Dear Friends,

This August we are 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 10 (NIV-UK).

Psalm 10

1 Why, Lord, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
    who are caught in the schemes he devises.
3 He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
    he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord.
4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
    in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
5 His ways are always prosperous;
    your laws are rejected by him;
    he sneers at all his enemies.
6 He says to himself, ‘Nothing will ever shake me.’
    He swears, ‘No one will ever do me harm.’

7 His mouth is full of lies and threats;
    trouble and evil are under his tongue.
8 He lies in wait near the villages;
    from ambush he murders the innocent.
His eyes watch in secret for his victims;
9     like a lion in cover he lies in wait.
He lies in wait to catch the helpless;
    he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
    they fall under his strength.
11 He says to himself, ‘God will never notice;
    he covers his face and never sees.’

12 Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God.
    Do not forget the helpless.
13 Why does the wicked man revile God?
    Why does he say to himself,
    ‘He won’t call me to account’?
14 But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;
    you consider their grief and take it in hand.
The victims commit themselves to you;
    you are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked man;
    call the evildoer to account for his wickedness
    that would not otherwise be found out.

16 The Lord is King for ever and ever;
    the nations will perish from his land.
17 You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted;
    you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
    so that mere earthly mortals
    will never again strike terror.

This coming Sunday we are delighted to be baptising Joseph Hursthouse! Do come along to the 10am service to support Steve and Lauren, and to pray for Joseph as we welcome him into the church.

Please remember to sign up for our Bring and Share BBQ at the Rectory next Sunday.

And as it’s a Bank Holiday on Monday 31st, we won’t be meeting for our Year of Prayer. But we will be meeting to pray on Wednesday night in Alfold Church Room, for our whole church prayer meeting, Prayer Central. 7.30-9pm.

We meet twice this coming Sunday at St John the Baptist Loxwood.

8.30am | BCP Holy Communion
10am | ALL-AGE Worship | with Joseph Hursthouse Baptism & coffee afterwards.

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

With love in Christ,

Revd. James Forward

Read on Below the Line!

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.

Men’s Brekkie

Our next Men’s Breakfast is on Saturday 12th September - 8.30-10am at the Onslow Arms where Neil Stannard is speaking. Neil grew up on council estates in East London and Essex, played rugby, discovered the Christian Faith, spent twenty years teaching in boarding schools, and now serves as a vicar in Sussex. Join us as he shares the story of how Jesus transformed his life, and explores the remarkable signs of a fresh spiritual awakening that many believe is taking place in the UK.

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.

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 2nd September. We will meet in Alfold 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.