Annual reports for
the united beneficeof
St James and St Anne,Bermondsey
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Vicar’s report
Our new united benefice came into being on 1st February 2013, marking a new stage in the relationship of St Anne’s and St James. During the year we have continued to cement our links through a number of joint PCC meetings, including a joint PCC dayaway at the Salmon Youth Centre in April, with another one planned for May.
We shall shortly take a further step forward together as we agree our ‘Mission Action Plan’ and start to put it into practise.
It has also been good during the year to welcome Captain Paul Warren CA as our first Urban Missioner, together with his wife, Mandy, and his children, Emily, Daniel & Hannah. We are grateful for the sterling support of our area bishop, Michael Ipgrave, in making this appointment possible.
Paul has a particular Sunday responsibility for St Anne’s. The rest of the week he is involved in mission work across the united benefice and he is already bringing new ideas and energy to the work of our two parishes as we seek to reach out with the love of Christ.
Another new face on the team is Ruth Kaye who has been appointed as our first Benefice Administrator. Ruth, who is a member of St Anne’s, works on Monday, Wednesday and Friday’s in the Benefice Office at St James Church and she is the first port of call for people from the parishes enquiring about weddings, baptisms, hall hire and church events. We are grateful to God for the friendly efficient manner in which she discharges all her duties.
It has been a year with a number of new initiatives for which we thank God:
- Bermondsey Christian Training – our three term course of Christian training anddiscipleship
- A new Monday afternoon fellowship meeting for retired people and others
- The appointment of our new urban missioner (already mentioned)
- The appointment of our Benefice Administrator (already mentioned) and the setting up of the benefice office (currently in the vestry, soon to be relocated to the front of St James)
- Men’s breakfasts and a men’s bible study
- A new monthly prayer meeting and the setting up of the Faith Group at St James’s School
- Plans for new video screens at St James and new carpet at St Anne’s
- New external noticeboards for both churches, currently in place or on order
- A new Christingle service at St James
- Outdoor carol singing and distribution of Christmas cards to residents in both parishes
- New websites for both churches and a new web address:
- A review of our services at St James, with a regular service sheet, more child involvement in services, and an enhanced music group in both churches (special thanks to Roger and his team at St James; Mandy and her team at St Anne’s)
In the coming year we look forward to Adrian’s licensing as a Reader and to Jos’s ordination, prior to joining us as our curate for the united benefice at the end of June.
In the book of Revelation, at the very end of the Bible, there is a wonderful picture of the redeemed church of God:
After this I looked, and there was an enormous crowd—no one could count all the people! They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood in front of the throne and of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. 10They called out in a loud voice: “Salvation comes from our God, who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb!”Revelation 7.9-10
I rejoice that our two congregations are a little foretaste of that heavenly reality, with people of a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and races united in one happy family belonging to Jesus Christ.
And the good news is: both of our churches have plenty of room for others ‘not yet of this fold’ (John 10.16) to join us.
May God multiply our faith, hope, and love – and numbers – in the coming year and to him be the Glory!
Canon Gary Jenkins, vicar
Urban Missioner’s report
When I sit to write this report I can’t really believe that it has been nearly 6 months since my licensing by Bishop Michael. I speak for myself, Mandy and our family in thanking you all for making us feel so welcome and at home within the churches of St James and St Anne’s.
As I am sure you are aware that when taking on a new post there is an amazing amount of things that have to be observed and adsorbedin getting used to how things are done and who does what. Also getting to know everyone’s names is a massive task. All this takes time, there is no fast track to getting it right. Another thank you is due here to all the people that have been so forgiving when I have forgotten who you are or done something in the wrong way.
Since I came I have been taking an active part in many of the ministries of the church. Leading and preaching on Sundays, taking funerals, Bermondsey Christian Training, assemblies and ‘Bible Zone’ in the school to name a few.
I have been involved in the setting up of the new men’s breakfasts and have been particularly encouraged by the numbers of people coming along and bringing their friends and family.I am also encouraged by the small group of men that I am meeting with to study the bible on a Monday evenings.
You will probably be aware of the new Christmas publicity we used this year. It was very well received within the community was very successful in generated a lot of new people coming to the Christmas services, particularly the Christingle services at both churches.
St Anne’s had the largest number of people for 10 years and at St James, where Christingle is a new service, the congregation numbered about 75 people, mostly faces we do not normally see at other times of the year. The Christmas card style of leaflet is certainly one to be developed and to extend the distribution over the coming years should bring more people into the services. This kind of contact develops a fringe of people that we hope and pray will draw closed to God through special services, events and activities that we put on.
Looking ahead to what’s coming up. I have ideas for a drop in at St Anne’s and a group for fathers and their children, probably at St James.
I think that we are at an exciting time within the united benefice. We have been praying through and putting together our mission action plan. As we embark on being more intentional about our outreach and evangelism I am sure that we will be looking back in years to come thanking God for the growth of our churches here in Bermondsey.
I am reminded of the words of Paul from 1 Cor 3: 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plant, but it was God who made the plant grow.
Let’s give God the glory for all that he has done in our churches and for all that he is going to do in the coming year.
Capt Paul Warren CA
Urban Missioner
United benefice of St James and St Anne’s Bermondsey.
Honorary Curate’s report
This year I have been encouraged by the changes that we have implemented together being accomplished. The upgrade of the church yard has made it a much friendlier space and being able to use the church yard for outdoor services, as we did for the dedication service and the Carol singing outside the church at Christmas, was excellent. I look forward this year to using it much more for services on Sunday.
I was pleased at how the ramp turned out and would like to thank those who helped with this project as it makes such a difference to those who need to use it, making the church accessible to all. Soon we will be opening the church much more when we have an office just inside the main doors.
This year I have started helping at Bluegrove residential home and the Monday fellowship in church. I have also attended the Age Concern Centre in Southwark Park Road, where they do such good work for the elderly, who see it as a life line to their week.
I feel that God is moving us forward; I know changes are not always easy to accept but we must encourage each other to look to the future.
We now have a very strong team led by Gary, who has opened my eyes to a deeper way at looking at God’s word through the weekly meetings on Wednesdays.
Taking services at St Anne’s, I have already seen the positive changes Paul and his wife Mandy have made, with the singing group and Paul’s enthusiasm for bringing the people together from both churches, especially with the men’s breakfast. I would like to say a thank you to Ken and Mavis for their support and the whole of St Anne’s congregation for their prayers and welcome.
Adrian this year will finish his reader’s training and will be licensed in October and a new curate Jos will be arriving in June.
Special thanks to Penny and our church wardens who undertake so much behind the scenes, to enable the church building and the services to run smoothly.
This year I have been ordained for 15 years and would like to thank you all for your support and prayers, please may you continue to keep me in your prayers?
Each year I give a verse of scripture, last year was Matthew 11: 28. “Come to me all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.” With the new team we have this year I know God is watching over us and if we continue to carry out his work he will reward us. My verse I leave you with this year is Philippians 4: 13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Amen.
Rev Stan Catton
Reader’s report
"Encourage, Enable, Engage"
That was the theme for the day when all the Readers from around the Diocese gathered at the Cathedral for the three-yearly renewal of our Licences in February 2014. Our guest speaker was Robert Paterson, Bishop of Sodor and Man (that's the Isle of Man!) who is the Chair of the Central Readers Council. His message was that our role is "to encourage disciples", "to enable gifts" and "to engage in mission". Though he accepts that an important part of our ministry is to share in the leading of worship and preaching, he stressed a fundamental need for us, as LAY ministers, to use our theological training in our life OUTSIDE the church. Readers, he said, like all Christians, should face outwards; we should be making Christ visible, "on fire" with love for God and our neighbour, putting into words what God's love means to the world, and bringing that experience into our preaching.
We then had the chance to choose two workshops. Firstly I heard Bishop Robert again, this time talking about "effective preaching" - which he called "Talking in Someone Else's Sleep"! I hope my sermons are not so ineffective that you go to sleep. My other choice was for "Prayer and the Mission of the Church" which seemed particularly relevant as we tackle the writing of our "Mission Action Plan".
Several of us had attended a training morning for the Woolwich Area at which stress was laid on how important it is that the MAP is rooted and grounded in prayer. Hence our "Prayer at 10" cards during Lent. If we are to do God's will here in our local community, then we need to listen to what God is asking us to do for and with him. The more time we spend reading his word, pondering and praying, and trying to see things through his eyes, the better able we will be to hear him speaking to us.
When Gary and I met to review my ministry, we agreed on the importance of the time I am able to spend in St James School. My weekly morning hearing children in Year 1 practice their reading is a wonderful way of keeping in touch with the day-to-day life of the school.
I also have occasional contact with all the children as I lead some of the weekly "Church Assemblies" on Wednesday mornings and help with the whole school services in Church each term. The only down side of that is that all the children know me by name (all 450 of them!) and I have no hope of remembering theirs! It is great too to be able to attend the school prayer group sometimes, and to work with Gary and the other Foundation Governors as we seek to improve the ways we can encourage the Christian distinctiveness of the school.
You will all be aware too of my commitment to Fairtrade, and though I have not managed to have many stalls recently, I still believe that supporting struggling producers in the third world to trade their way out of poverty and improve their quality of life is an important way of expressing my concern for the wider world. Thank you to those of you who support me in this.
Finally, I am continuing to try to deepen my own prayer life and my spiritual growth. Please continue to pray for me in my ministry, as I do for you. May He guide each one of us in our walk with Him in the year ahead.
Penny Molyneux
Occasional offices
During 2013 the parish staff have taken 42 funerals, and conducted 16 baptisms (12 at St James; 4 at St Anne’s) and 5 weddings (4 at St James; 1 at St Anne’s).
We are grateful to Pat Catton and Ruth Kaye for all their work in administering all the paperwork for these services, together with Banns of Marriage applications for residents of our parishes who are getting married elsewhere.
Gary Jenkins
Bermondsey Christian Training
Bermondsey Christian Training is a new year long course for St Anne’s and St James, running for three terms of eight sessions, at St James on Wednesday evenings and St Anne’s on Saturday mornings.
People from both churches have attended at each venue and that has meant the course has helped to further strengthen the close bonds between us.
The three parts of the course are:
- Christianity Explored: a eight week video-basedintroduction to the basics of the faith, focussed especially on Mark’s Gospel. This took place in the Autumn term
- The Big Picture: an eight week overview of the whole story of the Bible, from Genesis through to Revelation. This was based on a talk, interspersed with small group discussions. This took place in the Spring Term and has just completed.
- Ready to Serve: an eight week course on the practicalities of living as a Christian at home, at work, and in the fellowship of the Church. This course begins after Easter.
It has been excellent to see a good number of people from both churches involved as we have learnt together from God’s word and each other.
Each section of the course has concluded with celebratory meal and we hope to mark the completion of the whole year’s programme in a suitable way at our United Open Air Service in the churchyard at St James on Sunday 29th June.
Gary Jenkins
Bluegrove and Rock Grove
Services take place every month at Rock Grove Sheltered Housing at the Blue and at Bluegrove Car Home, Southwark Park Rd.
The service at Rock Grove is led by David & Pam Gilbertwith Mavis Shute, Ken Bedford , and Dave Morrison, and at Blue Grove by Gary, Paul or Stan, also ably assisted by Mavis, Ken, & Dave.
Deanery Synod report
Bermondsey Deanery Synod met on 3 occasions in 2013/14, plus a very enjoyable social evening hosted by St James.
We spent most of our energies focussing on identifying 3 areas for mission in our deanery, which all 7 parishes can sign up to and support each other. This is in response to the Deanery phase of Faith Hope Love, Bishops Christopher’s Call to Mission and in preparation for the introduction of Mission Action Planning. Using recently published data from the 2011 Census and knowledge of what has happened since and continues to happen, the 3 priorities are:
1.) Engaging with the Council and local politicians about the impact of continued residential development in the area on community infrastructure (health services, schools, traffic, parking etc.), and the sense of local community and identity, especially for those who have lived here a long time. There are Council elections on 22 May. One way of engaging with the Council is via the regular meetings of the Community Council and we should press to get the dates for these notified in advance so they don’t clash with Church events.
2. Opening our buildings much more to make them places of community focus and service, as well as worship and welcome to the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
3. Working to engage and support children, young people and their families, especially through local schools, nurseries, play groups and youth clubs etc.; especially those who are experiencing poverty or hardship.