Ruth Kenward shares on the journeys and retreats of some ancient Irish saints. How did their retreat from the world shape them for profound impact on their return to their locality and influence many others further afield. How you could retreat so that you can advance?
This is the third in our Journeys with God series
We pray Sundays, Tuesdays – often twice. We have a prayer partner scheme. Soon we will pray almost everyday in the Quiet Garden prayer room. But in the meantime here are other prayer gatherings that we want to encourage you to participate in
Eastbourne Prayer Day
This event runs from 9.00am to 1.00pm. You can be there the whole time or come in for an hour. It will take place on Zoom and includes contributions from over 15 people to help us pray in an informed way for the town. We will send out the link on Friday but ideally you would register to help us understand what the numbers are going to be.
February 4th
We’re taking part in the Pioneer 40 days of Prayer and Feb 4th is our day. We will pray at 4 different times of the day and also send you information for your personal prayers on that day. We’ll give you more information nearer the time.
Dave Roberts shares in the second of our new series on Journeys with Jesus. The focus is on John 4:4 and Jesus willingness to go to Samaria with all risk to his reputation that might involve as he travels almost to the door of a competing temple and starts the mission that would go to the nations, through a woman. Discover how this impacts our understanding of mission and witness today.
We sing old songs, new songs and ancient hymns. We seek to reflect our teaching themes with the use of relevant songs. Our Songs of the Week will generally be new songs that we are learning but at other times they might just be great songs that express timeless truths. We are starting with I am Who You Say I am – a song about grace, identity and emotional resilience.
Of course, some children are loving lockdown. No school and no early morning bus journey in the freezing cold. But some are hating it and may be hiding it well. Jenni Osborn offers some ideas to make lockdown that much better for you and your children. Read more here in Youthwork magazine
A new addition to the various Men’s Sheds around Eastbourne brings a new twist to the idea. Linking Lives is partnering with a local community allotment to create a twice weekly event for men. The allotment is open 6 mornings a week and welcomes everyone – but for two mornings a week will have a special focus on men.
Linking Lives Development Worker Dave Roberts comments: ‘Some of those we befriend still have a fair bit of mobility and a desire to re-connect with community. This kind of activity works at many levels, providing exercise, connection with nature, small group community and meaningful work. Not to mention the allotment volunteers bonus – take home vegetables. Because of the size of the community allotment we are able to welcome people, in line with government guidelines, in all but a lockdown. Care is taken over social distancing at all times ‘
The work varies from light sit down tasks through to digging, shredding and the erection of posts and small growing structures. The pilot project will be detailed in a short 8 page document, complied by our partners for these sessions, local charity Growing Futures and local community church Gather Collective. This document can be used by Eastbourne churches and charitable groups to create their own unique Men’s Garden Shed projects.
If you would like to know more about the Men’s Garden Shed idea or refer people to it contact Dave at [email protected] or call/text 07838 388128, People can come for taster sessions on Saturday mornings post lockdown.
Among those helping the upcoming Eastbourne Day of Prayer are Dave Roberts and Judith Moir. Read on for full information about this online event.
Churches Together for Eastbourne are planning to hold a ‘Prayer for Eastbourne’ Zoom online prayer event on Saturday 23rd January 2021. It will start at 9am and finish at 1pm.
Four Churches will help host the event and contributors will come from several others across the town, with each host church facilitating prayer around the topics shown below.
The plan for the morning is as follows:
9-10am Church and Agencies; hosted by St Johns/St Michaels
10-11am Young People and schools; hosted by The Well Community Church
11am-12 midday Local Government and Agencies; hosted by St Marys Church
12-1pm Families and the Elderly; TBC
Please reserve the date and promote the event. You can register for the morning of prayer here
– this will also enable people to receive Zoom information if they are not on our email list and help us plan the overall event.
For the next 7 weeks we will look at the theme of Journeys in scripture. What did they mean then and what do they mean now for us as followers of Jesus. In this introduction Caroline Kimber sets the scene.
In Ecclesiastical imagery and symbol, the ship is the picture of the pilgrim church on earth. The best ship example would be the Irish coracle, in which monks set out, letting the wind take them and wherever they landed, they spoke to the people about Jesus.
The church was never intended to be static, but to move according to the wind of the Holy Spirit. The church is founded on the sure foundations of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, revealed in scripture. However, each generation seeks to be authentic to those foundations in the circumstances it finds itself in.
The intention of looking at the topic of journeys is to encourage and inspire ourselves as individuals and community to respond to ‘such a time as this’.
During January and February our Zoom based small group on Tuesday evenings will focus on the Psalms that are often linked to or are believed to allude to Jesus. As well as our normal prayer times and song based worship we will reflect together on key passages from the Psalms.
It is one of the most quoted books in the 4 gospels so we expect to find a rich treasure trove of faith building insights. Each week we will let you know the Psalm for that week so you can read ahead.
Need details of our Zoom meetings? – Text Dave Roberts on 07838388128
Many of you will be aware of James – we’ve met with him several times and he was a guest at one of our socially distanced services. Our very own Jenni Osborn talked to him as part of her regular youth work podcast.
James has an extraordinary story of seeing hope, love and trust amidst destruction and oppression in the refugee camps in Calais and Dunkirk. His journey back to faith and realisation that God is at work in even the most humble of circumstances is inspiring and fascinating to listen to. His plea for 2021 to be a year of welcome without fear and with great love is significant and will stay with me in the coming weeks and months.
