Flower Festival 2013 - Our 25th Anniversary!

It's that time again!

The 25th Annual Festival of Flowers will take place over the bank holiday weekend, 25th-27th May 2013. There will be some wonderful floral displays along with the usual refreshments and stalls. Special church services will be held on the Sunday at 10.30am and 6pm.

Lunches will be available on the Saturday and Monday between 12 noon and 2pm and cream teas will be available at other times.

Do take time to come along and see for yourself!

Flower Festival Helpers Needed!

We hope to see you at the Flower Festival where we welcome so many visitors through our doors and share our faith with them as well as raising funds for charity. This year is the 25th anniversary of the Flower Festival – if you have never been or can help over the weekend please let Wendy Gorham know.

This is a Church event and it needs you!! If you have never helped out before then maybe this is the year to offer! There are many ways you can assist:

Washing up, making cakes, being a waiter/waitress, welcoming people on the door, playing music whilst people look at the flowers, drying up, making food for the lunches/teas, being on a stall, providing items for the stalls, hoovering on the Friday night, helping on the Tuesday morning with the dismantling and taking flowers to our neighbours. and much more!

If you wish to help late on Friday night (24th May) with the hoovering, etc. please do speak to me and I can let you know a time.

If you have items for the stalls (plants, books, good bric a brac, cakes, jigsaws, toys) please bring them up to the Church on Friday 24th May in the afternoon. Cakes can also be brought on the Saturday (25th) and Monday (27th) for the cake stall.

On Tuesday 28th May in the morning (usually from 10.00 am) the displays have to be dismantled, flowers delivered to people and the Church cleaned. If you could come and help with this it would be appreciated – more hands make less work!

Whatever you can do please do let Wendy know by phone 01424 846373 or in person!

Our Flower Festival Sunday Services are being led by Rev Cynthia Park (who was our Minister at this Church a few years ago) – do come along!

‘Songs of Praise’ (Christchurch Style)

On Sunday morning May 5th, a ‘local arrangement’ is scheduled at Christchurch. We would like you to vote for your favourite hymns and the most popular will be sung during the service. Don’t miss the chance to have your say! Pick up a voting slip from the vestry from the 31st of March.

Evening Service led by Worship Leaders

You are all welcome to an evening service at Christchurch which is being organised and led by the Worship Leaders from the Circuit, (At present there are seven Worship Leaders in the circuit including our own Wendy Gorham).

The service is on Sunday May 12th at 6.00 pm – all are most welcome. Please do come and support and encourage all our Worship Leaders.

Christchurch Fellowship of Prayer

Something new was suggested at the Annual Church Meeting. For all of us, wherever we are on a Wednesday at 9.00 pm (or near this time) to have a chance to pray together even if we cannot all be together - we can be together in spirit.

Wherever you are on a Wednesday and as near to 9.00 pm as possible, sit or stand quietly and say the Thanksgiving prayer and then the Forgiveness prayer. Then pray the Prayers for the Church including the people mentioned.

Do that every Wednesday and see how God will bless us all. Prayer is talking to God, listening to God, and being with God The Christian Life is first of all about so giving your life to Him that you live your life in daily fellowship with him. As we learn to be in His presence may that be so. There are more things wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. And if prayer is about being in God’s presence then surely it must first of all change us.

Thanksgiving

Loving Father, I thank you for this day, for the blessings that I have received and for your unseen presence in any times of testing or of difficulty. Thank you that I am your precious child, loved by you and that you reveal your love in Jesus. Fill me afresh with your Holy Spirit and give me a glad and thankful heart that always trusts in you through Christ my Lord. Amen

Forgiveness

Loving God I lay before you this day with its joys and sorrows. Forgive all my shortcomings through this day, hasty words or unkind thoughts and deeds. Give to me assurance of your pardon and grant me your peace and rest this night through Christ, Amen.

Prayers For the Church

Now pray for the Church at Christchurch For our Minister, the Church Stewards and all our lay leaders Pray for all who worship here, all who use our premises or those at Centenary House. Pray for the Pastoral Leader and Group listed on Page 4 this month. And pray for people who live around our Church that they may see something of the presence of Jesus in our life and witness.

Saturday Morning Prayer Walking in Bexhill - May 2013

Christians from all denominations meet at 8.30 am on Saturday mornings until 10am for united praise and prayer. This is a united effort by all Christians working together for the Kingdom of God to transform our community. All are welcome to join us - Praise the Lord in Unity and Bless one another and the townsfolk of Bexhill.

• 4th May, St. Augustine’s Church, St. Augustine’s Close, Cooden Drive
• 11th May, Prayer Morning at the Coach House, Old Town, Bexhill18th May, Sackville Road Methodist Church
• 25th May, St. Peter’s Community Centre, Old Town

We welcome all - please join us.

Christchurch House Group Meetings May 2013

The new name for the Discipleship Group

'Issues facing the church in our 21st Century' - at 7.30 pm, Friday 17th May and again on Friday 31st May at 7.30pm, in Centenary House (unless we have an offer of a ‘home’).

CTIB Weekly Prayer Cycle - May 2013

Held 8.30 am to 10.00 am

• May 5th: St Barnabas (vacancy)
• May 12th: Christchurch Methodist (Ian Wales)
• May 19th: Bexhill School Pastors
• May 26th: St Martha’s (David Parmiter, Bruno Witchalls)

Winchelsea Chapel News & Events

Ascension Day is not a festival day that we very often recognise in a very positive way – many years ago schools would have a special service to which all were expected to attend and then the rest of the day was a holiday. How things have changed!

Well, we intend to mark the day – Thursday May 9th – at 7.30 pm with a special circuit service to include Holy Communion at the Chapel and it would be good to see a large attendance. Two further dates – on Saturday June 8th the Chapel will be open from 2 – 5 pm to link with the National Gardens Scheme Open gardens – a time when a visit to the town is well worth while.

Then on Sunday July 14th there will be the celebration birthday of the Chapel – 228 years! There will be singing hymns under the ‘Wesley Tree’ from 2.30 pm followed by a service in the Chapel at 3.00 pm led by the Rev Rose Westwood, the Southern Area Assistant District Chair. Do please book the dates!

Barry Turnwell, Publicity Officer

Ninfield Services and Meetings May 2013

All services and meetings at 2.30pm unless otherwise stated.

May 5th - Local Arrangement

12th May - 2.30 pm Rev. Ian Wales - Circuit Service at Christchurch at 6.00pm

19th May - 2.30 pm Barry Turnwell - Pentecost / Aldersgate Sunday

26th May - 2.30 pm Rev. Ian Pruden

Our Church Anniversary will be held on 16th June at 2.30pm., and we shall welcome Christian Voices on 15th May at 3pm. Please make a note of these dates. A warm welcome to you all.

HELEN SHAPIRO COMES TO TOWN!

Many of us remember Helen Shapiro and she will be giving an evening of ‘Gospel Outreach’ on Saturday May 11th at 7.30pm at the Reid Hall, Boreham Street. Tickets are £5 each and available from ‘Scolfe’s Restaurant and Tea Rooms’ also in Boreham Street – 01323 833296.

Seeking God's Heart

Are You Hungry For God? Have You Always Wanted To Go Deeper With God, But Kept Putting It Off? Do You Want To Know His Presence In Your Home And A Breakthrough In Your Family? Are You Desperate To Really Know The God Of The Bible And See Him Working In Your Life And Ministry? Then This Is For You....

You are invited to a Weekend Of Seeking God's Heart at The Buckhurst Room at Beulah Baptist Church on Friday 31st May, 7 - 10 pm and Saturday 1st June, 9 am to 6.30 pm

The conference is free, but registration is required, either in advance or on the door. A love offering will be taken during the weekend to bless the work of World Trumpet Mission, Uganda. (WTM is a catalyst for revival, coming alongside the church globally to inspire and encourage).

Attending all 4 sessions over the 2 days is not essential, but is highly recommended. Drinks provided. Please bring a packed lunch on Saturday if required. For more info or to book your place(s) please contact: Menaka Simpkins menaka2@btinternet.com (phone 01424 736287), or Peter & Elizabeth Ewen eandp.ewen@tesco.net (phone 01424 214780). For more information about WTM visit www.worldtrumpet.com

Christian Voices Musical Drama Group

Christian Voices, the Musical Drama Group, will be performing their next play in June. It is called ‘The Wedding at Cana’ and recounts what may have happened in the days leading up to the wedding culminating in the wedding itself. The play was written by Alan Young and the songs composed by Dave Chamberlin. Christian Voices will be going to:-

Sackville Road Methodist Church on Tuesday, 11th June at 7.45 p.m., and

Ninfield Methodist Church on Saturday, 15th June at 3.00 p.m.

Bexhill Christian Writing Club

‘Be the pen of a Christian Writer’

Meeting every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 2.00 pm Charter House, 43 St. Leonard’s Road, Bexhill-on-Sea. Further details from Heather Benn - 07766104107. Members come from all denominations [and some non-Christian who are happy to be involved so it could be an evangelical tool]. It is hoped to write a variation of prose, poetry and devotional writing. Heather Benn is a member of the Association of Christian Writers.