Mid week meeting

A few weeks ago we met to chat over some thoughts and ideas that had been stirred up by those who had read Rob Bells book Love wins, The evening provoked lots of questions and the debate was enjoyed by all.

We are planning another evening to share, test and debate our faith together and a theme that is emerging in the media is that of marriage, relationships and how Christians should react to a changing world.

This was partly provoked by the Coalition for Marriage petition  and questions as to whether you could sign this or whether you would have to insert conditions or amendments before you did.

A book Sue has found which may provoke questions or provide answers is Walking With Gay Friends: A journey of Informed Compassion by Alex Tylee

The evening is planned for Thursday 31st May, 7:30 at 16 Littlecote. Contributions towards refreshments welcome but not compulsory as is some thought/reading around the subject ahead of the meeting.

More info...

Further to the last post please note that we will NOT be meeting at the Herbert Shiner Centre as usual this Sunday. Instead we are joining our friends at All Hallows in Tillington at 11:15.

In other news...

* The 'links' section on the right hand side of the blog has been updated with details or our next set of Sunday meetings and the theme of justice which we will be looking at.


* Following the success of our mid-week meeting exploring a Rob Bell book we have another evening planned for Thursday 31st May, 7:30 at 16 Littlecote. More details of theme and content to follow,

* There is a Alpha course planned for Thursdays starting on May 10th. For more details or if you would like to attend please contact Kate.

Don't forget...


Sandy Millar has accepted PACT's (Petworth Area Churches Together) invitation to speak at our Spring Lecture on Friday 20th April ( 2nd Friday after Easter). The Lecture will be held at St. Mary's , Petworth at 7.30pm.

We are really pleased to have Bishop Sandy Millar with us at All Hallows next Sunday 22nd April at 11.15am.

Reply to:

Reply to: Gerald Gresham Cooke All

Reply to Gerald Gresham Cooke

Send

Easter Sunday

Hi all, a quick reminder that we meet this coming Easter Sunday at the Herbert Shiner School for a family friendly celebration of Easter rather than the scheduled Kids Church/Cafe Church.

Could as many people as possible bring some Hot Cross Buns!

We'll have sung worship with an emphasis on celebration and thanks, refreshments and drama from the kids. We will also share bread and wine together to mark this most important of celebrations.

See you there!

Life Support...

This morning we were very pleased to welcome Nathaniel Edwards from Storrington Community Church. He shared the amazing story of his journey into work with  AIDS orphans and prostitutes and the birth of the charity Life Support, working in Zambia and Congo. If you would like to read more about his work then you can click here to visit the Life Support website

You can also view Life Support videos on their You Tube Channel

It is also that time again when we need to all be signing up to help make our Sunday meetings happen. Lots of you signed up to various slots on the programme this morning but there are a few spaces left. Click here to view the programme and type straight into the square.

During the spring term we have been hearing from various different visitors about the ways in which they have been called to meet a need, bring restoration and kingdom justice. Over the next few months we will exploring that concept of justice further.

On the second Sunday of the month, during our kids church/cafe church mornings, we need people to bring a few, brief and informal words or stories with questions, prayer pointers or discussions starters. On the fourth Sunday we need a more traditional 'talk'. Clear as mud? Good.

Coming soon...

Hello all!

We meet this Sunday at the Herbert Shiner Centre. We have our friends Nathaniel from Storrington coming to share and our church meeting 'Slurp & Share' afterwards. We will have dates for the next few months where we will be focussing on justice, what it means and what it looks like now and in the Bible. Please bring your diary and if you can, sign up for helping with kids, speaking or overseeing.

We also plan to be creative with our times together on our cafe church mornings so if you would like to share some thoughts informally on one of those morning then again bring your diary and sign up on Sunday.

Sport in the Slums

Right now, Esther and an old friend of ours Ben Wilkes, who both work for charity Children On The Edge are in Haiti helping to set up administration for an amazing project.

Esther recently reported "Today we took over 20 children from the slums to a place closely resembling paradise. They have never been out of Port au Prince before and will remember this day for the rest of their lives, as will I. I am completely blown away by this project." 

Of the same day Ben said "We have touched the richest of the rich and perhaps the poorest of the poor and today we brought them together when we took 20 children out of the city for a day trip to the most amazing place with a pool overlooking mountains. The best for those who until today had the least. I'm being challenged and inspired on every level. Patrice is an incredible man. It's an honour to work with him."

Both Eshter and Ben have left family at home so remember them also in your prayers and pray for a safe return on Wednesday.

Click here for more on the project

Out of the Mouths of Babes...

If you were with us on Sunday you will have heard that Esther has jetted off to Haiti to carry out important support work with charity Children On The Edge.

Please remember the whole family in your prayers.

This conversation with Joseph suggests that he wasn't too keen on her going!

Joseph: Why do you have to go to Haiti ? Are they DEFINITELY poor?
Me: Definitely
Joseph: So have you got food in your bag or are you going to let them die?
Me: Umm I have a football kit in my bag, the man we're staying with gives out lots of food.
Joseph (after long pause): Mum it would be well funny if you took loads of food in your bag and they said 'only joking, we're not poor'.
Me: Yes Joseph, that would be hilarious.