St John`s News View from the Vicarage

Dec 2015/Jan 2016 Issue No. 19
ST JOHN’S, WELLING
[email protected] www.stjohnswelling.org.uk 020 8303 1107 editors: David & Nicola Foot
View from the Vicarage
Joy to the world! The Lord has come;
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven and nature
sing!
Based on Psalm 98, Isaac Watts’ Advent
hymn was published in 1719 and reminds
us of some important themes for
Christmas. I have been known to be a bit
of a Grinch over recent Christmases –
encouraged by the consumerism and
tinsel that seems a bit tarnished. I am
annoyed that a recent glossy brochure for
a local garden centre’s Christmas
offerings had not one Christian symbol or
mention of the significance of Christ’s birth
- not even a wise man!
saddened by loss, or not find enforced
family time (or lack of it) that happy an
experience, but the truth of the coming of
Christ has to be good news. The barrier
between God and humanity, broken by our
sin is broken by the unselfish act of God
coming down to earth in Christ. No wonder
the angels sang – and we should too!
How do we go about preparing Him room?
household (this may be just you), and the
start of Luke’s Gospel?
Maybe to prepare Him room we need to
be generous to others. How about thinking
about matching gift giving with a gift to
Tearfund so others can have a bit more
joy, or inviting someone round for lunch
(or a mince pie)?
As for me, I am looking for a hammer and
the mug given to me by Steve Webster
three years back when I was being
particularly unseasonal and I will commit
to wishing people a Joy filled Christmas,
and meaning it.
Maybe the French have got it right.
Joyeux Noel!
Maybe we need to begin by decluttering
But I must stop saying ‘bah humbug’ and
our lives a bit. Maybe some of the things
start saying ‘joy to the world’ because that we usually do need to go. How about
is the truth. Christmas is THE time of joy.
starting a house prayer time over this
God is reconciling himself to us by coming period if it is not part of your usual
as a child and as a King. We may be
practice? Maybe read Psalm 98 as a
Adam Foot, Vicar
St John’s News
The first Christmas singing group
rehearsal was tonight as I write and so,
surely, Christmas must be on the horizon
but in complete contrast, I arrived home to
hear the breaking news of the atrocities in
Paris. How our world needs to hear and
apply the message of the Prince of
Peace… and not just at Christmas time.
Autumn Events have included:
 The very special Adult Baptism
service back at the end of September
when Lisa Mitchell, Paul Finch, Liz
Andrewartha, Louise Russell and
Greg Corbett
publicly declared their
faith in Jesus Christ.
 A greatly appreciated
Prayer Ministry
training day with
Jeannie Morgan.
 A thought provoking
Remembrance Day
Parade Service,
followed later in the
day by a Memorial
Service, particularly
for those who have
been bereaved during
the past twelve
months. The candles
relatives lit at that
service will be lit again
at the Christmas Carol
service.
Autumn Opportunities have included:
 Two ongoing Alpha courses, and an
inter-church Youth Alpha course, all of
which are providing the opportunity for
guests to investigate
the Christian faith,
and they are! The
Holy Spirit away day/
weekend enabled
everyone who was
able to come the
opportunity to allow
God to touch them
individually.
 Men’s curry
nights and a ladies’
breakfast!
 Our sermon series and
Housegroup studies from
Paul’s letter to Romans,
which is proving challenging
and helpful in clarifying the
nature of our faith and
relationship with Jesus Christ.
Autumn Family News:
We were delighted to officially welcome
Mary and Louisa Willy into the church
family, as they were baptised on 18th
October. Alan Overton is in hospital
following a fall and hip replacement and
Steve Read is recovering from surgery to
remove his gall bladder (and a massive
stone did I hear?). Andy Bond was
ordained Priest at Rochester Cathedral on
26th September. Mike and Jenny Cossor
have just welcomed a new little Grandson,
Oliver! AND many congratulations to
David Foot and Sarah Mallon who have
just announced their engagement!
Estelle Woodcock
Travel and translation
English to adults in a
language school in
Zaragoza. This was
My name is Rachel and I am currently in
challenging but also rewarding as I saw my
my fourth year studying modern languages students progress. I enjoyed immersing
(German, Spanish and Portuguese) at the myself in Spanish culture – and food! I also
University of Exeter.
managed to find some time to do
some travelling, visiting Stuttgart,
As part of my course I
Frankfurt, Dresden, Verona,
got to spend my third
Venice, Nice, Salamanca,
year abroad. I spent the
Barcelona and Andalusia – to
first half of the year
name a few! It was a fantastic
working as a technical
opportunity to meet new people,
translator in Berlin.
explore new places and experience
Initially, the work was
new cultures.
quite daunting but over
time I grew more
Now I am in my final year, the work
confident and learnt a
is definitely more challenging. I am
lot. I loved living in Berlin as it is such a
about to embark on my dissertation and
vibrant city with a fascinating history. I then decide on my plans for the future. I really
spent the second half of my year teaching like Exeter, so in some ways it will be sad
Animals behaving badly, part 2
I want to share some true-funny-sad
stories of our lives before we came to
Bexley. Edd and I both wanted a small
holding - we read a lot of books on what
not to do with animals and vegetables!
Our first buy were chickens. We found a
property in Lincolnshire with land – a
fantastic four bed detached house with 2
¼ acres plus all our buildings! We
decided to build a large run (or so we
thought!) opposite our kitchen window for
the chickens, so we didn’t have too far to
go and collect the eggs. We then bought
a cockerel to fertilise the eggs. Not many
people like cockerels because of the
noise and they can be quite cruel to
chickens. Most chickens succumb to a
cockerel as he really does rule the roost.
Our big cockerel (Gercha) kept on pecking
at our limping cockerel (Hoppy) so we took
him out of the cage and let him walk where
he pleased. We had him so tame that in the
end he used to peck on our back door each
morning for his food which we fed him by
hand. He used to sleep in our front porch!
three weeks. In the meantime we
attempted to make some potato wine. It
turned out very strong, so we called it Tate
whiskey. We thought
that in time it would
ferment. When the
time came for the
eggs to hatch, we had
friends up to see the
exciting event and to
try our wine out.
“Yuk!” It was awful!
When the first egg
started to crack, we
whooped and
cheered and jumped
Baptism
I can’t really point out a moment in my life
where I became a Christian. Being in a
Christian family, it’s been more of a
gradual growth of my relationship with
God. As I wasn’t baptised as an infant, I’d
wanted to for several years, but wanted to
wait until I had a better understanding of
what getting baptised means and the
significance of it. I’ve been going to
Dubsters and 3Dub since I was 11, and
have been to both Youth Alpha and Soul
Survivor twice, but it’s only been in the
past year or so that my relationship with
God has stepped up a gear.
to move on but it is also an exciting
prospect.
During my first two years in Exeter I
attended the university chapel regularly as
well as the University of Exeter Methodist
and Anglican Society (affectionately
nicknamed MethAng). We are a group of
students from different denominations and
faiths who meet every Monday evening for
fellowship, prayer, worship and discussion
– and not to mention tea and biscuits! I
was the Vice President of MethAng in my
second year and I still find time to go this
year, despite my increased workload. We
have links with the chapel and several
churches in the community and the society
is affiliated to SCM (Student Christian
Movement).
Rachel Belsham
for joy! Over the next few days 70 yellow
fluffy chicks - God’s gift - hatched. And
what a gift this was, the first hatching and
the last of our Tate whiskey.
Oh and one of the things I forgot to
mention - after we had finished making the
Tate whiskey, we put all the left over
ingredients (and there was a lot!) into the
chicken and pig food. We should have
spread it over a few days but we didn’t
give a second’s thought as to what could
happen. They loved it! But then as they sat
on their perches they kept falling off… our
realisation as we laughed…!!! Boy did we
take a lot of eggs that week!
Twink Upson
opportunity to get baptised now as I’m
stepping into the role set out for me as a
faithful servant.
At the Baptism I shared my testimony
which, to my relief, I didn’t completely
forget half way through! I’d wanted Beryl
from Oasis to help baptise me however,
Gercha made it frightening to go in the
being unable to get in, we had to settle
cage to collect eggs; you had to be ready
with her standing at the side whilst laying
for him. One day our daughter, Tina, came
a hand on me. She decided to grab my
over. I asked her to collect the eggs for me,
hand whilst Adam was saying the final few
warning her of our rogue cockerel, but he
words before the dunk. This put me in the
came at her so quick, one of his very sharp
slightly awkward situation of wondering
claws cut her leg. Her husband had to take
whether I should let go once I was being
her to our local hospital to get it dressed.
lowered, or to keep my left arm unbaptised! ;) In hindsight, having gone for
We started to get more chickens, so much
When I changed schools for sixth form last the latter, I’m just glad I didn’t pull her in
so that we had to move to a bigger place.
year, I took opportunity of the new
with me! Still, all ended well, aside from
Gercha was in his element. We had eggs
environment and new friends to start to
Beryl getting her sleeve wet.
coming out of our ears so we started selling make God the focus of my day-to-day life.
them. Then the day came when it was time In March, I started going to Oasis
Getting baptised was
for Gercha to go. He was so big!
Community Church in Meopham. Since
the next small step for
I’ve been going, there’ve been several
me in a lifetime of
Built onto our kitchen was what they called prophetic words said over me about
serving God. Thanks
a “Whelping Room”, where our last owners serving God, especially through leading
to everyone who came
kept their puppies etc. We bought an
worship. At Soul Survivor this year,
and was a part of it.
incubator, and between us and our friends
another was said over me about serving
we put 90 eggs in it to hatch within the next Him in my friendship group. I took the
Greg Corbett
Growth in Egypt
Chris and Angela Chorlton, with Anna
(12), Isaac (9) and Noah (7), are CMS
mission partners working in
partnership with the Anglican Diocese
of Egypt, and live in Maadi, a district in
the south of Cairo.
Angela sent an
email in early
October saying that
they had been very
busy with Angela's
parents visiting
while it was Isaac's
birthday. She has
also been helping
to organise a
retreat for 41 ladies from the Cathedral
congregation, the theme being 'listening
and encouraging'. She has now come to
the end of 5 years teaching at the
international preschool, as she wanted to
do something different, and is now
teaching at the children's school as well
as being on the school board, and said
that God really guided her into these new
things.
Last April, Chris was appointed interim
priest in charge and continues to hold the
fort in the Cathedral while the council
interview new candidates for a permanent
priest. He is doing very well and enjoying
it, but with that as well as the Episcopal
Training Centre (ETC) and the Arabic
Light Party
Church in Maadi he finds he is very busy.
However, Angela is now more available to
help Chris out with his many duties.
Please continue to pray for our friends!
Give thanks:
 For the continued good work
of the ETC and the growing
congregation at the Cathedral.
 That the children are very
happy and enjoying their
school and friendships.
 Pray:
 For their next step to leave
Egypt after 11 years of
service, and for wisdom and
guidance as they explore
different options.
 For the political situation, which seems
fairly calm and under tight control at the
moment. There will be
parliamentary elections
soon, so pray for good
candidates to be wise,
just and protective to the
minorities of refugees and
Christians there.
 For peace and stability.
We had a great time at the Light Party
on 31st October. We gathered together
for an exciting and fun-packed evening
of pumpkin carving, apple-bobbing,
dancing and party games. At the end we
enjoyed a delicious meal of hot dogs.
Thank you so much to Laura and her
team for organising a great event for
so many to enjoy!
Isabel Broadie
Linda Howell
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Letters, please contact me:
Tel 020 8317 7623; Email
[email protected]
Re-affirming faith
comfort when my wife had a major
operation. I know that there is ONE so
POWERFUL who makes things right and
For anyone who may not know me, I am
and I felt that
that no human can offer. I feel that I want
Sharon and I have been part of St John’s
he answered
to express my belief and that he will look
for the last eight years. I am married to
them. I became
after me forever. I feel that my role as
Paul, who has been newly appointed as
a Christian at
protector for my wife and family is now
church treasurer. I have just started a
Soul Survivor
shared with God and this makes me feel
Foundation in Ministry course, currently
when I was 18
less burdened. I am able to cope with life
being run by the Diocese of Rochester and but my trigger
easier and I am starting to know God’s
as one of my reflections I have been asked for being baptised was when I was
love for me.
to write is about Baptism.
speaking to a non-Christian friend and
One of the
sharing my thoughts about being baptised: reasons
Re-affirmation by full immersion is an
she became so enthusiastic about it!
why I
outward sign of a person who wishes to
Before my baptism, I was feeling very
wanted to
follow Jesus, to turn away from the
excited. I wanted to be able to share this
get baptised
darkness to his light, to ask for forgiveness big part of my life and who I am with my
is that it
of their sins and reaffirm the vows their
family. It was also a good time for me to
marks a
parents made for them as children in their share my faith with others because of how new
baptism service. Although this is an act of God has brought me out of the darkness of beginning of
faith by us, many changes are happening years of depression. I now feel free and
faith in God, and also to wash away my
to the heart of a person and God is very
lighter and glad to be alive. God had
past and wrong doing.
much a big part of this!
revealed his love to my HEAD and now it
has moved to my HEART.
~~~~~
After having a chat with Louise Russell
and Paul Finch, this is why they felt called Paul Finch
So the day was a massive celebration for
to take this step in faith.
It is hard trying to do life on your own. I
all, hearing faith stories, getting wet and
have tried to do life my way but worried a
eating lots of cake after. If you would like
~~~~~
lot and had many anxious thoughts. My
to know how they are doing now, maybe
outlet was to challenge my anxiety and to be brave, share coffee after church and
Louise Russell
give it to God. This has brought me peace. ask them!
I can remember talking to God as a child
It is a comfort to know that he can take it,
Sharon Finch
and asking him big questions about life
as no-one on earth can. It gave me great
The 16th housegroup!
The 16th housegroup was formed in
September 2014 and is the first that meets
at a lunchtime. It comprises ten people
who meet at 12.30 every Wednesday
during term-time to chat over a lunch
prepared for us by our hosts Keith and
Jackie before moving to prayer and Bible
study expertly led by Miriam.
Current members are: Keith & Jackie
Mackley, Miriam Giles, Jan Busby, Joyce
Gough, Sharn Haines, Louise Jenkins,
Lisa Mitchell, Pat Wootton and Liz Harris.
support and care has been palpable as we
have all learnt from each other and
received God's blessing.
This has most recently been demonstrated
through our use of WhatsApp which we
use to share prayer requests and keep in
touch between meetings. Not only have I
learnt new technology but we have all
witnessed God's healing and experienced
the peace and the strength that He gives.
We support the church playgroup and The
Leprosy Mission as a group. We were
We are at present studying Romans in
recently challenged, motivated and
parallel to the morning service. My
inspired by watching a video on the work
relatively short membership has taught me of TLM and have supplemented our Bible
that small group study brings new
study with craft afternoons preparing for
perspective and
the Lamplighters Christmas
insight through
Fair. My school reports will
shared
attest to my lack of practical
experiences,
skills but, within a caring and
discussing meaning
supportive environment,
and seeing the
progress has been made – we
passage through
are so much more than a
fresh eyes. Our
housegroup!
members comprise
Christians of many
It is a time of fun, friends and
years standing as
fellowship and recommended
well as those who
to all.
have recently found
Liz Harris
faith and the mutual
TOFFs join Cubs
The 2nd Welling Cubs were working
towards their Skills and World challenge
award badges as well as their Community
Impact badge 1 and invited TOFFs to join
them one evening. What a busy sight
outside the hall! Beavers being collected,
Cubs being dropped off and some older
folk making their way in.
We had special
visitors at Cubs
recently - the
lovely TOFFs!
The two groups
enjoyed playing Bingo together and it was
great to see two generations working
nicely alongside each other. The Cubs
served tea, coffee and cakes and the hour
Twelve TOFFs
really flew by. It took about half
folk were
an hour for the 1st prize to be
greeted and led
won so there was lots of
into the Cub
excitement! The TOFFs’ prizes
meeting, where
included a bottle of wine, some
we were brought
biscuits and a box of
tea/coffee and
chocolates and the Cubs won
cakes. Good
some science kits. Many
start to a social
thanks to TOFFs for Cubs'
evening!
yummy chocolates at the end what a lovely surprise! Thank
We all settled down to a game of Bingo.
you kindly to all those who came. Cubs
Numbers were called, cheers went up and will be looking forward to another Bingo
finally prizes were given to TOFFs and
night sometime soon!
Cub winners. ‘TAPS’ closed the evening
and thanks were exchanged all round for Lucie Brasova
an enjoyable time. It brought memories for
us as a number of us have sons who were
in 2nd Welling Cubs in past years.
We look forward to a future invitations,
perhaps in the New Year!
Wendy Cole
Youth Alpha
What do dog food, marshmallows on a
campfire and tortuous renditions of 'Silent
Night' have to do with the
meaning of life? Quite a
lot, it transpires... This
term, Dubsters (10-14s)
have clubbed together
with other youth groups
from across Bexley to run
a Youth Alpha course at
Belvedere Baptist Church.
Our Friday evenings have
started with up to 55
teenagers (36 regulars) eating together &
playing games (may contain baked beans
and dog food), followed by the night's
question, be it 'Why did Jesus die?' or 'Why
and how should I read the Bible?' The
topics are the same as the Alpha course,
presented relevantly online, with times for
small group discussion.
The Holy Spirit Weekend at Carroty Wood
was a particular high point, providing an
opportunity for the young people to deepen
their relationships with each other and with
God. Amidst orienteering in the rain, a
campfire, and some impressive pantomime
performances, our focus was learning
about who the Holy Spirit is and how He
changes our lives. The young people
engaged with the talks and discussions
and many received powerfully from the
Holy Spirit during the prayer or "ministry"
time. Our God met them where they were,
as he will for all of us if we ask, and
brought them a step closer into His heart.
We have seen our young people draw
closer to God and grow in their
understanding of Him. They are truly
inspiring and as youth leaders it is an
honour to share their journey with them.
Please pray for them as they continue on
the path we are all on:
to love and serve Jesus
every day.
Dubsters will resume in
January on Sundays,
5.30-7.30pm at St
John's.
Louise Russell
Source
We are excited to have started meeting
together on Fridays - sometimes praying
together and for one another, reading the
Bible and encouraging one another in our
faith, and sometimes going to the pub, or
ice-skating, or for a curry, or up to London.
We have been learning a lot through this
period of transition, and still have a long
way to go. But hanging out as 18-30s is
great fun, and we hope to become even
more vibrant in the months to come.
Nicola Foot & Ben Haughton