This Sunday (January 11th) we're holding a special Christingle service at Dunsfold Church. Everyone is welcome as we celebrate Christ as the Light of the World and the work of the Children's Society.Please join us if you can. The service starts at 4pm. Our Funday@4 gang will be part of this event and then revert to their usual meetings from next month, February 15th.
As I look to the new year and my forthcoming role as Archbishop of Canterbury, I draw upon my experience as a nurse working in the NHS. In this same spirit of service, both of these callings are shaped by my desire to uphold and support those in need, from all walks of life.Good health care is incredibly important to me. It goes hand in hand with my Christian faith, inspired by Jesus's call for us to love and care deeply for one another. At St Thomas' Hospital, where I first trained, the chapel is a place of sanctuary for staff and patients, away from the busy wards.The multifaith chaplaincy team is on hand to listen, pray, or simply sit with those going through life's most difficult and painful moments.On the wall is a memorial to Florence Nightingale, who established the nightingale School of Nursing here in 1860, driven by her deep Christian faith and commitment to care.More than 160 years on, I see that same care for patients in the porters, nurses, doctors, healthcare assistants and many others who work in our hospitals. At bedsides, in wards and theatres across our country, they work to bring healing, alongside countless other acts of kindness.At the Children's Hospital, there are staff here who specialise in play therapy, softening the anxiety of a hospital stay and speeding up recovery. While places like this provide excellent care, we know that our hospitals are under increasing pressure, with social and palliative care services stretched, long waiting times, and severe strain on dedicated NHS staff.But this can be eased. Community support can help deal with the root causes of many admissions. I see this in my own diocese in London, where people are delivering holistic support in different settings. Churches like SAINT in Hackney hold regular lunches, understanding that for many of us, a place to go where food is provided and there are people to talk to, can be as important as medical intervention for our physical and mental health.Here, people from all over the world, from many different backgrounds, experience a warm welcome, a health check up if they need it, and importantly, the love of Jesus Christ, who showed us how to wash the feet of others.In my calling now, I strive to carry the care and compassion that shaped my vocation as a nurse into everything that I do. The role of the church should be a healing presence in our nation, bringing people together at times of often intense division, caring deeply for those who are in need of our help.Happy New Year.
Cafe Church is back with a bang (and a band) on Sunday, January 11th at 9.45am at the Winn Hall.Our guest speaker is Rev James Forward, the rector of Alfold and Loxwood. He will be talking about an evocative passage from St Matthew’s gospel that reflects the events when John the Baptist baptises Jesus. The Bible passage includes the powerful insight that after Jesus’ baptism a voice from heaven said: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”A continental breakfast will be served before we start our informal service. Our guitar band will accompany the singing of popular hymns and Rev James will deliver his words of wisdom. The perfect start to the week.
Some people thought we had peaked last year but they were wrong. Even more families turned out in force to join our no rehearsal Nativity service on Christmas Eve at Dunsfold Church.There were three generations of several local families as grand parents were joined by their children and their grand children as the clans reunited for Christmas in Dunsfold. Our crib service is becoming a cornerstone of Christmas worship In our village.And we had a live actor playing baby Jesus in the form of the beautiful, and quiet, Atticus who did sleep peacefully in our manger.Judith Lahey-Bean was as usual the narrator of the play and had put together an highly efficient team to help dress the young actors and direct them through the service.Jacquie Griffiths, the wife of our new rector and a qualified lay leader, led the formal parts of the service and spoke about this being her family’s first Christmas in our parish. Fr Shane was taking part in the Hascombe nativity at the same time.Anybody who has attended this event in the past will know it’s relaxed with no worries about people moving in church or making noise. That was part of the joy again and Mel Shone, in charge of our roving microphone, encouraged our youngsters to deliver their best lines.A crib service of this kind couldn’t work without a team of helpers who all deserve our grateful thanks even if there are too many to mention individually. However, it’s only right to mention our organist Tanya Brooks for her typically energetic playing. But as Jacquie said at the start: “The stars of the show are our children.” And they delivered for us again in a memorable performance.You can find more photos of the event by clicking on the attached links to this article.
