Hither Green Baptist Church

We had an excellent time at Mountsfield Park yesterday and here is the evidence:

We plan to repeat the exercise on Sunday 31 August, when we will follow the same timetable:

• 10:30am Meet at the church building for a short indoor service
• 11:15am Arrive in the park for an outdoor service
• 12 noon Picnic and games

If it is wet then we will still have an informal service followed by games and a picnic but all in the shelter of our church building! Friends and neighbours are welcome to join us at any point in the proceedings - you can sign up or ask questions on the new Facebook event page.

If the weather is decent tomorrow morning, we will take our service over to the nearby Mountsfield Park:

• 10:30am Meet at the church building for a short indoor service
• 11:15am Arrive in the park for an outdoor service
• 12 noon Picnic and games

If it is wet then we will still have an informal service followed by games and a picnic but all in the shelter of our church building! Friends and neighbours are welcome to join us at any point in the proceedings - you can sign up or ask questions on the Facebook event page.

The fifth word we have highlighted in our statement of purpose is Kingdom:

Seeing growth and transformation as we intentionally demonstrate Gods love within the local community; building, supporting, encouraging and influencing activities across religious and secular boundaries.

Luke 19:1-10; Matthew 5:14

The fourth word we have highlighted in our statement of purpose is Mission:

Providing an environment where all can discover and exercise their God-given ministry, using their gifts and bringing blessing to the church and the world as we seek to fulfil the great commission.

Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 1:8; Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:10

The third word we have highlighted in our statement of purpose is Discipleship:

Growing mature, tried and tested relationships with Christ, built upon prayer and study of the Bible as part of our life together.

Philippians 1: 9-11; Colossians 1:28

There have been two sermons on this by Honesty Kachidza, on 13 July and 20 July.

The second word we have highlighted in our statement of purpose is Worship:

Developing a personal, intimate and passionate relationship with our God, seeing Him honoured and glorified within our fellowship and wider community.

Romans 12:1-2; Romans 15:6; 1 Corinthians 6:20

There have been two sermons about this. The second one, by David Binns on 6 July is available online.

The first word we have highlighted in our statement of purpose is Fellowship:

A welcoming church where people receive God's love, acceptance and forgiveness, supported and encouraged by the body of Christ.

Acts 2:42; Hebrews 13:8-16

There have also been two sermons about this topic, on 25 May and 15 June.

Over recent months, we have been working on redefining our vision for who we are and what we focus on. We have been praying, studying, listening and discussing. This vision has now taken a clear shape and we have already begun sharing it in the church. Over the next few weeks, the information will also be added to the website, where you can find it grouped together under the heading "vision".

Here is our statement of overall purpose:

The purpose of Hither Green Baptist Church is to understand that we are an accepted and forgiven Fellowship, able to Worship our loving God, growing as His Disciples, fulfilling our God-given Mission and seeing people come into His Kingdom.

Our Sparklers group, for parents and young children (mothers and toddlers doesn't quite cover it - we also welcome fathers and carers), has been running very successfully since we restarted it after Easter.

Sadly though, the end of term is already almost upon us - the final session will be on Wednesday 23 July. It will restart in September - date to be announced.

Thanks to those who have helped it run - including all the parents and children without whom it would be an empty room rather than a thriving part of the community.

On Sunday morning, wide areas of South East London suffered a power cut, following a major fire at an electricity sub-station in Sydenham. Hither Green Baptist Church was just inside the area affected. It meant some rearrangement was needed because our service normally relies on a lot of electricity, running lights, kettles for hot water and the PA system and amps.

We had to adjust plans and sing with acoustic instruments, using songs that didn't rely on projected lyrics. After allowing time for people to arrive, we decamped to Mountsfield Park and finished our service round the bandstand, enjoying the glorious weather.

We are grateful that our community has good resources, like the park, and to God, to whom is the power and the glory, for ever and ever, amen!