New & Views

February 2009

Thinking Allowed

Why did that person do that? What led them to decide to take that route in life? Aren�t people�s lives interesting. I�ve just finished reading C.S. Lewis�s biography, the creator of Narnia, and am via a book called The Shack going on to read Barack Obama�s book Audacity of Hope. 2008 saw me struggle to get really into books, getting half way through and getting distracted and giving up, but 2009 brings a new enthusiasm and a determination to cut back on other things and find time to settle down to read. This minor change in my life comes out of the feeling that I have spent too much time in front of the eye ball chewing gum machine, the television.
New Years ResolutionsFor you in 2009 some of those New Year Resolutions may have brought change and have set you out on a better route in life. Probably most have been abandoned but reading about and observing peoples lives I think those who are open to new things happening and are able to live with the ups and downs of life fare better. Barack Obama�s life so far seems to have been full of change and challenge, but weaving its way through is a serenity and purposefulness, which I sense is a result of his faith. Interestingly Obama was not raised in a religious household but he choose to walk down the aisle, to be baptised as an adult, in Trinity United Church, Chicago feeling God�s spirit beckoning him and as he says submitting himself to Gods will and dedicating himself to discovering God�s truth.
New Years Resolutions As I write a phone call comes in to draw my attention to the footballer Kaka whose life took a change following healing to his vertebra in his neck after a fall. As we saw he wore a t-shirt saying, �I belong to Jesus� and has football boots with this sewn into the tongue of the boot. Matthew Syed in The Times said, �the idea that the creator God is on your side, guiding your footsteps, taking a personal interest in your recovery, �. orchestrating the world such that, in the words of St Paul � all things work for good to those who love God� - all this must have a powerful impact�
Life in all its fullness Jesus comes to each one of us and says follow Me, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. As Matthew Syed says, he offers a personal relationship with each one of us that gives us, life in all its fullness. It�s not too late, forget those broken New Year resolutions and take time to think about what lasting changes you are going to make in 2009?

By Rev. Tim Mills

March 2009

England at its most local level is crucial to living out the Gospel. This worthy project has a long and complex past, but with God’s grace it now has a future which properly befits the mission and witness of the followers of Christ for the benefit of the whole community of Ticehurst.”

Better hospitality and welcome

It has indeed been a long journey but church building projects often are long in the gestation!!  Now though we can move forward grateful to all those who have put in so much time and effort to reach this point.
Over the last year there have been thousands of folk from the community and further afield coming to the church for weddings, baptisms, funerals and other special services. We look forward to being able to offer  better hospitality and welcome through the new facilities. A crèche area, children’s toys (esp. useful during a long sermon!)  kitchen equipment, a toilet, and wheelchair access. All in a lovely warm, under- floor heated environment.   
Thank you for your support.

by Rev.Tim Mills

April 2009

I was reminded of the story of a friend of mine, of a bolder nature than me, who reached the Sainsbury’s checkout point and noticed the young person (girl) behind the till had two very big crosses hanging from her ears so he asked her, “Do you know what your cross shaped earrings are all about?” “Oh I’m not sure, somebody told me some man died on it along time ago, wicked aren’t they…..”

So what is the importance of the cross today and the person Jesus who hung thereon?

saves us from our sins - forgiven

Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins. His death was the ultimate sacrificial offering. It was the sacrifice to end all sacrifices and put us right with God. Jesus gave up his life as an offering to set us free from sin through forgiveness.
If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves….1 John 1:8
Our sins are all those things that take us away from God. The punishment we deserve for these sins is canceled.

Jesus died on the cross as a love gift for us. Greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends. Jesus calls us his friends and through faith we are adopted into his family. His life was laid down for us and in rising again to new life he brings new life to us. By this love gift to us may our love for Jesus be awakened, developed, encouraged.

Everything we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start-- comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. The Message  1 Cor 1: 30

by Rev.Tim Mills

May 2009

Café Church

On the 17th of May a new informal service will start at Ticehurst and Flimwell school hall called Café Church. It will begin with tea, coffee and food and then progress on via a DVD to an informal service. The children will have their own special DVD and activities involving crafts.

Café Church is an all age event which aims at providing a relaxed environment for young and older! It happens in the afternoon so those who are busy in the morning or have children who are involved in other activities can still carry on with these things but finish the day together relaxing over tea and journeying on into an informal service (still sipping their coffee or tea!!). 

Café Church will be a monthly event from 4.30 pm to around 5.30pm on every third Sunday of the month.
From 3.30pm to 4.25pm there will be football and touch rugby and other outdoor activities.

Café Church dates are as follows;
17th May, 21st June, 19th July, No August service, 20th September, 18th October, 15th November, 20th December (Christmas special)

If you would like to know more then do phone Tim Mills see contacts page. We look forward to seeing you there. We need more people to help with the activities and the service, do volunteer by chatting to me.

Building Project

Easter Sunday saw the dedication of the building project and the cutting of the first turf. The following prayer was said during the ceremony.
We do indeed pray that this project will be of benefit to the community of Ticehurst.                        Tim Mills

June 2009

Maybe I write this because it is just after the Eurovision Song Contest, or maybe it is because we
skipped across channels to Britain’s Got Talent to see if there was anything better and actually there
was. We witnessed a very talented 10 year old singing beautifully, perfectly in tune.

Rob Bell in his DVD called Rhythm says “The Song is going on all around us and often in us.”
He asks us, “are we in tune with the song?” What does he mean by this? Well, he says that when he
thinks of God he hears a song. It is the song that is playing all around us, we hear it in creation, His
handy work, we see it in each other as we are made in the image of God and in a sense it is written in
our hearts. So the question is, are we in tune with the song?
So how does the song go? Well, in Jesus we see what God is like, his compassion, his generosity,
his love, his forgiveness and sacrifice. That’s who God is. That’s how the song goes.
Rob Bell in the DVD then challenges us with the following words: