We begin with belated best wishes to Graham Paskell and Sarah (son of Val and Les Paskell) on the birth of Stanley (George, born on 4 March, a brother for Luke.

Also belated April birthday wishes to Tony Bohan who was 18 and Janis Bennett who reached her half century. Our very best wishes to you both.

We have been pleased to have Velma Patten worshipping with us for several months but she has now returned to the sunshine of Jamaica for another year.

On 20 May, our Sunday School Anniversary, Shirley Peart had a grandson, Kingsley Antony Levert, born to Donna Richards, a brother for Leanne and Bianca.

On that day it was lovely to have Jack and Edith Mansell and Pearl Holden, members of our fellowship for many years, joining us for our service.

Then on 27 May we were pleased to receive into membership at our Communion service Hannah Kajue and Joseph (Kobe) Appiah.

We also need to keep in our thoughts and prayers Mrs Hamilton and her family at this very difficult time in their lives. At the time of writing Mrs Gunning has just returned home after another spell in hospital. Also we continue to remember Pearl Nevers who has been having problems.

Then on 1 July we send our congratulations and best wishes to Pat and John Walton, also former members of our Sunday School, Brigades and Fellowship, on their Ruby Wedding Anniversary.

Just a reminder that if you pay tax on your earnings or pension then you can reclaim the tax on your offerings or gift to the Church.

All you have to do is to fill in a form with your name and address asking the Church to reclaim the tax you had paid on that gift or any money given to the Church.

This means that the gift or offering can be for any amount small or large, a one-off or for continuous giving to the Church.

This can also be cancelled at any time your circumstances alter.

Because of the need to identify your gifts, payment must be made either in a numbered envelope supplied by the Church or by your own envelope with your name on it. The other way is by a cheque.

If anyone would like to know more about this please speak to me or, if you would like a form to fill in, please ask me for one.

On Wednesday 21 February we departed from Gatwick Airport to Cleveland, Ohio, to visit Catherine and Demetris (Tony) and await the arrival of our first Grandchild.

Michael Angelo Ortega eventually weighed in at 7lbs.15ozs on 8 March. We were all overjoyed. Our six week "holiday" passed all too quickly, and the departure on 5 April was a sad day: we look forward eagerly to the next visit.

Many thanks to Malcolm and all our friends for your prayers, cards, letters and support during this time.

Sincerely,
Sheila and Norman Love.
 
 

COMING EVENTS
 
 

The Baptist Missionary Society sends greetings and best wishes to the following contributors to the Birthday Gift Scheme who have a birthday soon:-
 

July     29th ..   Mrs H Whitehead
August  6th ..    Matthew Pettit
           10th ..    Mr T Reid
           21st ..     Mrs R King-Sparke
           29th ..    Mr M Hatchett
 

Many happy returns to you all and many thanks to all our contributors to the Scheme. Acknowledging our latest donation (£70) towards the medical work of BMS World Mission, David Locke, Director of Finance and Administration wrote:-

"Your support is important and enables BMS to send experienced professional health and medical staff to countries all over the world, making a difference in the lives of other people through their skills and through their faith.

Alan and Megan Barker, and their children, Carl, Rhys and Gemma, have been based in Kathmandu, Nepal, since July last year. Having completed language training, Alan and Megan have now begun work. As an Occupational Therapist, Megan is working with BMS Partner, United Mission to Nepal (UMN). In her work she regularly visits a University Teaching Hospital and treats patients with mental illnesses, anxiety and depression. In Nepal, drug and alcohol addiction come under the umbrella of "mental health", and so she also spends time helping people with these problems, giving advice to relatives as to how they can help. As part of her remit, she also makes visits to local day care centres and clinics.

At the moment, Megan is working with the only other qualified Occupational Therapist in the country, who unfortunately is set to leave in July.

Please pray for BMS medical personnel that they continue to help improve the quality of the lives of the people with whom they come into contact."

It is not just having your chains cut off,
    but having them thrown away.
It is not only having your sins forgiven,
    but having them blotted out.
It is not just seeing the right path,
    but being led along it.
It is not only being held in His hands,
    but being lifted up.
It is not just an escape from an old life,
    but stepping into a new one.
It is not only a knowledge of God's Son,
    but an everlasting fellowship with Him.
It is not just something given to a few -
    it's free ...  so take it...
        This freedom is for everyone!

I have been a helper at the holiday club for several years now, and I find it as enjoyable today as I did when I first started there.
 

The holiday club is well attended both by children from within the church as well as children from outside.
 

The main theme on this occasion was "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe". The children made a very large collage, based on the characters, and the exciting events within the story. They thoroughly enjoyed impersonating the characters from the book. They were attentive to detail and tried to copy every move which they saw on the video.
 

As well as the collage and the impersonations there was a range of other activities to keep everyone occupied. These activities included cookery, Bible studies, singing songs, and a wide variety of games.
 

The children found our theme very exciting. They enjoyed making masks, creating images and wildly using their imaginations as they had never used them before. As well as being lots of fun, the holiday club was also an educational and beneficial experience to all those involved.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who gave their assistance to this successful programme.
 

19 May 2001. The Display. If you want to see real stress, try living with a Captain a week before the Display.
 

Now, I've been in the Company for 12 years, my 13th Display so, by now, logically I should be a pro at this -what can possibly go wrong? Well, I didn't finish work in Palmers Green till 6.30pm. Run out to the car park where my chauffeur waits to whisk me to the Display (well, Charlotte and Kelly anyway). Jump in the back seat, need to be there before 7pm. It's 6.4Opm. Have to get changed. I apologise to anyone who was on the Cambridge roundabout at 6.45pm and to the 2 gentlemen who almost ran into a lorry. I was on a tight schedule. Arrive at 6.55pm. Perfect. Run upstairs, all my Explorers are there raring to go. Great. Get awards Go on Lion Hunt. Go upstairs to relax for 5 minutes before my item. Decide to read through questions before performance. Find questions. Something's terribly wrong. It's only the last sheet, containing about 3 questions out of 82. Big problem. Find out questions were lost so were re-printed but didn't print all. Big panic, refuse to do item, cried (I know, I was stressed), threaten to leave, calm down, phone home, have questions read over phone, item pushed back. Go down, everything works out fine. Panic over, and so is the Display for another year.
 

I have to admit even in my panic upstairs, you couldn't fail to see how well everyone performed, despite the tantrums, and you couldn't fail to hear the loud applause that followed every item. And as a member of the GIRLS' Brigade I can only conclude the boys cheated in the Team Games. (No offence intended! !)
 

But if you want a true feel of the Captain 's problems at Display time, try  missing pieces of uniform 10 minutes before the start, forgotten lines and latecomers. And that's just the officers (only kidding!). As retired Captains, Commissioner and friends come back again and again, year after year, it becomes apparent the reason they do this is because really, despite the complaining, they love every minute of it. We could not do without you.
Well, the Display was a success and everyone, including the Mayor (our Visiting Officer), seemed to enjoy themselves. So I guess it's all over and we can relax. Till next year, anyway . . . .

On the 20th of May the Sunday School became 170 years of age. As a celebration Sunday School did a play about Zakius and how he was a cheat. We also did a memory verse. I think everybody liked the ending. Between the ceremony we also sang some songs.