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 9 (NIV-UK).

For the director of music. To the tune of ‘The Death of the Son’. A psalm of David.

1 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

3 My enemies turn back;
    they stumble and perish before you.
4 For you have upheld my right and my cause,
    sitting enthroned as the righteous judge.
5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
    you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.
6 Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies,
    you have uprooted their cities;
    even the memory of them has perished.

7 The Lord reigns for ever;
    he has established his throne for judgment.
8 He rules the world in righteousness
    and judges the peoples with equity.
9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 Those who know your name trust in you,
    for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

11 Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.
12 For he who avenges blood remembers;
he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.

13 Lord, see how my enemies persecute me!
    Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,
14 that I may declare your praises
    in the gates of Daughter Zion,
    and there rejoice in your salvation.

15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
    their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
16 The Lord is known by his acts of justice;
    the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
17 The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,
    all the nations that forget God.
18 But God will never forget the needy;
    the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

19 Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph;
let the nations be judged in your presence.
20 Strike them with terror, Lord;
let the nations know they are only mortal.

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 Holy Communion
10am | Family Worship | 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.