ANNUAL REPORT 2018 a Report Covering Church Life January–December 2017 a REPORT from the VICAR

Christ Church W4

ANNUAL REPORT 2018 A report covering church life January–December 2017 A REPORT FROM THE VICAR

2017 was another year of growth and consolidation for Christ Church W4. We had a well-earned break from major building projects and giving campaigns, a wonderful church weekend away, a record breaking holiday club, and attended Soul Survivor and New Wine. We also launched a Sunday morning younger youth service at the Mission toddler outreaches to the art Hall, saw the Meeting Place club and seniors events. vision begin to consolidate and began the process of forming But above all the thanks go, a Youth Minster, our ‘Beating as every year, to our almighty Heart Youth Collective’ to God who continues to guide reach out to teenagers in all and lead us on adventures it the churches and community would have been hard for us in the area with the love of to imagine on our own. As you Jesus, having secured a major read this report, why not stop 5-year grant from the Church after each page to say a silent Commissioners. prayer of thanks to Him? Or try a resounding resolute ‘Amen!’ My list of thanks extends to countless scores of volunteers, Thank you for being with us financial supporters, a on the journey and may you wonderful staff team and grow day by day in knowing the clergy colleagues, the wider depth, height, and breadth of Diocese for their faith in us God’s incredible love for you. and support for us, and to the With love in Christ Jesus, thousands of people in the community who come through our church doors through the year for events ranging from socials, to life-events, from the Revd. Richard Moy café to the youth club, from the

2 CONTENTS

CHURCH LIFE...... 4 Small Groups...... 5 Teaching...... 8 St Alban’s...... 6 Safeguarding...... 9 The Mission Hall...... 7 Music & Worship...... 10 Pastoral Care...... 8 9am Music...... 10

COMMITTEES...... 11 Finance & Audit...... 12 Deanery Synod...... 14 PR & Communications...... 12 Mission & Overseas Giving...... 15 Fabric & Development...... 13

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES...... 16 Meeting Place...... 17 Youth...... 20 Sunbeams...... 18 Shelter...... 21 The Thursday Club...... 18 St Andrews Fellowship...... 22 Children’s Church...... 19 Buzz Club...... 22

SPECIAL EVENTS...... 23 Holiday Club...... 24 Parish Weekend...... 27 Men’s Ministry...... 25 28 Days of Prayer...... 27 New Wine...... 25 Soul Survivor...... 27 Women’s Ministry...... 26

CURATE’S THOUGHTSby Denis Adide

From ‘testing’ the bouncy castle before sunbeams to dancing during worship at holiday club; praying for a new Christian to receive the Holy Spirit to anointing the congregation with glitter; church life has been incredible this year. I have seen God add to our number in many ways. The Alpha courses and Life lectures gave an opportunity for many to find faith, and others to deepen in it. It has been a joy to continue the discipleship journey with those who found faith through these courses this past year, and I’m looking forward to more over next year.

3 CHURCH LIFE

4 SMALL GROUPS by Mike Tufnell

In the summer of 2017 we re-launched way. I now know I’m a child of God who our mid-week small groups with a vision will never walk alone, always be loved to help even more of our congregation and looked after by the Lord. This verse, ‘make friends, meet God and live John 8:36, which came up in a talk life better’. Groups are the heart of recently is true for me: ‘If the son sets community life at Christ Church W4 you free you will be free indeed.’” and key to our church vision to make During Lent, all our groups came disciples. They help connect people in together to do the Welcome course deeper, more meaningful relationships and we were led by Jenny Eastwood in and - through bible study, prayer and conducting an ‘audit’ of our welcome fellowship - to grow ‘disciples who make at both church sites, discussing how disciples’. we can learn and improve on how we The initial response to this re-launch was welcome and integrate people into hugely encouraging, with attendance the life of the church. This resulted in growing more than 50% in just one establishing a team for both sites to term, and weekly group attendance implement short, medium and long term frequently up to more than 100. Further improvements. measurable benefits included seeing We also established what we hope to be a greater number of groups, new a healthy rhythm of family life courses leaders emerge and fresh creativity in for the church, with the Marriage course, what our groups offered, from book Parenting and Parenting Teenagers clubs, courses and running groups. It courses operating on a three year cycle. is hard to know if that growth has been sustained as our data measuring was We are looking at evolving our Groups not as comprehensive in the autumn once again in 2018, building on a term - however we continue to hear successful re-launch to incorporate encouraging stories of spiritual growth mid-sized groups called ‘Hubs’. Some and discipleship happening all the time of our number might have experienced that demonstrate our groups are in them as ‘Pastorates’ or ‘Connect Groups’ many ways fulfilling their purpose. at previous churches, and they can also provide a great space for everyone (not We are so grateful to God that the past just leaders) to discover and grow in year has once again seen people come spiritual gifts. to faith through the Alpha course and the Life course. Zahra, said this about Please continue to pray for our doing Alpha this year: wonderful groups and course leaders and helpers, and the lives that God is “Alpha was truly life changing and changing as people are welcomed into so much fun! I started off as a non- community, introduced to Jesus and Christian with absolutely no faith in discipled into maturity in Christ. God but along the way I began to think twice - there had to be an alternative to my disbelief. The difference it has made to me is overwhelming, but in a good 5 ST ALBAN’S by Nikki Lovell

You might remember all the work that make it available to an increasing range was done at St Alban’s in 2016. We were of users. We shall also take advantage able to make the building dry and warm, of that work to improve the audio-visual but that is just the start of what we system and seating arrangements believe is God’s plan for the building and and storage enhancing services and site. At the heart of the redevelopment community events. there has always been the vision to put God at the centre. The long-term plan In 2017 we hosted weddings, receptions, to convert St Alban’s accession chapel school gym classes, whole school into a 24-hour prayer chapel took huge productions, choirs, music recitals, strides forward in 2017. community groups, lectures, parties and of course, church services. We have appointed new architects, Kilburn Nightingale Architects, who have If we are successful in this phase, wider come up with an imaginative design scale plans for the whole site will then for the chapel that will maintain the be explored in Autumn 2018, including “unfinished” look of the church, whilst full community and church consultation. allowing light and line of sight into the Through many small steps in the same chapel at appropriate points. The north direction, God is bringing his church door into the building will become the back to life. Please keep praying about entrance to the chapel, with a door from this exciting vision and see how God that entrance area into the main body of may be calling you to join in. the church. This will give independent access to the chapel from outside, and a small gathering area where people can wait to go into prayer appointments or just look and see what is going on.

At the same time there are plans to create a more versatile staging area in the chancel. This will enable school, orchestra, and choir productions as well as enhancing our larger scale services. We have been offered a concert piano to live in this space. Through this development we can also gain greater floor area in the main part of the church, add in storage units, and tidy up the front of church. This will all make the church much safer and usable for community functions and church usage and help us

6 THE MISSION HALL by Ian White

Throughout 2017 The Mission Hall has with their parents and carers. David and continued to be a place where ministry Joy Pierrepont continued throughout happens, a place where people gather to 2017 to faithfully support and lead the pray, a place where young people learn Thursday afternoon meeting which about the Gospel and God’s promises looks after some of the older members to His Children, a place where the local of our local community. Simon Wethered community come together and meet, ensures that Morning Prayer is held a place where children enjoy birthday at the hall every Tuesday morning. parties, and a place where charity Corporate prayer is so important in the organisations support people who are life of the church and we are so pleased in need. In total, there were more than that this regular time of devotion to the 480 occasions over the year when Lord is part of the weekly Mission Hall people gathered in the hall for some programme. sort of service, prayer group, meeting, or activity. It has been wonderfully exciting to see the launch of a new time of worship In addition The Mission Hall provides a and learning for children on a Sunday base for the staff team to carry out the morning. As the number of children administrative work which underpins coming to Christ Church Turnham much of the ministry taking place in the Green and St Alban’s has grown, finding parish. It is fair to say that the building more space on Sundays has become continues to be well used, with the necessary. The Mission Hall now revenue we earn through hiring out the provides a fantastic venue for this group hall paying for the running costs and of young people to learn about the Lord basic repairs. The building remains an and how to ‘live life in all its fullness and incredibly valuable resource. There is minister to the whole church family’. however still capacity to do more and we will be looking to see over the coming After three years in which there was year how we can further develop the considerable repair and development ministry and activities based here. We work at the Mission Hall, 2017 was a are very blessed to have the Mission Hall quieter time. In 2018 however, there will as a base and are incredibly grateful to be some external redecoration work and the Trustees who support us and permit timber replacement to keep the building our ongoing use of the site. in good order. All that happened at the Mission Hall in 2017 would seem to We are especially thankful for all those suggest that God has not yet finished who lead ministry work at the Mission with this little timber frame building that Hall. Specifically Laura Thomson, first opened around 1900 as the Acton Marie Bidwell and Emma Hyde who Green Railway Mission. We thank and have looked after Little Fishes on a praise God for all His work that has Tuesday morning. This wonderful happened in this place, past, present session continues to provide fun and and future. friendship for pre-school children along 7 PASTORAL CARE by Angela Denniss

This year the clergy and members of the We were sad at the death of one of their pastoral visiting team have continued number, Yelena Barack, who had been a to visit and support members of the member of Christ Church until ill health church family in need. A number of prevented her from coming. We were our members have been ill with some also sorry to lose Elizabeth Poole, a having to go to hospital and they have faithful member of the 9am congregation, much appreciated the support they who we supported until she died in have received. This comes from home March 2017. Simon Wethered takes a groups, social groups and other church service each week at Clifton Gardens friends too and is part of a healthy where one or two residents attend. Keryn church where everybody looks out for Shepherd has joined the pastoral team each other. The Meeting Place team and has been particularly helping Mike continue to play an important part in Tufnell with visiting people from the St. providing pastoral care to those who Albans congregation. I’m grateful to all come in to the church. We have taken the pastoral team for caring, visiting and Holy Communion to residents of Jessop offering practical help. Please let the House each month where a group of church office know, if you or someone you five or so regularly attend. They are know would like one of our team to visit becoming more frail and clearly value and offer listening and prayer support. the monthly visits.

TEACHING by Richard Moy

The 2017 Teaching series saw a At best, the preaching ministry equips challenging range of subjects tackled the whole church to feed themselves – ranging from four weeks in the epic from God’s word each day, week, sensual love poem ‘Song of Songs’ to month and year and we continue to a term looking at the deep truths of have the aim of faithfully and boldly the gospel in Romans 5–8. We spent holding out God’s whole counsel of three weeks tackling issues around truth, and connecting it well to our day our sexual identity considering God’s to day lives, Monday–Sunday, through glorious original plan for us, our ultimate a wide variety of preachers and styles. identity in heaven and the mess in the Please keep praying for all the teaching meantime! The teaching team continues in church. It has been well said that 70% to grow and inspire, with preachers from of the impact of a sermon comes from every decade of life from teenage to the hunger levels of the congregation! 70s regularly speaking. Thank you to all Let’s keep praying that God will make us who have been involved in leading small all hungry for his word and feed us week group studies, listening to and preparing by week. sermons, and faithfully studying God’s word day by day on their own. 8 SAFEGUARDING by Jilly Goddard

Safeguarding should always have our children’s church activities are a and maintain a high-profile. The safeguarding priority. whole church family is involved I would like to thank all those involved in safeguarding; it is everyone’s in safeguarding for their hard work and responsibility. Together we are dedication. We continue to strive to committed to ensuring the safety of ensure that we respond without delay to children, young people and vulnerable any safeguarding issues. Together we adults as they worship and take part in work to keep the whole church family activities in our churches. safe as they worship and take part in the The safeguarding officer Jilly Goddard life of our church. works with the PCC, the clergy and The PCC of Christ Church Turnham safeguarding group to ensure that we Green has complied with the duty under have governance systems and practical section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy policies in place in line with the diocesan Discipline Measure 2016, in relation to guidelines. Together we ensure that having due regard to House of Bishops’ safeguarding is in place at all times. guidance on safeguarding children and The safeguarding team works hard to vulnerable adults. ensure that diocesan guidelines are followed. The safeguarding team meets three times a year and has some fluidity in its membership . I would particularly like to express my sincere gratitude to Peter Williams for his wise guidance and all the work he has done ensuring that the group runs smoothly. We are fortunate to have Keryn Shepherd as our new PCC lead in place of Peter Williams. Thanks also to Alison Roux who completes all the processes involved for the DBS applications, a huge undertaking. Many thanks to Ian White our facilities manager who insures our policies are up-to-date and fit for purpose. Safeguarding of youth, young people and children is of vital importance and we are extremely fortunate to have Kati Simpson and Isobel Smith taking the lead as vulnerable children’s champions and working together to ensure that

9 MUSIC & WORSHIP by Nicola Harrison

We continue to be encouraged by team, including Gary Rogers, and Cecily what God is doing in our times of sung Footner, and also welcomed other great worship; with a continued movement additions, like Emily Lissaman, Ruth of the Holy Spirit, and a sense of ‘going Brent, and Peter Lynch. We are always deeper’. It was fantastic being together on the lookout for people with musical as a whole church during the weekend talent, and worshipful hearts, so do get away in October, and experiencing in touch if this might be applicable to the feeling of unity particularly in our you! worship sessions. In 2018 we will be taking a different We are blessed with fantastic talent and approach to team nights; focussing heart for worship within our Youth, and on tailored teaching sessions every it’s a privilege to see worship leaders other month that delve into a particular being raised up from this group. In instrument / role within the team, and many respects we are learning from discuss our vision for worship at Christ them, their thinking, and their passion Church W4. We are excited to see how to serve in this way! The Youth Band this helps us all both musically and continues to evolve, with the great spiritually! support of Stephen, Emma and Emily, Our hope is that we can continue and they have led fantastic times of facilitating deeper connections with God worship in the church prayer meetings. through our worship times in the year As with many things within Christ ahead, and that this will spill out into our Church W4, and the nature of London, relationship with Him Monday-Sunday. there is an ebb and flow of people Ultimately we long for our vision to be a within the team. Across the year we reality; ‘to see Jesus being worshipped in have said farewell to some people who spirit and truth by people of all ages and have faithfully served in the worship all backgrounds.’

9AM MUSIC by Kelvin Meredith Music plays an important role in the published reading and have to second- 9am ‘traditional’ Holy Communion guess which aspect of it, the talk will service. Sincere thanks go to the focus on. Requests do however need to loyal group of musicians who form a be with me by the Tuesday prior to the choir for occasional anthems or who Sunday service. provide instrumental or vocal solos The special carol service choir sang while communion is taking place. The beautifully as ever, after very little congregation must be congratulated too, rehearsal. A final word of praise to our for the quality and volume of its hymn faithful maintenance-free electronic singing. I always welcome suggestions (Makin) organ which gives so much for hymns, particularly from those giving pleasure week by week. the talks. I base my choices on the 10 COMMITTEES

11 FINANCE & AUDIT by Nick Brooks

The Committee met four times during Towards the end of the year the the year to receive reports from Committee started looking at the John Mullaly, Treasurer, to review the funding requirements of the next phase management accounts, approve the at St. Albans. statutory accounts for 2016 and review As always, I would like to thank all the budget for 2017. members of the Committee on behalf The Committee spent some time this of the Church for the time and effort year in considering what seemed an that they contribute to this Committee appropriate reserves policy for the – Jonathan Hughes, Nikki Lovell, John Church. This was felt particularly Mullaly, Nev Towers, John Ridout, important in light of the continued and Mike Smith. requirement for money for building projects. The policy was agreed by the PCC and will appear in the 2017 Financial Statements.

PR & COMMUNICATIONS by Jan Tellick

Our main means of internal We continue to promote our activities communication are:- through ChiswickW4.com and Chiswick Buzz TV where appropriate. • the term cards detailing the preaching programme and key events coming ChurchSuite was rolled out up; successfully which enables church members to sign up for events • weekly notice sheets containing and receive communications as reminders for the forthcoming week; appropriate. • monthly e-news highlighting key In August, Chris Lissaman joined our issues and events. staff team as Communications and These are supplemented by our magazine Development Manager responsible Beacon with in-depth articles on church for co-ordinating all our internal and life which is published two or three times external communications and enabling a year and our web site which provides us to do the majority of our design information on everything going on in in-house. church, recordings of sermons and study Looking forward, work is in hand to notes, together with the ability to update our external notice boards over book events for church members the coming months. and the wider community. 12 FABRIC & DEVELOPMENT by Nikki Lovell

2017 was a year of consolidation and A considerable amount of work was of seeking the Lord’s will for his W4 carried out at the Mission Hall in buildings after all the activity in 2016 Cunnington Street over the last couple of when we completed the roof, heating years. It is now in good shape, providing and toilets at St Alban’s. good office accommodation for our staff, and a good space for the local It has been so exciting to see St Alban’s community. used as a warm and dry space, for so many different events, from the regular The Committee feel privileged to work Sunday worship services, to weddings on three buildings which bring such and wedding receptions all the way glory to God. through to a school gym space. It is wonderful to share our space with the community and see the church come to life as a real beacon for the Lord on Acton Green. Christ Church Turnham Green has seen small improvements but it has mainly been a story of maintenance. The church is now used almost every hour on every day of the week, and the impact on the fabric of the building is noticeable. The Committee is now looking at the next stage for each building - the main project being enclosing the Ascension Chapel at St Alban’s as a step towards our long-held aim of having a 24-hour prayer chapel. At the same time we’ll level the chancel to make it more usable, install better AV equipment and buy new chairs - the current ones really have passed their use-by date, and are far too heavy and bulky to keep moving around. Not much work will take place at Turnham Green this year but we are working towards replacing the main boiler in 2019. There is a lot of preparatory work for this, which has already started.

13 DEANERY SYNOD by Richard Perry

The Church of England divides every • Vocations – where is the next generation diocese into deaneries, a grouping of of clergy going to come from? 10 to 20 parishes. In London they are We addressed those questions in small grouped by borough, so we are part group discussion, and fed back some of Hounslow Deanery, running from answers for further reflection. Feltham in the west to Chiswick in the east, 20 parishes in all. Hounslow The June meeting was the first for a Deanery is led by the Area Dean, Richard newly elected Synod beginning its three Frank (vicar of All Souls St Margarets year term. Richard Frank explained to near Twickenham), and it has a Synod everyone the role of the Synod, that it is made up of all the clergy and lay primarily about furthering the mission representatives from all the parishes. and ministry of the church, encouraging and resourcing our local communities The Deanery Synod meets three of faith in speaking and living out the times a year for presentations and Good News of Jesus. To help do this, discussions about matters of interest to Synod provides a place to learn from one all churches in Hounslow, such as parish another and to spread best practice and engagement with the police, or caring good examples of mission and ministry, for older people in our communities, as as well as from expert practitioners. well as dealing with deanery business. Finally, the meetings are opportunities to In February Bishop Graham Tomlin learn about one another, joining up the came to speak about his vision for the dots across the Deanery. Kensington Episcopal Area where he’s In November Andy Burns, who heads been Bishop for over two years, and four up Capital Mass, spoke on church themes that he wants us to focus on: engagement with social need. Capital • Community Impact – How do we as Mass is a partnership between the a Church be a blessing to our local Diocese of London and the Church community? Urban Fund, and it aims to engage and • Sharing our Faith – half of all Christians support every parish in the Diocese in feel a bit scared to talk openly about tackling poverty and inequality. Andy their faith, but for one third of them a gave examples and talked about things personal conversation with a Christian local churches can do to support those they knew was important to them in who are struggling with issues such as coming to faith. How do we as a Church homelessness, isolation, and mental do better at witnessing? health. • Growing Younger – Bishop Graham commented on the amount of grey Your elected lay members of the Synod hair in our churches. These people a from Christ Church W4, Angela Denniss, wonderful gift to the church, but there is Stuart Ward, Jonathan Hughes, Ruth a whole generation missing out on the Newton Jones, and I would be happy to privilege of knowing God. How do we tell you more about the work. reach them?

14 MISSION & OVERSEAS GIVINGby Mark Jarvis

This year has been one of mainly Richard Moy visited to witness the continuity and consolidation. Our opening of the new rehabilitation and mission partner ‘line up’ remains community centre! unchanged from last year, namely: We have also seen a growing connection • Emily Braybrook working with with Hennie and Becca Marais at Red children in Rukunguri, Uganda, Tribe in Maasai, and Christ Church was able to give them some much needed • Nabil and Sarah Shehadi in their financial assistance of £3000 for their work in Lebanon; Nabil as Alpha building project which will help further Levant coordinator, seconded to their work with vulnerable women. Alpha International and Sarah looking after the hospitality and April 2018 will see some of the Christ administrative side of the Shehadi Church W4 youth (along with a group mission, from St Pauls, Ealing), make the trip to Red Tribe to experience and help the • Open Doors who work to support mission work there. persecuted Christians around the world. Going forward we will look at strengthening our support of our • Pete Oakley and his work, primarily mission partners further, with a possibly with Pulse Ministries. larger role in the support of Emily. Given In addition, we have a mission link Jenny Ridout’s ongoing commitment to with Jenny Ridout in China and KERA her work in China, we will also look to in Georgia, which is a link we keep, firm up our support for her. primarily through Charlotte Matheson and her family. This year we were able to not only provide funding for Emily Braybrook to purchase a car - which she desperately needed for her work and ministry - but we gained approval to increase our annual giving to each of our mission partners by 25%, which is great news. Our links with our mission partners has always been strong, particularly with Nabil and Sarah and Emily. This past year saw this continue with more visits by the congregation to Rukunguri and they will have seen progress on the building work which Christ Church W4 was able to fully fund. In early 2018,

15 WEEKLY ACTIVITES

16 THE MEETING PLACE by Jenny Eastwood

Christ Church is ‘officially’ open more we offer at toddler groups and been a than 50% of the hours Monday to Friday source of encouragement and advice to 9am–5pm during term time for specific parents. events and activities but in reality there The café has gone from strength are very few times in this period when to strength and now serves 70–100 people can’t come in. People are drawn meals a week. Swapna Prasadam into pray like the lady “with no real has risen to the challenge of cooking faith” who was waiting on the doorstep delicious food for ever-increasing one morning wanting to pray while her numbers as well as working with an father’s funeral was taking place in ever-changing team of helpers with another part of the country. Others come varying experience in the kitchen. There for information, like the elderly lady who continues to be a wide range of guests had recently moved to area to be nearer ranging from those who live alone to family, or the families new to the area those who escape the office. It has been or to parenthood. Others come to look a delight to see friendships blossoming at the church, ostensibly as tourists, through the café, as with other groups, but often wanting a chat, such as the and people who have been supported lady who had been recently bereaved. now helping others. As ever, the café We get to know a few of these people doesn’t just benefit guests and staff but well as they get involved with the life of the invaluable volunteers who help cook, the Meeting Place, but in many cases serve and wash up. Early in the year we we only have a brief time to help people had a programme of different activities know, in some way, that they are ‘loved, on Thursday lunchtimes including valued and accepted by the living God a couple of organ recitals, French their Father’. conversation and poetry. Those who The art group run by Christine Smith is came enjoyed these events but numbers very popular, and productive, on Monday were small and there is limited capacity mornings. The Buzz Club continues to develop them. We experimented every other Monday afternoon and is led with a summer menu and with offering by Emma and Jan. seating outside on warm days. The former was popular and we had a busier The church is buzzing on Tuesday summer than usual, but the latter wasn’t afternoons and Friday mornings too particularly successful thanks to the when we open Jacob’s Ladder alongside weather and complicated logistics! other space. At both groups there is a real sense of community and friendship For many the Meeting Place is the even though there are usually new gateway to church and faith, and we people and others who move away. hope and pray that more people will step Annie Adams has joined the team through it in 2018. as Children’s Sessional Worker and brings with her experience in nursery management as well as her insights as a parent. She has developed the activities 17 SUNBEAMS & PLAYSPACE by Angela Denniss

Sunbeams continues to attract large We have been able to provide a listening numbers of parents/carers and pre- ear and friendship to some going school children on Tuesday and through difficult times. Thursday mornings. People enjoy the We are planning to re-introduce the Bible space, the variety and quality of the toys, storytime which we stopped for a while and the bouncy castle, but more than when the age of the children coming that they value the welcome and the dropped. It has been gratifying to see community. Storytime and songtime are some of the families starting to come also key parts of each session. Nicola to the Crib service at Christmas and to Moy is stepping back from running our Sunday services. Jenny Mullaly has Sunbeams and handing more of the stepped down from Playspace as part organisation over to Annie Adams, our of her well-earned break from Children’s wonderful, creative Children’s Sessional work. We are very grateful to her for her Worker who joined us in the autumn. love, energy, creativity and wonderful Playspace on Wednesday afternoons story-telling skills. and Babyspace on Tuesday afternoons There is a faithful team of volunteers are both drop-in sessions from 2.30– without whom it would not be possible 5pm and are quieter than Sunbeams. to run these groups but we are always in There is room for the children to run or need of more. If you have time from 10– crawl around and it is lovely to see them 11.30am on Tuesdays or Thursdays or grow in confidence. The adults have the 2.30–5pm on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, opportunity to make friends and they please come and help in this important appreciate the warmth of the welcome. area of ministry to the community. For many it is their favourite playgroup.

THE THURSDAY CLUB by Annette Duckworth

The Thursday Club is for children in their The evening consists of a creative time, last two years of Primary school, so followed by unstructured ‘down time’, aged 9–11yrears. We meet on Thursday which they love, followed by chips with a evenings between 6–8pm. talk. We want the children to make friends at The ‘creative’ time consists of model church to keep them coming to church making, rehearsing for a play, one-offs when they hit the 11–12 year age, when such as making ‘slime’ or tie dyeing, and most children stop coming. The majority bee keeping in the summer. We try to do of children have a church connection, the activities which will please the boys as but many of them bring friends from boys are harder to keep. The group varied school. in size from 8–18 children, with a higher proportion of girls. 18 CHILDREN’Sby Kati Simpson CHURCH & Isobel Smith

We see children ‘living life in all its • The children are keen for prayer to fullness and ministering to the whole be more interesting and stimulating church family.’ • They would like to serve more This year we have seen a change to the • They really appreciate food, biscuits children’s team: Jenny Mullaly retired as and being with their friends Children’s Champion and was replaced by Kati Simpson and Isobel Smith. Marie The highlight of the year has been Bidwell left and Freddi Rich joined the seeing the children grow in confidence team as Children’s Intern. to participate in the songs and stories we tell; from clinging to Mum and not Jill Ward is to hand over the co- wanting to be left, to when parents tell ordination of the 2-5 year old group at St us they ‘choose’ to come to church. The Alban’s to Raquel Saavedra in 2018. success of this group is down to children January 2018 will see the year six feeling secure, engaged and happy as children moving up to join the youth they attend without their parents for the group who meet at the Mission Hall. We first time. With this in mind we follow a have a large number of children in years simple structure for the session, which one to three with fewer children in years allows them to learn that God loves four and five. them and that they can talk to God. In the autumn term we took the We are very blessed in having a team opportunity to explore more about the of dedicated leaders and helpers, some way our children experience church. of whom have be covering these roles for many years. Our challenge moving A report was presented to the PCC forward is to attract more people to join in January 2018. Some of the key our teams. If you would like to join us messages were: on a Sunday please speak to Isobel, • The children are keen to be involved Sarah, Raquel or Kati, we’d love it, the more in services children would love it and above all, you would be blessed! • They have a desire to share their faith with others

19 YOUTH by Zoe Phillips

At Friday Youth we had a lot of fun: impacting West London, transforming we’ve made tie-dye t-shirts, slime, had a young lives, and shaping culture. rework party and have gone even deeper We aim to broadly do this by running with God in the later sessions. This past school missions in West London, term two people at Friday youth have having regular gatherings to support made decisions to follow Jesus - they’re discipleship and evangelism, and create both knitted into the community and an infrastructure of local churches who it’s a joy to be journeying with them in are youth-friendly so that we guratively working out how faith affects daily life. open the front door for youth to be part A shout-out goes to Lizzie and Sam of church and close the back door, so for leading the younger youth – they fall less through the cracks. they prepared and led a session on On the 1st–3rd September, we were our value: in a spiritual battle but invited to join with The Message Trust #onthewinningside, equipping our and Latymer Community Church to do younger youth to know that even in a mission event in the Ladbroke Grove the darkest times, we are more than area, near Grenfell Tower. This was a conquerors in Christ. There’s also been special time - 11 of our young people an increasing hunger to know God, to got involved, experienced different ways respond in prayer and worship. I’ve been of church and mission and saw people really blessed by the ministry times respond to the gospel. we’ve had at youth. We’ve had five key meetings with the At Thursday youth we’ve seen lots of amazing Becky Rea who is helping young people bringing friends from us to consolidate our vision, map school. We’ve also had a few children stakeholders, gather insight, birth ideas who first attended the summer Holiday and develop them, and lastly formulate Club make the transition to join us on a our impact implementation plan. Watch Thursday. On 3rd November we had a this space and pray for wisdom and sleepover at Christ Church – it was good fruitfulness from this process. fun (but not much sleep took place). I personally interrupted three midnight Mike Tufnell and Zoe Phillips have had feasts and heard some very funny “scary several meetings with local church stories”. Vita is the queen of storytelling vicars and youth workers, listening to the – ask her to share one with you! local needs, sharing insight and working out how we can partner well together. In March 2017, Christ Church W4 pitched to become a Youth Minster, and as of July 2017 our bid and funding was confirmed! Our minster is going by the name of ‘The Beating Heart Collective.’ We are a collective of people passionate about youth encountering Jesus,

20 SHELTER by Peter Williams

The seventh season of The Shelter found it seven years ago and funds Project Hounslow (TSPH) started the overnight shelter at Christ Church in 2017. TSPH offers hot food, Turnham Green. In essence TSPH accommodation and company in various uses the facilities of the different churches to up to 14 rough sleepers host churches and many, but not all in the London Borough of Hounslow. volunteers, come from those host Different Churches across Hounslow churches. provide shelter one night a week during This past winter Christ Church once the winter period to accommodate up to again took the Monday evening/ 14 men with all the assistance provided Tuesday morning shift as we will again by local volunteers. this coming winter season. TSPH is in The idea is to help the rough sleepers line with our core Christian values and back into work, find permanent homes the Christ Church W4 values of the and help them deal with any mental buildings blessing the whole community and physical problems they may have. and the world being changed because The sixth season of TSPH took place we did small things well. between the start of December 2016 TSPH relies on: and the end of March 2017 and we are delighted to announce that TSPH was • The goodwill of host Churches recently awarded the Queen’s Award for • The goodwill of organisers and Voluntary Services the country’s highest volunteers who give up their time in award for voluntary groups. order to fulfil a number of different Access to TSPH is by referral only, from tasks a list of recognised agencies, which • Donations of money and goods, the last season has included Hounslow latter coming from local shops. Outreach Team (St Mungo’s), London Probation Service, iHear, No Second Volunteers help to set up in the evening Night Out and the Olive Branch. All making beds, cooking meals, serving referrals are screened and interviewed and clearing up, chatting and playing by the Project Coordinator to ensure board games or just listening to our that the potential guest will be suitable, guests. At night four volunteers sleep as TSPH can only support those with in the church to make sure all is well; low to medium support needs and they and in the morning volunteers provide must have a primary connection with breakfast and clear up. Hounslow borough. Furthermore, the We are so grateful to all who contribute referring agency must show some form and we continue to look for volunteers, of planned move on for the guest once including hard to fill roles such as they are in place. sleeping overnight in the church looking TSPH is a standalone charity and after the guests. separate from Christ Church W4, although Christ Church W4 helped 21 ST ANDREW’S BUZZby Emma CLUB Hyde FELLOWSHIP by Simon Rodway & Ruth Coles Our seniors group meets to do crafts, sustain friendships, enjoy tea and During the year St Andrew’s Fellowship cake and chats. We meet on the 1st has continued to flourish and usually and 3rd Mondays of each month 20–30 people come to the meetings. from 2.30–4pm, with attendees The Fellowship is a great way for paying £3 to cover craft materials, seniors, both from our church family session expenses and snacks. Any and those from the local community, surplus money raised goes towards to meet up, enjoy stimulating talks and the church funds, and last year went gather for tea afterwards. towards the redevelopment of St. Alban’s. We are fortunate to have such a varied and willing group of speakers to Emma has been running the group this come and give talks. Richard Moy and year, and has seen it as a continual a local funeral director helped us to source of support and friendship understand how plans for funerals can between members, particularly as be made. We alsob heard about the they face ill health. The group enjoy a developments at St Nicholas church, variety of activities, with some church Emergency First Aid from the Red family members coming to guest Cross, a talk about the Art Market, lead sessions, which have been very the Gardens at Osterley House & successful. We’ve had new crafts, an Park and the Chiswick Timeline. It is active chairobics exercise session and always good when members of the lots of fun making extravagant flowery church give talks, and John Ridout hats. gave us a fascinating talk about The hope for this year is to incorporate Travelling the Silk Road. intentional mission elements: prayer As usual the summer tea party was requests, the Lord’s prayer, the Grace, much enjoyed, and this year we nalso reading Psalms and take-home held our Christmas lunch at Christ thoughts from Church calendar- Church which proved to be a great related activities. We have already success. Thanks go to all those who seen more prayer happening for helped with these events. members suffering ill health.

22 SPECIAL EVENTS

23 HOLIDAY CLUB by Catherine Barlen

2017 was another record-breaking year evening BBQ for the children and their for our summer holiday club, with 90 families. I would like in particular to children aged 4–11 attending (up from thank Kim Parkash, who shadowed me 80 in 2016). The club, on the theme in 2017 and has now taken over from me ‘Above and Beyond’, was, for the third as overall organiser of the Christ Church year, run together with Pulse Ministries, W4 summer holiday clubs, and Mike who transformed Christ Church Tufnell, who has been a very supportive Turnham Green into outer space, with clergy lead on the holiday clubs for the rockets, comets and meteors and a dark last couple of years. and starry ‘vortex’ between earth and Pulse Ministries do a wonderful job, space as we entered the main church not only in helping us deliver a great from the fellowship area. holiday club, but also in investing in the Pulse brought a team of seven led team, growing us in our relationship by Pete Oakley, who were joined by with God and in our skills in leading 37 from Christ Church W4 including children to Jesus. We hope that many 13 youth, several of whom led small of the 2017 team, and others who have groups exceptionally well. As usual, the not yet experienced the many benefits club comprised plenary sessions of of being on team at the club, will serve Bible teaching, worship and personal at the 2018 club, which will run from testimony, as well as small group 23rd–26th July. sessions of Bible study, crafts and games. For the second year many of the games took place in the church marquee (used at New Wine etc); many thanks to Ian White and his team for the set-up involved. Of the 90 children, about 30 regularly attend services at Christ Church W4 and many others have attended pre- school groups here like Sunbeams and Playspace. A few attend other churches. However the majority are not regular churchgoers and this year, along with huge amounts of fun, they received a clear message about who God is and how to encounter God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Many thanks to everyone who participated on the CCW4 team full-time, part-time or in preparing the magnificent

24 MEN’S MINISTRY by Denis Adide

There has been plenty happening within healthy cohort involved in ministering the life of the church for men to plug throughout the church. We look forward into. A group continues to gather every to the coming year as we continue to first Monday for a curry while another search for ways to be missional men; every Monday to play football; yet our leadership breakfasts providing another few run together every Saturday spaces to gather, ponder, and pray for morning while others get on their bikes. and about our church. Keep your eyes It has been very encouraging to see a open for the next one.

NEW WINE by Richard Moy

It was delightful that - in the year that hear a version of this back here in Nicola and I became Regional Directors, London before too long. Kirsty Fuller became a Trustee of New The New Wine Regional Director role Wine, and Christ Church W4 again took means opportunities for us and the up the mantle of art venue hosts - so church family to serve the wider church, many of the church family made it to a but also means we have access to soggy Shepton Mallet for what proved to some amazing speakers – and we be a week of great breakthrough at the welcomed preachers at Christ Church UNITED summer conference. this year from South Africa and India RT Kendall’s preaching (echoed also at through the network to great effect. We FOCUS) was a highlight for many, as find that around the country there are was the growth in children and youth many churches and ministers who feel and the impact for others of being on a quite isolated in pursuing God’s plan team. In the second week Nicola was for them, so please do pray that at as up before 6am most days to do six a church we can continue to give away sessions of early morning bible teaching our time, effort and resources to help on the book of Ezra and I hope we will the whole church grow in Him.

25 WOMEN’S MINISTRY by Angela Denniss

We began the year with a Rock ‘n’ roll passion for helping women make the evening, teaming up with the men who most of themselves. Her topic was ran the bar. We had someone from the ‘Being the Best of You’ and during the Ceroc organisation to come and lead morning she encouraged us individually us through the jive and we outsourced to think about our purpose, to write it the catering to a paella company. They down and to come forward and post had to battle with the elements that it on a board. It was a really helpful night as strong winds blew down their exercise and we ended with a time of gazebo, almost knocked over the pans prayer. As always, the talk followed a and repeatedly blew out the burners they good time of fellowship over bacon were cooking on. Eventually they served butties, Danish pastries, fruit and plenty up three different paellas, all delicious, of coffee. for which we had worked up an appetite! We are looking forward in the new year St. Alban’s, decorated in a 50’s style, to a social on the theme of friendship. showed again what an excellent venue it is for hosting parties/dances. Thanks, as always, to the wonderful team. At our spring Saturday breakfast in April our speaker was Kate Patterson. On the leadership team at Holy Trinity Richmond and author of ‘The Promise of Blessing’, she spoke on the subject of blessing. We had a time of prayer ministry afterwards, as we often do, which is a lovely opportunity to pray for each other. The summer party was entitled ‘The Cannes Film Festival comes to Chiswick’! Amy Lawton set the atmosphere brilliantly with lighting and music, she projected an old black and white movie on a wall and we even had a red carpet. People entered into the spirit of the occasion and came dressed up in their finery. We were blessed with good weather and had a wonderful evening enjoying each other’s company and the good food produced by the team. Jess Read was the speaker at our Autumn breakfast. Now the Regional Maternity Lead for London, she has a

26 PARISH WEEKEND by Jan Tellick

Over 200 members of the church family Of course it was not all work! We made enjoyed a spirit-filled weekend in early full use of the excellent leisure facilities October led by Sandy Millar held at that the venue offered, and on Saturday Selsdon Park in south London. Over evening we enjoyed a fantastic ceilidh the course of two and a half days, all led by the Camine Ceilidh/Barn Dance encountered an inspirational experience, Band. be it in the adults sessions with Sandy or Plans are already in hand for our next the children’s sessions led by the Pulse weekend in 2019. Team, and came away feeling spiritually refreshed. For some it was a completely new experience at a weekend away whilst for others it was a welcome return to what was our 5th successful weekend.

28 DAYS SOUL SURVIVOR OF PRAYER by Zoe Phillips by Richard Moy

One of the moving moments of the We took 17 youth to Soul Survivor and weekend away was Stuart Ward rising had a great time! We had a strong up to say the time to build the prayer team of 7 leaders; honourable mention chapel has come. This propelled us goes to Ian White and Mark Prentice- into 28 days of prayer and fasting and Whitney for being fantastic base-camp it was a tremendous leap forward chefs and organisers. Suzi Dore also in the spiritual life of the church came as a leader – first time camping and those who took part before and she said she’d come again, so it advent. We look forward to joining was definitely a success! in the international ‘Thy Kingdom The youth were really engaged with Come’ week of prayer building up to the meetings and really went for it Pentecost on 20th May 2018. in worship, went forward for prayer, Our huge thanks to Emma Hyde for prayed for each other, and were just her key part in organising the prayer generally an incredible youth group booklet which I hope continues to be a to take to Soul Survivor. We had two inspiration for the prayers of many. young people who gave their lives to Jesus, one went forward right to the front and another said a prayer with me. It was a special time and we look forward to next year! 27 GET INVOLVED Interested in serving in one or more of these ministries? Contact the church office:[email protected]

Give us a call on 020 8995 7381 Email us at [email protected] Pop in for lunch at The Meeting Place Café, Christ Church Turnham Green, W4 5DT. 12.30–2pm, Tuesday–Friday during term-time. Christ Church W4 christchurchw4

Our mission Disciples of Jesus making disciples of Jesus joining God transforming the world.

On earth as in heaven