ChristChurchKensington

Preparing for Confirmation

adele — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:06:38 +0000

Prepare for Confirmation at Christ Church

Would you like an opportunity to express you faith publicly? We will shortly be starting Confirmation Classes for Adults and Young people, which will give you the chance to explore the Christian faith and life. If you would like to join, please email Mark on mark@christchurchkensington.com.

We are happy to present for Confirmation children as young as school year 5. Each year teenagers, parents and grandparents are presented. Sometimes the Bishop confirms whole families! The Confirmation Service will happen at St. Mary Abbot’s Church on Thursday 24 May at 7pm.

Youth Confirmation Flyer available here

Christianity Explored starting soon

adele — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:39:06 +0000

Christianity Explored is designed for anyone who wants to find out more or brush up on the basics of the Christian message and the claims of Jesus Christ. Each week there is a short talk followed by plenty of time for discussion and questions…or you can just sit and listen if you prefer. You won’t be asked to sing, pray or read aloud. The dates for the 4 week course are:

Tues 17 Jan- What are we doing here?

Tues 24 Jan- Who is Jesus?

Tues 31 Jan- Why did Jesus come?

Tues 7 Feb- Why did Jesus die?

The course starts at 7.30pm; we’ll be finished by 9pm. For more information or to book a place on the course, email Adele on adele@christchurchkensington.com. Please do get in touch if you are interested in Christianity Explored but are unable make Tuesday evenings.

Deeper-Student Gathering

adele — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:35:47 +0000

Friday 21st October sees the launch of Deeper – our midweek student gathering.

After a week of hearing all about fluid dynamics, black holes, stochastic analysis, ethics, different worlddviews, the renaissance period, building materials or harmonisation –it’s time to chill and relax. So Friday evenings, 6:30-8:30 are a great way to unwind and to catch up with other students at Christ Church Kensington, over food and banter.

But we want to go Deeper… deeper into God’s word – so that we’ll have a deeper relationship with him and deeper friendships with one another too! If we’re to live up to our name of Christ Church Kensington, we’re going to want to have Christ at the centre of all we do, and so Christ-centred friendships with one another, and a longing for people to hear about Christ for the first time.

Each week we’ll have a talk from the Bible, on various topics throughout the term, where we’ll hear from the creator of physics, music and art himself – rock on! They’ll be great times to help you as you seek to live and speak for Jesus on campus – as well as to invite course mates or team mates along too if church is too big a step from them at first. If you’re a student in the area – we’d love to see you there!

Email Greg or Adele at students@christchurchkensington.com for more information.

Licensing of Mark O’Donoghue

adele — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:36:11 +0000

It was a pleasure to welcome many people from across the parish and beyond for the Mark’s Licensing Service on 22September. It was a thoroughly enjoyable occasion, with fine music from the choir, and a very warm welcome from members of the parish for Christ Church’s new minister. Many of Mark’s friends from his time in the City had made the journey West to wish him well, as had many of the local clergy. Our thanks also go to those who had prepared delicious food and drink which was enjoyed for some time after the end of official proceedings!

Whilst you may have missed the occasion and the trappings that made it such a success, we can nevertheless reflect here on perhaps the mostsignificant part of the evening. Paul Williams, area bishop of Kensington had precious words of advice for Mark and for Christ Church as we enter this “new season of ministry”. He asked the question “How can Christ Church be most effective in (i) bringing glory to God (ii) its mission to the thousands who live and work around us?” Here is a summary of his advice to Mark, based on 2 Timothy 4:1-8:

Mark, remember your audience of 1 – God himself. Paul charged Timothy “before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing”. He reminded Mark that he too is ultimately accountable to God himself. Strive, like Paul, to fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith, with your eyes fixed on “the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give…to all who have loved his appearing.”

Mark, preach the Word! In the midst of a city and a humanity that reject the word of God, “be ready in season and out of season” to preach it, “with all long suffering and teaching”.

How can we support and encourage our new minister? Remind ourselves and him of these priorities again, and again, and again

To download the Bishop’s sermon click here .

Meet the new associate vicar!

admin — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:39:48 +0000

Rev’d Mark & Claire O’Donoghue, Kate, Charlie and Jack

Despite growing up “as an army brat overseas” Mark O’Donoghue has lived in London for nearly 20 years and loves it! More surprisingly, he married Claire who “grew up as a vicar’s child away from cities”, and yet still sees London as home now. Both entered professions after university; Claire taught at Putney High School for Girls, and Mark practiced as a corporate lawyer at Norton Rose until 1999, when he turned down partnership to join the Church. They relax with “great music, good friends or gripping books”. Mark loves watching sport, while Claire loves pottering in the garden and both love laughing at their children!

Excited about their move to Kensington, their three children, aged 10, 8 and 5 are looking forward to meeting and making new friends. The family hope to quickly get to know people from Christ Church and build lasting relationships as they serve the local area.

Mark is quick to acknowledge the firm foundations on which he builds at Christ Church. “You have good reason to be enormously grateful to God not only for all that Canon Andrew Pearson has done over the last 15 years, turning Christ Church into a thriving parish church but also for the many selfless servants down the years who have been faithfully praying, serving and giving during the last 25 years.”

However, Mark is also clear on the challenge that lies ahead for Christ Church: “It now falls to us in this present generation to take our stand, to rally to the cause of Christ Church and to repay the devotion of saints gone by and the dedication of Canon Andrew Pearson.” Mark’s opening sermon series, from Sunday 25 September, gives a clue to how he believes this will happen. It is entitled: ‘Christ Church Kensington – striving to be true to our name.’ This will be unpacked each week as Sunday services reflect on being committed to the good news about Christ, concerned to love one another as Church, and compassionate to serve the people of Kensington. Mark concludes: “As we do so, cherishing all that is best about the past and growing together in the future, we may by God’s grace and for His glory, safeguard Christ Church’s life and witness for the next generation.”

Soli Deo Gloria.