Minister’s Letter – November 2018 
Dear Friends, 
Let us remember …. 
We can all remember both happy and sad experiences in our personal lives, our church and our nation. Remembering helps us to learn from the past and to plan for the future. 
The poppy is a powerful symbol that helps us to remember those who lost their lives or were injured in war time. It was chosen as an emblem after the First World War when the following summer poppies grew in the soil that had been churned up by the fighting and around the crosses that marked the graves of those who had died. Their colour spoke of the blood which had been shed and is still a powerful symbol for us today. The poppy reminds us of all who died giving their lives out of a longing to make the world a better place. The amazing display of poppies at Christchurch this month is a powerful reminder of those from our own community who gave their lives in the service of their country. 
This year the annual commemoration of Remembrance Day will be all the more poignant for us as it is 100 years since the end of the First World War. On 4 August 1918 King George V, the Queen’s grandmother, met to pray with members of the Houses of Parliament as part of a National Day of Prayer. One hundred days later, on 11 November, the war ended. 
Many churches and individuals began 100 days of prayer, peace and reconciliation on 4 August and this has been called Remembrance 100. There are prayers and reflections that can be downloaded a week at a time from www.Remembrance100.co.uk I have been using some of these resources in my daily devotions and have found them to be thoughtful and challenging. It is not too late to look at them if you have access to the internet or can ask someone else to print the material for you. 
Remembering is part of what makes us human. As people made in the image of God, we remember just as God remembers. Throughout the Bible we are encouraged to remember what God has done for us - and particularly what was achieved when Jesus died on the cross. Just as men and women die for their country during war, Jesus died for us. It is through his death that we have been set free from sin and all that destroys peace. But because of his death, God chooses not to remember our sin when we ask his forgiveness. That is worth remembering. 
Every blessing to you all 
Tricia

Focus for Prayer – November 2018 
“Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.” John 14.27 
* Pray that each of us may know the peace that God’s presence brings to our hearts and lives as we surrender our lives to God and place our trust in his love and care. 
* At this time of national remembrance let us remember all who have died in conflict and gave up their lives that we might enjoy the freedoms we have today. Pray for the countless victims of war who did not die but and continue to suffer emotionally or physically from their experiences. 
* In many families and communities there is suspicion and strife and people find it hard to resist an argument. Pray that God’s Spirit may power and guide us to seek peace for our families, the communities in which we live, the people with whom we work in the world in which we live. 
* Pray for the men and women who serve in our armed forces today and for their families from whom they are parted and who wait anxiously for news of their loved ones. 
* As we pack our shoeboxes with gifts for children in other countries let us pray for all who will be involved in checking and delivering the shoeboxes and for the children who will receive them 
* Arrangements are in hand for the stationing of ministers to new Circuits from September 2019. Locally we are seeking a new minister for St Leonard’s Battle and Trinity churches. Pray for all ministers preparing to move to new appointments and the Circuits waiting to welcome them. Pray for God’s guidance on all those involved in this process that the right appointments may be made. 
* Pray for all who are unwell or going through difficult times, especially remembering Revd Ian Pruden our Superintendent minister and his wife Lis. 
If you have any issues for next month’s Prayer Focus please contact Tricia

Pastoral Prayers

Please pray for the following during the coming month:

Barry Turnwell - Pastoral Visitor

Hazel & Derek Abraham, Yvonne Elliott, Clive, Joanne & Michelle Loader, Pam Malpass, Geoff Morey, Keith & Sheila Richardson,, Peter & Lillian Watson and David & Maryse Webber.

We have had many requests for prayers since our last Newsletter so I would ask you to think of Pat Hennessy, Moreen Hancock, Sandra Taylor, Claire Conely, Anne Pitchforth, Pearl & Peter Marsh, Harry Newbold, Sue Domm, Ian & Lis Pruden and Eric & Yvonne Carter. Hopefully some of these mentioned will be in better health than when prayers were requested for them. May our Dear Lord hold them and heal them.

Blessings to you all,

Virginia Cole - Pastoral Secretary