Newsletter 7/9/22

Back to Church Sunday – 18th September

There are plenty of challenges around for our new prime minister to face – the first war in Europe for many years, the rising cost of energy, the mental health of the nation coming out of the pandemic, the challenges of the channel crossings, rampant inflation and the disruption of the global supply chain.

Paul tells us that we are to pray for Her Majesty the Queen and for her government, the opposition and all in authority; these challenges make the need for that call all the more obvious. We need to pray for these pressures to be managed well for good order to prevail, so that the Good News of Christ can be heard.

In 1 Timothy 2:1-4 we read: ‘I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may life peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness (because) … God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.’

We get the leaders we pray for, so let’s make use of Back to Church Sunday coming up on 18th September to gather to pray for those who have the responsibility of leading our country and making big decisions in these demanding times.

Please use this opportunity to invite friends, family and neighbours to join us for the all age back to church Sunday coming up on the 18th of September at 10:45 am.
 
Every blessing in Christ,

Ian

90th Anniversary Celebration
THIS SATURDAY (10th September)
2-5pm
The invites have gone out
The burgers have been bought
The cakes are being baked
The film is in the can
The sax sounds quite ethereal
The face paints wait expectantly
Now all that’s needed is…
…you (and your friends, family, and neighbours)

A huge thank you to all those who came and helped paint the boards surrounding Eardley Road’s St John’s hall. Alongside the keen group of teenagers were Jo, Helen, and David from the Streatham Festival.
Thank you for making the sad looking hoardings look so beautiful.
Thanks go to Anthony Gold who had been storing the paintings after they had been on the A23 hoardings towards Norbury, and thanks to Homebase for providing the lovely blue paint.
Alongside painting, Kyra, Barny and Christevie discovered a way to strengthen their arm muscles doing some urban gardening rather than going to the gym.

Photo: Providence Doucet on Unsplash

Save the date

Saturday October 15th 7.30pm

Plans are coming together for a concert in the church with
musicians of the Holy Redeemer and their friends.
Watch this space for updates.

And a prayer that we can all be praying together: 

Almighty and everlasting God,
you are always more ready to hear than we to pray
and to give more than either we desire or deserve:
pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid
and giving us those good things
      which we are not worthy to ask
but through the merits and mediation
of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Amen

Festival fun on the Vale

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!