HOPE DURING LENT ~ REALISED DURING EASTER

Investing in young people
72% of Christians surveyed in a recent Evangelical Alliance survey said they had made a decision to follow Christ before they had reached 20 years of age. Statistics like this underline the importance of effective youth mission. Read about how HOPE is working to support young people through Mission Academies and how HOPE Revolution is making 2013 a year of unbroken prayer as we build to HOPE 14.

Outward looking Easter
Christians in villages, towns and cities nationwide are joining together to host Easter festivals or put on public performances of The Passion in the heart of their communities.
• The Passion will be performed in Trafalgar Square, London, on Good Friday, 29 March 2013 at 12 noon and 15:15.
• In Coventry they spread the Easter story through song, dance and prayer in the city centre. Last year they polished shoppers’ shoes in a modern re-enactment of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples.

• In Brighton ‘Soul by the Sea’ is mounting ‘The Passion of Christ', 2pm The Lawns St Peter’s Church at the heart of the city, Good Friday, Easter Eve and Easter Sunday. www.soulbythesea.org

 • In Cambridge local Christians surprised residents by giving away free mince pies at Christmas - watch a video of residents’ reactions.  What about giving away Hot Cross Buns or Easter eggs on your local streets this Easter? Mission doesn’t have to be a major song and dance; just simple acts of love. What are you planning?
Lent and Easter resources from the Evangelical Alliance.
Easter mission Ideas

HOPE’s biggest and best resource
Next month you will be able to order HOPE – the Heartbeat of Mission and members of the HOPE leadership team will be available to provide training for churches in your area, in preparation for HOPE in 2014.

Norwich 2014 and Norwich Mission Academy
The Bishop of Norwich brought the city’s church leaders together at the end of 2012 to talk about mission. As a result, Norwich churches are now preparing for HOPE 2014 and young people are taking the lead. Norwich Mission Academy had their first weekend together from 2-3 February sparking fresh ideas to build community and open up conversations about Jesus. Latest from Norwich

Church turn-around sparked by youth mission
How did a church threatened with closure, in a downtrodden part of Cambridge, grow from a congregation of six to 60 in less than a month? The dramatic turn-around was sparked by a regional youth mission backed by HOPE Revolution and followed by dedicated evangelism and community work. Story: A church renewed

Pass on news of what’s happening in Sussex as we build hope and share faith!

gordon.banks@chichester.anglican.org

01273 425686

HOPE 14 ~ MISSION HUBS

 Hope 2014  Mission Hubs



Thursday February 28^th  10.00am - 1pm Church House, Hove



Come and hear from Phil Timson about the Year of Mission being planned for 2014 as part of the ongoing "Hope" initiative - YES, are pleased to be able to facilitate this gathering and act as host on the day - but, this is an event for ALL - please pass on to your contacts and join us! 

 For more information on "Hope" check out Hope Revolution

You can sign up for this event at...

http://sussexhope2014.eventbrite.com/

 or email... ali.campbell@chichester.anglican.org

Hope 2014 - building hope & sharing faith

Roy Crowne who heads up the Hope initiative writes…

“Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” John the Baptist fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy, preparing the way for Jesus. As John addressed the crowds, people asked: “What should we do?” Luke’s Gospel records his response to tax collectors, soldiers and people like us; telling us to demonstrate the presence of God and power of the message with practical action. As we start a New Year, we have the exciting challenge of pointing people to Jesus today. Let’s ask God for creativity and compassion as we respond to what Jesus has done for us with both words and actions, together as a whole body.

Hope for Les Miserables

Potentially the biggest blockbuster of the year, Les Miserables, provides opportunities to talk about forgiveness & hope. If you have yet to see the film do get along and use this to talk to people who have also seen the film about some of the deep issues covered in the film, not least standing together against injustice!

Les Miserables - Free Damaris resources

Rural Mission

With 60% of the diocese of Chichester being rural it is good to know that there are an increasing number of dedicated resources available from the Arthur Rank Centre and other Agencies with a rural focus in their mission and evangelism. Everything from cream teas, beer mats in country pubs and community shops - HOPE is working with rural churches and ministries sharing ideas, good practice and resources to inspire community mission that is particularly relevant to country churches. More on rural mission.

Stronger Together

Redeeming our Communities (ROC) is the latest HOPE partner. HOPE works in partnership with dozens of ministries and organisations. Joint action means an even better outcome for communities and people across the UK. HOPE/ ROC partnership.

HOPE exists to equip and support local churches to speak and live its mission, effectively using word and action outreach to share the gospel and see communities transformed.

Follow us on Twitter @HOPEtogether and like us on Facebook @HOPE Together.

Building Hope ~ Sharing Faith

2013 - A year of prayer and preparation

We have so much to be thankful forward as we look back on 2012. Churches across the country are already doing more together in mission in word and action. The Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics were just a beginning – and already churches are seeing people being added to God’s kingdom as a result. That’s the HOPE dream – that, together, we will reach our nation – sharing the hope we have in Jesus.

Prayerful preparation

2013 is a year of prayer and preparation for 2014 when the whole church, will reach out in mission to the whole country for a whole year. Use HOPE’s prayer section and resources as you pray individually, in small groups in your church and when churches in your area get together to pray. Together we are asking for God’s strength and power as we reach out to our nation in word and action.

Week of Prayer
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January 2013 takes up a theme from Micah asking ‘What does God require of us?’ Use these resources as you pray and consider what it means to ‘act justly and to love mercyand to walk humbly’ (Micah 6:8) as Christians in your community in 2013.

Pray daily
HOPE’s prayer partners pray daily using our prayer calendar and many churches are committed to praying regularly with HOPE for our nation. Contact us to receive our monthly prayer calendar by email. HOPE pulls together ideas for prayer from our partners including: the World Prayer Centre, the Festival of Life, the Church of England, the 24/7 movement, the National Day of Prayer and Worship, the Neighbourhood Prayer Network and many others.

Help us to do more
Thanks to those who have already responded to the HOPE Christmas Appeal letter. If you have not yet made agift, you can give today online at www.give.net/HOPE

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @HOPEtogether

Let Gordon Banks know what your plans are as we build hope and share faith in the diocese...
gordon.banks@chichester.anglican.org.