Emmanuel Wimbledon Newsletter August-September 2021

Emmanuel Newsletter

News and views from Emmanuel Church, Wimbledon

Beloved in Christ “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

Psalm 103:1-2

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have been enjoying reading through a history of Emmanuel recently, kindly lent to me by Peter Barham. How gracious and patient God has been to this church since its tentative beginning in 1861, and what a joy to read of those who have met with the living God and been transformed by his Spirit within the same four walls that we do.

August/September 2021

‘looking on the bright side’. But one implication of Psalm 103:1-2 is that we shouldn’t let the difficult things dominate how we think back over our lives.

It recognises that there are certain things we are prone to forget or overlook, and it urges us not to do so.

Primarily, of course, we are not to forget the things that God has done for us in the gospel. The Psalm goes on, “…who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Continued on page 2

It’s got me thinking about how people will look back on this period of Emmanuel’s history. If someone perhaps takes it upon themselves to write something for the 200th anniversary in 40 years’ time, what might they have to say about 2021? On one level, it’s fairly obvious. Just as 1939-1945 is headed ‘War’, so 2020-2021 (and perhaps even beyond!) will be headed ‘Pandemic’.

It’s affected every aspect of our lives and every aspect of our church life.

Similarly, there’s no doubt that the 31.8 report and all its impacts will play a significant part in both how we remember this period and how we reflect on the past few decades. We pray that it will also prove to have had a profoundly positive long-term impact on our church’s story, as we learn from the wrong that has been done in the past and what still needs to change today.

Perhaps it’s inevitable that in years to come, it’ll be these two themes that dominate how we remember the last 18 months or so. It would be very wrong of us to ignore or downplay them in the name of

www.emmanuelwimbledon.org.uk

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Emmanuel Believes

pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Whatever our circumstances, we must never allow ourselves to forget the miraculous and eternallyenduring privileges of having our sins forgiven, our lives redeemed, and our heads crowned with love and mercy, in place of wrath and judgment. If we had no other reason for thankfulness and joy today, that would be enough.

And yet we do have many other reasons for thankfulness and joy! As individuals and as a church family, we are to forget not all his benefits, nor the good things with which he satisfies us. For that reason, I want to devote the rest of this article to celebrating just some of the many benefits we have received from the Lord over the past 18 months, to fuel our thanksgiving and to make sure the story we tell about this time includes what has gone well, as well as what has been difficult.

person again. The long, dark nights of Friday evening Zoom feel a while ago!

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Bible study groups have dealt so well with Zoom and been able to support each other well.

We’ll be thrilled never again to have to say, ‘I think you’re still on mute,’ but it’s been a testament to the small groups’ commitment to one another and to hearing God’s word together that we’ve kept going.

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Some groups have been able to start meeting in groups of six or outdoors. See the lovely photo of the Andrews housegroup with Bible in one hand, brolly in the other!

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Our senior ladies’ and senior men’s groups have continued to support each other in prayer and practicalities, as well as adapting brilliantly to Zoom.

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Our musicians have served us with skill, heart and adaptability. Can you still remember the days of music videos with different faces in tiles all over the screen? Hours of playing to empty rooms and recording themselves have turned into singing to masked faces in the church building, and yet it’s all been done with care, beauty and cheerfulness.

To that end, I’ve been asking people recently about what has gone well in church life of late, and I include just some of them below, in no particular order. Perhaps as you read through, take this opportunity to turn them back to the Lord in worship and thanks for his incredible kindness.

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We have been served almost unbelievably well by our tech team. From the first week we were unable to meet in person, back in March 2020 we have been heavily reliant on a small number of people who have had to work extremely hard under pressure.

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We’ve been so grateful to be able to sing together in the garden before the evening service. Of course it’s been a tremendous sadness not to be able to sing throughout the pandemic, but to be able to take our first few steps back to it has been a joy.

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Lockdown Lounge has served our 5-10 year olds well. The pandemic has made youth work very difficult, but the creativity and commitment of our Sunday School and Explorer leaders has made it happen.

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No-one who has been up to the church building of late can have failed to notice the state of the garden. Through the hard work of many, the Sahara has been turned into the Lord’s outfield.

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Older youth groups have regained some momentum since being able to start meeting in

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We’ve been far more reliant on our stewarding teams than normal to keep us safe and socially distant in the church building. They’ve done so

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Emmanuel Believes with real diligence and care, dutifully sanitising pews, swapping Bibles between services and generally keeping us in order.

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Partly through the efforts of the stewards, the Lord has kept us remarkably safe from Covid.

Of course, some in our church family have had Covid very badly and we have lost dear saints to other causes. But given what has happened in the world and our country, not to have had a church family funeral as a result of Covid is almost miraculous. We remain unaware of any Covid transmission at any Emmanuel event or youth group, which is a great answer to prayer.

There have been more examples than I can list of people caring for one another in the church family. Tracy Garrett has co-ordinated care brilliantly, as have small group leaders within their groups. Bubbles have been formed, meals delivered, phone calls made, shopping done, technology explained. What a joy to belong to such a church family!

With her Implementation Group (IG) chair hat on, Gilly Briant mentions how encouraged she is by the support the IG have been afforded as they start to put together an action plan to implement the recommendations of the 31.8 report (see the update provided on page 7). There could hardly be a less desirable catalyst, but the way in which the church family has begun to come together as we seek to listen, learn and change is a reason for great thankfulness.

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Even in these strangest of circumstances, the Lord has been adding new people to our number. That’s happened through birth, through new gospel partners joining us and others being added to the Kingdom.

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Other new faces have joined the staff team and been a huge blessing over the past 18 months on

both the pastoral and the operational fronts.

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We’ve seen real spiritual growth in many in our church family, with a couple of lovely opportunities to celebrate that in adult baptism and confirmation services.

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It takes some courage to commit to a leadership role at a difficult time in church life, so we’re particularly grateful to God for those who have agreed to serve as elders, trustees and church council members. We’re thankful for their gifts and experience and especially for their godliness and love for Christ.

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New ministries have been able to get going in lockdown, not least the ministry of socially distant walks and chats. That’s been a great opportunity to serve one another as well as those referred to us by local GPs and organisations.

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Though lockdown has been very busy and stressful for some, it’s been a very rare opportunity for us corporately to slow down and think through how we can best live out our vision as a church.

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Speaking of vision, there are some in our church family who no longer see Christ ‘as in a mirror dimly’, but face to face. As we think of those who have been promoted to glory this year, we can be sorrowful, yet always rejoicing in the sure hope of the resurrection.

This list could have gone on and on, and each of us will be able to add things to it. Who would have thought that such a trying year would be so full of blessings? Perhaps future generations won’t recall them all, but our duty and joy is to bless the Lord for them, to whom alone belongs the glory.

Your brother in Christ Josh 6.00pm Evening Meeting In person

CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY CLUB

Wednesday 25 to Saturday 28 August

Dates for your Diary SUNDAYS

10.30am Morning Meeting In person or Livestream via http://wimbl.es/livestream or the Emmanuel Wimbledon Facebook page

BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY Sunday 5 September Including food and entertainment in the church garden

For up-to-date information, please see the Church family notices and the Emmanuel website

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UK Mission

Remember us in your prayers Minister Ed Moll reports from St George’s Wembdon

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t George’s Wembdon (in Bridgwater, Somerset) has seen a lot of change in the past five years within both the church and the local area. At the time of writing, BBC2 are mid-way through the four-part documentary about Hinkley Point C, Building Britain’s Biggest Nuclear Power Station. The action site is eight miles down the road from us, and sees about 5,000 workers commute into the area weekly alongside more than 2,000 who live locally. It has brought more traffic, more diversity and more hope than before.

As a church we have welcomed new people and new families who have also brought new gifts.

Some have also joined the staff team: Simon Taylor came as self-supporting curate after a career as a Police officer; Simon Evans joins us part-time from estate agency to boost our work on discipleship; and Emma McFaul who moved from Dagenham with her family is currently holding the fort as both Ministry Coordinator and Families and Children’s Worker. Liz Birch remains overseeing the Parish Centre, which was rebuilt in 2017. We have also been blessed by the ministry of Morey Andrews, the Deanery Mission Enabler.

You may remember that Todd Mallonee joined us in 2015 as Assistant Minister with particular responsibility for the work with children and young people. During the latter end of last year he was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, which took him away from us in April 2021. He leaves a wife and four children aged 6-16yrs and while they testify to God’s goodness during that time, there is no hiding the fact that it has been a difficult period.

Emmanuel’s partnership helped us to support first Todd, and now Emma. We are still looking for another part-time worker for youth and community as well as a Ministry Coordinator to free up Emma for the families work.

During the lockdown we were able to go online relatively easily, thanks to a few gifted individuals and a willing congregation. The return to in-person church is under way and our prayer and hope is to be able to welcome everyone at least once on a Sunday, which probably means multiple services.

Newtown is a section of the parish in Bridgwater which has areas of significant deprivation. Decades of previous outreach had culminated in Newtown Kings Church being planted 21 years ago.

That congregation and its leaders are now elderly and it is time to think about what happens next.

Our ‘Heart for Newtown’ initiative looks to build on that work, along with input from local Christian ministries Grace Advocacy (debt and benefits help) and Green Door Families (walking alongside vulnerable families). We are currently praying monthly and planning some occasional events in Newtown from the autumn.

We are also looking at building towards Passion for Life 2022 as a time of mission. Currently we need to start praying and planning and in the autumn the pace should hot up. This seemed to us a Godsent opportunity to have a positive aim for coming out of lockdown. We are also preparing a family fun day as a way in to a mini-Holiday Bible Club in October.

Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel over these years. May God continue to enrich you and your ministry.

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International Mission

Proclaiming the Gospel

Schwarz Manano writes about the Covid crisis and the need for God’s Word in Uganda succumbed to Covid, leaving their congregations confused and devastated. Many Christians do not know what to believe and the very foundations of their faith and what they have believed so far are shaken. With shaky convictions of who God is and lacking a theology of suffering, many have been left without answers.

This time has highlighted to us again so clearly the need for faithful gospel proclamation that roots believers deeply and firmly in the Word of God and the reality of his presence and working. The often shallow teaching in the majority of churches here does not yield these results. Our hope and prayer is that the growing number of faithful churches especially in Kampala, the capital city, will have an increasing impact on the church at large and that more and more believers will be firmly rooted.

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ganda currently faces its second and so far deadliest wave of Covid. In many ways it feels like this health crisis has shown issues prevalent in the country and the church even more clearly than before. Corruption is one of the issues that has been seen so clearly throughout this time. Whilst the country has received a lot of aid, no account has been given of how the money was spent. During this wave hospitals were overwhelmed and oxygen ran low. The divide between rich and poor became even more obvious, since government hospitals could no longer accommodate large numbers, but private clinics were still expensively selling oxygen that the majority could not afford. The vaccine has been scarce, misconceptions are widespread and fake vaccinations have been administered to some at high cost. With the majority of city dwellers earning daily and living from hand to mouth, the lockdown measures leave many stranded with not much help from the government.

I (Schwarz) head the Living Word Uganda team, which seeks to influence pastors, lay members of congregations and students to see their lives transformed by the power of God’s Word, through training them in faithful Bible handling and teaching. We have been encouraged by a growing network of faithful pastors and those who have gone through our training, who seek to teach the Word faithfully to others. My wife Judith, together with a small team, is reaching out to a group of urban Muslim refugees, seeking to build bridges between the local church and the Muslim refugee community. We live in Kampala and have two biological daughters (Floella 4 and Amara 1) and one adopted daughter (Monica 13) whom Judith homeschools.

I am also part of the pastoral team of their local church, Ebenezer Chapel, which seeks to be a model church in terms of faithful expository preaching and a gospel community, serving God, one another and the community around them.

Even issues within the church have been seen very clearly throughout this season. Although thousands have died, some prosperity preachers still preach to their large following that Covid is not real. Other prosperity preachers who preached that sickness is only for those who do not have enough faith have

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UK Mission

Holy Redeemer Streatham O n Sunday 11 July, I had the privilege of preaching at Holy Redeemer Streatham, long-time mission partners of Emmanuel.

Fern and I received a warm welcome from Ian Gilmour, the vicar, and his wife Denise. It was lovely to meet a number of the church family afterwards too.

For about the last 15 years, their church has met in the church hall, which is a separate building two doors down from the main church building. They moved out of the main building on account of bits of plaster falling from the roof. In the last couple of months, it has at long last been possible for them to move their Sunday services back into the church building and to give Sunday School groups sole use of the hall.

The church building is a very large and impressive space, but still clearly in need of attention.

A few small sections are cordoned off because of concerns about the roof, but we were shown exciting plans to reorder the building in due course, for which they are praying for financial provision.

The church themselves are currently in a similar place to Emmanuel – able to have socially-distant services in person and broadcast these to those still at home. People of a range of ages are gradually returning to services in-person. There were about 30-40 adults present, as well as apparently another 20 children in their groups. That’s less than before the pandemic, but going in the right direction.

At present, Ian is the only full-time staff member, which does limit the amount they’re able to do, though he’s clearly working and praying very hard.

They’ve been well served by ministry trainees in the past, and hope that they might be able to find some extra pairs of hands again in future.

We found them to be a very warm and welcoming church with a real heart for their part of Streatham and desire that people there should hear about Jesus. It was exciting to see that a church family that looks different from ours is committed to exactly the same God and exactly the same task in an area that looks very different from the one our church building is in.

The area of Streatham Vale will be familiar to some, though we hadn’t been there before. It’s quite residential and genuinely mixed in terms of wealth,

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Josh and Ian Gilmour

age, ethnicity and culture. This diversity is well reflected at Holy Redeemer, which is a wonderful thing. There are a few local schools, though none have direct links to the church. Ian would love to develop this ministry.

They asked us also to pray for their small groups.

Lockdown has been a hard time for them, and in September they’re going to be meeting centrally at church midweek at least for a while. They’re also praying that their youth work would be able to regain momentum as we emerge from the pandemic, to become more effective in reaching out to children and teenagers in the area.

Josh Skidmore

Emmanuel Believes

Implementation Group Update S ince the 31.8 Report was published on 23 March, the Implementation Group (IG) has met on average once a fortnight to work at formulating the draft action plan to put before the Trustees for their approval/amendment, in readiness for submission to the Charity Commission.

We meet to discuss the general aspects raised in the Report such as the extent to which changes to the culture have already taken place, what further changes are needed, how we should address the concepts of transparency, diversity, accountability (both internal and external) the role of women, training, to name but a few.

In the intervening weeks, the individuals on the IG make progress on their specific tasks, including reviewing the links and relationship with the Diocese, the structures operating at Emmanuel, how the role holders are chosen for their posts, staff appraisals, line management, mentoring, and how we can raise the profile of safeguarding within the church both immediately and going forward.

Some progress is easily identifiable, e.g. the holding of the recent on line seminar on safeguarding, but other aspects require a greater degree of unpicking to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the current system before they can be reassembled, possibly in a slightly different format.

In the light of the Recommendations, we have been preparing a number of different letters, which are shortly to be sent out to different recipients - to former and current mission partners both working in UK settings and abroad, and to both current and former role holders of various leadership posts. Current mission partners and role holders are easy to contact but we do not have the contact details of former ones in every case and we will be approaching the church family shortly asking for any information on the whereabouts of our missing persons.

ty. When preparing the action plan, we hope to set out not only what we propose but, where it may be controversial, why we are proposing it, so that you can see the different matters that we have considered and weighed up in reaching those conclusions.

To that extent, this article is a poor substitute for a face-to-face interim session with the church family to set out some of our thinking so far and have a Q and A opportunity, but we considered that the summer holidays were not the best time for this session.

We are proposing such a meeting in September and will send out details of this closer to the time.

We are also sensitive to those who may feel that they have not really had the chance to share their views and grief within the church family as a whole.

Although we hope that in the long term the action plan will help to strengthen the church family, if there are still those that are in need of pastoral support, our external adviser Paul Harrison is very willing to undertake a group session to enable church family members to share their concerns and feelings. If you would like to be part of that group please email me - gillybriant@btinternet.com.

Gilly Briant We are running a slightly shorter Holiday Club this year - each child will be able to attend two consecutive days of programmes: either Wednesday 25 & Thursday 26 August or Friday 27 & Saturday 28 August. Everyone will be welcome at the All-Age Service on Sunday 29 August.

If you’d like to indicate your interest, please email your children’s name and age to bookings@emmanuelwimbledon.org.uk

All of this has been a huge undertaking and we are grateful for the input of comments to help us take all viewpoints into consideration and for the offers we have received to help us locate and process some of the information – there is still more in the pipeline so don’t be shy in stepping forward to offer your services - all help gratefully received!

However we are also aware that this is not just an information retrieval and processing function but an insight into the heartbeat of the church family and the opportunity to gather us together in uni-

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Book Review

7 reasons to (re)consider Christianity

By Ben Shaw

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en Shaw will be well known to many, because he was previously a curate at Emmanuel. Sadly, Ben recently went to be with the Lord after battling cancer for two years. But generously the Lord enabled Ben to pen his recently published book 7 reasons to (re)-consider Christianity and participate in the book launch just before he died. What a gift to leave us – an accessible and engaging book clearly communicating what Christianity is about.

Ben informs us in the opening pages that he has a wide range of readers in mind: “I don’t know how you have ended up holding this book in your hands, but whatever the reason, it was written for you: the inquirer, the curious, the inquisitive, the sceptic, the atheist, the agnostic, and even the doubting Christian. Whoever you are, I’m glad you’re here.”

I agree. Here are some reasons why I think it’s worthwhile reading the book yourself and praying about with whom you might share it.

The content: Although we learn about Ben throughout the book, he skilfully and humbly focuses on God. Ben expertly draws on years of experience, using anecdotes and analogies to highlight the need for all, including those living in comfort, to be rescued by God. He explains how, through Christ Jesus alone, God offers meaning to life on earth and eternal life. He sensitively acknowledges the exclusivity of Christianity’s message. The book is short (140 pages or so), but concisely addresses common misconceptions held about Christianity, such as God being a killjoy or Christianity being anti-intellectual. To clarify any ‘misheard lyrics’ about God, Jesus and heaven, Ben quotes from Genesis and Revelation. He also demonstrates in detail why he is persuaded by the historical evidence for Jesus Christ’s life, death and resurrection, and why

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these are critical reasons to consider Christianity.

His respect for readers is shown further by signposting additional reading and practical ways of following up various lines of inquiry.

The tone and structure: The book is informative but accessible, because it is informal and personal.

Ben speaks directly to the reader with warmth, kindness, humour and humility from the opening paragraph to the last page. He does not patronise us or make sweeping assumptions about the views we might hold. He respects his readers: “I don’t expect that this book alone will necessarily ‘convert’ you, but I do hope that it at least helps you see the intellectual credibility of the Christian’s position, shows you why it’s good news, and sets you on a journey to find out more.”

The quotes above are indicative of Ben’s personable and conversational style. I read it from cover to cover but he enables readers to choose to dive into specific chapters of interest.

I am grateful for this book because Ben communicates the essence of Christianity clearly and unpretentiously, thereby making it shareable with believers and non-believers. So why not consider getting a copy, reading it, and praying about how you could share it with others.

Book Review

The Life I now Live

by Joelle Kenny

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o you ever get tempted to think missionaries are a race apart? Well, this book will make you think again. It draws you into the life of an ordinary human being who tells her story without any pretentiousness but nonetheless thrills you with the work of God. Joelle didn’t come from a Christian background, in fact she classified herself as being from “the wrong sort of family”, but now at this point in her life she has become part of what looks like a blossoming of the gospel among young people in a hitherto unreached part of rural Cambodia. She tells us about the steps by which this came about, many of them unexpected and reached through a gradual process of surrender. But her struggles and her deepening conviction are also suffused with a sense of being, in C S Lewis’s phrase, “surprised by joy” as God works through her and through the prayers of others.

Joelle is of course a remarkable person: down-toearth, practical, willing to rely on other people for help, and full of humour and fun, despite see-

ing herself as an introvert. The human relationships she finds become very precious to her in her comparatively isolated position as a single woman working with young people in a remote part of the country.

Both the living conditions and the strangeness of the culture sound like enormous challenges, but they are resolutely overcome little by little with God’s help. She starts out on her travels wanting adventure, and finds a great deal more.

The book is brief, and it makes us look forward to hearing more from her. But it also has some good discussion questions at the end so that we can consider our own response to God and how we might deepen our faith. It is well worth reading, both as an inspiration and as a way of getting to know one of our amazing mission partners who rely on our support, encouragement and prayer. It is due to be published by 10ofthose in the autumn, by which time the bookstall should be open again and I can order some copies!

Caroline Standing

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Emmanuel People

“I’ve always believed in God but my faith evolved over time” An Emmanuelite since childhood, Lizzy Lines talks about her faith, her appreciation of growing up in the church, TnT, Cornhill and her passion for sewing and socialising ... and Jane Austen

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izzy has been at Emmanuel for about as long as I can remember. Shortly after we start our virtual chat, which was arranged through a series of back-and-forth emails, she tells me she’s been part of the church from the age of four or five.

Her early years were spent in Paraguay, where, as many will know, her parents were Emmanuel mission partners.

As with so many people who have progressed from childhood to adulthood in the church, Lizzy has high praise for the commitment and faithful teaching of those leading the children’s and youth ministry.

“As I was growing up, I really valued their friendship. I was able to ask questions and not to be judged by what I said. As I got older my understanding of the Bible really started to deepen.”

Has God always been part of her life? “ Yes, I’ve been privileged to be brought up in a Christian family. I’ve always believed in God but my faith evolved over time. When I was a teenager I began to fully understand that God was not just a distant creator and that I could actually have a personal relationship with him.

One of her favourite Bible verses comes from Isaiah 41:10 and provides great reassurance and comfort that God will always be there to sustain and strengthen us.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

At university Lizzy was heavily involved in the Christian Union and attended St Leonard’s, a Bible teaching church popular with students in Exeter.

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“I studied psychology because I’m a bit nosey (or observant and curious) – I’m fascinated by human behaviour.”

As we chat freely, it’s apparent that she gets on well with people, and describes some of her favourite pastimes as socialising and hosting friends for meals and get-togethers.

As a student she played a bit of volleyball and squash and, along with a group of friends, helped to start up the Jane Austen Appreciation Society, sheepishly admitting to me that at the time she’d never read an Austen novel from cover to cover!

Emmanuel People Nowadays, you’re more likely to catch her with a needle and thread or yarn and hook in hand.

“I enjoy anything sewing or craft related - in fact, quite a lot of my family do too! I also studied textiles at school, which I really loved.”

Over the years, and particularly during lockdown, Lizzy tells me there have been many creations including Christmas decorations, cushions, grocery bags and a dress for her sister.

At Emmanuel, she helps to run TnT (twenties and thirties). The group has been meeting virtually for most of the past year but in more normal times TnT gathers for an hour or so after the Sunday evening service for a talk, discussion, missionary update or interview.

“As well as the Sunday slot, TnT typically runs a variety of activities, - socials, games and a weekend away. When lockdown restrictions were eased we started to meet outside in groups of six or went for socially-distanced walks on the Common.”

liaising with staff and students all the time, organising timetables and all sorts of practical details. Over the past academic year, the course has been run virtually. That’s involved setting up numerous Zoom calls and, in the beginning, instructing people how to switch on their camera or un-mute themselves.”

Lizzy extols the virtues of Cornhill, so much so that she’s decided to do the course herself from September. This will mean dropping down to four days a week to make way for a day of study, which will hopefully revert back to face-to-face contact.

It’s therefore fitting that Lizzy’s book recommendation, Zeal without Burnout, is authored by former CTC director and Emmanuel patron Christopher Ash. It provides practical and biblical guidance to help Christians serve Jesus in a sustainable way.

Lizzy says that one of the key messages that struck home was that “we serve God but we shouldn’t try to be God”. Wise words indeed.

Nigel Rendell

But what does Lizzy do during the week?

“I’m currently commuting 20 minutes to work … walking to my parents’ house!”

Like many, she has been home-based for the past 16 months but decided - so to speak - to separate work from pleasure by using her parents’ house as her temporary office. With a psychology degree behind her, I concur that this daily change of scene likely makes for an improved work/life balance.

For the past four years, Lizzy has been working as the Administrator for the Cornhill Training Course (CTC) and PA to the course director, headquartered in central London. For those not familiar with Cornhill, its aim, neatly summarized on its website, is “to equip individuals to handle the Bible correctly and to preach and teach it faithfully, relevantly and engagingly”.

Lizzy expands, “Initially, it was a post-university temporary job that Sarah Hall recommended to me! I was providing maternity cover but it then developed into a full-time position. I’m

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Out and About

Test Match Special

By Mike Tolmie, Captain of the Emmanuel 1st XI

On Saturday 10 July, Emmanuel played St Mary’s in the annual cricket match. But the captain wasn’t hopeful, with the Wandsworth Park pitch looking unpredictable, and lots of young players in the team. And yet it was our youngest player who would nearly win it for us…

St Mary’s batted first, and were in early trouble following good bowling by two sets of brothers, Daniel and Jonathan Shand from one end, and Jasper and Henry Weekes from the other. The pressure was maintained, with Charles Poole wicket-keeping magnificently in the face of uneven bounce, and everyone else bowling, including a guest appearance from Marisa Shand. Fielding highlights included a tremendous stop from Rui Cadima, a steepling catch in the deep from Mark Shand, and a fine Weekes brother-sister combination with Henry taking a sharp catch off Emma’s bowling. Nonetheless, St Mary’s rallied and their extended batting order posted a challenging total of 138.

Emmanuel’s reply got off to a good start from Henry Weekes and Josh Skidmore. But then we lost wickets and were reduced to 43-6. At this point Jonathan Shand took charge, with Charles Poole providing valuable support in a vital partnership of 68, albeit mostly extras. Following Jonathan’s retirement on reaching the mandatory retirement score, a late flurry got us to needing one run to win off the last ball. Sadly this was beyond us, so the match was tied, to add to the many close finishes in this fixture.

Thanks also to all who played and came to support, particularly to our umpire Chris Berkeley for coping with amended rules and ECB Covid requirements, and scorer David Poole for coping with long lists of bowlers.

If you wished you could have played, and want to next year, please get in touch. No-one’s excluded!

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Praying for the

Staff

India and Nepal Well over 2,000 pastors and other Christian leaders have died of Covid in India. At least 40 ministries are in danger of closing down, because no one is available to replace the leaders who have died. India and Nepal have lost many church leaders, leaving their sick, frightened and hungry congregations without pastoral care. Many recovering Covid patients in India have been infected by the ‘black fungus’ which maims or kills many of its victims. Nepal’s much weaker health infrastructure makes its situation even more critical.

In Gujarat Christians are contesting a new law designed to increase state control of religious schools. The act stipulates that a Central Recruitment Committee will appoint teachers and head teachers.

Schools must accept teaching appointments within seven days or risk being de-registered. A new anticonversion amendment renders forced or fraudulent conversions punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment. Christians could be prosecuted for telling non-Christians that repenting and believing in Christ will bring forgiveness for sins and everlasting life.

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Ask God to comfort His people in India and Nepal as they grieve for loved ones.

Ask God to raise up new leaders, full of faith and the Holy Spirit to take on responsibilities in His strength.

Pray that legal protections for Christian schools will not be eroded and that the anti-conversion laws will be repealed.

Intercede for Christians that they will be faithful in bearing gentle yet powerful witness amid the legal minefield.

The October/November edition of the Emmanuel Newsletter will be available on Sunday 3 October 2021. If you would like to contribute an article - and to check space/page availability - please email nigelrendell@yahoo.co.uk in advance.

The copy deadline for articles and photos is midnight on Monday 20 September.

www.emmanuelwimbledon.org.uk

Robin Weekes Josh Skidmore Nick Wooldridge Sarah Hall Emily Blows

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Robert Frazer

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Ed Coleridge Tim Malton Martin Osborn Mark Shand Josh Skidmore Robin Weekes Charles Westerby Nick Wooldridge Martin Andrews

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Robin Thomson

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Safeguarding officer

Gilly Briant

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Pastoral Care Coordinator

Tracy Garrett carecoordinator@emmanuelwimbledon.org.uk

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Clare Green

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Treasurer

Ed Coleridge

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Brenda Powell

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Mark Shand

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Mark Shand

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Harriet Greene

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Jo Svarovsky

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Rachel Evans

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Josh Skidmore

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Trevor Dearham Sarah Hill

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Nick Wooldridge

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Nick Wooldridge

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Lara Cronje & Ginta Jansone-Golovnoa mumsntots@emmanuelwimbledon.org.uk

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Reader

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Robert Pringle

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Martin Andrews

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Jim Wallace

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Senior Men’s Bible Study

Simon Watts Roger Evans

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Women’s Bible Study

Sarah Hall

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Sarah Phillips Caroline Rawlinson Norah Andrews

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Caroline Standing

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Nigel Rendell

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