Church Services and Events The Rector's Item! News and Information
| Date | 8.30am Holy Communion |
Other Services Refreshments are served after the main Sunday services. |
| 7th January EPIPHANY. |
All Saints Laughton |
10.30am St Bartholomew, Chalvington Morning Prayer. Psalm 72. 1-15; OT-Isaiah 60. 1-6; NT-Matthew 2. 1-12 |
| 14th January 2nd Sunday of Epiphany. BCP 1st After E. |
All Saints Laughton |
10.30am St John the Baptist, Ripe Holy Communion. NT-1 Corinthians 12.1-11; Gospel- John 2. 1-11 |
| 21st January 3rd Sunday of Epiphany. BCP 2nd After E. |
St Bartholomew Chalvington | 10.30am All Saints, Laughton Holy Communion. NT- 1 Corinthians 12. 12-31a; Gospel - Luke 4. 14-21 |
| 28th January 4th Sunday of Epiphany. BCP- 3rd After E. |
St John the Baptist Ripe |
10.30am All Saints, Laughton Family Service. OT- Micah 6. 1-8; NT- 1 Corinthians 13 |
| 4th February 3rd Sunday before Lent. BCP- Septuagesima. |
All Saints Laughton |
10.30am St Bartholomew, Chalvington Morning Prayer. Psalm 138; OT-Isaiah 6. 1-8; NT-Luke 5. 1-11 |
| Other Dates | |
| Monday 8th | 9am Morning Prayers - Laughton church. |
| Tuesday 9th | 7.30pm Prayer meeting - The Rectory, Laughton. |
| Wednesday 10th | 2pm Deanland Fellowship - Social Centre. |
| Thursday 11th | 9am Morning Prayers - Ripe church. 10.30am Holy Communion - Deanland Social Centre. |
| Monday 15th | 9am Morning Prayers - Laughton church. |
| Tuesday 16th | 7.30pm Fellowship & Study Group- 10 Deer Haven, Deanland. |
| Thursday 18th | 9am Morning Prayers - Chalvington church. |
| Monday 22nd | 9am Morning Prayers - Laughton church. |
| Monday 29th | 9am Morning Prayers - Laughton church. |
Life events celebrated at our Churches
Funerals
Dorothy Violet Davies, aged 89 19th October - ashes at Ripe.
Florence Emma "Jane" Norris, aged 85 4th December at Eastbourne.
Jean Mildred Carder, aged 79 10th December - ashes at Chalvington.
Dorothy May "Dolly" Rose, aged 88 11th December at Ripe.
Morning Prayer usually said at 9am Laughton on Mondays, Ripe or Chalvington on Wednesdays or Thursdays
The Rector's normal day off is Friday.
Bell ringing practice two Thursdays in the month at 7.30pm at Laughton. (Call 811510 for details or if you are interested in becoming a bellringer).
Am I getting through?
We have recently gone over to Broadband. It is an experience of mixed blessing!
On the up side we have a faster download for internet connections. We can
be on the internet even when we are on the phone, and because of the inevitable
use I put the phone to the calls I make are also through broadband. But
we live in a rural position and sadly I don't think the lines we have
and the support we get is always what it should be. It is quite possible
whilst in the middle of a phone call that the broadband line would suddenly
decide that it's being overworked and so cut out! This is inconvenient
and frustrating and all you can do is wait until it decides it wants to
work again. It is like e-mails which unless you get the address just right
your message will be bounced back to you. The World Wide Web is all very
well, but unless you target what you want very specifically you can have
hours of fun trying to find what you want!
Over the last few weeks which have seen many folk living through difficult and trying times I certainly have been offering a good deal of prayer. It suddenly occurred to me, probably in the middle of one of those interrupted calls when I was waiting for broadband to click back in that prayer is by far the most reliable means of communication. It is one of those wonders that our prayers, those words we offer to our God in supplication or thanks, spoken - and unspoken as well, are known by the one sent to the instant they are uttered. Sometimes those prayers do not even take the form of words, but are just thoughts and emotions. Whatever form they take, because of the intimate relationship between God and his faithful people we can be assured that no prayer goes unheard.
As human beings we struggle with the concept of how God answers those prayers. It can seem as if prayers go unheard because we do not see an instant answer. So the assumption is made either that God is not there or he has simply not heard. He is there and he has heard. God is not like a slot machine where if you put the money in the product comes out. God is a thinking being who knows how best to answer prayers. I have known answers to prayers which have come years after the prayer was uttered. Other times something happens which seems the opposite of what was asked, but some time later I have seen that what happened was better than what was asked for. Then again I have not seen any obvious answer, but faith tells me that the prayer was answered, and sometimes "no" is the answer! My broadband connection will no doubt wobble on, but I know for sure that every prayer I utter will be received and responded to without fail!
A word on the awful events at the top of Shortgate Lane - It is probably fair to say that everyone knows about the events of Sunday 3rd December with the explosion at the fireworks store and two firemen were killed and others injured. Our hearts go out to all those who suffered as a result. Many suffered damage to property, but mercifully there were not more injuries than there were. We think especially of the Winter family who lost everything. It is hard for any of us to imagine what it must be like. I am gratified that I have met so much support for them as I have gone round talking to folk. I am also conscious of the way in which the media distorts information, often subtly. In this, as in so many events that happen in a community our strength lies in the way in which we seek to support and help one another. May we all continue to do just that.
Sing up... Anyone? - Still no favourite hymns have come my way. Either a) People cannot be bothered, b) People are happy to sing whatever I choose or c) They simply don't read this page. Answers on a postcard please...
Here's an idea - There are people who would like to come to church on a Sunday, but for whatever reason are prevented. One possible reason is lack of transport. Many people come to church often with a space or two and probably drive by people who would love to come. Informal arrangements also happen, but a more organised approach might be good. All it needs is someone to coordinate who needs a lift with those who can provide a lift. Is there anyone interested in being that coordinator?
Here's another idea - Prayer cells. We have a monthly prayer fellowship group that meets at the Rectory. Prayer is an important activity for Christians, collectively as well as individually. Two of our stalwarts from the group come from Deanland and in the winter it can be a struggle to get over to Laughton, so they are going to meet in one of their homes over there on the night we shall be praying at the Rectory. It occurred to me that others could also be a part of this by agreeing to pray on that same evening. I could provide a list of things needing prayer and together, albeit apart we could all be praying for those things. Individuals could in turn invite other like minded people near them to join them for an evening of prayer. How about it? Anybody out there like to join in a network of prayer cells? Let me know.
Churches Update - As I write I have had my
first nativity play at Ripe with the Nursery School. It was brilliant and
with a cast of thousands - well thirty anyway. A lovely happy occasion.
I'm looking forward to Ripe and Laughton Pre School's play later
this week. I'm narrating so I'm looking forward to that.
Our Christingle was a great success at the start of December with a fairly
full church - which is saying something for Laughton. We had around
twenty children on the Saturday afternoon to prepare for the service and
a good time was had by all.
We have just had the Nine Lessons and Carols at Ripe which went really well. The supplemented choir sounded really good. A special thanks to Joan Royle who I know puts in a lot of effort to make sure the choir performs to the best. Thank you Joan - your hard work pays off! (Laughton's will be after the mag. deadline.)
Personally I was recently invited to speak at a men's breakfast at Chailey Free Church. This came through a classic car owner at the Laughton Show, and it was to speak about my life with cars and how they have fitted with my spiritual journey. Good fun!
SOLAS NEWS (formerly ASRA) - The work on the tower is progressing well. The stonemasons have been battling the elements, but are winning. Only in the last week as I write scaffolding has started going up around the main roof and slates are being ripped off as I write. This will have a knock on effect on the inside of the church which has to be covered with sheets of plastic to prevent everything being covered in debris. It is likely that we shall be unable to use the church for a couple of Sundays in the not too distant future and Paul Mundy at the Roebuck has kindly agreed that we can meet there when necessary. Who knows, we might get an increase in the congregation!