Supporting our local football club

At Redeemer Church London, we think it’s really important to build strong community within Ealing and look at joining forces with other organisations to help achieve this.

To that end, we're delighted to have been working closely in recent months with another local organisation with a great community spirit - Hanwell Town Football Club.

The Ealing area is home to four non-league football clubs, and Hanwell are the highest ranking of these, plying their trade in the Southern League Premier Division South.

The club were founded in 1920 and now compete in level seven of the football pyramid, which is three divisions below the Football League and six below the Premier League.

Known as the ‘Geordies’, Hanwell were created by men from Newcastle working locally who adopted the black and white stripes of Newcastle United FC as their colours.

Redeemer sponsored its first Hanwell match in January when the team got a credible 1-1 draw against high-flying Poole Town thanks to an equaliser from Dwayne Duncan.

Now, we are going to be sponsoring a second game this Saturday (March 15) as the 15th-placed Geordies take on Havant and Waterlooville who currently sit in 9th.

Sponsorship provides a great way for Redeemer to reach a new audience and advertise our services both at the match and on a digital billboard next to the busy A40 road.

We are really excited at this growing partnership and would encourage you to get along to the game which kicks off at 3pm. Tickets can be bought in advance or on the gate.

Prices are £12 for adults, £7 concessions (over-65s, students, NHS, emergency workers, and veterans), £3 under-18s and free for under-12s. The cost goes up by £1 on the gate.

Some of our children will be mascots, and we hope to see you there – up the Geordies!

EXERCISE IS TO THE OLYMPICS AS PRAYER IS TO...

Let me share just some of the thoughts I had when watching athletes perform during the Rio Olympics:

• Hugely inspiring
• Mega moving
• Totally immense

My wife got so into the event that she woke up in the middle of the night, and slipped downstairs to watch the TV and cheer on and enjoy a memorable race.

Each person taking part put in hours of training, over years and even decades. There have been personal and family sacrifices made so they can represent their country and achieve a personal best.

The whole thing was so inspirational - the greatest show on earth!

But is this something that just satisfies us while safe on the sofa?

Will we get up and give sport a go?

I love the idea that ‘I am Team GB’.

ITV shut down for an hour on Saturday - Emmerdale and Coronation Street encouraged people to give sport a go. Many athletes encouraged anyone and everyone to participate.

Having heard the worrying facts about childhood obesity, surely this must not just be one hour, but something that for many of us must become a lifestyle. The Government is encouraging all school children to do 30 minutes of exercise a day at school and the parents to promote another 30 minutes at home.

Nike has been telling us since 1988 that we must ‘Just do it’.

What holds you and me back?

What other area of your life have you thought, planned or purposed to give a go…but have never got round to it?

Let me extend this - have you ever properly asked:

• Who is Jesus?
• Does prayer work today? 

Delay no longer!

May I invite you to come and visit Redeemer this Sunday.

ONE THING TO TURN BUSYNESS INTO BREAKTHROUGH

2016 is an Olympics year.

I’m looking forward to watching the Rio games, being reminded of the joy of London 2012. And the whole of the UK will be thinking exactly the same thing:

If only this were the Winter Olympics.

In the winter, that well-loved sport of curling appears on the TV, and Britain proves to the world why it’s Great.

No other nation on earth can say, “Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry,” at that speed, with that level of sincerity.

And I think I know why.

The West generally, the UK in particular, and very specifically London, has become a world leader in hurrying.

Recent years have seen the introduction of the takeaway espresso cup. Under what circumstances are you in so much of a hurry that you don’t have time to drink an espresso before you’ve left the coffee shop?

The other day I saw a guy who was so intent on replying to an email on his BlackBerry as soon as possible, that he actually stopped drying his hands in the bathroom to do so.

When did life get so busy that we became unable to live it?

I have a suggestion: stick time in the calendar for reflection – to stop, think, and make sure all the stuff that’s filling your time is actually helping.

Here are the rules:

• Start realistic – give yourself one hour every six months. You’ll instantly realise it isn’t enough, but this is very achievable. ISN’T IT.
• Move it, don’t delete it – if something else comes up at the same time, don’t just delete it from your calendar, move it instead. And always move it sooner!
• Think about where your life is heading – where you’ll be in 1-6 months and 1-6 years.
• Think about what you’ve learned since the last reflection time – taking the time out to do this will teach you what you should have learned already!

And one final tip, if I may.

Redeemer recently finished a set of meetups – I met up with a group every Monday morning at 7am for nine weeks.

Another set of meetups will be starting soon – make sure you sign up when the window opens, so that you get the regular time to reflect with others on what’s important in life.