ELG Meeting

The latest East London Group Meeting 29th February 2020 at Walthamstow URC. The meeting started with worship where we looked at Matthew 22:34-40, headed The Greatest Commandment where we have to offer our heart, soul and mind to God and love our neighbours as ourselves. Shahbaz posed the question, how are we personally and within our churches fulfilling this commandment? 

Pastoral and church news was shared, which included:

• Shahbaz's father was out of the hospital and progressing and we were thanked for all our prayers. Prayers, however, were requested for Reverend John D's grandson who is still in hospital. 

 

• The ELG Carol Service at Wanstead was heralded as a great success. 

 

• We shared information about how to deal with people who were using church facilities without permission. Wanstead, in particular, shared its experiences in balancing showing Christian love to a person who needed it, with the safeguarding of children and other users of the building. Experiences were shared from Wanstead, Vine and Gants Hill. 

 

• Barking URC sent a letter to the meeting advising that they hand-delivered invitations for their Christmas service and were happy with the response. They were currently undertaking forty days of prayer for Lent and they are still to submit their request for a grant for improvements to the building. 

 

• The Walthamstow Asian Church had their Christmas services broadcast on a Pakistan television channel. 

 

• Walthamstow Trinity URC, via Robert and Jane, continues to provide food donated by restaurants to those in need outside the church on a Wednesday from 9 until 10 pm. 

 

• Gants Hill has enlisted the help of David S., the URC property development manager, in developing the new hall.

 

• Joshua from Walthamstow was liaising with the Asian Community Church in Coventry for prayers and meeting. 

 

• On Friday 13th March, Walthamstow is holding an ELG games night as a precursor to the activities at Lambourne End from 5th-7th April 2020. 

 

• Vine Church advises that the manse is now completed. 

 

• On Good Friday, 10th April there will be a rendition of Handel's Messiah. All are invited to sing. Registration will take place at 4 pm followed by practice between 4:30 and 6:30 pm. The public performance will be held at 7:30 pm. 

 

• Grange Park had a successful Christmas, especially a children's service led by Sandra. Whilst they had recently lost the letting of a playschool and the Lighthouse Church, there were discussions concerning another preschool using their building and also another church. 

 

• Grange Park's request for a Children's Worker has had much groundwork completed.

 

• At Seven Kings, Claude and Francesca are in discussion with Sandra A for them to have a Children's Worker. 

We had a general discussion concerning GDPR and it was confirmed that if personal information is included in minutes, permission is needed from that person, however, if it is business or professional related it is okay to include their full name.

Regarding our vacancy, the 1.75 scoping has increased to 2. This means there is a full-time vacancy for ministry at Trinity, Grange Park, Walthamstow and Gants Hill URC, and another full-time ministry at Vine, together with overseeing Barking and helping with the administration of the group. 

So far, the ELG special fund has received contributions amounting to £1,510. 

A general discussion took place about the Constitution and Grace S. is to come back to the meeting having given her thoughts to the specific wording. Thanks were expressed to both Hilda and Grace for all the work that has been done so far. 

There will be an ELG event held at Lambourne End, as mentioned. A request for £500 to help cover the cost has been requested. 

On Saturday 4th July, there is hoped to be a pilgrimage to Bradwell-on-Sea. Grace is looking into a coach to take people. The journey would be approximately an hour and there is a two-mile walk to St Peter's Chapel, which is 1000 years old. 

We were reminded that the next Synod meeting is to be held on 21st March and encouraged to attend. Francis also encouraged all the churches to subscribe to the Reform Magazine and have a copy on church tables. 

The meeting concluded with the Grace and excellent hot and cold food supplied by the Walthamstow Asian Church. 

Our next meeting will be held on 23rd May. 

Once again, I have come away from the meeting impressed with the way the churches can discuss and express their opinions openly with a common desire to reach a solution. There is never any anger or frustration but an underlying sense that everyone is trying to do God's will. 

The meetings are open to anyone and all can contribute but, as Francis said, he always feels the meetings should be governed in the spirit of Acts 15 where all should come to a common mind. I genuinely feel that the ELG endeavour to do this. ​