BH Bulletin - Wednesday 17 February 2021

Thought for the Day by Matt Jones
(Associate Minister for Music)

​Ash Wednesday (Matthew 6:16-21)
Now is the healing time decreed
for sins of heart and word and deed,
when we in humble fear record
the wrong that we have done the Lord.

Words taken from an old hymn, one that I am not familiar with, but the words are helpful when thinking about our shortcomings before God.
 
I didn’t grow up in an Anglican Church, so most of the calendar observations are foreign to me. For example, I got really excited about Pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, but ‘Ash Wednesday’ and the weeks after didn’t mean much to me. They were just days to count off till chocolate at Easter…
 
At this stage of life I appreciate what the season of Lent offers to a Christian. It presents an opportunity for self-examination, penitence, self-denial, study, and preparation for what has to be the highlight of the Christian calendar; the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour! Not that we can’t do those things all year round, but sometimes having a fixed season that gives greater emphasis to them can be helpful.
 
“What are you giving up for Lent?” It might be a question you’ll hear a lot this week. Lent shouldn’t really be construed as a challenge of human willpower to go for a period of time without something. Rather, the better question to ask oneself should be, “What thing could I lay aside for a season, or what activity could I take up, that will help me grow closer to the Lord?”
 
To finish, something to pray for your day:
 
Holy God,
our lives are laid open before you:
rescue us from the chaos of sin
and through the death of your Son
bring us healing and make us whole
in Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen.
 
Matt

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Books Alive - A message from Gillian Carr

​Dear Church Friends
 
The uncertainty continues but praise God for the vaccine programme and the reduction in cases and deaths!
 
Although we continue to be shut to walk in customers I am still going to stock the latest Take Note and Kids Corner offers which you can look at by clicking on the links below:

​Take Note 2021 Issue 1:
https://issuu.com/clcworld/docs/clc_tn_2021-1_magazine_feb-mar_hr
 
Kids Corner:
https://issuu.com/clcworld/docs/clc_kc21-1_kids__corner_magazine_hr
 
You can order these by phone or email and if you are ordering on account I will give you the usual 12.5% discount on top of the reductions already shown.
 
Regards
 
Gillian Carr
Books Alive
86 Elm Drive
Hove
BN3 7JL
 
01273 738818

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Accommodation Urgently Wanted

Please can you help. If you have a two bedroom house or flat to let in the Hove/Portslade area please could you contact the church office (office@bhmc.org.uk or 01273-732965). We have been contacted by a church in the north of the country who have a member of their congregation who is desperate to move to this area to be near their family. Good references available.
If you can help please get in touch.

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