The Walking Welcoming Growing Vol.25 No.1 Newspaper of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark February 2020 We made it! Bible Study WHAT’S ON Parishes dig deep Archdeacon Chris Community as PSF hits 99% Skilton ponders events, workshops, of target Candlemas concerts See page 2 See page 10 See page 11 The new eco-project that keeps people coming back for more The Ascension, Balham Hill launches its Parish Refill project to help cut down waste in the community. The Ascension, Balham Hill is now dispensing laundry and household cleaning products alongside coffee and cake at its Parish Coffee concession. Launched in December, the project allows parishioners and others from the community to cut down on unnecessary packaging by refilling their own bottles when shopping for laundry liquid, soap, washing up liquid, shampoo and more. They can bring their own receptacles or buy them from the café. After some discussion, the organisers settled on products by Fill, a family-run business in Northamptonshire, and Faith in Nature, which has been developing natural, cruelty-free beauty products since 1974. Everything on sale is vegan, biodegradable and contains no dyes or harsh chemicals. The bottles themselves are made of aluminium and glass. Karen Stewart of The Ascension said: “We launched Parish Refill at our Christmas Pop-up Fair and we were overwhelmed at the response. People loved the products and either bought our reusable glass and aluminium bottles or refilled their own.” She added: “We continue to be open daily, and are slowly building up a steady base of loyal customers. We are still so excited each and every time we see someone browsing the products and filling up.” Parish Coffee is open Monday-Friday, 8.30am-4.30pm, and Parish Refill A happy customer shows off her can be accessed during these hours. See www.parishcoffee.org for purchases at Parish Refill, left; more information the refill stations, above. We very much hope you will like We will particularly be focusing on the at [email protected] and Welcome to the look and feel of the new Bridge work to encourage our lay people to live please also let us know of the exciting and want to read about what is out their faith everyday and how they are things that are happening in your parish happening in the Diocese and our doing that. The Bridge on the web will be or deanery. Alternatively, if you would your new-look parishes as we seek to be Walking, more interactive and we hope to be able like to become involved as our Honorary to tell you more about the stories in the Editorial Adviser, please contact David Welcoming and Growing, writes new section when we renew the website. Loft, Director of Human Resources, at Director of Press and Communications, Bridge... [email protected] the Revd Canon Wendy Robins. Do please let us know what you think More images and local stories online — follow our blog or find us on social media @SouthwarkCofE 2 | The BRIDGE February 2020 A view from Ruth Martin, the Diocesan Secretary, writes... The PSF announcement — BRIDGE we’ve hit 99% The year 1964 set me on the certainly didn’t become compulsory Thank you to all our parishes who have contributed road to ordination – in a manner reading on theological college courses. generously to the Parish Support Fund in 2019. At of speaking. It was the year at the Yet 56 years later we are clearly in the end of December we achieved a 99% collection age of nine that I discovered for a different place in the life of the rate and the 2019 pledge payments have exceeded the the first time the Good News of Church. Lay ministry blossoms and prior year’s! This is a wonderful result in a challenging Jesus Christ, at a beach mission flourishes in a myriad of ways across economic climate. Thank you for your faithfulness and on the Essex coast. The rest, with Southwark. There are exciting and generosity in supporting the mission and ministry of innovative ways that it is affirmed, plenty of twists and turns along our Diocese. the way, is, as they say, ‘history’. nurtured and promoted – some of which are featured in this and 1964 was also the year that Mark future editions of The Bridge. Most Gibbs and Ralph Morton wrote significantly this is not happening what at the time was a contentious, to take the pressure off clergy or Vision evenings: dates for the diary challenging and controversial book, because we are running out of priests To celebrate the Southwark Vision, please join the Archdeacons at one of our God’s Frozen People. It asserted that – but because it is good and right for Vision events, where they will share good news stories from around the Diocese. the Church had become too minister- the whole people of God to engage in centred; that the Christian layman ministry together. More details to follow soon. (this was 1964!) had been frozen out I was grateful for the opportunities of Church life and that clergy had been Date Archdeaconries Venue given to me as a young person and encouraged to become prima donnas, The Ascension, young adult to explore vocation, Tuesday 17 March 7.30pm Wandsworth not the “leader of the orchestra” Balham Hill ministry and leadership through those which was what was sorely needed. Wednesday 18 March who saw that ministry by the laity was Croydon St John, Selsdon You can see why this may not have possible. And why was I then ordained? 7.30pm gone down well! Was it the tone of Well, I would never have had the gifts Lewisham & Monday 23 March 7.30pm St John, Deptford the book? Its content? or simply that and skills to be a decent layperson! Greenwich the Church wasn’t ready for it? It Chris Skilton St Andrew, South Tuesday 24 March 7.30pm Lambeth Wimbledon Wednesday 25 March St Mildred, The Bishop of Southwark’s Croydon The Bishop of Southwark’s LENT 7.30pm Addiscombe The 2020 Bishop’s LENT CALL CALL 2020 But Jesus said ‘Let the little children Thursday 26 March 2.30pm Wandsworth St Mary, Putney 2020 come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs’. ‘But Jesus said ‘Let the little children Lent Call launches Matthew 19.14 come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs’. Monday 27 April 7.30pm Reigate Holy Trinity, Redhill in parishes Matthew 19.14 Supporting projects in Tuesday 28 April 2pm Croydon & Reigate Christ Church, Purley the Diocese of Southwark, the Holy Land, Nigeria and in our link Dioceses Supporting projects in in Zimbabwe the Diocese of Southwark, Tuesday 28 April 7.30pm Southwark All Saints, Peckham the Holy Land, Nigeria The resource packs for Bishop Christopher’s and in our link Dioceses 2020 Lent Call have now gone out to parishes. in Zimbabwe Wednesday 29 April 7.30pm Lambeth St Paul, Brixton The projects supported are in Zimbabwe, the Thursday 30 April 7.30pm Reigate St Mary, Oxted southwark.anglican.org/lentcallWalking TheWelcoming Bishop of Southwark’s Lent Fund. Holy Land, Kenya and in each of our Episcopal RegisteredGrowing Charity No 1075122 southwark.anglican.org/lentcall2020 Project poster V1.indd 1 Walking 23/12/2019 12:40:55 The Bishop of Southwark’s Lent Fund. Welcoming Registered Charity No 1075122 Growing Wednesday 6 May 7.30pm Wandsworth St Mark, Surbiton Areas. This year for the first time we also have 23/12/2019 12:41:41 2020 Main Poster V2 alt.indd 1 in the pack a booklet of reflections by some of Lewisham & Trinity House, our ordinands. Thursday 7 May 11.30am Greenwich and 4 Chapel Court This year, the packs were sent direct to PCC and DCC Secretaries rather than Southwark Incumbents, as more individual churches could be reached by this mailing. Please could Lewisham & Monday 11 May 7.30pm St Luke, Eltham Park Secretaries and Incumbents check that the packs have arrived safely. Greenwich The resources are also available online on the Diocesan website at https://southwark. St Thomas, Telford Monday 18 May 2.30pm Lambeth anglican.org/lentcall Park The Bridge is produced & published by: Next Issue: Submission deadline and guidance Press and Communications, The Diocese of Southwark, Trinity House, The MARCH edition is due to be printed on 27 February 2020 and in your parish 4 Chapel Court, Borough High Street, London SE1 1HW from the following Sunday. Material for that edition must be with Wendy S Robins at Tel: 020 7939 9400 E-mail: [email protected] Trinity House by MONDAY 17 FEBRUARY. The Editorial Team from Press Editorial Group: Space limitations mean that we cannot guarantee to publish everything we receive and Communications: Ruth Martin and material may be edited. All photographs submitted for publication are assumed to Commissioning Editor: Jane Steen have the necessary permission for printing. So, please ensure that people are happy Wendy S Robins Editorial Adviser (vacant) for their photographs to be submitted before you do so. Editor: Abigail Sanderson Wendy S Robins Forms for permission for the use of photographs of children and adults who may be Advertising and Distribution: vulnerable can be found at southwark.anglican.org/safeguarding/diocesan-policies- Susana Rojas procedures The Bridge — in print, in your parish, and online at southwark.anglican.org/thebridge February 2020 The BRIDGE | 3 Grant boosts St Stephen, Godstone marks plans for 150 years..