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Please join us for an informal time of worship, prayer and reflection led by Anita Pinnock at 6pm this Sunday (23rd November). If you would like to contribute a song, reading or reflection please bring this with you.
November Church Members' Meeting - Election of Deacons
On Wednesday 26th November we will be holding the annual election of Deacons during the Church Members' meeting.
As you will be aware, we can appoint up to twelve Deacons although there are currently nine Deacons on the team, three of whom are due to conclude their current term of office at the end of this year. As has been communicated previously, Dick Beazley will be stepping down from his role and is not seeking re-election. Ken Carter and Louise Carter are willing to stand again and have each been nominated for a further three year term.
We are also very pleased that Elena Vladutu has indicated her willingness to join the Diaconate and has been nominated to stand for election along with Ken and Louise.
Church members are requested to attend the meeting in person if possible, or to attend via Zoom. If you are unable to attend in person, you may vote by post. Please note that if you are attending by Zoom you will need to vote by post in advance of the meeting. Instructions for voting by post have been sent directly by email to all members.
For the benefit of all members we are including below a brief profile for Elena, Louise and Ken for review prior to the meeting.
Elena Vladutu Profile
My name is Elena Vladutu, I grew up in Bucharest, Romania, in an Orthodox Church. Since November 2018 I have been living in Horsham, with my family - Alex and Camelia.
During my adolescence time I was going to the church and I was looking for God in a different way, that I couldn’t understand or explain. Two years after I had Camelia, in 2011, I changed my job and the new manager spoke to me about God in a different way than I was used to within the Orthodox Church, and this is how my journey as a Christian began.
By God’s grace, I was baptized in April 2024 at Brighton Road Baptist Church and it was a very emotional moment. In the early years, my faith was full of questions and learning. I remember feeling uncertain at times, yet deeply curious about God’s love and His purpose for my life. Over the years, through prayer, Scripture, and the example of others, my understanding of God’s grace has deepened. I have learned that faith is not about perfection but about perseverance, trusting God even when I don’t fully understand His plans.
I am grateful for the growth, the lessons, and the people God has placed along my journey. My Christian life continues to evolve, and I know that God is still at work in me, refining my faith, strengthening my spirit, and calling me to serve others. I am currently working with the team at BRBK and I am looking forward to be involved and to serve church in other ways.
As I look forward, I pray to remain steadfast, to keep Christ at the centre of my life, and to continue walking in faith, hope, and love - the three enduring gifts that have carried me through these years and praying that they will continue to guide me in the years ahead.
Louise Carter Profile
I have been involved at Brighton Road for over 40 years, having moved here with my parents, (Janet & Chris Bird) and siblings at the age of 11. BRBC has therefore been a major part of my life, throughout my childhood where I was actively involved in Sunday School, Girls Brigade and other youth activities, and throughout my adult life.
I left the area temporarily to train as a teacher in York but returned to Horsham after my studies. I met my husband, Ken Carter, at BRBC and we were married here in 1994. Together, we were heavily involved in the youth programme for several years which included two mission trips to Africa.
When our children, Ross & Grace were born, I stepped back from the youth work but as they grew older, I became involved in the worship group, leading the singing every Sunday and I am now responsible for coordinating the group.
I had been working as a Learning Mentor and Teaching Assistant at St Marys Primary School for the past 18 years, having previously worked in BRBC playgroup when my children were small. I have now retired from the role at St Mary’s to be more available to care for my mother.
I have been immersed in church life in various ways during my time at BRBC and this culminated in my election to the Diaconate in 2023. It has been an enormous privilege to serve the church in this capacity over the last three years, and it is a role I would be willing to commit to for a further term if the membership should agree to re-elect me. I’m very aware that this is a challenging period in our church history as we seek God’s guidance and leading for our future ministry and the way our church should develop in the coming years.
Ken Carter Profile
I have been a member of BRBC for over thirty years, serving initially as a youth leader before being elected to the diaconate in 2000. My principal responsibility at that time was leading the redevelopment project team, which managed the design & construction of our church building.
I stepped down from the diaconate at the end of 2011 to focus on the start-up of a new business but continued to serve on the projection team and occasionally leading worship. In 2017 I was invited to stand again for election to the diaconate, and I have served in that role for the last eight years, undertaking a variety of tasks as part of the leadership team, but with a focus on how we can continually grow in our relationship with God – both personally and as a church body.
In 2024 I was appointed as Church Secretary, a role I have fulfilled to the best of my ability over the last year and if re-elected I would be willing to continue serving the church in this capacity for the next three-year term.
We find ourselves in a challenging period in our history as we seek to appoint a new Minister & Team Leader and discern how God is leading us to fulfil His vision for our future life and work. There is a need for change and increasing agility and flexibility in the way we define the concept of ‘church’ today, in the ways in which we present the gospel and, in how we welcome and nurture people in their journey to faith.
If the membership believe it is right that I should continue in this role then it will be an enormous privilege to be able to serve this church as Church Secretary and as a member of the diaconate as we embrace these challenges and as we seek to share God’s love with those around us and lead people into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus.
Horsham Churches Together Worship & Prayer Evening
As we continue to pray for our town and villages, everyone is invited to the next HCT Worship & Prayer evening:-
· When: 6pm on Sunday, November 23rd, 2025
· Where: Kingdom Faith Church in Horsham (RH13 5PX) Can’t make it then? Then join the Horsham Virtual Prayer Room Facebook Group and check out the Prayer of the Week on the Horsham Churches Together homepage.
Advent Breakfast
It is almost that time of year again…….we will soon enter the wonderful season of Advent. To start our festive celebrations, we will be holding an Advent Breakfast on Sunday 30th November, the first Sunday in Advent.
Please do come along to join with the church family in breakfast together at 9am in the main hall. We ask that you sign up by Tuesday 25th November so that we can cater for everyone; the sign-up sheets will be on reception. We look forward to seeing you there!
Horsham Fairtrade Christmas Market
A note for your diary - Horsham Fairtrade Christmas Market, Saturday 29th November 2025 10am - 4pm @ St John’s RC Church Hall (next to the Lynd Cross). There will be a fabulous array of Fairtrade Christmas foods, gifts and treats – Cocoa Loco chocolate, Love that Stuff clothes and jewellery, Nika Deluxe toiletries, Siwok wooden crafts. baskets from Ghana, Amazonian crafts, foods, gifts, clothing, Christmas cards and Advent calendars from Fairtrade retailers. Luxurious toiletries, stunning textiles, delicious chocolate and much more! Sales of all of these items help workers in the developing world to improve their lives.
Christingle
We'll be celebrating Christingle on 7 December - an opportunity to invite family and friends to join us in a service remembering Jesus as the light of the world, bringing hope into the darkness. As usual, there will be singing, oranges, sweets, and naked flames a-plenty!
We'll also be supporting the work of The Children's Society, an organisation working tirelessly to improve the lives of vulnerable children and young people. It's time to dig deep into the recesses of your sofa for the coins that have escaped your pockets over the last year and fill a collection box. Notes are also perfectly acceptable! Please bring the box back on 7 December, or drop it into the church office.
Many thanks
Deborah Packham
Save the Date – 13th December
Crawley Millennium Concert band will be back at Brighton Road Baptist Church with their programme of festive music and carols entitled Jingle All the Way on Saturday December 13th starting at 7pm. Refreshments - tea coffee and mince pies - will be provided in the interval. Entry to the concert is free but donations to Pancreatic Cancer UK, who we regularly support, would be gratefully appreciated. For more information contact Judy McMahon Tel 07813686020.
Lay Preaching Course
Andy Twilley, our Regional Minister at SEBA, has encouraged us as a fellowship to consider the Lay Preaching Course, which will commence in February at Pembury Baptist Church. Please prayerfully consider if this is something you would like to do, or if you would like to encourage someone in the BRBC fellowship to attend. The Deacons will also be carefully considering this over the coming weeks.
Can you help?
Cherrie, Carol Mansfield's daughter, has asked if there any members of the congregation who would be willing to visit and sit with Carol during her carer's two hour daily break between 2pm and 4pm on one or more of the following dates.
Wednesdays 3, 10 and 17 December
Saturdays 29 November, 6 and 13 December.
If you are able to offer help on one or more days please email cherriemansfield@hotmail.com with your availability and any questions you may have.
Tearfund Gaza Appeal
I want to thank you all for your generous response to the Tearfund Gaza appeal on Sunday 2 November. Adrian has told me that, as a result, the church is able to send a total of £1,000. Tearfund tell us that the humanitarian need is still at crisis level with, amongst other things, more than 54,600 malnourished children, and half a million people facing famine. With our help, Tearfund Partner in Gaza, Anera, is providing life-saving medicines and supplies to hospitals and food centres.
Thank you again. Jessica Farquhar
Horsham District Foodbank festive gifts
The Food Bank is seeking donations this festive season. We have a food collection box at reception and would be extremely grateful if you would consider supporting the Food Bank.
We kindly ask that food donations be provided by 5th December.
We are also collecting advent calendars, which we would need by 25th November.
Many thanks
Terry Hillier