A Word from one of our Ministers

Friends, I write this on the day before the Circuit Mee<ng in March, the mee<ng to which the formal proposal for our new church in the south, Cornerstone Methodist Church, will be taken for agreement. By the <me you read this, I pray that that proposal will be agreed and plans will be con<nuing to bring this new en<ty to birth.

It means that we are entering a liminal space, a <me in which things are not yet se8led in the new, but in which we will begin to appreciate that the old is passing. This is going to be an unse8ling <me for some, I think, and I believe that we should all take <me to value and appreciate what is passing, whilst an<cipa<ng the new. Let’s pray for the present churches, the one in which we habitually worship, and the other two, as we move forward to becoming Cornerstone. Let us also pray for Cornerstone, and for all that it has the poten<al to become, and all that God holds in store for it.

It will shortly be Easter, that great celebra<on of Resurrec<on, of defea<ng death and beginning a different kind of living, and how very appropriate it is that we will be beginning to work prac<cally towards Cornerstone in that season. In a landscape of church decline, let’s pray that Cornerstone can be a place of growth and development. In a <me of challenge, let’s pray that Cornerstone can be a space in which we embrace living differently as Christ’s people in Partridge Green and Horsham. I have said from the beginning that the plan for this new church was not just a means to enable the three chapels to survive, but that it should be a way for them to thrive. Thriving means growing, flourishing, developing – and it requires our personal involvement, our personal development, our personal growth – as well as that of the corporate body which is the church. If we personally stagnate in our spiritual lives, how can we hope to grow as a church? Let’s embrace opportuni<es to be open to the work of the Holy Spirit in us, and listen to the Spirit’s leading as we go forward: the Spirit may be calling you to a new posi<on in Cornerstone, to a new role or opportunity…

As we con<nue now in Lent and an<cipate the fes<val that is Easter, I pray that you will take <me to pray and discern what you feel about the future Cornerstone church. Are you keenly an<cipa<ng it? Are you disinterested, not sure what to make of it? Are you worried about the changes that it might bring to your worshipping life? Take those thoughts and share them – with Gavin or me, with a steward, with your house group or SALT group – and let us make sure that no one is leI behind. Everyone’s thoughts and feelings are valued, and need to be heard, at every stage.

With best wishes,

Deacon Sarah

Trevor Benne3, Anita Burton, Heather Derry, Mervyn Halliday, Jean Hayler, Chris, Margaret and Fiona Holmes, Stephanie Kirkcaldy, Mike & Lorna Manwaring, Rita and Ian Murray, Margory Nash, Ray Reeves, Wendy Smith, Anne Tomlinson, Margaret Trayner, Be3y Venner, Anna Warmachowski, Con Wells

We remember especially Brenda, Timothy, Susan and the wider family on the passing of Clive Haines on Thursday 9th March.

May that peace which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds firmly fixed on him who is the resurrec<on and the life. As you rest in that peace may you know the comfort and hope that transcends even the grave and brings you safe with Clive into God’s eternal presence today and every day to come.

Clive’s funeral will take place on Thursday 6th April, Maundy Thursday. There will be a service at 11.00am in the Hills Cemetery Chapel followed by the burial. From there we will proceed to St Andrew’s Methodist Church for a Service of Thanksgiving and Celebra<on of Clive’s life at 12:30pm.

John Moon has returned from Petersfield and is now se8ling back into life at Wellesley Court, Waterlooville

Care Mission Team

Birthda Te Part

for April birthdays

April Birthday Tea will be at the Manse on 5th April 3pm to 5pm

Services in April

The Tes<mony Service for Deacon Sarah Pitkeathly

will take place at London Road at 7.00pm on 27 May 2023

Tuesday Prayers

At London Road, eleven hear!elt prayers were hung on the prayer tree by visitors to the Christmas Tree Fes<val leading up to Christmas.

There are two small prayer trees on the premises at London Road (one being on the wall at the rear entrance). Have you spo8ed them? Prayer requests can be added at any <me and they will be included in our prayers on Tuesday mornings.

Philippians 4:6

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let pe<<ons and praises shape your worries into prayers, leMng God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and se8le you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life. ( The Message )

This is a scheme, very similar to Eco Church, where households can complete a survey and gain awards.

It was set up and is run by St Paul's Church, Dorking.

LRMC is now registered with the scheme, so if you complete the survey your results will be linked to our church.

Please consider comple<ng the survey and have your award presented in church.

For further informa<on email me: gillsco855@icloud.com