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MAKING SENSE OF LENT

Lent has the potential for being a creative period for both religious and non-religious people – you don’t have to be pious to discover some of the benefits.  I say ‘creative’ advisedly, for the most common perception of Lent is rather negative and miserable – all that ‘giving up’ – and most of it, to do with economy or slimming, neither of which need a particular season – you could do those things at any time.
    What then, is the true gain? Less I think to do with your purse or waist line, and more to do with your purpose as a human being.  If this is only for gain, self preservation and status, then Lent could help you to grow as a person, to assess who you really are.  You are someone living in a 21st century world driven by high expectations, induced by the accessibility to achieve all we might want to, all that western democracy promotes: this comes at a cost: as Alain de Botton, the contemporary philisopher puts it: “the price we have paid for expecting to be so much more than our ancestors is a perpetual anxiety that we are far from being all we might be”.
    I believe that Lent is an opportunity to acknowledge that anxiety and then to seek all the help we can to overcome it.  After all we have all encountered those ‘driven’ people who talk incessantly about themselves – their ambitions and achievements.
    ‘Who am I?’ is the question we might ask of ourselves afresh.  By asking this question without fearing the overlay of induced religious guilt, but with the intention of trying to discover who we are in the great purpose of things.  Some may say ‘what purpose?’ isn’t life just a random existence, ‘just one thing after another?’  Perhaps it was reaching this point that brought religious systems into being, to provide a framework for true self-knowledge.  Could we imagine Christianity without its overlay of sin – that great perpetual anxiety that we are indeed ‘far from being all we might be!’  Of course self-doubt and conscience are a great deal older than Christian faith and exist in entirely secular societies.
    What has the Christian faith added to our potential for self-knowledge, apart from perpetuating our perpetual anxiety?  It has of course offered a way forward, through the journey of Lent; accompanied by Jesus, we can learn that in the practise of self-offering, unconditional love and forgiveness, we can overcome our selfish pursuit of pleasure and social ambition through entering into the service of others.  Few are called to make the sacrifice he himself made for us all, but the exercise of faith in the veracity of that self-offering, which is the great triumph of love, can lead us to undertake a purging of our lives, that audit of ourselves, which he longs to ratify and restore our peace of mind and heart, and show us true purpose – why not make that journey, week by week this Lent and so enter the fullness of the Easter experience?

Your friend and priest
Fr Bob

CHURCH SERVICES FOR MARCH 2010

FLOWER ROTA
MAR 14                                Denise Mason                                                    APR  4                   Mrs Burbidge

CLEANING ROTA
MAR 6                  Mrs Durose & Mr Reynolds                           MAR 13                                Mrs Proctor & Mrs Dargie
MAR 20                                Mr & Mrs Maple                                                MAR 27                                Mrs G Hunter & Mrs Cash
APR  3                   Mrs Hodges & Mr Woodward                      APR 10                 Mr & Mrs Whitlock

FIRST TUESDAY GROUP
Our next meeting will be on the 2nd at Sara Seale’s house, Camelia Cottage, Smiths Lane (866923), so please do come along, grab a cup of coffee and meet other parents from Crockham Hill.  We start at 9.30am and usually finish around 11 o’clock.  It goes without saying, but children of all ages are most welcome.
    As mentioned in the last Newsletter I am suggesting we put coffee on hold for next month’s meeting, and gather instead in the evening in The Royal Oak, from about 7.30pm for a ‘Thirsty Thursday’.  This will be on April 8th and is strictly for Mums and any friends they wish to bring – but definitely no children!  We will be joined by a professional beer taster who will be educating us all in the finer points of Real Ale (and wine).  Put the date in your diary and we will see you there.  First Tuesday will be back to normal in May and June with Katie Netherclift and Anne-Marie Bunting hosting.                                                                                     Jane Bradley-Smith

IDE HILL COUNTRY MARKET
The market re-opens on Wednesday 3rd at 11am in Ide Hill Village Hall overlooking the Bough Beech reservoir.  Come and buy home-made local produce:  savouries, cakes, preserves, vegetables, plants, cards and craft.  Enjoy a cup of coffee and a chat in a friendly atmosphere, but come promptly or we shall have sold out! New producers are always welcome.  For more information contact Susan Cash (866218) or Gill Lambert on 862976.

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE
At the February meeting, Anna Goldstein gave a very humorous and interesting history of eating our food, from using our fingers to the introduction of cutlery.  Before plates were used a piece of hard stale bread known as ‘trencher’ was used; this soaked up the liquid of the mostly sloppy food that was served.
    The President threw a challenge to the members for each to introduce a new member this year, so that we have a healthy membership when celebrating our 90th anniversary in 2011.
    Our next meeting, on Wednesday 3rd at 2.30pm in the Village Hall, will have Margaret Phillips giving a talk entitled The Fascinating Challenge of Leprosy.  If you would like to learn something about this disease, please come along; a good talk and afternoon tea will be guaranteed.                                                                   Linda Brown

EDEN VALLEY MUSEUM
Current exhibitions and displays at the Eden Valley Museum include History of the World – a special Second World War display featuring a needlework box made by a German prisoner-of-war for a local Land Army girl at Chiddingstone Hoath; Service Above Self – an exhibition that celebrates the 40th anniversary of Edenbridge Rotary Club; and The Western Relief Road, a display of archaeological specimens revealed during construction of the Relief Road. 
    The Museum is open from 2-4.30 on Wednesdays & Fridays; 10-4.30 on Thursdays & Saturdays; and 2-4.30 on Sundays in June, July and August.  Admission is free.  Further information is available from the Curator, Jane Higgs on 868102

WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP & EXPLORERS GROUP
At 7.30pm on Friday 5th we join with others of the area for the annual Women’s World Day of Prayer Service at St John’s Church, Marsh Green.  This year the theme has been prepared by the women of Cameroon: Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.  The speaker will be Barbara Mitchell.
    Our usual meetings this month are at 10.30am on Wednesdays, but there has been a change to our advertised programme for the 10th as Dorothy Sutton is unable to come.  Instead the subject will be: God Speaks in Foreign Languages – postponed from a snowy January.  Caroline Shaw is our hostess at Guildables Oast.
    On the 24th we meet at Rosemary Pelleareau’s, Woodman’s Folly, when Christine Hodges and Trish Proctor will talk about the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.
    Our informal meetings start with coffee and end by noon.  Women of all ages, and young children too, are always welcome, either regularly or occasionally.                                                                                            Rosemary Durose

WAITROSE SUPPORT FOR OUR SCHOOL
As part of their charity giving, Waitrose in Biggin Hill will be supporting Crockham Hill Primary School throughout March.  If you shop there, would you please place the green disc given to you at the checkout in the special box; this will help raise funds for a music room at the school.  Many thanks.
Doreen Campbell (FROCHS)

LENT SUPPER
There will be a simple supper with discussion at Guildables on Tuesday 9th at 7.30pm.  If you would like to come, please sign the list at the back of the church, or let me know.                                                     Trish 866219

OXTED & LIMPSFIELD FLOWER SOCIETY
This month’s meeting, to be held in St Peter’s Church Hall, Limpsfield at 2pm on Wednesday 10th is to be an Open Meeting at which visitors will be most welcome.  The guest demonstrator will be Christina Curtis, and her theme: Celebrate with Christina.
    Meertings are held on the second Wednesday of the month throughout the year, and new members are invited. Please contact the Secretary, Veronica Beckitt on 01883 625468

JIVE DANCING
Jive Dancing (‘the most fun you can have in shoes’) will be returning soon to the Village Hall.  Details have yet to be finalised, but do give Emma Jonas a ring on 864835 if you are interested.

THE VILLAGE MARKET
After the post-Christmas break, the Market reopens this month at 10am on Saturday 13th in the Village Hall, with home made cakes and preserves, local crafts, books and collectables.  So come out of hibernation and meet your friends for a coffee, or to hire your own space ring 866319.  Please note that plans for the proposed improvements to the Hall will be on show during the Market’s opening (see item below).

THE PRAYER GROUP  will meet at Guildables at 2pm on Wednesday 17th.  If you would like to come and need transport, please let me know.  We are a small group who would be delighted to welcome more people to join us in a short time of prayer, for the needs of our world and our local community.  If you can spare 30-40 minutes of your time, why not come and join us?                                                                                       Trish 866219

CROCKHAM HILL ON THE WEB
If you have any news, events, sports results or comments for the Crockham Hill website (www.crockhamhillevents.co.uk), please contact Mark Hancox at info@crockhamhillevents.co.uk 

TAKE YOUR PARTNERS FOR A BARN DANCE
A Barn Dance, with Ploughman’s Supper, will be held in the Village Hall from 7.30-11.15pm on Friday 19th, and the ticket office is now open.  Claire Tobin is ready to take your calls on 866503, so order your ticket now for an enjoyable evening with local folk group, The Roundhouse Folk and caller Laurie Jeal.  There will be a bar.  Tickets are £12 inclusive of supper, and early booking is advised as numbers are limited.  (The last Village Hall Barn Dance with the same band was a sell-out – so if you wanna dance, get your ticket NOW!)

CABARET FROM THE EDINBURGH FRINGE
The OYO Committee supporting Pembury Portage Service (www.portage.org.uk) invite you to a Cracking Cabaret at Crockham Hill Village Hall on Saturday 20th at 8pm, for supper, followed by Cabaret Whore, Sarah-Louise Young.  Tickets £30 includes beer or wine on arrival, two-course supper and loads of fun.  Edinburgh Fringe reviews of the show: ‘Outstanding cabaret’ (Time Out), ‘Intelligent one-liners … a razor sharp wit’ (FestMag).  For more information and tickets, please contact Claire Stockdale on 865053.   

HOSPICE IN THE WEALD – LADIES’ NIGHT OUT
Hospice in the Weald is organising a Ladies’ Night Out on Wednesday 24th (7-10pm) at the Hospice in Maidstone Road, Pembury.  Bring your friends and spoil yourselves with a range of luxury treatments and therapies, manicures, facials, make-up, Indian head massage, reflexology and many others.  There will also be a fashion sale of good quality clothes from our shops.  Tickets £15 to include your first luxury treatment and a glass of wine. For further information and tickets please call 01892 820508. 

LIGHTING UP THE CHURCH
Following the piece in last year’s July/August Newsletter in which it was reported that a generous benefactor had offered to donate a floodlighting system for the church, the PCC agreed to experiment during the post-Christmas period with just one light, to gauge reaction from the village.  If this receives general approval, it is proposed to make this a permanent fixture – one floodlight using a low-energy system to light up the church between twilight and 11pm during the period of GMT.  Comments, both for and against this proposal are invited, and may be sent either to Jo Banks (PCC Secretary – details on the front page of this Newsletter) or to Kev Reynolds (866457) – kev.reynolds@virgin.net

THE CHURCH’S AGM
This year’s Annual General Meeting of the PCC takes place in the church on Wednesday 24th at 8pm.  Should you wish to have a pack of reports to study, please complete the form at the back of the church before the 19th.
             Jo Banks (PCC Secretary) 860509

2010 – A BARBECUE SUMMER?
It might just happen – so make sure your freezer is well-stocked with Hurst Farm steaks and burger mince in good time.  Two steers are heading for the butcher (the last until summer), so if you would like a mixed beef box, please let me know.  We will be supplying more ‘barbecue-friendly’ cuts this time, and fewer winter roasts and stews.  Boxes should be ready this month, weighing around 10kg each (taking up between one and two standard freezer drawers) – cost £9 per kg.
    Any queries or orders, please contact Victoria Tagg on 866516.

WANTED – A GOOD HOME FOR KITTENS
Helen Richardson tells us she has four lovely kittens in need of a good home.  They’ll be 12 weeks old at the beginning of March; three boys and a girl; two brindle, two black and white.  Would you like to give a good home to one or two of these kittens?  If so, please call Helen on 866208.

OXTED & LIMPSFIELD CHORAL SOCIETY
OLCS will be performing a charity concert in aid of St Catherine’s Hospice in the United Reformed Church, Bluehouse Lane,Oxted, at 7pm on Palm Sunday, 28th.  The choir will be performing Rossini’s delightful work, Petite Messe Solennelle with four outstanding soloists accompanied by piano and organ.  Tickets are £10 and can be purchased from 01959 563996, from any choir member, or on the door.
    St Catherine’s Hospice provides a day care centre at Caterham on the Hill, and also community nursing in the Tandridge area following the closure of the Marie Curie Hospice in Caterham.  So please do support this special fundraising event, and enjoy an evening of uplifting choral music.

FROCHS DIARY DATE
This year’s AGM for the Friends of Crockham Hill School (FROCHS) will take place in the school hall at 7pm on Wednesday April 21st.  All are invited to attend, and interested non-members can join on the evening.

HOT POT LAUGHTER
Once again this year’s Shrove Tuesday Hot Pot Supper was a sell-out.  Masterminded by Jo Banks and friends, the wide variety of delicious hot pots and puddings was more than enough to go round, despite the number of guests, and the evening’s entertainment, led by David Stafford, provided one belly laugh after another.  Very many thanks to all involved: caterers, servers, clearers away and washers-up, and all the entertainers.  Another great village event, with proceeds from the evening going to our friends at Holy Trinity New Cross.

AFTER THE SNOW – LITTER AGAIN
Despite the disruption to ‘normal life’, the snow of recent weeks made the village sparkle – especially when the sun shone on frost diamonds scattered on Crockham Hill snowfields.  But once it had gone, the litter tossed from passing traffic reappeared as an insult to the locality.  We’re trying to keep the village tidy, and hope we can rely on the band of volunteers who looked after sections of the village last year, to do the same throughout 2010.  Let’s make Crockham Hill a village to be proud of – and the cleanest in Kent!                   Kev & Min Reynolds

THE DRAKE OIL SYNDICATE
Members of the Drake Oil Syndicate will know that a percentage of all their heating oil purchases via Southern Counties Fuels are donated to various elected charities in the local district.  In 2009 this charitable giving totalled £10,466. 83, of which Holy Trinity Church, Crockham Hill received £210, Edenbridge Parish Church received £180, Bridges gained £650 and the Edenbridge Holiday Activities Scheme received no less than £4000.
    Southern Counties may not always be the cheapest supplier of heating oil, but if you would like to help a local charity every time you have your tank topped up, contact John Hodson, the Drake Oil Syndicate organiser, on 01732 700247

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT BRIDGES
Bridges runs a social centre in Edenbridge High Street for the use of the whole community.  Supported by the churches, it relies on volunteers to operate the ‘Pop-in Centre’ which is open each morning, Monday to Saturday, to provide a welcoming place where you can enjoy good quality refreshments and activities of interest to all age groups – these are advertised on the noticeboard outside the centre.  Bridges is looking for more volunteers so that it can maintain its current opening hours.  If you would be interested in helping in any way, or would like to know more about Bridges, please contact David Stafford on 866327.
    You can also support the centre by just popping in and enjoying what it offers.  If you have never been inside, give it a try!