News & Views. Elmers End Free Church, Goddard Road, Elmers End, Laurence Binyon

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1 News & Views They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. Laurence Binyon News November & Views 2013 Elmers End Free Church, Goddard Road, Elmers End, November Beckenham, Kent 2016

2 Minister Rev. Bill Bowman B Th. FCIBS Telephone: Office E.mail: wfbowman@hotmail.com Monday is the Minister s day off. Please do not disturb him except in the case of real emergency. Services The Sunday service is at 11am. Holy Communion is usually held in the morning of the 3rd Sunday of the month. Junior Church at 11am. Children from 3 years old are welcome. A crèche is available for younger children. Elmers End Free Church is a member of Churches Together in Beckenham December News & Views Any articles or news for inclusion in the December 2016 edition of News & Views should be with Barbara by Sunday 20th November To your article please send to b.heppell@btinternet.com 2

3 Services in November 6th 11am Morning Service led by David and Katie Hall Organist Peter Dowling 13th 10.45am Remembrance Service led by Rev. Bill Bowman Organist George Godsmark 20th 11am Morning Service led by Rev. Bryn Thomas to include Holy Communion Organist Peter Dowling 27th 10.30am Joint Service at Beckenham URC Please note, there will be no service at Elmers End Dates for your Diary 3rd Jenny s Craft Evening 4th Birthday Party 4-7pm Church Hall 16th Elders Meeting 7.30pm Our Gift Service will be held on the 4th December, led by our Junior Church and Brownies. Once again our gifts will be donated to the Bromley Children Project and hopefully Marian and Bernie from the project will come to our service. We are requesting presents suitable for any member of the family. Many thanks in advance, I know you will support this special service. The 60s Quiz Saturday 12th November 2016 at 6.30pm (Doors open 6.15pm) Soup & Ploughman s meal 6.30 in Elmer Room. Quiz in Church approx. 7.15pm Tickets: 10, to include 1 strip raffle tickets, on sale from 30th October. Teams of 6 8 people 3

4 November Pastoral Letter 4 Dear Friends, I am writing this on the day when the BBC news reports that the Russian Fleet (bound for Syria) is sailing through the English Channel shadowed by ships of our own Royal Navy whose job it is to monitor their progress away from British coastal waters. For some reason this news bulletin brought to mind a film I saw at the cinema in my teenage years during the height of the Cold War called The Russians are Coming!! (The film was directed by Norman Jewison who also directed one of my very favourite movies, In the Heat of the Night. A classic!!) The Russians are Coming some of you may recall was a comedy about a Russian submarine that ran aground on a small island off the New England coast and when the submariners turned up in the town looking for help the locals mistakenly thought the Soviets had launched a full scale invasion of the United States. Without giving too much of the plot away in the end the peoples of the Cold War s two major antagonists end up co-operating and realising that there is more uniting them as people who share the same planet than ideologies dividing them. Looking back - the Cold War era was a scary time and let us pray we don t enter a new one. The only good thing that can be said about a cold war is that it is not a hot one. By God s grace the period from 1945 to the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 never saw NATO and the Warsaw Pact alliances take up arms against each other, although they came too close for comfort several times.

5 How unlike the two world wars earlier in the twentieth century and all the other minor (but none the less deadly) conflicts since? On Sunday 13th November we shall remember those who gave their lives in the defence of freedom and give thanks for their courage and devotion and earnestly pray that the day will come when, Nation shall not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (Isaiah 2:4) During the Cold War there were many protest songs in the pop charts sung by the likes of Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez and others. (Those who attended the concert at Emmanuel in September would have heard some of these songs beautifully performed by Lilac Sheer and her backing musicians.) One of the most memorable protest songs of the 1960s was The Eve of Destruction by Barry Maguire. The lyrics of the song, written by PF Sloan, poetically predict that the world is, as the title suggests, poised on the brink of an apocalyptic demise. The Christian gospel proclaims a somewhat different view of the world s future. Later in the month of November on the 27th we celebrate Advent Sunday. In the season of Advent we look forward to of the coming of Jesus into the world and it is an assurance that the world is not bound for destruction but destined for salvation. So no matter how bleak the news bulletins may be, we are called to go on loving and praying and working for justice and peace in our world. Always trusting in the good news first heard by shepherds on a hillside near the town of Bethlehem in Judea long ago Do not be afraid. I bring you glad tidings of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the city of David a Saviour has been born. (Luke 2:11) Shalom, Bill 5

6 For the Fallen We are all familiar with the famous words quoted at acts of Remembrance everywhere found in the fourth verse of the above poem. We may not be so familiar with the entire poem which was first published in The Times on 21st September I think it is a good thing for us to read the whole poem. Bill With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across the sea. Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, Fallen in the cause of the free. Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres, There is music in the midst of desolation And a glory that shines upon our tears. They went with songs to the battle, they were young, Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted; They fell with their faces to the foe. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; They sit no more at familiar tables of home; They have no lot in our labour of the day-time; They sleep beyond England s foam. But where our desires are and our hopes profound, Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight, To the innermost heart of their own land they are known As the stars are known to the Night; 6

7 As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain; As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, To the end, to the end, they remain. Laurence Binyon ( ) Fun Facts about November 1. November 2 is the only day of the year that was the birthday of two US presidents: Warren Harding (born 1865) and James Polk (born 1795). 2. In Old English, November was called Blotmonth (Blood month referring to the time of slaughter of farm animals. 3. November is the most disagreeable month in the whole year, (Louisa M Alcott, Little Women ). 4. Since 1845 all US presidential elections have been held by statute on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in years divisible by four. 5. The second week in November is National Split Pea Soup Week in the USA. 6. November s birthstone is the topaz and its flower the chrysanthemum. 7. November is the only month used to represent a letter in the Alpha-Bravo-Charlie phonetic alphabet. 8. According to Richard Saunders ( ) writer,medical practitioner and astrologer: In this month melancholy much increaseth 9. and Saunders warned his patients Do not go early forth of doors because of fogs and mists. 10. Research from Twitter last year showed that Spaniards tweet the 7

8 words te amo (I love you) most often in November. Table Sale On Monday 14 November the Brownies will be holding a Table Sale in the Hall & Elmer Room from 6.30 to There will be books, cakes, refreshments, games and more. All money raised will be going to church funds. There are two ways you can support us. Firstly by coming along on the evening and secondly donating anything we can sell. Thank you for your support. Katherine Top of the Pew A reminder that the TOTP final, which this year is between St Joseph s and St Mary s, Plaistow, takes place at Bromley Methodist Church, College Road, Bromley, on Friday 18th November at 8.00pm. Entrance of 1 is payable at the door and there will be a collection for this year s charity Bromley Brighter Beginnings. The celebrity QM is the actor, Graham Cole, who for many years played the part of PC Stamp in The Bill. Graham is a member of our sister church, Emmanuel. Refreshments will be served at the interval. Bill News of Members and Friends We have been delighted to see Sharon in church recently, despite her health problems. Sharon underwent her fifth session of chemotherapy on October 31st. She is great faith that all our 8

9 prayers for her have been heard. Please remember in your prayers, Chris that the Lord will grant that her life may be comfortable and free from pain. Remember too Ruth Fitzpatrick who still struggles with poor health We thank God that Ron is making a good recovery following his operation last month. News of Ken Tidmarsh Quite a few people in our congregation at Elmers End will remember with affection the late Audrey Tidmarsh and her husband Ken. For many years Audrey played an enormous part in the life and running of our church, always supported by Ken, especially in the later years of Audrey s poor health. We remember Ken especially for his wonderful singing voice which so enhanced our hymn singing. Sometimes in Church I am asked How is the gentleman with the beautiful voice? I am pleased to report that Ron Barbet met Ken recently, and his daughter, Hilary, in Sainsbury s and had a conversation. Hilary tells me that, considering that Ken is now 88 he is doing amazingly well health wise. Despite a little confusion he remains cheerful most of the time and seems to enjoy walking out for short trips. He likes to engage people in conversation. She is happy that he still lives in his own home with a good team of carers and luckily his three children all close by and able to visit often.. He seems happy in his small world of about four High Street shops and visiting his family for meals. Hilary wishes to be remembered to everyone at Elmers End Free Church who remembers Audrey and Ken. EB 9

10 More thoughts of WW1 During the last two years, in our church life, we have considered various aspects of the history of the first two years of WW1. Our most recent Local History exhibition, held in our church last April featured photographs of the graves of servicemen, and one woman, buried or commemorated in our own local cemetery. We have looked again at the memorial plaque on our church wall bearing the names of the local men, members of this church, who answered the call and went away to fight. In the poem that follows, Vera Brittain has opened our minds to an often unsung group of people who stayed at home during WW1 yet suffered terribly for years after the War. Her sad, poignant, moving poem, The Superfluous Woman illustrates her understanding of the situation in which thousands of women found themselves after the war, as unwilling spinsters or widows, facing a bleak and empty future, following the slaughter of thousands of men in WW1. Vera Brittain served as a nurse in WW1 in the English Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.). She well knew the pain of bereavement: her fiancé Roland Leighton ( , her brother Edward Brittain M C.( ) and some close friends, were all killed in WW1. The Superfluous Woman Ghosts crying down the vistas of the years. Recalling words Whose echoes long have died And kind moss grown over the sharp and blood be-spattered stones Which cut our feet upon the ancient ways But who will look for my coming? Long busy days where many meet and part; Crowded aside Remembered hours of hope; And city streets 10

11 Grown dark and hot with eager multitudes Hurrying homeward whither respite waits. But who will seek me at nightfall? Light fading where the chimneys cut the sky, Footsteps that pass Nor tarry at my door And far away Behind the rows of crosses, shadows black. Stretch out long arms before the smouldering sun But who will give me my children? Vera Brittain ( by owner provided at no charge for educational purposes. E.B. Stay away from Anger... It hurts... Only You If you are right then there is no need to get angry, And if you are wrong then you don t have any right to get angry. Patience with family is love; Patience with others is respect. Patience with self is confidence and Patience with GOD is faith. Never Think Hard about the past it brings Tears... Don t think more about the future it brings Fear... Live this Moment with a Smile, It brings Cheer. Every test in our life makes us bitter or better; Every problem comes to make us or break us, The choice is ours whether we become victims or victorious. Search for a beautiful heart not a beautiful face. Beautiful things are not always good but good things are always beautiful. 11

12 Do you know why God created gaps between fingers? So that someone who is special to you comes and fills those gaps by holding your hand forever. CCC b 12

13 Beckenham URC Christmas Fair Beckenham URC are holding their Christmas Fair on Saturday November 26th from to Entry is free. Stalls will include Gifts, Cakes, Crafts, Books, Paintings and Woodturning, so if want ideas for Christmas please go along and support them. All profits will be shared between Crisis and the Church. A Poem to Make Us Think I was shocked, confused, bewildered as I entered heaven s door, not by the beauty of it all, nor the lights or its decor. But it was the folks in heaven who made me splutter and gasp- the thieves, the liars, the sinners, the alcoholics and the trash. There stood the kid from first year who pinched my lunch money twice. Next to him was my old neighbour who never said anything nice. Bob, who I always thought would be rotting away in hell, was sitting pretty on cloud nine looking incredibly well. I nudged Jesus, What s the deal? I would love to hear your take. How did these sinners get up here? God must have made a mistake! And why is everyone so quiet, so sombre? Give me a clue. Hush child, he said, they re all in shock - No-one thought they d be seeing you. Every saint has a past...every sinner has a future! Thanks to Beckenham URC 13

14 14 Hayes Free Church Christmas Tree Festival 2016 In aid of Carers Bromley A carer is someone who, without payment, looks after a friend or family member, who needs help because of disability, long term illness (mental or physical) or frailty, and cannot cope on their own. On each Sunday the Church will be open at 10.30am and 6.30pm for services and at pm for tree viewing. The trees can also be viewed at these times: From 2.30pm on Saturdays 3rd and 10th December, Monday 5th and Friday 9th, and from 3.30 pm on Wednesday 7th. PLEASE NOTE TUESDAY 6TH: PM only; THURSDAY 8th: CLOSED Programme of Entertainment 7.30pm Friday 2nd December Opening concert: members and friends of Hayes Free Church 1.00pm Saturday 3rd December Lunchtime recital :organ; organ & flute 7.00pm Saturday 3rd December Quiz night (bring your own drinks and nibbles: tickets 2 from Christine Rees: pm Sunday 4th December Evening service with Pickhurst Junior Academy 7.30pm Monday 5th December Bishop Justus School concert 7.30pm Wednesday 7th December Concert: The Wandle Ringers 7.00 for 7.20pm Thursday 8th December Christmas film: The Bishop s Wife (1947) 7.30pm Friday 9th December Croydon Guitar Club entertains 7.45pm Saturday 10th December concert:beckenham Concert Band 6.30pm Sunday 11th December Evening service: Churches

15 Together in Hayes with musicians from Hayes School Go peaceful Go peaceful in gentleness through the violence of these days. Give freely. Show tenderness in all your ways. Through darkness in troubled times let holiness be your aim. Seek wisdom. Let faithfulness burn like a flame. God speed you! God lead you, and keep you wrapped around (God s) heart! May you be known by love. Be righteous. Speak truthfully in a world of greed and lies. Show kindness. See everyone through heaven s eyes. God hold you, enfold you, and keep you wrapped around (God s) heart. May you be known by love. Paul Field Weekly Activities Brownie Guides Monday 6.30pm Leader Miss Katherine Bayley Telephone: Langley Pre-School Monday Friday Please contact Mrs Jenny Jupp Telephone: E.mail: langleypreschool@hotmail.com

World War One. Gone but not forgotten

World War One. Gone but not forgotten World War One 1918 2018 Gone but not forgotten The Causes of the First World War, 1914-1918 The First World War began in August 1914. It was directly triggered by the assassination of the Austrian archduke,