Events

Each year, we write a report on how the Lord has been working among us during the previous year. Here’s the report for 2024 …

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27

2024 was the year in which we tried to focus on Christ in all the Scriptures. The Bible is a book that points us to Jesus from beginning to end, Genesis to Revelation. The Old Testament is full of references to the second person of the Trinity, the coming Messiah. So we had a series of sermons helping us to see Jesus throughout God’s Word. We encouraged people to try reading the Bible all the way through in one year. In the evening services, we had short teaching slots on each Old Testament book. And we had a giant Bible time line hung around the back hall, from Creation to New Creation!

Jesus is the focus of God’s Word because he is glorious, and following him is the best thing anyone can do, and trusting him is the only way to be made right with God so we can be with him in heaven forever one day!

It is always a joyful occasion when we recognise that the Lord has brought someone to recognise that, and to trust Jesus for themselves. in 2024, we had the privilege of witnessing three adult baptisms. Hearing their testimonies of how God has worked in their lives was a great encouragement!

We can be thankful, too, for newcomers at the church in 2024. God has been so gracious to us … bringing in many visitors, some of whom have stayed with us! This has led to some growth in the Sunday School, an answer to our prayers. There have also been two new babies! We have been able to give thanks to God for each of them during Sunday morning services.

But alongside the encouragements, sometimes there are hard decisions to make. Good News Club, our midweek group for 5-11 year olds, has had to close due to dwindling numbers. Even now, with growth in the Sunday School, we don’t have enough children of that age who are able to make midweek meetings. Please pray with us for wisdom from God over what our next step should be for reaching out to that age group.

There’s been plenty of other things going on. A new men’s meeting has started, and we’ve gathered each month to read Pilgrim’s Progress together. We’ve had visiting speakers at Church Teas telling us about the ministries of Christians Against Poverty, Child Evangelism Fellowship, Webber Street Day Centre for the Homeless, Equipping Pastors Worldwide and Pilgrims’ Friend Society. We had the Launch of Pastor Thomas’s booklet about Roman Catholicism and where it deviates from God’s Word (do ask him for a copy!). Three different schools have brought classes of primary school children to the church to hear something about Christianity. We hosted the BOLD conference for young people with Pastor Thomas speaking about the question of suffering.

It’s good to remember all that God has enabled us to do, so we can give thanks. He is the one who gives gifts to people so we can run many different kinds of event. And we are grateful to all who are working in the background on week by week activities that often go unseen, like the cleaning and refreshments and administrative tasks too.

There have also been opportunities to reach out to those who don’t trust Jesus as Lord. The Sunday services allow people to hear God’s Word preached. The Tuesday book table, plus Door to Door ministry, means we are putting challenging Bible verses into the hands of many people across Walthamstow. We have had special events where non-Christians can meet believers and hear the gospel … including a quiz night, a street-party-style family event, a Christianity Explored course, an international evening and our Easter and Christmas services too.

Surely the Lord has left us on earth so we might bear witness about Jesus! We have the best news anyone will ever hear, and we have been commanded by our Captain to go and make disciples. We are so grateful to God that he is still at work, saving people! Think of the baptisms we’ve seen! And we are also grateful that WE get to be involved in HIS great work of bringing ordinary people into his kingdomSurely the Lord has left us on earth so we might bear witness about Jesus! We have the best news anyone will ever hear, and we have been commanded by our Captain to go and make disciples. We are so grateful to God that he is still at work, saving people! Think of the baptisms we’ve seen! And we are also grateful that WE get to be involved in HIS great work of bringing ordinary people into his kingdom.

May the Lord save many in the months to come, even through the efforts of ordinary Christians like us!

Pastor Robert Jeffery

Our calendar of events for 2025 is available at church … do pick one up at any service!

Monday 5th May : Bank Holiday Family Stroll in Epping Forest! Ask us at one of our services for more details!

Saturday 21st June : Family Fun Afternoon … a ‘summer-fayre’ style event in the car park and back hall, with bouncy castle, food, games and activities, for free! More details to follow …

We will publish more information and other future events closer to the time. Watch this space!

From Sunday 18th April 2021, we have a reading scheme at the church, where you can borrow recommended Christian books on a wide variety of topics for free!

A good Christian book can help the believer to understand better what the Bible says. God can use such books so that we can learn more about God, love him and praise him more, become more like Jesus, grow in our faith, and understand God’s will for our lives.

We thank God that there are so many good Christian books available today! But where should you start? This reading scheme picks out some trustworthy Christian books on a variety of subjects. We pray that the Lord would help us all to know and love him better because of these books.

How to Use the Reading Scheme

• The books can be borrowed after services on a Sunday. The books are kept in two bookcases near the electric piano. They are arranged in alphabetical order by author,
except a few on display.
• Start wherever you like : choose a book which interests you.
• You don’t have to read them in order, and you don’t have to read them all.
• Some of the books are very short – they are often more like booklets than books!
• You can borrow up to 2 books at a time.
• Please bring the book back within ONE MONTH.
• It’s free!

Click here for more details and a full list of all the books in the scheme!

Since The autumn of 2014, and on into May 2015 there was a major restoration project going on. The brick, which were 100 years old in 2014, were in need of cleaning, repair and even replacing in some cases. A local firm, Fullers, who specialise in restoration of historical buildings, did the work under the watchful eye of a conservation architect, Anthony Fensome.

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In the autumn of 1874, a new church began near Boundary Road (read more here). The church grew and more space was needed. There was also a desire to be closer to the developing town of Walthamstow. So on 13^th June 1914, our present building in Orford Road was opened! So 2014 was the centenary of the church worshipping in the building in Orford Road, and we took the opportunity to thank God for his faithfulness of those 100 years.

Over the weekend of the 14th and 15th June 2014, we held special services to thank God for his goodness to the church over 100 years. The Saturday saw a reunion thanksgiving service. We enjoyed seeing old members return to us, and lots of friendships were renewed. Thanks to everyone who helped with the tea for 160-170 people!! Roger Carswell spoke on the privilege of the church to spread the good news of Christ’s suffering, resurrection and the need for repentance leading to the forgiveness of sins.

Sunday morning’s anniversary service included a message on the significance of people, the significance of our service to the Lord and the significance of everyone who has been saved : an encouragement to us all! In the evening, around 250 to 300 people came to the Songs of Praise service. We were glad to be joined by other local churches (including the music group from Grove Hill Evangelical Church who accompanied our sung praise!), as well as some friends, neighbours and family members that were invited. Roger Carswell spoke for a third time, and spoke of why Christians sing … from when they are saved, through every part of life (including suffering) and into heaven itself! See the photos below.

We thank God for a great time together, for helpful Bible teaching, for all who came, for enabling many people in the church to serve together at this time. And we trust God will continue to use his Word in people’s lives!

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