NOTICES - September 2017
From the Vicar’s Desk:
Dear Friends,
September is always a busy time! The long days of summer are fading and our attention returns to school, work, or simply the many chores that need doing as the days grow shorter. Church, too, moves at a faster pace as we roll on towards Harvest and then Advent. This summer has seen a few changes at St. Barnabas. Thanks to Ruth Mey and a host of volunteers, we have a newly decorated hall that is fresh and clean. James Kind has laid new flooring to replace the old carpet that will hopefully make keeping it clean easier. We hope to replace the flooring in the Narthex as and when we are able. Preparations for Epsom Mental Health Week are falling into place as Sue has been busy organising an array of speakers and activities for this year’s tenth anniversary celebrations.
On September 30th, as part of our Harvest celebrations, we will be holding a Barn Dance in Church as a fundraiser and a way of welcoming the community to come and meet us. Rogues Gallery will be providing the music and we’ll have a professional caller as well to put us through our paces. Please do take some tickets for yourself and to sell to friends and neighbours. Janice Pond has been busy organising this and the new website, which we hope will provide information about us to the wider world and attract new people to come and see what life is like worshipping with us on Sundays.
There remains a bit of uncertainty as to what the new Parish Share scheme that Bishop Andrew is keen to implement, will have on us as a smaller church. That said, the recent Stewardship drive has seen increased giving on your part in support of St. Barnabas, and PJ is keeping a close eye on what we spend and what we are given so that we can manage our finances responsibly and meet our obligations to the Diocese and others. There is so much to be thankful for as we witness God still at work among us.
Yet even in joy, there is some sorrow as we mark the passing of Gordon Hunter and Joan Atkinson, both long-time members of St. Barnabas who each have given us so much. Joan has been a prayerful cornerstone of much of what has been accomplished here over the years. Her presence and her prayers will be missed. We have also been blessed by Gordon’s example of strength and courage through unimaginable adversity. He has been a “centring point” reminding us of what is truly important in our daily lives that can be so crowded with false priorities and distractions. Please remember them in your prayers, as no doubt, they will remember us in theirs.
Michael
Social Diary:
| Friday 1 | 2pm | Knit and Natter |
| Wednesday 6 | 8pm | Bible Study |
| Thursday 7 | 11am | Coffee Morning |
| Saturday 16 | 10am to 12pm | Coffee Morning & Raffle (Hosted by David and Anne) |
| Friday 29: | 10.30am | Macmillan Coffee Morning & Raffle |
| Saturday 30 | 7.30pm to 11pm | Barn Dance |
| Sunday 1 Oct | 10.15am | Harvest Festival followed by barbecue in vicarage garden |
Dates to remember:
- 7 to 15 October - Epsom Mental Health Week
- 7 to 10 December - Christmas Tree Festival
Barn Dance Tickets:
Tickets for our Barn Dance on Saturday 30th September are now on sale at £10 (including supper) for adults; £5 for children; family ticket £25 (maximum 2 adults and 5 children).
Starting at 7.30 with music by Rogues Gallery, it promises to be a night of good fun and laughter. If you have never done barn dancing before don’t worry – the caller will guide us through it all! Please bring your friends, family, neighbours, in fact anyone at all, to join in the fun. Cash bar is available. See our Barn Dance page for more information.
Christian Aid:
Janet and Jenny, after eight years as coordinators, have decided to step down as overall organisers of Christian Aid Week, and make way for fresh inspiration. Please would you think and pray about whether God might be calling you to be part of a new organising team for next year's Christian Aid Week and let Janet know.
Sunday School:
We run a Sunday School and crèche at St Barnabas on the second and fourth Sunday of every month and also on fifth Sundays, when these occur. It would be great to have more volunteers who would be willing to help out with these sessions regularly or on an occasional basis to cover services when regular helpers are not available. Please speak to Helen Dyke if you are interested or would like to know more about what is involved.
In addition, we are hoping to run a crèche for our smallest children every third Sunday. This will leave their parents free to participate fully in worship without having to worry about what their little ones are up to. If you would consider giving up your time in church to help with this every 3rd Sunday or less frequently, please speak to Helen Dyke.
Harvest Festival:
Sunday 1st October at 10.15am. Afterwards we will be having a barbecue (the scouts will do the cooking) in the vicarage garden if the weather is good, if not, then we will eat in the hall. There will be a list in the narthex of the foods we require, so we would ask everyone to sign up as soon as possible. Thank you.
To raise a smile!
Walter took his wife Ethel to the state fair every year, and every time he would say to her, "Ethel, you know that I'd love to go for a ride in that helicopter." But Ethel would always reply, "I know that Walter, but that helicopter ride is 50 dollars and 50 dollars is 50 dollars."
Finally, they went to the fair, and Walter said to Ethel, "Ethel, you know I'm 87 years old now. If I don't ride that helicopter this year, I may never get another chance." Once again Ethel replied, "Walter, you know that helicopter is 50 dollars and 50 dollars is 50 dollars."
This time the helicopter pilot overheard the couple's conversation and said, "Listen folks, I'll make a deal with you. I'll take both of you for a ride; if you can both stay quiet for the entire ride and not say a word I won't charge you! But if you say just one word, it's 50 dollars."
Walter and Ethel agreed and up they went in the helicopter. The pilot performed all kinds of fancy moves and tricks, but not a word was said by either Walter or Ethel. The pilot did his death-defying tricks over and over again, but still there wasn't so much as one word said. When they finally landed, the pilot turned to Walter and said, "Wow! I've got to hand it to you. I did everything I could to get you to scream or shout out, but you didn't. I'm really impressed!"
Walter replied, "Well to be honest I almost said something when Ethel fell out but, you know, 50 dollars is 50 dollars!"
Church Hall:
We have much to be grateful for as we look at our newly decorated hall. Bright, clean walls, fantastic new flooring and, soon, beautiful new blinds. We have had some very generous donations and James Kind has laid the floor for us on a cost basis only. Bobby and Graham have very kindly offered to cover the cost of two new blinds. Also our tabletop sale raised £279.68 and our coffee morning’s donations £61.55 so these paid for the paints, brushes and rollers.
To all the people who participated on Saturday 19 August, whether it was painting, cleaning, gardening, organising the food, fetching and carrying, we say a very big thank you. Also, thank you to those who, after church on the following day, helped lift the old carpet and dispose of it. It wasn’t an easy or pleasant job!! However, we must single out two young members – Travis Mey, who spent three days preparing, fixing and painting, and Sarah Kind, who did so much to help her father whilst he was laying the new floor.
Glass Doors:
Our front doors have now been repaired – with many thanks to James Kind. Penny has, very kindly, offered to regularly clean the glass which gets marked so quickly. It would be good if we could have another volunteer to keep these, and the inner glass doors, in good shape.
Churches Together in Epsom (CTiE):
From August, on the first Monday of every month at 9.15am, there will be ecumenical prayers for all the churches in Epsom at St. Martin's Church. We are currently praying in particular for a new chair of CTiE for the new year and a new webmaster, but prayer for any concern of any of the Epsom churches is welcome.
Church Grounds:
Thanks to our loyal group of gardeners, our grounds are looking better each day that goes by. Take a stroll around.
Readers and Intercessors:
The list for October-December is now in the narthex and we would be grateful if you could sign up.
Parish Prayer Chain:
Together We Can Make a Difference
The Power of Prayer (from Sue Bull)
The other night I was sitting by the bed of someone who was very seriously ill. I nodded off for a bit and when I woke up the following well-known prayer was in my mind:
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.
Wherever we are, and however life is, the Lord is always present with us, gazing on us with complete, unconditional love.
Birthdays this month:
4th George Cooper
6th Sarah Ford
8th Mary Wood
11th Jeremiah
12th Joyce Hill
22nd Jack Jansen
23rd Jenny Vincent
28th Matthew Jansen
Sick List: Jim Middleton who is missing, and Doreen.
Rest in Peace: We said goodbye to a dear friend, Joan Atkinson, on 31st August, with a service of remembrance. Joan attended St Barnabas for many years, taking on various responsibilities during that time. One job, which she did many times, alone and on her knees, was cleaning marks off the carpet in the hall and narthex so she would be very pleased that, at last, we have new flooring in the hall and God willing, also in the narthex - when we can raise enough funds. We will all miss Joan and offer our condolences to her family at this sad time. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
Suggestions: If you have any suggestions or ideas for our monthly parish news then please speak to Michael, Hilary or Ruth.