Stella Olukanmi is
inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting for our
Christmas Day Service. The service is on the Church Service page Topic:
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Dec 25, 2020 10:00 AM London Join
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FROM STELLA 7 NOV '20 As we are looking at names of Jesus this
Advent, here are those for the week for meditation and for your paper chain! Second Sunday in Advent Jesus is our Deliverer 1 Thessalonians 1: 10 Monday. The Judge Acts 10: 42 Tuesday. Lord of all. Philippians 2: 9 -11 Wednesday. Light of the world John 8: 12 Thursday. Indescribable Gift. 2 Corinthians
9: 15 Friday. The Head of the Church. Ephesians 1:
22 Saturday Rock. 1 Corinthians 10: 4 All that Jesus is, he is for you. May we
continue to look to him and rest in his unfailing love for us.
Stella
FROM STELLA 1 DEC 2020
Hope you're all keeping safe and well. As I said on Sunday, let's make some time
this Advent to meditate on names of Jesus Christ, how he helps and speaks to
us, the One for whom we wait and whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. Each
week a new list of names will be published for you to meditate on. The names of Jesus for the week are Advent Sunday. JESUS. Luke 1: 31. The one who
saves Monday. Wonderful Counsellor. Isaiah 9: 6 Tuesday. Friend. Matthew 11: 19 Wednesday Faithful and True. Revelation 19:
11 Thursday. Holy One. Luke 1: 35 Friday. Lily of the Valley. Song of Songs 2:
1 Saturday. Holy Servant. Acts 4: 29 -30 Remember, you can make the names into a paper
chain to hang on your tree or use as other decoration. Who is Jesus to you?
What other names of Jesus have you found. Next instalment on Sunday dv. Take five minutes for your day, be still and
light a candle. Enjoy Advent hope and peace. God's blessing on you all
Stella NOV 2020
Hello everyone Here we go again, I hear you say as we enter
a second lockdown. Please do not despair and don't dwell on what
we can't do, rather make the most of what we are able to do and knowing that it
is for a specific time. I thought you would like to read the letter
sent out by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. They are asking us to pray
each evening at 6pm. The diocese is encouraging us to pray and fast for our
nation on Thursdays. I am suggesting that you put a candle in the window every
Thursday evening for the month we're in lockdown and pray. Our services will be on the phone again until
further notice . It is Remembrance Sunday - service will start at 10-15am this
Sunday ONLY Stella To the nation Dear Friends, 4 November 2020 These are deeply
challenging and difficult times for us all. When we are surrounded by fear and
suffering, it can be hard to feel hopeful. This coming winter feels like it
will be longer and darker than usual. There is a story
in the Bible where Jesus and his disciples are caught in a storm. The disciples
are understandably terrified as the wind and waves threaten to overpower them.
‘Why are you so afraid?’, Jesus asks. This year, we too have been caught in a
storm which often feels overwhelming. And yet we can look to Jesus, in the boat
with us, who calms the storm and comforts us in our fear. We are writing to
share our belief that whoever you are, and whatever you happen to believe, you
are loved by God. Beyond measure. We also want you to know that we are praying
for you, particularly asking that Christ’s love will comfort us, calm our
fears, and lead our nation and our world through this terrible pandemic.
Starting this week, we have asked every church to pray each day at 6pm. We
invite you to join with us. You’ll be able to find simple resources on the
Church of England website and social media channels. There are three
other responses that we want to encourage everyone to consider - First, let’s be calm.
By only buying what we need and not hoarding, or by reaching out to our
neighbours as we did during the first lockdown, we can be stronger together in
ways that are impossible if we go it alone. When things go wrong - as they
always will with such complex challenges - let us look for good and right ways
forward together. Secondly, let’s
be courageous. There are many reasons to be fearful at the moment, but
the story of Christ calming the waves calls us to give our fears to Jesus and
have faith in Him. The British willingness just to get on with things is one of
our very best characteristics – let us not be paralysed by fear. We will all
need each other's courage in the months to come. Thirdly, let’s be
compassionate. So many of us are holding so much pain - our own and the
pain of those we love. We will need to be gentle, kind and patient with each
other. In the first wave we showed we are a nation of compassion and kindness.
Let’s dig deep and keep that love for our neighbours strong in this second time
of struggle. Even though there
is much darkness around us, there are also many points of light in the weeks
ahead. This Sunday is
Remembrance Day. As we remember the courage and sacrifice of those who gave
everything for this nation in war, we are also reminded of the possibility for
hope after destruction, of new life after suffering. In the coming weeks, there
are great religious ceremonies. For Hindus, Sikhs and Jains there is Diwali,
the festival of light. Sikhs will celebrate the birth of Guru Nanak. The Jewish
community will observe Hanukkah. Many Muslim communities have just celebrated
Eid-e-Milad, the anniversary of the birth of Muhammad. Soon it will be
Christmas. At his birth Jesus was also called Emmanuel. It’s a word that
appears in lots of carols. It means ‘God is with us’. And this is the message
of Christmas: in Jesus, God is with us, sharing our darkness and our struggles,
bringing comfort and joy. It is the source of our hope. As the Bible says: “The
light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:5)
Let us shine in the darkness of this winter. May God bless you
and keep you, and all those you love. The Most Revd
& Rt Hon Justin Welby, The Most Revd & Rt Hon Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop of York
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