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JULY 2001

Dear friends,

This is my last letter to you as Vicar of St James, Westgate. How eleven years have just flown by! As I said at the various farewells, these have been the happiest years of our ministry, and we shall sorely miss all our friends in the parish. When I first announced my resignation last January, I explained that we were reluctant to accept the post in Eastbourne, and indeed, I put up a certain amount of resistance! However, it seemed that God kept removing all the obstacles, and even in the past month or so He has continued to do this. Therefore, with a heavy heart, I have to say that I believe it is right for us to move on.

We have been overwhelmed by the love and affection which has been shown to us all over the past few weeks – not to mention, all the cards and presents, and of course the very generous cheque which was presented to us at the Farewell Barbecue. What an unforgettable occasion that was!

What of the future? I believe that St James is in good heart and good hands, and I would urge you all to support the Churchwardens in their great responsibility of leading the church through the interregnum. Pray for and support all those who will be leading services and preaching over the next few months. It is so easy for a critical spirit to enter the life of a church at such times. May this not be the case at St James. You all need to stick together, and not allow the devil to cause disruption and disunity in the ranks. And of course, most especially pray for the appointment of my successor, that he would be a man after God’s own heart, who will stand unashamedly for the truths of the Bible.

You will receive a warm welcome should you ever be in Eastbourne. I believe that our new address will appear somewhere in this magazine. I am sure that we shall see you all again from time to time – and ultimately, of course, in that greatest of all re-unions in heaven.

With warm Christian greetings,

John (and Joy) Cheeseman

NB: John & Joy’s new address is:-

Holy Trinity Vicarage

Trinity Trees

Eastbourne

East Sussex BN21 3BE

FROM THE CHURCH REGISTER

We extend our prayers and sympathy to the relatives and friends of those committed to God’s care:

Funerals: 22^nd May Ron Osborne Aged 88

25^th May Ivy Sarah Price Aged 90

4^th June Mary Moody Aged 87

JUNE SERMON TAPES

All tapes of the sermons preached on Sunday mornings and evenings in June are available on request from Nigel Hadley (Tel: 831067) as usual.

In addition, tapes of the Thanet Bible Week meetings are available at £2 each.

FAREWELL ALBUM

Marion and I endeavoured to inform, discreetly, everybody at St James about John & Joy’s "Farewell Album". If, however, we missed anybody, we do apologise.

Many thanks to the people who did contribute poems, photos, diaries and messages of thanks etc. Also many thanks to Elaine for the computer work and Don for his archive material.

Teresa Merry

MARY MOODY

Thank you to all the friends at St James’ for their prayers and support during Mary’s long illness, and after her death, the messages, cards and flowers, for transport to the Registrar at Ramsgate. To those who came to the crematorium, for Peter who played the organ and to John for a very helpful and uplifting service at this sad time.

"God Bless You All" – Leslie Moody

FRIENDS OF KENT CHURCHES SPONSORED BIKE RIDE

SATURDAY 8^TH SEPTEMBER 2001 – 10am – 6pm

Advance warning! The above event takes place on Saturday 8^th September. Please book it on your calendar now and contact me as soon as possible, either because you plan to cycle for St James’, or because you are prepared to spend an hour or two welcoming cyclists to our Church.

As soon as I receive the paperwork I will pass it on to anyone interested. Please let me know as soon as possible if you plan to participate. Remember half of the money you raise goes to Friends of Kent Churches and half to St James’.

José Gibbs – Tel:224700 or see me at the Evening Service

KIDSPLUS HOLIDAY CLUB

If you are between the ages of 5-11, book 28^th to 31^st August 2001 in your diaries now. Again this year we are planning to have a holiday club held in the St James’ Church Hall, Garlinge, 2pm to 4pm each afternoon.

We will be looking at some different bible stories to find out what made Daniel tick – clue he hadn’t swallowed a clock – there will also be time for games, craft, drama and the all important drink and biscuit.

Watch the magazine for more details.

If you can help with any of the following please see Marion Clarke:

Large pictures/posters of wild animals or dangerous sports.

A tape of the theme to Mission Impossible or James Bond.

Hard hats/overalls/safety goggles etc.

Danger or Keep Out signs.

Broken bricks, timber or rubble to suggest a demolition site.

Fire Safety posters/equipment.

A small set of weights or dumbbells.

We would like them to decorate the hall.

Please pray for all who are involved in this project, that we might have a hall full of children, that we may be accident free and most of all that we will be able to present the gospel to some who so far do not know God.

Marion Clarke

RELIGIOUS CENSUS OF 1851 – A SEQUEL

Following my piece in the May magazine, Mary Pelham rang to tell me the whereabouts of the Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion chapel. It is situated in Victoria Road, Margate, opposite the grounds of the Royal School for Deaf Children. Following its closure as a chapel it became a clothing manufacture establishment and is now undergoing refurbishment again – back to a place of worship. Mary told me that the Connexion was a denomination of Calvinistic Methodism and was founded by Whitefield and Selina, Countess of Huntingdon (1707-1791). Mary’s mother attended this chapel and Mary herself has a prayer book that she obtained when working for the building firm who were gutting the building in the 1950’s.

I also asked if anyone knew where the Quakers’ Meeting House was – the most likely place of course is the chapel at Drapers Alms Houses! These were founded by Michael Yoakley, a local Quaker and are still run by a Quaker Trust.

A correction to my original article – I stated that the Old St Stephen’s Methodist Church is now a Greek Orthodox. I apologise for the mistake; it is a Coptic Orthodox. José Gibbs

DAILY READINGS BY BISHOP J C RYLE – LUKE 10:8-16

Suggested further reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10

What a simple message the Lord gave His disciples to proclaim! (v9) It may be doubted whether the modern way of teaching Christianity is sufficiently simple. It was a certain fact that deep reasoning and elaborate arguments are not the weapons by which God is generally pleased to convert souls. Simple plain statements, boldly and solemnly made, and made in such a manner that they are evidently felt and believed by him who makes then, seem to have the most effect on hearts and consciences. Parents and teachers of the young, ministers and missionaries and district visitors would do well to remember this. We need not be so anxious as we often are about fencing, proving, demonstrating and reasoning out the doctrines of the gospel. Not one soul in a hundred was ever brought to Christ in this fashion. We want more simple, plain, solemn, earnest, affectionate statements of simple gospel truth. We may safely leave such statements to take care of themselves. They are arrows from God’s quiver and will often pierce hearts that have not been touched by the most eloquent gospel sermons.

How sinful it is to reject the offers of the gospel! (vv12-15) The guilt of the cities where our Lord had preached and worked miracles was greater than the guilt of the wicked heathen cities. Declarations like this are particularly awful. They throw light on truths that men are peculiarly apt to forget. They teach us all will be judged according to their spiritual light and that from those who have enjoyed most religious privileges most will be required. Man is responsible for the state of his own soul. Those who reject the gospel and remain impenitent and unbelieving are not merely objects of pity and compassion but deeply guilty and blameworthy in God’s sight. God called but they refused. God spoke to them but they would not regard.

Let us beware of unbelief. We have only to sit still and do nothing when the gospel is pressed for our acceptance and we shall find ourselves one day in hell. No sin makes less noise, but none so surely damns the soul as unbelief.

For meditation: There is no escape for those who neglect salvation (Heb 2:3).

Printed by kind permission of the Evangelical Press.

A lady was posting a gift of a Bible to her god-daughter. The counter clerk examined the heavy parcel and asked if it contained anything breakable. ‘Nothing,’ she replied, ‘except the Ten Commandments!’

ST JAMES THE APOSTLE – 25^TH JULY

Introduction

Today all of the Church Calendars agreed that we should be celebrating the feast of Saint James the Apostle. So what do we know about him? Very little!

James was the son of Zebedee, and the elder brother of John, and he was one of the Twelve. (Matt 4:21; 10:2; 17:1;Mark 1:19, 29; 3:17; 5:37; 9:2; 10:35, 41; 13:3; 14:33; Luke 5:10; 6:14; 8:51; 9:28, 54; Acts 1:13; 12:2). From this list of Bible references several facts emerge:

• James’s father Zebedee was a Galilean fisherman who was prosperous, because he employed servants to assist in the management of his boats.

• Zebedee had a house in Jerusalem and he was known as a friend of the High Priest, Caiaphas, and his household. This would mark him as a man of social position.

• James’s mother’s name was Salome, whom tradition says was a sister of the Virgin Mary, which may help to throw light upon the relation of her two sons to Jesus. This would also make James a cousin to Jesus.

• James worked in partnership with his father and brothers, and he was busy with his boats and nets when the call of Jesus reached him.

His name is coupled with his brother John in the lists of the Apostles, which could mean that when they were sent forth two by two, James and John would be paired. Evidently, they were men of like spirit and disposition and received from Jesus the title "Sons of Thunder". James was on terms of special intimacy with Jesus, although he never attained the distinction of his brother John.

James’s life came to an untimely end when he was martyred by Herod Agrippa. The cup and the baptism of pain and death were his. Seventeen years passed between his call to service and his death. He was the second of the Christian martyrs, and the first of the Apostles to give his life for Jesus.

We have no word from his pen nor word that he spoke, unless perhaps Acts 4:24-30 could be an exception, but James was content to be a Disciple. He never sought fame, power or a great name. He had no ambition to be first.

And that is all we know about St James the Apostle.

JULY NOTES

Parent & Toddlers meet for the last time this term on 19^th July when they will be joined by Teddy Bears for a picnic to mark the start of the summer holiday break.

The Family Service will be held on Sunday 22^nd July to coincide with St James’ Gift Day (see notes)

Still time to remind you of the Summer Fete taking place at St James’ Church Hall (Old School Hall), Garlinge on Saturday 7^th July at 1.00pm. Please help where you can – we will need handicrafts, books, cakes and bread, toiletries, toys, bric-a-brac, garden produce, groceries, jewellery and bottles (full!)

Editor’s Note

Thank you to all the contributors to the magazine, past and present – without you there would be no magazine. Please keep the articles coming. New ideas are always welcome so if you have news or views on local, national or international topics please let me know. Items may be hand written, typed or even on disk. I look forward to hearing from you.

BASED ON HEBREWS 10:22

What joy we have, assurance yet,

That nothing in this world,

Can separate us from his love,

That sweet surround, security,

That makes us his..

Though as we see, the terrors that

Encompass this sad world.

The confidence in him we feel,

And from his word doth underline,

That peace we have in him.

Tis no surprise that wars will rage,

And greed and sin abound,

That floods and famines worldwide are,

And sickness, as the devil desperate grows,

To claim to him as many as he can.

But soon will be that blessed day,

We look with joy to see,

When finally with earth we’re done,

And gladly then we go,

To be with him throughout eternity.

UNITED CHRITIANS BROADCASTER

UCB have provided 25 copies free of charge of the last two quarterly issues of "Word for Today".

With the next issue (August/October) due shortly the total received will be 75. The cost plus postage is covered by donations but so far I have only been able to send £4, being the amount received so far. Further donations would obviously be appreciated and prayer urgently requested as new legislation regarding discrimination against Christian broadcasting is contemplated. The work, started in 1994, has shown amazing growth and vision for the future. For more information please contact me.

Barbara Spanner

SATURDAY SHOP

The Saturday Shop in June was very active, producing as it did £195 to go towards the work of our Church. God’s blessings never cease to amaze and grateful thanks to all concerned.

THE LORD IS OUR ROCK

The Lord is our God

Can hear every word and praise

The thing that He hopes for us

Is that we are not going through a phase

We are His Creation

We are also His sheep

He guides us with His mighty hand

He would like a good reaction

Everywhere your go in the city

You will hear the word of God

He is our God

He is our King

The least we can do is thank Him

Thank Him for all He has done

We are all pitiful sinners

We’ve been given a wonderful Son

We will stay with thee Lord

You are all that we need

I’m sure you will help us

I hope so – yes – indeed

By Robert Bradley (NB A selection of further poems by Robert are accessible from our home page - Web Ed)

SO WHAT DOES IT TEACH US?

Saint James was a normal person, and he had a normal job. Most of us could be just the same, although some of us are now retired. Are you a normal person? Perhaps you are something different?

When Jesus needed somebody to train as a devoted Christian, James left all, including his job and his family, and he followed Jesus. Most of us are not asked to make such a sacrifice to leave everything, but we are all called to be devoted Christians and tell our friends and neighbours the Good News of Jesus Christ. Have you told anybody about Jesus lately? Do you say nothing?

James died for his belief in Jesus. Most of us are not called to be martyrs, but we can often find ourselves snubbed by the world and thought of as odd for believing that Jesus is our own Personal Saviour. Do you continue to believe in Jesus in spite of everything that people think and say about you? Have you changed your mind about Christianity?

James’s mother asked Jesus for the impossible for her two sons. Jesus said we are all called to be servants. Do you consider yourself as being here to be served? Do you think that you are a servant? To whom do you render service?

Fred Mitchell, July 1999

ST JAMES’ GIFT DAY

Please note that St James’ Gift Day will be held on Sunday 22^nd July. Special Gift Day envelopes will be available in the weeks ahead of this date. All proceeds from the Gift Day will go towards Church buildings, including provision of polycarbonate sheeting for the protection of Church windows.

Jesus Said: Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone. Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Matthew ch7vv9-11

July Diary

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