BH Bulletin - Friday 3 April 2020

Thought for the day by Dave Howarth (Associate Vicar Holy Cross)

​A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. 
Proverbs 15:1-2

In tense times we need gentle words. The more stressful things become, the more care we’ll need to show in our interactions with each other. If you’re unexpectedly at home with others, you might feel this especially.
 
A few weeks ago, many of us listened to Psalm 141. The speaker is desperate; he’s surrounded by wickedness and he’s the victim of wickedness. After pleading urgently for God to hear him, what is his first request? Not for the wickedness to stop. It’s this: “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips” (v3).
 
Proverbs 15.1-2 tells us the kind of words we need. But before that, they tell us the kind of words Jesus used. No one is fuller of gentleness and kindness than him. His heart and words are always grace-full, healing, and life-giving. He is committed to free us, never shame us.
 
Even when we come into his presence with more fear than faith, and more complaining than thanking, he always welcomes us. He is not only gracious with “bruised reeds and smouldering wicks.” He is altogether merciful when, like Jonah, we’re pouty, angry, and self-absorbed.
 
In this current stressful season, we’re feeling a full range of emotions. Uncertainty, fear, not-knowing-what’s-next, confusion…and all these are a recipe for putting our words in gear before our hearts are engaged; for spewing words of reaction rather than offering words of redemption. Our family, neighbours, and friends pay the price.
 
We need Jesus to speak beauty, gentleness, and compassion deep into our souls. For our hearts are the fountain of our words. That’s what he does as we listen to his word, the Bible.
 
A prayer:
Lord Jesus, since whatever fills our hearts shapes our words, we want our hearts to be so full of your kindness and grace, it’ll be hard to use our words to hurt, shame, or discourage others.
As the tongue has the power of life and death, may you help us use our words to encourage and bless, heal and help others. And to quickly repent when we choose otherwise.
In your grace-full name we pray. Amen.

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New born lambs at Saddlescombe Farm

The farming year is continuing on all the farms across the UK.  On Saddlescombe Farm on the South Downs lambing is continuing.

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World Autism Awareness Week

This week it is Autism awareness week.  Most people have heard of Autism but not everyone understands how Autism can effect people and how they can help people with Autism.  The National Autistic Society have put together a short video to help us understand more about Autism and how we can help people who have it.
World Autism Awareness Week Video

Hardship Fund

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We all know that there will be many who are experiencing genuine financial hardship during this COVID19 epidemic. Some in the church family have asked if they could give to help meet this genuine need. If you'd like to give too, we are setting up a BH Hardship Fund to be used specifically and only for this purpose. You could send a cheque to the office made payable to Bishop Hannington Church and marked Hardship Fund, or make a payment online to the BH account (Sort Code 40-52-40  Account Number 00016162) with 'Hardship Fund' in the reference line.