Dear Friends,

It was with great sadness, last week on holiday, that I learned of the Bishop of Guildford’s cancer diagnosis. I was grateful for Richard and Emily’s email of last week sharing + Andrew’s letter with you. I have just received another update that I would like to share with you. You can read it here. Please do keep Beverly, Andrew and their family in your prayers.

Bishop Paul and the Diocese of Guildford are coming together on Monday at Guildford Cathedral for a day of prayer, with the centre point being the 5.30pm Choral Evensong service. If you are able, please do join me there. You can read + Paul’s letter of invitation with more information here.

We meet twice this coming Sunday morning at Alfold Church. Where we will be in Luke 21:5-38 as Jesus teaches on the end of the world and what to expect while we wait. If you get a chance, please do have a read through beforehand.

8.30am | BCP Holy Communion
10am | Family Worship | with Kid’s groups and followed by coffee.

We will also meet midweek, for Geoff Davidson’s Funeral. Alfold Church - 1pm.

Everyone is welcome & we’d love to see you there!

With love in Christ,

Revd. James Forward

Read on Below the Line!

Parish Mag Photo Competition

As some of you will know by now, the Parish Mag will undergo a major redesign from the April edition. It will be printed professionally and will be distributed to every home in the parish, every month. I am the new editor and Filip Wach is in charge of advertising.

The new design will feature a strong photo, normally of somewhere in our beautiful villages, on every front cover. We very much hope that members of our congregation, as well as the children in the school and the community in general, will contribute.

So if you would like to send some to me I would be delighted to consider them. Photos taken on a decent mobile phone should be fine. The only rules are that they must have been taken by someone locally (but not a professional photographer) and have not appeared in print elsewhere. And they must be given free and without any copyright complications!

Please send them through to me at parish.mag.editor@alflox.org, saying where and when they were taken.

I can't wait to see how good they are!

Many thanks

Iain Taylor

Lent Course - The Unfolding Story of Easter

The story of Easter is laden with meaning beyond itself. As Jesus went to His cross, He was binding together various strands of God’s salvation plan, and bringing them to a glorious conclusion!

In this season of Lent, as we prepare to worship our risen Saviour, we’re going to come together in our Pilgrim Groups to focus in on three days of Holy Week:

11th March – Maundy Thursday – The Lamb. Christ our Passover lamb.
18th March – Good Friday – The Curtain. Separation and reconciliation with God.
25th March – Easter Sunday – The Firstfruits. The offering and the promise of more.

Please do mark those dates in your diary.

And if you’d like to read the invitation letter, sent out to Pilgrim Groups, you can do so here.

Tora Bray’s Funeral

I am sad to announce that Tora Bray died last week at home. Revd. John Bundock had been able to visit her that day and share communion with her. Tora’s funeral is arranged for Tuesday the 24th March at 2.30pm in St John the Baptist Loxwood.

Geoff Davidson’s Funeral

Geoff Davidson’s Funeral will be held at St Nicholas Alfold on Wednesday 25th February at 1pm. Followed by refreshments in Alfold Church Room. All are welcome.

Women’s Breakfast

Saturday 28th February 09:00-10:30

Women's breakfasts take place every other month in Loxwood Church and everyone is welcome. It is a time to get together, enjoy a delicious continental breakfast with unlimited tea and coffee and listen to gifted speakers talk about a variety of different subjects.

The next breakfast will be on Saturday 28th February. We are welcoming Clare Heath-Whyte to speak about 'The Life of Elizabeth Fry' who was an inspirational Christian as part of the Quaker movement in Victorian times.

The cost is £7.00 per person. We accept cash or card payment on the door.

If you would like to come please sign up using the sign up sheets at Church during Sunday services, the online registration form (https://forms.gle/X56aDNVZRxvTLS5v6) or email alflox.womensbreakfast@gmail.com

Church Weekend Away(ish)

This Summer we are going to spend a weekend away together at Loxwood’s North Hall. We will have a guest speaker, activities for young and old, a BBQ & entertainment in the evening. And most importantly of all, the chance to spend some quality time together in God’s word and with each other. For the brave there is a chance to camp on the playing field. For the formerly brave - the chance to sleep in your own bed! Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st of June. Please save the date!

‘Souper’ Saturday Open Garden

All are invited to a Souper' Saturday Open Garden event at Ewan and Rosemary’s garden in Ifold. Saturday 14th March (weather permitting) from 11.30am-3pm. To help raise funds for Little Angels toddler group. Admission is £ what you think, to include homemade soup, bread, and a drink. Parking is limited so please car share where possible. Sandalwood, The Ride, Ifold.

Little Angels

Is a group for parents and toddler to come & play, have fun, sing songs, learn about God, and make new friends. It meets every Thursday in Loxwood Church 10-11.30am. All are welcome!

Pilgrim Groups

Pilgrim Groups are a place of deeper fellowship, where we support one another in prayer, and go deeper into God's word together. If you are not already in a Pilgrim Group and would like to join one, please email Richard Allan or speak to him in church. richard@alflox.org

Prayer Central

Our 1st Wednesday of the month Prayer Meeting is coming up next on Wednesday 4th March. We will meet in Loxwood Church Room. We meet at 7.30pm for refreshments, 8pm to sing and pray, and we always finish by 9pm. There is never an obligation to pray out loud. God hears the prayer of our hearts just as well! Please do join us.

Year of Prayer

Psalm 127 says ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.’ Monday Morning | Alfold or Loxwood Church Room | 9am-Midday | Drop in Drop Out | Come and pray for God to build.