Introducing Andrea

If you have been part of Grace for any length of time, you have probably been greeted at the door by the beaming smile of Andrea Rugasira. Andrea joined the staff team as Events and Hospitality Coordinator this September. She heads up the Welcome team and helps organise our Sunday and mid-week events. Andrea tells us more about her story and her role below.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I grew up with my parents and four siblings in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. In 2014, after spending a year in Kenya, I moved to England to attend a school in Great Malvern, a small picturesque town in the West Midlands. A few years later, I moved to Reading to study for a degree in Geography and graduated in 2022. Shortly after, I accepted a job offer in London as a Graduate Engineer.

My loved ones would say I am a frequent crier, wide smiler and girly giggler. I spend my free time watching cooking shows, hanging out with friends/family, going on walks, and singing along loudly to music, mostly in key.
 

Many may not know, but Andrea came to faith relatively recently. Andrea, could you share your story?

My childhood was marked by insecurity and self-consciousness. I wanted to be carefree and ‘normal’ but instead obsessed over what others thought of me and doubted whether I was truly loved. I had a skewed understanding of God, believing that if I were ‘good’, God would make things work out. I tried my best to follow the rules and respect my elders, and on the surface, I seemed like a mature, well-adjusted child. But I was not the good person I strived to be and felt inwardly torn in two.

During my teenage years, my parents divorced, and my family began to experience emotional and financial hardships. This unsettled my worldview as I didn’t believe I deserved any of it. So, I gave up striving to be good and rejected God entirely. I began to indulge the lusts of the flesh and opened the door to them. Yet, my preoccupation with ‘being good’ still lingered, and I developed a deep sense of shame and crippling anxiety as I wallowed in thoughts of regret. I felt defeated and hopeless.

In 2020, my brother Cezar became a Christian and began sharing the good news of the resurrection. For the first time, I heard I could be made new in Christ and washed of all my sins. The Holy Spirit began to connect this truth with my heart and mind - the sinless perfection I was looking for in myself, I found in Christ Jesus. Finally, I found rest, peace, and joy. Jesus filled my empty heart and dead life with himself. Shortly after my conversion in 2021, my older brother invited me to visit Grace and almost immediately, I decided to settle here.
 

What made you switch from your previous job to the church staff team?

After joining Grace, I developed an overwhelming love for the church. Separately, I felt God was preparing me for a hospitality-centred role, but I didn't know when or where this would be. I began praying into this, and shortly after, Grace started advertising for an Events and Hospitality Coordinator. After careful discussion and prayer, I knew I had to apply for the role.

The role involves planning events, leading church hospitality and everything in between. I am passionate about meeting newcomers and helping them find their place in the church family, which is central to the role.
 

Tell us more. Why is Sunday hospitality important for the health of the church? 

On Sundays, anyone walking through the doors falls into one of two groups: visitors and those who consider Grace their home. It can be overwhelming as a visitor walking into a hall of strangers who look like they all know each other. Meeting newcomers as they arrive, connecting with them, and introducing them to others is a joy and helps them find their place in the family. It's equally a joy welcoming those already part of the church at our Sunday and midweek gatherings. Ultimately, we are a family gathering to enjoy God’s presence and each other.

 

How can we pray for you and the ministry?

I would appreciate prayer for healthy rhythms of rest and activity. Please also pray that the Lord will bring more volunteers to serve in the Welcome team as the church grows. 

My prayer for the Welcome team is that we have an increasing missional focus and display something of the gospel as we draw near and serve at church gatherings. 

If you're interested in joining the Welcome team, please get in touch. The team are responsible for greeting newcomers and setting up refreshments for our Sunday services. Volunteers serve usually no more than once a month and play a vital role in the church family.

Weekend Away & more

There is something great about spending day-to-day life together in a family. The car journeys, supermarket trips or nights in, though seemingly very ordinary, are where relationships are formed and we get to know each another deeply. And yet there is also something wonderfully exciting about the family holiday—a long weekend, week, or fortnight away from the city. We leave the mundane, the distractions and the life admin to have uninterrupted time together. Many of our fondest memories are made here.

We need both the ordinary and the extra special, and life in the family of God is much the same. The Israelite rhythm of the year followed times of regular sacrifice and thanksgiving, interrupted by longer festivals dedicated to remembering God's goodness and feasting together. Both are necessary and good for our souls.

Here at Grace, we have planned a number of church events aside from our regular weekly meetings. Our church weekend away and men's and women's events allow us to spend extended time as a church family and hear from God together. 

Although you can't sign up to them yet, we'd love to have you there, so make sure to put the following dates in your calendar.

Weekend Away

28th - 30th June 2024

Join us from Friday night to Sunday afternoon for our church weekend away. We'll be heading back to Ashburnham place. We look forward to a weekend packed full of good teaching, times of worship, combined with plenty of fun and laughter. 

Women's Events

Thursday 23rd November, 7.30pm @ LNS
Saturday 2nd March, 10.30am - 5pm @ LNS
Thursday 13th June, 7.30pm @ LNS

The women of Grace London will be holding several events throughout 2023-24, with a focus on hearing from God and building relationships together. They are a great opportunity for us to apply God's word practically to our lives and spend time together. 

Men's Event

17th - 20th April 2024

Join us from Wednesday evening to Saturday as we enjoy fellowship together and explore how scripture speaks to us, particularly as men. We will hear from God's word, consider how it applies to our lives, and spend quality time together.

Stories from the Salt Course

We're delighted to announce the next Salt Course is starting on the 24th October. 

We've been running the course for a number of years now, and have had the privilege of hosting hundreds of curious Londoners for meaty discussions about life's big questions.

The premise is simple. Each week, we have food together, a thought-provoking talk on the subject and then plenty of time to discuss that week's question in groups. Guests come from all sorts of backgrounds and beliefs. For many guests, it's a way of exploring the Christian faith. For others, it's a context to bring their thoughts and objections. Each week explores a different question, including:

Meaning: Isn't there more to life than this?
Satisfaction: How can I be happy?
Truth: Who can I trust?
Morality: How can I be good?
Hope: Is there a future for humanity?
Peace: How do we overcome anxiety?

The next course starts on Tuesday 24th October and runs for six consecutive Tuesday evenings (until 28th November). Find out more at www.saltcourse.co.uk. This week, we asked Chloe & Tom, who did the course last year, to share some of their reflections.

"I grew up Catholic and was always attending church on Sunday, but I felt like it was an obligation and so never really formed a genuine relationship with God. Faith very much felt like something that I should tick off my list as a way to obey my parents. So, I ended up drifting away in my teenage years. 

I heard about Salt at a Sunday service. I'm generally quite open-minded, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to just go for one session. I ended up attending the whole course and there was one discussion about practising forgiveness towards other people and yourself which particularly stuck with me. As someone who has grown up lacking in self-compassion and who has experienced church hurt, it was an important conversation to have and I remember the group being very supportive.

It's really cool to see how much I've changed and grown over the last year or so. I have really come out of the other side knowing that God has always been there with me even when I didn't think he was."

Chloe

"Something has always drawn me to the countercultural aspect of Christianity. When I moved away for university, I had a countercultural ‘Christian’ zeal inside of me, but never had a church community or the time to really consider who Jesus was. It just all seemed a bit too complicated for me and I never felt like I had the tools to look into it. That's where the Salt Course really helped me.

The course was an explorative discussion and an environment where you could pose questions that didn't have to sound intelligent. It was for everyone. I was a bit worried that the course wouldn’t properly address common objections to the Bible and Jesus, but the talks actively engaged with these.

The Salt Course played a pivotal role in my Christian journey, as it allowed me to deeply look into Christianity, and led me to acknowledge and love Christ. Now, I truly believe that Christ is Lord and came as God in the flesh to die for us. And I think when you believe that, you're hooked!"

Tom

Introducing George and Becs

Last Sunday, at both services, we were introduced to George & Becs Style. George is our new Pastor-in-Training. We thought many of you would like to get to know them a little better, so we've included an interview with them below. 

Can you tell us a bit about yourself? 

[George] I’m a Londoner, born and bred. I was raised in a non-Christian home and grew up with the classic London cocktail of chasing achievement in work, success in relationships and pursuing a five-year plan. It was in the final year of my degree in primary education, whilst on a semester abroad in the United States, that I encountered Christ for the first time and all my previous pursuits changed. When I came back I was baptised and have been following him ever since. 



And Becs, what about you? Tell us a bit about yourself.  

[Becs] Well, I'm from Hornchurch (Essex) and grew up in a Christian home. I’m one of seven, so life growing up was always action-packed. Something that the Lord really has put on my heart is his love for the vulnerable in society. I’ve mostly worked in the charity sector, working with those who are homeless or struggle with addiction, but in the past couple of years have found myself working in schools alongside teenagers and young adults with learning difficulties. Care for these amazing people really is a passion of mine. At some point in the future, George and I want to adopt or be involved in foster care.

George and I met online nearly three years ago, mid-COVID pandemic lockdown. We started dating — lots and lots of walks before lockdown was lifted — and we were eventually married. We celebrated our one-year anniversary this April. 



Becs, what were the first things that struck you about Grace London when you started attending?

[Becs] I really enjoyed Andrew and Jeremy’s preaching, I always feel like I’ve been fed so well sitting under God’s word brought by them, but for me personally, the thing that stuck with me the most is the intensity and passion of the times of worship in the service. Music has always been important to me and was even a big part of how I came to Christ and so to be in a room surrounded by people who sing so loudly and boldly as we declare beautiful things of God, that’s really powerful to me.



Back to you, George. You're joining us as our church's new Pastor-in-Training; how did you end up deciding on a life in vocational ministry? 

[George] I remember from the moment I began my walk with Christ I felt the sense of the Lord's call over my whole life and that sense was only strengthened by people, encouraging me into deeper aspects of service. I remember my pastor at the time sending me the link to our church's internship programme telling me that he thought I should seriously consider signing up. Then, when busy London life seemed to be put on pause during the pandemic, and I wasn't busying myself looking after kids in the school classroom, I was able to spend time intentionally discerning this call. That led me to leave my job as a primary school teacher and start full-time study at Oak Hill Theological College in North London, whilst working for my church at the same time. 



We’re excited to have you both part of the church! What are you most excited about in this role? And what are your hopes for our church?

[George] Am I allowed to say everything? I think the thing I'm most excited for is getting to know the whole church family and beginning to walk alongside them, encouraging them and supporting them: helping to build them up in their walk with Christ.

My hope for the church, as we continue to seek the Lord, is to be building his kingdom here in London, as it is in heaven; that we grow as a community, as a family, as a body, that loves one another, seeks to build each other up and lives together in fellowship… A church that is the salt and light to a city that is crying out for what can only be offered by God's precious gospel.



George and Becs, how can we be praying for you both and your ministry at Grace London?

[George] Thank you for asking. I guess firstly, that the Lord will help us get settled quickly into the rhythms and patterns of church life. Please also pray for us as we expecting a baby in spring next year! 

[Becs] My pregnancy hasn't been the easiest so far. And has stopped me from involving myself in church life as much as I would like. So, please pray for us and for our unborn baby.

Welcome to George & Becs! 

Introducing Harrison

Harrison is one of our interns and is about to begin the second year of his internship with us, with a focus on evangelism and discipleship. On any given week, you might find him leading a Bible study with those exploring Christianity, studying for his theology course, or chatting to people on a local estate. Since becoming a Christian just over three years ago, Harrison has continued to grow in his passion for Christ and urgency to share the good news with those around him. We thought we'd ask him a few questions about one of the ministries that he's involved in - street evangelism on the south bank. 

Why do you go out on the streets to do evangelism? 

After becoming a Christian, and joining Grace, I had plenty of opportunities to get involved in different evangelistic opportunities and events, such as the Salt Course, Salt Live, bible studies (for non-Christians) and street outreach. Jeremy and I would sometimes go out to the south bank and chat with people sitting there. For the first few times, I remember pretty much hiding behind Jeremy in conversation, but as time went on I began to feel more and more comfortable talking to strangers about my faith. It wasn’t as frightening as I first thought. I think these small conversations really gave me a love for street outreach. Once I got over that initial fear, I began to see the importance of leaning on God in weakness and seeking God’s Spirit to empower me. Now I think it’s something every Christian should consider getting involved in!

What does street outreach involve?

On some Sundays, we meet at 1:30pm at LNS, and make our way to the south bank. Once we’ve set up the table, a few of us start handing out tracts and gospels, and chat with people who stop to see what we have on display. After just over an hour, we meet back at the table, pack up and share how it went for everyone. This is one of my favourite parts as there are always stories of people having conversations that they wouldn’t have otherwise had, and it’s great to see how encouraged people are who haven’t done this before and how the Lord blessed the work, as they have stepped out in faith. As a result of our street outreach, we’ve had people come to church services and Salt Live events, had great inter-faith exchanges and evangelistic chats, prayed with people and handed out a large number of Christian materials.

What’s a memorable conversation or chat that someone’s shared?

Just over a month ago, I gave a gospel tract to a man on Southbank and just a few minutes later, his teenage son came over asking for more. He said he was a Christian and was really encouraged to see other believers out in the streets telling people about Jesus. He also told me that he’d hand out the tracts that I’d given him on his way home as well as to his friends in his hometown of Cambridge. It was a good reminder to me that we’re not only witnessing to the lost, but encouraging and building up the Church when they see people seeking to be bold for Christ.

If you are interested in getting involved in street outreach, just get in touch with Harrison (07368 817640, harrison@grace.london). He's always keen for more people to get involved. 

Get to know our worship team

There was a time (a beautiful time, mind you) when it would not be uncommon for Grace London's Sunday worship team to be short of a pianist, a guitarist or a cajonist and for Andrew Haslam to spontaneously jump up onstage himself to pick up the slack and play one of the instruments to fill the band out. That time seems to be just a fading memory of the past, since, over the last few years, our worship ministry has become a robust, lively, creative group of rotating worship leaders and musicians helping us to meet with God through praise and song each week.

We have Pete Mills, who heads up the worship team, to thank for a lot of this transformation as Pete has worked hard both behind the stage and in front of it to help shape the Grace London worship vibe that you experience each Sunday. Alongside Pete, we also have Jono Thorne, who is joining our staff team this month. Jono will take over as my maternity cover, helping out with Grace London's communications and digital work for part of the week, and then as worship coordinator for the other part. Jono will also take on some theology studies at Crosslands.

Get to know Pete and Jono a bit more in the interview below:

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Pete: I spent the first 24 years of my life in the North East of England, growing up in a small town called Stockton-on-Tees before going to study music in Newcastle. This is where Nats and I met as we were both a part of Cornerstone Church Newcastle, which is also part of the Advance Movement. During our first year of marriage, we felt God call us down to London, thinking that we'd be here for a short time. But here we are six years later with Ezra (our lively 11-month old boy) and a wonderful church family! Outside of church and work, I'm a long-suffering supporter of Middlesbrough FC and I enjoy trying to find my favourite albums on vinyl.

Jono: I grew up in Coventry in the West Midlands with my parents and two older sisters. After finishing school, I decided to take a gap year and moved to Brighton where I worked as a worship intern for a church called Emmanuel. As I was preparing to move to London to start my undergraduate degree, a friend mentioned Grace London to me and so I decided to visit on my first Sunday in the city. I soon decided to settle at Grace and have been here the last four years. In my spare time I enjoy (unsurprisingly!) playing guitar and songwriting, bouldering and reading.

How many instruments do you play? 

Pete: The threshold for 'play' is debatable, but I think I've played six different instruments on stage.

Jono: Four - I learned clarinet from a young age and taught myself guitar as a teen. I also play bass and saxophone.

Pete, Can you share with us a bit more about your role and what you do on a day to day basis/Sunday? 

Pete: I'm responsible for enabling our musicians and technicians to flourish when we gather as a church family. This involves everything from leading sung worship to helping the tech team get everything ready for a gathering. Each Sunday can look quite different depending on what's needed, but it could involve auditioning people for the worship team, deciding new songs with our worship leaders or fixing some technical issues that inevitably occur!

What have you seen change since you first began leading the worship team until now? 

Pete: The most obvious change is the size of the team. When I first started, there were some team members who were serving every Sunday, as we didn't have enough people on certain instruments. There are now over 40 people on the team and I serve alongside five brilliant worship leaders who help to facilitate our times of sung worship.

Many people might not know that the team actually wrote a few original songs which we sing on Sundays. How did this come about and how has that whole process been? 

Pete: Yes, it's been great to see how this has developed over the past year. Nats and I wrote a song about the prodigal son over lockdown and thought it could be a blessing to our church, so we decided to start singing it on Sundays. From there, several people encouraged us to write more, so we put together a small songwriting group to write songs that were engaging, theologically rich and could be easily sung by a church congregation. We now have four original songs that we sing as a church and it's been incredibly rewarding to see how they've encouraged people in their faith.* 

And this is where Jono comes in as for a few days a week, he will help you with worship and song composition.

Pete: Jono in particular is a song ideas machine, and I'm very much looking forward to him being able to give even more time to this as he joins the staff team.

Jono, you’ve been on the worship team for a while now and have just recently re-joined the staff team as worship coordinator and (my!) communications maternity cover. What led you to take on these roles?

Jono: After working at Grace part-time during university, I decided to venture into corporate communications over the last year. However, I've had a passion for worship and composition for some time and had hoped at some point that I'd be able to do it in a professional capacity, though I was unsure when. So, I jumped at the opportunity to rejoin the staff team at Grace and combine my professional experience and passion to support the church in this role. When I'm not working in the office, I'll be studying theology online at Crosslands, exploring the bible with people from across the UK and the further afield.

What are you most excited about doing in this role? What are you hoping it will look like?

Jono: I’m hoping the role will involve lots of collaboration with other church and staff members as well as the opportunity to think creatively and produce engaging content.

Do you find it challenging to worship when you have to do it in an “official” capacity? 

Pete: There can be a challenge around the sincerity of our worship and I'm mindful of ensuring that my worship remains devotional rather than it becoming just 'my job'. I think it's something that every worship leader has to wrestle with and we must regularly examine our hearts to discern what the object of our worship is. But this is also true for everyone - Jesus calls us to be worshippers who worship in spirit and truth, so we must never be content with insincere worship.

What does worship mean to you?

Pete: True worship is the continuous giving of all that we are to God and this affects our whole life, not just the songs we sing on a Sunday. To worship God is to love him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength - this should affect how we sing on Sundays as well as how we live our lives during the rest of the week. Worship brings feelings of awe, reverence, contentment and joy, which can only be found in their ultimate sense when Christ is the object of our worship.

Jono: I would describe worship as a joyful sacrifice. Like how the Israelites would offer the first-fruits of their harvest on the altar, for us, true worship involves surrendering to God everything in our lives and giving Him the place of highest honour in our hearts. It is a costly act, but one that brings deep joy and rest.

What is important for you in selecting a song to sing on a Sunday? 

Pete: I think it's important for us to start our times of worship by declaring something about God before we sing something about our response. This is why we'll often start our services with something like 'King of Kings' or 'Lion and the Lamb' before singing a song like 'God I look to you'. It's a small thing but I think it helps us to keep Christ at the centre of it all.

Jono: It may sound like a no-brainer but I always try to include mention of Jesus in the first couple of songs. God has revealed himself most abundantly through Jesus - and He is the object of worship! - so I find it helpful to explicitly refer to Jesus early on in the setlist.

How can we pray for you and the ministry? 

Pete: Please pray that God would bring us more skilled musicians and technicians as the church continues to grow. There is a real love for the church family in both teams and this is evident as they pray for the church before band rehearsals every Sunday. Please pray for this to continue and for an even deeper love for the church. 

Jono: Over the last few weeks, I’ve been dwelling on Jesus’ Great Commission to make disciples of all nations and so I would appreciate prayer that my work in the team would serve to advance God’s kingdom and bring those outside the church to know Him. My prayer too is that as a worship team, we would have an increasingly missional focus and that through our times of worship we might encourage the church to share the gospel with others.

Can you share with us the link to the Grace London Spotify playlist? 

Pete: Absolutely! Here it is.

*In case you were wondering, the four original Grace London worship songs are:

  • Better

  • Come to the King

  • Crucible

  • The Grace of the Father

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.

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.

 
 

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. 

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!

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. 

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.