Bible by the Beach 2012 Christ in all the Scriptures

4th - 7th May 2012

For several years now a group from St John's has gone to 'Bible by the Beach' at Eastbourne over the first May Bank Holiday, and have found it really worthwhile. Next year it will be held from 4^th -7^th May, once again at the Congress Theatre. If you've never had the inspiring experience of singing hymns and Christian songs with several hundred other people, this is your chance! And, as an added bonus, the singing is led by Stuart Townend and his band!

On offer next year – to tempt you! - the Bible Readings will be led by Stephen Gaukroger on the theme of 'Christ in all the Scriptures'; a choice of 3-part seminar sessions will take place each day, to focus on specific aspects of our faith and the world around us; and the Evening Celebrations will again be a wonderful time of worship and inspiration with a number of different speakers. Great for families, with age-related, action-packed groups for children, including pre-schoolers. Judging from the video clips we saw last year of their activities they had a brilliant time!

If we have a group of 12 or more booking before 31^st January, we can get a discount held at last year's rate of £65 per person. Children go for £12, or £6 for pre-school age. Accommodation needs to be booked independently. Discounted rates have been negotiated on all hotel and guest-house bookings by Eastbourne Accommodation Bureau; details can be obtained on the website: conferenceeastbourne.com/Bible2012, or phone or email Liz Attwell on 01323 647130 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

If you would like to go, please speak to me asap, so that we can take advantage of the group booking rate. There are leaflets at the back of church which have all the details and the booking form, and there is a website at www.biblebythebeach.org.

Anne Butler

If you would like to camp with the Saunders family, please let Chris or Lindsey know, so we can book the campsite. Last year we stayed at a lovely sheltered site, close to Westham station with beautifully clean toilets and showers. The kids loved the ducklings and farm animals there. It would be lovely to go along with a few friends this time. Lindsey.

Bible by the Beach 2011 Resurrection People

29^th April to 2^nd May 2011

2011 title, The Resurrection People, had suggested to my warped mind, sinister undertones of Burke and Hare. I should have known better. The whole event was a glorious post-Easter celebration of the risen Christ, shared by about 3,000 Christians in the whole Eastbourne Congress Theatre complex, Winter Gardens and local churches. And there was the attraction outside from prom to pier for those who sought a breath of bracing fresh air. The Bible by the Beach was no picnic,  but a satisfying life enhancing experience.

The most thought-provoking and generally challenging talk Joan and I attended was the wit and wisdom of John Lennox entitled ‘God’s Undertaker’, which took the claims of atheism and shook them until they fell apart.

The Final Celebration was intensely moving, but I confess that for me the most exciting demonstration of music in the service of God was the enthusiastic ebullience of Noel Tredinnick with singers and performers from All Souls Orchestra and guest hymn writer Stuart Townend.

Peter Bateman

Before I went to Bible by the Beach

I saw at the royal wedding An archbishop on TV

I heard Stuart Townend on CD

I had listened to Rico Tice on a DVD

During Bible by the Beach

I saw Archbishop Greg Venables live

I heard Stuart Townend live

I listened to Rico Tice live

And learned from the evidence of the resurrection

That Jesus is very much alive!

Malcolm Francis

I was a bit nervous about not knowing anyone else in my group at first, but it was awesome! I made friends with some other year 4 boys and we got to throw cream pies at the Rockschool leaders!

Benjamin Saunders, age 9

I really enjoyed BBtB this year. The speaker for the main Bible Readings, Archbishop Greg Venables, was excellent; I especially took to heart his comment to a young interviewer that he had learnt over the years to worry less, and trust God more in every situation - a lesson I definitely need to learn! Highlights for me were the wonderful concert on Saturday
evening and the inspiring Sunday evening meeting with a brilliant talk by Rico Tice.

Anne Butler

Bible by the Beach 2010

THE SECOND YEAR of this new event was just as good (some said even better than) the first! For those that don't know, about it, it is held in the comfortable Congress Theatre in     Eastbourne (not on the beach!) and at various venues around. People come from all over the South East, some finding their own accommodation nearby from camping to hotels, whilst  others just turn up for the day.

On the Sunday, various local churches invite BBTB speakers and anyone can join the churches for their normal morning services if they'd like to.

Here are some comments from those of us who went this year. Do ask any of us for more details! The theme this year was ‘Glory in the Cross’...

Great music, Bible teaching and seminars with Jesus at the centre. There was no pressure to attend meetings, but we found some sessions very helpful. Sunday evening was amazing! There were about 1700 people there (700  extra came for the evening) but there was room for a few more. Input from Nigeria and Amazon as well as locally! Let God surprise you!                    Phil & Rosemary

Great Bible teaching. When it started I thought, ‘I know a bit about this’, but the more that was taught the more I realised what an Amazing God I have, who has done so very much for me, and I know very, very little!
Malcolm and Diane

I found the teaching was really inspiring,it brought the Bible alive and showed how it could and should make a difference to my life. The seminars on The      Puritans could sound dull but it was simply amazing and captivating. I learnt so much about God's truth. Mandy

Sunday evening - The Power of the Cross with Bishop Wallace Benn was an evening I will never forget. There were 1700 people gathered to worship God and to listen to His Word and as we all sang together I felt as if we were part of the Heavenly Hosts praising and proclaiming God as Lord. To be one with all those believers was a very emotional experience. We learned so much over the weekend.

The seminars gave us a different insight into the Word of God and the ‘question and answer’ sessions at the end of each gave us the opportunity to clarify things which we were not sure about and needed further answers in a very relaxed way. The atmosphere was one of expectation and a readiness to smile and greet each other. Daphne

What a wonderful, uplifting experience to sit in the Congress Theatre, packed with hundreds of fellow Christians, singing God's praises and listening to Alastair Begg's inspirational talk, ‘The Loving Wisdom of our God’. Peter and Joan Bateman

It was good to be reminded of the Cross, and how it applies to our lives. Lizzy

It was great to hear again of how the Cross might look like foolishness to many, but is actually God's wisdom. Michael

I liked going to my group, Pebbles, and I liked making pictures with stones on the beach. Danny

I liked playing in the house [the playhouse at Pebbles]. Tom

Luke was there, too, and was the only one I (Mandy) saw with bare feet. But I don't know if he did actually paddle; we cerainly didn't!!!

I found it so helpful to focus again, both through the excellent Bible Readings and the Seminars, on the centrality of the Cross to our daily lives - for what we       proclaim, who we are, and how we live. Now to put it into practise! Anne

1 Cor 1:5 “For in him you have been enriched in every way, in all your     speaking and in your knowledge.” I had gone with an open mind and was waiting for God to fill it, and HE DID. Di

Excellent Bible readings and seminars. Good to meet old friends too. Stephen

Highlights included Uplifting worship with traditional and modern songs set to modern music and performed by Stuart Townend, Lou Fellingham and Ian White with bands Phatfish and Victoria Baptist Church. John & Carole

Bible by the Beach was exciting. I went to Rock Solid on Saturday morning, where I learnt a lot about propitiation, the cross and Jesus – I wish I could have stayed for longer and would like to go again next year. Rowan

It was wonderful to be together with so many other Christians. We only went for a day, which was a shame as we only heard Part 1 of the seminars and missed out on the concerts, so we would probably go for the whole four days next year. Lindsey

I really enjoyed the weekend, found it most inspiring, helpful and fruitful. Jill Tuck

Check out the website www.biblebythebeach.org