Walking Welcoming Growing
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Walking Welcoming THE BRIDGE Growing Newspaper of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark Vol.24 No.1 February 2019 Inside THE BRIDGE ...this month Dunk...splash... Lent - ‘an intentional wilderness experience’ and ripple… ...page 5 On Saturday 19 Ripple: January, Southwark I wonder what the ripple Cathedral was fi lled effect of Southwark Splash might be? My prayer is that with sounds that churches will be bold and might have been heard make a dunk, splash, ripple in as John the Baptist event was organised immersed in the event by young people) led the 200 their local settings; that they leading activity tables, helping strong congregation, who had will try new ways to welcome Alternative baptised Jesus in in partnership with families on the fringe of the River Jordan - people understand something travelled from near and far to Christmas Trees the Bible Reading new about baptism through be there (including a group church, baptising new believers and pages of as Southwark held Fellowship Messy craft, science experiments, of 8 Norwegians from Bergen and walking with them on singing, Makaton signing and Cathedral!). their journey of discipleship, other parish news a ‘Messy Church’ Church Team. as we grow God’s kingdom. celebration of baptism creative prayer. Lucy Moore writes, ‘What a powerful and moving occasion. Aike Kennett-Brown Splash: Need some support and Looking back to It was so heart-warming to see More than 200 writes: ideas to start you off? The Pan-London After an hour of activities, we the beautiful Cathedral full of adults and children Contact: Churches Serious gathered together to make the old and the young enjoying i aike.kennett-brown@ came together for a Dunk: a splash and celebrate three themselves together. Violence Summit baptisms by full immersion (a southwark.anglican.org morning exploring A big thank you to all the The baptism of Kira, Cecilia ...pages 8 & 9 fi rst for Southwark Cathedral). keli.bolton@southwark. gifted leaders involved in Messy and Andrea will stay in my why Christians Using baptism liturgy adapted anglican.org Churches, Diddy Disciples, memory as a morning where get baptised, with by Lucy Moore for a Messy Mission Support Officers Godly Play and children and we all met God and celebrated Church setting, Bishop (Children and Young activities, music and family ministries from across an important day in the lives of Karowei and the team (a mix People) the Diocese, who got fully these three young Christians.’ bible story telling.The of clergy, lay, children and Diocese of Southwark A taste of Parish Profile - the day in St Peter, Battersea pictures... ... page 11 Page 15 Hearts on Fire with a Vision for growth Walking with Jesus and getting to know Jesus better as we journey on Welcoming all, embracing our diversity and seeking new ways of being church Growing in numbers, generosity, faith and discipleship as we grow God’s Kingdom Follow the Diocesan Blog: ‘Hearts on Fire – sharing God’s Good News in Southwark Diocese’ - http://southwarkcofe.tumblr.com/ 2 THE BRIDGE... February 2019 We have now moved to how to be resilient and whole world has gone A view fromf an age where it seems we how to cope with these mad and everyone wants let our children and our disagreements without to be rich and measures young people decide what resorting to extreme action. themselves and their value THE BRIDGE they should be involved in. These words resounded via material possessions. Where parents don’t have and echoed in our ears, Where Social Media, fi lms, a say or even know where for growing up we never peer group opinion appear in the past year and also at their children are. thought of having knives to govern their lives A Happy the beginning of this New The world has changed. or guns, our behaviour was What we need to know is Year. Everyone wants to be in a governed by what we were what is in our children and Knives and guns have job that will make them taught. young people’s pockets & and become the tools of the millionaires. They want “Let dogs delight to bark their bags before they leave day. Let me say I applaud to have the best trainers, and bite, home each day. Peaceful those who run clubs and phones and clothes. This For God has made them so. With discussion and loving instead of them going out training groups for young insatiable and sometimes Let bears and lions, growl involvement, children and and discussing this problem New Year people, to keep them away unrealistic and unfulfi llable and fi ght, young people who often with someone else. from the gangs and the desire inevitably leads to For this tis their nature are imitators of what they We should lead by When we say Happy New violence. fi ghts and stabbings because too. see and experience will example and guide our Year, we just don’t mean up In my day we had church, of greed and jealousy. But children should never learn to live diff erently. children rather than to 6 January or the 12 days school and private groups Even today I remember let such angry passions rise, We parents, leaders and imposing standards we do after Christmas. We mean a where the young people my friends and young Your hands were never responsible adults should not practice. We should happy and peaceful year for were supervised and colleagues whom I grew made to tear each others’ lead by example. We should love them and they will the whole 365 days. trained, where they were up with in Church, Sunday eyes.” be friends with our children practice love not hate. I am appalled at the not left to themselves or to School, School and College. Maybe we have now not enemies, a quiet May we have less killings number of young people their own devices. This still We were not saints we had moved to an age where child may be harbouring and more talking. And more and even pensioners that goes on of course, but could scrapes and fi ghts but we we let our children decide a simple problem, where than anything a peaceful have been killed violently we do more? were taught emotionally what they should be? The open discussion could help year. Sue receives FCO award for The Revd Jim McKinney The Revd Jim McKinney, Vicar of Holy Trinity, Roehampton, died on 18 January. tackling religious persecution Bishop Richard writes: Jim will be deeply missed at Holy Trinity and in the wider community. He was the longest In December the Revd she ‘lobbied’ Chris Philp MP standing member of Wandsworth Deanery, a valued colleague Sue Thomas received an about Iraq and Syria and about and a good friend to many. He worked across the Borough, award from the Foreign violence, imprisonments and gaining a lot of affection, and not a few awards, from the local and Commonwealth Offi ce killings and the withdrawal of community. He was chair of the Wandsworth Community (FCO) for her ‘contribution rights from Christians in their Empowerment Network, playing a massive role in enabling to promoting freedom communities. that important work to thrive over the last 10 years. We give of religion’ and ‘tackling That meeting led to a thanks to God for Jim, for his life and for his ministry, for his religious persecution.’ She was Westminster Hall debate of love, his commitment, for all that he did and for all that he nominated by Open Doors who 25 MPs from all parties who was and is. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. support persecuted Christians. unanimously agreed to hold a Bishop Christopher has sent his deepest sympathy and She said : “It was a privilege Back Bench Business debate prayers and asks you to remember Jim’s wife, Sue, and their to receive the certifi cate from in the main Chamber in 2019. children, Ruth and Alex, in your thoughts and prayers. Lord Ahmad (Minister of Chris Philp also raised the State). The awards ceremony matter at Prime Minister’s was a ‘fi rst’ and follows the Questions too. The Revd Benny FCO’s Freedom of Religion Sue said: “We shudder at the Hazlehurst or Belief Department giving cruelty in the Middle East, and ‘Faith’ a much higher profi le. (Above) Zoe Smith, Head of Advocacy at Open Doors, random acts of terror around The Revd David John Benedict (Benny) At the ceremony Bishop Sue Thomas and Henrietta Blythe CEO of Open Doors the world and think it beyond Jonathan’s name was also ourselves to do something Hazlehurst died at the Joseph Weld Hospice mentioned along with the good with MPs and Peers she heard Haram.’ They heard about about it, but we can. I tell who Dorchester on 26 December. work that Chris Philp MP has from Pastor Aminu from Yobe the top 50 countries, headed I can, whenever seems right Benny Hazlehurst served his curacy at Plumstead St done in the House of Commons State in Northern Nigeria by North Korea, which are and appropriate. It’s about John (1991-98). He was Southwark Archdeaconry Estates with regard to persecuted about living life under stress the worst for living life as looking for opportunities, Outreach Worker (1998-2002) and Vicar of Brixton Road Christians”. - so many parishioners buried a Christian – but meeting being intentional at those Christ Church (2002 – 2005). He moved to Dorset to be Vicar For Sue, her involvement that he’d lost count - the real people made the facts moments, then trusting God to of Puddletown, Tolpuddle, Milborne St Andrew and Dewlish started at an Open Doors lunch congregation down from 430 and fi gures come to life, said do the rest.