As the temperatures are climbing so high over the next few days, please do remember that you are always welcome to come to St Andrew’s Church Oxshott to find a space to cool down.

We have the solar powered air-conditioning keeping the space at a lovely refreshing 18°c – and you’re welcome to come by whenever you would like in the daytime.

Bring a book, a paper, a puzzle, your laptop, or your children and some toys – or just bring yourself!

All are welcome!

Come and meet Paul Chouls, our Social Prescriber, in The Café here at St Andrew’s.

Paul is a non-clinical professional who connects with patients at Oxshott and Cobham. He provides support to address non-medical needs like loneliness, isolation or practical challenges to improve patient health and wellbeing, and is able to direct patients to local non-medical services.

Paul calls in to our Café on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, between 10.30am and 12.30pm –  so we will next see him on…

◾ Wed 1 Jul
◾ Wed 15 Jul

Feel free to drop by and have a chat with him!

Our second Men’s Curry Night was a big success, with 40 attendees enjoying a convivial pre-dinner beverage and an excellent curry at Oxshott Village Sports Club on 6 March. The evening’s special guest was Mark Blythe, an avid and life-long all-round sportsman, who shared thought-provoking perspectives on his life of sport and his Christian faith.

It was sport that inspired Mark from an early age; he played every sport he could and was a competitive footballer, cricketer and runner. Mark married, children followed, and his sporting achievements and experiences continued. Amongst many other achievements, he became involved in sport events management and organized and competed in tall building runups internationally. He has completed an Ironman triathlon and ran his first London Marathon in 1981. He has now completed 8!

In 2012 Mark was nominated an Olympic torchbearer for London Olympics for his work with children’s football (Mark is pictured here (right), with Carl Jackson and the Olympic torch). And 12 years ago he played his first match of walking football, which is now the fastest growing sport in the UK.  Mark organizes the walking football league in Surrey, and the Walton club where 200 people play every week.

Mark’s life changed dramatically in his mid-thirties. He told us how he did not have a Christian upbringing and could not see how Christianity could make any difference in his life. But he attended a large church event in Sydney with friends, where he felt the sudden overwhelming presence of God; it was like being born again, and from this point his life changed dramatically. He learned of the joy of living his faith and became a different person – putting other people first.

He reminded us about the importance of making connections. Even the smallest acts have the potential for great power. He observed that everyone makes mistakes and that life is not easy – it is a constant challenge. But prayer is there for every one of us to say sorry to God, to thank Jesus for taking on our sins, and to ask God to come into our life.

 

“For Christians, the Nicene Creed is one of the most enduring statements of faith. It unites believers across time and space in a shared confession of who God is and what he has done in Jesus Christ. It is recited week by week in worship, but it is much more than a formula; it is a declaration of faith, hope and love, binding us to the communion of saints and to Christ himself.”

Quote taken from The Church of England’s booklet published in celebration of the 1700^th anniversary of the Nicene Creed.

This autumn, over six weeks beginning on 14 September, in our 10am services at St Andrew’s Church, we will unpack together those ancient words which have been at the heart of Christian worship and faith for 1700 years – discovering afresh the richness of that of which we say: ‘We Believe.’

On Wednesday 17 July, the class of Year 6 children from the Royal Kent School delivered ‘Bags of Kindness’ to members of the St Andrew’s Church Lunch Club.

Having raised the funds to create these bags through a sponsored run around the school field, the children relished the opportunity to spread kindness to some older members of our community.

RKS Deputy Head, Mr Blaney and teacher, Mrs Mather noted how engaged and engaging the children were, putting both time and effort into listening to the fascinating stories being shared by the lunch guests. So captivated were they, that they retold all they had heard on their return to school, inspired by even former England Cricket players, here in the heart of Oxshott!

Phillip and Sheila Herbert had their Diamond wedding anniversary on 12 June, and we were thrilled to celebrate with them last Sunday (15 June) after church.

60 years is a big landmark – our best wishes and every blessing to you both!