He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8
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Download – July and August 2022 Magazine
Welcome to our new style monthly magazine. It contains all the usual articles and information (including Esther’s corny jokes!) but gives us room to add contact details, useful to us all but particularly for people who are new to our church family or visiting for the first time.
Dear Friends,
Summertime, and the livin’ is easy. Fish are jumpin’, and the cotton is high. Oh, your daddy’s rich, and your ma’ is good lookin’. So hush little baby, don’t you cry.” George Gershwin’s 1934 hit has been covered many times by some of the world’s best artists including Nina Simone, Paul McCartney and Frank Sinatra. We won’t mention the Muppets’ ‘Angus McGonagle’ duetting with Star Wars actor Mark Hamill – but it’s worth a look just for a laugh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NgpdMh2qEA However, we know that for many people the living is far from easy this summertime. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s UK Poverty report, more than 1 in 5 of the UK population are in poverty – 14.5 million people. Of these, 8.1 million are working age adults, 4.3 million are children and 2.1 million are pensioners.
The picture is distressing across the globe. Research undertaken on behalf of the World Bank reports that “for almost 25 years, the number of people living in extreme poverty — on less than $1.90 per person per day — was steadily declining. But the trend was interrupted in 2020, when poverty rose due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic combined with the effects of conflict and climate change.” https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/overview. Ukraine was making progress in eliminating poverty before COVID-19, a trend that is sadly quickly reversing due to the Russian invasion, with an impact that is being felt far beyond its borders. What can we do? It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of such need. But as Tesco’s motto reminds us, “Every little helps.”One of my favourite stories highlights the power of just one person’s choices. There was once an old man who went for a walk on the beach each morning. One day he found that the sands were littered with starfish as far as the eye could see. In the distance he saw a small boy, who looked as if he was throwing things into the sea. As the man came closer he called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?” The lad looked up and replied “I’m throwing starfish back into the sea. The tide has washed them up. When the sun comes up, they will die, unless I throw them back.” The old man replied, “But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I’m afraid you won’t really be able to make much of a difference.” Undeterred, the boy bent down and threw yet another starfish into the sea. Then he turned and smiling said; “It made a difference to that one!”  As Nelson Mandela put it; “We can change the world and make it abetter place. It is in your hands to make a difference.” This summer, may we renew our efforts to be God’s change agents, making his world a better place for everyone. Esther and Jessie the Vicarage dog x
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Revd. Esther Foss
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Morning Prayer is back at 10.00 am every Wednesday – a Book of Common Prayer Said Service in the Lady Chapel.
If you have a prayer request or would like more information, please do get in touch with Esther at St. Andrew’s Vicar or call 0203 620 1885. Prayer for the Community – Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy. Sustain and support the anxious, be with those who care for the sick, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may find comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” ― G.K. Chesterton |
| The Church Hall
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The Church Hall is open for bookings. |
