Downs Baptist Church Woodingdean

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Thursday Fellowship – Dr Ruth Butlin (The Leprosy Mission).

We welcomed back Dr Ruth Butlin who brought us an update on the reconstruction work at Anandaban Research Centre in Nepal.

If you remember, the old research laboratory suffered significant damage in the 2015 earthquakes and yet somehow it managed to cling on to the mountainside. It was in danger of failing the government inspection which would have resulted in its closure.

Our gifts last year along with other supporters have made the reconstruction work on the centre a reality and the team are seeing the works progress with completion due in 2025.

This is so exciting and such a huge step in the journey to ridding the world of leprosy.  It means that existing ground-breaking research can come to fruition and bring hope and health to so many for a better and brighter future, living the lives God intended for them.

Leprosy is one of the oldest diseases known to humankind! Since Biblical times, people with leprosy have been excluded from society, The sad truth today is that there are places in the world (generally in the more under-developed countries like Nepal, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) where leprosy is a big problem and many people suffer greatly from damaged limbs, disfigurements and disabilities and even physical and metal cruelty because of the disease.

With quick diagnosis and the right treatment whether it be physiotherapy to improve the functioning of limbs or reconstructive surgery, literally, thousands of people are having their lives transformed meaning they can work and support their families and participate in their communities.

Ruth said that “Jesus challenges us to see all people as our neighbours”, especially those who are cut off from society or marginalised through no fault of their own. We need to see people how God sees them, people to be valued and drawn into the family of God.  This task remains unfinished but we all have a part to play.

Thursday Fellowship – Linda Davies from MAF

We had a very interesting and wide ranging presentation about the work of MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) by Linda Davies, covering its history, where it works and why it’s ministry is necessary.

Linda used the example of Liberia, where roads are impassable for 6 months of the year due to very heavy rainfall. MAF’s small planes can reach isolated communities very quickly with food, equipment, medical supplies, books and Bibles as well as personnel with the good news of Jesus.

So far we have raised £135 for this our 2023/2024 project and hope to add to this total over the next few weeks.

By praying for and supporting MAF, we can help to fuel the fleet that shares the love and hope of Jesus Christ to a needy world and be part of building God’s Kingdom here on earth.

Thursday Fellowship – Sue Cunningham

Readings to illustrate Sue’s talk : Philippians 4 v 2-5; Luke 10 v 38-42

Sue started her talk with amusing letters from children to God about their love-hate relationships with siblings and friends, to illustrate that broken relationships start at an early age.

As an example, she compared the tragic story of William Golding’s ‘Lord of the Flies’, when rivalry destroyed relationships between boys stranded on an uninhabited island, and a similar true situation on a Tongan island, where the boys worked together to create a loving, healthy society, based on their faith in God.

There are examples in the Bible when even Christians were at loggerheads – Paul and Barnabas disagreed over John Mark, and two Christian co-workers, Euodia and Syntyche, fell out.

Today, sadly, such disagreements and bad feelings can often occur between Christians and Sue gave two examples from her own life which needed to be resolved, forgiveness sought, and hugs given! Such broken relationships need to be faced and dealt with and Sue challenged us to put them right.

However, Sue went on to speak about another relationship which may also need to mended or sorted out, and that is our relationship with God! Has it become strained, a bit dull, not as close as we’d like?! Friendships grow when we spend time together, talking and listening to each other, and the same is true with God.

Are we easily distracted when we spend time with Him? Have out times with Him become mechanical or routine?

We finished with prayer that we might fall in love with Him again!

Thursday Fellowship Returns

What a scorching afternoon it was too! A few decided it was best to stay home because of the heat but 16 of us gathered for a couple of hours of fellowship, refreshments and celebration as it was Sue’s birthday.  Thank you to June for the lovely cake we all enjoyed at the end of our meeting!

Faith led our session and commenced with Psalm 9.  The verses that leapt out were, “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed – You never forget those who seek You.” ( verses 9-10). We have so much to give God thanks for.

We sang:

To God be the glory
Be still and know that I am God
Break thou the bread of life 
Oh my soul, arise and bless your Maker

Faith explained that we would be supporting MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) as our special project for this year and were encouraged to bring along our gifts on Thursday, 21st of September when we welcome Linda Davies to explain about the work. Faith poignantly explained that our gifts which may not seem very much can possibly keep a plane in the air and so save lives! For further details, head to About MAF UK – Mission Aviation Fellowship (maf-uk.org)

We welcomed Phil Cook to kick start our Autumn programme. We always enjoy his ministry!

Phil brought us the story of the Feeding of the 5000 which is so important that it is in all four gospels! Kath read the story from Matthew 14 but reminded us that just before this incredible miracle, Jesus would have been saddend by the death of his cousin, John the Baptist in awful circumstances and withdrew to a solitary place. But, great crowds followed Him.

Phil got us to consider the 4 main people in this event  as recorded by John in his gospel:

Philip – a personal worker who brought others to Jesus. He was a little bit slow on the uptake but had worked out the cost of providing enough food for 5000 men plus women and children and knew it wasn’t possible to feed them all. But, what is impossible to man is not impossible to God.

Andrew – another personal worker who was always bringing people to Jesus and brought his brother Simon Peter. He did what he could do by finding the boy who had a small packed lunch knowing that Jesus could do the rest.

The boy – was willing to give what he had to Jesus –  his small lunch.

Jesus – the Bread of Life was there to provide not just sufficient but a substantial meal to all those present. He acts as a father of the family!  He fed the people, nourished them and satisfied them.  Look at how much was left? The disciples picked up 12 baskets of pieces of fish and bread, not crumbs.

What a miracle! God always gives the increase.  He works above and beyond our expectations.  Let’s celebrate this and thank him for all His goodness to us. Jehovah Jireh – our Provider!

Please do consider joining us on Thursday afternoons at 2pm – The Parish Room of the Holy Cross Church in Warren Road, Woodingdean. We can assure you of a warm welcome.

BMS Birthday Scheme – revamp

BMS (Baptist Missionary Society) works among some of the most marginalised and least evangelised people, in some of the most fragile places on earth. 

As a church we support their work and have signed up to their Birthday Scheme which is administered by Maria, one of our members. To find out more, head to https://downsbaptistchurch.org/community/mission-works/

BMS World Mission Birthday Scheme has been revamped and exciting changes made in order to achieve its full potential, as follows:-

  • Birthday Scheme Secretaries have been renamed Birthday Scheme Co-ordinators.  This means someone who organises the BS in the local church, such as an administrator.
  • Resources have been refreshed. These include the gift envelopes and the news bulletins.
  • BS gifts will continue to support BMS medical work. We were giving to Guinebor 2 hospital in Chad, North Africa, on the edge of the desert, to support them with medicines, operations, surgeons, nurses etc., etc.  Now, however, our gifts will be used for other urgent BMS work, such as evangelism and church planting, education, justice ministries and relief work.
  • Birthday Scheme members will receive a free copy of ‘Engage’, the BMS magazine, 3 times a year, to see their birthday gifts at work. Members can, of course, opt out of any mailing and their details will also be fully data protection compliant.

Appeal for more BMS Birthday Scheme Members:-  

We would love to see some more members in the DBC Birthday Scheme. Why not join us and bless others with a gift on your birthday! It will bring encouragement and hope to so many as well as blessing you!

Prophetic word for DBC from Bryan Pickard

Bryan Pickard’s prophetic message for Downs Baptist Church  on Sunday, 9th July, 2023 as the members seek to be a light shining into the community of Woodingdean.

(Written from notes taken during his sermon)

In 2 parts:-

1.Hebrews chapter 12 verses 1 -3 (especially verse 2- Please read it) 

Faith in Action

Note that the book of Hebrews is written to encourage the believers (Jewish converts) not to lose heart, give up their faith or settle for a second-best experience of God.

It is written for us too, exhorting us not to grow weary or fainthearted in our faith journey.

We are exhorted to fix our eyes on Jesus:-

  • The pioneer of our faith – He is the breaker of new ground, blasting a way from death to life.
  • The finisher (perfecter) of our faith – He is the One who has run the race and now stands at the finishing post. He will see us safely there, holding us fast.

We will succeed and take the victors’ prize.

There is a danger of becoming settlers. We say that “we like it here!” Don’t tread water and go nowhere. Don’t settle for something safe, easy and predictable – Jesus has begun a good work in us – be a pioneering people – trailblazers! But, Jesus must be number one in our lives: Matthew chapter 6 verse 33 – Seek first the Kingdom of God.

He enables us to move forward again (for example after serious illness).

Example of Abraham – his call into the Promised Land. Abraham settled halfway, but God encouraged him to move on again.

We may need to stop and take a breather.  To get some rest with Jesus.

Warning:-  Rest and reflection must not become a settled state.

Some of us may be old (!!), but we are still in the race!

We stop for a while, but we must not tread water. We take a break, but we can’t settle!

2. Joshua chapters 1 – 3  Crossing the Jordan. READ the whole of chapter 3 – (it’s an amazing chapter! )

When God speaks it generates faith. Faith comes through hearing. Romans 10 v 17. When God says we can go on, we can!

Warning:-  Don’t get stuck in the past.

And faith for the future is great, but we are called to live in the here and now.

There have to be changes from our settled state.

Look at the example of Israel – they wandered in the desert for 40 years, having their faith stretched. The time to move on had come.  The Israelites were called to a new experience, to cross over, to break new ground together, to move into their inheritance, to trailblaze.

Chapter 3 verse 4 emphasises that –  “You have never been this way before.”

We are also called to a new experience, to fathom new ways of doing things. There will be new challenges and new victories. However, the best is yet to come.

Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 11:-  For I know the plans I have for you…………

If God calls us, we can be brave and courageous like Joshua. We need to be people with a rucksack still on our backs.  We must be willing to pack up our things and move. And our leaders will have to step into the water first! It will be a new season. For example, things that the Israelites relied on, disappeared.  They had to plant their own crops, to manufacture their own food.

In the same way churches want to settle for a nice, secure life. Warning –  Don’t settle for the wrong reasons.

But we have to let go of past insecurities and relationships and be willing to put our feet into the water.  The Spirit of God is urging us to set out upon the waters. God will give us the strength to trailblaze.

Conclusion

Despite the hurts, we want to finish well.  We want to see the work in Woodingdean move forward.  We want to push on ahead with You.

To listen to the first part of Bryan’s message and to see another precis of the second part, head to our Sermons page

Thursday Fellowship Anniversary – 29th June

What a lovely afternoon we had celebrating our Anniversary. Looking back in the archives, it would appear that we are 64 years old! How wonderful to think that this little group has been going all this time!

21 people gathered to celebrate with a cream tea and Sue led us in a few thoughts based around our Birthday Song which we sing to everyone who has a birthday just to say that ‘we love you and may God bless you.’

We wish you every happiness and joy that comes to stay.

In all the year you’ve just begun, God bless you every day.

Protect you underneath His wings, and teach you many precious things.

What a fitting way to close off our year!

We take a break now until the 7th September but there are four coffee mornings to pop along to for fellowship.  Check out the news page and calendar for further details.

Thursday Fellowship – Sue Cunningham

Sue’s talk at Thursday Fellowship this week highlighted the reactions of four centurions to Jesus and His followers.

There was the centurion who believed that Jesus could heal his paralysed servant at a distance, merely by His word. (Matthew 8 v 5-13).

Another was the centurion at the foot of the cross who declared, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27 v 54).

Julius was the centurion who was ordered to accompany Paul, now a prisoner, on the long and dangerous journey to Rome.  (Acts 27 v 1-12). He was greatly impressed by Paul’s faith.

The final centurion was Cornelius, who asked Peter to visit him, and filled his house with family and friends who wanted to hear about Jesus. (Acts 10 v 23b – 48). The Holy Spirit came upon all of these Gentiles in power and they were baptised.

All of these men were non-Jewish soldiers, whose lives would never be the same again because of their encounters with Jesus or His followers.

Sue left us with a thought – are people’s lives changed because they meet us and see something of Him in the way we live? Are they able to say just like the centurion at the cross that “surely this man Jesus is the Son of God?” Food for thought indeed!

Thursday Fellowship – John Casse

It was lovely to welcome John back to Thursday Fellowship as our speaker. John’s passage was Mark 1 v 14-20 and his theme – ‘come, follow me!’

God is bringing people to Himself. He did in the past and He is doing so today. Who do you follow? What do you follow? Why do you follow?

In the Bible, Ruth followed Naomi and she is counted in the genealogy of King David and of course Jesus. The wise men followed the star and they met Jesus who was born to be King. Peter followed the angel when in prison to a place of freedom. They all got more than they bargained for when they followed! Psalm 23 tells us that the Lord is our Shepherd.  He knows us personally and if we have any sense, we follow because Jesus can provide all that we need and will guide us in the right paths.

John told us some interesting and humorous stories about passports! Did you know that in your passport it states on the inside front cover that the “Secretary of State requests and requires in the name of His Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary?” It does indeed, but, you need to follow instructions. The passport has the promise in it but it doesn’t mean anything by itself. John couldn’t travel unhindered because his passport had expired!

We can follow people on social media, but it doesn’t mean much at all.  It is far more important to follow the One who says, “Come, follow Me.”

John challenged us to be a person of action right where we are – to bloom where we are planted.  God is not really interested in our ability but in our availability! Be open to His call. Listen. “Come, follow Me!”

John left us with the words of that lovely song from the musical, Godspell – Day by Day, which gives us much food for thought!

To see Thee more clearly, love Thee more dearly, follow The more nearly – day by day.

Thursday Fellowship – Rosemary Kemp

What an enjoyable afternoon as we welcomed Rosemary Kemp to our meeting for the first time.

Sue began our time together by reading Psalm 100.  What are we that God should love us so much?! We were reminded to give thanks and praise His name.

After thinking about some of our members who were not able to be with us, there was an opportunity for open prayer. This is always a very special time but more so when someone begins their prayer journey by praying for the first time and then gaining confidence to do so on other occasions. Such a blessing!

The afternoon was then handed over to Rosemary who led us on the piano with some worship songs with a Jewish feel: When the Spirit of the Lord is within my heart and Jubilate and then the very lovely Graham Kendrick song, Rejoice, rejoice Christ is in you.

Being Jewish, Rosemary shared her faith journey and delighted us with stories from her childhood and memories and accounts of her ancestors and traditions she was brought up with.  Some were very funny, like the time when unbeknown to her parents, she skipped Sunday School for three months – so devious! To make her testimony come alive, Rosemary brought some Jewish items to show us – the Menorah and Shamash candlesticks, a prayer shawl, a dreidel spinning top and talked about their significance in her upbringing.

Rosemary highlighted some very poignant verses from Colossians 2 v 8-9, 16-17 and 20-22 to contrast a religion of man-made traditions, regulations and behaviours with the reality and freedom of knowing who Jesus really is, namely the Messiah. Reading the book, “Messiah in Both Testaments” written by Fred John Meldau made everything come together for her and she came to faith. She realised that faith was needed in view of life’s struggles of which she has had many. Her questions were answered and she needed to have answers to share with others especially her family.

Our time seemed to pass so quickly and Sue said that Rosemary must come again! Here, here!

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