Anna’s letter for January

Dear Friends,  

Sunrise and shepherd’s pie

Winter days afford most of us the best chances of the year to watch dawn breaking.  Down here by the river we’ve seen several glorious sunrises, skies changing from pink to red to gold in a matter of minutes as the daily miracle unfolds before our eyes.  Hurrying commuters park cars and stare; joggers stop to take photos, and in the early service we say Zechariah’s words with renewed feeling:  In the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us...

But clear cold days also bring hardship for the homeless, and it is good to know that the joint churches’ Seasonal Night Shelter is now up and running, after months of careful, prayerful planning.  The shelter offers emergency accommodation to fifteen men and is hosted by a different church each night.  A number of All Saints’ members are on the volunteer team at St Paul’s Brentford, preparing meals, serving and washing up: soup, shepherd’s pie and pudding. Other helpers stay overnight with the guests, or arrive to cook a hearty cooked breakfast the next morning.  Already there is a  great sense of care and community.

This is a very practical and exciting demonstration of God’s love in action. The shelter embodies Jesus’ words when he identified with those who are marginalised and vulnerable:

I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.... Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. (Matthew 25: 35,40)

Do please pray for the project, which runs throughout February and March, and do get in touch if you’d like to know more or offer help.

This month brings the beginning of Lent, marked by the Shrove Tuesday  Pancake Party and by Ash Wednesday on 22nd February.  On that day there will be Communion services with ashing, in the morning at All Saints’ and in the evening at St John’s church.  Full details are in the Church Diary and you are welcome to all services and events.

In Lent we remember that Jesus was often hungry and homeless, as a baby, child and adult.  Through love, he chose to become a human being; through love he gave up his life so that we can live, and through love he showed us how to live for others.  We follow in his footsteps.

With all good wishes,

Anna Brooker

Vicar,  All Saints’ Church.