A Word from one of our Ministers

Dear Friends

By the time you read this, we will be on the cusp of the month of March, daffodils might be blooming in the garden and I do hope that Spring might be in the air after what feels like a fairly long and cold Winter!

Our meeting in January provoked some challenging responses, and there was somewhat of a sense of doom and gloom in the air, rather than any hope of Spring. I want to remind you that we are a Resurrection people, that Jesus conquered death, and that we have much to celebrate in our lives of faith. When Jesus spoke, he never promised his followers that life would be easy as disciples, and in fact, he warned them that it would be tough – but he did say that the Spirit, the Counsellor and Comforter, would be with them – and with us. As a congregation, we have many within our number who have been through great trials in life: difficult diagnoses, tragedy, bereavement, broken relationships, hardships of various kinds over long lives. Many of us who have been through such things would testify that our faith has kept us going, that the comfort that we have gleaned through knowing God, through Jesus walking alongside us, has been what has made the difference. Let’s never forget that – Jesus is alongside us in whatever we are facing, whether as individuals or as church, the body of Christ in this place.

Jesus often asks those who are helped in his miracles to step forward: the haemorrhaging woman is asked to identify herself, and the crippled man is invited to take up his mat and walk, for example. Even in a joke that I shared at a PG Songs of Praise, the man who prayed to win the lottery is, after many disappointing weeks, told that he must buy the ticket!  Jesus invites us to own the work and not sit back and wait for things to happen, as if by magic. They don’t. We are invited to step forward in faith.

As I shared at the January Church Meeting, our combined commitment to church growth has to be fundamental to everything that we seek to do here in God’s name. No fancy building project will get the go ahead without a sound growth plan, and a new building that stands empty after the work is done is no use to the Kingdom. Can we change our narrative? Can we look beyond ourselves? Can we commit to growing the Kingdom of God, using Cornerstone as the vehicle? Can we recognise that that is what God asks us to own – that perhaps we are thinking a little too small? Growing Cornerstone is good as an aim, but growing the KINGDOM might be more inspirational!

It starts here: come and take part in opportunities to grow our community and to grow in discipleship through Lent: Monday evenings (St A), Wednesday lunchtimes (St A), Friday mornings (LRd). Look for the notices, check your diaries, ask questions!  Pray. Come to one of the Cafes and have a conversation over coffee with new friends. Watch out for the notices upcoming about Church Film Nights where we will watch a faith-based film together and discuss it over a meal. Consider joining the Mission and Service Forum. Talk with me about Circle Theory  of growth – ask me to come to your house group to share about it further, perhaps…….

Finally, next year will be the 250th anniversary of the earliest Methodist meetings in Horsham – let’s plan a celebratory year, where we can connect with each other, our heritage, our unique approach to a life of faith, and with the community around us so that all of Horsham and Partridge Green has heard of the people called Methodist by the end of 2026!

Deacon Sarah 17.2.25