Weekends away – aren’t they brilliant?  We had our annual Pathfinders Weekend Away the weekend before last, and it definitely was!  On the Friday evening, eighteen Pathfinders and assorted leaders packed our bags and crammed ourselves into a minibus and two cars, and wended our way to St Bartz (near Barcombe) for a noisy, energetic, fun-filled weekend.

There was a lot to do, and the Pathfinders soon rampaged around the building, in and out of its nooks and crannies, discovering table tennis and table football, space outside to kick a football, comfy sofas to collapse into and chat, dorms, hidden staircases and lots more. 

Soon, though, it was time for the first session, and our speaker, Nathan (from Christ Church, Mayfair), began to teach us from the Book of Jonah.  Over the weekend, he gave four excellent and useful talks that took us through the whole book, demonstrating that God is in control, and that he is full of compassion and kindness to sinful people like us. It was really encouraging and challenging, and we had good times in dorm groups discussing what we had learnt, applying it and praying for one another.

The rest of the weekend was spent in a blur of eating delicious food, playing games, ice skating, watching a film and taking part in general silliness!

It was a great time, so thank you to all the leaders, Pathfinders, cooks and drivers, and most of all, thanks to God!
Jez Lowries

Encrypt has changed quite dramatically over the last few months!  In September we were sad to say goodbye to most of the Encrypt group.  Almost all of the group completed their A level courses this summer and launched off into the world of university or work, leaving us behind with just one or two young people.

However, we have been hugely encouraged by a surge of newcomers joining in year 10.  It’s been fantastic to see a core group of Pathfinders join Encrypt at the bottom and then start inviting their friends and becoming more and more committed.  As the term has gone on, we’ve seen the group grow and grow as more friends come along, try it out, and then become regular members.

Some of the greatest encouragements have been in POD, the youth Tuesday night bible study.  We’ve been digging into the book of Jonah, and seeing God’s amazing grace to people who don’t deserve his kindness, and a number of young people have started to come regularly since the weekend away at half term.

We’re so delighted with the growth in numbers and maturity of the Encrypt group - praise God for his goodness to us and his work in the lives of our young people!  Please keep praying for us and for the young people of Lindfield and Haywards Heath, that God would be at work amongst them, bringing life, and that he would equip and empower us to serve him and them.  
Jez Lowries