St Hilda’s is the Church of England Parish Church of Crofton Park
We are a welcoming and diverse congregation. If you come, you will meet wonderful people from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences who will be happy you are standing with them before God’s Altar, willing to Worship, Grow and Serve. We are a ‘comprehensive’ church with a belief that God works with people from where they are – all we ask is readiness to worship along side others who find their unity in Christ, and who look forward to discovering who we may be through his Love at work in our lives.
Sunday Worship Returns to Church – 10:10 Eucharist For those who are ready, provision has been made to do this safely. We are continuing the Sunday Livestream: The ‘Worship Home Page’ on the tab above takes you to the Sunday notices, Liturgy sheet and Livestream link for use at home – or you can click the link below. Live Stream and Service sheet for use at home
Linking Lives Visiting scheme We are pleased to announce that St Saviour’s Church Brockley Rise has appointed a new facilitator and project worker. St Hilda’s is the support partner to St Saviours – the linking Lives Scheme works across both our parishes
Shttps://www.stsaviourschurchbrockleyrise.org/
Covid Virus – Struggling with Isolating ? Help is at hand
There are teams locally who want to help you. Almost every street has a group of friends and neighbours – don’t be afraid to ask a neighbour you already know.
Two locally co-ordinated groups which have organised teams across our ward are:
Crofton and Honor O
ak Park Mutual Aid http://croftonaid.org See their web page for guidance and links to useful information.
If you need help: http://croftonaid.org/i-need-help/
If you want to offer help: http://croftonaid.org/i-can-help/
and
DCR1 Mutual Aid Group See the national web page for guidance and links: website https://covidmutualaid.org/
Direct local telephone: 07515 875 560
Both groups split into localities along the lines of the local polling station areas (ours is DCR1). If you are just off the map but nearby, it’s OK to ask for help.
Covid Virus – struggling mentally? Some of these links might help
Fear of Death – When Pandemic Makes Us Face Mortality
Made Redundant Thanks to Covid-19?Coping With Losing Work
On Each Other’s Nerves? How to Navigate “Coronavirus Relationship Conflict”
Surviving Lockdown With Family – This Can Help
Overreacting, or “Triggered”? Pandemic and Prior Mental Health Issues
Reaching Out Hard? 12 Keys to Getting Support
Covid Virus – struggling spiritually? Many people are finding this a time to reconnect to their Faith : when life is ‘interrupted’, we can sometimes find our inner ‘core’ awakened – the ‘core’ where the Holy Spirit gives us both Life and Strength. Through his presence we connect to others in Worship and Prayer. If you are fearful, offering that fear to God can change things ; you can turn your anxiety into a prayer for others in need, and by so doing, you open your heart to God’s transforming presence. Here is a traditional prayer of St Augustine – you might like to say it to focus your intention. First, lift all your fearful thoughts and feelings to God as if you were offering him a gift (you may feel this is odd, but to God it is a wonderful gift He has been waiting to receive). Lift up those is need, and then use the following (or another- perhaps ‘Our Father’ ) prayer to declare your deepest intention and desire for others to be helped:
Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight,
and give Your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend Your sick ones, O Lord Christ,
Rest Your weary ones,
Bless Your dying ones,
Soothe Your suffering ones,
Pity Your afflicted ones,
Shield Your joyous ones,
and all for Your love’s sake. Amen.
Many people have found that connecting to worshipping congregation through live streamed services is a great experience – You are welcome to join us on our Sunday Live Stream from Church – check out our Worship home page:
Live Stream and Eucharist sheet for use at home
Live stream link :
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0WOhyk3ipWaQuionX65rxA
Response Current Covid19 Emergency 2020
The Church Building may be currently closed for worship; but the Church as the Body of Christ is always living and active as she breathes the Holy Spirit and is united in heaven and Earth. We continue to hold in the highest place in our hearts those sick or vulnerable, those offering front line services especially our health workers. Daily prayers are offered at home. There has been wonderful response among church members supporting each other and thinking of new ways to fulfil, our calling to worship together. If you need us please call or email – pastoral provisions are working well by phone and services are to be live streamed on Sundays and at other published items from the Vicarage. Do see the Worship Home page above for Sunday Eucharist sheet and sepcial resources for Sunday including a link for live streaming.
Site and Site management through the ‘lock down’
We have a key worker supporting nursery on site: so a skeleton office with functions for site maintenance H &S etc remain live. these are at at reduced level to minimise journeys for staff.
Christmas Fundraising 2019 Update – total for Childrens Society £986
We were pleased to welcome so many to all our services and to host the special service for Stillness School, and the Humy Mummies concert. The christingles were much enjoyed Together we have raised at noteworthy £986 for the Childrens Society.
We offer a rich experience of worship and teaching in the Church of England’s Catholic (High Church) tradition, and enjoy playing our part in our area. We share our buildings, with over 35 groups offering community based activities on our site, and with families for parties on saturdays. We collate and deliver a community oreintated church magazine ‘Impact’.
Safeguarding St Hilda’s takes the safeguarding and care of children and vulnerable adults very seriously. Our Safeguarding officer Stella can be contacted on 07832345934 or the Diocesan Safeguarding Team on 020 7939 9476. For Further information and helplines that can support you: click here for our Safeguarding page.
Our building is a feature Grade 2 Arts and Crafts Structure now 109 years old. We recently completed a major restoration of roofing and high level masonry.
Alpha at St Hildas 
We offer the ‘Alpha course’ its freindly, relaxed and open, and you are welcome to join us our next course starts inseptember 2020 – contact: Father.bates@sainthildas. See our ‘Alpha’ tab for more details.
Regular Service times – follow this link
Our Misison is – ‘To call people to the fullness of Christ’
by committing ourselves:
to Worship with awe and love
to Serve with generosity and humility
to Grow by making new disciples
Join us for St Hilda’s for ‘Cuppa and chat’ Tuesdays 11am-1pm – games and social – Quiz every 2nd Tuesday entrance via Main Door in Courtrai Road. See twitter feed for photos.
Alpha Course up and running – New Course starts end of September 2019
We have run Alpha for the first time building up our experince ready to Welcome enquirers again in September 2019. Are you thinking of renewing your connection to your faith? Would you liketo find out what the Christian faith offers in a non judgemetnal and open group- do make contact if you like join us this autumn
The church is open to visit and for * quiet reflection – on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10.30 -6pm; Saturdays 11 – 5pm; Sundays 9-12.30 pm; and Wednesdays 3- 6pm: Once the warm roof and restoration is achieved, we hope to have funds to staff the office have even more open hours.
Get to know us better:
https://twitter.com/Saint_Hildas
https://www.facebook.com/pages/StHildas-Crofton-Park/407085809455036
Food Bank Forest Hill – leave contributions in our Crucifix Door Porch
Since Harvest 2017 St Hilda’s has collected over 270kg of foods and toiletries etc to help families in need. ‘My Jamii Cafe’ has been a local collection point for the food bank for some time – and we are happy to welcome contributions at the Crucifx Door Porch – leave them in the porch if no one answers the buzzer – but if you will, do put in a note with your email address. The Food Bank need particular items from time to time – canned meats, vegetables, fruits, and breakfast cereals are always good, and also babies’ nappies, baby food toothpaste and lavatory paper.
9 metre ‘Mobile’ art work: a pillar of flames over the font
mobile above font
Pentecost mission flames painted by members over the weeks since Whitsunday have been assembled into a very attractive 9 meter high mobile. Each flame represents in colour each person’s commitment to offer their gifts to St Hilda’s to enable new Christians to be made and new members to find a home and an purpose in our congregation
Lent Jars 2018 are for three Practical Action Projects in Asia, Africa and South America
St Hildas Ash Mob on front of the Bridge news paper – see photos on twitter feed to left
7 Confirmed at Southwark Cathedral
4 Teengers and two Adults were confirmed at Southwark Cathedral on Nov 25th by the Bishop of Kingston. St Hilda’s members were the most numerous supporters at the service and we were proud so many came out to witness to our candidates how important this event and commitment will be for their lives.
St Hilda’s Member elected Deputy Young Mayor of Lewisham
We are proud of one of our younger members who polled the most first place votes in the recent election for young mayor; with the second place votes taken into consideration he has acheived the post of deputy young mayor for this year.
9 metre ‘Mobile’ art work: a pillar of flames over the font
Pentecost mission flames painted by members over the weeks since Whitsunday have been assembled into a very attractive 9 meter high mobile. Each flame represents in colour each person’s commitment to offer their gifts to St Hilda’s to enable new Christians to be made and new members to find a home and an purpose in our congregation
Warm Roof Fund Local Appeal 
Exceeds 25k Target by £3753
The Lewisham 3 Peaks Challenge walkers and their sponsors brought in £1733. Jays Budgen’s fundraising though the plastic bag charge has added a further £2001 . The final total of the local appeal is £28753.65
A big thank you to our local donors and to our major grant funders for fiancnce support and encouragement.
Photo right : Our Vicar Father Stuart with Laura Barnham who organised the event.
News from the Church of England
