‘God authorised and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life,
marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit…’’
Matthew 28:18,19
May Update - our building is back in business for Bear Cubs, Breastfeeding Group, Bible Study and English Fridays - all in a socially distanced, Covid-aware kind of a way. We continue to fundraise, strategise and have hope for The Ragged Project and the registration of J49. If you have any questions, ideas or words from God, please contact
Media Training - TOMORROW (Saturday) at 11am on Zoom. Come along if you want to get involved with spreading The Bear building love through social media. Contact for details and codes.
Sunday Morning - prayer is from 10am then the virtual doors swing wide at 10.20 am with sung worship until 10.30am. Put your name on your device before you sign in. Any issues, message The Bear on 07707 524977.
Breakout Rooms - will follow straight after the service. The rooms are not led or monitored. If you have any concerns about anything discussed, please contact one of The Bear leadership team (Bex, Chine, Hugh, Iain, Paul, Richard or Tessa).
Family, friends and neighbours are very welcome to join on Sundays. Do ask them to contact The Bear in advance for ID and Password. We can then explain the protocol and send them the codes.
Electric Eels and Flame Fish - Sunday at 9 am. Contact
Youth Alpha - Sunday at 10am. It’s not too late to join in - contact for codes and links.
Early Morning Prayer - meeting to pray at 7am Tuesday (not Bank Holiday Monday) to Friday
Women’s Bible Study - Tuesday at 2pm
The Reverend Paul – or Pastor Paul, as we like to think of him, will be ordained at The Good Shepherd, Handen Road, SE12 on Sunday 9 May at 6pm. Tickets available for online or in person from bridget@goodpeter.org.uk Book early to avoid disappointment.
Positive Parenting - our next online course is due to start on Wednesday 12 May at 8pm. It will run for seven sessions, is free to join and is open to anyone. If you would like to sign up, or find out more, please email
The Bear Book Club - Thursday 27 May sharing thoughts on ‘Accidental Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People’ by Nadia Bolz-Weber. Contact for details.
Youth and Children - our amazing kids have been meeting together on Zoom throughout the pandemic. If you would like to help lead, support them, pray for them, please contact to find out how you can be part of something really special.
House Groups - usually meet on Wednesdays or Thursdays. To join one, or try one, contact
Bear Cubs - for pre-school children and their parents/carers. Sessions in the Shaftesbury and outdoors on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays (bearcubs@thebear.tv)
English Fridays - a free conversational English class for students of all levels at 1.30pm on Fridays. Contact
The Bear Youth Camp - Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 August. Contact for booking information.
The Whole Bear Camp - Friday 20 August for a weekend of camping in the sun. There are still some places available, both under canvas and in bunkhouses (see attached booking form). Apologies if you have already booked in and not had a response – we will get back to you! Please note, there are a range of brilliant activities on offer during the weekend at just £10 per person. Check out www.birchhall.com for details before you fill in the form.
The Bear Church Instagram - username: the_bear_v_church or username: thebearchurch Contact to post.
The Bear WhatsApp Broadcast Group - to receive these updates add The Bear Church 07707 524977 to your contacts, then message the number and ask to join the group.
The Bear Finance Department - Tracy is now 100% finance@thebear.tv ! Please contact her about tithes, offerings, one-off gifts, financial windfalls, standing orders etc. If you want to get or pass on any non-financial information, please contact info@thebear.tv and ‘someone’ will get back to you.
Giving - is part of our worship. We want to continue to pay our staff, our bills and support our local community and our cross-cultural workers. The Bear Church bank details are 'Deptford Ragged Trust' HSBC Account no. 21361317 Sort Code 40-02-25.
Other Notices
Mac and Cheese - Michelle is taking on the Stay Awake challenge to raise money for Crisis. Not only will she be staying awake for twenty four hours from midnight TONIGHT, but she will be using that time to make ten lemon flans and ten dishes of mac and cheese - which will be available to buy. What a brilliant idea! To sponsor Michelle or to find out how you can get your hands on that delicious food, go to: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Michelle-Powell2021?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=Michelle-Powell2021&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=cf58ef00031f4585a32fb5e62f1ee0c1
Christians in Media - a mentoring scheme (run by Chine) for any 18-25yo Christians who want to start a career in the media. More details from: https://www.christiansinmedia.co.uk/mentor
Bare Christianity - listen to Pastor Paul reading his upcoming book.
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQHVEY0ENv48scStgcYv3Tw/videos
Podbean: https://pauladlington.podbean.com
Summer 21 – if you are 14-24, join REACH London and iNet for a week-long mission experience across four locations in London this summer. Serve a missional project, receive training, and have fun. It's residential and either free or very low cost. Take a look at the promotional video, download the flyer, and click here for the expression of interest form.
Psalms and Stretches - where wellbeing meets worship. Every Tuesday at 8 am. Donations welcome. For details and to book in please contact info@psalmsandstretches.com
This week at The Bear
Saturday
11am Media Training on Zoom
Sunday
9am Electric Eels/Flame Fish
10am Youth Alpha
10 am Morning Prayer
10.30 am Morning Service (virtual doors at 10.20 am)
Bank Holiday Monday
Tuesday
7 am Early Morning Prayer
2 pm Women's Bible Study
Wednesday
7 am Early Morning Prayer
8 pm Housegroups on Zoom
Thursday
7 am Early Morning Prayer
9.15am Fundraising Team
10 am Bear Cubs Al Fresco
8 pm Housegroups on Zoom
Friday
7 am Early Morning Prayer
9.30am Bear Cubs x2
1.30pm English Fridays
Classifieds
Job Opportunity - the deadline is Monday so take a look! https://jobs.christianaid.org.uk/vacancy/mobilisation-coordinator-for-the-young-christian-climate-networks-relay-to-cop26--3255/3273/description/
Contact info@thebear.tv if you wish to run a classified ad. Please note that all Non-Bear notices and classifieds are included as a courtesy and do not necessarily reflect The Bear leadership or employees' views or beliefs.
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