Dear All
So after much conversation and a lot of very hard work it is here – we launch our Development Appeal on Sunday. We have called it “Treasure by the Thames, Transforming Lives”.
‘Treasure by the Thames’ acknowledges our history and the significant contribution this church community has made to this part of London over the years, also an indication where we are; simply by the Thames.
“Transforming Lives” gives a hint of our prophetic ministry past, present and future and indicates our determination to serve this part of West London and the wider world. This is an appeal which looks inward to the restoration of our stonework, organ, lighting, heating and construction of new facilities, but also outward as we help and support our link parish of St Simon and Jude, in Southern Angola raise the necessary capital to build a church on the land we purchased for them some years ago.
I do hope you will be able to join us on Sunday. We celebrate the feast of Pentecost, the birthday of the Church. I’m sure you know the story: The disciples, frightened and huddled in a room together for fear of reprisals, are suddenly transformed and receive the power, imagination and courage to step out into the world and proclaim that Jesus is Lord. This empowering gift was given by God for the development and growth of his Church. This same gift, which we call the Holy Spirit is ours too. God’s call is the same today as it was two thousand years ago and this gift can transform us as surely as it transformed those frightened disciples enabling them to accomplish more then they could ever have imagined. So let us open our hears to the power of this transforming Holy Spirit and pray that God may bless us in our efforts to renew our church for ministry in the Twenty First Century.
Here is our Appeal Prayer:-
Almighty God,
as the people of St Nicholas Chiswick,
we give thanks for your many blessings.
As we prepare to restore and renew
our church we know that we cannot
accomplish this ambitious task on our
own but only by the strength of your
love and inspiration.
Guide us along the way;
give wisdom,
give strength and form us in your
love; help us to persevere, giving thanks
for the past and looking forward to the
future, as we strive to do your will.
In Jesus’ name we pray
p.s. Have a look at our website for more details.
Simon
Dear Friends,
I was very moved this week by a story from America. Josiah Duncan who is just five was outside a restaurant in Alabama with his mother. He noticed a disheveled man and his mother told him he was homeless. ” What does that mean?” said Josiah. When his mother told him, Josiah begged his mother to buy him a meal. They took him into the restaurant but no one would serve him. Josiah got him a menu and told him to choose anything he wanted. The man opted for a simple cheesburger and Josiah reminded him “get as much bacon as you want!” When the meal arrived Josiah said he wanted to say grace with him and he sang out loud for the whole restaurant to hear “God our Father, God our Father, we thank you, we thank you, for our many blessings, for our many blessings. Amen, Amen”.
What a very remarkable boy that lad is. What remarkable parents he has who have brought him up to look out for other people. What can we learn from him?
With every blessing,
Fr Andrew