Issue 35: Autumn 2013
www.elmfield.org
Down Your Street Vision We are a community of people growing in Christ, loving and serving each other and sharing God’s love with others. Mission Seeking to serve the North Harrow community with the love of God. Practice An evangelical church. Elmfield Church 89 Imperial Drive, North Harrow HA2 7DX every Sunday at 10.30 am Come and join us in worshipping God together. A crèche is available and a full children’s programme. For more details ring the church office on 020 8866 0813 or Email: elmfieldchurch26@ gmail.com Registered Charity no. 248351
Local Community Update
Elmfield’s 8Oth Anniversary In 1933 the first building in the stretch of dual carriageway from The Ridgeway to The Drive, was Elmfield Church. Building work had started in June and the first service was held on Sunday 25th November. Despite the many changes that have happened during the past 80 years, the Christians meeting at Elmfield Church have always
endeavoured to serve the local community and the range of activities outlined elsewhere in this edition of Down Your S t r e et is evidence of that continued commitment. The Anniversary weekend, Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th October will provide an opportunity for anyone and everyone to join in the celebrations. Details of the programme will be circulated in due course.
Holiday at Home For the 11th year running our Holiday at Home in June provided respite and relaxation for a group of over 65’s in the comfortable environment of E l m f i e l d Church. Set around the theme of ’Who Do You Think You Are?’ there were talks on genealogy, and Tudor times, an outing to the fascinating Tudor built Chenies Manor with its beautiful gardens, some gentle exercise, quizzes, music by students
from London School of Theology and fun crafts. Provision of delicious lunches as well as a regular supply of tea & coffee with cakes and biscuits, helped make each day special. For anyone over 65 interested in joining next year’s Holiday at Home, there is a free taster session called Holiday at Home Extra on Thursday 21st November. Please call the church office for more details and to book a place.
Dear Friends, Most of us have, at some point, been hurt by someone who has broken a promise. If we are honest, we will admit that we too have broken promises and hurt others. The damage to a relationship by a betrayal of trust can be impossible to repair. A friend who is faithful and trustworthy is really worth holding on to. In the Bible, we see how God has been faithful all through history, because it is His character to be trustworthy. He stayed faithful to the promises He made to Abraham, King David and many others, even when they broke their side of the deal. He is still faithful today, holding out the promise of forgiveness joy, peace and overflowing life to all those who hear Him and are willing to turn to Him. Many of us at Elmfield can testify to this. If you are in need of such a faithful friend, we would love to welcome you, to get to know you and help you to meet with Jesus. Patrick Wright, Mark Stephenson, Beth Tidmarsh, Debbie Campbell. (Elmfield Leadership Team). Peter Oyugi, formerly our Pastor, has joined the Africa Inland Mission as the representative for South England and South Wales. We are currently considering appointing a new Pastor.
Christians Against Poverty In May and June courses were run at Elmfield by Christians Against Poverty (CAP). Those attending found the information imparted and the suggestions as to how to control a budget and live within it, very helpful. With national statistics showing that over 50% of the population are currently having difficulties in making ends meet, the help given by CAP could, if you are in that situation, be invaluable to you. Courses, completely free of charge, are being held again at Elmfield on Wednesdays 9th, 16th and 23rd October
and again on 20th, 27th November & 4th December from 7.30 - 9.30pm and also on Saturday 23rd November. Refreshments are provided on Wednesday evenings and lunch on the Saturday course. To book a place e-mail: capharrow@outlook.com or call Elmfield Church office 020 8866 0813. These courses are open to anyone in the local community whatever their background or faith belief. A CAP Job Club, which is free for job seekers, helping them into employment, is available at St. Paul’s Church, Corbins Lane, South Harrow HA2 8EL from 10 – 12.30am each Monday. For details call Ruth Dowsett, 07887364123.
Samaritan’s Purse Shoe Boxes Once again Elmfield Church will be supporting the Samaritan’s Purse ‘Operation Christmas Child’ appeal as our Harvest Thanksgiving exercise. Last year 103 shoe boxes were filled with useful items and toys and sent to deprived children in Mozambique. We are grateful for the support of the local community in helping to achieve this. In 2013 we aim to send even more boxes! The boxes can contain a range of items such as a teddy bear, soft toy, tennis ball, cars, dolls, clip on earrings, felt pens, pens, pencils, pencil sharpener, eraser, colouring book, note pad, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, comb, hair clips, bar of soap, flannel. Knitted items are very popular and patterns are available from Elmfield or the Operation Christmas Child website. Full details of to what to include, as well as empty shoe boxes, are available at the church.
Fireworks Once again we are arranging the ever popular Elmfield Church fireworks display at Longfield Primary School, this year on Saturday 9th November, starting with food and games at 5.30pm, followed by the display at 6.30pm. Tickets, £5.00 per adult, £2.00 per child and for a family £12.00 (2 adults & up to 4 children), which cover entrance and refreshment costs, will be available from the beginning of October. Attendance is strictly limited to 200 for safety reasons, so book early as tickets are always sold out before the event. Contact the Church Office 020 8866 0813 for more details and to book tickets. The Church Office is open each weekday from 9.00am - 1.00pm.
Saturday Kinect
Harrow Food Bank
Our ‘Saturday Kinect’ is an activity for Primary school children held on Saturdays twice each term. Starting at 12.30pm children attending can enjoy face painting, games and play station activities before having lunch. They can engage in different craft activities, competitions, challenges and listen to a Bible story. Parents and carers coming to collect their children at 3.00pm are welcome to arrive from 2.45pm for refreshments. The next Saturday Kinect will be held on 14th September. £2.00 is requested to pay for the lunch. There is no need to book in advance, just arrive!
Together with many other churches, groups and organisations in Harrow we are helping to support the Harrow Food Bank. The shopping trolley just inside the door at Elmfield is available so that anyone in the local community who wishes to contribute to the collection can access it easily whenever the church is open, each weekday from 9.00am - 1.00pm and during the regular weekly activities as listed on the back page. As the donated food must stored until it is needed, only food with long term, at least 3 months, ‘best before’ dates is acceptable. Since it started in June, 24 clients in crisis have been supported in the first 6 weeks thus helping to feed over 50 people, including 28 children.
Elmfield Activities Sundays: Morning Worship Services are held every week from 10.30 am - 12.00 noon. During the service, frequently enhanced by video clips relevant to the theme of the day, we normally celebrate Communion. Any children present leave the service after about 25 minutes for their separate activities in God’z Zone. Evening services at 6.30pm involve a series of talks under the heading ‘Sacred Space’, with a programme published in advance. On the 1st Sunday the Youth group are responsible for the service arrangements. On the 2nd Sunday of the month we celebrate Communion during this service. We do not meet on a 5th Sunday of a month. Refreshments are served from 6.00 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend any of these services.
Mondays: 8.00am: Prayer Meeting. 9.30am: English as a Second Language Course for Basic learners. Call Gerry on 01895635337 for details. The course is provided free of charge. 6.00 - 7.30pm: ‘Kid’z In the Zone’ activities for Primary School children . 8.00pm: Prayer meeting.
Tuesdays: 9.30am: English as a Second Language Course for Intermediate learners. Call Gerry on 01895635337 for details. The course is provided free of charge. 10.00am: Mother & Baby Club. An opportunity for Mothers with small babies to chat and share experiences in a friendly atmosphere. No pre-booking needed, just call in. 7.30 - 9.00pm: ‘Reloaded’ activities for High School students up to Year 11.
Wednesdays: 10.00amMother & Toddler Club. To book a place call Christine Millard 02088666951. 8.00pm: Alcoholics Anonymous hold their meeting at Elmfield.
Thursdays: 2nd of the month 12.30pm Senior Citizens’ Lunch. Call the Church Office for a place. 4th of the month: Meeting Point where soup and sandwiches are served with tea or coffee and cake before the background to a favourite hymn is explored. No booking needed - just drop in. House Groups meetings for Bible study, prayer and fellowship are held at various times each week. For more information about any of the church activities please call the Church Office: 02088660813, e-mail elmfieldchurch26@gmail.com or visit the Church website: www.Elmfield.org Elmfield Church has a fully operational Child Protection Policy, accredited by the Churches Child Protection Advisory Service.