At the moment we are in the few days between Ascension Day and Pentecost (or ‘Thy-Kingdom-Come-tide you could call it). I found myself preaching on waiting at my church. My family helpfully thought it was hilarious that I should be speaking on such a topic as I am not known as the most patient in my household. Given how many times I have hit ‘refresh’ on the government’s multi-purpose community facility guidance web page this week, they may have a point.But I had to remind myself of what I said to others last Sunday – waiting isn’t supposed to be a passive thing. Whilst the disciples waited for the spirit to come they gathered, they prayed and they even chose a new disciple. They got on with things. Waiting was active – not about making ourselves busy, but rather preparing for the future. How apt!So can I challenge you to wait well this week? One of the lessons from the ‘BigPCC Away Days’ over the last month and our recent series of conversations with parishes is that we all need help to wait well – preparing to re-open by taking time to reflect on what should not be restarting to give space to the new things we want to keep going. Taking time to read guidance and attend webinars that will encourage and inform.Waiting isn’t just about hitting refresh on the web browser. But perhaps hitting refresh on your soul. May your active waiting bring joy, and signs of the kingdom. Thy Kingdom Come, after all.
The Chapel of St Peter and St Paul, which was constructed in 1751, started offering online services during lockdown. Revd Pat Mann has seen her congregation increase from a regular 120 people to several hundred viewers online.Services use the Book of Common Prayer which remains a permanent feature of the Church of England's worship and is a key source for its doctrine. In recent months these traditional services have seen a large rise in attendance. The Greenwich congregation growth was confirmed when more than 600 people watched a Solemn Service of Choral Evensong on the evening before the funeral of HRH Prince Philip last month. “I try not to think about the numbers that might be watching,” she said. “It has been humbling knowing some of the people you are praying for, that may be many miles away or in another country, are watching and praying with you.”The stunning chapel was first built following designs by Sir Christopher Wren only to be later rebuilt in neoclassical style complete with nautical motifs. The Facebook image before the service goes out live is a picture of the whole chapel, while during the service the “the beauty and grandeur of our interior” is highlighted. Revd Pat Mann said: “We are blessed that we can show the beauty of our building. “We have a very fine ceiling and altar painting and share these with those watching as part of the broadcast.”Videos of services from the chapel are available on YouTube.
Click on this link to watch the BBC interview with the Bishop of Southwark.https://youtu.be/TzjoTWnUn38
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has appointed the Revd Tosin Oladipo as his new chaplain.Tosin, who is currently a parish priest in East London, will serve as chaplain to Archbishop Justin and the Lambeth Palace community. He will also have responsibility for developing Archbishop Justin's priority of prayer and the Religious life, particularly through the Community of St Anselm. He will begin the role at the start of July.Tosin takes over from the Revd Prebendary Dr Isabelle Hamley, who in November last year was appointed Secretary for Ecumenical Relations and Theology at the Church of England’s Council for Christian Unity, and Theological Adviser to the House of Bishops. The Revd Cortland Fransella has served as Acting Chaplain to the Archbishop since then.For the last three years, Tosin has served as part of the leadership team at SAINT, a resource church in East London, with specific responsibility for outreach, prayer, and the development of interns and ordinands. He has overseen community engagement and the revitalisation of St Mary’s Leyton, as part of a partnership between Chelmsford and London dioceses. He has also been responsible for the work of the Lighthouse project, which has distributed over 300,000 meals to those in need since the start of the pandemic.Alongside this, Tosin has led the prayer life of the church, which in the last year has included developing a digital ‘Rule of Life’: a creative and liturgical space to help sustain its community through the pandemic.Before training for ministry, Tosin worked for 15 years in digital and video tech start-ups. He is married to Angela, a mental health professional.Archbishop Justin said: “I am delighted that Tosin will be joining the Lambeth Palace community. The chaplain at Lambeth ensures that prayer and worship underpin everything we do, and that our gaze remains fixed on Jesus Christ. I am grateful that Tosin will be bringing his immense pastoral skills, passion for the Gospel and dedication to prayer to the senior team at Lambeth, and I look forward to working alongside him enormously. My prayers are with Tosin and Angela as they say goodbye to their community in East London and prepare to join us at Lambeth.”The Revd Tosin Oladipo said: “It will be a great privilege and an exciting challenge to serve as Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury - to pray for him and his family and to help deliver his priority for Prayer and Religious life. I look forward to joining the amazing community and working with the brilliant team at Lambeth Palace. Angela and I have loved our time in East London as part of SAINT. We will miss the team and all the incredible people we have come to know in Hackney and Leyton. Please pray for us as we enter this new chapter.”
