Verity Christian Fellowship

For those of you who are attending Detling this year and would like to download a programme just click here.

Understanding heaven is a difficult thing, we dont have a brochure. But perhaps this little story will help.

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

When he was close enough, he called out, “Excuse me, where are we?”

“This is Heaven, sir,” the man answered.

“Wow! Would you happen to have some water?” the man asked.

“Of course, sir. Come right in, and I’ll have some ice water brought right up.”

The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

“Can my friend,” gesturing toward his dog, “come in, too?” the traveler asked.

“I’m sorry sir, but we don’t accept pets.”

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.

As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

“Excuse me!” he called to the man. “Do you have any water?”

“Yeah, sure, there’s a pump over there, come on in.”

“How about my friend here?” the traveler gestured to the dog.

“There should be a bowl by the pump.”

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then
he gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.

“What do you call this place?” the traveler asked.

“This is Heaven,” he answered.

“Well, that’s confusing,” the traveler said. “The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.”

“Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope, that’s hell.”

“Doesn’t it make you mad for them to use your name like that?”

“No, we’re just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind

As most of you know there will be no church service on the bank holiday weekend. However there will be a repeat of the Vinters Arts day. This is aimed at children from 7 to 14 who can take part in various art activities. In the past the most popular of these has been the spray art but there will be lots of other things for them to do. One of the fundamental philosophys of the church is that we are here to serve the community. We have therefore always tried to support events like Vinters Arts. On the day we will need volunteers to help set up and clear up afterward and also help with all the other 101 jobs there are. We shall be providing free refreshments and lunch so help in the kitchen will be greatly received. The day is always good fun even if you dont have children attending. So perhaps a day to put in your diary.

Back in May we sent out 70 recycled computers to Malawi as part of the Starfish project and to Help Nedson at the Good News Revival centre (see links). Below are some photos of the container being loaded at the storage centre in Tunbridge Wells. Each box contained a computer and as many clothes as we could pack in.

The container arrives for loading

How many faces can you name?

Some 70 boxes with PC’s and clothing were loaded

With the start ot the summer holidays upon us the kids groups will be winding down. We are looking forward to September when we shall be starting with an exciting new programme for all groups. There will be a meeting at Chris & Gerry’s house on Sunday 30th July at 5.30 for all those involved in the kids minstry teams to review all aspects of the kids work. If you would also like to be involved then please come along and find out whats happening.

This Sunday our special guest speaker is Michele Lawerence. She will be talking about the relationship between the birth of a child and the Jewish Calendar (not exactly an obvious connection) I know you will all find this very interesting.