PACT News – Petworth Area Churches Together
Petworth Area Churches Together - working together in harmony
PACT NEWS – January / February 2019 update...
We're excited and expectant of what God will do in and through the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity later this month.
It kicks off on Sunday 20th January with a service hosted by Rev'd Vivien Turner at St Giles in Graffham. And then there's the lunchtime sessions at the United Reformed Church in Petworth each weekday at 1pm.
The theme is always challenging and relevant to us all, and we've got some great speakers this week kicking off with the wonderful Bob & Annie Sneller from Petworth Community Church on the Monday 21st Jan and book-ended by the lovely Peter Hayes on Friday 25th Jan which will be his last Petworth Unity week before moving on to his next adventure.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – : the theme ‘Only Justice’ draws on the scripture Deuteronomy 16:18-20 which includes this part from New Living Translation – ‘Let true justice prevail, so you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you’.
The whole week provides the opportunity to reflect on how we bring hope & life into our communities, bring growth & restoration into places of struggle and bring strength & love into our relationships with God & each other.
Sunday 20th January at 3pm at St Giles, Graffham for the opening ecumenical service.
Monday to Friday 21st-25th January at 1pm at the United Reformed Church in Petworth for the lunchtime sessions with 30 minutes of reflection/prayer followed by soup and rolls. There will be a different speaker every day and lots of inspirational content to encourage us in living with ‘true justice’ in our hearts and minds.
It will be a great opportunity to spend some time in the bible together and also get to know more faces from the Petworth area churches. No need to book, just come along!
Monday 21st Jan
1pm
Justice like a river
TBC - Petworth Community Church
Tuesday 22nd Jan
1pm
Keeping your word
Rev’d Pauline Lucas
Wednesday 23rd Jan
1pm
Grace & mercy to all
Fr Peter Newsam
Thursday 24th Jan
1pm
Content with what you have
Rev’d Anne Lewitt
Friday 25th Jan
1pm
Good news for the poor
Rev’d Peter Hayes
For more info, the leaflet for the week can be downloaded from :
https://ctbi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/WPCU-2019-English-pamphlet-for-web.pdf
PACT NEWS – February update
Spring Lecture – Friday 5th April 6pm at St Mary’s Petworth – MP Damien Hinds will be speaking on Faith Schools.
Palm Sunday Procession – the annual procession will be held on Sunday 14th April at 3pm from the Sacred Heart.
‘As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people went wild with excitement – the entire city was thrown into an uproar! Some asked “Who is this man?” And the crowds shouted back “This is Jesus! He’s the prophet from Nazareth of Gallilee!”’ Matthew 21:10-11 TPT
The wonderful procession through Petworth depicts Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem with the story being told along the journey and songs as we process through the streets. We’ll have the Petworth Town Band, a donkey and a Palm Sunday script ready by a variety of church goers in the town. The event finishes at St Mary’s where participants are made welcome with tea and cake.
Friday coffee mornings are still going strong - from 10am in the United Reformed Church every Friday with a hive of activity amongst the stalls and refreshments.
The Petworth Foodbank continues with about two/three calls a week – it is a privilege to be able to provide a practical helping hand to those in need. A big thank you to John Riddell who has steered the operation for the last 5 years – he’s now stepping down and the trusty team of volunteers will continue to support the recipients of food parcels. An enormous thank you to you all!
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.