church family news - St John's Felbridge

FROM THE EDITOR
VICAR: The Rev Stephen Bowen
The Vicarage, Felbridge,
West Sussex RH19 2QT
Tel: 01342 321524
Fax: 0870 9156268
stjohnschurchoffice@googlemail.com
Vicar’s day off: Thursday
ASSOCIATE MINISTER:
Michael Peach
5 Burns Way, East Grinstead,
West Sussex RH19 1SA
Tel: 01342 312406
michaelstevenpeach@googlemail.com
Michael’s day off: Friday
MARCH: Articles for this Issue
to be handed in by Sunday 13th
FEBRUARY.
Let us know what you think of the
‘new look’ magazine.
Please e-mail your articles to
parishmagstjohns@gmail.com, put
them in the editor’s pigeon hole in the
church entrance, or post them to
Lindsey Saunders, The Bungalow,
Saint Hill Farm, Saint Hill Green,
East Grinstead, RH19 4NG.
I HOPE you like the ‘new look’
Parish News. Gordon Wilkinson and
John Dabell have both worked very
hard to win the support of our new
advertisers, which has helped to fund
the printing and collating this year. I
would like to say a very BIG THANK
YOU to Barbara Cottier and her team
of collators: Barbara Pearson, Jill
Tuck, Cecilia Bliss, Yvette Harding,
Muriel Orpen and Lesley Barr for all
the hard work they have put in over
the years (Lesley Barr deserves a
special mention for devoting 25 years
of service to the collating team). Also
to Eddie Harper, who has valiantly
printed out the pages for the magazine
each month and to Daphne Ayerst
who has stepped in when Eddie has
been busy as well as being
responsible for posting the magazines.
You deserve a break!
Nevertheless, I will miss the uplifting
atmosphere and interesting
discussions that I have often
experienced with the collating team. It
has been good to share in the Lord’s
work together. Let us look forward to
what He has planned for us next!
Well, the mission is just around the
corner! (See p.20 for details.)
Lindsey Saunders
Cover photo:
Haywards Farm in the snow
by Brenda Wilkinson
1

STEPHEN WRITES…
The force of water
DEAR FRIENDS,
How terrifying water is! It is
amazing to be able to look at the
devastation created by floods in
Queensland or in Brazil. Whatever
disaster is taking place in the world,
someone has got a TV camera into
place and we can watch it on the 10
o'clock news from the warm, dry
safety of our living-rooms.
We can watch torrents of water
sweeping down roads, and the red
earth of mountain sides crumbling
and sweeping away the insubstantial
homes built by poor people, and
carrying off countless individuals
who were in the wrong place at the
wrong time.
There is no reasoning with the force
of water. Barricades that seem so
strong when they are erected
suddenly look like matchwood when
the torrents come rushing at them.
Buildings that seems as safe as
houses disintegrate into nothing.
Perhaps our forebears living in this
island nation had a proper respect for
the sea—even those who didn’t live
near the coast. That’s my theory as to
why the RNLI is such a wellsupported
charity!
But nowadays we tend to feel that
man is in charge. We have overcome
the forces of nature. We can predict
the weather and protect ourselves from
it. It is quite a shock for modern man
to discover that that is far from the
truth.
In the world of the Old Testament, the
sea represented chaos and disorder.
‘The seas have lifted up, O LORD, the
seas have lifted up their voice; the
seas have lifted up their pounding
waves. Mightier than the thunder of
the great waters, mightier than the
breakers of the sea— the LORD on
high is mighty.’ - Psalm 93:3,4
But the Lord is greater. ‘He stilled the
storm to a whisper; the waves of the
sea were hushed.’ - Psalm 107:29
When Jesus was asleep in the boat on
the Sea of Galilee ‘he got up, rebuked
the wind and said to the waves,
‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died
down and it was completely calm.’ -
Mk 4:39 It’s the word people used
with a dog—’Down, boy!’
That is his authority over natural
world, because he is truly God.
Yours sincerely,
2

REGULAR EVENTS
Through the week at St. John’s
Sundays
8am Holy Communion on 13th & 27th February
10am Morning Service
6pm Evening Service
Tuesdays
2pm WI first Tuesday of the month in the Village Hall
Wednesdays
2pm Watercolour on Wednesdays in the Church Hall
5pm
Brownies (1st St John’s Felbridge) in the Church Hall
Thursdays
10.30am WIGS at the Old Pheasantry, Woodcock Hill (home of June
Clark)
6-7.30pm JAFFA club in the Church hall on 3rd February
7.30-9pm JAFFA Plus in the Church hall on the 3rd February
Fridays
7pm
Guides (1st St John’s Felbridge) in the Church Hall
Saturdays
8am Prayer Breakfast on 5th February in the Church Hall
8.30—10am Men’s breakfast on 19th February at 5 Burns Way
3

WHAT’S HAPPENING
Sunday Services
6th February
13th February
20th February
27th February
10am Family Service with Kevin Defriend
6pm Holy Communion with Michael Peach
8am Holy Communion with Stephen Bowen
10am Morning Service with Students from
Oak Hill and Stephen Bowen
6pm Evening Service with Peter Sanlon
10am Holy Communion with Andy Brown
6pm Raise the Roof
8am Holy Communion with Jack Baker
10am Morning Service with Michael Peach
6pm Evening Service with Stephen Bowen
Forthcoming Events
Women’s World Day of Prayer on 4th March at St John’s
Church. Unite with women all over the world in prayer.
Hospitality Sunday on 6th March—A chance to get to
know each other better. If you would like to be a guest or a
host, please contact Chris or Lindsey on 01342 325662. This
time the hosts will get the chance to choose their guests!
Churches Together Ecumenical Lent Course
Join together with Christians from other churches in East
Grinstead to study the Bible together. The course starts on the week commencing
14th March and lasts for five weeks. Further details as to addresses and contacts
of hosts and leaders will be printed in the March Magazine.
Twenty-four hours of prayer
On 26th & 27th March St John’s will be open for prayer for a whole 24 hours,
starting at 9am on Saturday 26th. More details to following the March edition, but
please put this date in your calendar now.
4

Jesus a friend for all
3rd February
A fun, action-packed evening for children in school years 3-6
In the Church Hall, 6 - 7.30pm
Lots to do – Bible teaching, games, craft & jaffa cakes!
For details of how to join Jaffa club contact Diane Francis (714575)
for young people in school years 7-9 (aged 11-14), Jaffa Plus
meets straight after Jaffa, from 7.30-9.00pm.
Hot chocolate, scrummy cakes, games, craft &
Bible teaching
For details of how to join Jaffa Plus, please
contact: Michael Peach
michaelstevenpeach@gmail.com
BEETLE DRIVE
For all the family
SATURDAY 12 TH FEBRUARY
2.30 – 5pm
In Church Hall
£3 per adult (including tea & cakes)
Children free when accompanied by adult
Contact Cecilia Bliss or Lis Woolley to book your place
All proceeds to St John’s Church Building Fund
5

VILLAGE MATTERS
Notes from Ken Harwood
MRS. ELIZABETH ROTHNEY,
who lived in Mill Lane died at St.
George’s Retreat, Ditchling on
20 th December. Joan and Ken
went to the funeral at Wivelsfield
on the 14 th January .
The bulbs that were planted
along the grass verge and on the
village green are now showing
through and should make a
wonderful display in the Spring.
Surrey County Council have been
contacted again about the
potholes and it has been
suggested to them that the whole
road should be properly
resurfaced.
There is a healthy number of
ducks, swans and other birdlife
on Hedgecourt Lake and Ken
would like to thank all the people
who were concerned about their
welfare during this bitterly cold
weather.
Just a warning to parents that
some children were seen on the
pond away from the bank trying
to break the ice!
The Hearing Aid Centre
At Glen Vue
open every Wednesday
from 9.30 to 12.30 and from
l.30pm to 4pm.
Felbridge W.I.
We had a very informative talk
from a member of the East
Grinstead Fire Station on ‘Safety
in the Home’. We were warned
about leaving electrical items on
for too long and that a fire had
occurred when someone left their
mobile ‘phone on charge
overnight. Electric blankets can
be checked free of charge and
anyone needing a fire alarm will
get one free on contacting the
Fire Station.
We are looking forward to our
post Christmas lunch at the White
Horse in Holtye mid January and
to our speaker for next month
who will be talking about the
Quakers and Chocolate Makers.
We meet on the first Tuesday in
the month at the Village Hall at
1.30 – 3.30pm.
FELBRIDGE PHARMACY
If you are registered at Moatfield,
Judges Close or Ship Street
surgeries you can now collect your
repeat prescriptions at Felbridge
Pharmacy. Call into the Pharmacy
or contact John Bell on 01342
313840.
Free delivery service to any
patients that are housebound or
infirm.
6

SURREY HILLS
HOW MUCH do you know about the
Surrey Hills? Did you realise that you
live so close to an Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty (AONB) – a
designation similar to that of a
National Park?
So where is the AONB? In essence, it
is the area of hills, heathland,
grassland and woods, mainly within
the southern / western part of the
county (south of the A31 Hogs Back
and the A246), which extends as the
band of hills inside the M25 across to
the Kent border. It abuts Farnham and
Haslemere, surrounds Guildford and
Dorking, passes south of Leatherhead
but north of Reigate and keeps
heading east. It encompasses many of
the villages of Surrey and is one of the
key reasons why the county, whilst so
close to London, can retain a rural
atmosphere.
Ok, so it’s rural – but what makes it
special? Due to the geology of the
county, the AONB encompasses a
wide range of differing habitats, which
leads to greater biodiversity. The
western end of Surrey has large areas
of heathland.. Further east, chalk
grasslands appear. These are only a
small part of the region – making up
only about 1% of the AONB – but are
probably one of the more recognisable
features of the area. The heathland and
grasslands are rare and valuable
habitats of national and international
importance. Both decreased
dramatically during the 20 th century.
They are still under threat and hence
their management and enhancement
are key to the biodiversity of the area.
In Surrey, there are many scenic views
– either from or towards the hills of the
area – but it would be quite
challenging to find a view which didn’t
include trees. Surrey is the most
wooded county in England and the
AONB includes a significant acreage
of Ancient Woodland. About 40% of
the AONB is woodland and it is this
feature which probably dominates the
scenery of the area. More than
anything, the trees reflect the seasons
so that, throughout the year, there is an
ever-changing backdrop to life in the
Surrey Hills.
If you would like to learn more about
the Surrey Hills, visit and take part in
events across the breadth of the AONB
and generally get more enjoyment
from your countryside, then why not
join the Surrey Hills Society. Further
details can be found on our website
www.surreyhillssociety.org by
contacting us at Warren Farm Barns,
Headley Lane, Mickleham, Dorking,
Surrey RH5 6DG or leaving a message
on our phone 01372 220647. We hope
you will join us and let us help you to
increase your enjoyment of the Surrey
Hills.
7

FELBRIDGE WILDLIFE
A winter’s tail
THE TIME of making tracks has
passed. Maybe. The snow was the
right sort while it lasted, showing the
delicate line of the fox trot, the
arrowheads of pigeon and the tiny
claw-marks of squirrel. The church
mouse that dined on a forgotten
mince pie was swiftly served its last
supper.
Now, Filldyke February is bringing
many birds to fill any natural shelters
or visit bird
tables for mutual
survival. A
solitary little
wren skulks
under shrubs by
day but gathers
with others of its
kind in a cosy
'wrenery' at dusk.
One neighbour found eight huddled
together in an old satchel hung on a
shed door. After Valentine's Day they
will disperse to claim territories, each
with a burst of song that can hit up to
seven hundred and forty notes a
minute. The Car Park collared doves
haven't waited for St. Valentine.
Still on the move are Wintering
thrushes from Scandinavia. Over 600
fieldfares flew East to West low
across Woodcock Hill ‘chack
chacking’, with an escort of half as
many redwings showing their red
sides and creamy eyestripes.
Seven pairs of exotic-looking
Mandarin ducks are feeding at the
shallow end of Weir Wood
Reservoir, accompanied by two pairs
of Gadwall in more sober grey and
black, amid tiny teal, the drakes with
conspicuous yellow bottoms.
A pair of big grey mistle thrushes,
having spread the mistletoe, hop
boldly across a field of Park Farm
and a tiny goldcrest has joined a
party of long-tailed, great,
blue and coal tits in the
garden.
On St. John's gravestones,
church walls, ancient trees
and a rustic gate, patches of
lichen spread at about an
inch a century, each a
combination of a fungus and
an alga, living as one
organism.
Overhead, the brightest night light
after our moon is Jupiter. Easily seen
in the sky to our South, it is the
largest planet in our solar system,
with 63 moons of its own.
This evening I stand under a leaden,
cloud-laden, skein-full sky as a
dozen greylag geese go honking
home to their watery roost on
Hedgecourt Lake. And I thank God
for them.
Peter Bateman.
8

WHEN IS A CHAIN NOT A CHAIN
THE ST JOHN’S Prayer Chain
started life many years ago as a
telephone chain of messages sent
out on a Monday afternoon or
evening. Those who were
members of it waited to receive a
phone call with a list of items to
pray about, wrote it down and then
phoned it on to the next person in
the chain. Just occasionally there
were some spectacular
mishearings and some rather
distorted messages got passed
down the chain, e.g. ’Send three
and fourpence, we’re going to a
dance.’ was a corruption of ‘send
reinforcements, we’re going to
advance’.
Then with the advent of email it
became more of a circulation list
than a chain. There are 35 people
now on the email list, and some of
them kindly phone the message on
to other people. More than one of
the members have joined because
they have asked for something to
be prayed about, and having seen
God answer prayers in a wonderful
way, they have felt inspired to join
themselves and pray for others.
How does it work? It works on the
basis of Christ’s promise in
Matthew 18 verse 19 ‘Again, I tell
you that if two of you on earth
agree about anything you ask for,
it will be done for you by my
Father in heaven.’
The next verse speaks of two or
three coming together in his
name—and that does not happen
in a physical way with the prayer
chain. But there certainly is an
agreement in prayer and a
oneness of spirit, brought about
by the possibilities of modern
technology.
If you would like something
to be shared on the prayer
chain, please ask Stephen
(and Mandy as well if you
want to be more certain)
If you would like to be part
of the prayer chain, please
email one of us or ring if
you would like to be a
telephone member.
Join all the members in
giving thanks for the
wonderful answers to
prayer that we have seen!
Stephen Bowen
Homelessness Service
3pm at Moat Road, United Reformed Church
Speaker—Peter Mansfield from Crawley Open House
9

LOVE FOOD HATE WASTE
What could you do with an extra £50 a month in 2011?
£12 BILLION worth of food and
drink goes to waste in the UK every
year, so the Love Food Surrey
campaign aims to show families how
they could save up to £50 a month on
their food shopping bill, simply by
cutting down on throwing away food.
We could all enjoy an extra bit of cash
after the mad spending at Christmas
and reduce the amount of good food
being thrown away. This doesn’t mean
cutting down on indulgence and fun. If
anything, having a well-planned year
will leave us with more money in our
purses and more time to enjoy
ourselves.
Why not pledge to waste less food and
save more money? For inspiration,
check out Love Food Surrey’s new
celebrity leftover cookbook. Surrey’s
famous faces are supporting Surrey
Waste Partnership’s waste campaign
by sharing their leftovers recipes in a
new cookbook. Download a copy at
www.lovefoodsurrey.com or email
felicity.stanbridge@surreycc.gov.uk
to request a free copy. Check out our
top tips for a greener 2011:
Get healthier
Increase your vegetables in your meal
planning e.g. by adding some peas
into your pasta sauce. It will be
healthier and more fulfilling.
Cut down on saturated fat like butter,
lard or margarine and use alternatives
like olive oil.
Shop smart
Plan and shop with menus in mind as
this will be cheaper and prevent
impulse buying.
Be ruthless with offers; only buy them
if you will use them that week.
Buy seasonal - it will taste better and
generally be cheaper.
Cook less
Try not to buy ready meals, instead
cook extra, and have some homemade
sauces in the freezer for those days
when you are pressed for time to cook.
Storage tips
Incorporate leftovers in your menus
for the week, e.g. tomato sauce with
pasta one day and the rest of the sauce
can be drizzled over fish the next day.
Remember the most important point
of all is to enjoy, respect and
appreciate the food that you have
spent your time and money on, in
doing this you will have achieved at
least one New Year’s resolution!
For more tasty tips on cutting the cost
of your food bill and making the most
of your leftovers, visit
www.lovefoodsurrey.com.
10

IN THE GARDEN
WITH the deep snow and ice
December was a gardening nonstarter
and January has started very
wet. But look on the bright side.
Hopefully the harsh winter has killed
off some of the bugs and aphids. We
now have everything to look forward
to – more daylight hours, and
warmer dryer weather. Looking
around today it all looks drab and
dead but look closely and you will
see new green shoots pushing
through the soil and fat buds on
many shrubs especially the
camellias.
It isn’t the snow that kills off plants
but the prolonged cold. However, I
am not going to be too quick to write
anything off. My acer seedlings
don’t look happy but I am optimistic.
The cactus in the greenhouse that
flowers beautifully every year is fine
and the large fatsia in a pot outside
has survived well. I have had to cut
off branches from some shrubs that
were damaged by weight of snow but
plants like the penstemons are
looking perky and green again, the
primroses healthy and mahonias are
already in flower. Pieris are covered
in new pink buds, and the oriental
poppies and hollyhocks are showing
new growth. It is amazing how nature
bounces back.
As everything is so bedgraggled it is
a good time to cut down some of the
tatty leaves and have a jolly good tidy
up. Dead foliage can go on the
compost heap which also needs
turning over ready for spreading
around in the spring. If too wet to
garden then the greenhouse can be
disinfected and pots and seed trays
washed.
I like gardening folklore. For example
plant your garlic on December 21 st ,
the winter solstice and harvest it on
June 21 st the summer solstice; clip
Box after Derby Day; plant new
potatoes on Good Friday; plant
carrots higher than 18” in raised
beds or pots because the carrot fly
can’t get higher than 18”! Actually
that last one worked for us. We have
never had success with carrots but
last year we grew them in large pots
and had a good crop. Daphne gave
me a new piece of folklore. Go out on
February 14, St. Valentines Day, and
kill off the slugs before they start
breeding! Good hunting!
Maureen Reynolds
11

WHY BELIEVE?
DURING THE Signs of Life week
in April (17 th -24 th April) we have a
team of students visiting us from
Oak Hill Theological College in
London. The team will be led by
Peter Sanlon, who divides his
time between teaching on the
staff at Oak Hill and serving as a
minister in a church in London.
This month he tells us something
of his Christian story.
I was raised in a church-going
family and always had a general
sense that God was real and that
He cared for me. Just before
heading to university I visited a
church with some friends who
made a particular effort to teach
the Bible. This was a real eyeopener
to me. I began to realise
that not only was God real, but it
was possible for me to learn what
he is like – to get to know his
personality, his attitudes, the
things that make him happy and
sad. Slowly, I learned that God
had come to earth as Jesus and
died in order to make these
things real and personal for me.
It has been a huge help to me to
be involved in a Church which
teaches the Bible clearly. I have
learned a lot from other
Christians and find it encouraging
to realise that others have the
same questions, fears and
struggles as me.
As I began to get to know God
better I learned that
a relationship with him is exciting,
liberating and enjoyable. There
has been sadness – my family
have never shared my
enthusiasm for God and prefer to
focus on church. However, there
have been wonderful times of
growing in appreciation for God's
kindnesses. I hope that during the
Signs of Life week you see
something of these!
Peter Sanlon
ONE VOICE is Tearfund’s Global Poverty Prayer
Movement for 2011
This year’s prayer week is from 27th February to 6th March. The idea is that we
all join together in prayer as One Voice, that we are still and listen
to God’s voice and that we identify and block out other ‘voices’
that compete for our attention. Copies of the Prayer Plan can be
obtained from Brenda Wilkinson or via the website:
www.tearfund.org/one voice.
‘You are the light of the world… Let your light shine before
others.’ (Matthew 5:14, 16)
12

FELBRIDGE HOTEL & SPA FEBRUARY
EVENTS
Wedding Open Day, Sunday 23rd January 11am - 4pm.
Admission FREE. All of our wedding facilities will be set up for a wedding
for you to view and our Wedding Coordinators will be on hand to discuss your
requirements and show you the range of suites available at the Hotel for your
Wedding Ceremony or Reception. Enjoy a glass of champagne and some canapés
on arrival and then have a browse around the hotel.
Romantic Valentine’s Champagne Meal,
Saturday 12th - Monday 14th February
Our Executive Chef has created a menu that will tempt the taste buds and soften
the heart with his special Valentine's Day Menu. As an extra sparkling treat you
will receive a complimentary glass of champagne on arrival. £45 per person.
A Night at the Oscars, Saturday 26th February
Enjoy a glamorous 3 course meal, listen to the sounds of our pianist playing all
the great Hollywood film theme tunes and dance the night away with our
dazzling wind Band 'The Bizz' and disco. £55 per person.
For more information and for tickets to any of our events calls 01342 337700 or
email events@felbridgehotel.co.uk
THE WORSHIP SERVICE
Raise the Roof is a fun, action-packed
service, presenting Jesus’ message through
music, dance drama and dancing. The next
service is on:
Sunday 16th January
Rehearsal 4.15pm Scrummy tea 5.30pm
Service 6-6.40pm
If you’d like to join in playing an instrument, acting, dancing or singing -
young or old, beginner or pro - contact Kris Defriend on 01342 312788 or
k.defriend@sky.com.
17

CURRENT ISSUES: FAIRTRADE
Fairtrade Fortnight focuses on cotton farmers
ACTOR and comedian James
Redmond, who featured in Hollyoaks
and Casualty, took his seat in the
famous black chair on the edition of
Celebrity Mastermind that was
broadcast on 30th December. His
appearance raised £2,500 for
his chosen charity, the
Fairtrade Foundation, with
the money going towards a
campaign to help West
African farmers.
More than 10 million West
Africans rely on cotton for a
living, but because of unfair
trade practices they are still
living in poverty. With most West
African cotton farmers earning less
than $1 a day and subsidies paid to
European and North American cotton
farmers depressing world prices, it’s
becoming virtually impossible for
small-scale African farmers to
compete. The Fairtrade Foundation
estimates that 100 million rural
households in the world are involved
in cotton production.
Even though one in four people say
they have bought Fairtrade-certified
cotton products in the UK, less than
1% of cotton clothes sold in our
shops carries the FAIRTRADE Mark.
Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs from
28th February to 13th March, is the
Fairtrade Foundation’s annual
awareness-raising campaign to
promote the difference that Fairtrade
makes to millions of people in
developing countries.
This year, the focus is on Fairtrade
cotton and the benefits
that it brings to farmers in
countries as widespread as
India, Senegal, Burkina
Faso, Egypt and Peru.
Fairtrade cotton
guarantees a Fairtrade
minimum price as well as
a Fairtrade premium for
investment in social
development projects such
as water, education and healthcare.
The benefits from sales of Fairtrade
certified cotton have allowed farmers
in India to develop basic health
insurance schemes for themselves
and health awareness programmes
for their children. In Mali, farmers
have been able to fund the building
of storage units for cotton and grain,
enabling them to store food all year
round and better control the sales of
their cotton over the seasons,
producing a more consistent income.
When you have the option of buying
Fairtrade cotton goods, spare a
thought for farmers such as these.
Gordon Wilkinson
18

MISSION UPDATE
Tearfund project helps Barton beat hunger in Malawi
AT 81, Barton Nyetula proves it
is never too late to learn new
life skills.
Hunger used to be a fact of life for
Barton until he benefited from the
work of a Tearfund-supported
project at his village in southern
Malawi.
Food shortages are an all too
common occurrence for people in
Patete village in Nsanje district
where drought frequently ruins
crops.
Through Tearfund partner River of
Life Evangelical Church, Barton
has been learning how to reduce
his exposure to harvest failures by
planting new types of crops,
including those more resilient to
climatic changes. Barton has
diversified into fruit growing after
learning how to propagate; he’s
also discovered how important
trees are for preserving the soil
and how to conserve water.
The results speak for
themselves.
Barton is now growing enough
food to feed his household of six
and he’s proud to say that he
hasn’t needed to buy any food for
the last three years.
Others in his village and in the
neighbouring communities have
been impressed with the results of
Barton’s learning and are keen to
share in it. So he’s training ten
neighbours in water and soil
conservation and others in
horticulture, improving their food
security too.
Vincent Moyo, Tearfund’s
Country Representative for
Malawi, said, ‘Barton has shown
how we can improve the lives of
the vulnerable in rural
communities susceptible to food
shortages. Working through local
churches, we’re sharing
knowledge about crop
diversification, food processing,
fruit propagation and soil and
water conservation, which is
enabling people to thrive in often
difficult conditions.’
For updates about other projects
that Tearfund supports, visit
www.tearfund.org or ask Brenda
or Gordon Wilkinson to arrange
for you to receive regular
updates.
Brenda Wilkinson
19

SIGNS OF LIFE: 17-24 th April 2011
Have you heard about Signs
of Life?
IT IS a week of special events that
the St John’s church family are
putting on in the week running up to
Easter Sunday. Easter is all about the
great news of what Jesus’ death and
resurrection has achieved – how he
has made a way for us to be accepted
by God now, and in eternity. Signs of
Life will be an opportunity for us to
pass on this good news to friends,
family, neighbours, colleagues, and
everyone else we can.
Want to know more?
To hear more, come along to our
services on Sunday 13 th February.
To help us out during the Signs of
Life week a dozen students from Oak
Hill Theological College are going to
join us, along with staff member
Peter Sanlon. Some of the students
will be interviewed in the morning
service on 13 th February, and then be
around to chat afterwards. Our 6pm
evening service that day will be
focused on Signs of Life with Peter
Sanlon speaking. Afterwards there
will be tea and coffee, and the
opportunity to put questions to Peter
and the visiting students, to find out
more about them and why we are
having this special week. Please do
come if you can!
What’s planned for Signs of
Life?
We have special services planned,
talks on what Easter is all about,
talks on difficult issues like
suffering, opportunities for asking
questions, meals, family events, a
holiday club and much, much more!
Want to be involved?
From Sunday 13 th February onwards
there will be forms available for you
to say how you would like to be
involved. You may like to host a
visiting student, help with the
holiday club, make tea for the events,
go door to door inviting people
along, or help in another way. You
may also like to run your own small
event, such as a meal in your home,
with a short talk from a team
member and discussion over coffee.
Also, please be praying, both
individually and at the 24 hours of
prayer for Signs of Life over Saturday
26 th - Sunday 27 th March.
What Jesus said, and the
miracles and signs he did,
point to who he really is, and
that there is true and eternal
life in him. Let’s pass on these
‘Signs of Life.’
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TELL ME WHY
Why does God allow the floods?
FLOODS CAUSE massive damage
and great loss of life. If God is in
charge of the world, why doesn’t he
stop them?
The Bible does not give a single easy
answer to the question of suffering
and disasters, but it does have a lot to
say. Here are some of perspectives
the Bible brings to this question.
First, the Bible says that when God
created the world, ‘it was very
good’ (Genesis 1:31). At creation,
the world was without conflict,
suffering or disaster. Humankind
was able to rule and manage the
world under God entirely effectively.
However, the biblical account makes
it clear that things did not stay this
way. The first people rebelled
against God and his good commands
and broke all the good relationships
in the world – those between God
and people, between people and
people, and between people and the
created world. Harmful natural
disasters were not present in the
world as first created, and are a sign
of the broken nature of our world
now.
Second, the Bible says that suffering
from these disasters will not continue
forever. God promises a time when,
‘there will be no more death or
mourning or crying or pain, for the
old order of things has passed
away’ (Revelation 21:4).
There will be a day when God sets
everything right and again there will
be perfect relationships between God
and people, between people and
people, and between people and the
world. When that happens there will
no longer be natural disasters such as
floods.
We live in between these times – after
human rebellion began and the world
order was broken, and before God has
fully restored it. When Jesus was on
earth some people asked him about
people who had been killed when a
tower had accidentally fallen on
them, and he replies, do you think
they were more guilty than all the
others living in Jerusalem? I tell you
no! But unless you repent, you too
will all perish (Luke 13:4-5). Jesus
says those who are affected by
disaster are no worse than anybody
else, but that these disasters are a sign
that the world is broken, and this
brokenness has at its heart our broken
relationship with God.
God will make a new world without
disasters and suffering. If we want to
be part of that world we need to do
what Jesus says – turn away from
ignoring God and turn and trust in
him. This does not answer all our
questions, but does show us to whom
we must turn.
Michael Peach
21

CHURCH CENTRE PROJECT
Progress Report
JUST WHERE has the time gone? It is hard for me to realise that it was four
years ago that the PCC appointed Derek Kemp of Church Projects Limited (CPL)
to prepare an Options Study for extending the church in order to reach out more
into the community that we serve in Felbridge and East Grinstead.
I hope that after reading this report you will realise that much has been achieved,
and it is just possible that major building work will commence this year - watch
this space!
If you do have any questions or concerns then please ask!
Summary
Phase 1 is almost complete.
Phase 2 is on hold, but Phase 3 is on programme.
Phase 2 estimate is over budget. Spend for Phase 3 is currently below budget.
Project budget increased to include rise in VAT.
Car park repairs delayed due to bad weather.
Procedure for repairing the bells and supports is under review.
Progress
Phase 1 (Hall windows and redecorate)
Kitchen useable but reinstatement not completed.
Main doors adjusted to improve ease of locking.
Phase 2 (Playground)
Discussions on outside funding continued.
Local supplier has indicated that they may be willing to provide materials at a
reduced rate.
Phases 3-6 (Church Centre development)
Documents submitted at the end of November to Diocesan Advisory Committee
(DAC) for approval.
DAC meeting in December concluded that a sub-committee should visit the site
and report back before discussing our proposals in detail.
DAC site visit planned for February. This is a delay to obtaining a faculty but it is
not yet a delay to the start of Phase 3 construction.
Comments on proposals submitted to Mechanical & Electrical (M & E) Engineer.
22

Phases 3 (North-West Extension - alongside the church)
Design Team (architect, structural engineer and M & E) has continued with
production drawing details.
Stonemason visited the site and has been appointed to advise the architect on
stone detailing.
Layout and equipment for new kitchenette has been reviewed by users.
Location of a cleaning (utility) cupboard is on going.
Other Projects
No further information on final car park surfacing received.
Diocese is proposing to employ a contractor to finish laying the surface of the
access road and carry out temporary repairs to our car park.
Planning commenced for the removal of the two church bells to enable inspection
of the bearing that failed.
Forecast
Phase 2 (Playground)
Review of options and costs to be submitted to the PCC for approval in February.
Phases 3-6 (Church Centre development)
Diocesan Advisory Committee approval expected by end of May.
“Winter” bat survey expected in late January or early February.
Phases 3 (North-West Extension - alongside the church)
Detailed cost check expected mid-March (for PCC meeting).
Other Projects
Details of final car park surfacing awaited.
Temporary repairs to car park to be undertaken ‘soon’ (weather permitting).
DAC approves bell removal for inspection.
John Grainger (Chair CCPT) 16 th January 2011
You may have already noticed the beautiful new
curtains in the church Hall.
St John’s would like to thank Felbridge School for
donating enough money at their Christmas Service
for one and a half sets of curtains.
If you would like to donate some money towards
the cost of the curtains, please contact Lis Scott or
Chris Saunders
23

TREE OF LIGHT SERVICE
AS MANY of you will be aware, we
held our 4 th Tree of Light service at St
John’s in December. Approximately
125 people attended, which was most
encouraging. The Hospice have let me
know that the collection on the
evening amounted to £428.14p
including the gift aid envelopes.
Many people commented on how nice
it was to come to a Tree of Light
Service in a Church. I would like to
say a big thank you to everyone who
helped me in so many ways – it would
not have been possible without you!!
Ann and Joy offered us the tree which
had outgrown their garden - they had
brought it down from the Lake District
28 years ago as a sapling. It looked
beautiful with all the lights shining out
throughout the Christmas period.
What a lovely way to recycle the tree.
After all no tree, no Tree of Light !
Thank you to my husband Paul for
cutting the tree down, to Howie Searle
for delivering it to the church and
putting it in place, to the firemen from
East Grinstead who once again came
down to put the lights on the tree and
to Peter Burton for sorting out all the
wires, timer etc. as well as helping me
take it all down again as well.
Thank you to all those who helped at
the service – Stephen and Don Ely
who led the service, Barry and Helen
for the music, Jenny and Charlotte
who read the lessons, John, Peter,
Janet and Diane who read the prayers,
the Sidesmen, Wardens and Anne
Butler who is always there to help and
guide me.
I am sure I have forgotten someone but
thank you all; I really do appreciate all
the help and prayers.
Jenny Young
WELCARE
I did not come to church on Sunday,
5 th December with very great hopes
for the toy service. The snow was
thick and it was freezing cold. By
9.55am my heart was heavy as there
were only a handful of the church
family present. But, oh Rona, you of
little faith, by 10.10a.m people were
streaming in and a total of 85 toys
and £65 in vouchers and cash had
been donated to Welcare. I delivered
the gifts in time for the choosing and
wrapping day. By now the staff and I
have got to know each other and it
was like meeting up with family, they
were delighted with your contribution
and send you thanks and blessings. I
can only add my thanks to you all for
your kindness and wish you, although
a little late, a very happy New Year!
Rona Bingham
24

CHURCH FAMILY NEWS
Congratulations
THE NAME of Miller goes on!! Congratulations to David and Carole on the
birth of Joshua William born to their son, Stephen, and his wife, Donna.
Congratulations to Vic and Linda Barker who have a new grandson,
Barnaby David, born to Jessica and Jay.
Congratulations to Brian and Janet Starr on the birth of Benjamin Graeme,
a second son to their son, Philip, and his wife, Elke, and Dominic.
Thank you to all those who gave to the poppy appeal. £41.53 was donated
this year.
News and Thanks
Edward John Young entered this world on 22nd November 2010 at
8.14am Singapore local time. He weighed a healthy 7lbs 9oz and both he
and mum are doing well. Adrian and Karen would like to thank everyone
for all their prayers.
Love in a box would like to thank everyone who sent shoeboxes this year.
Alistair Matson would like to thank everyone for their prayers during his
recent stay in hospital, which included Christmas. They provided a source
of strength to help him cope at this difficult time.
Thanks you to everyone who delivered Christmas leaflets. We are looking
for two more people to deliver the leaflets three times a year. The rounds
are as follows: Copthorne Road North side from 2 up to (but not including)
Eden Place (about 38 dwellings). Copthorne Road North side numbers 58-
122 and numbers 90-122 (50 dwellings). If any one could take these on it
would be a very valuable job. Please tell Mandy if you can help.
Ian and Esther Walker ask that St John’s remembers Sudan and the
surrounding countries as the referendum takes place. A historic vote but
one that could bring war back to Sudan. Esther's work has been to
promote and develop a palliative care service, which has born fruit. The
clinic in the main oncology hospital in Khartoum is very busy, but there is a
huge need to overcome the 'taboo' of cancer as many patients only seek
help when their cancer is very advanced. Now they are able to give the
patients morphine, it is wonderful to see the transformation in patients who
previously were in agony and so very frightened.
25

CHURCH FAMILY NEWS
SOME OF YOU may remember the Maynard family, Norman & Ellen and
their sons John and Robin, who lived at 53 Crawley Down Road (formally
2, Fir Tree Cottages, Felbridge). Norman lived at this address for 70 years
and both he and Robin were christened at St. John’s. Norman and Ellen
moved to Seaford in 1993 and then after 8 years they moved to
Collumpton in Devon to be near there son Robin and his wife Elaine.
Sadly, Norman passed away on 3 rd December 2010, at the age of 88
years.
Norman was a Sussex County referee and president of the Felbridge
Football Club where he refereed many local matches. He was a very keen
gardener and won Royal Horticultural Society medals for his efforts.
Members and also former members of the Felbridge & District Horticultural
Society will remember him receiving a good percentage of the prizes given
each year! Norman’s eyesight failed over the years and eventually he was
registered blind but carried on gardening with enthusiasm and had planted
his broad bean seed a few weeks before he died.
Both Ellen and Norman looked forward to the Parish Magazine each month
to catch up on all the news and Ellen wishes to be remembered to all their
many friends still living in Felbridge and surrounding area.
CHURCH REGISTER
Weddings
Jennifer Jack married Neil Winbolt on 4th December (in spite of the heavy snow!)
Funerals
James Chewter, aged 90 years, died on 25th November 2010. The funeral was at
Worth Crematorium on 10th December 2010
Rosa Emma Pond, aged 102, died on 15th December 2010. The funeral was at
Worth crematorium on 7th January 2011.
William James Hubert Smith, aged 81, died on 30th December 2010 The funeral
was at Worth Crematorium.
Edward Pearson, aged 83, died on 31st December 2010. The funeral was at Worth
crematorium on 12th January 2011.
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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.
Memorials arranged: Golden Charter pre-paid Funeral Plans
01892 770253
01342 315880
GARAGE & CAR REPAIRS, MOTs & COACHES
Woodcock Hill Service Station, London Road, Felbridge
01342 325544
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
CLARINET LESSONS
Classical or Jazz, for pleasure or exam preparation
Elaine Short CT ABRSM 01342 327563
GARDEN SERVICES
Ron West 01342 712586

USEFUL CONTACTS
Churchwardens: Anne Butler 01342 313640
e-mail: butleranne09@gmail.com
Stephen Granger 01342 312103
e-mail:stephen_granger@hotmail.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
Church Office (closed on Thursdays) 01342 321524
Village Hall Bookings: Lynda Railton 01342 322205
CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE ACTIVITIES
Climbers (3-6 yrs): Michael Peach 01342 312406
e-mail: michaelstevenpeach@gmail.com
Explorers (Year 2-4): Diane Francis 01342 714575
e-mail: diane_francis@tiscali.co.uk
Light Eagles (Year 5-7): Dan and Suzy Callaway 01342 321658
e-mail: daniel.callaway@iname.com
NG (Year 8-9): 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
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