2016 dec

Catalyst
THE MAGAZINE OF  
HAYES FREE CHURCH (U.R.C.)
December 2016 -
January 2017

HAYES FREE CHURCH
111, Pickhurst Lane, Hayes, Kent BR2 7HU
Sunday Services. 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.
We are a member of the United Reformed Church.
We believe in Justice and Peace.
Contents : - Items not covered by the diary of events.  
Seasonal Services; 2
Notes on Preachers 3
Church Notices 3-5
Women’s C. Coffee; Ed’s notes 6
Sunday Eve Services; Cartoon 7
Your Page - Greetings 9
URC Christmas Letter 12-13
Card Sale & Fair;  
Goodness & Mercy 14
Notice Board 15
Website of the month 16
Christmas Tree voucher 17
The way things once were; 
Food for thought 18
An Editor’s Favourite 19
A Christmas Poem 20-21
Called Home 24
Church Organisations IBC 
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This month's website: -
This month, I am passing on information about Christian Resources
Exhibitions, part of the Bible Society. Their website is www.creonline.co.uk
Now, turn to Page 14 for more information. Editor
————————————————————————————————
Copy for the February 2017 edition needs to be handed in by  
Sunday, the 8th of January.
Please submit items in good time
You can leave copy in the "R" Pigeon Hole for Christine Rees to collect, or
hand it directly to her on a Sunday morning.
For now, You can e-mail copy to richardmbrown6@gmail.com Richard will
forward your emails to Christine.
Thank You. Editor  
Principal Contacts
Interim Moderator: Rev. Dr Peter Stevenson
Church Secretary: Mrs Mavis Righini Tel: 020 8462 1168
Treasurer: Mr. Simon Narracott Tel: 020 8462 2004
Lettings Secretary: Mrs Undine Connolly Tel: 020 8776 0108
Church Website www.hayesfreechurch.com
Catalyst
Editor: Mr Richard Brown

Letter from the Church Secretary
Dear all,
As I look forward to Christmas, I do so with joy and anticipation.  
I particularly look forward to the services, when hopefully more folk will join
us as we celebrate Christ's birth all those years ago, in that draughty cattle
stall. What a way to enter our world, a baby who would become our King, but
such a humble beginning.
God so often raises up and uses those with very little stature. I'm sure we
all can think of somebody, I think of Mother Teresa.
Let us all be receptive to God's call no matter when it comes. God will
give us the strength we will need.
Wishing you all a happy and blessed Christmas followed by a healthy and
peaceful New Year.
With Christian love
Mavis
!1

Seasonal Services
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In December, all of the evening services will take place in the the church.
Then, in January, the venue will revert to the Elders Vestry which is
accessed from side door in Hilldown Road.
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Notes on Preachers
Are on the next page. 
December 2016
4th 10.30 am - Morning Service - Tony Russell
6.30 pm - Evening Service - Alan Kienlen  
with Pickhurst Juniors
11th 10.30 am - Morning Service - Rev. Bryn Thomas
6.30 pm - Evening Service - Rev. Bryn Thomas -  
CTH End of Christmas Tree Festival
17th Sat 6.00 pm - Compassionate Friends Service -  
Rev. Bryn Thomas
6.30 pm - Carol Service - Mavis Righini
25th 10.30 am - Christmas Day Service - Rev. Bryn Thomas
January 2017
1st 10.30 am - Morning Service - Marion Moore
6.30 pm - Holy Communion -
6.30 pm - Evening Service -
15th 10.30 am - Morning Service - Jim Holman
6.30 pm - Evening Service - CTH  
at St.Mary's Hayes Parish Church
22nd 10.30 am - Holy Communion - Rev. Fiona Thomas.
6.30 pm - Evening Service - Duncan Wilson
29th 10.30 am - Morning Service -
6.30 pm - Evening Service - Alan Kienlen
February 2017
5th 10.30 am - Morning Service - Rev. Geoff Larcombe
6.30 pm - Holy Communion - Judy Davies
!2

News of the Church Family
Announcements are welcome :-
BMD - Changes of address, etc.
There were no announcements at the time of going to press.
Your prayers would be appreciated for: -
Please give the editor announcements in good time.
Church Meetings
The next Elders' meetings (Tuesdays) will be at 7.00 pm in the small hall on
the 6th of December, the 3rd of January and the 7th of February.
The next Church meeting will be after the morning service at 12.00 noon on
the 22nd of January. There will not be a meeting in December.
Women's Contact Group
We will be meeting for our monthly meals at the Warren Sports Ground,
Hayes at 12.30 pm on Monday 5th December, and (to be confirmed) on the
9th of January.  
All ladies are welcome.
Sylvia Mack
!3
Notes on Preachers
• Tony Russell is very well known to us. He is a long-standing member of
HFC.
• Alan Kienlen is well known to us. He was church secretary and an elder
at HFC. He is an accredited Lay Preacher from Emmanuel URC.
• Rev Bryn Thomas needs no introduction to many of us as he was a
former organist and choir master at HFC. He took early retirement from
teaching to become an ordained minister and still lives in West
Wickham.
• Mavis is well known to those who attend the evening services at HFC.
• Mrs Marion Moore is a Lay Preacher from our sister church - Emmanuel
U.R.C., West Wickham.
• Jim Holman is a Methodist preacher. He has conducted services at HFC
in the past.
• Rev. Fiona Thomas will be conducting her first service at HFC.
• Duncan Wilson will be conducting his first service at HFC.
• Rev’d Geoff Larcombe is a local representative from the Bible Society.
He spoke at the Bible celebration supper in the spring of 2011.
• Mrs Judy Davies is well known to us. She has conducted services at
HFC on a number of occasions.

Saturday Fellowship
Dates for Saturday fellowship are January the 7th and February the 4th.
Time 2.30pm and venue Barbara Jones’s home. 
We will NOT be meeting in December.  
The leader is Martin Nunn. You are welcome to join us.
Men's Group
The next Men's Group meeting will be at 8.00 pm on Thursday 5th of
January for a New Year’s meal in the Small Hall organised by Alistair Wilson.
Any men interested in attending please let Alistair know by December 31st if
they intend to attend.
Ministry of Flowers
Thank you to those who will be providing flowers in December and January.
A big thank you to those who kindly arrange the flowers when needed.
After the Sunday morning services, the flowers are distributed to members
and friends, bringing joy to the recipients.
Mavis Righini
Hayes Mothers' & Toddlers' Club
We welcome all babies and children under school age, accompanied by their
parents, grandparents or carers, to our club on Friday afternoons between 2
and 4pm during term time. The fee is £1 per family - tea, squash and biscuits
are provided. This is a time when adults can meet up, while the children in
their care are busy playing with toys and activities in the company of other
children.
Our Autumn sessions will finish on the 2nd of December for the Christmas
holiday.
Our Spring term will start on 6th January 2017
Wendy Smith
December
4th - Alex McNelly i.m.o. Audrey 11th - Pat Marshall
18th - 25th -
January
1st - 8th - Gilly & Chris Wood  
i.m.o. Matthew
15th - Mavis Righini 22nd - Amanda  
i.m.o. baby Sasha and  
Amanda's mother  
Tricia Martin
29th - Ruth White i.m.o. her mother
!4

Messy Church
This meets on the 4th Wednesday of every month in the church from 3.30 to
4.30 pm, and children from 2 to 12 years are welcome.
Book Club
We will be meeting at 2.00pm on Wednesday the 7th of of December, and
Wednesday the 4th of January.
Notice Sheets - December and January
December
4th Joan Smith 8462 3920
11th & 18th Pamela Collison 8658 0748
25th Brenda Cordingley 8462 3867
January
1st Brenda Cordingley
8th & 15th Joan Smith
22nd & 29th Pamela Collison
Then in February
5th Brenda Cordingley
If you require items to be included in the notice sheets, please contact the
appropriate person by the previous Tuesday.
————————————————————————————
Women's Fellowship
Meetings are in the small hall at 2.00 p.m. (unless otherwise stated),on
Tuesdays and finish about 3.30 p.m.
For December: -
6th T B A.
13th Christmas Tea.
The 2017 Programme hadn’t been finalised when Catalyst went to press.
However, meetings will start in mid January. The tentative dates are as
follows: -
January - 17, 24, 31. February - 7.
Details of further meetings were unknown at the time of going to press.
MINI-AMBULANCE  
Members who use this service are asked to phone Marion Swanborough on
8462 3981 by 9.00 am on any Tuesday when they are unable to come to the
meetings.
As always, we welcome all ladies to our meetings. Please come along for a
pleasant afternoon. We do have a very varied programme with plenty to
interest everyone.  
Marion 
!5

Women's Contact Coffee Morning
As the Saturday coffee mornings have now finished due to lack of
support, we have closed the bank account. The closing amount
was £125.58 which we have given to Hope Health Action (this was
previously called Haiti Hospital Appeal) for life saving healthcare
for the world's most vulnerable people.
Daphne.
Written on behalf of The Contact Group
The Fairtrade Sunday Stall
We hold a fair trade stall after the morning service on the 2nd and 4th
Sunday of each month.
The stall will be held on the 11th of December. Because the 4th Sunday is
Christmas Day, there will not be a stall then. The stall will then be on the
15th and 29th of January.
Do pop by and check what we have for sale. There are some appetising
snacks, along with the usual food and non-food lines.
Also, don't forget that we have a range of Christmas and greetings cards for
sale.
Please continue to support your stall.
Richard & Barbara.
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Editor's Notes
Dear Reader,
This is the last edition of Catalyst which I will be putting together. It’s hard to
believe that I first took up the editor’s keyboard and mouse mid 2007!
Over the years, I have learned a lot about the Church members and friends
and Church life.
Thank you for all of your contributions advice and assistance in so many
ways. Without all of you, Catalyst would not have been produced and
distributed on a regular basis.
The experience has been most rewarding.
I am confident that Catalyst has been passed on to a safe pair of hands with
Christine Rees. I am looking forward to enjoying Catalyst as a reader.
Finally, may I wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Richard Brown
!6

The Sunday Evening Services.
—————————
I want to say a very big thank you to Mavis Righini for continuing to organise
our evening services and for Martin’s faithful appearance each week on the
piano.
I know we are few in numbers, but Jesus Himself said where 1 or 2 are
gathered together there shall I also be. We have had some very thought
provoking services and real friendships are developing in our small group.
I know times might have to change but THANK YOU Mavis and Martin for
turning up each Sunday evening for "us" few and giving an evening service
I really do appreciate your efforts thank you.
Gill Bran
————————————-
We have been given a beautiful black lectern which the Sunday evening
worshippers give thanks for. It is used at each evening service.
Mavis
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!7

!8
8
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 1.30 —3.00pm
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: 2.30 —4.30PM 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: 07989 192928 )
6.30pm 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 TOGETHER IN HAYES
WITH MUSICIANS FROM HAYES SCHOOL
All the money raised will go to:
www.hayesfreechurch.com carersbromley.org.uk

Your Page
Greetings
—————————————————————————
WISHING ALL MY FRIENDS AT HFC A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND A
HEALTHY NEW YEAR.
Daphne Cummings
—————————————————
Every Christmas and New Year blessings to the Church Family from
John and Margaret Robinson
—————————————————
Wishing all our friends at
Hayes Free Church
a Happy Christmas
and Peaceful New Year
from Joan and Bob Cook
———————————————
Happy Christmas to everyone at HFC
and best wishes for a happy 2017.
Judith & David Stoner
—————————————————
To all my friends in my Church family with best wishes for Christmas and the New
Year.
May we continue to reach out to each other in love & share Peace and Tranquility of
the Holy Spirit within our Church.
X 
Jean Ritchie
————————————
To All my friends at H.F.C.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Joan Carter.
!9

!10
Bromley Central Library
LUNCHTIME
CONCERTS 2016
W I T H
A D R I A N B O Y N T O N
AND FRIENDS
25th Season of this outstanding series
THURSDAYS AT 12 NOON 
22nd DECEMBER Christmas Cracker
In the Hall, 4th floor Bromley Library
Admission by programme at the door £7
(tickets i n (advance n o t required)
For further details call 07961 346697
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Footnote: -
These are most enjoyable concerts. Adrian Boynton
brings along some very talented musicians with
promising futures. Do come and support them.  
At the Christmas concert there may be a small choir as
well.
Ruth White

!12
Synod Moderator The Revd Nicola Furley-Smith 020 8688 3730 moderator@urcsouthern.org.uk
Synod Clerk The Revd Derrick Dzandu-Hedidor 020 8660 3415 synodclerk@urcsouthern.org.uk
Synod Treasurer Mr Ian Fleming 020 8337 8581 treasurer@urcsouthern.org.uk
Christmas 2016
Dear Friends,
Last Christmas I was given a Fitbit in the vain hope that I might
walk more. Walking is not only good for your health I was told
but it has a biblical imperative! The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light, so says the prophet Isaiah. The truth is that
the people of God did an awful lot of walking. They walked all
over ancient Israel sharing the good news of God’s love, offering
hope to those who suffer, proclaiming freedom and liberation to all who are oppressed. But the trouble
is that often it is hard to walk well when you have a rock in your shoe1.
When there is a rock in your shoe, it digs into your foot and makes every step a bit painful. It can cause
you to limp; it brings frustration. And so, on a long journey, when you realise that you have a rock in your
shoe, what should you do? You need to take that stone out of your shoe. And once it is gone, then you
can continue on your way - then you can walk forward free from the stone that causes you pain, and
slows down your progress.
The problem is, we often carry stones in our shoes, as it makes it harder to follow Jesus. We are supposed
to be on a journey of faith. We are supposed to walk forward in love. We are supposed to stand on our
own two feet and travel along the paths of faithfulness. But there are these stones in our shoes, and they
cause us to stop. To sit down. To give up. The stones in our shoes made it hard for us to fully follow
Jesus.
And, as we approach Advent and Christmas, we are reminded that, in the Incarnation, Jesus, the Christ-
child, the Light of the world, came to liberate us from the stones in our shoes so that we can work for the
liberation of the world. We need to be freed from the stones in shoes so that we can bring freedom and
hope and love and peace into a troubled world. We need to find God’s liberation, God’s freedom in our
lives so that we can be messengers of that liberation in God’s world. Perhaps, this year, in 2016, we need
to hear that especially this Christmas after the year we have had: wars, earthquakes, elections and exits to
name but a few.
This Christmas, we will once again sing with yearning hope, for we live in dark and fearful times. Nation
invades nation, leaving terror and destruction in their wake. Our hearts go out to the people of Syria.
Angry mobs attack each other on streets and give birth to still more bitterness and fear. Parents run
themselves ragged trying ensure that it is not them and their families who fall through the cracks into
redundancy, poverty and despair. The dark, dark world is constantly divided into winners and losers, and
the losers are sacrificed for the security and glorification of the winners. And anyone who shines a
challenging light onto the dark violence of it all is denounced as a threat and a loser and is destroyed.
Dark and fearful times. But the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in
the land of deep darkness - on them light has shined.
1
Thank you to Revd. Kari Nicewander, a UCC minister, with whom I walked in faith this
summer, for the imagery of the rock in my shoe.
Synod office – East Croydon URC – Addiscombe Grove – Croydon CR0 5LP
Telephone 020 8688 3730 Fax No 020 8688 2698
Website - www.urcsouthern.org.uk
Southern Synod

!13
Synod Moderator The Revd Nicola Furley-Smith 020 8688 3730 moderator@urcsouthern.org.uk
Synod Clerk The Revd Derrick Dzandu-Hedidor 020 8660 3415 synodclerk@urcsouthern.org.uk
Synod Treasurer Mr Ian Fleming 020 8337 8581 treasurer@urcsouthern.org.uk
So here we are - living in light or darkness or to use the metaphor of stones in our shoes – living where
the sins and lies hold us back from walking in the light. First of all, we need to tell the truth. There is
violence and pain in our world. Power is being used in abusive and terrible ways. We are living in systems
of injustice and oppression. We need to acknowledge the truth.
Secondly, we need to look at ourselves. Where are the stones in our shoes? Do we have a fear of people
who are different than us? Do we allow fear to control interactions with other human beings? Do we
allow prejudice, racism, judgement to stop us from offering the Love which came down at Christmas?
Or is it a desire to be liked? We are so afraid of hurting people’s feelings that we do not speak truth about
injustice, racism and violence. We want everyone to like us, so we refuse to do the radical work of
following Jesus. Or is it selfishness with money and time? We don’t want to truly invest in the kingdom of
God. We don’t want to fully offer our time and money to changing the world. Or is it something else?
What other stones, keep you from finding the Christ-child?
The story we celebrate this Christmas is not a safe one. From the very beginning there were few who
could accept it. Every version of the story attests to this. John says he came to his own but his own
people did not accept him. Luke says that even as he was being born, no room could be found for him.
Matthew says the very mention of him threw the king into a murderous fit, and the child and his family
had to flee.
Perhaps we have stood still in darkness for so long that we need to move out into the light to which
Isaiah attests. We need to walk towards those who are oppressed and hurting. We need to walk towards
those who are excluded and shunned. We need to walk towards those who are hungry and thirsty. We
need to walk towards those who are different from us. And in order to do this walking, we need to get
rid of some stones. Then we will find ourselves born anew, born of God, as children of God, full of
grace and truth. And if we begin to do that, if we begin to approach the world with the same humility and
the same astonishing refusal to meet violence with anything but outrageous mercy and resilient love, then
the light will grow brighter and the darkness will retreat a little further. And as we continue to walk in
hope on unhindered by the stones in our shoes, we will indeed be hastening the long awaited day when
the child born for us will rule in endless peace, with justice and with righteousness from this time onward
and forevermore.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Be born in us this Christmas.
With Advent and Christmas blessings,

The Grand Charity Christmas Card Sale and Christmas Fair
————————
It was announced at the morning
service on the 13th of November
that £1,890.44 had been raised.
The total was still rising.
—————————————————————————————————-
Goodness & Mercy
A mum was concerned about her young son walking to school. He didn't
want his mother to walk with him as she wanted to give him the feeling that
he had some independence but yet know that he was safe. So she had an
idea of how to handle it. She asked a neighbour if she would please follow
him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't
notice her.
She said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, and it would
be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, she agreed.
The next school day, the neighbour and her little girl set out following behind
Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbour's girl he knew. She
did this for the whole week.
As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend
noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all
week. Finally she said to Timmy, 'Have you noticed that lady following us to
school all week? Do you know her?' 
Timmy nonchalantly replied, 'Yeah, I know who she is.' The little girl said,
'Well, who is she?'
'That's just Shirley Goodnest,' Timmy replied, 'and her daughter Marcy.'
'Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us?
'Well,' Timmy explained, 'every night my Mum makes me say the 23rd Psalm
with my prayers, and in the Psalm, it says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy
shall follow me all the days of my life', so I guess I'll just have to get used to
it!'
!14

NOTICE BOARD
An Appeal for Jiffy Bags
As Christmas draws closer you may receive gifts in padded jiffy bags.
If you don't reuse them but throw them away, please can I have them.
There is a Schools Christian Essay Annual Competition and masses of
prizes are sent out in all sizes of jiffy bags and this would really help them
keep the cost down.
Many thanks
Mavis Righini
——————————————————————————————————
Notes about December’s services
December’s Parade Service will be a Christmas Gift Service which will
support: -
1. The Whitechapel Mission - Knitted Scarves, hats and gloves are
welcome.
2. The Salvation Army - Toys and toiletries which must NOT be wrapped.
December 17th Sat at 6.00 pm - Compassionate Friends Service will be
taken by Bryn Thomas for families who have lost a child but any member of
the congregation who wishes to attend would be very welcome,
refreshments will be served after the service to enable quiet reflection.
The contact numbers are Gill Wood 0208 462 2444 and Viv Watts 0208 658
8130 in the event of any questions
December 24th Sat - We are not having a Christmas eve service. 
!15

Website of the month: -
I received the following email recently: -
Dear Richard
We are pleased to announce that new owners have been found for
Christian Resources Exhibitions (CRE). It will continue under the
management of a company led by Stephen Goddard who has been involved
in CRE since 1987. A new team is being assembled who have worked on
various aspects of the event for many years, including Gospatric Home as
President (the founder of the exhibition).
The first CRE under new management will be held at the ExCel Events
Centre in London’s Royal Docks from 16 May 2017.
As owners of CRE, Bible Society is grateful for the part it has been able to
play in helping thousands of Christians and churches find important
resources for the maintenance and mission of the local church. It hopes that
it can continue to support you by keeping in touch with you.
However, if you’d prefer not to receive information and offers for Bibles and
other resources to help bring the Bible to life in your church, school or
community, (there is an online link here) to opt-out of the Bible Society
mailing list.
Bible Society’s mission is to offer the Bible to the world and, whilst CRE
helped to achieve this, the exhibition was always much broader than Bible
alone.
We wish the new owners every success and would like to thank you for all
your support.
Derek Hill
Christian Resources Exhibitions
Christian Resources Exhibitions, Stonehill Green, Westlea, Swindon, SN5 7DG
Christian Resources Exhibitions is part of Bible Society (Registered charity 232759)
!16

!17
If you don't want to remove this page from Catalyst,  
the voucher can be collected from the back of the church

The way things once were
————————-
We are finishing 2016 with an extract from The Imperial War Museum’s
pages of reminiscences about the First World War.
Podcasts 38: Christmas at War
I had four Christmases there and the only thing I can remember about the
Christmases was that we had Christmas pudding every Christmas. We had a
ration of Christmas pudding, but what else we had I really don’t know! But
Christmas pudding always remained in my mind. It didn’t matter where you
was, there was a ration of Christmas pudding for you every Christmas. I’d be
scooping it out with a spoon out of the tins; they were big tins holding about
seven pounds, I suppose, all specially made. If somebody said you’ve got to
have a bit of Christmas pudding, no doubt I would I must say, speaking for
myself! We had Christmas pudding every Christmas. I can’t remember what
we had to eat, what the dinner was, but we certainly had afters!
————————————————————————————————
Food for Thought
Notice the little minor things around you, and feel the inner beauty through
all of them. That's what makes your life worth living for.
Ritu Ghatourey
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.
Winston Churchill
Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.
Author Unknown
!18

An Editor’s Favourite
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of
him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty
mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the
students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.
He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the
golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it
was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of
course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was
full.. The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’
The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the
entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the
sand.The students laughed..
'Now,’ said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognise
that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things—your
family, your children, your health, your friends and your favourite passions—
and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be
full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and
your car.. The sand is everything else—the small stuff.
'If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, 'there is no room for the
pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have
room for the things that are important to you.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with
grandparents. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will
always be time to clean the house and mow the lawn.
Take care of the golf balls first—the things that really matter. Set your
priorities. The rest is just sand.
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented.
The professor smiled and said, 'I’m glad you asked.’ The Beer just shows you
that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple
of Beers with a friend.
This story is freely available on the internet. 
!19

A Christmas Poem
This poem was written by a Peacekeeping soldier stationed overseas
T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE
CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE,
MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE
CHIMNEY,
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO,
IN THIS HOME, DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH
SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES,
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT,
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS
DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A
SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR,
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED,
A TRUE BRITISH SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO,
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALISED THE FAMILIES,
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE
SOLDIERS,
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT..
SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD
CELEBRATE,
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM,
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
Continued on the next page….….
!20

From the previous page
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER,
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE,
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT,
A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES,
AND STARTED TO CRY.
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED,
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.."
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL,
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED,
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S
CHILL.
I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE,
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR,
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED
OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON
SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS
SECURE."
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY
FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT..”
!21

December 2016
1 Thu
2 Fri 2.00 pm - Mothers’ & Toddlers’ Group Page 4
7.30 pm - Christmas Tree Festival Opening Concert Page 8
3 Sat 1.00 pm - Christmas Tree Festival Lunchtime Recital Page 8
7.00 pm - Christmas Tree Festival Quiz Night Page 8
4 Sun 10.30 am - Morning Service - Tony Russell
6.30 pm - Evening Service - Alan Kienlen  
with Pickhurst Juniors
5 Mon 12.30 pm - Women’s Contact Group Page 3
7.30 pm - Christmas Tree Festival Concert Page 8
6 Tue 2.00 pm - Women’s Fellowship Page 5
7.00 pm - Elders’ Meeting Page 3
7 Wed 2.00 pm - Book Club Page 5
7.30 pm - Christmas Tree Festival Concert Page 8
8 Thu 7.00 pm - Christmas Tree Festival Film Page 8
9 Fri 7.30 pm - Christmas Tree Festival Entertainment Page 8
10 Sat 7.45 pm - Christmas Tree Festival Concert Page 8
11 Sun 10.30 am - Morning Service - Rev. Bryn Thomas
Followed by Fairtrade stall Page 6
6.30 pm - Evening Service - Rev. Bryn Thomas -  
CTH End of Christmas Tree Festival Page 8
12 Mon
14 Wed
15 Thu
16 Fri
17 Sat 6.00 pm - Compassionate Friends Service -  
Rev. Bryn Thomas
6.30 pm - Carol Service - Mavis Righini
19 Mon
20 Tue
21 Wed
22 Thu
23 Fri
24 Sat
25 Sun 10.30 am - Christmas Day Service - Rev. Bryn Thomas
26 Mon
27 Tue
December 2016
!22

28 Wed 3.30 pm - Messy Church Page 5
29 Thu
30 Fri
31 Sat
December 2016December 2016
January 2017
1 Sun 10.30 am - Morning Service - Marion Moore
6.30 pm - Holy Communion -
2 Mon
3 Tue 7.00 pm - Elders’ Meeting Page 3
4 Wed 2.00 pm - Book Club Page 5
5 Thu 8.00 pm - Men’s Group Page 4
7 Sat 2.30 pm - Saturday Fellowship Page 4
6.30 pm - Evening Service -
9 Mon 12.30 pm - Women’s Contact Group Page 3
10 Tue
11 Wed
12 Thu
14 Sat
15 Sun 10.30 am - Morning Service - Jim Holman
6.30 pm - Evening Service - CTH  
at St.Mary's Hayes Parish Church
16 Mon
18 Wed
19 Thu
21 Sat
22 Sun 10.30 am - Holy Communion - Rev. Fiona Thomas.
12.00 Noon - Church Meeting Page 3
6.30 pm - Evening Service - Duncan Wilson
23 Mon
25 Wed 3.30 pm - Messy Church Page 5
26 Thu
January 2017
!23

————————————————————————————————
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
At the time of going to press, there were no other items for this section.
—————————————————————————————
CALLED HOME
Through all the winding paths of life,
Thou hast been with me all the way,
My Pilot, Friend, and Counsellor,
To lead me to the perfect day.
To see Thy Face, to hear Thy Voice,
And in Thy Presence to rejoice,
In Peace, perfect Peace.
H.J.G.
From A Few Picked Gems
Compiled by J W Brown 
28 Sat
29 Sun 10.30 am - Morning Service -
6.30 pm - Evening Service - Alan Kienlen
30 Mon
January 2017January 2017
February 2017
1 Wed
2 Thu
4 Sat 2.30 pm - Saturday Fellowship Page 4
5 Sun 10.30 am - Morning Service - Rev. Geoff Larcombe
6.30 pm - Holy Communion - Judy Davies
3 Dec 8.00 pm Beckenham Chorale Page 11
22 Dec 12 Noon Lunchtime Concert Page 10
7 Feb 10.30 am Elders’ Meeting Page 3
26 Feb 12 Noon Church Meeting Page 3
!24

CHURCH ORGANISATIONS
——————————————————————————————————————————
NOTE: - Some of the organisations meet once or twice per month. This is indicated by 1st, 2nd,
3rd, 4th. The numbers relate to which week day of the month, NOT the calendar date.  
Day Organisation Contact Phone
Sunday
10.25am Sunday Club Mike Duke 020 8462 5103
Weekdays
9.15 -12.15pm Pre School Group Jayne Carvell 07913 299773
12.15 -12.45pm P/School lunch club
Monday
5.45pm Brownies Sarah Humphrey 020 3539 8113
6.30pm Cubs Brenda Petts 020 8325 3956
12.30pm - 1st Women's Contact Group Sylvia Mack 020 8462 1938
Tuesday
2.00pm Women's Fellowship Marion Swanborough 020 8462 3981
7.15pm Scouts - 1st troop Paul Hasling 020 3236 0083
Wednesday
2.00pm - 1st HFC Book Club Wendy Smith 020 8462 1779
3.30pm - 4th Messy Church Mavis Righini 020 8462 1168
5.30pm Rainbows Jenny Longman 07730 574962
6.00pm Beavers Brenda Petts 020 8325 3956
6.30pm Guides Teresa Cheyne 020 8777 6042
8.00pm Explorers Tom Strachan 07745 813 295
Thursday
5.30pm Brownies Stevie Blair. 020 8325 3469
7.15 - 8.45pm Rangers
7.15pm Scouts - 2nd troop Julia Hart 07518 361038
8.00pm - 3rd Men's Group Bruce Tannock 020 8325 6264
Friday
9.00 - 12.00pm Coffee morning during
term times
2.00pm Mothers & Toddlers Wendy Smith 020 8462 1779
6.30pm Guides Teresa Cheyne 020 8777 6042
Saturday
2.30pm - 1st Saturday Fellowship Martin Nunn 020 8462 5918

Final Thought
A Christmas Prayer
Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
notice that we may share in the song of angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and the worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate and open the door of love all
over the world.  
Let kindness come with every gift and good desires
with every greeting.  
Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ
brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy
children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our
beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven,  
for Jesus' sake.
Amen!
Robert Louis Stevenson

2016 dec

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