October 2007

The Reverend Philip Banks writes:

St Peter’s Church – back to the future

You will know by now that we are to have a Parish Conference this month, to take place on Sunday14^th October, 11.30am-2.30pm. The last time we did this was four years ago - when everyone had a really enjoyable time getting to know each other better, and offering thoughts about our church life. Many of the ideas which came forward were included in subsequent Church Council meetings, and have then since come to fruition. Examples of this are the appointment of Hannah as our Youth Worker, the Parish weekend and Quiet Days away, improvements to our Sunday service orders, links with Forest Gate and the establishment of our Baptism and Pastoral Care teams – and there are many others!

So…. Please do give this conference your support, as we think through aspects of our church’s ministry and mission together – reflecting on and giving thanks for the past, and looking to see where our priorities might lie for the future.

The preface to the Declaration of Assent, made by all clergy in the Church of England, speaks of us all as faithful people, “…which faith the church is called upon to proclaim afresh in each generation.”  My prayer is that, during the conference, we may seek to discern how we may indeed ‘proclaim afresh’ the gospel in our community today; how we may grow in faith and prayer ourselves; how we can best serve the children and young people of our parish; what place our different church buildings – St Peter’s, St Nicholas’ chapel and the site at Marks Hall – have in this ministry; and how we may best care for one another as the church family and beyond.

I very much hope that our time together will be an enjoyable one again, as we get to know each other a bit better and offer one another ideas and insights of our own, all in a friendly and informal way in smaller groups. A hot lunch will be provided, and the church heating will be on! Further information is in the green leaflets in church and on our church website.

Do pray that God’s guiding and leading hand will be upon us as a church family, and that we may know his presence and touch in our lives now and always.

This comes with my very best wishes and prayers,

Photo from Vicarage Garden Lunch 2007, taken by Keith Cullum

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