Bear Essentials weekly news has been moved to it’s own page.

Bear Essentials Week Beginning 27 October 2019

Bear Essentials

Week Beginning 27 October 2019




Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40: 30-31






Bear Notices 

 

Sunday Morning Service –  We’ll be hearing this morning from the YA/Young Ones on what God’s Kingdom means to them. Just the right amount of anarchy for a Sofa Sunday. Prayer at 10 am and 10.30 am for the start. (Clocks go back on 27th)

 

Youth - Years 7-9 are with Bex and Anna-May, Years 10-13 are staying in the service this Sunday.

 

Evening Service – 6.30 pm for the service. 4.30 pm to help cook and 6 pm to serve. If you would like to help this or next week with cooking, serving or washing-up, please email Richard at r.bell@jubileeresource.org or sign up at https://tinyurl.com/bear-eveningservice

  

Branches Home Group –  for 18+ students and young adults. 7 pm at The Bear. Please contact Becky at rebekahbell67@gmail.com for more details.

   

Psalms and Stretches – gentle meditation and exercise. Saturday 3 November 10.45 am at The Bear. For all the ladies that squashed in to sample Ps & Str at the Women’s Weekend Away – and for everyone who didn’t – there’s another chance to stretch a bit further without sticking a foot or anything else into someone’s face. Please bring a mat and/or towel, £5+ and wear comfy clothes. To find out more, contact Ruth C and for details of Thursday classes see non-Bear notices. Profits go to BBF.

 

It’s Not The AGM –  but there will be a business matters update during the service on Sunday 3 November. Please don’t arrange to be away if you want to experience the great joy that is the Financial Report for 2018/19 and news on the Building Project. So many capitals it must be important.

 

175th Anniversary Celebration  - of the opening of the Deptford Ragged School. 1 December. Please save the date.  The event will be preceded by a 3-day sponsored walk from Herne Bay to Deptford (28 – 30 Nov). On 30 November we will be walking from the Thames Barrier to Deptford; an opportunity for everyone to join in.

 

Happy 20th Birthday Bear Cubs - On Friday 8 November 4-5.30 pm.  Bear Cubs will be hosting a celebration for Bear Cubs families past and present. If you would like to help set up, clear up, serve in the kitchen and generally be around to welcome and make it all work, please email emily@thebear.tv 

 

Be Still – a morning of Art and Prayer, at the Bear, led by Nadine C. 30 November - Sacred places - Copper Foil Stain Glass.  Each session will involve teaching on each art theme, group prayer led in a liturgical way and lots of opportunities to explore and create by yourself. Profits will go to the BBF. Book in on Eventbrite if you search for Be Still at the Bear Church. Be Still at The Bear  (Please note that the 2 Nov event has been cancelled.)

 

Save the Dates for the following (more details to follow):

 

Jumble Sale – Saturday 7 December (morning) at The Bear. Will include everything and anything. Save up all your quality items to give away and bring to the Bear from 2 December. All profits to go to the Bear Building Fund. See Brigitte G or Kelly H.

 

Christmas Cracker – the Bear’s Christmas sing-a-long, extravaganza. One to bring friends and family to. Sunday 22 December at 3.30 pm.


Christmas Day Service - 10.30 am. Come and celebrate Christmas before you celebrate Christmas with a short all-age service.


Bear Building Fund – This has gone up from last week to £42,000.  It’s amazing to see the money coming in. Thank you so much for your prayers and your giving.  Please keep praying for planning permission, grants and the like to flow in for the project development and for all the team working closely on this.  Feel free to deposit money into the Bear account HSBC Sort: 40-02-25 Account: 21361317. Make sure you reference it for the building and let me know. Thanks, Tracy
 

Smile! - The Deptford Ragged Trust is signed up to Amazon Smile - it means that Amazon will donate to our charity every time people buy stuff on Amazon, provided they go through this link: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1177319-0

 

Outside Space – it’s still there so please be aware that it’s not a safe place for play. There is property belonging to others and some very hazardous obstacles. A parent or carer should supervise children at all times. Any concerns, please speak to Tessa. 


CCTV – be aware that the Shaftesbury Christian Centre is now under surveillance from CCTV cameras. This is for the safety and security of all who use the building. If you have any concerns or would like more information please speak to Paul A or email:paul@thebear.tv. 

Home Groups – If you are part of The Bear and would like to join a mid-week home group please contact iain@thebear.tv. 

Giving – if you are part of The Bear, you can set up a standing order for your giving. Details from info@thebear.tv Please note that we are not using Just Giving at present because of the changes to the trust

Term Time Mid-Week Activities at The Bear:

Bear Cubs – Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays (see below for session times). For pre-school children and their parent/carers. An oasis of play, educational activity and good coffee. See Emily A or Tessa C for more information.

English Fridays – a relaxed language class for the community. Snacks and informal crèche provided. To help please speak to Sally B or Iain J. Fridays 1.30-3pm.

Women’s Bible Study – Study and pray Tuesdays 1.30 pm. (Please note Tuesday 29 October meeting 1 pm in Deptford Library) See Margaret P.


Non-Bear Notices

We Need to Talk About Race – an event to discuss and learn about Black Experience in White Majority Churches Tuesday 29 October 6.30 – 9 pm at St Paul’s Cathedral Ben Lindsay, Guvna B, Rosemarie Mallett and Chine McDonald. The Bible speaks of an impartial God, a diverse body of believers and justice for all people. Yet, historically, the words of the Bible have been used to justify slavery, segregation and racial discrimination. And despite advances in law and in society, white privilege persists in all areas of life, including our churches. Reserve free tickets here

 

 

Psalms and Stretches – an exercise class that combines movement with meditation, using verses from the book of Psalms. To stretch, strengthen, relax and refocus. Thursdays 6.30pm-7.30pm. Cost £8 per session, or block booking discount available. www.psalmsandstretches.com Follow @psalmsandstretches on social media, or email Ruth Carpenter: one.bodysoulspirit@outlook.com

 

The Bear Diary: Week  Beginning 27 October


Sunday
10 am              Prayer
10.30 am         Service
6.30 pm           Evening Service


Monday

10 am              Bear Cubs
7 pm                Branches Home Group

 

Tuesday

10 am              Breast Feeding Workshop

1 pm                Women’s Bible Study (in Deptford Library)

 

Wednesday

10 am              Parenting Group

8 pm                Home Groups

Thursday

10 am              Bear Cubs

1 pm                Bear Cubs


Friday
9.30 am           Bear Cubs

1.30 pm           English Fridays

 

Saturday

10.45 am         Psalms and Stretches


Classified 


Hill Station Café – require a Kitchen Cook to join the team. 35 hours per week £10.55 per hour. Previous experience required. £10.55 per hour. For more details contact Jacqui cafeinthepark@live.co.uk

 

London Borough of Culture - Please help make Lewisham the London Borough of Culture 2021. 32 London boroughs are bidding for £1.3M of funding to stage a programme of cultural events & initiatives. This could be a great source of funding for the Deptford Ragged School Archive, bringing amazing opportunities for Lewisham Borough. Back the bid! Details in this link. Thanks, Katharine

 

Good Food Lewisham - network meeting Wednesday 13 November

2 pm – 4 pm at Lewisham College, Lewisham Way SE4 1UT. Special Focus: How to set up and run a community meal, with updates on what’s happening in the borough, news about waste and recycling and up and coming special events.


Please contact info@thebear.tv if you wish to advertise here.

 

Please note that all Non-Bear Notices and Classified advertisements are included as a courtesy and do not reflect the views or beliefs of the Bear leadership or employees.

The Bear Church: past, present and future…? (It’s time for a new building at the Shaftesbury Christian Centre).

The Bear Church: past, present and future…?

(It’s time for a new building at the Shaftesbury Christian Centre).

 The past

The Deptford Ragged Trust dates back to 1844 when eight ‘Christian men and women’ from Deptford opened one of London’s first ‘ragged schools’ in a loft above a cowshed on Deptford High Street.

 

The present

Today the Deptford Ragged Trust at the Shaftesbury Christian Centre is home to The Bear Church, Bear Cubs, The Evening Service and soup kitchen, English Fridays, Psalms and Stretches, BearLive and all kinds of creative and community events from theatre shows to jumble sales...

 

The future

We plan to knock down our 1950’s life-expired building and replace it with a new building of up to eight storeys, with the ground and first floors for flexible church, community, exhibition, archive, café and office space, and the upper six storeys for London Affordable residential accommodation.

 

But before we do that

We need to own the land. The site is worth around £1.2m but given the work of the Trust we have agreed a purchase price with the owners of £756,800. 

 

The good news is

We have grants pledged for the sum of £604,600. The grants are payable on proof of financial viability and support from Lewisham planning. This means that The Bear Church is responsible for £151,200.

 

How much for the whole project?

The total project cost is estimated at between £8-9m.  We are hoping to secure half or this from Lewisham Borough Council and the GLA for the provision of London Affordable Rent housing and the rest as a loan/mortgage from an ethical bank and as grants/gifts/fundraising from other sources.

 

The developer

We have a ‘developer with a difference’ on board.  Jubilee Resource LTD aim to help churches and community projects redevelop without having to meet profit margins associated with commercial development.  They aim to recycle any profit back into the Deptford Ragged Trust. 

 

When will it happen?

We have already exchanged contracts with the owners, along with a deposit of £75,100, and complete expect to complete on the purchase by 12th December 2019. If all goes to planwe will wrap up activities at the Shaftesbury Christian Centre at the end of this year, to coincide with completion of ownership, and the building will be knocked down in January 2020.  We then hope to move back in January 2022.  

 

What will we do for two years?

We want to carry on everything we are doing now and are looking for ways to keep them all going.  We would like to keep everything local and in one place.  We are working on it but would welcome any suggestions if you know of somewhere.

 

How much money do we need to buy the land?  

We now need £75,100 by 12th December 2019

And £10,000 in Jan 2020 for legal fees

 

In 1934, The Deptford Ragged School started ‘The Hundred Helpers Fund’, asking 100 people to give £1 per year. How about committing to be one of 100 people who aim to raise some money by the end of 2019?  It could be £100 or £1,000 or £10,000. 

 

Can’t we just leave things as they are?

The owners are going to sell whether we buy or not. We either buy the land or we lose it, and start looking for a new home for The Bear Church.

 

Where is God in all this?

The vision to redevelop this site has been dreamed about, hoped for and discussed for many years. Just as He did for those before us, we believe God has given us a vision to see this place serve the community of Deptford for future generations in Jesus’ name – providing purpose-built housing where it is needed, a welcoming community space for different groups to come into, and an amazing facility for God’s people to gather to worship Him. 

 

Now’s the time to make a noise about this project and start raising money.

 

 

How to give

If you would like to give directly to the Building Fund, please email The Bear Church office - info@thebear.tv- or use the following details (including the reference ‘The Bear Building Fund’):

 

HSBC - The Bear Church - Sort Code: 40-02-25 - Account Number: 21361317

 

GIFT AID: IF YOU ARE A UK TAX PAYER:  

The Bear is able to claim back the tax you have paid on your gift.  Please contact info@thebear.tvwith your full name, address and postcode if you are able to do this.