Author: Saintstephens

This week is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, during which we pray that all our churches work and serve closely together, bearing fruit for the common good, especially during this challenging time of the coronavirus.

St John’s Church, Welling are offering a prayer chain, in which they invite you to take an hour to spend with the Lord on either Friday 22nd or Saturday 23rd January. To see which hours are still available and to get instructions on booking as well as links to prayer resources, please go to: St Johns Welling | Prayer Chain.

If the hour you want is already booked, then please do book it anyway, as we will all be praying at home or elsewhere.

May you draw close to the Lord as you spend time with Him during Unity Week.

We look towards the light!

Being in Lockdown for so long, I have found a resonance with St Paul’s plight in his journey under guard to Rome and then house arrest. The chains that bound him were not a hindrance to proclaiming the Good News to the fledgling churches he had established and helped to grow – and to us – in his letters. He never lost sight of the purpose the Lord had for him to proclaim the Word to Gentile Governors and Kings so that Jesus Christ would be known throughout the world.

Continue reading “Reflections for the Month of January”

News after a long period of radio silence! Due to travel restrictions both ends I have decided to spend Christmas in Rome: I am quite ok with that, although I will miss being home. A lot of us will be here so I shan’t miss company. I wish you a happy and blessed Christmas season.

Continue reading “End of Year News from Rome”

We are called to a Month of Prayer by Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Justin Welby. 

See www.cbcew.org.uk/statement-on-the-four-week-national-lockdown-and-a-call-to-prayer/

and www.churchofengland.org/resources/call-prayer-nation

In particular it has been suggested that we pray together at 6.00pm.
The following has been proposed by the Catholic Charismatic Renewal National Service Committee.

Continue reading “Call to Prayer this November”

Geoff was a kind and unassuming gentleman who returned to the parish in his retirement.  His neighbour Sheena paid a glowing tribute to him at his funeral on 19 October.  She bought the house next door to Geoff (by then a widower) some years ago, and as she moved in after having months of work done on the house, Geoff turned up with a bottle of champagne to welcome her to the neighbourhood.  This was when she realised what a caring person he was.

Continue reading “Tribute to Geoff Carlton”