A memorable weekend

Mugisa performs her song

Bibi's Guianese presentation

'The Girls'

Morris Dancers

Part of the International Evening audience

The past weekend has been memorable at St John's Seven Kings for two reasons. We have welcomed our new curate, Geoff Eze, into the parish and have been visted by the Rt. Revd. Isingoma, Bishop of Boga, a diocese in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

To celebrate we held an International Evening on Saturday 5th July which featured guests in national dress, food from around the world, and performers from many different countries. We enjoyed songs in English, French, Swahili and Tamil, morris dancing, a quiz on British National Parks, a presentation on Guiana, among other items. The Crusader and Starlight signing groups performed tamil and caribbean gospel songs. Geoff Eze was welcomed with the gift of a prayer book and a card signed by the whole congregation. Bishop Isingoma gave a blessing and his wife, Mugisa, performed a song.

The previous Sunday Geoff Eze had been ordained as a deacon at Chelmsford Cathedral and a group from the parish had been at that service to support him. Geoff says:

"Having been ordained at Chelmsford Cathedral on the 29th of June it is with great excitement and equal trepidation that I have entered the role of Curate to serve not only the congregation of St Johns but the wider parish within Seven Kings. Having been a Christian since the age of 11 (influenced heavily by loving Christian parents) God has led me to Seven Kings (via St Matthew’s in Stratford, East London).

I come to Seven Kings as a man who has lived a little and cried a lot more but with the hope that God can affect Seven Kings for the better. I have a limited knowledge of the local parish having lived in Ilford for the majority of my life but I am living in a vibrant, changing part of Redbridge with its excitements and challenges. It is in those challenges that I believe God is affecting the community just by opening the doors of St Johns to the doors of the entire community. That is exciting. That is exhilarating. It is frightening, but within the tension of all three God has placed me. That is a privilege that intend to honour with the help of my Lord Jesus Christ."

Bishop Isingoma preached to a full Sunday morning service at St John's and was encouraged to be told of a gift in memory of Dr Sugie Davie which will enable motorbikes to be bought for his Archdeacons. These will aid them in visiting parishes across the large Diocese of Boga. The Bishop also met Rachel Page, a teenager from St John's who will be visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo this summer as part of a CMS Encounter. During the Encounter, Rachel will be involved in a brick making project and a children's Bible Club.

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Sounds Of Blackness - Optimistic.