A church is made up of all ages, all interested in different things. We are used to seeing our churches full of families with young children mixing with our older members. We are also used to seeing our children drift away as their lives get busier. As they grow up it may be that they need the Church more than ever because they may find themselves questioning their faith and not knowing where to find answers. The challenge that faces all churches is how can we be there for our young people as they grow up. How can we answer their questions and show them the way to God?
Churches throughout the deanery are looking for ways to engage our children, through food, fellowship and fun.
Holy Trinity, Richmond Run Youth Alpha
From Cornerstone, Edition 19 – December 2019
Social for Older Children at St Michael, Barnes
St Michael, Barnes held their first social for older children and early teenagers in November. Here they are enjoying fish and chips and silly games after saying Evening Prayer together.
Film Club at St Anne’s, Kew
St Anne’s Kew run a Film Club for children in Year 3 upwards. They watch an age-appropriate film, eat snacks and chat about the film’s themes. Parents are also invited to stay and have their own separate social if they wish.
Bishop Christopher asks you all to pray for all of those affected by the events at London Bridge on Friday 29th November which has, he is sure, rekindled for many the horrors of 3 June 2017.
There was a full Church at St Mary Magdalene on Sunday 24th November for the Deanery Choral Evensong 6:30pm. We were welcomed by Rev Wilma Roest, vicar of St Mary Magdalene, our Area Dean, Rev Peter Hart gave an address and our Lay Chair, Marian Mollett led us in prayer. An amassed choir from around the Deanery sang Howells Collegium Regale and Vaughn Williams Let All the World.
On Friday 4th October more than 320 individuals slept outside at Duke of York Square in Chelsea to raise funds to run the network of local emergency winter shelters for people experiencing homelessness.
They included Rev James Hutchings from St Mary’s, Barnes (right) and our Archdeacon John Kiddle.
The total raised to date has reached over £191,000 – the highest amount raised within a week after the event, which has taken place the first Friday of October every year since 2013. Glass Door is hoping to surpass the £200,000 target before the end of the month
St Anne’s are holding a series of conversations exploring the impact of faith on our work lives. At the last In Conversation eveing, three members of their congregation spoke about faith in their working worlds. A banker spoke about his passion for addressing unethical practices, such as money raised through illicit means. A lawyer spoke about her passion for mediation, wanting to see disputes resolved and bring about reconciliation as a Christian practitioner. Another member of the congregation explained how faith pervades and inspires his work tracking down stolen artwork, and the challenge of seeing all people as made in the image of God when working with criminals.
As well as conversation, there were questions from the audience. The evening gave chance to reflect on the difference Sunday worship makes to Monday jobs. The evening ended with prayers for work and for those engaged in different vocations throughout the community and beyond.
There will be another In Conversation evening in November.
All Saints East Sheen gave thanks for creation and for the goodness of God’s world. Their Harvest gifts were donated to Richmond Food Bank. In the afternoon, there was a harvest tea with a sponsored sing.
Celebrating Harvest Festival at St John the Divine
St Luke’s gave thanks to a creating and sustaining God for a plentiful harvest. Their harvest gifts were taken to SPEAR
St Mary the Virgin, Mortlake’s harvest gifts will go to help the Glass Door winter night shelters
St Richards, Ham held a harvest supper, where They enjoyed a delicious meal and heard about God’s heart for creation, followed by a harvest festival service the next morning.
In response to the growing population of Mortlake and East
Sheen around 1910, it was decided that there should be a new church in the
south east of the parish. A plot of land on East Sheen Avenue was bequeathed to
the parish of Mortlake in 1913 by Major Shepherd-Cross MP who lived at Palewell
Lodge. The building of the church was postponed because of the First World War but
after the war, the building of All Saints began, and its foundation stone was
laid by the Duchess of York (later the Queen Mother) on 24th October 1928. The
church was consecrated the following year on All Saints Day.
This year All Saints celebrates its 90th Anniversary with
the following events:
praying together, learning together, working together
