Happy new year from Hannah

Hi everyone,

After a flying visit to Petworth over Christmas (made even shorter by my plane back from Gambia being delayed by a day!) I'm just getting ready to leave again . . . on Sunday (3 January) I'll be catching the Eurostar to Paris where I will start French studies at a Christian language school. I plan to be there for six months initially, with the option of staying for up to a year.

Why Paris? For a while it's been a personal goal of mine to learn French. This would be useful if I was to get involved in further translation work in Gambia – because it is surrounded by French-speaking countries and also because knowing another language would be helpful. It is also a way of taking some time away from being in Gambia having been there on and off for over eight years now, and I plan to use the time to seek God's guidance for the future.

Thanks to all of you PCCers for your love and support in the journey. I'm looking forward to seeing more of you as Paris is a lot closer than Gambia so it'll be easier to pop back and say hello – and I'm sure I'll see a few friendly visitors out there as well?!

Lots of love, and happy new year to you all . . .
Hannah

Christmas Celebration

Here are details of our Christmas celebration with our friends at the United Reformed Church. Please feel free to copy and print the above to use as an invite to your friends and family.

From Sunday

Thank you all for your prayers on Sunday. We were reminded again of what a fantastic church family we are part of. You may remember Hannah's poetic contribution which she promised to email. Well sure enough here it is...

I came across this poem by a Quaker poet which has really spoken to me of the importance of living in the here and now - whether it is a time of feast or famine - looking for the goodness of God in every situation:

No longer forward nor behind,
I look in hope or fear;
But grateful, take the good I find,
The best of now and here.
— John Greenleaf Whittier

Jonny

Update

As promised the latest YAK is now available in the 'Links' section on the right. As usual Linda has worked hard to stuff it full with all of the latest need to know dates and details. Unfortunatly on it's way the the World Wide Web the formatting suffers a little but all the info is still there.

Jonny

Evolve

A youth club for 10 – 13 year olds held at the Sylvia Beaufoy Centre on Tuesday evenings.

Following on from what was said at chat’n’chew, may I remind you that as a matter of urgency, you pray that we will receive new staff members for the coming months. Ruth is going into hospital in December, and Emma will be going on maternity leave after Christmas, so we will need at least one female staff member.

Evolve is open from 7.00pm to 8.30pm for the young people, but set up is 6.30pm and pack away is usually finished about 9.00pm.

Please pray into this and let one of us know if you feel God is speaking to you about working with Evolve. The Evolve team are: Simon Jones, Nigel Sneller and Emma Sneller and of course me.

Regards,

Ruth Sneller

Chat & Chew...

or is that Chat 'n' Chew? Who knows. Whatever you want to call it it's happening this Sunday (25th). We'll have our usual morning together then a bring and share (or is that bring 'n' share) lunch while we chat about Church business and share what's going on.

We're taking the somewhat risky decision not to coordinate what everyone brings so just bring what you can to share. See you there!

A reminder of Sunday's prayer event in the heart of the South Downs area.

Wiston Estate Prayer Event - Sunday 11th October

Dear Friends,

This is a reminder of the important prayer event happening this Sunday 11th October 7.30-9pm at St Mary's Church, Wiston Estate for churches across the region, which will be of particular interest to those with a passion for prayer, mission and justice.

Peter Stanley, formerly Director of Stop The Traffik, now advisor for 24-7 Prayer and the government on human trafficking will be speaking at Wiston Church on Prayer & Social Justice. This will be a chance to hear about God's concern for justice issues such as people trafficking and a great opportunity for us to engage practically and unite in prayer.

We will pray into the important international role of Wiston House and Wilton Park (host to many UN conferences) plus get behind the anti-trafficking initiative START FREEDOM in prayer, which launches at the United Nations in New York in just a few days time.

From 9pm we will be praying through the night in hour shifts. If you are able to sign-up for a prayer slot between 9pm-7am please contact Katie asap: tobyandkatiemason@gmail.com You are welcome to pop in anytime through the night but the remaining prayer slots are: 11-12pm, 1-2am, 2-3am, 3-4am and 4-5am. It would be great to fill these before we gather together on Sunday.

Access to Wiston Church is from the A283 between the Washington Roundabout on the A24 and Steyning. Follow the signs for Wiston House. As you approach Wiston House and Church, you will need to press the button at the security gate to gain access. Please note, there are no toilet facilities at the church. Also, so you are aware in advance, we will be taking up an offering on the evening for Stop The Traffik.

Please can we ask you to spread the word and highlight this in your church notice sheets and services this Sunday morning � thank you.

We look forward to seeing those of you that can join us.

Wiston House Of Prayer

Harvest and other matters...

September has given us a little extra summer but now the nights are drawing in and the weather is turning. It's not all bad though. There's Harvest festival, bonfire night, Petworth Fair and of course Noah's Birthday!

This year we have been invited to join the United Reformed Church in celebrating harvest. They have also invited us to join them for lunch. If you are able to come and perhaps can contribute in some way then please call Maureen on 343102.

Last Sunday we were blessed by what Eunice shared at the beginning of the morning and also by what Meg had prepared for us on "Where is god in my Famine"... part of our series on Feasting and Famine. Meg has kindly written up her notes which you can read by clicking here. You can also listen to Meg's talk by selecting it in the "Latest recordings of teaching" list. It will be available until Thursday 22nd October.

Meg also read something by Creath Davis which insightfully shone a spotlight on the differences between acceptance and resignation. Again you can read this by clicking here

Gerald Gresham Cooke from Tillington has been asked by PACT ( Petworth Area Churches Together) to organise a

Walk Thru The Bible event for the Spring of 2010 .

April 20th & MAY 22^nd 2010

He says....

This is to ask you to 'Save the Dates' in your next year diaries:-

Tues April 20 (eve):

TASTER SESSION in Petworth with Cliff Keeys (Founder & Director for 21 years in the UK )

Sat May 22 (day):

NEW TESTAMENT SEMINAR .

For more info of Walk Thru The Bible - please see http://www.bible.org.uk/

In 2005 Petworth hosted a similar event with 41 attending an Old Testament teaching day. This time we are running a New Testament day on the major events in the life of Jesus and the Apostles as well as the geography of the Holy Land . The course also explains the 400 Silent Years & why there are four Gospels. There is no role play, & no volunteers are asked to come to the front.

The Taster is an amusing hour with Cliff Keeys, showing how interesting & informative a day can be.

Over 80,000 in this country have enjoyed the course, and over two million world wide. From Biblical Scholars to beginners - all will appreciate it. In fact, I learnt more in a day's seminar about the bible than I had in 30 years of sermons (don't tell my Vicar !).

Further details will follow, but besides saving the dates, please begin to 'gossip' it around our churches & congregations now.

Regards

Gerald