Wednesday 29 April 2020

Christ the cleaner

From the estates ministry network, this wonderful prayer to 'Christ the cleaner:'  (Click on the image to see a larger, easier to read, version)


Bermondsey Daily Message 33

Tuesday 28 April 2020

Bermondsey Daily Message 32

Today's Daily Message concerns a Bermondsey hero, Dr Salter, GP and MP, commemorated by the group of statues by the river of himself, his wife and daughter, entitled 'Dr Salter's Daydream.'

Sunday 26 April 2020

Daily hope, straight from your phone

Not everyone is connected to internet. Not everyone has a smartphone.

That's why DAILY HOPE is such a good idea.

Just by calling a free number (0800 804 8044) from an ordinary landline a housebound person can have access to well-known hymns, prayers and reflections.

Do pass the word on to anyone who would benefit.

You can read more about this imaginative project here

The Third Sunday of Easter

Tuesday 14 April 2020

Easter joy

With the church buildings locked for worship, the focus has shifted to our homes. As part of this we have been enlisting our staff homes in the proclamation of the Good News of Easter.

Mandy started the trend at St Anne's for Good Friday:


Following up with this for Easter Day:



That spurred us on at St James Vicarage to this:

 

 And this, a banner that Ruth made years ago in the wives' group at theological college:

Tuesday in Easter Week

Here is today's Bermondsey Daily Message:



Monday 13 April 2020

Monday of Easter Week

Here is today's Bermondsey Daily Message:




Here is The Comeback King a powerful Easter video from the Evangelical Alliance


Sunday 12 April 2020

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Happy Easter everyone.

Here is our Easter Sunday service, recorded earlier this week in the Vicarage garden, led by Paul and Jacob, with Gary preaching, and a couple of guest appearances:



Saturday 11 April 2020

To all the children

An Easter letter from Bishop Christopher to all the children of the church:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

I am writing to you, the young people of the Church, to remind you of the new life Jesus promises us on Easter Day. God gives us a great gift in the resurrection. So, he gives us great hope!

I haven’t forgotten how strange all our lives are. No school (even when it isn’t the holidays), not seeing family and friends. Life is so different it can even feel scary. I am praying for you and other people in your Church are praying for you. We will come through these difficulties and God helps us.

I still want to remind you of Jesus’ resurrection. You remember that Jesus had a pretty scary time too in the days before Easter. He was arrested, even though he had done no wrong. He was put on trial, even though he hadn’t committed a crime. He was teased, and even bullied – as perhaps you have been. People jeered at him. And of course, he was taken to die on the cross. But because things were difficult for Jesus, he is with us if we find things hard too. All you have to do is whisper his name and he will hear you and be with you.

And that isn’t all! When he rises on Easter morning, he shows us that love wins! Jesus shows us that love is stronger than death. He wins a place for people with him in heaven. We can all put our hope in this, for with Jesus to love us, we are never alone.

This Easter, I hope you can treasure that thought in your heart. I am glad that you and I, together with all the Christians all over the world, make up the Church. And I say to you again, Alleluia! Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed! Alleluia.

With my Blessing,
Bishop Christopher

"Easter is not cancelled' says the Queen


In a special Easter message, the Queen says 'the discovery of the risen Christ on the first Easter Day gave his followers new hope and fresh purpose:'

Easter Eve, Holy Saturday

In life, no house, no home
my Lord on earth might have;
in death, no friendly tomb
but what a stranger gave.
What may I say? Heav'n was his home,
but mine the tomb wherein he lay.



Easter Eve

Here is today's Bermondsey Daily Message 




Here is the special prayer for today, Easter Eve

Grant Lord,that we who are baptised into the death of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christmay continually put to death our evil desires and be buried with him;

and that through the grave and gate of death we may pass to our joyful resurrection;

through his merits,who died was buried and rose again for us,your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
 

Friday 10 April 2020

On Good Friday: Jesus of the Scars


Good Friday


How strange it is not to be able to meet together, especially on this special day when we would we worshipping first at St Anne’s, then walking to the Blue for an outdoor service, before walking to St James for lunch and the afternoon devotional service.Instead, we have a specially extended edition of Bermondsey Daily Message:


Here is today's message: