Introducing Cayleigh

As Andrew preached on the importance of families this past Sunday, we wanted to take this opportunity to get to know Cayleigh Rogers, who is Grace London's deacon of children and part of Grace's staff team as the Children's Ministry & Welcome Coordinator. Cayleigh not only plays an integral role in getting newcomers situated into church life but also in serving the needs of Grace's families.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Where are you from, family background, how you ended up at Grace London, what you enjoy doing during your spare time. 

Sure thing! I'm from Johannesburg, South Africa and have now lived in London for 6 years. I arrived in London on a Thursday and that Sunday, I went to Grace for the first time. The church I attended back in SA is part of the Advance Movement and I knew in moving here I wanted to attend a church that was part of that movement.

I am a trained musical theatre performer and have another job as a singing waitress. In my spare time I love trips to the theatre, exploring new places, heading to a museum or gallery and just generally being out and about with friends! 

You are the deacon of children for Grace London. Can you share with us a bit more about your role and what you do on a day to day basis/Sunday?

In the Autumn of last year I joined the staff team as Children's Ministry & Welcome Coordinator. Before that I had been heading up Tots & Kids for about a year as a volunteer. My role as Children's Ministry Coordinator has a few parts. It involves recruiting and training people to serve the children and families, sourcing and putting together the curriculum and then on Sundays leading in either Kids or Tots (with lots of singing, dancing and crafts). 

What are some changes you have seen since you first began working with the children of Grace until now?

So much has changed! We now have more age groups, more volunteers and, of course, more children. I think as the church has grown we've had to adapt and change many things with regards to the Children's Ministry. For the first time ever, we even put on a small mini-production for Christmas last year!

What are you excited for Grace kids/tots in upcoming years?

I'm most excited to see how the children would grow in their understanding of God and His Truth. I also look forward to seeing many more volunteers join the team - each volunteer brings something so special and unique to the team so I am excited to see who God would bring to the teams and what that would mean for our growing church! 

What's been your favourite thing about leading the children’s ministry? 

Two things. First, I love seeing volunteers who have a passion and gift for teaching and loving the children! It is such a joy to be part of a team of people who genuinely love God and love the families of Grace. The second and probably my most favourite are moments with the children - there is something so beautiful about being able to share the gospel with young children and seeing them respond! It is such a privilege to have time with the children every Sunday - to see their joy, receive hugs and to be reminded that even a two-year-old can be changed and impacted by God and know His love for them.

Can you share any specific stories during your years of serving that have stuck out in your mind?

There have been a few over the years but one that stands out is a story of how one day a parent was praying and their toddler knelt beside them and started praying with them. If I recall correctly, they were praying about what we had learnt that Sunday during our Tots session. Stories like that are just such a beautiful encouragement that even though we may think that at two, a child does not retain loads, they are still listening, observing and taking it all in.

How can we pray for you and the ministry?

I would love prayer for the volunteer teams (Tots, Kids & Juniors) - that God would continue to give us passion, joy and expectancy for what He is doing in the lives of these children. That He would also bring more people our way who are passionate about serving the families at Grace. And then for the children - that they would grow up to love God, to know their value and identity in Him and that He would use them to be powerful instruments for the Gospel in this world. 

We're grateful for the work that Cayleigh and the Tots, Kids & Juniors teams are doing for Grace London's families and we hope that as we continue studying Ephesians 6 these next few weeks, we'll be able to receive more wisdom on how all the various branches of a healthy, thriving church - the preaching, the renewal of hearts, the serving - will all come together to foster an environment where a new generation will be raised up loving, obeying and serving the Lord.

Thanking our volunteers

I don't know about you, but there are certain topics that when they get mentioned on a Sunday, get my blood pumping...evangelism, discipleship, children's ministry, faith in the workspace, giving, leadership... the list goes on. Given my role at Grace London (Operations), one of those topics is serving. Our church wouldn't be able to function or flourish without the faithful and persistent service of our church family. We currently have ~175 people serving on a volunteer team rota. I want to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to all of you who volunteer, for all your hard work and dedication to serving our church family. 

Serving isn't a special task that God gives to just a few of us, 'the special few', but is something that all of us are called to. We don't simply serve out of obedience (although that's no bad thing). Serving blesses us in so many different ways. Peter, instructed the church with these words: 'Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms... If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides' (1 Peter 4.10-11). Peter is saying a couple of very encouraging things: 1. Using the gifts God has given us, in service, is one of the ways we can faithfully steward God's grace in our lives. 2. Whenever we serve, God will give us the strength that we need. What a challenging and reassuring message!

Serving on a Sunday volunteer team is such a practical way of showing our commitment to Christ and each other. This doesn't mean that all of us have to serve in the same way (like a team of Christian robots), but we can each use our God-given gifts in the particular way that God has designed and equipped us to. We have so many different ways that you can serve at Grace London. Whether you're an extrovert or an introvert, love meeting new people, prefer people you already know, enjoy technical details, get there early, or prefer staying late, there are plenty of ways to serve. We each have unique skills, gifts and abilities that we can bring, so don't be put off if you feel like there isn't a space for you in one of our serving teams.

Coincidentally, my favourite biblical passage sums up the call to serve beautifully. In Philippians 2.1-11, Paul says: 

'So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.'

We serve because Jesus served us.

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Why I Serve?

"Serving at Grace is an active way for me to be involved in community and support those around me. I believe contributing where there is a need is so helpful in building a strong, unified church for God’s glory."

- Joe // Venue

"It is such a blessing to welcome people on Sunday, whether it’s getting first-timers connected or seeing familiar faces and hearing about their week. I always feel energised after serving and it is a great way to get to know the church!"

- Nissi // Welcome

“I’ve always enjoyed being around kids and find it so fulfilling that we get to play a small part in their development as individuals in the community.”

- Fisola // Grace Tots

Getting to know Laura

As a church, we all have a part to play in discipling each other and in caring for those in need. However, we also recognise that some in the church are particularly gifted for this sort of thing, so we've established two volunteer teams to help with this work, the pastoral team and the care team. The pastoral team assist the elder couples and life group leaders in providing pastoral care (e.g. helping folk who are struggling in their faith). The care team help with practical support. Both these ministries are led by Laura Twemlow, who serves as a deacon and as our part-time pastoral coordinator. 

Let's get to know Laura and the two teams a bit better with a few questions below!

Hi Laura! Can you tell us a bit about yourself? 

I’m originally from Connecticut, USA, but moved to London at age 20 and finished my degree at LSE. I’m an only child of two amazing parents who adopted me when I was six weeks old. They both love Jesus a lot and helped me to know the Lord. I met Pete, my husband, at Westminster Chapel where we were both part of the same Bible study. We now have two boys, Eli and Matthias who are in primary school. In my free time I love cooking and baking… and eating. 

How did you come to joining Grace London's staff team?

Before Grace, I worked for seven years at Westminster Chapel, where I did some pastoral training at CCEF through distance learning and at Oak Hill College. I also had the privilege of shadowing Greg and Ruth Haslam during counselling sessions and learning from them.

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Pastoral Team

The pastoral team is designed to help supplement the amazing pastoral work that life group leaders do to provide care and counsel to folk in their groups. As the church grows, there are more people looking for some discipleship, help in a specific area of struggle, or perhaps need some support during a difficult time. The pastoral team exists so that more people can have one-on-one pastoral support if they need it.  

Did you have any goals or hopes when you first began your role as the pastoral coordinator and how has it worked out so far?

A major hope was to help unburden Jeremy, Andrew and their wives, because it was becoming difficult for them to be able to keep on top of the pastoral needs. Our goal was never to just supplement them myself, but to build a team of volunteers with a passion for helping people in this way. We have been able to grow a team of about 15 volunteers which has been amazing. We meet together to discuss specific pastoral topics and learn together how to apply biblical truth to life's challenges. 

What has been challenging about leading this team? 

It’s always a challenge to understand different mental health struggles e.g. how best to help and support people with clinical depression or debilitating anxiety for example. We are learning how best to support people from a Christian perspective, whilst also signposting them towards professional counselling. 

How do you hope the pastoral team will grow or evolve in future years?

We'd like to keep growing as a team, both numerically, and in our understanding of how to apply biblical truth to life's challenges. 

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Care Team

Not many people might be aware Grace has a care team. Can you share with us a bit of what you guys do?

We try to keep an ear to the ground to help with the more practical aspects of caring for folk, including things like organising meal rotas (e.g. after someone has had a baby), coordinating financial assistance, organising childcare, and arranging care packages for those who are going through difficult times. 

How can the church best pray for you and the teams?

I would definitely value prayers for myself and the teams. For wisdom to know how to respond best to different pastoral situations, for ongoing encouragement for all of us to keep pressing into the Lord as we serve.

Are there any verses or wise advice you keep with you when days get hard serving others?

It’s good to try to think of every situation as an opportunity for us to grow and learn and to develop more Christ-like character. Deuteronomy 31:6 has been an encouragement to me lately: "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Any books you recommend people to read when walking with others?

Winning the War on Worry by Louie Giglio - Speaking from his own personal experience of anxiety and depression, Louie Giglio writes a down-to-earth easy-to-read book on anxiety from a Christian's perspective. There are questions at the end of each chapter for reflection on your own, or as part of a small group.

Side by Side by Ed Welch - A really helpful read for every church member. Ed Welch provides a short, but powerful, guide for the believer about how to do life together and help each other meaningfully through life's peaks and troughs.

We hope you enjoyed getting to know Laura, the pastoral and care teams better.

Growing our team

Before Andrew went on his sabbatical, we (the elders) agreed to advertise for a new role in the staff team, which we’ve provisionally entitled, ‘Executive Director’. Hiring this person would be a significant step for us as a church. We expect they’d help us grow our organisational and operational muscle, and ensure that our staff and volunteers are well managed and cared for. 

This is something we’ve been thinking about for some time. Over the past couple of years (i.e. post-Covid) the church has grown numerically. We’ve also established new ministries and events (and anticipate doing this more in the future). This means we’ve had to increase our operational muscle. This has involved hiring new team members, including the events and hospitality coordinator that we’re currently interviewing for. 

As part of growing our staff team, we sense the time is right to appoint a leader to help oversee the operations side of church life. They’ll play a critical role in overseeing our operations, finances, staff, HR, and other elements of church life. 

There may be a tendency in some of us to think of these sorts of things as ‘unspiritual’. Instead, we think of preaching, or praying, or evangelism as the ‘real stuff’ of the church. And there is some truth to that. Those activities are important. However, Christ calls us all to serve the body in a multitude of ways, and all forms of service are vital for the health of the church. 

For example, in Acts 6, seven men are set apart for the task of administering practical support for widows in the church. They are not given a title, but they are effectively deacons i.e. servant-leaders in the church. Fascinatingly, they are described as ‘of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom’ (Acts 6.3). The implication is that their character, spiritual maturity and walk with the Lord are essential for their work. Their practical service is spiritual worship. 

As we gather together on Sundays, we all come with different gifts. Some come prophecying, some come with a clipboard in hand, some come ready to encourage a friend who is struggling, but all come with the same posture, ready to bring their gifts to bless the body. Even if you’re not applying for this role, you have the same calling to use your talents to strengthen our community. 

Please pray with us for the right person to apply for this role. And feel free to share the role with people you know. 

Summer Reading For The Soul

As the weather slowly warms up these next few months, many of us might be booking trips and taking time off. As you are reading this email, I’m packing my own bags en route to California for a few weeks of sunshine, pool time and In ‘N Out burgers.

But just because we may be resting up over the summer months, it does not mean that we can’t keep growing in our faith and our understanding of and love for God.

One way to do this? A bit of reading for our soul. Maybe now’s not the time to slog through Carl Trueman’s 432-page The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self or John Piper’s 750-page thumper Providence (though if you do decide to, good for you! Let me know how it was!), but there are plenty of great new and classic options to flip through as you sit by the beach or wait in a crowded train station.

The book I can’t seem to stop recommending to others lately is The Case Against the Sexual Revolution by Louise Perry. Deeply-researched, this is a mince-no-words cautionary tale on how the sexual revolution may have brought more harm to women and men than help. Though the author isn’t a believer, her case is a strong one. You may have also already picked up Rosaria Butterfield’s The Gospel Comes with a House Key and encountered the author’s radical ways of showing hospitality to her neighbours and strangers but maybe you can also check out her first book, The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert? Her coming-to-faith story was just as radical as her hospitality skills and it’s elegantly-written, hopeful and encouraging on the transformative power of God. 

Then for those who are in the mood for a bit of fiction, why not give the classic Gilead by Marilynne Robinson a whirl? This novel, often seen as a literal reinterpretation of the parable of the Prodigal Son, is a beautifully-written and moving tale about an ageing minister’s recount and musing of his life.

I’ve also asked a few other life group leaders at church for their summer reading recommendations. The recs were practical, pastoral and evangelical and C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters seems to be having an “it” moment (it was recommended by four of our lifegroup leaders!)

Hope you spot some that you’ll be able to take with you to a nearby coffee shop or a far-flung tropical island this summer! Happy reading!

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Book Recommendations from 
Grace London Life Group Leaders

Cezar Rugasira:

Strangely Bright? Can you love God and enjoy this world? by Joe Rigney 
This book calls us to enjoy God's creation for His sake and to the glory of His grace towards us. It explains - in simple terms - how we as Christians can truly love God and enjoy this world that He has made.

Praying with Paul by D.A. Carson
Carson looks at the prayers of Paul in the Bible and shows how we can grow our Spiritual discipline of prayer and reap the spiritual fruit promised to us as we commune daily with our God. 

Hugh Van Nierkerk:

Living Life Backwards by David Gibson
I basically read this book once every two years to help remind me of what matters most & centre my life around those things.

Generous Justice by Tim Keller
One of the most helpful challenges to the practical outworking of my faith - a reminder of our call to care for the outsider (grounded in God's grace towards us).

Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis
A science fiction book is probably not a typical suggestion for this list, but I found it helpful in using a different lens to think through and remind me of God's beauty.

Megan Howe:

Art & Faith: A Theology of Making by Makoto Fujimura
A completely different way of looking at faith and art. Fujimura parallels faith with the way God works through us with Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending it with gold.

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero
Who you are is more important than what you do and you can’t be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature - those are just two of the big ideas from this book. Very transformative for me personally and a book I often read again and again with other women in the church.

Liturgy of the Ordinary by Trish Harrison Warren
So much of faith is all about the mundane. Warren shows how she works out her faith in the small everyday acts of making lunch, looking for your keys or driving to work.

Daniel Ogbanna:

The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
Every Christian has a desire to obey the call to be holy as God is holy. This book pulls together wisdom and practical insights from scripture and Bible teachers across Church history to encourage and enlighten us on how to do that. Concise, super readable and relatable. 

Evangelism as Exiles by Elliott Clark
Gone are the days of Christianity being the dominant worldview in the West so we must adapt how we think about evangelism to reflect the new reality. The author draws on teachings from the book of 1 Peter and his experience as a Western evangelist in a Central Asian “closed” country to help us rethink how we reach the people around us with the gospel.

Everyday Witnesses

Recently, we looked into the life of Stephen, a leader in the early church, and the first martyr for his faith. He is notable for being willing to boldly share his faith even when his life was at risk. In our context, witnessing also takes boldness and courage, especially as we engage with controversial topics which clash with our Christian understanding of how to live life well. And even if we’re not wracking our brains trying to come up with eloquent responses to difficult questions, we’re held back by the familiar challenges of pride, lack of time and energy, and perhaps a fear of sharing deeply with those who don’t yet know Jesus.

And yet, we are called to do it, with love and grace.

When my life turned upside down two years ago with the birth of my son, I was disoriented by the transition from working a full-time job to becoming a stay-at-home mum, with a whole new set of relationships to navigate. I soon saw an opportunity in neighbourhood mums who were also as lonely, tired, overwhelmed and bored as I was. I decided to intentionally form friendships with them so that we could get through these tough infant days together. So, we began a podcast group, in which we would listen to a different podcast each week and meet together to discuss it. Our kids would play along in my living room as we chatted about the podcasts but eventually branched off into deeper chats about our upbringing, lives, hopes and fears.

I’ve become quite close to a few of these mums over the past two years and have even been able to share the gospel with one of them. We’re planning on reading a book about Christianity together and even in the face of cancelled meetups, busyness and toddler issues (all the things that come with mum friendship, basically), I’m amazed by the work God is doing in my friendships with these women. Because of this unique stage in our lives, we’ve been able to meet up frequently and have forged a closer bond than perhaps we might have done at another point in our lives. 

I have chatted with a few other Grace Londoners on how they are witnessing to others in their everyday lives and found a few really encouraging stories to share with you (below). We may not all be Stephen but we can witness in our own ways and rest in the knowledge that God is at work in the lives of the people around us. 

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I hold 1:1 time every few weeks with the team I manage at work where we discuss work and personal stuff. In those conversations, I try my best to weave in my faith. I would also invite them to Salt events. One of the guys came to one of them because he was bored that week and wanted something to do. From that night on, he attended other Salt Live events, joined the Salt Course and eventually, a bible study. Recently, we went on a work trip and had a deep conversation about faith. He has recently started to attend a life group and church on Sundays with his fiancée and both keen to continue on this journey! - Daniel

My cousin was living with us for the last few months and we tried to share pretty much all the parts of our lives with her. We'd invite her to join us for dinners with our life group and if she’s helping me watch my kids, I would encourage her to attend playgroups with other Grace London mum. She also helped us with putting the kids to bed and would overhear us having prayer time with them where they'd ask questions about God. She’s not living with us anymore but I’m hopeful that our time together has exposed her to what being around Christians can be like. - Kate

I play badminton a few times a week and it’s a sport where there’s quite a bit of downtime. At my local club, I played two competitions with one guy and it was easy to get close through that. He shared a lot that was going on in his life. I'm open about my faith with him and others I play with and have extended invites to come with me to church on Sundays. - Timmy

I enjoy random moments of meeting strangers and sharing Christ with them. One night, I was with a friend at a café and we invited a man nearby to join us for a casual drink which turned into a shared meal with deep connections and conversations. We learned that the man had recently gone through a difficult breakup and was feeling lost and shattered. We shared our faith in Christ with him and how He was our anchor amidst life's chaos, heartbreak, and personal struggles. As we walked him home, he expressed gratitude and was moved to tears by the love and hope he experienced through us. This encounter reminds me how we can love and collaborate with the Holy Spirit in simple ways. - Nick

Band of Brothers

Why was 'Band of Brothers' such a successful TV series? If you haven’t seen it, or even heard of it, then you’ve missed out on a major televisual phenomenon. It gets 9.4 on IMDB and is etched on the memory of a generation, despite only being 10 episodes. It follows the wartime travails of a US Paratrooper unit as they make their way through occupied Europe in WW2. It’s a visceral reflection on the horrors of war and the incredible sacrifices involved.

The film connected with the human longing to belong in a team. There’s something special about being part of a wider group of people united by a common purpose. Anyone who’s played team sport will know that feeling. The exhilaration of fighting together against a common enemy. The sense of dependence on each other. The way you’re encouraged to keep on going when you see your teammates persevering. Being part of a team propels you forward in a way that wouldn’t happen on your own.

I think we see the same dynamic going on in the New Testament. We see the kingdom of God spreading through different churches in different geographic locations. But these churches are not operating in an isolated way. They’re persevering together, strengthening each other, both in their example to each other and in acts of partnership. For example, in Acts 11, the Jerusalem church hears that God has done a significant work in Antioch, in bringing a number of folk to faith. So, they send Barnabas (an apostle) to strengthen this church. Later on in the chapter, as the Antioch church hears that the Jerusalem church is about to suffer famine, they send the church a financial gift.

This sets an example for the church today. We should expect to partner with other churches as a way of furthering the kingdom (and mission) of God. At Grace, we do this through our partnership with Advance. Advance is a family of churches, located across a number of different continents, that are committed to working together to plant churches and strengthen each other. 

Over the years, we’ve had great benefits from being part of the network. We’ve received pastors to preach at Grace, preached at other churches, built a number of strong friendships with folks from other churches, trained leaders together, invested in church planting and mission through Advance, and received plenty of wise input.

I’m delighted that we’ll be receiving guest speakers from four Advance churches in the coming months. I hope, as we have these speakers join us on Sundays, over the coming months, we’ll feel something of the one-heartedness that marks gospel partnership in the New Testament. As the African proverb goes, "if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together”. And so, we press on together, with our brothers and sisters across the globe, worshipping Christ and seeking to advance his kingdom.

What can loving our neighbours look like?

Some of you will be aware we began a partnership with London City Mission's homeless ministry in Waterloo (Webber Street) a few months ago. For one Thursday evening a month, a team of volunteers from the church host a meal for the community, which includes a short evangelistic talk and plenty of time to hang out with guests. This ministry comes out of our desire to practically love our neighbour and to share the gospel with our community. It's been a real encouragement to see a number from within the church enthusiastically get involved in this ministry and to hear their reflections from the evenings so far. As we do this ministry, we trust that we'll see guys from this community come to join us on Sundays. I hope that we'll give them a warm welcome!

Here are some reflections from Grace London volunteers on their experience serving:

“Cooking for so many people (around 30 to 40 each week) can be quite daunting, especially in a kitchen you're not familiar with, but the volunteers have done such an amazing job - from a banging spaghetti bolognese, to a full-on roast dinner with all the trimmings!”

- Bisi Bankole

”I can honestly say serving at Webber Street is one of the highlights of my month. I've met some really great guys and even after such a short space of time, connections have already been formed. It's exciting to be able to go deeper about life and Jesus [with them].”

- Matt Thompson

”It has been such a privilege to serve and help provide a place of refuge and respite for the homeless. I have tangibly seen faces light up and spirits lighten as they listen to the gospel and have conversations with us. Their joy and optimism despite their life circumstances is humbling and encouraging.”

- Faith Koh

”It’s so encouraging to meet up with the same faces each time, build relationships and get to know the guests at Webber Street better. I love being part of a team from Grace and doing mission with my church. Exciting to see what the next few months will have in store for this ministry!”

- Harrison Clewes

A new focus

As a church, we've spent the best part of the last year working through the book of Ephesians. It's been a fantastic book to study. It has allowed us to tackle some critical themes, including the gospel, the church, ethnic reconciliation, the Holy Spirit, and more latterly, sexuality and marriage. You can find the whole series here. Andrew has done a fantastic job unpacking some fundamental doctrines and challenging us in all sorts of ways. 

Now, we're going to change our focus. We're going to be studying Acts over the next few months. I'm really excited about exploring this book for a few key reasons: 

1. It's faith-building. The book of Acts is the miraculous story of the explosion of the early church against the odds. Despite encountering significant opposition from the Jewish and secular authorities, the early church boldly proclaimed the gospel in towns and cities all around the Mediterranean. They saw thousands come to faith in Christ, numerous churches planted and the kingdom of God grow across the region. In some ways, our context is similar to the early church. We are also operating in a semi-hostile environment. We might be tempted to shrink back from our public witness because we're in the minority. We'll gain a lot from being reminded of how God worked through a small band of ordinary people to spread his kingdom, despite such opposition. 

2. We have much to learn from the early church. Amidst the evangelistic activity, the book of Acts also gives us an insight into the activity and culture of the early church. We’ll examine Luke’s depiction of the early church and consider what we can learn from their example in structuring our life together as a church. The early church had to grapple with many questions which are relevant to us. How would they survive together as a community? What kind of appeal should they make to the surrounding culture? How should they care for the poor in the church? How would they safeguard the gospel? We'll gain much from considering how the early church sought to answer some of these questions and by reflecting on how God established and shaped this distinctive community. 

3. Pursuing the work of the Holy Spirit. There is a strong theme of the empowering work of the Holy Spirit running through the book, both in equipping the early church for mission and in signs and wonders which authenticate the reality of Christ’s present rule. My hope is that we’ll see our need for the Spirit’s work in us and come away hungry for more of his work in our community.

To whom are you singing?

Worshipping God together is an extraordinary privilege. But there are two equal and opposite errors we can fall into when it comes to corporate worship and singing. 

The first is to approach the whole thing with no expectation of encountering God. Maybe you arrive late. You sing somewhat half-heartedly, if at all. Your mind is on all sorts of things except the words you’re singing. And your expectations are met perfectly; you didn’t anticipate meeting with God, and you were not wrong.

The other error may be just as bad. This is when you enter into a time of worship imagining that it’s all about you and God. Maybe you attempt to block out everyone else around you. It doesn’t matter who is (or isn’t) in the room, because you’re all about that deeply personal, very private sense of encounter.

Both approaches are wrong when you begin to understand what singing is all about, and to whom it’s directed. Paul calls on us to be filled with the Spirit, 

‘…addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart…’ (Eph 5.19)

You’re singing ‘to the Lord with your heart’, which means that a certain sense of reverence and expectation is right, when you come to a gathering with God’s people. You know that God is listening. You know that he loves your singing, that he wants your adoration and love, and that he promises to meet with those who draw near to him. So, even before you arrive, you’re preparing your heart in order to give your best.

But equally, you’re ‘addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs’, which means that you’re meant to be fully aware of the people around you. You’re looking at them. You’re singing to them, and they’re singing to you. This is one reason we conduct our Upper Room gatherings in the round, all up close and facing each other; it’s so that you can see and hear each other, and feel the powerful encouragement and strengthening to your soul that accompanies the roar of praise rising from the saints.

Let us be a church that is known for our raucous and passionate praise, both to bless God and each other.

Andrew's Sabbatical

Dear church family,

I am pleased to announce on behalf of the trustees and elders of Grace London that, after nine years of incredibly hard work, Andrew is going to be taking a three-month sabbatical from the end of April to July.

A sabbatical is an extended period of leave from ministry, drawn from God's pattern for work and rest instituted for his people in the Old Testament.  God called his people to rest one day in seven, and to leave the land fallow one year in seven.  In the same way, pastors will often take a period of leave in every seventh year of ministry.  If you want to know more about sabbaticals, this is a helpful article which explains the concept in greater depth.

Andrew planted Grace London with a small group of friends in 2014.  Since then, he has worked tirelessly in serving God as our lead pastor.  In this time, Andrew has not had an extended time of rest and is therefore overdue a sabbatical. 

Andrew was offered a sabbatical in 2021 (the seventh year of his ministry at Grace).  However, given his desire to be with the church as we emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, and to be with his family as they faced the ill-health and passing of his father, Andrew felt unable to take the sabbatical until this year. 

Please join us in praying for Andrew and Sie as they take this time off; that they might experience deep rest and precious family time.  Please also pray that this would be a time for Andrew to reflect on his ministry to date and to seek the Lord for the season ahead.  We believe that this sabbatical will permit Andrew to return to ministry with new-found energy and enthusiasm for the calling that the Lord has placed upon him.

While Andrew is away, Jeremy and Luke will assume greater responsibility in the leadership of Grace London. In Andrew’s absence, Jeremy will be preaching more regularly on Sundays, alongside some other pastors from Advance (the movement we’re part of) joining us as guest preachers. Please be praying for Jeremy and Jen, and Luke and Janice as they take on this extra responsibility. 

Kind regards,

Tom

On behalf of the trustees and elders of Grace London

Unsung Heroes

When I’m asked the question of what in church life is most exciting and encouraging to me, I will often reply, ‘Mum’s groups’. Many of the mums at Grace are unable to attend a life group in an evening. Yet they are undeterred, choosing instead to get together as mums during the day to study, be totally honest, and help one another as disciples of Jesus.

It is a sight to behold. I have occasionally stumbled into a group meeting in our home after clambering over endless pushchairs stacked outside, and found myself walking into a wall of sound (babies everywhere) and smiles (bibles open, coffee brewing, cake half gone, conversation flowing).

I cannot overstate how vital and countercultural this is.

The world has an ambivalent and often conflicted view of mothering as a calling. Of course, everyone knows it matters. But being a mother is also seen as second best to advancement in the workplace; a kind of sell-out choice by those who have decided to ‘lean out’ rather than ‘lean in’. And that is entirely wrong.

A woman who has a child is by definition called to be a mother, and it is among the highest and most noble of tasks. She is engaged in the long-term process of disciple-making in the most intense and challenging way possible. She is nurturing the future that we all depend upon in the hope of raising young men and women of God, yet she does this without pay, without a break, and often without thanks. The stakes of her calling are unimaginably high, the effort is relentless, and the charge is holy.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the mothers at Grace. Your passion and dedication is seen. Thank you for pouring your lives into the children. Thank you for helping one another, and engaging in serious study together so that you might be better equipped. Thank you for the unceasing labours against a backdrop of laughter and of heartache. May you be used by God to raise up children in the faith who are fiercely and zealously committed to Christ, saturated in his word, filled with his Spirit, and ready to go on changing the world.

Making Room At The Table

Sometimes an unexpected dinner guest comes along just before you’re about to serve up. You had all your quantities measured out, but now the meal you’ve planned will have to stretch to fill an extra mouth. You’re happy to have the extra guest, but it’s a bit of an inconvenience. This is something like how it feels to be part of a growing church. Many of us are excited to have new people joining the church. But, if we’re honest, it also might also feel a bit inconvenient. Perhaps we secretly liked the way things were. It’s no secret that the church has grown quite a bit since we came back together after COVID. Being part of a city-centre church will inevitably mean regularly meeting new people. The fact there are new faces every Sunday might initially feel exciting but can easily become overwhelming. How do we welcome people well without becoming jaded? Let me suggest three principles:

1. Remembering the call to practice hospitality. Hospitality in the New Testament could be literally translated, ‘the love of strangers’. Just as Christ loved us whilst we were outsiders, so, when we’re brought into the kingdom, our lives are turned inside out. We no longer live for ourselves, but rather seek to live lives of love, both for our family, and for the outsider. This should change the way you approach a Sunday gathering. You’re no longer coming just to see your friends. Instead, you come ready to welcome the stranger and help draw them into community.

2. Be willing to make room at the table. We may need to make sacrifices in order to accommodate new folks into our community. It might mean being willing to split your life group into two, so there are more places available for new people. Or perhaps being intentional about chatting to someone new on Sunday rather than the people you know already. Being willing to inconvenience ourselves is part of our call to love each other.  

3. Remember we’re family. Ultimately, we’re not just loving newcomers as ‘strangers’. For someone joining the church, we need to remember they’re (likely) our brother or sister. This changes how we greet them. It’s not another encounter with an anonymous Londoner, but rather meeting a member of God’s extended family. We might have very little in common in human terms, but we have a kinship and familial connection that should draw us together. And even if they’re not a Christian, perhaps it’s even more important that we welcome them well, to demonstrate the love of God that they haven’t yet come to believe in! 

None of this should be confused with the importance of intentionally building deep friendships with a few people. We all need people who know us well to speak into our lives. But don’t let the need for deep friendships stop us from being intentional to welcome new people well into our community. Let’s create a culture together, where both deep friendships and a warm welcome to outsiders can flourish. 

Praying Together

When most of us think of prayer, we tend to think of it as a private and personal discipline. At one level, this reflects Jesus’ teaching on the subject. In Matthew 6, in the passage immediately preceding the Lord’s prayer, Jesus specifically instructs his disciples to ‘go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen’, lest they (or we) be tempted to treat prayer as an act of performative spirituality. Private prayer is a vital part of our personal communion (relationship) with Christ. Without it, I suspect many of us would dry up in our affections and simply find ourselves trying to squeeze out obedience in the Christian life. 

Whilst individual prayer is vital, I’m convinced most of us undervalue the importance of praying with others. Starting next Sunday (26th Feb), we’re going to be reestablishing pre-service prayer for the whole church. Everyone is invited to join us for ~30 minutes of prayer together before each service (10.15am / 4.15pm). I’d love you to consider joining us. 

Let me give you five reasons why I think we should pray together:

1. Personal encouragement. I find it incredibly helpful to pray with other people. When I hear others articulating their worship of Christ, or simply asking God to work, it propels me into prayer. If we find our personal prayer lives flagging, there’s nothing like being with others to stimulate us.  

2. Welcoming the work of the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts describes a number of communal moments where the people of God gather together and the Holy Spirit is poured out upon them. There’s something significant about God’s people lifting their voices together and asking God to move amongst us. And it’s right that we hunger for more of the Spirit’s deep work in our life together. 

3. Prayer changes things. The great paradox of prayer is that God uses our prayers to change the world. It’s a mind-boggling reality but the (often) unspoken assumption in scripture is that God chooses to work through the prayers of his people to enact his purposes. Pastor EM Bounds argues, “God shapes the world by prayer. The more praying there is in the world, the better the world will be”. I suspect our prayerlessness reveals we often don’t really believe this. 

4. Prayer displays our dependence. Corporate prayer, by its very nature, is a picture of our dependence on God. As we cry out to God together, we’re signalling our fundamental need for God’s work in our lives, both as individuals and as a body. 

5. Prayer as service. One of the best ways we can serve someone is by praying for them. As well as re-establishing pre-service prayer, we’re also putting together a prayer team to pray for folks after each service. We’d love to encourage anyone to come forward for prayer for anything that’s going on in their lives. Please do allow us to serve you in this way. 

We’ll be praying in the staff room (opposite the toilets) from 10.15am and 4.15pm every Sunday from next Sunday (26th Feb). We’ll pray for 25-30 mins, finishing by 10.45am or 4.45pm, so we’re ready to connect with others over coffee. Everyone is welcome to join us. 

The saltiness of Christ’s sex ethic

As I looked out at the many faces staring back at me, I could see a range of reactions. The room was split, and the atmosphere was charged. There were murmurings and groans of disbelief, some furious note-takers and the odd heckle; but also the warm smiles of the church family willing me on and praying.

We were addressing the question, Have we broken sex? at our most recent Salt Live event. And it was clear that we were trampling on terrain set aside for some cherished idol, some sacred cow. I had felt trepidation coming into this event, but I don’t think I was fully prepared in my mind for how difficult it would be. I felt my own anxiety rising, my mouth drying out, and identified with Paul’s testimony when he said, ‘I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling’ (1 Cor 2.3).

The temptation, of course, is to evade these moments of outright confrontation. But when we first established Salt our aim was to speak directly into those areas where the gospel is most distinct, and therefore also most attractive to some.

Sexual exploration is seen these days as the pathway to personal maturity and freedom, though I have nowhere heard anyone explain that in any coherent manner. It’s just assumed. Against this backdrop, it’s clear that the vision of sexual purity and self-control that Christ articulates is now regarded as ludicrous and even oppressive or dangerous to healthy personal development.

When you see a chasm like this emerge between culture and Christ, that is precisely where the opportunity for witness resides. The church is a people called out from the world, defined as holy, set aside for devotion. And it is our difference that can be compelling and attractive for those who are sickened and despairing with the way things are.

Nowhere is the West’s moral system more obviously bankrupt than in it’s self-obsessed approach to sexual gratification. The fallout from the sexual revolution has been catastrophic, leading to more loneliness, rejection, abuse, objectification, regret, unfaithfulness, childlessness and divorce than anyone could have predicted.

Therefore, in the arena of our sex lives – perhaps more than any other – we, as twenty-first century believers, are called to be salty. ‘Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another’ (Mark 9.50). 

February’s Salt Live talk will be uploaded next week. Visit salt.london to give it a listen or watch a video recording of the talk here.

The foot-washing king

This week, I've been reflecting on Jesus’ willingness to wash his disciples’ feet in John 13. I think we tend to forget how shocking it is. Even to our ears, it feels deeply unappealing. Consider the prospect of cleaning the feet of twelve men who’ve been walking hot and dusty streets all day. What would it have smelt like?! Even in Jesus’ day, this wasn’t normal. Guests were usually expected to wash their own feet. If a servant were required to wash the guests’ feet, only the lowest-ranking servants would be required to do so. You can understand why Peter initially rejects Jesus' plan out of hand.

If the incident isn’t shocking enough, Christ tells us that we are to emulate his example (John 13.15). We are to take on the posture of a servant like our master.

From March, we’re going to be hosting a monthly community evangelistic meal at Webber Street Day Centre (a ministry of London City Mission) for the homeless and marginalised community in Waterloo. On the first Thursday of each month, a team from Grace London will cook, host and hang out with guests from the rough sleeping community. Each time, we’ll also have someone give a short evangelistic talk. To my mind, this is an ideal way to do mission, combining practical loving service with gospel proclamation. Click here to find out more & sign-up. 

Serving others is often humbling, painful and inconvenient. It only works if we’re filled with the love of Christ, which in turn requires us to be walking closely with Christ. But if we take up this call to serve others in love and humility, we start to emulate the greatest servant who has ever lived.  

Enjoying God

I’d like to do a series of emails on different aspects of your walk with God, including some spiritual disciplines.  

I’d like to start the series with one of the most important aspects of the Christian life: Enjoying God! 

It sounds obvious to some of you, but, in my pastoral work, I meet so many Christians, where the main need in their life is to deepen their personal relationship with Christ before they even think about impacting their colleagues for Christ, or serving the church, or pursuing grand plans to change the world! Whilst all these things are good, they cannot come at the expense of our communion with God. It is a wonderful gift, perhaps the greatest gift of our lives, which we often neglect to our peril. 

I’m convinced that much of the Christian life comes down to the active pursuit of genuine joy in your relationship with Christ. John Calvin put it like this: 

“It will not suffice simply to hold that there is one whom all ought to honour and adore, unless we are persuaded that he is the fountain of every good…Nay, unless they [all men] establish their complete happiness in him, they will never give themselves truly and sincerely to him”

The implication of Calvin’s encouragement here is simple. The way to grow your obedience muscle is simply to grow in your love for and joy in Christ. We are wired to fixate on the things that bring us joy. Only when God is the greatest source of joy in our lives will we return to him repeatedly, seeking the deep and rich satisfaction that comes from delighting in his incredible love and reflecting on his awe-inducing holiness. And only when we do that, will we feel a genuine desire to submit to his ways in every part of our lives. 

This is, of course, not to diminish the everyday joys of life – the little gifts along the way. Rich friendships. Beautiful walks. Sumptuous cooking. In fact, when we respond with thanksgiving in our hearts, these ‘earthly pleasures’ become part of our enjoyment of God, the ultimate giver of these gifts. 

However, there’s nothing like the pleasure that comes from reflecting on his promises, and experiencing, by the Spirit, a sense of the Father’s delight in you, because of your adoption in Christ. In a sense, joy is not the main goal here. It’s merely a byproduct of experiencing deep communion. 

Our expectations in this area are often much too small. The encouragement to engage in the spiritual discipline of reading your bible and praying doesn’t quite do justice to the relational reality of speaking and listening to Christ. Step back and consider what an incredible privilege it is to spend time with the living God.

Are we ignoring the delight and strength that God wants to impart to us as his children?

Put Down Roots

Back in January, I spoke to a group of our church leaders giving them sixteen tips on flourishing in the city. Soon after, I began writing a series of short letters to the whole church enlarging on each of these tips. You can catch up on these here. In the coming weeks, I want to resume this series and aim to write a few more.

I once knew a pastor and wife from abroad who spent decades living and ministering in London. They enjoyed real success in ministry, and as a result many people appreciated them and their work. And so it was surprising for me to visit their home in London, as they were preparing to leave the city, and discover that in all the decades they had lived here, they had never decorated or made it their own. When asked why this was the case, they explained, ‘Because we always thought, there’s no point; we’ll be going home next year.’

Living in a place whilst thinking about the next place is a uniquely miserable way to live. It fosters many of the worst conditions of soul – discontentment, dissatisfaction, and disconnection from the people you are with and the place God has put you. Worst of all, it makes you unhappy, and joylessness is the soil in which all kinds of sins may grow.

As humans, for the good of our souls, we need to behave more like plants and put down roots. This is a biblical image that speaks primarily to the need for spiritual joy and nourishment drawn from God, his Spirit, and his word (see Psalm 1 and Jeremiah 17.7–8). Now, it is possible to be rooted in God alone even when living an unsettled existence, moving from place to place. That was Christ’s own experience for the three years of his ministry on earth. ‘Foxes have holes,’ he said, ‘and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head’.

But, the Lord designed you to flourish by being settled in some place, with some people. Adam and Eve were put in a garden. Abraham was called to a land. Caleb laid claim to his mountain. Christ has asked his Father for the entire earth (Psalm 2). I conclude: our modern, nomadic way of life is not normal or particularly healthy, in most cases.

One of the most important pieces of advice on flourishing in the city is this: put down roots. There are things outside your control, such as whether or not you’re ever able to marry, or to buy a home, or to raise a family. But putting down roots is more about your mindset. As the missionary Jim Elliot once put it, ‘Wherever you are, be all there!’