All Saints Church

NEWSLETTERS

FEBRUARY 2012

Janet's Jottings

Together, on our own, out aloud, in our minds, on the telephone? In the bath, on the bus, at the traffic lights? Stand up, sit down, prostrate, kneel? Hands up, hands down, hands together? Eyes open, eyes shut? In out, in out, shake it all about!!!!!! Just how should we pray? (Don’t worry, all of these positions and occasions plus any others you can think of are just fine.)

After a lifetime in the classroom I must have spoken to scores of parents at open evenings, to be told how little Johnny will do anything to avoid settling down to his homework…….clean out the goldfish, finish watching the T.V. programme which “is all about the science we’re doing in class at the moment”, go upstairs to find his pencil case never to return again etc. etc. You name it the excuses are readily trotted off the tongue. Homework is possibly the hardest thing to get your child to do, bar going to bed at a reasonable time on a week-day night, isn’t it?

But then, I can’t talk because I’m a last minute merchant myself, always have been. I’ve never, ever, ever been able to perform until it’s strictly necessary. Take this Jotting for instance. I have known February is my month for a few years now and two weeks ago I landed up in casualty to be told I’ve torn my ankle ligaments and it could take around six to eight weeks to heal………I’ve done a lot of thinking about how this is a golden opportunity to be ready before I need to, after all there’s been precious little I was actually capable of doing for the first week but, here I am two days before the deadline with pen in hand and brain ache trying to be ready in time! If only I could stop prevaricating and JUST DO IT ….. it’s a bit like praying, which most of us tend to consider rather than do.  

If you’re anything like me, praying is easy to put off until later because it’s hard work; I really have to think; so too often I leave it until I have time to give it some thought, until I’m nicely relaxed, until all the chores are done (I wish!), and I’ve made that important phone call. I tell myself that’s when I’ll really settle down to think what I want, need or would like to say to God. Why on earth don’t I JUST DO IT? Does this ring a bell with any of you?

Well, if you’re not satisfied with your prayer life, don’t worry, you and I are clearly in good company because one day, as Jesus had finished praying, the disciples asked “Lord, teach us how to pray……….” (Luke 11 v.1ff) ……………… so they weren’t sure either! Looking at this request we can notice several things about prayer.

Firstly the disciples knew that Jesus was the One who COULD teach them, so that’s where they went, to the Master. Secondly, they were already following Jesus. They called Him “Lord.” Now it’s only once we have turned to Christ (and we say in the Baptismal service “I turn to Christ”) that we are able to pray with pure motives. Thirdly we can see that the disciples weren’t going to be put off prayer or stay wound up about their prayer lives (or lack of); they went to Jesus to ask Him how to do it because they “knew a man who could!” So, if we want to learn how to pray “better” then we too should go and ask Jesus. Next, Jesus taught His disciples, and for anyone asking how to pray, this is always the prayer that Jesus delights to answer with a “Yes.” The fifth thing to notice is that prayer takes time, so we have to make time to pray and to make prayer a priority.  The sixth piece of advice here is to recognize that prayer is simply talking …….. talking TO GOD!  So, keep it simple and just talk as if to a friend. But remember that, as in any conversation, once you’ve spoken it’s your turn to listen. Lastly, it’s good to know that prayer can be learned, and you can find a practical training course in the workbook we call The Bible. Jesus is the tutor and, just like the first disciples, we can learn from Him, the Master.

Going back to point six, which is about prayer just being talking, it helps me to pray (or talk) with a right attitude when I remember the mnemonic ACTS.

A is for ADORATION: It’s when I give glory to God for all that He is and all that He has done since before time began. For all He is doing and for all He will continue to do.

C is for CONFESSION: which puts me in my rightful place and God in His. I tell Him how I have let Him down and what has gone wrong because of that…………He knows anyway but wants me to acknowledge my sins. That’s when they become more real to me and, once I’ve given voice to them, my need to address them becomes more pressing.

T is for THANKSGIVING: which is dead easy, until we remember that we are to give thanks in all circumstances………………….no if’s and’s or but’s…………………..even in the depths we are to give thanks. Finally we come to……………..

S which is for SUPPLICATION or asking; the very last thing we do in prayer and not the first! We are to ask within God’s good and perfect will for His help and then we leave that prayer with Him to answer either “yes” or “no” and in His good and perfect time to answer either “now” or “later.” 

So I hope that this has been helpful and that you will, with me, stop putting prayer off and JUST DO IT!

Until the next time, keep lookin’ up, Janet

SERVICES THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY 2012

READINGS IN FEBRUARY 2012

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN FEBRUARY 2012

Confirmation Service

Simply Worship

Saturday 4th February at 7pm

 at All Saints Church. Steve Whitehouse is hosting another time of worship supported by some fellow musicians.

The heart for this evening is to gather people together to raise their voices in song and come ready to share stories of what God is doing in our lives to encourage and inspire one another. We'd love to see as many of you as can make it come along.

Mothers Union - Make a Mothers Day

Mothers Union are once again providing ethical gifts for Mothering Sunday presents for mothers or in memory of mothers.  This year's gifts range from £3 for supplying food, blankets and mosquito nets in times of crisis, to £100 to train a home based carer to support families who lost both parents to HIV/Aids, with many reasonably priced gifts in between.  Posters are at the back of the church and catalogues can be obtained from either Mary Brett or myself or visit the website at www.makeamothersday.org  where payment can be made online.

We have had fantastic support in the last three years raising in excess of £160,000 each year and hope to continue the good work. With thanks, Joan Martin

Count your Blessings

Lent is a time to take each day to reflect, pray and be thankful for the goodness of God and the blessings that we have received. Make Lent count this year in a fresh way by joining Christian Aid on the Count your Blessings journey and so supporting some of the poorest of the communities in the world. Last year Count your Blessings raised more than £300,000 for Christian Aid.

If you would like to join in with this year's campaign please pick up one of the leaflets which will be on the table at the back of the church.

Bishop of Guildford's Lent Call

The annual Lent Call raises funds every year that is divided between projects funded by the Bishop of Guildford’s Foundation and an overseas charity.

The Bishop has decided that this year’s Lent Call will have as its international focus the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Appeal Fund for the Christians in the Holy Land, organized through the UK-based charity The Friends of the Holy Land (Registered Charity 1130054). The Christian population in Israel and Palestine is suffering greatly. The rate of emigration from the Christian communities with roots going back over the centuries has been growing at a frightening rate. Christian leaders there have asked their fellow Christians to act to provide the support to provide for a better and lasting future. More information about The Friends of the Holy Land can be found at www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk

Once again no administrative costs will be taken from the funds donated. Every penny will be split 50:50 between the projects. Of course the annual Lent Call is not primarily a financial appeal but an invitation to prayer, fasting and giving. Prayers for all of the people of the Holy Land are needed more than ever.  If you wish to contribute to the Lent Call please use the materials which will be sent to us shortly.

St Clement's Songsters

Present

A Medley of Musicals

on Saturdays 18th February and 3rd March. Doors open at 7.15pm, the show starts at 7.45pm. Tickets are £12 each and include a supper of sausage, chips and beans.

There is also a show at 2pm on Sunday 26th February. Tickets are £9 each and include tea/coffee and cake.

For tickets please call the box office on 0208 393 0465 or 0208 399 2938.

Recitals at St Mary's, Ewell

Details of the full calendar of events for 2012 can be found at   http://www.stmarysewell.com/music/music_events.html
The first event is on Saturday 3 March 2012 - Come and Sing Handel's "Messiah" at 7.30pm with St Mary's Choir directed by Jonathan Holmes. Prices and rehearsal times to be decided. Tickets £6.00 in advance by telephone 020 8337 2160 or order by Email on treasurer@stmarysewell.com or £7.00 on the door (u16s free).

The March newsletter will be available on the 26th February. Items for inclusion need to be with me by Sunday 19th February at the latest please.

By email on administrator@allsaintswestewell.org.uk

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JANUARY 2012

Whitham's World

Wow, where did that last year go?!! I don’t know about you but the older I get the faster time seems to be going. I wonder why that is? I am sure there is a clever scientist somewhere who would be able to tell me. So yes another year has passed and a new one begins.

I wonder what your hopes and dreams are for this year, though for most of us I guess our hopes and dreams are surviving another year with the hope that it will not be too stressful and does not pass as quickly as the last one. That said 2012 is a very important year here in the UK because it is the Olympic year and so I expect all the final preparations will now be gathering pace. It is also an important year because it is the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and I am already hearing ideas about perhaps having a street party in Church Road. So let’s hope the weather this year is good for open air events.

As for me it is also a big year because, as many of you know, I will be having a Sabbatical starting at the end of May, and I would like to take this opportunity to say a very big thank you to all of you who gave so generously to help me make the most of my Sabbatical. I am now busy organising it. During my time away I hope to do some travelling abroad but most of my time will be spent in the UK, camping, hiking, visiting places of interest but most importantly visiting other churches, various projects and talking with other church leaders. During my time I will also be reflecting on what Jesus meant when he talked about Kingdom and how this is being expressed here in the UK in the 21st Century and within this context I will be asking what makes a healthy Church - is it numbers or is it something else?

I will also spend some of my time in retreat and there are 2 places I would like to visit, one being the monastery at Iona in Scotland and the other Lee Abbey in Devon. Someone joked the other day that when I return from my travels I will look like a hippy with long hair and a beard. Well I don’t think I will ever have long hair again due to the fact it is now receding at a rapid pace, but hey who, knows I might grow a beard! As to who will be looking after things while I am away, well this will fall to the Wardens and Janet. However many of you will be pleased to know that John Baxter has offered to help out and will be preaching, leading and presiding at many of the services whilst I am away, so a big thank you to John for taking this on for me. However, there is nearly 6 months and Easter to go yet, which is earlier this year, and so with that in mind may I wish you all a Happy New year and I look forward to continuing working with you all to build God's Kingdom here in West Ewell.

God bless

Rev Ian Whitham

SERVICES THROUGHOUT JANUARY 2012

READINGS IN JANUARY 2012

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN JANUARY 2012

Churches Together in Ewell Prayer Service

The Churches Together Prayer service is on Tuesday 24th January at 8pm at Stoneleigh Methodist Church. All are welcome.

The main focus of the evening is one of prayer though there will also be an opportunity for worship and hearing from Martine Stemerick, the Minister at Stoneleigh Methodist.

We want - as it encourages us to do in 1 Corinthians 12 - to rejoice with one another over our joys and encouragements, but also to share in one another's concerns too - as appropriate.

Paula

Simply Worship

on Saturday 4th February at 7pm at All Saints Church

Steve Whitehouse is hosting another time of worship supported by some fellow musicians.

The heart for this evening is to gather people together to raise their voices in song and come ready to share stories of what God is doing in our lives to encourage and inspire one another. We'd love to see as many of you as can make it come along.

New Year Prayer

God grant us this year a wider view,

to see others' faults through the eyes of you.

Teach us to judge not with hasty tongue,

neither the adult .. nor the young.

Give us patience and grace to endure

and a stronger faith as we feel secure.

Instead of remembering, help us forget

the irritations that caused us to fret.

Freely forgiving for some offence

and finding each day a rich recompense.

In offering a friendly, helping hand

and trying in all ways to understand;

That all of us whoever we are ..

are trying to reach an unreachable star.

For the great and small .. the good and bad,

the young and the old .. the sad and glad

Are asking today; is life worth living?

The answer is only in, loving and giving.

For only Love can make man kind

and Kindness of Heart brings Peace of Mind.

By giving love, we can start this year

to lift the clouds of hate and fear.

Written by Helen Steiner Rice.

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