On the third Sunday in Advent, DBC decamped to Dean Wood Care Home in Woodingdean to conduct a morning service for the residents. Members of staff joined us to swell the numbers and around 50 people gathered for an hour of traditional carols and readings.

It was a joyful occasion. John asked the questions, what is the essence of Christmas? Why did Jesus come? Well, one of the reasons is to bring lasting peace on earth. We all need peace!

John retold the beautiful story of the Christmas Truce in 1914.  It is often celebrated as a symbolic moment of peace in an otherwise devastatingly violent war. We may like to believe that for just one day, all across the Western Front, men from both sides emerged from the trenches and met in No Man’s Land to exchange gifts  and play football, however this brief festive reprieve was far from a mass event. Where it didn’t occur, Christmas Day was a day of war like any other. Where it did, accounts say that men from both sides sang carols, left their trenches and met in No Man’s Land. It was only a brief respite of hostilities though – a fragile peace! John reminded us that God sent His son Jesus into the world. He is the Prince of Peace and the bringer of peace; a peace that will last for ever. This brings us hope and comfort.

It is such a blessing to go and share the good news of Jesus with the lovely folk at Dean Wood.  There isn’t the opportunity for residents to go to church and so to visit the home on a monthly basis and to conduct a carol service is a real joy for the DBC team. It is evident that it means so much to the residents. To sing hymns/carols and listen to familiar Bible stories and verses jogs the memory and brings a sense of well-being and peace.

We look forward to continuing our visits to Dean Wood in 2019.

Thursday Fellowship meets in the Parish Room of the Holy Cross Church at 2.15pm. We would love you to join us for fellowship, friendship and fun! For further information head to the following link:- Thursday Fellowship

Our 2018/19 motto:

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

The autumn session has now finished and Thursday Fellowship will be taking a break over January and February. Keep a look out for dates of our coffee mornings. The winter months can be long and lonely and the coffee mornings are a great opportunity to meet up.

For further details please give Faith a ring on 01273 304018.

You are warmly invited to our all age Nativity Service @ 10.30am in Woodingdean CP School.

Fancy it? It’ll be a lot of fun! You are welcome to come in fancy dress – many do! Dust off that halo, polish up that crown, rummage around for an old tea towel or why not get creative. We’d love to see you!

Here are the details of our Christmas services.

We would love to see you at any of our services. We can assure you of a very warm welcome.

A 25-strong team from the Churches in Woodingdean gathered outside DBC Community Greengrocers to spread some Christmas joy by singing carols. 

This coincided once again with the Rottingdean and Saltdean Lions who were out in force at the crossroads collecting for the many local causes they support throughout the year.

It was a happy and joyful occasion despite the biting wind and it brought smiles and waves from passers-by.

It is so good working together to share the love of Jesus in our community.

Thank you to Gareth for supplying us we tea and coffee to help keep us warm and lubricated!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas down at the shop!

There are even more lights this year and a hidden nativity scene!

Come on down and say hello.  There are lots of gift ideas too!

The shop will close for the Christmas break on Saturday, 22nd December at 1pm and will re-open in the New Year on Wednesday 2nd January.

Please be aware that all Christmas food orders need to be in by Thursday, 20th December for deliveries on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd.

The verse of the week is inspired by the theme and message of Sunday’s service. To hear a recording of this message, head to the sermons page under the Resources tab.

I am very pleased to be able to report that our shop slot donations for Marissa raised £239. Thank you for your generous support.

Our donations for the next few months or so will be for Time To Talk Befriending, a local Charity that helps older people who feel lonely, invisible and forgotten to “feel like they are living again” and “no longer feel trapped inside their own home.”

Time To Talk Befriending is a charity rooted in the Sussex communities it serves. They offer a personalised model of inter-generational befriending, community outreach and seasonal campaigning, signposting and group befriending across the City of Brighton and Hove. They  work with vulnerable older people aged 65+ who experience chronic loneliness and social isolation. The foundation of the Charity is built on Christian values. They are motivated by their belief that older people should be honoured and respected. “TTTB” continue to work collaboratively with individuals and organisations from different backgrounds, faiths and beliefs to tackle the serious issue of loneliness head on.

Head to http://www.tttb.org.uk/ to find our more information especially if you are interested in volunteering.

It is great to support this local charity as it is working in Woodingdean and impacting the lives of many of our older residents.

Very sadly, Traidcraft announced at the beginning of October that it is in financial difficulties and will probably have to cease trading at the end of this year 2018.  It made a loss of £500,000 last year. The reasons it gives are: declining church attendance, eight years of austerity and Brexit which has led to a fall in the value of the pound and put up the cost of buying the products it sells.  Closing down the business will be devastating to the income of many of the thousands of impoverished workers principally in Africa, Asia and Latin America, some of whom have only got access to markets through Traidcraft.

Traidcraft is on the brink, but their Chief Executive Officer says that closure is not a foregone conclusion.  A lot depends on sales this autumn and in the run-up to Christmas. Strong sales and an upturn in trade could make possible the restructuring of the business.  The company is also consulting on its future which may bring some fresh ideas to help save it.

So, what part can we play to make a difference?

1. Buy Traidcraft fair trade foodstuffs and household products from our very own DBC Community Greengrocers shop: such as tea, coffee, sugar, cocoa, chocolate, toilet paper, handgel, biscuits, Geobars etc.
2. Place an order this autumn and in the run-up to Christmas from the Traidcraft winter and Christmas catalogues 2018.  You can order through the shop, from Maria Nwanwene, or online at https://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk