St John the Evangelist
Fr John's Letter
June 2009
What are we here for?
When the people of Palmers Green walk past our impressive church building standing prominently on the corner of Green Lanes and Bourne Hill, I wonder what they imagine we as a community stand for? Why are we here?
It’s a question I have posed several times in these pages. As followers of Jesus Christ it is important that we are able to give account of ourselves – to the community in which we live, to one another in our own community of faith, and above all to God – for it is God’s work we are about. And that work is to make the love of God known by the lives we live, corporately as part of the Body of Christ, and individually as parts of that body.
On 27 June our Parochial Church Council (PCC) is spending a day together looking how effective we are in living out our faith. Every parish in the Church of England has been asked to have a ‘plan of action’ for every aspect of our parish life:
- pastoral care
- education and nurture in the faith
- caring for young people and families
- our social life together
- publicity and communication
- how we order and ‘govern’ our life together
- how we keep our buildings in good repair
- how we manage our finances
Please pray for us as we prepare for this ‘Away Day’, and on the day itself, that we may think carefully about all these areas of our parish life, and more importantly, that we may act on the decisions we make together.
The next step, will involve every member of the parish – including you, dear reader! By being baptised you were commissioned in the service of Jesus Christ, sharing in his work in the world. As you Parish Priest, I would be failing in my duty to God and to you, if I did not help you in fulfilling whatever your ministry may be within the life of our parish. Watch this space…!
Summer Fête – Saturday 4 July:
I am delighted to announce that our MP, David Burrows, has accepted our invitation to open our Parish Fête this year. This is partly in recognition of the efforts we are making in engaging in various ways with our local community – with other local agencies which contribute to the well-being of community life in Palmers Green, with our local schools, and with our business community. It is good news that we have been offered even more community support this year, from local businesses, and also from Hazelwood Schools, who celebrate their centenary this year. The school choir will be entertaining us during the afternoon of the Fête. These are all signs that St John’s Church is making its mark in our local community – part of our response to the ‘London Challenge’.
Two pilgrimages – June and November:
The Christian life is a journey or ‘pilgrimage’ of faith. This year we are also being offered two opportunities for going on specific pilgrimages to holy shrines which have been hallowed down the years by the prayers of those who have gone before us. The people of St Monica’s have asked us to join them in making a pilgrimage to St Alban’s (Anglican) Cathedral for their St Alban’s Day festivities this year on Saturday 20 June. I hope as many as possible will share in this joint journey of faith and fun! Plans are also well underway for another parish pilgrimage on the weekend 13-15 November to the holy shrine at Walsingham in Norfolk. This too is a famous place of pilgrimage for Anglicans from all over the world. These are wonderful opportunities to walk where the saints have trod, and to build up our faith.
There is much to thank God for in our life together, as members of this community of faith. May we all take full advantage of the oppor-tunities we are offered.
May God bless you in the living out of your faith
Fr John
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