Sue led our meeting this afternoon and was also our speaker!

We were asked the question, “How adaptable are you?” Sometimes, God blocks our plans.  Are we happy to say goodbye to them and allow God to have His way? 

Isaiah 55 v 8-9 says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways”, declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

It is important to be ready and prepared for the Lord’s prompting because He has a plan far greater for us and any plans we might have.

Sue shared two examples of this:

• When Paul and his co-workers planned to continue church planting in Asia,  God gave Paul a vision to go to Macedonia in Europe (Acts 16 v 9-10). As a result of this, they left immediately which was a very important decision.
• In Philippi, Paul and his companions had planned to go outside the city to the river where they expected to find a place of prayer but met a group of women. This would have been culturally unacceptable yet Paul stopped and shared the gospel with them (Acts 16 v 13-15) – another very important decision. As a result of this meeting planned by God, Lydia, a prominent business woman, became a key part of the young Philippian church.

If Paul hadn’t have been ready to change his plans in obedience to God’s call on his life, there may never have been a Philippian church. Are we as adaptable as that? Definitely food for thought!

We welcomed Phil Cook, an old friend, back to Thursday Fellowship to kick-off our autumn session.

Phil’s message to us was, “Let’s be salty Christians!”

We spent some time thinking about what salt does:

• It seasons and acts as an appetiser, making things more tasty!
• It heals and cleanses.
• It stops decay, preserving things and preventing things going bad.

Phil brought along a hymn he wrote in 2005 based on Matthew 5 v 13-14 which can be sung to the tune “Tallarn Green” 11 11 11 11 metre (Immortal, Invisible, God only wise.) It communicates so well what Phil wanted to share with us and with his permission we have reproduced the words for your contemplation.

Words copyright – 1st October, 2005 – Rev Philip Cook
Tune Copyright – 24th May, 2002  – Rev Philip Cook

The salt of the earth so the Christian must be
To appetize others, for Christ they must see.
Let none lose their savour to flavour with joy,
Attracting the lost to the Saviour’s employ.

Yes, salt is an agent to cleanse and to heal
Where germs and infection are seen to reveal
The need for such tending the sinner’s deep wound
That purity, wholeness, may truly abound.

The Christian is salt ‘gainst all moral decay
To live for the truth in Christ Jesus the Way
God’s holy commands and His Word to bring nigh,
A goodly, salt influence so to apply.

So, Christian be salt and so help purify,
That standards and morals may always be high;
Bring flavour and cleansing, preventing decay,
“For Christian you’re salt” so Christ Jesus did say.

The light of the world so the Christian must be
Reflecting the Light of the Saviour to see.
Dispelling the night and releasing from fear
The sinner, convicted, in faith to draw near.

We finished by singing the hymn and if you know that tune, you might like to do that yourself!

Thursday Fellowship commenced its autumn session on 5th September with a visit by Phil Cook!

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! 

5th September – Phil Cook

12th September – Sue Cunningham

19th September – Beverley McArdle (BHCM Care Homes)

26th September – Graham Dawson

3rd October – Connie Croly

10th October – Claire Withams (Hospital & Ambulance Chaplaincy)

17th October – Members’ meeting

24th October – Jane Leaver

31st October – Malcolm Haines

7th November – Books Alive

14th November – Sue Cunningham

21st November – TBA

28th November – Roger Case, Rosemary & Tom Batts (Seaford Baptist Church)

5th December – Ann Dracott

12th December – Carols, Candles & Cake

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

Jane leads our online Prayers this month and carries on from where Gareth left off last month with a focus on Joshua 1 v 9 and Philippians 4 v 4-7.

What a joy it was to witness the baptism of Pete Millis at Rottingdean Beach on Sunday, 18th August, 2024.

I do hope you are all able to access the video below:

https://www.facebook.com/downsbaptistchurch/videos/1591996004981072

Gareth leads our monthly online prayer time this month focusing on Joshua 1 v 6-7 and Philippians 4 v 6.

If anyone is interested in exploring the possibility of being baptised, either in the sea or alternatively in a local heated swimming pool/baptismal pool, please do speak to one of the Church leaders.

They would also like to hear from anyone who might be interested in participating in a Christianity Explored course. Please be assured that there will not be any pressure or commitment made by making an enquiry.

You can also fill in our contact form by clicking on the link below should you wish to know more:

Contact Us

We met for our final session of the season on Thursday, 27th June.

We were delighted to welcome an old friend Linn Davies, who sang a medley of songs and explained why they were important to her. Particularly poignant was the last song, which she had written herself at a significantly life-changing time in her career.

We then enjoyed a traditional cream tea which was appreciated by us all.

Thursday Fellowship takes a summer break until September, but we have the opportunity to get together during the summer months at various coffee mornings. Please do look out for upcoming dates on the News page and in the events calendar down the side.

See you in September! Usual time, usual place! https://downsbaptistchurch.org/community/thursday-fellowship/

A small group decamped to Rottingdean beach near to Molly’s café for a short Beach Service instead of our usual meeting place at Woodingdean CP School. 

This year, it was felt better to conduct the service at the top of the beach rather than clambering down the pebbles to the waters edge!

It is always good to have Chris Roche from Union Church, Heathfield with us.  What a lovely sunny day for it!

We welcomed back one of our regular speakers to our meeting on the beautiful and sunny, Summer Solstice day!

After Jane’s talk last week from Ephesians about ‘putting on’ certain things and ‘clothing ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience’, Ann led us nicely into Ephesians 6 v 10-18, putting on the full armour of God.

What a delightful afternoon! Ann reminded us that we are all on active service in God’s army!  There is no time for retirement and this passage is a blue print for our training.

Ann requested a willing volunteer and Kath duly responded. Kath then with some help and much hilarity from all present, had to put on the various bits of the armour as Ann expounded some simple but profound thoughts about each piece and why each one is important and necessary for the battle we all face as soldiers of the Lord.

Belt of truth: The Word of God is our security and holds everything together.

Breastplate of righteousness: Protects our heart.  We need to love God and love others.

Shoes – Gospel of peace: Are we ready to go where God wants us to go? God has the right to send you where you need to go! Are you in a comfortable rut? We need to be active! Will you obey?

Helmet of salvation: There is no room for doubt. Protect yourself particularly your mind from unhelpful things coming in – say no!

Sword of the Spirit: This is the only attacking piece of armour.  Unlike Ann’s rusty, old poker, don’t be rusty in the Word of God – get reading! And while we are at it, let’s keep on praying in the Spirit with all kinds of prayers.

Ann reminded us that we are a forward moving army – there is no defence on our backs!

Do we look like real soldiers? Did Kath? Maybe not, but we are! We must not forget that we are on active service. Team work is required and although we are all different, we need to love, respect, trust one another and work as a unit. For some, the battle can be too much and we need to care for the wounded by being loving and forgiving to come alongside the battle weary to help restore with no judgment because ‘but there for the grace of God, go I’!

We also need to know our enemy as he will attack us when we are weak. We must focus on the campaign of setting people free from the things that bind them and not get side-tracked.  Our struggle is not against flesh and blood v 12! Jesus has already won the battle, death has been defeated, Satan conquered but we are His soldiers doing his work.

So, put on your armour every day.  Keep it in good condition and see what God will do through you.