april 2021 - media.acny.uk

April 2021

‘They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’

(Revelation 21 verses 3-4).

A Letter From AlysonLast Easter, we were in the midst of the first Coronavirus lockdown. It was unclear how long it would last or what the way forward out of the pandemic would be.

This Easter things are much more hopeful (at least they are as I write at the beginning of March). The vaccine programme is in full swing and we have the outline of how we may be able to return to something approaching normal. Thinking about how all this looks and feels, it’s like watching the dawn breaking and knowing that the darkness of night is coming to an end or seeing the first signs of spring in our gardens and knowing that the cold of winter is coming to an end.

However, if we consider the coming of day and the coming of spring for a moment, we realise that the hope they offer is not permanent. The light of day will be followed by the darkness of night, and the warmth of spring and summer will be succeeded by the cold of autumn and winter.

In similar fashion, when we do return to something akin to normal post lockdown, the problems in our own lives, and in the life of the world, that existed before the pandemic will still be there. Death and disease will still be present, and sin will continue to damage our relationships with other people and cut us off from God.

From a Christian perspective this is because ‘normal’ is not normal. Things are not how God intended them to be when he created the world and humanity. Something has gone tragically wrong, and death, disease and sin are the consequences.

Nevertheless, there is still hope. Christians know that the ‘normal’ we now experience will not last forever. A time is coming when death, disease and sin will be no more, and all will be as it should be.

cont’d. overleaf

CONTENTS (Click below for your article)

2 A Letter From Alyson3 Re-opening For Worship4 Calendar5 Parish Officers

■ ADVERTISING INDEX

■ NEwS fROm ST JOhN’S & ST mIlDRED’S

9 Thursday Fellowship10 Kettle’s Kolumn: Joanna

At The Tomb11 Supporting Caring Communities13 Holy Week Services at

St John’s with St Mildred’s

■ mEOPhAm NEwS16 Meopham Parish Council18 South Street Baptist Church

■ AROUND ThE VIllAGES21 North Kent Embroiderers’ Guild22 Meopham Active Retirement

Association (Mepara)22 Meopham Library Writing Group23 Rotary Group of Gravesend

and Meopham23 ARAMAD – Active Retirement

Association (Meopham and District)

24 Swanley and North Downs Lions

■ A QUESTION Of fAITh27 Why Do We End Our

Prayers with ‘Amen’?

cont’d. overleaf.

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CONTENTS cont’d.

■ fROm ThE ASSOCIATION Of ChURCh EDITORS

30 Easter – The Most Important Annual Celebration For All Christians

■ ADVERTISING RATES

■ REVIEw TEAm

A Letter from Alyson cont’d.

How do we know this? We know this because Jesus rose from the dead on the first Easter Day. His resurrection was not just the temporary resuscitation of one individual, like the raising of Lazarus recorded in John chapter 11. Rather, in Paul’s words it was the ‘first fruits’ of the new creation (1 Corinthians 15 verse 23). Just as the first fruits of the harvest show that the rest of the harvest will follow, so Jesus’ resurrection into a permanently new form of life points forward to the day when God will renew the whole of creation and all who put their trust in God will live joyfully in God’s presence for ever.

‘They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ (Revelation 21 verses 3-4).

We do not know exactly what will happen after the Coronavirus pandemic comes to an end. What we do know, because Easter tells us so, is that one day God will bring about a wonderful new normal in which all that is wrong will be put right forever. Now that is worth celebrating! So, join us on Easter Sunday and hear more. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Hallelujah!

Wishing everyone a joyful, bright and hopeful Easter. Alyson Davie

Re-opening For WorshipSt John’s Meopham with St Mildred’s Nurstead churches hope to be back worshipping in church as well as continuing to support those at home with worship by post and email from Palm Sunday 28 March. Restrictions will continue to apply namely: - • Face coverings must be worn on all church property both

inside and outside.• 2 metre social distancing needs to be maintained.• Please keep your social contact both inside and outside the

church to just those people in your household or support bubble. • Hand Sanitiser is available for your use as you enter and leave

the church building. • We keep contact details (name, phone number/ email address)

for 21 days to enable Test & Trace for all those attending. • Seating in St John’s and St Mildred’s is limited, so booking for

each service is necessary by email [email protected] or telephoning Ally Merry on 01474 813106.

• Booking is open from Monday 9am – Wednesday 5pm each week for the following midweek or Sunday worship.

Return to contents pageÎCredit: https://unsplash.com/@thesollers

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Return to contents pageÎ

*Services at St John’s unless otherwise indicated

MARCH28 Palm Sunday 9:45am Morning Worship 11:30am Family Service (St Mildred’s)

APRIL1 Maundy Thursday 7.30pm Joint Holy Communion

2 Good Friday 10:30am Joint All Age Worship 2:00pm Joint Reflection at the Cross (St Mildred’s)

4 Easter Sunday 9:45am Easter Communion 11:30am Easter Communion (St Mildred’s)

11 9:45am All Age Worship 11:30am Mattins (St Mildred’s)

18 8:00am Holy Communion (St Mildred’s) 9:45am Morning Worship

25 9:45am Morning Worship 11:30am Family Service (St Mildred’s)

APRIl CAlENDAR

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PARISH OFFICERS FOR ST JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH CHURCH, MEOPHAM AND ST MILDRED’S PARISH CHURCH, NURSTEAD

Rector: The Revd Canon Alyson Davie, The Rectory, Shipley Hills Road, Meopham, (812068) Email: [email protected]

Lay Ministers (Readers): Clive Adams: (812566)

Pastoral Assistant: Jennifer Giles: (812706)

Evangelist: Veronica Rees: (812952 Email: [email protected])

Parish Administrator: Allison Merry: St. John’s Centre, Wrotham Road, Meopham DA13 0AA. (01474) 813106 Email: [email protected] Open: Monday & Thursday: 10am-1pm, plus Saturday morning: 9am-11.30am

ST JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH CHURCH, MEOPHAMwww.stjohnsmeopham.co.uk

Church Warden: Parochial Church Council:

Lay Chairman: Dennis Fairweather

Secretary: Peter Kettle

Treasurer: Jackie Hunter

Members: Ruth Blake, Anne Crouch, Roger Wisdom, Jeff Richards, Sarah Richards, Linda Sims, Jill Kettle.

Deanery Synod Jenny Wood and Veronica Rees Representatives:

Safeguarding Officer: Pat Shelbrooke: (01732 823335)

Building Blocks: Ann Mellor: (813960)

Bell Ringers Captain: John Gander

Thursday Fellowship: Jennifer Giles: (812706)

ST MILDRED’ S PARISH CHURCH, NURSTEAD

Church Wardens:

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

Secretary: Ann Ellson

Treasurer: Hales Vaughan, Woodside, Wrotham Road, Meopham (816602)

Members: Mary Boxall, Ann Ellson, Mark Ellson, Sylvia Moore, Geoff Simmons

Deanery Synod Hales VaughanRepresentative:

Organists: Mick Norman. BA (Hons) Dip. Mus. (Open) (813787) Margaret Day. (813554), John Rowland

Church Flowers:

PARISh OffICERS

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Please support the local businesses that support the Review!Let them know where you found their advertisement.

Bathrooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nightingale Bathrooms – Walk-in Showers (8)

Builders, Carpenters etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F.P. Building Contractors (20)

Catering Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Just Sara (15)

Chartered Accountants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Metsons (15)

Cottage Accommodation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nurstead Court (8)

Decorators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Green Decor Ltd (26)

Design, Stationery & Print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .North Kent Design (29)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Singlewell Stationery & Print (25)

Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Meopham Dental Care (19)

Electrical Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .All Wiring Matters (29)

Elderly, care for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chestnuts (20) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vitality Home Care (33)

Foot Health Practitioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Helen Wood – Mobile (26)

Funeral Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lewis Solomon (33). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephen P Gay (26). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Welham Jones (32)

Garden Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Green Thumb (14)

Halls for Hire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Culverstone Community Centre (34). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Meopham Village Hall (28). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. John’s Centre (7)

Household Repairs, Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I.G. Everett (28)

Kitchens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Beautiful Kitchens (14)

Picture Framing etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Craft Frames (29)

Plumbing, Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gas-Safety.com (34)

Printing, Stationery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Copy Shoppe (26)

Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prime Property Protection (25)

Tuition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kathy North - Maths Tutor (29)

Watch & Clockmakers & Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.J. Leach (28)

ADVERTISING INDEX

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St John’s CentreRooms of various sizes

available for hireFully carpeted rooms

Excellent kitchen facilities

Suitable for meetings, courses and children’s parties

Call the Parish Office to book on 01474 813106, orEmail: [email protected]

St John’s CentreRooms of various sizes

available for hireFully carpeted rooms

Excellent kitchen facilities

Suitable for meetings, courses and children’s parties

Call the Parish Office to book on 01474 813106, orEmail: [email protected]


NEwS fROm ST JOhN’S wITh ST mIlDRED’S

Thursday FellowshipIt is a joy to wish you all a Happy and Blessed Easter, with all the hope of this precious season.

I want to explain to our members that if we open in April, it must be by invitation only to adhere to guidelines and control the numbers. I will invite first those who have minimum social contact. We hope by June/July, we will be open fully. Please be understanding, but to open for some is better than not at all, isn’t it?

As I am writing, we hear that the long 5-year prison sentence of Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe has come to an end but her release to fly home is not sanctioned. Also, Pope Francis is making the first ever Papal visit to Iraq to join with the senior Shia religious Leader Ali al-Sistani, to support greater progress towards both human and religious tolerance and understanding between religious and ethnic minorities. These include the remaining 400,000 Christian minority, much depleted by sectarian wars and Isis attacks over recent years. Perhaps this puts the impact of Covid 19 in a different perspective.

Leaving aside the profound sorrow so many families have experienced it is true that there are so many individuals and nations where life is a constant, inhuman struggle to survive and make sense of the endless violence and disruption caused by the abuse of power. We still have much to enjoy and be grateful for. For many of us this will be in our gardens, with the promise of new seeds being sown.

This poem catches the mystery and sense of purpose the hope of Spring gives us.

‘The Miracle‘ by Isabel MackeyThree small seeds, as dry as rustLie upon the sun-warmed dust –

Though you pierce their hardness through Nothing will peep out at you;

Though you crush them, you will seeNothing being, or to be.

cont’d. overleaf.


Thursday Fellowship cont’d.

Yet, safe hidden from your eyes,In one seed a great tree lies

From whose branches springing tallBirds shall send their mating call

Nor shall wood-men rob its shade‘Till new centuries be made.

This brown kernel, hard and sweetHolds a spear of springing wheat

Which, when one brief summer’s doneCounts a score where now is oneSo that in your hand lies curledFields of gold to span the world.

This third seed, a tiny thingHides the rose that poets sing

Tender leaves which softly partFreeing from their crimson heartAll the gathered fragrance shed

By a million gardens dead.

See, the rain with padded feet,Turns the warm dust dark and sweet,

Hiding all that none may tellEarth’s most lovely miracle –

Three brown seeds that soon will beFruit and flower and a tree!

Joanna At The TombFollowing is a revised version of a story I wrote about ten years ago, which imagines what happened on Easter morning from the point of the view of one of the women, Joanna, who discovered the empty tomb.

I am an old woman, widow of my beloved Chuza, sitting in this kitchen with flies buzzing in the summer heat. Telling my story again now, to that doctor who is writing a record of those times, has brought back such powerful memories.

At the time it had felt like an ending in crushing failure. But then we discovered that it was a new beginning! We women had gone to the tomb in the early hours that morning to lay out the teacher’s body properly. There hadn’t been time on Friday as the Sabbath began. We were still in shock, numb with the horror of what had happened, exhausted after two sleepless nights, confused, frightened.

I had been a follower all the way from Galilee. It started when my husband, a steward in the royal court, heard of the healing miracles Jesus had carried out and took me to him. He healed me – so after years of pain I could lead a full life again.

What a life it was! There was quite a big group of us women around him. The men did much of the teaching and healing and we did the “women’s work”. Some of us, like me, bought and paid for supplies and lodgings, putting our treasure where our hearts were. We didn’t get much credit for our support – most of the people around Jesus, and especially the Pharisees, ignored or looked down on us. But he really treated us well. He was so kind and encouraging and we all loved him.

cont’d. overleaf.


KETTlE’S KOlUmN

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Kettle’s Kolumn: Joanna At The Tomb cont’d.

Maybe we paid more attention to what he was saying than the men did, because I did really keep this hope burning faintly that the prophesies would be fulfilled and he would rise from the dead. We didn’t talk about it as we walked through the garden to the tomb, just as it was getting light, but I think there was a spark we cradled and shared there in the silence.

As we got closer we could see the big stone that had blocked the entrance to the tomb had been rolled away. The guards that had been stationed there since Friday night were nowhere to be seen. There was a bright glow coming from within the tomb, and when we looked in our hearts were filled with joy. He had risen! He had gone! There was going to be a happy ending to the story, as he’d promised us. And it was us women - the unseen, unheard helpers - who were first to know the good news. The last were the first, just like he said.

Of course, when we told them what we had found, the men didn’t believe us.

This story is based on two passages in Luke’s Gospel: chapter 8 verses 1-3 and chapter 24, verses 1-11

Supporting Caring CommunitiesOver recent years St John’s has provided financial support to two UK charities helping vulnerable people in community living schemes. L’Arche London works with people with

learning disabilities in eight supported living homes, while Emmaus provides a home and other support for the homeless in Strood. Following are recent reports on their activities from Lucy Winter, Community Leader and Director at L’Arche London and Anne Nicholson, St John’s link person with Emmaus Medway.

L’Arche LondonWhile we can’t be certain of what the future holds, we do have lots going on. Our day services have opened up again but at a reduced capacity, therefore only

welcoming in a few people for a few hours during the week. This is to ensure that we are adhering to strict infection control measures and minimising the risk of Covid. During Covid, we have been running many of our events and activities online, including our Easter and Christmas celebrations. One of our Community members, Richard, has won an award as a Coronavirus Learning Disability and Autism Leader for his dedication to advocating for people with a learning disability. He has been interviewed for BBC news twice, talking about the importance of people with learning disabilities being vaccinated as a priority. This currently isn’t that case.

cont’d. overleaf.


‘A painting by Derek, a member of the L’Arche London Community’

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Supporting Caring Communities cont’d.

Walking Together: L’Arche London will be taking part in event where L’Arche Communities walk in aid of L’Arche Communities around the world. This event will take place on Saturday 19th June 2021. Please email [email protected] for more information.

Covid-19 has intensified the need for more space, particularly at Gothic Lodge, where we run many of our day services. We have a large area of rather neglected garden and now urgently need to improve this external space, erecting a cabin, landscaping and creating a sensory garden, to help us meet current/future needs and open out additional space for community interaction. This project will drastically improve the quality of life for people living together in the Community. The regenerated garden will be a source of peace, joy, therapy and learning for people with learning disabilities, while the new cabin will enable us to host Covid-safe visits, as well as dance, storytelling, drama, yoga and craft, making a profound difference to the emotional wellbeing of both members and their families.

To find out more, visit the website: www.larchelondon.org.uk/

Emmaus MedwayEmmaus has been one of St John’s Outward Giving charities since 2018, and has a base right on our doorstep in Strood. Its aim is to deal with homelessness and to help those living on the streets who come to them seeking a way to get their lives back on track. This involves providing a shelter, a safe place to live, companionship, training in suitable skills and a search for a job according to ability. Since 2012, when the Strood centre was set up, 400 people have made their way there.

Emmaus Medway has various means of fund-raising; and one which usually brings in a good income is their furniture shop. This provides some employment, including drivers of the van which goes out collecting home items offered for the shop. There is no charge for the service. At the moment none of this is happening due to the restrictions of lockdown, but an early return to ‘normality’ will no doubt be very welcome.

Address: Emmaus Medway, 243 High Street, Strood ME4 4BQ. Shop tel. no. 01634 827698

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[email protected] www.beautifulkitchens.co.uk

Our one-stop-shop includes all aspects of:

• 3D CAD design & planning • Building works • Plumbing• Electrics • Tiling • Wood/granite/laminate worktops• All major brands of appliances and sanitary ware

FREE Design Consultation01474 556202


Annual Parish Meeting – 27th April 2021This year, the Annual Parish Meeting will take a very different format as we will be holding it virtually. The meeting will be shorter than usual, as we will not be including speakers, but members of the public are very welcome to attend and ask questions. If you have any questions, we would appreciate it if you could email them to the Clerk in advance at [email protected]. We will be producing an annual report this year. Details of the agenda including the time and Zoom link will be available in mid-April.

Litter in MeophamWe have noticed an increased amount of litter in the parish during the lockdown. Can we politely ask everyone to be responsible and dispose of their litter by using the bins provided in the parish or to take your litter home. We would especially like to thank our ‘litter heroes’ in the village who have continued to litter pick throughout the lockdown on their own as part of their exercise routine. This has greatly helped to alleviate the problem in some areas.

Gravesham Borough Council are responsible for emptying the public bins and we have notified them that the bins are regularly overflowing at Judson’s Recreation ground. We have also put in a request for new bins to be installed here to help with the issue.

Fly-tippingWe have received an update from Gravesham Borough Council on a fly-tipping offence which occurred in Camer Park Road on the 17th February. During the day a tipper deposited a large amount of UPVC door and window frames in a farmer’s field to the west of Camer Park Road. Fortunately, this incident was witnessed and a vehicle registration obtained. GBC are currently in the process of an investigation into this offence and have identified the company the vehicle belonged to. It transpires that the offender for the fly-tip was a former employee who has since been sacked. They were shocked by the incident and have since attended the location and removed all the waste. GBC will be prosecuting the offender.

cont’d. overleaf.

mEOPhAm PARISh COUNCIl


Credit: https://unsplash.com/@nighthawkshoots

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Meopham Parish Council cont’d.

You can report fly-tipping to Gravesham Borough Council via their online form at https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/home/street-care-and-cleaning/fly-tipping/report-fly-tipping

If you see fly-tipping on the highway, please report to KCC Highways as an emergency issue on 03000 41 91 91.

Footpath Officer Wanted in MeophamMeopham and District Footpaths Group are still looking for a volunteer to fill their vacancy. If you are interested please contact: John Macknish 01474 361437 Email: [email protected] or Email: Ken Dare at [email protected]. For further information on what is involved in this role please visit https://www.meopham.org/news/vacancy-footpaths-officer-meopham-district-footpaths-group

Future Meetings Dates: - All meetings will be virtual until further notice

April 202120th April 21 Planning Applications Committee27th April 21 Annual Parish Meeting Meetings will start at 7.30pm, unless otherwise stated. Members of the public are very welcome to join the meetings. If you wish to join a virtual meeting please email [email protected] before midday on the day of the meeting for the ‘Zoom’ link details or obtain the link from the published agenda on our website or village noticeboards.

Parish Office The Parish Office remains closed until further notice and staff are continuing to work from home. You can contact the Clerk by email or alternatively, you can leave a message on the office answerphone as this is checked remotely on a daily basis during office hours.

To contact Meopham Parish CouncilYou can contact us in the following ways:• Telephone-01474813779(Parishofficeanswerphonechecked

Mon to Thurs between 9am-12 noon)• [email protected]• ThroughtheParishWebsitewww.meopham.org• Twitter-@meophamPCandfacebook-“MeophamParishCouncil”


mEOPhAm ChURChES

South Street Baptist ChurchSunday morning services begin at 10.45am and finish at about midday. Meetings and services have been held on Zoom during lockdown. When the building is open for services, please reserve a seat by visiting the Church website: www.southstreetbaptist.org.uk

Recordings of the sermons during January, February and March 2021 are available on the Church website and Church Facebook page.

The Baptist Union of Great Britain website has information about online Baptist Church services. Please visit: www.baptist.org.uk

The 1st South Street Boys Brigade and Girls Association Company is holding weekly Zoom meetings for boys and girls aged between 4 and 18 years old.

Please visit the Church website at: www.southstreetbaptist.org.uk for more details.

Young people of all ages can all enjoy online Boys Brigade activities at home, even if they are not members. Weekly activities for the three age groups: 4-8 years, 8-11 years and 11-16 years are freely available from the Boys Brigade website and everything needed for the activities, is likely to be readily found at home. The website address is: https://boys-brigade.org.uk/bbathome

Song Time may be able to start again in Autumn, for families with babies and children under five. Please visit the Church website page for more information and contact details.


North Kent Embroiderers’ GuildHello everyone,

It is so lovely to be able to think ahead to times when our group might be able to meet together in person, but at present that is still not the case, although we hope it will be from September. In the meantime we are meeting and seeing each other via Zoom – where would we be without it? It has been great to be able to see each other and to catch up on a regular basis.

Our 97 Group has continued to meet in the same way and they have enjoyed working on various pieces. Wendy has spent many hours working on a piece for our current branch challenge which is entitled ‘NKEG in spite of Covid-19 we continue to stitch’. The closing date

for this was set at April 21st so hopefully we will work out a way of sharing the results before September!

Our forthcoming programme is taking place via Zoom. You would be welcome to join as a visitor to any of the meetings shown below.

17th April 2021 Meeting via Zoom/demonstration via Zoom ‘It is never too late to be who you might have been’ Speaker – Zara Day from ‘Rosemaryrose’ (www.rosemary-rose.co.uk)

16th May 2021 Meeting via Zoom Group business plus sit, stitch and chat

19th June 2021 Meeting via Zoom Emily Tull (www.emilytull.co.uk) 17th July 2021 Meeting via Zoom Sara Cook ‘Bojagi: Korean

Textiles’ (www.bojagiuk.com)

One of our Zoom speakers, Zara Day is also running online stitching courses which several of our members have taken part in.

I have just started one of the latest, called ‘Mending Matters’. This is based on the Japanese methods of stitching such as ‘Boro’ (meaning ragged or tattered) and ‘Sashiko’.

cont’d. overleaf.


North Kent Embroiderers’ Guild cont’d.

Sashiko is a running stitch, traditionally using cream thread on indigo dyed fabric which was one of the colours that poor people were allowed to wear. The course includes some interesting philosophical terms such as ‘Wabi-Sabi’ which in modern day means the beauty of the imperfect and/ or incomplete. You can see some of my first experimental pieces in the picture. If you are interested in joining us, then please look at our website https://northkentembroiderers.co.uk/or email us at: [email protected] or contact our Chairman, Eileen Tuff on 01474 324734

Happy stitching, Karen

Meopham Active Retirement Association (Mepara)Meopham Active Retirement Association (Mepara) is alive and well despite lockdown and the virus. We have been fortunate in making members aware of the various hobbies, family activities and interests by publishing a monthly newsletter. It has been distributed to all members primarily via email but by post to those members without that facility. The Chairman has contributed his monthly message and many members have contributed articles, pictures, anecdotes and puzzles to amuse and create a sense of belonging to a lively group.

Most recently a 1 hour talk and slide show by Pete Allen over Zoom video link was a success. It was all about the history of the numerous British television crime series and the detectives investigating the murders over the last 70 years. It proved a fascinating presentation to about 30 members.

It is the prospect of meeting up again as a club or at least in small numbers to enjoy

our social activities which is so appealing after 12 months of various degrees of enforced isolation for so many of us. Our keep fit and table tennis groups are already preparing. Personally, I am looking forward to playing bowls again. The book club has been active throughout by video conference.

Personal friendships have been maintained by similar means. Many of us have learnt some technical ability to operate our tablets, phones, televisions, recorders, and cameras to greater advantage.

If you would like to join us, you will be made welcome. Derek, our membership secretary is contactable on 01732 823976. You can also visit our website at https://mepara.weebly.com where copies of our monthly newsletter are included showing the full range of our recent activities and items of interest.

Philip Boswell for Mepara

Meopham Library Writing GroupMeopham Library Writing Group meetings are at 10am on the first Thursday of each month. The next meeting on Zoom will be on Thursday 1st April 2021 at 10am.

Each month, there is a different writing theme and everyone writes a short story, poem or article, using less than 1,000 words. Recent writing themes have included; “Runaway”, “Reflections”, “Lots of Time” and “Simple Pleasures”.

New members are always welcome and anyone who is interested in writing, either as a beginner or a more experienced writer, is invited to join the group. The next meetings will be on 6th May and 3rd June.

For more information about the group, please ring 01474 813379.


Rotary Club of Gravesend and MeophamWant to make a difference as a volunteer in our local community and getting involved in projects around the world? And what about a chance to join with like-minded people and make new friends?

If you do, Rotary could be for you. There are three Rotary clubs here in Gravesham and Ebbsfleet, with members drawn from all over the Borough and 1.2 million Rotary members across the globe.

Rotarians work together to take practical action on urgent issues and challenges facing the planet today. If you’d like to find out more, visit www.rotary-in-gravesham-ebbsfleet.org.uk or email [email protected]”

ARAMAD – Active Retirement Association (Meopham and District)Now there is light at the end of the tunnel here are some dates for your diary. Please bear in mind that these could change depending on Covid regulations. Trixie has been busy planning future activities

including the restart of the Scrabble group planned for 5 July at 2.00 pm in the small hall. Tea and cake £2. Canasta to restart 17th May. Please contact Trixie for more information. And Trixie’s famous walks

are planned to restart on 26th May and weekly thereafter until normal meetings are resumed. The first week meet at 11.00 am at West Kingsdown Library Car Park, pending weather conditions. Decision made by 9.30am. Please call Trixie if in doubt.

Petanque is planned for 13th April at The Railway Pub, Sole Street. Please contact Jackie for more information. Telephone numbers will be included in the Newsletter later this month.

If you are considering joining us for the weekly walk please see below some pictures of past walks that the regulars have enjoyed. They usually last for about 45 minutes to an hour and in normal times finish at a local pub for lunch (optional).

COUNSEllING & ADVICEThe Samaritans – 0330 094 5717

https://www.samaritans.org/ branches/medway/

•Rethink Mental Illness

01474 364837https://www.rethink.org/

•Gravesham Borough Council

https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/home/environmental-health/covid-19/Help,-

Support-and-Advice/overview

Having a hard time and you just don’t know

how you’ll cope?

Don’t suffer in silence. Talk to someone.


http://www.rotary-in-gravesham-ebbsfleet.org.uk

http://www.rotary-in-gravesham-ebbsfleet.org.uk


Swanley and North Downs LionsMake friends with a LionHave you offered to give some of your time to help others during the current pandemic? If you have, you may like to consider continuing to help folk in need when things return to normal. One way of doing that would be to become a friend of Swanley & North Downs Lions Club.

We have only 10 members, and are not in the first flush of youth, both of which limit our ability to raise funds. However, in the past being given help on a casual basis by friends of the club enabled us to make some significant contributions to our local community. We made regular donations to our hospice, now run by Ellenor, we supported other local charities such as Hi-Kent, Porchlight, Blind Veterans UK, Sight Savers etc. as well as local youth groups, families and individuals in need.

The pandemic has meant we have been unable to run events for most of the past year but with the prospect of lockdown ending we intend to resume our fund-raising activities. But to do so we need help, and we would also welcome suggestions as to how we might improve on what we do or new initiatives to explore.

Being a friend of the club would involve no long-term commitment or cost, but it would provide an opportunity to continue to meet and work with like-minded folk and help others. You might even like to join us at social events that we run from time to time or take part in planning future fund raising activities.

We are part of Lions Clubs International, the World’s largest service organisation. Our web address is www.swanleyandnorthdownslions.org.uk and we are on Facebook. If you think that joining our small band of friendws could be for you please contact us via the above, or email [email protected]

Colin McRobert, Secretary

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Question: Why Do We End Our Prayers with ‘Amen’?Answer: The Hebrew word translated “amen” literally means “truly” or “so be it.” “Amen” is also found in the Greek New Testament and has the same meaning. Nearly half of the Old Testament uses of amen are found in the book of Deuteronomy. In each case, the people are responding to curses pronounced by God on various sins. Each pronouncement is followed by the words “and all the people shall say Amen” (Deuteronomy 27:15-26). This indicates that the people applauded the righteous sentence handed down by their holy God, responding, “So let it be.” The amen attested to the conviction of the hearers that the sentences which they heard were true, just, and certain. Seven of the Old Testament references link amen with praise. The sentence “Then all the people said ‘Amen’ and ‘Praise the LORD,’” found in (1 Chronicles 16:36), typifies the connection between amen and praise. In (Nehemiah 5:13 and 8:6), the people of Israel affirm Ezra’s exalting of God by worshiping the Lord and obeying Him. The highest expression of praise to God is obedience, and when we say “amen” to His commands and pronouncements, our praise is sweet music to His ears. The New Testament writers all use “amen” at the end of their epistles. The apostle John uses it at the end of his gospel, his three letters, and the book of Revelation, where it appears nine times. Each time it is connected with praising and glorifying God and referring to the second coming and the end of the age. Paul says “amen” to the blessings he pronounces on all the churches in his letters to them, as do Peter, John and Jude in their letters. The implication is that they are saying, “May it be that the Lord will truly grant these blessings upon you.”

When Christians say “amen” at the end of our prayers, we are following the model of the apostles, asking God to “please let it be as we have prayed.” Remembering the connection between amen and the praise of obedience, all prayers should be prayed according to the will of God. Then when we say “amen,” we can be confident that God will respond “so be it” and grant our requests (John 14:13; 1 John 5:14).

Recommended Resource: The Prayer That Turns the World Upside Down: The Lord’s Prayer as a Manifesto for Revolution by R. Albert Mohler Jr.



HANDYMAN– no job too small –

Grass Cutting Carpentry • Glazing

Small Engineering JobsMr I.G. Everett

30 Nursery Road

Tel: (Meopham) 814925

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ASSOCIATION Of ChURCh EDITORS‘

Easter – The Most Important Annual Celebration For All ChristiansMost statisticians agree that there about 8 billion people in the world of which 2.25 billion are Christians, 1.9 billion Moslem, 1.2 billion Hindu, and the balance is shared between those of other religions and none. They also estimate that Christians belong to more than 30,000 different denominations of which 900 million individuals are Protestant and about 1,300 million Catholic. Despite the different approaches to our faith, all Christians look to Jesus as their saviour who rose from the dead - making Easter the most important annual celebration throughout the world.

The term, ‘Christian’ was first used to describe the disciples of Jesus in Antioch (Acts 11:26). As the early Church, whose history is recorded in the New Testament, spread around the world the gospel message of Christ was clearly seen as being relevant in different ways to the different people in their different cultures. This led to different churches developing – a good illustration of this is in the opening chapters of the Book of Revelation which tells us about how seven different Christian churches responded to the gospel of Christ.

As time moved on churches began to form groups of people who shared similar Christian ideas and so, like any family tree, it became increasingly diverse with different styles of worship and different doctrines. Yet, despite this diversity, Christians have always been united in their central belief of his resurrection. As the churches grew, they found strength in joining with other like-minded churches and so the different denominations that exist today slowly emerged.

The ‘family tree’ above illustrates the history of Christianity since the time of Jesus. It shows how the churches evolved into nine different, yet closely aligned families to which theologians give special names.

cont’d. overleaf.


In more recent times different denominations have come together to share common aims and worship while maintaining their individual identities. Churches Together is a good example of this. It encourages churches of all denominations to meet, worship and work together on ecumenical community projects.

Churches Together evolved from an international initiative, The World Council of Churches, which was formed in 1948. It describes itself as ‘a fellowship of churches which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the scriptures, and therefore seek to fulfil together their common calling to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is a community of churches on the way to visible unity in one faith and one eucharistic fellowship, expressed in worship and in common life in Christ. It seeks to advance towards this unity, as Jesus prayed for his followers, ‘so that the world may believe.’ (John 17:21) The World Council of Churches (WCC) is the broadest and most inclusive among the many organized expressions of the modern ecumenical movement, a movement whose goal is Christian unity.’

Another church in the UK that crosses denominational boundaries is Messy Church. It began in 2004 and prior to the Covid pandemic had over 2,800 registered churches in the UK. According to its owners, The Bible Reading Fellowship: ‘Messy Churches are happening across all sorts of denominations — Salvation Army, Pentecostal, Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Free Church, Church of Scotland, Scottish Episcopal, Seventh Day Adventist, Church in Wales, New Frontiers, United Reformed Church, Assemblies of God and Uniting Church, to name the ones we are aware of.’

And, of course, we must not forget the Association for Church Editors! Although not a ‘Church’ it is a truly interdenominational example of how Christians of all denominations can share ideas and work together to further the work of the Church in their communities through publishing our magazines.

The driving force behind these and many other similar inter-denominational activities around the world dates back more than 2,000 years to the events of Easter when Jesus rose from the dead and commissioned his disciples to go out into the world and follow his teaching by sharing God’s love for everyone, everywhere.

Happy Easter!


IT’S TIME TO

ADVERTISE!Why advertise?

Advertising helps to spread awareness of your products and services to potential users. It is a well known fact that those businesses who

regularly advertise do considerably better than those that don’t.

Please click here for details about our advertising rates.


Editor: Garry Durant; Interim Proof-Reader: Peter Kettle,c/o St. John’s Centre, Wrotham Road, Meopham DA13 0AAEmail: [email protected]

Advertising and distribution enquiries: Allison Merry, St. John’s CentrePostal Secretaries: 01474 813106

Distribution Manager: Allison Merry, St. John’s CentreAll copies should be TYPED, should not exceed 300 words,and should be in (preferably through email) by the following dates:-

MAY 21 – 9th April JUN 21 – 14th MayJUL 21 – 11th June AUG 21 – 16th JulySEP 21– 6th August OCT 21 – 10th September

Contributions should be sent by email, by post or delivered by hand to St. John’s Centre.

REVIEw TEAm

If you’d like to advertise in this magazine, please contact the Parish Office to discuss your requirements. (Tel: 01474 813106; Email: [email protected])

Advertising Charges for 2021 are as follows:

Page Size (B & W) 12 months 6 months 1 monthQuarter £125.00 £66.50 £24.00Half £219.50 £125.00 £40.50Full £419.50 £230.00 £83.00

Page Size (Colour) 12 months 6 months 1 monthHalf £370.00 £200.00 £50.00Full £700.00 £390.00 £100.00

ADVERTISING RATES


If you would like to advertise in, or subscribe to a monthly copy of the magazine, please contact the Parish Office:

Tel: 01474 813106; Email: [email protected]

All contributions should be sent by email to: [email protected]

Credit: https://unsplash.com/@allthestories

april 2021 - media.acny.uk

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