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Here are several resources that may help your church pray for the Ukraine in the midst of the current conflict.

Christianity Today
They have several stories about the resilience of the Ukraine churches and their connections with Russian believers. Read more here

Link to Hope
This agency has worked extensively in Eastern Europe. See the story at the enclosed link to note how Christains in the surrounding countries are aiding refugees. Read More Here

Roy Godwin
Reknowned writer on prayer suggests 15 specific prayers we can pray at this time for the Ukraine situation. Read More Here

24-7prayer

Pete Greig has created a liturgical style prayer with powerpoint and PDF resources that you could use in your congregation. Read More Here

Faith, Hope and Forgiveness

A prayer meeting on the 2nd March is planned for this forthcoming event. It will take place at Kings Church at 7.30pm at Kings Church, (Hampden Park,) Prayers for Ukraine will also be part of the evening. See more on the faith Hope and Forgiveness event below

World Prayer Centre

They are suggesting a 3 part prayer emphasis around Wisdom, Worship and Witness. Read More Here

We will send you more information about church responses to the Ukraine situation later this week.

Faith Hope & Forgiveness

• Hear Nadim, his wife and son tell their story about the tragic death of Natasha at Victoria Baptist Church at 7.30pm on Saturday 19th March 2022 – a story of faith, hope and forgiveness as a direct response to their heart-breaking loss as a result of an allergic reaction. The media impact of their forgiveness of the national food chain whose mistake caused her death has spoken to thousands.
  

• Fliers have been delivered to every local church. Use them to invite your friends and click here to book free tickets https://www.stjm.org.uk/FHF
  

• Here’s a link to https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09tsfbb to an interview with Natasha’s parents on Songs of Praise by Aled Jones. Use this short clip to publicise the event. This explains the situation in more depth.
  

• There’s a prayer meeting on Wednesday, 2 March at 7.30pm at Kings Church, Hampden Park, to pray about the event. All welcome.
  

Eastbourne NetworX

You are warmly invited to join us at Victoria Baptist Church on Sunday March 6th at 6.30pm for a Thanksgiving Service for seven years of provision for our foreign friends in town. The service will include information about the work over the past year and you will also have the opportunity to ask questions.

Doors will be open at 6pm to enable people to meet us and to ask questions to Trustees and befrienders if they wish. All Trustees are members of VBC.

You can also contact me by email if you wish; networxeb@gmail.com

Hope to see you there.

Anna Reid

World Day of Prayer – Friday 4th March 2022

“I know the plans I have for you”

The Eastbourne World Day of Prayer service this year will be held at Holy Trinity Church,  Trinity Place, BN21 3BX on Friday 4th March at 2.00pm. The service will be preceded by a short audio visual presentation about the three writing countries and will be followed by refreshments in the hall. The service will be led by members of the organising committee, all representatives of local churches. We would encourage everyone to come and share in this service about HOPE. The service will also be livestreamed and anyone wishing to access it / receive a copy of the order of service should phone Maggie Stirmey on 01323 731891 or email east.wdp@gmail.com. You can find out more about World Day of Prayer at wwdp.org.uk

2022 is a special year for World Day of Prayer in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as this year, we have prepared the World Day of Prayer service. It has been both challenging and rewarding to write about the three countries that make up our area; our landscape, people and culture all shaped by our history. We celebrate our diversity and the contribution made to our countries by the many groups and individuals who have made their home here. We use our bible text “I know the plans I have for you” from Jeremiah to reflect on some of the issues facing us today: poverty, domestic abuse and disability, finding hope in difficult situations and encouragement in the help we can give to each other.

On 4th March World Day of Prayer services will start in Samoa and move on through New Zealand and Australia, across Asia, Africa, and Europe and finally the USA and South America before finishing in American Samoa. Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland services will take place in large urban centres and in remote country churches. Don’t miss this opportunity to join a worldwide wave of prayer!

Maggie Stirmey

Secretary Eastbourne Branch WDP

Here is some info regarding the vacancies https://safefamilies.uk/vacancies/

We are looking for Family Support Manager to work in our team in West Sussex and a Community Volunteer Manager in East Sussex

Safe Families is passionate about supporting families. We believe everyone deserves to belong and Safe Families offers compassion and connection through our incredible staff and volunteers.

We exist to create relationship and connection, offering support, hope and belonging to improve the lives of those in our communities because everyone deserves to belong.

Facing life alone is hard, and when you feel there is no one there to support you it is a scary place to be.

This is a great opportunity to join the staff team in our fast-growing charity. This will be a demanding but also highly rewarding roles offering the successful candidate the opportunity to make a real impact in the lives of isolated families.

Many Thanks Julliette

Julliette Moxom Farrer

Family Support Manager

Office: 0333 4141488 || Mobile: 07436 291464

Celebrate the Queen’s faith & service
HOPE Together has developed a wide range of resources for churches to use to bring communities together in June to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.

There’s a dedicated website  www.theplatinumjubilee.com

HOPE is encouraging churches to:

• Invite local choirs to enter the competition to sing the new anthem ‘Rise Up and Serve’ written by Graham Kendrick, Rend Collective and Mal Pope
  
• Involve churches, schools and community groups in 70 Acts of Service
  
• Offer the youth resources On Her Majesty’s Service to local schools, youth groups and uniformed organisations
  
• Download the free Street Party Planner developed in partnership with the Methodist Church, to bring together local groups to organise local celebrations
  
• Plan to give away copies of Our Faithful Queen and The Girl Who Grew Up To Be Queen – out soon
  
• Use the ready-made bunting, banners, mugs and other Platinum Jubilee resources from  CPO.
  

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the first newsletter written specifically for local churches and other religious organisations, a sector which includes many of the Mission’s most important and devoted supporters. We thank you for your continued partnership in this important ministry , fulfilling Jesus’ command, as recorded in Matthew’s gospel.

The year just ended was particularly challenging for the Mission, as the  impacts of the pandemic, especially the rise in demand for our services and the strain on our human and material resources, continued unabated. To make matters worse, very little of the emergency funding that had been available in 2020 was on offer in 2021. It is no exaggeration to say that the Mission is facing an existential crisis and the trustees and manager are straining every sinew to secure funding to     ensure that the neediest people in the local community continue to receive support.

As well as indicating our financial needs, we ask you to support our dedicated staff in prayer as they constantly deal with tragic and complex human situations that are beyond the abilities of human beings. The constant stress of listening to and offering practical and emotional support to so many different people in need can have a negative effect on their own lives and families. Pray for the power of God to keep them on an even keel.

***

What the Mission Provides

Food Aid, up to 50,000 nutritious meal every year

Material Aid including clothing, bedding, essential travel, medical supplies, kitchen equipment

Keyworker Support, including practical guidance, active listening and immediate problem solving

Signposting to other agencies with additional advocacy support as required
Activities designed to encourage engagement, interest, diversion, skills  development, social interaction.

Spiritual Nourishment: Our full-time chaplain, Peter Thorley, provides a range of support to those who are spiritually hungry, bringing the Love of Jesus to those in need through practical prayer.

The Mission has a team of five employees, about forty volunteers and a board of seven trustees. Our funding is provided by grants and donations. In total, we support approximately 500 guests per annum and, during the last three years, have provided services to 1,040 guests.

May the God of peace bless you for your generosity in prayer and giving.

Lesley Dawson & Sally Johnson

Trustees

***

Thanks to the following for recent donations: Our Lady of Ransom; Kings Church; St Mary’s Willingdon; St John’s Meads; Herstmonceux Free Church; Welcome Baptist Church; Fatfleshed Ministry; Living Stones; Christ The King; St Joachim’s; Holy Trinity; Trinity Church Willingdon;

Emmanuel Church.

Natasha made headlines in July 2016 when she died following an allergic reaction to a Pret a Manger baguette. 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse had eaten the baguette without knowing it contained sesame seed. She suffered from severe food allergies.

The tragedy had a profound effect on her family – Dad Nadim, Mum Tanya and her brother Alex.

As a result

• Nadim met senior executives at Pret to forgive them
• Nadim, Tanya and Alex became Christians
• Natasha’s Law came into force in 2021 to protect allergy sufferers
• The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation was founded

Hear Nadim, Tanya and Alex tell their story.

Saturday 19 March 2022

7pm for 7.30pm

Victoria Baptist Church

Eldon Road, Eastbourne, BN21 1UE

Book free tickets online at https://www.stjm.org.uk/fhf

PARCHE, the Church in Care Homes, has a new part-time role available!

Due to a blessing from a local grant funder, we have funding for the part-time role of PARCHE Ambassador; contracted for a year with possibility of extending.  This role is 8 hours / month worked flexibly.  The person appointed would be required to promote the work of PARCHE in our local churches and church groups so some weekend work would be required.

You will need to be confident at speaking publicly and able to encourage local Christians to participate in our work in local Care Homes.  For further details, and to apply, please contact the PARCHE office via parcheenquiries@hotmail.co.uk or call 01323 438527. Closing date for applications is 6th February with interviews week beginning 7th February.