Due to Covid we have missed the last two Maundy Thursday services so what a delight and blessing it was for us to meet this year.

You might like to see the order of service and follow through the readings and songs that were chosen.

Sue led us in a very beautiful act of communion and said “what a privilege we have this side of the cross!” We fully understand why Jesus had to suffer and the enormity of it all but the disciples at the last supper did not! Jesus is the perfect sacrifice.

Your body was broken; Your blood was shed for us! Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

Faith closed with some verses from Isaiah 44. I made you and will care for you.  I will carry you along and save you.

Connie Croly was our speaker on 7th April and she spoke about light; her key verse being Matthew 5 v 14-16, “You are the light of the world…let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven.”

Connie went on to say that we are reflections of Jesus, the true light. There is much darkness in the world so it is vital that we show the light of God’s love wherever we are. We were encouraged to not give up but to “keep the light on” because, “I’ve started so I’ll finish!”

18 gathered for the Thursday Fellowship Spring Lunch on 31st March and enjoyed home made quiches made by Lis, salad, new potatoes and a selection of desserts.

It was lovely to welcome back Lorna Sivyour accompanied by her husband David and her violin of course! Lorna delighted us with three pieces of music – Elgar’s Virelai, Morning by Grieg (a favourite of so many) and a lively little number called La Cinquantine by Gabriel Marie.

Lorna interspersed the musical pieces by speaking about trees and in particular how the wind blowing through some types of trees creates a sound like humming or singing and reminds us of Zephaniah 3 v 17 “God rejoices over us with singing.” Lorna also spoke about how trees absorb carbon from the air and release it back to the atmosphere as oxygen, reminding us of how our prayers go up to God as a fragrant incense.

It was a special time together relaxing and enjoying one another’s company.

You may be aware that our church supports BMS (The Baptist Missionary Society). We can play our part to help Ukraine by giving a gift to their appeal for Ukraine. As we all know the lives of Ukrainians are being torn apart by war and our hearts break for the situation there.

What difference can we make? Well:-

• £11 can provide essential hygiene supplies for one person

• £30 can provide a night’s shelter and food for one person

• £99 can give a bedding kit to one person – a place to rest, recover and find renewed strength for the future.

Please make cheques payable to Downs Baptist Church.

Cheques and cash gifts may be placed in the offering bag on Sundays in an envelope marked ‘Ukraine appeal’.

Or give online at www.bmsworldmission.org/ukraine.

Please see Jane Leaver if you would like to Gift Aid your donation.

Thank you.

Gareth leads our prayer time this evening and will focus on Philippians 4 v 2-9

Margaret prays:

Thursday Fellowship returned on the 3rd of March and we welcomed Sue Cunningham and her friends, Ginger and Boots.

We learned that Ginger and Boots were rescued from the South Downs Garden Centre.  Sue reminded us that we have all been rescued!

Just like Ginger and Boots are brothers, we are sisters and brothers together.  We are all part of the same family and we should love one another and support each other.

We were all given bookmarks with the Thursday Fellowship’s verse of the year – Therefore encourage one another and build each other up – 1 Thessalonians 5 v 11.

Sue then went on to speak about Barnabas – the “son of encouragement,” who not only brought Paul to the apostles when others were against him, believed in John Mark when Paul didn’t want to take him on his next missionary journey. He had faith in people and was proved right.

Barnabas saw the best in people and we should follow in his footsteps.

Let’s encourage one another and build each other up!

If you are free on a Thursday afternoon from 2-3.30pm, please do consider joining us. We can assure you of a very warm welcome. For further details head to  – Thursday Fellowship.

Sue and Dawn have had a bit of a change around!

Why not pop down and take a closer look!

AFGHANISTAN CRISIS APPEAL

There is a catastrophic food shortage in Afghanistan where half the population doesn’t have enough to eat. One million children are starving and at risk of severe malnutrition. Parents have to listen to the cries of hungry children every night.

It is a bitterly cold winter with temperatures of minus 20 degrees centigrade. Families have also been forced from their homes by the conflict. They have no jobs, no money and the women and girls are not being educated. They desperately need warm blankets and clothes as well as emergency food packages, money to buy fuel etc., etc.

Once again we will be sending your shop slot gifts via Tearfund who work with local churches and organisations in more than 50 countries to tackle the complex challenges of poverty. They write, “By donating to our appeal, you will be enabling our local partners to meet the immediate needs of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in Afghanistan.”

A big thank you for your donations to our Shop Slot to support the crisis in Yemen.  The total amount raised was £112 and we will be sending this sum to Tearfund in due course.

Gareth leads us this evening with a focus on Zechariah 7 & 8

Please click on the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/downsbaptistchurch/videos/6814255481978198/