Another good attendance of nearly 50 members came along last Thursday to the Danbury Twinning monthly meeting, when Peter Parker gave us a presentation on the Essex Air Ambulance.

With a video presentation based on numbers, Peter led us through all the statistics of the numbers of flights, casualties, personnel and finance that makes up the vital work of the Air Ambulance.

Peter told us that the cost of the Air Ambulance in Essex amounts to about £1 per person per year, but as this money has to be raised from the community he had brought with him a range of merchandise to help raise funds.

Peter was thanked by chairman David Whiteing. We then had a refreshment break after which Peter answered the many questions raised by members.

The raffle was drawn. Then our chairman announced that the list for the fish and chips in May was open, the lists for help with the jumble sale on Saturday March 29 was passed round, the programme for the visit from our twin town of Altenglan in May was detailed, and finally interest was requested for the day outing to Wroxham in July.

Our next monthly meeting will be a talk on Constable Country by blue-badge guide Simon Gallup, to take place on Thursday April 3.

Full details are available at www.DanburyTwinning.info

UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

Heather Brown came to us from Southminster URC to lead our service at Danbury. She was welcomed by church secretary David Whiteing.

Heather brought greetings from Southminster and told us it was nice to be back, and she then opened with the words: "Loving Lord, we come to you this morning in need of your lifegiving water."

We then sang the hymn Praise to the Holiest in the Height. A Bible passage from John's Gospel was read by three readers, David Whiteing, Sylvia Hardy and Vera Millinship.

Heather said that her theme for the day was Impact, which was the right word to describe the Bible passage about the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

She said that Jesus made an impact on the people around him as a result of this miracle. But impact can also mean a collision, which describes the journey that Jesus was making towards Jerusalem and the cross.

Heather told us that her message today is of hope and not of sorrow.

She concluded by asking, is Jesus making an impact through us and praying that the Lord will make an impact on our church fellowship this very day?

Heather then led our monthly celebration of Communion. Following the service, refreshments were prepared by Sylvia Hardy.

Next Sunday, which is Palm Sunday, our own elder, Aimee Whitbread, will lead worship at 9.45am.