Dear Friends,

There are three things that I want to tell you about as we roll into September. And they all begin with an ‘F’!

Feasting
Fasting
Father Abraham.

Firstly, Feasting.

Our annual Church BBQ in the Loxwood Rectory Garden is this Sunday after the 10am Service and friends, wider family, absolutely everyone is welcome!

Things to bring:

A camping chair to sit on.
Something to bring and share - something for the grill, salads, puddings & drinks. (We are providing hot dogs and Pimms)
Fun lawn games if you have one.
A stiff upper lip if the weather changes it’s mind.

Things to know:

If you want to drop food off at the Rectory before the service, please come between 9.30-9.50am. We MIGHT be able to get stuff in the fridge!
Church should finish at about 11.15am. We will all head next door to the garden for drinks while the BBQ heats up.
In case of rain - we will head to inside the Rectory for drinks, while a few of us set up tables in Loxwood Church.
We will aim to eat at about 12.15/ 12.30pm.

Second F = Fasting.

You may or may not know, but we as a church are currently looking for a Kid’s and Youth Pastor to help us with our vision of passing the gospel onto the next generation.

In God’s kindness he has provided us with a significant financial gift, so that we can make a full-time appointment for the role. And the PCC are in the process of putting together an advert for the job.

This is a huge moment for our church, and I want to make sure that we are earnestly praying for God to provide just the right person for us. So I am calling for a fast on Monday mornings, from whenever you wake up, until midday when our prayer meeting ends.

If you are able (medical reasons permitting) to join me in skipping breakfast on Mondays, please use the time to ask God to match his financial provision with just the person of his choosing.

You can come along and pray at our Monday morning Year of Prayer meetings (which are continuing for a second year), or you can pray at home or at your work. But wherever it is… please pray!

Our final F is Father Abraham.

We are kicking off a new sermon series on Sunday, working, week by week, through the story of Father Abraham from Genesis Chapter 12-25.

Genesis is a strange and wonderful book, that lays down so many of the foundations for our faith, and asks so many of the questions that Jesus is going to answer thousands of years later.

So please have a read through those chapters in the coming days, and be praying for our hearts to be open to whatever God has in store for us.

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

8.30am | BCP Morning Prayer | Genesis 12
10am | Family Worship with Holy Communion | Genesis 12 | with groups for the kids and Church BBQ afterwards.

And we meet once in the evening at St Nicholas Alfold.

6pm | Evensong | Psalm 148

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

With love in Christ,

Revd. James Forward

Read on Below the Line!

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 starting back up again this week 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 7th October. 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.