Dear Friends
Keeping focus on our Church Development Plan
At the beginning of 2025, we introduced a new Church Development Plan (CDP). Just to remind you, our CDP, which appears in summary form above, is not meant to represent everything we are doing as a church, just a few key areas on which we wish to focus a bit of extra energy for a couple of years. Over the coming weekly emails, we’ll be highlighting one of the Specific Action Points each week, to remind you what they are, to update you on progress, and to encourage you to pray and even to consider how you might help. Don’t forget that every first Saturday of the month (i.e., this coming Saturday) we pray in the Church Room from 10.00am for an hour for the work represented by the plan. Please do join us if you can.
Peace: How can we find rest in a stressful world?
In our sermons at the moment, we are revisiting some of the key doctrines of the Christian faith. This Sunday we come to the fourth in our series from the book of Romans as we reflect on the perennially relevant theme of peace. Please do take time to read Paul’s letter to the Romans, in particular chapter 5 which provides the wider context for this Sunday’s sermon. If you happen to miss a Sunday in church, a recording of the sermon from the previous Sunday 10 o’clock service is available online along with the Bible readings, intercessions and any special items.
Rejoicing that Charlotte has started
After much eager anticipation, it is great that Charlotte Coe has begun as our Families and Children’s Ministry Leader. She has already given considerable thought as to how our ministry to families and children might develop over the coming weeks and months. Although quite a few have met Charlotte already, she will be at our 10 o’clock service this Sunday and, as well as leading GLOW, will be answering a few questions from our intrepid interviewer!
Uplifted by the churches’ ministry at Liberham Lodge
I was mightily uplifted by reading the latest news of the work of Liz Tapp, our Anna Chaplain, and those who are working with her. As a result of the Anna Chaplaincy work, the churches now provide two events every month at Liberham Lodge. On the first Tuesday, Liz leads Hymns we Enjoy in one of the lounges, a space that allows for sharing, for questions and for prayer. On the second Tuesday of the month, the Praise and Craft Team led by Val Lomax bring a short worship service with a reflection and then a craft activity, finishing with prayer. Whilst on the subject of Anna Chaplaincy, don’t forget the four-year anniversary service at Bookham Baptist Church on 20 September at 2.30pm. Titled, The Gift of Years, it will be short and accessible.
Keeping up to date
Our weekly notice sheet is available online (click here) and in church. Thank you, David.
And finally…
Faithful God, you have promised in Christ to be with us to the end of time.
Come close to those who have lived long and experienced much.
Help them to continue to be faithful and, within the all-age kingdom of God,
to find ways to go on giving and receiving your grace, day by day.
For your glory and your kingdom. Amen
(The Anna Chaplaincy prayer)
Wishing you much joy and peace.
Alan
Alan Jenkins
Rector
