All Saints Church West Ewell

But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows. Two men will be working in the field — one will be taken, one left behind; two women will be grinding at the mill — one will be taken, one left behind. So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. But you do know this: You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to prevent the break-in. Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up.

Recently I read that some people are mystery shoppers. They turn up at a restaurant, cinema or business undetected, unknown and unannounced and observe whether it is performing to the highest of standards. They then write a comprehensive report on the areas of effectiveness as well as areas in need of improvement. The whole idea behind this is to see people’s true colours – how they really are and what values they really care about. Maybe the Church of England should employ mystery church visitors! If they did I wonder what they would say about us! In a similar way the return visit of Jesus is unknown, except for by the Father (v 36). Because of this we are encouraged to keep watch and maintain godly standards of behaviour and not become lazy or shameful. In fact if you read on in verse 45 of Matthew chapter 24 you will discover that the supreme quality God is looking for in us is faithfulness.
In order to make this point clear Matthew goes on to use the analogy of servants who have been put in charge of their master’s household. The servant who abuses that trust and ignores his responsibilities will be punished (v 51). But the true servant is the one who carries out his master’s wishes with wisdom and consistency, not getting sidetracked by other things.
We may have started our walk of faith with godly intentions and a spirit-filled passion, but have we perhaps become distracted and unfaithful? If that is you then perhaps it’s time to consider again the wishes of our heavenly Father and follow them. So why not use your summer holidays as a time to of course relax, recharge and have fun, but also to reflect on where you are in your walk with God. Why not take that Christian book you've been meaning to read for the last year on holiday with you and read it, or buy a new one. But whatever you do this summer time try and find some time and space where you are not distracted by the busyness of your life to just stop for a moment and listen to what God is saying to you so that you can be about Gods work, because you never know when he will be coming back!

I would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to you all for all you have done this year so far. We are often a very busy church, as Clive would say often punching above our own weight, and none of this would happen without your help and time. So again thank you and have a great summer and enjoy just having time off, and getting away if you have not done so already.

This is to let you know that we are having some work undertaken on the Community Hall floor which will include

re-coating and sealing the entire hall space. During this work no-one will be allowed to use the hall, so we have scheduled it for the summer break to minimise the inconvenience.

The work will start on Monday August 9th, and will take just over a week, finishing on Monday August 16th.

This means that whilst the work is in progress the Community Hall WILL NOT be available for use. The church and Webber Hall are unaffected by this work.

This also means that there will be no teas/coffees after the church service on 15th August.

Just a reminder that we are still collecting items for the toiletry bags that are sent to Epsom General Hospital for emergency admissions.

If, on your travels this summer, you can acquire any of these items please save them for us. (Hotel soap, airline toothbrushes etc). I am always happy to receive any donations for this project as there is a continuing demand for the bags.

The Diocesan Day on Prayer will focus on resourcing growth in prayer. This year there will be a rich variety of interactive workshops dipping in to various stages along the journey of discovery in our personal prayer life. There will also be walk-in spiritual direction throughout the day, which can be booked on the day or in advance.

Please see the programmes on the table at the back of the church for more information about each workshop and for a booking form. There is a booking fee of £5 per person.

The Rt Rev Bishop Christopher, Bishop of Guildford, would like to invite all carers to Guildford Cathedral for a dedicated Evensong on Thursday 7th October to give thanks for carers throughout the Diocese. Places are limited and entrance will be by tickets. If you are a carer and are interested in going then please see the poster on the noticeboard for more details, and how to apply for a ticket.

The September newsletter will be available on the 12th September. Items for inclusion need to be with me by Sunday 5th September at the latest please.

I will never forget the day our golden retriever Jenny and our bunny rabbit destroyed my vegetable patch! At the time I was living in Yateley and I was in my first year as the Curate of St Peters church. Jenny, our retriever, was about a year old at the time and we also had a rabbit. That year I had decided to plant a vegetable patch in my back garden and it was growing really well. In fact it was nearly ready for me to start harvesting it and enjoy all my nice freshly grown vegetables. But it was not to be because on that fateful day I heard some strange sounds coming from my garden, so I went out to see what was going on and there in the middle of my now destroyed vegetable garden was Jenny looking very pleased with herself and our now half dead rabbit! NO was my cry that day and my heart sank. I never did re-plant a vegetable garden whilst we lived there; this was because I was so disheartened by what had happened. In many ways what happened to me is a lot like life. We put a lot of time and energy into our work, family, friendships and church life, only to find things going wrong and often not because of anything we have done. Many of us understandably, like me, just give up and walk away because we are too hurt or too angry to face whatever the situation is or may have been.

If that is you right now I want to encourage you to not give up and to keep going because there is always hope. Things do have a strange way of working themselves out. What is more if we are wise we will learn from the difficult, hard and sad times. So what did I learn from the destruction of my vegetable garden all those years ago? Not to give up because perseverance does produce veg. The last few years I have been growing vegetables and last year we had a bumper crop of potatoes. This year nearly all my veg is growing really well and it looks like this year is going to be the best ever. Another lesson I learnt was to build a little fence around my vegetable garden to keep Jenny out, and it has worked.

So keep going and most importantly don’t give up on your relationship with God. You will get there in the end and if you made mistakes in life like we all do, then learn from them so you hopefully don’t do them again or are wiser next time.

As I finish this addition of Whithams World I am reminded of Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 4: 7-8;

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

So if you love the Lord but are finding it hard remember Paul's words, there is a crown of righteousness waiting for you. So let’s keep going and keep looking upward.

CTE have had a request from the manageress of the Oxfam shop in Ewell village
to ask whether there are any churchgoers in Ewell who would be able to offer help in the shop.
The number of volunteers has diminished and the shop will not be able to open on Tuesday or Thursday afternoons without some new members of staff. Anyone who is interested should ring the shop on 020 8394 0187. Thank you Hazel Townsend.

is on from 5th - 17th July. If you are interested in attending any of the sessions there are booklets on the table at the back of the church .

Lord, shine the light of Your word on the path of our lives. Make it a lamp for our feet so we do not stumble. Bring it alive in our spirits so that it illuminates our mind and soul. Let it be a guide for every decision we make. Help us to stay on the narrow path that leads to life and help us to carve out time each day to be alone with you. Shine your light through us as we walk with our hand in yours. Lord you are the light of our lives and we give this day to you. Amen.

Junior Church will finish on Sunday 18th of July. The leaders pray that the children and their families will have a great and safe summer holiday and look forward to hearing all about their holidays on Sunday 12th September when JC will resume. Ian C-J.

The August newsletter will be available on the 25th July. Items for inclusion need to be with me by Sunday 18th July at the latest please.

A few Sundays back Bob gave a talk about giving and presented us with our financial situation at the present moment. He pointed out that our financial giving needs to improve and he also highlighted that giving is part of being a Disciple of Jesus. For my part I promised to talk a bit more about Discipleship which I did on Pentecost Sunday. To help reinforce what has been said I felt it would be helpful to put some of my sermon notes in this months Whitham's World.

I believe we need to have a more holistic view of what it means to be a Christian these days. For many Christians being a Disciple means turning up on a Sunday at least once a month, give a bit of our time to the church and some money. Now whilst no doubt the aforementioned is part of the life of a Christian it is not the whole picture and so what I want to do now is help us step back and look at the bigger picture.

When I put the rotas together I read the Bible passages and when I read the Acts passage for today (Acts 2) it became clear to me that here in the first few chapters of Acts we have modelled for us what a Christian community, and even perhaps what individual Disciples, should look like.

Firstly they were a learning Church - they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. In other words they were hungry for Gods word, are we?

Secondly it was a loving church - they devoted themselves to the fellowship. All the believers were together and had everything in common. In other words they were a sharing and caring community. I am sure that many of you saw the 3 part series on BBC called how to live a simple life. It was about how the Rev Peter Owen Jones tried to live without money for a year. He was trying to remove himself from the modern day rat race that I guess we all face at times, and these were some of the lessons he learnt after a year of the simple life:

We should not only take from the earth and others but that we should give back with a generous heart

Some very powerful lessons, particularly in relation to how a Christian community could possibly become a more caring and sharing one. So are we as a community like the early church a loving community?

Thirdly the Christian community in Acts was a worshipping church. It says in Acts 2 they devoted themselves to the breaking of bread and to prayer. However it was both formal and informal because they also worshipped both in the temple courts and in their homes. We also discover that it was a joyful and reverent church; they worshipped God with glad and sincere hearts. Worship then individually and as a community should be dignified yes, but it should never be dull. Could this be said of us?

Fourthly and finally it was an evangelistic church. It says in Act 2 “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” I ended my talk on Sunday with a challenge which was - how do you think the early church went about evangelising their communities? Whatever your thoughts were or are concerning evangelism there is no doubt that it was a very important part of their Christian community and so it should be for us.

It seems to me that these four points teach us that to be a real Disciple of Jesus is more than just coming to church, it is a life style. Being a Christian is more about how we live our lives day by day not just on a Sunday.

So are we a learning church, a loving church, a worshipping church and are we an evangelistic church? I believe if we follow the example the early church gives to us then we will become an even more holistic Christian community than we already are.

There will be no Junior Church, Deeper or Pathfinders on Sunday's 30th May and 6th of June as this is Half Term week.

Runs between 5th - 17th July. If you are interested in attending any of the sessions there are booklets on the table at the back of the church .

Where there is greed and the desire always to have more, let me sow contentment.

Stop us God, from trying to make you what we want you to be instead of obeying you.

Give us the insight to worship you as the real, living God, and to offer ourselves as living sacrifices truly pleasing to you. Change our minds and behaviour to suit your purpose for us, so that we may discover your will and do what you want. Amen.

The July newsletter will be available on the 27th June. Items for inclusion need to be with me by Sunday 20th June at the latest please.

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I don’t know about you but I love a good murder mystery film or TV series and at the moment I am into an American series called NCIS (Navel criminal investigative service). It is about a tightly-knit investigative team who travel the globe investigating everything from murder and espionage to terrorism and kidnapping. I am now on season 4 out of 7 and I find it a fascinating series.

Now former journalist and Christian writer Lee Stroble has covered, I am sure, many a murder trial in which a killer was convicted because he left his fingerprints at the scene of the crime.

A few years ago Stroble was searching to see whether or not the claims of Jesus would hold up under rigorous investigation. Is there, he wondered, a type of historical evidence that’s equivalent to fingerprints, evidence that could establish whether Jesus is, or is not, the Messiah?

For the answer he went to theologian Louis Lapides. Born in a Jewish home, Lapides grew up rejecting Jesus as the Messiah. But later he became a Christian and, during his spiritual journey, he carefully examined the OT prophecies about the Promised one.

familiar with suffering… he was led like a lamb to the slaughter… he was assigned a grave with the wicked… he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

As Lapides told Strobel, “Here was the picture of a Messiah who would suffer and die for the sins of Israel and the world, all written more than seven hundred years before Jesus walked the earth.”

In fact Lapides found some forty-eight major predictions. In Isaiah he read that the Messiah would be born of a virgin; Micah identified Bethlehem as his birthplace. Psalms foretold his betrayal and the method of his death (in Psalm 22) even though crucifixion wasn’t invented until long after Psalm 22 was written.

Strobel asked Lapides was it possible that Jesus fulfilled these prophecies by accident? “Not a chance,” he replied “The odds are so astronomical that they rule that out. The probability of any one person fulfilling forty-eight messianic prophecies is one chance in a trillion, trillion, trillion… and seven more trillions! Yet Jesus and only Jesus throughout all of history, managed to do it.”

When you read facts like this I don’t know about you but it gives backbone to our beliefs and comfort in the face of condescending attacks on our willingness to worship an un-seen God. So if an unbelieving friend says there’s no solid evidence that Jesus was the Christ, tell them about the forty-eight OT prophesies… and invite them to do the maths. I don’t know about you but the detective in me (and I am sure the NCIS team would agree) has to say that this evidence is a kind of historical fingerprint, a fingerprint that identifies Jesus as the one and only Messiah.

Thank you for the majesty and power that you have created in your world and how we are being reminded at this very time that there are some things we do not have control over.

At this particular time we pray for all who will be appealing for our ‘x’ s as we elect those people who will take on the responsibility for leading us in government.

We thank you for the gift of your Son who took upon Himself the sins of the whole world and who died on the cross for us.

Help us to appreciate that His Cross is the one that really matters and that voting for Him and electing Him to lead us is the only way in which our lives on earth can be fulfilled.

There will be no Junior Church, Deeper or Pathfinders on Sunday's 30th May and 6th of June as this is Half Term week.

This year's 18/7 prayer week is from 23rd to 30th May. More details will be given in Church.

We have an exciting speaker this month. Karen Rand, our Parenting Coordinator, will be telling us about setting up a Parenting Course. Please come and find out what is involved. All welcome, 8pm Webber Hall, 12th May.

We are again collecting good quality clothes and shoes for men, women and children to send to the Manor Estate in Sheffield.

For the past 20 years this shop has helped the residents clothe themselves and their families at a nominal cost and plough back the profits into the community. £25,000 has been raised so far and used to improve community life in these difficult circumstances.

Please start to sort out your unwanted garments and shoes, men’s, women’s and children’s, for collection in early May. We are unable to store bags until between 9th and 16th May. Bin bags preferred but please do not send carrier bags. They all have to be transported to the lorry both here and in Sheffield.

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There is an Italian legend about a master and servant. In the legend we discover that the servant was not very smart and the master used to get very exasperated with him. Finally, one day, in a fit of temper, the master said: "You really are the stupidest man I know. Here, I want you to carry this staff wherever you go. And if you ever meet a person stupider than yourself, give them this staff." So time went by, and often in the marketplace the servant would encounter some pretty stupid people, but he never found someone appropriate for the staff. Years later, he returned to his master's home. He was shown into his master's bedroom, for the man was quite sick and in bed. In the course of their conversation the master said: "I'm going on a journey soon." "When will you return?" asked the servant. "This is a journey from which I will not return" the master replied. The servant asked: "Have you made all the necessary arrangements?" "No, I guess I have not." "Well, could you have made all the arrangements?" "Oh yes, I guess I've had time. I've had all my life. But I've been busy with other things." The servant said: "Let me be sure about this. You're going on a journey, from which you will never return, and you've had all your life to make the arrangements, but you haven't.” The master said: "Yes, I guess that's right." The servant replied: "Master, take this staff. For at last I have truly found a man stupider than myself."

Just a story – perhaps. Or perhaps it is more. Maybe it describes the way in which many people today seem to live their lives, refusing to look at the one journey that faces us all - death! However, whatever you may think about this story we are all on a journey, the journey of life and during this journey there are many ups and downs twists and turns. But for me the big question is "where is this journey taking me?" The bigger picture? Well I believe that my journey will end when I am with Christ in the New Heaven and New Earth spoken of in Revelation. Nevertheless the problem with journeys is you can get caught up in the moment, where you are at any given time, and almost forget where you are heading. Now in the Easter story two of Jesus' Disciples did just that. They had looked around themselves and believed the situation to be hopeless, a lost course. As Jesus died on the cross so did their hopes and dreams of a new world order, and so they were heading home on the road that leads to Emmaus. Yes they had heard rumours that Jesus had risen from the dead, but they were not prepared to believe them. It was all
just wishful thinking as far as they were concerned. Yet we know that as they travelled along the road they met a stranger who challenged their views and showed them the bigger picture, and at their journeys end Jesus revealed himself to them and then disappeared. I bet as they travelled back to Jerusalem to tell the other Disciples they ran all the way.

But for me the most interesting part of this Easter Story is why did they not recognize Jesus? Well we are told in Luke 24 that his identity was hid from them, but why? Well I think one answer is Jesus wanted to reveal himself through the scriptures, to give the early church a model of evangelism for the future. Jesus knew that he would not physically be with them in the future, so he needed to show to them that scripture contained all the evidence that people would need to believe he was the messiah. That said, I also think they would not have recognised him even if God had not hidden his identity from them! Why? Well I think they were so focused on the cross, Christ's death, their own grief and despair, that they could not see the obvious, they could not see the woods from the trees, and so they were unable to understand what was really going on, and why Jesus needed to die. Sometimes we are like that! We can be so focused on the moment and all the problems around us that we forget to take a step back and get everything into context. In fact lying in bed all night worrying about something does not make it better, it only serves to make us grumpy in the morning, and feel tired for the rest of the day. As Jason Gray reminded us in his sermon a few weeks back we need to stop in moments like this and ask for Jesus' help because at the end of the day he is really the only one who fully understands what we are going through. He sees the big picture and wants to help. I find when I don't pray or seek God's guidance I get very stressed and things usually go wrong. However when I stop and step back for a moment and ask for Jesus' help I find I have more peace about the situation I may be facing and an inner strength I did not have before and sometimes what was not obvious to me becomes clear.

If you wish to participate at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting on Sunday April 25th then you must be on the Electoral roll by Sunday April 4th. A copy has been put on the notice board – if you are not on it and would like to be, or would like to know more then please contact me.

Well the Church gardens are starting to wake up and move again and we look forward to seeing some new helpers (as well as the regulars) for this season's growing season.

All are weather permitting, of course, so if it's tumbling down with rain the few days before or even on the day the likelihood is that we'll postpone the gardening for that morning.

Ring our home numbers (on the church phone list) If you're not sure whether the weather is up to you coming along!!

Audrey and I thank you in advance for coming along to help. We desperately need the help of more people from All Saints (5 regulars isn't really enough). We're all very busy people in our work, in our home lives and at church but please think of the relaxation, fellowship and fun we can all benefit from. Anyone with children is more than welcome to bring them along so they can have fun with the soil and see the wonders of God's growth each month.

We so hope you will come along to help sometime during the 5 sessions this 2010. You don't need to be 'gardeners', there's always something everyone can help with.

All the groups will be taking an Easter break, the last one will be on March 28th. Junior Church and Deeper will be restarting on Sunday 25th April; Pathfinders and Substance will restart on 9th May as the 25th April is their weekend away.

The next Confirmation Service in the parish is on Saturday 13th November. If you think you would like to be confirmed please contact Rev. Ian Whitham.

You may be interested to know that after the Christmas Market I donated 3 bags of items that were ‘left over’, to the Princess Alice Hospice shop in Worcester Park. Since then the sale of these items have raised an additional £98.50 for the charity and as I gift aided them a further 28% will be claimed from the tax man!

So are you ready willing and able to get involved again, or perhaps for the first time, at the All Saints Christmas Market on November 29th 2010?

Gill Smitheram

The office will be closed over Easter and will re-open on Tuesday 20th April.

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True fasting
Isaiah 58

Lent is a traditional time of fasting or giving up something like chocolate. For my part I am giving up a couple of things and will be fasting for at least one day during lent. But what motivates us to give something up? Why do we do Lent? Is it a step towards self improvement? Or a way we can focus on how to more fully glorify God?

Now as I was thinking about what to say in this edition of Whitham's World I came across Isaiah 58 where we read God's words to Israel concerning how and why they should fast. I have to say I found them very challenging and I would like to encourage you all to read that chapter during Lent, it really makes you think. What we find in this chapter is that Israel are rebuked for carrying out their religious duties whilst continuing to treat each other badly.

For example in Verses 3-4 it says
'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?' "Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarrelling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.”

Isaiah then goes on to outline how people should act in ways that go beyond religious duty and glorify God. For example in verses 6-7 we read how fasting is more than an activity that makes us feel better about ourselves.

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?“

Jesus echoes the words of Isaiah making it clear in Matthew 25:43 that serving other people allows us to glimpse the Kingdom and honour God; for example 'just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me'.

Perhaps then, as we begin this time of fasting or giving stuff up, we should always keep in mind that the act of self denial should not be our only concern. But rather, it should be a time which we can use to focus on our walk with God remembering that whatever we do we do it as an act of worship towards God and not self glorification (hey look at what I have given up) and also taking on board what Isaiah says, seek to care for the oppressed and hungry in our world.

So what will you do during Lent this year to fast in the manner that Isaiah speaks of?

Perhaps it won't only be to give something up but, rather, take up a new attitude of thanks for what God has provided and a desire to care for others and his creation. Ian

It is still not too late to donate one of our ethical gifts for, or in memory of, your Mum for Mothering Sunday 14th March. Just log on to http://www.makeamothersday.org and choose your gift. If you prefer to post your application (form in hall corridor) please post it before 9th March to ensure delivery in time.

We have Alison Ney speaking to us ‘On meeting members in South Africa’. If you are interested please join us on Wednesday 10th March in the Webber Hall at 8pm. Look forward to seeing you there.

We will be in church to decorate it for Easter on Saturday 3rd April at 10.00am. If you are able to help with the flower arranging I would love to hear from you.

Once more any monetary donations towards the cost of flowers will be gratefully received

We have bookings for a concert in Ruxley Church in early May and we plan an evening of entertainment in our own Church Hall later that month. We also would like to do a few small pieces of drama for Easter to fit in with the Services where possible. So plenty to think about there.

PLUS we will do readings of a new play version of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" in July prior to casting it (loads of parts, big and small) before the summer holidays. In early September we will begin rehearsals for a production run in the Community Hall over the period Friday 19th November to Sunday, 21st November (4 or 5 shows).

After Ian’s excellent sermon last week, I remembered a poem I wrote nearly thirty years ago, at a low point in my life. It is based on the same passage in Luke’s gospel, but here it is not Christ who is being tempted to make life easier. The devil suggests that if we follow him instead of God, all our problems will go away. He waits until we are feeling really weak and then makes three attempts to change our minds, just like in the gospel.

A big thank you to all those who contributed towards the Haiti appeal. We managed to raise just over £200.

This year’s A.P.C.M. is to be held on Sunday April 25th, just after the morning service.

Every year we ask each person with a particular area of responsibility within All Saints to produce a report outlining the activities and achievements over the previous year, and this year is no different!

If you suspect you may have to produce a report, then you probably do!

If you are in any doubt, please ask Rev Ian, either churchwarden or Karen CJ in good time!

An email detailing this information was sent a few weeks ago, so hopefully this will not be new news to you!

Again, this year the reports will be collated and issued centrally via the admin office, so we respectfully request that your reports be emailed to the admin office to arrive no later than 28th March. (administrator@allsaints.org.uk)

If you are not on email, please submit your report on hard copy by the same deadline.

This will allow us time to review, edit, collate and distribute the combined reports in the weeks running up to the A.P.C.M.

Any reports received after this date may not be included in the main batch, so you may be requested to distribute your report independently!

Being mindful of our carbon footprint, we plan on issuing the reports by email, with a number of printed copies available in church for those not on email.

If you have any difficulty with your report, or with the requested timeline, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We thank you in advance for your consideration in helping to ensure the A.P.C.M. experience is as stress-free as possible!

“Life is like an onion; you peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.” Carl Sandburg.

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” Nelson Henderson. From A Bundle of Laughs, J. John and Mark Stibbe, Monarch Books.

The April newsletter will be available on the 28th March. Items for inclusion need to be with me by Sunday 21st March at the latest please.

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Call me perverse because, as I write, the snow isn't yet falling today but more is forecast over the weekend and it has made me think of warmer months when I lazily sun myself in the back garden or walk over Box Hill or Epsom Downs as the evening shadows lengthen.

I often look at a view drinking in the colours, the shadows cast from trees or buildings, the sun sparkling as it splinters into a million jewels on the sea or a river as it flows into the distance. I see the hills rolling into one another and away from one another, the fields appearing as a jigsaw with the hedges defining each piece of the puzzle. Everything is so orderly at a distance.

Then I look close about me and see the branches of the tree I'm leaning against with its tangled, crazy arrangement of twigs and its leaves fluttering like a confused mass of bunting, then to the grass ….. a jungle of brilliant green spikes with the odd clump of clover, a few daisies, the occasional fallen leaf, sweet wrapper and snapped twig all in an untidy mess at my feet. Then I notice a tiny ant desperately racing to and fro trying to get somewhere but seeming to get nowhere, sat-nav useless because of the jungle he finds himself in.

Close to it's all so like our lives; the good intentions which so often disappear like the morning mist. The mistakes. The wrong things we say and think and do. Everything criss-crossing over and round and through the right and good things we do manage to get done. It's a complicated muddle. Like the close up view, beauty and goodness in our lives is mixed up with ugliness and confusion. However, seen at a distance the overall impression is that everything is running smoothly and that everything is orderly. God's in His heaven, all's right with me.

Looking out of the window at my garden now there's a smooth blanket of cold white twinkly stuff called snow covering the soggy brown iris leaves and ornamental grasses which still trail lank across the lawn. The flower beds and the sedom stalks I didn't find time to cut off to ground level are still there underneath it too. Likewise underneath the snow at Box Hill and Epsom Downs there's still the tangle of grass with its clover, daisies and sweet wrappers but it's as if all of those things don't exist any more. They've been completely wiped out.

This, in turn, reminds me of God's forgiveness. Whatever we've done, however complicated and messy things seem to us, however impossible it seems to move on and leave the past behind, when we turn to God and say sorry, when we mean it heart and soul, when we tell Him we want to turn from our old ways and walk in newness of life with Him, then He forgives us totally …. and the amazing thing about God is that His forgiveness once given means He has no memory or record left of that particular wrong, it's been completely wiped out! We have been cleansed, freed from the guilt which has hung so heavily and brought us into our loving heavenly father's presence to plead for His forgiveness.

Isaiah 1 v 18a “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

When it was a larger branch we had a weekday service but now most people work it was decided that we try using the 4th Sunday each month as our MU communal service. We do prayers, sides duties, serving and take up the elements as much as possible. Rev Ian has encouraged us to inform the congregation of the many projects and varied social conditions of our worldwide membership. On these Sundays there will be boxes at the back of the church for our Worldwide projects and the Away From It All holidays for families in distress. I do hope you will be able to contribute to these good causes every now and again.

Mothers Union are once again providing ethical gifts for Mothering Sunday presents for mothers or in memory of mothers. There are different gifts from last year to choose from ranging from £6 for some ducklings to £168 for a literacy trainer’s salary for a month 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 two years raising in excess of £159,000 each year and hope to continue the good work.

With a fish and chip supper on Saturday 13th & 20th February at St Clement’s Church Hall, Kingston Road, Ewell.

Doors open at 7.30pm, show commences 8pm. Tickets £12 each.

Box Office: 0208 399 2938 & 0208 393 0465. Proceeds to a charity and St Clement’s Church Fund.

It is now just over 150 years since the publication of Charles Darwin's book 'The Origin of Species' and therefore a fitting time to review the impact of that work and how the debate has progressed in the intervening years. Creation Ministries International (CMI) have produced a top quality documentary film which recreates aspects of the defining voyage by Darwin and includes perspectives from contemporary scientists of both evolutionary and creationist persuasion. You can be assured that the film is respectful towards Darwin and his work but also raises some thought provoking questions. The film will be suitable for both people of Christian faith and those from outside the church.

The showing of the film will be followed by a short presentation and question time led by Philip Bell the Chief Executive of CMI. Resources for those interested in exploring the issues further will also be available for purchase and complimentary refreshments will be provided.

The film is being shown on Wednesday 24th February at The King's Church, Longmead Road at 7.30pm. There is no charge for entrance.

For more information please see the flyers on the table at the back of the Church.

Above all, I give You my heart that You may love in me - love the Father and love all humankind.

I give You my whole self, Lord, that You may grow in me, so that it is You who lives, works and prays in me.

Wesley Owen in Sutton has recently closed. However, there are still 2 local Christian Bookshops where you can get your Christian books and gifts – Refresh in Tolworth and The Dovecote in Epsom.

A new year is upon us yet again. I don't know about you but the older I get the faster the years seem to fly by. What's more, I'm guessing that most of you who are reading this edition of Whitham's World will have eaten far too much turkey, stuffing, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, Christmas pudding and mince pies, not to mention all the wine, spirits and beer that many of us drank over this festive period. So I am sure that you are planning to go on a diet and may even be looking to join a local gym so that you can shed all that weight. In fact in the Daily Mail (dated 4th January) there is a two page article which said "Today, the Mail begins a revolutionary eating plan - based on new scientific research - which can help you change your metabolism and stay slim for ever." All I can say is - as if! As for me well I am now a member of a local gym so watch out you may soon have a Vicar who has an Arnold Schwarzenegger lookalike body (again as if!)

But what of 2010? I wonder what your plans and hopes are for this coming year? For us as a family we are looking forward to going to Cyprus in the summer. Though if I'm honest I am a little nervous as I have not flown in a commercial aeroplane for 21 years. In fact the last time I flew was when Lianne and I went to Yugoslavia on our honeymoon!
So what of All Saints West Ewell? What do we have to look forward to in the coming year? Well, I would like to continue to encourage us all to make the most of our opportunities to share our faith with other people wherever we might find ourselves. Added to this I hope you will all continue to draw new people in to All Saints and to encourage those on the fringe of our church, those who we see from time to time, to become more involved and feel part of our Christian family here. With that in mind I am looking to run an Alpha course this year which I cannot run on my own, I will need help. So if you are interested in getting involved let me know. Also if you have not done Alpha then why not give it a go, or if you know of someone who may be interested then ask them to get in contact with me. In fact I have already had a few people interested in doing Alpha as a direct result of our All Saints update, so look out for the forthcoming dates.
Also, as I announced on Sunday 3rd January, the 8.30am Holy Communion service is to be closed and a new 6.30pm evening Holy Communion service will be starting in its place on the 7th February. Like the 8.30am service it will be held on the first Sunday of every month. It will be a more liturgical and reflective service, with a few hymns, and it is open to everyone. The reason for this change is because only 1, or at best 4, people were attending the service at 8.30am and it just seemed silly to carry on. My hope is that more people will attend the new service in the evening. I will be running this new service for a few months, after which I will review how it is going. If it is working it will become permanent. If you are interested in this service and would like to get involved then just let myself or the wardens know, as it would be good to have different people doing prayers and readings etc.
Finally in the coming year I would like to encourage us all to have more fellowship with each other, so if any of you have any good ideas or want to put on events to encourage fellowship, then come and have a chat with myself and the wardens and if we think they are possible and workable then we will seek to put them on. And with that in mind I will be holding some fellowship BBQs at the Vicarage during the summer months, dates to follow. Another way to have fellowship and also grow spiritually is to be a member of a House Group so if you have not joined one yet, or are new to All Saints, why not join one this year. If you want to know more have a chat with Peter Turner who oversees the house groups in this church or if you are not sure who he is then contact myself or Karen the church Administrator.
Well that's all for now but let me wish you all a very Happy New Year, and I am looking forward to working with you all in the coming year. Ian.

Don't forget the Drama Group meeting at 6pm in the Community Hall. Come along all ye who are interested in drama, would like to join the club, or don’t have time but would like to discuss the big production – no experience necessary, only enthusiasm! There will be free training, which is fun! If you can’t make this meeting don’t despair, there will be another meeting on Wednesday 13th January in the church at 7.30pm.

A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were discussing their lives at a class reunion. They decided to go to visit their old University professor, now retired, who was always an inspiration to them. During their visit the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work, lives and relationships.

Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went in to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups. Some cups were porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite. He invited each to help themselves to hot chocolate. When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor shared his thoughts.

“Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you are drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What each of you really wanted was hot chocolate. You did not want the cup but you consciously went for the best cups. And soon you began to eye one another's cups.”

“Now friends, please consider this …. Life is the hot chocolate, your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have doesn't define, nor does it change, the quality of life you are living. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us.”

Always remember this …. God brews the hot chocolate, he does not choose the cup. The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything that they have!

Live simply, Love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, Leave the rest to God and remember, the richest person is not the one who has the most but the one who needs the least. Enjoy your hot chocolate! Amen.

Sunday January 24th will take place at 6.30pm at West Ewell Evangelical Church will be an opportunity to celebrate our unity yet our diversity too.

This established work seeks to develop responses to meet the practical and spiritual needs of people with sensory, physical, learning disabilities, mental health needs and carers.

Whitham's World - Angels

Just recently I came across a story about a mother who claimed that an Angel brought her daughter back to life. The story goes that the mother of the daughter was in hospital at her daughter's bedside. Her daughter had been ill for a very long time and it was at this point in the story that she was
at death's door. The doctors had told the parents she only had a few hours at best. The mother claims that after the doctors had told them this they had decided to turn off the life support machine. It was around this time that she looked up at the TV monitor which was monitoring the hallway and
noticed a very bright light on it which looked like an angel. The image only lasted a few moments but it was after the appearance of the bright light on the TV monitor that her daughter suddenly made a miraculous recovery which baffled doctors. Fortunately the hospital kept video records, so she was able to get a copy of the video recording of the hallway outside of their room at the very moment that she saw the appearance of the angel. To everyones surprise there on the video recording was a very bright light, but perhaps more bizarrely the shape of the light was a little bit like an angel.

Now you may or may not believe that story. Nevertheless it does raise a question or two, one being do angels exist and secondly what do they do? For me there is no doubt that angels exist and my main reason for believing this is because the Bible says they do and has many stories with them in. What is more many people have claimed to have met or have had an experience of angels. In fact I read the other day 70% of Americans believe in angels. But perhaps more convincingly angels play a very big role in the Christmas story. For example we have two angels appearing to Mary and
Joseph and then we have thousands and thousands of angels appearing to the shepherds on the hillside. So if we don't believe in angels then we will have to dismiss a very large part of the Christmas story as being fake and made up! But what do angels do, what is their role, why do they exist? Well to answer that fully I would have to write many Whitham's worlds on this subject! Nevertheless there are two jobs they do for God. The first one being they are messengers and this can clearly be seen within the Christmas story. The two angels coming to Mary and Joseph and telling Mary face-to-face that she would give birth to the Son of God, and telling Joseph in a dream that this child was from God, and finally all those angels that appeared to the shepherds on the hillside proclaiming the good news that Christ the Saviour had come to the world to bring salvation to mankind. Secondly they protect God's people and over the years I've read many stories about how angels have done this. What is more, don't forget we are in a spiritual battle and remember we do not fight against flesh and blood, we wrestle against the powers and principalities of darkness in the heavenly realms and God's Angels are there battling on our behalf.

I'm reminded of the story in the Old Testament when Elisha asked God to open the eyes of his servant so that he could see all the angels who were protecting Gods city at that time. A good example of angels protecting Gods people. So at this Christmas time why not make the most of all the opportunities that will arise at All Saints over Christmas and proclaim the good news just like those angels did all those thousands of years ago to the shepherds on the hillside, which is that Christ has come into the world so that people might find hope, peace, joy, forgiveness, and everlasting life. This is indeed good news and remember that we are not alone, God and his angels are at our side at all times. And who knows you may even meet an Angel one day, or maybe you already have but did not realise it at the time!
Well as always at this time of year may I wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Ian.

December 6th

2nd Sunday of Advent

Malachi 3: v1-4

Luke 3: v1-6

Dec 13th

3rd of Advent

Zephaniah 3 v 14 - end

Luke 3 v 7 - 18

Dec 20th

4th of Advent

Micah 5 v 2 - 5

Luke 1 v 39 - 45

Dec 24th

Christmas Eve

Psalm 85

Revelation 1 v 1 - 8

Dec 25th

Christmas Day

Isaiah 9 v 2 - 7

Luke 2 v 1 - 20

Dec 27th

1st of Christmas

Exodus 33 v 7 – 11

John 21 v 17 - end

Jan 3rd

Epiphany

Jeremiah 31 v 7 – 14

John 1 v 1 - 9

Jan 10th

Baptism of Christ

PCC Service

After having spoken to a few of you who regularly help with the flower arranging, it has been decided that we will decorate the church a day earlier than usual.

I will be in church at 10.00am on Wed. 23rd December and look forward to seeing you if you are free to help. I will be very happy to receive any donations towards the cost of the flowers, either to myself or in the box at the back of the church.

Prayer at All Saints

For anyone relatively new to All Saints, and for those of us who need occasional reminders of things, you might find this article of interest.

As you will know from the newsletter, there is a regular Tuesday evening time of prayer in Church and, as you will have seen, people are available after every main morning service to pray with anyone who asks for that ministry. (Names of those involved in this are on the prayer cross in the side aisle.)

We also have a prayer chain. This is used in cases of emergency which happen during the week. When anyone needs prayer for themselves, a friend, relation, colleague etc. they make one phone call to the first person on the list and then the prayer starts in earnest.

“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him …. and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5 v 13, 16.

It has been two years since we updated names on the prayer chain and in the meantime people have left and people have arrived. If you would be interested in adding your names to the chain of prayers (or taking it off) please contact myself or Wendy Barnes as soon as possible and we will compile a new one ready for 2010.

Once your name is on the list of prayers all you will have to do is to make one phone call to the next person in the chain giving details of the prayer request and then praying about it yourself.

This is a really valuable and valued ministry which has produced many positive, and in some cases miraculous, healings over the years. Please consider joining us.

Janet Sherbourne

Carol Singing at St Ebba's

If anyone is interested in carol singing at St Ebba's on 21st December please see Andy Hayward. The singing starts at Ethel Bailey at 6.30pm and then moves to St Ebba's.

Carol Singing at West Ewell Social Club, Chessington Road

This year it has been decided that we won't go carol singing round the roads, we will just go carol singing at the club. We have been 'booked' in for 8pm on the 22nd December and our performance is being looked forward to. Please can you put this date in your diaries and let Peter Turner know if you can go.

Christmas Choir Rehearsals

A reminder that Choir rehearsals for the Carols by Candlelight service are continuing on Wednesday evenings at 8pm in the church throughout December. The service is on Sunday 20th December at 6.30pm, with a final rehearsal starting at 4pm. Gilly Gay and Sarah Coulam.

Carols by Candlelight Service

Mince pies are needed for the refreshments after the Carol Service on 20^th December. If you are able to donate some can you please let me know so that I can make sure we have enough. Thank you. Karen Clark-Jones.

Nativity Rehearsal - JC Parents and Pathfinder Parents

All Saints Church has a growing reputation for its Nativity Service and this year we hope to continue this. However to put on the best service we can we need to rehearse with the children so we are planning to rehearse the Nativity during normal JC time on Sunday 6th Dec, Sunday 13th Dec and Sunday 20th December, with a full rehearsal in Church at 9.30am on Christmas Eve. Can I therefore please seek your commitment to bringing your children to Church on the above dates. Thank You, JC Leaders

Reminder! Junior Church restarts on the 17th January 2010.

Bible Reading Notes

I have taken over responsibility for ordering the Bible reading notes from Fiona, so if you used to get these from Fiona can you now see (and pay) me. If you are interested in starting to receive monthly Bible reading notes please see me and I will add you to the list. Thank you. Lianne Whitham

East African Crisis Appeal

Mothers Union

A big thank you to all who contributed to the Appeal for Maureen Serwenga, our MU link in Kampala, Uganda. Due to the harvest failing for a third year she is having difficulty in providing food for the widows and orphans in her parish. We raised £128.00 which has already gone to her direct.

Thanks again Joan Martin.

The COTE Christmas Carol Concert

is at Epsom Methodist Church on Thursday 10 December at 8pm. This year the concert will be presented by Rev Tony Miles and the Croydon Citadel Salvation Army Young People’s Band, the Rosebery Singers and the Chinese Choir of Epsom Methodist Church will be taking part.

Come along and sing with them! Refreshments will be available after the concert, and you will have the opportunity to purchase items from the Bookshop or the Fairtrade Stall. Tickets £6 (Children £4) will be on sale in the Dovecote Bookshop from mid November, or you can pay on the door or get tickets from Sheila Martin.

Church Christmas Card

There will once again be a large Christmas card for people to write their Christmas messages to the rest of the Church at the back of the Church from Sunday 6th December. There will also be a tin for donations to World Vision and a form if you wish to gift aid your donations.

Shoeboxes

I would like to thank all of you who filled a shoebox or gave me shoebox fillers this year. I have taken them to Esher and they are now on their way to Belarus. Karen Clark-Jones

Young Magician

Jamie Longcake (Pathfinders) has won the annual ‘J-day’ magic competition at the Young Magician’s Club, the Youth section of the Magic Circle in London. The competition took place on Sunday 1st November and Jamie won the award for close-up magic and also the award for Comedy. Gilly Gay

'Medieval Badminton Club'

As some may know I run a little, friendly badminton club and we meet every Thursday evening at 8pm at Epsom and Ewell High School's sports club. We have a few openings available so if any of you would be interested in joining our little club please give me a ring and I can fill you in on the details.

Peter Turner.

Gardening 2009

A huge thanks comes from Lynn and Audrey to all those members of All Saints who have helped out at the gardening mornings this year. As ever, the hard work has paid off and there are often compliments passed on how good the gardens look. The grass cutting gang have done stirling work, too, keeping the grass to a reasonable height so our thanks to you as well.

Enjoy the autumn and winter rest as it'll start again in only 4 months! Lynn & Audrey

The Play’s the Thing

Here at All Saints there is a long tradition of presenting stage entertainment for church members and the local community. It has been a few years since the pantos but at Easter this year we were able to stage an excellent Passion Play, “Friends in Turmoil”, specially written and produced by Fiona Senneck.

So what is next? How about a brand new adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol”? We would aim to do this in late November/early December 2010. The play has loads of interesting characters and includes music. I could produce this as I have over 50 years’ experience of writing, acting and directing.

However Christmas 2010 is a long way off. Before we start work on the big production I would like to set up a drama club at All Saints where people can improve their theatre skills and prepare a variety of pieces, some to be done in church services.

If you are interested in drama, would like to join the club, or don’t have time but would like to discuss the big production – no experience necessary, only enthusiasm! – please come to a meeting in the Community Hall on Sunday 10th January 2010 at 6pm but if you can’t make that don’t despair, there will be another meeting on Wednesday 13th January in the church at 7.30pm.

Want to know more? Then call me on 020 8224 0395 or 07969 680 489. Bob Perkins.

The January newsletter will be available on the 10th January. Items for inclusion need to be with me by Sunday 3rd January at the latest please. By email on administrator@allsaintswestewell.org.uk