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Here is an item or two or three from Doreen Hallybone of London Road Methodist Church.

Item 0ne

Found in mother’s desk after she died seven Years ago.

If all the “Shalls” In scripture meant "perhaps" And all the "Haths" meant simply "hope to have" And all the "Ares" depended on an "if". I well might doubt. But since the everlasting God, who cannot lie, means what He says I will trust his faithful word and know that I will spend the endless ages of eternity with Him, I dearly love, even Christ Himself.

By Helen Mew

Item two

With joy in your heart and a smile on your face. You will help make the world a happier place. With a spring in your step and a word of good cheer. You could brighten the lives of folk who come near. For laughter and joy are infectious, you know. So spread the good feeling wherever you go. And although world affairs are depressing and sad. You’ll make your own corner both happy and glad.

Item three

One day a boy was walking along the road when a man stopped him, “excuse me son, do you know the way to Waterloo Station?” ”Yes sir” cheerfully reply the boy, “and I can tell you the way to heaven too”. The man looked surprised, “Straight before you sir will bring you to the station” and, looking up with a happy smile, “Jesus said ‘I am the way, the Truth and the Life’ and that’s the way to Heaven, sir.” Original article written by Helen Mew.

JOHN'S RAMBLINGS

DEAR FRIENDS,

What a challenging month April was for each of us!

Firstly, that wonderful service when we signed the declaration of intent to form a Local Ecumenical Project, secondly, the shock and awe of Easter with the stark cruelty of Good Friday and then the wonder and love of Easter Day. Every year, I find myself being challenged even more by the message of the Resurrection; I hope that I am not the only one!

Both these events should be setting us on a new path. The first on a path of unity, the second on the path of mission, paths, which need to combine! We must not lose the momentum of April the 6th we need to be looking at our future , not as three congregations but as one. With that in mind, what was the London Road Family Day, will this year be on 18th May. This is our joint service, which is, perhaps, rather opportunely at St. Columba! It will give us a chance to meet both in worship and at a faith meal, and to look at how we are going to make the various appointments that we shall have to have as a uniting Church! Can I ask EVERYONE to please make a very special effort to be at this event, the three congregations Family Day?

The mission path is something that each of us is engaged in, every day, every place. My prayer is that we shall move forward with even more vigour as we build our new fellowship/ No doubt there will be problems that we have to look at, no doubt long held traditions may not have the place that they have had, but together we shall be building a new fellowship of God’s love and care. That really is a great task, one that I am sure that we are all capable of if we pull together!

Last month I left you to think about the challenge of the future, now I ask you to be ready to do your part for the tasks that need to be done. Together we really can be a power for God, let’s not ramble but getting going TOGETHER!

Christine joins me in sending our love and thanks to you all.

I am yours because I am His – John.

St. Columba News

COFFEE MORNINGS

Every fortnight a coffee morning is held in the Hall, open to all. Starts at 10.30 am. Come and make new friends and meet old ones. Have a cup of tea or coffee before or after you do your shopping. Or even take a break from your shopping? So come along and support us, hope to see you there. The dates for May are 13 and 27.

FAMILY DAY

Don’t forget, Sunday 18 May is Family Day, after the Service there will be a Faith Lunch followed by the all important meeting of the three Churches, please come with an open mind and heart to do God's will.

London Road News

Thank you - Yet again! Christine and I were deeply moved by the cards and gifts we received at Easter. Thank you to all those expressed their love and care in such a deep and loving way.

Bible Study

My thanks to all who supported the Lent Wednesday Bible Study hours.

We followed the series "New World and Old Faith". I think it would be fair to say that while the hours were very stimulating, we only scratched the surface of a great many of the points that were raised. My prayer is that some of those who participated will take the opportunity to delve deeper into some of the questions and reflect on them. Just a reminder that we continue to meet for Bible Study on the forth Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. in the Vestry. ALL are most welcome to join us.

District Festival

I found it a great privilege to present the certificates to those who had achieved success in the heats and the finals of the District Festival. One thing is for sure, there is a great deal of talent around us! My hope is that we shall be able to harness and use all those talents as we move forward in the uniting church! Well done to all who took part in the various competitions.

John Lines

Looking at Other ways – John Lines

No doubt of the BIGGEST problems that will face all of us is buildings! Which one to use and where! I cannot begin to realise the love that some of you have for one particular building of the three churches, especially as you may have been married, baptised your children and buried your loved ones there. The stark fact is that none of the buildings are in the best of condition; they are truly showing their age! Tower folk have made the decision to close, not an easy decision but they have made it. . Maybe London Road and St. Columba folk have the same decisions to make. Only time will show. May vision is of building a new multi purpose Christian Centre that can be used for such things as soup kitchens, charity book shops counselling and many other uses. It seems a sin to me that worship centres are only used for a couple of hours a week at the most! The Salvation Army at Folkestone has opened a new Citadel which is designed along those lines, one of their members worked with Christine and I in the East End, so there is a link! On the 9th June the Women’s Own are having a John’s Jolly Journey ending up at the Citadel, giving the ladies a chance to see what I am talking about. Who knows, maybe we shall get some ideas from it?

BREAKING BREAD

Graham Tutthill has made the suggestion to me that the first Sunday evening of September, when hopefully we are together, we present the Rob frost musical setting of the Holy Communion. This is a really powerful focus on worship at the centre of Christian Life. I certainly would like to see us do this, please speak to Graham if you are interested. I hope he gets inundated with your support!!!

FAMILY DAY – John lines

As I have already mentioned, the Family Day this year will be a joint event for the three Churches. This is right, having signed the Declaration of Intent to form a local Ecumenical Partnership we need to move forward. There are appointments to be made, plans to be made and decisions to be taken – all of which are only rightly made by three congregations. I am excited by the opportunities we are being presented with, lets take them with open hearts and minds! See you on 18 May!

Tower News

Edith Seeley had been due to celebrate her 90th birthday on 7 May. Sadly she died on 2 May.

Fellowship – We will meet on 13 May at 7.15pm when we will begin a study of the life of John Wesley. Anyone wishing to join us will be very welcome.

Women’s League – Meets each Monday at 2.30pm. Any ladies wishing to join us will be assured of a warm welcome.

The Programme for May is:-

5 - No Meeting (Bank Holiday); 13 - Mrs Phyl Gay; 19 - Easter Offering Service at London Road; 26 - No Meeting (Bank Holiday).

Church Anniversary and Sunday School Anniversary – Will be held pm Sunday 25 May when the Preacher will be the Reverend Michael Walling.

Circuit News

CHRISTIAN RESOURCES EXHIBITION – John Lines

This Event is on this year from 13 to 16 of May at Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey. Opening times are from 10am to 5pm each day, admission prices are from £6 for adults, £4.50 for senior citizens, disabled and students, an all week pass is £9. Cheaper prices are available for advance and party bookings. If you lead meetings, groups, classes etc. there are many advantages to be gained from a trip to Sandown Park to see the resources on offer!

DOING ANYTHING ON 7 JUNE?

The Parochial Church Council of St. Martin's in Church Road are inviting everyone to an event entitled "10 2 10". This is to be staged on Saturday 7 June 2003 starting at 10am and finishing at 10pm, hence the title!

There is, I believe, something for everyone, so how about making sure that YOU support it? I have put copies of the invitation notice around the three buildings, so please take time to read them.

Dear Friends,

“THE STRIFE IS O’ER, THE BATTLE DONE”

I am writing to you as the war in Iraq is still raging, even through (thankfully) the fighting appears to be coming to an end. But I am also writing during the last days before Easter Sunday, when the Church is tracing the steps of Christ as he faces his passion, betrayal and death. By the time you read these words, we shall be well and truly in the days of Easter when the strife is o’er and the battle done!

PROFOUND QUESTIONS

Throughout the days of the Iraq war, I have been intensely aware of the sense of helplessness, anger and profound questioning in the minds and hearts of so many people, not least in our congregations around the District. What are we to think? What are we to do? what is a proper Christian response to such an appalling disaster and human tragedy?

PRAY FOR GOD’S KINGDOM

In an attempt to answer these vital heart–searching questions, I would first urge you to be earnest in your prayers. And as we pray, let us always focus upon the “hope that is in us” (1 Peter 3:15). Just as Christ at his resurrection burst from the tomb, so may we unfailingly pray for lasting peace (which is filled with hope) to burst from the carnage and agony of the conflict in Iraq. The values of the Kingdom of God – love, joy, peace, hope, reconciliation – have already been given to George Bush, Tony Blair and everyone involved in the war, even us, and we can pray that they will break forth and burst out of the tomb of self-interest, power, pain and despair.

PRAY WITH OTHERS

And as we pray, I would secondly encourage us to find ways of joining our prayers with others. This, of course, means sharing our passion for peace with fellow Christians of all persuasions at every opportunity, but I would specifically ask if people of other Faiths could be approached so that relationships could be fostered within our common commitment to peace. Let us find ways of truly praying together. This is especially important at a time when many will have us believe that there is a religious conflict lying beneath the war in Iraq. We have a task to ensure that any such thought is totally abolished. It is critical that we make it clear by our actions, as well as by our thoughts, that no religion (especially Islam or Judaism) or ideology is singled out as a target for denigration or abuse. I am therefore asking that we follow the famous thoughts of John Wesley when he described the people called Methodist as the “friends of all and enemy of none”. Let us find ways of demonstrating this to our friends who hold to other faith patterns.

So, as we step up our commitment to prayer, let us to do so with a celebratory accent, for the Gospel is the offer of the love of God which knows no respect of persons and is free for all who will accept it. Let our prayers for peace and the Kingdom of God allow the sound of “the hope that is in us” to be heard and thereby rise from the dead.

The hopefulness is especially important as a future is worked out for the people of Iraq and the countries of the Middle East – also as we think of and pray for those who have been at the heart of the fighting: soldiers, civilians, forces chaplains. Fear (our real great enemy) of future threats of terrorism and of the abuse of power must be confronted, and one way of doing this can be in the sounding note of glory in our lives – “the hope that is still in us”.

By Harvey Richardson

Family News

April saw a number of the Church Family being hospitalized. Andrea Waters to the William Harvey for an operation, Leslie Tutthill to the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Thankfully, both are now recovering from surgery. I dare to hazard a guess that Leslie will not forget the build up to his 90th birthday!! Joyce Stacey is still resident in Buckland Hospital as I write this, let us hope that she will soon be back home.

Other recent hospital visitors, Eve Dewhurst and Margaret McKenzie are still slowly getting back to full mobility; it has been good to see them with us.

We also remember all those who are long term unwell at home, especially thinking of Margery Bones, Vera Coombes, Margaret Craven, Mary Page, John Bates, George Craven and Colin Thompson at this time.

MARATHON MAN

Many congratulations to David Cloke who took part in the London marathon and actually completed it! He raised over £700 for Spina Bifida. After the run he vowed that he was not going to do another one. We will wait and see!!

David would like to thank everyone who sponsored him in this event. WELL DONE DAVID.

Forthcoming Events

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK AND WALK

Christian Aid Sunday is 11 May and there will be a collection on that day.

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK IS 12 to 17 MAY 2003

Events include the following:-

St Martin’s tea, - 2.30pm – 4.15pm Tuesday 13 May Crosslinks Coffee Morning, 10am – 12 noon Thursday 15 May River Hunger Lunch, 12.00 noon Saturday 17 May at River Methodist Church The Walk is on Saturday 10 May. If you can’t walk please sponsor someone. I will not be here during this time but will collect any monies from walkers when I return.

By Linda Hayward

Christian Aid Prayer for use on the Sunday and throughout the week.

Lord God, you have taught us through your son Jesus Christ that it is by ministering to those in need that we became most perfectly your children. Bless those this week dedicate themselves to your Service by collecting for Christian Aid. May their witness be fruitful, both in resources newly provided and in the response of loving heart’s. We pray that through Christian Aid many may be offered life before death; and that through the Christ whom we adore we may all be offered life eternal. All this we ask in the name of the same Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Items for the next edition of "The Messenger" should be sent to messenger@londonroad.ukf.net