Vicar's Letter 2011

Advent  2011.

Thank you for your help in keeping St Hilda’s doors open by your most generous ongoing gifts in the Stewardship Scheme during 2011.

Whilst we still do not quite pay our way with the Diocese of London Common Fund we are working towards it by your generosity and by investment schemes underway

The latest investment package will give us electricity, for the church, from solar power from February 2012. The major gain will be that our Church will have free electricity for the next 25 years. Whilst the investment seems high, nearly £25,000, we shall recover that investment within 12 years and also a make profit in the following 13 years equal to the initial investment.  [Yes - we spend £25000 and effectively get back £50,000.] The green policy within the church has encouraged us to use less energy than we did when I arrived over ten years ago and we are warmer also!.

True  stewardship is always about not only today but also tomorrow. This can be  seen as we expect over 1000 children/ young adults  visiting and giving thanks for the Birth of Christ over Advent up to Christmas. We are reaching out to young and old alike. Great News for the Gospel!

I am very aware of how difficult times are, simply by looking at my own increased food, heating and petrol costs. I realise that times are not easy. To everyone, I thank you for what you are doing in your prayer Time, your giving of your Talents, and also the gifts of your Treasure for the Glory of God and Christ’s Mission here at St Hilda’s. I know that for some, simply to maintain the present levels of their Time, Talents and Treasure is not easy. To ask for more help seems insensitive in the present economic climate. What I am asking is that we all try to do our best.

Have a Joyous Christmas

Fr Chris Rogers