This Thursday, we welcome Bishop Ignatius from the Diocese of Central Zimbabwe. This diocese covers roughly 30,000 square miles – about the size of Scotland, so we are very honoured that the bishop is able to find the time to join us next Thursday morning! The Diocese of Central Zimbabwe is linked with the Diocese of Southwark.

During our annual Lent Appeal, we join with schools and churches across Southwark in raising money to support a range of projects in Zimbabwe – to improve education, medical care and sanitation and to develop income-generating projects for local people.

Later in the year, Year 4 will be carrying out some specific work in their R.E lessons around the Lent Appeal and they will be travelling up to London to present the money we have raised at a special service with our diocesan schools at Southwark Cathedral.

On 7th February 2019, Reverand Hardwick of Earlswood Baptist Church in Redhill visited our Year 6 class to talk about the history of the Baptist Church and the many changes it has experienced over the years, both with the religion and the congregation.

The history of Earlswood Baptist Church

In 1909 Redhill Baptist Church planted a mission hall for children’s work in Earlswood. This hall became more and more self contained over the years and in 1987 it became a church in its own right – an amicable move as it retained its friendship with Redhill Baptist – and became a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain.

The present church building was literally built around the smaller, original, corrugated iron hall in 1978. The church interior was renovated in 2008. The church hall dates from 1997. Both buildings were sacrificial steps of faith for the church.

To find out more about Earlswood Baptist Church, CLICK HERE.

About Revd. Jonathan Hardwick BD(Hons)

Jonathan has been in full time ministry since 1998 as a Youth Worker and Youth Minister until September 2009 when he joined Earlswood Baptist Church as our Minister in Training.

After completing his degree in Theology at Spurgeon’s Bible College, we asked Jonathan to stay on as full time Newly Accredited Minister and he was ordained as Minister at a service on 3 September 2011. Jonathan received full accreditation from the Baptist Union of Great Britain on 30th March 2015.

In Year 3 we have been asked to partner with St. Mary Magdalene CE Primary School in Peckham, who are also a part of the Southwark Diocese, as part of the End Poverty 2030 initiative, which they are involved in.

As part of this work the children have learnt Michael Jackson’s song ‘We are the World’ along with actions. We have filmed it and this will be uploaded onto the school website at the beginning of next week for you to see!

On Wednesday 30th January, Reverend Phe came to visit Reception class. She spoke about superheroes and the qualities and powers that they often possess. The class worked with Rev Phe to create their own superhero, all contributing to the powers that the hero will have.

From this Rev Phe then spoke about Jesus and the ‘hero’ qualities that he has, and linked this to the superhero the class had just designed. The children learnt about Jesus’ big heart and his capacity to love everyone even when people treat him badly.

Reverend Phe then explained to the children that they too can all be superheroes by treating others as they wish to be treated themselves. All of the children decided that they would do their very best to treat others well and not become angry or hurtful towards one another but have a big heart and love everybody.

This Wednesday, our first class Collective Worship of the year will take place at 9am in the school hall. Year 2 will be
show-casing their learning and progress so far. This is a fantastic opportunity for parents to see their children
perform with their class in front of the whole school and to find out what they have been learning.

At the end of the Collective Worship, the rest of the school and parents have an opportunity to say what they particularly enjoyed about the performance. Do check the list of dates below to find your child’s class collective worship date.

Please note: Reception and Year 1 dates are not until the Summer term.

• Wednesday 30th January, 9am: Year 2
• Wednesday 6th February, 9am: Year 5
• Wednesday 13th March, 9am: Year 4
• Wednesday 20th March, 9am: Year 6
• Wednesday 27th March, 9am: Year 3
• Wednesday 19th June, 9am: Reception
• Wednesday 26th June, 9am: Year 1