Having given something up for Lent, I’m consistently asked the same question: “have you failed yet?” Somehow, it seems as though we all expect that, no matter our best intentions, we shall give in at some point and fail in our Lenten fast. Perhaps it’s because of the wider truth that no matter our greatest hopes and desires, we always fall short of the perfection, seen only in God.Yet the weakness of our sin is transformed, by God’s great and unending mercy, into the joy of Easter. It is a victory which we know Christ has won, and yet we still await the fulfilment of the heavenly banquet, when all things will be reconciled in Christ. And so it is that we constantly hold our need for mercy, alongside our knowledge of Christ’s power as we journey along our Christian pilgrimage.The solemnity of Lent is a good parallel for the whole of the Christian life, as we try and go without for the sake of our love for God and our desire to be transformed that we might love our neighbours better. And yet, we shortly will enter the drama of Holy Week, and will remind ourselves again, that he is victorious, will take our sins, and transform them for his glory.

Jamie

The BuzzMarch 2016

Monthly information for the Parish of

Thought for the Month

EVENTS IN MARCH Thursdays 10.00 am – 12 noon Community Morning, St. Alban’s Wed. 2nd 10.00 am MU Corporate Communion, St. Margaret’s

7.00 pm SMILE to Dirty Dancing Singalong, The Hawth8.00 pm Compline at St. Alban’s

Thurs.3rd 10.00 am Coffee Morning at J@CCooking and serving meal for Open House

Fri. 4th 1.30 pm St. M’s MU, Lychgate Cottage Sat. 5th 10.30 am Making Mothering Sunday posies, St. M’sSun. 6th 9.30 am Scouts Mothering Sunday Service, St. M’sMon. 7th 7.30 pm St. Alban’s MU MeetingWed. 9th 8.00 pm Compline at St. Margaret’sSat. 12th 9.00 am Prayer Breakfast at St. Alban’s

10.00 am ‘Being There’:End of Life Care, Bewbush BarnMon. 14th 7.00 pm Ifield Scouts Annual Review, The AcornTues. 15th 7.30 pm Annual Church Meeting, St. Margaret’s

Cooking and serving meal for Open HouseWed. 16th 8.00 pm Compline at St. Alban’s

8.00 pm Men’s Fellowship at The Plough, IfieldThurs. 17th 10.00 am Coffee Morning at J@CSat. 19th 3.00 pm J@C Annual District Church MeetingSun. 20th 5.00 pm The Cross of Christ at St. Margaret’sMon. 21st 8.00 pm Stations of the Cross at St. Margaret’sTues. 22nd 8.00 pm Stations of the Cross at St. Margaret’sWed. 23rd 8.00 pm Stations of the Cross at St. Margaret’sThurs. 24th 9.00 am St. Margaret’s School Easter Services, St. M’s

8.00 pm Maundy Thursday Sung Eucharist, St. M’sFri. 25th 9.30 am Children’s Workshop at St. Alban’s

2.00 pm Service of the Cross at St. Margaret’sSat. 26th 8.00 pm Easter Vigil and Service of Light, St. M’sSun. 27th EASTER DAY SERVICES plus:

9.30 am Easter Re-FIISH at St. Margaret’sThurs. 31st 10.00 am Coffee Morning at J@C

REGULAR SERVICESSt. Margaret’s, Ifield

Sundays 8.00 am Said Eucharist11.00 am Sung Eucharist

2nd Sunday 9.30 am FIISH for young families4th Sunday 9.30 am ReFresh for all ages1st, 3rd, 4th & 5th Sundays during 11.00 Sung Eucharist Fun Stars – Sunday School Monday-Saturday 8.30 am Morning Prayer

5.30 pm Evening PrayerWednesdays 10.00 am Said Eucharist3rd Thursday 10.00 am Squeals on Wheels Pram & Toddler Service

St. Alban’s, Gossops Green

Sundays 9.30 am Sung Eucharist with Junior Church 2nd Sunday 9.30 am Celebrate - All Age Service4th Sunday 11.15 am Elevenses@St. Alban’s (café church)Monday-Friday 9.00 am Morning Prayer Thursdays 9.30 am Said Eucharist Mondays in term-time 1.30 pm Little Hands (for toddlers & carers)

Jesus@Centre, Ifield WestSundays 9.30 am Family Worship with children’s activities1st Sunday 9.30 am Holy CommunionLast Sunday Breakfast after the service

PARISH HOUSE GROUPSDay & Time Contact Venue

Mon. 8.00 pm Bob & Brenda Baker 521871

23 The Millbank, Ifield

Tues. 10.00 am Joan Langley 541250 175 Ifield DriveTues. 7.30 pm Jo Strutt 560388 Varies – please checkTues. 8.00 pm Chris Bell 521699 Tree House, Rusper Rd, IfieldWed. 2.00 pm Viv Smith 01403 891059 175 Ifield Drive

Fri. 10.00 am Jill Bell 521699 Bewbush Barn Church

IFIELD PARISH WEBSITESwww.ifieldparish.org www.st-albans-church.co.ukwww.stmargaretschurchifield.org www.bewbushbarnchurch.org

IFIELD PARISH OFFICEMondays-Thursdays 9.00 am – 12 noon

1 Lychgate Cottage, Ifield Street, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 0NNParish Administrator Mave Eshun 537578 office@ifieldparish.org

WHO’S WHOTeam Rector Revd. Simon Newham543126 rector@ifieldparish.orgTeam Vicar Revd. Ann Alexander 277078 teamvicar@ifieldparish.orgCurate Revd. Jamie Gater 852763 curate@ifieldparish.orgCurate Revd. Gerry Burgess 01444 811628 stevegerryburgess@gmail.comAsst. Curate Revd. Daphne Goodwin 886896 dapheter@aol.comReader Jill Bell 521699 reader@ifieldparish.orgParish Warden Chris Bell 521699 jcbell@mac.comPCC Secretary Clare Wilson 416438 pccsecretary@ifieldparish.orgPCC Treasurer James May 529146 treasurer@ifieldparish.orgSafeguarding Rob Pudney 437038 roblouabby@blueyonder.co.ukSt. Margaret’sDep. Warden Janine Robins 537598 berobins@btinternet.comDep. Warden Kathy Jones 520830 kathymikejones@blueyonder.co.ukDCC Secretary Veryan Nicholls 540172 veryan_nicholls@hotmail.comFinance Officer Claire Budd 534783

finance.stmargarets@ifieldparish.orgLychgate Bookings Lisa Hull 532337 imhull@talktalk.netSt. Alban’sDep. Warden Brian Eastman 529414 brian.eastman@btconnect.comDep. Warden John Richardson 518961 john-richardson4@sky.comDCC Secretary Helen Ford 515379 hpford@blueyonder.co.ukFinance Officer Sue Richardson 518961 finance.stalbans@ifieldparish.orgHall Bookings Kerry Lavington 07790 502967 kez.14@hotmail.co.ukWebmaster Rob Higson stalbanschurchgossopsgreen@hotmail.comJesus @ CentreContact Brenda Baker 521871 Rbbsbaker@aol.com

The Barn Church, BewbushBookings Naomi Gater 852763 hirebewbushbarn@ifieldparish.org

PLEASE SEND ANY UPDATES FOR THE NEXT ISSUE TO reader@ifieldparish.org BY 21st March