ST MARY’S NOW OPEN FOR PERSONAL PRAYER
Starts Monday 22 June:
Mon to Sat: 11.30 am – 12.30 pm
Sun: 10 am –12 noon.
Please follow the safety and social distancing guidelines given in church.
The Life We Were Made For
For most of us, lockdown has meant facing substantial strains, stresses and fears. We may have revisited some of the big questions of life: Who am I? What is my purpose? Is there more to life than this? What will the future look like?
In a new series of talks, starting this Sunday, 21 June, we will consider these questions in the light of the amazing message of the Bible, that God is for us and in Jesus is with us and in us.
Click here to download a flyer …
Here are the dates and themes:
Sun 21 June –Introduction: The story of my life
Sun 28 June – A New Identity: Who am I?
Sun 5 July – A New Horizon: Where I am headed?
Sun 12 July – A New Purpose: What am I here for?
Sun 19 July – A New Hope: What can I hope for?
Online: Sundays 10.30am. Stream any time afterwards. Click here for our Youtube Channel…
Telephone: Available any time for a week, Sun to Sat: 01895 714013
Churchyard Roses
Have you seen the wonderful roses in our churchyard at the moment? They look beautiful and smell amazing too thanks to the team who come and water, prune and take care of them on a regular basis. Would you consider sponsoring one of the new roses, perhaps in memory of a loved one? Please call the church office for more details.
An Interview with Francis Moloney
At our service this Sunday we are catching up with Francis Moloney! Francis and Annabel were part of our church from 2016-2019 while he was training for ordination in the Church of England. We are asking him how they are doing and to help us grapple with the theme of racial justice and equality. Join us this Sunday at 10.30am on YouTube…
A Video Update from Christoph
This one is a bit longer (10 minutes) but it is packed with important updates about this season of our church’s life. So make yourself a nice drink and settle down to watch my latest Rector’s Update.
Helping the Homeless
Our Mission Partner Trinity/SHOC is doing a fantastic job in helping the homeless in our area. They have asked for the following donations:
Socks
Underwear
Disposable razors
Shaving foam
Sanitary products
Deodorant
Toiletries
Hand sanitizer
Our church members Clive and Caroline Ashcroft are collecting items this week. Alternatively you can take them to our church office by previous telephone arrangement with our parish secretary. Please do not leave items outside our church!
A remarkable life: Ravi Zacharias, 1946-2020
UPDATE (February 2021):
Over the last months harrowing details have emerged of how Ravi Zacharias abused his position of trust and influence and abused and damaged the lives of people. In a recent blog post, LICC wrote these words, which we wholeheartedly echo:
“No apologetic can suffice. We must face tough questions on the charisma cult, wilful blindness to narcissistic leadership, lack of accountability, and defensive posturing making people deaf to those who spoke truth. Reparations must be made, where care and some sort of ‘justice’ for survivors is first priority.”
Ravi Zacharias (26 March 1946 – 19 May 2020) was an Indian-born Canadian-American Christian speaker and writer. Zacharias was the author of more than 30 books revolving around “Apologetics” (helping believers think and thinkers believer), including Can Man Live Without God?, as well as Christian bestsellers Light in the Shadow of Jihad and The Grand Weaver. Zacharias was the founder and chairman of the board of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) and OCCA (Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics), which provided speakers for our Rethink week in 2018.
“Does God Exist?”
It is a question also asked behind the walls of Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola Prison, the largest maximum-security prison in the United States. Zacharias had prayed with prisoners of war all those years ago in Vietnam but walking through Death Row left an even deeper impression. Zacharias believed the gospel shined with grace and power, especially in the darkest places, and praying with those on Death Row “makes it impossible to block the tears.” It was his third visit to Angola and, such is his deep connection, the inmates have made Zacharias the coffin in which he will be buried. As he writes in Seeing Jesus from the East:
“These prisoners know that this world is not their home and that no coffin could ever be their final destination. Jesus assured us of that.”
Virtual Prom Praise – A Festival of Hope. This Saturday!
Prom Praise is an annual event at the Royal Albert Hall, produced by All Souls Church, Langham Place and an extravaganza of music and worship. This year it is free on Youtube!
Saturday, 2 May, 7.30pm on the All Souls Youtube Channel.