SFC
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF SHOREHAM FREE CHURCH
MARCH 2012
WWW.SHOREHAMFREECHURCH.CO.UK
news
Spiritual Fitness
I always find it amazing that new shoots are starting to appear from the ground in readiness for spring,
despite the current cold weather we are experiencing.
Rather like our spiritual lives need preparing for seeds of fresh revelation to grow, so we need to physically
prepare the soil. We start by digging, sewing, watering and nourishing if we want to have the best possible
conditions to grow our plants and flowers throughout the warmer months ahead.
Our spiritual walk is much the same. God has been challenging me that as we take steps to get physically fit
as we head into spring, so we need to be doing much the same with our spiritual lives. It is good to have
natural goals at the beginning of the year such as more exercise, eating healthier food etc, but God is
imploring us to spend more time with Him and particularly in His Word.
I felt very impressed to read through the Bible differently by using a One Year Living Translation of Old and
New Testament readings in 365 daily portions. I did not want to do this as a legalistic exercise, but one that
can bring fresh revelation into my life. I can harness things easier by writing things down in a notebook as I
read and as God speaks to me through His Word.
I’m sure many people reading this have done it for years and have other successful methods, but God
knows we are all different, just as plants need different requirements to grow, such as light or shade in the
garden.
I enjoy keeping physically fit, but putting the same time into your personal spiritual walk can be that much
harder, particularly with the pace of life we live in today and the amount of noise and distractions.
Even Jesus spent time to get away from the noise of the crowd. That’s why he had no problems in standing
up to the Pharisees and always had a word in season. He was not only physically fit (with the amount of
walking he must have done) but he maintained his spiritual fitness on a regular basis. It wasn’t a ‘have to’; it
became a ‘want to’.
I find now that when I miss a day’s reading I look forward to it the next day because I know that God has
something to say to me through His Word. I can now approach this precious time with Him expectantly, a
habit that I’m “growing” to like very much!
by Tiffany Buckley
Many Hands Make Light Work
It’s an old saying, but it remains true! The more
of us that can help with things, the less often it’s
our turn to do them!
Would you be able to help with any of the
following duties which are done on a rota basis?
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Door steward and offering – greeting people
as they arrive, handing out newsletters and
taking up the offering
Prayers – leading the prayers of intercession
Acolytes – preparing, distributing and
clearing away the communion bread and
wine
Refreshments – preparing and distributing
tea, coffee and biscuits, washing up and
clearing away afterwards
Reader – doing the reading during the service
Transport – giving lifts to and from the
Sunday services, to those without their own
transport
Please speak to Pam Mulligan if you are able to
help with one or more of these. If you would like
to amend which things you currently do, please
speak to Pam by 19th March, otherwise she will
assume that you are happy to continue.
Soul by the Sea
Brighton’s Easter Festival
A two day event for all ages celebrating the
essence of Easter through music and the
performing arts.
On Easter weekend 2012, Soul by the Sea will
transform the seafront by the historic West Pier
with performances from leading local artists and
entertainers. There will be a variety of other
activities including children’s entertainers and
sporting events, climaxing with a new rendition of
the Passion of Christ play on Easter Sunday.
The Soul by the Sea and Passion of Christ events
have taken place on Brighton seafront at various
times throughout the last few years, but for the
first time ever, they will combine to form a giant,
spectacular event for the whole family.
Specific times and locations will be announced
nearer to the event. For more information see:
www.soulbythesea.info
PS They still need some Passion Play actors if you
fancy taking part!
You may be interested to know that we are not alone in our
concern for Sierra Leone. People in Hastings East Sussex
have formed a ‘Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship Link’. The
Link was established to maintain a bridge between the two
towns which have been officially twinned since 2007. They
have a number of fundraising events throughout the year,
and you can read more about them at:
www.hastingshastings.org.uk
Who is Jesus?
Jesus was born in an obscure Middle Eastern town
called Bethlehem, over 2000 years ago, During His
first 30 years He shared the daily life and work of an
ordinary home. For the next three years He went
about teaching people about God and healing sick
people by the shores of Lake Galilee. He called 12
ordinary men to be His helpers.
He had no money. He wrote no books. He
commanded no army. He wielded no political power.
During His life He never travelled more than 200
miles in any direction. He was executed by being
nailed to a cross at the age of 33.
Today nearly 2 billion people throughout the world
worship Jesus as divine – the Son of God. Their
experience has convinced them that in the wonders
of nature we see God as our loving Father; in the
person of Jesus we discover God as Son; and in our
daily lives we encounter this same God as Spirit.
Jesus is our way to finding God: we learn about Jesus
by reading the Bible, particularly the New Testament,
and we meet Him directly in our spiritual experience.
Jesus taught us to trust in a loving and merciful
Father and to pray to Him in faith for all our needs.
He taught us that we are all infinitely precious,
children of one Heavenly Father, and that we should
therefore treat one another with love, respect and
forgiveness. He lived out what he taught by caring for
those He met: by healing the sick – a sign of God’s
love at work: and by forgiving those who put Him to
death.
Jesus’ actions alone would not have led Him to a
criminal’s death on the cross: but His teaching
challenged the religious and moral beliefs of His day.
Jesus claimed to be the only way to reach God.
Above all, He pointed to His death as God’s
appointed means to bringing self-centred people
back to God. Jesus also foretold that He would be
raised to life again three days after His death. When,
three days after He had died on the cross, His
followers did indeed meet Him alive again, frightened
and defeated men became fearless and joyful
messengers.
Courtesy of Bath Abbey
Fundraising
SFC’s Fundraising Committee have been hard at work
planning some great events for us. Not only will these
(hopefully!) raise us lots of money, they are also an
important opportunity for us to show our local
community what we’re all about. Oh, and I expect we’re
going to have quite a lot of enjoyment in the process!
Crafty Creations
Saturday 31st March: 10.00 am to 12.00 noon
Following last year’s success, Tiffany, Tabitha, Tamara and
Tallulah will be organising this fun morning, where young
children can design and make their own ‘Crafty Creation’!
There will also be tea/coffee served, and a cake stall, so
we need your help in bringing along some cakes for us to
sell please.
Jubilee Tea Party
Monday 4th June: 4.00 pm
This is a social event for us, our friends and our families.
We will set up our tables and chairs in the car park, and
have a ‘bring and share’ tea. Well, we thought the Jubilee
would be a good excuse for a get-together!
Summer Fayre – with an Olympic Theme
Saturday 7th July: 10.00 am to 2.00 pm
* BBQ * Live Music * Brilliant Stalls * Tea & Coffee *
Even more fun to follow in the autumn!!
* Quiz Night * Film Evening * Christmas Coffee Morning *
Good Friday Act of Witness
Peter and Diane Hellier from Horsham,
aka “Puppets with Purpose”, will be
putting on a 20 minute gospel
presentation on Good Friday at
11.15am, by the War Memorial, next to
St Mary’s Church.
There will be no service at SFC on Good
Friday as we will be helping to set up the
puppets – all volunteers welcome!
To walk to the event, either meet at SFC
at 11am, or meet at Coronation Green
by the footbridge at 11am to join in with
the drum procession.
Induction at Copthorne
An induction service has been arranged
for Barry Mortlock, the newly appointed
pastor at Copthorne, at 2.00pm on
Saturday 7th April. The service will be
followed by refreshments.
The fellowship would like to warmly
invite all their brothers and sisters in the
Connexion churches to attend.
Lent Calendar
Have you been remembering to put your
pennies aside each day for all the things
we have to be thankful for? Once
completed, please give your offerings to
Sue Earnshaw, and don’t forget to Gift
Aid them! (See Geoff Carr for Gift Aid
queries.) Thank you!
Bible By The Beach
SHOREHAM CHURCHES TOGETHER
LENT COURSE 2012
A RESOURCE FROM CHURCH URBAN FUND
Lent Poverty Project
Are we washing our hands of England’s poor?
Tuesday evenings throughout March
7.30pm for one hour at St Peter’s Church in West Street
6th March, 13th March, 20th March, 27th March
“Come and meet fellow Christians—together we’ll read
the bible and discuss the questions that poverty &
homelessness raise for us in our lives and our faith.”
Describing itself as “the flagship family
event for quality Bible teaching in the
South East”, Bible By The Beach returns
to the Congress Theatre in Eastbourne
from 4th to 7th May. There will be Bible
readings, seminars, activities for
children and concerts in the evenings.
Saturday evening’s concert will be led
by Stuart Townend who wrote many of
the songs which we sing in our Sunday
services. You can read more about it at:
www.biblebythebeach.org
The Diary Page
Everything you need to know so you don’t miss out!
Sunday Services
Leadership Meetings
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March
4th
11th
18th
25th
25th
(10.30 am)
(10.30 am)
(10.30 am)
(10.30 am)
(6.00 pm) -
Tim Buckley with Communion
Tim Buckley
Tim Buckley
Richard Wiggins
Second offering for Sierra Leone
Evening service (see separate notice)
(10.30 am)
(11.00 am)
(10.30 am)
(10.30 am)
(10.00 am)
Tim Buckley with Communion
No Good Friday service at SFC (see separate notice)
Easter Sunday - Tim Buckley
Tim Buckley
Guy Fleming
Second offering for Sierra Leone
Evening service (see separate notice)
Tim Buckley
April
1st
6th
8th
15th
22nd
22nd
29th
(6.00 pm) (10.30 am) -
Important future dates to note!
6th
March
14th March
16th March
31st March
-
6th April
th
7 April
7th - 8th April 4th - 7th May 4th June
7th July
-
Shoreham Churches Together Lent course starts
Church meeting at 7.45 pm
CPAS ‘More than Gold’ day
Crafty Creations from 10.00 am to 12.00 noon.
!!! Please bring along some cakes to sell !!!
Good Friday Act of Witness (see separate notice)
Induction of Barry Mortlock at Copthorne
Soul By The Sea Festival in Brighton
Bible By The Beach in Eastbourne
Jubilee Tea Party
Olympic-themed Summer Fayre
Copy Deadline for the April newsletter Please let Louise Carr have details
for any items for inclusion by 12.00 noon on Wednesday 21 March.
[email protected] or 01273 452178
Prayer Requests
If you have any prayer requests, please contact Tim Buckley on 07985
479091. If the answerphone is on, please leave a message and Tim
will call you back as soon as possible. He can also pass requests on to
the prayer chain if you would like.
29th March
23rd April
Evening Services
The DVDs of ‘The Anointing’
talks by R T Kendall from his
recent visit to Worthing
Tabernacle Church will continue
at the evening services on:
 25th March
 22nd April
January Offerings
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1st - £107.72
8th - £123.47
15th - £76.00
22nd - £72.57
29th - £125.11
Standing orders - £430.50
Total for Jan: £935.37
The additional offering for
Sierra Leone was £79.15
More Than Gold
CPAS (the Church Pastoral Aid
Society) are organising a day of
teaching and worship for
women on Friday 16th March
from 9.15 am to 2.30 pm at
Offington
Park
Methodist
Church in Worthing. Sarah-Jane
Alley will be speaking, and the
cost of the day is £6.
Booking forms are on the SFC
notice board, or you can call
01903 265319 with any queries.
Shoreham Free Church, Gordon Road / Buckingham Road, Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex, BN43 6WF.
Minister in Training – Tim Buckley tel: 07985 479091
www.shorehamfreechurch.co.uk
email: [email protected]