The Bear Essentials: PALM SUNDAY EDITION 🌿
For the week beginning Sunday 13th April 2025
“Shout and cheer, Daughter Zion!
Raise your voice, Daughter Jerusalem!
Your king is coming!
a good king who makes all things right,
a humble king riding a donkey,
a mere colt of a donkey.
I’ve had it with war—no more chariots in Ephraim,
no more war horses in Jerusalem,
no more swords and spears, bows and arrows.
He will offer peace to the nations,
a peaceful rule worldwide,
from the four winds to the seven seas.
Zechariah 9: 9-10
THIS WEEK AT THE BEAR
Sunday Morning Service - at the Ascension. 11.15am for prayer, 11.45 for tea and coffee, 12pm for worship service.
Sunday Evening Service - at Evelyn from 6pm.
Final Lent prayer - we will meet on Monday at 7:30pm at Bear House to finish our final 24 hours of fasting in prayer and worship together.
Early Morning Prayer - open to all, just switch on and join in Monday to Friday on Zoom from 7-7.30am
LENT AT THE BEAR
Inspired by our recent coming together for 24 hrs of prayer & fasting, we will continue this once a week during the 6 weeks of Lent. Starting at 9pm on Sunday night until 9pm Monday, and reflecting on a different line of the Lord's prayer each week.
Week 6 - starting 13th of April
"For the kingdom, the power, and the glory and yours now and forever."
Monday evening prayer - at Bear House, 7:30-9pm
The Lord's Prayer: Bear Church Lent 2025 version
Our God in heaven, holy is your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.
A SPECIAL FAREWELL
After 14 years (or maybe more!) Tracy will be stepping down from her role as Finance Officer. We want to thank her for holding the purse strings with integrity, honesty, and great attention to detail. Tracy will be moving on to give more time to mentoring foster carers and to advocate wider for children in care, whilst continuing to provide foster care.
May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. 🍃
COMING UP
Tenebrae service - The tenebrae service marks the ‘gathering shadows’ of the Easter weekend. It’s a candlelit service of readings and music to allow us to prepare for Good Friday before heading into Easter. It will be hosted by Alex at 7:30pm on the 17th of April @ The Bear. Do join us, and if you would like to, or are able to, do a reading, please let Alex know.
Good Friday walk - 8.5 miles, a moderate walk through Knole Park, woodlands, over hills and commons. Meeting at 11am, bring a packed lunch, there are toilet stops along the way and the option to end at a pub for those who'd like to stay on for a drink or food. You can drive or travel to and from Sevenoaks station. Email bex@thebear.tv for details.
Easter Sunday service - a short service at 10:30am on 20th of April outside in Giffin Square, with fish and bread served afterwards.
New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festival - we will be screening ‘Paddington in Peru’ on Saturday 26th of April at 4pm and ‘Women Talking’ on Monday 28 April at 8pm - both at The Bear building! If you can get involved - giving out flyers, sharing on socials, welcoming people, serving drinks, carrying chairs, setting up equipment - please contact tessa@thebear.tv
Job opportunity at The Bear Church / The Deptford Ragged Trust - with Tracy stepping down, we are advertising for a new Finance Officer. This role is responsible for maintaining clear day-to-day finance procedures and must demonstrate the highest levels of integrity and discretion, handling financial information with confidentiality and a commitment to ethical stewardship. For all the details please read the Job Description attached and send a CV and a cover letter to bex@thebear.tv by 25th of April. Interviews will take place the first week of May.
THE RAGGED PROJECT
Bake Sale - see details above
Trolly Coins - Available to buy at Ascension on Sundays. £2 each - all proceeds to the Project
Give Us Your Money - contact emily@thebear.tv if you have spare change/holiday coins to give, or bring to Ascension on Sundays
Sung Worship - download or stream Dave's songs and raise money for the Project: https://linktr.ee/davidwinter
WHAT'S ON
Sunday
11.15am Prayer at Ascension
12pm Worship service
4pm Food preparation at Evelyn
6pm Evening meal
7pm Evening service
Monday
7am Early Morning Prayer
7:30pm Final Lent prayer
Tuesday
7am Early Morning Prayer
Wednesday
7am Early Morning Prayer
Thursday
7am Early Morning Prayer
Friday
7am Early Morning Prayer
NOTICES AND CLASSIFIEDS
Volunteer befrienders/mentors needed for Bear House - Can you give a couple of hours twice a month to support and empower residents who have asked to be linked with a volunteer? Training and support given.
CONTACTS
The Bear Church Instagram - follow at @thebearchurch
The Bear WhatsApp Broadcast Group - for weekly updates and more (but not much more), add The Bear Church 07707 524977 to your contacts, then message the number and ask to join the group.
Safeguarding - the email address for our Designated Safeguarding Lead is safeguarding@thebear.tv
Giving - is part of our worship. For any money-related questions, contact Tracy at finance@thebear.tv
Bear Talks - Search 'The Bear Sunday Talks' on Spotify or find them here: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nprnTdz6EruEcPSJk0t1C?si=bb248c499e40491a