CHURCHES TOGETHER IN CENTRAL BRIGHTON

WELCOME! To this newsletter for

Churches Together in Central Brighton!
In this issue...
AGM a report and the minutes of
the meeting held Saturday Jan 17
Officers elected for the next year
and contact information
Fellowship & Prayer breakfast
marking the start of the Week of
Prayer for Christian Unity;
THE CHALLENGE issued by
the new Chair to the member
churches to report back on their
ideas and offers to host or produce
events or projects to express
Churches Together for the next
year.
Christian Unity Week quotes
from sermons

AGM REPORT & MINUTES

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and candidates elected unanimously by

all assembled, they are...
Chair: Rev Robin Selmes
Dorset Gardens Methodist Church
E: revrobinselmes1@btinternet.com
T: 01273 503348
Vice-Chair: Major Michael Lloyd SA
E:Michael.Lloyd@salvationarmy.org.uk
T: 01273 607095
Secretary: Msgr Jerome Lloyd OSJV
Chapel in the Inn (Old Catholic)
E: info@brightonoratory.co.uk
T: 01273 782300
Treasurer: Mr Nigel Utting
The Village MCC (Kemptown)
E: boxman_4@hotmail.com
T: 07956 486367
Then breakfast was announced, a prayer
of grace offered and all present tucked
into a wonderful buffet of continental
and/or cooked breakfast, courtesy of the
Salvation Army.
After breakfast, Rev Robin Selmes
introduced the discussion stage with a
short message about what Churches
Together means; recognising that
although we come from different
traditions, yet we are all united by the
superglue of a shared faith and all
stand together at the foot of the cross
and it is there that we should find our
unity and strength.
Table discussions were then held to
suggest ways in which we might...
socialise together
pray together
work together
ideas for events or projects for the year
ahead and/or how these might be
effected.
The
following
were
suggested...

On Saturday morning of Jan 17 some

40+ Christians from member churches
gathered together at the Brighton
Congress Hall (Salvation Army), to
worship together, elect new officers and
share ideas for the year ahead and enjoy
breakfast and fellowship together.
Ministers and members from:
Brighthelm United Reformed Church
*That under the auspices of CTiCB
Brighton Congress Hall Salvation Army churches in close proximity together
Brighton Oratory (Old Catholics)
will share localised activities, worship
The Chapel Royal CofE, North St
and events e.g. Bible study, Lent Groups
Dorset Gardens Methodist Church
etc.
St Bartholomew's CofE, Anne St
*That another shared event between
St Mary's CofE, Upper Rock Gardens
Pentecost and Advent be added to the
St Nicholas', CofE Dyke Road
joint calendar, perhaps at Harvest and
Sussex HIV/AIDS Chaplaincy
The Village MCC (Kemptown)
The meeting began with worship
and then the Rev Robin Selmes
(DGMC) introduced proceedings
and handed over the election of
Officers to Fr David Biggs
(Chapel Royal, former Chair) to
10AM-1PM ALL
oversee. A very quick election
then followed with nominations
WELCOME!

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not necessarily on a Sunday, also

recognising that eclectic congregations
in central Brighton will probably not
attend two services in one day ref travel
etc.
*An outside fellowship event e.g. a
picnic, as an opportunity to witness
together and be seen to be having fun
together...
*Various suggestions for social
activities, a Songs of Praise event...,
a Pot luck supper with gifts for the
homeless as well as dishes to share..., a
Barn Dance... a united walk (aside
from Good Friday) perhaps a seafront
walk or country ramble... a Quiz
Night with teams from member
churches...
*That for World AIDS Day a service or
perhaps a social event be held either on
the eve' of WAD (to avoid clashing with
other community events) or on the
Saturday nearest WAD...
*That events be posted in a calendar on
the CTiCB website and a bimonthly
newsletter be published for churches to
distribute to their congregations with
news of events for members to share
informally aside from CTiCB events...
*That a united choir be organised to
support worship at joint CTiCB
services...
THE CHALLENGE was then issued
by the Chair for ministers of member
churches to respond to the committee,
after
discussions
with
their
congregations, what activities or events
they would like to coordinate, host or
assist with the organisation of, ref the
usual annual CTiCB events/services
and/or any of the suggestions for
socialising, praying or working together.
The first CTiCB Newsletter is due out in
March, so Challenge responses and
any notices are requested for St
Valentine's Day, Feb 14, either to the
Chair or the Secretary.

COFFEE MORNING

every Saturday at
THE CHAPEL ROYAL

CHRISTIAN UNITY
WEEK
Sunday Jan 18 was the start of
the Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity (to give its full title) and
many
churches
invited
ecumenical colleagues to preach.
Here are some of the thoughts
and messages shared that
Sunday...

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN CENTRAL BRIGHTON

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At St Nicholas', the Rev Robin Selmes into the same heavenly kingdom, we
preached on the backdrop of the
might yet realise and effect one
Wimbledon v Liverpool Cup
church, one faith, one Lord (hymn)
final..., 'St. Paul tells us that
and bear greater witness to the world
For in union with Christ we
by our love for each other and for
are always led by God as
Jesus.
prisoners in Christ's victory
procession.
At Dorset Gardens Methodist
Church, Fr Robert Chavner
We can all share in this
preached...
magnificent victory if we work
together as one.
Making reference to the signing of the
Brighthelmstone Covenant eight years
And so like in sport we also need to find ago, making a commitment to work
our position in church. We need to to worship and share together, but
recognise that each person in a church most of all to grow together in
community has been given different doing God's will. God uses
abilities and gifts to exercise on behalf every opportunity of loving zeal
of the church community.
and devotion to Jesus Christ to
pour out His abundance. Thanks
In Gods eyes, what is important is not be to God for all that our growth
whether a person is a bishop, a together brings to the Church
churchwarden or a volunteer worker, and to central Brighton.
what matters is that each person is Referring to the calling of Nathaniel by
using his or her own gifts in obedience Philip [John 1:43-51] put in mind the
to the call of God and for the benefit of discovery of gravity by Isaac Newton.
the Kingdom of God. The challenge Who demurred at colleagues praise by
within this was to put aside the need to saying, If I have seen further it is by
puff up our roles but instead strive for standing on the shoulders of giants
and maintain unity.
(letter to Robert Hook), ...gravity
explains the motions of the planets, but
At Brighton Salvation Army Corps, it cannot explain who set the planets in
Msgr Jerome Lloyd OSJV preached on motion... whether hit by an apple or
2 Cor 5:14-21, For the love of Christ not, Newton told his biographer that he
compels us...
had been [sitting under a tree] in
'...our love for Him in response
contemplative mood while apples fell
to His love for us, should
about him. Had Nathaniel been sitting
motivate and inspire us to do
similarly in contemplative mood?
All for Jesus (hymn).
Jesus mentions the fig tree, was
Christian unity does exist and
Nathaniel at peace with the world
would be more visible and
and enjoying rest as prophesied by
tangible if we regarded each
Micah [4:4]...they shall sit
other not from a worldly
under their fig trees... was
point of view [cf ibid v16] but
Philips interruption an unwelcome
with the eyes of faith, of hope and of
disturbance? Can anything good come
love. A new command I give you: Love out of Nazareth? OR was it that
one another. As I have loved you, so you Nathaniel
resented
the
Roman
must love one another. By this everyone occupation and was sitting there
will know that you are my disciples, if daydreaming about the promised
you love one another. [John 13:34-35] Messiah? Then imagine his excitement
at Philip's news... but cynicism at the
But to be true agents of reconciliation humble origins of Christ?
and ambassadors of Christ [cf ibid Jesus was an unlikely Messiah just as
v.20] we must first out of love of Him Nathaniel seemed an unlikely disciple
urge ourselves towards personal for his possible sarcasm or cynicism.
holiness. Then, if we recognise that we Yet, God uses unlikely people in the
are
all
sinners
striving
after service of the kingdom, now as ever.
righteousness [cf ibid v19 & Mark Whether its a boy Samuel, a shepherd
2:17], and that we are all children of like David, a reluctant Moses, a
the same heavenly Father[cf John runaway Jonah or me an Anglican... or
1:11-13] and will be received by Him a Methodist... or a Roman Catholic...

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He uses you and He uses me, God

knows us with our weaknesses as well
as our strengths and sees our potential
and calls us either directly or through
friends. In following Jesus, Nathaniel
would learn not to discriminate against
the humble and the ordinary.
God's unity is through inclusivity, by
affirming each other's expression of
God in them and God with them. It
is God's call and prayer for us all to
unite in mission, to release those
imprisoned by poverty, lack of
education,
gender
inequality,
environmental
injustices
and
inadequate health care. Jesus is
not only the Son of God but one
of us, the Son of Man, which is
why He gave Himself for us on the
Cross irrespective of who we are
and our unworthiness.
It is good to take time out and
sit under a fig tree and be
alone with God, who set the planets in
motion, to enjoy the beauties of
creation, know the reality of God's
presence, feeling the warmth of His
love... In worship we gather under
another tree, the Cross of Christ, the
Tree of life.
N.B. Please note, Subs for member
churches 2015-2016 are now due!
Please contact Nigel Utting as above to
arrange
payment,
preferably
by
cheque...!

A NOT-FOR-PROFIT MINISTRY
OF THE BRIGHTON ORATORY
Fundraising for local food &
homeless charities, providing
training & work experience to
change people's lives...

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