Hello! from Holy Saviour Church Croydon – important updates -at 24 March 2020 . Once again sending you and your household God’s Blessings.
In the light of Covid-19 – The Church of England has suspended public worship and the Church Building is now closed. Our worship of God and our care for each other continue but cannot be done in this building until further notice.
We suggest that you still light a candle or lantern at home every day ay 7pm and say the Lord’s Prayer – then we will know we are praying together. If you can put the candle or lantern by a window so people passing can see that would be great. The Church bell will still be rung at 7pm each day. On your daily walk for exercise, please pass by the Church bringing fresh flowers for the vases outside – this a sign of life and hope! Please keep bringing offerings for the Foodbank – it is very important in these times to support the homeless and hungry. Leave your offerings in a bag outside the Vicarage door. Do include toilet paper and other essentials which we will store for long-term.
We have volunteers from the church and from our community who are willing to go shopping for you if you are self -isolating or ill – please let us know if you come to need this. Please call the Vicar on 07709618063.
The Vicar will be celebrating Communion Services alone or with one other on Wednesdays and Sundays at 10am as usual and during Holy Week & Easter to hold the church calendar going. This will not be public worship but an offering of prayer and praise for our church community, our wider community, our nation and for the world. We are ‘streaming’ these services so you can watch at home on Twitter @holysav1. The church bell will be rung just before these services, so you and the community know we are praying.
| Tuesday 8am-8.30am | Morning Prayer | |
| Tuesday 7.30pm-8.30pm | Night Prayer with Meditation | |
| Wednesday 10am-11am | Holy Communion and Prayers | |
| Thursday 6pm-6.45 | Evening Prayer | |
| Friday 6pm-7pm | Choir Practice | |
| Saturday 10am-11.30am | Church Open to book your Christenings and Weddings | |
| Sunday 10am-11.30am | Sung Holy Communion with Sunday School for kids and every third Sunday Young People’s Independent Group |
Church News
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Ash Wednesday 2020
Lent began on Ash Wednesday last week, 26 February. In the picture below, our morning service of Imposition of Ashes began with the lighting of 40 Lent candles to represent the 40 days and 40 nights Jesus spent in the wilderness and to guide us through the 40 days of Lent ahead. The picture is taken from the east end of the church looking to the Rose window at the west end.
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Eco-presentation by Sunday School & Young People’s Independent Group
Sunday School & Young People gave an Eco-presentation on the occasion of the farewell service to Archdeacon of Croydon, Chris Skilton, on 19 January.
After the presentation Archdeacon Chris reminded us that God gave us an unpolluted Creation, the Garden of Eden. We need to look after the Creation God gave us. Sunday School and Young People’s Independent Group giving their Eco-presentation 
And Kathryn Prentice, Sunday School Leader writes: On Sunday 19th January, the Sunday School led a sermon on saving God’s Creation, the Earth. This Lent we are asking everyone to work together to care for God’s creation and make a commitment to tackle climate change
Some examples of the things you can do this Lent are:
- Give up using single-use plastics e.g. plastic beverage bottles, plastic bottle caps, food wrappers, plastic grocery bags, plastic lids, straws and stirrers, and foam take-away containers.
- Use alternative forms of transport
- Commit to buying no new clothes from unsustainable sources…Sustainable materials are: Linen made from flax; Hemp, another crop; Bamboo; Lyocel; Alpaca; Organic Wool; Silk.
- Try going meat free or reduce the amount of meat you eat: Try Lentil Soup, Crispy Baked Falafel, Vegetarian Tacos, Peanut Slaw with Noodles, Vegetable Paella, Vegetable Lasagna.
- Use less electricity.
- Reduce your waste and recycle more.
- Join the Extinction Rebellion Campaign.
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Thank you to Diane and ‘My Time, Croydon’
Holy Saviour Church wants to thank Diane Johnson and her group from ‘My Time, Croydon’ who so generously donated over 30 Christmas gift bags for our church to distribute in our local community. The gift bags contained practical things for getting through the winter such as woolly hats, scarves, gloves, toiletries and a bar of chocolate or two! They were given to members of our congregation for distribution to people they know might appreciate them within our local community.
‘My Time, Croydon’ is based in Thornton Heath and offers a therapeutic approach to adults with learning disabilities and additional physical needs. The group is part of the Surrey & Borders NHS Partnership and Foundation Trust. We are so pleased that the group visited our church twice this year. A huge thank you!
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Monthly Seniors’ ‘Mix & Mingle’
The first, for the 2020 New Year, of our monthly community social for older people of all cultures and faiths took place on Saturday 11 January, with delicious refreshments, a game of ‘Beetle’ and a talk on saving money on utility bills. With thanks to its organisers from Holy Saviour and KCWA as well as our newly awarded Croydon Episcopal Area Mission Grant.
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Holy Savs – Christmas in the Community
Carol singing in the community Holy Savs rocking the Christmas Carols on Bensham Lane yesterday, Friday 20 December 2019, evening, putting positivity back into our streets. Thank you to our community who were so responsive!
Join us for Christmas:
