Christian Life Newsletter

Transcription

1 ISSUE 1 - Autumn 2017 Christian Life Newsletter Welcome to Christian Life, the newsletter with the latest information about the Christian life at St Edward s Church of England Secondary School & Sixth form College. In this first edition, we will be reviewing the last academic year and giving you the latest of what s happening in the Autumn term. Inside you ll get the opportunity to meet the chaplains and find out all about our Christian Union. We hope you enjoy this edition and look forward to hearing your views, comments or feedback by ing us at faith@steds.org.uk. Scripture Union, Bethel LRC and City Gates came in to help build the CU. I would like to welcome you to our Christian Life newsletter. Our Christian identity is the core ethos at our school. Special thanks should go to our Chaplain s, Christian Union and Worship Team as they have planned and implemented many wonderful opportunities for our school community. I look forward to more exciting activities next year! Please enjoy reading. Mr D Steel, Headteacher Review of Last Year Steds Christian Union (CU) Last year we saw growth in the attendance at Steds CU. Teams from We have seen the CU grow to nearly 20 young people with 3 making a commitment to follow Christ! It s great to see 15 regular attendees getting involved in the group discussions, times of prayer and sharing their faith journey. Topics explored last term included a series on How To: Read your bible, Hear from God, Study a bible character and Pray. We also talked about how to share our faith in preparation for the CU end of term assembly. Students worked together and presented their stories which were recorded and shown in all assemblies access the whole school. Last September we ran our first Youth Alpha course at St Edward s. We had many students register for the 10week course which ran on Tuesday lunchtimes in the Autumn term This year we are excited to announce that Youth Alpha will be running again! There are limited spaces available and students will need to commit to attending the 10week course including the half-day session on the Holy Spirit which will take place during the school day in a church setting. If you are interested in finding out more about the Alpha course promotional assemblies will be taking place in September. You can watch the Youth Alpha promotion video online.

2 Easter At Easter, the CU Team along with youth workers and Ellen Barnes (Sixth Form Student), were given a great opportunity to share the Easter message. As the whole school rotated around the school to experience different celebrations of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, including a service led by Pastor Glenn Podd in the Main Hall, Prayer stations in the Sixth Form Suite, Gospel Singers in the Sports Hall and Drama skits in the Gym. CU leaders presented an interactive session based on the crucifixion. Students were asked to think about what it could have been like for Jesus to willingly go to the cross and die for their sins. To close, students placed their fingerprint on a cross to represent Jesus dying for them. Thanks to Mr Khan in the DT department for all your help with constructing the cross! Special Guest Dolar One On Wednesday 17 th May, we had a special guest at St Edward s. Graffiti Artist, Seth AKA Dolar One, came to visit us on his UK tour from Spain. He had a great time with year 10 and 11 art students. Thanks to Mrs Maullin, for all your help with coordinating his visit. While he was onsite, Seth kindly created a banner for the Christian Union which looks great! He took a lesson, shared his story of how he was an infamous graffiti artist in Spain and wanted by the police. He found Jesus Christ and is now a Pastor who travels the throughout the world sharing the gospel message and he uses his art to reach many for Christ! Girl Talk 2017 February last year saw the return of City Gates annual girl s conference Girl TALK. Students attended this fantastic day! Don t miss Girl Talk 2018!

3 Meet The Chaplains The start of this terms sees an increase to our team of Chaplains serving within the school. We ve said goodbye to Ben Poch, Andy Poultney and youth worker Sam Fowler. We wish them all the best in the future. Chaplains, old and new, who will be working with us this year. Their role is to assist us to develop spiritual wellbeing within the school. As well as leading our church services and assemblies; our team of chaplains are also involved in the Christian Union, mentoring, counselling our students and staff and praying for us as a school. Year 7 Year 8 Chaplain - Rev Mike Power, Vicar of St Edward s Church of England, Romford. Rev Power, is also on the Board of Governors at St Edward s. Assistant Chaplain - Marcus Giddy, Youth & Children s Minister at The Church of Good Shepherd Collier Row and Havering Deanery Youth Campion. Marcus is committed to working alongside the students as they explore their faith. He facilitates a network for youth workers in the region and supports and resources local churches in Havering with their youth and children s work. Year 9 Chaplain - Daniel Shillingford is Youth Pastor at City Gates Church. He is also involved in Youth initiatives nationally for the Elim movement. Daniel has a wealth of Youth experience in a variety of Christian settings. Chaplain - Grace Allick, a member of Bethel London s Riverside Church, Dagenham. Grace coordinates the CU and works closely with the Worship Committee to develop the Christian ethos at St Edward s. Grace is also helping to build stronger links between St Edward s and local churches. Staff Chaplain & Year 8 Chaplain - Rev Shaun Moore, Vicar of Harold Hill St George and Assistant Area Dean of Havering. Shaun is also the Staff Chaplain and holds a fortnightly dropin at St Edward s on Tuesday Lunchtimes. Year 10 Chaplain - Rev Glen Podd is the Senior Minister at Romford Elim Church. He is also on the Board of Governors. Assistant Chaplain - Scott Gentry, a former St Edward s student, is now a Student Worker with Scripture Union. Scott has been involved with the CU for a year and will be co-leading the Alpha Course in the Autumn term. Scott will also be studying at St Mellitus College whilst continuing his schools work.

4 Year 11 CU Team Chaplain - Rev Martin Court, is the vicar for St Chads Church of England in Chadwell Heath. Rev Court has been involved in the school as a chaplain for a number of years. St Chads is also used for our church services. Assistant Chaplain - Shaevon Clarke is a dynamic outreach worker base at City Gates Church. Shaevon joined the CU team last year and will be co-leading Alpha in the Autumn term. Sixth Form Chaplain - Rev Simon Law, is Rector of St. Gabriel s Church in Pitsea and St. Peter s Church in Nevendon. Rev Law has been taking assemblies in school since the late 1970s and has officially served the school as the Sixth Form Chaplain since Assistant Chaplain - Alison Lait, is a Youth Leader at Bethel London s Riverside Church, Dagenham. Alison leads the church s schools and PRU work and joined the CU Team last year. Jon Riley, youth leader at Bethel London s Riverside Church. Jon joined the CU Team last year and will be working with the chaplains us again this year. Scott Cheeseman, Children s and Youth Worker at St Chads. Scott will be working with Rev Martin Court. He will also be assisting with Alpha and mentoring this year. Acts 20:24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus the work of telling others the Goods News about the wonderful grace of God. Worship at St Edward s This year we are planning to introduce weekly devotionals and daily times of prayer during form. This will include prayers for the school, the local community, our nation and the world. In addition to this, our worship services are a great opportunity for students to experience different styles of worship. We meet in St Edward s and St Andrews in Romford, St Chads in Chadwell Heath with two year groups meeting in the school Hall. Services this term: Friday 22 nd September Tuesday 3 rd October Tuesday 10 th October Tuesday 21 st December Harvest Service (in school) Year 9 Eucharist (in school) St Edward s Day Services (Churches and School) Christmas Assemblies (in school) HELP NEEDED If you are licenced to chalice and would be available be serve at one of our services please let us know! You can faith@steds.org.uk

5 UPCOMING EVENTS!!! There s lots more happening in the Christian life of St Edward s. Tuesday 26 th September Alpha Starts at lunchtime Tuesday 31 st October Starting in September, monthly prayer walks will take place around the school. These will be coordinated by Wendy Jackson, (a parent). Please meet at Main Reception. The dates for this term are: Thursday 7 th September, 4pm-5pm Monday 2 nd October, 4pm-5pm Monday 6 nd November, 4pm-5pm Thursday 7 th December, 4pm-5pm am, pm & pm A Prayer Room will be available for Staff, Students and Parents who wish to join us for prayer at these times. Tuesday 14 th November Tuesday 12 th September CU starts lunchtime Alpha Away morning (Students attend form then meet in reception at 8.50am return to school at 1.50pm) Tuesday 19 th December Fortnightly Staff Drop-in sessions with Rev Shaun Moore start. Monday 18 th Friday 22 nd September CU & Alpha Assembly CU Christmas Party!

6 THE POWER OF PRAYER! This term we would value your prayers for the following areas: Please pray the scripture John 10v10 over our school. That both Staff and Students will experience the peace and presence of Christ Jesus and the life in all its fulness he came to bring. Pray for strength and encouragement for all our staff as they begin a new academic year and adjust to the many changes that have been required. Pray for students to settled into the new academic year. Pray for God to give wisdom and understanding to the SLT as they navigate through a new academic year. Pray for an increase in the number of students attending CU and those who s sign up and commit to the Alpha course. Please pray they will experience God s love for them in a fresh way and grow in confidence in the faith. Please pray for all those connected with St Edward s, that they would have a positive experience of serving and working with us as a school. PRAYER REQUESTS We would love to pray for you! A Prayer Request Box will be situated in the main Reception area. If you have a prayer request please complete a prayer request card and place it in the box. Members of the chaplaincy team will pray weekly for you. If you would like to remain anonymous, that s fine. If you would like a response, please leave your contact details. If you have a prayer answered, then let us know, it s great to hear what God is doing. Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. If your church has an event which you would like to promote in the next Spring or Summer edition of Steds Christian Life please faith@steds.org.uk by 1 st Dec 17. GET CONNECTED! Youth Events We are building stronger relationships with several local churches. As such, we would like to encourage our students to connect with Christian youth groups and attend events which will help to deepen their faith walk and relationship with God. Events happening this term include: The Gathering Saturday 21 st & Sunday 22 nd Octobe hering_2017.aspx Girl TALK2017 Both of these events can be booked directly via City Gates Church Ilford. For more information contact Daniel Shillingford or Shaevon Clarke on Or danielshillingford@citygates.london or shaevonclarke@citygates.london Below are churches which support St Edward s in prayer and also serve the school in other areas such as releasing chaplains, financially and mentoring students. If you are looking for a youth group we would encourage you to contact the churches with (YG) directly for more information. Amazing Grace Christian Sanctuary, Dagenham - Rev AJ Salami (YG) Bethel LRC, Dagenham Pastor Ken Williamson (YG) City Gates Church, Ilford Rev Stephen Derbyshire (YG) Corpus Christi Parish, Collier Row Rev Philip Denton Good Shepherd, Collier Row Rev David Hague (YG) Harold Hill St George, Harold Hill Rev Shaun Moore KingsHeart Church, Romford Brian Smith Liberty Christian Connections, Ilford Dr Francis Oladimedi (YG) Romford Elim Church, Romford Rev Glen Podd (YG) Salvation Army, Romford Captain Steve Mayo (YG) St Andrew s Church, Romford Rev Lara Dose St Chads, Chadwell Heath Rev Martin Court (YG) St Edward s the Confessor Church, Romford Rev Mike Power St Mary s Church, Ilford Father Gareth Jones (YG) St Mary s Church, Dagenham Rev Julie Fleming St Peter s & St Paul s Catholic Church, Ilford Senior Minister If your church would like to connect with St Edward s please ask your church leader to us at: faith@steds.org.uk for more information.