Caterham Overseas Aid Trust (COAT) needs you!

Caterham Overseas Aid Trust (COAT) is a small, ecumenical charity run by local people, raising money year-by-year to help communities in the developing world.

The charity has been in existence for over 40 years but there is an urgent need for new committee members to enable it to continue its good work in the future. Would you consider joining us in supporting people in poorer countries to help themselves?

COAT finances simple, sustainable projects through Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) such as Water Aid, Practical Action, Self Help Africa and VSO. The committee selects the projects very carefully and receives regular updates on their progress and impact.

If you would like to know more about COAT and consider becoming a member of the team, please contact Geraint Jenkins through the Caterham Overseas Aid Trust (C.O.A.T.) website.

Registered Charity: 283579

Munch with Music - July 2023

The next Munch with Music will be held in the church on 5th July 2023 featuring Andrew Garrido on piano, playing Mozart, Debussy and Chopin (download programme notes).

You are invited to bring your own ‘Munch’.

Admission is free, donations are welcome.

Coffee, tea and biscuits from 12:15pm, with the performance starting at 12:45pm and lasting about 45 minutes.

The following Munch will be on 4th October, with Alfred & Salamanda Saxophone Quartet.

It was hot!

Church Hall decorated for the Green Fair, 2023.

Hot in the hall, hot outside, hot for the plants, hot for the Bean Bag Bonanza.

It looked easy, three practice bean bags and then the pressure mounted for the three that counted.

30+ points won a prize, the points were:

Brownie 1	75 points
Ken	75 points
Danae	75 points
Mr S	50 points
Guides 1&2	50 points
Susan	50 points
Noel	50 points
Cookie	50 points (eventually)
JW	50 points
Mr D	30 points
Daniel	25 points
Dan	20 points

In contrast, the church was cool, the organ played and the bells rang.

The refreshments were popular, the cakes spectacular and the cream teas mouthwatering.

The high point for me, the (rather shy, no pictures) human fruit machine, which behaved like all the others and I won nothing :)

Well done to all those who helped prepare, helped run, helped put away and were patrons to the event.

HOT OFF THE PRESS: When all contributions are gathered in, looks like over £700 will have been raised.

Four in the fellowship outside St John's

Hidden behind the flowers, another scarecrow waits to pounch.

A stealthy scarecrow waits to pounce upon the unwary (only birds of course).

Green Club new member

A new member of the Green Club takes post outside St John's, looking to see off any lurking crows.

Caterham ‘Summer Loving’ Scarecrow Display and Competition

Scarecrow relaxes in church hall with friends. Scarecrow chats with churchwarden. Scarecrow admires Coronation decoration.

Many towns and villages across the country have been holding Scarecrow displays during the summer months bringing smiles and laughter and visitors a plenty.

St John's are early into the game with a couple of characters relaxing outside the church. Perhaps more will join them?

Green Fair

24th June 2023 - 11:30am to 3:30pm

at

St. John's Church Hall

Clareville Road

Caterham

Including:

Pedricks Stall

Non-plastic Tombola

Books/CDs

Pre-loved Goods and Toys

Games

Plant Stall

Lucky Dip

And More!

Come and hear our magnificent church organ and have a go yourself between 11.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m!
John our organist will be there to welcome you.

Also a tower tour at 12:30pm, hear, see and try the bells.

Refreshments will be served.

St John's church exterior view and John Woodhouse.

Munch with Music - June 2023

The next Munch with Music will be held in the church on 7th June 2023 featuring Kyle Nash-Baker on piano.

You are invited to bring your own ‘Munch’.

Admission is free, donations are welcome.

Coffee, tea and biscuits from 12:15pm, with the performance starting at 12:45pm and lasting about 45 minutes.

The following Munch will be on 5th July, with Andrew Garrido on piano.

Appointment of Vicar of St John the Evangelist, Caterham Valley

Appointment of Vicar of St John the Evangelist, Caterham Valley by The Bishop of Southwark.

We are pleased to announce today, Sunday 21st May 2023 that, The Reverend Jaimee Summers, presently Curate, Benefice of Epping District (All Saints) (St John the Baptist), has been appointed Vicar of St John the Evangelist, Caterham Valley, subject to completion of the necessary procedures.

Further details, including the date of the Licensing service, will follow in due course.

Rogation Sunday 14 May 2023 - Beating the bounds

Rogation Sunday – traditionally this is when we ask for God’s protection of the agriculture industry, livestock, and crops. The tradition involves walking the boundaries of the parish – which is called “beating the bounds” – praying and asking for God‘s blessing for the well-being of that particular community.

The walkers from St John's were following a carefully planned route starting with the ascent of Church Hill, then south along the valley to Caterham School.

Striking south again, the party made our way via a muddy path to the View Point where lunch was taken and supplied, very kindly, to one foolish person who was ill prepared for the journey.

Heading east along the North Downs Way, a boundary marker was found and duly given a small beating. Crossing the A22 was complicated by having to give way to the runners heading in the opposite direction.

Climbing back up onto the downs was a testing time, though much mutual encouragement was given. Our sixth prayer location was deep in bucolic uplands and was followed by a respectful passage through a large herd of cows (or bulls with udders).

It was all downhill to the Wasp Lodge roundabout, thankfully, and after a trek along Stafford Road, it just remained to pray in front of the north entrance porch of the church.

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