St Luke’s, Kew held their second ‘Climate Chat’ on Tuesday 19th March, with a fascinating line-up:
Leo Murray director of innovation and co-founder of climate charity Possible talked about an alternative car-free vision for the future of Hammersmith Bridge.
Kevin Martin, head of tree collections at Kew Gardens, gave a fascinating and sobering presentation on the impact climate change is having on Britain’s native trees.
The panel was completed by Lisa McGovern from Mary’s Living and Giving shop in Kew, who spoke about the impact of fast fashion and the crucial role of second-hand clothes.
Riverbank Trust is a Christian Charity which seeks to love, support and befriend vulnerable single Mums and their families in the London Borough of Richmond. They are expanding into the Hampton Wick area and are seeking to recruit a part time community outreach worker based at Holy Trinity, Richmond and working out of St John’s, Hampton Wick . See job description below.
For further enquiries, or to request an application form, please email reni@riverbanktrust.org. Each post remains open until a suitable candidate is found.
On 1 March 2024, many churches around the UK will be holding a World Day of Prayer Service. This year’s theme is “I beg you, bear with one another in love”. World Day of Prayeris an international, inter-church organisation, led by women, which enables us to hear the thoughts of those women from all parts of the world: their hopes, concerns, and prayers. This year the Christian Women of Palestine are calling us to connect with the land from where Jesus came; where he was born, ministered and died – and from where our faith began and is rooted.
Within Richmond and Barnes Deanery, services are being held at
St Matthias, Richmond at 2:30pm. Followed by Refreshments -tea/coffee and cakes. All are welcome.
St Richard’s, Ham at 11am. Followed by Palestinian themed refreshments.
On Sunday 11th February, The Reverend Canon Nick Jepson-Biddle was licensed by the Right Reverend Dr Martin Gainsborough, Bishop of Kingston as Associate Priest of St Anne’s, Kew and Director of the Kew Institute for Theology and Gardening. A joyous Choral Evensong was held with the choir singing service setting Stanford in C and Hadley ‘My Beloved Spake’.
The evening marked the beginning of the Kew Institute for Theology and Gardening (more details to follow in the coming months) of which Bishop Martin said: “I have every confidence that the Kew Institute will make an important contribution to the greatest challenge of our time.”
The Reverend Nick Jepson Biddle, The Right Reverend Dr Martin Gainsborough with the trustees of Kew Institute for Theology and Gardening: Chris Stephens, Caroline Streatfield, the Reverend Erica Wooff and the Reverend Canon Dr Giles Fraser, Vicar of St Annes
Please keep checking this post for further updates of study during Lent
Stations of the Cross
St Michael and All Angels, Barnes – Fridays in Lent at 6pm Reflective service of meditations on Christ’s story of the Cross using images from a set of stations by Janet McKenzie.
St Anne’s, Kew – Sundays in Lent at 5pm and throughout Holy Week.
St John the Divine, Richmond – Saturdays in Lent at 12 noon EXCEPT Saturday 9th March.
Lent Walks from Richmond Team Ministry
Revd Anne Crawford will be offering gentle reflective walks on Friday mornings through Lent, beginning on Friday 16th February. If you would like to join her then please register so that you can be sent details of meeting times and places (which will vary each week). All walks will last about an hour and end somewhere nice to enjoy coffee/tea and cake together. anne.crawford@richmondteamministry.org
St Mary’s Barnes are recommending The Nail by Stephen Cottrell (Archbishop of York) for reading this Lent: You hold in your hands a nail that was used to crucify Christ. If you accept it, this nail is the beginning of a deeply moving and personal journey through the Passion story. In The Nail, key witnesses describe the crucifixion from their viewpoint. We learn how the Roman centurion was just following orders, and that Pontius Pilate merely obeyed the wishes of the majority. By vividly expanding these and other stories, Stephen Cottrell (Archbishop of York) invites us to ask ourselves how we would have behaved in these situations.
The Nail will also be the basis for the Lent group which will meet in at St Mary’s, Barnes, 2.30-3.45pm on Tuesdays 20th & 27th February, 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th March. If possible participants should have a copy of the book, but it is not essential. Each session will comprise a bible reading and the imagined words of the crucifixion witness for that week. There are simple questions for discussion, and we will end with some time for quiet reflection and prayer. It would be helpful to know if you plan to come to the Lent group. Please email office@stmarybarnes.org.
Lent Book and Study Group at St Michael and All Angels, Barnes
Click here for more details of Lent worship and study with St Michael and All Angels
Lent Course at Mortlake and East Sheen Team Ministry
Lent Study Series at St Anne’s, Kew
A five week study series based on Stephen Cottrell’s book, Godforsaken. Sunday 25th February 6pm – 7:15pm Sunday 3rd March 5pm – 6:15pm Sunday 10th March 6pm – 7:15pm Sunday 17th March 6pm – 7:15pm Sunday 24th March 6pm – 7:15pm In the Parish Hall All are welcome. Please do try to commit to the full series of studies if you can. You will need the book to participate in the study series. To join or for more information, contact saintannekew@gmail.com
Lent Bible Study at Kew United Benefice
The bible study will be following the daily reading plan and Sunday reflections that the Rowan Williams’ little Lent Book, Meeting God in Mark includes, and those hosting the sessions will draw on the lectures in the book in facilitating discussions. There’s no need to buy the book. For more info, contact the Parish Office (office@kewbenefice.org).
Lent Book Recommendation from Holy Trinity, Richmond
Rev Eils Osgood from Holy Trinity, Richmond, writes: What does it mean to respond to Jesus’ invitation to come to him and find rest? The Rest Is Worship is written for anyone who wants to delve into how “being still” can help us to “know God”, and how we can reject the rush and hurry of our contemporary world. With sections on Sabbath, fun, solitude, digital discipleship, saying ‘no’ and many other practical aspects of rest, intertwined with biblical teaching and stories, arranged into 40 short chapters. I’m planning on reading a chapter each day during Lent, and wonder if anyone wants to join in?
The closest walk to us is the Kingston and Merton Walk leg on Saturday 24 February: Walk Leader: Judith Russenberger Start 10.30: All Saints Church, 14-16 Mark Pl, Kingston, KT1 1JP, gathering from 10 am for 10.30 start from the café in church. Lunch Stop 12.30-1.30: St John the Baptist, Robin Hood Lane, Kingston SW15 3PY. Finish 4.30: TBC Christ Church. West Wimbledon 2 Cottenham Park Road, SW20 0RZ The theme of this seven mile walk in relationship to climate and ecology is the role of government, democracy and citizenship. We begin in All Saints church where Saxon Kings were crowned and will be walking through Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common, with their histories of enclosures and local residents campaigning for access to the land. Register to join Bishop Martin’s Climate Pilgrimage here.
This was held at St Mary’s, Church Road, Barnes at 7:30pm on Tuesday 6th February. See below for agenda and minutes.
Bishop Richard Harries and writer Rhidian Brook will hold a forum and discussion: “How should Christians think and pray about the current situation in Israel and Palestine?” Bishop Richard has a long term perspective on inter-faith relations, and Rhidian has recently spent a year as writer in residence at St George’s college, Jerusalem.
On Sunday 28th January, St Mary the Virgin, Mortlake said goodbye to Revd Canon Dr Ann Nickson after over 13 years, who is now retiring. A joyous final eucharist was held with many tributes by the church wardens and the children:
“We cannot thank you enough for your dedication and your tireless service to the parish and particularly to Saint Mary’s. You have done so much and given so much over the last 13 years. We’re really going to miss your ministry, your preaching, but I think most of all your friendship and kindness to us all. “
“Thank you very much for everything you’ve done. Thank you, particularly for holding us all together, and not letting everything fall apart during the lockdown, and the Covid19 pandemic. A very difficult time for us and for all churches”
Ann thanked her church wardens and the many church warden teams she’s worked with over the years and of St Mary’s she said:
“It has been such a privilege to be your vicar and to be based here at St. Mary’s over the last 13 and a half years. Not too many clergy, I think, can say that even if they weren’t the vicar, they would go to their church on a Sunday but this is certainly where I would choose to be if I were not. You are an amazing group of people. It’s been a privilege getting to know you over the years. Thank you to everyone who’s served as church warden and to everyone who’s been involved in, so many different ways. You are, you are very special, I hope, you know it. Saint Mary’s is a wonderful place. I never feel embarrassed like some clergy, might to say, come along on a Sunday because I know that people who come here will find a welcome. They will find people like them. They will fit.
The church in a sense is meant to be a foretaste of Heaven. Now, of course, we’re not perfect here, but I think you do a pretty good job. Thank you for welcoming me 13 and a half years ago. Thank you for all that we’ve been able to do together over those years. Thank you for all the fun. Thank you for being with me and supporting me during the tough times. And there have been those times. You’ve also been very supportive when I’ve been trying to deal with vacancies or difficulties at the other churches. I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive and lovely congregation. And I will really miss you. I will be very sad to say goodbye but I know that I leave you in safe hands. Thank you very much.”
Developed at St Martin in the Fields, the ‘Being With’ course is an introduction to discovering Christian faith and life in a positive and inclusive group. No special knowledge or religious language is needed, just what you have learned in life so far. The course’s aim is to provide a space to explore what it might mean to live abundantly with God, with one another and with creation.
Tuesday evenings from 7.30 – 9pm in the Parish Room at St Peter’s Church, Petersham The second half of this course begins again on Tuesday 9th Jan
For more details contact Rev Kate Daymond (revdaymond@outlook.com) or St Peter’s Parish Office on 0208 940 8435.
