No longer at this address!

Hi everyone, As I announced on Sunday we have a new Website! This Blog will no longer be update after today but there is a blog page on our new site.

The address is www.petworthcommunitychurch.org

See you there!

Volunteers needed

 

Hi everyone, I have been contacted by Ruth Dean from Royal Voluntary Service. She has asked that I pass on the following message asking for volunteers. 

 

Volunteers who can spare a couple of hours per week are urgently needed in Petworth, Midhurst and Pulborough to support the growing number of older people who wish to maintain their independence by living in their own homes, but sometimes struggle to shop or cook for themselves.  Could you help?  

Community Meals on Wheels serves 700 meals each day across West Sussex with an army of Royal Voluntary Service volunteers visiting local recipients to check they are happy, safe and well - and have actually eaten their meal. 

Offering company and friendship to someone who may not see anyone else for days on end, sharing a cup of tea or microwaving a meal are all simple practical things that make an enormous difference to someone who lives alone.  The charity matches up volunteers with older people living nearby so they can visit regularly, share a lift to the shops or attend a local club together... many fantastic friendships have started this way. 

Just sharing a little time together is what matters and a couple of hours is enough to make a real difference.  

If you have two hours per week - or more - to spare and would like to help with this vital service please get in touch with Royal Voluntary Service today.   

A volunteer recruitment team will be on hand to answer any questions at the following times and locations:

Thursday 6 February, 11am-1pm - Pulborough Village Hall, Swan View, Pulborough RH20 2BFTuesday 11 February, 1:30pm-3pm - Petworth Library, High Street, Petworth GU28 0AUFriday 14 February, 11am-1pm - Budgens, Bepton Road, Midhurst, GU29 9NA (weather permitting)Wednesday 19 February, 11am-1pm - Capron House, North Street, Midhurst GU29 9DH  
Or call RVS on 0845 600 5885 (quote west sussex) or find out more at http://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-in-west-sussex 

And breathe...

Hi all, firstly some fantastic musings from Anne inspired by Bob's thoughts last Sunday...

Just some thoughts on last Sunday ... Bob used and elaborated on the phrase ‘changing the atmosphere’.  I just could not get it out of my head; it was as if it had taken up residence n the fringes of my consciousness.  I cannot point to a particular scripture but everything within me was saying ‘Amen’ to the understanding that our very presence in the world alters the atmosphere, even unconsciously, just by being there.  "How can this be" I wondered?  Then, as I was thinking about something entirely different, the Lord planted into my mind a thought about breathing.  Something we give no thought to at all, one of the most basic and natural things we do.  We breathe in and the air circulates through our bodies, bringing us life.  We breathe out but the air we breathe out is not the same, it has been changed, this change in the physical world is not beneficial to others ... but so often the spiritual is the opposite.  So as we spiritually live in this world we breathe out the very Spirit of God that dwells in us, changing the atmosphere as naturally and as easily as we take oxygen out of the air we breathe, changing it as is breathed out.

The next time we are together is for the Launch Service for the new Foodbank project. This is will be included as part of the PACT United Service at All Hallows Church, Tillington at 3pm on Sunday 19^th January.

Build your Kingdom here...

Thanks for Bob for his words and encouragement this morning. Below is the song which he used. Happy listening!

Hi all, just a quick update to let you know that we will be meeting at the Youth Club tomorrow (Sunday 11th Jan). As per usual this will be a mix of discussion, bible teaching and worship with provision for children and an emphasis on being informal and friendly.

Bob will be helping us think about how we move into the new year thanking God for 2013 and trusting Him for 2014 whatever that may hold?!

In other news... you will notice a new 'page' on the right hand side called 'Hosting Teams'. As the name suggests this has details of our hosting teams, their leaders and expectations. You will still need to click on the individual calendar entries on the calendar page to see which team has been assigned.

That's all for now,

See you soon.

New Years Day Sizzle & Saunter *new time!

Hi everyone. It was great to see many of you this morning for our carol & craft get together at the United Reformed Church. Many thanks to Bob, Annie, Jane, Rusty and Brian and everyone who helped organise things.

Our next time together is planned for New Years Day. The plan is to meet at 11am (not 10am as previously stated!) at the Sylvia Beaufoy Centre for a delicious fried 'brunch' and then walk it off with a gentle jaunt around the park! Bob is planning to pre-cook some food so we will have a donations pot out to cover costs. If you would like you could bring some fruit juice or nibble of some sort to share. We already have guests coming so feel free to invite friends. See you there!

Jonny

Christmas gathering...

Dear all, we are joining our friends at the United Reformed Church this coming Sunday (Dec 22nd) at 10:30am. We have a fun morning planned. It will be with packed with of carols, Christmas crafts for the kids and plenty of Christmassy refreshments and time to catch up.

It'll be great to be together to share fellowship and friendship so please do invite friends and family.

Don't forget there's also the Kids Club on Saturday. This will be a morning of crafts and games for primary school aged children and will start at 9:30 at St Mary's. Please contact Annie for more details.

See you soon! God bless, Jonny.

Afternoon tea anyone?

Hi all, just a reminder that we have all been invited to Linda's this Sunday at 4pm. Nothing formal just good company and refreshments. All Welcome :-)

On another note, we are planning a New Years day get-together at the Sylvia Beaufoy Centre. The plan is to meet at 11am for a delicious fried breakfast and then walk it off with a brisk jaunt around the park! More details to come but put it on the calendar and feel free to invite friends.

See you all soon. Jonny

More than just a breakfast!

“The king said to me ,  “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven…”  Nehemiah 2,4

Nehemiah  has great faith that the affairs of earth are ruled by the God of heaven.  This is the reason behind his willingness to pray at all times, in all challenges his nation faces.

This is still true today, isn't it! We would love for you to join us on Saturday morning to pray, asking the God of heaven to bless and prosper our children.

Join us from 9 am to 10:30 this Saturday, we will be at:
The Sylvia Beaufoy Youth Centre, Midhurst Rd,
GU28 0E, Petworth
 
With love from all of us at the Splash Office!

Donuts and other stories...

Hi all. It was lovely to see many of you at the youth club this morning. Thank you too all those contributed to the programme of meetings for next year.

Don't forget we have a Church business meeting on Dec 8th and the calendar will be filling up as this is a busy time of year so keep an eye!

Finally some thoughts from Anne...

Sunday there was no bread for communion, and so we used doughnuts!

As it was placed before me the words 'Taste and see that The Lord is good' (Ps.4) came into my mind and I began to think about how sweet, in the best possible way, Jesus is. I popped my portion into my mouth and the sweetness exploded, filling me with joy. So sweet, sweeter even than honeycomb that is His word, which we can eat and be filled. (Ps.19).

As I drove homeward my car radio came on to the pre set programme. They were discussing sugar! I quote ..."The world is getting sweeter" ... I doubt that! I thought but understood the meaning was that we are consuming more sugar than ever before.

However for me, for this one person on this particular Sunday, thanks to the doughnut and what the Holy Spirit can do with the everyday things of life, yes the world had got decidedly sweeter!

Prayer Drive Ebook

Good morning all. Anne has sent me details of a book which she has been able to publish electronically. The small 'Ebook' details her recent travels during which she took time along the way to pray for various issues both local and national.

Following Anne's 'Prayer Drive' last year, for which many in the PCC were praying, she produced a report.  This has now been extended and updated and published as a small EBook entitled Prayer Drive ... One Year On.

 

This is available via the Amazon Kindle page and can be downloaded to Kindles, Pcs, Macs, IPhones,  IPads, and Tablets with the appropriate free Apps.

 

Anne says 'I do regret that Amazon will not allow this to be offered free, so there is a charge of 77p.'

 

This link should take you straight to the required Amazon page, or a search under the Kindle store section of www.amazon.co.uk Prayer Drive will bring it up.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GBBYZP8

 

See you all next Sunday at the Sylvia Beaufoy Centre where Kate will be sharing some thoughts on 'A Worshipping Lifestyle' led by Danni & Caroline.

Tony's Presentation...

Best penny ever spent

All Hallows at Tillington

Hi all. A message from Gerald at Tillington...

YOU WILL VERY PLEASED TO KNOW THAT, AFTER NINE WEEKS , OUR TILLINGTON CHURCH IS RE-OPENING THIS SUNDAY AT 9.30.

Do come & see the newly re-furbished Church, looking lovely, with windows that keep the draught out, and additional heating.

The following Sunday( 3rd at 11.15) we welcome Bishop Martin, our new(ish) Diocesan Bishop, to celebrate the re-opening of All Hallows. Lord & Lady Egremont will also be with us.

Best wishes Gerald

‘made in the image of God’

Dear all, We meet this Sunday at the Sylvia Beaufoy Centre at 10:30. This week Ruth will be overseeing the meeting and Tony will be sharing some thoughts on what it is to be ‘made in the image of God’. 

Tony has asked that we come with some thoughts on this and perhaps have a read of the verses he'll be referring to - Genesis 1:26 -27.

See you all  then!

Prayer Space...

Hello all! Firstly thank you to those who have helped in the Prayer Room at the Primary School this week. Naomi says that it has been very popular with the staff and pupils, many of whom have requested that it stay all year round! Parents have also been invited in to have a look and were equally impressed by the creativity and opportunity that it gave for pupils to express their thoughts and emotions.

Also in the news... There is NO Sunday Live worship event this Sunday so we next meet at the Sylvia Beaufoy Centre on Sunday 27th. 

Some diary dates...

On the Sunday 3rd November the rescheduled worship event at Henfield (sorry to those who hadn't heard October 6th had been postponed!). Click on their website for full details

http://www.communitychurchhenfield.org/pages/where/map.php 

On Thursday 14th November is Transforming our Communities Together at Windlesham House with Steve Chalke  MBE, UN Advisor, Matt Bird, 10 Downing St Community Advisory Group and Katy Bourne, Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner. This event aims to link churches and community groups with Sussex Police in a growing partnership of co-operation to tackle social issues and reduce crime in our area. If this event interests you please get in touch and I will forward the details

And on Friday 22nd November Petworth Area Churches Together host Jonathan Aitken for their Autumn Lecture entitled From Power to Prison to Peace at St Mary's Church.Click here to view the poster with further details

See you all soon.

News...

Naomi has been working with Petworth Primary School and others from Petworth Area Churches Together to put on a week-long 'Prayer Space' event at the school form 14th  to 19th October.  Children will be invited to make use of interactive prayers tools and activities over the course of the week. Thank you to those who are on the rota to staff this event and for everyone else please pray that it is fun and impactful for the children and staff

If you would like to find out more about the organisation Prayer Spaces in School, who have supported this venture, please click here.

Talking of PACT...

The Autumn Lecture will take place in St. Mary’s, Petworth at 7.30 on Friday 22nd November.  The speaker will be Jonathan Aitken (former Cabinet minister) and his subject will be ‘From Power to Prison to Peace’.  Be sure to put this date in your diary now! All welcome – no charge. Further details Gerald at Geraldgreshamcooke@gmail.com or 01798 342151.

Remember every Friday there is the PACT Coffee Morning at the United Reformed Church in Golden Square, Petworth.

The Food Bank in Chichester has provided some boxes which are kept at Petworth United Reformed Church.  These are for short term emergency relief.  If you know of someone who needs this help ask them to call at the church on a Friday morning and ask for Maureen or Kenneth

Change of plan...

 
We were scheduled to meet for a PCC Tea-time Gathering at Keyfox on Sunday. However we have an exciting change of plan. This Sunday is the Aannual Splash open afternoon. Splash being an inititative we wholehartedly support as a church, we thought make the 'Splash Flash Live' event our activity for this coming Sunday. It's at Pulborough Village Hall from 3:00pm - 5:00pm.

Better late than never!

Hi all, I have finally been able to type up our programme for the Autumn. You can view it by clicking here or in the Links section.

We enjoyed a lovely walk in the park last weekend and only got a little wet! Thanks to Fred for organising us. Next Sunday we are at the youth club for some where we will hear from those who have recently been to Paris to see at first hand the work that Hannah is doing there.

Together again...

Hi all, we are together again this Sunday morning from 10:30 at the Sylvia Beaufoy Youth Centre. Bob will be sharing some thoughts from a recent conference and we will worship together and spend time catching up. Jane and Annie will be having fun with the children too. All welcome. See you there!