We have been shocked and saddened this weekend to hear of the sudden and tragic death of the Rev. Nigel Booth, the Baptist Minister in Dover, in a road accident on the M5 on Thursday. He and his wife, June, were on their way back from Spring Harvest at Minehead for the Easter celebrations at Salem Baptist Church when the accident happened. June has been seriously injured. We remember them in our prayers, as well as our fellow Christians at the Baptist Church who are mourning their loss.

The Minister's Letter

Dear Friends,

Greetings, again, in the name of Jesus!

I don't know about you folk, but I am almost frightened to turn on the radio and television or read a paper at the present time. All over the world there seems to be upsets, distress and needless killing. We people are the strangest of all life, so many perceived needs and so much dignity to stand on!

Sadly, the Church is not immune from some of those attitudes. If something does not go as some people expect it, they sulk or spend their time running someone else down. I can not see the purpose for such attitudes or, more importantly, that what results from them is aiding the work that God has called us to.

Zimbabwe is a sad place at the present time; a virtual dictator is manipulating things in order to maintain his own power base. Sadly the people and democracy are the losers. Democracy is something that we Christian people should be striving to maintain in our society. But it does mean that, sometimes, in accepting the wishes and decisions of the majority we have to subjugate our cherished wants and aspirations. Things are not always going to be exactly as each of us wants them to be, but we do have the chance to express our views in the appropriate councils of our fellowship. My prayer is that people will take that opportunity to share.

As summer approaches, as I hope it does, there are lots of plans being made, dates for which you will find in other parts of this edition of "The Messenger". Could I please ask all of you to lift these events before God in your prayers, and, having done that, to support them with your presence? Thanks in advance for that.

Christine joins me in wishing you all every blessing for the times ahead.

I am yours because I am His.

John

Bible Study

Folk are still meeting for the Bible Study on the third or fourth Saturday and the third or fourth Wednesday of each month, both at 10 a.m. The Wednesday one in April will be on 17th not the 24th.

Bible Tapes

I have received an information pack from the Bible Society entitled "Faith Comes By Hearing". This is a series of tapes which folk can play for 28 minutes each day whilst driving, walking, doing the housework, etc. Costs range from £28 to £50 for the tapes, depending on format and Bible version. If anyone is interested, please speak to me.

FLOURISHING FRIENDSHIPS

Most of us find it difficult to widen our circle of friends. We tend to move in the same groups and only occasionally meet new people. It doesn't matter if you are young or old, making new friends can sometimes be difficult. And that's where "Friends First" is making a difference to hundreds of people's lives. "Friends First" was set up to help Christians make friends with other Christians whom they perhaps wouldn't otherwise meet. "Has it been successful?" people ask Katharine Gray, the "Friends First" co-ordinator. "In terms of new friendships it's been an overwhelming success, 10 members have become engaged and three couples married, which is wonderful." But comments from members provide the best evidence: "May I thank you for providing such an excellent service. God has used your organisation to put us in touch. 'Friends First' is certainly reputable and successful." Whether you are in your 20s or 80s (or anything in between), "Friends First" can put you in touch with fellow believers and new people to make friends with. It's a discrete, friendly approachable service - one that could certainly make a difference to your circle of friends. For further details write to "Friends First", PO Box 8377, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9TE. Leaflets are available at the back of the church.

London Road Hymn Book

Don't forget that Graham Tutthill is eagerly awaiting your ideas for the hymnbook we are trying to put together.

PRAYER TREE

I believe, like a great many of you, that prayer is one of the most important aspects of Christian life and giving. With this in mind, I instituted the prayer tree. Sadly, rather than being a source of great strength to our fellowship, it has become what one might call "a bone of contention". My telephone, and ears, burn with comments from people who are receiving nothing on the prayer tree, despite knowing that things are being put on it. I appreciate that circumstances change in our lives, but can I ask people to honour the undertaking they gave when they joined the prayer tree? If you want to come off your respective branch, please let me know.

HELP!

If anyone is clearing out their clothes, and has clothing that is not fit for donation to charities, the Dover Transport Museum has a need for cleaning rags. If you have any worn-out dresses, shirts, etc, that you feel may be past their best, but useful to the Museum, please let me know. Thanks in advance.

SPRING CLEAN ANYONE?

As a great hoarder of anything and everything, it is not easy for me to write this note! However, on wandering around the various rooms in London Road, I note a need for a lot of clearing up. We seem to have accumulated all manner of bits and pieces in all the nooks and crannies. On top of that, a recent leadership team meeting was concerned about the state of the former wool shop in London Road. I am wondering whether we should have a Saturday working party, perhaps with a faith meal at lunchtime, to go through the complex and tidy up! I await the very orderly and long queue of volunteers!!!

Easter Flowers

Our thanks to everyone who has helped decorate the church for our Easter Sunday services today. Will class leaders please collect flowers from the church tomorrow (Easter Monday) morning, at 10.30 a.m. to take to the sick and housebound members on their class. Help from any members with cars will be appreciated.

EASTER GREETINGS

From the Rev'd Canon Harvey Richardson,
Chairman of the London South-East District of the Methodist Church

Dear friends,

Easter

It's wonderful to have the opportunity to write to you all - through your newsletters around the District - and most especially at this Easter season.

However, it's hard to find the words to express the height, depth, breadth and length of the Easter message. It is the Easter story that drives the Christian faith, and yet we usually end up speaking in metaphors, analogies and similes. "It's like walking where there was no path; everything looks new and fresh; the heart of stone is beating again … " or some such phrases are often used as we try to articulate the power and meaning of Jesus risen from the dead.

Dead or Alive?

I have a feeling we need to encourage one another to talk about Jesus in a way that isn't deadened by precision and absolute accuracy. In the early days of Christianity the Creeds were devised to ensure that people didn't fall into heresy. But, I suggest, the Creeds can be very dry and dusty, and the Jesus presented there doesn't seem to have a face, if you see what I mean!

In the Creed, we declare that he was born, he died, was buried, he rose again and ascended into heaven - but there's nothing about his life, his human responses to the world about him.

The Gospels our Creed?

I wonder if you think it's worth considering the Gospels (especially the first three) as our Creed for today. In Mark, Jesus is the man of action, surrounded by the poor, the sick and the excluded; in Matthew, he shows his Jewish features and makes five great speeches laying down the law of the new community; and in Luke, he wears a "Hellenic" face, with a wide group of friends, including women and others regarded as outsiders.

The real Face for a real Faith!

Instead of regarding our Faith in terms of propositions and firm factual statements, let's be bold enough to enter the Gospel world and see for ourselves the many faces of the living Christ. Let's live out a life, and let's rediscover the joy of a living faith - not merely adhering to a set of principles, ideals or sets of moral behaviour.

Facing the world of today

All this takes on more urgency when we see our faith as a living expression in today's world. As we struggle to live responsibly in an increasingly materialistic world, look for the face of Jesus as he seeks out the poor. As we struggle with moral dilemmas and versus temptations, look for the face of Jesus and see his expression towards those with honest and agonising needs. As we face the future, worrying about the shape of the Church to come (with Anglican-Methodist talks, the ever-increasing need for more resources, declining numbers in many places, leadership issues, bishops or no bishops, etc), let's consider the face of Jesus and his attitude when he is depicted on the Mount with his Sermon to all who will listen.

Claim or Proclaim?

I am very keen to celebrate our wonderful faith, to see our evangelistic task in terms of real proclamation rather than declamation. The Resurrection faith never claims Christ as Lord, it always proclaims him.

The glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ

I hope you will enjoy blowing off the dust from our fusty readings of the Creeds and enter into the joy of seeing, and reflecting, the face of Jesus in all that you are.

With warm Easter greetings to you all,

Yours sincerely

Harvey Richardson
Chairman, London South-East District of the Methodist Church.

District Festival

We congratulate all those who took part in the district festival in March. Winners at the area festival at Sittingbourne, who then went on to the district finals, were: Keith Tutthill (limerick), Jack Williams (handwriting), 3rd Dover Girls' Brigade (banner), Ken Vincent (piano solo and hymn tune), Linda Hayward (instrumental solo), Donald Beck (vocal solo and song from a show), Elizabeth Beck (photography), Hannah Crowley (recorder solo), Joanna Leeves (embroidery) and Claire Gammon (computer design). At the finals in Maidstone later in the month, Ken won the piano solo class and received a trophy, Hannah won her recorder solo and was presented with a cup, Jack won the handwriting, Elizabeth won the photography and Claire won the computer design class. Others who took part in the area festival, and received good marks, were Rae Smith, Veronica Tutthill, Margaret Tutthill, Evelyn Tutthill, Sarah Fox, Scott Wright, Victoria Beck, Katy Bell, Harriet Crowley, Marc Thorp, Lynn Gammon and Brian Gammon. Well done everyone!

Christian Aid

Thanks for all the foreign currency given for Christian Aid. Another way you can help is to take part in or sponsor the Christian Aid walk, which this year is on Saturday 11 May. We really did well as a church last year, managing to raise just over £400. The route has gone back to its original 10-mile hike with the half-way point being Alkham Village Hall. If 10 miles seems too much, you can do half the walk, but it is an ideal way of getting fit. Get in training, and have a go! Linda Hayward has sponsor forms. Sunday 12 May is Christian Aid Sunday and there will be a collection on that day.

CLOWN WORKSHOP, by Linda Hayward

Ever thought of being a clown to express the Christian message? I didn't until I attended a clown workshop in February at Kingsdown Village Hall, led by Sister Hilda Mary, an Anglican Sister. We learned to be children again and use our imagination, and to use our bodies to express emotions and feelings. Mime, with a few props, was used to convey a story. It was great fun and we laughed a lot. About 20 Christians from various places far and wide took part. The age range was from nine to 80 years, and if anyone had difficulty standing we adapted the situation. There are to be more workshops on 13 April, 11 May and 20 July, all Saturdays. For details contact Sister Hilda Mary.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

9 April - 7.30 p.m. Circuit Meeting at Trinity, Deal.

5 and 6 May - Dover Pageant.

26 May - Wesley Guild Sunday.

2 June - Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations at Pencester Gardens. Picnic at 1pm and a service at 3 p.m. There will be no Holy Communion service at London Road that evening.

14 July - 3 p.m. Port Sunday service at the Lifeboat Station, Cross Wall Quay.

20 July - Hospital Fete at Pencester Gardens.

4 August - 6.30 p.m. Circuit Service at River Methodist Church to say farewell to Elaine and Gordon Newton. There will be no Holy Communion service at London Road that evening.

11 August - 6 p.m. Churches Together in Dover "Songs of Praise" at De Bradelei Wharf. No Holy Communion service at Tower Hamlets that evening.

Church Family News

Gordon and Elaine Newton

Most of you will be aware that Gordon and Elaine will be moving on this year. Gordon has accepted a superintendency in South East London. I know the area very well and I am sure that Gordon's and Elaine's talents will be greatly appreciated by their new churches. In the meantime, please note that their farewell service will be at River at 6.30 p.m. on 4 August. More details as I get them.

Frances Thomas

Sadly, Frances has decided to move on from her work at Cross-Links. She has done an immense amount of very important groundwork during her time with the project. I am sure that I speak for us all when I wish her every blessing for the future. Please pray for Frances and for the future of the work at Cross-Links.

Naomi Sharp

Some of my earliest visits, on arrival in Dover, were to Capel to see Naomi and George Sharp. Despite problems of gaining entry at my first visits, I soon discovered a pair of kindred spirits, and my visits and sharing Holy Communion with them became a source of great joy. Naomi had suffered from MS for well over 30 years and was confined to a wheelchair. Sadly, George died in August 2001 and Naomi had to go into a residential home. She greatly missed both George and her home and her health began to rapidly decline. She was admitted to the William Harvey Hospital and then transferred to Buckland Hospital where she died on 24 February.

Gwen Goff

We have been sorry to hear of the death of Gwen Goff who was a loyal member and faithful worker at our Shepherdswell church for many years, including leading the Sunday School. She had been in the Kent and Canterbury Hospital after suffering a slight stroke.

We were pleased to share in the baptism of Jade Morgan Humphries during our morning worship on Sunday 17 March. Especially we pray for her parents and godparents as their watch her grow and care for her.

Hilda Driver is at Folkestone for rehabilitation at present, Margaret Machin and Betty O'Connell are home after spells in hospital, and Eileen Ward is currently in Buckland Hospital. We keep Sadie Gledhill (Tower Hamlets), Rae Smith, George Craven and Cliff Evans (Tower) in our prayers as they recover from their surgery. Margaret Craven and Brian Gammon have not been enjoying the best of health in recent times, and Brian was in the William Harvey Hospital last weekend. We are pleased to report he is now at home, and feeling better. Eva Buttifint, from Shepherdswell, isn't too well at the moment.

We offer our congratulations to Vi Errington who was among those who received Maundy Money from the Queen at Canterbury Cathedral on Thursday. We also congratulate Doris Greenfield who celebrates her 90th birthday on 5 April, and Winnie Seelly who will be 92 on 19 April.

Rosemary and David Richards are settling into their new home at The Gateway, and we wish them well there.

Evenings of prayer and praise

The second in the series of prayer and praise evenings at River Methodist Church will be held on Saturday 13 April, starting at 7.30 p.m. and lasting about an hour and a half. These events, on the second Saturday of the month, are times of worship, prayer, sharing and ministry, and it is hoped they will be of great encouragement to all who attend. Please pray for these evenings, and bring a friend.

General Church Meeting

This is to take place on Sunday 28 April, with a faith lunch after the morning service, followed by the meeting. It is hoped that at this meeting we can make a decision on the future of our church building.

In your personal prayers, please remember...

those of our church family who are ill, suffering the problems of age, and those who are housebound or in residential care, including Evelyn Tutthill, Margery Bones, George Craven, Eileen Ward, Gwen Bates, Ruby Wahlers, Rosemary Richards, Sonny and Vi Mills, David Morris, Mary Bond, Hilda Welburn, Maud Green, Sue Moat, Peter Burton, John Bates, Eileen Smith, May Griffin, Olive Morris, Ron and Irene Sutton, Doris Barker, Eileen Tolhurst, Anne Taylor, Myra Strelow, Doris Greenfield, Wally Watts, Jessie West, Edith and Winnie Seelly, Betty Allen, Keith Button, Eva Buttifint, Peggy Heritage and May Lancaster;

those away from Dover, including Vron Tutthill, Lisa Speakman, Andrew Booth, Robert Dunstone, Hazel Griffiths, Sid and Jayne Robbins and Henry and Sterling, Joyce and Alan Norman, Alan and Stephanie Warrell, Malcolm and Jennifer Cleaver, David and Rachel Cloke, Angela and Neil Baker, Andrew and Cath Powell, Joan Walker, Edna Tutt, Christina Edge and Reg Payne;

those who mourn including the family and friends of Gwen Goff, the Rev. Nigel Booth, Cyril Hopper, Naomi Sharp, Sylvia Reeves and Maud Darch.

TOWER HAMLETS

Sadie Gledhill is still in our thoughts and prayers having suffered a set-back in her recovery. We also remember Emma and Cliffs Evans and Mary Page in our prayers.

Our Sunday School meets each Sunday at 11 a.m. and all children are very welcome to join us.

The Women’s League meets on Mondays at 2.30 p.m. All ladies wishing to join us will be very welcome. The programme for April is: 1 – No meeting; 8 – Rev. John Lines; 15 – Mrs. Joyce Welch; 22 – Mrs. Patricia Clipsham; 29 – Mrs. Elizabeth Hibell.

The Fellowship will meet during April on a date to be fixed.

District Festival: Congratulations to the children who took part. Megan Jones won the Photography Class, and a painting, the Magician, was won by Cerys Jones. David Jones gained 87 per cent for creative writing, and The Frieze, done by all the Junior Church, gained 90 per cent.

SHEPHERDSWELL

The preacher at the morning service on Sunday 14 April is Rev. Gordon Newton. Village Praise is at 6 p.m. on 21 April, conducted by the Rev. Andrew Way.

The coffee morning at 2 Church Hill from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on 17 April is in aid of Meningitis.

APRIL ROTAS

MINI-BUS: Sunday 7 April – Colin Hadden; 14 – David Galley; 21 – Graham Tutthill; 28 – Shirley Carr; 5 May – Margaret Tutthill.

FLOWER ROTA: Sunday 7 April – Miss Tessa George; 14 – Miss Marion Scrivener; 21 – Mrs. Sue Brockman; 28 – Mrs. Evelyn Tutthill; 5 May – Mrs. Kitty Beck.

PREACHERS: Sunday 7 April – 11 a.m. Family Service with the Rev. John Lines; 6 p.m. – Rev. John Lines, including Holy Communion; 14 – Mr. David Sheasby; 21 – Rev. John Lines, including Holy Communion; 28 – Mrs. Jane Skinner.

WOMEN’S OWN: Mondays at 3 p.m. 1 April – Easter Monday, no meeting; 8 – Mrs. Sue Brockman; 15 – Rev. John Lines; 22 – Mrs. Joyce Welch; 29 – Members' Afternoon.

MINI-BUS DRIVERS FOR WOMEN’S OWN: 8 April – Ruth Edwards and Brian Jacobs; 15 – Colin Hadden and Valerie Bowes; 22 – Judith Jacobs and Ken Vincent; 29 – Peter Hogg and Brian Jacobs. CUBS: Mondays from 6 to 7.30 p.m.

METHODIST AMATEUR DRAMATICS (MAD): Mondays at 7.45 p.m.

GUILD: Tuesdays at 7.30 p.m. 2 April – The Church Music Group (in the Church Hall); 9 – Favourite Hymns and Readings; 16 – Victorian Dover, with Mark Frost from Dover Museum; 23 – Social evening including a Quiz; 30 – Christian Service evening, with the Rev. John Lines talking about the Whitechapel Mission.

MOTHER AND TODDLER GROUP: The group meets every Wednesday at 1.15 p.m.

SOUP AND SANDWICHES: Wednesdays at 6 p.m. 3 April – Peter Hogg, Nora Watson and Clarice King; 10 – Shirley Dowle, Rae Smith and Tessa George; 17 – Blossom Wright, The Ark; 24 – Jill and Ellie; 1 May – Brian Wimsett and Ken Hammond.

GIRLS’ BRIGADE: Thursday evenings – 6 to 7 p.m. Explorers (aged 5 to 8 years); 6 to 7.30 p.m. Juniors (8 to 11 years); 7.45 to 9 p.m. Seniors and Brigaders (11 to 14 plus).

LADIES KEEP FIT GROUP: Thursdays at 7.15 p.m.

Items for the May edition of "The Messenger" should be handed to Graham Tutthill by Sunday 21 April, please.