St.George, Christ Church and St.Paul

2010-01-26T16:38:00.002Z

ST VALENTINE’S DAY 14 FEB. 6pm- 7pm

What’s Not To Love?

This year St Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday.

A special service is being created here.

It has never been held before.

A service with a difference!

It is for everyone.

Older and younger.

It will be your thank you to someone special. It could be a good friend, neighbour, spouse, parent, boyfriend, girlfriend, schoolfriend, teacher or mate!

That person may or may not be at the service, it does nor matter.

Come on your own or with a crowd.

Drinks will be served during the service.

Plus other surprises.

At the Blessing we will release a number of large Thank You Chinese Lanterns from the car park!

Don’t miss it-

It will be one heaven of a service.

What’s not to love?

Harvest and Chapel developments

2009-10-13T08:08:00.006Z

Well, do you want the good news or the bad news?

The good news is that Harvest was marvellous. The baptistry looks beautiful, autumn in all its mellow fruitfulness (Keats? I think I did it for GCSE English, though I could be wrong), and loads of people joined us to celebrate God's creation on Sunday.

For the fifth time this year, there were over 200 people at our main Sunday eucharist, which is a record for us in our new church.

Also, Jack and Max were 'admitted to communion'. This is when, though not confirmed, they come forward to become part of receiving the body and blood of Christ in the sacrament.

In the afternoon, little Ted was baptised and won everyone over with his perky looks.

Confirmation classes are going strong.

So far, so good.

The bad news?

Well, as we seek to open the Chapel, we've discovered a blunder by the original developers who hammered nails for the flooring through the underfloor heating. (These original developers have since gone bust, so can't be held to account for this major error.) Anyway, we're looking into how to repair the damage they've made, but this is another hold up for the opening of the Chapel, just when we were nearly there.

The Churchwardens, Martin and Ian, have been doing heroic work attempting to work things through, along with Robin, our immensely generous - how shall I describe him - community engineer.

Of course, this is just a teething problem, but it's a frustrating one.

This coming Saturday, meanwhile, we have two weddings coming, one in the afternoon and one in the morning, and then in two weeks time the Youth Weekend.

I'll try to get a photo of the baptistry up soon, but in the meantime, above is a scene from last year's Youth Weekend. I'll be sending out the final forms later this week.

Father Robert

The last of the summer sun

2009-09-24T14:04:00.002Z

As I write, it's a beautiful autumn day, the tomatoes are ripening in the garden ready to be plucked.
It's also a packed day: we've had visits from Kilmorie school twice already this week, which are great fun, and we are preparing for several autumn weddings.
Come this Sunday at 10am for our main eucharist and then at 3.30pm, we've a special service commemorating Ottis' retirement as a SPA. Do join us for the service and for refreshments afterwards.
The Chapel is moving forwards and we're getting ready to launch soon.
Meanwhile, Father John and Father Robert will be away from Monday (28th) to Thursday (1st) at the Southwark Clergy conference in Derbyshire.
I'm not sure if it'll be wild but there are some excellent speakers, so it should be interesting.

Father Robert

Top Drumming, Chapel Coming

2009-09-14T07:59:00.004Z

The A-men Club had a special Friday night meeting. Our men's group had a session with a top samba drumming teacher to bring out that Brazilian funkadelic percussive soul within each of us. And we let rip.
I'm not quite sure you can tell this from the pictorial record (see Graham, Patrick and Simon on the right).

But after a few beers, a great time was had by all twenty-five of us.

Look out in the coming week for the Confirmation classes starting.

Also a marriage preparation course on Wednesday and Saturday.

Meanwhile, just seventeen days till the Chapel opens!

Also, just to note: Father John is on annual leave for the next 12 days, so any questions, bring them to me.

Father Robert

Sunday spectacular

2009-09-09T10:12:00.002Z

The first All-age service in September feels like a new start: all that starting of terms, setting of aims etc.
And it's always pretty full, especially as we welcome a very new member, young William to the congregation at 10am: then there's Robert at 2pm too.
Come promptly to make sure you get a decent seat.

Then, it's now just 25 days to go to the Chapel opens. We're refixing the door, we've ordered the chairs (in Royal Blue!), sorting out the insurance etc.etc.

Then there's a Marriage Preparation Course starting on Wednesday evening (16th)

Plus there's a pre-baptism class for the first time, this coming Saturday (12th) at 2pm.

So there's plenty going on.

That said, I don't know about you, but I was lucky enough to have been away on holiday and I'm feeling pretty refreshed: it's funny but even my prayer life's reinvigorated. It's definitely a modern privilege to have sunny holidays abroad, but boy, it makes a difference! Energy levels are that bit higher.

We look forward to seeing you at any of the services: remember our main Sunday eucharist is at 10am. If you've got a question about baptism or weddings, then come to the parish office on Saturday at 9.30am.

Cheers,
Father Robert

Chapel on the Hill, how it looked once!

2009-08-20T20:21:00.003Z

Sometimes, it's good to think about the past even as you think about the future.
To the right, there is a photograph taken of Christ Church, Forest Hill in 1906. See the sunbeams coming in from the right hand side. Tony, our graphics guy, discovered it from Norah, an old member, and touched it up a bit to recapture the original.
Anyway, in the far side of the Church, what's called "the Chancel" is the space that has been reserved for our new Chapel on the Hill.
Except it now has two floors, and on the ground floor there are office rooms, kitchens and toilets.
But it still carries some of the feel of sacred space to it.
That's why it's so exciting that it's opening in just over a month now.
It needs lots of fine tuning. doors, carpets, chairs, post boxes...
But it's coming together. look out for things happening there soon.
I wonder what happened to those pews!
Hope you enjoy the rest of the summer August break.
See you in September.
Father Robert

Glorious weather, funeral on Wednesday

2009-08-17T08:52:00.002Z

We've had such lovely weather lately that it's good to get a bit of a holiday feel to life. Certainly, quite a few of our congregation are away at the moment and as I write certain members are on a coach on their way to a "Mystery Trip"! I hope they have a good time.
At the same time, tragedy is always possible. At 12.30pm on Wednesday, we host the funeral of Joseph Bynoe, whose death has been untimely.
It will be a sad occasion but one to give tribute to him and to send him to God. Next week, we also host the funeral of Lascelle Moore.

Father Robert

Welcoming couples and children

2009-07-27T08:51:00.003Z

There's a general undercurrent in perceptions of the church that it's more and more neglected, "the pews are emptier" etc.etc.
Quite apart from the fact that we don't have pews in our church, it also doesn't bear out in our parish more generally.
Take a look at the figures below. These are a year by year count of the number of people who have been baptised (mostly infants but some adults) and the number of couples getting married in our parish church over the last four years.

Yes, it's quite a healthy picture, but it looks pretty static.
But what you've got to remember is the 2009 figure is still ongoing. We're not even in August yet and we've already done more baptisms than we did in the whole of 2006, 2007 or 2008. By the end of August, we'll have done almost 40.
And these aren't necessarily 'classic' people. For example, the parents of the baby we baptised on Saturday, weren't baptised by their own parents, yet they took this very seriously, it expressed what they wanted for their child and they are considering doing it themselves, as adults.
Similarly, marriage remains popular. We were quite pleased with the Church of England's new liturgy offering a combination service of baptism within a wedding: you may have read about it in the press. It matches the lifestage of many of the parents who come to us, either to get married or to get their children baptised.
They may not have done it in 'the right order', from the perspective of tradition, but I believe they are just as committed to each other and to their children as people from any other generation. In fact, maybe more so. There's no stigma in having children outside marriage or 'living in sin', as there once was, when people may have got married 'for the sake of form'. To choose to come to the House of God for a union of your relationship is more of a commitment than ever before.

If you want to come to get married or have your child baptised ("christened"), or be baptised yourself, just come to our parish office any Saturday at 10.30am.

And you're always welcome at our Sunday eucharist at 10am. With people away for the summer on holidays, it's easier to get a seat on a Sunday morning, and there's a generally quieter feel, so it can be a nice time to 'try out' a church.

One more important notice: Mother Sylvia's funeral is confirmed as happening at church at 10.30am on Friday (31st July). Apparently, she requested that people wear colourful clothes, rather than black, so please feel free to let your wardrobe run wild!

Father Robert

Mother Sylvia, RIP

2009-07-20T13:47:00.002Z

Reverend Sylvia Martin died peacefully on Friday morning. Known as Mother Sylvia, she served as a non-stipendiary minister with Christ Church and St Paul and then St George Christ Church St Paul for over ten years, having been one of the first women ordained priest in the Church of England.
I never got to know her that well because, in the last few years, she had suffered a number of minor strokes, which hindered her mental faculties, but she was still able to exercise a ministry until just a few months ago. She presided at the eucharist (assisted by a deacon) for the last time at a quiet Tuesday morning service, late in 2008.
Her funeral will be on Friday 31st July. More details to follow.

May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

Father Robert

Chapel, Wedding, Marriage Preparation, Moving On

2009-07-14T07:43:00.003Z

Developments at the Chapel on the Hill are going apace. we've certified our fire alarms now and are sorting out our intruder alarms. There's a bundle of duties and right now, I've been allotted purchasing Chairs (!).
What sort of chairs do we want? Comfy ones, stackable ones, wood ones, metal ones...
One of my tutors at theological college believed that really the only seating aid that should be required for good prayer was the plainest, most wooden and hard pews or chairs available: to add cushions was somehow to lessen the spiritual focus. I'm not sure I agree.
I'm having a meeting with Trudi on it next week.
But that's just one example. Someone else is sizing up the kitchen for a dishwasher... Not a spiritually rewarding task, but necessary.

This week is one of our Marriage Preparation weeks: we meet on Tuesday evening at the vicarage and also on Saturday in the church studio.
Meanwhile on Saturday, there's going to be a fabulous Wedding of David and Antonia. They are a lovely couple and we look forward to welcoming many, many people on that day. Perhaps you are one of them. Remember to arrive in good time to get a good seat!

Finally, on a personal note, just to say that, as I told the parish on Sunday - as all curates have to do at some point - I will be moving on to my next job in November. I'll be the chaplain of Archbishop Tenison's school in the Oval (see www.tenisons.com for more) and also the youth pastor to the North Lambeth team ministry, with connections to St Anne's with All Saints, which is next door to them. I'm excited about this, but also very sad to leave. Madeleine, Tessa and I have had a wonderful time here, and I am sure will continue to do so for the next three and a half months. Our final Sunday will be All Saints, on November 1st, 2009.
Father Robert

Summer Fayre photos, Chapel update, triple baptism

2009-07-06T18:33:00.003Z

To the left, you can see the arrival of Nigella by black cab at the summer fayre.

Father John was pretty excited, I can tell you. Heaven knows what might have happened had the real one shown up.

But thank you to all who helped at the Summer Fayre. We raised over £3,000 towards church funds, which is just fantastic, as well as having a great day.

See below a great photo of the brownies leading the dancing. Reverend Sheila was right up for it. Dot and Karen look on, admiringly but less energetically.

This Sunday, we're looking forward to not one, not two but three baptisms on Sunday afternoon coming. It's a family, Maria, Leo and Eva are all getting baptised together: rather like the type of thing that happened in New Testament times. Great.

Meanwhile, we've now got a timetable of tasks to get done by autumn for the launch of the Chapel on the Hill. It should be a great launch on 1st October, 2009.

Father Robert

Amazing fayre, amazing year six event, photos to come

2009-07-04T18:37:00.002Z

Just a quick post to say we've had a manic week, but the Year Six event was amazing. I'll be posting some photos soon.
I'll also be posting some of our photos of Nigella Lawson coming to open our Summer Fayre.
And we're looking forward to the baptism tomorrow of Latiyrah.
We had a great PCC away afternoon too.
One of the things we realised is that most people wouldn't know what PCC stands for (parochial church council) if you want to know, so plenty of thoughts from that too.
Hope to see you tomorrow.
It's a fascinating Gospel, Mark 6.1-13: Jesus can't perform miracles in his home town. Why?
Come and find out.
Father Robert

Summer Fayre, Year Six Event, baby Alfie

2009-06-25T12:28:00.003Z

Roll up, roll up for the great parish summer fayre in SE23.

Old-fashioned fun, throw a sponge at the vicar in the stocks, buy some jam, win a bottle in the tombola, jump on the bouncy castle...

It's a great laugh and also it's vital funds to keep our church alive. Please join us.

The Big Year Six Event. Just got bigger.

This two day event is when children in Year Six (that's the last year of primary school if you aren't familiar with modern school lingo) come from different skills to learn completely new things (like circus skills above) and simulate in a tiny way, what will happen to them when they join a new school next year.

(going to a new place, meeting new people, doing new things...

They also have a chance to share their hopes and fears in a special workshop.

This year, we're doing two events in a row! Four schools on Monday and Tuesday and four more schools on Wednesday and Thursday.

Three hundred children in all.

Fabulous.

And this Sunday, we've Alfie's baptism in the afternoon. He's a lovely baby, but he's not going to sleep early enough right now, his parents told me. His routine got upset by a holiday and now he's enjoying the long summer evenings while he should really be asleep. The joys of parenting...

Father Robert

You are welcome, wherever you come from

2009-06-17T12:24:00.002Z

This is a photo from our welcome event.

Can you spot the connection here? Ugo, Blessing, George and Eto are all from West Africa. (Nigeria and Ghana).

It's funny, but I doubt they would have appeared in a "welcome event" photo ten years ago: there's been such a massive immigration from West Africa just recently that I think we're only just picking up on it. George and Eto recently got confirmed through our church.

But then, they weren't the only ones there: about seventy people came to the welcome event, including the hosts. Below you can Bud at the front, who's been part of the congregation for 40 years.

I think you can also see Luke and Iwan on the for left, probably chatting about football.

It was a great event - we were lucky with the weather - and we had lots of lovely conversations with people we don't always get a chance to chat with.

Fabulous to see everyone.

We also had some input about what we should do as a church from people: the most popular particular activity was a coach trip to the seaside. Now, to be honest, we haven't got one planned right now, but we'll have that in mind for the future. Look out Broadstairs!

Anyway, that was last week, looking forward, we have not one but two baptisms this Sunday: James at 10am, and Crystal at 2pm.

As for me, actually, I won't be there as I'm representing the church at the 60th annivesary of the rebuilding of their church by our friends at the Bonhoeffer church, the church where Dietrich Bonhoeffer himself was a pastor in the 1930s.

If you want to know about him, find out more here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietrich_Bonhoeffer

It's astonishing to think that one of older members of our congregation, Marion, can remember as a child that grown-ups were talking approvingly of this young pastor back when he was actually here.

Bonhoeffer's tale feels like history, but it's not long ago. His courage feels superhuman, yet he also trod these same streets.

It'll be a privilege to be there.

Father Robert

Welcome, this Saturday, 2.30pm

2009-06-08T08:19:00.003Z

It's not always easy to join a church. What does it mean anyway? When are you part of it? In some places, they have membership lists, and we do too, I guess, in as much as we have an "electoral roll". That's the people who regularly worship with us, sign a form, and therefore have the right to elect our PCC (Parochial Church Council) members. For the record, we currently have 199 people on this.

But I kind of like the idea that things are more porous. People can come in, gradually, as they like to: or they can just test the water and move away again, maybe not to come back for a few years.
Or they can just paddle in the shallow end for quite a while before they want to start swimming in the deep end.
What we do want to do as a church is to welcome people at the level they wish to commit to. That could mean taking a step of faith such as getting confirmed; it could mean joining the week afternoon Bible study group; it could mean joining the flower arranging rota. Any of these things.
And to welcome people, you need to have a bit of time to say hello. Now we love chatting after the service on a Sunday morning, but that's not always enough. So this year, we're holding a proper event of welcome on a Saturday afternoon. This Saturday (13th June) from 2.30pm till 4.30pm.
We'll have activities for children, like a ball pool and a bouncy castle, and we'll have activities for adults, such as thinking about the kinds of things you think we as a church should be getting involved with.
And you can even have tea with the vicar!
It'll be a more leisurely way of exploring what it is to be at church.
If you've ever wanted even just to dip your toe in to the water, or if you're ready to dive right in, do come along, this coming Saturday, at 2.30pm. It'll be lovely to see you.
Father Robert

Upcoming Events, including Healing Service

2009-05-31T20:32:00.002Z

This coming Sunday (June 7th), the usual 10am service (for Trinity Sunday) will be followed at 2pm by a double baptism for Emily and Joseph and then at 4pm by a Healing Service.
This is a gentle, quiet service of prayer, in particular for healing for us, and a particular part of our lives. These can be lovely, but also powerful. You can come for others or just for yourself.

Just before that, on Saturday 6th, at 5pm, our young people will be taking on St Bart's at Ultimate Frisbee . Should be fun.

Further out, look out for the Welcome afternoon on Saturday 13th, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. Come just to check us out: we'll have a bouncy castle and a few other entz, but also some presentations about what we do as a Church. All welcome, especially, if you haven't been to us much before.

In the meantime, progress on The Chapel on the Hill . We should have a postcode by the end of this week. Would you believe it's taken 9 phone calls since the application to get through to the relevant person, leaving message after message, but I believe we're finally there. Once that's in, we can get on to the refuse collection list and also get the internet connection installed!
It's slow, it's largely tedious, but it's the sort of thing that needs to happen if this building is to be creatively used by the whole community, for the glory of God.
Which is what will surely happen, in time.

Also, the PCC meeting this Thursday (4th) will take place in the Chapel.
Hey, hey!

Father Robert

Pentecost, curried goat, marriage prep, walking on water...

2009-05-27T09:02:00.003Z

Coming Up:
Pentecost. This Sunday (May 31st), 10am, a fantastic service. It's like the Church's birthday service, marking the fact that the Holy Spirit was for ALL PEOPLES. Something special.

Also coming up: our early summer Marriage Preparation course. The first evening was last night: it continues with a different group tonight and then everyone together on Saturday (may 30th) . Run By Father John and Reverend Sheila.
The next one will be in July.

If you like drama, come on Thursday, Friday or Saturday night to see "Twelve Angry Men (jurors)"
http://www.st-georges-players.org.uk
See their website above for more details. Tickets are around £6, and the stage is being put up in church as I write: staged in the round for the first time ever in a Players production, it promises to be fantastic. I'm really looking forward to seeing it on the Friday night.

The Chapel on the Hill progresses. it looks like our electrics have been commissioned, which is great news.

Jeremiah and Winifred will be getting married this Friday in the afternoon.

As for curried goat, in the title to this blog, that was about Tony's birthday. Tony is our graphics man. If you see our logo on this site, or many other things, then his hand has probably been on them one way or another.
It was his 70th birthday last week and he celebrated with... curried goat after church.
I missed it, I was in the Lake District (see photo, more on which later.) But I thought there was something great about that, that a sensible Englishman would celebrate his birthday with curried goat. He had the idea when Enid came round to our Men's group to show us how to make curry. And that's a bit of Pentecost in a way. Different cultures joining up. And I hope our church is part of that. It's amazing the nationalities represented in our congregation, just as they are in our parish.
Anyway, you can read more about Tony and his latest project on his website.
http://web.me.com/tony.gibbs2/Sterling_T26_/Home.html

Finally, why the photo?
Well, I was just on holiday in the Lake District last weekend and I felt inspired by Jesus on the Sea of Galilee. Impressed?
Father Robert
PS It wasn't really a miracle.

Ascension, Thursday 8pm and new church wardens

2009-05-20T07:10:00.005Z

There's a major service this Thursday evening (21st May) at 8pm, celebrating the Ascension, the time when Jesus completed his work on earth and returned 'to the right hand of the father'.

It will be a peaceful eucharist (though with good music too).

Do join us. I'll be preaching (but don't let that put you off...)

Here's a photo of the baptism from last Sunday's service, kindly sent by the photographer, John Whitfield (www.johnwhitfieldphotography.com).

It was a double baptism: there's Kyan, who's 2, in the suit, who's just been baptised seconds before, watching his little sister, Nyah, get baptised. Parents Chi and Odili look on. I love the look on Kyan's face: so interested. You can just seem him questioning what's happening in his eyes.

And the guy on my right, assisting, is Martin.

He and Ian C were sworn in as churchwardens for the year at Southwark Cathedral on Monday. It was a good service and it was really interesting to hear their formal responsibilities. Things like keeping the churchyard in decent order and ensuring dignity and lack of disruption at times of holy worship. The words sounded old: I suspect they've been the same for centuries.

It's a really significant job, being a warden. On the surface, it's often about fabric and functional things, but really they keep an eye on the wellbeing of the church as a whole. We're very lucky to have them. (And Graham did a great job before, too.) In the title, I say "new churchwardens": that's not exactly right as they've both been wardens before, but it is their new term of office.

Father Robert

Easter garden, last chance to see...

2009-05-11T15:17:00.003Z

Every year, our baptistry is turned into an Easter garden.

You can see it on the left: John is at the side. It's just before Morning Prayer last week.

Praying in front of it is wonderful. The flowers team with life and everywhere there's new symbolism. The empty tomb most obviously, but the olive trees, the nails from the cross, the flowers still bursting into life. We'll keep it there till the end of the Easter season, but that's only a couple of weeks away, so it'll end then.

Come and see it before it finishes.

In the middle is the font, where this Sunday there will be three more baptisms: Kyan and Nyah in the morning, and Eva in the afternoon. A beautiful place for a new Christian life to begin.

Meantime, a salute to the cubs and cub leaders who had a tremendously successful camp last week. (I will hope to post on that more, when I get hold of the pictures for you to see.)

And look out for our parish quiz night, this coming Saturday night: 7 for 7.30pm start. Food will be provided. Bring £4 and test your wits. Should be great fun.

Also, it's Christian Aid week. We had a great sermon on this from Michael on Sunday, so if you're inspired to give and haven't had the chance yet, there will be more envelopes next Sunday.

Father Robert

St George's Day sermon: you had to be there...

2009-05-05T08:07:00.003Z

You had to be there... and I wasn't.
The Sunday before last, we celebrated St George's Day.
As we're St George Christ Church St Paul, we always remember St George's Day on a Sunday and this time round it was Father John to preach a sermon.
Since then, he's had 20 emails and frequent requests for a copy of the sermon.
We printed 25 copies of it for after the service this Sunday, and they ran out, so we printed a further 15. They've gone too. I'd better do more today.

Why this sermon?
Well, I can't quite tell you, because I was still on holiday, so I was attending a church in Paris that Sunday morning (where they weren't celebrating St George)! But, by all accounts of those who were in Forest Hill, it had passion. But more than that, it was about how standing up for your faith costs, even within the church, and how the church needs to look at the people it persecutes. What does inclusion mean if we systematically exclude some but not others?

Beyond that, I don't know why it provoked such a reaction. You had to be there... and I wasn't. You can get a sense of it by reading a copy of a sermon but good sermons aren't really designed to be read. They are meant for a group of people at a particular time.

And it wasn't without controversy. One person walked out of the church, upset at what was being said. Others greeted the end of the sermon with a round of applause. That's never happened in my time when I've been there.
As I said, you had to be there.

But it's also led me to think about what it is to be church. Because of course, you never want someone to walk out of the service. You don't choose that. But as someone once told me in marketing, if you get complaints, it's a sign you're making an impact. And if no one ever complains, then maybe we're in a world of rather bland platitudes. "Thank you for the service, father, very nice sermon" etc.etc. and all you ever do is end up preaching about motherhood and apple pie.

And the upset was genuine, just as the applause was genuine. And I guess it was because John was tackling a real issue. Like in the Lent course we just had, the discussion about euthanasia was electric at times. Often in quite passionate disagreement.

This is important, and so is staying together through all that.

I'm beginning to ramble, so let's just think about the coming week.

There's a PCC meeting this Tuesday (tonight), a Communication Action Team meeting on Wednesday night, no wedding this Saturday but there is a baptism on Sunday. We'll look forward to seeing you if you're coming to that.

We'll also be hearing about how the cubs got on at their camp which finished yesterday and lasted throughout the Bank Holiday weekend.

Thinking ahead, come to our QUIZ NIGHT on Saturday 16th May.

Father Robert

PS If you want to read the sermon, email into the website and I can email a copy to you.

Baptisms coming up

2009-04-27T08:45:00.003Z

It's wonderful when anyone gets baptised and takes part in the sacrament that signifies entry into the Christian community: the body of Christ, if you want to be theological.

This Sunday, we'll be baptising Brooke Maya Hearne, the eighth person to be baptised in our church this year: and we've another 17 coming up, taking us through to the middle of August.
People get baptised mostly as babies, but sometimes we have young children, with the support of their parents, and sometimes the parents themselves! (Or just adults making this commitment to follow Christ.)

If you are interested in having your child baptised ("christened" is another word for it) or want to be baptised yourself, come to our parish office in church, any Saturday from 10.30am to 11.30am.

Father Robert

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T20:11:00.004Z

It was wonderful that so many people were able to join us for our Easter services.
On Sunday morning's eucharist, we had over 300 people, which is a record for a Sunday morning at our church. Apologies if you were one of those standing at the back: we hadn't quite scaled up, and we'll have to work out better next time how to fit everyone in more comfortably.

Holy Week really takes it out of you, as much emotionally and spiritually as anything else: the joy is meaningless unless there's the Cross too.
With that in mind, I'm on annual leave for the next fortnight, so no posts here for a while, but there's still plenty happening.
We've our parish Annual General meeting next Sunday (19th) and there are weddings both on Sat 18th and Sat 25th April.

Meanwhile, we'll be making more preparations for the Chapel on the Hill now that we've a bit more time to focus more generally.

In the meantime, happy Easter to everyone.

Father Robert

PS Thanks to Jonathan for this great photo.

PPS Check out the amazing DVD of "The Land of Green Ginger" produced by Tapp enterprises. The quality of production is simply amazing, and does rather better than do us justice. It makes us better than we actually were! Available for a fiver after Church.

There are 52 weeks in a year, there's only one Holy Week

2009-04-06T08:38:00.002Z

What an amazing service yesterday with our procession behind a donkey. Over 200 people were with us, carrying palm crosses.
This week coming has something for everyone.
Monday 8pm: Eucharist with Meditation
Tuesday 8pm: Eucharist with Meditation
Wednesday 12 noon & 8pm: Agape Meals. These are informal meals interspersed with a celebration of communion, led by one of the priests. Everyone is included. Come and see if you haven't been before. it's lovely and you'll be very welcome. Very moving.
Thursday 8pm: Maundy Thursday Eucharist with washing of feet . This is followed by a watch at our Easter Garden until midnight. The service starts at 8pm and recalls the Last Supper until Jesus' betrayal in the Garden at Gethsemane. Beautiful and sad too.
Friday 12 noon: (adults) Silence and readings till 2pm, then Liturgy from 2pm to 3pm This includes the ancient practice of venerating the Cross.
Friday 12.30-3.30pm: (children) Good Friday Workshop with activities. Easter based activities: making banners, Easter bonnets, painting eggs, hot cross buns etc.etc. Finishing up with a song pointing forward to Easter in the Church itself.
Saturday 8pm: Easter Eve. Service as the Easter light is brought into the church, the great readings of salvation are read ("The Vigil"), and Christ is risen. Followed by fireworks and baked potatoes.
Sunday 10am: Easter Day Eucharist. The great celebration. Christ has risen. We all gather together. Full of joy and fun (and an Easter Egg hunt afterwards.)

Even if you don't normally come to Church, this year, come and see!
Father Robert

Drawing into Holy Week: Palm Sunday soon

2009-04-01T12:44:00.002Z

Now our Lent courses are drawing to an end, after some very powerful moments of discussion and prayer and we're gearing up for Holy Week.
For clergy, classically, it's a really busy time, as there are leaflets to distribute, services to prepare, books to print...
but all the time the focus has to be on the Cross and the Resurrection. Which isn't busy at all.

You're very welcome to all our Holy Week services: from Sun April 5th to Sun April 12th.
We start this coming Sunday, Palm Sunday at 10am, with our journey behind a donkey around the streets (the donkey will be residing in the vicarage garden on Saturday night!).
Then on Monday and Tuesday evening, at 8pm, there are meditative eucharists;
on Wednesday, our Agape meals, at 12 noon and 8pm;
on Thursday, Maundy Thursday, at 8pm we recall the Last Supper in a service that ends with a watch into the night, for those who wish to stay (last year, there were a dozen of us.);
on Good Friday there are options. For those who want a silent meditative time, come to church at 12 midday, and in the church part of the building, there will be a solemn service;
in the Hall, from 12.30pm, there will be fun for children in our Good Friday workshop . This is free and includes a bundle of Easter related activities. It goes on till 3 when we go into church for a short service;
on Saturday, at 8pm, we have our Easter Eve liturgy, including ancient plainsong in the Exsultet and anointing with oil; this is followed by fireworks and baked potatoes. It's a great service.
finally, on Sunday, Easter Day, at 10am, we have our celebration of the Resurrection with our first eucharist.

These services are highlights of the year, moments of occasional dread, awe and joy as we relive Jesus's last week on earth and the moment of his resurrection. Don't miss out.

Lent, Coffee, People, Mothers, Baptism and Marriage

2009-03-22T14:20:00.004Z

Those six words are an unlikely mix, but they all mean something about what's happening in our Church this week.

Lent

Our Lent courses this week will be tackling "Life, Death and Eternity". We'll be thinking about our experience of bereavement, or understanding of death and the life eternal, and thinking about the difference that also makes to our life now. It won't be easy, but it will be powerful and important.
Our reflections on the Station of the Cross continue at 4pm this Sunday.

Coffee

Our Coffee shop celebrated its third birthday last week. From left to right: Sheila, May, Pat, Anne, Denise, Lynne, Marie and Janie. All are among the helpers who celebrated with cake (and yes, coffee) last Tuesday.
It's open Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 11-4.
Cappuccinos, fair trade goods, or home made soup with a crusty roll for £2.20. It's a sign of hospitality too - all are welcome - and we're grateful for it. Do drop by if you haven't been before. You could pass by into the church too perhaps, to light a candle for someone you love.

People
287 people came to our Mothering Sunday service earlier today. That's more people than have attended on a Sunday morning since the turn of the Millennium. I suspect it's the most people on a Sunday morning in the last 25 years.
Why mention that? Do 'bums on seats' matter? Of course, bums themselves aren't particularly important. But they do come with people attached. And we believe people are important and that there's something special people can get when they come to Church. So it's worth celebrating the fact that so many of us were there today.
'Mothering' is especially important too, so it was a beautiful service. And what a beautiful day too!

Baptism
Next Sunday, we're celebrating Philippa Green's baptism at the 2pm service. It's going to be beautiful and meaningful. We look forward to welcoming you if you're one of those attending and, if you're a Godparent or Sponsor, please make sure you're there that little bit early.

Marriage
Last but not least, our marriage preparation course starts tomorrow (Monday) evening at my house, 20 Gaynesford Road and continues on Saturday at Church in the studio. This is a vital part of taking marriage seriously and building a firm relationship for the future. It's also always a really enjoyable course, so that's something to look forward to.

Father Robert

Mothering Sunday

2009-03-19T11:42:00.004Z

Time to get the flowers ordered by Interflora, or the chocolates from M&S...

Or you could come to Church on Sunday, where we'll be giving out a bunch of daffodils to everyone who is a mother or is like a mother to us.

Because the Church has been surprisingly subtle in its name. This isn't Mother's Day. it isn't just for Mothers. It is for people who bring the characteristics of Mothers. It's Mothering Sunday.

Yes, being a mother is powerful but it's not the only way. One quarter of women born in 1970 will never be mothers. 100% of men born at any time will never be mothers.

But we can try to be mother-like. To bring those characteristics to bear.

See Luke 13.33. "I was like a mother hen gathering her brood under her wings." Thus Jesus.

I'll leave the theological developments of that theme to you.

Join us at 10am on Sunday.

(What about the picture? It's by local artist Anita Klein and just seems to capture the spirit of Mothering. I can't say it's religious, but there's something special about it.)

Chapel on the Hill

As I write, there are more developments: Father John is with a diocesan representative checking out the snagging problems. Below is Ian, hard at work doing some measuring. He and Robin gave the electrics a thorough analysis last week.

Father Robert

Chapel on the Hill developments

2009-03-14T15:08:00.002Z

Well, we're now "in": we've got the keys to the Chapel. See below Ian (churchwarden), Father John, Martin (churchwarden emeritus) and Bud (churchwarden extremely emeritus) check out the main space.
Yes, there are lots of teething troubles, but yes, it's also an exciting development for us.

I've just returned from the Chapel on the Hill now (Saturday afternoon), and Ian and our electrics man Robin have been checking out some of the circuiting. There will be work going on on all sorts of areas from now on. For example, I'm currently ensuring we get an address and a postcode! Even small things need attending to.

Meanwhile, of course, Lent continues.
Our Lent groups were brilliantly attended once again this week: we were dealing with our personal relationships, and this week, we're dealing with the wider world.

All part of Making the Difference .

And of course Stations of the Cross continue at 4pm.
If you haven't visited us before, you're always welcome.
Remember, our main worship is the eucharist at 10am each Sunday.

Father Robert
PS Thanks to everyone who filled in the "Signs of Growth" questionnaire. I'm sure it will throw up some fascinating information for the diocese and for every one of us.

Lent courses, Stations of the Cross

2009-03-04T16:29:00.002Z

Our Lent courses are off and running now, and we had a great session about Values.
The lunchtime had 8 people and the evening course had 25 and we're expecting similar numbers on Friday, which is fantastic.
Here's a short-circuited version of one exercise:
What one value do you hold dearest of the following five?
Plain-speaking, caring for others, family, kindness, fairness.
Why are you drawn to one more than the others?
To what extent is this driven out of the Gospel? Can God build on your values, as they are, or do you need to adjust your sights?
Next week, we're thinking about how our values permeate our relationships. It'll be great and it's not too late to join.

If you join us at the Sunday eucharist (8am or 10am) this week, you'll be taking part in a mammoth diocesan survey about why people come to church. It's never been done on this scale before and should be really worth it. Eventually, the results will feed into academics at the University of London and it will tell us more about the heart of our church than anything done before.

Finally, do join us for meditations on the first three Stations of the Cross, at 4pm on Sunday. This is the first of the occasions when we consider Christ's final day. Quiet and beautiful, different members of the Church take it in turns to lead. This will be at 4pm every Sunday for the next five weeks.

Father Robert

Ash Wednesday, Lent Courses

2009-02-25T13:48:00.002Z

Tonight, at 8pm, there's a special service for Ash Wednesday with the Imposition of Ashes.

It's a time to reflect on our own place within the world: "You are made from ashes and to ashes you shall return." Serious words for a serious reminder.

Ash Wednesday kicks off Lent, a big time for spiritual reconfiguration and recommitment. I know of hardly any other church which takes Lent courses so seriously.

That's partly because they are good - I guarantee that you'll be interested and energised by them - but also because people here take their faith seriously.

31 people have signed up already. Please consider adding your name too. it's also a great way of getting to know other people in the congregation.

Tuesday 12 noon

Tuesday 7.45pm

Friday 12.30

Friday 7.45pm

Each session lasts a total of two hours, but that includes sharing a simple meal together first.

This year's theme is "Making the Difference", as we look at ourselves, our lives, our friendships (our enemies?), our understanding of death and the hereafter... and then see what difference the new perspective makes. I guess it's trying to see our lives more closely from God's perspective than we do normally.

Also worth noting, a Service of Healing and Wholeness, at 4pm this Sunday.

Father Robert

Pantomime, Chapel developments, Lent soon

2009-02-16T14:55:00.002Z

This week, do come to the sensational Pantomime at the parish church, Vancouver Road The Land of Green Ginger. We run for four performances only, Thursday 19th Feb, 7.30pm, Friday 20th Feb, 7.30pm, Saturday 21st Feb, 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

The costumes are extraordinary, the set is going up right now, and the acting is ludicrous.

Meanwhile, we're pushing ahead with the more mundane things about the Chapel: getting the address registered with the post office, sorting out refuse collection... It's not glamorous but it's part of what we need to do to get the project going and make ready for all the properly spirit-filled things that will take place there. if you want to book the office space, then call us on 0208613 0295. We aren't always able to respond directly, but we will get back to you.

Finally, of course, Lent is coming up. We take Lent seriously here and Lent groups are always well attended. We're preparing the material right now.

Father Robert

Pantomime, The Land of Green Ginger

2009-02-11T16:53:00.002Z

Oh yes it is. Oh, no it isn't...

If you walk past the church on any evening this week, you're quite likely to find some of these lines being given with gusto. It's last minute rehearsal time for "The Land of Green Ginger." The costume fitting is on Sunday when we're also building the set. Dress rehearsal is next Wednesday and the curtain goes up on Thursday. 8 days' time.

The entire cast is from the congregation and we're bringing out some unlikely talents. But the leading lady has got tonsilitis, the chief comic lead has been felled by a chest infection, and the pantomime dame has lost his hearing aid and so can't hear his cues...

Can we pull it off despite the challenges?
Will Abu Ali win Silverbud's hands despite the Evil princes?

You'll just have to come to find out.
Thursday 19th Feb, 7.30pm
Friday 20th Feb, 7.30pm
Saturday 21st Feb, 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

Tickets for £5. Concessions for £3.
It's going to be great.

Father Robert

Snow can't stop the parish pantomime

2009-02-03T09:45:00.006Z

For those who aren't around, this is what the Church and the Chapel on the Hill are like right now.

Of course, it's fabulously beautiful, and the snow has created a wonderful community spirit, but it also makes life harder for quite a few of us who find it hard to get about with ice around.

In terms of upcoming notices, we've two more weddings on Saturday, Granz and Tracian and Gareth and Kerry-ann.

And the big parish pantomime. The Land of Green Ginger is coming up on 19th to 21st February. It's a sequel to Aladdin.

Father John is Tictac Ping Foo, the evil prince trying to stop the heroic Abu Ali (yours truly, though I say it myself) from winning the hand of the beautiful Silverbud (Naomi).

You may also see Father Alan as Widow Twanky, Paul as the Genie of the lamp, Graham as Sulkpot Ben Nag Nag, Silverbud's irate father, Trudi as a button nosed tortoise and Reverend Michael, as Rubdub Ben Thud, Tictac's ally cum foe. Angelina Jolie stars as the evil princess.

What will happen, will it end happily ever after? You'll have to come and see.

Of course, all the cast all know their lines. (Oh, no, they don't. Oh yes, they do...)

Thursday 19th to Saturday 21st. Doors open 7.30pm each night. Tickets on sale from this Sunday.

Fr Robert

PS I was lying about Angelina Jolie.

2009 - an amazing year ahead

2008-12-30T12:48:00.003Z

The highlight of the year is definitely going to be the opening of our new church building, the Chapel on the Hill, which will occur during the first months of 2009.

It's going to host a variety of services and events, from a club for people who want to learn English as a second language, to healing services, Taize style services and more.

There is office space as well as the main worship area, which will be available for hire: a unique and highly practical setting.

As for the main parish church, of course services will continue there with all vigour.

Please do join us at 10am on a Sunday morning if you haven't come before. We do our best to provide an environment that offers both fun and spiritual sustenance.

Two further notes: Father Robert will be on parental leave from 3rd January for three weeks, and Father John will also be on annual leave for a fortnight in January, so be patient if your enquiries to them are not answered as fast as you would hope.

Also, this blog probably won't be updated again for a while. Don't let that stop you coming to church!

Father Robert

Christmas services timetable

2008-12-16T16:14:00.004Z

Over 2,500 people have come to worship at our church this year of one form or another.

Why not join us this Christmas?

Sunday 21st December 10am: Final Sunday of Advent, Guest preacher, Louise Vincer, who used to be an associate priest here.

Sunday 21st December, 4pm: Carol service, all your favourites as we tell the Christmas story. Gluwein and mince pies afterwards!

Christmas Eve: Wed 24th December, 4pm: Crib and Christingle service. See the donkey ride in to church, light the candle in the christingle, take a cracker home. Come dressed as a shepherd, an angel, or just as you are. (NB Arrive early if you want a seat as this service is really popular.)

Christmas Eve: Wed 24th December, carols from 11pm, service starts 11.30pm: Midnight Mass.

Magical, mysterious and awesome. Welcome in Christmas Day at this nighttime service.

Christmas Day: 10am. Bring your toys and sing to the new born Christ child.

More sadly, there's also a funeral happening in Church, on Monday 22nd December at 9.45am for Viretta Pink. This will also be a beautiful occasion.

And, as promised, another photo from the Chapel on the Hill, our soon-to-open new building. This time, it's me with Reverend Sheila, checking out the staircase leading to the worship space.
Father Robert

Chapel on the Hill coming (as is Christmas)

2008-12-08T17:30:00.003Z

Each week, we'll be adding an image from our new Chapel on the Hill. This (to the left) is the restored stained glass window (and, I think, Father John's head at the bottom right!).

While it's a small space, it's quite high and will make a peaceful, beautiful place for worship.

Meanwhile, our Christmas Fayre at the parish church went well. Hundreds of people came, we made £3170, and I'm just finishing off the last of Paul Tapp's exceptional chocolate muffins as I type this into the blog. Thank you to all who helped, or attended.

This Sunday is an All age parade Sunday, when the prayers will be led by our little beavers (smaller than cubs or brownies.) Our guest preacher will be Jane Steen, who's the canon theologian at Southwark cathedral.

If you like music, come to Sainsbury's on Wednesday 17th between 6.30pm and 7.30pm and you'll hear us Carol singing . Join in, if you like!

Our formal carol service will be on Sunday 21st Dec at 4pm.

Father Robert

The Chapel on the Hill (and the Christmas Fayre)

2008-11-30T14:20:00.004Z

The Chapel on the Hill is the new building opening up in our parish. New, but also old, because it's re-opening on the site of the old Christ Church building.

The big church with a huge spire that you can see from Forest Hill station: that's now 70% flats, but 30% worship space. We're now almost in: above you can see John going up the staircase and below Father Alan and Father John taking tape measurements to check on new fittings.

On the ground floor are various rooms that will be available for hire. Do you need an office? A room for a toddler group? A yoga centre? Above is a lovely worship space. Think about us and drop us an email.

But then there's also the usual stuff happening at Church.

Our big Christmas Fayre is this coming Saturday

Saturday 6th December 12pm-3pm.

See you there!

Fr Robert

PS The Fayre is at the parish church, not the Chapel on the Hill

Coming up, a healing service, a Christmas Fayre

2008-11-24T14:49:00.002Z

This coming Sunday may only be November 30th in most people's calendar, but it is the first day of the Church's year! Advent Sunday.
We'll be lighting our advent candle in church, because now the wait begins in which we look forward to the entrance of God into the world at Christmas.

We'll also be holding a Healing Service at 4pm this Sunday.

Look out for our Christmas Fayre, on Saturday December 6th between 12pm and 3pm.
Come and pick up some fantastic bargains!

Fr Robert

Back from Walsingham

2008-11-17T17:23:00.002Z

A party of 27 pilgrims, well, 28 if you include Tessa, a very young pilgrim, went from St George Christ Church St Paul up to Walsingham last weekend, and had a beautiful time.

To the right you see our group doing the Stations of the Cross and then further right, Pat and Sheila on the walk out towards the Slipper Chapel.

Going on pilgrimage is a very special time: it's not just a holiday, because the place and context lift all the conversations one has out into a deeper, more meaningful realm.

I'm sure all that went have returned refreshed and inspired in some way, even though Walsingham also contains some of the quirkier parts of the Anglican tradition. People this year were especially amused by the feet disappearing into the ceiling of the Ascension side chapel.

Wonderful, all the same.

Do join us this coming Sunday for our service celebrating "Christ the King": we'll have a 'bring and share' lunch afterwards: bring something very simple to share and we'll all chat.

Also, have the Christmas Fayre in your diaries: Sat 6th December.

Time to pick up some belting bargains in these tough times.

God bless,

Father Robert

At the going down of the sun...

2008-11-06T16:39:00.002Z

Please join us for our Remembrance Day service this coming Sunday at 10am. (9th November).
It will be a beautiful occasion, with a silence at 11am, and in some senses chimes in with the theme of bringing the dead before God as we have done at All Saints and All Souls.

At our All Souls service, the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed, 130 people were present, remembering over 400 people, who were special to them. It was deeply moving as people came to light candles and the sight of the candles burning into the night, long after people had left the church, will remain will me for a long time.

Of course, at Remembrance Day, we especially remember those who have died in war, and this year, we'll be remembering what it was like to live through the Second World War through an interview with one of our parishioners, Bud, who was evacuated out of London when he was a boy.

Fr Robert

All Saints, All Souls, and recent events

2008-10-29T16:58:00.004Z

On the right and the left are some photos from our youth weekend that took place in Kent between Friday and Sunday. There were 11 of us and 18 young people form three other local churches. A great time was had by all.

Meanwhile, back at Church, of course, there were very special, if more solemn services, marking the death of Angie Ackland.
Thank you to all who attended the Requiem Mass on Friday night or Angie's Funeral on Saturday morning.
They were beautiful services, and in all over 500 people attended, a mark of the love in which she was held.
Father John is now taking a few days leave.

Coming up we have two special services, All Saints on Sunday morning at 10am and All Souls, a thanksgiving and commemoration of the faithful departed on Monday 3rd November at 8pm.
Please do come early to the All Souls, if you want to get a seat. It's a chance to remember loved ones and light a candle and take some rosemary in their memory.

For a service more obviously filled with joy, some of you may wish to come to Patrick and Lucia's wedding this Saturday (1st) or the Deanery Confirmation where Eto and George from our Church will be confirmed: Tuesday 4th, 8pm at St Barts.

Fr Robert

Requiem mass and Angie's funeral

2008-10-20T16:00:00.003Z

A requiem mass will be held for Angie on Friday evening (24th Oct) at 8pm. Bishop Christopher will preside at this.
Angie's body will remain in Church over night, and the funeral
will take place on Saturday 25th October, in the morning at 11.30am. The officiant will be Bruce Saunders, Canon Pastor at Southwark Cathedral who knew Angie well.
The family will be offering flowers. if you would like to make a donation
in her memory, they have requested that it be made to St Christopher's
where she received such care in the last few weeks of her life.
Everyone is welcome to both services.

Those away on the youth activity weekend will be offered the chance to attend the funeral. Special transport will be laid on for that.
Fr Robert

Harvest, thanks for God's creation

2008-10-14T11:08:00.002Z

Here are photos from our Harvest display in the Baptistry.

That doesn't mean we aren't still using it as a living font: Sophie was baptised here last Sunday and Byron and Milena will be baptised there this Sunday (19th) at 2pm.

Also there will be a Service of Healing and Wholeness this Sunday at 4pm. This is a time of gentleness and peace when people are invited to offer themselves for prayer in this particular way.

Details of Angie's funeral service will be posted here as soon as they are available.

Fr Robert

Sad news

2008-10-13T18:09:00.003Z

As many of you know, Angie, Father John's wife, died in the early hours of Saturday morning, at St Christopher's hospice. She had been ill for some months.

Angie was an amazing woman, who will be greatly missed, in many, many ways. Details of her funeral will be available in due course.

Fr Robert

Harvest coming

2008-10-06T15:04:00.002Z

Last weekend saw 400 different people pass through the doors of St George Christ Church St Paul for one reason or other.

Some, like Nick and Sarah (left) came in to go through one of life's great moments themselves, in the presence of God.

We also had four people baptised on Sunday: Dejonte, George, Victoria and Andrew.

This was a very special service as people from different backgrounds and stages of life came together to be joined by baptism into the body of Christ.

Perhaps more sadly, early on Saturday morning, we also interred the ashes of Denis Moore in the garden of remembrance, but this too was an important service for a deeply loved member of the congregation.

This weekend sees our Harvest celebration.

On Saturday night, there's a Harvest supper. On Sunday morning, we've our All Age parade Harvest service.

It's going to be a great celebration of God's creation and all that's in it.

Please do join us: 10am on Sunday 12th.

A weekend of activities

2008-09-29T08:53:00.003Z

This weekend, we'll start off with a moment of respect before we move on up to celebration.
At 11am on Saturday (4th), we'll be interring Denis Moore's ashes in the Memorial Garden. Denis, a former churchwarden and long time member of the congregation, died in the summer and is greatly missed by everyone.
Then, at 2pm, we gear up again for Nick and Sarah's wedding, which promises to be a fabulous occasion.
Moving on to Saturday, there are our normal Sunday services, but also a quadruple baptism at 2pm. Yes, four people coming forward: two are adults, two are babies, and it's going to be wonderful. The Christian community is made up of all sorts of people and this is how it will be on Sunday afternoon.

Further ahead, look out for our Harvest festival on Sunday 12th October.
A time to celebrate and remember the glories of God's creation and the struggle and responsibility of using it wisely.

Fr Robert

New term, new season, prayers heard

2008-09-15T12:34:00.003Z

The middle of September sees things really begin to gel, as everyone is now back from their holidays.

Yesterday was spectacular: not one but three baptisms: Emily, Albert and Taylor. Emily and Albert were terrific, but the last baptism (Taylor's) I missed as I was running a labyrinth in Sainsbury's car park as part of the "Here Our Prayer" weekend (see below): (I'm sure it went well). It felt encouraging to feel the life and love around these children in a week where we've been dealing with death, with the funerals of Sue Simmons and Gladys Byron. Both were beautiful occasions, led by Father John, worthy of the special people we were remembering and entrusting to God's care.

Here Our Prayer

http://www.hereourprayer.webeden.co.uk/.

The Churches of Forest Hill and Sydenham got together to do all sorts of events last weekend, from the rosary in the Catholic church to a labyrinth in Holy Trinity, Sydenham. The labyrinth I was involved in was in Sainsbury's car park and passers by who got intrigued could come in or just stand at the side and ask questions. A labyrinth involves a person taking a literal journey around pathways, stopping off at stations on the way. At each station, through a physical act - playing with magnets and a compass, dropping a stone - they are encouraged to think through a reality for them: working out what is a 'false north', attracting them away from the 'true north' of a compass, that might pass to God. Or it could be any number of these things.

The number and quality of conversations I had with those passing by was great.

I also had the privilege of hosting Brother Hugh Tibbotts for the night, who came to join us for the weekend from the Franciscan community in Hilfield.

http://franciscans.org.uk/h-hilfield.html

Among other things, we discussed whether there was such a thing as a "new monasticism" and his delight at the way our weekend had embraced both free churches, Protestant denominations and catholics.

If you still want to get a flavour of Here Our Prayer, you could visit our Stitch and Bloom exhibition which will be up till the end of Monday, displaying the creativity and spirituality behind the visual in our church: vestments and flowers. And there's a session on Prayer in Jewish Life on Wednesday night: see the website.

Next week sees our Marriage Preparation Day, as we gather with the couples about to commit their lives to each other. That's on Saturday (20th September).

Otherwise, I look forward to seeing you on Sunday, for our usual service at 10am.

Fr Robert

Upcoming Events and Services

2008-09-03T09:45:00.002Z

First, a reminder of times for two upcoming funerals.
Sue Simmons' funeral will take place in Church on Monday 8th September at 2pm, followed by the Committal at Honor Oak crematorium.
Gladys Byron's funeral will take place in Church on Thursday 11th September at 3pm.

And though they will be sad, they will also each be times for thanksgiving for their lives.

This weekend, from 1pm, there's a party in the vicarage hosted by John and Angie to thank the parish for their support at this time.
From2.45pm, there's an event in Blackheath, All Saints' church for youth (people 10-18). There's a multitude of activities, including football led by yours truly, but finishing with a service and then a picnic afterwards. It will be great.

The weekend after this, there's the great Here Our Prayer weekend for Forest Hill and Sydenham. (12th to 14th Sept) see www.hereourprayer.webeden.co.uk.

We will be having a special set of prayers in the morning on Saturday from 9.30am followed by a festival of flowers and vestments and how we use them during the Church Year: Stitch and Bloom.

Look out too for the chance to go up in a hot air balloon: only possible if you come to the All Age parade service on Sunday 14th at 10am.
That will also be the time for a double baptism: Albie and Emily, brother and sister.

Fr Robert

Grieving people

2008-08-26T13:06:00.002Z

August is always a strange month for a parish church. So many people are away that the congregation often feels untypical. We've got newcomers who are just visiting, whilst the regulars are in Cornwall/ Florida/ France etc.
(As for me, I've been to a wet St Andrews in Scotland.)
And yet whilst the regulars will return in September, there are some who won't, in that it has been August when they have died.
Sue Simmonds and Gladys Byron are two of these.
To describe Sue as a pillar of the church would be true but also somehow not quite right. Sue was much too fun a person to be described as a pillar, and yet what she has done is remarkable. For many, many years, she led our cub pack; literally hundreds of children were guided by her over the years, and and she had an impact on other people in many, many ways. With good humour and great wisdom, she's been on the side of the angels for many years, looking out for people. As I looked out on the congregation last Sunday, I really felt her loss.
She's been away quite often anyway, because of her cancer, but there is something numbing about knowing that someone won't return.
Gladys too will be missed, making her entrance into church, accompanied by George. Unable to express herself because of her multiple strokes, she still carried something in her eyes that was very special.
Both their funerals will happen in the coming weeks: Sue's on 8th September at 2pm: Gladys' is yet to have a date.
And of course life will go on. The school term will start and there will be a bundle of activities, as there should be in a healthy community: Sue would have been the first to say that.
And yet, and yet... however great one's faith, death is hard to deal with.
We will miss them both greatly, even as we pray for them and their families.
Fr Robert.

Return from Taize... pilgrimages and events in the future

2008-08-11T14:51:00.005Z

The small party of us (see right) who went to Taize are now returned after a fabulous week.

For those who don't know, Taize is a tiny village in Burgundy, France, where in the 1940s, a young Swiss man, Roger Schutz, set up home intending to start a small community of brothers, with a vision for greater unity among Christians and a life of simplicity and prayer.

Somehow his vision caught light and not only did the number of brothers eager to join him grow, but they also had increasing numbers of visitors.

By the 1960s, they had to build a new church to accommodate them all. (the stained glass, above left, is from the church: it was designed by Brother Eric.)

Today, though Brother Roger is now dead, there are around 100 brothers and they cater to tens of thousands of visitors each year: last week, as well as the four of us from Forest Hill, were 5,000 other young people from 61 different countries, all there to spend a week together.

To find out more, go to www.taize.fr.

For me, I'd been there before: it was the place where I first sensed a calling to be a priest, and it was magical to return, to somewhere both familiar and strange. Naomi and Claire had also been in previous years, though not for some time: for Trudi, it was her first visit.

I think we all found it both profound and incredibly enjoyable. Hopefully, others will come from Forest Hill again in the future. It's a simply incredible place, and one particularly worth capturing when in your younger days (i.e. under 30). There is an extraordinary combination of simplicity and depth in the way the community leads you to encounter God that is rarely found elsewhere.

If you can't wait for another summer to go round (or if you're feeling your age might be somewhat beyond thirtysomething), then why not consider another pilgrimage: to Walsingham, in November 2008. There's a party of us going for a weekend then, and it's one of the other incredible places of pilgrimage open to people who live in London. Instead of being 10 hours South of London, it's 2 and a half hours northeast: but a special place all the same. Or then, there's the trip to Oberammergau in 2010...

Closer to home, there have been weddings already at church this month and there are more to come, and looking ahead, there's an exciting ecumenical "Here Our Prayer" event on the weekend of Sept 12-14th (just over a month away).

See www.hereourprayer.webeden.co.uk for the main web page giving information.

You can also see the rather extraordinary thread on this subject at the web forum, se23.com.

http://www.se23.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=1019

Clearly, not everyone is sympathetic to Christians getting together to pray, but it already shows a lot of interest. All publicity is good publicity, someone once said.

And - of course - our Church remains open for the perhaps more mundane things, the weekly breaking of bread at the eucharist: for most, that's on Sundays, but we also have services on Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings.

Beyond that, there's the future new church building (see Father John's post below).

Loads of people have already stated their preference for the name: come to Church on Sunday and you'll be able to have your two pennies worth. It'll be up and running soon enough.

Father Robert

Our Next New Church!

2008-07-31T12:32:00.002Z

Look out for our new church opening this year on Church Rise Forest Hill. We are now searching for the best name for our new resource. Can you help us? Give us your comments on the 5 names we have selected for your views and opinions! See the New Church Comment Sheet in the lobby of the parish church.

Fr John

Pilgrimages and trips, Taize, Walsingham

2008-07-29T15:35:00.003Z

As the gorgeous summer sun warms us all up, many people's thoughts turn to holidays. People from our congregation are currently in France, Portugal, Devon and Florida.

For four of us, though, our next holiday is more of a holiday as we go to Taize, the religious community in Eastern France to join 5,000 young people, all seeking God in the extraordinary community that exists there. There's a picture here, but you can find out more here: http://www.taize.fr/.

If that whets your appetite, but you're too late to sign up for that one, think about joining us for our parish pilgrimage to Walsingham. There's a great history from this parish of going to Walsingham: it is, after all, the place voted the most spiritual place in England and a place of pilgrimage for Henry VIII no less!

This is happening in November and will be a great weekend. There's something about that place that speaks to people of all spiritualities, even if it's traditionally Anglo Catholic. There's already 25 people signed up, both veterans and first timers.

Otherwise, there are the usual summer excitements of weddings in church to look forward to. Always a joyous occasion. God bless all the couples being married with us this summer.

Fr Robert

Healing service coming, picnic gone, and a day in the Sun

2008-07-21T21:39:00.003Z

It's not too often that our Church appears in "The Sun" and generally that's the way we like it, but this morning's paper was an exception. Pedro and Karene's wedding was such an extraordinary story that it's not surprising someone picked up on it. Can you imagine giving birth only to get married three hours later?
If you want to know more, read on with this link:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/real_life/article1447133.ece

We had a great parish picnic yesterday, as the food ambled into rounders and football. Luke Cottrell (5) particularly impressed the talent scouts: look out for his mazy runs in the future, and after all, England has always lacked decent left-sided midfield players. Thanks especially to Ian Bainbridge for organising it.

And coming up this Sunday, as well as our usual Sunday eucharist, we have our healing service at 4pm in the afternoon. This is a quiet time for offering of one's self to God. There will be laying on of hands and anointing with oil. It's deeply peaceful and a time to reconnect one's whole mind, body and spirit and bring it before God.

Leaving school, getting confirmed, the parish picnic!

2008-07-14T12:15:00.003Z

Can you remember when you first learned to ride a bike? Your first kiss? Your first bereavement?

We all experience changes in life. At St George Christ Church St Paul, we've experienced that in various ways in the last week.

First, we hosted the Big Year Six Event. If you're in Year Six, that means you're 11 years old and you're about to leave primary school (where you've been top dog) and go to secondary school, where once more you're very small fish in a very big pond. Of course, that carries with it worries as well as excitements.
Four classes of Year Sixes from local church schools got together last Tuesday and Wednesday to think about this. Partly, it was about learning new skills: see the photo on the right as they try out various circus activities.
Partly, it was about meeting people, just as they will come September. Partly, it was about thinking together with other children what their concerns are. There was a conference in the middle of the two days when they could ask a panel of secondary school children just what their experiences of being at secondary school were. It was a great event and we look to repeat it again next year.

Then on Sunday evening, we had a change of a completely different kind. Eight people, four at secondary school and four a bit older (the oldest in his fifties), were confirmed into the Church of England. One, Rob, was also baptised.

For all of them, their faith stories were different and unique to them. One had experienced church in Zambia, one in Greece's Orthodox church, one an Alpha course in Bromley! Yet all wanted a new commitment in themselves to the Christian faith and the Church.

Bishop Christopher came to confirm them just before he goes off with other bishops from all over the world to the Lambeth Conference.
The theme of his sermon was that family of God, and it really did feel that the family was extending on Sunday evening.

Look out this week for our parish picnic directly after the service on Sunday (i.e. midday). We'll be going to Mayow park. They'll be rounders-type games and food.

Summer time events

2008-06-29T06:13:00.002Z

Thank you to everyone who participated in the summer fair, whether through running a stall, having their face painted, or just buying a raffle ticket.
We raised over £3000 and the community happily passed through our doors.
These events are partly about income: £3000 is a major boost to us in raising the money we need to run our church for a year. They are also a lot about welcome.
People are welcome to our Church.
Of course, we'd hope people are welcome any time, but sometimes it's easier to start by stepping through the door and throwing a coconut at the coconut shy than it is to come in on a Sunday morning.
So thank you and welcome.

As for other upcoming events, this afternoon, we have Joseph and Hope's baptism, which will be very special, and of course around the diocese ordinations are happening, a very special day for those involved.

On Friday, the A-men club are meeting for their annual wine tasting. That's at Father Robert's house from 7.30pm on Friday. In two weeks' time on Saturday, the young people will have their annual summer trip, this year to Thorpe Park, and then on the Sunday, we will be hosting a Confirmation.

Confirmation is where people, either at the cusp of adulthood, or adults themselves, commit themselves to faith in the Christian Church. It's a confirmation of baptismal vows made on our behalf when we were children, a commitment to journeying with the Christian community for our lives. That will be at 6pm on Sunday 13th July.

Fr Robert

Ordinary heroes

2008-06-16T18:17:00.002Z

A lot of Christianity is the curious mix between ordinariness and miracle.
Listening to the radio today, I heard one of those moments. The parents of Jimmy Mizen, the 16 year old killed in South East London six weeks ago, gave a remarkable interview about their preparations for the funeral of their son.
(You can download it here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/mayo/)
They showed a level of compassion, calm and love for their son without the bitter rancour that could easily have overwhelmed their lives.
As I listened, I realised I was listening to people who were saints. Not in the sense that they are perfect, but in the Christian sense of people who truly understand God's love and their own place in the world. And these are not saints in distant lands or times: we aren't talking about the 1500s or India or anything. These saints are here and now, walking the streets of South East London.
inspiring.

But look out for more church events:
Garden Fete is on Sat 28th June, 12 midday to 3pm.
This is an old-fashioned church fair in the best tradition. Bargains galore, activities and Caribbean food: fingers crossed for good weather.

We also have baptisms coming up both on the afternoon of the 22nd and of the 29th June and a confirmation on Sunday July 13th. It's wonderful to have people joining us in these seminal moments in people's lives.

Fr Robert

PS Father John is on annual leave at the moment and won't be back till Thursday 26th.
I'm also on annual leave from this coming Thursday (19th) until the Garden Fete.

Faith and works

2008-06-01T17:56:00.002Z

This week, we've been considering heaven. More specifically, how one gets there.

Is it to do with works - what we do - or faith - what we believe?

Why this sudden question? it was inspired by our old friend, the lectionary. The lectionary readings for this week were Romans 3.22ff, allied to Matthew 7.21-29. Look them up if you're feeling keen.

Broadly speaking, Romans indicates it's about faith. Matthew 7.21 indicates that works and actions are significant too: you can't just say, "I'm a Christian". You need to live that perspective out. Faith and faith alone isn't quite enough...
(Discuss...)

But there's another question. Granted, we can't earn it: it's about grace, as Luther showed us: then how exactly does Christ save all humanity?
A lot (perhaps unbelievably) hinges on your translation of an obscure Greek word - "Hilasterion" - so we spent some time on that too. For a good commentary on this, see a fellow blogger:
http://theogeek.blogspot.com/2007/07/hilasterion-in-romans-325.html

On the one hand, this is esoteric scholar-speak; on the other hand, this is about considering how on earth God considers that we are good enough to join him in heaven.

If we take scripture seriously (and we do), then we have to consider what it might be saying. And ultimately, life and death are theological issues, as well as ones that shatter us and inspire us emotionally and in our relationships.

So even if we all had sore heads at the end of the service this morning, it's worth it every now and then. We need to think our faith as well as feel it.

Fr Robert

"This is my body..."

2008-05-22T10:46:00.002Z

This Sunday is the feast of Corpus Christi.

What is it and where does it come from?

Well, the clue that it's a festival originating in the Roman Catholic Church is in the name: "Corpus Christi" is Latin for "Body of Christ".

And it's a festival where we have time and space to think about the eucharist.

In certain churches, like the one on the left, a blessed host will be processed around the local area in a solemn procession. This was definitely what happened when this feast day was first instituted by the Pope in the 13th Century.

It's part of a 'high' church practice and was definitely NOT what the Reformers thought was appropriate behaviour when they formed the Church of England in the 16th Century. In one of the 39 Articles (the basis for the Church of England, written under Queen Elizabeth I's reign, it specifies: "The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped." (Article 37).

Others would acknowledge that this wasn't the essence of Christ's command: it doesn't mean it's pointless, though.

What I remember, irreligious though it may sound, is the advice of TV chef Ainsley Harriott on preparing meals for "Ready, Steady, Cook": "It should be a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach." If food is something we see as well as eat, can there not be a time when we simply view the blessed bread? We are still 'consuming' it, just in a different way.

Join us on Sunday, where Bishop Christopher will be presiding.

There won't be a procession like in the picture. There will be a time to meditate on the miracle of God's presence amongst us. And there will be a time to reconsider the institution of the eucharist, when Christ first blessed bread and uttered the words, "This is my body..."

Fr Robert

I baptise you...

2008-05-15T19:34:00.002Z

"I baptise you, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

These words have been spoken throughout generation upon generation of Christians.

Baptism was a custom of the earliest Christians, just as it's what we do today.

And these words may have been spoken of you, when you were a baby, or maybe as an adult.

Baptism is about a lot of things, but perhaps most of all, it's the seal and sign of God's love for an individual coming into the world, an individual who is already part of the body of Christ.

I can't remember my baptism. I know it happened: it's in the records. In April 1975 in a church in South West London to be exact. But I can't remember it.

This Sunday (18th), for me, will be different, because it's when my own daughter (above!) will be baptised. I don't think I'm going to forget this one. I'll be very proud, I expect.

With infant baptism, it says almost as much about a family as it does about an individual baby, a family desiring this particular blessing on their child. It's one of many, many choices that parents make for their children: what they wear, when their bedtime is, what their bedroom will look like... it never ends. But this one is a special decision.

All are invited, as ever, for when this happens at the 10am service. Sainsbury's finest Cava will be served for everyone afterwards.

It's also "Trinity Sunday" in the Church's calendar. Time to think about what "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" actually mean. Why do we describe God in this way?

Father Robert

Cast your vote

2008-04-30T14:50:00.002Z

It's election time and St George Christ Church St Paul's parish church will be just one of the venues that act as polling stations.
There's a greater cast of characters than usual in this year's mayoral election, so the whole thing's been entertaining at the least. And of course, it's important to use the right we have of being able to vote. People have fought for this right over the centuries.
yet with the voting in one hall, and the church next door, it makes me think about how the idea of 'voting' works with the Christian world.
On Sunday afternoon, two young children, Kian Lee and Adina, were baptised. This coming Sunday, there will be another little girl, Ava. In these cases, the parents who have brought them forward are casting a kind of vote of faith in the Church. They want their children to receive God's blessing in this particular way.
And we'll even sign them with a cross, but in oil on their forehead, rather than in ink on a voting form.
If you're thinking of having your children baptised, do come to see us between 10.30am and 11.30am on any Saturday morning, and we'd be more than willing to talk you through how it would work.
Fr Robert

Return from "Easter" holidays

2008-04-19T17:50:00.002Z

The schools belatedly return from their Easter holidays today and that means that activity swings up again.
This Sunday, we'll be thinking about St George: St George is part of our name and it's fascinating to see how he has been appropriated over the years: is he purely an English saint or something more? Come along to find out.
This Sunday also sees the days of our "Annual Parochial General Meeting", where we review the year. It's been a fabulous year of great joys and also great sadnesses.
At this meeting, our 'officers' are appointed for the next year: an 'officer' in this context is someone formally serving on the PCC or such like, but so many people give so much for the church that it's churlish to see only this as significant. Creating beautiful flower displays, making coffee (and washing up) after the service, welcoming people as they enter, working in the charity shop, serving at the altar, reading aloud from the Bible, leading the intercessory prayers...
All these things are vital to the Church but don't involve being an 'officer' as such.
They do all, I suppose, relate to being a good Christian, however exactly you define that: it's certainly something for us all to aim for.
Fr Robert

Two weddings and a funeral

2008-04-02T16:30:00.002Z

The life of a parish contains moments of great joy and moments of great sadness, often in close proximity to each other.

This weekend there will be great joy with not one but two weddings on Saturday, both couples having completed our marriage preparation course and having got a lot out of it. To be present at such a joyful occasion is always a privilege and a pleasure.

To be present at a funeral is also a privilege, but it is, of course, a different kind of occasion altogether. It is made more poignant when, like Geoff Florentine (left), whose funeral takes place on Thursday, the person was still relatively young when he died.

Geoff was for a time the church warden at St George's, and was a kind, composed, gentle man. He was a computer programmer of some distinction and bore up to his illness with a quiet dignity. Unfortunately, despite two bone marrow transplants, the cancer never left him and he died three weeks ago.

He will be greatly missed.

The funeral takes place on Thursday 3rd April at 11am in Church.

Fr Robert

Resurrection!

2008-03-26T15:26:00.002Z

It was wonderful to be joined by so many people for our Holy Week services.
If you were one of them, whether you were baking Simnel cake or making masks at the Good Friday workshop, or seeing the Great Paschal candle get lit during the darkness on Saturday night, I hope you were touched, just as I was.
The next few weeks, on Sundays, we will be considering the outworkings of the Resurrection: okay, it happened, but what does it actually mean?
Meanwhile, there are other exciting lifestages to pass through. Baby Noah will be baptised on Sunday and Michael and Sal are getting married on Saturday.
More sadly, Geoff Florentine's funeral will be on Thursday April 3rd at 11am in Church. Geoff died a fortnight ago, after a long struggle with cancer. He will be greatly missed.
Fr Robert

There are 52 weeks in a year, there's only one Holy Week

2008-03-17T15:19:00.002Z

This is the most important week of the Christian year.
This is when we remember the events of one extraordinary week, two thousand years ago, when a man who claimed to be closer to God than anyone else in human history entered the holiest city in the world to the sounds of acclaim, left carrying a cross for his own death, and then finally rose again, appearing to those who loved him most.
It's the story that means there is new life for us all, even in life's darkest moments; it means that that there will be a new life beyond this one, a new life that is lived in the Spirit. It's a life of which we get glimpses on this earth, but we will only know fully when we get there.
This is Easter.
Join us at any or all of our services.
We will hold a special meal with a eucharist called an "Agape" meal on Wednesday both at lunchtime (12.30) and in the evening (8.00). Here, we have a simple supper and over the course of that meal we also recall the events of the Last Supper, sharing bread and wine, blessed by a priest.
Then on "Maundy" Thursday, at 8pm, we remember the Last Supper again, in particular Jesus' action of washing his disciples' feet. The service finishes in complete silence, and people are welcome to stay in church, praying with Jesus, just as he asked his disciples to do in the Garden in Gethsemane.
On Good Friday, the Church is split into two. In one half, there are meditative readings and then a service of memory, including Veneration of the Cross, between 12 midday and 3pm.
In the other half, there's a children's activity workshop between 12.15pm and 3pm. Do come along.
On Holy Saturday, we have a service at 8pm in the evening, where we recall what happened when the women found the empty tomb. There are fireworks afterwards.
This moment is completed on Easter Day with a jubilant eucharist, celebrating Jesus bursting from the tomb. It's new life and life in all its fulness. That's at 10am. Come early as it's one of our most popular services. Afterwards there's an Easter egg hunt in the garden (Fairtrade!)
We look forward to seeing you there.

it will break your heart. It will lift your soul.

Fr Robert

Lent draws closer to Easter

2008-03-08T15:00:00.003Z

Our Lent course is drawing to a close (the fifth and final week is this coming week) and we're contemplating with Jesus the approach of Holy Week.

You may have seen our church magazine, Steeple People. The front cover is a photo of the sculpture to the right, by the late Roy Ward, a member of our congregation.

We'll be thinking about the passion with a screening of Jesus Christ Superstar next Saturday (14th March) at 7.30pm and a discussion.

The same day, earlier, we're having our marriage Preparation Course for those getting married just after Easter.

It will be great.

And from there, we're coming to Palm Sunday and on...

Do join us.

It's a terrible tale but one that lifts you too.

It will break your heart and it will lift your soul.

Fr Robert

Mothering Sunday

2008-02-25T11:13:00.002Z

This week, you can feel the first hints of spring. The sun is out, the daffodils are beginning to reappear and in the middle of our Lenten discipline, then there's a break, when we celebrate mothering and what it means.
For me, a lot of it is caught up in this picture called "Cuddle" from a local artist, Anita Klein.
There's an openness and an intensity in this cuddle, and it's a natural fit with the link between a mother and a child.
Yet that's not the only context for this kind of love. This kind of love - nurturing, open, intense - can occur in a range of contexts. We all know what it is to be mothered and it would be rare if the only person who we had received it from was our own mothers.
That doesn't mean we don't celebrate motherhood. And it certainly doesn't mean I won't be sending my mum a card on the day: that would be a major offence if I didn't!
Rather, it's time to celebrate this most wonderful, intense (even divine-like?) of loves, and to do that in Church.
It's always one of our most popular services. So arrive early on Sunday (for the main 10am service) to get your seat!
Fr Robert
PS Meantime, our Lent courses continue to run, of course. This week, we're discussing Prayer, even as we think about Confession from last week.

Lent continues

2008-02-18T10:27:00.002Z

As Lent continues to draw us in, now is the time when it's harder to stick to that Lenten discipline which we began last week.
Our Lent course, Cleanse... Inspire... Perfect should help us some of the way there: it is full on Tuesdays at noon, Wednesday evenings and on Fridays at noon, but there are some spaces for the Tuesday evening slot.
This week, we'll be focussing on the Cleansing part through confession: this is largely in the context of private prayer and relationships, but could be in the context of confession to a priest.
We'll be thinking this through this week.
Fr Robert

Lent: Cleanse...Inspire...Perfect

2008-02-11T21:38:00.000Z

We are now in the season of Lent, the Church's season of penitence in anticipation of the drama, tragedy and triumph of Holy Week culminating in Easter Sunday.
Lots of people give up things for Lent: I've given up television and am reaping the benefits. I have so much time! But I am missing the new series "Ashes to Ashes", not to mention "Dancing On Ice". Oh well, I'll just have to get the DVD. And the house is extraordinarily quiet, which is great.
Fr John is fasting on Fridays, and you'll have heard about his successes and failures with that one if you were in Church on Sunday.
We're also marking Lent at our Church with a Lent course called Cleanse... Inspire... Perfect, a Spiritual Detox.
Basically, we're often too busy to see the wood for the trees in our lives. This week, we'll be thinking about what are things that are important to us, things that we know we need to address, but things we don't actually do.
It's a course written by Fr John that draws on the Bible, the liturgy of the Church and the insights of human resources psychology.
It's going to be brilliant.
There are a few places left: Tuesday lunchtimes, Tuesday evenings, Wednesday evenings.

Then there's our art focussed Lent alternative on Friday lunchtimes.
More on that later.

Otherwise, services go on well. There was a wonderful baptism on Sunday for Ilana. Next week, do come at 10am on Sunday for our usual Sunday eucharist, and join us at any time throughout Lent.

Fr Robert

Candlemas and Lent

2008-02-02T12:06:00.000Z

When Jesus was brought as a baby to the temple, that's what we celebrate at Candlemas.
It was the time of the remarkable response by Simeon, realising who he had seen, as he beheld the baby, "Now Lord, let your servant depart in peace."
On a personal level, my wife and my first child, Tessa, was born on Monday, so though I won't be at church for a couple of weeks, it will be a greatly resonant festival.

Then, by quirk of dates, Lent follows very soon. This season of penitence and abstinence is being marked by our "Spiritual Detox" lent course, "Inspire, cleanse, perfect". Specially written for this Church, it happens on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and Tuesday lunchtimes. Do sign up.

For those with an artistic bent, we'll also be running concurrently a Lent programme with the Dulwich picture gallery on Fridays. A great way to explore that spiritual side.

Lent starts of course with services on Ash Wednesday, Feb 6th, both in the morning and in the evening.

Fr Robert

Look out, Lent not far away

2008-01-21T16:30:00.000Z

Last week Sunday saw four services at our Church.
The 8am holy communion was a quite, gentle start to the day.
Then there was at 9am "Book of Common Prayer" matins, for those who like traditional language.
The final service of the morning was the sung eucharist at 10am. Here, we explored the names for Jesus given in John's Gospel (read up Chapter 1.29 to 42) if you are interested.
The special service was the 4pm Wholeness and Healing service, which we do from time to time. This is a service of deep stillness, where people may come forward for prayer in a particular way.

Next week, we celebrate the Conversion of St Paul (with especial passion because St Paul is one of the saints who gives his name to our rather lengthily monikered church!) An amazing moment in history.

Not far away is the start of Lent on Feb 6th (Ash Wednesday). Look out for details of our Lent programme.

Fr Robert

Healing service and Burns Night

2008-01-14T16:03:00.000Z

A couple of 'extra's to our normal run of events.
First, there will be a healing service this Sunday (Sun 2oth Jan) at 4pm.
This will be a quiet, peaceful service in which people can receive prayer in a special way, prayer for their healing, however that might be.

Second, on Friday 25th Jan, the women's group and the men's group will be celebrating Burns Night jointly. Should be great fun.

Of course, people are always welcome to our main service, the eucharist at 10am on a Sunday morning.

Fr Robert

New Year and remembering Ruby

2008-01-07T12:53:00.000Z

New Year comes and things start to swing back to normal. The school is back, work starts up again and by now you will have an inkling of whether you will keep up with your New year's Resolutions.
Here's something I would like to share with you that may inspire.

Ruby (on the right) died before Christmas but her funeral was only last Friday.
At funerals, sometimes family members pay tribute themselves: sometimes they leave it to the clergy.
In this case, Ruby's sister, Myrna, paid a short tribute: she had cared for Ruby in the final two years of her life, after Ruby suffered a stroke. I feel that what she had to say was absolutely extraordinary so (with her permission) I am sharing it with you now:
"On Tuesday 11th December, I sat with my sister Rubina for four hours. I did not realise it was my goodbye. She died the next morning.
do I truly praise and exalt the Lord above all, even if just with my being?
When I was given the task of helping with both my sisters, I was called on many occasions by various peoples of social services and hospitals.
In life, we don't know what to do; the path we are on changes radically, ends abruptly or is enveloped in darkness. At such times, how does God lead us? how does he show us the way?
One way God led me was through prayer. By sitting patiently and trusting, gradually feeling for the next step, a comment from a good friend, scriptures, sacrament, a word from a spiritual director - for me, the best spiritual director is life itself, because God teaches us and leads us the way we should go. My sister Ruby's total dependence and vulnerablility was hard to bear; she was such a free spirit.
She was unable to cope with such a situation but sometimes this vulnerability and complete dependence is also the mystery we call God.
My dear sister, lots of love till we meet again.
Good bye, Myrna."
Fare well, Ruby. One of several loved members of our congregation who died in 2007.
But then death is part of life.
Fr Robert

Happy New Year

2008-01-02T11:17:00.000Z

We had wonderful Christmas celebrations this year, with more people attending than ever before: perhaps you joined us at one of the services, or even attended the Christmas lunch, put on for various old people in the parish community. At all the events, there was a wonderful spirit.
But now is the time to focus on 2008.
This will be an exciting time for this church as our new Chapel in the old Christ Church building comes on stream.
It may be as early as March, it may not be till June, but this space brings with it exciting new opportunities.
At the same time, the sadder events happen too: the first half of January has brought a cluster of funerals. People will gather to remember and honour loved ones, people who have been special in their life: the Christmas past will have been unbearable for many of these families. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
It says something important about Church life too. Just as we are part of joy as at Christmas, we are part of grief. That is God's plan for his church, and we must try to fulfil it.
Fr Robert

Christmas coming, life and death goes on

2007-12-20T14:51:00.000Z

If you've come here looking for the Christmas services, fantastic: we're looking forward to seeing you!
We kick off on:
Sunday 23rd December at 4pm with our Carol Service. This is candle-lit and full of readings and carols that express the Christmas story. Mince pies afterwards.
Then
Christmas Eve (Monday): 4pm Crib and Christingle Service. This is when we create a Nativity play from scratch. An ideal service for children of all ages. Come dressed as an angel, wise man, shepherd or just as you are! Come early to get a seat. And look out for our live donkey.
Christmas Eve (Monday) 11.30pm Midnight Mass We'll be singing carols from 11pm but the service starts at 11.30pm. Dignified, amazing, beautiful. Come even if you've had two or three pints before hand, though if you've had eight or nine, then perhaps you'd be best just going home direct from the pub.
Christmas Day (Tuesday) 10am. Family eucharist. Bring your toys or that jumper from auntie Flo.
St Stephen's Day (Boxing Day) 10am. Quiet eucharist. Escape from your beloved family for a therapeutic 45 minutes.

In the meantime, of course, life goes on, as does death. On Wednesday, we held the funeral for a loved member of our congregation, Mabel Shilcock, in church. At the age of 98, she was born in her house in Trilby Road in 1909, and she died there earlier this month. In all that time, she had been a wonderful neighbour to generations of people. Several people paid her tribute at the funeral, including a neighbour who lived opposite. A much younger woman, this neighbour described how she was occasionally apt to moan about what had befallen her, but then she would look out of her window to see Mabel, slowly but surely making her way down the road to take the bus to Catford (whatever the weather), uncomplaining about her old age, and she was inspired to think afresh.
The funeral was a beautiful occasion. A memorial to a woman who inspired others and brought love and a smile into the world.
May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

Come in at Christmas

2007-12-10T17:10:00.000Z

Just up front so we're clear. Here are our Christmas services.

Sunday 23rd December 4pm CAROL SERVICE (candle lit, traditional, beautiful, mince pies afterwards)

Christmas Eve (Mon) 24th December 4pm CRIB and CHRISTINGLE SERVICE (for kids of all ages, Nativity story, a live donkey, a cracker to take home - come dressed as an angel, wise man or shepherd, or just as you are!)

Christmas Eve (Mon) 24th December 11.30pm MIDNIGHT MASS (beautiful, magical, worth staying up for)

Christmas DAY (Tues) 25th December 10am FAMILY EUCHARIST (bring your presents in to show off, or just bring yourself.)

Now obviously we're running services in the run up to this on Sundays at 10am, as ever. The theme of this season is Advent, that is, watching and waiting for the coming of Jesus. There are some really meaty topics, like thinking about John the Baptist and what a Prophet might be.
Just who was John the Baptist? Come this Sunday to find out.

And there are other affairs. Thanks to everyone who came to the Christmas Fayre: hope you enjoyed yourself. We certainly did and made almost £3000 for church funds.
Also, those who came to hear the fabulous Lewisham Concert Band kick us into the Christmas season with a combination of classical and light music together with a cracking accompaniment to some carols.

So remember, get your Christmas shopping done now, so when Christmas Eve comes, you can be in the warmth with us, not traipsing around Bromley looking for what to get for your nephew!

Fr Robert

Christmas services

2007-12-03T16:15:00.000Z

On the left are Daniel and Kate who got married a couple of weeks ago, and are graduates of the new Marriage Preparation Course. They are just back from their honeymoon.
To be honest, I am just excited about working out how to insert photographs into this blog, and their photo was what came to hand. Cool, though.
A bit of a digression.
How about a bit more on Christmas services?
Well, if you like Carols, then the service to look out for is our fabulous Carol service on Sunday 23rd December at 4pm.
Then, if you like candles and the Nativity story told in a way that inspires children of all ages, come along to our Crib and Christingle service on Christmas Eve at 4pm. There will be a live donkey, and everyone goes home with a cracker. Come dressed as an angel, a shepherd, a wise man, or just as you are.
If you want Christmas in more majestic beauty, why not come for the excitement of Midnight Mass. Despite the name, come on Christmas Eve ready for the service to start at 11.30pm. It's utterly magical (in the best sense).
Then, there's a family service on Christmas morning at 10am. Bring along your new toy: or failing that, your new jumper from Auntie Flo.
Finally, if you've had it up to here with everything and everyone (which can happen to the best of us), relax with a quiet said Eucharist on Boxing Day (St Stephen's Day). St Stephen is the first Christian martyr and actually quite significant, so it's unfortunate that his name day is associated with Ben Hur, turkey sandwiches and too much port, but this gentle service can offer you a little gentle therapy in remembrance of a guy who cared deeply about God's life changing love.
Fr Robert

Christmas Fayre, Advent Sunday

2007-11-25T18:06:00.000Z

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.

Christ the King, Christmas Fayre

2007-11-19T10:25:00.000Z

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.

Remembrance, the Kingdom, the run-up to Advent

2007-11-12T17:13:00.000Z

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

Walsingham, Confirmation, Remembrance

2007-11-05T11:18:00.000Z

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.

Correction: time of All Souls service

2007-10-23T12:02:00.000Z

Note that All Souls service starts at 8pm on Thursday Nov 1st, not at 7.30pm as previously advertised.
Fr Robert

Autumn - thinking about life and death

2007-10-22T08:47:00.000Z

As autumn leaves fall, there's something appropriate about the way the church and civic calendar thinks about issues of life and death.

All Saints Day (which we will celebrate at lunchtime - 12 noon - on Nov 1st) is technically about 'mopping up' all the saints who don't get celebrations of their own during the church calendar. But of course it's about more than that. It's about celebrating the way God moves in people's lives and especially in certain lives which have since been recognised by the Church.
Then there'e All Souls (which we will celebrate technically on its eve, on the evening of Thursday 1st Nov at 7.30pm).
Now some don't believe both festivals should exist: see Tom Wright's book here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/All-Saints-N-T-Wright/dp/0819221333/ref=sr_1_1/202-1346281-5968638?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193042993&sr=8-1
But we do.
All Souls can be a time for a personal remembrance of those particularly dear to us, not denying that their heavenly 'status' may be the same as those who have been formally 'canonised' (and here Tom Wright's book is helpful), but equally not having to make claims about our loved one's levels of holiness either. It's just that we love these people and we still pray for them, even though they aren't around in this life.
It's one of the most moving services of the year. Do consider coming if you want to remember someone, even if you don't come to church at other times.

And then, by quirk of armistice date, Remembrance Sunday follows soon after: Sun Nov 11th this year. And we'll all remember in particular those who have died in battle.

In between, some of us will be travelling on a pilgrimage to Walsingham, recently voted the holiest location in the United Kingdom.

Do join us on any of these times. You will always be welcome

Worship for all reasons

2007-10-15T17:26:00.000Z

Over a thousand different people have worshipped at St George Christ Church St Paul in the last ten days.
Many were inspired to come because of the season: our Harvest Sunday was the most popular Sunday service ever in our new building apart from Easter Sunday. Over 220 people came at the 10am service to think about Harvest in the world and in our lives. We had a separate service in our Church for over one hundred children at Christ Church primary school on Thursday morning.
Then there are those honouring a new life in Christ. We've had two baptisms.
Then there are those celebrating the joy of marriage. Two hundred people came to celebrate the wedding of Christine and Jason.
And finally there are those grieving a friend or relative who has died. Often funerals happen entirely in a crematorium, but we also offer people the chance for to start this farewell service in Church. To honour a life in Church is one of the special things we can offer and do so. This happened twice last week. Both were moving occasions. Literally hundreds of mourners came.

In a sense, numbers don't matter. We aren't interested in 'bums on seats' for the sake of 'bums'. We are interested in the fact that the Church meets people's needs in a way nobody else can. And that's something we rejoice in.

Also worth celebrating is the youth away weekend, where 29 young people experienced an amazing weekend in Kent, doing a mixture of activities and worship.

What's coming up?

In particular look out for our All Souls service on the evening of Thursday Nov 1st. This is a time to remember your loved ones now in God's care.

Fr Robert

Autumn events

2007-10-07T22:52:00.000Z

Well, if you come to Church this week, you'll find the baptistry with all the delight of the harvest: fruits, a harvest sun and a mobile planet.
We'll be bringing a collection of tins etc. to the Voluntary Care Centre from gifts people have brought in to us.

Thanks for everyone who made Harvest such a wonderful day and to all of you who came. It was a great service and the star of the show, perhaps typically, was Isaac Farley, aged six months, whose entrance on a wheelbarrow was a wonder to behold.

Sadly, one of the services this coming week in church will be a funeral, that of Margaret Hill, which will take place on Thursday afternoon. One of the longest standing members of our congregation, she died last week, peacefully, with her family around her, in Lewisham hospital.

Also coming up is our Youth Weekend away. Thirty young people from the churches of Forest Hill and Sydenham will be going away to the Halls Green Activity Centre in kent for a fun packed weekend.

Further ahead, we have our parish pilgrimage to Walsingham.

Fr Robert

Harvest home!

2007-09-27T10:49:00.000Z

This Sunday, we'll be celebrating St Michael and All Angels: Michael is one of the archangels. But what does that mean? And what can angels mean for us?

Look out too for "Steeple People", our church magazine, which will be delivered to 4000 homes in the next week.

Yet the big one is our sensational harvest week.

This kicks off on Thursday morning, when Christ Church school will be coming for a special assembly in the morning.

Then, on Saturday night, we'll celebrate with a harvest supper. Bring £3 and a bottle of something and come along. It will be great fun.

Then, at 10am on Sunday is our special Back to Church Harvest special. It'll be a service quite unlike anything you've ever been to before. We all bring something before God, but exactly what is it? And what's that got to do with the earth? That's what we'll be thinking of. The Church will be full and please do think of coming, even if you haven't been to a church in a while.

This is followed by the joyous occasion of the marriage of Jason Thompson and Christine Samms, at 1.15pm. This promises to be a special wedding and the church will be packed to hear them pledge themselves to each other.

Finally, at 6pm, we will have a beautiful baptism of Benjamin Brooks Smith, son of Barbara and Danny. What an amazing day that's going to be!

Further ahead, in two weeks' time, we have the great Youth away weekend. This will be a cracker. Kayaking, hiking, chilling out, football, discussion are all on the agenda.

Fr Robert

Healing and Harvest

2007-09-17T10:30:00.001Z

Next Sunday, 23rd Sept, we have a service of Healing and Wholeness in Church at 4pm.
This will be a short, peaceful service where we bring ourselves before God in everything we are. People can come forward to be prayed for individually, with the ancient practice of laying on of hands and anointing with oil.
(Of course, we'll also be worshipping at 10am in the morning as usual.)

Then Sunday 30th September, we'll celebrating St Michael and All Angels. What is an angel? What does it mean? How close to God is an angel?

Look out on October 7th for our special Harvest Back to Church service. It's going to be a great time to come. It'll be about the traditional stuff: giving thanks for the fruit of the land, but also with a modern twist: what is the harvest of our lives? And join us on the evening of Oct 6th for a special Harvest Supper. There'll be a small charge but it will taste sensational.

Of course, weddings and baptisms continue and also on Sunday 7th October, there'll be a very special wedding happening at lunchtime, and a baptism at 6pm, so that's a busy day!

The next weekend (12th to 14th Oct) sees the youth weekend. it should be brilliant. Get your forms back to me (Fr Robert) by 28th September.

Fr Robert

Lots on: baptisms, young people, Harvest...

2007-09-13T10:54:00.000Z

Loads of events coming up:

First, this Sunday (16th) at the main 10am service, we've got the baptism of Isaac Cottrell , who's been winning hearts and minds ever since his arrival just before Easter. It's also the first Sunday of our new Youth Talk with Ian and Becki.

Next Sunday 23rd, we've got the main service at 10am as normal but also a Special service of healing and wholeness service at 4pm. This will be a beautiful, peaceful time.

Then Sunday 30th, we'll be celebrating St Michael and All Angels. We may be exploring what an angel actually is:
(you can check out Robbie Williams' version of the sermon here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQxZztI7264
Or you can also check out the stained glass in church for an idea.)

Saturday 6th October: Harvest Supper. Book your ticket or just turn up. Delicious food at a small price.
Then Sunday 7th October, Back to Church Harvest Sunday Special at 10am. It's going to be Harvest, but a special service where we're particularly inviting people who haven't been to Church in a while. If that's you, do think of coming: we won't whack you over the head with a Bible. But we will hope to share with you why we think something special happens in a church that doesn't happen anywhere else.

Then, the weekend after that, our youth weekend area away on an activity weekend in Kent. It's going to be sensational. I am just hoping that I'll be able to get some sleep in between the kayaking, night hike, discussion and football... But get your forms back to me as soon as you can.

Fr Robert

PS Fr John's on leave from 17th Sept till Oct 2nd, so if you've got any questions, call me in the first instance: 0208 699 3466.

New Term

2007-09-05T16:23:00.000Z

When I grew up, the last day before school started was bad. And the last day of the summer holidays was worst of all. It was definitely the worst day of the year. So depressing. I fairly had to drag my feet back from the garden as the sun set on fun and games for the last day of the holidays. The laughs had gone. School was coming.

I like to think I don't have that same sense of dread as September comes. Not having a 6 week holiday any more probably helps, as does enjoying my job, but I still have something of that anticipation. August is a time for relaxation and holiday. September is a time for doing.

Which is why there are lots of things happening at Church now.

First up to ban those "back to school" blues. Come to our Quiz Night: Sat 8th Sept at the church hall from 7.30pm. Bring £3 and your best trivia knowledge if you want to participate. They are always fun, the questions aren't too difficult, but nonetheless competitive.

Earlier that day, the young people (11 to 17s) are off to an event in Dulwich with football, music, food and the Bishop of Woolwich: not necessarily in that order.
See me if you want to come (robertstanier@btinternet.com).

Then, looking ahead, we're now going to run our Back to Church event on Sunday October 7th. More to follow.

Will you still love me tomorrow?

2007-08-27T17:21:00.000Z

Last Saturday, I attended the wedding of a friend. It was in a church, in north London. And it was his second marriage.
The first (for both parties) was a dreadful mistake and ended in divorce within 18 months.
Now there are churches which wouldn't allow this remarriage to happen there.
And they would have good reasons. They could say they uphold the ideal of marriage's permanence in a world where much is too temporary. They could point to Jesus's injunction not to divorce in Mark's Gospel. They could point to the fact that, if you view marriage as a sacrament, it's not something you can undo. Like you can't undo your baptism.
And yet...
What I witnessed on Saturday did not feel like some sop to modern trends. It did not feel like an impossibility built on a falsehood. It felt utterly right. And utterly real.
It truly wasn't entered into lightly. I think his first marriage and subsequent divorce were utterly traumatic experiences. He considered this seriously. He was just lucky enough to meet a woman again with whom he wanted to form a serious relationship. And he wanted this relationship given God's blessing (as did she). And does God's love not stretch to giving him a second chance?
Do we not believe that God is at work in this new, loving relationship?
It is the passionate belief that this is possible that means we at St George Christ Church St Paul will not automatically refuse divorcees to remarry in church. In fact, it may be just the sign of God's grace that can strengthen a relationship.
We perform many marriages every year here, and each year, some of those we marry have been married before and those marriages have ended in divorce. Of course, this is an issue. Yet it's something which God's love for humanity persuades us to look on as something to be dealt with and rethought, rather than something that will cause a barrier.
If you're considering marriage, whatever your status, and you live in our parish, come in and talk to us between 10.30 and 11.30am on Saturday morning. you won't need an appointment: just turn up.
Fr Robert
PS Other upcoming events.
Term starts soon, and all the cubs, brownies, scouts and beavers restart activities.
Youth Talk restarts on Sun Sept 16th (for year 7 and upwards).
Confirmation classes will start in late September: sign up soon.
The Youth residential weekend happens Friday 12th to 14th October

Easy like Sunday morning...

2007-08-20T16:41:00.001Z

This coming Sunday, we're thinking about the Sabbath. Resting. Ceasing.
Jesus didn't cease. He healed people on the Sabbath day. But that was then: would he be keen on what today's Sundays have become?
The level of rest there is around (or isn't).
And, after all, God did 'cease'. He created the world in six days and on the seventh day, he "ceased": Shabbat. Sabbath (depending on how you transliterate the Hebrew).
It can't have just been because he was feeling a bit tired and needed a lie down. It must mean something more than that.
But how can it mean more in our busy lives?
That's what we'll be thinking about this week.
Looking further ahead, look out for Harvest festival, Oct 14th, which will be the day we particularly invite people back to Church for this year.
Fr Robert

Green, garden, organics...

2007-08-13T14:55:00.000Z

Unless you've been living on another planet, you will have noticed that there's a greater emphasis today on being green than there has been for years.
Where does your household energy come from? How many food miles did it take to bring those mangoes to your hand? Did you take a flight to go on holiday? How much do you recycle?

I guess everyone does something, but very few people do everything that they could do. (If you want to calculate your own carbon footprint, then you can do so here:
http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.html)

And there are theological implications too. It's about how we humans use the creation which God has given, for us to be stewards for him. It's about how we relate to one another, recognising that a rainforest destroyed in Brazil, can help lead to a flood in New Orleans, or a load of flights from London to New York can help cause deserts to spread in the Sudan.

And of course within this, there's a lot of complex science and a lot of uncertainty.

At St George Christ Church St Paul, we're thinking about this issue in a variety of ways. One is taking on the big picture: a few months ago, we screened "An Inconvenient Truth"; we are part of the Diocese of Southwark's environmental audit; we pray about the environment.

Yet there's also the small things, and one of these small things is taking a little bit of space from our church garden, and start growing vegetables in it. it won't be much, but it will reintegrate us a little with our own small patch of environment.

Once upon a time, it was natural for the Church and farming to be linked: think about why Harvest Festival is one of the most popular services of the Church year. But, now, there's a disconnect in our cities: we buy food from supermarkets but don't know how it got there; we eat lots of meat but we don't know where our local abattoir is. Perhaps our garden, where we will grow our plants organically, will begin to help put us back in touch with the world that helps us to survive.

Love is in the air...

2007-07-23T10:25:00.000Z

It may be raining outside, but that doesn't stop summer being the most popular time to get married. That's as true at St George Christ Church St Paul as it is in the rest of the country.

We've got a wedding more or less every weekend in July and in August. And wedding ceremonies are something we take seriously. They are ultimately moving moments and getting the liturgy right for the bride, the groom and their families and friends is something we are careful about.

But we also take the marriage seriously. Couples who come to us are encouraged to take part in our three session Marriage Preparation Course. This has been a 2007 initiative but the first course was so well received that the only request was for a fourth session! The next course starts next week.

It's amazing how easy it is to know each other really well, even to have lived together for some years, and yet not to have talked about some of the key things in our lives: who should be "the head of the household" (if anyone)? what influence has your own upbringing had on what you expect a marriage to be? how will you resolve conflicts when they happen (and they inevitably will)? Our course facilitates discussion on all of these topics.

And then when the wedding comes, the couples will be more ready to take part in a partnership for life.

Summer time and the living is easy

2007-07-16T12:15:00.000Z

It's been fair to say that the last three weeks have been frenetic at St George Christ Church St Paul. An ordination, a summer fair, a first eucharist, a 2-day epic event for 150 children in Year 6, 2 weddings, 2 baptisms, a pilgrimage to St Albans, a new marriage preparation course, a youth awayday to Brighton... Thank you to all involved for all your efforts. If you aren't feeling tired yet, you must be superhuman.

It's now time for our activities to move to a gentler pace and for those involved to relax a little and appreciate the achievements of a buzzing place. We couldn't live with church life going at this pace all the time: it's a good job we don't have to. And yet it's also nice to be at a place where new initiatives happen so regularly.

The marriage preparation classes meanwhile are continuing: we've been excited at the first in the new format and couples have contributed some brilliant perspectives about what is going on as two individuals are joined together in matrimony.
Indeed, it's gone so well that we'll have a new group happening in August: I guess it's the wedding season.

And it's a nice time for allowing our faith to grow steadily. In the last two weeks, we have been reminded in the sermon of acts we can do for the Gospel: when Jesus sends out the seventy to go about Galilee and Israel, and the story of the Good Samaritan. What does it that Jesus wants us to DO?
This week, we will be celebrating one of our favourite saints, Mary Magdalene. We'll need to dispel a few myths, as in the Da Vinci Code, but we can also meditate a bit on her closeness to Jesus. How can this be? How can this work?

Summer Fayre

2007-07-09T16:57:00.000Z

Come to St George's this Saturday (14th July) and bask in the fun of the traditional Church summer fair.
There's the usual bevy of stalls, food and entertainments, in the Church building and our marquee tents outside: so come rain or shine, we'll be ready to have a good time, and entertain you whether you're seven or seventy.
It starts at 11 and the fun will be coming to a close at 3pm.
Please do come. We'd love to see you and you'd also be supporting your local Church funds, for which we'd be very grateful: we have our bills to pay, just like everyone else.

As for other developments, we'll be exploring the Good Samaritan in the service on Sunday: one of THE classic parables, that always has something new to say, even though you've heard it lots of times before.

In the middle of next week, we'll also be saying farewell to the Year 6 of Christ Church primary school with a special leavers' service.
The marriage preparation course is continuing. All the couples are enjoying it, whilst finding there are important things to discuss. We meanwhile are looking forward to marrying them.

If you're interested in getting married at our Church, come to see us in our parish office hour: between 10.30am and 11.30am on Saturdays: to be honest, though, this Saturday isn't the best day to come because of the Fayre. Otherwise, there'll always be someone there.

Eucharists and summer fairs

2007-07-06T21:33:00.001Z

Having been ordained last week, this week Father Robert (it's me writing this!) gets the chance to preside at the eucharist for the first time. Last week was an amazing day and this will be amazing.
The eucharist is the earlist act of worship Christians ever did: we know that from Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians, c.50AD. What exactly its meaning is has been long thought over and disputed. It was a hot issue in the 1st century AD - that's why Paul had to write about it- and it was a hot issue in the Reformation. It continues to be controversial.
And yet that's also a shame because it's a uniting moment. Everyone gets to come and share from the one bread and the one cup: or that's the idea.
Only priests are authorised to preside because they are the sign that the gathering at the eucharist is not just the gathering of a small bunch of Christians in one area: it's a gathering of the whole Church throughout the world.
It's making Christ present, as he asked his Church to do, and when we are one, we are one with all those breaking the bread today, from Baghdad to Brixton, and all those through time, from the Corinthian Church in Paul's time to Forest Hill in 2007.
Mind-bending? Yes it is. Scary? A little bit. Wonderful? Certainly.
But that's enough theology. If you want to relax and have some fun, come to our summer fair next Saturday (14th). Food, entertainments. Ideal for socialising and bargain hunting and all for church funds. It promises to be an amazing day.
Fr Robert

Ordination approaching

2007-06-25T10:08:00.000Z

The ordination service at 6.30pm this Sunday will be the biggest service held at St George Christ Church St Paul since its consecration two years ago.
It's for the ordination to priesthood of three deacons, Robert Stanier, who works at St G CC St P (and it's me who's writing this blog!), Andrew Moughtin Mumby, who works at St Christopher's, Walworth, and Sharon Moughtin Mumby, who works at St Peter's Walworth.

As you may have worked out by now, Andrew and Sharon are married to each other. (It was a theological college romance: a rare beast, but it does happen occasionally!) Ordaining us will be Bishop Christopher, who actually lives in the parish, which is cool.
PRACTICAL
If you are reading this looking for directions, go to a different page on the website; if you are just hoping to come, please do. It's going to be a tight squeeze, but we are sure we will be able to fit everyone in (somehow!). If you are looking to help, then please come to church at more or less any time on Sat 30th June, and people will be dusting, scrubbing, chair moving, tea making, cake baking, silver polishing, light bulb changing, font fixing...
THEOLOGICAL
FAQ: Why are they getting ordained? I thought they were already ordained.
That's a fair point. Essentially, it's because people get ordained to different 'orders' in the Church. We've already been ordained as 'deacons'. Our role has been to serve the church, the people, and to seek out ways in which we can help. Liturgically, this is most clear at hte eucharist. We 'lay the table' and clear up afterwards, but we don't preside.
Once we are ordained priest, we don't lose our servitude, but we are authorised to take things as leaders: we preside at the eucharist, we offer absolution for forgiveness of sins...
Almost all deacons go on to become priests. Technically, we could then go on to be ordained in the final order, bishops, but that is quite rare: of ordained ministers, 98% are priests, 1% are permanent deacons and 1% are bishops. (Or something like that). To be ordained priest is essentially the fulfilment for most of us: it's the fulfilment of the calling which we felt when we first offered ourselves to the church some years ago. Yet it's also the beginning.
Do join us. It will be a great day and we will want as much support as there can be.
Robert
PS For upcoming events, also check the posts below.
PPS The St Albans trip went amazingly well.

Mid June events

2007-06-12T17:02:00.000Z

Lots of what is coming up feels like times for rites of passage. As well as our usual mix of baptisms and weddings in church, look out for these events.

Upcoming events:
Sat June 23rd: Pilgrimage to St Albans to hear Desmond Tutu
Sun June 30th: Fluffbusting, church clean-up all day, awaiting for the day of the ordination.
Sun July 1st: 6.30pm. Ordination to the priesthood of Fr Robert, as well as Fr Andrew and Mtr Sharon from elsewhere in the area. This is a ticketed event, but we will strive to find room for everyone. It should be a very special day.

Tuesday July 3rd: Start of our Marriage Preparation course
Wednesday July 4th-5th: "Year 6" event for children leaving our local primary school and preparing to go to a bigger stage of secondary education. No SATs but a chance to learn new things (juggling, mask making etc.) and make new friends.

Sun July 8th: 10.00 Fr Robert will preside at the eucharist for the first time. A very special day for him and all who have been involved him in bringing him this far, especially those in the parish.
Sat July 14th: Church Garden Fete. Our usual winning combination of Caribbean food, cake stalls, jumble, community spirit and (we hope) sunshine. Join us all day or just for a bit.

June: what's coming up

2007-06-05T12:55:00.000Z

Last week saw a triumphant production of the hilarous "Holiday Snap" by the Players. A saucy farce, it drew a lot of laughs from big audiences. Well done to all involved.
Then on Sunday, we had great variety in Church. We looked at deep theology in the Trinity Sunday service at 10am and then got in touch with our quieter side at the service of Healing and Wholeness at 6pm. This was beautiful and peaceful and will be repeated. Look out for these services in the future.

This week coming, there's the feast of Corpus Christi being celebrated on Sunday. This is about Christ's body in the eucharist. It's a time to think about what this means to us.

Then if you want to look more deeply at the Bible, come to Fr Robert's house - 20 Gaynesford Road - at 6pm and we'll be starting a short series of sessions on "the good life". What might this mean? This week, we will be looking at the psalms: "I've been young and now am old and never have I seen the righteous begging their bread". Gosh. Is that still true? Do the righteous live longer/ get richer? Or does being righteous make us happy? Do we want to be 'righteous'?
No need for prior knowledge. Just turn up. It will last an hour.

In the longer term, consider joining our pilgrimage to St Albans to hear Desmond Tutu preach on June 23rd. Should be amazing.

Fr Robert

End of May, start of June

2007-05-29T15:34:00.000Z

Pentecost was fantastic at St George, Christ Church, St Paul this year. Over 300 people were in Church at the eucharist and at the 2pm baptism service.
As we baptised Jada, Freya and Madison, the Spirit came to bless us all.

As I now write (on Tuesday) the stage is being prepared for the St Georges Players' production of the comedy, Holiday Snap. It should be fabulous. It's being performed on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. The Players are justly proud of their consistent record of outstanding productions. This will be no different.

Meanwhile, this Sunday there are two major events. The first is the main eucharist at 10am. Because it is Trinity Sunday, we will be focussing on the Trinity. Okay, so it's about Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but what does that actually mean? What is it about?

Then at 6pm there will be a special service of healing and reconciliation. This isn't particularly about cures. This is about recognising the interconnectedness of mind, body and spirit and asking God's healing power to be at work in that. It will be a beautiful, quiet service, with a chance for people to come forward for the laying on of hands and anointing with oil.

Baptisms and Pentecost: what's it all about?

2007-05-26T17:29:00.000Z

If you come to St George Christ Church St Paul on Pentecost (Sun May 29th), either at 10am or at 2pm, you will see people being baptised: Jada and Madison are new-born babies; Freya Millie is a bit bigger and knows what's happening more than the others.
It will be an amazing day. In the early Church, Pentecost used to be the only day on which you could get baptised apart from Easter. These two dates were special dates to start a new life in Christ because both signify the key dates when God revealed himself in the world: first, through the risen Jesus; second, through the day when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, inspiring them with their new life in Christ.
There is definitely something inspiring about a baptism, whether of an infant, a child or an adult. All of these happen at St George Christ Church St Paul.
If you want to find out more, read our web page on Baptisms and Christenings.

Pentecost coming

2007-05-23T12:15:00.000Z

With Pentecost comes the climax in a way of the Churchyear: it starts with the lead up to Christmas, and Christ's coming, then with Easter, his death and resurrection, and since Christ withdrew at the Ascension, the world was ready for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
It's the ultimate inclusive festival. The Christian faith makes sense in all the tongues of the known world, something evident today, with a billion Christians, and in a smaller way in our own congregation: we must have some 15 nationalities represented on most Sundays. Africa, eastern Europe, the Caribbean... there are some who even come from Bromley.
In the longer term, look at for preparations for Fr Robert's ordination on Sunday July 1st and for the summer fair on July 14th.