Saint Peter's Church, A Rector's Blog

This afternoon we experimented with a new style of KidZone .  An extended afternoon with more craft activities, games, food and a lot more mess. The theme was on John the Baptist’s teaching in Luke 3:10-14 – so we made locust and honey cakes, and looked for ‘locusts’ in plates of flour… The experiment was a great success, and we shall make MessyZone a regular feature of our kids’ ministry next term.
Thanks to everyone who served food, got their hands covered in paint, flour, golden syrup – and then cleared up the mess afterwards!

I watched the final of World Cup 2010 last night in a bar in Benahavis, in the south of Spain. The bar was full of Spaniards with firecrackers, and I’d been asked, before entering, who I was supporting. I was the only one in the bar not wearing a Spain shirt, and I suspect I was paying more for the beer as a result.
It was like watching it from the terraces – a surge forward towards the screen as Spain attacked, vuvuzelahs hooting, and outrage (real outrage) at some of the Dutch tackling.
A memorable evening! But, this morning it is as if nothing had happened. No flags on cars, only very few Spain shirts to be seen – no excitement. Can you imagine if England had won? Ah well, we’re all different…
Spanish fans celebrate their World Cup win in Benahavis 

The Christmas cards may not be in the shops yet, but the Church Advertising Network is off the mark with their Christmas advertising campaign.

This is the ‘Baby Scan Jesus’ poster, which will be seen on noticeboards and bus stops around the country in December. At tonight’s PCC we shall discuss placing this on a bus stop in the village – hopefully creating some thought and discussion in the run up to Christmas 2010.

You can read more about the campaign,  and what some senior church leaders  have said about it, by clicking here. http://www.churchads.net/

“This poster is designed to arrest the attention of the usually disinterested. It is aimed at awakening the imagination, teasing the curiosity and provoking fresh consideration of the heart of Christianity – precisely what Jesus did with parables, images and stories. No, it doesn’t cover all the bases and deal comprehensively with every theological nuance; but it gives a huge kick start to thinking about what Christmas is all about”.                                    

 Nick Baines, Bishop of Croydon

Bob Banks, a member of St Peter’s, invited me to see some of his  award-winning Delphiniums today. You can see more photo’s of his blooms on the home page of the church website.

Today, the 5 clergy brought over to Southwark from the Diocese of Central Zimbabwe, fly home.  In their time here they have received training on project management, spent time with their Link parishes, visited Brighton and London, and spent a day at the Croydon Area Clergy Study Day.

Rev Martin Dupwa spent last Sunday with us at St Peter’s, where he was interviewed about his situation in Mkoba – some of the stories and statistics were startling:

• St Philip’s, Mkoba is the largest church in the Diocese, with an average weekly attendance of over 500 (and a membership of 800+).
• 95% of the population of Mkoba (a ‘high density urban area’) are unemployed, and this is mirrored in the congregation.
• The Mothers’ Union is thriving at St Philip’s – with a membership approaching 300. Of those, 80% are widows – mainly due to Aids.
• Martin takes, on average, 3 funerals per week of people belonging to his congregation. These, too are largely due to Aids.
• There is no daytime electricity to speak of in Mkoba, though it comes on during the nighttime. This is due to Zimbabwe failing to pay debts to overseas electricity suppliers.

Having said that, the church in Zimbabwe continues to thrive, focussing on the hope and life that they experience in Christ, rather than the difficulties they face. In listening to Martin preach on Sunday, and in spending time with him over the weekend, I learned a lot about priorities. In the midst of these trials, St Philip’s is commissioning evangelists, running outreach programs and caring for the growing number of widows and orphans. 

We look forward to continuing our link with Martin and the people of St Philip’s, for our mutual benefit.

Have just returned from Southwark Cathedral this evening to witness the commissioning of a member of the congregation as a Southwark Pastoral Auxilliary (SPA). Congratulations to Brenda Barron, who has completed her 2 yrs of training, and was commissioned by Rt Rev Christopher Chessun, the Bishop of Woolwich. 

SPAs are lay men and women authorised by the Diocese to help develop caring and pastoral work on behalf of the church – and in that sense it is a very practical, ‘hands-on’ ministry. This was emphasised in the service by each SPA being anointed with oil on their hands.

The whole service reflected the nature of this calling to serve in ways that express the loving concern of God for people – summed up in a final prayer  taken from 1 Thessalonians 5:14-16.

The service reminded us that every Christian is called to service in the Kingdom of God, and we pray for Brenda as she begins this new phase of her Christian service at St Peter’s. We shall commission her locally on a Sunday TBC!

To learn  more about SPA ministry, follow the link to the Diocesan website: http://www.southwark.anglican.org/ministry/southwark-pastoral-auxiliary-ministry

ANGLICAN Bishop of Ballarat Michael Hough, who is being investigated over complaints of bullying, has agreed to step down in a confidential agreement under which the complaints are withdrawn. From www.theage.com.au

I’d like to reassure all those who have seen this story in the press and are concerned that I have either a) been consecrated and moved to Australia, or b) am resigning amidst controversy, that this  is a different Michael Hough (no relation).

However, I have had to return several letters to one of his creditors, assuring them that I’m not the man they’re looking for. Honest!

It’s been a full weekend at St Peter’s, and one to remember.

The weekend began with a great Men’s Breakfast on Saturday, where 36 men turned out to hear Chris Powell speak about football and faith.

Then we had our World Cup Family Service – football shirts, scarves and flags represented Watford (shirt signed by Elton John…), Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Man City, Spain and, of course, England. We heard from Philippians 2:5-11 how Jesus has ’swapped shirts with us’, (or gone from ‘Glory Glory’ to ‘Man’ United…) and has become our perfect substitute. God became like us, so that we could become like God.

We had a change of gear in the evening, but still on a World theme: Kylie Duncan, our CMS Mission Link, spoke about how God had called her to work in the area of child protection in Asia. John 10:10 was her theme, and the contrast between the way that many children are exploited, and the value that God places on them. We look forward to maintaining a strong link with Kylie as she leaves for the Mission Field in coming weeks.

World Cup 2010 kicks of this evening amid great excitement (not least of all at The Rectory…) – and this weekend St Peter’s has a World Cup weekend:

Saturday morning at 8.30am we have a Men’s Breakfast, with Chris Powell (ex England, Charlton, Watford and, surely the highlight, Derby County). Chris will be speaking about his career as a player, his recent 5-yr stint as chairman of the PFA, and his pland for a future in coaching and management. He is a great ambassador for the beautiful game, and an interesting speaker. Click here for a link to a recent BBC interview.  The venue is The White Hart pub, Chipstead at 8.30am. To book your place (and a full english breakfast) for £6.00, contact me on 01737 352849

Sunday World Cup Family Service 10.30am  ‘Wear the shirt with pride’. Come to church wearing your football shirt and ready to hear about an amazing transfer, a disputed penalty and a perfect substitution! We shall also have refreshments and a Fair Trade stall selling items from most of the nations represented at the World Cup (N Korea presently proving a challenge…).