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Having rhythms and seasons can help us; this is why for some, engaging with Lent can be purposeful and provide a time of discipline, particularly in the area of fasting.  Ultimately, it will only heighten our anticipation of Easter, and the death and glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus.

City Gaters have been sharing ways to mark the season of Lent, and how we can get involved.  Here are some ideas that we have been speaking about for 2018!

1. Plastic-less Lent 2018

Would you like to find a way to reduce the amount of plastic in your life? Then join Ruth Valerio and a whole lot of other people in doing a Plastic-Less Lent this year.

2. ‘40 Acts’ from Stewardship is always good!

The challenge begins TODAY! Go to – https://www.stewardship.org.uk/

3. Eschew grumbling and embrace positivity!

One of our church members shared that “The Archers characters are being encouraged to eschew grumbling and embrace positivity for Lent!”

In response to this, you might like to look at Steve Backlund’s ‘Negativity Fast + Positivity Feast’

To find out more and sign up for daily encouragements, go to: http://ignitinghope.com/negativityfast/

4. Forty Days – Forty Items: an idea that sprung up on Facebook this week!

Try adding other items from around the house to make up your 40!

If you have started any other activities for lent, please let us know about them by emailing office@nullcitygatechurch.org.uk

ASH WEDNESDAY

Here is a poem by Walter Brueggemann  ‘Marked by Ashes’ that will lead you into today… Ash Wednesday.

Marked by Ashes

Ruler of the Night, Guarantor of the day…

This day — a gift from you.

This day — like none other you have ever given, or we have ever received.

This Wednesday dazzles us with gift and newness and possibility.

This Wednesday burdens us with the tasks of the day, for we are already halfway home

     halfway back to committees and memos,

     halfway back to calls and appointments,

     halfway on to next Sunday,

     halfway back, half frazzled, half expectant,

     half turned toward you, half rather not.

This Wednesday is a long way from Ash Wednesday,

   but all our Wednesdays are marked by ashes —

     we begin this day with that taste of ash in our mouth:

       of failed hope and broken promises,

       of forgotten children and frightened women,

     we ourselves are ashes to ashes, dust to dust;

     we can taste our mortality as we roll the ash around on our tongues.

We are able to ponder our ashness with

   some confidence, only because our every Wednesday of ashes

   anticipates your Easter victory over that dry, flaky taste of death.

On this Wednesday, we submit our ashen way to you —

   you Easter parade of newness.

   Before the sun sets, take our Wednesday and Easter us,

     Easter us to joy and energy and courage and freedom;

     Easter us that we may be fearless for your truth.

   Come here and Easter our Wednesday with

     mercy and justice and peace and generosity.

We pray as we wait for the Risen One who comes soon.

By Walter Brueggemann

On the first Sunday of every month we open our doors at Brighthelm Community Centre and welcome people to join us for hot nutritious food! Between 1.30-3.30pm, a team of volunteers serve in our very low cost cafe, which is overseen by City Gate Church.

This month, the team served 70 meals, which included a delicious sausage casserole, jacket potato, cheese and red cabbage! There was also a variety of home made cakes available.

Everyone is welcome… for £1 you can get unlimited hot drinks, a hot main meal and a dessert.  Sandwiches are also sold separately for 30p.

Our next Drop-In cafe is on Sunday 4th March, 1.30-3.30pm.

We’re always looking for volunteers, so if you would like to help in future please get in touch with the City Gate Church office.

On Sunday we celebrated the coming of Christ with Christmas carols, poetry, story telling and thoughts on HOPE.  It was lovely to see so many visitors and family members!  Thank you all for coming and joining us this year, and for generously giving to the work of Tearfund.

City Gate Church would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Last Saturday we had a fabulous evening of worship at …Stepping Beyond! with friends Tim & Ann O’Hare, City Gaters, visitors and Movement in Worship Collective! Here are some photos from the evening…

Our next …Stepping Beyond Worship night is on November 18th, 7.00-9.30pm at Brighthelm Community Centre, North Road, Brighton, BN1 1YD

Come and join us, ready to worship – everyone is welcome!

This Sunday 17th September, we celebrated Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) also known as Yom Terua (Feast of Blowing Trumpets).

We learnt about the history, traditions and prophetic significance of the Feast of Trumpets, around a feast table (of course). From the story of Abraham and Isaac, to Jesus as the sacrificail lamb we remembered, enacted, gave thanks, blew trumpets and feasted on apples and sweet honey!

Thank you Katrina Quinn for capturing ‘The Feast of Trumpets, Brighton Style!”.

It seems trumpets are only the icing on top
Of a day that runs deep and rich and sweet
Meanings layered like the apple slices on the table in the centre
Shana Tov! Happy (Jewish) New Year!
God said “set aside a day to remember that time I told you you were my own special treasure”
Five boys run to the front, volunteering to light four candles
The fourth is blown out to allow the smallest one a turn
This is a day to rest, reflect
Sing of the beauty of creation, the Creator
Becky tells a story with firewood and knife
of a sacrifice, atonement
A story – foreshadowing a world-changing tale
Look back, look forward
We remove shoes and walk silent through the waters, conscience cleansing
Ruben makes a dive for the gap in the blue sheets draped over tables
We don white paper robes in varying sizes, cut out by Jean
This is not a people who do things by halves
Love is our judge, we are covered
Hannah mutters that she’s way out of her comfort zone
Cackle and crackle as we take our seats again
Then, at last, a call to gather around the table
From which homemade treats have filled our nostrils and tempted our tongues all morning
Honey drizzled over warm cinnamon roll
Pomegranate sprinkled over golden cakes
Trumpet shaped biscuits – a “labour of love by Leanne and Carmella last night”
Taste and see that HE is good
The paper robes catch our crumbs
The kids’ handmade “trumpets” screech wild
Finn parades his trombone
Robbie pounds his familiar rhythm on the djembe next to me
Wake up and remember
Look back and look forward
We shout-sing hymns out of tune
Tears of laughter rolling down cheeks
At the madness and mayhem of our family
I’m aware of the people visiting for the first time
It’s not always like this…
We murmur prayers for the dear-ones we carry in aching chests
Tears of longing rolling down cheeks
Look back and look forward
The Feast of Trumpets
Waiting for final reconciliation call
Waiting for that day
When the waiting will end

NEWS UPDATE!

The last 3 weekends at Barcombe Nurseries have been a great success! £832.33 was raised for Fareshare and nearly all the cakes were sold, with a good run of visitors at Barcombe Nurseries.  Thank you to everyone who made cakes and gave generously – they were delicious and creative!

We’ve just come back from a fantastic Church weekend away at Dalesdown in the Sussex Downs. We were blessed with great weather and it was a wonderful time together with lots of fun, food, rest and play!

Whilst we missed those who couldn’t be there from City Gate this year, it was lovely to see many new faces.

Thank you everyone for making this weekend a special one. 

Looking forward to 2018 already!

This Sunday we got together to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Purim, with visiting speaker Richard Harvey from ‘Jews for Jesus’.  We enjoyed dressing up as FUN, joyful characters with a great turn out of weird and wacky costumes – with PRIZES going to Jean and Rueben!

Johnie and Becky led us in an impromptu performance of the play of Esther with great comedic effect from City Gate volunteers. There was much ‘booing’ of Haman and ‘cheering’ of Mordechai and Esther!

We celebrated with Purim songs and special foods, enjoying the taste of Hamentaschen – otherwise known as ‘Haman’s ears’ and feasting together!

At City Gate we would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year and pray that 2017 will be a year of love, hope and blessing.

We started the New Year with our first service, 1st January at Hove Bandstand by the seafront. It was a time to reflect… to see out the old year and bring in the new!

We cast stones into the ocean, representing things that we no longer wanted to hold onto from 2016, followed by a time of communion together.

Last Sunday we wrote things that we wanted to remember from 2016 and take into 2017, with hope in our hearts and thankfulness for what is to come… finding rest as we move into a new season!