St Johns Church

Felbridge

Welcome

Welcome to the second edition of our magazine. Once

again you will find stories and articles from disciples-inthe-making as we seek to live our lives with God and for
God and to be honest, quite often getting it all wrong! But
we hope you will find here something that is of interest to
you and may encourage you about how God is at work in
peoples lives today.

In this issue, theres a particular focus on suffering. Of course

we all know in our experience that the world is not as we
want it to be, it is not as it should be and it is not how God
created it to be either.

But there is hope in the message of Christianity, the message

of God sending his Son into our world, that Gods plan and
purpose is to put things right in an extraordinary way.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, there will be no
more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4).
Until then we live in a world where suffering will be all too
familiar, whether we are Christians or not. How can we get
through difficult times? Where can we find strength? Does
God even care? And is he able to use even the bad things in
our lives for good? Youll find inside a few stories from a few
people who are discovering a few of the answers.
MARK FRANCIS (vicar)

A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF

A MINISTRY APPRENTICE

Abby Benjamin is our Ministry Apprentice at St. Johns.

HI ABBY. THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO BE QUIZZED
ABOUT A FEW THINGS.
Hello! Firstly, I would just like to say a huge thank you for all the
love and support I have received since joining St. Johns. You have
all been so kind and welcoming and it already feels like I have
been here my whole life! In reality I have only been here 6 months
but wow, the time has flown by.
WHICH PART OF THE COUNTRY HAVE YOU SWAPPED FOR
SUNNY FELBRIDGE?
I am from Christchurch, near Bournemouth (much sunnier!). I lived
with my parents and 4 older sisters, who I am extremely close to.
Two of my sisters, Emma and Katie, now live in London, which
is lovely because it means they are only a half-hour train ride
away. One of my sisters, Amy, is married and has a two year son,
who we all absolutely adore! And my other sister, Rachel, lives
at home. I spent the last three years at Royal Holloway University
in Egham, reading History, which I really enjoyed. I grew up in a
Christian home, but it was during my time at university that my faith
developed and grew.
WHAT DO YOU GET UP TO EACH WEEK?
Okay, here goes...
MONDAY

Morning: Preparation time for groups Ill be leading during the

week.
Afternoon: Part of my training includes studying for a Certificate
in Theology with the Moore College Course so I do some of my
work and reading for this (oh, and of course, once a month its
Connections, our group for seniors at church!).
TUESDAY

The other part of my training is at the SGP Ministry Training

Course which is on Tuesdays in Haywards Heath along with
others working for churches in the South-East. In the evening Im
part of the Home Group that meets at Tom and Abbies house.
WEDNESDAY

Morning: I go to the Womens Bible Study Group to run the

crche so that the mums with young children can concentrate on
the Bible Study.
Afternoon: More Moore College course studying...
Then of course its Prayer on Wednesday once a month in the
church.
THURSDAY

I begin the day in the Church Office getting for XTB club
(Explore The Bible) at Felbridge Primary School (or sometimes
helping Mark take an assembly at the school, which has included
popping out of a big Bible, dressed up as characters, such as
Abraham and King David!).
XTB club at lunchtime, playing games, singing songs, making
posters and learning Bible stories.
After this, I have my one-to-one with Sarah, and then probably
preparation for the Sunday childrens groups.

FRIDAY
Morning: Church staff meeting, or final preparations for Youth
Group in the evening.
Afternoon: More Moore College studying...
And then Youth Group in the evening. We have a meal together,
a Bible study and play some games (usually Killer Uno!).
SATURDAY
Day off I usually see my sisters, or my boyfriend, James, or
university friends.
SUNDAY
Sunday Services, morning and evening youll probably find
me in Out of the World or The Rock or sometimes leading the
prayers or doing one of the readings in the services.
YOU HAVE MENTIONED THE MOORE COLLEGE AND SGP
TRAINING WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF
YOUR THEOLOGY TRAINING SO FAR?
I rI really enjoyed studying Marks Gospel with Moore College.
It was written for a Gentile audience and is a very interactive
narrative that draws the reader in. It has two main sections: the first
focussing on Who is Jesus? and the second looking into What
did Jesus come to do? and What does it mean to follow Him?
These sections are linked by Peters confession, in Mark 8:29, which
answers the question of the first section and leads the reader to
ponder the questions of the second section.
One of my favourite weeks at the SGP training course was at the
British Museum. We had a guided tour looking at various different
exhibits, all of which were related to the history recorded in the
Bible. Being a recent history graduate this was the best trip I could
ask for, and it showed how historically accurate the Bible is so
accurate that even the British Museum use Bible references in
some of their explanation plaques!
This term I am studying the first books of the Bible and Doctrine, in
particular looking at what the Bible teaches us about God, as well
as Exodus in details and Old Testament Narrative.
JUST A FEW FINAL QUESTIONS FOR YOU IF THATS OKAY...
CUSTARD CREAM OR BOURBON?
Bourbon...its both chocolate and biscuit.
CYCLING OR WALKING?
Cycling.
TEA OR COFFEE?
Always tea...milk and no sugar (in case you plan to make me one!)
CHICK-FLICK OR HORROR MOVIE?
Well, I probably wouldnt choose either if action, adventure or
fantasy were on offer. But chick-flick would definitely come before
horror movies.
Thank you so much, Abby.
Please do be praying for Abby in her work here with us, and dont
forget to invite her round for lunch or dinner, or just a cup of tea...
milk no sugar!

STEPPING INTO CHURCH

Walking into a church on a

Sunday for the first time can be
a daunting experience:
- What will the service be like?
- Where will I sit?
- Will anyone talk to me?
- Will I know whats going on?
We caught up with a couple of our newest
members at St. Johns to find out about
their experience

WHAT WAS IT THAT MADE YOU START COMING TO ST. JOHNS?

Ben and Delphine: It was the children! They were asking us

all sorts of questions about life and Jesus. We called ourselves
non-practicing Christians but found it harder and harder to
answer their questions. Coming first to the Christmas Craft
Afternoon followed by the Christmas Service was a turning point.
And to be perfectly honest, I think we were looking for answers
ourselves but never took the time to find out!
Valerie: It had been a difficult year. Having recently moved

house and soon after my husband died very suddenly. Following

this I had several debilitating health issues. My family were
concerned that I was not getting the spiritual care I needed and
I knew I was stagnating, not being challenged in church life and
not growing spiritually. My daughter suggested I tried one of the
Sussex Gospel Partnership churches, the nearest one being St.
Johns.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST THING ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE?

Ben and Delphine: Most definitely the warm, kind welcome

weve received from everyone. It is hard to find such kindness out
there and the contrast with what we were used to overwhelmed
us. And then theres the learning, the never-ending learning!
The growth that we have experienced and the excitement
of continuous growth! When you think about this positive
experience you quickly realise that it is God at work and how he
is wonderfully influencing Christians.
Valerie: I met a kind lady the first time I came who she sat with
me, told me about the service, took me to coffee afterwards and
introduced me to people. I knew that day it was the right place
for me. I appreciated the Bible teaching and the opportunity for
midweek prayer and Bible study as part of a home group, as well
as various social activities. I love seeing the children and young
people and feel part of a real Christian family, with people caring
and supporting each other.

WHAT DID YOU FIND THE HARDEST THING COMING TO THE

CHURCH FOR THE FIRST TIME?

Ben and Delphine: I guess if it wasnt for the children, we

would still be lost. The hardest thing is making that first step to
go inside the Church. When you have children, you can use them
as an excuse. Maybe the Connections group helps the older
generation to make that step.
Valerie: The thought of change at this time in my life was
difficult, and having been married for 52 years I couldnt face
going anywhere new on my own. For months I stayed where I
was until one Sunday morning when praying I felt the Lord was
saying, Go to St. Johns today.
Since then I have never looked back and am happy to be with my
new Christian family. My own family were also delighted to see
the change in me. Now I can say once, again, The steadfast love
of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end, they
are new every morning, great is your faithfulness
(Lamentations 3:22-23).

Everyone is welcome at any of our

Sunday services.
We often have new people or visitors joining us each week. You
dont need to believe or know anything, there is no dress code,
and no-one will put you on the spot just come as you are and
we hope you receive a friendly welcome.
If you are coming for the first time, it may be helpful to have the
following information:

There is a church car park in The Glebe behind the church

The toilets are located in the church hall
Disabled access is via the north door
Childrens groups (3-14s) and crche (0-2s) take place in the
church hall during our 10am service one of our team will be
happy to tell you all about these if your children wish to join
in (but we are also always happy if children would prefer to
stay in church for the service).

Sunday services at 10am and 6pm (and 8am on the 2nd & 4th Sundays)

Suffering and
Serious Illness
Peter Davies, a regular speaker at St Johns
over many years, spoke on this subject a few years ago.
Here are some of his key points...
My grandson, David, died 10 years ago having been struck
down by an acute and fatal leukemia with no warning. During
his illness and since then, I have found myself struggling with all
sorts of questions. I am convinced it is foolish to pretend to have
a complete answer to why God allows these things. Its equally
wrong to assume we should have the answer.
One of the places I turned to was the book of Job in the Bible. He
suffered far, far more than any of us ever will and he realises by the
end of the book that he has no right to demand an explanation
of God as to why he had been put through so much pain. He
admits, Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things far too
wonderful for me to know.
But God has given some answers. We may not know why one
person is singled out for a disease, but we can know part of the
reason why diseases exist. We can also know how to react in a way
that pleases the Lord. The main problem for many is why would
a God who is good and loving allow suffering? And at times it is
suffering on a vast scale. In a world of pain, whether terrorism or
tidal waves or in one childs serious illness, where is God? And what
is he up to? The Bible says He has the whole world in His hands.
Sometimes He does perform amazing miracles of mercy. At other
times He seems to be deaf to our cries for help, and He allows us to
be targets for evil people, dangerous viruses, and natural disasters.
Now we may never fully solve this puzzle, not in this world anyway,
but God has given us enough pieces to help us to trust Him even
when we dont know as much as we would like to know.
Some of you may be living with some personal fear or tragedy
today. What you need right now is not some three part sermon
on why. What you need most is a listening ear, a warm hug or just
someone to sit quietly with you. But, at some point along the way,
you will also need the truth of Gods word to comfort you, and to
help you see your problem from Gods side. But even the Bible
has no complete and knockdown explanation for suffering. And
therefore people tend to think like this: A God who is all-powerful
and loving would surely be able to put a stop to all this suffering.
But because suffering exists, God cant be all-powerful and loving.
QED. But that isnt the only approach. I believe in a God who is allpowerful and loving. If suffering exists, as indeed it does, God must
have his own good reasons for permitting it. And thats what this
article tries to explore.
I want to make 5 short statements about the mystery of serious
illness. These are my own views from studying the Bible and from
events in my own life and in my family.

1. All sickness is primarily of the devil and due to sin. What I

mean is Satan is the original and the basic cause of all sin, and
sickness is part of it. Notice I say primarily, not directly. If you are
rushed into hospital tonight it does not mean that you have had a
sinful weekend, and this is God paying you back. You remember
the mistake the disciples made when they said of the man born
blind: Lord, they said to Jesus, whose sin made him blind this
mans or his parents? Jesus says it was neither (John 9). The
disciples assumed, and wrongly so, that mans suffering was due
directly to human sin. Yet if sin had never come into this world
through the treachery of Satan, sickness wouldnt have come either.
2. God wants his people to be healthy, but he sometimes allows
sickness. His purpose is to make us whole and wholesome
people. But he sometimes permits sickness in our lives.
3. All sickness CAN be cured if God chooses to do so. And God
often does cure, sometimes when every human effort has failed.
4. It is not always Gods will to cure. There are Christian people
who sadly may bully you or rebuke you for not getting well.
Its only because you havent got enough faith, they say. That
is a terrible thing to say to someone who is suffering. Some
may remember the fine Christian leader, David Watson, who
died of cancer a generation or so ago. Thousands, even tens of
thousands, of Christians were praying for his recovery the world
over. But God did not intervene, the disease took its course,
and David Watson died. And the same thing happened on a far
less public stage to another David, my grandson. It is not always
Gods will to cure.
5. It IS always Gods will that the suffering of a Christian should
glorify his Son. This could come about in the way that suffering
is borne by the sick person or by their family, or it could come
about by an unbeliever being persuaded of the truth of the
gospel. It could restore a back-slider. It could strengthen the
faith of someone who is already a Christian. Whichever way it
happens, Jesus gets the glory. Jesus is often glorified far more
through a persons illness than he is through perfect health.
Now on the basis of those statements, how should we ourselves
react to serious illness? It may not yet have come our way. One
day it well might. It may be our own illness, or it may be someone
who is near and dear to us. How should we react so that it may
glorify Christ?
Let me suggest this: Gods purpose in sickness is very often one or

Book recommendations

1 Walking with God through Pain and

Suffering, Timothy Keller
2 Depression: Looking up from the stubborn
darkness. Edward T Welch
3 A Shelter in the Time of Storm: Fifty-two

meditations on Psalm 27 to instruct and

encourage us to worship God through the ups and
downs of life. Paul David Tripp

4 How Long O Lord: Reflections on suffering and

evil. Don Carson
both of two things: testing and trusting. And I see each of them as
a way in which a Christian can turn sickness to the glory of God.
1. Testing. A testing of our own faith. The Christian who is suffering
should assume that, even though God can heal, the faith that he
or she is asking for (and therefore the faith he or she will be given
by God) may not be for healing, but may be for patient suffering.
The faith that we get may be for a cure praise God if it is! But it
may be to endure. The three young men condemned to the fiery
furnace in the book of Daniel in the Bible say politely but firmly to
King Nebuchadnezzar, Our God whom we serve is able to deliver
us, but if not (that is to say, if he chooses not to), we will still go on
believing in him (Daniel 3).
Do I truly believe in the living power of the risen Jesus to cure,
if that is his purpose? Am I also prepared not be healed, should
Gods purpose for me not be testing, but instead trusting?
2. Trusting. God sees in his infinite wisdom something that we cant
always see. God sees that some of his children can be trusted with
suffering, and that glory will come in this way. The story of Job is a
prime example, and its there in the Bible just for this purpose. We
now know, although Job did not know at the time, that his life was
a test case. He showed that we can still trust God and keep our
integrity even when life utterly falls apart around us. Why? Because
God is always worth trusting. Job did not understand what God
was up to indeed, he had every reason to think that God was
unfair, cruel, sadistic even. But his trust never falters and he works
his way through those agonising times in a way that will never
be forgotten (thanks to his story being in our Bibles). For Gods
own glory and for the eternal good of some people who are very
special to him, God actually honours them by entrusting them with
suffering. Now I wonder, do you find that difficult to accept? How
can suffering be an honour? And I think I would myself find much
more difficulty in this if I didnt have the example of my own father.
My father was a professional cricketer. He played for Glamorgan
for over thirty years before and after the war. He was good enough
to be chosen for Englands tour to India in 1939 but, alas, the ship
had to turn back two days out of Southampton because war was
declared. When his playing days were over, he became a very
good Test Match umpire, but he had to give up umpiring because
of a debilitating disease. He took 12 years to die from it, and in the
end he became completely disabled. I went to see him in our old
home in Wales shortly before he died, and when I got up to leave
that day both of us knew it would be the last time we would be

together, in this world. He could hardly speak, he was so weak, but

he motioned for me to come close to him, and, what he whispered
I recognised as a verse from the Book of Job. It was in Welsh: we
were a Welsh-speaking family and indeed you shall hear it in the
language of Heaven. Pe lladdai efe fi, eto mi a obeithiaf ynddo Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him. (Job 13:15). The greatest
sermon I have ever heard! Now, at the time I have to tell you, I was
far from God. I had the sort of job where it was a big temptation to
think only in terms of money and more money and status and that
sort of thing. I was drifting in dangerous waters, and whats more I
knew it. But those few dying words were enough to bring me back
to my spiritual senses, and but for them, I wouldnt be here today.
There are people whose suffering is ugly and cruel, but they
can turn it into something that is noble, and as they do so, not
only do they find the strength for living out their own life, they
can transform other lives as well. I saw it happening in a rather
different way with our young David last year. The boys bravery and
resolve had a deep, deep effect on youngsters his own age, and
those same qualities in his parents were an inspiration to so many
people. My point is this: whether or not they realise it, how some
people cope with suffering is a precious and an astounding victory
both for themselves and for the God in whom they trust.
If Im honest, I have to end on the note I began: In this life there are
bound to be more questions than answers. Any truth of Scripture
that we explore is likely to lead us sooner or later to the boundaries
of the vast secret things that belong to God alone. And sickness
and suffering is one of those topics. Only God knows it all, and
He chooses not to pass on to us everything that He knows. And
even at our very highest spiritual point, we are utterly dependent
on Gods Word and on Gods Spirit for any truth that He wants to
disclose to us. Great indeed is the mystery of Godliness!

A PRAYER
Our Father, help us to see that we may need sickness
for the good of the soul, even more than health for the
good of the body. For those of us who are fit and well,
let us be grateful that our good health is a gift of yours,
and will you forgive us for taking it so often for granted.
Whether in sickness or in health, let a sincere concern
for Your glory be our ultimate motive for living, and may
all the glory be yours. Amen.

Gods Strength given in Suffering

A Calming Experience

Ros Whiteman, a member of St. Johns Church and the Wednesday Watercolours Art Group, tells
her story of Gods strength in suffering

ONE JOURNEY I WOULD RATHER NOT REPEAT, BUT IT HAS A HAPPY ENDING!
We all have dreams of
places to go, things to do
in our lifetimes, so it was
with great expectations
that Mike and I set off on
our holiday to Mexico in
October 2013. My dream
had always been to swim
with dolphins ever since
I was a child. We were
really looking forward to
being so close to these
wonderful creatures
but there was one black
cloud hanging over our
holiday of a lifetime. Only
a few weeks earlier I had
discovered a lump in my breast one Sunday morning. I went
straight to the doctor on Monday. This was the start of a different
journey for Mike and I.
We had a fantastic holiday and tried hard not to think about
what was ahead of us. I underwent several mammograms and
investigative operations over the next few weeks and constantly
told myself that God was with me. I was finally told on the
28th December that I had breast cancer and would need a
mastectomy within a month.
It was devastating news! Mike was with me all the way, listening
to the surgeon giving me my options, speaking to the Macmillan
nurse etc. Telling my children was one of the hardest things I had
to do.
It was in the New Year that I really felt my journey to recovery was
going to start. We talked incessantly about our feelings as openly
as we could but there were times for both of us when our tears
would flow alone. As I put away the Christmas decorations and
packed away the wooden Nativity figures I had bought only the
year before I did wonder whether I would be around to get them
out again and enjoy another Christmas.
I was due to have my operation on Tuesday 28th January and
gradually the fear was setting in. I tried hard to conceal it and
put on a brave face, but inside was a different story. I was able to
draw strength from my family and also many friends, particularly
those at St. Johns who I knew were praying for me.
On Sunday 26th January, I experienced something that changed
me. When I went to bed, I lay there staring up at the ceiling
when I became aware of an unusual glow in the corner of our
bedroom. It was a hue I had never seen before, and thinking that
I must have looked into the light bulb before I put the bedside
lamp out, I shut my eyes for a few minutes. When I opened them
again five minutes or so later, this glow was still there. I didnt

know what it was and it wasnt worrying me so eventually I turned

over so that I couldnt see it, shut my eyes and went to sleep.
On Monday morning I awoke as normal but with an amazing
feeling of calm all my fears had gone. How did it come about?
Was I visited by an angel or God himself the night before I will
never know. What I do know is something happened to me that
night and my fear had gone and was replaced by the strength to
overcome the cancer and get on living my life.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help
in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.
Hebrews 1:14 ...angels are spirits who serve God and are sent to
help those who will receive salvation.
My operation went ahead on the Tuesday and I was discharged
on Friday morning everything had gone so well. I was warned
that I would probably hit a brick wall at some point during my
recuperation and sure enough, it did hit me like a brick on the
Sunday morning. I had been in constant pain, I couldnt move
without help from Mike and everything seemed beyond me.
Yes, I was feeling very sorry for myself and I just wanted to lie
in bed and cry. But at about 10.30am, I had another amazing
experience: it was like a bolt of electricity that shot through my
body. I told myself I had to get up, move around, stop feeling
sorry for myself and deal with it. I knew I was going to have to
rely on Mike to nurse me back to health and I cannot thank him
enough for everything he did for me. I thought again about this
wonderful bolt of energy that had swept over me and I am now
convinced that this was due to the many prayers that were said,
perhaps in church that very morning. I had been told about the
power of prayer and I am convinced this is what I had felt.
I am happy to say I have now made a full recovery and am free to
lead a normal life again.
It was thanks to the Consultants, Surgeons, and all the Operating
and Nursing Staff at East Surrey Hospital and the Queen Victoria
Hospital whose expertise has extended my life.
It was my love for Mike and my family and friends and their love
for me that has helped me get through this roller coaster journey.
But perhaps one of the most enlightening things that has
happened to me is that I now know for sure that God is with me
and will be with anyone who truly believes that he is there for
them. This experience has opened up a desire to finally read the
Bible, and to enjoy it, and to begin to understand what it is all
about, rather than leaving it on the shelf gathering dust.
Last summer, I joined an Uncover Group at St Johns. This was
a series of six meetings run by John and Carole Grainger in
their home. We were a small group but through these friendly
discussions we read, discussed and interpreted various bits of

Lukes Gospel and applied them to the world as it is today. I am

now able to look at the Bible from a different perspective.

and we would get through this together and no matter what

happened I still loved her.

I was able to get out my wooden Nativity figurines again at

Christmas and they will take pride of place on the mantelpiece
this year and, if it is Gods will for my life, for many more years.

The day of her operation seemed to go so slowly for me and in

the middle of the day I found time to pray, asking God to keep
Ros safe through the operation. We joke about how this was my
longest day and it was Ross shortest. At 6pm my mobile rang and
it was Mr Blackburn, the surgeon, giving me the good news that
everything had gone well. He passed the phone to Ros and we
had a quick and emotional chat.

Thank you to everyone who has been there for me.

Love, Ros

MIKE, ROSS HUSBAND, WRITES:

I think the worst part of all that has happened to Ros was when
we went to see the surgeon and were told that the lump was
cancerous. All Ros could do was to keep saying that she was so
sorry and kept apologising to me. I told her not to blame herself

Ros has written about her recovery and it was very hard work for
me being nurse, chef and cleaner, but well worth it for the woman
I love.
Ros has now made a full recovery and I know that her strength
and faith has helped her through.

Strength through prayer and the Bible

Following the sad death of Linda Barker last year, here is a little
bit of Vic and Lindas story during the time of her illness.
Everybodys journey in difficult times is different and how we
embrace and cope with these times is entirely unique.
When Vic and Linda were confronted with Lindas terminal
diagnosis, their world changed completely.
But the way Linda handled her suffering was an inspiration.
Through the pain and struggles and numerous treatments and
hospital trips, she retained her strength of character. Lindas faith
in the Lord sustained her to the end through some very difficult
times.
PRAYER
Vic writes: Linda led me towards the light and persistently
urged us to participate in combined and faithful prayer together.
The outcome of this was profound for us both. Whether you
are single or married, maybe seeking out a prayer partner to
support you during challenging times may be a similar help and
encouragement to you.

Philippians 4:6-7 says, Do not be anxious about anything, but in

everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present
your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends
all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ
Jesus.
THE BIBLE
During the times when Linda was becoming weaker, it was
inspiring to hear how Vic would take the words he had been
reading in the Bible each morning about our loving and strengthgiving God and would share these with his wife. God and his
words in the Bible gave great strength to both Linda in her illness
and to Vic as he lovingly cared for her.
Psalm 119:105 says, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light
to my path.

I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever

given to man. All the good from the Saviour of the
world is communicated to us through this book.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-65), sixteenth US President

THE PASTORAL TEAM

God comforts us all in our troubles, so that we can comfort those in
any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God
(2 Corinthians 1:4).
Whether you are unable to come to church or just going through
difficult times, it can make a real difference to know you are not on
your own.
Our pastoral team is a resource for any who are in need of support
at a particular time in their lives. Those visited may be housebound,
bereaved, unwell or recovering from illness. Our team provide
the opportunity to chat, to listen and to pray, or sometimes to give
practical help such as grocery shopping or arranging lifts.
As Christians, each member of the team knows the comfort that
God has given us at different times in our lives. And its a real joy to
be able to share that comfort with others.

If you or anyone you know, whether a member of the church

or not, would appreciate a visit from one of our team, please
contact: Mark Francis or Don Ely via our church office:
01342 314027, office@stjohnsfelbridge.com

THE BEST FOOD FOR

MILES AROUND
Our Church Lunches have become a
highlight at St. Johns. Every month (usually
on the first Sunday following our All Age
Service) around 80 people aged 0 - 90+
sit down to eat together in our church
hall. Roast gammon, chicken wrapped in
bacon, beef and dumplings, lamb tagine,
a selection of pies and roast turkey with all
the trimmings have all been on the menu.
Anyone can come maybe you would
otherwise be on your own for Sunday lunch,
or you like the community-feel of eating
together, or youve simply run out of food
or have no energy to cook. You dont even
have to come to the service beforehand if
you dont want to (although you are very
welcome). Sit down is at 12 oclock.

HAPPY 150TH
BIRTHDAY!

St. Johns Felbridge celebrates 150 years this year

In 1863, George and Frances Gatty of Felbridge
Place (across the road from St Johns where
Whittington College stands today) decided
that Felbridge needed a parish church of its
own, as the official church for the village was at
Godstone. George was unfortunately unable to
see his idea come to fruition since he died on
19 May 1864, but a year later, Frances gave an
area of land on which to build the new church.
Frances, and her son Dr. Charles Henry Gatty,
completed Georges project and St. John the
Divine, Felbridge, was dedicated on 1 July
1865. The ecclesiastical parish of Felbridge
was secured from small areas of the five
surrounding parishes in 1866.
Join us to celebrate on the weekend of
4-5th July. More details nearer the time.

Youth Group for 14-18s meets

every other Friday evening for food,
Bible discussions and prayer.
email office@stjohnsfelbridge.com if
you would like more details
01342 314027
office@stjohnsfelbridge.com
www.stjohnsfelbridge.com