THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE NEW YEAR AND WE started by enjoying breakfast together, cooked and served by our youth ministries officer, Kate Gregory. It was great. Not expecting many today, we had a more informal meeting that usual, but....... we had so many there today it was great.

Captain Ian led through our meeting, and looked at the following, encouraging us to take CHRIST into the new year and place Him as the heart of all we do and are. Ian explored how to be healthy this year as a church, and as Christians these things need to be in place

C - Celebrate. We need to be people of Celebration. We used songs Come on and Celebrate; I will enter His Gates; Hark the Herald angels sing in this section

H - Help. We need to be people who know where our help comes from, and that indeed it comes from Christ. We used the song, Draw me close to You in this section

R - Rejoice. We need to be people who Rejoice in every situation, no matter what - rejoicing knowing that we have GOD with us at all times. We used the songs Rejoice in the Lord always; Great is He

I - Immanuel. We need to be people who recognise Immanuel - GOD with us. We used the songs Like a Candle Flame; Immortal Invisable; Emmanuel

S - Seek. We need to be people who seek after God and seek first His Kingom. We used the songs Seek ye First, and Thine is the Kingdom

T - Take. We need to be people who take Jesus into the world. We used the song Take the Name of Jesus with you.

We concluded by some time of prayer, and people knelt at the mercy seat to make prayers. Our final song was Lord for the years.

WE ARE SORRY TO INFORM YOU that Cliff Justice, former bandmaster of this corps, and now deputy songster leader at Worthing Citadel Corps, passed away in the early hours of this morning. Cliff had been with family in New Zealand for a break visiting family. Our love and prayers surround the whole family at this very difficult time. We thank God for the life and influence of Cliff.

We invite anyone and everyone to come and share in a two week discussion on THE SALVATION ARMY, its history, its mission and ministry and more. The first two Thursdays in February at 26 Wood End. For further information do contact us.

We look forward to our first big event of 2011, on 22nd and 23rd January. Our special guest visitors will be Commisioners Judith and Raymond Houghton, former divisional leaders of ours many years ago, and since those days have seen them have significant international roles and responsibilities. The commissioners are now retired and we look forward to their return to us. We start on the Saturday with THE SATURDAY EVENT, and this will be a talent evening. Sunday we have a 10.30am meeting, followed by our Christmas dinner at 1pm, and then the commissioners will conclude the event with some concluding thoughts.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2011

JOIN US NEXT SUNDAY to celebrate the new year, and explore what the essentials are for Christians and the Christian Church for any new year, and to make it the best year it can be. We commence at 9am with a joint breakfast, served by our youth group, and then celebration and fellowship from 10.30am. We do invite you to start the new year as we mean to go on. The meeting will be led by our captains.

Christmas time has been a great celebration for us here in Horsham and Crawley, and we value so much all that people have brought to this season. Despite the weather, we have done all we can to make this a happy Christmas for as many people as we can. Here is a collation of many of our events throughout this season.

Lieutenant Nicola concluded our advent series '3 wise women' by looking at Anna, who trusted in the faithfulness of God to provide the messiah, and who was rejoicing in the temple at His Faithfulness. We celebrated, we reflected, we shared and we praised. Songs included:- Good King Wen, Great is Thy Faithfulness; What a faithful God have I; Faithful God; The Splendour of the King; Go tell it on the mountain and Noel

CHRISTMAS DAY 2010 saw nearly 200 pass through our doors, and we had a great day. We started by welcoming our guests and volunteer team from 9am, enjoying refreshments, and then sharing together in a Carol Service. This was led by Lieutenant Nicola, and she took us through carols and reflection, including a time to celebrate with the children. Tony the Magician then came and did a short show for us. After this we made our way to our tables and enjoyed our Christmas Dinner. After this we concluded with a sing a long, Captain Sue sang, we had the results of our christmas activity quizzes, got presents, food bags, and also a visit from Father Christmas. AND..... so much more. A massive volunteer team added so much to this day, and especially our kitchen team who worked so hard as well. We cannot thank everyone enough for all they did to make this day possible. We were also graced by a visit by the High Sherrif of West Sussex, Mrs Elizabeth Bennett, who came to wish us all a very happy Christmas.

A very hard working team of people worked on CHRISTMAS EVE to peel vegetables, to sort out our centre, to make up food and toy parcels, to go to local shops and pick up donations and bring them back, to deliver parcels and so much more. There was a big operation happening, BUT, we had a great day and thankful to everyone for all they contributed to the day. THANK YOU.

Our final carolling engagement this year took us to Langshot Manor in Horley, to play as a bridge and groom took their place at their reception. It was the dream of the bride to have a salvation army band playing for her as she walked into her reception. It was a joy to be able to be part of this.

After Nine Years of Leadership of our Home League Meeting/Programme, Anne Denyer has retired. During the last meeting of the year, Anne thanked everyone for their support and explained how for her, it was right to step down, because after nine years she had started to find all the preparation for the meeting very difficult. A collection had been taken and we were able to present some gifts that we trust Anne will enjoy.

A team of church friends gathered to make up some more parcels today for the great demand of requests we have had for such. Now low on some items, we prepare our selves to complete this task on Christmas Eve. We pray deeply and dearly for all those who will be receiving these gifts.

Our musicians, supported by friends, played at Tesco (Gatwick) this Tuesday and last Tuesday, and shoppers enjoyed the music (well we hope so). Collectors spent the day at the store, collecting money, strangely enough. Thanks to all those who engaged in collecting and playing.

Kate Gregory, our youth ministries officer, led two afternoon outreach events in Horsham on Sunday afternoon at Kingsmead and Oakhill. A good number of our musicians and singers came to support the events for which we are very grateful.

We had two great parties at the end of last week. Our very popular CHATT-A-BOX groups met on Thursday and Friday for some very exciting parties. Games and Craft started the session, followed by some lively singing, and then a visit from Father Christmas. Everyone got a present each. We then enjoyed a meal together to end our party. Thank you to everyone for making this party so special.....again!

Despite the dreadful weather conditions and our fear that our production would not happen this year, we were wrong! Our hall was packed with over 100 people, many families, and of course loads of children. Everyone did so well. People travelled from the other side of Crawley and Haywards Heath, Billingshurst etc, to come and ensure they were part of this years special carol service. Featured this year was so many people. Our toddler groups from Crawley and Horsham sang; our drama group danced; our youth group sang; our children sang; our band played; our singing group sang; all generations took part in the drama, and we had a special extra of a trombone trio. Additionally Father Christmas came to visit us as well. We are so grateful to everyone for really going that extra mile(s) to come and make our christmas carol service so so special.

Snowey weather affected, for the 2nd year running, our support of the Carols at Wakehurst Place last evening. Some of our bandsmen/women were able to get there. Today (Saturday) snow has hit hard. Despite this a great number turned up at Sainsbury in town, to discover that they had doubled booked, and we could not stand there today. This has affected of course, our collecting, which supports our Christmas Appeal.

Our Carol Service tomorrow, will still go ahead, but we suspect the planned presentation will not. However we look forward to meeting with those we can.

The band and singing group shared carols at Tesco, Horley, by invitation. Collectors also stood there most of the day.