Quiet Day: Abbotswick House of Prayer

Today we have had an excellent Cluster Quiet Day organised by our curate at St John's Seven Kings, Santou Beurklian-Carter, and led by George Kovoor, Principal of Trinity College Bristol, at Abbotswick House of Prayer.

George spoke with animation, humour and simplicity about the nature of Church and the ministry of encouragement (citing the example of Barnabas). His primary illustration was that of a stamp on a letter. The stamp is an identifier and representative of a country. It has stickability and bears a message bigger than itself. Finally, the price of the stamp has been paid. Similarly, we are to be identified as Christians and representatives of Jesus. We need perseverance and steadfastness in our ministry as we too share a message bigger than ourselves; that the price has been paid and God's love is freely available to all.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Al Green - The Letter.

Patronal Festival

At St John's Seven Kings we have just enjoyed a very special Patronal Festival which included a well attended and very enjoyable Barn Dance, an excellent sermon on telling your story from Rev. Chris Wragg (a former member of St John's, who is now Vicar at All Saint's Squirrels Heath), a presentation to our Reader Jean Richards on her 70th birthday, a Confirmation Service for our cluster of Anglican churches led in inimitable style, with Olympic and Paralympic imagery, by the Bishop of Barking, a combined choir from the four cluster churches, and original songs written by our own Lester Amann. Our congratulations to all those, from the four churches, who were confirmed tonight by Bishop David.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Curtis Mayfield - Back To Living Again.