RECENT PICTURES

CATCH UP

Its been a long time.... a lot has happened in recent weeks. Sunday 30th April was led by Captain Susan and Candidate Kate spoke on 'Be Prepared'. The following Sunday Captain Susan led a very powerful meeting on Holy Hands and God's Presence was awesome. Following this, a meal was shared with the children's ministry team, after which Doug Horley (Duggie Dug Dug) conducted a seminar for our own team and other local teams. In the evening DDD led a praise party for about 100 people. It was a great event and we all really enjoyed it. We are so grateful to Karen Everest for arranging this event. During the following week, a number attended the Christian Resources Exhibition at Sandown Park, and as always were inspired by the many exhibitors that we were able to visit. Kids Alive held a sports evening on the 11th May, and again saw new faces attending this.

Saturday 12th May was our annual GARDEN PARTY and despite the dreadful weather of recent weeks, we had amazing weather which meant activities could take part outside. Our performance area this year welcomed the Leechpool Primary School Choir; Brighton Congress Hall Puppets and Eastbourne Citadel Singing Group. Equally Ventran Olmpian Ian Richards, who attends The Salvation Army in Worthing, shared the Gospel through walking on glass and eating fire. Refreshments, stalls, kids craft and activities and so much more made the whole day the best it could be. There was so much happening and made it a real community event. The purpose was not for fundraising, although that helps, and we raised £2300 plus. We are overwhelmed at this and grateful to many who helped and took part, especially Catherine Jannels who arranged much. The event concluded with our annual SONGS OF PRAISE which featured our band, the Eastbourne Singing Group, the puppets and Ian Richards spoke.

Sunday 13th May welcomed the READING CENTRAL SONGSTERS OF THE SALVATION ARMY, reuninting with Captains Sue and Ian, who were associate officers at the corps a number of years ago. The Songsters led the morning meeting, then engaged in some open air outreach, after which we shared a meal together with over eighty people tucking in. The day concluded with a praise meeting.

SUNDAY 22ND APRIL 2012

The hall was full for our Celebration Meeting, which focussed on meeting with the Living Jesus. Scripture was split into sections from John 20 which gave us time to consider for ourselves the various meetings people have with Jesus and their reactions to them. As witness to this, five people were welcomed as adherent-members, and in this we celebrated the fact that people continue to meet with Jesus Christ today. Ann Potter, Adrian Rockall, Mervyn Tarrant, Hannah Mills and Sandra Mitchell were all warmly welcomed. We continue to thank GOD for the way in which He is sending people to be part of our family here in Horsham and Crawley. Every one is very precious and valued....that includes you reading this today!

THE SATURDAY EVENT - MAY 2012

Our monthly event for May, welcomed CHELMSFORD SONGSTERS from Essex. A good crowd gathered for this, and was well supported by our band who played brilliantly. The songsters shared great music and the Gospel of Jesus Christ was celebrated in many forms and means. Two great testimonies were also shared. We thank God for the ministry of our friends both here and where they serve at this time.

SPECIAL EVENTS COMING UP

Thursday evening at 7.30pm we host the divisional COME AND CELEBRATE meeting and our band will be playing, the Brighton Congress Hall Songsters will be singing. Our Divisional Commander will be the speaking. Do come and share in this event.

Saturday evening at 6pm we welcome the Chelmsford Songsters, a choir of Christian Musicians, for our monthly SATURDAY EVENT. We warmly invite you and your friends and family to come and not miss this event.

BASIC FIRE TRAINING

Horsham SA hosted a divisional basic fire training event today, presented by a facilitator from Chubb.

Sunday 15th April 2012

The Worship Hall was packed again for a further Celebration. Around 150 people gathered, as we celebrated the conclusion of the EASTER EGG VENTURE, and in this our children were featured in singing a song and were presented with a thank you prize alongside the adults. Slides also captured some of what was featured that week. The whole meeting looked at LIFE and celebrated LIFE as we saw today in baby Luke, who was dedicated to God by his family, and supported by Captain Ian. Recognising the 'problems' that mum had after the birth this really was a very special celebration for all gathered. Songs today included:- Low in the grave He lay; O Joyful sound; God is here; My Life is in You, Lord; O Happy Day; In Christ Alone; Thine be The Glory. The singing group sang a prayer for Luke, and the band played I Love You Lord. We explored how Life teaches us:-

L: Live at peace with One another

I; I have been crucified with Christ

F; Forgive one another

E: Everlasting Life 

During concluding moments a number of people came forward to commit to making the most of the LIFE that they have been given.

OUTING TO CANTERBURY

Fifty Seven people of all generations from our church family enjoyed a beautiful day out in CANTERBURY in Kent today.

EASTER EGG-VENTURE DAY THREE

OVER FIFTY CHILDREN attended the third and final day of the EASTER EGG-VENTURE and today was a day with a difference. The four teams were split into four things to do during the morning which included an egg hunt, games, craft and bouncy castles. Then to conclude it all we enjoyed food together when parents and friends also came and joined us. We so thank GOD for this wonderful opportunity of working together in this way

EASTER EGG-VENTURE DAY TWO

 

EVEN MORE children attended todays EASTER EGG-VENTURE which again included a whole mixture of fun, games, craft and more. The Challenge today for adults was to have an egg cracked over your head - three were hard boiled and one was runney....... and Auntie Jean got the runny one. What a great sport she was - as always. For the second day in a row the Green Team won as well. Is Barry adding up the scores correctly we ask? It was another great day anyway, and we look forward to our special fun day tomorrow.

EASTER EGG-VENTURE DAY ONE

 

The Easter Egg-Venture started this morning, its third year of running, and fifty people gathered together to enjoy a morning packed full of games, craft, singing, music and so much more. The pictures capture something of some of the fun the four teams had during the two hours together. Watch this space for more fun as the week unfolds.

EASTER WEEKEND

GOOD FRIDAY: The day started with some of our members joining with local churches in the town centres of Crawley and Horsham. Later in the day we all assembled at our hall for an evening of worship as we welcomed Cadets Matthew Brown, Anne-Marie and Philip Cole, Katrina Thurlow to lead our reflection and celebrations throughout the weekend. They were accompanied by Captain Catherine Cotterill, and on Sunday joined by her husband Captain Gordon. The reflection on Good Friday included our singing group, band and worship band which added to our time together. There was also time to reflect, some helpful videos. On Saturday alongside the Flower Festival, families shared together in craft and chat, food and more. Some stayed all day, and others just for a time. Some, including adults, enjoyed time on the bouncy castles.

EASTER SUNDAY started with breakfast at 8.30am, cooked by Captain Ian, and 30 shared this together. After this we shared morning worship with songs including:- Christ the Lord; He has Risen; See what a Morning; He is Lord. The meeting included the welcoming of a new adherent member, Sandra Malloney and new junior soldiers Zoe, Aylsha, Jodi, Emily, Tina. These moments were shared by Captain Ian and supported by our leadership team. They brought the message of Easter alive. At the end of the meeting, a number prayed at the mercy seat again! Praise God! An Easter Buffet saw 80 people enjoy food and chat together, and then we concluded the day with Easter Praise and Craft. This was a great time of music, craft and reflection. Songs were used also which included: Come on and celebrate; Hands, hands, finger, thumbs; He is Lord; O Joyful Sound.

We thank GOD again for a very special day...... and we look forward to the week ahead, and we thank GOD for those who have given themselves to share with us this weekend.

FLOWER FESTIVAL

June and Trevor Belcher arranged this years FLOWER FESTIVAL and created then theme HANDS OF CHRIST, which has been used throughout the Holy Week season. Many contributed flowers and June and Trevor used their creative skills and gifts to bless us in many ways. There was a real special time of people coming together to create and display flower arrangements protraying aspects around the theme. People joined us in our hall on Friday and Saturday, as well as Sunday to see the displays. A high was the Thursday evening when those attending the Hope In, were taken around the displays and the Gospel was shared with them through narratives about the flowers.

MAUNDY THURSDAY

A beautiful evening meditation was shared on MAUNDY THURSDAY and a good number shared this, including some who had been at HOPE IN some time before. The focus was on BROKEN HANDS and we looked at the broken hands we often have, and the broken hands of Christ for us. In this we celebrated the love feast and remembered the broken body of Christ and His shed blood, and we looked at the washing of the disciples feet. In times of prayer at the end bread and juice was shared, and many responded to have their hands washed.

We forgot to report last week, that on Wednesday for the next LADIES NIGHT OUT, a pamper evening was held, and enjoyed!

 

For the last three years, as part of Holy Week, our music groups have held open practises that have invited us in to enjoy music from the band and singing group. Again a good number gathered together to enjoy varied music, some moments of reflection and some things to smile and laugh about. As always we are grateful to the music ministry team for making this available to us.

 

Captured pictures from Palm Sunday

PALM SUNDAY

Holy Week commenced today with PALM SUNDAY being celebrated in a full hall, as people gathered in praise and worship of God. Our youth ministries officer brought a spoken word looking at the reality that GOD was among us. Our band, singing group and worship group contributed helpful music, and songs this morning included:- Ride on, ride on in Majesty; Make way for the King of kings; The Splendour of the King; Open ears to listen; My all is on the altar; The Old Rugged Cross. A highlight of our meeting this morning was the commissioning (formally) into leadership of Margaret Feist as corps secretary; Adam Hall as Prayer Ministries Officer/Spiritual Growth Ministries, and Pat Hall as Prayer Ministries Officer. The current leadership team laid hands on them as they were commissioned to these responsibilities. Scott Cameron and Jenna Ede who started to attend HOPE IN COMMUNITY SERVICES last November, and in recent months have found Hope In Jesus, and become Christians, were welcomed as adherent-members and shared powerful words of testimony and witness; and then we celebrated the dedication to God of Jake, the son of Jenna. Captain Ian started focussing our thoughts on HANDS OF CHRIST as we looked at Open Hands. At the end of the meeting the response to come and pray at the Cross was great as many came forward (again). God's Spirit certainly moved powerfully.

TOGETHER, our monthly meeting for praise, worship and teaching, was well attended and focussed on HEALING HANDS (of Christ). We looked together at Scripture to see the way in which Christ used His hands to bless others. Candidate Kate led worship and songs included:- Look you saints the sight is Glorious; King of kings and Lord of lords; Hosanna; Great is the Lord and most worthy of Praise; Open ears to listen; Touch me with Thy Healing Hand, Lord; Touch me again. After teaching, many people stayed to pray together for God's touch and this time was valued and enjoyed by many.

We continue to experience some very powerful times among us and look forward to the week ahead.

The outline for this week is as follows:-
* TUESDAY, music night at 7.30pm
* THURSDAY, maundy thursday reflection at 7.30pm
* FRIDAY, good friday meditation at 7.30pm

Flower Festival will be open Friday and Saturday from 11am-3pm
Family Fun will also run alongside from 11am-3pm

EASTER SUNDAY we start at 8.30am with breakfast; Celebration at 10.30am with the enrolement of new junior soldiers and adherent-member; Easter Buffet at 1pm, followed by an Easter Party. Its going to be a great weekend, and we look forward to welcoming Cadets from the William Booth College, accompanied by Captains Catherine and Gordon Cotterill, spiritual development offcers.

IMPORTANT MEETING

Everyone is encouraged to attend a meeting this FRIDAY to explore the development of our family, children and youth ministries. Please attend if you can. It will start at 7pm.

LOOKING BACK

Over the past week we have had a busy time as always. Our Home League Meeting enjoyed a visit from The Samaritains who shared a little of their history and what they are doing today. It was very enlightening. On the Friday the Kids Alive Club gathered to enjoy a Film Night as we concluded the term. On Sunday, our children ministries officer, Karen Everest, led our meeting, in the absense of our corps officers who were leading the 130th anniversary celebrations at Midsomer Norton Salvation Army in Somerset.