November at St peter's

November is here and life at St Peter’s is bristling as ever. One of the really significant things that has happened in the last few months is that re-emergence of deeper accountability and openness. It take time for people to build relationships that really foster openness and vulnerability and so it wonderful to see that blossoming. My own talk on Sharing Burdens at the end October seemed to help in the process and since then I have had many encouraging conversations with people who have felt able to be more real about what has been going on in their lives.

Today I went to diocesan lecture on the development of Anglicanism in this area since the inter-war period. Far from being a tale of decline and woe it was a hugely inspiring picture of growth and impact. Looking at life churches local to here and the wonderful stuff happening at Soul Survivor as well as growth here I am deeply encouraged about what God is doing. Last month I was incensed that the Bishop of Fulham claimed in a newspaper interview, “The Anglican experiment is over”. Far from being over, I see signs of exciting life and renewal.

Alpha is once again coming into its own here and with 21 people still on the course and nearly 40 booked into the Holy Spirit morning there is a great sense of expectation for what God is doing.

Please continue to pray for us as we begin to prepare for Advent and our Christmas season in the next few weeks.

Will Van Der Hart, 09/11/2009