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Getting a good deal

Act 3: Deal

Any deal you come across today – go ahead and hand it to someone else. We’re not just talking old BOGOF-type deals: even if it’s just a bottled drink with 25% extra, go and give the whole bottle away. Whatever’s freely given to you, share it with someone else. It’s just a picture showing that everything God’s given you is yours to give on.

Choose how you’ll complete today’s act:
Green:
If money’s tight, check around the house. Got two copies of the same book? Chairs you don’t need? Some extra biscuits? Upload a pic to your social networks and offer to give it away (and throw in the hashtag #40acts).

Amber:
Got a loyalty card? Give your carefully collected points away to someone else. Or use them to buy someone something nice to give away.

Red:
Boost a local business. Put some cash behind the till at your local coffee shop or café.

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“…Freely you have received; freely give.”
(Matthew 10:8 NIV)
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More information can be found at https://40acts.org.uk/act-3-deal/

A gift from an unknown person?

Today’s act of generosity about giving something without them knowing who it is from. Maybe make a cup of coffee for a work colleague without them knowing, leave some change taped to a car park machine? Or even pay for someone’s fuel before they get to the shop!

Doing something positive to change the world has an amazing effect on the giver and the receiver – see what you can do today. To find out more about today’s challenge visit https://40acts.org.uk/act-2-anon/

Candlemas at Croydon

It was great to be with Croydon Sign Church on Sunday 28th for a service for Candlemas. It is the time when we think of Jesus coming into the world as the light – a light that is far better than the sun or the moon. It is with Jesus’ light in our lives that brings hope and joy in all that we do.

Bishop Christopher, (the Diocesan bishop of Southwark) joined us and was able to give the blessing in Sign Language.

Community of the Sisters of the Church

Screen Shot 2018-01-23 at 12.52.42 — St. Michael’s Convent at its new site at Gerrards Cross.

We are fortunate to have good links with this Anglican religious community through Sister Catherine, who is a regular member of our church community at Hayes, and who also helps with the running of Crown Centre.

The community was founded in 1870, the Community and did important work in Christian education, child care, social welfare and mission work. This work has developed over time and order has communities in Australia, Canada and the Solomon Islands.

Religious communities have an important role in the life of the Church because the men and women give themselves wholly to the service of God and others. They make it their work to pray for the world and their local community and to be among those who will most benefit from their presence.

The last year has been one of transition for the St. Michaels community as they moved from Ham to a new home at Gerrards Cross. They expect to be able to received guests for retreats again, once the building work is complete, in late spring.

If you would like to find out more about this community you can visit their website or download their latest newsletter.

Christmas Carols

Every year at the beginning of December the Deaf Chaplaincy is invited to hold its annual carol service at the Church of the Annunciation, Marble Arch. It is always a special event with Deaf Christians from all different traditions and churches across London coming together to share in the telling and listening of the Christmas Story.

Last Friday was a very special event with Bob McFarland, sharing the message of Christmas. Starting with the story of Jesus’ birth, he reminded us that Jesus was the gift of God’s love to all humankind. Just as we wrap presents to give to each other, Jesus was wrapped in simple swaddling cloths and laid in a manger. A very humble beginning for the Saviour of the world.

As you unwrap your presents this Christmas, don’t forget that most valuable of presents that has been given to you… the gift of Jesus Christ, by whose death, we remember at Easter time, means we are forgiven of the things we do wrong.

Next year’s date is provisionally fixed for December 7th 2018.