PACT News – Petworth Area Churches Together
Petworth Area Churches Together - working together in harmony
SEPTEMBER NEWS
Reflecting on July – it was a great month for PACT with two big events in the yearly calendar. We had the Fete in the Park on Saturday 14th July swiftly followed by the Festival Service in St Mary's on Thursday 19th July – both were really well attended and provided great opportunities for people to hear about the love of Jesus in a unique setting.
At the Fete, alongside the incredible cream teas with home-baked scones (huge thank you to everyone who made these!), we also had a prayer corner and some prompters on the tables which encouraged people to think about prayer and friendship – people were invited to write prayers to post into a box, tie ribbons as a gesture of their prayer, make friendship bracelets and send prayer bubbles to heaven. Ephesians 6:18 (MSG) says : “Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no-one falls behind or drops out.”
The Petworth Festival Service was a great event celebrating the start of the annual Petworth Festival. Lord Egremont gave an engaging and enlightening talk about the early days of the Festival from 1978 when he was newly married and the adventures in establishing what is now the much acclaimed Petworth Festival. There were children from Petworth Primary School, the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, and the Festival Choir as well as the pianist, XinRu Chen who played. The hymns were proposed by past Creative Directors of the Festival – it was a wonderful event!
Autumn Lecture – Friday 19th October with Mission Aviation Fellowship
St. Mary's Church, Petworth at 7.30.
PACT are proud to present another great speaker for the Autumn Lecture – Keith Varney from Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). MAF uses planes to transform the lives of the world’s most isolated people in need.
Serving in more than 25 countries their planes bring hope, help and healing to thousands of isolated communities. They deliver practical help, share God’s word and help to heal the sick. They use over 130 light aircraft to deliver passengers and cargo in partnership with thousands of organisations.
This promises to be another fascinating evening broadening our horizons to what God is doing all over the world and how we can partner with them.
Kate & Karl Ayling
www.petworthareachurchestogether.com
WEEKLY PARISH PRAYER - AT PLAISTOW CHURCH EVERY SATURDAY MORNING
Each Saturday morning at Holy Trinity Church in Plaistow we gather for half an hour of prayer, beginning at 8.30 am and finishing as the clock strikes nine o'clock. Everybody is welcome - whether you have something specific to pray for or not. You can voice your prayer openly or keep it private or simply affirm the prayers of others. It's not a service as such - there are no processions, rituals, hymns or music. We just sit around the big table and pray.
Friday coffee mornings are still going strong - from 10am in the United Reformed Church in Petworth every Friday.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – That All May Be Free looks to be an encouraging and inspiring time for those seeking to go deeper with God and with each other.
The Petworth Foodbank continues with about two calls a week – it is a privilege to be able to provide a practical helping hand to those in need. Thank you to all volunteers who are working with the individuals affected and all those behind the scenes managing the food store.
Petworth Area Churches Together - working together in harmony
Karl Ayling
www.petworthareachurchestogether.com