Dear St Mary’s, 

Last Sunday we had a brilliant service exploring the need for Christians to take action on the climate and nature crisis by lobbying the government to transition away from fossil fuels, using our money to fund climate solutions, decarbonising our buildings, and managing church land in environmentally beneficial ways. We want to thank members of our EcoTeam for putting the service together – particularly Robert Tatam, Mike Forbes, Rosie Sibley, Tim Coles and Fiona Fouhy – and to our guest preacher Shilpita Mathews from Operation Noah. 

This Sunday 24th November is the Feast of Christ the King, and our 9am (Holy Communion) and 10.30am (Intergenerational) services will be led by Revd Jacintha Danaswamy with Rob Duddridge preaching at 9am and Jacintha giving the all-age talk at 10.30am. 

The Feast of Christ the King was instituted by the Catholic Church in 1925 as a response to the ultra-nationalism and fascism sweeping Europe; it is still a poignant festival today, as we see similar movements taking hold in our time, with many putting their trust in charismatic, often dangerous political leaders whose actions frequently contradict the teachings of Jesus. 

The Feast of Christ the King was ultimately adopted by the Church of England and other Christian denominations as a way of ending the Church’s liturgical year (which begins afresh in Advent) with a proclamation of Christ as King and ruler over all earthly powers and principalities, and a reminder that the ultimate end of all things ends in the triumph of Christ. 

St Mary’s Christmas Fair This Saturday 23rd November, 11am-5pm 
St Mary’s will host a Christmas Fair this Saturday 23rd November, 11am-5pm, which will include a craft market, refreshments and activities in the church, with the Walthamstow Toy Library running a Santa’s Grotto in the Welcome Centre. We’ll also be running two St Mary’s stalls to raise funds for the church alongside publicising our upcoming Advent and Christmas services. We’d love to see you on Saturday; please also invite friends and family to join you!

Welcome Service for the New Archdeacon of West Ham: Sunday 24th November, 4pm
On Sunday 24th November at 4pm, St Mary’s will host a Welcome Service for the new Archdeacon of West Ham, Ven Mike Power, who replaces the recently-retired Elwin Cockett. Our bishop, Rt Revd Lynne Cullens, will help lead the service. All are welcome to attend. 

Macbeth Coming to St Mary’s on Monday 25th November 
The group ‘Shakespeare in the Squares’ is doing an autumn and winter season in London churches and will be coming to St Mary’s on Monday 25th November at 7.30pm with a performance of Macbeth. Tickets are available at www.shakespeareinthesquares.co.uk. 

What’s Important to You? Listening Meeting This Tuesday 26th November, 7.30pm 
Climate Change, Youth Safety, Air Quality, Affordable Housing, London Living Wage, Supporting Refugees – what’s important to you? How do we listen well to each other and campaign together for change on social issues? What does it mean to be an Organising Church? Are you new to St Mary’s and would you like to learn more about how we act for justice and the common good? Community Organising is more than public action: the methods and techniques of organising also shape our life as a church and help us live out our faith as Christians. Come to our St Mary’s Listening Meeting this Tuesday 26th November at 7.30pm at the church. RSVP by emailing . 

Advent and Christmas 2024 at St Mary’s and in the Parish of Walthamstow 
St Mary’s Advent and Christmas schedule is now available, with banners and flyers being distributed later this week. We’ll have special services throughout December, including two evening carol services, community carols on The Drive and Attlee Terrace, three Christingle services on Christmas Eve, and a 10.30am Christmas Day Family Communion service. Please be aware that there are two services which require booking: Orchestral Carols on the evening of Sunday 15th December, and Quiet Christmas on the afternoon of Saturday 21st December. A full schedule with booking links is at www.stmaryswalthamstow.org/christmas. 

Join St Mary’s Christmas Choir + Rehearsal Dates 
St Mary’s will be putting a choir together for the beautiful Carols by Candlelight service – this year held on Sunday 22nd December at 6pm – and all are welcome to join the choir. Rehearsals will be held on Friday 13th December and Friday 20th December from 7-8.30pm, with a final 3.30-5pm rehearsal on the day of the service. Those interested in joining the choir can hear the music in advance and begin learning it by clicking here, or by emailing St Mary’s Musical Director Jonathan Rathbone at . 

St Mary’s Ruttle & Rowe Cafe + Play Area During December 
Our partners Ruttle & Rowe will be operating their St Mary’s cafe in the run-up to Christmas, including on Christmas Eve, but will be closed from Christmas Day through the New Year, reopening on Monday 6th January 2025. Though we will have a number of school services and other daytime events happening in the church throughout the month of December, Ruttle & Rowe will remain open, however, seating may occasionally be confined to the Exhibition Space, including on Christmas Eve, and our Play Area will occasionally be closed. Please check our website or social media channels for the latest information. 

Crochet/ Knitting Group Won’t Meet This Saturday; Next Meeting on 1st December
St Mary’s has started a crochet and knitting group which has now met for the last few Saturdays in our Exhibition Space in the church extension, and has had a brilliant response (see Revd Jacintha Danaswamy’s reflection in this week’s newsletter to read more!). The group will next meet on Saturday 1st December, 10am-Noon, but not this Saturday 23rd November due to St Mary’s Christmas Fair. Bring wool, needles, crochet hooks and whatever you’re working on; if you’re a beginner, do let us know in advance so we can provide wool and crochet hooks! For details, email  . 

Final Service for Revd Alan Moss on 15th December + Worth Unlimited Donations 
Revd Alan Moss has been appointed Estates Youth Missional Lead for the Diocese of Chelmsford and his last official Sunday service at St Mary’s will be on 15th December. Some of Alan’s work in Walthamstow has involved creating stronger links with Worth Unlimited, a local Christian youth charity, and in lieu of financial leaving gifts, Alan has asked that we consider donating to Worth Unlimited as a way of thanking him for his ministry. Donations can be made via the tap-and-go donation boxes in church (select ‘Worth Unlimited’); by donating via our website (stmaryswalthasmtow.com/donate) and writing ‘Worth Unlimited’ in the notes; or by donating via the Worth Unlimited website (worthunlimited.co.uk/donate). 

EcoTip: Supporting Christian Charities Advocating for Climate and Nature 
We referenced several Christian charities during last Sunday’s climate-themed service and wanted to list some of them for you here. One of the ways we can support climate and nature is to support organisations working with civil society to make the environmental changes we need as well as pressuring governments to implement the right policies. 

• Operation Noah works with UK Churches and faith groups to inspire action on the climate crisis by divesting from fossil fuels, investing in climate solutions and managing Church land for the benefit of climate and nature (www.operationnoah.org)
  
• Christian Aid fights injustice, responds to humanitarian crises and campaigns for change, including calling on wealthier countries to provide climate finance for lower income countries at the sharp end of the climate crisis (www.christianaid.org.uk)
  
• Tearfund works with partners around the world to tackle the complex challenges of poverty, including supporting renewable energy projects (www.tearfund.org)
  
• A Rocha UK is a Christian charity working to protect and restore the natural world (www.arocha.org.uk)
  
• Christian Climate Action takes meaningful action in the face of climate breakdown (www.christianclimateaction.org)
  
• Green Christian is a community of Christians working to care for creation (www.greenchristian.org.uk) 

Please pray this week for:

• The ministry and outreach of St Mary’s as we approach Advent and Christmas 
• Those struggling with the high cost of living 
• Progress in global cooperation on limiting and mitigating global heating 
• Peacemaking efforts in places of war and violence 
• Those awaiting medical treatment and test results: for hope and healing 
• Efforts to help tackle knife crime, gangs and violence in London 
• Anyone who is lonely or in need of support in our community 
• Those who lack housing this winter and efforts to help them 
• The work of our Walthamstow Welcomes cafe and its need for volunteers 

Next Week in the Welcome Centre (25th-29th November) 

Monday 25th November 
Daphne & Friends (baby and child loss community), 10-11am 
Macbeth performed by Shakespeare in the Squares (in the church), 7.30-9pm 
Waltham Forest Community Choir, 7.30-9.30pm 

Tuesday 26th November 
Walthamstow Singers, 7-8.30pm 

Wednesday 27th November 
Walthamstow Welcomes Cafe (free help with confusing paperwork), 10am-Noon
HulaFit, 6.30-7.30pm 

Thursday 28th November   
Baby Massage, 10.30am
FoodCycle (free community meal), 6.30pm 
The Singing Room, 7.30-9.30pm

Friday 29th November 
Sing and Sign, 11am-12.15pm 

Reflection: ‘Embracing Creativity’ 
Revd Jacintha Danaswamy writes: 

‘He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.’ –Exodus 35:35 

Over the past few weeks, we have been gathering in St Mary’s exhibition space on Saturday mornings to crochet, knit, chat, get to know each other better and be creative. It’s been so lovely to see how each week the group has grown – a diverse group of people of all ages, a lovely representation of St Mary’s and our community of Walthamstow. 

We have people who come each week and stay for the full session and some people who pop in for a bit in between Saturday morning activities. There are people with a wealth of crochet and knitting experience and others who are complete beginners. It’s a highlight in my week and such a joy to be there on Saturday mornings, having lovely conversations, sharing tips on wool and various crocheting or knitting stitches, and seeing those with experience helping and encouraging others as they learn and create. 

Crocheting, knitting, and creating with wool is linked with several health benefits: people often find the gentle, repetitive movements calming, reducing stress and anxiety; and alongside it being a relaxing activity, it can also increase focus and improve cognitive health. Furthermore, there is a deep sense of achievement in creating and completing a piece of work, and crocheting and knitting is even known to improve people’s moods and wellbeing. 

Gathering in a group on Saturday mornings, each person works on their various pieces, from beginners’ crochet chains to jumpers, gloves, scarves, and intricate blankets. Some people are making gifts for loved ones for Christmas or to stay warm in the colder weather, and some are picking up projects they may have set down for a few months or even years. All are creating something special, carefully choosing colours, stitches, and patterns. 

Although working on separate pieces, over coffee and in our conversations, gathering in our St Mary’s exhibition space creates a sense of connection. On the walls around us hangs our permanent exhibition, a brief history of St Mary’s and Walthamstow, including a section called ‘embracing creativity’, remembering that creativity is deeply embedded in the fabric of our church and how as a community we have connected to our faith and to each other through art, music and culture. As we look out through the two large windows, we can see a section of our beautiful churchyard which has been creatively and lovingly transformed over the past few months. Our exhibition space is the perfect place to gather and be creative.

I have often heard crocheting and knitting described as spiritual practices, similar to contemplative prayer, encouraging us to focus, easing away all other distractions – ‘a creative activity that helps us to live into who God has created us to be.’ Through the softness of the wool, the smoothness of the hooks and needles, the gentle repetitive movement, crocheting can be a practice that can encourage us to recognise God’s presence and to remind us that ‘God the creator is creative and we are created in God’s image.’

Hildegard of Bingen, the 11th Century Benedictine Abbess, writer, composer, and polymath, is often considered to be the patron saint of creativity. In her writings, she encourages us to make space for creative flourishing, which she believed could only happen through not being overworked, and when we cultivate stillness and presence. She wrote, ‘The Word is living, being, spirit, all verdant greening, all creativity. This Word manifests itself in every creature.’ Each of us is God’s creation. I pray this week we will hear Hildegard’s invitation to embrace our creativity, in whatever form that may take, to flourish in it, to rest, to gather in creative places, and to recognise that our creativity connects us to God and his creation.

Much love,

Jacintha