'I am one of them' says the Queen

"At Christmas our attention is drawn to the birth of a baby some two thousand years ago." said the Queen in her Christmas Day broadcast yesterday.

She went on to say: "It was the humblest of beginnings. His parents Joseph and Mary did not think they were important. Jesus Christ lived obscurely for most of his life and never travelled far."

"He was maligned and rejected by many though he had done no wrong. "

"Yet billions of people now follow his teaching and find in him the guiding light for their lives"

"I am one of them" she said.

Thank God for his indescribable gift

Sing lullaby!
lullaby baby, now reclining:
sing lullaby!
Hush, do not wake the infant king;
angels are watching, stars are shining
over the place where he is lying:
sing lullaby.

Sing lullaby!
lullaby baby, sweetly sleeping:
sing lullaby!
Hush, do not wake the infant king;
soon will come sorrow with the morning,
soon will come bitter grief and weeping:
sing lullaby

Sing lullaby!
lullaby baby, gently dozing:
sing lullaby!
Hush, do not wake the infant king;
soon comes the cross, the nails,, the piercing,
then in the grave at last reposing:
sing lullaby!

Sing lullaby!
lullaby! Is the baby waking?
sing lullaby!
Hush, do not stir the infant king,
dreaming of Easter, joyful morning,
conquering death, its bondage breaking:
sing lullaby!

Nativity scenes

During the past week the Diocese of Southwark have been tweeting  pictures of the nativity by children from St James's School.

For blog readers, here they are and well done to the children involved

Our new bishop

The new bishop designate with Bishop Christopher

From the blog of my old college, Oak Hill Theological in north London, an article about former student Karowei Dorgu, soon to be our Area Bishop (the Bishop of Woolwich) in south-east London:

New Bishop of Woolwich is a 'pastoral and joyful' former student The college community is delighted to hear that Revd Prebendary Dr Woyin Karowei Dorgu is to be the new Bishop of Woolwich. Karwoei trained at Oak Hill from 1993-95 and was a curate at St Mark’s, Tollington Park, from 1995-98. He served as curate at St John the Evangelist, Upper Holloway, for two years before becoming its vicar in 2000, where he has been ever since. For many years, Karowei has been an Oak Hill placement supervisor. Paul Woodbridge, Director of College Placements, says, ‘All the students who have been placed at St John the Evangelist speak warmly about him, how pastoral and approachable he is, as well as joyful. Everyone speaks of how much they have learned from him, in his love for his congregation, his pastoral approach to people, and the way he leads services and preaches.’ Karowei is married to Mosun, and they had two sons, Timi and Josh. Tragically, Josh died suddenly at the age of 18 in January 2015. Karowei will be consecrated Bishop of Woolwich in Southwark Cathedral on 17 March 2017." From Oak Hill blog

Nearly Christmas

Christmas is definitely coming. Even the Archdeacons have donned festive gear:

And a mysterious visitor has been spotted walking through Thorburn Square;

Cherry Garden at the Blue

Cherry Garden special school in Southwark Park Road, of which Paul is a governor, had a very special outdoor service at the Blue on Tuesday.

Children, staff, and parents sung and signed the carols, and Russell from the fish stall accompanied them on guitar.

It was a very special event by a very special school.

When God became small

It is the end of a busy term at St James's School and it was good to welcome everyone in to the church this morning for our end of term Christmas service.

We sang some favourite new and old carols, and what a great sight it was to see the whole school singing 'It was on a starry night' with great gusto AND doing the actions.

Two children read the story of the nativity from Luke 2. Paul led the service, and I spoke about how the 'great big God' who made the universe became so small, and so vulnerable, when he was born in the baby. The little Lord Jesus was asleep in the hay. A boy was born, king of all the world, and all the angels sang for him. The bells of heaven rang for him.

Now its time for a well deserved rest for staff and pupils. A very happy Christmas everyone.

Joy to the world

We had a wonderful service of Carols by Candlelight at St James on Sunday, which included the Sunday School Nativity (left), Kristina from Bermondsey Voices singing 'How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace' (from Messiah), 'Hearts waiting, waiting on a Saviour' by our own singing group (thanks Roger and team), and lots of congregational carols, with Nick on the organ, and Peter on the piano.

Thanks to Jos for these photos of a memorable night:

New bishop visits Bermondsey

The new bishop & his wife at the Community Kitchen

When the Queen appoints a new Bishop of Woolwich, what do you do with him?

Bring him to Bermondsey, of course.

That's how Dr Karowei Dorgu, whose appointment as Bishop of Woolwich (ie the SE london boroughs of Southwark, Lewisham, & Greenwich) was announced on the 10 Downing St website at 10am today, came to have lunch at Bermondsey Community Kitchen at the Blue.

BCK boss Mike telling the bishop about the project

Not only did the new bishop and his wife have the chance to sample some delicious BCK food, they got the chance to hear about one of Bermondsey's best community projects.

Unemployed youngsters are trained in catering skills under the watchful eye of Mike, whose brainchild the Community Kitchen first was.

So far, all have gone off to get jobs in the catering business.

As for our new bishop, he went off, fortified by Bermondsey's best grub, to meet the clergy of the Woolwich Episcopal Area.

Every blessing to him and his family as he moves to south-east London to be the shepherd of the flock in this corner of God's world.

Preparing a meal fit for a bishop

Happy birthday, Tommy

Bermondsey boy, Tommy Steele, is 80 years old today.

Here is a picture of him signing autographs in the early days of fame outside his house in Frean Street, with a foggy St James's Church in the background.

These days a new block of flats has replaced the old terraced houses but Tommy Hicks (aka Tommy Steele) is remembered in its name of Hicks House.

Happy Birthday, Tommy.

Christmas festivity

To the Age Concern Healthy Living Centre in Southwark Park Road for their annual Christmas lunch and party.

The centre is a great meeting point for the retired community in Bermondsey and Paul and I were once again delighted to enjoy their Christmas festivities, which included a sumptuous lunch prepared by Yalding's chef, Ken, all presided over by the centre mananger, Katrina.

Also included in the guest list was the Mayor of Southwark, Cllr Kath Whittam, sporting a Christmas jumper, as part of Save the Children's Christmas jumper day.

On our table two ladies told me how they had been married at St James's. One had just celebrated 50 years of marriage, and the other had been married for 66 years to her husband.
That was something really to celebrate.

Meanwhile back at the church, it was the St James School Key Stage 1 Nativity and here are some photos of that event taken by Jos. Well done everyone

Hark the herald

There was a good turnout of carollers for tonight's open air carol singing in St James's Churchyard, swelled by some visitors who joined us, and by some passers-by who stopped to join in.

Others captured the scene on their mobile phone.

Either way, the message got out, and then it was time for mulled wine and mince pies, rounding off an excellent evening.

Auditory verbal

The local charity working with deaf children, Auditory Verbal, have just published a wonderful slideshow of last week's carol event at St James.

You can view it here

O come all ye faithful...to Bermondsey

We had a great band of carollers for our annual carol-sing at Bermondsey Tube tonight.

TFL were very confused that we didn't actually want to collect any money, just sing, spread a bit of Christmas cheer, and tell the locals about the upcoming Christmas events at St Anne's and St James. Next up: Carol singing outside St James on Wednesday at 6.30pm. Come and join us.

Pointing to Jesus, showing the way

St Anne's was looking its best for tonight's Christingle and carol service.

The children performed a nativity tableau, Paul led the service, andI spoke about the sign of the baby in the manger, pointing to Jesus's true identity as the saviour of the world.

It was a great service.

Earlier in the day at St James five children, all from church families, were baptised in a special third Sunday of Advent service, which included preacher Adrian Greenwood, leading the congregation in singing the old music hall favourite: 'Show me the way to go home.'

It was all part of an excellent Advent sermon about John the Baptist pointing the way, that went on to talk about the responsibility of parents and godparents, to show the way spiritually to the children who had been baptised.

Warm congratulations to Portia, Arabella, Ivan, Bryan, Theodore, all baptised today,  and to their families.

Mince pies, rosie & plenty of cheer

The Bermondsey Waiters song (above) had its annual airing at today's old people's party at the Salmon Youth Centre. The old folks were serenaded by the youngsters who later served them their afternoon tea: 'we are the Bermondsey waiters we are. We like to serve you like you was a star. With mince pies and Rosie and plenty of cheer, just because its Christmas at this time of year.'

Explanation/Translation: Rosie is Cockney rhyming slang for 'tea.' In the same vein, Johnny our compere, invited the 'Pie and Liquor of St James' to say grace at the beginning of the afternoon. You can work that one out for yourself.

Bermondsey Voices

Here are Bermondsey Voices, the local community choir that rehearses every Tuesday in St James, singing at yesterday's Christmas Concert, held in aid of St James, at St James.

The festive programme ranged from a 13th century Italian processional hymn to the Trinity, to Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer, with a good sprinkling of congregational carols thrown in. An excellent evening.

He came down

With memories of the Friends of Jesus group of people with learning difficulties in my last parish of Holy Trinity, Redhill, here is Glen Scrivener's widely retweeted Christmas video:

Remembering at Rotherhithe

Hundreds of people come every year to the annual Albins service of Remembrance, held in their garden of remembrance on the edge of Southwark Park.

Local clergy, the Mayor, the Leader of the Council, Sir Simon Hughes and hundreds of families gathered for tonight's event that included poems, a reading from the Bible, prayers, Christmas carols, and the opportunity to remember departed loved ones through the stars that were attached to the giant Christmas tree that dominated the scene.

Jon and Simon compered the event, continuing the great tradition of their father, Barry, whose inspiration the service was.

Fireworks and festive refreshments rounded off the event that has a deep place in the hearts of the people of Bermonsdey and Rotherhithe. Once again, huge thanks are due to the whole Albins team, whose generosity and hard work, make this amazing event possible.

Auditory verbal

Tyger Drew-Honey with the Chief Executive of Auditory Verbal

St James hosted a unique event tonight for a unique charity that has recently moved to Bermondsey.

Auditory Verbal works with deaf children and it has the aim of providing them with the same opportunities in life as their hearing peers.

Tonight's Carol Evening included children, all with permanent hearing loss and helped by the charity's work,  singing, reading, and playing musical instruments.

As well as the talented young people, we heard from a local story teller, the Coro London choir, the charity's patron, the world's only deaf mezzo-soprano, Janine Roebuck, and TV's Tyger Drew-Honey.

It was all interspersed by congregational carols (with St James's Nick on the organ), followed by wonderful refreshments.

It was a unique and moving evening.

Christmas is coming

Christmas is defintely just round the corner, and it was good to kick off the festivities on Friday with some community carol singing at the Yalding Age Concern Healthy Living Centre in Southwark Park Rd.

Now we are looking forward to the famous (and sumptuous) Yalding Christmas Dinner on the 16th.

 Saturday saw us spreading a bit of Christmas cheer at the Blue - with some open air carolling in glorious sunshine, and these was followed on Sunday by the Blue's own very special Christmas celebrations with something for all the family:

But, before that we had Tom and Stephanie's wonderful wedding in St James which included a seasonal carol, and what has now become almost a tradition: the bride arrived in a Red double decker bus. Every blessing to the happy couple

Then, today the church was a hive of activity as first the indoor Christmas Tree was put up

Followed by the one outside:

And with the floodlights re-bulbed and refocussed the church looked a picture:

A big thank you to everyone involved