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How we can ask for forgiveness

Redeemer Church London member MANDY HUDSON has put together this wonderful prayer asking for forgiveness based on Romans 3v10-18.

At Redeemer Church London, we’re currently working our way through the book of Romans, which is found in the New Testament of the Bible.

Each Sunday in our services, we’re hearing a talk about a passage from the book – and then looking further into it in during weekly Gospel Community small groups.

We recently considered Romans 3v10-18 which looks at how everyone is guilty of sin before God. But the good news is that we can find redemption through asking for forgiveness!

To help find the words to say, church member MANDY HUDSON has put together this wonderful prayer asking for forgiveness based on the passage.

The response after each line is ‘Oh Lord hear, Oh Lord forgive’, which is taken from Daniel 9v19. Here is the prayer in full:

Forgive us Lord, when we try to be righteous through our own efforts. No one is righteous. Only You.

Forgive us for not understanding You and Your great love for us. Sometimes, through ignorance, but mostly because we want to seem wise in our own eyes.

Forgive us when we don’t seek You, despite the fact that You want us to find You.

Forgive us that we often turn aside from Your narrow path walking the broad path which only leads us away from You.

Forgive us Lord, when we squander the gifts and talents You have given us on worthless, temporary things which won’t last and don’t give you the profit you deserve.

Lord, we acknowledge that none of us do any good without You. Help us allow Your Holy Spirit grow His fruit of goodness in us.

Lord, forgive us when our throats are like an open tomb speaking negative words which bring discouragement and despair.

Lord, forgive us when we lie and try to deceive You and others to save our own reputation.

We confess we can be spiteful and say mean things about other people. It’s as if our lips are full of poison.

Lord, please stop swear words and bitter talk coming out of our mouths. Please replace them with Your words of gentleness, kindness and love.

Lord, You know how angry we can get with other people to such an extent that our thoughts are murderous.

Forgive us when we bring destruction and misery to others because of our selfish attitudes and actions.

We don’t know how to bring peace to our own hearts, our families, communities or world. Please teach us to be your blessed peace makers.

Forgive us that we don’t fear You, when we treat you without proper respect, awe and reverence.

We confess we are all sinners, guilty and deserving of condemnation by You, Holy, Mighty God. We cannot be justified by anything other than the precious, gracious blood of Jesus.

Amen.

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'Red Folk': A poem about our children's workers

At Redeemer London, we have a series of children’s groups on Sunday mornings which are run by a team of dedicated volunteers. Church member STEVE PAGE wrote this poem all about them.

At Redeemer Church London, we have a series of children’s groups on Sunday mornings for those aged from three months up to 11 years.

The four different sessions - split by age brackets – help teach youngsters about Bible stories while their parents get to hear the sermon in the main service.

The groups are run by a team of dedicated volunteers each week - and you can find them wearing red T-shirts.

Church member STEVE PAGE wrote this poem all about them. We hope you enjoy it!

RED FOLK

The Red-Folk are well known to some, but less well known to others.

You see, the Red-Folk do their reddy-ness in the background with the smallest folk.

This means that bigger folk will only notice them if they have small folk friends.

The Red-Folk are quite distinct; I don’t mean their tomato redness, I mean their ability to fold themselves small.

Now, you may know that small folk are very used to legs and knees and big feet and are they are very, very good at winding their way through a forest of trousers and skirts to get to where they need to go.

But this can be tiring, and sometimes small folk misjudge the sway of a leg or a knee and bounce off them, falling back onto their bottoms.

This can sometimes be funny, but it is often painful and can spark small folk tears.

So, when small folk find that the Red-Folk just love to fold their legs and knees away and come down to small folk level, you can imagine the sheer joy the small folk feel.

Some Red-Folk don’t last long because their legs and knees begin to ache and the small folk noise becomes too loud and the Red-Folk miss ‘Big Conversation.’

But there are some Red-Folk who are excellent at folding their legs and knees away and who love nothing better than small conversations with small folk.

You see they have discovered that this is where small and precious truths are first planted to later become stronger big truths and they have seen that this is also where small folk plant big love in the Red-Folk’s big hearts.

So, if you are looking for the Red-Folk, you need to look down to where the small important conversations are taking place with the small important folk.

If you want to find out more about our children's groups on Sunday mornings, please contact our family worker Abi at: abi@redeemerlondon.org.

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Looking for a Church in Ealing? What to expect at Redeemer!

If you’re based in Ealing or the surrounding areas of West London and are looking for a church, we’d love to welcome you to our vibrant community at Redeemer. Find out more about our services here!

If you’re based in Ealing or the surrounding areas of West London and are looking for a church, we’d love to welcome you to our vibrant community at Redeemer.

We have three services on Sunday - the first two are larger gatherings at the University of West London (W5 5RF) at 9.30am and 11.30am with a few hundred people at each.

You can expect a warm welcome as people arrive for the service and take their seat in the Weston Hall lecture theatre, which becomes our church for the morning.

Each service lasts 75 minutes, starting with about 30 minutes of singing which is led by the band. Some people stand up, some people sit and others share Bible readings.

The children and youth then go out to their groups, and everyone else remains in for notices. Then a speaker – often our pastor Pete Cornford – gives a talk for 30 minutes.

We finish with a song and a chance to ask someone to pray for you for anything you want. Refreshments are also served next to the hall in the large café area.

The third gathering on Sundays is a smaller one at The Hub (W5 2NX) at 6.30pm which might suit you if you’d like a quieter service (or if you work during the day!).

We asked several Redeemer members what they love about their church, and here’s what they told us:

Grace: ‘I love that our church is a community that cares deeply - it is naturally diverse and the people encourage, challenge and support each other to grow closer to God, to share His love, and to be a kind and fruitful family.’

Josh: ‘In Redeemer I experience a sense of belonging in a community that is passionately following God and loving people. Redeemer is unapologetically Bible focused, counter-cultural and so refreshing. It’s a safe place.’

Jonathan: ‘'The initial thing that struck me when I first started coming to Redeemer was the genuine sense of community. It went from small talk to being invited into people's homes and lives. In a city like London which can be a lonely place, having a church family that you can be part of is vital.’

Laurie: ‘The Redeemer welcome at services is warm and the energy at worship is spirit inspired. The preach feeds my hunger for Biblical knowledge and wisdom. The prayer is powerful and compassionate. The sense of family and friendship is heartfelt and a shining example of Christ at work within the community.’

If you’d like to find out more, email: hello@redeemerlondon.org. We’d love to see you soon!

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#RedeemerRecommends - Not Too Poetry

#RedeemerRecommends a book written by a member of the Redeemer family!

If you’re a regular reader of the Redeemer Blog, or you are part of the Redeemer family that meet together on a Sunday, then you will no doubt be aware of the talents of our resident poet - Steve Page!

It is with great excitement that I get to present to you this week’s #RedeemerRecommends, which features Steve’s second published poetry anthology!

Following on from his first book, ‘Not Too Big to Weep’, Steve’s second book is entitled ‘Not Too Old to Dance’.

Steve’s poems speak about and draw inspiration from his faith, his life in London, and his vast imagination. The book is split into sections, each described as having a slightly different ‘mood’, whether that be observing, writing, or dancing! Some of the poems will be familiar to readers of this blog, but I would encourage you (as Pete Cornford does in the foreword) to grab a coffee, dive in, and discover the joy, laughter, sorrow, excitement, and many more emotions hidden within the pages of this book.

Steve, you are such a blessing, and we thank you for sharing your gifting with us!

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Alpha Starts Tonight!

Got Questions? Try Alpha!

Here at Redeemer we want to be a church which encourages people to ask questions, and seek deeper relationship with God. You might be reading this and have a friend who has lots of questions about your faith, you might have just started coming to Redeemer and are looking for deeper relationship with God, you might not be a christian, but you’ve got an interest in finding out exactly what it looks like to live as a follower of Jesus.

If any of the above applies to you, then I have good news! Tonight is the beginning of our next Alpha course! We will be meeting at Osteria del Portico every Wednesday night for the next 9 weeks, eating great food together, hearing a talk on an aspect of the Christian faith, and then taking time to ask questions and have friendly discussion together around the topic which has been spoken on.

Alpha is a fantastic opportunity to get to hear different people’s views, and discuss what we believe as Christians, and why we believe it is worth talking about! We also hope that over the 9 weeks you will get to build great friendships and learn things about the Christian faith which encourage you to dig deeper into what it means to be a Christian.

You can hear just one story of Alpha below:

We hope to see you tonight for Week 1 - ‘Is There More To Life Than This?’

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Toby Elliott Toby Elliott

Redeemer Live!!

Redeemer Live is tonight! Come along to enjoy some live music and poetry, have a laugh with your friends, and hear more about the next Alpha Course!

Here at Redeemer we love music, and we are blessed to have many talented musicians, songwriters and poets amongst us! This Thursday there is a chance to see some of these gifted individuals in action, at Redeemer Live!

Redeemer Live is a live music and poetry event which is taking place at The Grange Pub in Ealing, at 7:30 this Thursday the 26th of September. The whole evening is a launch event for our next Alpha course, which will be running this term on Wednesday evenings at Osteria del Portico, and starts on the 2nd of October.

This is a fantastic opportunity to invite friends who might be interested in the Christian faith, who have questions about what Christians believe, or simply enjoy live music! There will be an opportunity on Thursday evening to sign up for the course, and to chat to those who will be leading it this term. 

We would love to see you on Thursday evening, bring your friends, have fun, and enjoy some great music and poetry.

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Father is A Verb

Steve Page shares a poem for Father’s Day…

This Sunday was Father’s Day, and Steve Page shared one of his poems with us…


Father is a verb.
- Let me explain:

Father's Day; and
Father Christmas 
have tried to convince us,
but don't be fooled:
You can, may or will father, 
depending on your mood.
For father is a verb.

It only works in the transitive;
you can't father alone,
only in relationship.
It doesn't resent hospital trips,
and offers wrap-around comfort
when a partnership splits.
It's touch-line volume
drowns out all rivals.
And belly laughs come standard
with jokes on recycle.

[insert joke here]

Yes, father is a verb.

It's something we each do,
despite the hour,
it drives right on through
the night when life’s gone sour.
It'll hammer ten finger nails
to get the job done.
It will dance, heedless of decorum
forgetting reputation. 

It turns manliness
into awesome-men-ness,
It tempers strength 
with a dose of gentleness, yes
father is a verb.

Be sure, whoever you are, 
it works in the singular:
I can father;
You can father

 (I'm not talking sex here, that takes a partner.)
But also, 
It works in the plural -
we can father; 
and they can father, 
because, you see, in this village
it's an joint activity:
we father (and we mother) 
collaboratively.

It works best in the present tense,
happening now, not "LATER!".

It can be said in a gentle voice
or something - even - quieter;

sometimes active: 
directive, protecting;
but often responsive: 
just sitting, listening;
...holding, and, hugging;

it responds to need, you see,
but works best proactively,
works great 
sacrificially.

For example, 
though it cost him dearly,
God Fathers us
and through us daily.
And one day, suit pressed, 
He'll proudly walk 
with the bride of Christ.
And as Father of the bride, 
He'll host the party and blow the price;
(BIGGEST bar-bill EVER)
And we'll be sure to save at least one dance
for Father.

Oh yes, you heard,
Father is a verb.

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Toby Elliott Toby Elliott

#RedeemerRecommends - NewGround Academy

#RedeemerRecommends a chance to be equipped and step into all the promises God has for you!

For this week’s #RedeemerRecommends we’re drawing your attention to a leadership training opportunity hosted by our friends in the New Ground sphere of churches, read on for more info!


Here at Redeemer we are blessed to have many people amongst us who are gifted leaders, and involved in leadership in many areas of their life, be that in the workplace, in their family, or within the church as a volunteer. You may not recognise yourself as leading in any situations, but you may wish to in the future, or you may simply be wanting to grow in your self-leadership! In any of these cases, it is always good to identify opportunities to grow and stretch ourselves. One of these opportunities is available for us just down the road!

The New Ground Academy was set up in response to Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19 to ‘Go and make disciples of all nations’. Its aim is to train and equip the church leaders and church shapers who are seeking to live out this verse in their day to day lives! It is a two year course, hosted by Everyday Church, Wimbledon, with two days of training taking place each month (on Friday & Saturday) for 10 months of the year, with holidays in August and December. Teaching at the Academy is led by a number of different men and women from across Newfrontiers and further afield, and topics in 2019 will include the Holy Spirit, Discipleship, Apologetics, Ethics, Leadership, Sexuality and many more! Each days training consists of teaching sessions, discussion groups, and Q&A opportunities, as well as time for lunch and coffee breaks when you can get to know other Academy students from different churches across London and the rest of the UK. There is a charge of £350 a year. It’s not without cost, but as anyone would agree, growing as a leader in any capacity always requires some cost. If finances are an issue, please do get in touch and we will do what we can to work something out. 

As someone who is almost a year into the Academy, I can testify that it is one of the best decisions I have ever made, every time I come away from a weekend of teaching I feel not only better equipped but also set on fire again for the lost and more desperate to see the impact of the gospel on the lives of believers and non-believers! I’m sure if you speak to anyone at Redeemer who has been on the Academy they would tell you a similar story!

So, you’re interested, what do you do next? Well why not join us THIS WEEKEND (7th or 8th of June) at Everyday Church, for one or both of the taster sessions, which are free to attend with no need to sign up! Just come along and hear some great teaching on the book of Romans. Each day starts with registration at 8:30, and finishes at 5:30 on Friday and 4:30 on Saturday. If you can’t make it this weekend but want to find out more there is a link below. Sign-up for next years course (starting September 2019) ends on the 28th of June, so don’t delay! If you have any more questions don’t hesitate to contact us on hello@redeemerlondon.org

I hope you can join us this weekend. The Academy really can change your life.

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#RedeemerRecommends - Bread

#RedeemerRecommends a blog curated by a member of the Redeemer Family!

Here at Redeemer we love to celebrate the gifting of members of our family! This week on #RedeemerRecommends we are pointing you in the direction of another blog contributed to and curated by Ann Ajet, who attends Redeemer with her family!

Bread is described as being ‘for today’s emerging generation of thoughtful disciples.’ We hope that you will be challenged and informed by their articles! We are also hoping to publish some articles written by Ann on the Redeemer blog in the near future, so keep your eyes peeled!

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What. A. Weekend.

Why was the Easter weekend so important?

Wow.

What a weekend.

Without doubt the most important weekend of the year when it comes to the church calendar. This weekend we celebrated the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, events which despite occurring over 2000 years ago, still shape each and every moment of the life of a christian. Without this weekend, if he never died as a sacrifice for our sins and then rose, conquering death and winning an everlasting victory, followers of Jesus Christ would quite simply have no foundation for their faith in him. But we believe that he did do that, we believe that he still lives today, and is seated on a heavenly throne, at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for us, which makes the Easter weekend one worth celebrating!

The weekend started with a day we now call Good Friday, but a day which seemed altogether less ‘good’ all those years ago. Jesus Christ of Nazareth hung on a cross and died, seemingly defeated. While we know now that this was in fact the beginning of his victory, a moment when all of our sin and shame was paid for, it is important as christians that we remember the cost of our salvation, that Jesus suffered in our place, that he felt our pain. This was the first time we have met together on Good Friday at Redeemer and it was an amazing service, meeting together for an hour, we sung songs which reminded us of the power of Jesus’ blood, we heard monologues read which reinforced the message that Jesus suffered for us, and we took communion together to mark the sacrifice that was made. I personally was incredibly moved by the whole service, and it was stirring to hear so many voices lifted up in praise to their king, even on such a sombre occasion.

Then, on Easter Sunday, it was time for a celebration! We had the opportunity to sing songs together which allowed us to rejoice in the victory won as Jesus walked out of his tomb! We were led by a fantastic choir, heard truth proclaimed, and were able to celebrate with three individuals who took the opportunity this Easter Sunday to be baptised and to begin their own journey of walking with Jesus, out of the darkness, and into his Glorious Day!

But what does this weekend mean for us as christians? Is it just a once a year celebration, after which we go back to our routines….? No! We believe that this truth, this celebration of Jesus’ victory is something to be celebrated all year round! So we’ll be celebrating next Sunday too, and the Sunday after that, and not just on Sundays! Every day of the rest of our lives is now lived in the knowledge that we walk in the everlasting victory that was won on the first Easter! This truth we believe is not just for ourselves, but is true for all people, of all ages, all across the world. If you’re reading this and you aren’t currently celebrating this truth, why not come and find out more by visiting us on a Sunday morning at Ealing Town Hall, or join us on Thursday the 9th of May as we launch our next Alpha course with an evening of live music and poetry at Artisan Coffee. As you reflect on another Easter weekend, whatever that means for you, don’t miss a chance to come and join in the celebration which continues all year round!

He is risen.

He is risen indeed!

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen!

Mark 16:6

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Answered Prayer - Deeper Relationship

Nathanael Jegunma shares how attending his Transforming Prayer meetup has enhanced his relationship with his Heavenly Father.

In the second of our blogs focusing on Answered Prayer, Nathanael Jegunma shares with us how the community and the prayers of his Transforming Prayer meetup have led to fresh encounters and more intimate relationship with his Heavenly Father!


I am new to Redeemer and joined a small group within the first 2 weeks. God has truly revealed how powerful he is when you have faith in him and act in according to his word.

The Transforming Prayer series has reinvigorated my connection with God and I have felt my relationship and understanding of him grow. I have begun to regularly share the word of God with my colleagues at work, improved my family relationships and learned to communicate more effectively with God.

There is power in us gathering and praying together and we have seen God answer prayers in our group. I would encourage anyone who attends Redeemer to enjoy the fellowship and family that small groups provide and get involved.

— Nathanael Jegunma

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2:42

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#RedeemerRecommends - Vintage Worship

#RedeemerRecommends a new worship album borne out of a time of dependence on God’s goodness….

This week on #RedeemerRecommends we are focusing on a new worship album, released this month by Vintage Worship, the worship team from Vintage Church in Los Angeles.

The album was recorded in August 2018, as the church came together for two nights of worship, in the wake of two devastating events locally which had profound effects on the church community; The California wildfires, and the Thousand Oaks shooting.

The songs on the latest album ‘Heaven All Around Us’ reflect on God’s kindness and his grace, while encouraging us to hold onto his love and declare truth about him over ourselves as a form of restoration, even in times of tragedy and heartbreak.

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Breakthrough - Men's Prayer Brunch

Redeemer’s new Men’s ministry kicked off with a big brunch and some bigger prayers, Sunny Gill tells us more in our latest blog…

The 9th of February marked the first Men’s brunch meetup. A new ministry from Redeemer with a vision to bring men together to discuss one simple but important question; what breakthrough are we waiting for God to do in our lives? He is a God who can do anything, and often we simply need to hold onto faith and trust that He will provide what we need at the right time.

The first meetup saw twenty-two men from Redeemer church devour an insatiable amount of eggs, sausages, bacon and coffee whilst catching up for those with those we haven’t seen in a while. But the event also provided a friendly atmosphere for new people to make new friends. It was great to see the coffee pouring and the conversations flowing with outbreaks of laughter from one end of the table to the other.

After the mighty-meaty brunch, we all gathered around in the spacious living room to listen to our very own Francois share his testimony – a vulnerable and honest account of how he grappled with an addiction to pornography, and the way it affected his marriage. It was so encouraging to hear that despite the bondage to sin that only seemed to tighten with the passage of time, Francois learnt to lean on God and His abundant grace. God has set him free from this; providing the much needed breakthrough that Francois required, as he was able to bring himself, his marriage and his family unilaterally out of difficulty under God’s light.

The session concluded as we broke into small groups to discuss addictions that we wrestle with but focus on a real and tangible way out – by lifting our voices in prayer, and beginning to lean on God; trusting Him for the breakthrough that he ultimately provided for Francois.

Chris Sutton was then given some time to discuss the ministry he is putting together called ‘caring for ex-offenders’ before the day ended in a final prayer.

The men’s ministry will be running these brunches every two to three months and we would love to see you at the next one on 13th April. Come along and please do bring any men you know who would benefit from the fruits of this ministry (inside or outside of Redeemer).

Details of the next meetup will be given nearer the time. – Please speak to Barny, Francois or Sunny for more info.

Review by Sunny Gill

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#RedeemerRecommends on Valentine's - salt.london

#RedeemerRecommends a blog from another London based Advance church, with a focus on real love this Valentine’s Day…

If you’ve walked past a shop front or been on social media at all today, you will be aware that it is Valentine’s Day! A day which I’m sure brings about mixed feelings for many of you reading this.

There are many Christian blogs out there focusing on the subject of love, but this week’s #RedeemerRecommends has picked out one in particular which we think is worth a read!

salt.london is a blog which is run by a few friends from another Advance church in Waterloo, led by Andrew Haslam. It describes itself as a blog which seeks to “engage with thoughtful Londoners on matters of faith, philosophy, and life.”

The blog focuses on a range of topics, but you can find some links to their specific Valentine’s themed posts below. We hope you will find them thought provoking and encouraging, whether you’re single or married!

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Transforming Prayer Poetry - Week 1

Our series of poems which will run alongside the season of Transforming Prayer at Redeemer begins today.

As part of our Transforming Prayer series here at Redeemer we will be posting weekly poems based around the topic of prayer.

The incredibly gifted Steve Page has written a series of poems for us to use, you can check out more of his work by seeking out his posts on this blog or by following this link at the bottom of this page.

We hope you enjoy the posts, and are prepared for the start of our Transforming Prayer meetups and preaching series this Sunday!

Over to Steve…

Prayer #1

You walk
You sit
You kneel

You ask
You wait
You weep

I listen
I speak
I weep

I hear
I stand
I act

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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.

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#RedeemerRecommends Upside Down Advent!

Put your advent into reverse with this #RedeemerRecommends…

Turn Advent UPSIDE DOWN. 

In the run up to Christmas I was struck by an idea floating on the Web.  

A REVERSE ADVENT CALENDAR.

http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/family/547633/reverse-advent-calendar 

Instead (or as well as) opening an advent calendar door each morning for a piece of chocolate to munch with your cereal flakes of choice, create a collection for someone struggling to make ends meet this Christmas.  

Each day in the run up to Christmas, put aside a staple food item or something a little more festive.  And before Christmas hand it to a local food bank or a charity supporting the homeless to be passed on to someone who may not be anticipating a happy Christmas time. 

Go to https://www.trusselltrust.org/what-we-do/ for more ideas of the best items to include and to find your local foodbank.  

If you're in Ealing go to https://ealing.foodbank.org.uk

You can even hand it in at your local supermarket - Tesco's in Ealing is collecting. 

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Toby Elliott Toby Elliott

#RedeemerRecommends @ Christmas

The latest #RedeemerRecommends points us in the direction of a case for an early Christmas…

As we well and truly get into the Christmas spirit here at Redeemer, I have been thinking about how modern culture seems to be encouraging us to begin celebrating Christmas earlier and earlier each year.

For this next instalment of #RedeemerRecommends I would love to point you in the direction of an interesting blog by Courtney Ellis. It is a post encouraging us to avoid maligning those that would put Christmas music on in mid-October and embrace the fact that the birth of Jesus is something to be celebrated all year round!

Check out the blog here: 

https://www.christianitytoday.com/women/2018/november/christmas-advent-case-for-early-holiday.html

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Week of Prayer

Next week is our week of prayer! We would love to see you at one of our prayer meetings next week, read this blog, be encouraged, and get some more info on how you can be involved!

They say the most widely spoken prayer in modern life is simply “help me God”. All sorts of people say it, whether they believe in God or not. It’s a prayer which is prayed at different times, in different situations!

Personally, I find more time to pray early in the morning or later in the evening. It seems more natural to pray when I have time to reflect.

We know that God hears all our prayers and at Redeemer for a week every term we put a particular emphasis on meeting and praying together as a church community. Next week is that week!

Whether you are free in the evenings, or the mornings, or you want to get involved in our 24 hour prayer room, there is something available for you next week. Ealing is a very busy place, but I can assure you taking an hour out to pray with others will impact your week in a hugely positive way!

You will be welcome no matter what your situation, life experience or whether you believe in prayer or not. A prayer life can simply start with “help me God”.

To sign up for a slot in the 24 hours of prayer follow this link:

For information on all of the prayer meetings next week check out the calendar section of the website:

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Learning a little guitar...

Pete Cornford describes how he’s trying something new, and getting to know his community at the same time!

As a Hanwell resident over the years I have loved watching the local Ukulele group perform at the Hanwell Carnival and The Hanwell Hootie as well as on other fun occasions. The players all seemed to be having such a good time and the audience would dance and sing along.

Despite never having picked up the small instrument before, a year ago, I decided to go along on a Tuesday night and join the band. I am so glad that I took a step into the unknown! There have been several benefits to joining the group…

  • The friendly and welcoming nature of the group has meant I’ve made friends.

  • Tuesday nights have become a great way to connect with my local community outside of a church context.

  • I always enjoy my evening singing and playing at the W7 on the Green, and representing Redeemer at these events. It has been wonderful to perform locally.

  • It has been incredible to go along and support great local causes, encouraging and building up others that are benefitting our community.

I am stirred to challenge you with a couple of questions.

1) When did you last try something for the first time?

2) In what ways are you integrating into the local community?

Who knows how your life, or the lives or others might be changed when you step out and trying something new.

Pete.

Here is a link to the webpage is you want to come and join us:

www.hanwellukulele.co.uk

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