Next week, (Sunday 14th August) there will be no 09.45 service at St Nicholas’ and we will all join together at 10am at St Barnabas’ for a Parish Eucharist together.
Come along and celebrate with Steve at his last Eucharist in the parish!
The more the merrier. Contributions of cake welcome.
We have just been away for the first time in a new caravan! It was an unexpected gift from some dear friends and we have been so blessed already by having it. However, can I tell you how nerve-racking hooking up the caravan to our car was the first time.
The night before, I was excited to go away, however, as I lay in bed I began to worry. What if we hit a neighbour’s car as we manoeuvered out of our drive?! Would our old Seat blow up towing? Would we be driving along the M3 and suddenly see an identical caravan overtaking us – and then realise it wasn’t an identical caravan – it was in fact our caravan!?
I was filled with uncertainty and it’s not a nice place to be. We only have to look at the news or even our own Parish and see that we live in uncertain times. What should be our response? I think the key is in our Hebrew reading that repeats and repeats the word ‘faith’.
Elton Trueblood wrote these words, and I think they are profoundly true:
“The deepest conviction of the Christian is that Christ was not wrong.”
Faith involves certain beliefs. Faith involves an attitude of hope and confidence. But, at its core, faith is trusting a person. Yes, there is uncertainty in life, but there is faith in a person – Jesus Christ.
Steve
Click here for the pewsheet for the week beginning Sunday 7th August 2016.
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Click here for the pewsheet for the week beginning Sunday 31st July 2016.
Click here for the pewsheet for the week beginning Sunday 24th July 2016.
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WORTH PARISH is a vibrant Church of England parish in Crawley, West Sussex. We are looking to appoint a part-time Children and Families Worker to build on our established and growing ministry with children and families. The role is primarily focused on 5-11 years olds and involves leading the ministry within the church and in our local schools. We are looking to appoint: CHILDREN and FAMILIES WORKER (Part Time) 40 hours per month – Salary £31,000 p.a. pro-rata
Closing dates for applications: 31st August 2016 Interviews: 8th September 2016 For further information, click here. To request a job pack please contact Worth Parish Office by email at office@worthparish.org.uk or call 03001118150. There is an occupational requirement that the post holder is a practising Christian. Worth Parish Office, St Barnabas’ Church, Worth Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 7DY |
Click here for this week’s pewsheet.
The last couple of weeks have been very full so I can certainly resonate with Martha and the distraction of “many tasks”. Getting things done assumes a natural priority in our lives – we can sacrifice things that are for ourselves (as Martha might have seen the “luxury” of sitting at Jesus’ feet as her sister was doing) but when others are depending on us the sense of duty (and love) takes over and the tasks have priority (as the demands of hospitality for an honoured guest for Martha).
For me, the needs of the parish, the international development charity which I chair, the school of which I am a governor and the family (school holidays and all the preparations needed to get our new home ready for the move) have led to a certain amount of burning the candle at both ends. Sound familiar? I was, however, reminded in the week that you can only ‘give’ and draw on your reserves (spiritual, emotional and physical) if you take care to ensure that those reserves are regularly replenished. “Love your neighbour as yourself”. For Christians prayer and worship, Mary-like, are crucial elements of such recharging. So, agreeing the schedule of worship during the ‘interregnum’ has been a crucial task. The Sunday and mid-week services will remain as now except that a Parish Eucharist will be celebrated on the 5th Sunday and the Baptism services at St Nicholas’ will move to 11.30 a.m. – allowing some of the regular congregation to help with the welcome.
Enjoy the summer!
Anthony
In 1856, as he looked out across the Bristol Channel, the world looked very different to the Revd John Ashley than it does to us today. Ashley saw hundreds of sailing ships at anchor far from the shore. He devoted his life to preaching the Good News of Jesus to those at sea. The ‘Mission to Seafarers’ was begun.
Today the legacy of Ashley’s visionary work continues with seafarers continues with vigour, dedication and energy. There are over 100 ordained and lay chaplains across the world. At sea there are many tragedies and chaplains are there to help. As the chaplain to the port of Dunkirk notes ‘an essential part of the role of the chaplain is to maintain a presence throughout all the different stages of an emergency situation; constant, calm and reassuring to those in need’.
They need our prayers and our support as they work in the margins of our society. As we know St Paul travelled a lot by sea, sometimes successfully, and as we read Acts, sometimes horrendously unsuccessfully (as he was shipwrecked). What was constant in his travels, however, was his faith in Jesus Christ. No matter how hard the situation, he kept focused on Christ, even as he faced death in Rome. It is this perspective that the Seafarer’s Mission gives to seafarers. No matter the storm, that if they have faith in Christ, all will be well.
Steve
Read more about the Seafarers Work here.
Click here for the pewsheet for the week beginning Sunday 10th July 2016.
Worth Parish 