We're Moving! - Pause & Praise
In the first of three blogs focusing on our change of Sunday venue, Pete Cornford encourages us to pause and praise God for what he’s done so far at Redeemer!
Redeemer Church is moving! From the 2nd of June we will be meeting in Weston Hall, at the University of West London! We will be releasing more information about the practicalities of the move over the next two weeks, so that you have all the information you need about the move before it happens. As part of the move we’ll be publishing 3 blogs, the first of which is this one!
In this first blog Pete Cornford looks back at our time in Ealing Town Hall over the last 5 years, and encourages us to pause and praise God for what he has done in and through us as a church!
London is a fast paced and vibrant place to live. What a privilege it is to dwell in this city!
I am so aware in my own life that I love the new and the next: pressing on for what today holds and getting excited about the future. I would like to consider myself an ‘enthusiastic optimist’, with a mindset that says ‘we can do it!’
However sometimes it is good to pause.
To stop.
To reflect.
To look back and be grateful, recognising all that God has accomplished.
Redeemer Church, London was launched on Sunday mornings, at Ealing Town Hall in January 2013.
The iconic, central location has served us so well. From the small downstairs basement we have expanded into the main Hall as you enter the building. There has been space for the children's work to expand from 1 child to regularly getting over 50 children in attendance. People have decided to follow Jesus, many have got baptised, couples have got married and families have celebrated the arrival of babies. Visiting speakers have inspired and taught us, people have been healed and there have been powerful encounters with the living God. We have dreamed, cried and laughed together as community…..
And I am very grateful!
If you have been part of the journey - THANK YOU.
Why don’t you pause now - reflect and be grateful for all you have!
Carols, Community and Celebration!
This Sunday we sung carols by candlelight and heard about what it really means to be ‘home’ at Christmas time!
This Sunday we had the privilege of hosting our annual Carols by Candlelight event at Ealing Town Hall! Always a time of celebration, this year was no different, with people coming together to sing carols, enjoy a free glass of mulled wine and a mince pie, and get into the Christmas spirit!
What a fantastic event it was this year! Over 300 people gathered in the Town Hall, we sang more carols together than we ever have before, yet there was still time to listen to outstanding performance songs and poetry and learn from Pete Cornford about what it really means to be home at Christmas time. He reminded us that home is not always about a physical place but that we truly find what it means to feel at home in our relationships with those that we love. We as Christians believe that we are welcomed home when we seek relationship with God, that he waits for us with open arms. Jesus talked about this as part of his teaching, and you can read about it in Luke 15:11-32.
If you were one of those that joined with us this Sunday we hope you felt welcomed and at home amongst us, and if you haven’t already, see if you can spot yourself in the family photo we took at the end of the evening!
If you want to find out what it looks like to be a member of the Redeemer family, you are so welcome to join us at our family service this Sunday (the 23rd of December) at 10am in the Town Hall for festive songs, a nativity and even a few games!
Finally, there is also still an opportunity to contribute to the collection which was taken on Sunday evening to support the work of St Mungo’s, an organisation which aims to help those without a physical home to go to this Christmas.
Carols by Candlelight
Fancy singing some carols next weekend? Find out how you can do just that….
Christmas is a time to gather together to drink mulled wine, eat mince pies and sing carols. These traditions have been going on for hundreds of years.
Today when life is such a rush it is so vital to take time to pause and connect to others. With so many carols to choose from: the children singing ‘Away in a manger’, enjoying a performance of ‘O Holy Night’ (the nations favourite carol), tapping your feet and enjoying the fun ‘See Him lying on a bed of straw’ or the more classic ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ - there is something for everyone.
I know that many places raise money for good causes by charging for tickets - but I am delighted to say that on Sunday 16th December at 6pm you can come to Ealing Town Hall and enjoy the singing, nibble a mince pie or two and enjoy a drink for free. I hope to see you there.