No milk at Waitrose
No milk at Waitrose. And they haven’t got my usual bread flour.
The bin collection drivers are threatening to strike.
Your builder is struggling to get supplies.
And you queued for an hour this morning for petrol.

As one of our children would say: “First world problem dad.” It’s all a bit of a nuisance but actually it could be a whole lot worse. As it is, in many other parts of the world.
So let’s keep the whole thing in perspective; and let’s keep it in a Christian perspective. The world is not falling apart just because the Co-op didn’t have tomatoes on the vine this morning! And the Lord is still on his throne. The throne of the universe.
Let’s spend a few minutes with Psalm 47 today, where we find these words in v7,8:
“For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. 8God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne”
God is indeed the King of all the earth. He sits on the throne, overseeing all things and ruling the universe. Let’s let those simple yet wonderfully profound truths sink deep into our hearts as we contemplate the minor irritations of this day.
Phil

​Within a year of first becoming a Christian, I was leading the CU at my college, leading Bible studies for the other young people at church and even having a go at leading an evening service at my home church. A few years after that at 19, I led a team of young adults on a mission trip to China.
 
Can I be honest? Looking back, there is no way I was ready. I was not ready to be bumped up into any form of leadership! I cared more about girls than my God; more about popularity than purity and more about fun than faith.
 
I was listening to a podcast by Mike Cosper and he pointed out that this one of the things we do as a society; we promote people based on their charisma not their character.
And actually, it’s fascinating the way God sees leadership, in fact God repeatedly tells us to look for godly character over great gifting.
 
1 Timothy 3:1-7
Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
 
It’s been said before but as you look at the lists in 1 Timothy and Titus that talk about leadership in the church what’s striking is the lack of interest in skills and abilities. There’s only one skill needed according to 1 Timothy 3; being able to teach. The gifts of a leader are nowhere near as important as the character of the leader.
This is profoundly counter cultural; how many job interviews have you been to where their primary concern was your character not your ability to do the job?!
 
For all of us (not just leaders) it’s a pointed prompt to invest in godly character more readily than great giftings. Paul would say later on to Timothy; 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
Do you see that? A couple of things jump out;

1. We should have a growing faith and holiness
2. We should be in and around people so that our growing faith and holiness is clear to see!

Cultivate a Christ-like character, that is so precious in God’s sight.
 
This is of keen and particular interest to church leaders so if you pray regularly for us leaders, I would ask you to pray for our character not for our gifting. Pray for us to better emulate our Lord and Saviour in how we act; to better mirror His heart and His life; pray for us to be growing in holiness. Please pray for our character.

​The new compost area has been installed – we could still do with a couple of forks & another spade.

​Work has started on the Remembrance area, with weeds being removed and paving slabs added
to make a firm base for the pots that are arriving soon.

Thank you to all who have already donated items or joined the team. 
We would love more of the church family to be involved so if you would like to be part of the team, or just come & help a little with weeding & watering or have items to donate
then please email [email protected] or contact Jane Tanner or Sarah Sinden.

Faith, Hope and Love 
‘And now these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love’ 1 Corinthians 13:13
 
These glorious triplets are often found together in the bible. Let’s ponder them for awhile today.

 Faith – is the means by which we enter, and enjoy, the eternal realm. It’s by faith in Christ, not by knowledge, understanding, merit, or effort, that we come to know and experience God. Faith brings us daily into the presence of God, and also opens the door to the treasure stores of the heavenly kingdom.
​
 Love – Is what we do when we have entered that kingdom. It’s the sum of God’s commands. We are to love Him and each other with every fibre of our beings. Love is the essence of our spiritual life. It’s self-giving, self-sacrificing living. It’s hard, but the rewards are immense.
 
Hope – is what anchors the believing soul in this fast paced, ever changing, godless and unrighteous world. Our hope is fixed in Christ. In what He has done. In His present care, protection and love. And very much in His future return and the grace that will be given to all believers at that time.
 
All these three are gifts of God. Freely given to the seeking, believing and thirsty soul.
 
When our hope is fully realised at the return of the Lord Jesus and faith is no longer without sight, we will experience the fullness of the love that we presently just know in part.

A Hushed Expectancy
“Be still, and know that I am God!
Psalm 46:10a NLT
 
I have a picture on the wall of my office with these familiar words, and they often provide a challenging reminder – especially during seasons of great activity. But rather than just a call to rest or relax in who God is, this is a wake-up call to be in awe of God. This is a command – written in the context of a time of trouble and war – and should not be taken lightly.
 
Significantly, Jesus used the same words on the Sea of Galilee.
“When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39).
The wind and sea instantly died down into silence, in awe, and worshiped the Creator God.
 
There is nothing wrong in taking time to be physically still and quiet before our loving Saviour. Jesus took time out to reflect (Luke 4:42) and it is a valid example to follow. But neither should “Be still” be considered a synonym for sleeping! Quite the contrary. This is not a passive activity; this is genuine and proactive wholehearted worship of Almighty God. At God’s voice, the earth melts, the enemies cease fighting, and we, the people of God, are filled in adoration of who God is.
 
As Christians today, we don’t need to fear what the world can do; we need to remember who our God is – and we need to share this truth with others. God calls us to stop fearing, to be awestruck by who He is, and to commit our lives to Him.
 
So, let us pray as King David prayed,
“O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.” (Psalm 8:1 NLT).
Simon

For any women not going on the retreat this year there is a great opportunity to join in with this day conference in Crowborough. Many of us have been in previous years and found it very helpful. If you'd like to go book your place using the link below and then let me know so that we can coordinate travel there and back.
Catharine Currell
'BOLD'
SOUTHERN WOMEN'S CONVENTION
SATURDAY 2nd OCTOBER 2021
at All Saints Church Crowborough
In a day of teaching, fellowship, worship and seminars we'll be considering how we can be bold in living for Jesus as we look forward to our new normal post Covid-19. Our main speaker Karen Soole will spotlight the challenge of two very different women from 1 Samuel.
Time: 9.30am – 3.15pm (Doors open at 8.45am)
Cost: £10 for adults, £5 for 14 - 24 year olds, £5 for online access via Zoom.
Book here:https://allsaintscrowborough.churchsuite.co.uk/events/2b0ck2gl

​

Sunday 3rd October
Our good friend Richard Brunton will be preaching at the 10.00 service and sharing something of what God is doing around the world
 
Sunday 10th October
James Poole from Wycliffe Bible Translators will preach at 10.00 & 6.30 and after the 10am service we’ll have a short seminar, ending at 12.15.
 
Sunday 24th October
Tom Heaton a mission partner from Vietnam will be preaching at 10.00 and after the service we'll grab coffee and he’ll say more about the work in Vietnam back in the church building.
 
Sunday 31st October
Chris Wright from the Langham Partnership is preaching at 10.00 and 6.30.
Before the evening service do come to the church centre for tea from 4.30, and then from 5-6 before the evening service he’ll broaden our horizons on world mission.
 
We’ll also be using our 7.00 Wednesday Praying on Zoom to pray for world mission on
6th, 20th and 27th October.

On 13th we have The Prayer Meeting and will use this to focus too, on world mission.
Phil

We have the ‘New City Catechism for kids ‘at home that we have used in our family bible times now and again.  Based on the Westminster and Heidelberg catechisms, the first question asks:  
 
“What is our only hope in life and death.”   The answer is simple: “We are not our own, we belong to God”.   
 
The apostle Paul agrees: 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. (Romans 14:7-8) 
 
On the one hand, there is something challenging about that.  We no longer belong to ourselves, so true discipleship must mean no longer living for ourselves.  That involves submitting to God’s word rather than deciding for ourselves what is right and wrong.  It involves putting what God wants before what we want.  It involves loving God and others before ourselves.  It involves giving our whole selves completely so that every area of life is lived for the glory of God.   
 
On the other hand, how wonderful this is!  We now belong to God!  We don’t deserve it.  We haven’t earnt it.  Yet God, by his grace, through the death of our Lord Jesus, has made us his own.  He has forgiven our sin.  He has saved us from judgement.  He has made us his children.  He has brought us at the highest of prices- his own Son’s precious blood.  We now belong in the arms of an incredibly loving heavenly Father.   
 
If we have a God who has given himself completely for us, how could we not give ourselves completely to him?  
 
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all. (When I survey the Wondrous Cross, Isaac watts) 

Do Not Fear
 
‘So do not fear, for I am with you’ Isaiah 41:10
 
This wonderful verse speaks of the Power, the Presence and the Protection of God
 
The Power – Our heavenly Father is the Almighty God. Nothing is impossible for Him. Nothing is too hard. The Lord God Almighty has power over nature, demons, sickness, death and sin. He is powerful to create, and powerful to destroy.
 
The Presence – God is not distant from the believer. He is with us. His presence is without and within. By the Holy Spirit, He abides within out hearts. It’s a presence that brings life in all it’s fullness. It’s a presence that brings unspeakable joy and peace.
 
The Protection – The God of Almighty power and of intimate presence is also the God who protects us. He is the shepherd tenderly guarding His flock. He is the glorious King, the gracious, patient, loving Father.
 
So, do not fear – not at all. God will protect us against the world, the flesh and the devil. He will bring us safely and triumphantly to our glorious heavenly home.
 
‘Yes, my soul, find rest in God’ Psalm 62:5

You're not too late! Yes the SGP Saturday Course starts at at BH on Saturday 18th. Maybe you couldn't make that one but why not still book in for next month onwards? There's been a bit of a last minute rush of BH people, and you could still join them.
You're never too old for the SGP Saturday Morning Course. And (almost) you're never too young! It's such a good opportunity to learn more about our faith and really grow to love Jesus more. Sign up today - details on the SGP website  (https://sussexgospelpartnership.org.uk/ministries/training-courses/)  or get a flier from the back of church.

I'd like us to re-start our Wednesday Prayer, at 7.00 pm for 30 minutes.
There are so many thing for us to be praying for as a church, not least our witness and outreach, perhaps especially as we look forward to joining in with the national A Passion For Life initiative in the spring of next year. But there are many more things we will want to be praying for as well.
So, 7.00 Wednesday, for Wednesday Prayer for just half an hour, on Zoom.  Join through Churchsuite or the website
We start next week, 22 September.
​Phil

Just to let you know that the Thought for the Day which we started at the beginning of the pandemic will be taking a break from the end of September. That in turn means that the Bulletin will only be published on a Wednesday with important information, or at other times if there are urgent things to communicate to the church family.
We will be back though, for particular seasons such as Advent, and of course if we end up in another lockdown.
But for now, just simply a very big thank you to all those who've contributed to our Thoughts for the Day which have helped us hugely to know Jesus better and stay close to him in some very difficult and challenging times.

Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong, they are weak but he is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me the Bible tells me so.
​
The words of this old course can be sung from the mouths of the youngest and the oldest. And its message rings equally true for all.
Maybe you want to sing right now to remind yourself and enjoy its simple yet profound truth.
And today, as we move into the Autumn, being told that ‘life will go on’ let us remember the this truth that today you are loved by Jesus and that will not change.
 
How do you know?
 
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
 
Romans 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
 
Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
 
1 John 3:16
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
 
Revelation 1:5
and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.
 
Why not sing the chorus again as we enjoy these great encouragements from God’s Word.
Ben

​A date for the diary:
This year's Light Bright Family Fun Night will be on Saturday 30th October in the church from 5.30-7pm. It's always great to be able to offer a fun alternative to Halloween parties and take the opportunity to celebrate Jesus, the Light of the World. 
More information to follow.

                                                            Hosea 1:10-2:1
 
I don’t know if those words from Hosea have been sitting with you over the last few weeks like they’ve been sitting heavy with me.
And for anyone reading Hosea 1:1-9 you’d think that those words mark the end of God’s people, like the point of no return…
 
10 “Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’ 11 The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together; they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel.
 
“Say of your brothers, ‘My people,’ and of your sisters, ‘My loved one.’
 
Don’t miss the weight of grace laden in these words! WOW!!!
Can you see how those 3 disastrous judgement messages are TOTALLY and UTTERLY REVERSED!?
Can you see how there’s a family reunion of Judah and Israel thrown in on top of that for good measure?!
Can you see how EVEN despite the spiritual adultery of God’s people v10 the promise made to Abraham (Gen 22:17) is not stopped?!
Can you see how EVEN with the failings of leadership of God’s people v11 the Messiah (2 Samuel 7) is STILL on His way??!
 
Can you see the sheer grace of God?
This is the Gospel. God taking an unworthy, adulterous people and reconciling them to each other and to themselves WOW! I love the book of Hosea!
 
And how has this all happened?
v11 is a clue – For great will be the day of Jezreel.
Jezreel, yes is a reminder of the massacre of the royal house of Israel BUT if you look at your Bible footnotes for Hosea 2:22 Jezreel means God sows it has to do with harvest.
Hosea is pointing us to one day. A day of MASSACRE of God’s people AND a great day of HARVEST for God’s people.
The day of the cross.
 
Judgement and harvest in one beautiful picture.
And it’s here at the cross that things become clear. On the day of Jezreel; Jesus was shown no pity (Lo-Ruhamah), Jesus was abandoned (Lo-Ammi) so that anyone who trusts in Him can be shown forever love, compassion and pity and be counted as His people.
I mean isn’t this EXACTLY what Peter says to Christians in 1 Peter 2:9-10?
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
I am convinced that Peter had Hosea in mind as he wrote those words.
This is who you are if you are a Christian.
 
So much to rejoice in.
And I want to leave you with one more thing. No doubt we’ve all had times when someone has said to us “you’re not my people” or “you’re not loved”, maybe not in those terms, but I’m sure we can all hear those words spoken over us.
I want to draw your eyes to 2:1. This is what the Lord Jesus writes over you in His very own blood on the day of Jezreel; My people, my loved one.
​Stephen

​

​We continue to remember and pray for Sue and the family at this sad time

​In you, Lord my God,  I put my trust.
Psalm 25v1
 

Sometimes a verse stands out at you when you read it. In the case of Psalm 25 v1, I believe it was the simplicity of the phrase. My trust, I put in my God. It is stating the obvious, but it’s a simple truth that we often forget.
 
Our wayward nature often causes us to stray from this truth. So readily we will find something or someone else to put our trust in. We trust other things to keep us safe, to fulfil us, to provide for us. We trust people around us, in what they do and what they say.
But ask yourself, where does your ultimate trust really lie? If all those other things you trust in were to become unreliable, or fade away, or die, would you be able to say verse 1 of chapter 25 still confidently? That is a challenge to me indeed!
 
I would suggest this would be a good verse for the Christian to memorise and say daily, reorienting ourselves to put our trust in the one whom is completely trustworthy. 
Matt

We have for a while now had a BH Hardship Fund which we have from time to time used to help out some BH members who have been having a difficult time financially. It's been greatly appreciated. But now the tank is running dry, and it may be that some would like to contribute something to enable us to continue to help those facing hard times. If you'd like to, do please send your donation to the office (electronically, direct to our bank account 40.52.40 Account no. 00092749, or by cheque or cash).
Many thanks
Phil

Are you tired of doing the work of the Lord? Or did you tire of it some time ago?


God has a building project in our world: he is building his people until we reach completion. And each of us are to join in, by bringing people under the saving rule of Christ. But it’s costly, hard work, with many setbacks and seemingly little progress.
Zerubbabel knew about that. He was tasked with leading the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple, but it was hard going.

So how will God’s work be done in our world, even through us?
So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
 “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’” (Zechariah 4vv6-7)

Not by conventional ways of might or power. Not by political or military force. But by God’s Spirit, who in his own way is powerfully at work in our world, causing his plans to come good.
Can you think of anything on earth more fixed, more permanent, than a mountain? God’s Spirit is so powerful it can flatten mighty mountains. In the Bible, the word mountain is used as a metaphor for world powers arrayed against God’s people. God will overcome them.

The capstone was a crucial stone in the final stages of temple construction, so to see Zerubbabel bring it out meant that the temple was almost complete. And when he does the people will go ballistic in praise and prayer to God.

Obstacles to the work of the Lord are, to the Lord, like little road bumps, that he can flatten like Play-Doh. Within five years, the temple was indeed rebuilt…road bumps steamrollered by God’s Spirit.
God’s powerful Spirit has never stopped powerfully working in our world, fulfilling God’s promised purposes, right up to the present day.

There was Peter, a poor uneducated fisherman, yet on the Day of Pentecost, as he preached, by the power of the Spirit, 3000 people put their faith in Jesus Christ.

There was Voltaire, a French atheist at the time of the enlightenment. He famously boasted, “in 20 years Christianity will be no more, my single hand shall destroy the edifice it took 12 apostles to rear.” But 50 years later he was dead.  And the Spirit caused the very house from which he had made that boast, to become the home of the Geneva Bible Society!

There was China in the 1950s. All the Christian missionaries were expelled from the country by the Chinese Communist armies and yet the Spirit caused the church there to keep growing from 700,000 to over 44 million followers of Christ today.

Today, many people are opposed to Christ or apathetic about him. Yet do you not think that God is still building his church by his Spirit? And do you not think that God can help you and use you to build his church, as he has said he will? Yes, and yes.

Our response to this must be twofold at least. First, as we give ourselves to the work of the Lord (which we must – 1 Corinthians 15v57), remember that it is primarily through his word that the Spirit works in our world. Second, keep calling upon God to work through your word-filled work. He really will!
Dave

Please note that it is the monthly prayer meeting tonight, 7.30pm to 8.30pm please come in person to the church if you can. It can also be accessed via Zoom. (The link will be available on MyChurchSuite). Please make it a priority to be there.

​Dear friends,
Dry season is drawing to a close in the Northern Territory, and the famed ‘build-up’ is on its way. Will my British climate settings survive the long upcoming weeks of oppressive humidity? Before I go completely troppo, it was time to put together a little update of what life and Bible translation has looked like here over the last few months. Thanks for your interest and prayers. I hope this finds you well and cheerful in the Lord, with special thoughts for those of you persevering through lockdown in various parts of Australia at the moment. I would love to hear from you!
Together in Christ’s service,
Susanna