The Hassocks United Reformed Church Bulletin.
Bulletin No.59. August 2026



Sunday services at 10.30am

Sunday 02 August The Revd Andy Melvin

Sunday 09 August The Revd David Cumbers. Communion

Sunday 16 August The Revd David Cumbers

Sunday 23 August Mr Stuart Dew

Sunday 30 August Miss Maureen Clarke


Sunday 16 August at 6pm. Contemporary music, a short reflection and prayer.


There will be no midweek services in August, no Messy Church and no Scallywags.


Baby Station has ceased to meet, having had low numbers for a long time. It has served generations of families since being started by Darryl Sinclair round about January 2010. Scallywags continues to thrive and will re-commence on 9 September.


A service giving thanks for the life of Trevor Williams, husband of Avril, will be held at the church at 1.30pm on Monday 27 July. Refreshments will be served afterwards.


Church garden party. 415 raised - and a good time had by all who braved the heat!


7 and 8 August. Care and Repair. 10am and 4pm, anyone who can wield a duster, attack a cobweb, wave a paintbrush or trowel, or make tea, is invited to come for a social clean-up of areas of the church that get missed!


Monday 10 August. Prayers 10.15am. Bible Study 11am. John 16.v.25.


Support for Ukraine. Church Meeting in July voted to support the URC Commitment for Life appeal to assist Ukrainian refugees, through Reformed churches in Hungary and Transcarpathia. There is an interesting historical context to this; during the Second World War, while Britain endured bombing raids, communities of the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia sent money to churches that are now part of the URC. More details at Ukraine Appeal - United Reformed Church This replaces our support for the Ilyinsky Foundation; conditions required to do that, had proved impossible to meet.


A personal message, following the death of Ken Dummer from Sandy, Zoe, Mark, Ava, Daniel, Sarah, Steve, Samual and Sadie. Thank you very much to the Revd Dave Cumbers for leading the two services, one at the Crematorium and the other at the church. We were fortunate Marcus Martin was able to play the organ. We very much appreciate the love and support from everyone. It was special to see so many friends at Ken's thanksgiving service, particularly those who had travelled distances, and who had been very much part of our lives at Hassocks URC. Acknowledgement has been received for the many generous donations made to Ken's chosen charities - which were close to his heart. His memory will live on.


Minister: the Revd David Cumbers [email protected] tel. 07732 759529.



The Hassocks United Reformed Church Bulletin.
Bulletin No.58. July 2026



Our church family is diminished by the passing of two much-loved and long-serving members. A thanksgiving service for the life of Ken Dummer, who died on 24 May, will be held at the church at 1.30pm on Monday 6 July. Brenda Farr died on 10 June; a thanksgiving for her life will be at the church at 11.30am on Friday 10 July.


Sunday services at 10.30am

Sunday 05 July: Joint pastorate service at Haywards Heath URC. Café style. Led by the Revd David Cumbers. Note the service will begin at 10.30am (Not 10.45am, as is usually the case at Haywards Heath). No service at Hassocks.
Sunday 12 July: The Revd David Cumbers. Communion
Sunday 19 July: The Revd David Cumbers. The church AGM follows the service
Sunday 26 July: A family service led by members of the congregation

Sunday 19 July at 6pm
A service with contemporary music, a short reflection and prayer. Led by the Revd David Cumbers.


Shorter midweek services at 10.30am

Thursday 02 July: Mr Stuart Dew
Thursday 09 July: Mrs Heather McNiven
Thursday 16 July: The Revd David Cumbers. Communion
Thursday 23 July: Mrs Heather McNiven
Thursday 30 July: Mrs Jill Hewer

Refreshments are served after morning services


Upcoming Events & Notices

Saturday 11 July (Church garden party): 36 College Lane, Hurstpierpoint. Tickets £10, are available after church services. When purchasing, ask if you need transport.
Sunday 12 July 4pm (Area farewell): To two Methodist ministers, the Revd Paul Tabraham and the Revd Will Fletcher at Haywards Heath Methodist Church.
Monday 13 July: Prayers 10.15am. Coffee 10.45am. Bible Study 11am. John ch.16.v1.
Care and Repair: On 7 and 8 August between 10am and 4pm, anyone who can wield a duster, attack a cobweb, wave a paintbrush or trowel, or make tea, is invited to join us for a social clean-up of areas of the Church that get missed!


New Synod Moderator

The Revd Paul Robinson has been nominated to serve as Moderator of the URC's Southern Synod—a post which has been vacant since the Revd Bridget Banks retired early, a year ago, on health grounds. Paul has been minister of the United Church at Rhyl, north Wales, since he was ordained in 2011. Recently, he has also supported other URC churches in the National Synod of Wales.

Alongside his ministry, Paul enjoys choral singing, playing the piano and organ, trying for a personal best at his local Parkrun, and staying seated during the rollercoaster of supporting Manchester United FC. Please pray for him as he prepares to move into the Synod.


Minister: the Revd David Cumbers
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 07732 759529



The Hassocks United Reformed Church Bulletin.
Bulletin No.57. June 2026

 

With sadness, we record news of the death, on 24 May, of Ken Dummer. Ken was a great servant in the life of this church. We remember Sandy and family in our prayers. News of funeral arrangements will be circulated when known.


Some will have known Hazel Lane, sister of Roger Waters; Hazel died on 21 May. There will be a thanksgiving service at our church at 2.30pm on Thursday 18 June, after a cremation service earlier in the day. We remember Roger and family in our prayers also.


Sunday services during June at 10.30am

Sunday 07 June Mrs Tricia Rey from Marsh Green church

Sunday 14 June The Revd David Cumbers. Communion

Sunday 21 June Mr Stuart Dew

Sunday 28 June A family service led by members of the congregation


Sunday 21 June at 6pm. A service with contemporary music, a short reflection and prayer. Led by Mrs Heather McNiven and Mrs Annette Squire.


Shorter midweek services at 10.30am

Thursday 04 June Dr Graham Campling

Thursday 11 June Mrs Claire Levin

Thursday 18 June The Revd David Cumbers. Communion

Thursday 25 June Mrs Heather McNiven

Refreshments are served after morning services.


The Plant sale, cake and coffee morning on 9 May raised the amazing sum of £804.40.


Monday 8 June. Prayers 10.15am, Coffee 10.45am and Bible Study 11am. John 15.9.


Sunday 5 July. The joint pastorate service at Haywards Heath URC will be café style. Note that it will begin at 10.30am (not 10.45, the usual start time at Haywards Heath).


Saturday 11 July. Church garden party. 36 College Lane, Hurstpierpoint. Tickets £10.


Reform is now Reformed. The URC magazine has a new title to make clear that it is not associated with a political party. A free copy of the first edition is available by emailing [email protected], by calling 020 7520 2721 or at www.urc.org.uk/reformed-magazine.


Volunteers are needed to distribute leaflets advertising church services to some of the new houses around Hassocks. Also to programme and operate the church hymnal on Sundays when no organist is available. Tuition will be given.


Thank you from UK Aid. Heather Farrant, the South East representative for UK Aid, the charity through which we have assisted Ukraine, has thanked us for the church's support. Between January and April we contributed to 8,500 items sent to Ukraine, including dried and tinned food, 108 blankets, and 2,002 children's items (80% handmade).


Contacting the minister: [email protected] or 07732 75952

 

 

The Hassocks United Reformed Church Bulletin.
Edition 56 – May 202

 

Sunday services at 10.30am

    Sunday 3 May – Mr Stuart Dew

    Sunday 10 May – The Revd David Cumbers. Communion

    Sunday 17 May – Mr Stuart Dew

    Sunday 24 May – Pentecost. Family service

    Sunday 31 May – Trinity Sunday. The Revd Andy Melvin, who ministers to URC and Methodist congregations at Crowborough, Uckfield, and Buxted

Sunday 17 May at 6pm:

Service with contemporary music, a short reflection, and prayer.

 

Shorter services at 10.30am

    Thursday 7 May – Mrs Annette Squire

    Thursday 14 May – Mrs Heather McNiven

    Thursday 21 May – The Revd David Cumbers. Communion

    Thursday 28 May – The Revd Ray Orr, former minister of Shoreham Baptist Church

 

Special Events

Saturday 9 May:

A bumper morning at church: Plant Sale, Messy Church, and coffee with cake! Lots of plants for sale, both floral and vegetable. Please come and bring your friends. Plants can be brought to the church on Friday between 5pm and 8pm or before 9.30am on Saturday. Please label them.

 

Monday 11 May:

Prayers 10.15am, Coffee 10.45am, and Bible Study 11am. John 14.22

 

Volunteers are needed:

To distribute leaflets advertising church services to the new houses around Hassocks. Also to programme and operate the church hymnal on Sundays when no organist is available. Tuition will be given.

 

Saturday 20 June:

Southern Synod Big Day Out at Shires Oast, Tunbridge Wells. Tickets can be booked via the Synod website: southernsynod.org.uk/news/

 

Church News

Synod Clerk:

The new Southern Synod Clerk is the Revd Dr Elaine Colechin. She is currently minister at Bromley and leader of the South London Synod Area. Interviews for the post of Synod Moderator are to be held on 22 May.

 

New ministers:

The Central Sussex United Area will welcome two new Methodist ministers in September. The Revd Dr Karl Rutlidge will be at Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill Methodist churches. The Revd Jonathan Gaylord will be coming to Eastbourne, primarily serving at Emmanuel, a Methodist and United Reformed Church partnership. He is a minister in the American Methodist Church, currently in North Carolina.

 

Publicity:

The church received a welcome publicity boost, courtesy of Hassocks Football Club. The club programme on 11 April carried a feature on Hassocks Food Bank and illustrated it with a large picture of the church noticeboard. The URC church on Holy Island featured in the final episode of Pilgrimage, shown on BBC television over Easter.

 

Contact

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 07732 75952