What’s Happening

Newsletter January 26th 2023

Posted by admin on 26th January 2023

This is a challenging time of the year. Still in the cold dark of winter, we long for Spring. Patience is needed.  

In psalm 40 David looks back to a time he was in a dark place and waited patiently for the Lord to pull him out into the light:

 I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
    out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
    making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
    a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
    and put their trust in the Lord.

Waiting is one of the hardest things to do. Waiting for the bus, for the birthday, for the weekend, whatever it is. Waiting for the Lord is hardest of all because we don’t know when he’ll act.

In the Psalm, David looks back to a time when he managed to wait for the Lord, and wasn’t disappointed:

  4 Blessed is the man who makes
    the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
    to those who go astray after a lie!
5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
    your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
    none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
    yet they are more than can be told.

The crocuses and snow drops came up last year and Spring followed. The Lord will make it Spring again. He’ll lift us out of the dark into the sun again:

17 As for me, I am poor and needy,
    but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
    do not delay, O my God!

He can do it. He will do it.

Every blessing in Christ,

Ian

If you’re not able to bring someone to hear the good news about Jesus, how about coming along to support and encourage those who have?
Or come to learn how to point people to Jesus more effectively. 
Or come to give yourself a spiritual top up in the middle of the week with brothers and sisters as the joy of last Sunday fades and
the Sunday ahead is still a few days away. 
Pray for the good news of Jesus to change the lives of all that hear it at
Christianity Explored.

Christianity Explored

Posted by admin on 28th December 2022

Why are we here?

Who is Jesus?

Is he a real person?

What about death?

Can anyone trust the Bible?

What’s the point to life?

I want to know about…

If you have questions, then Christianity Explored or something similar is for you. This year, in January 2024 we are running a 321 course. Click on the link here for more information, or just turn up on a Sunday and speak to someone to find out more about something similar starting soon in Streatham or nearby.

email info@holyredeemer.org.uk and book yourself on a course, or arrange to have a conversation with Ian, the vicar.

October 5th Newsletter

Posted by admin on 5th October 2022
photo: Gozha Net on Unsplash.com

Dear church family,

All the farms in our area were built over long ago, and we feel removed from the rural rhythms of planting and reaping.

Nevertheless, it’s a good idea to remember where our food comes from, and pause to give thanks for those who get it onto the shelves and around in the delivery vans.

Behind all of the agricultural and retail workers, stands the Lord our creator who gives us all the food we enjoy, and who is to be thanked above all. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 4:3 that God created food and marriage ‘to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received 
with thanksgiving …’

There were and are very religious, ‘spiritual’ people who, then and now, abstained from certain foods and even from marriage. And there is a time and a place for fasting in both, to free up time and energy to seek the Lord in prayer. But most of the time, and at harvest time particularly, marriage and food is to be enjoyed with thanksgiving and celebration with family, friends, and loved ones in the community.

So, come and join us this Sunday 9th October for our harvest service and lunch in the hall after. We’re having a simple soup and bread lunch to celebrate harvest, in recognition that two thirds of the world don’t have enough food, while our one third has too much. At the lunch there’ll be an opportunity to give to the Barnabas Fund, helping Christians in Pakistan after the recent floods.

Also, join us for the 90 anniversary celebrations on the 15th October from
2pm – 5pm in the main Church building. There will be plenty of burgers, cakes and other delights at ridiculously low prices, at the family and community celebration for the building being 90 years old. As well as refreshments, there are games for all ages, live music and ‘join-in’ demonstrations from groups which meet in the Parish hall. Scouts have a knotty problems stand, and there is a chance to see more about the history of the church, and spot your road as it looked almost a century ago. 

I hope to see you and am looking forward to that,
 
Every blessing in Christ,

Ian

Photo: Margaret Jaszowska on Unsplash

Harvest Lunch this Sunday 9th October

After a harvest service in the church building at 10.45,
please bring along some soup or bread for a simple lunch together.
Please speak to Ruth or Denise if you’d like to
contribute some soup or bread. 


Please bring along donations for Barnabas Fund who are
supporting those affected by the floods in Pakistan.


This is what your donation could buy: 
Mosquito net (one per family) £2.50
Emergency family food package to last 25-30 days £20
20 plastic sheets for temporary shelters (one per family) £28
Clean drinking water and water purification tablets for 50 families £38

90th Anniversary Celebration
October 15th
2-5pm

Keep inviting folk to this event. We’ve had a few changes to the programme and have more solo singers and light jazz. 

If you’d like to make cakes to go alongside the drinks on the day, please bring them along at 2pm.

Family games will kick off the afternoon from 2pm – 3pm

Food bank donations are welcome.

And a prayer that we can all be praying together: 
Lord of creation,
whose glory is around and within us:
open our eyes to your wonders,
that we may serve you with reverence
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Festival fun on the Vale

Posted by admin on 31st August 2022

There’s so much to do all afternoon on September 10th.

Food will be priced at £1 for a burger and soft drink, and you can sit and eat this whilst listening to some beautiful saxophone music or the community choir, after you’ve had a go at the games, found your street in the photographs from the 1930s, and taken part in the all age craft.

It’s a mini festival on your doorstep!

September 10th Holy Redeemer 90 year Jubilee

Posted by admin on 25th May 2022

On Saturday September 10th the church is holding a Jubilee anniversary of its own.
The community choir are going to sing, there will be family games, a display on the history and the future of the church, a sing along session for parents and under 5s, BBQ, cakes and live music. More to follow.
For now, save the date, and get ready to celebrate 90 years of Holy Redeemer in Streatham Vale.

Friday Football

Posted by admin on 12th May 2022

Friday Football is back and meeting on the Common from 5.30-6.30 pm from Easter to October.

It happens every Friday that school is on. So no football during school holidays.

It’s for anyone in year 6 and at secondary school.

At half time there’s a short talk based on a part of the bible to encourage everyone to think about Jesus.

Why not join Friday Alive back at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall after football? It starts at 7 pm.

It’s just a 10 minute walk from the Common down Streatham Vale.

Bi-weekly update 24/11/2021

Posted by admin on 25th November 2021

Dear Church family,

This Sunday is Advent Sunday when we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ first coming to redeem us by remembering His return to establish His kingdom.

Paul speaks of Jesus’ two comings in his letter to Titus (2:11-13) in these words:
‘For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ …’                                                                                                        Titus 2:11-13
Jesus came 2,000 years ago to assure all who trust Him of acceptance and welcome, at His return.

This puts things into perspective:In an age where ‘now’ is all that matters, it reminds us that ‘then’ is more important.In an age of distraction, it reminds us that the one thing that’s necessary is to sit at His feet and listen to Him.In an age where many voices compete for our attention, it reminds us that His is the one voice that we must heed.In an age of leisure and pleasure, it reminds us that we’re to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and trust that will bring us the pleasure and rest we yearn for.In an age of self-indulgence, it reminds us that really what we need is self-control.Advent Sunday is the perfect opportunity to ask ourselves: ‘Would I be ready to welcome Him if He came back tonight?’, ‘Are my loved ones and neighbours ready for His return?’, and ‘Might they appreciate an invitation to our Christmas celebrations?’
Your brother in Christ, 
Ian

Bi-weekly update 10/11/2021

Posted by admin on 10th November 2021
On Sunday the 21st November Phoebe Woodcraft is going to be baptised.It’ll be the first Baptism we’ve had at Church for some time, and something special to look forward to. Please pray for Phoebe, who is going to speak about how the Lord has been at work in her life to bring her to this significant point. And please pray for her Dad, Adam, who is preaching that day.Baptism is known as a ‘Dominical ordinance’ – something that Jesus, our Lord, has ‘ordained’ or commanded His followers to do. His last words recorded in Matthew 28:19 are: 
‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit …’                                                                                                        Matthew 28:19
We hear the Good news of who Jesus is and what He came to do in the preached word.

And that same message is ‘spoken’ in the act of Baptism – it’s a sacrament – a picture of the new, eternal life that we have when we come to Jesus as Lord and ask for His forgiveness.

It’s a good opportunity to invite friends and family to Church. And please come and join our autumn Passion for life training series in the Parish Hall, on Tuesday evenings from 6.30 ( for a simple meal at 6.30 ) and discussion from 7pm – 8pm. 

And with Christmas ahead, we have more to celebrate and sing about – please have a chat with Denise if you might be interested in joining the Choir this year? And with Jon who needs help on the tech team. 
Your brother in Christ, 
Ian
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