THE BRIDGE Hearts on Fire - The Diocese of Southwark Bridge/bridgenovemb… · Hearts on Fire The...

Newspaper of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark Vol.22 No.9 November 2017

Inside THE BRIDGE ...this month

THE BRIDGE

Follow the Diocesan Blog: ‘Hearts on Fire – sharing God’s Good News in Southwark Diocese’ - http://southwarkcofe.tumblr.com/

Heartson Fire

The Diocese of Southwark

1

Green Church Award for straw bale building projectHoly Trinity, Tulse Hill were among the winners of the Church Times Green Church Awards, which were announced at a ceremony at Lambeth Palace on Monday 16 October.

The church’s straw-bale hall building – currently under construction – was the winner of the Green Futures award, awarded to a project at the planning stage which combines inventiveness with practical action.

Holy Trinity’s award winning project will see the construction of Europe’s fi rst straw-bale Church building and combines low-cost, low environmental impact materials and construction methods with a high level of community input.

Holy Trinity’s Vicar, the Revd Richard Dormandy, said “We’re so thrilled that the Tulse Hill Straw Bale project has been recognised. It’s great to be able to say ‘our award-winning project’”.

“As a volunteer building project it has caught the imagination of local residents and because we set our own pace we can include everyone at different levels.

“This high spec, low tech building is very much ‘of the people’ and ‘for God’s earth’.

“We have already virtually completed the foundations for the main hall and are about to start construction of the main timber frame and this award gives great encouragement,” he said.

The awards were sponsored by the Church Times, the Church of England’s national environment programme, Shrinking the Footprint, Good Energy, the Levy Restaurant chain and Ecclesiastical Insurance.

Winners of the other four categories included a biomass heating system at a Cornish village church; a biodiverse churchyard extension and garden of remembrance in Berkshire; a planting scheme involving over 1,000 young people in Co. Durham and awards for fi ve Green ‘Champions’.

Diocesan Environmental Offi cer, Sue Mallinson said: “I do congratulate Richard Dormandy and his team. Unusual, unique and effective in the use of natural and recycled materials, it is designed to use the least amount of energy and probably be ‘carbon neutral’ - a real achievement for 21st century London.

“The ripples from Holy Trinity into Tulse Hill encouraged people to come and see, come and join in, and they are doing just that.

“It is about welcome, and loving friendship, valuing one another and the resources of creation, and building community as the Lord Jesus asked us to do”.

Above: Hendy Layne (member of the Project Team)and the Revd Richard Dormandy

Southwark Cathedral hosts visit by the Duke of KentOn 10 October Southwark Cathedral hosted a visit by HRH the Duke of Kent.

He was welcomed at the Cathedral gates by the Dean and Bishop Christopher. His Royal Highness was then given a tour of the building by The Dean and Martyn Craddock, CEO of Southwark-based charity United St Saviour’s.

Mr Craddock spoke about United St Saviour’s and their connection to both the Cathedral & Borough Market. He introduced representatives from three projects serving the community in the north of the borough: School Food Matters, Salmon Youth Centre

and Silverfi t, who treated attendees to a dance performance in the Cathedral tower space - which the Duke, the Bishop and the Dean joined in (right).

Martyn Craddock said “We are proud of the talented school children, young creators and older cheerleaders who all met the Duke, and the brilliant individuals who lead these charities.

Bishop Christopher added ‘The Duke of Kent’s visit gave us the opportunity to demonstrate the energised community engagement that United St Saviour’s supports within the Diocese of Southwark for which we are all so grateful.’

The photographs of the visit can be found at https://fl ic.kr/s/aHsm6gYfos

Meet the Mission and Evangelism Department... Pages 6 & 7

Profile - Barnes Team Ministry... page 8

6 pages of news and photos from around the Diocese

PLUS Book review, ‘Let’s Pray’ and more...

PLUS B k

2 THE BRIDGE... November 2017

The DECEMBER/JANUARY edition is due to be printed on 7 DECEMBER and in your parish from the following Sunday. Material for that edition must be with Wendy S. Robins at Trinity House by MONDAY 27 NOVEMBERSpace limitations mean that we cannot guarantee to publish everything we receive and material may be edited.The editorial team will assume that all photographs submitted for publication come to us with the necessary permission for printing. So, please ensure that people are happy for their photographs to be submitted before you do so. Forms for permission for the use of photographs of children and adults who may be vulnerable can be found at www.southwark.anglican.org/safeguarding/diocesan-policies-procedures

Metalsmithand woodworkerConscientious and reliable, Ian Marshall provides new work and maintenance for a number of churches. To join his list of satisfi ed customers. Call: 020 8850 7851 or 077 6666 2747

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THE BRIDGE A view from

Editorial Advisory Board:John Kiddle (Chair)Adeline ColeCarol CoslettRoxanne HunteWendy S. Robins (Secretary)Dr Jane Steen Tom Sutcliff e

The Bridge is on the web at : www.southwark.anglican.org

is produced & published by Kent Christian Press for Communications and Resources on behalf of The Diocese of Southwark, Trinity House, 4 Chapel Court, Borough High Street, London SE1 1HWTel: 020 7939 9400 Fax: 020 7939 9468e-mail: [email protected]

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THE BRIDGE

ORGANIST AND DIRECTOR OF MUSIC REQUIRED!

£7,000 per annum We are the Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Bletchingley and we are looking for a musician with a gi for teaching and inspiring our choir and congrega on. We have a vision of our choir becoming a centre of musical excellence and development for the people of Bletchingley, working with our young people to off er the best possible mu-sical educa on whilst con nuing to develop our adult choir members.

Further informa on can be found: h p://www.bletchingleyparish church.org.uk/posi onofor-

ganistanddirectorofmusic.htmContact: Revd Phaedra Pamphilon-Green,

E-mail: [email protected]

Organist and Choir Director for St Paul’s Woldingham, SurreyDue to the re rement of the previous post holder a er over twenty years’ service, we are seeking to recruit an Organist and Choir Director from January 2018 for a Surrey village church with a well balanced and enthusias c SATB choir with a good repertoire and considerable experience. The choir leads a sung Communion se ng and sings an anthem at the Parish Eucharist each week, in addi on to a full monthly Choral Evensong and singing at the major fes vals. The organ is a highly regarded and well maintained two manual electro-pneuma c Harrison instrument. Remunera on in line with RSCM scales with addi onal fees for weddings and funerals. Enhanced DBS clearance required.Please contact the Team Vicar, the Revd Dr. Catherine Dowland-Pillinger, with CV and covering le er. E-mail: [email protected]

To advertise your vacancy in The Bridge (in print and on-line) call 01474 854503

or e-mail: [email protected]

OPPORTUNITIESOPPORTUNITIES

New Honorary Canons installedThe Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, installed fi ve Honorary Canons for Southwark Cathedral during Choral Evensong on Sunday 1 October 2017.They are: (left to right) The Revd Canon Dr Nicholas Cranfi eld: Vicar of Blackheath, All SaintsThe Revd Canon Leslie Wells: Team Rector of HorleyThe Revd Canon Roxanne Hunte: Priest in Charge of South Norwood, Holy

Innocents & South Norwood, St MarkThe Revd Canon Penelope Rose-Casemore: Vicar of Clapham, Christ Church & St John the EvangelistThe Revd Canon Younis Francis: Vicar of Norbury, St PhilipAt the same service the Bishop presented the Dean and the Dean’s Verger, Paul Timms, with the Lancelot Andrewes medal for Godly Service & Zeal for the Gospel.

New Readers admitted and licensedSix new Readers were admitted as Readers and licensed to parishes by Bishop Christopher at Southwark Cathedral on Sunday 8 October at 6pm. Three Readers transferring from other Dioceses were also licensed to Southwark parishes.

The new Readers and their parishes are: Felicity Banks; West Wimbledon, Christ ChurchJanet Greaves; Redhill, Holy TrinityFrank Hartkopf Ravensbourne Team MinistryDavid McEvoy; Greenwich, St AlfegeLindsay Ould; Addington, St Mary the Blessed VirginHelen White; Telford Park, St Thomas with St StephenThe following Readers were welcomed to Southwark and licensed to parishes:Ian Nott; Reigate, St Mary Magdalene Jackie Robbs; Surbiton, St Andrew & St MarkMichael Tonkin; Kew, St Philip & All Saints with St Luke

Other Readers present at the service renewed their commitment to the ministry of Reader.

More photographs of the service and the new Readers can be found at https://fl ic.kr/s/aHskpEMo2A

Congratulations to the Revd Canon Carol Coslett who has just been announced as the next Archdeacon of Chesterfi eld (Derby Diocese). Also to the Revd Canon Darren Miller who is to be Archdeacon of Ashford (Canterbury Diocese).

Mission - broad, creative and eff ectiveAt the end of September I had the great privilege of visiting Zimbabwe as part of a team from the Kingston Episcopal Area, which is linked with the Diocese of Matabeleland in the south and west of the country.

It was a thrill to see, for the fi rst time, the Victoria Falls which, even in the dry season, are spectacular. It was exciting to visit Hwange Game Reserve and encounter a herd of elephants arriving at a water hole for a drink at dusk.

However the biggest joy was to see how, in diffi cult circumstances, Bishop Cleophas is leading the Diocese to look outward and engage in their communities, both urban and rural.

On our last full day, a Sunday, we drove for three hours to a rural area of small villages around a town called Filabusi. We went to share in a confi rmation service with 30 candidates, both children and adults. It was hot and dry; the rains are still a long way off ; but in that small village we saw a snapshot of mission that was authentic, creative, broad-based and eff ective.

We travelled with the Mothers Union from across the Diocese who brought a van full of peanut butter, oil, fl our, rice as a gift to the local school to enable them to feed pupils - hungry children don’t learn. We walked in the hot sun to a farm project where land is watered by a wind driven pump, growing food for all the village.

We encountered welcome and hospitality, with joyful singing and a generous provision of food. We saw a small fragile community but committed to education and mutual support, and at the heart of it all, the church – a place of sanctuary and rest, of worship and faith and the joy and commitment of those confi rmed.

We do God a disservice when we make mission either narrow or bland. Mission is the theme of this edition of the Bridge, I hope the snapshot it off ers paints a picture of mission that is as broad, as creative and as eff ective as all that we saw in Filabusi.

The Venerable John Kiddle

THE BRIDGE... November 2017 3

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A Celebration of Nigeria and the 57th Anniversary of Nigerian Independence was held at St Laurence, Catford on Sunday 2 October with a mass at which the principal celebrant and preacher was Bishop Karowei. The Bishop spoke at the celebration lunch afterwards (left) at which he and his wife were guests of honour.

Lewisham Music spectacular at St Dunstan, Bellingham St Dunstan’s Church, Bellingham was treated to an eclectic mix of musical performances on 15 October as the parish welcomed Lewisham Music’s Tutor Spectacular concert for the fi rst time.

Lewisham Music are a newly formed charity supporting musical education and

activities for the borough’s schoolchildren. Now based in Phoenix Community Housing’s, Bromley Road HQ, this was their fi rst visit to their Bellingham neighbours.

Students from Lewisham Music, their parents and members of the St Dunstan’s congregation were treated to

a range of music from folk, through Led Zeppelin and jazz piano to Bach played on the church’s historic organ.

The Revd Timon Singh, Priest-in-Charge, said “We were delighted to welcome Lewisham Music. It was a real treat and we hope they will pay us a return visit’.

Chief Executive of Lewisham Music, Peter Hayward said ‘Our connection with the Bellingham community is hugely important to us, and we look forward to many more events and projects in future.’

The folk band in the photo is ‘Nou Enle’ - some of whom are Lewisham Music tutors.

Christ Church, East Greenwich has first ‘Weekend Away’The last weekend in September saw Christ Church, East Greenwich have its fi rst Weekend Away together at Pilgrim Hall in East Sussex. Revd Margaret Cave writes:

A group of nearly 100 people from the congregation joined the weekend, ranging in age from 9 weeks to 92 years and refl ecting the wide diversity of our church family.

The theme was ‘Journeying Together’ and we were led through the book of Philippians by our guest speaker, the Revd Laurence Gamlen.

We had some excellent small group discussions and everyone enjoyed getting to know one another and getting to know Christ more deeply.

During free time on the Saturday afternoon, there was lots of fun in the outdoor

swimming pool, on the tennis court, playing croquet and going on country walks. The 12 acres of grounds were a real treat for an inner urban

congregation to enjoy. Christ Church’s Got Talent

was a marvellous Saturday evening of entertainment. Everyone laughed and cried

in equal measure from our assistant priest doing a stand up act as Donald Trump, through sketches, poems, songs including an extraordinary singing performance from one of our 12 year old girls and the oldest member of our congregation singing, “You’re never too old to fall in love”.

The weekend culminated in our late Sunday morning worship service of Holy Communion where the small groups participated by sharing refl ections on our journey together of growth in knowledge and love.

Messages of thanks and appreciation have made comments such as: “an amazing weekend away”...“a weekend of abundance, joy and gratitude”... “God’s presence was palpable”... “spiritually nourishing and great fun in equal parts”

i Margaret Cave is Team Rector, East Greenwich Team Ministry &

Vicar, Christ Church East Greenwich

On 1 October the Revd James Bogle retired after 55 years as a priest – the last 27 at St Catherine, Hatcham. Churchwarden William Chapman described him as ‘the embodiment of the classic Anglican priest - intellectual, spiritual, wise’. The Vicar, the Revd Sheridan James said that he was “known for his pastoral heart and excellent preaching. We thank him for his ministry here and wish him all God’s blessing for the future”.


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Sharing Noah’s PuddingOn Sunday 8 October members of the Lighthouse Muslim community in Welling joined the congregation at St Michael, East Wickham to share Ashura, or ‘Noah’s pudding’.

The Koran talks about Noah making the pudding with the remaining food on the Ark when it had fi nally hit dry land. Turkish Muslims share this delicious pudding with neighbours of all faiths and traditions as a sign of peace and love, and St Michael’s congregation were very appreciative of the gift (especially those with a sweet tooth!).

It was a wonderful and instructive fi ve days in September when I visited Israel and the West Bank through the charity, Friends of the Holy Land - FHL*.

Capt Nicholas Lebey

FHL is an ecumenical charity of Anglicans and Roman Catholics in the UK working together to preserve a Christian presence in the Holy Land.

Founded in 2007, FHL focuses on four key areas of supporting Christians – Education, Employment, Health and Housing. It also provides monthly support to over 200 families each year with each family receiving 500

Shekels per month (around £3 day) and this is almost their only income.

My trip gave me insight into the lives and daily experience of Christians in the Holy Land and as I listened to many stories – some very painful, moving and challenging, I was sometimes moved to tears.

I had the privilege of meeting benefi ciaries, partners, visiting FHL supported projects in Nazareth, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour (sadly I couldn’t visit projects in Gaza & Nablus). I also met the Anglican Archbishop and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Jerusalem. Both support FHL’s work and said how invaluable it is.

There are numerous problems facing Christians in the Holy Land from discrimination, travel restrictions, persecution, poverty, health and housing issues to unemployment, limited opportunities and sense of being ‘stuck’, as one Christian lady in Bethlehem put it.

As a result many are leaving. The Bishop of Jerusalem said, ‘’the biggest problem threatening our Christian population is emigration ‘. And the statistics back this claim; 70 years ago Christians were 29% of the population but today they are less than 2%. How soon will the Holy Places become just museums with no Christian presence? I returned from the trip inspired

but also challenged to do more to help our Christian brothers and sisters in the Holy Land. As a Diocese, we have great opportunity to join in this wonderful ecumenical work. Bishop Christopher is one of the Patrons of FHL and has asked the Revd Joshua Rey and me to serve as FHL Coordinators for Southwark. We look forward to sharing about FHL’s work with Parishes, PCC’s and Deaneries.

Please contact either of us via e-mail: Capt. Nicholas Lebey – [email protected] or the Revd Joshua Rey - [email protected]

i Capt Nicholas Lebey CA is Pioneer Evangelist to Young People,

Thamesmead Team Ministry

Tooting volunteer praised for 30 years of serviceA charity volunteer from Tooting has been recognised for 30 years helping to raise money for vulnerable children. Trish Arathoon started

supporting The Children’s Society in 1987 when she became the collection box coordinator in her parish – Holy Trinity, Upper Tooting - and over three decades, organising events and activities, has helped to raise more than £30,000.

This year Trish and her team of keen walkers travelled to Kent and covered almost 10 miles between Hever and Leigh, visiting three country churches along the way and raising over £600. On the walk Trish was presented with a certifi cate of recognition by the charity’s Diocesan President, Dave Farris (photo left).

For more about local volunteering visit www.childrenssociety.org.uk/volunteer

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Will Cookson, Dean of Fresh Expressions writes:

The Mission and Evangelism Department aims to support the parishes of the Diocese in their apostolic mission to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.Across these two pages we hope to show you some of the ways in which we are trying to do just that. We know, too, that there many other ways in which we might help you in your particular context.So, if you have any requests then please don’t hesitate to contact us.• The Venerable John

Kiddle, Archdeacon of Wandsworth, Acting Director of Mission

• Canon Will Cookson, Dean of Fresh Expressions: [email protected]

• Vanessa Elston, Mission Support Offi cer (Mission Action Planning): [email protected]

• Aike Kennett-Brown, Mission Support Offi cer (Children and Youth): [email protected]

• Hugh Ridsdill-Smith, consultant to the Diocese on children and young people’s mission and ministry: [email protected]

• Abigail Sanderson, administrator to the team: [email protected]

Meet the Mission and E

One of the Diocese’s fi ve strategic goals, endorsed by Bishop Christopher, is to increase the number of fresh expressions of Church (fxC) across Southwark. We offer a number of ways to encourage both new and newly established initiatives, from training and Bishop’s Mission Orders to grants and consultancy.

So, what is a fresh expression of Church, and why set one up?

First of all, fxCs are not a substitute for parishes, which remain the bedrock of the Diocese, nor are they in competition with them. Rowan Williams helpfully described the idea of a “mixed economy” where the two went hand

in hand and reinforced one another.

Studies show that investing in fxCs increases diversity of leadership and helps to boost the Church’s impact on non-Christians.

fxCs can also help to enrich the mix of churches in the Diocese, encouraging different types of traditions to help reach people with whom we might otherwise struggle to connect.

Churches in this Diocese are already seeking to share the Gospel and encourage witness in new and creative ways.

The following are some of our current examples.• St Luke’s, Peckham has

set up a new monastic

community, the Wellspring Community, exploring what mission life looks like in North Peckham for those who are spiritual not religious.

• The Ackroydon Community Church is working on an estate in Wandsworth and learning what Christian witness and mission looks like in that context.

• A joint initiative in Cheam between the parish church and a church from Guildford Diocese has created a midweek Café Church in Costa Coffee.

• Messy Churches around the Diocese are meeting the needs of young families in an accessible form of Church.

ConsultancyIf you are interested in taking your own ideas for witness and mission forward, we offer consultancy for individual churches, teams or deaneries. We can help you to look at your context and the needs of your parish or area and, considering your gifts and opportunities, craft a response to God’s call.

Often, fxCs start with an idea and a small team. Usually they are not clergy-led (although they can be), so the clergy need to support and encourage others in exploring their ideas. With the fresh expressions movement now more than 10 years old, we have a wealth of information to share – from how to avoid common pitfalls to where the best opportunities are to be found and how to cover the costs – and getting in touch early can really help a group to think through God’s call in their context.

TrainingWe can also provide training. Our key offering is Mission-Shaped Ministry, a year-long

course that gives you and your church the opportunity to think through your mission needs and widen your horizons of what might be possible in the company of different facilitators and speakers.

For more details and to sign up, follow our EventBrite link: https://southwarkmsm2017.eventbrite.co.uk

In addition, we provide seminars and training sessions throughout the year on different themes – for example, specifi c types of fresh expression such as Messy Church or Missional Communities – as well as on general missional topics. Our EventBrite page has more information on all our courses: https://Mission-and-Evangelism-Southwark.eventbrite.co.uk

Bishop’s Mission OrdersSupporting a fresh expression of church doesn’t end once it has been set up: we also want to help it fl ourish in the long term. One way to do this is through a Bishop’s Mission Order (BMO), which can ensure that an fxC has some security in terms of its status, especially if it crosses parish boundaries.

A number of BMOs already

exist in the Diocese, and we are in the process of creating others. One example is the BMO that is currently being set up for Springfi eld Church in Wallington. Several years ago, the Revd Canon Angela Gbebikan invited Springfi eld to assist in the mission of a neighbouring parish. As this situation has matured, and owing to a change in leadership at Springfi eld Church, all parties felt that a BMO would be a way of regularising the situation.

“Children and young people are at the heart of our vision for the Church. They greatly enrich the fl ourishing of our church communities, and we

have an important part to play in drawing them deeply into the community of faith.”

That is the view of Bishop Christopher, and when we

view his vision alongside newly published research into people’s faith journeys, it helps to sharpen our focus on mission and ministry with children and young people.

Aike Kennett-Brown, Mission Support Offi cer, writes: A survey carried out by ComRes on behalf of the Church of England shows that 40 per cent of practising Christians came to faith before the age of fi ve, 16 per cent between fi ve and 10 years old, and 20 per cent between 11 and 18 years old. At the same time, when respondents who used to be a member of a religious group (not just Christian) were asked at what age they stopped considering themselves to be

part of that group, 4 per cent said they were under 10, 34 per cent were between 11 and 18, and 21 per cent were between 19 and 24 years old.

These statistics suggest that we really do need to have our Hearts on Fire for children and young people: they are the most receptive to the Christian message but also the most

vulnerable in their faith journey. And the following are some ways in which the Diocese can support you in supporting them.

Finding fellowship Whether you are a paid worker or a volunteer, running a children’s or youth ministry can sometimes feel a lonely business. Through our networking events you can link

Children and Young People’s Mission and Ministry – setting Hearts on Fire

fresh expressions of Church – growing the Kingdom

Messy Church Celebration in Southwark Cathedral

Photos; left and above ‘Diddy Disciples’ at St Peter’s Church, Walworth (Credit: Femi Omole

Thy Kingdom Come 2017 - Pray

Mission Shaped Ministry course in Croydon 2015

THE BRIDGE...November 2017 7

What to watch out for…In the coming months we will be launching a number of key events and initiatives. Sign up for our regular emails at http://eepurl.com/cQymx5 to keep up to date with the latest news and information, or watch out for announcements in The Bridge and Noticeboard.

Young adults: We will shortly be launching a new initiative to help churches connect with young adults. We want to look at how to start a ministry in this area, how you might help young adults to grow in their faith, and how to encourage their insights and ministry in your church.

Evangelism tools and strategies: In early 2018 we hope to start trialling different evangelism tools and strategies in parishes of all traditions and sizes. If you want to be one of our partners, please get in touch.

Messy Church:We are working with the Bible Reading Fellowship to see how we might increase, support, encourage and develop Messy Churches in the Diocese. We hope this will develop into a partnership with BRF in this important missional area.

Training: We will continue to offer regular training in the areas of Mission Action Planning, children and youth, evangelism and fresh expressions. Check out our events pages at http://bit.ly/MissionEvents and http://bit.ly/CYPevents, or get in touch with a member of the team to discuss more bespoke advice.

Mission Action Planning – the second wave

Thy Kingdom Come – a journey into the Spirit

Evangelism departmentfxC grantsAnother key way in which we are supporting fxCs is with grants. Through the Church Commissioners we can invest £100,000 in fxC each year. Three types of grants are available: • grants of a few hundred

pounds, typically to try something new or where there isn’t the need for large amounts of resources;

• large grants of up to £10,000 to initiatives with a proven track record and a willingness to take training and support seriously;

• grants that repeat every year for up to three years to allow a Church/group/Deanery to plan over a period of time to help their fxC become sustainable. We very much want to use

the Church Commissioners’ money. If you have an idea for an fxC or you are already planning one, do talk it through with Will Cookson - (e-mail: [email protected])

up with others who also have a passion for working alongside young people. Visit our Eventbrite page for details of all our events and to book: http://bit.ly/CYPevents

Highlights include our termly lunches for paid children’s, youth and family workers, offering a chance to network and hear about the latest news and views. The next event will take place on Wednesday 24 January from 11am-2pm at Trinity House, London Bridge.

Inspiring ideasLook out for our termly Living Faith seminars, which provide the opportunity to explore challenging areas of CYP ministry, with expert input and lively debate. This term we will focus on children and young people’s mental health, with the meeting taking place on Tuesday 21 November from 7pm-9pm at Trinity House. We will be following this up with a seminar looking at helping children and young people with additional

needs, on Wednesday 23 May from 7pm-9pm at St Matthew’s House in Croydon.

Resourcing activityThe Southwark Diocese CYPM&M Resource Exchange, housed in the Cathedral and free to use for all churches and schools in the Diocese, is now open.

After a lively launch event in early October hosted by Bishop Christopher, this joint initiative led by the Cathedral Education Centre can now loan out a range of games, toys and spiritual resources aimed at children and young people, including:• large play items;• worship resources;• Godly Play story boxes;• small group resources.

The service is free to join, and once you are a member you can book any of the resources for free for three weeks.

To celebrate the start of the service, we are also offering free collection and delivery

on most items for a limited period. Browse the online catalogue of resources at www.southwark.anglican.org/cypmm/resourceexchange.

And if that inspires you, contact the Cathedral Education Centre on 020 7367 6715 or [email protected] to sign up and make a booking.

Equipping ministryI recently joined the department as Mission Support Offi cer for children and youth. I will be working alongside Hugh Ridsdill-Smith to provide advice and support for parishes, clusters of churches and Deaneries, by phone, e-mail or in person.

If you want to talk about any aspect of children and young people’s ministry, please do get in touch. Alternatively, check out our central training programme at http://bit.ly/CYPevents. Whether you want to investigate Godly Play or learn the ins and outs of hiring

a youth worker there’s probably something for you. And if not, we are also able to run local training sessions for clusters of churches and deaneries tailored even more closely to your needs.

For any requests that are beyond our area of expertise,

we can signpost you to external trainers, and help with the cost from our local training fund.

E-mail our mission team administrator Abigail Sanderson ([email protected]) for assistance with applying for one of these grants.

e) Right: Bishop Christopher at the launch of the CYPM&M Resource Exchange,

This annual festival of prayer will return from 10-20 May 2018, and we hope to inspire prayer at Parish, Deanery and Archdeaconry level.

Harnessing the narrative of Ascension to Pentecost, which moves from Jesus being lifted up in his humanity to his disciples being sent out in the power of the Spirit, this year we will be promoting the idea of prayer alongside pilgrimage,

whether that is beating the

bounds of the parish or making a pilgrimage to a place of special need in your local area.

We are looking to recruit a ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ champion in every Deanery so we can work with them to support and encourage Deaneries to plan together for prayer across their area. Please e-mail [email protected] if you would be interested.

Look out, too, for a pack of resources which will be sent

to every parish before Easter, and an online version on the Diocesan website. Popular resources from last year such as prayer cards and a daily offi ce will also be included, as will resources for people at work during the 10 days, and for prison and hospital chaplains. Thy Kingdom Come central (www.thykingdomcome.global) will also be adding to the excellent online resources they produced last year with a Lent

course, a tie-in with Christian Aid, school assemblies and resources for families where children have special needs.

We have increased the number of small grants available to churches wanting to create prayer spaces this year. E-mail our team administrator Abigail Sanderson ([email protected]) from January to apply for your £100.

We are also holding a workshop on developing prayer spaces in schools on Tuesday 20 February from 7-9pm at Trinity House, London Bridge, to share creative ideas to engage children and young people. yer Room St Matthew, Battersea

Many parishes are now reviewing and updating their original Mission Action Plans, taking part in a process whereby a group of people becomes inspired and energised by the sense of what God wants to do in and through them writes Vanessa Elston, Mission Support Offi cer.

For several years we have been coming alongside parishes, encouraging churches to become more strategic in their focus, to go for deeper change and transformation in one or two areas of their life and mission. When a church experiences impact and growth in one area this develops momentum and confi dence for tackling something else. Asking what is most valued

in a Christian community is a good place to start. Out of this a church can begin to discern some key priorities, building on what is working and looking at what might need to change.

The other place to start is by listening to those who don’t come to church, people on the fringes, key “people of peace” in the local area, in order to understand the perceptions, questions and aspirations of the local community.

As part of a mission audit, you might ask some of the following questions:• Where does our life together in

Christ most naturally overfl ow to those in the wider community?

• Where are we regularly and visibly present in the local community?

• How do we build relationships with those on the fringes and edges of our life?

• Where are we meeting “people of peace” and building partnerships with others, in order to encourage God’s Kingdom to fl ourish in our area?

• Do we provide safe spaces to explore spirituality and life questions outside a Sunday service?

• How open are we to receiving from others and being surprised by what

God is doing in our wider community?If you feel you need to revisit

your Mission Action Plan and would like help with this, please contact me on [email protected].

We also have a small budget for some mission accompaniment and consultancy for larger parishes and groups of churches in 2018. Please e-mail me if you are interested.

MAPping session at Mortlake


Bryan Harris’s

PARISH PROFILEBarnes Team MinistryTeam Ministry takes many different forms – and the model shared by the three churches in the Barnes Team should reassure anyone who fears that team ministry would be a straitjacket!

St Mary, St Michael & All Angels and Holy Trinity, Barnes are very different churches who between them offer the broad spectrum of Anglican worship. St Mary’s is a ‘middle-ground’ parish church; St Michael’s is Anglo-Catholic while Holy Trinity is charismatic evangelical.

And so what has been developed is a form of collaborative ministry which enables each to retain its individuality and be more or less autonomous - yet at the same time to have a mutual support structure and a forum for sharing ideas and activities.

The Team Rector is the Revd Richard Sewell (below). He told me that the “very loose structure is based on friendship and fellowship, shared prayer and joint worship. Our three churches illustrate the breadth of the Church of England and I think we have demonstrated that the different traditions can hold together by not interfering but supporting each other, by being complementary and not competing.”

In this team model each of the churches has its own clearly identifi ed parish clergy – Richard’s focus is St Mary’s; St Michael’s is in the care of Team Vicar the Revd Stephen Stavrou and Holy Trinity is led by a second Team Vicar, the Revd David Cooke. Each has its own PCC, Churchwardens and its own budget.

There is a Team Council but it is largely advisory, there to enable mutual support and to plan joint activities. In effect they have the best of both worlds – part of a team whilst retaining their separate identities.

St Mary’s is Barnes parish church – originally 12th century but extensively rebuilt in the 20th century after fi re damage. It has always had a place at the centre of the community and works hard to retain that position today. It is a popular venue for weddings, has some 50 baptisms a year and 15-20 funeral services. The congregation is largely local and as a church ‘for all the community’ its worship is mainstream Anglican – BCP and Common Worship with three or four services every Sundays. There is a choir every Sunday and alongside Richard in the ‘staff-team’ is Lord Richard Harries, retired Bishop of Oxford, who lives locally and regularly preaches and

presides at services. There are thriving Sunday Club groups for children.

There is an emphasis on ‘community’, with church members active in Barnes life “being ‘salt and light’ and showing the love of God by their actions”, said Richard. Over the centuries St Mary’s has been at the centre of Barnes life and today the church buildings continue to host civic and community activities including a wide range of cultural events.

Among them are the annual two-week Barnes Music Festival and Barnes Charity Fashion Show (complete with catwalk in the church and models displaying fashions from local shops) - both church initiatives.

St Michael and All Angels and Holy Trinity are both Victorian churches, built during a time when populations were expanding and the CofE expanded its presence to serve the new neighbourhoods.

St Michael’s serves the south of the Team’s area. It is at the Catholic end of the CofE spectrum and its vision is to ‘be the spiritual heart of the neighbourhood; creating a community of faith, hope and in belief of the power of God’s love’. The Team Vicar, former Southwark Cathedral Succentor Stephen Stavrou, writes; ‘We enjoy the beauty of ritual, music, incense and all the arts in helping us to approach the wonder of God. The Mass, celebrated with beauty and reverence, is at the centre of our worship’. At St Michael’s there are fi ve Sunday services of which the principal is the 10am Sung Parish Mass followed by a children’s Mass. The Mass is also celebrated mid-week and on Saturday morning.

Music is ‘at the heart of St Michael’s Worship’, with a robed adult choir of some 15 singers led by the celebrated Director of Music, Dr Martin Neary, singing at the Sunday Mass, occasional Choral Evensong, at festivals throughout the year and participating in the Barnes Music Festival. There are also regular concerts, recitals and other musical events at St Michael’s.

At the other (northern) end of the Team area - and of the Anglican spectrum - is Holy Trinity. A charismatic evangelical church it is the fruit of a church plant from Holy Trinity Richmond some seven years ago, led by David Cooke, then Holy Trinity Richmond’s curate, but from 2012 Team Vicar at Holy Trinity Barnes now along with Associate Vicar, the Revd Adam Rylett.

Their website invites you to ‘Try something different this Sunday’ – and that means two Sunday morning services; ‘The 9.15’ and ‘The 11’. Both follow the same pattern - a time of contemporary praise and worship led by the worship team and teaching with a Bible reading and a sermon. Every other week they also celebrate communion. ‘The 9.15’ begins with drinks and croissants and ends at about 10.45 when drinks and cake are served to give an opportunity for ‘The 9.15’ to mingle with those arriving for ‘The 11’. Alpha courses are run regularly and there are weekly house/cell groups involving most of the church members. There is also a focus on outreach to the local (Castelnau) neighbourhood, a centre of deprivation in an otherwise ‘wealthy’ Barnes. So the Church-owned and supported Community Centre (also strongly supported by St Mary’s) offers a range

of services and activities including a Food Bank to local residents. In 2010 the average Holy Trinity congregation was less than 40 – today it’s well over 100 and growing. Some are Holy Trinity’s original congregation, some are the ‘planters’, but by far the most are people new to ‘Church’. Among them are members of Barnes large Swedish community. And with a stated aim of ‘making disciples and planting new worshipping communities in Barnes and beyond’ they are already looking to a further church plant.

So how do three such diverse churches get along together?

“Very well actually” said Richard. “We all accept the validity of each other’s tradition and we accept that there are limits to what we can share together especially in terms of worship – although it isn’t unusual to draw ideas from each other’s tradition.

“We are all committed to strengthening our engagement with and service to the community and work together where we can to achieve this. We share in activities like the Food Bank and the annual Prayer Walk; special events like the Advent Carol Service at St Michael’s will draw people from the other two churches and we have several people, particularly from St Mary’s, who will go along to one of the other churches from time to time.

“We also work closely together as part of Churches Together in Barnes. Social activities are also shared and a music event, for instance a Barnes Music Festival concert, at one church will draw audiences from all three.

“We are all committed to increasing our work with families and children and often what works in one church will be tried in another. And that seems to be working as all three churches are thriving and busy, with varied programmes of Christian learning and spirituality according to their tradition and signifi cant pastoral ministries that bring people to faith and worship. Today all are attracting average Sunday congregations between 100 and 130 and have growing children’s work, with around 40 children registered at each”.

“It works because it is a loose structure. For example, having one PCC and three ‘district councils’ may work in some places but it wouldn’t work here. We are three diverse parishes, working together where it is benefi cial and paddling our own canoe where that works best” he said.

Above (left) Barnes Fashion Show 2017 at St Mary’s; (rght) the Palm Sunday procession at St Michael’s and (below) open air baptisms and affi rmations on Easter Sunday at Holy Trinity

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The Beauty and the HorrorRichard HarriesSPCK 2016Each year the members of the Bishop’s Staff Meeting (who are basically the senior staff of the Diocese) have a few days away together in a residential meeting at Wychcroft, our Diocesan Retreat House. This year was no exception, but to

give us something different to talk about as opposed to Diocesan strategy, Bishop Christopher had invited along Lord Harries of Pentregarth, formerly Bishop of Oxford and a resident now in our Diocese. Bishop Richard had recently published a new book and so we were all asked to read it and come ready for a discussion with the author.

The book ‘The Beauty and the Horror’ looks at one of the age-old questions that face Christians and, indeed people

of all faith communities who believe in a merciful God. The basic question, which is often given the theological name ‘theodicy’, is ‘Why does a good God allow bad things to happen?’

Whether or not we are ordained we are all confronted with situations where something terrible has happened to a good person – a child in the congregation becomes ill and despite all the best efforts of the doctors and all the prayers of the congregation, dies. The question we ask ourselves and people ask us is, why does God allow this, how can there be such horror amongst so much beauty, how can we say that God is good when the evidence appears at odds with this?

There are no easy answers and indeed at the beginning of the book Bishop Richard promises ‘to avoid cheap

polemics and easy answers’. Those who have heard him as a regular contributor to Radio 4’s ‘Thought for the Day’ know that he is never guilty of that. Instead this is an elegant and erudite book which asks the right questions and seeks good answers in scripture, of course, but also in the wealth of literature, poetry and art that has arisen in western culture and beyond and has often sought to be an answer to the same question.

Bishop Richard quotes the great priest and preacher, Austin Farrer, who wrote; ‘Good breeds more good than any evil can. It is a special revelation of God’s divine power that he is able to bring some good even out of evil’.

This book and that quote have been very important to me as I continue to refl ect on the events of June and the attack on London Bridge

and the Borough Market, the enforced closure of the Cathedral and the death and injury of so many people simply doing their job or on a night out in our vibrant area. The Cathedral may not be everyone’s cup of liturgical tea, Borough Market may not be everyone’s idea of a good night out, but we are a good and faithful Christian community, we are an engaged local community. Why did something so dreadful happen to us? But as Farrer suggests out of that evil many good things have come and our communities have perhaps never been stronger.

We know increasingly that we live in a complicated and at times frightening world. Bishop Richard quotes the playwright, Tennessee Williams, with regard to this. ‘I’ve met many people that seemed well-adjusted but

I’m nor sure that to be well-adjusted to things as they are … is desirable’.

The beauty and the horror do co-exist in the world and we see it most powerfully on the cross as the beautiful God dies a horrifying death. But should that mean that I should be well-adjusted to this reality or rather, shouldn’t I constantly be looking for and praying for resurrection, which is the only way to make sense of Calvary. As Bishop Richard concludes, we should be committed... ‘to a way of life within a living community, a way of life that, facing the hells we make of the world, remains racked with desire and striving for a better world’.

This is an excellent book and in our context, well worth reading.

Andrew Nunn, Dean of Southwark

The Men’s Thing was formed at St John, Malden as part of its outreach nine years ago, and has become a very popular monthly meeting. In October they welcomed Louise Dibble, who attended the recent commemoration in Belgium of the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele. She talked about the visit and showed letters from the front written by her great uncle. He and another great uncle were both killed in the battle.

REVIEWREVIEW

The art of Mentor ChicoIf you visit Trinity House for an evening or Saturday meeting, the chances are that you will

meet Mentor as he is the building’s evening and weekend caretaker and receptionist.

Mentor is also an artist who obtained his degree in Fine Art in the Central University of Ecuador in 1993. He paints in oil and acrylics on canvas aiming for a naïve, playful and happy expression with dynamic colours and shapes. Predominating colours are fi re red, yellow and green.

A selection of his paintings will be hanging in the Cathedral Refectory from 28 October – 22 November. His subjects are the people in London and Latin America, their customs and their religions. More details about

his work are on his website www.mentor-chico.com

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Let us prayNovember

Pakistan comes to Norbury

All Saints Day celebrates our communion with God’s people in every place and age. This is not so much the day for the celebrity saints – like Peter, Paul, and Mary – but for the people whose names and stories are forgotten, but who followed Jesus and revelled in his forgiveness and grace.

My favourite image of the saints comes in the letter to the Hebrews. ‘Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…’

The image is of the runners in the Olympic stadium, stripped of their

clothing, with the saints who ran the same race in former years as encouraging spectators, and with Jesus as the fi nishing post.

Because we don’t know the stories of most of these saints they are less an ‘example’ and more a voice cheering us and willing us on. It is their encouragement that keeps us running well.

God of life, make us mindful to your holy ones who cheer in solidarity with us. As we run the race of life, make us eager, with their encouragement, to come to Jesus and win the crown of life. Amen.

The Revd Chris Palmer

The Revd Trevor PattersonWe regret to announce the sudden death of the Revd Trevor Patterson, Vicar of Richmond Holy Trinity & Christ Church and Area Dean of Richmond and Barnes. Please pray for Trevor’s family and his congregation.

On Sunday 23 October Bishop Christopher gave his Permission to Offi ciate to the Revd Samuel Parvez at St Philip’s Norbury.

Terry Drummond writes

The Eucharist in which this took place combined songs of praise and Bible readings in Urdu and English. Samuel was born in Pakistan and St Philip’s is home to an Urdu speaking congregation which meets weekly.

Before the worship began there was a joyful ceremony of welcome for the Bishop outside church at which a turban was placed on his head and Samuel’s and garlands were presented to Bishop Christopher and the parish

clergy team. The procession of welcome included the enthusiastic beating of drums as everyone entered Church.

In his sermon Bishop Christopher pointed out that the 2011 Census found that almost a quarter of parishioners of St Philip’s had their roots in South Asia, more than in almost any other parish in the Diocese. St Philip’s is home to one of the largest number of Pakistani Christians in the Diocese, whilst also being the worshipping home of representatives of other South Asian Christians forming part of a mixed community of faith.

The celebration of the coming together of different cultures with an emphasis on that of Pakistan and traditional Church of England liturgy is an important example of the

rich diversity of the Diocese of Southwark, which Bishop Christopher recently described as the gift and blessing of God.

St. Philip’s is well known for its hospitality. Many opportunities are used for sharing meals together and the congregation is growing. Following the Eucharist, the Urdu congregation welcomed everyone to a meal of chicken curry which included a

magnifi cent dish of spinach cooked in a way that was certainly new to me.

The blessings of diversity were evident in the mix of Punjabi and English customs refl ected in the worship and procession of welcome within the deep fellowship of the Eucharist – all further encapsulated in sitting down for a meal together.

Christ’s School, Richmond and Trinity St Mary’s C of E Primary School in Wandsworth have been celebrated under a new programme set up by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to recognise exceptional schools in the capital. ‘Schools for Success’ is part of the Mayor’s drive to help

tackle education inequality and increase standards for all schoolchildren across the capital. The scheme celebrates schools that are achieving academic success with all their pupils, in particular disadvantaged or vulnerable students.

Christ’s School has been recognised for the

achievements made at GCSE by pupils with low prior attainment. These pupils achieved on average more than one grade higher than might have been expected for similar pupils nationally.

In the 2016 KS2 results Trinity St Mary’s C of E Primary School was in the top 5% nationally for Mathematics

and in the top 20% nationally for English.

In all 102 schools have been recognised.

They are being asked to share their good practice through seminars and hosting visits to their schools so that other schools can learn from their successful approaches.

Southwark ‘Schools for Success’


Please send details of your events for DECEMBER ONWARDS to Trinity House

BY MONDAY 27 NOVEMBER

November

✽ ADDISCOMBE - Fund Raising Art Exhibition at St Mildred’s Centre. Monday-Saturday 9am-3pm, throughout November.

✽ BEDDINGTON - Quiet @St Mary’s - 3rd Thursday of each month 11am - 2pm. Various tools for quiet including labyrinth.

✽ BOROUGH – St George the Martyr Community Cafe and TimeBank every Thursday 2pm to 4.30 pm. Meet people, get advice, help one another.

✽ CROYDON - Lunchtime Recital series at Croydon Minster. Every Friday at 1.10pm, from 6 October to 1 December. Bring a packed lunch. Donations to Minster Funds.

✽ ELTHAM - Sing with a full orchestra. Hymns, light classics and popular standards last Sunday each month except Aug and Dec. 3pm Eltham Park Methodist Church

✝ HACKBRIDGE - Taizé at All Saints at 7pm First Sunday every month

✽ KEW - Homemade cakes and teas 3-5pm on Sundays at St Anne’s Church

✽ WARLINGHAM – Water Aid lunches in St Ambrose Church Hall, 12-1pm fi rst Wednesday

✝ ZIMBABWE ANGLICAN COMMUNITY at St Mary, Newington – Shona Mass, Second Sunday of month at 2pm. Mothers’ Union last Saturday 2pm

December

Sunday 5 November

✝ DULWICH - Fauré Requiem for All Souls at St John’s Church, East Dulwich Road, 6.30pm Inc. remembering the names of the departed.

Wednesday 8 November

ROEHAMPTON – ‘Open Anglicanism’ at Whitelands College, 6-7.30pm Changing Anglicanism: The Impact of Migration on Anglican Identity. Bringing together Anglicans (and others) of various traditions to learn together and to listen to one another. Contributors: Canon Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Canon Joabe Cavalcanti and The Venerable George Ansah. To book contact Paul Coward Tel. 020 8392 3511 or E-mail [email protected]

Thursday 9 November

✝ NEW ADDINGTON - Croydon Tram Crash - A Service of Remembrance at St Edward’s Church, 5pm, presided by the Bishop of Croydon. The Church will be open from 6am for those who wish to remember the victims. All are welcome

Saturday 11 November

CROYDON - Come and Sing Elgar’s The Kingdom at St Matthew’s Church. workshop/performance with the Croydon Bach Choir 10am - 6pm (Pre-registration essential). www.croydonbachchoir.org/events/

✽ ELTHAM - HALO Christmas Bazaar. St Luke’s Church Hall 10.30am

DULWICH - Mozart Requiem performed by Concordia Chamber Choir with The South Circular Orchestra. Also Rossini motets and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto. 7.30 pm at All Saints’ Church. Tickets £12 at the door, or £11 in advance from www.concordiachamberchoir.co.uk. Concs. half-price.

REIGATE - An Evening of Remembrance - Faure’s Requiem and Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man. 7.30-10pm at St Mark’s Church. Betchworth & Buckland Choral Society. Free

PLUMSTEAD - Greenwich Concert Band at All Saint’s Church Shooters Hill, 7.30pm in aid of the restoration of WW1 plaque. Refreshments available. £10 adults, children free, at the door.

Sunday 12 November

DULWICH – Organ Recital at Christ’s Chapel 7.45pm. Stephen Disley (Southwark Cathedral). Admission free

ELTHAM - Concert of Light Orchestral Music including themes from stage, screen and radio. 3pm at New Eltham Methodist Church, Footscray Road. Admission free

Wednesday 15 November

WESTMINSTER - Westminster Cathedral Interfaith Group 4 to 5 pm in the Hinsley Room, Morpeth Terrace. All welcome - no charge. Spkr: Alan Rainer on failures in British education and religious education

Thursday 16 November

✽ EAST SHEEN - Performance of ‘Gospel Street’ by Riding Lights Theatre at Christ Church at 7.30pm. Tickets £10 (£8 u/18s) on the door.

BATTERSEA - Debate: Iran, Yesterday, today and tomorrow. 6.30pm for 7pm St Luke’s Church. Speakers inc: Tom Coghlan (Former Middle East Editor, The Times), David Blow (Historian), Ali Sabersheikh (Former Iranian Civil Servant) Chaired by Lorenzo Fernandez-Vicente (Vicar). Tickets £10 inc. a glass of wine

Friday 17 November

✽ GREENWICH - Painted Ladies: Friday Late at the Painted Hall (Old Royal Naval College). Live music, art and performance. Adults only. Bar. 7pm – 10pm. Tickets £12 (Concs £10). https: //ornc.digitickets.co.uk/ event

Friday 17 November & Sunday 19 November

WATERLOO - Midsummer Opera presents Riders to the Sea by Vaughan Williams and Henry V – A Shakespeare Scenario by William Walton at St John’s Waterloo on Friday at 7 pm and Sunday at 5 pm. Advance Booking (Debit/credit card) 020 7652 0070 or wegottickets.com


✽ LINGFIELD – Autumn Fair, Friends of the College of St Barnabas, 10am – 12 noon.Stalls, raffl e, tombola, coffee. Help provide some of the extras that enhance

life at the College for retired clergy and their spouses.

DEPTFORD - Lewisham Choral Society presents ‘Sounds Imperial!’ 7:30 pm in the Great Hall, Goldsmiths - University of London. Haydn and Mozart. Info and tickets from www.lewisham choralsociety.org.uk

✽ OXTED - St Mary’s Church Christmas Market 10am -1pm in Oxted Community Hall. Gifts, cards, books, jewellery, craft, cakes, preserves, tombola, raffl e children’s activities. Christmas music sung by members of St Mary’s School Choir

Tuesday 21 November

PURLEY - The Cosmos, Stephen Hawking And God - A talk by Revd Dr. Rodney Holder - Retired Dir, Faraday Inst. Of Science & Religion. 7pm at Christ Church, (Brighton Rd) Free Refreshments. All welcome


✽ SELSDON - Christmas Market St John’s Church Hall, 11am -3pm including stalls, raffl es, Tombola, Grotto, Children’s activities and lots more. Free entry

✽ ELTHAM – St Luke Eltham Park Christmas Bazaar 10.30am in Church Hall Westmount Road

✽ SOUTH NORWOOD- St Alban’s Christmas Market, Church Hall 11am- 2pm. Stalls, refreshments, children’s activities and Grand Raffl e. Free entry.

Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 November

✽ BETCHWORTH - Alternative Christmas Tree Festival St Michael’s Church - open 10-5pm. Vote for your favourite tree. Refreshments and Traidcraft Christmas stall

Sunday 26 November

✽ LINGFIELD - Fairtrade Christmas Pudding Making Party from 12 noon to 3pm at St Peter and St Paul Church. For details tel Gill 01342 833994. E-mail: [email protected]

Saturday 2 December

WEST WICKHAM - The Big Christmas Sing at St Francis of Assisi, 4pm. Free admission & refreshments. Collection for Christian Aid.

✽ EAST DULWICH - Christmas Fair at St John’s Church, 11am-3pm. Admission free. Santa’s grotto, stalls, decorations, refreshments. Festive music by Opal Flutes and brass band

✽ TOOTING - All Saints Christmas Fair, 12 - 3pm. Christmas gifts, crafts, tombola, music, plants and refreshments. Entrance: £1,u/16s 50p

CROYDON – Croydon Bach Choir - Christmas Oratorio (JS Bach) 7.30 pm at St Matthew Croydon. Tickets £15 (children £5), via croydonbachchoir.org

OXTED - Oxted and Limpsfi eld Choral Society - Bob Chilcott’s ‘Jubilate’, Handel’s ‘Messiah’ and carols. 5pm at Oxted United Reformed Church; Tickets: £12 inc seasonal glass and mince pie

Tuesday 5 December

REDHILL – Festival of Carols – Redhill & Reigate Choral Society and local school choirs. 7pm St Joseph’s Church.

Wednesday 6 December

CATERHAM - Munch with Music - London Guiders Singing Group at St John’s Church. Admission Free -

Donations welcome. Tea/Coffee from 12.15pm, Performance 12.45 – 1.30pm. Bring your own “Munch”

Thursday 7 December

✝ WATERLOO - Christian Aid Carol service –7pm at St John’s Church – Collection for Christian Aid’s Christmas Appeal. Refreshments,

✽ ELTHAM - Westmount Road Independent Traders ‘Lights Up’ at 4.30pm with choirs from local churches

Saturday 9 December

REIGATE – Christmas Classics sung by Redhill & Reigate Choral Society. 7.30pm at Reigate Park Church, Park Lane East.

✽ CLAPHAM - The Green and Ethical Christmas Fayre at Holy Trinity Clapham Common, 11am-4pm Adults £3, Children Free

✽ EARLSFIELD - St Andrew’s Community Christmas Fair 10am to 1pm – plus refreshments at Home Café in the church narthex!

Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 December

✽ SELSDON - Christmas Wreath festival at St Johns Church – Saturday 10am-4pm & Sunday 12-4pm. Wreaths, wreath making workshops, children’s treasure hunt and refreshments. Christmas Concert at Sunday at 6pm. Musical entertainment and readings, mulled fruit punch and mince pies.

ST. MARY’S CONVENT WANTAGE

accommodation for Group Quiet Days and Group Retreats. Also, Conference facilities and private stays.

St Mary Magdalene’s Chapel.

For further details please contact:

Email: [email protected]


The Bridge - in print, in your parish... and on line at www.southwark.anglican.org/thebridge

Why not take a look at what the 2016 pilgrims saw and did on http://bit.ly/2xbJQcH

AND more about the Diocese and pilgrimage on the ‘Hearts on Fire’ blog:

http://southwarkcofe.tumblr.com/

To book or for more details contact the Pilgrimage Administrator at Trinity House. Tel: 020 7939 9428 or

e-mail: [email protected]

Time is running outTime is running outto book your place on theto book your place on the

Monday 19th - Monday 26th FebruaryMonday 19th - Monday 26th FebruaryA comprehensive eight-day pilgrimage A comprehensive eight-day pilgrimage

led by Bishop Christopher and Dean Andrewled by Bishop Christopher and Dean Andrew

2018 2018 DIOCESANDIOCESAN

PILGRIMAGEPILGRIMAGETO THE

HOLY HOLY LANDLAND

The Basilica of St Mary, NazarethThe Basilica of St Mary, Nazareth

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Art, Culture & RepresentationAs part of Black History Month 2017, on Saturday 7 October Southwark Cathedral hosted Art, Culture & Representation: a day event featuring a Diocesan Service of Thanksgiving, art exhibition and workshops.

In her introduction to the event the Revd Canon Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Diocesan Director of Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation, spoke of the need to ‘encourage people to celebrate their past, their places of origin or heritage, and their identities that are formed from those connections; but also to fi nd ways to represent themselves as a full part of the society in

which they both reside and belong’.

The service, at which Bishop Christopher presided, contained contributions from Black and Minority Ethnic people from across the Diocese and the Revd Canon Charles Pickstone, Vicar of St Laurence, Catford, preached. Artworks were displayed in the South Transept and Ms Jheni Arboine (centre above), creator of the image featured on the posters and service sheet, walked Mayors of the London

Boroughs and others around a number of the featured works.

Those attending the day were then invited to join a series of afternoon workshops given by artists, poets and curators, all exploring the theme of Art, Culture & Representation.

More photos are available at https://fl ic.kr/s/aHsm4d8B7L and Canon Charles Pickstone’s sermon can be found at: http://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/sermons/cp20171007

Bishop’s Clergy Study DayEach year the Bishop of Southwark hosts a study day at the Cathedral for the clergy of the Diocese.

As well as a time to learn and refl ect together the study day, which, this year, was held on Tuesday 17 October, provides an opportunity for clergy to spend time together.

Organised by the Director of Discipleship and Ministry, the Revd Canon Dr Mandy Ford, the day took the opportunity to refl ect on the theological and ecclesiological legacy of the Reformation. This was especially appropriate as October sees the 500th anniversary of Luther’s publication of his Ninety-Five Theses.

After Bishop Christopher’s

introduction to the day the fi rst speaker was the Revd Canon Dr Judith Maltby, who spoke on ‘Sex and the Clergy: the Reformation in England and clergy marriage’ – a more

complicated story than you might think.

After group discussion and questions, the Revd Canon Dr Ashley Null spoke on ‘Good Disagreement and the

Reformation’. Midday Prayer and lunch followed after which the fi nal speaker, Professor John Barclay, spoke on ‘Paul, Gift and Luther’.

It was a varied and thought provoking day and the clergy went away inspired to think about the issues raised by the speakers in their own context.

Speaking at the end of the day Bishop Christopher said, “It is always good to listen to such high quality and stimulating speakers as they helped us to think about the issues which are relevant today in the light of Luther’s thoughts 500 years ago. We have much to learn from our forebears in the church as we seek to work together from our different perspectives today.”

Walking the labyrinth at the Diocesan Spirituality Day on Saturday 21 October. Report and more photos next month.

This year’s campaign has three key elements...1. Videos encouraging people to go to church at Christmas, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.2. ‘A Church Near You’ will point people to Christmas services or events taking place in Church of England churches from November 2017.3. Your Christmas Journey, a series of short refl ections - aimed at people who are new to faith - available as texts, by e-mail and on social media. Church House Publishing have produced them as a booklet for churches to give to those attending Advent and Christmas services

Your action plan...1. Access Christmas resources by going to www.churchofengland.org/christmas2. Share the content posted by the CofE on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook in December3. Order copies of the Your Christmas Journey from Church House Publishing (https://www.chpublishing.co.uk/godwithus) 4. Sign up and get your friends and family to join the ‘Your Christmas Journey’ refl ections - text GodWithUs to 88802.5. And if you are an editor on ‘A Church Near You’ (www.achurchnearyou.com), please go online and update your Christmas service information.

The 2017 CofE Christmas campaign

How can you and your church get involved?

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