Dear Friends,

This August we are going to be in our Psalms for the Summer series. Taking a different Psalm each Sunday, and asking what we can learn of God, of ourselves, of prayer, and of faith.

This coming Sunday we are looking at Psalm 7 (NIV-UK).

**A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjaminite.**

1 Lord my God, I take refuge in you;
save and deliver me from all who pursue me,
2 or they will tear me apart like a lion
and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

3 Lord my God, if I have done this
    and there is guilt on my hands –
4 if I have repaid my ally with evil
    or without cause have robbed my foe –
5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;
    let him trample my life to the ground
    and make me sleep in the dust.

6 Arise, Lord, in your anger;
    rise up against the rage of my enemies.
    Awake, my God; decree justice.
7 Let the assembled peoples gather round you,
    while you sit enthroned over them on high.
8     Let the Lord judge the peoples.
Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,
    according to my integrity, O Most High.
9 Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
    and make the righteous secure –
you, the righteous God
    who probes minds and hearts.

10 My shield is God Most High,
    who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
    a God who displays his wrath every day.
12 If he does not relent,
    he will sharpen his sword;
    he will bend and string his bow.
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
    he makes ready his flaming arrows.

14 Whoever is pregnant with evil
    conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.
15 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
    falls into the pit they have made.
16 The trouble they cause recoils on them;
    their violence comes down on their own heads.

17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;
I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.

Also, this Sunday is the Baptism of Max Forward into the church. Please do come along to support and pray for Max.

Everyone is welcome to join us this Sunday as we hear God’s word, pray, sing, and worship our God together.

We meet twice this coming Sunday at St Nicholas Alfold.

8.30am | BCP Morning Prayer
10am | Holy Communion | with groups for the kids & coffee afterwards.

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

With love in Christ,

Revd. James Forward

Read on Below the Line!

Summer Holiday Pastoral Cover

The Forwards are taking a few weeks of annual leave over August. If you have a pastoral issue, question about faith, or if you want someone to pray with, please be in touch with either:

Revd. Richard Allan - richard@alflox.org - 07977274078

or,

Revd. Andy Beattie - andy@alflox.org - 07960821568

or for any practical concerns, funerals, wedding baptisms etc, please contact Emily Cross on Tuesdays & Fridays. office@alflox.org 01403 753821.

Bring & Share BBQ

The Rectory BBQ is happening on Sunday 6th September after our morning services. Everyone is invited! James and Katie will provide the grill space and the sausages, but please sign up to bring other things to BBQ, salads, drinks etc. The sign up sheet can be found at the back of church.

Church Weekend Away(ish) 2027 Dates!

Given the great joy of our Church Weekend Away(ish) in 2026, we thought we’d do it all again in 2027! So save these dates, circle them, underline, and highlight in yellow!

Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th June 2027.

Book for the Summer - God’s Big Picture

As in previous years, Pilgrim Groups are going to take a pause over the Summer Holidays. Instead we are going to recommend a book for us all to read together.

This year it’s God’s Big Picture, by Vaughn Roberts. Reading and understanding the Bible as a whole.

The books will be available to pick up at the back of church on Sunday for £7 each.

Little Angels

Our group for parents and toddlers to learn and play is taking a break over the summer. We start back up again on Thursday 10th of September 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 5th August. 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.