HTB Queen’s Gate Community Update 13
Welcome to our HTB QG Blog
An Invitation from Tom and Sarah
As ever, it is a delight to hear your updates – especially the wonderful news of Samuel Shafti’s safe arrival this week – please do scroll down to see more!
We are also hugely looking forward to our next Queen’s Gate quiz/musical soiree this coming Thursday evening with the amazing Chris Read and Tim Davies-Bennion. This time, we will be having a short live musical interlude with 2 special guests - so get your drink of choice and prepare to be put to the test in this next brain buster quiz!
Many of us will have heard the great news that churches can start to open again soon, although subject to likely constraints in areas such as congregational size, the absence of singing and potentially Holy Communion. Whilst we are keen to meet together again in person as soon as possible, we do need to await further details and guidance from the Government and Church of England and will continue to review the situation carefully.
Meantime, we look forward to meeting together on zoom again at 9am this Sunday. Please do join us if you haven’t managed to yet - we would love to see you there. As always we will then finish by 9:30am in time to watch HTB at Home.
God bless you and lots of love,
Tom & Sarah
Queen’s Gate Sunday Zoom
28 June 9am
Please join us on Sunday 28 June as one congregation at 9am. Tom and Sarah will be leading us in the daily Liturgy, followed by some worship, prayer and time to catch up over coffee.
So why not grab a coffee, a bible and we look forward to seeing you there. The Zoom code remains the same:
Zoom Meeting ID: 927 8231 9256
Password: 031187
Zoom Link
Queen’s Gate Quiz and Musical Soiree
Thursday 2 July 7:30pm
The brain wizz comedy duo are back by popular demand on Thursday 2nd July to give us another exhilirating quiz night! Be sure to bring a drink for the interval where we will enjoy 2 performances from some guest musicians. Can’t wait - see you there!
Zoom Meeting ID: 856 3080 7455
Password: 901317
New Life at Queen’s gate
We are delighted to welcome the birth of Samuel to Rosy and Asif Shafi, a younger brother for Amanya.
Rosy and Asif have been members of the 11am congregation for some years. They were married at Queen’s Gate by Rev. Chris Lee in the lady chapel, and Amanya their daughter was also christened by him at Queen’s Gate. Mima, who is Godmother to Amanya is also delighted!
HTB Groups ONLINE
"The QG Connect group has been a source of solace for me during lockdown. I was working towards a professional diploma prior to lockdown and I am continuing the course remotely, which provides structure for my days and weeks. However, without the personal connection which Connect group provides, I might well have found lockdown challenging on a personal and spiritual level. It is a blessing and a privilege to be able to talk (and pray) about my challenges, victories and concerns with people who share my Christian faith, and to hear about their lives too." Pete Range
I was just planning on joining Josh and Esli’s connect group when the lockdown started. This means that I never got a chance to meet the group in person, and I was worried that joining a new group would be too difficult online. But it has been so great! It’s been especially important for me as I had to go back to my small hometown in Finland for lockdown, and that has made me feel very disconnected from my life in London, including HTB and Queen’s Gate. This is why I have been so grateful to still feel like a part of the community. Even though the situation hasn’t always been easy, it has given me lots of opportunities to grow in my faith, and the meetings with the connect group have been helpful as they have given me encouragement, and more importantly brought me so much joy!
Sonja Tuomela
As news of the Covid-19 Pandemic took hold, we felt its shockwaves through every aspect of our lives. Suddenly, people were cut off from loved ones, friends and church. Had the pause button been pressed for an eerie stillness began to pervade our lives, streets, city? It felt like the earth had come off its axis and everything felt odd. This global crisis threatened our sense of safety, as infection rates and the death toll soared.
We felt led to join a connect group and what a blessing and oasis we found there. Our weekly meeting via Zoom and led by Nic has been anchored in the richness of God’s word, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and each other. We are known and valued and are connecting to a whole new group of friends. Jesus is here with us and he lives and moves and has his being in our midst. We are so grateful for the care, support, friendship and prayer, that Nic and the group provide for us.
Mary & Richard Powell
Not in a group? Why not join one below?
Josh and Esli Lees: Aimed at (roughly) 20s and 30s, meeting fortnightly on Zoom, Tuesday 8.00pm-9.00pm. Email Josh at Josh.Lees@htb.org and you will be sent the link the day before to click on at the appropriate time.
Nic Shearer: Aimed at all ages, meeting weekly on Zoom, Tuesdays at 7.00pm. Anyone who wants to join, please email Nic at n.shearer01@outlook.com and you will be sent the link the day before to click on at the appropriate time.
Love Your Neighbour*
The HTB Love Your Neighbour campaign has so far helped deliver groceries to a number of our Queen’s Gate congregation as well as link up people for daily/weekly phone calls.
*Update: Would you be able to provide hot meals to some of our more vulnerable congregation members? Please get in touch with Joanna - we would love to hear from you!
The Daily hope phone line was launched yesterday by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
“With many in our country on lockdown, it’s important that we support those who are feeling lonely and isolated, whatever age they are."
Archbishop Justin Welby
HTB at Home
Don’t forget to tune in to HTB at Home this Sunday from 9:30am until 10:30pm.
Try alpha
Why not try Alpha online, or recommend it to a friend, there is a new course starting every Wednesday morning and evening.
Parliament Prayer Breakfast 2020
The National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast is an annual recognition of the contribution that Christianity makes to the national life of the UK. If you would like to join this Tuesday 30 June, it will be broadcast online for the first time at 8:30-9am: Click here
The event will be chaired by Marsha de Cordova MP and the main speaker will be the Bishop of Kensington, the Rt Revd Dr Graham Tomlin, who will address the theme of ‘Hope and peace in a time of fear and suffering.’
HTB Prayer Online
Morning Prayer; Liturgical Prayer
Monday to Friday 8:30-9.00am
Zoom Meeting ID: 422 473 613
Zoom Link
We are continuing our Morning Prayer online from 8:30-9.00am using the Church of England Morning Prayer liturgy. It's open to everyone and especially those who appreciate more liturgical prayer and worship opportunities. Bring your breakfast, sit in your pyjamas - there’s no pressure to have your video on!
Rev Josh Lees
HTB KC:7AM
Tuesdays 8.00 - 9.00am *New time change
We are coming together each Tuesday morning at 7am on ZOOM for 40 minutes of dynamic, faith-filled prayer. Join us as we cry out for God’s Kingdom Come on earth as in Heaven.
Find more information about HTB Prayer Online here.
Prayers:
Please pray:
Wisdom for our Government leaders and their decisions on continuing to tackle this Covid-19 period.
For Church leaders to navigate the best possible options for reopening church services.
For our Community and Love Your Neighbour, that we would continue to support one another well and that LYN would continue to grow and be a blessing to all who need help.
God bless you all,
With lots of love, Tom, Sarah, Emmy, Josh, Ruth and Joanna