SFC news MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF SHOREHAM FREE CHURCH NOVEMBER 2014 WWW.SHOREHAMFREECHURCH.CO.UK SFC Rainbows … … celebrated their 9th Birthday in early October. I am delighted to say this group is continuing to flourish, under the care of six Mums. I was asked to join them to mark this birthday occasion, and it was great to meet up with them all again and to be introduced to some new members as well. Sandy Scriven Shoreham Food Bank Shoreham Food Bank are looking to open new food Distribution Centres in Shoreham, Southwick and Fishersgate. Each of these will require teams to give out food to the families in our community who are in an emergency food crisis situation. If you would like to volunteer to serve the community in this way, please contact them via info@shoreham.foodbank.org.uk to arrange for a Volunteer Application Form and a 'taster visit'. Christmas Cards As in previous years, rather than buying Christmas cards for individual members of our congregation, some of you might like to write just one card to the whole fellowship, and make a donation for charity instead. The charity for this year’s donations will be chosen soon and notified to everyone. If you would like to join in, just give your card (with any donation inside) to a member of the Leadership Team who will arrange to read out the card and pin it on the noticeboard. 18th October, 2014 Dear Friends, Once again you have given tremendous support to the shoe bag appeal for children in the Connexional churches in Sierra Leone. Yesterday we were able to take them, along with many other things, to the shippers, ready to be loaded and sent to Sierra Leone, and, hopefully, they will arrive in time for distribution to the children at Christmas. This year we have been able to send just over 1,350, so many thanks to all those who have given in any way to this appeal. We know it is a real blessing to both children and adults there, and a means of outreach for the churches, as well. We know there are always more children than bags, but they are split where necessary, so no child goes without on Christmas morning. And this year, with the horrors of the Ebola, I am sure the bags will be even more appreciated. Please continue to pray that our God will work in this awful situation, that His will be done, for we have no answers ourselves, and can only put our brothers and sisters in his care. I have included a photo of the shoebags being packed at the shippers. Thank you all once again, and may our Lord bless you in the days ahead. In His service, Chris Hamilton Sierra Leone Mission (Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion) Woolly Hat Day Friday 7 November Donate £2 to wear a woolly hat to show your support for Worthing Churches Homeless Projects. Text WOOL22 £2/£5/£10 to 70070 to donate. ******************* Quiz Night Saturday 22 November at 7pm Supper Raffle Bar River of Life Church Broadwater Road, Worthing Teams of up to 8 people. Tickets are £6.50 per person. ******************* For further information about either event, call 01903 286480, or visit www.wchp.org.uk Sussex Advent Hope The annual Christian Aid ‘Carols by Candlelight’ event at Lancing College will take place on Monday 1st December. Tickets are free, but on a first-come first-served basis. To book your place call 020 7523 2105 or email LSE@christian-aid.org Handel Messiah Church Meeting The Hanover Band Chorus Saturday 6 December at 7.30pm St Nicholas Church, Arundel Friday 12 December at 7.30pm St Margaret’s Church, Rottingdean Tel: 01243 813595 or book online: www.chichestertickets.co.uk Eternal Light The Boundstone Chorus presents a requiem by Howard Goodall The next church meeting will take place on Thursday 4th December at 7.30pm at the church. Although only church members are eligible to vote on any decisions, all regular church attendees will be warmly welcomed. Saturday 8 November at 7.30pm St Michael and All Angels Church South Street, Lancing BN15 8AJ Tickets are £6/£8, available from 01903 762793 or theboundstonechorus@gmail.com The Diary Page Everything you need to know so you don’t miss out! Sunday Services Saturday 29 November at 7.00pm November 2nd 9th 16th 23rd 30th (10.30 am) - Tim Buckley with Communion (10.30 am) - Tim Buckley (10.30 am) - Gordon Hamilton from the CoHC (*10.00 am) - Creation weekend – see separate notice (10.30 am) - Tim Buckley - Second offering for Sierra Leone 14th 21st 25th 28th We are having a return visit by this group, whose first visit was a real blessing and very suited to those who like folk music but who may not go to church. Other Meetings December 7th Christian Folk Group (10.30 am) - Canon Tony Thompson (Church of the Good Shepherd) with communion (10.30 am) - Tim Buckley (10.30 am) - Tim Buckley (*10.00 am) - Christmas Day service – Tim Buckley (10.30 am) - Tim Buckley - Second offering for Sierra Leone Important future dates to note! 7th November Woolly Hat Day! – see separate notice 8th November Leprosy Mission Celebration – see last month’s notice th 8 November Eternal Light – see separate notice 22nd November WCHP Quiz Night – see separate notice 29th November Christian Folk Group – see separate notice 1st December Christian Aid event – see separate notice 4th December Church Meeting at 7.30pm 6th December Handel Messiah – see separate notice 11th December SFC Carol Service – further details to follow 12th December Handel Messiah – see separate notice Copy Deadline for the December newsletter: Please let Louise Carr have details of any items for inclusion by 12.00 noon on Wednesday 19th November. Louisecarr8@gmail.com or (01273) 452178. Bible Study Wednesday evenings at 7.30 pm at the church. Please see Tim Buckley for further details. Creation Group The ‘Creation Makes Sense’ Group takes place on the first Saturday of the month (August and December excluded) at the church. Please see Tim Buckley for further details. Creation Sunday Separating Fact from Fiction Sunday 23 November 10.00 – 12.30 and 2.00 to 4.30 SFC is hosting this conference which will aim to give people who attend a clear idea of the issues, and allow them to judge for themselves what to believe. Evidence will be presented from a scientific rather than a Christian viewpoint, in a way everyone can understand. Prayer Requests If you have any prayer requests, please contact Tim Buckley on 07447 417409. If the answerphone is on, please leave a message and Tim will call you back as soon as possible. He can also pass requests on to the prayer chain if you would like him to. Shoreham Free Church, Gordon Road / Buckingham Road, Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex, BN43 6WF. Minister – Tim Buckley tel: 07447 417409 www.shorehamfreechurch.co.uk email: shorehamfreechurch@hotmail.co.uk