News

Counter Terrorism Policing are offering further personal security briefings delivered on Microsoft teams for elected representatives as well as local faith leaders.  The briefings will be taking place monthly in February, March and April and will then move to bi-monthly briefings being delivered in June, August, October and December. Whilst the personal security briefings will continue to be broken down into geographical areas and will be delivered locally, you are welcome to attend any session.

There will be an opportunity within the briefing to ask questions to the presenter, however any questions should relate to details contained within the briefing. Any specific questions regarding individual security measures or issues should be directed to your local policing team. For more information see link below

NCPP Letter for Personal Security Briefings (003)

Faith Security Training project
We are pleased to announce the piloting of the Faith Security Training
project. This is a brand-new course developed by the Home Office, in
consultation with experts from security and policing partners, that will be
a free learning resource for faith communities.

The course, which is five modules in total, is designed to equip
participants with essential skills to enhance the security and safety in
their places of worship. Participating in the pilot will give you the chance
to contribute your expertise and materially shape the project, ensuring it
is effective at helping keep communities safe when the project is rolled
out more widely.

We would like to invite members of faith communities, particularly people
in positions of leadership or responsibility for security at places of
worship, to attend and provide feedback on the content and delivery.
If you are interested in attending one of the pilot sessions, please
complete the expression of interest form here

Only God planned to have the Christian Women of Palestine write the Service for 2024!

We were so encouraged to have a full Church in the brand new building and a collection of £650.00 to send towards the work of WDP in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and projects run by Christian Charities around the world.

The annual World Day of Prayer Service was celebrated at Emmanuel Church, (Methodist-URC) in Upperton Road, Eastbourne on Friday 1^st March at 2.30pm.

The Mayor of Eastbourne, Councillor Candy Vaughan, attended and she was moved by the Service written this year by the Christian Women of Palestine. The home-schooled children’s choir led singing in both Arabic and English before and during the Service with their Musical Director Marylou Cockshoot.

Members of Emmanuel Church, Gill and Garth Hewitt, Gospel Singer, took part in the Service. Gill read a prayer from Susan, their Christian friend in Palestine and Garth sang one of his songs ‘My Name is Palestine’ (Garth Hewitt | My Name Is Palestine) based on a painting he saw in Banksey’s Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem by Suleiman Mansour.

After the Service we enjoyed homemade cakes using Palestinian recipes and a cup of tea in the hall. Two committee members narrated the slideshow presentation on Palestine.

The Eastbourne WDP Committee are looking for a local Church to host next years’ Service on 7th March 2025 written by the Christian Women of the Cook Islands – ‘I made you wonderful’. Further information from Kathryn Anderson at: east.wdp23@gmail.com

Kind regards,

Kathryn Anderson on behalf of Eastbourne’s WDP Committee.

Are you passionate about reaching older people for Christ?
PARCHE (The Church in Care Homes) invites applications for a part-time Local Coordinator.
The post is for 20 hours per calendar month (flexible) for 2 years minimum, and working from home.
You will need to raise the profile of PARCHE in the Eastbourne area by:

Speaking in local Church meetings and raising volunteers
Leading Basic training and Safeguarding training for all volunteer teams
Linking new teams with a local Care Home to lead a monthly time of worship
Arranging and leading local Prayer Meetings every month (to be shared with others)
Giving ongoing support and encouragement to teams
Liaising with Office Manager as necessary
Reporting to Trustees approximately every 3 months.

Full details of pay and conditions available.
Please apply to the Parche office: 01323 438527
email          info@parche.org.uk
or reply to     buddyreeve10@hotmail.co.uk

Crowhurst Christian Healing Centre’s FREE Easter Egg Hunt returns!

Starting Good Friday, bring your children to CCHC to hunt for the hidden eggs, around the grounds, and claim a chocolate treat!

The Easter Egg Hunt runs Monday to Friday 9.30am – 3pm in the Easter school holidays (29^th March – 12^th April).

 Afterwards, why not relax with a well-earned cuppa and slice of homemade cake in our Howard’s Well café.

On our Mothers’ Union Global Day of Action, the first day of the #16DaysOfActivism and International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, local Mothers’ Union members and Church family including our Vicar, Revd James Knowles, and Curate, Revd Chris Webster, gathered for our ‘Rise Up against domestic abuse’ Service at All Saints’ Church in Eastbourne.

The homily read was taken from Restored Red Chair resources (Restored are a Christian Charity working with Survivors of Domestic Abuse in our Churches nationwide)  ‘A message for the International Day to End Violence Against Women’ – very powerful. Next we marched quietly with our banners up Grange Road to the Town Hall at the top of Grove Road, and held a 3 minutes silence at 1.03pm to remember those 1 in 3 women who are affected worldwide by domestic abuse during their lifetime –

We have re-established links with the Refuges in East Sussex: One of our Mothers’ Union members commented: ‘I was shocked and saddened to hear that all of the Women’s Refuges in East Sussex are full. It’s sad to think of so much fear and unhappiness especially at this special time of the year. I heard a news report later in the week about the way financial pressures are causing stress in many relationships as people struggle to pay their bills, never mind being unable to provide for Christmas. I know the toiletries we collected and the £10 vouchers we have provided for the women will show them that we care about their plight.

I know that the All Saints’ congregation have provided toiletries in time for Christmas. Meanwhile I am spreading the news that East Sussex’s Refuges are full and in need of prayer and suitable housing for the women and children to move on into.’’ At our Global day we collected toiletries and £260 – changed into 26 x £10 vouchers for the Women. Staff have invited us to share craft and cookery sessions in one of the Refuges in the Spring!

Picture – Sue Lockhart

Crowhurst Christian Healing Centre are holding a series of Prayer Days in 2024.  Using the wisdom of the minor prophets they will be interceding for the world on some of the big issues of the day.  The first of these days is Friday 12^th April where Chaplain, David Mayhew, will be considering the book of Joel.  David says “The book of Joel famously speaks of the land being ruined by locusts, of monumental climatic changes, of the need for repentance and the Lord’s desire to bring renewal as He pours out His Spirit on all flesh…among many other things in 3 short chapters.

We will meet together to sense God’s heart for our nation and indeed the world, and to pray He will bring needed renewal and revival to ourselves, our families, our nation and the world. Come and draw closer to God’s heartbeat!”  Each prayer day costs £30 per person and includes a 2 course lunch and refreshments.  To book call 01424 830204 or www.crowhursthealing.org.uk/retreat.php?retreat=814