Dear all

I hope that you are all enjoying the lovely hot weather, even if you are not at Wimbledon or in South Africa for the World Cup! Many thanks to all those who worked so hard to make Emma’s final Sunday at Corpus Christi so memorable and special. She is now taking a very well earned few week’s off before her ordination as deacon, along with Alysoun Whitton and some forty others from the Diocese of London by the Bishop of London in St Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday 3rd July.

Mother Alysoun’s first Sunday at Emmanuel – Sunday 4th July 2010.

Mother Alysoun’s first Sunday with us will be on Sunday 4th July - which is the occasion of our next fifty minute Family Eucharist at 10 o’clock. Please do join us for this very special occasion as Mo Alysoun begins at Emmanuel. After the service there will be wine, soft drinks and nibbles served. It would be lovely to have a really full Church as we look to the future with hope and excitement.

School Development Project

I’m sure you will have all heard by now that the Emmanuel School expansion got the green light from the Development Control Meeting at Camden Town Hall on 3rd June, when the councilors on the committee voted unanimously in support of the project. This is very good news and we much look forward to a 21st century new school serving the needs of the local community at the heart of West Hampstead.

Emmanuel Church Building Project

On Thursday 17th June members of the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the care of churches visited Emmanuel to look at our proposals for the interior of the Church which will include rectifying the undulating floor, adding the new rooms, and putting wrought iron railings into the narthex so that we can leave the Church open more fully during the week. This project aims to make Emmanuel Church more of a community resource at the heart of the local community, as well as providing us at Church with new facilities. We await the outcome of the Committee decision later this month. It was also very good to see Fr Peter Galloway that afternoon as he is a member of the Committee. If it is all approved we will shortly be embarking on a fundraising campaign so that our aspirations will become a reality as soon as possible. Detailed drawings of our proposals are on display boards at the back of the Church.

Emmanuel People

Of course the reality of any Church is most vitally and importantly the people who gather there. We very much depend on your regular attendance and participation in wider life to ensure Emmanuel’s viability and strength for the future. Many thanks to all those who signed up to help with Sunday School. We will shortly be in touch to arrange a training session for those who help with this most vital part of our mission and outreach. There are also plenty of other ways in which you can help so please watch this space…

Mother Claire

During the summer Mother Claire is taking some holiday, but she is also doing quite a bit of cover in other churches so that other clergy can take a bit of a break. She is keen to stress that she regards Emmanuel very much as her home and that she has not abandoned us!

As the summer begins there is so much to look forward to and we greatly value all that each and every one of you does for the life of Emmanuel Church and School. It is very much appreciated.

With warmest good wishes, love and prayers, as always,

Fr Jonathan