Glad scenes in church last Sunday at the baptisms of Sadie Hamilton, Lola Lindsay-Fynn, and little Amelia Walker.
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By the time we meet this Sunday, by God’s grace, Sadie and Lola will also have been confirmed by the Bishop of Kingston at Southwark Cathedral.
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If you’d like to come along, please do – the service is on Saturday at 4 (but be prompt to be sure of a seat) – the nearest station is London Bridge.
It was good to meet up on Tuesday night with several of our servers, readers and welcomers for some reflection and training. Church is something we all do, something we all are, and the more of us taking an active part the better.
If you’d like to go on the rota for any of the roles on a Sunday, please let me know. Here is the manual for how [almost] everything works on a Sunday:
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But everyone is part of this, whether we have a formal role or not.
Church comes to life when we all look on the church as “us” and the building as our home into which we invite others to be and belong.
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Just as we would when inviting people into our own homes we make them feel welcome, we smile, we make everything look pleasing…
Which reminds me – could you spare some time from 12.15 to about 2 on a Friday? A small band of us meet to clean the church. My own experience of this is that it’s good fun – it’s also very useful.
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This Sunday is the Feast of Christ the King. Christ who is the one true king of all the world, the only authority to whom we owe absolute obedience – and the only one who will never exploit us, who is always for our freedom and flourishing.
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We shall reflect on authority and responsibility, and how we need to exercise leadership in our own spheres.
Perhaps part of that could be to challenge injustice and the arbitrary exercise of violence:
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It would be very good if we could turn out and support this good event as a church, men and women both.
Looking forward, here’s a preview of what’s happening in the run up to Christmas:
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Mon 1st 5.30pm: Christmas concert with our new children’s choir
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Sat 6th 6pm: Advent Advent Carol Service – wonderful choral music by candlelight
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Sun 7th [time t.b.c.]: Christingle service – service at [ ] or come at [ ] for tea and a Christingle-making craft workshop
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Sun 21st 6.30pm: Nine Lessons and Carols – all your favourite carols by candlelight, with mulled wine and mince pies to follow
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Wed 24th 5pm: Crib Service – part nativity, part carol service, part panto – come in costume, or pick up a shepherd’s headdress / angel’s halo / king’s crown on the door
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Wed 24th 11pm: Midnight Mass – Welcome the living Word into the world – if you’re looking for the true spirit of Christmas this is it
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Thu 25th 10am: Christmas Family Communion – celebrate Christmas morning
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And it’s really not now too early to be thinking about Christmas cards … these lovely cards, featuring art from the church, will be on sale in church, five for £4 or 20 for £14. Christmas stamps also available.
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Lastly … this month marks the third anniversary of our new style of notice sheet. Marc, who among the many strings to his bow is a professional designer has been doing them for us since the end of 2022.
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I think they are some of the classiest notice sheets you’ll find in any church.
By way of comparison, here’s the last one he DIDN’T do…
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And here is what they looked like five years ago:
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We all have something to give to our church, and when we give it together it becomes greater than the sum of the parts.
We are the body of Christ. Each one of us is a part of it!
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