February Newsletter 2026 For Website

Feb - March ‘26
St. Mildred’s
Church Newsletter
February – March 2026
I am he who will
sustain you
Christmas
2025
Signing the Building
Contract
Page 5
Louise gives
thanks to God
Thanks to everyone
for a special time
Page 8
Page 10
A moment of
celebration
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...
Feb - March ‘26
"The end of all things is near. Therefore be
alert and of sober mind so that you may
pray." (1 Peter 4:7)
Inside this issue:
Tom Writes... 2-4
PrayerMate 4
I am he who will sustain
you
Diary 6-7
Christmas 2025 8
Bible Reading Program 9
Signing the Building
Contract
5
10
Prayer for Businesses 11
The Back Page 12
Newsletter Articles
Anyone who regularly attends St.
Mildred’s can contribute articles to
the newsletter.
The next Newsletter will be the April
- May 2026 Issue. The deadline for
contributions is 19 March.
Any queries regarding newsletter:
Email: newseditor16@gmail.com
When we hear the phrase "the end is near,"
our minds might jump to a strange man on a
street corner with a sandwich board, or
perhaps a big-budget Hollywood disaster
movie. But when Peter writes these words,
he isn’t trying to spark a panic or an
eschatological frenzy. Nor is he interested
in date-setting or doom-scrolling. Instead,
he’s calling us to live rightly for those who
know they are in the last act of history.
Peter tells us that because we
are in the final stretch, we
need a particular kind of
mental equipment. And we
need this mental equipment
for a specific purpose: the
goal—the ultimate objective
of our clarity—is prayer.
Peter uses two fascinating words: sobermind
and alert.
1. Sober mind: This means to be of sound
mind or sane. It’s the same word used to
describe the man with a legion of demons
after Jesus healed him—he was finally "in
his right mind" (Mark 5:15). It’s about
mental clarity, level-headedness, and the
ability to evaluate reality correctly without
the fuzziness of worldly delusions.
2. Alert: This word can refer to abstaining
from wine, but Peter uses it more broadly. It
means to be free from any type of
intoxication. It’s the opposite of being in a
stupor. It’s the state of a soldier on guard—
awake, vigilant, and spiritually armoured.
www.stmildreds.org 2

Feb - March ‘26
Crucially, Peter uses another word to
connect these commands to prayer: we
should be sober-minded and alert so
that we can pray. We often think that we
should pray in order to find peace and
clarity (which is true!). But, here, Peter
flips the script: he tells us we must
pursue clarity and sanity so that we are
actually capable of praying.
Effective prayer is not a casual,
automatic habit; it is a fervent, rational
exercise. We cannot communicate
effectively with "Headquarters" if our
minds are scattered, distracted, or
"drunk" on the spirit of the age.
things too, as ‘feral beasts’ that threaten
our capacity for prayer and prayerful
decision making.
If the end is indeed near—if we are
living in the "last act"—we will
eventually reach a moment where we
wish we had valued certain things more
highly. Prayer will undoubtedly be at
the top of that list.
Valuing prayer is also our best escape
route from the desire to plunge into
worldly distractions (I won’t do that
because I want to pray). But to get there,
we have to be honest about what is
currently clogging the pipes. I invite
you to consider this very personal
question:
Peter warns against plunging into mindaltering
intoxication because it harms
our prayer life. For some, that might be
the literal bottle. For others, it’s what
one commentator calls "Satan’s vintage
wines": the lust of our hearts, the pride
of productivity, or an immoderate care
for the things of this world. When we are
intoxicated by these things, prayer is
either shut out completely or it becomes
only 999-style prayers: desperate cries
when things go wrong (desperate cries
are, of course, not wrong; but neither
should they be the sum total of our
prayers).
Tony Blair once described the 24-hour
rolling news cycle as a "feral beast" that
threatens a leader's "capacity to take the
right decisions". We should see not only
the constant news cycle, but many other
"If I stopped doing [X], I’d be more sane
and alert and better able to concentrate
on prayer"
The "[X]" will be different for everyone.
It might be one of these or many other
things besides:
• The 24-hour News Cycle: Which can
keep us in a state of constant, low-level
dread.
• The "One More Episode" trap: losing
the sleep we need to be awake in the
morning.
• The Scroll: That mindless thumbflicking
through social media that leaves
our brains like scrambled eggs.
• The Productivity Idol: Being so busy
doing that we lose the capacity for being
with God.
• The Night Cap: Drinking regularly
causing morning grogginess.
www.stmildreds.org 3

Feb - March ‘26
Given that Peter frames this around the
end of all things, another question worth
asking is:
In the light of eternity, which will I regret
more—losing time spent on these
temporary distractions, or losing the time I
could have spent in prayer and other such
godly pursuits?
The answer to that question reveals the
true value of a sober mind.
So let us cultivate a fear and trembling
that isn't about terror, but about the
profound weight of our calling. As we
find that avoiding certain intoxicants
actually makes our conversation with
God clearer and more powerful, our
desire for those distractions will fade.
The task is before us. Let us be sane, let
us be sober, and let us do this so that we
can pray! Amen.
Tom Lake - Vicar
Practical Tools: The PrayerMate App
To maintain a "sober and alert" prayer life, becoming organised with
prayer is a good idea. PrayerMate is a free, highly effective tool
designed to help us organise our intercessions and enable
disciplined, daily focus.
The app is essentially a digital filing system that replaces scattered lists with a
structured plan. Here are some of its most helpful features:
• Personalised Prayer "Index Cards": You can create multiple categories such
as family, the St Mildred’s building project, or personal growth (anything you
want). Each time you pray, the app generates (under your control) a
manageable "gallery" of cards, so you aren't overwhelmed by one long list.
• Intelligent Scheduling: You can set the frequency for every item. This allows
you to prioritise daily needs while ensuring other subjects—perhaps local
community issues or wider church missions—are brought to mind once a week
or once a month.
• Global Prayer Streams: A standout feature is the ability to subscribe to
"prayer feeds" from hundreds of mission organisations and charities. This keeps
your prayers rooted in current, real-world events without you having to hunt for
updates and keep our prayers interesting.
• Attaching Details: You can add photos, specific Bible verses, or even PDF
documents to any prayer card. This is excellent for keeping specific details in
view, helping to avoid vague prayers and making them appealing to view.
PrayerMate is a simple way to reclaim your phone for a godly purpose. It turns a
potential distraction into a tool for vigilance, helping us to "watch and pray" with
clarity and intent. It is available for free on the iOS App Store and Google Play
Store.
www.stmildreds.org 4

I am he who will sustain you
Feb - March ‘26
I give thanks to our gracious God who so faithfully answered many prayers
said for me during my cancer treatment and recovery, blessing me with
healing.
It was the Lord who enabled me to face my fears and it was indeed Christ who
strengthened me. I praise God too that through his great love so many acts of
kindness have been shown to me by you - the St Mildred's family - through all
your prayers, practical support and immense encouragement.
Thank you everyone.
Ahead of my treatment I was blessed to receive a gift of an embroidery kit
designed by Hannah Dunnet bearing the scripture from Isaiah 46:4: "I am he
who will sustain you". Amazingly the same scripture was also brought to me in
that week's sermon by Pauline.
I'm still enjoying working on the embroidery and I look forward to it going up
on the wall as a constant reminder to me of how God did indeed sustain me.
My prayer for you, as you read this, is that if you're going through - or facing -
anything challenging, may you know that the Lord will sustain you and may 1
Peter 5:7 encourage you to "Cast all your anxiety upon [God] because he cares
for you." Amen.
Louise Wayman
Cast all your anxiety upon him
because he cares for you.
www.stmildreds.org 5

Diary ~ February 2026
Feb - March ‘26
Sunday 1 10am Holy Communion
10.30am Kool Kidz
6pm Sunday@six
Monday 2
Tuesday 3
9am Prayer Meeting
Parent and Toddlers
8pm Home Group
Wednesday 4 9.45am Daytime Home
Group
11am-3pm Warm
Welcome Space
Wednesday 18 9.45am Daytime Home
Group
11am-3pm Warm
Welcome Space
8pm Home Group
Thursday 19
Friday 20
Sunday 22
8pm Home Group
9am Prayer Meeting
10am Morning Worship
Monday 23 9am Prayer Meeting
8pm Home Group
Tuesday 24
Parent and Toddlers
Thursday 5
Friday 6
8pm Home Group
9am Prayer Meeting
Wednesday 25 11am-3pm Warm
Welcome Space
8pm Prayer meeting
Sunday 8 10am All Age Worship
6pm Sunday@six
Monday 9
Tuesday 10
9am Prayer Meeting
Parent and Toddlers
8pm PCC Meeting
Wednesday 11 11am-3pm
Refresh@WWS
8pm Prayer Meeting
Thursday 26
Friday 27
6pm Men’s Night Out
9am Prayer meeting
Diary ~ March 2026
Sunday 1 10am Holy Communion
10.30am Kool Kidz
6pm Sunday@six
Friday 13
Sunday 15
Monday 16
Tuesday 17
9am Prayer Meeting
10am Holy Communion
10.30am Kool Kidz
9am Prayer Meeting
8pm Home Group
Monday 2 9am Prayer Meeting
Tuesday 3 Parents 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
www.stmildreds.org 6

Diary ~ February 2026
Feb - March ‘26
Friday 6
9am Prayer Meeting
Thursday 19
8pm Home Group
Sunday 8
Monday 9
Tuesday 10
10am All Age Worship
6pm Sunday@six
9am Prayer Meeting
Parent and Toddlers
Wednesday 11 11am-3pm Refresh@WWS
8pm Prayer Meeting
Friday 13 9am Prayer Meeting
Sunday 15 10am Holy Communion
10.30am Kool Kidz
6pm Sunday@six
Friday 20
9am Prayer Meeting
Sunday 22 10am Morning Worship
10.30am Kool Kidz
6pm Sunday@six
Monday
23 9am Prayer Meeting
Tuesday 24 Parent and Toddlers
Wednesday 25 11am-3pm Warm Welcome
Space
8pm Prayer Meeting
Thursday 26 6pm Men’s Night Out
Monday
16 9am Prayer Meeting
Friday 27 9am Prayer Meeting
Tuesday 17
Parent and Toddlers
8pm Home Group
Wednesday 18 9.45am Daytime Home
Group
11am-3pm Warm Welcome
Space
8pm Home Group
Sunday 29 10am Morning Worship
10.30am Kool Kidz
6pm Sunday@six
Monday
30 9am Prayer Meeting
Tuesday 31 8pm Home groups
Congratulations to Janette & Derek
Marsden!
In November, Janette and Derek had a service
of celebration and thanksgiving after 40 years
of marriage!
They were married at St. Mildred's in
November 1985 and were able to have their
thanksgiving service forty years later at
exactly the same date, time and church
(different minister though!)
www.stmildreds.org 7

Christmas 2025
Feb - March ‘26
Thank you to everyone for their hard work
and making Christmas 2025 a special time!
www.stmildreds.org 8

Feb - March ‘26
www.stmildreds.org 9
Bible Reading Plan
Week Monday Tuesday Wednes- Thursday Friday Saturday
02/02/26
James
1:19-2:13
James
2:14-26
James
3:1-18
James
4:1-17
James
5:1-20
Psalm
19
09/02/26
Exodus
1:1-22
Exodus
2:1-25
Exodus
3:1-22
Exodus
4:1-17
Exodus
4:18-31
Exodus
5:1-23
16/02/26
Exodus
6:1-27
Exodus
6:28-7:13
Exodus
7:14-25
Exodus
8:1-15
Exodus
8:16-32
Exodus
9:1-12
23/02/26
Exodus
9:13-35
Exodus
10:1-20
Exodus
10:21-11:10
Exodus
12:1-30
Exodus
12:31-51
Exodus
13:1-16
02/03/26
Exodus
13:17-14:14
Exodus
14:15-31
Exodus
15:1-21
Exodus
15:22-16:20
Exodus
16:21-36
Exodus
17:1-16
09/03/26
Exodus
18:1-27
Exodus
19:1-25
Exodus
20:1-21
Exodus
20:22-21:11
Exodus
21:12-36
Exodus
22:1-15
16/03/26
Exodus
22:16-31
Exodus
23:1-19
Exodus
23:20-33
Exodus
24:1-18
Exodus
25:1-22
Exodus
25:23-40
23/03/26
Exodus
26:1-14
Exodus
26:15-37
Exodus
27:1-21
Exodus
28:1-30
Exodus
28:31-43
Exodus
29:1-28
30/03/26
Exodus
29:29-46
Exodus
30:1-21
Exodus
30:22-38
Exodus
31:1-18
Exodus
32:1-18
Exodus
32:19-35
06/04/26
Exodus
33:1-23
Exodus
34:1-21
Exodus
34:22-35:3
Exodus
35:4-29
Exodus
35:30-36:7
Exodus
36:8-38

Feb - March ‘26
Signing the Building Contract December 2025
PCC & development group with the
professional team. Many thanks to Tim Keeler for the photographs!
www.stmildreds.org 10

Feb - March ‘26
Businesses
to pray for
Please continue to pray for all
our local businesses
Burnt Ash Super Store
Burnt Ash Vet
Café Lokum
Cafes of Good Hope
Capital Hair and Beauty
Choice Homecare
Caribbean & European
Cuisine
City Electrical Factors
City Plumbing Supplies
Predominantly Office
Primrose House
R C hair Solutions
RGIS
Rose Chinese Take Away
RTN News / Candid Lace
The Kitchen
The Lord Northbrook Pub
www.stmildreds.org Used with permission A Time of Silence - CartoonChurch.com 11

The Back Page
Feb - March ‘26
The Red Door
For the last few years, the red door has gone
nowhere. Closed and quiet. A reminder of what
used to be.
Recently, for a moment, it opened again.
Not to the old hall, but to open air, mud, stones,
and the slow miracle of development.
Where there was once demolition, there is now
construction. Where there was an ending, there
is now a new beginning.
God willing, by the end of the year, this door
will do what it did before: connect us. Church to
hall; Worship to welcome; Sundays to everyday
life.
Once it swung to footsteps.
Now it opens to sky.
Soon it will open to laughter again.
Same place.
New season.
www.stmildreds.org 12