Easter and All That…

Well here we are again, two months on from my previous note and after the New Year we had Easter.

But first I’d like to share something with you. Have you ever considered the POWER that newspaper, magazine and other publication editors have? They can change anything in the text, or could even (with or without permission) strip a writer of their anonymity by publishing their name. National Newspaper editors write leader columns and can influence public opinion, and our newsletter editor is blessed with similar powers, so beware ye who dare to speak ill of the Monthly Newsletter. (Seriously, and in order to protect myself, I think she does a great job).

Oh yes, and did you hear the one about the junior journalist starting in a small provincial newspaper office? On her first day at the office she saw a man standing behind the door with a rolled newspaper in his hand who was giving every person coming in through the door a sharp rap over the head with his paper. She was worried, so asked her companion (who had been working there for a week) “Who’s that?” “Oh don’t worry about him he’s only the editor!” So watch out if Freda’s lurking behind the door next time you come into the church.

And so to Easter. Did you receive a chocolate Easter Egg? Did you give up chocolate for Lent and when you saw that egg just devour it in one foul swoop….and then feel ill? Well, I guess you’re not alone; although I’ve practically given up chocolate altogether for health reasons, I am still very tempted (I see our illustrious editor did a bit about Easter Eggs last month).

This year I have decided that Hot Cross Buns are better (and cheaper). No-one knows when the tradition began, but in 16th-century England, bakers were limited by law to occasions when the special doughs used for the buns could be made. Good Friday was one; “cross buns” marked this holy day towards the end of the Lent fast. (Convincing evidence has yet to be produced for speculations about pagan origins and sun symbols.)

The rhyme “one a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns” recalls the habit of selling them warm from baking. In the 18th century, huge quantities were produced by the Chelsea Bun House, causing large crowds to gather. Until recently, hot cross buns were only sold on Good Friday. Like much British baking, they have become a travesty through the use of the Chorleywood industrial baking process.

In 1361, a monk named Father Thomas Rocliffe, was recorded to have made small spiced cakes stamped with the sign of the cross, to be distributed to the poor visiting the monastery at St. Albans on Good Friday. According to the scholar Harrowven, the idea proved so popular that he made the buns every year, carefully keeping his bun recipe secret. Now there’s an idea for next Easter…distribute Hot Cross Buns to the village on Good Friday!

But we know that Easter is more than just chocolate eggs and hot cross buns. We believe that on the cross at Calvary Jesus died to atone for our sins. Listen to the words of some of our timeless Easter hymns: “He died that we might be forgiven, He died to make us good, That we might go at last to heaven, saved by His precious blood” and “See from His head, His hands. His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down: Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown” Then these words from another hymn mean so much: “Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to thy cross I cling: Naked come to Thee for dress: Helpless look to thee for grace: Foul, I to the fountain fly: Wash me Saviour or I die”

Don’t forget our special 3-church event on the 10th May (it’s a Sunday) and remember, pray round the church from 9.30 and finish with breakfast and then worship on a full stomach with a fresh coffee under your..(oops!! shouldn’t have put it there) from 10.30 until later when you can have yet another coffee (or tea). One day we may even be able to have Hot Cross Buns (I like mine toasted with butter).

PS Betty looks forward to seeing you at one of the Christian Aid events,10th-16th May. Don’t disappoint her!

Anon

A CHAT WITH - Richard and Margaret Payne

Richard and Margaret, thank you so much for agreeing to have this chat with me and for inviting me round for coffee. Would you tell us about something about your lives, or something which specially springs to mind,

BEFORE YOU MET EACH OTHER?

Richard: My parents were BMS Missionaries, so I was brought up in three countries –England, India, and Trinidad, West Indies. I was born in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, but went to India as a baby, then to boarding school at the age of five. Returned to Trowbridge for a year and then back to India for five years. Returned to West Worthing for a year and then Dad felt he was being called to Trinidad, where he grew up. (His parents were also missionaries from Barbados). So we then went to Trinidad with my baby brother, leaving my two sisters at boarding school in Sevenoaks.

I was really fortunate because, although I was at boarding school in India, at least I stayed with my parents most of the time, seeing them for about three months in the year; in the summer and at Christmas time. In fact, I didn’t see my eldest sister for five years! In the mid-60’s the BMS brought out a scheme whereby children of missionaries could go to visit parents once during their school years, which made this possible.

We came back in 1965, and I started to work for Greenwich Council at Woolwich Town Hall, in the Print Department. We lived in Eltham in a BMS house and, after my parents moved to Leigh-on-Sea, I moved to a Baptist Hostel at West Ham Central Mission in Plaistow. Where I met Margaret!

Margaret: I grew up in Bridgwater, Somerset, where my father’s family had been for several generations members of the Baptist Church. In fact, Bridgwater Baptist is one of the very oldest Baptist churches in the country! I was fortunate to grow up in a Christian family – belonging to the Youth Club whilst my brother belonged to the Boys’ Brigade – becoming a Christian on the 3rd June, 1963, the day after my 13th birthday! It was on Commonwealth Youth Sunday, when we always had a big youth service in the evening. The only thing which I can remember about the sermon on that night was the minister
saying that when he gave his life to Jesus he did not remember what the minister had said in his sermon! I was baptised when I was 16.

After leaving school I worked for Barclays Bank, then, at the age of 20, I transferred to a branch in the City of London and, because the Baptist Girls’ Hostel at Newington Court was being re-built I moved into the same hostel as Richard!

WHEN YOU MET EACH OTHER?

Richard: A lady at the Hostel had been praying for me – that I would find a Christian girl friend and, when she heard Margaret was coming, she prayed that she would be the one! So, our marriage was an answer to prayer – both sets of parents had also prayed that their children would find Christian partners.

Margaret: I went to live in the Hostel at the beginning of December 1969, and although Richard and I went to the same church, etc., nothing had really clicked! In fact, it took a group of friends to engineer our meeting by arranging an outing to go to see Butch Cassidy and making sure we were both included! This happened 39 years ago last Friday (17th April, 1970!) But, I am sure that a lot of prayer was still going on at the same time.

AFTER YOU MET EACH OTHER?

Richard: We got engaged and then started to look for a house in the Eltham/Woolwich area, as I was still working in Woolwich and Margaret in the City. We went to Orpington to look around, and in an Estate Agent’s window on the By Pass we saw that new flats in Riverview Court, Belvedere, were for sale. The first thing we saw when we arrived in the area, at the top of Picardy Road, was the sign showing the direction for the Baptist Churches! We felt that this was the right place; that God had His plans for us in Belvedere. We were married on a Thursday in June 1972 in Bridgwater, moved into the flat, and on the following Sunday we went to BBC. In fact, Mrs Win Skevington, who was a member here, lived next door to us, and over the years quite a few Christians have lived in those flats!

Margaret: After about 18 months I got a transfer to Erith, so, for the first time, was able to walk to work! The same week Richard started working at County Hall!! Just over two years after this, in 1976, Stewart was born and Ruth was born in 1977. I have never worked full time since, but over the years have done child minding and worked as a teaching assistant, but always on a part-time basis.

How long have you known Jesus as your Lord, Saviour and Friend; has there ever been a time in your life when knowing Him has been especially important; and what difference does it make to your daily lives because you do know Him?

Richard: I became a Christian at the age of 9, whilst I was at a Christian boarding school, in India, which was run by Brethren, after listening to tapes of Billy Graham preaching in Madras. So, becoming a Christian and being baptised in the late 1960’s were two important times in my life.

But one time in my life when knowing Him was especially important was in 1995, when I had a breakdown and retired because of ill health. Although I went through a really bad time, I always felt that God was with me and was helping me, even to getting me an appointment on the day I telephoned, with the doctor I wished to see – which was a miracle! – and I believe that all things worked together according to God’s will and purpose for my life. Although I was ill, in the long term I have been able to serve the Lord far more than I would have been able to, had I been at work.

As far as making a difference in my life, one major thing comes to mind. This is the Year of Prayer in 2007, when I felt that I should be in the church every day for prayer. Before then I had not gone to prayer meetings because I found it so difficult to pray out loud, but thanks to Spero’s inspiration, although initially I still found it difficult, this has all changed!

Margaret: It is difficult for me to know the difference it makes in my life because I grew up in a Christian environment. But, three occasions do come to mind when I am sure that knowing the Lord helped me. Firstly, about two weeks after I stopped working, I was whipped into hospital for the remaining seven weeks of pregnancy, because I had high blood pressure. I had always dreaded going into hospital but there were lots of Christian nurses who saw me through it. So, when I went back to have Ruth in the same hospital, it was just like going home and I had no fears at all.

Another instance is when I became Church Secretary – within a week the Pastor went into hospital and within three months he had resigned. But I was able to do the extra work! About ten years’ ago I suffered from depression, which was pretty awful, but how much worse would it have been if I had not been a Christian?

Something for which I have constantly thanked the Lord is that Stewart and Ruth are both Christians and that they have married Christians.

A bit of a silly question, I think, but do you have time for hobbies?

Richard: Old cars, motor cycles, things mechanical! I relax when what I am doing is “hands on” – washing cars, doing jobs which do not take too long (like decorating!), etc. I love chatting to people in the village and often tell them I am going to clear out the garage!!! (Margaret explained at this point that Richard does hoard things, but the reason for this is that during his childhood his things were just given away without him knowing!)

Margaret: I love to do cross stitch – in fact I love to stitch; embroidery, patchwork, dressmaking as well. Also I like gardening and reading. We like going out together and, as we are members of the National Trust, we do visit a lot of interesting places.

Do you have a special Bible verse?

Richard: 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – The reason why this is special is, as a boy when we were at boarding school, from the age of 8 onwards, we used to go to church three times on a Sunday, and above one of the doors were the words “Pray Without Ceasing”. All these years later these words are still with me!

Margaret: Psalm 121, because it always reminds me of the Quantock Hills; of days out in the hills as children, Youth Club hikes in the same hills. I love hills and mountains! It was also read at Dad’s funeral and a beautiful gospel version was sung at Ruth’s wedding. I did not know this was going to happen and when they started I just burst into tears!

Line Dancing

We started a Line Dancing Club in February, on a Tuesday from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm. To start with I thought it would be a five minute wonder – how wrong I was! The number of people vary – sometimes as low as 11, other times as high as 27. There are more people from outside the church than from inside, which is a good way for non-Christians to get to know us. We learn new dances each week and also go over the old ones. The atmosphere is lovely and I think everyone enjoys it; at least I hope they do.
Mary Mifsud

When I heard Mary talking about teaching Line Dancing I said to her “When are you going to start?” “If you would like to organize it, I will teach,” was Mary’s reply! I spoke to Frank and then to Peter, then to Mark and Hannah and they all agreed we could do it. We decided on a Tuesday and Richard very kindly put out posters around the village, showing the cost to be a donation of £2.00, which would be sent to the local hospice. Both Mary and Frank had always wanted it to be free of charge so a second poster was put around to this effect! On the following Tuesday, when people came and were told it was free, they all said they would like to give something. So now a pot is placed beside the register for those wishing to leave a donation. On Wednesday, 1st April, I sent off a cheque for £200.00 to the Greenwich and Bexley Hospice! We have on average 20-22 people a week; bridges are being built and new friendships have been made. Made with people we would not have known, had it not been for Line Dancing. Mary’s efforts and hard work has created an evening of fellowship.
Betty Smith

Why I started Family Fitness?

Charlotte Waters writes:

My passion in life is to make a difference in people's lives. With the plans of the Community Centre going up, I felt I really wanted to be part of it somehow. Families don't spend enough quality time together, and studies show that we are getting more unhealthy. God gave us bodies to look after. So I guess I wanted to help create a positive, friendly and enjoyable environment that helps with these things. We have had up to 25 people joining us all on one day, ranging from 3yrs-72yrs. It's been wonderful to see so many families coming together and having fun. We even have families that have popped over from Thamesmead too! Andrew, Nadine and the kids have been such a blessing in so many ways. The work they have done, in getting so many who live in their street to come along, is just incredible. I pray it keeps growing and we get to meet more and more families.

Jubilee Debt Campaign

Several months ago in this newsletter, (December 2008), I expressed my concerns about the effects that our current recession would have on further delaying the debt cancellation processes to the world’s poorest countries. Upon reading an editorial article in the JDC newsletter, another (ironic, immoral?) aspect of this issue was pointed out to me:

This financial crisis that is gripping Europe and North America has been caused by the same (or very similar) unregulated financial practices that created the Third World debt crisis back in the 1970’s and 80’s.

However, whilst the leaders of the worlds richest countries including our own Prime Minister have between them found billions of $’s to bail out the reckless bankers, the world’s poorest countries continue to suffer the effects of that earlier – and still unresolved, crisis.

Do you, like me, find that totally immoral?

Refresh Family Centre

We have for so long wanted to reach out and connect with our community and to use our buildings that are so well placed in the centre of the village shopping area. So the vision set before us was to create a new organisation (our baby) that many would find easy to join. The name will be “Refresh Family Centre” or “Refresh Community Centre” - we are not sure yet. Lots of healthy / wholesome activities will be provided by various partners who will join us. Its mission will be:

1. To be a safe place for people to meet and make friends and gather information
2. To provide a wide range of educational and training experiences for the local community.
3. To encourage community cohesion, recreation and entertainment.

So are you beginning to get the idea? Belvedere Baptist Church is giving birth to a new “organisation”. “I understand that”, you may be saying, “but what is all this about a pregnancy test?” Let’s explain: we want to be sure that this is God’s will for us. It is a big step. Such a project would really need a full time manager. So we are going to take a week out as a church family in the not too distant future to ask God if this is His will for us. As part of the week we are going to take a “thank offering” with the goal of raising at least £20,000. The elders and deacons felt that if we raised that amount of money it would be a clear indication that we were on the right track and we would feel confident to move ahead and appoint a manager. Preparations would then begin for the opening of the REFRESH CENTRE.

Frank Payne