After a super time at Dean Wood Care Home in the morning, we returned to the school for our Carol and Christingle Service at 5pm on Sunday, 15th December.

Malcolm reminded us that the lovely carols we sing mostly come from the Victorian era but there are four songs in the Bible that date back to the time of Jesus’ birth.

1. Mary bursts into song – Luke 1 v 46-55. God has been mindful of her and His people.
2. Zechariah’s song – Luke 1 v 68-79. His son John will give the people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of sins. John will point the way to Jesus.
3. Choir of angels – Luke 2 v 14. The angels sing – glory to God and on earth peace to all on whom His favour rests.
4. Simeon’s song – Luke 2 v 29-32. He was waiting for the promised Messiah to be revealed to him. “A light for revelation to the Gentiles.”

Our Christmas celebrations were a real expression of our thankfulness for what God has done for us. May there be a growing appreciation and excitement in our hearts this new year as we reflect on the birth of our Saviour and King.

To hear Malcolm”s alternative Christingle, head to our sermons page.

DBC had great fun participating in this year’s Woodingdean Christmas Tree Festival at the Methodist Church with the theme of Children’s Book Characters. We of course illustrated stories from the Bible.

There were 20 trees on display and it was lovely to see just how creative the participants had been.

This is a very popular biannual spectacle to get people in the mood for Christmas and also a good opportunity to be involved in what is happening in our community.

We have just learned that £660 was raised for Leo House who care for life-limited children and young people in Sussex.

Once again as Churches Together, a 25+ strong team representing 5 local churches braved the elements – strong winds, rain and sunshine to gather outside DBC Community Greengrocers on Saturday, 14th December 2019 to spread some Christmas cheer in our community by singing carols.

Footfall was quite light to begin with but it wasn’t long before there was a steady stream of people and cars and we waved to the passengers on the buses. A good time was had by all and we concluded by praying for our churches and our witness withing the community. We love working together! 

A big thank you to Gareth in the shop for supplying us with tea, coffee and mince pies.

On the third Sunday in Advent, DBC decamped to Dean Wood Care Home in Woodingdean once again to conduct a morning service for the residents. Over 25 DBC members came to swell the numbers and around 60 people gathered for an hour of traditional carols and readings.

It was a happy time. One lady who said she didn’t want to sing, sang from memory most of the carols! It was lovely to see the joy on so many faces as they listened to the familiar passages and sang some of their favourite carols.

Sue Cunningham brought a puppet friend with her – Santa Paws – a shy cat wearing a Christmas hat! Together they showed us from a large box the things that make Christmas special for people like holly, mistletoe, cards, a tree nicely decorated with tinsel, baubles and an angel or star on the top, candles, crackers and food and presents of course.  Santa Paws left one item in the box which illustrated so poignantly the true meaning of Christmas.  It was a walnut. Our youngest visitor, Elliot helped to open the walnut and there was a surprise. Inside, instead of a walnut was a slip of paper and this is what it said….”Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you: He is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2 v 1. And this said Sue is the Christmas story “in a nut shell!”

This group is continuing to meet at Wendy’s or Margaret’s home at 2pm on the last Monday of each month and has decided to keep the name ‘Encountering God’ as it seemed appropriate to our expectations from studying His Word.

We have been delving into a new book entitled ‘Here I Am’ by Andy Hawthorne.  The book encourages us to join God’s adventurous call to love the world and we will be drawing on lessons from Isaiah.

Please feel free to join us either regularly or when you’re able to drop in for a taster session. 

For further details, why not give Malcolm a call on 07505 118634

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