dectojan25web

Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

St. Mildred’s

Church Newsletter

December 2024 – January 2025

A Welcome Entry in

My Diary

Operation Christmas

Child

Remembrance Sunday

What is this welcome

entry in Isabel’s diary?

Sit back, relax and

enjoy.

Pages 6-7

When we come together

to get shoe boxes packed

and on the road...

Pages 20-21

Prayers for Peace that we

can take with us through

Christmas and into the

New Year.

Page 22

Operation Christmas Child - pages 20-21

The call of God on our lives at St. Mildred’s is

to make and equip disciples of Jesus Christ locally

and globally in the power of the Holy Spirit.

www.stmildreds.org.uk

www.stmildreds.org 1

Tom writes...

Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

Inside this issue:

Tom writes...

2-3

Once in Royal David’s City 4-5

A Welcome Entry in My

Diary

Three things to do before

you die

6-7

8-9

Remembrance Sunday 10

Prayer Page 11

Onward Christian Soldiers 12

Diary - December 2024-

January 2025

13-15

Bible Reading Plan 16

Kool Kidz Gallery 17

Lay Ministry Taster Day 18

Parish Giving Scheme 19

Operation Christmas Child 20-21

Give to Go Green 22

Building Project Update 23

Pray for Businesses 24

Notices 25-27

Back Page 28

As we approach the end of 2024, it’s a

natural moment to pause and reflect on

the year that has passed, even as we prepare

for the year ahead.

This December, the Christmas story reminds

us of God's faithfulness in fulfilling

His promises, as we celebrate His amazing

gift of hope and salvation for the

world in the birth of Jesus. As we delight

in this story, we also reflect on the journey

we have travelled together as a

church and look forward with faith to the

path that lies ahead.

This year, our nation experienced a significant

moment with the election of Keir

Starmer as the first Labour Prime Minister

since 2010. His government has faced

the immense challenge of navigating the

nation’s financial uncertainties - a reminder

to us all of the complex stewardship

required to manage resources wisely.

Similarly, as a church, we have faced

our own financial challenges, especially

Newsletter Articles

Anyone who regularly attends

St Mildred’s can contribute articles to

the newsletter.

The next Newsletter will be the February

- March 2025 Issue. The deadline for

contributions is 22 January.

Any queries regarding newsletter:

Email: newseditor16@gmail.com

in relation to our hall building project,

and we do so with faith and thankfulness

as we end the year with the incredible

commitment shown in the Give to Go

Green campaign.


Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

Back in April, we united in a special

week of prayer for the project. The

image of the 16 ‘blocks’ - each representing

£100,000 to be achieved

through fundraising or cost savings—

served as both a visual reminder of

the scale of the task and a tangible

symbol of our faith as we ask God to

do incredible things for us.

We drew inspiration from the story of

David in 2 Samuel 5:18-25, where David

listens for the sound of ‘marching’

in the balsam trees as a sign that God

has gone ahead of him into battle. We,

too, have been listening for the

marching - the signs of God’s leading

and provision - and we can testify to

its growing volume as we’ve seen a

number of blocks come down already.

It’s humbling and encouraging to see

how God has been at work among us.

Through prayer, generosity, and dedication,

we are moving closer to our

goal. As we look ahead to tendering

the contract for the hall project next

year, we are filled with a sense of excitement.

This new space is not just a

building; it is a hub for ministry, fellowship,

and outreach in our community

- a space where God’s love can

be shared for generations to come.

The message of Christmas is a message

of joy and hope. Just as the wise

men were led by a star to the birth

place of our Lord Jesus, God continues

to lead us, guiding and providing

in ways we could not have seen. As

we celebrate the birth of Jesus this

season, let us also renew our faith in

the One who brings light to our

paths, even in times of uncertainty.

So, at the close of the year, we give

thanks for God’s faithfulness and provision,

not only in our church’s journey

but also in our personal lives.

And, as we step into 2025, let us do so

with expectant hearts, ready to follow

where God leads, confident that He is

with us - Emmanuel, God with us.

May you all have a blessed and joyful

Christmas. Amen.

Tom Lake -

Vicar


Once In Royal David’s City ...

Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

Jesus is the only one who ever chose to be

born. He chose to become a human being, in

poverty and in low social status. Such people

are open to being pushed around by circumstances

and other people. Yet in Jesus’ case

the Birth Announcement was made many

times, over hundreds of years by His proud

Father in the Hebrew scriptures and in Micah

5:2, Bethlehem is specified as His birthplace,

700 years before the event. Now when the

Sovereign Lord speaks He makes it happen,

but there were five other people who were

(unknowingly) involved in the detail of the

arrangements. Joseph and his fiancée Mary

both lived in Nazareth some 90 miles north of

Bethlehem, so what caused them to make

this difficult journey? Some 1400 miles away

in Rome, Augustus the first (and best organised)

of the Roman emperors gave orders for

a taxation census. The Roman army had established

peace across much of Europe,

from Britain to the Middle East. Thousands of

miles of road were built, government was

well established but all this cost serious

money – hence the need for taxation, which

in turn required serious administration.

So Augustus starts this process, and the second

person is Quirinius (governor of Syria

from 6 to 4 BC) whose task was to sort out the

local details – like ordering the head of each

family group to register in their ancestral

home city. Because Joseph was descended

from King David he had to report to Bethlehem,

David’s home town. (So the first time

Jesus’ name was written down anywhere was

in a Roman taxation document!)

The third person involved in all this was Joseph,

Jesus’ foster father, the carpenter of

Nazareth. (Actually the Greek text calls him

“Tekton”, which means “Builder”- which

gives us the words “Architect” – “Chief

builder” and “Tectonic plates” which are the

“Building blocks” of the earth’s surface – so

Jesus the Creator of the entire material Universe

was born into the lowly household of

the local builder and handyman!) So why did

Joseph decide to take Mary with him? A journey

of 90 miles could take a week, she was

very close to delivery, she was not head of

the household, she had no taxable income,

so why take her along? Because left alone in

Nazareth she would have been at even greater

risk – as an unmarried mother in that culture

she would have been ostracised, she

might have been stoned to death without Joseph’s

protection. At the very least there

would have been nobody to support her in

labour, in delivery or in her recovery. (Later

in Luke 2:7 we read the poignant words “she

wrapped Him in cloths, she laid Him in a

manger.” There was no-one else, no midwife,

no close friend, not even her mother).

The fourth person involved in all this was the

inn-keeper. The town was obviously full –

mainly of men. Everywhere was overbooked,

but this inn-keeper might have

been kinder than we think. In this emergency

he suggested the stable-courtyard at the

back where all the animals sheltered under

cover around a central manger, the feedingtrough.

Jesus was later to say, “The Son of

Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Matt.8:0)

and that is precisely how He started out.

The fifth person involved in these arrangements

is obviously Mary herself, Jesus’ mother,

who had prepared some cloth to keep

Him warm, and other strips of cloth to function

as a nappy. On her own she washed the

new-born Saviour, kept Him warm, well-fed,

clean and healthy. How mysteriously the

Sovereignty of God can work even on behalf

of obscure people. An Emperor, a Governor,

a carpenter, an inn-keeper and a peasant

girl, and then the Lord of Glory is born into

our human condition, into abject poverty in

small-town Bethlehem and fulfils ancient

prophecy to the letter.

After the arrangements comes the announcement,

again to the poorest of people. Shepherds

were then regarded as low-life on the

fringes of society, their word of testimony

would not be accepted in court. (For that

matter neither would Mary’s-she was a woman,

nor would that of the Magi – they were


not Jewish). So why did Heaven’s highest

archangel announce this amazing news to

shepherds? Well, for one thing they were

probably the only people in the area who

were still awake. Secondly this is David’s

territory, the one who shepherded sheep

before he was anointed King of Israel. He

would have stared at the same night sky,

from the same fields a thousand years earlier

– and Jesus was to be known as the Good

Shepherd and as the Son of David. Thirdly

Jerusalem and its Temple were just five

miles down the road and many of the sheep

in those fields would eventually have been

sacrificed on the altar so close at hand. The

Christ, the Lord who is announced is also

“The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of

the world.”(John1:20) Fourthly, the Father

seated in highest Glory is compassionate to

all – right down to the humblest He has

made. Notice also how all this comes with

huge musical celebration. So much of this

Gospel is made up of worshipful singing –

Mary’s joy at the annunciation, Zechariah’s

joy at the birth of John the Baptist, Simeon

sings when he encounters Jesus in the Temple….many

characters are described by

Luke as going “on their way rejoicing”.

Finally there is the acknowledgement of His

birth. Poor the shepherds might be, but they

were also very practical. They recovered

from their initial fear and went to explore the

angel’s message about a royal baby lying in

Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

a cattle trough. They simply

went from one stable yard to

the next until they found the

manger with the baby in it!

Having worshipped Him

they rushed off to share this

amazing news with anyone

who would listen, and those

who did listen can be placed

into three groupings. The

first and biggest group were

those who were “filled with

wonder.” The Greek experts

tell us that this means they

were “filled” once but that it

soon wore off. The second

reaction is that of Mary (from

whom we can assume that

Dr. Luke got all this detailed

information). She treasured all these things,

she prayed over them, discussed them with

Joseph, she meditated on these things, assessing

them in the light of Scripture.

(Though by the time Jesus was 12 years old

she seems to have forgotten much of this!

See the end of Luke2.) The third group,

mainly the shepherds, had a “praising interest”

in all this. With positive joy they returned

to their work, excited that the God of

Heaven cared about and spoke to ordinary

people like them. (For once, the local people

believed them!) How do we respond, do

we see ourselves in one of these categories?

We cannot ignore the impact of all this.

Somehow in this tiny baby God has invaded

our enemy-occupied planet to identify with

anyone who will listen and to change everything

forever, (even ordinary people – like

us.)

“Pleased as man

with man to dwell,

Jesus our Emmanuel”

David Nicholls

See also: Commentary on the Gospel of Luke

– David Pawson

Published by Anchor Recordings.


A Welcome Entry in My Diary

Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

“Why I find Comfort and Community at St Mildreds Church Warm Space:

A Welcome Entry in My Diary”

In the midst of hectic schedules and the pressures of daily life, it’s easy to feel isolated or

overwhelmed. That’s why I’ve made a conscious effort to add a welcoming entry in my diary

once a fortnight: attending “Warm Space” at St Mildred’s Church. It is something I

look forward to every fortnight, providing not only a change of scenery but also the

chance to meet warm-hearted people in a space that radiates comfort, community, and

connection.

The Gift of a Change of Scenery

Home or the office can sometimes feel confining, especially if you’re dealing with the routine

of working remotely or juggling a busy household. A shift in surroundings, even once

a week or once a fortnight, if your diary won’t allow once a week like mine, refreshes the

mind and allows new perspectives to emerge. The church’s warm space offers a relaxing

environment filled with the quiet hum of friendly chatter, gentle music sometimes plays

and the subtle smell of tea and coffee brewing in the kitchen area. It’s a refreshing break

from the familiar four walls of home or the office.

This new setting has a grounding quality. Churches are designed to be places of peace,

with calm lighting and soft spaces to rest and reflect. The beauty of it lies in the simplicity:

soft chairs, warm colours (especially shining through the stained glass windows), and

thoughtful arrangements all making it a welcoming atmosphere. It’s a reminder that sometimes

stepping outside of your usual environment can be like hitting the reset button on a

busy mind.


Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

Community Connections and Friendly Faces

One of the most rewarding aspects of attending St Mildred’s

Church Warm Space is the people I meet. Each week brings a

chance to chat with new individuals and get to know the regulars

better. The beauty of these gatherings is that they’re open

to everyone - whether you’re coming to escape the cold, looking

for companionship, or simply need a break. St Mildred’s

has even set up a work space area where you can sit working

on your laptop and offers excellent Wi-Fi for this purpose.

In a world where connections can often feel shallow, this

church space offers authentic social interaction. These moments

of shared laughter, storytelling, and companionship

bring joy and lighten the weight of a long week. There’s a

sense of unity in knowing we all came here with the same hope for warmth and community.

Many times, I’ve left Warm Space feeling rejuvenated by the kindness of those around

me.

A Moment of Peace and Reflection

Attending St Mildred’s Church Warm Space isn’t just about passing the time - it’s also an

opportunity to pause and check in with myself, away from the noise of the outside world.

Whether I’m sitting quietly working on my laptop, or just letting my mind wander, the environment

invites a gentle pause and introspection.

For those who might not attend church services regularly, this warm space offers a neutral,

inclusive environment to reconnect with a peaceful, spiritual atmosphere without any pressure

or expectation. It’s a moment to reflect on gratitude, let go of worries, and remember

the importance of taking time for ourselves.

An opportunity to help others

I’m delighted to offer my time at St. Mildred’s Church Warm Space for anyone who might

simply wish to have a friendly, obligation-free chat with a Solicitor. My practice area includes

Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, estate administration, trusts, and Court of Protection

work. If anyone raised a question with me that was outside my area of expertise, I’d be

happy to provide contact details for someone who may be able to assist them.

Conclusion: St Mildred’s Welcoming Warm

Space with Open Doors

Attending St Mildred’s Church Warm Space is a

simple, yet powerful, entry in my fortnightly

schedule. It’s a reminder of the warmth we can

find in shared spaces and the value of making

time for peaceful moments and friendly faces. In

a fast-paced world, these small, weekly breaks

ground us and remind us of the importance of

community, reflection, and joy.

If you’re considering St Mildred’s Church Warm

Space, give it a try - you might just find it’s exactly what you didn’t know you needed.

Isabel


Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25


Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25


Remembrance Sunday

Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

Our Uniformed groups lower their

Colours as Julia plays The Last Post

Jim Mills and Rev. Daphne Clifton

lead prayers for Peace.

We thank you Lord for the memory of those who

have lost their lives using the gifts you gave them,

shortening their lives so that others may be safe.

We pray for many around the world experiencing

extreme poverty and living in fear of persecution and

environmental destruction and being attacked in

their own communities. God help us to become your

peacemakers.

We pray for those affected directly by conflict for

those injured, orphaned and displaced. Your Son is

the Prince of Peace we pray for Your Peace to be in

their lives.

We pray for world leaders to find a way forward to

peaceful resolutions.

With You all things are possible.

.

We bring to You our daily pressures and worries

about the world around us. We pray for

those facing challenging times that the love

and peace of Jesus will enter into their lives

and bring comfort. We pray for all life to flourish

and not be destroyed.

Help us, in our interactions to have humble

and gentle hearts at school, home and work.

May we pursue those things in your name that

will lead to peace in the Church and the world.

We pray for discerning hearts to know your

Will and the courage to be obedient.

Our Uniformed groups help pack

Christmas boxes for OCC bringing

joy and peace to many children.


Prayer

Page

Following the resignation of the archbishop

of Canterbury, our thoughts and prayers

are first and foremost with survivors and

all whose lives have been impacted by the

abuse, inadequate responses to disclosures

and institutional failings. Merciful and compassionate

Father we pray for healing and

grace for all those affected, those who carry

the scars of abuse facilitated by institutional

failures.

We remember ongoing conflicts in the

world. Heavenly Father, you hear the cry

that rises from every corner of this earth,

from families torn by wars and violent conflict.

Merciful Father, Prince of pPeace, we

ask you to soften hearts, to bring those in

leadership to peaceful dialogue. Make your

presence known to those who need you.

Comfort those who are grieving and in

pain. Make a way for food, water and medicine

to reach those in need.

Conqueror of death

Help us as we remember those whom we

love but no longer see.

Help us to live this day in the sure and

certain hope of your eternal victory.

Eternal God,

whose Spirit moved over the face of the

deep bringing forth light and life;

by that same Spirit, renew your creation,

and restore your image in your people.

Turn us from careless tenants to faithful

stewards, that your threefold blessing of

clean air, pure water and rich earth

may be the inheritance of everything that

has the breath of life and one generation

may proclaim to another the wonder of your

works; through Jesus Christ, your living

Word, in whom the fullness of your glory is

revealed.

Amen.

Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

“I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;

I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

let your glory be over all the earth.”

Psalm 57 9-11

Lord we lift up our brothers and sisters

who face persecution in different parts of

the world because they believe in Jesus.

The Bible reminds us that all who desire to

live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

We pray that they continue to declare

Jesus as Lord and Saviour fearlessly

and that the grace and peace of our Lord

and Saviour Jesus remain with them.

Lord we thank you for our congregation

at St. Mildred’s and for the community

around us. Strengthen us so that we may

strengthen others… Kindle in our hears

with a flame of love for you and for one another.

Help us to live lives that show your

love and power.

We thank you for the faithful leaders

who serve in your church, Lord help them

to be steadfast and always abounding in

your work. May they, their friends and families

find their joy and rest in you this

Christmas and New Year.

Pray for all our young people

as they grow in faith within the enthusiastic

and prayerful children and young people

ministries.

We also pray for all those serving in these

ministries that you will give them strength

and help them grow in faith too.

Lord be with our students

As they spend time with their families over

the Christmas break. May it be a time of enjoyment

and encouragement.

We pray for Keiko’s family

May they know reminders of your love and

plans for them … plans to prosper them and

not to harm them, plans to give them a hope

and a future.


Onward Christian Soldiers

Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

In Whitsun of 1865 the Reverend Sabine Baring Gould, curate of Horbury Brig in Yorkshire

was looking for a song or hymn for his Sunday school children to sing on their customary

Whitsun processional March to the next village. He could not find one so decided to write

his own.

This he did in a very short space of time, the night before Whitsun. It was never meant to

be published. The children sang to the tunes from Hayden Symphony No.15 in D major.

In spite of loving it, Onward Christian Soldiers did not receive wide acceptance for another

37 years. In the meantime in 1871, it was given another tune. Arthur Sullivan of Gilbert and

Sullivan comic opera fame,

heard the lyrics and just three

years before he died of tuberculosis,

composed the melody

to which it has been sung ever

since.

This rousing hymn was largely

forgotten for another 30 years,

until in 1902 William Booth of

the Salvation Army heard it and

enthusiastically adopted it as

their signature tune.

It was sung in many other churches and in school assemblies throughout England and

abroad, being translated into many languages.

It seems that Sabine Bearing Gourd’s lyrics married with Arthur Sullivan’s melody is what

brought Onward Christian Soldiers alive for everyone.

Nor was this the only inspiring hymn for which Sullivan wrote tunes so fitting and that have

delighted many to this day.

Others are:

Lead kindly light, Courage brothers do not stumble, Angels voices ever singing, Hushed

was the evening hymn, The day thou gavest Lord is ended.

Joyce Heelan


Diary ~ December 2024

Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

Sunday 1 10am Morning Worship

10.30am Kool Kidz Christmas Party

6pm Sunday@six

Monday 2 9.30am Prayer Meeting

Tuesday 3 Parent and Toddlers

8pm Home Group

Wednesday 4 9.45am Daytime Home Group

11am-3pm Warm Welcome Space

8pm Home Group

Thursday 5 8pm Home Group

Friday 6 8.30am Prayer Meeting

Sunday 8 10am All Age Holy Communion

4pm Blue Christmas Service

6pm Sunday@six



8pm Standing Committee

Wednesday 11 11am-3pm Refresh@WWS

8pm Prayer Meeting

Thursday 12 7.30am-9am Carol Singing at Lee Station


Sunday 15 10am Traditional Carol Service

12.30pm Christmas Carvery Lunch


Tuesday 17 8pm Home Group



8pm Home Group


Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

Thursday 19 Home Group

Friday 20 8.30am-9am Prayer Meeting

Saturday 21 10am-12pm St Mildred’s Ladies Meetup

Sunday 22 10am Holy Communion

6pm Carols in the Car Park


Tuesday 24 4pm Children and Family Carols

11pm Midnight Communion

Wednesday 25 10am Christmas Day Worship



Diary ~ January 2025

Friday 3 8.30am-9am Prayer Meeting




8pm Home Group

Wednesday 8 11am-3pm Refresh@WWS

8pm Home Group



Sunday 12 10am All Age Holy Communion

6pm Sunday@six


Diary ~ January 2025

Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25



8pm PCC Meeting



8pm Prayer Meeting


Saturday 18 10am-12pm St Mildred's Ladies Meetup


10.30am Kool Kidz

6pm Sunday@six



8pm Home Group

Wednesday 22 11am-3pm Warm Welcome Space

8pm Home Group



Sunday 26 10am Holy Communion

10.30am Kool Kidz

6pm Sunday@six



8pm Standing Committee Meeting

Wednesday 29 11am-3pm Warm Welcome Space

8pm Prayer Meeting

Thursday 30 6pm Men’s Night Out



Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25


Week

Beginning

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

02/12/24

Jeremiah

15:5-21

Jeremiah

16:1-21

Jeremiah

17:1-18

Jeremiah

17:19-18:12

Jeremiah

18:13-23

Jeremiah

19:1-15

9/12/24

Jeremiah

20:1-18

Jeremiah

21:1-14

Jeremiah

22:1-17

Jeremiah

22:18-30

Jeremiah

23:1-15

Jeremiah

23:16-40

16/12/24

Jeremiah

24:1-10

Jeremiah

25:1-14

Jeremiah

25:15-38

Jeremiah

26:1-24

Jeremiah

27:1-22

Jeremiah

28:1-17

23/12/24

Jeremiah

29:1-23

Jeremiah

29:24-32

Jeremiah

30:1-17

Jeremiah

30:18-24

Jeremiah

31:1-22

Jeremiah

31:23-40

30/12/24

Jeremiah

32:1-25

Jeremiah

32:26-44

Jeremiah

33:1-26

Jeremiah

34:1-22

Jeremiah

35:1-19

Jeremiah

36:1-19

6/1/25

Jeremiah

36:20-32

Jeremiah

37:1-21

Jeremiah

38:1-13

Jeremiah

38:14-28

Jeremiah

39:1-18

Jeremiah

40:1-16

13/1/25

Jeremiah

41:1-15

Jeremiah

41:16-42:6

Jeremiah

42:7-22

Jeremiah

43:1-13

Jeremiah

44:1-14

Jeremiah

44:15-30

20/1/25

Jeremiah

45:1-46:10

Jeremiah

46:11-28

Jeremiah

47:1-7

Jeremiah

48:1-25

Jeremiah

48:26-47

Jeremiah

49:1-6

27/1/25

Jeremiah

49:7-22

Jeremiah

49:23-39

Jeremiah

50:1-20

Jeremiah

50:21-30

Jeremiah

50:31-46

Jeremiah

51:1-14

3/2/25

Jeremiah

51:15-32

Jeremiah

51:33-48

Jeremiah

51:49-64

Jeremiah

52:1-34

Psalm

144

Psalm

145

Bible Reading Plan

Kool kidz - Gallery

Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

Just a glimpse behind the scenes of

Kool kids on the buses!

We look forward to a Kool kidz

update in the next Newsletter.

In the meantime please pray for all our leaders and our

children that they will all know that God is with them at

Church, home, school and work. Lord bless them

and make Your face to shine upon them over

Christmas and New year.


Lay Ministry Taster Day

Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

Dear All

Please see attached for a poster for the in-person Lay Ministry taster day to be

held at Trinity House on Saturday 25 January 2025 from 10am to 2pm. Do please

display this in your churches - if you know of anyone in your congregation who

may be wondering about different opportunities to serve God as a lay person,

this is a great opportunity for them to come and find out about a whole range of

lay ministries - from Readers to Street Pastors, from Children, Youth & Family

workers to the Church Army. All are welcome, although to help with planning

people are asked toemail learning@southwark.anglican.org to register interest.

For those who already know that they have an interest in Pastoral Lay Ministry,

there is an event at Trinity House specifically to find out more about this on Saturday

7 December, also from 10am to 2pm. Again, please

email learning@southwark.anglican.org to book.

And by great good chance, we will be having our own Deanery Lay Vocations

Champion, Cherry Murdoch, join us for the next Deanery Synod meeting in February

to talk briefly about encouraging lay vocations. So if you can't make it to

either of the events in December or January, do save up your questions for Cherry

in February!

With good wishes

Clare Dowding

Deanery Synod Secretary


Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25


Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

OCC Collection week & packing party

Thank you to everyone who

helped with the Operation

Christmas Child collection

week, be it through prayer,

filling a shoebox, donating

towards a shoebox, helping

at the packing party or manning

the church and welcoming

those bringing boxes.

This is the second year we were a

collection centre and we completely

surpassed last years numbers,

having a total of 281, last

year we collected 167 shoeboxes!

Well done everyone! This was the

first year we held a packing party,

a chance to come together to

pack shoeboxes.

a

After the Remembrance Day service

a group of about 20 adults and children

from the congregation and uniformed

organisations joined together

to pack a myriad of shoeboxes.

We had 51 boxes by the end of that

Sunday!


Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

Thank you to everyone who donated

items and money, we raised an amazing

£223 towards the shoebox costs.

We had a team of 13 manning the church

across the collection week plus quite a

few others who volunteered their services

but weren’t needed this time.

Thank you all for your support!

On Saturday 23rd November we took the shoeboxes to Tonbridge

processing centre. Last year it was a squeeze! This year we had to

put the roof box on and the wonderful Shimona also loaded her car

up and drove to Tonbridge and back.

The Shimwell’s then spent 3 fun

hours processing shoeboxes so

they were checked and ready

to send off! I’ll be praying that

these boxes will bless those

who receive them ...

and through the follow your shoebox

barcodes I’ll be able to tell

you in the New Year where most of

our shoeboxes ended up.

Kelly Shimwell


Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25


Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25


Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

Businesses to pray for

December 2024

to

January 2025

Please continue to pray for all our local businesses

that over Christmas and New Year

they will be blessed in all areas of their lives.

Kinleigh, Folkard & Hayward

Kashi Restaurant

Lane Tian Chinese restaurant

Lee Car Services (MINI CAB)

Lee Launderette

Lee Pharmacy

Lee Station

Lee Tyres

LADS Barbers (was Joe's Barber)

Learn Log

Lewisham Council

Little Pumpkins

Little Bananas

Londis

TDSA Ltd

The Crown Tavern Pub

Absolutely Animals

Allen & Wainwright

AMC MOT centre

ARCCI Design

Aroma Beauty Rooms

Bansal

Baring Food & Wine

Baring Road Fish & Chips

The Fascia Place

Tara's Acupuncture

Timeless Beauty Salon

Travis Perkins

Trinity Schools

TLC Electrical Distributors

Toolstation


Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

Used with permission. Article found at: Christmas cards - CartoonChurch.com

www.stmildreds.org

Send prayers to: newseditor16@gmail.com

25

Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

Seeking Volunteers

Seeking Volunteers

10 th Lee South Guides and Rangers

are looking for a couple of new volunteers

to help them run activities with girls aged

10-18 year olds on Thursday evenings

at St Mildred's Church.

If you are someone who enjoys working with young people

and supporting the delivery of a variety of activities including

cooking, arts and

crafts, nature, problemsolving,

team building

and trips. For example,

this year we have been

skateboarding, to

Thorpe park and on a

residential to Cardiff

and have made a fashion

show out of recyclables,

celebrated Diwali

and made Turkish

pide.

The girls are genuinely so lovely and a joy to work with. As

volunteers, we have made some of the loveliest and rewarding

memories from being a leader here. If this sounds like

something that would interest you then please don't hesitate

to email 10thLSGuides@gmail.com and we will let you

know more about how you can get involved.


Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25


Slow Down

Dec ‘24 - Jan ’25

God . . . rested on the seventh day from all His

work which He had done. — Genesis 2:2

We live in an action-oriented world, and it seems

that simplifying our lives has never been more complicated!

Doesn’t it seem that there’s always work to

do and no time for rest? Answer the following questions

as honestly as you can to determine if you need

to rest: Do I feel stressed when functioning in my

normal day-to-day activities? Is it difficult to find joy?

Do I get the kind of rest my body needs? Do I wake

up tired?

In creation, God established a pattern of work and

rest, which is a model for believers. For 6 days God

worked to bring order to our world. But on the seventh

day, after He had finished all His creative activity,

He rested. God demonstrated that rest is appropriate

and right.

Jesus showed us the importance of rest when He sat

wearily beside a well after a long walk (John 4:6) and

when He slept in the back of a boat with His head on

a pillow (Mark 4:38). He also rested when He and His

disciples got away from the crowds (Mark 6:31-32).

If the Lord rested from the work of creation and from

His earthly ministry, we need to rest from our work

as well. Our times of rest refresh us for times of service.

Schedule some “slow down” time this week.

By: Marvin Williams

If our body, soul, and spirit

Are to function at their best,

Time is needed for renewal—

Time for leisure, time for rest.

D. De Haan

All work and no play will take the joy of life away.


Used with permission of Our Daily Bread Slow Down | Our Daily Bread

dectojan25web

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