We had a visit from Bryan Pickard today.  Bryan’s talk about faith, centred around the story of Jesus walking on the water in Matthew 14.

The crux of what Bryan wanted to share was that yesterday’s news is yesterday’s faith! The disciples were still caught up with the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 and weren’t really looking for another miracle. So often we do that – we live in the past, but faith has to be lived in the here and now and needs to be freshly experienced.

Peter experienced the power and mercy of God. He was courageous, he believed, he enquired of Jesus and he finally responded positively to Jesus’s invitation to come!

What can we learn from this story and especially Peter’s response?  Well, faith is strengthened through difficulties and adversities.  At times the wind can turn against us even in a spiritual sense, yet we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8 v 28). Sometimes like Peter, Jesus permits us to step out into an unsafe place – but remember, He is with us! Peter would have learned some valuable lessons that day – do we?

We are all WIPs (Works in progress) and God loves to use imperfect vessels.  The key is to keep our eyes on Jesus in every situation that we face.

Just a reminder that on Sunday, 8th June, at 10.30am, Downs Baptist Church is decamping to Rottingdean Beach for our annual Beach Service.  This year we have our friend Erik Cornellise coming to join us for a short family time together.

You can find us at the bottom of the slope just past The White Horses Hotel and to the right.

Hope to see you there!  We can assure you of a very warm welcome.

Woodingdean Carnival is being held this year on Saturday, 5th July on the Rudyard Kipling School field.

If anyone is interested in helping out on a children’s craft stall at this community event, please speak to Sue Foster or Judith Woolcott.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1 v 1-11 (NIV)

And where is our Jerusalem? Answer: the people you rub shoulders with every day!

Who can you speak to about what you have seen, heard and experienced?

The verse of the week is inspired by the teaching the previous Sunday. You can listen to a recording by clicking on the link below:

https://downsbaptistchurch.org/resources/sermons/

Thursday Fellowship commenced its spring session on 6th March and our very own Sue Cunningham was our speaker. Sue focused on the verse “Be still and know that I am God” which is our new motto for the rest of the session.

Please do consider joining us at 2pm in the Parish Room of the Holy Cross Church unless stated – we can assure you of a warm welcome! 

6th March – Sue Cunningham

13th March – Maeve Whitchurch

20th March – Our choices

27th March – Rosemary Kemp

3rd April – Lorna Sivyour

10th April – Dr Ruth Butlin (Leprosy Mission)

17th April – Maundy Thursday Communion

24th April – Connie Croly

1st May – Jane Leaver

8th May – Keith & Laurel Barnes

15th May – Phil Cook

22nd May – Members’ Afternoon 

29th May – No meeting this week

5th June – Bryan Pickard

12th June – Claire Withams (Hospital Chaplaincy)

19th June – Ann Dracott

26th June – Anniversary Tea with Roger and Mike (Seaford Baptist Church)

For further information head to the following link:- Thursday Fellowship

To know God and to make Him known

A WORSHIPPING CHURCH OF PEOPLE WHO PRAY AND FOLLOW THE TEACHING OF THE BIBLE.

Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14 v 6

A WITNESSING CHURCH OF PEOPLE WHO SHARE OUR FAITH IN WORDS AND ACTIONS.

Jesus said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.” Luke 10 v 27

As Sue and Faith were unable to be with us, Wendy took charge of our meeting, and what a lovely time it was too!

Wendy shared some thoughts from the writings of Corrie Ten Boom. Often we read in the Bible that men went up to the mountains to pray and meet with God, but God came to women where they were!

Every woman has a story to tell and we were reminded about Sarah, Hagar, Hannah, Ruth and Esther – that God can use anyone, that nothing is too hard for Him, that your past doesn’t define you or disqualify you and importantly, when all else fails, we can and should rely on God.

Many shared poems and readings and Margaret retold in her own words one of her favourite stories – Ruth.

A truly uplifting afternoon! We were able to lift up those of our members who sadly are unwell and incapacitated at this time.

It was agreed by all to cancel our meeting next week – 29th May and we look forward to Bryan Pickard coming to speak to us on Thursday, 5th June.

We welcomed back Phil Cook to our meeting this week.  Interestingly, Phil spoke from the same passage (Luke 24 v 13-34) as Keith last week – what is God saying to us!

The road to Emmaus:

Cleopas and a companion were walking home to Emmaus after the crucifixion of Jesus.  Probably, it was his wife, Mary, the same Mary who stood at the foot of the cross (John 19 v 25). Notice that their eyes were ‘holden’ –  that they did not recognise Jesus.

On the road, Jesus appealed:

1. To their minds.  He opened the scriptures to them and expounded them.
2. To their wills. Jesus acted as if He was going further, but He planned to enter their home.  Jesus walked the path of life with them but He can go no further than we are willing to go! The two disciples constrained Him to stay.  Mary as his wife probably invited Jesus in and wives tend to invite people into their home. (“stay with us.”). When they ate with Jesus, they may have caught sight of the nail prints in His hands.  Suddenly their eyes were opened.  The death of Jesus has liberating power and a fire was rekindled in their eyes and their hearts so that their faith was reborn. They left to travel back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples.
3. To their hearts. We were encouraged to tell others what great things the Lord has done for us.

We welcomed back Keith and Laurel Barnes from Battle who have been visiting us for over 25 years!

Keith spoke on a favourite passage – Luke 24 v 13-35 – on the road to Emmaus. His talk was entitled, ‘Walking with Jesus’. Keith reminded us of the importance of walking.  When you walk, the body is refreshed!

Can you imagine the mixed emotions of the two travellers trying to process all that had happened in Jerusalem over that first Easter?  And then Jesus comes alongside them. He listened to their story and talked to them teaching then from the scriptures explaining why Jesus had to die, and yet they did not recognise Him! There eyes were only opened when Jesus broke bread in their home.

Keith stressed the need to nurture a sense of Jesus’ presence (interestingly, that follows on from what Jane was speaking about last week!)  Sometimes we need to be taken out of our comfort zone and the walk may take time and be difficult at times. But Jesus is not remote – He comes near and promises to be with us.  So, do our hearts burn within us like those two disciples? Ask God to reveal more of Himself to you to prepare you for what lies on your journey.

On this gloriously warm May afternoon it was a joy to welcome as our speaker one of our own members – Jane Leaver.

Through the open doorway we heard the sparrows joining in as we were singing, and Jane reminded us that her previous talk had been about various references to birds in the Bible, especially those who find rest “near God’s altar”. (Ps 84:3)

This afternoon, Jane took as her inspiration, the book entitled, “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence.  He was a 17th century friar, exploring in his writings how we can walk closely with God every day, worshipping Him through the most mundane of tasks, and finding joy even in our dark moments.  Jane encouraged us to talk to God about our everyday circumstances, simply and directly, as we would to a friend.  God is interested in every aspect of our lives, and longs to share fellowship with us.  We can do this especially by cultivating a grateful heart – don’t hesitate to praise and thank Him as we recognise His blessings, or wonder at His creation.  Speak it out!  This does take practice, but we will be richly rewarded by a closer daily walk with our Lord.

And Jane’s choice for our closing song? “Hear these praises from a grateful heart”.

We welcomed back Connie Croly to our meeting.  Connie always has such wonderful stories to tell us from her experiences of serving in the Salvation Army.  She has such a heart for people too and inspires all of us to ‘stand up, stand up for Jesus!’

Connie’s thought were very much based around the Easter story and our response to the resurrection of our Lord. We serve a risen Saviour and God wants to use each one of us. He will give us the strength we need to fulfil His commission – to go into all the world (or that bit of the world where God has placed us), to share the good news and share His love. We were reminded to hold onto what is precious, that we are on the winning side and know that we are not alone – He is with us always!

So, let’s get closer to Him and ask God to give us a heart of compassion and care for others.