Musical treats...

Hi all, Firstly some news. In another change to the planned meeting, on Sunday the 23rd December we will now join our good friends at the United Reformed Church in Petworth NOT All Hallows in Tillington as previously stated.

Now, some of us shared a lovely meal at Chris and Esthers on Thursday evening. Chris played us a song that he'd been listening to recently and had touched him so I thought it would be good to share it. It is available to purchase on itunes and to view here on YouTube



God uses music to touch us in different ways at different times. Something that I have listened to many times recently and even set as my morning alarm is this song adapted from a prayer St Patrick's Breastplate

Update...

Hi all, A few things for you this time...

* It was really great to have Ellie and Eric with us on Sunday and some really specific prayer pointers and an engaging visual aid! Eric gave details about three of their friends for whom they are praying especially hard. For security reasons I can't publish all the details here but for your prayers, their names are Salem, Sambango and Yousu.

* This coming Thursday (December 6th) we have the next in our series of meals planned at the lovely Smitheram abode. Please let Chris or Esther know if you are planning to come so they have an idea of how many of us to expect.

* In a change to the planned meeting, on Sunday the 23rd December will now join our good friends at All Hallows, Tillington who are hosting Canon Andrew White the Vicar of Bagdad.

Canon White's remarkable ministry over the past 10 years or so has produced some measure of hope in such a troubled part of the world. That ministry involves:

- Peace and reconciliation work with all shades of religious leaders in the Middle East

- Dramatic and sometimes harrowing stories of everyday life in Iraq

- A 3000 strong Congregation of ALL denominations at St George's Baghdad.

We are very privileged to have him for what promises to be a fascinating talk......

Do hope that you're free to come.

* Finally, we will have a Gatherings planning meeting arranged for January 3rd next year! This will be an evening of wine, nimbles and lively chat and planning for our next series of Sunday morning meetings.

See you all soon.

Info and announcements...

Hello all! A few things for you.

Firstly you can now go to the links section on the right hand side of the page to view Chris' Presentation from his talk on Nehemiah

Also don't forget that it's Sunday Live tomorrow (Sunday 18th), 4pm at Tillington Village Hall and PACT welcome Ruth Dearnley, of Stop The Traffic to St Mary's for their Autumn Talk.

STOP THE TRAFFIK is a global movement of individuals, communities and organisations fighting to prevent human trafficking around the world. A subject which has suprising relevance even for us in leafy Sussex. This talk takes place on Friday 23rd November at 7:30. There is no charge, all are welcome and there are refreshments.

 

Finally an extract from Chris talk, reminding us of our true identity.

•I am God's child (John 1:12)

•I am Christ's friend (John 15:15)

•I belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:20)

•I am a member of Christ's Body (1 Corinthians 12:27)

•I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20)

•I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7)

•I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me (1 John 5:18)

•I am blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3)

•I am chosen before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4, 11)

•I am holy and blameless (Ephesians 1:4)

•I am adopted as his child (Ephesians 1:5)

•I am given God's glorious grace lavishly and without restriction (Ephesians 1:5,8)

•I am in Him (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:30)

•I am forgiven (Ephesians 1:8; Colossians 1:14)

•I have purpose (Ephesians 1:9 & 3:11)

•I have hope (Ephesians 1:12) 

•God likes me even though he knows me

A quick note to say...

Hi everyone, just a quick note to say that tomorrow's meeting, scheduled to be held at the Herbert Shiner Community Hall will now be a less formal affair at the lovely Kerfox Farm. 10:30am as usual.

Hope to see you there! Jonny.

Dates for you diary...

Hi all, Having filled most of the spaces on this Autumns planner I thought it best to get it up on the blog for all to see. If you can't view it or can fill some of the spaces then do get in touch.

Click here to view the plan as it stands!

Also I have received news from of the PACT Autumn lecture. Details below...

PACT has a wonderfully engaging speaker for the Autumn lecture this November 23rd. She is Ruth Dearnley , boss  of Stop The Traffik.

What is  STOP THE TRAFFIK ?

It is " a global movement of individuals , communities and organisations fighting to prevent human trafficking around the world". It was started in the UK by Steve Chalke OBE, of OASIS , now UN Special Adviser on Human Trafficking.

Practical details:-

• St. Mary's , Church Lane, Petworth GU28 0AE
  
• Friday   November 23rd 2012 @ 7.30pm . Talk will take 30/45 minutes.
  
• Free entry to all - no tickets necessary. All Welcome, Suitable for  non-church goers &  church goers.
• Canapes & light refreshments afterwards
  
•  Large town centre Car Park  GU28 0AP (free) 5 mins. walk
  
• Organised by PACT ( Petworth Area Churches Together)

 It promises to be a hugely valuable evening so please put this date in your diary & come if you can.

The Nehemiah series

Dear PCCers

The Nehemiah series we're embarking on includes some "daily insights"... These start(ed!) on 1st October so apologies for sending this out a bit late, but you can CLICK HERE to see these

Here's a description (prepared by Naomi) of all that is available during our explorations of Nehemiah...

For the next 3 months PCC will be studying Nehemiah together.

This book is full of useful lessons for us as individuals and as church family.

We will be looking at this book in several ways:-

• Through teaching brought to us during our Sunday gatherings
• By following  “daily insights” based around Nehemiah, from the Life Application Bible
• By gathering for 4 meals together during the next few months to discuss what we have been learning and encourage one another.

It would be great if we could explore this book together over the next few months by sharing with each other, something we have learned, a question we may have, something we have made or written inspired by the book or a gesture of encouragement inspired by Nehemiah.  We are a creative and enthusiastic group of people, so let’s grow in that and go on a journey together, through the week and not just on the Sundays we meet.

Some examples of ways you could get involved….

• Write a postcard to someone you want to encourage with something you have learned from your studies.
• Text everyone with a blessing based on what you've discovered.
•  Create a painting or poem or piece of prose to share at our Sunday gathering or at one of the meals
• Write a post for the blog (and send it to Jonny, via email or written out by hand)
• Get into using the PCC Facebook group to discuss the “thought for the day” or ask everyone a question.
• Think of a way you could help the children understand the story – there is so much there that would be helpful for them!

There are so many more ways, so let’s try to get involved in a way that expresses our characters and reflects the way the people work together in Nehemiah.

A Meg sized hole!

This poem was prompted by two key themes expressed at Meg Riddell’s celebration party at St Mary’s on the 31^st August:  firstly Meg would be missed and secondly she had impacted the lives of those who knew her for the better.   It seemed that the positive of the latter filled the gap left by the former. 
Tony

Meg space

There’s a Meg sized hole now she has gone,

and quite a big hole it is.

No  - it’s nothing to do with her physical size,

but the space that her presence filled.

There’s a Meg sized hole now she has gone,

and quite a big hole it is.

Now those who knew Meg, and many there were,

miss the presence she brought to their lives

There’s a Meg sized hole now she has gone,

and quite a big hole it is.

Now the jokes have stopped and the laughter ceased,

we miss joy that filled the place.

There’s a Meg sized hole now she has gone,

and quite a big hole it is.

Now the winning smile will smile no more,

and the care will no longer be felt

There’s a Meg sized hole now she has gone,

and quite a big hole it is.

For there was something of God that came with Meg,

that she shared with those she met.

There’s a Meg sized hole now she has gone,

and quite a big hole it is.

But as we learn:

from who Meg was,

and what she shared,

and what she said,

and, perhaps, what she didn’t say;

we grow.

There’s a Meg sized hole now she has gone,

and quite a big hole it is.

But as we embrace:

what she knew of God,

from the path she walked

and the joy she gave

and the pain and hurt she felt;

we grow. 

There’s a Meg sized hole now she has gone,

and quite a big hole it is.

But as we grow:

we bring the joy

we walk the path

we embrace the God

we take the space

and fill that hole;

that Meg has left behind. 

And we thank God for the Meg we knew;

and Meg for what of God she showed.

Tony Sneller   31^st August 2012

Update...

Hi all,

A few weeks ago Reuben shared a little about his new life in Walsall. For those of you who were not there or have short memories here is his update

Hi, I thought I'd send an email explaining exactly what I'm doing at the moment, as I feel maybe some people don't quite know, as I haven't explained it very well! 

 

Living:

I am living in Walsall, just north of Birmingham, in a house with currently 2 others, but very soon to be 3, Ben, Scott and Josh. The house is the base for the Faithworks team (see below) so we do lots of hosting, and we like to think it is a very open place, so if you are ever passing, do feel free to call in!

 

Work: 

I am working part time in Wesley Owen, a Christian bookshop in Birmingham. Hopefully soon my old work (USE) will be sending me up some work to do, which will be good as it will just top up the finances.

 

Radio:

I am doing an unpaid internship type thing at a radio station called Banbury Sound. This is currently one day a week, helping with the breakfast show, making features and writing scripts. 

Faithworks:

Faithworks was started by Jen and some of her friends last year, when they all decided to commit to a year of youth work in Walsall after University. They decided to do the year again this year, and start it as a possible yearly course for people to do. I was asked if I would join the team this year, and after some prayer decided I would! I am really excited by this! Last week we had our first induction-type week, where we planned the year and the things we wanted to do. This involves things like running a night cafe for young people in Walsall to helping run a Christian Union for schools in the area. As well as running stuff, we will be having teaching, mentoring and training sessions throughout the year. The team this year is: Me, Ben, Scott, Josh, Jen, Jess and Charley. And, if people have Facebook they can like us on there, just search my "likes".

 

That is pretty much it, I hope it makes things a bit clearer!

You can click here for the latest Faithworks Newsletter

In Other news...

*We meet this Sunday for the last in our current series. 10:30 at the Herber Shiner Community Hall for the usual worship, word and catch up.

*Ann has been busy so do visit her page to see what she's been up to recently.

*Petworth have a new community website. Check it out at www.petworthcommunity.org.uk