Bishop Stephen's 9th missionary journey

Bishop Stephen walked from Woolwich to Seven Kings via Stratford today for his ninth missionary journey within the Diocese of Chelmsford as part of the Diocese's Centenary Celebrations. Several members of St John's Seven Kings met +Stephen at the parish boundary and, as we walked with him to St John's, heard stories of his breakfast with the British Legion in Woolwich, the Greek Orthodox couple he met in Stratford who want to attend St Johns Stratford on Sunday, and the two schoolboys who asked about his crozier and ended up agreeing to pray for the Bishop as he promised to do for them.

At St John's we gathered in our community garden for a time of public prayer for the church and community. +Stephen outlined his vision for his missionary journeys as a means of making visible the work of the churches in the Diocese within their communities. +Stephen then joined our first Anniversary celebrations for the Sophia Hub which runs from the St John's Centre and which builds community by supporting social enterprises locally.

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Luke Sital-Singh - I Have Been A Fire.

Olympics Prayer Walk

A series of prayer walks is being organised to pray for and around the Olympic Park in East London.

The prayer walk on Saturday 1st October will be focussed on Stratford and the major gateway into the park through the newly opened Westfield Stratford City Shopping Centre. It is expected that 70% of the hundreds of thousands visiting the park during the Olympics will use this entrance.

Those attending will be briefed by David Richards, Vicar of St John’s Stratford, and by Julia Murphy, Coordinating Chaplain to Westfield Stratford City. Starting at St John’s Stratford on the Broadway the walk will conclude with prayer in Inspiration – the Quiet Space in Westfield Stratford City.

The full programme is as follows:

10.00 am - Arrive by 10.00 am please at St John’s Stratford - David Richards to give briefing.

10.15 am - Pray for St John’s and other Stratford Churches in the ‘churchyard’.

10.30 am - Walk to and pray for Stratford Cultural Quarter. Walk through and pray for Stratford Mall [Local shopping centre]. Pray for Transport and the Olympics from opposite Stratford Station.

11.00 am - Arrive Westfield Stratford City Shopping Centre - Julia Murphy to give briefing. Walk over the bridge and through Westfield Southern Boulevard which will be the main entrance to the Olympic Park to vantage point overlooking the Park. Pray for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

11.30 am - Adjourn to Inspiration the Westfield Stratford City Quiet Space where we will pray for the ministry there and for Julia Murphy.

12.00 pm - Depart.

Please pass this on to those who would be interested – no need to book - just come to pray - whatever the weather!

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Delirious? - Sanctify.