Christmas in the Market Place 2008 a short report
The Small marquee was set up at 7.30.am
on four Thursdays preceding Christmas by Brian Angus and two or
three stalwart helpers (see list below) who braved the dark, cold,
rain, wind, and snow, and manned by a rota of volunteers from
Churches Together in Epsom until dismantling time at 4.00pm.
The tent was divided into two parts.
One half devoted to Fairtrade items which created a lot of interest
for Christmas presents, and a display of books from Dovecote
Christian Bookshop, especially featuring books for children, also
cards and other Christmas sundries. The opposite end was a quiet
place for contemplation , prayer, and meditation. There was a crib
scene, and candles on a 'sand tray' for people to light, signifying
the 'Light of the World' and star shaped cards for folk to write a
short prayer to display on a board. At the end of the afternoon the
prayers were gathered and taken to one of the Epsom Churches for a
blessing on the following Sunday.
The tent was never left without someone
to talk with or pray with and a supply of suitable literature
available.
To make the tent more attractive a
bunch of helium balloons was donated and displayed in an
eye-catching way according to the weather!!
Even more eye-catching when one got
away and floated on the breeze over the housetops!!
There was also a large notice
inviting people in.
Was it worth it? YES, OF COURSE.
Even though we had only a small trickle
of visitors, most were interested in Fairtrade or books.
Nevertheless it was a Witness, and wonderful to think that in the
midst of commercialism God was honoured. It was also good for the
helpers as most of us met someone new to them and especially when
the clergy graced us with their presence.
I hope if we do it again in 2009 we
shall have even more enthusiasm and support.
Meg Murrant of the Epsom
Baptist Church
Christmas in the Market Place 2008
It seems rather invidious to be writing
when I was unable to attend any of the Christmas in the Market Place
Days, but I want to thank each person who got up early, stood in the
December air, put up tents, helped on stalls, enabled people to
pray, put down tents, provided goods for sale etc etc., and prayed.
There will be a meeting in the New Year to consider how things went
- Brian Angus will be suggesting some dates for this meeting - but
for now I am just really glad that the Churches in Epsom had a
prominent place in the market place during this Advent season.
Happy Christmas to you all.
Rev. Sue Bull - Chairperson of Churches Together in
Epsom
Christmas in the Market Place 2008
Churches Together in
Epsom are
planning to have a tented site over the Christmas 2008 period, offering
visions of Christ through displays, literature, books and Christian food for
thought. Plus the opportunity to enquire about the impact of a Christ like
role in the shoppers busy life style and the frenetic age we live in.
Tentative plans are in hand
to erect every Thursday a tent offering visions of Christ through displays,
literature, books and Christian food for thought. Plus the opportunity to
enquire about the impact of a Christ like role in the shoppers busy life
style and the frenetic age we live in.
This will require helpers to
erect the tented display early and of course remove at the end of the day,
and then we need a rota of volunteers to man the displays and products and
of course provide helpful information.
|
Up |
Brian Angus |
Mr Wood |
Tricia Rutter |
Doreen Donohue |
Jenny Vallins $ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
09:00 |
Janet Roberts |
John Norrington |
Jeanette
Norrington |
Jo Campbell * |
$ not 4th |
|
09:30 |
Janet Roberts |
John Norrington |
Jeanette
Norrington |
Jo Campbell * |
* 27th only |
|
10:00 |
Meg Murrant |
John Norrington |
Jeanette
Norrington |
Jo Campbell * |
|
|
10:30 |
Meg Murrant |
John Norrington |
Jeanette
Norrington |
Jo Campbell * |
|
|
11:00 |
Meg Murrant |
Juliet Galipeau |
Anna Jansen |
|
|
|
11:30 |
Meg Murrant |
Juliet Galipeau |
Anna Jansen |
|
|
|
12:00 |
Handley Hammond |
Juliet Galipeau |
Anna Jansen |
Michael Rogerson |
|
|
12:30 |
Handley Hammond |
Juliet Galipeau |
Jo Campbell ** |
Michael Rogerson |
** 4th & 11th |
|
13:00 |
Handley Hammond |
Bobby Laurence |
Jo Campbell ** |
Michael Rogerson |
|
|
13:30 |
Handley Hammond |
Bobby Laurence |
Jo Campbell ** |
Michael Rogerson |
|
|
14:00 |
Bobby Laurence |
Janet Hacham |
Jo Campbell ** |
|
|
|
14:30 |
Bobby Laurence |
Janet Hacham |
Jo Brickwood |
Isabel Smith |
|
|
15:00 |
Tricia
Rutter |
Janet Hacham |
Jo Brickwood |
Isabel Smith |
|
|
15:30 |
Tricia
Rutter |
Janet Hacham |
Jo Brickwood |
Isabel Smith |
# not 4th or 11th |
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
Down |
Brian Angus |
Mr Wood |
Tricia Rutter |
Doreen Donohue |
Jenny Vallins # |
Please support this outreach to the community by helping to man the
Churches Together in Epsom stall in the Market Place on the four
Thursdays before Christmas 27th November & 4th, 11th & 18th December
2008.
Contact Brian
Angus on 020 8393 1749 or email below.
With grateful
thanks to all who have promised to help – most are willing and able
to help on all four Thursdays. I attach the Roster as it currently
looks. Those who can are asked to ensure that all the people they
know on the rota, have seen it. I look forward to further responses
from others willing to fill the gaps or add to those helping to set
up or run the event. Four people throughout 4 Thursdays is 112
hours, to achieve that I’d like 24 more hours to be volunteered.
This is
brilliant progress – thanks again
Brian Angus
Epsom
market is held on Thursdays - 9.30am - 2.00pm
So offers of help are
needed SOON, if you can help send a message here..................MAIL
To
Christmas in the Market Place a
report
This event took place two years ago
(2006) and was considered a success. Many connections were made.
We would therefore like to have the
event again, on four Thursdays.
There is also a proposal that there be
a nativity procession with a donkey.
Anyone willing to help should please
get in touch with Brian Angus.
Epsom market is held on Thursdays - 9.30am - 2.00pm, this with
the Farmers markets has been a key contributor to the economic
success of Epsom town centre retail trading, by encouraging new
visitors to the area. This has been achieved offering shopping
with good food and drink to provide a fantastic selection of
organic food.
The name of Epsom derives from Ebba's ham. Ebba was a Saxon
landowner. There were a string of settlements, many ending in
-ham, along the northern slopes of the Downs, including
Effingham, Bookham, and Cheam. Epsom appears in Doomsday Book of
1086 at that time had 38 peasant households grouped near St.
Martin's Church. Later, other small settlements grew up at the
town pond (now the Market in the High Street)
Due to its position in the London commuter belt allowing easy
access to the Greater London conurbation to the north and the
rolling Surrey countryside to the south The Mall Ashley was
built in the early 1980s and subsequently parts of the high
street were pedestrianised as part of the construction of the
town's large one-way system and represents an area for the
Market.
It is within this area that
Churches Together in Epsom are planning to have a tented site over the Christmas period,
offering visions of Christ through displays, literature, books
and Christian food for thought. Plus the opportunity to enquire
about the impact of a Christ like role in the shoppers busy life
style and the frenetic age we live in.
 
 
Last time the costs of the event were met by
COTE.
More information about
COTE,
and the
trustees, use the two underlined hyperlinks.
Pilgrim in Advent 2008
There is to be an
informal opportunity to explore the themes of Advent through meditation,
silence, music, creativity and prayer.
The exploration will
be on Tuesday evenings at 7.30 pm, starting on the Tuesday before Advent, 25th
November, and on the following three Tuesdays, 2nd, 9th and 16th
December. The programme will be ecumenical and the venue shared between St
Martin’s and St Joseph’s. We want to meet in both Churches – so the first will
be at St Joseph’s, the second at St Martin’s, the third at St Joseph’s and the
final session at St Martin’s.
In order to get the
most out of what we are doing, we recommend that participants commit themselves
to at least 3 of the 4 sessions, though we quite understand the need for
flexibility.
The purpose is to
find time to get away from the rush and bustle of this time of year, take a step
aside, and go deeper into the profound matters involved in our spiritual
reflections and preparations for the Coming of Christ into our world.
The Advent project
will be led by Adrian Esdaile, Chris and Sue Hyde.
It will be helpful
to know how many are coming. So if you want to be part of this Advent
‘retreat’ and the idea appeals to you, please phone:-
Adrian (01372 723 770), Chris and Sue (01372 723 469) or Christine
Turner (01372 730 930 or 721 876 or 723 573)
Or
e-mail
sjcparishoffice@st-josephs-epsom.org.uk
All
will be very welcome.
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