News

Eastbourne churches who hire halls for Birthday parties should be extra vigilant following a booking taken by a Willingdon church for a party of 30 12-15 year olds where the responsible adult, no alcohol provisions were ignored and an estimated 150+ attended. They only left the building following a threatened assault on the vicar.  The insistent noise of the fire alarm cleared the premises but public disorder took place on the street outside.

The church suffered internal decorational damage. The responsible adult clause should be checked when opening the building.

Looking at our world, the prophet Isaiah saw thick darkness covering the earth (Isaiah 60:2).  Life in Biblical times was often precarious, vulnerable and fraught with anxiety, lived under the yoke of foreign empires. Yet the people of God managed to remain expectant that He would come and break into our world with his light and salvation bringing renewed hope.  And He indeed did come!

 During this Advent, a word which means ‘coming,’ God still desires to come to us in the ordinary, in the struggles, in the unexpected and in the darkness of our present world. We will be joining Biblical characters, as well some of the greatest Christian thinkers and writers who have deeply reflected on Advent, as we together anew … ‘Watch for the Light!’

 £520 full board en-suite room or £460 full board non en-suite room.  To book call 01424 830204 or https://www.crowhursthealing.org.uk/retreat.php?retreat=682. 

These grants being made by Eastbourne and Lewes District Council. They are for voluntary and community groups. A summary is found below and more information can be found here.

They have set up this grants programme to help provide support to local people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

The deadline for this round is midnight on 31st October 2022, as we recognise that some projects will need support in time for winter. Depending on demand, the fund will then re-open shortly after.

General Fund
We are inviting bids between £300 and £5,000 (£10,000 may be considered in exceptional cases) from voluntary, community and not-for profit organisations to address one of more of the Eastbourne Poverty Commission priority areas, listed below:

Housing poverty e.g. housing advice initiatives
Fuel poverty e.g. funding for ‘Warm Space’ initiatives
Financial poverty e.g. debt advice and money management initiatives
Digital poverty e.g. digital inclusion initiatives to help people access support online

Food Resilience Fund
Grants of up to £5,000 are available for:

Food need e.g. food bank or low-cost food provision via an existing community fridge.
New Community Fridges or larders in areas not already served by similar initiatives (grants will include connecting and signposting to existing resource).

Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) are recruiting for a Customer Service Representative.
This is a full-time, salaried position, based at our offices at Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne.

SUMMARY:
Exceeding customers’ expectations with every call, you will be the voice of CCLI in the UK. We’ll look to you to resolve diverse queries via telephone and email – going the extra mile for customers as you understand their needs and rapidly resolve any issues. You’ll build some great relationships and quickly develop expert product knowledge – and we need people who can listen, think and act in a truly professional manner.

The successful candidate’s role will include responding to telephone, email and written customer queries about CCLI’s licences and services, as well as pro-actively pursuing sales opportunities with existing and potential customers. You will maintain accurate customer records in a CRM system, and be involved in the processing and administration of renewals, payments and reports.
To apply visit: uk.ccli.com/about-ccli/careers/customer-service-representative/

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 2nd November, 2022.

People who are Deaf need Jesus too, but also need to be able to have fellowship and join discipleship groups where people understand and share in BSL – a unique and beautiful visual language.

A BSL course for 6 weeks started at Victoria Baptist Church from Saturday 8th October.

On that same date the Welcome BSL Cafe also reopens as part of the larger Flow Cafe at Victoria, where those who are Deaf can meet old and new friends, share assorted refreshments, and join activities if they wish to do that.

A message from Jane Aldred

This year I have set myself the challenge of walking every street in Eastbourne, my home town, to raise money for the Enthum Foundation, an Eastbourne-based charity which provides a safe and sustainable home for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children aged 16-18. Please follow the link to learn more about Enthum and my reasons for wanting to support them, with your help.  Thank you so much.

Learn more

Jane Aldred

Matthew25 Mission would love to welcome you, and your church congregations to the Bluebell Barn in Arlington, on Wednesday 14th September , 10am – 4pm for an art exhibition and homemade refreshments, all to raise money for the vital work Matthew25 does in our town, caring for the last, the least and the lost (www.matthew25mission.org). You can also visit the beautiful Bates Green Garden adjacent to the barn by booking tickets here: https://www.bluebellwalk.co.uk/tickets/diary-day.php?date=2022-09-14

Please find here the link to the poster below if you would like to print one out. Bates Garden Poster1

If you would like a physical copy sent to your church, please contact Sally Johnson on admin@matthew25mission.com.

Table Top Sale in aid of St Wilfrid’s Hospice
Wide selection of new and pre-loved Christian books for sale
Household items
Watercolour paintings
Bargains galore

Refreshments
Free entry

10am-12.30pm Saturday 10th September
St John’s Parish Hall
Meads Street
Eastbourne
BN20 7QT

Victoria Baptist Church has strong links with Hope Lebedyn,a church group in a small, poor town in Ukraine where the local church continues its outreach to the community, amidst this war. They serve local Christians and their families but also refugees from Russian bombardment, homes for the elderly and an orphanage. The young pastor is seeing about 200 coming to their Bible study, and many to services daily, yet they are not so far from the Russian border. God has so far made provision for them and whatever they receive in foodstuff or practical items, those are shared with others in need including the local hospital, and families of those serving in their defence.

However, Needs grow as others made homeless then arrive in the area. Because the children are not allowed by law to go to school, or go out without parental oversight because of land mines – sometimes put in toys,- the children are suffering increasingly with stress and anxiety; and so there is still a great need to pray for our brothers and sisters there.

The church in Lebedyn continues to minister to local people and holds youth camps for all ages and a teenage Bible study group. The folk there are hungry for the word of God, and are always seeking more Bibles for all ages, in their own language.
There are many needs for prayer in these times but If this concerns you, and God lays it on your heart, there is a regular prayer meeting at Victoria Baptist Church on Thursday evenings for one hour from 7.30 pm.

In addition there is the following call to pray tomorrow Wednesday 24th especially for Ukraine as Russia has promised another attack, and is getting support and arms from Iran to do that. See the following link.

https://www.worthynews.com/77391-evangelicals-called-for-prayer-for-end-of-war-in-ukraine-on-august-24