by a
children’s tea in the Centre
Fri 7th Film ‘The Nativity’ Part 1 (p 7)
Fri 14th Film ‘The Nativity’ Part 2 (p 7)
Sat 15th 4pm Carols on the Green – Bushy Hill Centre (p 8)
Sunday 16th 6.30pm Carols by Candlelight in Church
Saturday 22nd Afternoon Concert given by the Merrow Community
Gospel Choir - (p16 )
Sunday 23rd 4pm Crib Service (NOT on Christmas Eve)
Monday 24th 11.30pm Midnight Mass
Tuesday 25th Christmas Day Services at 8am and 10am
JANUARY 2019
24th to 26th Merrow Dramatic Society Panto ~ Robin Hood (p11)
FEBRUARY
Saturday 2nd Day of Prayer at Guildford Cathedral (details to follow)
Tuesday 5th Shrove Tuesday PARTY
There will be an Austerity Lunch look out for more details
Saturday 23rd Jumble Sale
Limerick Lane
In worshipping here at St John’s
We’re enraptured by beautiful songs
From our talented choir
Who most highly aspire
To soothe with soft beauty life’s wrongs.
CS
18Gardening Hints for December
The Indian Summer is over, colder weather has finally arrived but how
long will it last? Long enough I hope to kill off all the bugs which have
multiplied in the soil during the Spring and Summer.
December can sometimes be the coldest month of the year, if you have
not already done so now is the time to bring half hardy plants under-
cover and to bubble wrap the greenhouse.
Dahlias which have been blackened by frost should be cut down, dug
up and brought inside until next Spring. Leave Hardy Fuchsia, Peonies
and Hydrangeas as their stems help protect the plants through Winter.
All Tulips should be planted by the end of the month.
Bare root Roses which have been soaked overnight can still be planted
if the soil is not frozen or waterlogged. Collect all the fallen leaves from
Roses which have been attacked by Blackspot and dispose of them to
help prevent the disease reappearing again next Spring.
Pinch out the tips of Sweet Peas sown in October so that the plants
become bushy.
Now is a good time to prune Apple and Pear Trees, Currant and
Gooseberry Bushes. Prune Grape Vines before Christmas to prevent the
sap bleeding from the cuts. Most deciduous trees and shrubs can be
pruned now except for Flowering Cherries which should be cut back
when in leaf and Magnolias which should be left until the Summer.
Houseplants which you are most likely to receive at Christmas are
Poinsettia (originated in Mexico where it is called " Flowers of Holy
Night" (i.e. Christmas Eve), keep it in a warm light place, away from
draughts and do not over water to keep it looking at its best.
Azaleas need to be kept well watered preferably with rainwater to
prevent its dense root ball from drying out.
Phalaenopsis ( more commonly known as the Moth Orchid). It will
flower for months with minimal maintenance, it prefers an east or west
facing windowsill or a kitchen window ledge where the plant will
appreciate the humidity, when the compost feels dry run some warm
tepid water through the pot until it comes out of the bottom, once the
flowers have died and dropped cut the flower spike off just above the
second joint beneath the spent flowers to encourage a side shoot to
develop. As their natural habitat is clinging to trees do not cut off the
grey aerial roots which grow out over the top of the pot. John Boon
19With apologies to a more famous poem – ANON from the WWW
T’was the week before Christmas and all through the school not a pupil was
silent, no matter what rule. The children were busy with paper and paste; the
mess that they made with it couldn't be faced.
The teacher half frantic and almost in tears, had just settled down to work with
her dears, when out in the hall there arose such a clatter up sprang the kids to
see what was the matter!
Away to the door they all flew like a flash; the one who was leading went down
with a crash. Then what to their wondering eyes did appear but a green
Christmas tree! (To decorate I fear!)
When the teacher saw this, she almost grew sick. She knew in a moment it must
be (the Caretaker) Old Nick! She ran to the door (all her efforts were vain) but
she shouted, and stamped, and she called them by name;
"Now Tommy! Now Sandy, Now Judy and Harry! Stop Billy! Stop Robert! Stop
Donny and Sherry! Now get to your places get away from the hall now get away!
Get away! Get away all!
As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly the pupils, pell mell, started
scurrying by. They ran to the blackboard and skipped down the aisle; their faces
were shining and each had a smile.
First came a basket of popcorn to string -then came the Christmas tree
(menacing thing). As the tree was brought in there arose a great shout; the
pupils were merrily romping about.
The state they were in could lead to a riot; the teacher was sure, if allowed, they
would try it. Her nerves how they jangled! Her temples were throbbing! The rush
of her breath sounded almost like sobbing!
The lines of her face were as fixed as a mask; it was plain that she didn't feel up
to her task. The look in her eye would have tamed a wild steer, but the children
ignored it; they did every year.
A tear from her eye and a shake of her head soon led me to think that she
wished she were dead. She spoke not a word but went straight to her work,
strung all the popcorn which broke with a jerk.
But at last it was finished and placed on the tree; then came the bell and the
children were free! Their shrill little voices soon faded away and peace was
restored at the end of the day. As she looked at the Christmas tree glistening
and tall, she smiled as she whispered, Merry Christmas to all!
20Dear Readers,
Thank you for your continued support and the Magazine Team wish you
many blessings in 2019
The magazine still only costs 50p per month, annual subscription is
£6.00. It would really help us if you could renew your subscription
during January so the Magazine distributors have most of them by the
time of our annual meeting in February.
• If your magazine is delivered please fill in the order form below and
hand it to your deliverer together with cash or cheque.
• If you collect it from Church please pay annually. Send or deliver
the form (we need to know your name and address) and money to the
Parish Office labelled ‘Collected’ Magazine subscription - thank you.
• Annual postal subscription (UK) - £14.00 to cover post and envelope
Please send requests for postal subscriptions to:
The Editor, 58 Merrow Lane, Guildford, GU4 7LQ (tel: 01483 577164)
Please make cheques payable to: St John’s Church
Please print
Name: ___________________________________________________
Address___________________________________________________
___________________________________ Post code: ___________
I enclose a cheque / cash for £________ *Annual subscription (£6.00)
*Postal subscription (£14.00)
* My magazine is delivered * I collect my magazine from Church
Please circle as appropriate
21Copy date for JANUARY 2019 Magazine
is SUNDAY 16 DECEMBER by 12 noon
Magazine will be in Church on Sunday 6 January 2019
Please send copy to editor c/o Parish Office or
EMAIL: barbara.lawrence@virginmedia.com
Magazine Who’s Who
Editor Mrs. Barbara Lawrence 577164
Distribution &
Subscription Secretary
Mrs Angela Rye 570478
Advertisements Mrs. Sara England merrowadverts@gmail.com
M&O and Charity of the Month
Thank you to all those people who have supported our charities of
the month during 2018. We have learned something of the work
they do, had a lot of fun doing it and raised a fair amount of money
as well ~ around £6,500, without counting in the Bazaar, Send
Family Link Christmas vouchers and the DEC appeals.
It has been good to have a ‘Charity of the Month’, but in 2019 we
will take a ‘Stewardship approach’ to St John’s support for charities
and commit to giving a set percentage of income to this aspect of
our church life (PCC approved 7% for 2019 compare 2018
fundraising).
The PCC has chosen an International Charity (Compassion),
a National Charity (Christians Against Poverty)
and a Local Charity (Foodwise).
We will organise speakers for Sunday services, and continue to hold
fun social events to raise additional funds and spread the word
about these worthwhile causes. In addition, we will still have our
‘seasonal’ charities.
We thank you for your continued support as we alter the way in
which we give money as a Church, and we promise to keep you
informed of the changes. BL
22Who’s Who December 2018
Rector Rev’d Rona Stuart-Bourne (Thursday off) 572207
St John’s Rectory 232 Epsom Road GU4 7AA
Assistant Curate Rev’d Dermot Verschoyle (Friday off) 533449
Churchwardens Mrs Helen Chambers 846574
Mr Barry Dickinson 07917 598742
Centre Manager & Mrs Michelle Haywood 454621
Parish Administrator
Parish Office 222 Epsom Road, Guildford GU4 7AA 454621
Web site: www.saintjohns.org.uk Email: stjohns.merrow@btconnect.com
PCC Secretary Mr Nick Bond 579462
PCC Treasurer Mrs Lindsay Dobson 07809 836896
Gift Aid Mr Martin Thompson 578923
Legacy & PGS Advisers Mr Brian Taylor 567475 & Mrs Sara England 504205
Joint Directors of Music and Choir Mrs Micky Clare & Mrs Mavis Martin
Babies and Toddlers Group Parish Office 454621
Bell Ringers Mrs Jane Farquharson 579926
Bible Reading Fellowship Mrs Jenny Welbourn 825541
Cathedral Link Mr Nick Bond 579462
Children’s Society representative Mrs Judith Sampson 571847
Christian Aid Organiser Mrs Sara England 504205
Church Centre Bookings The Parish Office 454621
Clerk for Wedding Registers Mrs Hilary Ellwood 506845
Electoral Roll Mrs Jean Spencer 564028
Fair Trade representative Mrs Cathy Thompson 578923
Flower coordinator Mrs Caroline Heron 570776
Head Server Mrs Kate Verschoyle 533449
Magazine Please see page 18
Merrow C of E Infant School Mrs Jane Treharne Joint 561501
Mrs Moira Carter Heads
Church Governors: Rev’d Rona Stuart-Bourne & Mr R Burtonwood
Mission Committee Chairman Rev’d D. Welbourn 825541
Safeguarding Officer (protection Mrs Rosanne Bond 579462
of children & vulnerable adults)
St. John's, Merrow, Pre-School Ms Amanda Bazley (Manager) 454625
Diocesan Lay Pastoral Assistants Miss Sally Peters 572954
Mrs Jean Spencer 564028
Reading and Intercession Rota Mr Tony Clare 538306
Sunday Coffee Contact via Parish Office
Sunday News Sheet Parish Office (articles by Wednesday) 454621
Together in Christ (TiC) Mrs Isla Stables 567599
Lay Parish representative
Wednesday Coffee Mornings Mrs Paulene Lambert 538217
Deputy Mrs Barbara Booth 385447
Transport Mrs Rosanne Bond 579462
Website contact Mr Richard Burtonwood 579057
23You can also read
