Please be advised that there is a short pause at the beginning of the video due to a connection problem but it clears quickly. Enjoy!

“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore.“

Jude 24-25 (NIV)

Thought: This lovely doxology (a praise statement) encourages us but also brings honour and glory to God.

Be encouraged: Put your complete trust in Him.  He is able to keep you from stumbling and falling and will present you faultless on the Day of Judgment.

Challenge: May our God remind you of Gospel truths and help you share with others as you persevere through these difficult times.

The verse of the week is inspired by the teaching the previous Sunday.  If you would like to listen to a recording of the message then head to

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

Shop opening hours with effect from Monday 30th March are Mon – Thurs 9am to 1pm.

We have a 2 customer limit in the shop at all times.  Please respect social distancing rules to safeguard yourselves and the fab team of volunteers working very hard to keep the shop open.

Orders can be phoned through on 01273 300441 between 8.30am and 1pm. Initially, leave ONLY your name and telephone number and we will call you back for details of your requirements or you can email your orders to suedbcgreengrocers@gmail.com with your telephone number so we can call you with day of delivery and any items we are unable to provide. 

Please note that we can ONLY take one order per week – any more than this will be put aside till the following week.

You can also phone in and collect orders during the opening times provided to help us out.

At present we can only accept cash payments for deliveries but are working to try and accept BACS payments in the future. We will talk to you about this when letting you know the details re your delivery.

Thank you for your cooperation, support and patience through these unprecedented times.

Stay safe, stay well and STAY IN where possible.

Sunday 5th April 10.30am – Palm Sunday – No Walk of Witness (with donkey) this year. Let’s all stay home! Join us on Facebook for a live service. Have a long strip of paper ready for some origami – 30cm long will do but 42cm would be better, about 1cm wide.

Friday 10th April –  Good Friday – 9am. Let’s all stay home! A bowl of cereal and some toast with a mug of tea is an appropriate way to start together on Good Friday when we usually have communion around a shared breakfast table. Join us on Facebook for a live service. For Communion please have some bread and wine/juice for your household ready. Communion is for all who personally recognise Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.

Sunday 12th April – Easter Day – 10.30am. Our All Age online Communion Service will be a retelling of the Easter events and a celebration of God’s triumph over death. For Communion please have some bread and wine/juice for your household ready. Communion is for all who personally recognise Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.

For those unable to join us live on Facebook, the services will be added to the website after the service so you can join in.

Dear God,

Being alone is hard. We were created for community, not confinement.

But we’re grateful that no matter how alone we may feel, You never leave or forsake us. And, we’re grateful for technology that helps us stay in touch with each other.

Today, please remind us that this time of social distancing and isolation will not last forever.

Give us the strength to endure this difficult season, and deepen our connection with You and Your people.

Empower us with an extra dose of Your love, peace, hope and joy, because we need it. Remind us of Your promises, and please heal our land.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

In light of advice from the Government and the Baptist Union of Great Britain, we are suspending all our public meetings, including Sunday Services, until further notice.

We will be moving Church Services online and will be live streaming on the church Facebook page on Sunday from 10.30am.

Please continue to support the church shop and consider making extra donations to the food bank via the basket available at the shop.

At a time when all our sources of security are being shaken, and some toppled, be assured that God remains the one constant in all of this and that He promises to walk with us, especially in days like these.

If you have any specific need, or prayer request, please post it on our Facebook Page or email mdcchaines01@gmail.com

Thank you and God Bless,

Malcolm Haines, Pastor

God is our refuge and strength , an ever present help in times of trouble.  Therefore we will not fear! Psalm 46 v 1 – 2a

Reflecting on the world-wide situation, the Baptist Union has issued this statement:

“Each one of our churches has a vital part to play in being a Beacon of Hope at the moment. Our neighbours and communities need love, hope, peace and an eternal perspective and we can offer this in abundance, in the name of Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:18).

We want to call all our churches to prayer and to provide you with some words and ideas to help because we believe in the power of our collective prayers and actions at this time.”

So:-

Let’s continue to pray for all our brothers and sisters across the world who have been, and are continuing to be, affected by COVID-19.  We pray that all will know God’s overwhelming, steadfast love.

Pray for the countries currently suffering from the greatest outbreaks and for our own country as we see an escalation in confirmed cases of the virus.

Pray for those in our communities who may feel vulnerable and scared.  Pray that the love of God might be their peace.  That they may know that even in the darkest times, God’s love brings hope.

Pray for older people who are concerned about shopping, (particularly as there are shortages), regular hospital appointments and general day to day contact with other people.  

Pray for wisdom for church leaders to know how to keep people connected and safe especially now that churches have had to suspend meetings and services.

Pray for the medical staff on the front-line of care – pray that they will be sustained physically, emotionally and spiritually in the coming weeks. Pray that God will be their shield and their strength. 

Pray for our world leaders and for the leaders in our own country that they will seek the wisdom of God as they make decisions over the coming days. 

Pray for all those leading the scientific response to COVID-19 across the world. Pray for the scientists from across the globe as they look for ways to alleviate symptoms and as they seek a vaccine for the future.

Pray for all God’s people in this time of uncertainty and concern. That our eternal hope would make an earthly difference.

Pray for a sense of calm and clarity as well as strength to face what is ahead, that Christians will be ‘beacons of hope’ and ‘carriers of the message of peace’ at this time. May we be a people of hope in encouraging others in the face of crisis to lean on God’s sustaining presence and unfailing providence.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayers!

Thursday Fellowship meets in the Parish Room of the Holy Cross Church, Woodingdean at 2.15pm.

We would love you to join us for fellowship and friendship.  All welcome.

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

Our motto for the year is –

“Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.”

1 Chronicles 16 v 11 (NIV).

Our spring session commenced on the 5th March when  Pastor Malcolm Haines spoke to us about encouragement.

We all need encouragement, appreciation and commendation and when we receive it, it can make all the difference! It is good to pass it on to others to build people up and give them the strength and courage to carry on and not give up. Let’s support one another in the good times as well as the bad.

Malcolm encouraged us this session to let the Word of God challenge and change us!

Speakers for the session:

12th March – Sue Cunningham

Due to the Coronavirus outbreak and subsequent government guidelines, all meetings are cancelled until further notice. 

19th March – Mark Weedon – Living Word Ministries CANCELLED

26th March – Reflections and suggestions CANCELLED

2nd April – Peter & Penny Woodcraft CANCELLED

9th April – Maundy Thursday Service CANCELLED

16th April – Spring lunch CANCELLED

Thursday Fellowship Committee would like to encourage all of you with the words from Numbers 6 v 24-26 from the New Living Translation:-

‘May the Lord bless you
    and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
    and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favour
    and give you his peace.’

Amid the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe, candles were lit in thousands of homes across Britain at 7pm on Mothering Sunday, symbolising the light of Christ shining into the darkness.

Even those living in ‘social isolation’ were able to unite in this act of prayer, standing together in solidarity and faith at this time of global crisis.

Social media was flooded with images as people shared their #candleofhope. So many photos were shared that the hashtag #candleofhope became Twitter’s second most trending hashtag in the UK during the evening.

Christians are encouraged to continue to pray #prayersofhope and to show acts of kindness to those around them, whilst ensuring they abide by all government health advice.

Yes there is fear.

Yes there is isolation.

Yes there is panic buying.

Yes there is sickness.

Yes there is even death.

But,

They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise

You can hear the birds again.

They say that after just a few weeks of quiet

The sky is no longer thick with fumes

But blue and grey and clear.

They say that in the streets of Assisi

People are singing to each other

across the empty squares,

keeping their windows open

so that those who are alone

may hear the sounds of family around them.

They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland

Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.

Today a young woman I know

is busy spreading fliers with her number

through the neighbourhood

So that the elders may have someone to call on.

Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples

are preparing to welcome

and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary

All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting

All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way

All over the world people are waking up to a new reality

To how big we really are.

To how little control we really have.

To what really matters.

To Love.

So we pray and we remember that

Yes there is fear.

But there does not have to be hate.

Yes there is isolation.

But there does not have to be loneliness.

Yes there is panic buying.

But there does not have to be meanness.

Yes there is sickness.

But there does not have to be disease of the soul

Yes there is even death.

But there can always be a rebirth of love.

Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.

Today, breathe.

Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic

The birds are singing again

The sky is clearing,

Spring is coming,

And we are always encompassed by Love.

Open the windows of your soul

And though you may not be able

to touch across the empty square,

Sing