Catalyst

June 2013

THE MAGAZINE OFHAYES FREE CHURCH (U.R.C.)

Copy for the July - August 2013 edition needs to be handed in bySunday, 16th June.

Please submit items in good time.You can leave copy in the “B” Pigeon Hole for Richard Brown to collect,

or hand it directly to him on a Sunday morning.You can also e-mail copy to richardmbrown6@gmail.com

Thank You. Editor

Principal ContactsMinister: Rev. Sue Powell Tel: 020 8462 2212Church Secretary: Mrs Mavis Righini Tel: 020 8462 1168Fabric Steward Mr. Chris Wood Tel: 020 8462 2444Treasurer: Mr. Simon Narracott Tel: 020 8462 2004Lettings Secretary: Mrs Undine Connolly Tel: 020 8776 0108Caretaker: Mr. Ian Jones Tel: 020 8313 1556Church Website www.hayesfreechurch.comCatalystEditor: Mr Richard Brown

Contents : - Items not covered by the diary of events.

HAYES FREE CHURCH111, Pickhurst Lane, Hayes, Kent BR2 7HUSunday Services. 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.We are a member of the United Reformed Church.We believe in Justice and Peace.

This month’s website: -For the Christmas Day collection, HFC supported the Samaritans. Thischarity is well known to us.The charity’s website is www.samaritans.orgNow, turn to Page 16 for more details....... Ed

Sunday Services, Proverbs 17:6 2Church Notices 3 - 5I’ve learned 3, 5God’s E-mail 6Catalyst Needs You 7Love and the Cabbie 8 - 9Notice seen in the city 9Notice Board 10 - 11New Testament Turkey 12

Appeal for drivers (BSCB), Anagrams solved 13The Way things once were 14Music 15, 17Website of the Month 16Hot Air 17The Gardeners Hymn 20Church Organisations I B C

1

Letter from the Minister

Dear Friends,

Goodness, how quickly this year seems to be flyingby! June already, and we’ve even had a quickglimpse of the sun!

For the church diary we have the Prayer and Gift Day on the 15th June.This year it will be more important than ever to support the churchfinancially, as our recent interim report from our new Treasurer to theElders has highlighted a loss for each of the previous two years of over£7,500 a year. Serious times lay ahead of us and we have to payattention to our outgoings and our income if we are to survive. I wouldask each of you to think - when was the last time you increased yourgiving to the church? Just as your bills have increased, so have thechurches. But along with the bad news comes the good – John Curry isorganising various fund raising fun activities for us to be involved with –so show your support and attend!

In June we also have the outdoor service at Library Gardens on the 30thJune with our Ecumenical partners, and this will be led by our newvillage Rector, Napo. The induction of Elders is on the same evening andI hope that many of you will come and support not just the new elders,but the eldership as a whole. Elders are responsible for many things,not least the finances of the church, and as a team we face a difficulttime ahead; your support at the evening service will give a necessaryboost to those who hold the burden for the church.

At the Elders Induction Service, we all make a renewal of commitment:

Let us all pray that prayer of renewal.

2

Sunday Services

v Mike Tinson is a Methodist preacher.

v Mrs. Margaret Smith is a Methodist Lay Preacher. She has ledservices at HFC on a number of occasions.

v Tony Russell is very well known to us - He is a member of HFC.

v David Lemmon is a Methodist Lay Preacher who has taken anumber of services at HFC

v Pastor Roy Powell is Lay Preacher at Camberwell Green U.R.C. –as well as being Sue’s husband!

v Napo is the rector at Hayes Parish Church.

v Dr. Clive Timehin is a local preacher who comes from BromleyMethodist Church. He is a member of the Methodist CouncilMedical Committee.

Some notes on the visiting preachers.

July 2013

7th 10.30 am - Morning Service - Dr. Clive Timehin 6.30 pm - Holy Communion - The Minister

June 20132nd 10.30 am - Morning Service - Mike Tinson

6.30 pm - Holy Communion - The Minister

9th 10.30 am - Parade Service - Margaret Smith with Puppet 6.30 pm - Evening Service - Tony Russell

16th 10.30 am - Morning Service - David Lemmon 6.30 pm - Evening Service - The Minister

23rd 10.30 am - Evening Service - The Minister 6.30 pm - Holy Communion - Pastor Roy Powell

30th 11.15 am - CTH at Hayes Library Gardens - Village Rector Napo 6.30 pm - Evening Service - The Minister

Proverbs 17:6 Children's children are the crown of old men; andthe glory of children are their fathers.

3

News of the Church FamilyAnnouncements are welcome :-BMD - Changes of address, etc.

Baptisms up to the end of Junev 23rd June: Finley Johnv 14th July: Kayleigh and Warrenv 28th July: Blessing of Lucy Humphries

Your prayers would be appreciated for: -Marjorie Curry, Ruth Rees, and Pat Rumble.

Church MeetingsThe next Elders’ meeting will be held at 8.00 pm in the small hall onTuesday 4th June.

The next Church Meeting will be held in the small hall on Sunday 28thJuly at 12.00 noon after the morning service.

Women's Contact GroupThe Contact Group will meet at 8.00 pm on Monday 3rd of June atJudith Stoner’s home - 113 Bourne Way. The July meeting will take placeon Monday the 1st at Janet Moren’s home - 48, Woodlea Drive

Sylvia Mack

Tuesday Prayer Meetings for JuneHeld at 10.00 am at the following homes:- 4th Martin Nunn’s. 11th Betty Coster’s. 18th Brenda Cordingley’s. 25th The ChurchJuly 2nd Martin Nunn’s.Please address any queries to Martin Nunn.

Saturday FellowshipWe will meet at 7, Sedgewood Close at 2.30 pm on the 1st of June.We then meet on the 6th of July. You are welcome to join us.Martin Nunn leads the discussions.

I've learned...That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one ofthe most peaceful feelings in the world.

Andy Rooney

4

Men's GroupThe June meeting will be a walk round Greenwich on 20th June,

arranged by Alistair Wilson Please meet at the Lord Nelson Pub which isvery near to the Island Gardens DLR Stationat 6.30 pm. Arrangements will be made for ameal to be provided at the end of the walk.

Ministry of FlowersThanks are due to those who will be providing flowers in May 2013A big thank you to those who kindly arrange the flowers when needed.

After the Sunday evening services, the flowers are distributed tomembers and friends, bringing joy to the recipients.Mavis Righini

Hayes Mothers’ & Toddlers’ ClubWe welcome all babies and children under school age, accompanied

by their parents, grandparents or carers, to our club on Fridayafternoons between 2 and 4 pm during term time. The fee is £1 perfamily – tea, squash and biscuits are provided.

This is a time when adults can meet up, while the children in their careare busy playing with toys and activities in the company of otherchildren.

Term times etc will be updated in the July / August edition of Catalyst.We look forward to seeing you all.Judith Stoner - Secretary.

Bible Study GroupThe Bible Study group meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of eachmonth at 2.30 pm in the small hall.

Worship GroupPlease turn to page 10 for details.

2nd - TBA 9th - Joan and Bob Cook16th - Joan Smith 23rd - Denise Benbow

30th - Kate and Philip Sheardown - Wedding Anniversary

5

Notice Sheets - June, & 1st Sunday in July 2nd Brenda Cordingley 8462 3867 9th Brenda Cordingley 16th Pam Collison 8658 0748 23rd Pam Collison 30th Joan Smith 8462 3920July 7th Joan Smith

If you require items to be included in the notice sheets, please contactthe appropriate person by the previous Tuesday.

Women's Fellowship

M eetings are in the small hall at 2.00 p.m., unless otherwise stated,on Tuesdays and finish about 3.30 p.m.

The June meetings will be: - 4th Talk by Barbara Turner – Games maker at the Olympics.11th ‘My work with young people’ talk by Margaret Smith18th Questionnaire about future meetings (& quiz) led by Sue25th Illustrated talk on Mongolia by Mary Moore

Then, in July the first meeting will be: - 2nd Outing to Crockham Hill

If you have any questions, do contact Sylvia Mack on 8462 1938.

MINI-AMBULANCEMembers who use the mini-ambulance are asked to phone Sylvia Mack on

8462 1938 by 9.00 am on any Tuesday when they are unable to come tothe meetings.

As always, we welcome all ladies to our meetings . Please come along fora pleasant afternoon. We do have a very varied programme with plentyto interest everyone.

Marion and Sylvia

I've learned...That simple walks with my father around the blockon summer nights when I was a child did wondersfor me as an adult.

Andy Rooney

6

The Church Payer and Gift Day

The Church Prayer and Gift Day on Saturday 15th June from 10 am to5 pm, is the opportunity to come and spend some time in quiet

reflection in the church. Although you are asked to sign up for just a20 minute slot, you are welcome to come and go, for as much as youwish, and for as long as you want.

Some prayer ideas are available to help you focus; candles will beavailable to light; ribbons for tying to the prayer net will be in the box;and of course you can do all of these or none. Please sign up to thesheet at the back of the church, and let’s fill our church with prayer.

If you wish to take advantage of the gift envelopes, then a plate willbe at the back of the church for your donations; they can also beplaced in any Sunday offertory.

I look forward to seeing you there.

God’s E-mail

O ne day God was looking down on the earth and saw all the evilthat was going on. He decided to send an angel to earth to

check it out first hand.He called on his very best female angel and sent her to earth for ashort while. When she returned, she told God, yes indeed, it is trulybad on earth. 95% of the people are bad and only 5% are good.

God thought for a moment and decided he better send a maleangel down to get both points of view. So, he called upon his bestmale angel and sent him to earth. When the male angel returned hewent straight to God and told him that the female angel had beencorrect. Indeed, 95% of the people on earth were bad and only 5%were good.

Again God stopped to think, this was not a good thing at all. FinallyGod decided to send an E-mail to the 5% of the people that weregood to encourage them to continue on the right path. Somethingto keep them going even though the odds are against them.

Do you know what that E-mail said? ? ? ?

So, you didn't get one either?

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Catalyst Needs You!This page will be kept for YOUR contributions - NOTHING ELSE will go on this page.Hopefully, you will be inspired to share some Christmas / New Year break stories.

SUPPORT AT HOMEIf you are living independently at home, but getting older

and would like help with household tasks, meals,shopping or transport; or would like help using yourcomputer, pursuing indoor interests or getting out bywheelchair or by car; or would like to give a break to

someone who usually looks after you; or would like helpwith something not mentioned here - please get in touchwith me. My goal is to maintain your independent lifestyle

with a kind and committed service.Christopher White 020 8149 6933 or

pjm741-rose@yahoo.co.uk

Your contributions to Catalyst will be mostwelcome. Can you fill space on YOUR page?How about a picture, or a poem? What did youdo at Sunday School? Do you have any specialstories? The page is yours to use, so please feedyour imagination!

Please contactRichard Brown - The Editor.

I would love to hear from you.

8

Love and the Cabbieby: Art Buchwald, Source Unknown

I was in New York the other day and rode with a friend in a taxi. Whenwe got out, my friend said to the driver, "Thank you for the ride. Youdid a superb job of driving."

The Taxi driver was stunned for a second. Then he said, "Are you a wiseguy or something?"

"No, my dear man, and I'm not putting you on. I admire the way youkeep cool in heavy traffic."

"Yeah," the driver said and drove off."What was that all about?" I asked."I am trying to bring love back to New York," he said. "I believe it's the

only thing that can save the city.""How can one man save New York?""It's not only one man. I believe I have made that taxi driver's day. Sup-

pose he has 20 fares. He's going to be nice to those 20 fares becausesomeone was nice to him. Those fares in turn will be kinder to their em-ployees or shopkeepers or waiters or even their own families. Eventu-ally the goodwill could spread to at least 1,000 people. Now that isn'tbad, is it?"

"But you're depending on that taxi driver to pass your goodwill to oth-ers."

"I'm not depending on it," my friend said. "I'm aware that the systemisn't foolproof so I might deal with ten different people today. If out often I can make three happy, then eventually I can indirectly influ-ence the attitudes of 3,000 more."

"It sounds good on paper," I admitted, "but I'm not sure it works in prac-tice."

"Nothing is lost if it doesn't. It didn't take any of my time to tell that manhe was doing a good job. He neither received a larger tip nor a small-er tip. If it fell on deaf ears, so what? Tomorrow there will be anothertaxi driver I can try to make happy.

"You're some kind of a nut," I said."That shows how cynical you have become. I have made a study of

this. The thing that seems to be lacking, besides the money of course,for our postal employees, is that no one tells people who work for thepost office what a good job they're doing."

"But they're not doing a good job."

Continued on the next page....

9

"They're not doing a good job because they feel no one cares if theydo or not. Why shouldn't someone say a kind word to them?"

We were walking past a structure in the process of being built andpassed five workmen eating lunch. My friend stopped. "That's a mag-nificent job you men have done. It must have been difficult and dan-gerous work."

The workmen eyed my friend suspiciously."When will it be finished?""June," a man grunted."Ah. That's very impressive. You must all be very proud."We walked away. I said to him, "I haven't seen anyone like you since

The Man From La Mancha.""When those men digest my words, they will feel better for it. Somehow

the city will benefit from their happiness.""But you can't do this alone!" I protested. "You're just one man.""The most important thing is not to get discouraged. Making people in

the city become kind is not an easy job, but if I enlist other people inmy campaign..."

"You just winked at a very plain-looking woman," I said."Yes, I know," he replied. "And if she's a schoolteacher, her class will be

in for a fantastic day."

Sent in by John Moren (& freely available on the Internet)

Posted on the door of a city office.....

10

NOTICECATALYST

The way things once wereIn November, the theme will

change.Would you like to see a

particular theme for the10 issues from November?

Please discuss with RichardBrown.

Hopefully this feature maycontinue, but it is your journal,

so suggestions would beMOST welcome ......

ReflectionsThe Wednesday Reflections Group

continues to meet for quiet time& prayer. For those who attend,this is a valuable time together.

We are now meeting at 6.30 pmon the 4th Wednesday of each

month.We would welcome anyone whowould like to join us in the church

Linda Michie

LMMR ReportThe Local Mission and Ministry Review report will bebrought to our Church on Sunday June 30th at 5.30 p.m.

This is because one of the Synod 3 couldn't makethe other date.

11

BOARD

SUMMER GARDEN PARTY SATURDAY 22 JUNE,

3.00-5.00 pmVenue 18, Hurstdene Avenue

Do take part to enjoya cream tea, raffle, bring &buy, and good company!

Tickets £5 per person fromJoan Smith.

Proceeds for church funds.

An Appeal for FundsWe have decided to have regular socialevents in order to raise funds for the churchand so far we have had three offers: -

1. A summer garden party including acream tea. (More details on this page.)

2. A quiz. (See below)

3. A talk on a very interesting topic.

If you would like to organise an event, please contact John Curry.

A Quiz and Food! On Saturday 6th July

Provisionally at 6.00 pmThere will be a

Quizand a

Fish and Chip Supperin the Large hall.

Tickets £10 from John Curry.Proceeds for Church funds

12

13

Some AnagramsSolved - How did you do?.

Help PleaseBECKENHAM SOCIAL CLUB FOR THE BLIND

URGENTLY SEEKS VOLUNTEER DRIVERS

COULD YOU SPARE 4 HOURS ON A WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON,ONCE A MONTH?

Beckenham Social Club for the Blind is in urgent need of volunteerdrivers to ensure our members can attend our Wednesday meetingsat Azelia Hall in Beckenham.

We are looking for people who can commit to drive one or twomembers to the Club just once each month.

This involves picking up a member just after one o’clock, bringingthem to the Club, joining in with Club activities (not compulsory),enjoying a cup of tea and cake, and returning the member home atfour o’clock.

Please ask your friends, family, carers, neighbours and helpers if theyknow anyone who could help.

Please contact: - Joan Cook (Chairman) on 0208 460 5447 - or - June Garman (Transport co-ordinator) on 0208 776 0275if you could help our wonderful Club.

DORMITORY Zzzzz DIRTY ROOMPRESBYTERIAN Simply the BEST IN PRAYERASTRONOMER Aghh DESPERATIONMOON STARER Finale A ROPE ENDS ITTHE EYES Indeed THEY SEEGEORGE BUSH Annoying HE BUGS GORETHE MORSE CODE True HERE COME DOTSSLOT MACHINES Penniless CASH LOST IN MEANIMOSITY Peaceful IS NO AMITYELECTION RESULTS It’s a fix! LIES LET'S RECOUNTMOTHER-IN-LAW Careful now WOMAN HITLERSNOOZE ALARMS Wakey Wakey ALAS NO MORE Z'SA DECIMAL POINT A good description IM A DOT IN PLACETHE EARTHQUAKES An odd one THAT QUEER SHAKE

14

Women’s Contact Coffee Morning

We will be holding a coffee morning in the Small Hallfrom 10.00 am to 12.00on the 8th of June, 2013.

We are continuing to raise monies to contribute to disaster relief funds indifferent parts of the world.

We hope to see you at the Coffee Mornings, and why not bring a friend.

Please note that the monies raised from the coffee mornings areseparate from those raised through the refreshments trolley afterSunday morning services.

Barbara Jones

The Fairtrade Sunday StallWe will be holding a fair trade stall after the morning service on the 2nd

and 4th Sunday of each month.

So, in June the stall will be held on the 9th and 23rd.

The message is: “Please buy Fairtrade. Every purchase helps in a goodway”.

If there are any lines you would like the stall to carry, please say.

We will do our best :-)Please continue to support your fair trade stall. Thank you.

Richard and Barbara.

Ring a Ring o' RosesOpinion is divided on whether this rhyme is really about the Black

Death which swept through Europe in the 14th century -killing 25 million people.

The explanation didn't appear until the 1950s. But many maintain thatthe playground favourite refers to the symptoms of the bubonicplague – the ring being the ring of sores suffered by victims beforethey sneeze and fall down dead!

The way things once wereWhat did those nursery rhymes mean?

We will be looking at this up to the October edition, 2013

15

Music

"A man at a metro station in Washington DC startedto play the violin; it was a cold January morning.He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.During that time, since it was rush hour, it wascalculated that 1,100 people went through thestation, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by, and a middle aged mannoticed there was musician playing. He slowed hispace, and stopped for a few seconds, and thenhurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip.A woman threw the money in the till and, withoutstopping, continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him,but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearlyhe was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mothertagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist.Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk,turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by severalother children. All of the parents, without exception, forced them tomove on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped andstayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walktheir normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing andsilence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor wasthere any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the mosttalented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the mostintricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at atheatre in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story.Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized bythe Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception,taste, and priorities of people.

Continued on Page 17 ........

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Website of the Month The SamaritansIf you’ve ever wondered whether volunteering with Samaritans is foryou, filling out the volunteer form is a great next step.(There is an online form, or contact your local branch - Ed)

It doesn’t commit you to anything. It simply tells your local branch thatyou’d like to find out more.

You'll get an invite to an information evening, where you can talk toSamaritans volunteers, and ask as many questions as you like.

17

Hot Air A man is flying in a hot air balloon and realises that he is lost. Hereduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloonfurther and shouts:

"Excuse me, can you help me? I promised my friend I would meet himhalf an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The man below says: "Yes. You are in a hot air balloon, hoveringapproximately 30 feet above this field. You are between 40 and 41degrees N. latitude, and between 58 and 59 degrees W. longitude."

"You must be an engineer" says the balloonist, sounding a little irritated.

"I am." replies the man. "How did you know?"

"Well," says the balloonist, "everything you have told me is technicallycorrect, but I have no idea what to make of it, and I am still lost."

The man below says "You must be a manager."

"I am." replies the balloonist,” But how did you know?"

"Well," says the man, "You don't know where you are, or where you aregoing. You have made a promise, which you have no idea how tokeep, and you expect me to solve your problem. And finally, you arein the exact same position you were in before we met, but now it issomehow my fault."

The outlines were: -

In a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour:

v Do we perceive beauty?

v Do we stop to appreciate it?

v Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the bestmusicians in the world playing the best music ever written, howmany other things are we missing?"

............ Continued from Page 15

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June 20131st Sat 2.30 pm - Saturday Fellowship Page 3

2nd Sun 10.30 am - Morning Service - Mike Tinson 6.30 pm - Holy Communion - The Minister

3rd Mon 8.00 pm - Women’s Contact Group Page 3

4th Tue 10.00 am - Tuesday Prayer Meeting Page 3 2.00 pm - Women’s Fellowship Page 5 8.00 pm - Elders’ Meeting Page 3

5th Wed6th Thu7th Fri 2.00 - 4.00 pm - Mothers’ & Toddlers’ Group Page 4

8th Sat 10.00 am - Women’s Contact Coffee Morning Page 512.00 - 4.00 pm - Hayes Fair

9th Sun Church Anniversary10.30 am - Parade Service - Margaret Smith with Puppet Followed by Fairtrade Stall Page 14 6.30 pm - Evening Service - Tony Russell

10th Mon

11th Tue 10.00 am - Tuesday Prayer Meeting Page 3 2.00 pm - Women’s Fellowship Page 5

12th Wed13th Thu 2.30 pm - Bible Study Group Page 4

14th Fri Queen's Offical Birthday 2.00 - 4.00 pm - Mothers’ & Toddlers’ Group Page 4

15th Sat 10.00 am - 5.00 pm - HFC Prayer and Gift Day Page 6

16th Sun Fathers’ Day10.30 am - Morning Service - David Lemmon 6.30 pm - Evening Service - The Minister

17th Mon

18th Tue 10.00 am - Tuesday Prayer Meeting Page 3 2.00 pm - Women’s Fellowship Page 5

19th Wed

19

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY20 July HAYES & BECKENHAM 2 CHURCHES BBQ - 3.00 - 6.00 pm

July 20131st Mon

2nd Tue 10.00 am - Tuesday Prayer Meeting Page 3 2.00 pm - Women’s Fellowship Page 5

3rd Wed4th Thu5th Fri 2.00 - 4.00 pm - Mothers’ & Toddlers’ Group Page 4

6th Sat 2.00 - 4.00 pm - HFC & Beckenham URC Children’s Fun Afternoon - Manse Gardens 2.30 pm - Saturday Fellowship Page 3 6.00 pm (prov) - Quiz Night and Supper Page 11

7th Sun 10.30 am - Morning Service - Dr. Clive Timehin 6.30 pm - Holy Communion - The Minister

June 201320th Thu 6.30 pm - Men’s Group Page 4

21st Fri 2.00 - 4.00 pm - Mothers’ & Toddlers’ Group Page 4

22nd Sat 3.00 - 5.00 pm - HFC Garden party Page 11

23rd Sun 10.30 am - Evening Service - The Minister Followed by Fairtrade Stall Page 14 6.30 pm - Holy Communion - Pastor Roy Powell

24th Mon

25th Tue 10.00 am - Tuesday Prayer Meeting Page 3 2.00 pm - Women’s Fellowship Page 5

26th Wed 6.30 pm - Reflections / Worship Group Page 10

27th Thu 2.30 pm - Bible Study Group Page 4

28th Fri 2.00 - 4.00 pm - Mothers’ & Toddlers’ Group Page 4

29th Sat30th Sun 11.15 am - CTH at Hayes Library Gardens -

Village Rector Napo 6.30 pm - Evening Service - The Minister

20

All things bright and beautiful,All creatures great and small,All things wise and wonderful,The Lord God made them all

But what they never mention,Though gardeners know It's true,Is when He made the goodies,He made the baddies too

All things spray and swattable,Disasters great and small,All things paraquatable,The Lord God made them all

The greenfly on the roses,The clubroot on the greens,The slugs that eat your lettuce,And chew the aubergine.

The drought that kills the fuchsias,The frost that nips the buds,The rain that drowns the seedlings,The blight that hits the spuds

The midges and mosquitoes,The nettles and the weeds,The pigeons in the green stuff,The sparrows on the seeds.

The fly that gets the carrots,The wasp that eats the plums,How black the gardeners outlook,Though green may be his thumbs

But still we gardeners labour,Midst vegetables and flowers,And pray what hits our neighbours,May somehow bypass ours.

The Gardeners HymnFrom The Gardeners' Club website

SincerelyStuart Edwards

If my memory serves me correctly. ... Didn’t Flanders & Swann recite this to music? Ed

CHURCH ORGANISATIONSDay Organisation Contact PhoneSunday10.25 am Sunday Club Mike Duke 8462 5103

Weekdays9.15 - 12.00 pm Pre School Group Jayne Carvell 07913 299773Monday

5.45 pm Brownies Sarah Humphrey 8249 99826.30 pm Cubs Brenda Petts 8325 39568.00 pm - 1st Women's Contact

GroupSylvia Mack 8462 1938

Tuesday10.00 am Prayer Meeting Martin Nunn 8462 59182.00 pm Women's Fellowship Sylvia Mack 8462 19387.00 pm Scouts Paul Hasling 3236 0083

Wednesday4.00 pm - 4th Messy Church Sue Powell 8462 22125.00 pm Rainbows Jenny Longman 07730 5749626.00 pm Beavers Brenda Petts 8325 39566.30 pm - 4th Reflections Group Bill Michie 8658 41678.00 pm Explorers Tom Strachan 07745 813 295

Thursday2.30 pm - 2nd, & 4th

Bible Study Sue Powell 8462 2212

5.30 pm Brownies Stevie Blair. 8325 34697.15 - 8.45 pm Senior Guides Georgina Chappell 07983 4713088.00 pm - 3rd Men's Group Bruce Tannock 8325 6264Friday9.00 - 12.00 pm Coffee morning during term times2.00 pm Mothers & Toddlers Judith Stoner 8462 30236.30 pm Guides Teresa Cheyne 8777 6042Saturday2.30 pm - 1st Saturday Fellowship Martin Nunn 8462 5918

NOTE: - Some of the organisations meet once or twice per month.This is indicated by 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th. The numbers relate to which

week day of the month, NOT the calendar date.

Final Thought

Blue DaysWe all have those days when we get rather blue;The Bible has words to help get you through.Jesus to rub out mistakes by His Cross;Prayer to enlighten the gloomiest loss.Hope when you feel that your back's to the wall;The Spirit to help when you head for a fall.Trust to stop everything falling apart;And Love full of warmth that comes straight fromGod's Heart.

Albert Read