Come to St George Christ Church St Paul this Saturday for a good, old-fashioned Christmas Fayre.
It starts at 11 and will have an array of stalls, with the chance to buy cakes, Christmas goodies, decorations, Christmas cards, Caribbean food, CDs...
And there's a bottle tombola that has to be seen to be believed.
You'll be very welcome.
Then on Advent Sunday, we begin the start of our Advent preparations - Advent, the season in which we prepare for Christmas.
Our preacher will be the Diocese's Canon Missioner, Michael Hart. Find out more about him with this link:
http://www.southwark.anglican.org/news/pr266.htm
Obviously, 2008 will be an exciting time for us. As well as the growth we are currently experiencing, there will also be what we can find from the new Chancel Church.
What will happen there? What exciting things will be possible? God will guide us.
Sunday, 25 November 2007
Monday, 19 November 2007
Christ the King, Christmas Fayre
Autumn turns to winter and we are at the turn of the year: in Christian terms that is.
The Christian New Year starts with Advent: four Sundays before Christmas: this year, that's Sunday 2nd December. We'll be waiting in hope and expectation for Christ's coming. Traditionally, it's a penitential season, like Lent, but that doesn't work so easily these days, as most people's office parties, pre-Christmas drinks parties and mulled wine brewing sessions come in the middle of December.
Still, there can be a real sense of expectation and anticipation: can you remember what it was like when you were five and you went to be bed not knowing what would be in your stocking (if Santa came at all, that is). That's the kind of thing we're talking about.
But before then, we have two big events. The first is next Sunday it's the festival of Christ the King: trying to describe how Christ's rule engages with the world. The second is the Christmas Fayre which takes places on Saturday 1st December from 11am till 3pm.
This is in the traditional run of Christmas Fayres: i.e. mulled wine, cheap gifts, tombola, bottle stall... it's great fun. Loads of people pass through who wouldn't do so otherwise. You'll be very welcome.
Fr Robert
PS It's World Aids Day soon (Dec 1st) and some of us are going to a special service at Southwark cathedral at 6.30pm.
The Christian New Year starts with Advent: four Sundays before Christmas: this year, that's Sunday 2nd December. We'll be waiting in hope and expectation for Christ's coming. Traditionally, it's a penitential season, like Lent, but that doesn't work so easily these days, as most people's office parties, pre-Christmas drinks parties and mulled wine brewing sessions come in the middle of December.
Still, there can be a real sense of expectation and anticipation: can you remember what it was like when you were five and you went to be bed not knowing what would be in your stocking (if Santa came at all, that is). That's the kind of thing we're talking about.
But before then, we have two big events. The first is next Sunday it's the festival of Christ the King: trying to describe how Christ's rule engages with the world. The second is the Christmas Fayre which takes places on Saturday 1st December from 11am till 3pm.
This is in the traditional run of Christmas Fayres: i.e. mulled wine, cheap gifts, tombola, bottle stall... it's great fun. Loads of people pass through who wouldn't do so otherwise. You'll be very welcome.
Fr Robert
PS It's World Aids Day soon (Dec 1st) and some of us are going to a special service at Southwark cathedral at 6.30pm.
Monday, 12 November 2007
Remembrance, the Kingdom, the run-up to Advent
Over 200 people attended our service of remembrance for those who have died in war last Sunday: what began in 1919 is still full of meaning eighty years on. It was especially moving to see so many children from our beavers, brownies, cubs and scouts there, keeping silence with everyone else.
Now the Church faces a time of preparation for Advent, which in turn looks towards Christmas. The Sunday services for the rest of the month will be looking at aspects of Christ's kingdom: what does it mean to say "Thy kingdom come"? What do you think the kingdom of God would look like anyway?
If you're after a more social time, then our Christmas Fayre takes place on Saturday December 1st between 11am in the morning and 3pm in the afternoon. It's an immensely enjoyable day - in the old-fashioned tradition of Christmas fayres - and a great way to stock up on gift ideas for Christmas. Look out for the raffle too, with some great prizes.
Fr Robert
Now the Church faces a time of preparation for Advent, which in turn looks towards Christmas. The Sunday services for the rest of the month will be looking at aspects of Christ's kingdom: what does it mean to say "Thy kingdom come"? What do you think the kingdom of God would look like anyway?
If you're after a more social time, then our Christmas Fayre takes place on Saturday December 1st between 11am in the morning and 3pm in the afternoon. It's an immensely enjoyable day - in the old-fashioned tradition of Christmas fayres - and a great way to stock up on gift ideas for Christmas. Look out for the raffle too, with some great prizes.
Fr Robert
Monday, 5 November 2007
Walsingham, Confirmation, Remembrance
Thirty pilgrims made it up with our party from Forest Hill to the pilgrim centre that is Walsingham last weekend, leaving behind the parish for 48 hours to join with the 12,000 others who in 2007 have stayed in this centre where devotions to the Virgin Mary have been particularly central, since Medieval Times. In 2003 it was voted the nation's favourite spiritual place.
Find out more here: http://www.walsingham.org.uk/
The worship here is spectacular and often deeply moving, and all of us returned refreshed in one way or another.
This Wednesday will see a very special day in the lives of six members of our congregation as they are confirmed into the Church of England by our local bishop, bishop Christopher. The service is at St Augustine's, One Tree Hill at 7.30pm. All will be welcome:
http://www.augustineonetreehill.org.uk/Welcome.htm
This is a time of adult commitment to Christ and to living one's life journey in his Church. You could be 18, you could be 80: it just has to be the right time for you, and several of people from Forest Hill have decided that it is the right time for them.
Next Sunday (10th) is Remembrance Sunday and we will have a special, poignant time at our 10am service. The uniformed groups, cubs, scouts, brownies and beavers will be present as will people of all ages, honouring the sacrifice of those who have died in war. You don't have to be a jingoistic patriot to feel that there is something that needs worth honouring and recalling when we think of those who have given up their lives in wars through no choice of their own. And with them we'll remember the shattering effect war has on families and friends, who lose someone they have loved so dearly.
Find out more here: http://www.walsingham.org.uk/
The worship here is spectacular and often deeply moving, and all of us returned refreshed in one way or another.
This Wednesday will see a very special day in the lives of six members of our congregation as they are confirmed into the Church of England by our local bishop, bishop Christopher. The service is at St Augustine's, One Tree Hill at 7.30pm. All will be welcome:
http://www.augustineonetreehill.org.uk/Welcome.htm
This is a time of adult commitment to Christ and to living one's life journey in his Church. You could be 18, you could be 80: it just has to be the right time for you, and several of people from Forest Hill have decided that it is the right time for them.
Next Sunday (10th) is Remembrance Sunday and we will have a special, poignant time at our 10am service. The uniformed groups, cubs, scouts, brownies and beavers will be present as will people of all ages, honouring the sacrifice of those who have died in war. You don't have to be a jingoistic patriot to feel that there is something that needs worth honouring and recalling when we think of those who have given up their lives in wars through no choice of their own. And with them we'll remember the shattering effect war has on families and friends, who lose someone they have loved so dearly.
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