For three days this week, officer leaders from the south east of london division shared time in retreat, and looked at the subject of 'a shared journey'. Lieutenant-Colonel Bob McIntyre gave the teaching.

Commissioners Raymond and Judith Houghton led our day today. Our morning celebration saw a full hall celebrating the greatness of God, and received teaching from the commissioners on Holiness. Songs included:- O Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness; Purify my heart; Be still for the presence of the Lord; In my heart a song is ringing. Following our meeting, we enjoyed our belated Christmas dinner, which saw near on 90 people eating. Thanks to Peter Callum and his team of supporters to make this possible. The Commissioners then shared a little of their journey which has impacted their lives especially in recent years.

HORSHAMS GOT TALENT was the first Saturday Event for 2011 and it was great. A large gathering enjoyed the many gifts and skills of members of the church, hosted by Michael and Jackie. Marion and team prepared a lovely supper. We are so grateful for such a great event. Thank you everyone for making it so.

FRIDAY LUNCHES got off to a great start with over thirty people enjoying the first gathering, and staying to enjoy Friendship Club. Thanks to Clive and Ann for their contribution to this event.

THIS IS ANOTHER SPECIAL WEEKEND AT HORSHAM. Join us on Saturday night for the EVENT - the first in our monthly series of special events on a Satutrday. From 5pm we will enjoy Horsham's Got Talent, and evening of talent and food (tickets available from us). Sunday we meet at 10.30am for our celebration meeting led by our guests, Commissioners Judith and Ray Houghton. We will then share our belated Christmas Dinner (or early for this year) and then the commissioners will then share some of their story to conclude the day.

Sunday 16th January 2011. A packed hall again gathered together for worship, led by Captain Ian. The theme and focus today was RUN, and followed The Salvation Army's commitment sunday material. Songs today included:- Great is Thy Faithfulness; Great is Your Faithfulness; Faithful God; Standing on the promises; Strength will rise as we wait; Lord, I come to You; The Saviour sought and found me. Other choruses were used during an extended time of prayer ministry as many sought the Lord and renewed their commitment to run the race of life and seek to make a difference. During the earlier part of the meeting, the junior soldiers renewed their promises to Jesus, and someone knelt at the mercy seat. Later the mercy seat was used time and time again. God's Spriit came very close to many. The meeting ended with the singing group singing - God be with you till we meet again.

A REMINDER that our new luncheon club starts this Friday from 12.30pm. An enjoyable three course meal for just a donation of £3 will be served and we hoped enjoyed by all. To start with it will be held on the 1st and 3rd Fridays in the month. Transportation is available by request, and there will be a varied menu to enjoy. All we ask is that people sign up 24 hours before and let us know what choice of menu you would like. You can do this by visiting our centre or telephoning 01403 254624. We would love to see you

THE NEW YEAR has started, and this week has seen many of our activities recommence. Our Chatt a Box toddler group has been bulging this week again, with new people still wanting to come. Our Home League meeting led by Captain Ian, looked at 'National Work Harder Day' which was a national day that day. CAMEO was enjoyed in Crawley and so much more. To end the week, our belated Father and Mother Christmas Party for KIDS ALIVE was held and enjoyed at last. We enjoyed good games, good food, and food magic with Tony the Magician. It was a great evening and we thank the team, and especially Captain Susan for making it so. These are just some of the pictures of everyone enjoying the event together.

During our worship and celebration meeting last Sunday, Captain Ian thanked Anne Denyer and June Belcher for their commitment to corps leadership in recent years, as they have now stepped now from these responsibilities. Anne Denyer has had responsibility for our home league meeting for nine years, and June Belcher as corps treasurer for six years. Both have given so much to our church and we thank God for them. Anne and June were presented with a certificate from divisional headquarters and also a gift from the corps.

THIS SUNDAY WILL BE OUR RENEWAL SUNDAY. Our Junior Soldiers will be renewing their promises during our morning celebration meeting.

SUNDAY 9TH JANUARY saw many of the family back together - the hall was full - and we focussed today on Hokey Cokey Christianity. How it can be so easy to put a bit in, and then take a bit out - sometimes not always our own doing, but how God wants us to put our whole selves in - thats what it is all about. Romans 12 helped us in our understanding of this. Songs today included:- Wanted hearts baptised with fire; Lord, You have my heart; Draw me close to You; Great is He; All to Jesus I surrender; Lord I make a full surrender.

Being the 2nd in the month we travelled to Crawley to enjoy MESSY CHURCH

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.