In this section we look beyond St John's to our mission links with the local and worldwide community.

Many of the linkson the left hand menu  are to Mission partners we support.
Felbridge is right on the southern boundary of the County of Surrey and the Diocese of Southwark*. It has close links with East Grinstead and because many of the congregation of St John's come from outside the parish, it makes it possible to sustain a wide range of church activities for a small village of about 1000 inhabitants.
*The Parish of St. John the Divine Felbridge lies at the southern limit of the Godstone Deanery, the most rural of the deaneries of the Southwark Diocese click here for diocese website

MISSION GIFT DAY Sunday 13th July

WE HAVE decided to 'break the mould' this year, and to hold our Mission Gift Day in July, before the school holidays, so that we can then have a 'proper' Harvest celebration with a Harvest Supper later in the year, rather than combining the two as we have done for the past few years. This means that we can focus all our attention and prayers on the Mission Gift Sunday, and make it a special time of giving thanks to God for His love and care for us and His world, and offering our gifts of time, money and prayer for those societies we support.

We are delighted that Emlyn and Tricia Williams are coming to lead our morning service, and to have a special programme for the children. Emlyn has worked for Scripture Union since 1977, first as a Travelling Secretary for Inter-Schools Christian Fellowship, then as the Head of SU Schools work. He has recently been appointed Regional Director for Scripture Union Britain and Ireland Council; as well as the work in UK they also support SU ministry in the former Soviet Republics - Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Armenia and Tajikistan - as well as in Israel! His wife, 'Tricia (a former colleague of mine!) is now the Editor of 'Daily Bread' Bible-reading notes, which some of you may use, and has been involved in the innovative 'Wordlive' interactive website (www.wordlive.org). Between them they will have some fascinating stories to share with us, and there will be a further opportunity to meet them and hear more over a 'Fellowship Lunch' in the church hall after the service - everyone welcome!
We will continue with the Scripture Union theme in the evening, when our speaker will be Sarah Smart, our Southeast Rep, from Folkestone.

At both services there will be envelopes in the pews for us to make our offerings to God's work throughout the world. Please be thinking and praying, in advance, about how much the Lord is prompting you to give.

St John's supports ten different charities, both at home and abroad, four of which are overseas mission agencies with whom we have personal links. As a church we aim to give away at least 10% of our income to Mission, most of which is given during the Mission Gift Day. Last year we were able to raise almost £14,000; it would be wonderful if we could give a similar amount this year!
The money is divided between all the Agencies, the larger proportion being given to support our Mission Partners.

CMS (Church Mission Society)

SOME OF YOU met Allan and Anne Lacey last year when they visited us prior to leaving for Uganda. They have 'postponed' their retirement in order to use their combined experience to help further God's work in N.W. Uganda; Allan is teaching in a Theological College, while Anne is based at the local mission hospital, helping to improve nurse education and community health; and have both been challenged by the basic conditions and meagre resources. Their married son, Ben, lives in UK, and their daughter Jo has recently spent some time in Uganda on a Medical Elective. Our church rep. is Barbara Cottier, who also worked with CMS in Uganda.

SAMS (South American Mission Society)

We have been supporting Andrew and Maria Leake in Northern Argentina for many years. They work with Asociana, a local NGO whose mission is to empower indigenous people in the Gran Chaco region to gain effective recognition of their rights to land, natural resources, education and healthcare. Much of their land has suffered deforestation on a grand scale, depriving the Wichi Indians of their traditional livelihoods. The Leakes have three children who are at local schools - Tomas (17), Cecilia (13) and Carolina (10). Our church rep is Amy Nicholls, herself a former SAMS missionary.

UCCF

Natasha Kasprowicz is known to many of us as she grew up at St John's. For the past six years she has been working with students in Russia, based in St Petersburg but supervising and supporting Christian students across Russia. This summer she returned to UK in a different role - working with UCCF, the British equivalent of IFES; but she will still need and value our support. We hope we will see more of her once she is based in England. Gordon and Brenda Wilkinson are her church links.

CHURCH ARMY

THE CHURCH ARMY trains and sends evangelists to work in Anglican churches and in projects with children, homeless people and the elderly.
We have links with Mark and Heather Dadds who work with the Marylebone Project in London for vulnerable women with housing needs, and with 'The Bridge', helping disadvantaged people return to useful lives in the community. Di Giles, who worked with the Church Army, is our rep.

CPAS (Church Pastoral Aid Society)

CPAS aims to help local churches by training and advising leaders, and providing resources - physical, practical and sometimes financial - for the whole church, but especially for Youth Groups like Pathfinders and CYFA. They also organise activity holidays for young people during the summer. If you'd like to know more, or find out about the holiday camps, speak to our church rep, Glen Jones.

SCRIPTURE UNION

Scripture Union seeks to make God's good news known to children, adults, young people and families, and encourages people of all ages to meet with God daily through Bible reading and prayer. They publish a wide range of literature and have recently set up an interactive website, and offer training, support, and a variety of holiday events. Bible Reading notes, in various formats and for all ages, are available from Audrey Howe.

TEARFUND

Tearfund works through churches and Christian agencies to open up brighter futures for the world's poorest communities, and to see lives and situations transformed by God's love through the generosity of Christian people. It also campaigns for justice and human rights, and responds to global emergencies, providing vital supplies of aid and medical equipment to disaster areas - such as the recent cyclone devastation in Burma - and supplying food and shelter through local organisations to avoid delays.
Gordon and Brenda Wilkinson are the South East reps, and also sell Tearcraft goods at local events - including their book, 'Recipes for Disaster', which makes an ideal gift in aid of Tearfund!

WELCARE

Welcare is a local charity, working with families in need through poverty, isolation, family breakdown or homelessness. Their aim is to help families before they reach the stage of requiring 'official' intervention. They provide practical support, such as toys, clothing, debt management and counselling, through volunteers and designated social workers. Our rep is Rona Bingham.

ST CATHERINE'S HOSPICE

in Crawley is a Palliative Care Centre offering people with progressive life-threatening illness the opportunity to live life as fully as possible, to die with dignity, and to provide support for those close to them. The staff are specialists, trained to care for the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of each patient, their family and friends. Hospices are not funded by the NHS, so our support is vital. Last Christmas we held a 'Tree of Light' service at St John's, in memory of loved ones who had died, and hope to do that again. Talk to Jenny Young for more information.

BISHOP DANIEL YISA

Bishop Daniel lives with his wife Alice and three children in Minna Diocese, Nigeria. We became involved in his missionary outreach when he visited St John's on a previous Mission Weekend, and support them through prayer and occasional gifts.

Anne Butler (Mission Team Co-ordinator).