Week Beginning Sunday 11 July 2021
‘…know this: God is God, and God, God…’
Psalm 100
Sunday Morning - our worship service this week will be on Zoom NOT in The Bear
The Leadership Team are discussing the way forward for our Sunday mornings, in the light of rising infection rates and the joys and challenges of technology… what would Jesus do?! If you have any wisdom to share, please speak to Bex, Chine, Hugh, Iain, Paul, Richard or Tessa.
If family, friends and neighbours want to tune in, please ask them to contact in advance (on 07707 524977) for ID and Password. We can then explain the protocol, send them the codes and welcome them properly.
Electric Eels and Flame Fish - this Sunday at 9am on Zoom. Our last gathering before the school holidays will be a Summer Social next Sunday 18 July in Deptford. More details from tessa@thebear.tv
Youth Alpha - Sunday at 10am on Zoom.
Walk to Wales - Ezra and Keir are setting off this weekend on their 300 mile journey in support of The Ragged Project. If you are available on Sunday at 1pm, please join them at the front of The Bear for a photo opportunity to mark this momentous event. You can also support them here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/raggedwalk2wales
David’s Funeral - was a wonderful time of joy and thanksgiving for a very special soul. The service can still be viewed online at https://watch.obitus.com
Big Thanks - to all who brought something for last Sunday morning’s musical feast. The playlist is on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6dNbQiCrxCRJXDwTxFdk3j?si=rk4uF_SCT0OHur-yuHo09A&dl_branch=1
Team Bear - the office team has grown again! Marjie has joined us on a part-time, temporary basis to bring some invaluable business acumen to the operation. Working with Bex and Paul on strategy and management, we are very pleased to have her on board.
Early Morning Prayer - all welcome to pray from 7-7.30am Monday to Friday
House Groups - usually meet on Wednesdays or Thursdays, some on Zoom, some in Real Life. To join one, or try one, contact iain@thebear.tv
Bear Cubs - for pre-school children and their parents/carers. Bookable sessions at The Bear on Monday and Friday mornings and Thursday afternoons. Outdoor sessions in local green spaces on Thursday mornings. Book on Eventbrite or email bearcubs@thebear.tv for more details.
English Fridays - a free conversational English class for students of all levels at 1.30pm on Fridays. Contact iain@thebear.tv
The Bear Leadership Team - are having a day away on Friday 16 July. Subjects on the table include diversity and inclusivity. If you have comments, questions, words or prayers for the team, please send to info@thebear.tv before Friday 9 July.
The Bear Book Club - Thursday 29 July at 8pm - the book is ‘God Is Not A White Man’ and Chine will be taking questions and hearing reflections during the evening. Please contact bex@thebear.tv for details.
Here Comes Summer - there’ll be a church picnic in the park on Sunday 15 August. Save the date! Blythe Hill Fields, Bankhurst Rd entrance at 1pm.
The Ragged Big Box Build - Monday 16 August 10am-2pm - HELP AND BOXES NEEDED – Bear Cubs and DRSA have permission to use Douglas Way for an extravaganza of box building like nothing ever seen in Deptford before. We’ll be inviting families to come and build a city from cardboard. This is part of a national initiative to provide play opportunities for children https://www.summerofplay.co.uk
Contact emily@thebear.tv if you can help on the day and/or bring cardboard boxes to The Bear between now and then.
The Bear Youth Camp - Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 August. Contact bex@thebear.tv for booking information.
The Whole Bear Camp - Friday 20 August for a weekend of camping in the sun. There are still a few places available under canvas and in bunkhouses and the cost is now the same for both (see attached booking form). Please note, there are a range of activities on offer during the weekend at just £10 per person, including an estuary walk to see seals! Check out www.birchhall.com for details.
The Ragged Project - keep up to speed with the building project by clicking on https://www.facebook.com/The-Ragged-Project-Fundraising-101670845368740 Please ‘like’ the posts – the more traffic and likes we get, the better for our fundraising efforts. Please forward the link to friends and family and encourage them to like and share far and wide!
The Bear Church Instagram - username: the_bear_v_church or username: thebearchurch Contact
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 - do send all finance emails to Tracy at finance@thebear.tv – but do not send them to info@thebear.tv because he/she/they know nothing about finance. However, if you want info, then info@thebear.tv is your man/woman/person.
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. If you want to give specifically to support local people in food poverty, please mark your gift ‘Fruit and Veg’.
Other Notices
Any Old Tech? - if you have any good quality laptops, phones, DSLR cameras etc that you no longer use, do consider donating them to our friends at Cherish Uganda. Contact Tracy at for more details.
‘Listening to the Boys’ - a brand new book by our very own David Pott about the amazing portraits of Jacob and his sons by the Spanish artist, Zurbarán which are on display at Auckland Castle. More details and pre-order (£5+£2p&p) from David at dlpott@gmail.com
Summer Club - Kelly is putting together a programme for local primary aged children for summer learning and fun. She’ll be based at The Albany for two weeks during the school holidays and is looking for support from anyone with a talent to share – music, dance, cookery, sports, you name it - who can volunteer time or resources. For full details or offers of help, please contact kelly@thebear.tv
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 - sessions continue on Tuesdays at 8am (free/£5/£7.50). If you would like to find out more about how to become a P&S instructor, please contact Ruth at info@psalmsandstretches.com
This week at The Bear
Sunday
9am Electric Eels and Flame Fish on Zoom
10am Morning Prayer on Zoom
10am Youth Alpha on Zoom
10.30 am Morning Service on Zoom
1pm Ezra and Keir’s Walk to Wales begins at The Bear
Monday
7am Early Morning Prayer on Zoom
9.30am Bear Cubs at The Bear
Tuesday
7 am Early Morning Prayer
2pm Women’s Bible Study
Wednesday
7 am Early Morning Prayer
8 pm Housegroups
Thursday
7 am Early Morning Prayer
9.15am Fundraising Team Meeting
10am Bear Cubs Outdoors
1pm Bear Cubs at The Bear
8 pm Housegroups
Friday
7 am Early Morning Prayer
9.30am Bear Cubs at The Bear
1.30pm English Fridays at The Bear
Classifieds
For Sale - Isofix Britax car seat in immaculate condition (weight from 9 to 18 kilos). Original price £250. All serious offers considered - for The Ragged Project. Contact Suzy on
Contact Tessa at 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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