BH BUlletin
Latest news and 'Thought for the day'
Thought for the Day by Phil Moon (Vicar)Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” And we have gone. Christian people have gone ever since that day when the promise of Acts 1:8 began to be fulfilled, on the day of Pentecost. We have gone to our neighbours, we have gone to our colleagues, we have gone to our friends, we have gone to our families, we have gone to our team-mates, we have gone to our youth groups, we have gone to our children’s groups, we have gone to Africa, Asia, North and South America, to Europe, Australasia. We have gone to the world. With the Gospel of Jesus, crucified and now risen from the dead and reigning in Heaven. And we still go. Today, tomorrow, this week. Because the world still needs to hear about Jesus. Our job, our commission is not finished, and will not be finished until that great day when Jesus returns. Then we can stop. And rest. But until then, we have gone. And we still go. What's happening online tomorrow at Bishop HanningtonSunday Morning Service premieres at 10:00 on the website Acts 1:12-26 Phil Moon preaching Suitable for everyone with separate children’s activities Sunday Evening Service premieres at 18:00 (due to the fact that the Prime Minster is speaking at 19:00) on the website Ephesians 6:1-9 Stephen Demetriou Preaching Suitable for everyone Sunday: KO Hangout - 7:30-8:30 For KO young people a chance to chat together after the evening service has gone live and chat about our faith. Message Stephen to get involved. Feast Hangout 8:00-9:30 For Feast people to have a bible study Message Alex to get involved. Coffee and chatThis week there will be 2 'lockdown' coffee and chat sessions on zoom that anyone can join. Tuesday 12 May 17.30 Thursday 14 May 15.30 The link and passwords are the same as last week. If you are new to the chat and would like to join in please can you email Giles on bishophannington@gmail.com for the link and passwords. A thank you from the GagesDear BH We want to say a huge thank you for your kind leaving gifts to us, including the beautiful flowers. Thank you also for all the many lovely cards we’ve received. We were very touched by the video that many of you contributed to, a precious reminder of some of our church family. It did make us cry a little, in a good way! The financial gift was so generous, thank you. We plan to use it to buy fun and beautiful things for our new garden, mostly likely a swing and slide set, a couple of fruit trees and some raised beds to grow vegetables. We also want to say a particular thank you to Phil and Anna who have been wonderful leaders and friends to us in our 4 years at BH and all of the staff team who have been so great to work with. We’ve really appreciated your faith, creativity, patience and care. We’ve been thinking about some of our favourite memories of our time at BH and thought actually perhaps you might want to do the same even though you’re not leaving! – it really helps to be thankful and realise just how special church is. Here are a few of ours: - Church away days with great fellowship, fun and Bible teaching (Ben and Sammy particularly want to mention the swimming there, the children’s groups and Chris Martyr playing football with them!) - Seeing people grow in their faith or come to know Jesus for the first time through courses like Alpha and Christianity Explored. - The Light Bright Family Fun Night and Holiday clubs. - The joy of baptisms and weddings. - Women’s Fellowship teas where we were fed delicious scones, cakes and sandwiches. - Raising money for the youth and community centre and the grand opening of it (the boys loved being in the choir.) - The wonderful yearly women’s retreat. - Singing in the Christmas choir. - Meeting one to one to study the Bible with other Christians - Lively discussions, fellowship and laughter with our Small group - Tiddliwinks and Tuesday group Bible studies and craft sessions. - Some very lovely Sunday lunches with church family. - The monthly Mix service. - Prayer triplet. - 24/7 prayer times - Fun games and great questions from the Climbers kids and the faith and care of the leaders in each of the groups that Ben and Sammy were part of on a Sunday morning. - The Christmas panto each year. At the events and groups above we saw the body of Christ working together brilliantly to serve each other and the community. Although many of these groups/events can’t take place at the moment or have to be done differently, Jesus being at the heart of BH remains the same. We see the church still serving each other and the community, and what a joy it has been to worship and pray at the online Sunday services and the recent monthly prayer meeting. We will miss BH very much but are excited about our future ministry at St Peter’s, West Blatchington and look forward to still seeing you around! Much love, Tim, Clare, Ben and Sammy
0 Comments
Thought for the Day by Phil Moon (Vicar)Thought for the Day, VE Day, Friday 8th May 2020 What follows is an extract from the Church of England service for VE Day. You may like to use it on your own, or with your family: Leader: God has been our refuge and our strength: All: A present help in time of trouble. Leader: Dear friends, we have come together on this day to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe, when the sounds of war fell silent on this continent. We come together conscious of our need for God’s forgiveness for the sin and the desire to dominate others that leads to conflict between people, and war between nations. And as we remember the many soldiers, sailors, and airmen who gave their lives restraining evil and opposing tyranny, so we also come in thanksgiving for the years of peace that the nations of Europe have enjoyed since the Second World War. We gather joyfully today, as those who gathered on that first Victory day, glad of each other’s company, and grateful for the laughter and love that follows times of sadness and loss. But above all things, let us pray that God’s will may be done on earth as it is in heaven, as we join our voices together and say: All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, Now and for ever. Amen. Micah 4.1–4 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. 2 Many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.’ The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 3 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more. 4 Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig-tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken. Psalm 46 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.[c] 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 8 Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ 11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. An Act of Commitment Leader: Let us pledge ourselves anew to the service of God and our fellow men and women: that we may help, encourage and comfort others, and support those working for the relief of the needy and for the peace and welfare of the nations. All Lord God our Father, we pledge ourselves to serve you and all humankind, in the cause of peace, for the relief of want and suffering, and for the praise of your name. Guide us by your Spirit; give us wisdom; give us courage; give us hope; and keep us faithful now and always. Amen. The Blessing May God grant to the living, grace; to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth, and all people, peace and concord; and to us and all his servants, life everlasting; and the blessing of God almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, come down upon us and remain with us always. Amen. Why 2 metres is right but seems so wrong?Downing Street has announced the new Bishops for Horsham and Lewes10 Downing Street has announced the names of the new bishops of Horsham and Lewes to serve as suffragan bishops in the Diocese of Chichester.
The Revd Ruth Bushyager, currently Vicar of St Paul’s, Dorking in the Diocese of Guildford will serve as Bishop of Horsham. The Revd William Hazlewood, currently Vicar of the United Benefice of Dartmouth and Dittisham in the Diocese of Exeter will be the next Bishop of Lewes. Thought for the Day by Giles Cockman (BH Member)My daily reading today contained two verses from Ephesians 3 16-17. 16 I pray that according to the riches of his glory he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being 17 with power through his Spirit and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. The final words talk about being rooted and grounded in love and this concept resonated as I had been spending all afternoon in the garden, getting some pots ready to transplant new dahlias into. I was always told that for any young plant to thrive in its early days, you needed to be diligent in cleaning out the pot to get rid of debris of the previous year, put a layer of grit at the base for good drainage and then a layer of compost, finely sieved. Next comes some feed and the plantings, followed by more compost. All this is time consuming and laborious, but it makes a difference to the end result. Parallel this approach to our walk as Christians, and we have a great opportunity right now to spend time in study and prayer with our creator God, to dip into the Psalms, to be fed by good online teaching (I'm a fan of David Jeremiah and his ministry) so that then we can grow into strong, stable and healthy "plants" able to withstand the strong winds, heavy rain or even attack by slugs or vine weevils (aka Satan), during this time of Corona virus and beyond. And, in fact, more that just withstand these trials, but draw daily on God's love and wisdom as we interact with those around us, both those who have similar strong roots, and those who don't, radiating Christ and pointing (others) to Him. Coffee and Chat - ReminderAre you missing the opportunity to get together with people for a coffee and chat? A reminder that again today there will be another 'lockdown' tea and chat session on zoom that anyone can join. This will be at 15.30pm this afternoon. If you would like to join in please can you email Giles on bishophannington@gmail.com for the link and passwords ECO CHAMPION WANTED The Church of England are encouraging churches to think about how they can reduce their impact on the environment and are supporting the Eco-Church scheme run by A Rocha UK. Could you be the person to champion this initiative at Bishop Hannington? We are looking for someone who can review our energy use and identify ways to reduce it. Interested? Please contact John Puttock (01273 281332) who will be pleased to tell you more. Thought for the Day by Alex Forrest (Voluntary Staff Worker)Ephesians 2 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Does anyone else feel drained? I feel like I’ve started a completely new job during lockdown. Pretty much all my responsibilities have changed and I’ve now become a video editor, blog writer, and CD creator. I’m one of those people that feels like I have to do the best job I can in any situation, so I have been pouring much of my energy into doing the best job I can in these new roles. I guess for many of us our jobs look very different and we’re are constantly struggling to make it seem to others as if we’ve adapted to this new lifestyle well. We might be feeling exhausted from putting on a good front during zoom meetings or making it look like the new skills we need to do our jobs have come easy to us. We might be struggling with the fact we’re unable to work at the moment, feeling useless in comparison to all the heroes out there keeping us safe. The very familiar words of Ephesians 2 remind us that being good at our jobs is not what saves us or defines us. You are not saved by performance. We are saved through God’s grace. If you’re struggling with adapting to this new lifestyle or anxious that you’re not doing enough right now, remind yourself that it doesn’t make a difference to your salvation, which has already been given to you as a gift by the grace of Christ. The most important work you can do in this time, is good work that God has prepared for you to do. All things that we do for the glory of God are good works, and are things God wants us to do. The work we should really be focussed on is glorifying God. Make sure all that we do in the coming weeks is done in the knowledge and joy of the gift of our salvation, so that none of us may boast in our own abilities, and take comfort in knowing we are not saved by work, or works. Alex Catch up with Paul and Vanessa FludderSmall Group Central this Wednesday 7.30pmSmall Group Central will be operating again this evening for those that do not regularly attend a Small Group. If you are interested in attending please either email Don (don.bawtree@ntlworld.com) or Judith (juditha.bawtree@ntlworld.com) Bawtree or give them a ring on 01273-508181 and they will send the necessary Zoom invitation.. A Reminder about BH Youth Live - TONIGHTStephen and Lizzi Demetriou will be hosting BH Youth LIVE on the Lockdown PraiseUp Youtube page from 7:15-8:15pm tonight. They’ll be teaching from the Bible, playing crazy games, and getting the youth involved in mad fun challenges. If you’re 11-18, come join in the fun! Message Stephen to get involved! The UK Blessing - Click and enjoyThought for the Day by Debi Jakeman (BH Member)In a lot of ways, life is the same as before lockdown. I’m not able to work due to back and hip problems, so I spend a fair amount of time at home. Gaz (husband) is ‘retired’ so he’s at home a fair bit usually as well. We’re fortunate to have plenty of space outside, so Gaz continues to enjoy the sun and I potter about planting seeds in pots and wait to see what grows. I visit my mum locally most days, as she needs help with some things & our 2 dogs are still as bonkers. What isn’t the same, is all the interaction with people that I usually have. I can’t be with or hug my friends, I can’t go to the two care homes that I visit as a volunteer for Brighton & Hove City Mission Rest Homes team, or visit the lady I befriend in one of them. I can’t go to BH, Small Group, the prayer meeting etc. I don’t need to bake (my passion and pain distraction therapy) for anyone other than the two of us and my Mum. At times, it actually feels physically painful not to be able to be with others or do my normal things. BUT, what has been truly wonderful, is all the new ways to communicate/participate that have become our new ‘normal’. Our Sunday services online almost from the start of lockdown, have been wonderful in keeping me feeling connected to all my church family in what feels a very personal way. Phil’s voice is very comforting I find. Online ‘Zoom’ Prayer meetings, Small Group meetings, prayer triplet meet ups etc. where I can see and hear people, are proving invaluable and a couple have helped to stop me going completely mad with the frustration of this new way of living. I’ve also remembered that paper, cards and stamps still exist. I’m sure there’s lots of other things that are the same and different now in this time of Lockdown, but the thing I hold onto most is this: Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” for which I am truly grateful. Debi BH Quiz Round 3 - Questions and answers1.. What as the name of the artist who painted the scene on the east wall of the church.? Augustus Lunn Which medium did he use for the painting?. Gouache 2. What saying of Jesus does the picture illustrate? Go into all the world and preach the gospel 3. The same artist painted a picture in another church in Hove. Which Church? St Philipps 4. Where in Brighton did James Hannington attend school between 1860 & 1862? Temple School 5. At Woolie 3 summer camp what popular foodstuff gets poured over the washout losers? Custard 6. The YAC, before its refurbishment , had a room behind the stage where KO met. What was the room called? Hannies 7. Originally KO met in a wooden building at the rear of what was the church hall. What was that building called? The Tudor Room 8. In the roof of the church there is a panel known as a tester. What is its purpose? It has been described as ‘a symbolic protection for the Holy Table beneath it’. The BH Tester has the Hannington arms on the north side, on the south side the arms of Uganda, on the east corners are martyrs’ crowns, on the west corners arms of Canterbury and Chichester. There are two shields, one with the monogram IHS the other the Christos monogram. 9. It is said that BH was built to the designs of Edward Maufe as a test for a larger cathedral that he had been commissioned to build elsewhere. Where is that cathedral?. Guildford Martin Coffee and Chat - ReminderAre you missing the opportunity to get together with people for a coffee and chat? A reminder that again this week there will be 2 'lockdown' coffee and chat sessions on zoom that anyone can join. Tuesday 5th May 10.30 - 11.30 Thursday 7th May 15.30 - 16.30 If you would like to join in please can you email Giles on bishophannington@gmail.com for the link and passwords. Thought for the Day by Simon James-Morse (Minister of Goldstone Church)Psalm 117 1 Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. 2 For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord. Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible. In Hebrew, it is only 16 words: in English, 29 words (NIV). Yet it is an essential part of “Great Hallel” (Psalms 113-118); psalms that are a significant part of the Jewish Passover celebration. These six psalms are sung as part of the Passover liturgy, when families ate the Passover meal and remembered their heritage; they were saved from slavery and bondage. One of these psalms would have been the ‘hymn’ that Jesus and His disciples sang at the end of the Last Supper (Matthew 26:30). Psalm 117 starts and ends with the phrase, “Praise the Lord”. This is our English translation of a single Hebrew word, “Hallelu-Yah”. ‘Yah’ is a short version of the name of God. ‘Hallelu’ is an imperative instruction – it is a verb meaning “to praise”. It is not a statement or an exclamation, but an insisting command for all of God’s people. “Hallelujah” (Praise the Lord) appears 28 times in the book of psalms, and is usually followed by the reason why we should praise. At the moment, circumstances seem to make it difficult to find a reason to Praise the Lord. However, in these times, it is even more important for us to join with King David and declare, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14) Dear Lord, help me to understand afresh just how much You are worthy of our praise. Irrespective of the circumstances I face today, I choose to praise You because all that You have done for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen Lockdown praise upLockdown, praise up! are short videos aimed at young people but suitable for everyone to get our hearts and minds looking up higher. Everyday there will be a brand new video up on our YouTube Channel. Lockdown Praise Up! 10 minutes a day from the book of Isaiah. Please click on the link below. https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCLfW_6eqLlfr82_QD0JVsGw Care for the Family: The Marriage SessionsDear Friend We know there’s not much to be said about what we’re living through, that hasn’t already been said. We know times are uncertain, we know we value key workers more than ever, and we know that extended time with our loved ones may have its challenges. Many relationships will be feeling the strain, but we want to give couples the opportunity to not only endure this season together, but to enjoy it. At Care for the Family, we’re passionate about supporting couples in their relationships and that’s why we’re streaming our resource, The Marriage Sessions, direct to your home – free of charge! The Marriage Sessions explores how couples can build a fantastic relationship. Whether you’re newlyweds or have been married for years, these sessions will help your marriage blossom during these uncertain times – and all you need is an hour a week. Simply sign up on the website https://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/courses/marriage-courses-the-marriage-sessions and you’ll receive a link each week to watch one of the sessions (at a time that suits you). Each of the four episodes includes a mix of real life stories, insight from leading relationship specialists and trusted wisdom from Rob Parsons. You’ll also receive bonus midweek content to help you unpack the session even further. So, go on and join us – you've got nothing to lose! The Care for the Family Team A thought from Dave Howarth (Associate Vicar from Holy Cross)“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Jesus (Acts 1.8) What on earth is Jesus doing? We may well have asked a question similar to that recently. Whatever the answer is, he is doing it through the Holy Spirit. It’s a common mistake to divide the Lord Jesus and the Spirit, as if God the Father and God the Son are really interested in salvation, but the Spirit is operating a kind of side-show, and He’s concerned just to boost our feelings and do the kind of things we can’t explain in any other way. But the Bible never divides the work of the Spirit and the work of the Son. Indeed, elsewhere in the Bible the Spirit is called “the Spirit of Christ”! It’s the Son, along with his Father, who sends the Spirit into all his people. He sends the Spirit into his people to send us out to bear witness to Christ. What marks out a Spirit-filled person? They speak of Jesus. So what on earth is Jesus doing? By the power of his Spirit, he is ensuring his people witness to him, to the ends of the earth. In other words, he’s doing the best thing of all. Don’t miss the 10am on Sunday to find out more. What's happening online tomorrow at Bishop HanningtonSunday Morning Service at 10:00 on the website Acts 1:1-11 Dave Howarth preaching Suitable for everyone with separate children’s activities Sunday Evening Service at 18:30 on the website Ephesians 5:21-33 Phil Moon Preaching Suitable for everyone Sunday: KO Hangout - 7:30-8:30 For KO young people a chance to chat together after the evening service has gone live and chat about our faith. Message Stephen to get involved. Feast Hangout 8:00-9:30 For Feast people to have a bible study Message Alex to get involved. Coffee and ChatAre you missing the opportunity to get together with people for a coffee and chat. This week there will be 2 'lockdown' coffee and chat sessions on zoom that anyone can join. Tuesday 5th May 10.30 - 11.30 Thursday 7th May 15.30 - 16.30 The link and passwords are the same as last week. If you are new to the chat and would like to join in please can you email Giles on bishophannington@gmail.com for the link and passwords. Don't forget.....Prom Praise from All Souls is being streamed tonight at 19.30. Please use the link below for more information: https://www.allsoulsmusic.org/events/virtual-prom-praise-a-festival-of-hope/ Thought for the Day by Phil Washington (Member of BH)When everything seems to go wrong ‘Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?’ Job 2:10 Poor Job, through no fault of his own, everything (and I mean everything) had gone wrong. All his wealth, children and now even his health had gone. His wife advises him to ‘Curse God and die’ (2:9). But Job maintains his integrity and faith, despite this catalogue of personal disaster, and says these amazing words. I remember this verse really spoke to me one morning many years ago. I was driving into work, and for some reason, which I can’t recollect, it was going to be a VERY difficult day. Perhaps it was an impossible deadline, an oppressive workload, or the kids had kept me awake? I was praying as I drove along and this verse came powerfully into my mind. I can still recall the place I was driving by. As I thought it through it was saying ‘Don’t expect just easy and pleasant things to come your way – God also allows difficulties, accept them!’ God was calling me to trust in Him to help me in and through the difficulties. I understood and submitted myself and my attitude to God. Yes, it was going to be a tough day, but the Lord was with me and these difficulties would, ultimately, be used by Him to increase my faith and trust. Accepting ‘trouble’ as Job called it, with a ready and trusting heart, is the right attitude for believers. Some of you may be dreading today. Perhaps the weight of responsibility seems unbearable, or the situation you are in feels so dark? Let God speak to you through these words of His ancient and faithful servant. Let’s take what God’s hand sends us – accept it, and trust Him absolutely. Since all that I meet shall work for my good, The bitter is sweet, the medicine food; Though painful at present, ‘twill cease before long; And then. O how pleasant the conqueror’s song! With greetings to all the BH family, near and far. JHMT Lent appealJHMT is pleased to confirm that a total of £8,147 was raised for the Lent Appeal. We thank God for the generosity of the Church Family. Thank you. |
Mental Health Awareness 2021
Please follow the link below to our Resources page for more information. Resource Page We have church services on a Sunday at 8.00am, 10.00am and 6.30pm. Archives
October 2021
Categories |