St Andrew's Church, Furnace Green

08/07/2023

Exciting news! Yoof Club is holding its summer barbecue next Saturday, 15th July. If you would like to come along please email [email protected] so we can have an idea of numbers.

19/05/2023

This is a beautiful vision of heaven by Tim Keller, Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York, who passed today, from his book Every Good Endeavour. We trust he has found his “tree” there.

09/04/2023

One of the great Easter paintings - no apologies for reposting from last year. Alleluia, he is risen!

This morning we remembered that first Easter morning when John and Peter raced to the tomb. Here is Eugene Burnand’s wonderful painting depicting this event.

01/04/2023

08/03/2023

Today is International Women’s Day!

23/02/2023

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD UPDATE!

We have heard that the shoeboxes of lovely gifts that were donated in November went to Ukraine, Moldova (next to Ukraine), Nigeria and Central Asia (that is countries between Russia and China where some Christians experience opposition). All of the boxes were distributed by local churches to children who were thrilled to have them. On behalf of those children – Thank you! Melanie and John Lodemore

25/01/2023

When? – Starts Friday 27th January 2023; 8-10pm and then every Friday at the same time.

Where? – St Andrew’s Church Building, Furnace Green, Crawley RH10 6NU.

Who for? – Year 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13 students.

YOOF Club is open to youth from any background. The youth will be able to hang out in an environment full of positivity, where they can feel comfortable, safe and confident. The youth will be encouraged to believe in their abilities and achieve their ambitions. YOOF Club will promote a culture of generosity, love, compassion and mutual respect, which can be extended into the wider society.

Activities will include snacking, music, games, tuck shop, discussion, career sessions, chilling out, outings and other team building activities.

For more information feel free to email: [email protected] or phone the St Andrew’s Church office (01293 526618) or register at https://form.jotform.com/230166291245048

07/01/2023

Curious about faith?

Alpha is a series that explores the basics of the Christian faith in a welcoming, open and friendly
environment. It’s free and there’s no pressure or follow up.

Each session you’ll be hosted in a group where you’ll hear different topics about Christianity and have time to chat through any thoughts. You can say anything you like or nothing at all.

Everyone’s welcome. No matter your background or beliefs, you’re invited.

Breakfast included - just turn up!

29/12/2022

Be prepared, our new club for youth will start in early 2023. Open to all students in Years 9 to 13, it will feature games, music, snacks, a tuck shop, space to hang out, discussions on topical issues and more!

Further details to follow soon but let us know now if you’d like to know more:

[email protected]

10/10/2022

Today is World Mental Health Day. This is a moment in the year when awareness of mental health issues is raised and resources to support those suffering from mental illness are mobilised.

As a church community we should be asking ourselves how we can help people inside and outside of our congregation who are suffering from poor mental health. It is also helpful for us to be able to recognise this in ourselves or in others.

This coming Saturday, 15th October from 9.30am to 12.30pm, St Andrew’s will be welcoming Patrick Regan OBE from Kintsugi Hope for a morning conference: Breakthrough in Mental Health, when some of these questions will be addressed. Let’s pray that there will be a breakthrough in the attitude to Mental Health and its implications.

If you would like to join us, please click on the link below to register:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kintsugi-hope-breakthrough-in-mental-health-tickets-413328987127?aff=eemailordconf&ref=eemailordconf&utm_campaign=order-confirm-bcc&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite&utm_term=viewevent

21/09/2022

The full transcript of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s sermon at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral on Monday:

Come Holy Spirit, fill us with the balm of your healing love. Amen.

The pattern for many leaders is to be exalted in life and forgotten after death. The pattern for all who serve God – famous or obscure, respected or ignored – is that death is the door to glory.
Her Late Majesty famously declared on a 21st birthday broadcast that her whole life would be dedicated to serving the Nation and Commonwealth.

Rarely has such a promise been so well kept! Few leaders receive the outpouring of love that we have seen.

Jesus – who in our reading does not tell his disciples how to follow, but who to follow – said: “I am the way, the truth and the life”. Her Late Majesty’s example was not set through her position or her ambition, but through whom she followed. I know His Majesty shares the same faith and hope in Jesus Christ as his mother; the same sense of service and duty.

In 1953 the Queen began her Coronation with silent prayer, just there at the High Altar. Her allegiance to God was given before any person gave allegiance to her. Her service to so many people in this nation, the Commonwealth and the world, had its foundation in her following Christ – God himself – who said that he “came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

People of loving service are rare in any walk of life. Leaders of loving service are still rarer. But in all cases those who serve will be loved and remembered when those who cling to power and privileges are long forgotten.

The grief of this day – felt not only by the late Queen’s family but all round the nation, Commonwealth and the world – arises from her abundant life and loving service, now gone from us.

She was joyful, present to so many, touching a multitude of lives.

We pray especially for all her family, grieving as every family at a funeral - including so many families round the world who have themselves lost someone recently - but in this family’s case doing so in the brightest spotlight.

May God heal their sorrow, may the gap left in their lives be marked with memories of joy and life.

Her Late Majesty’s broadcast during Covid lockdown ended with: “We will meet again”, words of hope from a song of Vera Lynn. Christian hope means certain expectation of something not yet seen.

Christ rose from the dead and offers life to all, abundant life now and life with God in eternity.
As the Christmas carol says “where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.”
We will all face the merciful judgement of God: we can all share the Queen’s hope which in life and death inspired her servant leadership.
Service in life, hope in death. All who follow the Queen’s example, and inspiration of trust and faith in God, can with her say: “We will meet again.”

08/09/2022

This weekend we will be remembering and celebrating the life of Queen Elizabeth II. A tireless public servant, the head of our Church and a livelong disciple of Jesus.

The Church building will be open to all on Friday and Saturday from 9am to 5pm. There will be a book of condolence and the opportunity to spend quiet time praying and thanking God for her lifetime of service.

On Sunday, in addition to our usual 10.30am service, we will be holding a Book of Common Prayer service at 9.00am during which we will be remembering our Queen, but also praying for our new King.

We know that this loss has deeply affected many people in Furnace Green and across Crawley. If you are hurting and need a peaceful and safe place to pay your respects to this wonderful woman, then please feel free to join us over this weekend. You will be so welcome.