A Groundbreaking Morning

The resurrection of Jesus is one of the most important events in history. For Christians, it is the foundation of faith- the moment that confirms who Jesus is and brings hope to the world. Easter is not a quiet remembrance, but a joyful celebration of life over death.

And yet, the story begins simply. Early in the morning, two women go to the tomb of Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew 28:1–10, what follows is both dramatic and meaningful. There is an earthquake. A messenger from heaven appears. The stone is rolled away. What seemed like the end is completely changed. Jesus, who was crucified, is alive.

This is the heart of the Christian message. The resurrection is not just a symbol of hope; it is the reason Christians believe that death does not have the final word, and that new life is truly possible.

It is also striking that the first witnesses are women. At a time when their voices were often overlooked, they are chosen to hear and share the greatest news: “He is not here; he has risen.” God works in unexpected ways, often through those the world might ignore.

The message is affirmed not only by the angel, but by Jesus Himself. The women move from fear to overflowing joy. They encounter the risen Lord, take hold of Him, and worship Him. In that moment, everything changes. Worship is no longer centred on a place, but on a person – Jesus, alive and present.

This is what shapes us as Downs Baptist Church. For many years, we have not been defined by the absence of a building, but by the presence of Christ among us. Our sufficiency has never been in a structure, but in Him. We gather in His name. We trust in His presence. And as we continue to put Him first, we hold this confidence: that in His time, everything else, including the building we long for, will be added according to His purpose.

The good news spreads. “Do not be afraid… go and tell.” Easter calls us to live with joy, hope, and confidence in the risen Christ.

13 members enjoyed the opportunity of coming together to share in a Communion service to commence our Easter reflections and celebrations.

Faith led us in a beautiful time of readings, poems and Easter songs:

Philippians 2 v 5-11
Song: Here is love, vast as the ocean
Poem: Servant Song
Isaiah 53 v 1-6
Song: There is a Redeemer
Isaiah 53 v 7-12
Song: Just as I am, without one plea
Poem: For me
Song: Jesus Christ, I think upon Your Sacrifice
Poem: Greater Love
Communion
Song: Jesus Christ, You came into this world
Vesper to close

Every time we take communion we remember His deep love for each one of us. He offered His body, He poured out His soul; Jesus was broken that we might be whole. Broken for me, broken for you, the body of Jesus, broken for you. (Janet Lunt © 1978 Sovereign Music UK)

We finished our time together with a cup of tea, hot cross buns and some mini chocolate eggs! 

Happy Easter from everyone at Thursday Fellowship.

Once again, a merry band of ‘pilgrims’ made their way from the top of Warren Hill down to Woodingdean School for our annual Walk of Witness on Palm Sunday.

Sadly, Solomon the donkey wasn’t with us to lead our procession this year, but we enjoyed singing some favourite praise songs, shook our tambourines and carried a large cross to testify to those passing in their cars, our faith in the Lord Jesus.

Many people waved and tooted their horns to support us and encourage us on our journey.

It might seem a small and perhaps insignificant event to some, but for DBC it is an opportunity to let our community know that Easter is a special and precious time and isn’t just about Easter eggs and time off! We believe He is risen and because He lives we have hope!

Pray that those who saw us will have cause to ponder what Easter is really all about!

It is always a joy to welcome Phil Cook to our meeting. Phil brought an Easter message from John 19 v 28-30 focussing on Jesus’s words (the sixth saying from the cross) in verse 30, “It is finished”.

Throughout the lead up to, and the crucifixion itself, Jesus was in absolute control. It was the complete work of salvation – it was, it is and it always is! Indeed, it is finished! Take a moment to reflect on the victory that is ours because Jesus loved us so much that He died in our place and has conquered death and sin.

Phil illustrated his message with five helpful examples of when the phrase ‘It is finished’ applied:

• Masters and slaves. When a servant had completed a task, they would utter “It is finished.” In Philippians 2 v 6-8 (NIV) we read, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”
• Priests. The priests offered sacrifices for their own sins and the sins of the people – this was required by the law.  But Jesus is God’s perfect sacrifice, the spotless and faultless lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Judas recognised Jesus in the end as completely innocent and Pilate’s wife was troubled and knew that Jesus was innocent too.
• Artists. They would say, “it is finished” when the work was complete and they were delighted with it! Phil remarked that in the Old Testament picture gallery, everything is in the shadows but then Jesus completes the picture and the lights are turned on – the darkness has been banished forever! We had cause to think about the couple on the Emmaus road whose eyes were opened when Jesus revealed who He really was by the breaking of the bread and by opening up the scriptures.
• Merchants and traders.  They would issue a receipt to confirm that ‘it is finished’, the debt had been fully paid and the transaction complete. We are in debt before God and bankrupt! God in His mercy credits our account with His righteousness and our debt has been fully paid. Praise God, thank you Jesus!
• A faithful Saviour. As Phil was speaking, I was reminded of the The Greek word ‘Tetelestai’ which implies ‘paid in full’. Jesus has done it all and the kingdom of heaven is open to all who believe in Him and and accept his free gift of eternal life. Because He died and He lives, I can face tomorrow, because He lives, all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives. (William and Gloria Gaither.)

The curtain was torn from top to bottom because of the finished work of Jesus. No earthly priest needs to intercede for us, we are invited to come, to enter into a new and living way. Romans 8 says there is “no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus” and no one can separate us from His love.

Phil’s chosen song to close was ‘Man of sorrows’ with the poignant verse:

Lifted up was He to die,
“It is finished!” was His cry:
Full atonement – can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

This Easter have faith in the finished work of Christ!

We welcomed back Graham Dawson on a beautiful, sunny, and warm spring afternoon.

Graham’s opening gambit was to pose the question as to why he was a Christian! Now most people might think and say that it is because of Jesus – which of course it is but the crux of the matter is the historical fact of the resurrection. No resurrection – no Bible, no church and no Christianity. Graham reminded us that the disciples and followers of Jesus were not expecting Jesus to rise from the dead even though He had told them it would happen. Nobody expected no body! 

We believe today because the men and women of the time talked about it. The Apostle, Paul said that there was nothing more important than this ….. “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred of the brethren at the same time, then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me also.” ( 1 Corinthians 15 v 3-8 NIV).

Over the centuries many people have sort to disprove the resurrection, but time and time again those people turned from “cynicism and scepticism to vibrant faith”. Graham gave some examples of people who did just that: Lord Lyttleton, Gilbert West, General Lew Wallis, Robert Ingersoll and Frank Morison (Who Moved The Stone).

The good news is that Jesus is alive and we can have new life through our faith and trust in Him.  Because Jesus is alive we can be assured that:

1. Jesus knows each one of us and cares for us
2. Jesus loves us
3. Jesus hears our prayers
4. Jesus can forgive us – our past, present and future ( 1 John 1 v 9) ” Jesus doesn’t miss any sins!”
5. Jesus makes people friends of God
6. Jesus is with us always and will never leave us nor forsake us
7. Jesus is coming back. For every mention of His first coming, there are 8 mentions of His coming again!

Revelation 21 v 4 says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain”, He will make everything new.  Jesus is Alive! Christ has risen! How wonderful, how glorious is the love of God!

And Graham’s choice of a closing song? What better than the lovely, old hymn written by A H Ackley in 1933 with the chorus:

He lives, He lives,
Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives,
Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

We welcomed back Ann Dracott to our meeting.  It is always a delight to see Ann and once again Ann brought a bag full of props (or hotchpotch of items in her words!) for her talk.

This time we were treated to items which had been given as presents to Ann over the years.  Some of the items were very precious and held many memories.

Why do we traditionally give presents?  Out of love, obligation to say sorry, or because it is the thing to do? It is part of our culture and gifts can say a lot about the giver.  Some gifts may be just perfect but others not so and might need to be given away!

Ann reminded us that God always give us the right gift because He knows what we need, what we like and what we can use!

• And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus – Philippians 4 v 19
• Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1 v 17
• There are different kinds of gifts but the same Spirit – 1 Corinthians 12 v 4. We are all different and we need different things.  God gives us appropriate gifts.
• Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift – 2 Corinthians 9 v 15. God knows just what is right for us and we need to have a personal relationship with Him to truly appreciate His gifts to us.

Everything we have comes from God so what can we give to God that is ours to freely give? Our lives, our free will! It is only when God has our hearts that He can use us.  Can you say in all sincerity, “Your will be done!”

Ann linked her thoughts with the Parable of the Ten Minas in Luke 19 v 11-26. The master gave the servants what they could handle.  To one he gave 10 minas, to another 5 minas and to another just 1 mina. It is a very interesting story to learn what the servants did with the gifts and well worth reading. The lesson is for us all to use the gifts we are given wisely.

Ann concluded with the thought that we should all thank God for the gifts He has given us and not to go comparing our gifts with others. God gives us what we can cope with and He will equip us for works of service. So, lets keep our eyes open and be thankful for the gifts God brings and use them to bless others and bring Glory to our Heavenly Father.

It was good to meet again after the winter break, though sadly, quite a few were unable to be with us, largely due to ill-health. Sue reminded us of last year’s motto ‘Be still and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10) and admitted that she hadn’t seen her motto bookmark for a while. Then she realised it must have been in the Good News New Testament that she gave to an A&E nurse last May!

Much had happened to all of us in the past year. There’d been some really tough times and there’d been times of joy, but in all these, we’d experienced the truth of ‘Be still and know that I am God.’

Our motto this year is ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5). The writer of Hebrews was referring back to an occasion in the Old Testament when the Israelites were facing the very frightening and daunting situation of going into the Promised Land. The Lord told them not to be afraid or discouraged because he’d ‘Never leave them nor forsake them’ (Joshua 1:5,9 and Deuteronomy 31:6,8). Looking back later, Joshua reminded them that the Lord had kept his promises (Joshua 23:14).

In the coming year we’ll all be faced with good and tough times, but we can be reassured that when the Lord promises his presence with us ALWAYS, he doesn’t lie. Whatever this year holds he will ‘Never leave us nor forsake us’!

In these difficult times in which we live, it is so important to let this truth sink into our hearts and minds!

Sunday, 1st March 2026 – O happy day! The day we welcomed Reverend Jeryl Bayona as he was officially inducted into the pastorate of Downs Baptist Church.

It was good to see many old friends and guests as we joined together for this very happy occasion.

A big thank you was extended to Bryan Pickard for his invaluable counsel and support over the past few years.

We look forward to serving God in this place as we seek ‘to know Him better and to make Him known!’

To hear a recording of the Induction, and to hear an inspiring message by Rev, Dr Myra Blyth, head to: Sermons

On a cold but thankfully dry February morning, Faith and John hosted a Thursday Fellowship coffee morning. I say coffee but tea was in abundance also as were the scrumptious tray bakes that Faith had made to tempt us all. Who cannot resist cheese scones, lemon drizzle cake, chocolate cake and an extremely popular coffee and walnut cake?

12 members gathered and it was good to meet and have fellowship – the winter seems so long and we were all cheered by the thought that our devotional meetings will recommence on Thursday 5th March.

We felt it keenly that a number of regular members were unable to attend and our prayers and thoughts are with Sue C, June, Mick and Barbara at this time. We sang our Birthday song to Sue P, Margaret R, Maria and John asking the Lord to bless them in the coming year.

What a lovely time we had together!

If you would like to join our merry little group then please do come along to the Parish Room of the Holy Cross Church in Warren Road at 2pm on a Thursday afternoon.  For further details head to – https://downsbaptistchurch.org/community/thursday-fellowship/

We can assure you of a very warm welcome.