June 2026

Stewards Scribblings

Have you ever lost anything precious or important to you? My daughter, Suzy's cat, Bramble, went missing a while back and despite much advertising and searching was nowhere to be found. Suzy lives near Aldi in Bexhill. Over a month went by with no sign of Bramble, until one late afternoon she got a phone call from a vet in Uckfield to say they had Bramble; he was identified by his chip.

Suzy dropped everything to rush up to Uckfield where she learned that naughty Bramble had hitched a ride on a compost lorry, ending up in a depot just outside Uckfield. He was scared and ran from the people there, despite them putting food out for him. Eventually, one of the staff borrowed a cat trap, baited it with food and waited. Bramble couldn't resist and was caught!

I wrote the story on Facebook, and couldn't help comparing it with the parable of the lost sheep in the Bible (Luke 15, 3-7). The shepherd went out looking for his missing sheep and didn't give up until he'd found him. Then there was great rejoicing because he'd been found. Jesus is our shepherd, and if we go astray, Jesus will not give up on us until we are found, however long that takes. Then there will be much rejoicing in heaven.

Loving Shepherd, ever near,
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear;
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way.
Jane Elizabeth Leeson (1809-1881)

There was certainly much rejoicing in Suzy's house and Bramble now wears an electronic tag, so that she always knows where he is!!

God bless, Chris
Chris Cox, Senior Steward

Money & Property Matters – and Barry’s Babblings

I am compiling my articles just after the Festival of Flowers has been concluded. It has been another excellent occasion with over 500 visitors and many wonderful comments. This is the 36th year of the Festival, and under the theme of 'Whatever the weather'. The floral arrangements reflected the theme and Sue does a really wonderful job, helped by Joan. Great inspirational skill.

Chris was really busy with her clip board to fill the many jobs, and Hazel put together a wonderful array of musical talent in the church - including the organ as well! Wendy was in charge of the excellent refreshments. Special thanks to the men for help with the staging etc and, all in all, a really wonderful occasion. Many thanks to everyone who helped in any way, and it made for a really superb Festival.

I will soon have the final financial result and then a donation will be made to the RNLI, and our church. Our former minister, Rev Roger Leslie led a lovely service of reflection on the theme with the hymns, readings and thoughts - thank you Roger.

A new banner, that will reside outside of our church, has been produced and then blessed by Rev Jonathan Todd. It is there to show that all are welcome and even includes the phrase 'Prayers go up and blessings come down'.

I have been invited to lead worship on Sunday 21st June and that date happens to be Father's Day. As we all know, Father is at the very beginning of the Lord's Prayer, and that will help us to reflect the theme.

Churches Together in Bexhill have arranged for open air hymn singing to be held on the seafront and hopefully this will be well supported - full details on the board.

It is lovely to see some new faces in our church and worship, and if you are interested in becoming a member do ask the Minister or the stewards and they will be delighted to tell you more.

Folk will have seen that at Sunday services some people place a blue envelope in the collection bag. This enables donors to give on a regular basis - the new envelopes (that cover August to July) will soon be available. As an alternative many folk make monthly regular donations direct to the church bank account (Barclays 20-27-91 account number 00256102). In whatever way you donate we are most grateful.

In conclusion I must say that we are delighted to have recently appointed a new, part time Lay Worker, Mrs Sarah Hampton - we welcomed Sarah at a recent service, and she spent considerable time meeting folk and helping at the Festival of Flowers. Please do speak to Sarah when she is around and her base will be in our vestry. We hold Sarah in our thoughts and prayers.

There is a hymn to suit every occasion and for the moment I would suggest Hymns and Psalms 361:

Summer suns are glowing over land and sea,
Happy light is flowing, bountiful and free.
Everything rejoices in the mellow rays
All earth's thousand voices swell the psalm of praise.
(William How (1823-1897))

Enjoy the summer sunshine!

Barry Turnwell, Church Treasurer and Property Steward

Christchurch Messenger Website

You may know that much of the content of the Christchurch Messenger also ends up on this website but not all of it. So it is well worth your while to read the Messenger, but also to keep a watchful eye on the website, which is updated every month.

Over 17,500 visits (hits) are made to the website each year, around 48 each day. There are 18 web pages, and the most popular ones are the Home Page, News & Events, Diary, Contacts, Ninfield, and Christchurch Singers. There is also a link to the Winchelsea Chapel website.

If you have any comments or suggestions to make about the website, please let me know.

Peter Downes
Web Developer

Winchelsea Methodist Chapel News
www.winchelseachapel.org

The Management Committee has just issued the latest Newsletter and, if I have not given you a copy, and you would appreciate one, do please let me know. It is also an opportunity to make an annual donation with details in the issue.

On Saturday 27th June from 10am - 3pm there will be a Creative Fun Day with painting, drawing, photography, contemplation, creative writing and all are welcome.

A date for your diary - on Sunday 19th July the Chapel Anniversary will be celebrated. Hymn singing under the Wesley tree from 2.30pm and then we adjourn to the Chapel for the 3pm Anniversary service led by Rev Malcolm Peach. All are most welcome.

Barry Turnwell, Publicity Officer

Membership Secretary 01424 216456