Golders Green Parish Church – Newsletter

08 September 2021

 

Greetings to everyone hoping you are all keeping well. As we get nearer and nearer to welcoming Kamran and family it is hoped as many as possible will be coming to his installation on Tuesday 14th September. There will be soft drinks available from 7pm and the Service will start at 7.30pm. Because of Covid restrictions we will not be able to have refreshments in church afterwards but will be giving those present a little gift bag at the end. How good it will be to see you all and guests. It will be a new beginning for us and one we look forward to with real pleasure for all we will do together as a church community.
 
This week’s newsletter continues to focus on Climate Change as we approach the all-important COP26 discussions with the Heads of State. While there are dreadful, most terrible acts taking place across the world in so many countries that rightly disarm, pre-occupy and concern us, if we do not get satisfactory agreement about limiting the ravages of the climate so we and future generations can live safely without the increasing floods, fires, crop destruction, starvation and pandemics that are taking place now, our creation that we have been given by God to care for will be lost. Sorry to sound so depressive but it has to be taken seriously.
 
Included this week is a letter from a Member of "The Public Square Group", a group formed by numbers of friends and acquaintances across the country, including myself, who are increasingly alarmed at what is happening in the UK. We are committed to exploring how we can contribute to a more holistic society devoted to the greater creation of the common good and people’s wellbeing, promoting moral, ethical, rational decision-making and involvement in public life. The PSG contains many Christians who believe our commitment to support the poor and feel as St James (ch2 v26) wrote in his letter that, “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead”. The Hebrew Bible and New Testament is full of commands to us to support and care for the poor. The PSG has since been joined by many others of different faiths and beliefs who have a common mind about the necessity of treating human beings, whoever they are and wherever they are, fairly, with justice, transparency, honesty, integrity and welcome. We are divided up into task-force groups focusing on different areas of concern. I am part of the “Hospitality, Welcome, Refugee Group” and write on their behalf.  Joe Forde, who is the Chair of Public Square Group's Poverty Alleviation Sub- Group sent information about Poverty Action which is published below.
 
On a more cheerful matter I would like to thank Rotimi N, very much who has, each week, faithfully posted the newsletter since it started onto our church website.  I am extremely grateful to her as it means a wider number of people have access to it.  Rotimi, you will remember, created the book of memories which was our gift to Rex and Sarah when they left.  Thank you for your skills at doing this and all things IT Rotimi. Because of pressure of work Rotimi would like to hand over this task to someone who would be able and willing to take it on for us. Please, if you know anyone who could do this, contact me (churchWardens@gg-pc.co.uk) and I will put you in contact with Rotimi.
 
Love and good wishes - Sally
 

This week’s edition includes:

• Update from Tony;
• Zoom links;
• National Climate Sunday- Jenny;
• Prayer
• Challenge Poverty Week (England and Wales)
• How We Are;
• Prayers, hymns, and broadcasts;
• Zoom Links

Update from Tony
 

*** Reminder: Wednesday Evening Prayer Time ***

National Climate Sunday - Jenny 

 
As we’ve mentioned previously, last Sunday, 5th September, was marked by churches around the country as the national Climate Sunday.
 
Climate Sunday (www.climatesunday.org) was initiated by a group of churches and church-related organisations including Christian Aid, with the aim of raising awareness among Christian communities of the enormity of the climate crisis and encouraging them to take action to counter it.  Its focus is on the UN summit on climate change, which you’ll have heard referred to as COP26, and which is happening in Glasgow in less than two months time.  It’s at that meeting that the world’s leader will meet to decide how they’re going to turn climate change round: there’s not much time left, but it can be done if they make the necessary commitments and then follow through on them.
 
That’s why Climate Sunday is so important, and why we at GGPC are marking it.  Last Sunday was a prelude to our own Climate Sunday: the recorded lecture by Tom Wright helped us think theologically about the resurrection and new creation and what that means for our response to the climate crisis.  Sally led us in a wonderful time of prayer and reflection, and the prayer she used, which was written by Eco-congregations Scotland specially for COP26, is included elsewhere in this newsletter.
 
Our own Climate Sunday will be this coming Sunday, 12th September.  There’s no magic in the date: the important thing is that before COP26 we join thousands of other churches in holding a climate-focused service at which we can: celebrate the beauty and wonder of God’s creation; lament the way humankind, and particularly the rich industrialised countries, have failed to care for creation, with all the consequences of that for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities, who have done least to cause the problem but suffer most from its effects; and ask God to show us how we can join with millions of others around the world in taking action to reverse global heating  before it’s too late.  The service will as usual be a Eucharist, and we’ll be using specially chosen hymns, readings, and prayers.
 
We’re thrilled, and very grateful, that Revd Petrica B will be back to lead this service.  He has a genuine personal concern about the climate crisis and has been very happy to support us in planning the service.  We’re looking forward enormously to hearing him preach on the subject.  We’re also looking forward enormously to seeing as many of you as possible either in person or via Zoom!
 
 
 

A PRAYER FOR COP26 (UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES)

By David Coleman

Sustaining God
as in November, at great cost and with great urgency
the leaders of our species
and those with concern for their common home
will gather in Glasgow,
we ask for your welcoming, affirming presence
in the many layers of gathering
which are part of that event.

Give to those who make decisions
a freedom from the burdens of a past
which have pushed us to this cliff-edge.

Give a dawning vision of your offer of healing
greater than the blocked horizon of what it might cost

Argue and wrestle with the powers and principalities
of expediency and despair

Open every human ear to the voices of the Earth, and of sisters, brothers, siblings
who already suffer sharply

Save us from the despair of complacency
and the toxic temptation
when the visitors have departed
to embrace ‘business as usual’
for that ‘normal’ has gone
And our only future
will be in wakefulness
trust,
hope,
yes, joy
as we live out your love for the Earth we are part of
through your Word made Flesh
Jesus, our Friend.
Hallelujah Anyway!
AMEN
(from the Scottish Eco-congregations, the Scottish equivalent of Ecochurch)

Medieval Painting of two musicians- artist unknown.
 

Challenge Poverty Week (England and Wales)

A colleague of mine, Joe Forde, with whom I work on the Public Square Group (mentioned above) has written to churches and groups to bring to our attention to an initiative of real importance.
 
Challenge Poverty Week (England and Wales) is an initiative launched by Church Action on Poverty and will be from 11-17 October 2021. It aims:

• To build awareness and support for sustainable responses to the pandemic that focus on enhancing the dignity and agency of people in poverty.
• To raise voices in unison against poverty and shine a light on visions for a more just, compassionate and opportunity filled country.
• To show what is already being done at community level to challenge and alleviate poverty.
• To challenge the conversation around poverty and help end the stigma.

• Meet your MP.
• Host a discussion event.
• Take to the streets.
• Host a storytelling event.
• Get creative.
• Speak up on social media.
• Speak to your local media.

(For example, as part of this initiative, Sheffield’s Church Action on Poverty is holding an urban pilgrimage on Saturday 16 October that members of your church are welcome to join if you are in the vicinity of Sheffield.  For more details on this email myself at joe.forde@tiscali.co.uk ) (or why not organise one in your area?).
 
I also attach as below the link to the resource pack that Church Action on Poverty have produced which provides additional information on the Challenge Poverty Week.  For example, it contains an excellent template letter for writing to your MP.
 
You can access it here:   https://challengepoverty.co.uk/resources/
 
If you want to know more about Challenge Poverty Week and how your church might contribute, you can sign up the Challenge Poverty Week email as above and see the resource pack which is full of helpful ideas and actions.
With many thanks
 Joe Forde
Chair of Public Square Group's Poverty Alleviation Sub- Group. 
 
 

Worship Videos of the week:

Come Thou Fount (Official Music Video) | Celtic Worship
https://youtu.be/XKOoeTbjSeI
 
SHEMA  | A Prayer for Israel - Misha Goetz & Shae Wilbur -Hebrew & Engli...
https://youtu.be/cUB5g6u0K4w

Radio, Television and Online Worship