I heard someone say this morning that these days feel a bit like coming out of the ark. The lockdowns and restrictions are lifting and we have at least a season of everything feeling a bit more normal. It feels like a time to start over and rebuild. Of course globally we’re not out of the woods (do pray for India, today) and who knows quite how things will be anywhere this coming winter. But we gladly press on.
“Press on” is a phrase that comes in v12 and v14 in that short passage from Philippians. Press on. Press on. And in both cases it’s pressing on towards heaven. That is our goal; that is our prize. And one day, all Christian people will take hold of our inheritance for which Christ Jesus took hold of us.
So however good, excited, relieved, tired, concerned, happy, sad, you’re feeling now, whatever the circumstances for the rest of this year, let’s press on. Press on. ​

The power of the love of God, come and                      stand in awe
 

​The last revival on the UK mainland happened 100 years ago this month, in Lowestoft. And when we lived in Lowestoft we had people in our church who actually experienced it. Their memories were vivid, and quite extraordinary! So do read what follows from Christopher Wilding:

Revival: a sovereign move of God wherein individuals and whole congregations are brought to repentance and renewal, resulting in the spreading of the Gospel with great power out into society, bringing many to Christ and effecting radical changes for good within that society.
​
I long for revival. Revival in Hove and Brighton, Sussex and out to all corners of the UK.
Revival being a sovereign move of God means that we ourselves cannot bring it about. But we can pray.  Historically revivals are preceded by seasons of prayer, by individuals, groups and congregations.

We can start by first asking God for our own personal renewal and revival. Cry out, 'Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths'. In seeking God this way we are treading a path that many great saints have taken before us.
Should you decide to follow the call to pray for revival, I would like to suggest one starting point, (one of many), that I have found most helpful.

The modern hymn, Come O Sinner, is a hymn that brings me to my knees. It shows me again the great depths of love the Father has for me and for each one of us; for surely His only Son 'was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.'                     
Verse 1
Come, O sinner, come and see
Christ the Lord upon a tree
See the crown of thorns adorn the King
Who labours to breathe in agony
Come, O sinner, come and see
What our God became to set us free
Verse 2
Come, O sinner, come and mourn
For He calls your sin His own
Do you feel the weight of justice served?
He suffers the wrath that you deserve
Come, O sinner, come and mourn
For He bears the curse for all you've done
Chorus
Oh the wonder of this awesome scene
Where our Saviour bleeds
Oh the power of the love of God
Come and stand in awe
Verse 3
Come, O sinner, come rejoice
Mercy fills this place of scorn
For He dies to save His enemies
That all who draw near may know His peace
Come, O sinner, come rejoice
Through the death of Christ death is destroyed

Music and words by Jordan Kauflin. © 2019 Sovereign Grace Praise
Available to listen on Youtube, search 'Come, O sinner',
from the album 'The Glorious Christ Live', and online at
https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/come-o-sinner/

Please click on this link below for more information:
​​https://mailchi.mp/49f60ba13f0e/so-much-to-pack-in-to-a-day?e=b699edbce3

Please click in the link below for Phil's message on seating arrangements in the church:
​​https://youtu.be/nc0sgvrz7RA

In order to attend this new exciting venture you need to sign up in advance using this link: https://bhmc.churchsuite.com/events/6ylrnr4x

Stretch It Out
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21) 
 
The older I am getting the more I am realising the importance of stretching. When we fail to stretch, our muscles begin to lose their ability to expand and contract, which can significantly reduce our body’s range of motion.
​ 
But it is not just our bodies that need to be stretched to stay healthy. Our faith in Jesus also needs to be stretched; our spiritual minds need to be stretched; our hearts need to be stretched. Because, when we fail to stretch in these vital areas of our lives, we will stop growing and eventually develop a type of atrophy – of being ineffective and weak in our Christian lives.
 
As we cautiously come out of lockdown and look to the future, let us be challenged to look forward with God-inspired faith. Let us believe God wholeheartedly for a better future, for broader horizons, and greater victories in Jesus’ name. Let us ask God to stretch our thinking, knowing that He is able to do much more than we can even imagine.
 
 
Dear Lord, fill my heart to overflowing with Your love today. Help me to focus wholeheartedly on You as I boldly step out with You in faith. Amen

If you have a child year 5 or younger you should have received an email with information about the return of children's work.  If not please email the church office office@bhmc.org.uk
​

  As I’ve read again the Easter story in John’s gospel I’ve been struck by the f-words in John 21. Before you start to worry, they are these particular ones: friends, fish, feed, follow.
6 disciples join Simon Peter who has decided to go fishing through the night. They fish for hours but don’t catch anything and as dawn breaks Jesus calls to them from the shore...He says “Friends” and then recommends a particular course of action and suddenly there are so many fish in their net they can’t manage to haul it into their boat. Please read the whole of the encounter, it’s fascinating and what happens when they have breakfast on the beach with Jesus, who is actually already cooking fish, is that Peter is given the command to “feed” Jesus’ little lambs and sheep and also to “follow” Him regardless of what anyone else is doing.
What a great picture of our roles as disciples of Jesus – we are friends who follow, fish, feed and carrying on following. When Jesus originally called Simon Peter to follow Him, He said that he would from then on be fishing for people. So as Jesus’ followers we, too, reach out to invite others into the Kingdom but once God brings them in our role is to make sure these fish-become-sheep are fed rather than eaten!! Some people seem to be specifically called as evangelists, some as pastors, some as teachers, some as those who come alongside and support in various ways. However, we can all witness to God’s love and care for us, tell others about Jesus and invite them to come and see for themselves.
But over and above all of this we are called to keep on following Jesus, to grow into His likeness through the power of the Holy Spirit and see where He is at work and go where He leads.
Let’s make sure where our focus is – on following – and pray for ourselves and each other and our Christian leaders in particular that we all keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus and stay close.

There is still space in church so please book your place and come in person. Booking will not close until 2.45pm on Sunday.

I love this Psalm. The fear in David’s words is so strong here. Drowning, sinking, suffocating, flooded. It’s like his life is fading away, sinking below the depths with nothing to grab to stop his fall.
Many of us are familiar with the story of David’s life. The stress and hardships he endured, the hot water he got himself in, the injustice he suffered. He’s been through real hardship. We often think we can’t compare our own struggles in modern, leafy, 21st century Hove to those this BC Middle-Eastern King went through. But I think we can.
Awful situations are awful situations. Whether that’s being hounded down by a wayward king or a family bereavement. Whether it’s having to battle a giant or battling an addiction. Whether that’s dealing with the guilt of an adulterous affair or dealing with the fallout of being made redundant. Our pain and sorrows are real and are serious and can feel as hopeless as David’s.
In those moments when your throat is parched, when your eyes fail you, when you are weighed down by guilt, you might start feeling that we are drowning in this world, crying out for help, but nobody’s hearing us. But someone is hearing us. Someone is there ready to help us.
So, in those times, pray to God. He is the hand that pulls us out of the water, the one who rescues us in his love, who answers us with his sure salvation. He meets us in our trouble and promises he will rescue us. When we are struggling to breathe, submerged under the currents, waves crashing around us, he reaches into the water and drags us coughing and spluttering to the shore.
So, give him the glory he deserves. If someone did all this for you, you’d never stop thanking them. Never stop thanking and praising God for his salvation and rescue given to us in Jesus. 

If you've become a Christian and weren't baptised as a baby, then we'd love you to be baptised, and we've arranged a Baptismal service for 4th July. It'll be by immersion and be a big occasion for us as a church! Want to know more? Do have a word with Phil, Ben, or if you're in KO, you might like to talk to Stephen.

Psalm 100 
A psalm. For giving grateful praise. 
 
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations. 
 
I love this little Psalm.  What big joy is found is so few words!  We may not be able to shout and sing as much as we like right now (at least when we gather together) yet the same attitude and emotion of joy can be ours.   
 
I wonder how you are feeling on this Monday morning?  Back to work. Back to school. Back to another week of routine.  Maybe the feeling of Monday Blues is all too familiar, and yet we can know deep joy and thankfulness.  We just need to keep telling ourselves why. There are so many reason to ‘shout for joy’ but the Psalmist gives us three.   
 
Firstly, The Lord is God (v3).  It might be obvious to say (indeed I hope it is!) but we are not God.   We are not in charge of the universe or even our lives.  We are not all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise or all-loving.  But God is! We have a God who is always in control, who is working his good plan, who is 100% reliable and who is way bigger than we can imagine- and he is all those things precisely because he is God!  There is real freedom and deep joy in knowing our place before Him and recognising that He is all we need Him to be. 
 
Secondly, God has made us to be his people (v3).  We were not only created by Him but in Christ we have been re-created. Like sheep in a lush meadow, we belong to a shepherd who loves and cares for his flock.  Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we are now His and no one can snatch us out of His grasp (John 10:28).  As we reflect on the security and assurance that our new identity in Christ gives us it will drive us towards a place of joy and gladness.  No matter how our Monday goes, we are His! 
 
Thirdly, the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generation (v5).  We know that’s true, because of all He has done for us in Christ to make us His people.  When people are unkind and anything but good to us, we can be sure of God’s goodness because of Jesus.  When life is hard and we are confused about what God is doing, we can be sure He is good because of Jesus.  When we are hurt by those around us or feel unwelcome and unloved, we can be sure of God’s love because of Jesus.  When we feel lonely or are struggling with grief we can be sure of God’s love because of Jesus.  When we fall short of what God wants from us and feel like we have let Him down, we can be sure that he will still be faithful to us because of Jesus.  When we doubt our salvation or don’t feel particularly close to God, we can still be sure of God’s faithfulness because of Jesus.  All that is always true and so there is always reason to give him thanks and praise.  There is always a reason for joy.   
 
Ask God to help you to keep telling yourself these things.  Life your eyes to your God, find joy in him, see afresh why he is worth praising.  
 
Happy Monday! 

Our Mission Partners Off The Fence are looking for an Intern.  Do you know someone who might be interested?

Whoso pulleth out this sword from this stone, is right wise King born of all England.”
 
This is said to be the inscription on the legendary sword Excalibur; the very sword King Arthur supposedly drew from the anvil making him the rightful king of England.

I love the Legend of King Arthur and it’s surely based on deep Biblical ideas right? 

We’re back in the throne room (see Monday 12th April) and have a look at Revelation 5: 2 “I saw a mighty angle proclaiming in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’” 

Do you see the King Arthur resemblance?!

We’re not dealing with a sword here this is a scroll.
The most important document. A scroll of both judgement and salvation, of the future and history this is THE scroll. If it’s not opened, hope is defeated and all the promises of the Bible fall flat! 

It’s no wonder that we read what John says in Revelation 5:4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.
Hope looks gone. 
Until an unlikely hero steps up.

Revelation 5:6-7 I saw a Lamb, looking as if had been slain, standing at the centre of the throne… The lamb went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who say on the throne!
 A dead lamb?!

And things get weirder because suddenly everything starts singing to this dead lamb v13 I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them saying: To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!
 
Now I know lambing is a big deal this time of year I can understand why lambs are cute and lovely and fluffy… But I don’t know anyone who would want to go and see a lamb slaughterhouse and witness a dead lamb… And sing songs to a dead lamb? Okay….
Yet that’s what’s happening here!
 
It takes John the Baptist to help us truly understand what’s going on, he sees the Lord Jesus and he says the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
 
This Lamb is Jesus. The Lamb who was slain and is NOW standing and alive! Because of His death and resurrection He is worthy to take the scroll! No one objects, no one stops Him the perfect Lamb of God is worthy.
It’s a breath-taking picture of Easter, of Jesus’ triumph and victory through death; so that as long as there is Jesus, there is hope!
Forget King Arthur, this is King Jesus.
 
​Revelation 5 paints Jesus as the central and most important figure in all of history.
Do we see Him like that?
 
The praise of the Lamb starts in the throne room and should echo into our lives.
Today, let that praise flow into your life. Take time to praise God for Jesus, the worthy Lamb who conquers by being conquered and so brings hope and life to those who believe.
 
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.

We are very excited to welcome back our children groups at the beginning of May.

If your children attend our groups you will have been sent an email regarding how often you will be attending  the children's groups.  If you have not received the email please check your junk and contact the church office office@bhmc.org.uk.
If you are new to BH and would like your child to join our children's groups please contact the church office office@bhmc.org.uk

                Here I am Lord - send someone else!
 
‘But Moses said, 'Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.’ Ex 4:13
 
There are just a handful of Bible characters that we get to follow from birth to death. Moses is one of them, and from start to finish we see God's mighty hand upon his life. It's not until his later years that he gets the call to lead the people out of slavery in Egypt and into the promised land. What an adventure that turned out to be for the 80 year old ex-shepherd and failed royal!
 
Moses got a good many things wrong. We see him with 'warts and all' in the pages of scripture. When the call comes in Exodus chapter 3, at the burning bush, Moses was rather reluctant to take on the leadership task. 'Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?' ( Ex 3:11). The answer to that is clear to us, as we look back over his life. Moses was a man, called, enabled and empowered by God Almighty. So, we could answer him, saying - 'Who are you? You are God's man Moses - that's who you are!’
 
We too have been given 'works to do' (Ephesians 2:10). We rightly feel our weakness and say 'Who am I to do these things?' Yet, like Moses, we learn, that we are who we are, and we do what we do, by the grace and power of Almighty God. Yes, we'll get things wrong, and (wonderfully) we will also get things right.
 
Surely it's time we really believed that, as Christians, we are God's men and women - just like Moses. Let's learn from him, answer the call of God positively, then joyfully serve Him with all of our hearts, minds and might.
 
Phil

​Dear Church Friends
We are delighted to announce that we will open again next Monday 12th April – usual hours 9.30 to 5.00 Monday to Saturday.
We would like to thank you for the support you have given us while we have been shut to walk in customers – it has been great to be able to continue to serve you via phone and email messages.
To celebrate our reopening there will be a number of offers –

•          The Spring Kids’ Corner offers will continue while stocks last, including sequin Bibles at almost half price!
•          We have one complete display section with a wide variety of books selling for just £1.
•          If you spend £5 or more you will be able to choose one book completely free from a choice of 5.

Look out for other offers over the next few weeks including a new Take Note offer, preview using this link: http://www.kingswaytrustdistribution.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Take-Note-Post-Lockdown-Special.pdf
We look forward to seeing you soon and do spread the word amongst your church members....
Gillian 

NATIONAL CONVENTION 2021 23 - 25 APRIL
A warm invitation to all friends of our ministry
 
Our National Convention is just a week away, and this year (in common with so many other church events) will take place on line, and consequently be much more easily accessible than normal (and at no cost!)  Members of the local branch would like to invite friends, family and other interested parties to join one or more of the four main sessions (daily at 7.00pm plus 9.00am. Saturday)
 
Might you be interested in becoming a member?  -  or perhaps a ‘Friend of the Gideons’?  If so, this may be a good way to find out more about our ministry.
To view the flyer:  visit our national website  www.goodnewsuk.com 
To join the sessions:  www.goodnewsuk.com/live
 

​“ The Trustees of JHMT are pleased to advise that £17,600 has been raised from the Lent Appeal. We praise and thank God for the generosity of the Church Family. The Appeal will close on the 18th April. Thank you”
​Roger

When you walk through the barriers at Alton Towers amusement the experience is overwhelming; I’d describe it as full-on sensory overload!
There’s that classic theme park music blaring out, everything is brightly coloured and in your face, THEN there’s the smell of freshly fried theme park doughnuts… It’s an assault of the senses!
 
Imagine that experience taken to the next level.
I think that’s what John must have felt as the Lord Jesus welcomed him through the heavenly door in Revelation 4.
 
Have a read of Revelation 4:1-11


If you know your Bible well, you’ll notice shades of Daniel 7, Isaiah 6 and Ezekiel 1 & 2 glimmering through but there’s rainbows, thunder, oxen, precious jewels, thrones, crowns, what is going on!?!!
One of the most helpful hints to reading Revelation I’ve come across is this:
the plain thing is the main thing & the main thing is the plain thing.
Isn’t that really helpful?
 
And in Revelation 4 what is the plain main thing?
V2 There before me was a throne with someone sitting on it…
 
Ten times John mentions this THRONE it’s like his eye is constantly drawn back there and if you read the passage, you’ll notice EVERYTHING is defined in its relation to this throne. Things encircle or surround or are in front of come from this throne.
Wow.
 
God is on the throne at the centre of EVERYTHING.
 
Every detail that John recounts is designed to show off the captivating beauty of our God (the jasper and ruby); the rainbows shows off His mercy; the rumbling thunder and peals of lightning reveal God’s might & judgement; and the living creatures and the elders reveal all of creation, all of God’s people all of bowing down to the King.
Everything is joined in praise and worship of our glorious God who sits on His throne.
 
What. A. God.
This is Ultimate Reality
God is on the throne at the centre of EVERYTHING.
 
 
I wonder if our lives reflect that Ultimate Reality?
Is this throne, is this God the centre of our lives?
Does the structure of our week, the themes of our prayers, the use of our time reflect this throne room? What might it look like for you to place this throne front and centre in your life?
 
 
God is on the throne at the centre of EVERYTHING so let us join in that heavenly song praising our God who is magnificent and awesome crying Holy, Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty.
​

For full details click on the picture

​The final word
 
‘And so Job died, an old man and full of years’ Job 42:17
 
I was reading through the book of Job a few weeks back, and it was the final verse that made me stop and think. It's very 'matter of fact' and in many ways, quite lovely. 'And so Job died, an old man and full of years' - his life on earth was ended. He'd started off well, being a righteous man - 'blameless and upright'. He 'feared God and shunned evil' (1:1). He was also very rich, happy and kind. An important man, he was in fact 'the greatest man in the East' (1:3). But then things went wrong, and he lost everything - family, wealth, respect, health - you know the story.
 
But here, in the final chapter, we get a touching 'epilogue', and learn that the latter part of his life was more blessed by God than the former part (42:12). After his troubles were over, he lived for another 140 years. Then, as an 'old man, full of years' (v17), he died. As other old testament books would have said, he 'rested with his fathers'.
 
As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ let's not fear death, at whatever time it comes, but trust that our times are truly in God's hand. Let's see it as resting with our loving saviour, and with our dear friends too. Alive and waiting with joyful expectation for the resurrection day and our glorious new life and destiny. Yes, death brings great sorrow - of course it does. But through the darkness and weeping of the night, is the reminder that 'rejoicing comes in the morning’ (Ps 30:5). 'Trust in the Lord at all times' (Ps 62:8) - even in and through the nights of sorrow.