As I write this article surrounded by the detritus of a family Christmas – a fridge full of leftovers, the occasional rather sad party hat lying around, I am reminded of the Church Times cartoon that said: "On Boxing Day Steve sat down to write his Lent Course.” The idea was presumably to suggest a) that clergy need to Get A Life, b) Clergy Don’t know How to Have Fun, and c) that the church was sometimes a busy place.

Well this year the caption has more than a ring of truth about it. Lent begins on the 6th of February and in the liturgical year we move straight from our celebration of the Epiphany to Ash Wednesday without a pause for breath. While this makes for busy diaries, it’s also incredibly good for us. The calendar this year links the events of Christmas and Easter inextricably. As we take down the crib scene we will be putting up the Stations of the Cross; as we finish off the last of the Christmas choccies we will be preparing for the fast of Lent. The message is stark. Jesus grows up from the baby in the manger to become the adult who disrupted and challenged the society he lived in. The baby whose birth we celebrate with such joy and generosity grows up to be the man who is crucified, demonstrating the depths of human hatred and depravity. Christ’s birth and his death and resurrection are joined. We cannot have one without the other: the heights of Christmas and Easter cannot exist without the depths of Good Friday.

It’s a painful lesson, we’d much rather stay with the fun. But if we don’t let baby Jesus grow up to become our Saviour we don’t understand the greatness of the crib at all.

Justine

What's on in January
Tue	1	Naming and Circumcision of Jesus
Wed	2	St Mary's Guild New Year Party at St Mary's Court	2.30 pm
SUN	6	THE EPIPHANY
Thu "	10 "	'Praise & Play' for pre-school toddlers …. Made by Him - the Story of Creation MU&OG. Judy Acheson will talk about her work in the Congo. The Centre (non-members very welcome)	10-11.30 am 7.30 pm
SUN	13	EPIPHANY 2 The Baptism of Christ
Tue	15	'Time for God' quiet worship. The Carew Chapel	9.30 am
Wed	16	Mothers' Union Corporate Eucharist. Carew Chapel Poetry Circle. Looking at the work of John Clare. The Centre	10.00 am 2-4.00 pm
Thu	17	Sleeping Beauty Pantomime at the Secombe Centre (for MU members who already have tickets)	7.30 pm
Fri	18	Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins
SUN	20	EPIPHANY 3
Tue	22	PCC meeting. The Centre	8.00 pm
Thu	24	'Praise & Play' for pre-school toddlers …. Having Friends - Twelve Special Friends	10-11.30 am
Fri	25	'Kith, Kin & Kanine'. Coffee and Cake in the Centre	10-11.30 am
SUN	27	EPIPHANY 4

What’s on in February?
SUN	3	CANDLEMASS
Tue	5	Shrove Tuesday
WED "	6 "	ASH WEDNESDAY Eucharist ) Both services will include the Eucharist ) imposition of ashes St Mary's Guild meets at St Mary's Court for a talk about the work of the Wildlife Hospital in Beddington Park.	10.00 am 7.30 pm 2.30 pm
Thu "	7 "	'Praise & Play' for pre-school toddlers. Loved by Him - Jesus Loves Children MU&G AGM followed by Bring & Buy Sale to raise money for the Relief Fund. The Centre	10.00 am 7.30 pm
SUN	10	LENT 1
Mon	11	Lent Course. The Centre	8.00 pm
Tue	13	Sutton Deanery Synod. Church of the Good Shepherd, Carshalton Beeches.	7.45 pm
Wed	13	Lent Course. The Centre	10.30 am
SUN	17	LENT 2
Mon	18	Lent Course. The Centre	8.00 pm
Tue	19	Time for God Quiet Worship. The Carew Chapel
Wed " "	20 " "	Mothers' Union Corporate Eucharist. Carew Chapel Lent Course. The Centre Poetry Circle. Looking at the work of Thomas Hardy. The Centre	10.00 am 10.30 am 2-400 pm
Thu	21	Theology Book Club. The Rectory	7.30 pm
Sat	23	Mothers' Union Quiet Day at St John's Old Malden.
SUN	24	LENT 3
Mon	25	Lent Course. The Centre	8.00 pm
Wed	27	Lent Course. The Centre	10.30 am
Thu	28	'Praise & Play' for pre-school toddlers. The Ten Silver Coins - The Lost Coins	10.00 am
Fri "	29 "	'Kith Kin & Kanine' Coffee & Cake in the Centre Pamela Lyne entertains with '…. and Mother Came Too'	10-11.30 am 7.30 pm

Saints and Commemorations in February

Fri 1 Brigid, Abbess of Kildare, c525

Mon 4 Gilbert of Sempringham, Founder of the Gilbertine Order, 1189

Thu 14 Cyril & Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs, 869 & 885

" " Valentine, Martyr at Rome, c269

Fri 15 Sigfrid, Bishop, Apostle of Sweden, 1045

" " Thomas Bray, Priest, Founder of the SPCK & SPG, 1730

Sat 23 Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr, c155

Sun 24 Matthias, Apostle

Wed 27 George Herbert, Priest, Poet, 1633

Readings for Sundays and Festivals in February

Sunday, 3 February

Candlemass

Malachi 3 : 1-5

Hebrews 2 : 14-18

Luke 2 : 22-40

Wednesday, 6 February

Ash Wednesday

Joel 2 : 1-2, 12-17

2 Corinthians 5 : 20b-6 : 10

Matthew 6 : 1-6, 16-21

Sunday, 10 February

Lent 1

Genesis 2 : 15-17; 3 : 1-7

Romans 5 : 12-19

Matthew 4 : 1-11

Sunday, 17 February

Lent 2

Genesis 12 : 1-4a

Romans 4 : 1-5, 13-17

John 3 : 1-17

Sunday, 24 February

Lent 3

Exodus 17 : 1-7

Romans 5 : 1-11

John 4 : 5-42

Thinking of you

Every Sunday we pray for people living and working in two or three roads

in the parish.

The roads in January will be:

Sunday 6 January

Northway & Clifford Avenue

Sunday 13 January

Southway & Darcy Avenue

Sunday 20 January

Eastway, Greenway & Grassway

Sunday 27 January

Rectory Lane & The Bridleway

… and in February will be:

Sunday, 3 February

Bute Gardens & Bute Gardens West

Sunday, 10 February

Bute Road & Stannet Way

Sunday, 17 February

Osmond Gardens & St Christopher's Mews

Sunday, 24 February

Montagu Gardens & Morton Gardens

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Theology Book Club

If you’ve ever wanted to read some of the books that Justine and Jenifer refer to from the pulpit but didn’t know where to start, why not join the “Theology Book Club”.

The idea is that we will meet every couple of months to discuss a Christian Classic over a cup of tea of coffee or glass of wine. We can then share our reflections and confusions and encourage each other.

To ensure that the books we choose reflect people’s interests, our first meeting will be at the Rectory on Thursday 21st February at 7.30pm.

Snippets

Daily Prayer Topics. Do you find these helpful? Would you prefer perhaps a weekly prayer theme? Is there anything that would be of help to you in your spiritual life at home, iereading notes? Jenifer has been writing the Daily Prayer Topics now for over five years. Is there anyone with fresh ideas who would like to produce prayers for the Parish Magazine? Please speak to Justine or Jenifer.

Mothers' Union and Open Group will be attending the MU Deanery Epiphany Eucharist at St Oswald's, Cheam, on Monday, 7 January at 10 an, If anyone would like to attend but requires transport, please speak to Jenifer.

Churches Together in Beddington & Wallington held another highly successful Christmas Day Lunch, this year hosted by St Patrick's Church, Wallington. There are the regular guests who wouldn't miss it for the world, and the regular volunteers who also wouldn't miss it for the world. Time and time again we hear the guests saying how much they enjoy themselves and they must be passing on the message because numbers keep growing. At this rate we'll have to arrange for two sittings! Many thanks to all who helped organise this, and especially to our guests for being there.

Apologies to those accessing the St Mary's website and finding it hasn't been updated over the past few weeks. This problem has been caused by our web host providers, Fasthosts.com, suffering a security breach which led them to shut down our access for updating until new passwords were issued. We hope this problem will be resolved shortly.

The Church Diary for 2008 is now available in church. Thank you all for your suggestions, I have incorporated two of the least painful ones: the Church and Centre monthly sheets are now separated into two sections and the Centre booking pages are printed on coloured paper. Mike Morgan

A local walking group invites you to a Walk around Beddington Park. Join them for an hour's walk around Beddington Park or Waddon Ponds every Friday morning at 10 am, meeting in Church Road in front of Carew Manor. And on the last Friday of the month they all come into St's to indulge in Kith, Kin & Kanine's wonderful home made cakes and coffee. If you have any questions, give Melanie a ring on 07944 833605, otherwise - just turn up!

Delivering this magazine ….. we really do need some help to pop a few magazines through letterboxes in the following roads - not to every house I hasten to add, the number of 'drops' is indicated in brackets:

Church Lane (6)

Sandhills (2)

Guy Road (2)

Royston Avenue (1)

Iberian Avenue (2)

Queen Elizabeth Walk (2)

If you walk/drive near any of these and can help, please contact Pam Vernon in church or on 020 8669 1549.

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Dates for your Diary

A piano recital by Guy Middlemiss

with David Tabbat on the 'cello in a programme which includes music by Bach, Brahms and Schumann

Date in April to be confirmed

A Flower Festival at St Mary's

3, 4 & 5 May

A Flower Festival will be held over the Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the early May Bank Holiday Weekend, with a choir concert on the Saturday evening.

Watch out for details of these and other events in our next magazine

Francis Peter Clarke

13 August 1927 - 20 November 2007

Love, trust, faith, responsibility and generosity; these are the words by which Peter lived his life.

Peter was born in Southampton on 13 August 1927. He had a happy childhood and although times were hard the family pulled together and the door was always open to the needy. Many times the children were told to squeeze along the table to accommodate an extra guest, or two, or even three. At the outbreak of war, together with his sister Ann and brother David, Peter was evacuated to the New Forest. His mother told him that being the eldest, he had to look after them and she also gave him a note to say that the family must be kept together at all times.

Looking after his family and many others was something he continued to do for the rest of his life

Peter joined the Post Office in 1941 as a 14 year old messenger boy; when he finished work it was as District Manager of the East London Parcel Office with responsibility for over 2,300 staff. But the Post Office offered more than just a successful career, for it was there that he met Cynthia, fell in love and the two remained inseparable until her death in September.

Peter was a friend to everyone. He had so many skills and used them selflessly. If a gate needed fixing or a drain needed clearing, if a switch or a light failed - whatever went wrong, he would fix it. His garage, like his father's before him, was an Aladdin's cave - screws, nuts & bolts, fittings of all sorts could be found there. So many people at St Mary's must have had something fixed by him.

Not only did he share his talents but his leisure time too. He seldom went out in his car without extra passengers taken for a birthday lunch, afternoon tea, a concert where his grandson was singing; or collected and taken for one of his and Cynthia's lunches or suppers at home.

Peter, along with Cynthia, were involved in the running of the church Centre from day one - they were on the management committee and, together with his fellow members, he did a lot of work there as well as in the church and the grounds.

Is this a story with a sad ending? For his family and friends everywhere who will sorely miss his kindness, consideration and love of people it is indeed a sad time. But Peter is with his "sweetheart", never again to be separated, and they will both be remembered with gratitude and love for a very long time.

Twenty Years Ago

January 1988

Where were you 20 years ago? Betty Walker was in Japan. In an article entitled "Greetings from Tomakomai", she had told us about her time on Hokkaido, Japan's most northerly island.

She had been entertained by the Ataku family who had lived in Rectory Lane four years previously. She had shared in the Eucharist in Sapporo. Although it was based on the ASB service, it was in Japanese!

She had also attended the church in Kyoto, close to the Imperial Palace. This service, at 8.00am, was in English and used the rite of the Episcopal church of the USA. The visitors were made very welcome and invited to share breakfast in a nearby restaurant. Iwonder what they had!

There was a plea from David Slegg for specialised help at the Boys' Brigade meetings. They needed someone to play a musical instrument, a singing teacher, a coach for football and someone able to instruct in gymnastics. (Probably not the same person!)

The MU was having a change of Enrolling Member. Mary Tapp, having served in that position for six years, was handing over to Beverley Davis. Their New Year Party, unfortunately cancelled the previous year due to severe weather, was to be on January 16 and on the 21st, Pam Vernon was to talk about her trip to the Holy Land and show her excellent photos.

Bob Emerson had delighted the Guild with his illustrated talk on his travels from student days to the present. Apparently the weather was extremely inclement and the Guild was grateful to Bob for cheering them up.

The Sunday School had staged a "Sing-in" to raise money for the Rhiannon Fund - a fund in memory of Rhiannon Ainger (granddaughter of Nesta Grimson), who had sadly died aged 13. They raised £375.

Jean Kimber

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The Bear Necessities

In November I had another fascinating holiday, this time in Churchill on the Hudson Bay, Canada. We flew to Toronto, then to Winnipeg where we stayed one night. Thence to Churchill in the snow and ice.

When the ice thaws, some 1000 polar bears come ashore and stay on the tundra until the bay freezes over again.

The polar bear is one of the largest of the bear family and can weigh up to 660 kilos and grow to between 8-11 feet in length. It has massive paws, the back ones partially webbed. It has excellent eyesight and hearing, and can smell a seal 20 miles away, or even if the seal is 3ft underwater. Thick layers of white-yellow fur cover a black skin under which there are layers of fat on which it lives during the winter months when it finds very little food on land. Hungry though they may be, it is an offence to feed them.

We stayed in a fairly simple but comfortable hotel and had an excellent leader. While walking outside during the day, we had to be constantly aware of the possible presence of bears. In the evening we were taken by bus, even just down the road, and one evening a bear had just passed the hotel before we left. Fire crackers were being used to scare it away. There are bear traps which are set with seal meat then towed to the bear compounds where the bears are locked up in the dark with only water. They are kept in individual compartments and after a while, they are darted, put into huge nets and carried by helicopter to a safe place. They are marked for record purposes and some have radio collars fitted for tracking their movement.

We spent two and a half days on the tundra in huge buggies, way off the ground, with opening windows and an observation platform at the end from which we watched the bears all around us, even looking up at us through the metal floor. We saw 28 bears the first day - mothers with cubs and males. The mothers were very wary when a male was near as they can attack the cubs. We also saw two snowy owls, one arctic fox and several ptarmigan.

In Winter, the Northern Lights dance across the sky and we were lucky enough one evening to watch them spiralling overhead. There were also spectacular sunsets. In Spring, there are many flowers and birds, and beluga whales come up the river.

The Hudson Bay was freezing over while we were there and soon the bears would return to the ice to search for seals, leaving the town in peace once again.

Pam Vernon

Sutton Deanery Synod (part 2)

St Dunstan's Church, Cheam, Wednesday, 7 November 2007

(The first topic of the Deanery Synod meeting dealing with domestic violence

was reported on in last month's magazine.)

The second topic for the evening was Zimbabwe. Two members of Bishop Nick's party that went to Zimbabwe last April, came to give us a first-hand view of their visit. They had gone to find out the problems for themselves and to offer support. Their report was both fascinating and horrifying.

Zimbabwe is a country of 12.9 million people. They are experiencing 8,000% inflation, making money worth virtually nothing. Food is scarce; power cuts and water shortages are the norm and the infrastructure of the country has been destroyed. People are leaving where possible and trying to build lives in other countries. Many are suffering with HIV/Aids, known as "the Epidemic".

Despite this, the faith of the people is very strong. They believe God will come to their aid. The pictures we saw were not of a miserable, downtrodden people but of communities still smiling and getting on with life, no matter what. They welcomed their visitors and insisted they shared food with them everywhere they went. That would have meant saving up resources and going without themselves.

Their church services were a wonderful mixture of conventional and ethnic rites. Their liturgy would be accompanied by drums and incense and the Mothers' Union featured heavily in all church life. They would sing and dance but kept the rules very strictly, considering ours to be rather lax.

Many would walk up to seven miles to church and the services would last three to four hours. If the talk/sermon didn't take an hour-and-a-half, they would be disappointed! So their whole morning could last from 8.30 till 1.00 and usually they didn't eat until after the Communion.

Although most of us have read reports of this visit elsewhere, the two who came to talk to Synod really brought it alive with their photos and personal accounts. We all feel we can do so little for those people at the moment but we pray the time will come when we can help. As most of you know, our PCC decided to put a percentage of every fund-raising event on one side to build up an amount of money with which to be able to buy specific needs for the people of Zimbabwe. Please come and support our efforts.

There was a report from the Board of Finance held in May and one from the July meeting of the Diocesan Synod. One of the items there was on "Godly Play". This is a method of working with children and adults, based on Montessori practice. Its aim is to help communities to grow together using symbols and artefacts to bring Bible stories to life. The Dean of Southwark urged Synod members to explore it.

Jean Kimber

Deanery Representative

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Who Are They?

Where did all the Christian denominations come from?

Have you ever wondered about the beginnings of the Eastern Orthodox Churches? the Roman Catholic Church? the Church of England? the Baptists? the Presbyterians? the Pentecostals? Where did all these denominations come from and why did they start in the first place? Why don’t we have one Christian Church around the world to which all Christians belong? Don’t all Christians believe, more or less, the same doctrines? Don’t all these doctrines come from one Book – the Bible? And, in particular, don’t all Christians worship the same God? If so, why are there so many denominations? so many divisions? so many different names for Christian churches?

We shall try to answer some of these questions with a series of articles on other denominations. We begin with:

Eastern Orthodox Churches

In this brief summary the Eastern Orthodox Churches will be referred to as Orthodoxy. This does not mean orthodoxy as opposed to heresy; rather it is a convenient name for these Churches that originated in the East in the earliest days of Christendom.

Orthodoxy can claim to be the oldest part of the Christian Church. As early as Acts 13 we have the record of how the Christian Church at Antioch in Syria sent out the first Christian missionaries, Barnabas and Saul (later Paul). Already the centre of gravity in the Church was moving from Jerusalem, where it began, and out into the Gentile world. Over the next few centuries great Christian centres grew up in Antioch, in Caesarea, in Alexandria in Egypt, and in Constantinople in Asia Minor (now Turkey). Some of these were established before there was a Christian Church in Rome, and this is a very important fact for the subsequent history of Christianity.

The fourth and fifth centuries witnessed the Church’s great theological battles on Christology and Trinitarian doctrines. At Church Councils held at Ephesus in 431 AD and at Chalcedon in 451 AD, it was apparent that a rift was developing between the Eastern and Western Churches.

In 1054 came what has been called the Great Schism. The Patriarch of Constantinople repudiated the claims of the Pope in Rome, and the Pope in turn, repudiated the Patriarch. While there were various theological, political and cultural differences that finally led to this rift, there were three main doctrinal reasons for the split. First, the Eastern Church totally refused the Pope’s claim to have absolute authority in the whole Christian Church. Second, while the Eastern Church confessed, ‘I believe … in the Holy Spirit …who proceeds from the Father…’ the Western Church added a phrase and confessed, ‘I believe …in the Holy Spirit … who proceeds from the Father and the Son…’ This added phrase was the cause of fierce theological dispute. Third, while the Eastern Church allowed its clergy to marry, gradually the Western Church imposed celibacy on its priests.

Today the Orthodox Churches are found mainly in Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Belarus, Georgia, Macedonia, Serbia, Moldova and Cyprus and is the second largest part of Christendom. Orthodox Churches are strongly committed to the fundamental doctrines of classic Christianity, including the Trinity, the full deity and humanity of Christ and especially his resurrection. Orthodox worship is very liturgical and almost the entire service is chanted. While Orthodox Churches seldom have the kind of statues common in Roman Catholic churches, they have instead many icons which are used as visible aids to devotion.

Incense is widely used in Orthodox worship. This practice is said to be a continuation of the kind of worship that was offered to God in the Temple in Jerusalem. The incense is meant to portray the prayers and worship that are rising up to God.

The bitterness and rivalry that followed the Great Schism in 1054 lasted for 900 years. At Vatican II in 1964 there were attempts to ‘mend fences’ between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches. Currently Pope Benedict XV1 is making efforts to further fellowship between the two communions.

Chips With Everything!

Bishop Nick came to visit St Mary's on December 12. Among his activities were a visit to Carew Manor School and to our choir practice. Then we fed him - and ourselves. Many thanks to the caterers for the splendid offerings.

The Bishop then talked to us about who we think we are. He used the example of a pie and chips shop and a great deal of discussion ensued. What if people didn't like our pies or wanted a change? Would they go down the road to the fish and chips shop instead? Should we sell fish, not pies? If we kept to the same menu, would we go out of business? The danger could be in changing what we did well for something different that someone else was already doing.

Everyone needs the basic chips; it's what they want with it that counts. If we make really good pies, people will come for them. Maybe we could add something else to the menu on occasions (fish pies was suggested!) to encourage others who weren't sure about the pies.

But we shouldn't confuse our "customers" with too large a menu, eg First Sunday - meat pies; Second Sunday - fish; Third Sunday - spring rolls, and so on. We need to identify our strengths, improve on them where possible, offer a little extra sometimes and, above all, provide really good chips!

Jean Kimber

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A letter from the Bishop of Southwark

The Advent and Christmas season offer all of us an opportunity to look forward as we begin a new year in the life of the Church. It is particularly important time for us, because in 2008 the Lambeth Conference will take place during July and the early part of August.

In Advent we have the opportunity to move from darkness into light. In many churches on the four Sundays there will be the lighting of Advent candles, which culminate in the lighting of a candle to represent the birth of Jesus. It is also a reminder that whilst - all too often - the world seems to be shrouded in the darkness of conflict, we have hope that is found in the incarnation.

The movement from darkness to light is also important in the way that we look at the world around us. In 2008 there will be opportunities to learn about the life of the Anglican Communion. In the first place through the bishops who will spend a little time in the diocese.

It offers an opportunity for us to both learn from and to celebrate the fact that we belong to the body of Christ which is so much bigger than any local Christian presence. The press will no doubt want to write stories of division rather than telling of the good news of how churches and dioceses are serving their communities - in many cases working with people who are excluded and facing daily problems beyond anything we can imagine.

The reality of our diversity, both within the Diocese of Southwark and the wider Anglican Communion, is a story worth telling. It is about worship, outreach, caring for people from every walk of life. In every way this reflects the ministry of Jesus who found himself at home with whom ever he was with.

The fact that it begins with the new life that we celebrate at Christmas which draws on the preparations made in Advent is a reminder to all of us that discipleship is at the heart of our calling.

It is in responding to what God wants of us that we are able to recognise that we are a part of a worldwide family. It is also true that life in families does not always run smoothly, but if we are prepared to listen and learn from one another the fact that all of us are part of something bigger than ourselves will bring us closer to one another and to God.

In this Advent and Christmas season and in the New Year I hope that we can all find opportunities to offer light to the world that shows that our faith is a force for good across all communities.

+ Tom

The following letter from the Rt Rev Tom Butler, Bishop of Southwark , was published too late for inclusion in our Christmas magazine, but the relevance of its message remains.

Daily prayer topics in January

Tue 1 Thanksgiving for a New Year and a new start

Wed 2 The Church in South India

Thu 3 Peace and justice in troubled areas of the world

Fri 4 Teachers and pupils of our local schools

Sat 5 Carew Manor and Beddington Infants schools

Sun 6 Thanksgiving for revealing of Christ to the world

Mon 7 The Church, its mission and witness

Tue 8 That the Church may never cease to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ

Wed 9 That all may know Christ as their Saviour and King

Thu 10 That the kingdoms of this world may become the Kingdom of Christ

Fri 11 That the resources of the world may be used for the relief of those in need

Sat 12 All who are suffering from wars, tyranny and violence

Sun 13 Thanksgiving for our baptism into the family of Christ

Mon 14 All who are unbaptised or who have never heard the Gospel

Tue 15 Our children, parents and godparents

Wed 16 The police and ambulance services

Thu 17 The Community of the Resurrection

Fri 18 WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNIT BEGINS

Sat 19 The Anglican Communion worldwide

Sun 20 Churches Together in Wallington and Beddington

Mon 21 The Orthodox Churches

Tue 22 Our PCC meeting tonight

Wed 23 Churches in communion with the Bishop of Rome

Thu 24 Churches whose roots are in the Protestant Reformation

Fri 25 That we may be united n the fellowship of the Holy Spirit

Sat 26 Readers Conference and Re-Licensing

Sun 27 That we may walk as children of light

Mon 28 All who teach and preach the Gospel

Tue 29 Our Government, local councils and members of parliament

Wed 30 Our Queen and all the Royal Family

Thu 31 The Church and people of Zimbabwe

Daily prayer topics in February

Fri 1 Thanksgiving for the wonder and beauty of the world

Sat 2 The growth of the church, its worship and ministry

Sun 3 That we may listen to God's beloved son Jesus Christ

Mon 4 That the Church may reflect God's glory

Tue 5 The Queen and all the Royal Family

Wed 6 Grace to keep Lent faithfully

Thu 7 Marriage and all that strengthens family life

Fri 8 Those whose family life has met with adversity

Sat 9 Stable family life and the protection of children

Sun 10 That we may be given the grace to overcome temptation

Mon 11 That children may be brought up in the faith and life of

the church

Tue 12 The Deanery Synod Meeting tonight

Wed 13 Our local clergy fraternity

Thu 14 An increase in love and respect for all of God's creation

Fri 15 Vocations to the priesthood

Sat 16 That we may be confirmed and strengthened in all goodness

Sun 17 Thanksgiving for our new life in Christ

Mon 18 An increase in faith and trust in God

Tue 19 The freedom of all help captive

Wed 20 A more caring and peaceful world

Thu 21 The leaders of nations of the world

Fri 22 All who are seriously or terminally ill

Sat 23 The Mothers' Union Quiet Day at St John's, Old Malden

Sun 24 That all may be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ

Mon 25 The poor and the dispossessed, refugees and asylum seekers

Tue 26 Those working hard to improve our world

Wed 27 Thanksgiving for poets and spiritual writers

Thu 28 All who are in care and all carers, especially the young

Fri 29 Our Link Diocese in Zimbabwe, priests and people

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Where did all the turkey go?

What's on in January

Saints and Commemorations in January

Readings for Sundays in January

What’s on in February?

Saints and Commemorations in February

Readings for Sundays and Festivals in February

Thinking of you

From the Registers

Funeral

Lent Course

Lent Lunches

Theology Book Club

Snippets

Dates for your Diary

A piano recital by Guy Middlemiss

A Flower Festival at St Mary's

Francis Peter Clarke

Twenty Years Ago

The Bear Necessities

Sutton Deanery Synod (part 2)

Who Are They?

Eastern Orthodox Churches

Chips With Everything!

A letter from the Bishop of Southwark

Brigid of Ireland

Matthias the Apostle

Is Crimond a crime?

Why Elijah did that…

Daily prayer topics in January

Daily prayer topics in February