Newspaper of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark Vol.22 No.5 June 2017

Inside THE BRIDGE ...this month

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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

Page 12

Christ’s School Richmond Year 8 & 9 Basketball Team have triumphed at the Dynamik National Schools Basketball Championships to become National Champions.

The result means Christ’s School has the best Under 14 School Basketball Team in England.

The team qualifi ed for the National Finals, in Manchester on Sunday 7 May, after winning the

London School Games Basketball Tournament in March. Competing in the event were the winning teams from the England north, south and east schools tournaments.

Commenting on the win, Head of PE at Christ’s School, Tom Smith said “This is an incredible achievement for Christ’s School and one the boys can be proud of for the rest of their lives.

“Coaches - PE teacher Djamal Sedour and Andrew Wallace, of Richmond Knights - worked tirelessly to equip the squad to compete at the top level. This achievement

is testament to the ethos of sport at Christ’s School, the boys’ hard work in training and our excellent relationship with Richmond Knights Basketball Club”.Photo: The winning team l-r: Tom Smith (Head of PE); Mike Owusu Mantey; Stephen Asante; Ryan Suqi; Peter Asante; Deivi Uruci; Ridley Shema (Captain) ; Andrew Wallace (Richmond Kights Basketball); Sean Hogan; Leon Byrne-Adim; Edward Sykes; Aleksa Verusevic; Tom McKiernan; and Djamal Sedour (PE Teacher)

Southwark’s second new monastic community is bornOn Sunday 21 May, more than 80 people witnessed the birth of the Wellspring Community, a new monastic community in the Diocese of Southwark, at a ‘Rhythm of Life’ service at St Luke, Camberwell.

Eighteen people made their vows before the Bishop of Southwark and the Archdeacon of Southwark and so became the fi rst members of the Community, which is a new monastic fresh expression of church in the Woolwich Episcopal Area.

Bishop Christopher said “It was a great joy to receive the vows of the founder members of the Wellspring Community in St Luke’s, Peckham, their spiritual home. This is the second New Monastic Community to be launched in the Diocese in recent months, a sign that the Holy Spirit is

moving among us in breathing life into exciting fresh expressions of Church.”

Members of the fi rst New Monastic Community in the Diocese – the Community of St Margaret the Queen in Streatham – joined with representatives from parishes, traditional Anglican Religious Communities, fresh expressions of church and other New Monastic Communities at the service.

The Wellspring Community seeks to bring renewal and mission to the North Peckham area of South London. It is made up of people pursuing the Christian spiritual life, a way of wholeheartedly following Christ, setting the Gospel into practice. In this way the Community hopes to become a resource and treasure that enriches the whole life of the church, and resources its mission in the challenge of urban 21st century South London.

Continues on page 2

It’s your call - the Vocations Team and its work - pages 6 & 7

Parish Profi le: St John the Baptist, Eltham - page 9

Five pages of News and photos from around the Diocese

Christ’s School are National Schools Basketball Champions

Editorial Advisory Board:

John Kiddle (Chair)

Adeline Cole

Carol Coslett

Roxanne Hunte

Betty Percival

Wendy 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: bridge@southwark.anglican.org

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The JULY/AUGUST edition is due to be printed on 6 JULY and in your parish from the following Sunday. Material for that edition must be with Wendy S. Robins at Trinity House by MONDAY 26 JULY. Space 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. A form for permission for the use of photographs of children and adults who may be vulnerable can be found at www.southwark.anglican.org/what/diocesan-policies-

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Thy Kingdom Come

The Wellspring CommunityThe Wellspring Community is one of the leading CofE new expressions of the religious life, and is represented on General Synod’s Advisory Council.

Community members seek to live in a way that is both relevant to modern culture

and to God, by fi nding God in the midst of everyday life.

Inspired by Franciscan, Ignatian and Benedictine spirituality and practice, the Community has four different spaces of belonging:Associates – who live at a distance, support the community in prayer and fi nancially and attend events when able. Aspirants – who are spiritually journeying with the

community who aspire to live to some of the charisms but are not yet ready to commit to being a follower of JesusParticipants – who are committed to following Jesus but not ready yet to commit to the vows because of pressures of work or other issues that prevent regular weekly participation in the worship, mission and community life of the community.Professed - who have made a commitment to the vows and participate in the regular

weekly rhythm of prayer, community and service.

Of the 18 who made their vows at the service, 12 were Professed and 6 were Participants.

A podcast of the homily given by the Bishop at the service can be heard at: https://www.wellspringpeckham.net/blog/https://www.wellspringpeckham.net/blog-5

Continued from page 1

As we woke on Tuesday 23 May, news of the terrible events in Manchester was all over our screens and newspapers.

Later that week, on Ascension Day, the ten days of prayer called for by the Archbishops of Canterbury

and York were to begin and we were all urged to pray during that worldwide wave of prayer, ‘Thy Kingdom Come’.

Early that morning the Dean of Southwark, the Very Revd Andrew Nunn, wrote a prayer for those affected by the events which was put on the Diocesan website and which Bishop Christopher commended in a letter to all Diocesan clergy.

Right across the Diocese and throughout the world people are joining in to pray for the coming of God’s Kingdom.

Bishop Christopher has been out and about in the Diocese and preached and presided at a Eucharist to launch Thy Kingdom Come in the Lambeth South Deanery. This took place at his home parish church of St Leonard’s Streatham and he says that there was ‘a real sense of expectation and strong prayer’ there.

He also blessed the new buildings at St Margaret’s C of E School, Plumstead, as you can see on page 3. During that visit he asked the children, in the context of recent events what values they would hope to see more of as we pray together ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ and they responded with some wonderful thoughts on what this would mean in their lives in and in the world.

Throughout out the days between Ascension and Pentecost the Diocesan social

media streams have shared blogs, videos and prayers from the worldwide church and from our own Bishops, clergy and parishes.

One such blog has been written by Archbishop Justin to help us to think about how to pray ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ in the aftermath of the Manchester tragedy. You can find it at www.thykingdomcome.global/ posts/54/after-manchesterhow-do-we-pray-thy-kingdom-come

Do write to the Bridge to tell us about how you and your parish have been involved in this wonderful wave of prayer.

Bishop Christopher and Bishop Cleophas of Matabeleland, one of our Link Dioceses, lead Diocesan staff in an Ascension Day service at Trinity House to launch ‘Thy Kingdon Come’.

Vocation - a person’s calling, either a job or a hobby When did my vocation start – was it my vocation to the church, school or my neighbours or friends? My upbringing was based on love for my neighbour and family and helping others in any way I could.

Having been brought up in a Christian family there was no way I could not be involved in service to my neighbours in church or in school.

The fi rst serious involvement in Christian vocations for me was at the Sunday school where by learning and emulation you had to be aspiring to one day be able to pass on to the younger folks what you had learned - be it a song or a prayer that gave you joy and satisfaction. When they asked questions and you were able to give them a simple answer such as singing a lullaby to a baby when pretending they were hungry or tired.

In senior school my great ambition was to become a member of the Student Christian Movement (SCM) – studying the Bible and being involved in discussion and later leading groups of other participants not only as team leader but also as one providing food for both body and soul. This participation gave me a satisfaction that I could not have gained without being involved.

The ministry of vocation I learnt from an early age was based on love - what we do or what we give to others is a blessing: ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son’.

In vocation we cultivate benevolence, charity, and patriotism. We feed the hungry, visit the sick and lonely, care for the poor and homeless and provide for widows and orphans.

In vocation we emphasise personal character and service – not for what we can get but for what we can give.

Training for the SPA ministry expanded what I already had and the winning of the lost bringing them to Christ - not for what we can get but for what we can give.

In all we do let us practice the gift of giving and sharing in any walk of life we fi nd ourselves.

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Student Luka Kos (19) was baptised by full immersion on Sunday 14 May at St Francis Church, Selsdon. Conducting the Baptism is the Revd Peter Wyatt, Minister-in-Charge of St Francis Church. In the photo are Luka’s mother (in red) and father (right). The baptistery was borrowed from a nearby church in ‘Churches together in Selsdon & Addington’.

Bishop Christopher joined staff, pupils, parents and local clergy at St Margaret’s Primary School in Plumstead in May to bless the school community and its new buildings as it becomes a two form entry school - doubling the potential roll of this popular school.

Sacred Space art exhibition at All Saints, KingstonFrom Sunday 26 June to 9 July Sacred Space Kingston will be putting on an exhibition in All Saints Church with a local collective of artists called ‘The Society of Volumes’.

Sacred Space is a missional community that has been working with creatives and people interested in alternative spiritualities for over a decade. They have put on exhibitions before at All Saints, in addition to Kingston University and John Bunyan Baptist Church.

This latest event is being co-ordinated by Ben Henderson (right), who is both a ‘Volumist’ and a steampunk.

Sacred Space meets in people’s homes, reaching out to those who have become disillusioned and stopped attending church or have no experience of Church. Sacred Space meetings include prayer,

theological discussion and hospitality.

It recently set up a town centre chaplaincy service, in partnership with the Local Ecumenical Partnership and YMCA London South West, and

is currently seeking a Bishop’s Mission Order in order to be formally recognised as a fresh expression of church by the Diocese.

Area Lay ConferenceSacred Space Kingston is led by Andrea Campanale (left) who is a Lay Pioneer and Mission Partner with the Church Mission Society.

She regularly engages in outreach at local steampunk events and mind, body, spirit fairs and will be leading a session at the forthcoming Kingston Episcopal Area Lay Conference on 17 June .

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UMG welcomes Brockham and Leigh

New Bishop meets retired clergyWoolwich Area retired clergy met on Monday 8 May in St Saviour’s, Brockley Hill to welcome the new Bishop of Woolwich. Some 40 clergy with spouses and friends gathered at 11am for fellowship followed by a Eucharist at 11.30 presided over by Bishop Karowei.

The Revd Ray Turpin reports:

The Bishop said that retired clergy should not think of themselves as ‘retired’ but ‘re-vitalised’, because they continue to play a very important part in the life of the Church.

He urged everyone to make time for prayer, fellowship and refl ection.

After lunch Bishop Karowei

spoke about his life and faith journey, saying that he was pleased to be part of life in South London.

The Revd Henry Whyte then spoke about St Luke’s health care for clergy and families.

He assured them that although the hospital is closed the care, both physical and mental, is still available.

The Archdeacon of Reigate, the Venerable Moira Astin, celebrated the inclusion of Brockham and Leigh in the Upper Mole Group (UMG) at a joyful service at the end of April.

Margaret Taylor writes:

The service began with the joint choirs leading a procession of the clergy from the six benefi ces to their seats. The Vicar of Brockham and Leigh, the Revd Jonathan Willans, then greeted and welcomed the congregation of around 120 from the six churches.

All the clergy played a part in this special Holy Communion service which included a renewal of a covenant promise to enable all the churches and villages to work together more closely and to offer support to one another.

The Archdeacon made the account of the Road to Emmaus come alive in her address, reminding us that we are all on a journey of faith and, with God’s help, we can continue and cross new horizons.

The music of the occasion was greatly appreciated, hymns sung lustily, the choir (photo

below) rendering Standford’s “O for a closer walk with God”. During the distribution a wind trio played and the choir sang the Agnus Dei.

After the recessional procession everyone was invited to the church hall to

partake in the cutting of a special cake - the Archdeacon likes cake (photo above)! The cake had the six churches on it with the River Mole running through ending up at Gatwick!

All in all it was a very happy occasion.

Celebrating Bernard Mizeki Come and join us at the 11am Choral Eucharist at Southwark Cathedral on Sunday 18 June when Bishop Karowei will preach at the Diocesan celebration of the life and witness of Bernard Mizeki, the fi rst Christian martyr in Zimbabwe. The service will be followed by coffee and an opportunity to learn more about our Diocesan Links with Zimbabwe.

The Dean of Southwark, The Very Revd Andrew Nunn.

“

“

THE BRIDGE... June 2017 5

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What better way to spend a day than in the beautiful Surrey countryside with good company and pauses for prayer!

Ann Wright

The Faith in the Countryside Group organises an annual Spring walk on the early May Bank Holiday weekend. This year’s route was through the old Caterham and Godstone Deaneries to celebrate the creation of the new Tandridge Deanery.

We started at St Mary’s Church, Caterham, and arrived at St Nicholas, Godstone to be warmly welcomed for lunch – and ready for it after some steep climbs. The afternoon saw us marvelling at the magnifi cent yew tree at St Peter, Tandridge, and enjoying tea and cakes at our fi nal stop at St John, Hurst Green. All the churches we

visited were generous in their hospitality, and we appreciated the opportunity to look round these interesting buildings and church yards - each with their own special features and atmosphere.

The walkers all enjoyed the day together – the weather was good for walking, and even

some local people were able to explore parts of the lovely countryside between Caterham and Hurst Green that they hadn’t previously discovered.

Visiting the churches and sharing together in worship gave us the space to refl ect and made our day a pilgrimage rather than a ramble!

Faith in the CountrysideFaith in the Countryside

Bishop Karowei visited the Bede Centre in Rotherhithe in May as part of his visit to Bermondsey Deanery. The Bede Centre is a place where people with learning disabilities learn new skills, make friends, and help other people.

New Welcare Chair of Trustees Welcare’s President, Bishop Christopher has approved Cherry Murdoch as the new Chair of Welcare’s Board of Trustees.

Cherry brings to the role a wealth of experience both in the voluntary sector and in the Anglican church.

In the 1980s as a new mother, she was a member of the Welcare Lewisham Management Committee. Since then, she has worked in several charities as a frontline adviser in housing, debt and welfare

rights and in strategic and business development.

Cherry was previously the Head of Business Development and Partnerships at Depaul UK.

In her church life, Cherry serves as a Reader and was Chair of the PCC at St Nicholas and St Luke, Deptford.

Cherry is committed to promoting Welcare’s vital work supporting and empowering families with children up to the age of 13 in the Diocese.

For more information about the work of Welcare visit www.welcare.org

6 THE BRIDGE... June 2017

It’s your call

Two of the fi ve strategic objectives set as part of 2015’s Strategy for Ministry process concerned growing ordained and lay vocations and growing leadership and representation that refl ected the diversity of the Diocese.Steve Harris spoke to Canon Leanne Roberts, Director of Vocations and Diocesan Director of Ordinands and the Revd Andrew Zihni, the Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands about how the Vocations Department was tackling these objectives.Leanne began by explaining that, over the last year, they had been working very hard to build up the core Vocations team

and that they felt that had gone some way to achieving that.

Andrew said that there had been a great range and diversity of candidates for ordained ministry. They were very pleased that, between 2015 & 2016, there had been a 100% increase in people recommended for ordination training and a further 20% between 2016 & 2017 – putting them ahead of the 2020 target of a 50% increase.

Leanne pointed out that this also meant that the number of people actually putting themselves forward for the vocations process had increased by much more than 100%.

In association with Canon Will Cookson (the Dean of Fresh Expressions), the Vocations Team is looking at ways in which the scope and contexts of curacies might be broadened.

Currently the Diocese has an annual allocation from the Church of England’s Ministry Division of 13 stipendiary curates and the intention is that for 2018 this will increase to 14 but that two of them will be Pioneer Curacies. A Pioneer Curate is someone who has a

pioneering charism (spiritual gift) which demonstrates itself outside of the traditional church location or context. They will need to have experience of starting or working in a fresh expression of church and there will need to be evidence, probably coming through their training, that this is vocational – what they are meant to be doing.

When asked if this would mean that they might be looking for candidates from less ‘traditional’ backgrounds, Leanne was quick to point out that because of the Diocese’s very diversity, there is no ‘traditional’ pool of candidates.This means that, increasingly, people are being deployed according to their charism, experience and vocation. Andrew added that people who go through the process of discernment often fi nd there are particular areas that they have a real passion for - working in the context of fresh eexpressions may be one of those.

Another initiative that the Vocations team are looking at, in association with some of the Archdeacons, is incorporating chaplaincy in the post-ordination training of Curates The idea is that curates can get some ‘real time’ experience of, say, a school or hospital chaplaincy to help them when deciding whether this is something to which God is calling them.

The Vocations team itself

continues to grow, Leanne says that, in addition to herself, Andrew and the Revd Louise Ellis (Diocesan Discipleship and Vocations Missioner), there are now 40 Vocations Advisers (both lay and ordained), 14 Area Directors of Ordinands and that approximately 14 of the Bishop’s Examining Chaplains assist in the discernment process as well - all unpaid and in addition to their other ministries.

There are also currently two Vocations Champions: the Revd Roxanne Hunte, the Diocesan BAME Vocations Champion and the Revd Sam Dennis, Diocesan Youth Vocations Champion. Leanne says that she expects the number of these to grow.

They are continuing with Vocations Conferences, which are aimed at encouraging

vocations in specifi c areas which are under-represented, such as the BAME community, the under 30’s, women and those who might be exploring Assistant status or part-time or self-supporting ministry. One of the biggest areas of growth is in lay ministry – the number of people offering themselves for authorised and commissioned lay ministry increased by 50% between 2015 and 2016. They are committed to growing this further to ensure that the strategic objectives are met and exceeded.

The team is very excited by the Bishop of Southwark’s new group looking at Lay Leadership and Lay Ministry and Leanne is a member of that group. The Vocations team will be working closely with them to set up good practice in encouraging people to explore their vocation.

The Vocations Team has recently been engaging in a renewed partnership with the Church Army, to encourage more vocations as evangelists. They spent two days in March with some of the Church Army’s senior team to build on our growing relationship and, to map out a shared discernment and selection process. The Church Army’s Dean of Community will join the Vocations Team for their next meeting to lead a session for Vocations Advisers on how to discern whether someone is called to ministry as an evangelist.

The Team’s range of work has increased greatly over the last three years and one concern they have is that, despite the fact they have a strong web presence and produce high quality publicity materials, it is always diffi cult to get the message out that things have changed and that Vocations have oversight for a large and growing variety of ministries and that people should come forward and ask questions.

Going forward, they are looking at two main areas of expansion and development. One is working with the new

Lay group to increase the number of authorised and commissioned ministries within the Diocese. They are working with the Dean of Fresh Expressions on that as they are looking to introduce a new category of ‘Lay Pioneer Minister’.

This will be for people who feel called to work with the unchurched and people on the margins of the church and Leanne said that she feels this is vital if the Diocese is to continue to increase the numbers of fresh expressions as to avoiud them being solely clerically led. This is nearly ready to be rolled out.

In the same way as other types of ministry, it is important to note that this new stream will be carefully discerned and trained and that the training is integrated into the Diocese’s other lay and ordained training and particular to this vocation charism – hence ‘integrated and particular’.

When Bishop Christopher was confi rmed as the 10th Bishop of Southwark in October 2010 as is customary the Archbishop delivered a charge to him which came partly from the profi le put together by the Diocese. As a result of this over the six years that Bishop Christopher has been our Diocesan Bishop, he, the Area Bishops, Archdeacons and Diocesan staff have sought to work out the charge given to him.

This is expressed in the Diocesan Vision as ‘Release Gifts; Review Vocations and Deepen Discipleship. In the Southwark Vision the objectives for the years leading up to 2025 set some clear objectives.

This month in the Bridge... we are looking at the work which is being undertaken to grow the number of lay and ordained vocations by 50% by 2020• by enabling and discerning ordained

ministers;

• by expanding opportunities for licensed and commissioned lay leadership;

• by affi rming and growing other forms of lay ministry (e.g. worship leaders, family & youth leaders, spiritual directors); to offer relevant and enriching training, and create networks of support and celebration which refl ect the diversity of the Diocese, our commitment to evangelism and discipleship, and delivers fully integrated and pioneering church growth and fresh expressions

Canon Leanne Roberts and the Revd Andrew Zihni

Vicar/Chaplain contacts Vocatio

Vicar/Chaplain books enqu

Vocation

Vocations

Lay MinistryIf recommended

Coordinator for SPA/Reader/Church

Army Evangelist selection

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Specialist Vocations Advisers are available to help those who have not been recommended during this process to discern what their vocation may be.

How the proc

Vocations Fair Tuesday 6 June 6:30-8:30pm. at St George the Martyr, Borough, SE1.

An opportunity to explore, talk to others and fi nd out more about your vocation. For more information email the Revd Louise Ellis at Louise.ellis@southwark.anglican.org

THE BRIDGE... June 2017 7

The Revd Sam Dennis, Priest in Charge of St Luke, Woodside writes:I’m one of the Young Vocations Champions in the Diocese. I’m here to encourage young people from across the Diocese to explore what God might be calling them to.

I fi nd it hard to pinpoint the exact moment I started to feel called by God. I grew up with a deep faith – I loved Church and especially Communion. Although I was starting to feel a stronger sense that God was calling me to the priesthood from my early teens – all the clergy I saw were much older. We had youth leaders in their 20s, but I knew that wasn’t cool enough for that!

When I plucked up the courage to start the offi cial vocations process

aged 23, I still felt I was quite young, and was sure that however friendly they’d be that the process would be long and slow – and that I might be told to go away and get some experience. But I was surprised by how seriously I was taken, and the encouragement I received.

Gone are the days when you’re told to get a life and return where you’re older. The Church has woken up to the gift young people can be to the Church in ministry – and the truth that we only truly grow when we respond to God’s call.

Nine years later, I am so thankful that I took up that challenge to respond to God’s call. I really believe that you grow into your vocation by following it – and I know that I would never have gained the amazing and challenging experiences I have in

ministry, had I waited to get some experience!

Being a young person exploring your sense of call, you can feel like you’re on your own – but over the last decade an increasing number of people under 30 are coming forward to explore their call.

Across the Diocese, there are young clergy and youth leaders, who are happy to meet and share their stories of vocation and experiences of ministry. There are also excellent Pastoral Assistant schemes – which give you a practical insight into the challenges and joys of ministry.

If you’re interested in young vocations and would like to meet with someone, or fi nd out more about various schemes, Sam can be contacted on fr.sam.dennis@gmail.com

The other thing on the horizon is looking to increasingly resource Diocesan incumbents in terms of growing and developing vocations from the people in our churches. There will be some courses coming out and the Vocations team will be happy to go to parishes which are focusing on vocations and lead an away day.

They also often go to parishes as guest preachers and are always happy to talk to people about vocations after the service and would encourage incumbents who would like to invite a member of the Vocations team to be a guest preacher to get in touch.

Leanne fi nished by saying that anyone who thinks that they may have a vocation that they wish to explore should start by talking to their vicar as that is how the process starts. The Revd Roxanne

Hunte is Priest in Charge of South Norwood, Holy Innocents and St Mark and Black and Minority Ethnic Vocations Champion. She writes:The role of Vocation Adviser (VA) is principally to advise on the suitability of an enquirer for formal ministry within the Church. Whether this ministry is Licensed, Commissioned or Ordained, VAs are asked to assess the enquirer against a number of criteria and to write a report on their suitability for the type of ministry they are exploring.

It is important that conversations are held in an atmosphere of honesty and transparency from the beginning and the enquirer’s expectations are carefully managed. An enquirer will most likely arrive for the fi rst meeting with a strong sense of calling to a particular ministry

and it is the duty of the VA to test this calling with rigour and sensitivity.

An enquirer would begin the process by attending a Vocation Forum (VF), at the end of which, s/he will decide whether to continue the process by working with a VA. If ‘yes’, then enquirer and VA will meet over 4 months or so. A tall order for a VA and what a responsibility, to work with the

enquirer in ascertaining his/her potential for ordained, licensed or commissioned ministry.

It is a responsibility which is exercised with humility and integrity and of course, openness. It is a privilege to be allowed to be involved in someone else’s faith journey. A real joy to help someone to discern what it is God is asking of them. Enquirers arrive not knowing what to expect and

it is the duty of the VA to set them at ease before engaging in discussion about their intended focus of ministry.

I often remind enquirers that it is God who does the calling and the Church, the affi rming /confi rming of that call. We are all called into one ministry or another and I love the idea of being able to journey with someone in this discernment process - whether it is to assure them that we are not seeking perfection but potential; someone with whom we can work to discern what is truly their call to ministry within the Church of God.

As a VA, I am delighted to be involved in this process as I’m truly passionate about assisting all people in becoming the extraordinary human beings God has created them to be and taking their place in the ‘right’ ministry within the Church.

However, as BAME Vocations Champion, I am really passionate about encouraging the increase and development of vocations to the whole range of ordained and licensed lay ministries from BAME

Anglicans across the Diocese of Southwark.

As a result, I’m involved in initiatives such as BAME vocations conferences, roadshows and fairs; and supporting VA colleagues and incumbents in the nurture and encouragement of BAME vocations.

It is always a joy to receive positive news of an enquirer’s progress especially where s/he has been accepted to train for a particular ministry. Sometimes enquirers drop out of the process for one reason or other; while some take a break. It is all ok. Each person’s process of discernment is individual and can take different paths but my role is to ascertain that it is the choice of the enquirer and not the Church demanding that the enquirer desist from pursuing a particular vocational path.

My VA’s role is one of absolute privilege and joy as I journey alongside enquirers, assisting them in becoming that unique person God has called them to be as members of the human race and members of the Body of Christ.

Wendy Robins spoke to Discipleship and Vocations Missioner’ Louise Ellis about the events which the Vocations Department is organising in order to help to stimulate the desired growth of Vocations.

Louise says that in encouraging vocations the Team want to help all believers to know that they have a vocation to serve God.

This might mean in a particular role, such as an ordained person or as a Reader or SPA. But it might be simply by being a church member or maybe serving on the PCC, making the coffee or being churchwarden - all are called and have a valuable role.

Louise spends much of her time organising events and initiatives to encourage

people to think more deeply about what their vocation and calling might be. The focus of the larger events recently has been on areas where it seems important to encourage more vocations - for example among black and minority ethnic people; young people and women.

There is now something of a pattern about how these things work.

Vocations Fayres are held three times a year – one in each Episcopal area - either on a Saturday afternoon or during an evening. People can come for just a short time or stay for the whole couple of hours.

They can fi nd out about all the many different things that we may be called to do in our Christian journey, about Reader, SPA and Ordained ministries, about the Church Army and about the Bishop’s Certifi cate and ‘Leading your Church into Growth’ courses. The missionary society USPG takes part and in the future it may be that other organisations will come too.

This is a really good opportunity for people to fi nd out what might be possible and to go away, think (and pray) about it before entering into the formal process of discernment. There is also an optional seminar for about 20 minutes or so which further helps people to think about

their future and how they are called to serve God.

This year there have been initiatives to help to encourage those from whom we particularly want to encourage vocations.

The BAME Vocations Conference was held at Wychcroft, our Diocesan Conference Centre, from 17–19 March.

It was an opportunity for people to consider ‘vocation and ministry’ and ‘what the church is looking for’ and to think about discernment and selection. It was especially good that Bishop Erick Ruwona, the Bishop of Manicaland, one of our Link Dioceses in Zimbabwe, was able to join the group for part of the Saturday and share some of his experiences.

The BAME Vocations conference followed on from the successful conference in 2016 and the Young Vocations Conference which had been

held in November 2016. Young people aged between 18 and 30 were invited to think about what the TV programme ‘Rev’ tells us about priestly ministry, what the church is looking for and what ministry in the Church looks like.

These conferences are all fully funded as part of the Diocese’s commitment to growing new vocations to all forms of ministry and Louise tells me that they offer people the opportunity to explore their vocation away from the parish and in company with others who are considering their futures.

Participants attend on the recommendation of their vicar.

This year the Diocese, through Louise and the Vocations Team, has also hosted a Vocations Conference for Women at Southwark Cathedral.

Held in April the speakers were The Rt Revd Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of

Crediton, who used to be the Team Rector in the Sutton Team Ministry in this Diocese and the Revd Dr Donna Lazenby, Tutor and soon to be Director of St Mellitus SW. There were also seminars and discussions led by the Revd Bridget Shepherd, the Revd Canon Leanne Roberts and the Revd Mae Christie.

It is important to focus on the vocations of women and those from minority ethnic backgrounds because the number of vocations from these communities is not representative of the number of people in those communities in our churches.

Listening to Louise talk about encouraging vocations shows that it is really exciting and important work.

All of those involved in the Vocations Team are working hard to ensure that we do our very best to encourage vocations right across our Diocese.

Encouraging vocations across the Diocese

The Revd Louise Ellis

ons Department Administrator

uirer onto Vocations Forum

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s Advisers

Ordained Ministry

Area Director of Ordinands or Diocesan Director of Ordinands

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Bishop’s Examining Chaplain

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Area Bishop

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Bishops’ Advisory Panel

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cess works...

8 THE BRIDGE... June 2017

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Bishop re-dedicates Royal organSt Dunstan’s Church Bellingham welcomed the new Bishop of Woolwich the Rt Revd Karowei Dorgu on his fi rst visit to the parish on Saturday 20 May to re-dedicate the church’s Royal organ following refurbishment.

Bishop Karowei joined the Mayor of Lewisham, Sir Steve Bullock for a celebratory organ recital performed by special guest organist Marilyn Harper - organist of Christ’s Chapel, Dulwich. Following the recital the organ was rededicated and blessed by Bishop Karowei.

A thank-you presentation was then made by the Mayor on behalf of St Dunstan’s to their resident organist Brian Preston in recognition of his work in ensuring the organ’s repair and return to performance standard.

The St Dunstan’s organ is originally from the Chapel Royal in St James’ Palace, and found its way to Bellingham having been replaced at the Palace in 1925. Built in 1866 even then, some parts from older instruments were reused - including some pipes made by famous organ builder Father Smith.

The Revd Timon Singh, Priest-in-Charge at St

Dunstan’s said ‘We are very fortunate to have such a fantastic and historic church organ and it was a fantastic day in the history of St Dunstan’s Church. We were especially delighted to have Bishop

Karowei and the Mayor of Lewisham with us. We hope to use the refurbished organ to benefi t the church and local community through more performances and educational use”.

YES YOU CAN! SUPPORTING REFUGEES & ASYLUM SEEKERSOn 15 May, the Diocesan Justice, Peace & the Integrity of Creation (JPIC) department organised an information evening called “Yes You Can! Supporting Refugees & Asylum Seekers” with the support of Bishops Christopher and Jonathan.

Theo Shaw

The event was held at the Oasis Centre, with approximately 100 people from from a number of organisations across the Diocese in attendance. The overall aim was twofold: 1. to equip churches with

information about the current situation regarding refugees and asylum seekers, and

2. to provide a range of potential partners, resources and practical suggestions for ways in which churches might wish respond - perhaps by sponsoring refugees or supporting asylum seekers with no recourse to public funds.

After a plenary session, participants were invited to attend workshops on the three main themes of the event • Yes You Can - Host!• Yes You Can - Sponsor!• Yes You Can - Campaign!

They then assembled to refl ect on what might be taken to their PCCs and Deaneries for further discussions.

The event was delivered in partnership with key national organisations including the CofE Mission and Public Affairs Division, Oasis UK, Social Finance, Christian Aid, Refugee Council, Good Faith Partnership, Church Response for Refugees, Housing Justice and Citizens UK.

Your responseThe JPIC team would like to hear about ways churches are responding to the refugee crisis, and/or supporting domestic asylum seekers.

If, on the other hand, you’d like to fi nd out what you can do, please contact Theo Shaw on 020 7939 9412 or email:theo.shaw@southwark.anglican.org

Oasis founder Steve Chalke was among the speakers

The event was chaired by Bishop Jonathan, Diocesan lead on refugees and asylum seekers

THE BRIDGE... June 2017 9

Bryan Harris’s

PARISH PROFILE

Eltham St John the Baptist

Episcopal Area: WoolwichArchdeaconry: Lewisham & GreenwichDeanery: Eltham & MottinghamPatron: Diocesan Board of Patronage Population: (2001 census): 7,370Church: Eltham High Street, SE9 1DHConsecrated: 1875 Architect: Sir Arthur Blomfi eldListing: Grade CContact: Revd James Bryson, The Vicarage, Sowerby Close, Eltham SE9 6HBTel: 020 8859 0802E-mail: fergusonbryson @btinternet.comParish Offi ce: 020 8859 1242www.elthamchurch.org.uk

St John the Baptist, ElthamKnown locally as Eltham Parish Church, St John’s occupies a prominent site on a busy crossroads at one end of a busy suburban high street.

Recorded in the Domesday Book as a small village, Eltham shot into prominence in the 14th and 15th centuries when Eltham Palace was one of the largest and most frequented royal residences in the country. Kings and Queens lived there, hunted there, held court there, treaties were signed there (and some dirty deeds done there). Records suggest that the congregation of the 12th century parish church - less than 1/3 of a mile away – was swelled by court offi cials and servants, if not the Royals themselves!

However in the 1500s the court left Eltham for Hampton Court and Greenwich – and St John’s reverted to being the church of a small rural village. That plus the deprivations of the Cromwellian period meant that by the 19th century, St John’s was described as “a mean fabric, much patched and modernised; with scarce a trace of anything like good work…” – and was demolished.

The present church designed by architect Sir Arthur Bloomfi eld was consecrated in 1875 and completed in 1880. It consists of three aisles separated by stone

arches, a lady chapel beside the sanctuary and, at the east end, vestries and the entrance to a later church hall built onto the northern side. It has a landmark spire, a wealth of 19th century stained glass windows (despite World War II damage) and 19th century oak pews from St Mary’s, Lambeth - now the Garden Museum. The surrounding churchyard includes the Eltham War Memorial and a lychgate at the crossroads.

The Revd James Bryson – known to all as Father Jim – has been Vicar since 2011. A quiet-spoken Scot, he trained as an architect, came to London to work and had established his own practice working mainly on church projects before “hearing the call” to ordination. He studied at SEITE and served his curacy in the East End before coming to St John’s 6 years ago.

He said “When many local people think of ‘Church’ they often think of St John’s. Up to now at least, Eltham has been a very settled community so many families will have memories of weddings, baptisms, funerals at St John’s. Of course, like many areas with

rail links to London termini, that’s slowly changing.

“Today in St John’s family we have more than 27 different nationalities. We celebrate difference - age, culture, nationality – and fi nd common ground in a traditional Anglican worship style.” Fr Jim described St John’s as ‘a eucharistic, sacramental community’ and ‘a welcoming place’ where children are an important part of the worshipping family.

The worship style is modern Anglo-Catholic with vestments, servers, incense and bells. There is one Sunday service, a 10am Sung Mass where the liturgy is Common Worship Order One, ‘by the book’ with no additions or subtractions. By 9.45am on Sunday the older congregation have arrived and many of the growing number of young families arrive just in time for the Junior Church procession at the start of the service where children are welcomed and prayed for before going off to their own activities. They usually return for the Peace, but are sometimes a bit later if they are ‘into something’.

Music is important at St John’s – led by organist Herman Jordaan FRCO on an impressive three manual Father Willis organ. There is also a choir – a quartet of three men and one woman most Sundays, who made a good sound especially leading the psalm. Other congregation members may join them on high days and holidays.

During the week there are said Eucharists on Thursdays at 10am, Midday prayer on Fridays at 12 noon followed by a Said Eucharist at 12.15pm. There are also occasional evening services to mark major feasts and festivals. The church also has a civic role –

hosting the Borough service on Remembrance Sunday, for example. St John’s ring of eight bells are rung regularly, for services, for weddings, funerals and special events - and by visiting groups. There is also a New Year tradition of ringing out the old, ringing in the new.

Fr Jim said that “whilst the Eucharist is central at St John’s, the worshipping community take their discipleship out of church and into social action”. Much of what they do is as part of a Greenwich borough-wide provision organised by an ecumenical group of Borough Deans (of which Jim Bryson is the Anglican rep.)

The group were instrumental in setting up the Greenwich Foodbank which has eight locations, including one in Eltham. They also led the development of the Greenwich Winter Night Shelter - where local churches provide shelter seven nights a week from January to March. St John’s people are active volunteers in both projects. They also support Greenwich Welcare and are ‘really good at pastoral care for each other and their neighbours’. “We don’t have any authorised SPAs,” said Jim “But we have plenty of people doing the job!”

Members of the congregation (and Fr Jim, of course) are also Governors of Eltham C of E Primary School, better known locally as ‘Roper Street’. Fr Jim takes collective worship at the school every Friday and the school comes into St John’s for key services, Easter, Christmas and at the beginning and end of each school year. They also come in as small groups, just to ‘experience Church’.

The involvement in the school plus the welcome given to children has led to a growth in young families at St John’s. Many were new to ‘church’ and to help them Fr Jim designed his own fi ve-week introduction course which led to several

baptisms and confi rmations – and Fr Jim thinks it may be time to repeat the course.

The next few weeks are going to be busy at St John’s. Along with others in the Eltham and Mottingham Deanery, they will be taking part in ‘Thy Kingdom Come’, starting with hosting the Deanery Ascension Day service and then opening daily for prayer until Pentecost. They are also planning for the annual patronal festival over the weekend of 24/25 June with a Summer Fayre in the churchyard on Saturday (with music and bells of course) and a Patronal Eucharist on Sunday.

Currently St John’s is in the process of putting together its Mission Action Plan. A meeting was held at Easter at which, for the fi rst time in many years, the church family looked at its identity, purpose and how it is ‘living’ that purpose. ‘Where we are’ includes – an average Sunday congregation of 65 to 75 people, probably from a pool of well

over 100 (112 on the electoral roll); a well-maintained church in good order with a church hall that not only serves the community but also contributes to the parish income; a budget which ‘ticks along’ year on year; an active presence in the local community and a prominent position with hundreds passing by every day.

Based on that meeting Fr Jim is currently drawing up a Mission Plan which looks at “where we are today, what we do now and how we can develop what we do, to be more effective and to engage more people in our church life, ministry and mission”, he said.

“All of this is intended to help us with our aim which is to enable people to experience something of God in St John’s and to feel the love of God in our community,” he said.

The Revd James Bryson

The Summer Fair in St John’s churchyardThis portable music box stores and plays over 2880 traditional hymns and popular worship songs - all at the touch of a button!

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10 THE BRIDGE... June 2017

Let us prayJune

The Very Revd Andrew Nunn, Dean of SouthwarkPlease follow me on Twitter as I off er a prayer each morning so that you can join me in Morning Prayer. Go to @deansouthwark

There is nothing so comforting as sitting by a roaring fi re on a cold winter’s day; there is nothing more frightening than seeing fl ames taking hold and a fi re raging out of control.

We seek to manage fi re, to have it under our control so that it can do good and not ill. Perhaps we would prefer to be able to control the fi re of the Spirit which can be both comforting and unpredictable.

The disciples on the road to Emmaus experienced the reality of the fi re of the Spirit even before the Day of Pentecost. ‘Were not our hearts burning within us?’ (Luke 24.32) they said. The Lord spoke to them and their hearts were on fi re.

Bishop Christopher is encouraging us to have ‘Hearts on Fire’ in our parishes, in this Diocese, in our lives.

But when we allow the fi re

to burn who knows what God will do with us. That is the risk and the challenge and the comfort of God but if we resist the fl ames we resist the God who ignites us.

As we pray together allow yourself to be set ablaze and see what emerges from the fl ames.

Holy Spirit, sent by the Father, ignite in us your holy fi re; strengthen your children with the gift of faith, revive your Church with the breath of love,and renew the face of the earth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Perpetual: A Sonic OperaArtists collective, Between Teeth’s debut show, Perpetual stages the meeting of two tragic fi gures, Lazarus of Bethany, made immortal through his resurrection by Jesus, and a dying man desperately trying to evade his fate.

Perpetual interrogates the modern attitude towards death, forcing us to confront the violence of our survival instincts.

Through what has been coined ‘Sonic Opera’, Perpetual uses haunting electronic soundscapes in combination with visceral imagery

Perpetual: A Sonic Opera will be staged at The Bunker Theatre in Southwark Street, London SE1 from 20 June - 1 July. For tickets and information visit www.bunkertheatre.com/whats-on

Christ in Greenwich Now!Among events to mark the Millennium in 2012 of the death of Alfege, Archbishop of Canterbury, a project was launched to create four needlework panels representing New Testament stories about the life of Jesus set in modern day Greenwich.

The four large panels have been completed and will be on display in St Alfege Church from 18 June to 9 July.

The panels underline the Christian belief that Christ is discovered over and over again in the course of ordinary lives and encounters today just as he was two thousand years ago.

For example one of the panels (above) shows Jesus preaching from a boat on the Thames to crowds in the old

Royal Naval College grounds and Greenwich Park.

The sewing took place from 2011 until 2016 with the sewing group meeting every week. It included members of St Alfege Church, the Old Royal Naval College Chapel and the wider community in and around Greenwich.

The panels were made to be used in different ways by schools, churches and other institutions and are set in triangular frames which can be displayed together or separately. It is intended that

they will be displayed on a changing basis in a variety of locations in Greenwich.

The church will be open weekdays from 11am to 4pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 12noon to 4pm.

.

Journey of the Magi

CorrectionThe article ‘Ascending Together in Pollards Hill’ in May Bridge, was written by Sylvia Gilpin-Jackson not Margaret Hardiman as stated.

Bishop Christopher addresses the Honorary Canons and Lay Canons following the Annual Eucharist of the College of Canons on Friday 26 May. It was good to see 14 of our Honorary Canons and four of our Lay Canons as well as, for the fi rst time, two of our Ecumenical Canons robed and taking part in the service.

This festive and witty event is set to be a spectacular part of Christmas celebrations for the 21st year running - and could come to your church.

With sparkle and songs to keep children engrossed and bags of good humour for the

grown-ups, Journey of the Magi delights audiences of all ages.

The show portrays the original Christmas story whilst drawing hilarious and poignant parallels with our own preparations for Christmas day.

South East London-based Springs Dance Company is inviting churches to host a performance of Journey of the Magi, which will be available nationally from 18 November to 23 December 2017.

There is a charge of course. But the church is then free to charge for admission for its own funds or for charity - or of course to put on the show free.

Further information can be found on the Springs Dance Company website https://springsdancecompany.org.uk/churches/performances/journey-of-the-magi/, by emailing touring@springsdancecompany.org.uk or by calling 07876 752 910.

THE BRIDGE... June 2017 11

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

BY MONDAY 26 JUNE

✽ BEDDINGTON - Quiet @ St Mary’s on the third Thursday of each month 11am - 2pm.Various tools for quiet including the new canvas labyrinth.

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

✽ CATERHAM - Guided Tours of the Ancient Church of St Lawrence, Church Hill, 14 and 29 May at 3pm. Adults £3. Children free.

✽ CHALDON - Sunday teas in church 3pm to 4.30pm until 29 October

✽ ELTHAM - Playful Pilgrims. Prayer and play at Holy Trinity Church. Thursday mornings.

✽ 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.

✽ TATSFIELD - Teas served at St Mary’s from 3-5pm every Sunday until end of September

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

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

June

July

Lunchtime Music at St. Matthew’s, Redhill. Thursdays at 1.10 pm

15 June - Clarinet Recital - Claire Dunn

22 June - “Flauguissimo”- Yu-Wei Hu (Flute),Johann Löfving (Guitar)

29 June - Violin Recital - Emmanuel Bach with Jenny Stern (Piano)

Saturday 10 June

✽ LINGFIELD - College of St Barnabas Open Afternoon 2.30 - 4.30pm. Live jazz, Morris Dancing, miniature steam train, conducted tours, afternoon teas. For details visit www.st-barnabas.org.uk or tel: 01342 870260

Sunday 11 June

DULWICH – Organ Recital at Christ’s Chapel 7.45pm Edward Hewes (Organ Scholar, Southwark Cathedral) Admission Free

STREATHAM - At the drop of a second hand hat: the songs of Flanders & Swann presented by Tony Nunn and Alan Littell at St Leonard’s Church, 3pm Tickets: £5.00 (£3 concs) on door in aid of St. Leonard’s Redevelopment Fund

Sunday 11 June

KEW - Bach Organ Works at St Anne’s Church at 3.30pm. Director of Music, Chad Kelly, explores the rich tapestry of Bach’s greatest organ works - free entry

Friday16 June

CROYDON MINSTER - 40 minutes of music at 1.10pm - Featuring Whitgift School’s most talented performers. Bring packed lunch. Donations to Minster funds invited

St James, Kidbrooke 150th Anniversary Celebration WeekendFriday 16 June

“Around the World in 80 Minutes” - 7.30 for 7.45pm. A Concert by Alchemy. Tickets: £8; at the church door Saturday 17 June

A Fun Afternoon for All the Family - 2pm – 4.30pm. Birthday Cake cut at 4pm, Games and Teas, Bouncy Castle, Face painting, & Lindy Hop Dance

Sunday 18 June,

Celebration Service with the Bishop of Southwark - 3.00pm A joyful Eucharist giving thanks for 150 years www.stjames-se3.org.uk

St John’s Upper NorwoodSaturday 17 June

7pm - London Mozart Players with Thomas Trotter for a performance of Poulenc’s Organ Concerto. Tickets £15 Sunday 18 June

12pm - London Mozart Players with Paul Patterson’s musical arrangement of Roald Dahl’s Little Red Riding Hood. Adults £8 Children £3

4pm - London Mozart Players featuring BBC Young Musician of the Year 2016, Sheku Kanneh-Mason in Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C. Tickets £15

All tickets available only from www.lmp.org

Saturday 17 June

✽ FOREST HILL - Summer Fair 12 to 3pm at St George’s Church, Vancouver Road. Stalls, refreshments, Caribbean food, hot dogs, fun and games. Free admission

✽ MITCHAM - Gardeners’ Question Time & Plant Sale 3 to 5pm at St. Barnabas Church. Flower arranging , raffl e, food and drinks. roses, herbs, plants

CROYDON- Croydon Philharmonic Choir at St Matthew’s Church, 7.30pm. An evening of songs from “HMS Pinafore” and “Trial by Jury” with soloists from D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. Tickets £12 or £6 for under 16s

Sunday 18 June

✝ EAST DULWICH - Taize Service, sung by the Junior Choir at St John’s Church, Goose Green 5pm. All welcome

BATTERSEA - Concert at St Luke’s Church, 6pm in aid of Help Musicians UK. Sir Antonio Pappano (piano), Andriiy Viytovych (viola) and Emily Edmonds (mezzo soprano). Music by Brahms. Tickets £25 from www.slms.org.uk

KEW - The Romantic Piano Trio at St Anne’s Church 3.30pm - Kinga Ujszaszi (violin), Gavin Kibble (cello) and Chad Kelly (piano). Schumann’s Piano Trio in G minor Op. 110 and the world premiere of a piano trio movement inspired by the same work - free entry

Tuesday 20 June – Saturday 1 July

SOUTHWARK – Perpetual – a Sonic Opera performed by Between Teeth at The Bunker Southwark Street SE1. (see opposite page)

Wednesday 21 June

✽ WESTMINSTER - Westminster Cathedral Interfaith Group 4 pm in the Hinsley Room, Morpeth Terrace. Spkr: Roy Sutherwood (Jamyang Buddhist centre) on Laudato Si’

Thursday 22 June

UPPER NORWOOD - Organ Concert at St John the Evangelist Church at 7.30pm. Adrian Gunning (St John the Evangelist, Islington). Admission free. Retiring collection. Light refreshments

Friday 23 - Sunday 25 June

✽ WALLINGTON – Holy Trinity Church 150th Anniversary Flower Festival (Fri/Sat 10 – 5; Sun 1 – 5). Free entry, refreshments available, children’s ac tivities. Donations invited to cover costs and to the Children’s Trust, Tadworth

Saturday 24 June

✽ BEDDINGTON - Get Together at St Mary’s 2-4pm. Theme “The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party”. Contact Maud Adams on 07960 241 500 for invite

RICHMOND - Free fundraising Concert in aid of Riverbank Trust 7.30pm at Holy Trinity Richmond, Sheen Park - The Boy and Girl Choristers of Washington National Cathedral Choir, USA. Donations requested

✽ LAMBETH - North Lambeth Parish Fete in the gardens of Lambeth Palace – 12.30-5.00pm. Music, food, stalls, morris dancers, dog show, tug of war, children’s races and entertainment for all. Tickets: £4, Concs £2.50, Children £1.50, Family Ticket £8

BETCHWORTH - Celebrity Organ Recital in St Michael’s Church at 4pm in aid of Church funds - selection of music from D’Arcy Trinkwon. Tickets £15 (u/14s: £10) inc glass of wine from 01737 843498

Sunday 25 June

EAST DULWICH – Choral Evensong, sung by the Adult Choir at St John’s Church 6pm. All welcome

KEW - A Musical Aviary – 3.30pm at St Anne’s Church - Baroque music inspired by birdsong and nature: Charlotte Ashley (Monteverdi Choir), Oliver-John Ruthven (Hampstead Garden Opera) and Davina Clarke (English Baroque Soloists).Free entry

Tuesday 27 June

✽ WALWORTH - Launch of Diddy Disciples a creative & playful new worship and Bible storytelling resource for work with children. 5.30-7pm at St Peter’s Church. RSVP: diddydisciples @gmail.com

Thursday 29 June

✝ MERTON – St James’ Church Diamond Jubilee Mass and Party from 7pm. RSVP Parish Secretary - elaine.mccormack@blueyonder.co.uk

Thursday 29 June

– Saturday 1 July

CLAPHAM - St Paul’s Opera - Orpheus In the Underworld by Jacques Offenbach at St Paul’s Church, Rectory Grove. Doors open 5.30pm for picnics in the grounds. Performance 7.00pm Tickets: £25 from www.wegottickets.com/stpaulsopera or 020 7622 2128

Saturday 1 July

✽ CATERHAM VALLEY - Summer Fair at St John’s Church 11.30am to 3.30pm. Stalls, games, refreshments plus St John’s School Choir.

✝ NORBURY - Guyana Diocesan Association Annual Festival at St Stephen’s Church. 11am AGM in the Parish Hall; 12.15pm. Festival Eucharist in church (The Bishop of Guyana will celebrate and preach); Lunch in the Parish Hall (after) £15 per person. To book call Mrs Husbands on 020 8665 1198 or Mrs Edwards on 020 8668 3930

CROYDON – Croydon Bach Choir Summer Concert 7.30 pm at Croydon Minster. Inc.Mozart’s Coronation Mass, favourite opera choruses and new work “Homo Sum” by Mark David Boden. Tickets £15 - buy 3 get 4th free: croydonbachchoir.org

BATTERSEA – The Festival Chorus perform at St Luke’s Church, 7.30pm. Saint Saens Mass Op4 and Faure Requiem. Tickets £18 (Concs £14) on the door

Wednesday 5 July

CATERHAM - Munch With Music at St John’s Church. Wakana Gong (Soprano) & Han-sae Jang (Piano) a Admission free. Tea/Coffee 12.15pm. Performance 12.45 -1.30pm.

Lunchtime Music at St. Matthew’s, Redhill. Thursdays at 1.10 pm

6 July - Guitar Recital - Laura Snowden

13 July - Piano Recital - Yoko Ono

20 July - Organ & Bagpipe Recital Maureen Galea (Piano); Graham Walker (Bagpipes)

27 July Grand Finale and Annual Party – entertainment by ‘Vocal Dimension’

Saturday 8 July

REIGATE - Reigate & Redhill Choral Society 75th Anniversary Event - Summer Classics at St Mary’s Church 7.30pm Tickets £14 in advance (U21s £10) or £16 on the door. Call 07588 730246 for more information

WESTMINSTER - Lewisham Choral Society feast of Eastern European music, 7.30 pm at Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Street. Tickets - £15, £13 (Concs), £2 (16 & under) from lewishamchoralsociety.org.uk

12 THE BRIDGE... June 2017

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

Above (l-r); Althea Smith, Canon Mandy Ford, Comfort Fearon, Bishop Karowei, Cynthia Smith (Diocesan President), the Revd Esther Foss (Diocesan Chaplain) and Grace Adeoye

THE THE

“We will take pilgrims to the sites where the most important events in Our Lord’s life and ministry took place. “By visiting the Holy Land we are also standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters there. Meeting the ‘living stones’, Palestinian and Israeli Christians, is humbling.” Bishop Christopher

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

e-mail: pilgrimage18@southwark.anglican.org

There is still There is still time to book time to book your placeyour place

THE Monday 19th - Monday 26th February 2018

A comprehensive eight-day pilgrimage led by Bishop Christopher and Dean Andrew

A PILGRIMAGETO THE

H O L Y L A N D

‘Faith in Action’ is the Mothers’ Union theme this year and the Festival Service on 6 May at Southwark Cathedral, refl ected this. Cynthia Smith,

MU Diocesan President writes:

We invited the children’s choir from Christ Church, Purley, C of E Primary School who sang joyously to call us to worship and throughout the service. We were all blessed and uplifted by their full-

hearted singing. We asked our members to bring their children and grandchildren and many joined us making it a Family Festival Eucharist.

Bishop Karowei preached an all-age sermon telling us about his mother (in her 90s) still being an active member of the Mothers’ Union in Nigeria.

He involved the children in an experiment and reminded us all that we are here to serve and do kind things for one another and for families in need.

During the service, I admitted the Revd Esther Foss, P-in-C of St. Andrew, Coulsdon, as a member of the Mothers’ Union and Bishop

Karowei commissioned Esther as our fi rst female Chaplain.The Bishop also commissioned Althea Smith, Grace Adeoye and Comfort Fearon to be Trustees. Comfort and Kayode led our intercessions. We heard about two Mothers’ Union Projects – ‘Away from It All’ and ‘Tea at 3’ at the Evelina Children’s Hospital. Stories of families enjoying holidays and parents appreciating tea, cake and a listening ear were told.

Lots of families joined us and children were able to go to the colouring table where there were pictures of children helping in all kinds of ways. During the receiving of communion, Bishop Karowei

blessed the children of the choir which was very special.

Towards the end of the service, the banners were proudly processed to the rousing singing of ‘I’ll go in the strength of the Lord’.

We give thanks for our Family Festival Eucharist and for the privilege to hold it in the beautiful setting of our mother church, Southwark Cathedral, and pray that we will serve families this year with renewed strength.

If you would like to know anything about the Mothers’ Union in Southwark, please see our website: southwark.anglican.org/about-us/what/mu

Faith in Action

The choir of Christ Church Purley Primary School

Now you see it... now you don’tDuring his sermon Bishop Karowei amazed children from the choir with a ‘conjuring trick’/experiment showing the power of the cross to make things clear