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PENGE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
NEWS
April 2015
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MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER
The theme of our services between Easter and Pentecost is Resurrection, Renewal and
the Power of the Spirit.
On Good Friday, Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice. He went to the cross of his own
free will to pay the debt of every single human being who has failed to live in a way
pleasing to God; and of course that’s every one of us because we can never be as perfect as we would need to be in order to be Christ-like. Jesus didn’t just die to save the
people who were alive at the time; he died for all those who had gone before and all
those who have lived since. We can’t really understand that; it’s too big for us. Luckily
we don’t need to understand; we just need to believe that God sent Jesus to die to sin
in our place, and that, after his death, he rose again to be with each person who believes in him.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul says that we don’t need to know the ins and outs: quite
simply: “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10: 13).
But he goes on to point out that people have to have heard about Jesus before they can
call on him. They can only hear about him if someone tells them. He quotes the prophet
Isaiah: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger... who brings
good news, who announces
salvation.” That can be us.
We who have heard the good news of Jesus Christ can pass it on to other people so that
they too can call on him and be saved. When we ask Jesus into our lives and accept him
as our Saviour, we become his disciples, and our task is not just to worship him and find
out more about him, but also to spread the good news about him.
So, Resurrection is what happened when Jesus rose from the dead. Renewal is the new
life that his resurrection brings for every Christian. And the Power of the Spirit is the
strength and vigour we get from the constant presence of the Holy Spirit inside us.
Lord God, we thank you for the cross, and for the gift of your Son who gave his life so
that we might have new life in him. We thank you for the Holy Spirit that lives in each
Christian heart and for the guidance, comfort and power it brings to us in our walk with
you. Amen.
Pam
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How to make friends
I can never understand the trouble my master has making friends. For a camel, making
friends is very easy. One camel looks directly at another camel. We go together to drink. I
would say, “Hallo, I’ m Faizal,” and he would tell me his name. For a camel that is the
start of a new friendship.
Oh, I do apologise. Some of you probably haven’t met me before. Let me introduce myself again. I am Faizal, retired member of the Royal Caravanserai of His Highness, Melchior. Since my retirement, I have worked in other caravans. My life among the caravans
has given me opportunities to observe camels and men, and so I occasionally write of my
experiences.
My present master is a young man, and it is often surprising to me how different his problems are to others I have worked for. My master is often troubled by a dearth of friends.
This mystifies me as I have counted at least twenty young men and women that he greets
regularly by name, as well as a few older men he turns to when he needs advice. But he
says he has very few friends. I am not considered introverted for a camel, but I would find
that many friends ample. My master is a complex being and beyond the understanding of
a mere camel.
My master’s name is Noah. He likes to dress up a lot. Without clothes, he says, he would
be naked. And then he laughs. Why do people say these obvious things? If you are not
clothed then you are naked. That is what it is to be naked. How can such a simple statement cause one to laugh? However, it is one of the things my master says when the conversation turns to clothes. He reminds me of the peacocks in the palace gardens. I
watched them for hours when I was a young camel. The males were the vain ones. They
would spread their tails behind them when the females came near them, transforming
them from blue enamelled chickens to glorious visions of light and colour.
Noah also seems to transform himself in the presence of females. It is not quite as spectacular as the peacocks, but it does have similarities. He puffs out his chest and struts
like a peacock whenever a female comes near him. He has a very complex way of relating to females. He indulges in a strange rite called “dating”. It all seems sensible enough
on the face of it. Noah and the lady of the moment arrange a time to meet with each other
and spend some time together. A camel would not need to do this, but people mate for
life, so it is important that they can get on with each other. If I had to live with some of the
female camels I have met, I would long ago have left the caravan and become a wild
camel.
No, what I find ironic about this dating game is that Noah dresses even more fastidiously
than he does as a rule. Like the peacock he transforms himself into something out-of –the
ordinary. It doesn’t stop there. His whole character seems to change. He is very aggressive, which is not my master’s natural character at all. By the time he meets his “date”, he
is almost unrecognisable as the Noah that all his friends know. I say this is ironic, because the “date” is an attempt to get to know one another better. If Noah presents such a
different person to his own lovable self to his female, she going to make decisions based
on the wrong information.
Well, people are strange animals. Sometimes I don’t think they are really animals. A camel is straightforward and honest about making friends. I still believe that people would
benefit from the same approach.
Faizal
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MESSY CHURCH
(Siobhan and Lynn)
Siobhan and I went to Dundonald Congregational Church for a morning session
about Messy Church. It should have been easy to find as the church is only a block
away from the Dundonald tram station. However there were repairs around East
Croydon which meant that we nearly got lost in Croydon! We did make it though
and had a nice welcome with other Congregationalists from all over the South East
area.
Messy Church is a way of being church that focuses on creativity, celebration and
hospitality. The hospitality bit means there is always food. Maybe why I like it! Creativity should be messy and explore a biblical theme. The activities are then brought
together is a short time of celebration and worship. It is for all ages and should be
fun. It is focused on being a family hence all ages should be together. It is for people
who don't otherwise go to church so avoids jargon and traditions that church may
have adopted without realising it.
We have been doing a form of messy church sometimes at our parade services but I
wonder if there are other opportunities where this would be good to do. Maybe even
jointly with another church? Some churches run a cafe from their church. Is there
any one out there keen on that idea?
I hope we can think further about this in coming months as we think about how God
wants us to reach out in Penge.
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Psalm of the month: Psalm 84
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How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
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Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.
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Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.
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Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
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As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
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They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
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O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob!
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Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed.
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For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of
wickedness.
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For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favour and honour.
No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly.
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O LORD of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.
The Temple in Jerusalem was the most holy place on earth for Jews, because symbolically the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies at its centre was where God’s presence dwelt. So, the psalmist begins by expressing his yearning to be there, near to
God. We aren’t told why he isn’t able to be there, but he does express his fervent
belief that even one day spent so close to God was worth a thousand spent elsewhere. Nevertheless, all people who put their trust in God are blessed.
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As Christians, we believe that God doesn’t live in temples or even church buildings, but with each one of us every day. We are told in Revelation 21-22 that the
dwelling of God is with people and he will live with us. But we can empathise with
the psalmist’s longing for the temple: as Christians, we long to worship God not
just individually but in fellowship with others, to come together as the Body of
Christ to praise and to empower ourselves for the work of his kingdom.
Pam
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Save the Day! Pam’s Induction Service.
My induction as the Minister of PCC will take place on Sunday 14 th June at
2.30pm. We invite all our extended church family, and all our friends in the community, and indeed everyone who would like to come and wish us well, to join
us for the service, and for tea afterwards.
The service will be led by Clemy Gilmore, who works for the Congregational
Federation South East Area as Church Support Worker and who is a good friend
to PCC.
Please put the date in your diary. We look forward to seeing you!
Pam
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MINISTRY OF FLOWERS
Easter Day –
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5 April
Mr & Mrs David Nye
12th April
Mrs Franca Spooner
19th April
AVAILABLE
26th April
Friendship Club
3RD May
AVAILABLE ? Flower Fund
10th May
AVAILABLE
17th May
Mrs Kathleen Sewter
24th May
Miss Joyce Perry
31st May
Mrs Diane Paske
7th June
Mrs Pat Clarke
14th June
AVAILABLE
21st June
(Miss Jean Sumner &
Mrs Rosemarie Baker
28th
June
Mrs Marilyn Nicholson
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AN EASTER PROMISE
If we but had the eyes to see
God’s face in every cloud,
If we but had the ears to hear
His voice above the crowd,
If we could feel His gentle touch
In every Springtime breeze
An find a haven in His arms
‘Neath sheltering, leafy trees ....
If we could just life up our hearts
Like flowers to the sun
And trust HIS EASTER PROMISE
And Pray, ‘THY WILL BE DONE’,
We’d find the peace we’re seeking,
The kind no man can give,
The peace that comes from knowing
HE DIED SO WE MIGHT LIVE!
AN EASTER MEDITATION
In the glorious Easter Story
A trouble worl can fin
Blessed reassurance
And enduring peace of mind –
For though we grow discouraged
In this world we’re living in,
There is comfort in just knowing
That God triumphed over sin.
For our Saviour’s Resurrection
Was God’s way of telling men
That in Christ we are eternal
And in Him we live again –
And to know life is unending
And God’s love is endless, too,
Makes our daily tasks and burdens
So much easier to do,
And our earthly trials and problems
Are but guideposts on the way
To the love and life eternal
That God promised on Easter Day !
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DOUGIE’S DIFFICULT WORD OF THE MONTH
MINISTER
Having previously looked at the word ‘disciple’ I thought we should just think what
the word ‘minister’ means to us, especially now with a new Calling. It’s important
for us as Congregationalists to be reminded of our relationship to the ministry.
‘Minister’ is used in the New Testament to describe men and women who serve
churches. The Greek word diakonos is translated in different versions as deacon or
minister (a Latin word). Both have the same meaning: servant.
The Minister is the servant of the church, just as we all are. The church is the assembled group – us - coming together to worship our God and come before him as a
family. The early churches, with all their problems, gathered around leaders and
their friends. The ministry was shared with the elders in what was a fast changing
situation, with new patterns of leadership and inspiration developing. Just one man
or woman leading a church evolved in Congregationalism in the 19 th century to copy
more hierarchical churches such as the Church of England or Rome.
Life is still fast changing and we have the ability to be responsive to that (if we are
bold enough) and to be led by the Spirit into serving God more fully and responsively in the world around us. We all need to have inspiration and direction. We also
have busy lives and need to give different people different roles within our church
but we are all still servants of God.
More than that, we are all servants of each other and of our church here in Penge.
We always hear it said that we each have gifts, but we should be plunging in to try
something new or different that will enhance the life of our group. That is the
strength of the role of Ministry in a Congregational church; we can adapt as the
Spirit leads us. We all can minister without necessarily being a Minister, and we
should. We’re partly doing this at Penge, with our Worship Team and sharing pastoral work. The title or style of dress is not important. It is the ability to be a servant
to all in our church, our community and our wider world – to be a servant of our living Lord. It is to be led by the Spirit in using the gifts of the whole people of God –
that’s you and me.
Douglas
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Church Diary : April 2015
(Events may be added later, so please keep an eye on the
Notices
on the Sunday Service Sheets)
Sunday 5th: EASTER DAY
10.30 am: Easter Praise and the Lord’s Supper
6.30 pm: Evening worship.
Thursday 10th:
7.45 pm: Deacons’ meeting: The Vestry.
Sunday 12th:
10.30 am: Morning worship.
6.30 pm: Evening worship and Bible discussion.
Saturday 18th:
2 pm: Organ recital
Sunday 19th:
10.30 am: Morning worship and the Lord’s Supper
6.30 pm: Evening worship
Saturday 25th:
10.30- 4.30: SE Area Assembly. Iden Green CC
Sunday 26th:
10.30 am: Morning worship
6.30 pm: Evening worship
ADVANCE MAY NOTICES:
Saturday 9th May: CF National Assembly. Peterborough.
Sunday 10th May: Church Anniversary and Gift Day.
10th-16th May: Christian Aid Week.
Sunday 24th May: Christian Aid Frugal Lunch
Church Annual Meeting.
PENGE CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
172 High Street
Penge
London
SE20 7QS
Church gathered May 1908
Parish Minister
Reverend Pam Owen 020 86592010
Email: [email protected]
Ministry of Flowers
Joyce Perry 020 8659 5947
Treasurer
Lynn McShane 07817 862158
Email: [email protected]
Room Bookings
Mr Douglas Rathbone 07505503965
Newsletter
Ms Debbie Collins 07469778990
Email: [email protected]
Organist and Choir Director
Mrs Marilyn Nicholson 020 87785064
Archives
Mr Chris Doran
Email: [email protected]
Deacons
Mr Chris Parker
Mrs Lynn McShane
Mr Douglas Rathbone
Mrs Jannett Ashley
Church Accountants (payroll etc)
Edwards Chartered Accountants, 275b
Croydon Road