Gardener wanted asap!

Our gardener has left, so we are looking for someone with gardening experience to work for approximately two hours a week to help keep our grounds tidy.

If you are interested, please get in touch!!

Bah, humbug!

What the Bishop of Croydon actually said about Christmas!
Nick Baines's blog
and a review from the Church of England of his Advent book:
Why wish you a merry Christmas? – what matters (and what doesn’t) in the festive season | Church of England

Around the web

Whilst searching the internet for something completely different, I came across this article which features information on our recently installed sculpture. Worth a look!

The Royal British Legion - Remembrance Sunday

The Royal British Legion - Remembrance Sunday

Some rather moving photos

Phone update

Phone is now working again - thanks, BT!

A typical Monday!

I came into the office this morning in that sort of I'm-not-really-sure-what-time-it-is kind of way, and after a while wondered why the phone hadn't rung at all, only to discover that, although I could ring out, no-one can ring in!

BT are working on it at the moment, so if anyone has left a message I'll probably receive loads at once on Wednesday! Meanwhile, if there's anything urgent, please email instead.

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible ....

Response to the Pope's invitation to Anglicans

Affirming Catholicism have issued the following statement:

Affirming Catholicism shares the desire of all Christians, and especially Catholic Christians, for the full and visible unity of the Church of Jesus Christ. We also value our Anglican tradition as one which has its own distinctive contribution to make to the life of the whole Church, a gift of the Spirit which is an important part of the richness of God's work in the world. We recognise that Pope Benedict's announcement may be of great comfort to some who combine deep attachment to Anglican patterns of worship with acceptance of the claims of the Roman Catholic Church as regards doctrine and church order. We affirm, though, that there is an authentically Catholic tradition within Anglicanism which seeks unity through a process of mutual learning. In such a process, each church will have something to give and to receive at every level of its life. It is for that unity that we continue to pray ... The Revd Jonathan Clark, Chair – Affirming Catholicism

A statement from the Archbishop of Canterbury can be read here

Supporting Asylum Seekers

The above photo shows the Lewisham Churches for Asylum Seekers committee (LEWCAS) meeting at St Laurence Centre, representing many Churches in the Borough that are working hands on to give travel cards to asylum seekers so that they can go to classes and learn English, and also support with food those destitute and unable to work.

Autumn at St Laurence

The Autumn magazine is being compiled, the caretaker is sweeping up leaves, the church is taking on a beautiful candlelit atmosphere in the darker evenings. Harvest gifts have been sent to LEWCAS and preparations are underway for Advent!

Housegroup is back, meeting on Wednesdays from 8pm to 9.30pm and looking at the Gospel of Luke. Here's the programme:

7 October Christ’s Birth & Boyhood
held at 69 Arngask Road
21 October Christ’s Ministry Begins
held at 20 Penderry Rise
4 November Christ’s Disciples
held at 37 Jutland Road
18 November Christ’s Message, Ministry & Miracles
held at 1 Lake Avenue , Bromley

All welcome, just turn up!

New BBC series on the History of Christianity

Welcome to our links panel The Church Mouse Blog, voted 'highly commended' in the Christian Website of the year awards.

Here you can read what Mouse has to say on the BBC's 'major new series' on Christianity.

Summer at St Laurence's

This week we’ve responded to the statement from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York by following their advice to suspend the administration of the chalice at the Eucharist. The Blessed Sacrament is being administered in one kind only, and we will receive the Host (consecrated bread) in our hands. More details were handed out yesterday, and spare information sheets covering questions about this are at the back of church. Suffice it to say here that theologically it makes no difference and we have fully received communion in this way. Meanwhile, our prayers are with those who are affected by illness at this time.

On a lighter note (pun intended!) there’s a chance to vote for possible replacement panels which will be installed in church as part of the new lighting scheme. There are “mock ups” of two of the alternatives in church now to help us decide. I quite like the shiny one, but keep changing my mind!

From now until the end of August, weekday masses will be on Tuesdays (7.30pm) and Wednesdays (10.30am, followed by coffee). The next healing mass will be on Tuesday 4 August, and the next choral evensong on 6 September (no Sunday evening prayer during August).

Elvis returns to Catford!

Phew, it is hot in the office!

There's plenty going on, as usual, so remember to check our calendar from time to time (click on "What's on" under "Links" to the right). In the meantime though here's a plug for one of the highlights of the Summer - 'Elvis' will be performing here at St Laurence's on Saturday 11th July, and tickets are on sale now!! You can read more about him by clicking on the title of this post.

We had a brilliant evening last time he came here, so do come along if you can. The money raised from the ticket sales is the start of our fundraising efforts for the Christmas Day Party that we put on every year for the benefit of the people of Catford (you can find out more about last year's below).

See you on the 11th!

Parish pilgrimage holiday

A number of St Laurence's congregation joined together with All Saints', Blackheath for their annual pilgrimage earlier this month. This year the venue was Aosta, the birthplace of St Anselm and the most completely surviving Roman garrison town in Europe (and also, incidentally, visited by the Archbishop of Canterbury 10 days before our visit!).

John took photos of the presentation to the Bishop (Fr Charles Pickstone of St Laurence's on the left, Fr Nicholas Cranfield of All Saints' on the right).



I've heard that a good time was had by all, and hopefully someone will write an account of their visit for the next parish magazine (hint, hint).

Concert on Saturday

Our next organ recital will be this Saturday, 9th May at 11am, at which
Michael Bonaventure will play music by Kenneth Leighton:

1. Paean (1966)
2. Improvisation (In memoriam Maurice de Sausmarez) (1969)
3. Festival Fanfare (1968)
4. Veni Creator Spiritus - Prelude (1987)
5. Prelude, Scherzo and Passacaglia (1964)

Michael was invited by the Edinburgh Society of Organists to give a recital to mark the 80th anniversary of Kenneth Leighton's birth. At St Laurence, Michael will play an abridged version of the programme he presented at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh on 10 January this year.

Free entrance, coffee and biscuits afterwards, and retiring collection for St Laurence choir bursary fund.

Blessing the palms

Holy Week and Easter services

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, when we celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of Holy Week. The 10 o'clock mass begins in the church hall, where palm crosses are distributed and blessed, and we process into the church.

Please click on the link on the right for our Holy Week and Easter services (click on "services and events" and then on "Holy Week and Easter").

The turning point

This Sunday marks the end of the Christmas period, with the feast of The Presentation of the Lord. It is the midpoint of winter, midway between the shortest day and the Spring Equinox.

Also known as Candlemas, this is traditionally the day when the candles to be used in church for the coming year were blessed. This Sunday's 10am mass will begin in the hall where candles will be blessed before we process into the main church for a family mass led by Fr Iain.

As we're keen to keep the ball rolling following positive feedback from those who attended in 2008, fundraising efforts for this year's Christmas day party for the elderly start in the hall afterwards with a raffle!

In the evening, we have our monthly Choral Evensong at 6pm which is well worth coming back for. Especially if you have been busy cooking or shopping during the day, it makes a great start to the week; dare I say it, possibly an antidote to the Monday morning blues?

The Epiphany of the Lord

our crib scene, showing the wise men en route!