‘Half The Sky’ film and discussion evening, in aid of the Hunger Project

Many St Lukers have charities that are particularly close to their hearts, and we’re always keen to facilitate and support their efforts to make the world a better place. On 21 January, Denyse Whillier is hosting a screening of the film Half The Sky, based on the book that challenged and inspired her to take action.

“Half The Sky: How To Change The World by Nicholas D Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn stunned and captivated me,” says Denyse. “It describes how families and states systemically fail to provide education and healthcare for girls and women – and shows why empowering women in the developing world to realise their full potential is so important, not only for themselves, but so we can all benefit from their contributions to our global society.

“The book played a major role in crystallising my own thinking around development, education and the economic empowerment of women. Through stories of the power and resilience of women, it shows how each of us can meet one of the great humanitarian challenges of our times. As a result, I became an ambassador for the Half The Sky Movement (www.halftheskymovement.org ).”

Denyse’s first action as an ambassador is to host this event at St Luke’s, when we’ll have a chance to see the documentary based on the book, followed by a panel discussion led by the CEO of The Hunger Project (one of the charities highlighted by Half The Sky). The event is on Wednesday 21 January, at 7.30pm, here at St Luke’s, and proceeds from the evening will go to The Hunger Project.

You can reserve your tickets at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/half-the-sky-film-screening-tickets-14941241656?utm_campaign . People who attend are asked to make a £10 donation, either on the door or on Denyse’s Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/Denyse-Whillier/ (and of course, if you can’t make the event, you can still donate). It promises to be an informative and inspiring event – we hope to see you there!

St Luke’s Nightshelter prepares to open its doors

One of our most important projects at St Luke’s is our annual cold weather shelter. Each January to March (the coldest three months of the year), we join forces with six other local churches to offer dinner, bed and breakfast to a number of homeless people – each church taking one day a week.

The Nightshelter is a project that involves many members and friends of the church, and we’d love as many people as possible to get involved. Volunteers are needed for evening, overnight and morning shifts every Saturday (into Sunday), and making dinner and breakfast for guests. We also need help with the laundry each week, people to run entertainment and activities for guests, and help with various other behind-the-scenes tasks.

This year’s Nightshelter starts in a couple of weeks’ time and Dan Northam Jones, who oversees St Luke’s part of the project, is busy drawing up rotas and making sure everything is in place to ensure this year’s project runs as smoothly as possible. If you’d like to help or find out what’s involved, please speak to Dan or email him at daniel.northamjones@googlemail.com. The first two weeks are now staffed, but there are plenty of slots to fill after that, particularly the overnight shifts. It’s great to sign up with a friend – many hands make light work, and having a buddy makes the experience less daunting (although there’ll be plenty of support for volunteers).

Nightshelter is also on the lookout for donations of clothes (especially warm clothes, jackets, socks, shoes and jumpers for men). Toiletries (toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors etc) are also needed, and any donations will be gratefully received.

Dan is also keen to hear from anyone with fundraising or sponsorship ideas to help cover the costs of the project.

Christmas at St Luke’s

Christmas is one of the most important festivals in the Christian calendar, and here at St Luke’s, we’re looking forward to some wonderful services and events over the festive period. We kick off with our annual candle-lit carol service on 14 December at 8pm. The St Luke’s choir will lead us in singing favourite hymns and carols, and wow us with some of their own stirring performances, too. Afterwards, there’ll be mulled wine and mince pies (it’s the congregation’s responsibility to provide the mince pies, so please buy or make extras to bring along).

The 11am service on 21 December will be given over to the children’s nativity play. The kids are rehearsing hard, and we’ve been promised a fun and creative rendition of the Christmas story. Based on previous years’ efforts, this is not to be missed!

After Sunday morning services during December, there’ll be stalls selling church members’ handmade and fairtrade gifts, from books to jewellery, and crafts to Palestinian olive oil products. So if you’ve got presents to buy, bring your wallet. (Don’t forget our regular Traidcraft stall for Christmas goodies, too – visit http://www.saintlukeschurch.org.uk/2014/11/16/fight-poverty-go-fairtrade-this-christmas/ )

On 24 December at 11.30pm, we gather at St Luke’s for midnight mass. We’ll see in Christmas day with a beautiful candle-lit service, and more evocative performances from the choir. There’ll be an opportunity to remember and pray for absent friends, who we often miss more than ever at this time of year.

On Christmas morning, there’ll be a family service at 10.30am (earlier than usual, so you can get home to put the dinner on). It’s a joyous all-age gathering to kick off the big day with a celebration of the true meaning of Christmas.

We’ll be back in church on 28 December at 11am for our usual Sunday morning all-age worship service.

Whether you’re a regular at St Luke’s, an occasional visitor or you’ve never joined us before, you’ll find a warm welcome at all our services over the festive period. Season’s greetings to everyone in the parish of St Luke’s, West Holloway, and beyond.

Top entertainment at St Luke’s this weekend

This is a bumper weekend for entertainment at St Luke’s – we’re spoiled for choice!

First, on Friday 28 November at 7.30pm, we have Lyrical, an evening of ‘acoustic words and spoken music’. Expect a chilled out evening of top-class music and poetry from the likes of Iain Archer, Rhian Roberts, Cole Morton and others (click on the flier above for more details) – and no doubt a glass or two of wine. Entrance costs £8 (£4 concessions) and profits go to the Women At The Well safe house for vulnerable women in King’s Cross.

Then, on Sunday 30 November at 7pm, our community choir Vox Holloway will be performing its fifth anniversary concert, Five Love. It’s an extravaganza bringing together Camden Youth Choir, Camjam (youth choir), St Luke’s Youth Choir and the 100-strong choir of Vox Holloway, plus an orchestra and acclaimed jazz soloists Liane Carroll and Emily Dankworth.

The evening will include two major performances. We’ll be treated to a storming rendition of the epic and inspiring Requiem In Blue by Harvey Brough. The choir will also be performing Songs In The Theme Of Love, a suite of songs by Nigerian singer-songwriter (and friend of St Luke’s) Ben Okafor, combining lyrical African heritage, classic folk protest and driving reggae beats – not to be missed! Doors and bar open at 6.30pm. Tickets cost £13 (£8 concessions) and are available from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/five-love-tickets-14288472205

See you there!

Fight poverty – go fairtrade this Christmas

Here at St Luke’s, we’re keen to support fairtrade companies. If a product is labelled ‘fairtrade’, it means the producers are paid a decent price for their products and labour, and have better working conditions. This counters the injustices of conventional trade, which discriminates against the poorest producers.

St Luke’s has its own regular Traidcraft stall. Open every Sunday after the 11am service, you can pick up fairtrade basics such as rice, pasta, sugar, cereal, tea, coffee, dried fruit and chocolate. By choosing to spend our money on these products, we can each do our bit to help fight poverty and give people more control over their lives.

With Christmas fast approaching, now’s the time to check out the selection of fairtrade gifts, advent calendars, cards, decorations and wrapping paper on the Traidcraft stall. You can browse the catalogue or look online at www.traidcraftshop.co.uk, then place an order with Rachel Blackamore or Rosie Sheldon and collect your items at church (saving on postage and packing costs).

The absolute deadline for Christmas orders is 14 December (to pick up on 21 December) but popular items may sell out, so get your orders in early!

Remembering those we’ve loved and lost

Many people find their way to St Luke’s through the saddest of circumstances – planning a funeral for a loved one. Others have found comfort in the love and support of people at St Luke’s during the dark time after losing a friend or family member.

As a church, we often include opportunities during regular services to remember and give thanks for people we’ve loved and lost – perhaps through lighting a candle, saying a prayer, or the shared experience of communion, which symbolically gathers together all people, both living and dead.

However, once a year there’s a special service dedicated to those who’ve departed this world. All Souls Day (also known as the Commemoration of All Faithful Departed) falls on 2 November, and St Luke’s will be holding its All Souls service at 4pm. It’s an opportunity to pray for departed souls, give thanks for those we’ve loved, and light a candle in their memory. Their names will be read out as part of the service.

The service is particularly popular with people who’ve attended funerals at St Luke’s in the preceding year, but anyone is welcome to attend, and some people make the journey every year.

If you’d like the name(s) of your loved one(s) to be read out at the service on 2 November, you can fill in a form (which you’ll find at the back of the church) and pass it to Pat Tomlinson. Alternatively, if you’re not a regular at St Luke’s, you can email your request to patriciatomlinson@mac.com. We look forward to welcoming you to the All Souls service to remember those you’ve loved and lost.

Welcome evening at St Luke’s – and you’re invited!

St Luke’s is a fast-growing church, and although we endeavour to be friendly and welcoming, it can sometimes be easy for newcomers to get lost in the crowd, and to struggle to get to know people.

During our after-service coffee time, new folk – or indeed, anyone who wants to get to know others – are often invited to congregate at the font to chat. But every now and again, we have a special newcomers’ evening, when people can get a proper introduction to the church – and each other!

Our next St Luke’s Welcome Evening is on Friday 10 October, at 7pm. It’s mainly aimed at those who’ve joined the church in the last three years or so. However, it’s open to anyone who wants to learn more about getting involved at St Luke’s, or who’d like an opportunity to socialise for longer than we’re able to on a Sunday morning.

There’ll be wine and cheese, and a chance to get to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere. Our vicar, Dave, will give you an introduction to St Luke’s and how it works – including a tour of the building, to check out all those secret rooms and winding tower staircases you’ve never seen! There’ll also be a brief “who’s who” of the people who make things happen at St Luke’s.

So if you’re new ¬– or not so new – please consider yourself invited. If possible, drop us an email at stlukespcc@hotmail.com so we know how many to cater for. We look forward to seeing you there!

The Speakeasy returns

Here at St Luke’s, we love a party. We’re also blessed with some amazingly talented people in our congregation, from singers and musicians, to actors and comedy writers. Our yearly Speakeasy is an opportunity to be entertained by the best of the church’s talent – and to enjoy a great social evening and a singalong, too.

The Speakeasy is conceived and created by Crispin Holland, who promises us a night that is: ‘Mildly diverting, slightly amusing, marginally better than sitting at home on your own’! On past form, it’ll be a lot more than that!

So, what can you expect from a St Luke’s Speakeasy? First, you’ll walk into the church to find it’s been transformed into a twinkling candlelit cafe, with the stage set for the show. There’ll be a bar in the kitchen, and nibbles to snack on while you relax among friends and enjoy some top-class musical performances, sketches, cabaret acts and a few surprise moments. Plus there’ll be a house band to lead a singalong we can all join in with. Crispin will, as usual, be our master of ceremonies.

So put the next Speakeasy – our seventh – in your diary for Friday 17 October, 8pm-11.30pm. Tickets cost £5, or £2 concessions, and the event is only open to those aged 16+ (no exceptions). As well as a chance for us all to get together and have some fun, it’s also a great opportunity to invite friends, family and neighbours along for a relaxed evening out. So get your gladrags on, brush up your vocal cords and get ready for a great night at St Luke’s!

Community choir celebrates its fifth anniversary – and invites you to join

Vox Holloway, the community choir of which we are very proud, celebrates its fifth anniversary this year with an invitation to new members and plans for a spectacular anniversary concert in November.

Vox Holloway (“Voice of Holloway”) was founded by St Luke’s choirmaster Justin Butcher in 2009 to allow anyone, from complete beginners to experienced singers, to come together for the joy of singing. The choir performs an eclectic range of classical, ecclesiastical, folk, pop and world music, and its concerts have raised more than £60,000 for charities all over the world.

The new term of Vox Holloway kicks off this week, and if you’d like to join, you’re warmly invited to the first open rehearsal on Tuesday 9 September at 7.30pm to see how you like it (if you miss this week, you have another couple of weeks to join up so do get in touch). You don’t need any previous experience or to be able to read music (audio aids are used so you can learn by ear). All that’s required is a love of singing, a willingness to commit to weekly rehearsals, and some enthusiasm! The choir is especially keen to hear from tenors and basses (in other words, men – or women with very deep voices!), but everyone is welcome.

The choir will then spend the next three months working towards its fifth anniversary concert on 30 November, when it will perform jazz epic Requiem In Blue by Harvey Brough (directed by the composer himself), and a celebration of the life and music of Nigerian singer/songwriter Ben Okafor.

Although the choir rehearses and performs in St Luke’s, it’s not aligned to any particular set of beliefs. Rehearsals take place on Tuesday evenings, 7.30pm-9.30pm, and there’s a small subscription fee (bursaries available for those on low income). To find out more, visit www.voxholloway.com or email voxhollowayn7@gmail.com

Dave Tomlinson launches The Bad Christian’s Manifesto

Many people have found their way to St Luke’s through reading one of the books penned by our vicar, Dave Tomlinson. His last book, How To Be A Bad Christian… And A Better Human Being, which came out in 2012, has been a massive hit – and not just within the church.

This September sees the launch of Dave’s follow-up book, The Bad Christian’s Manifesto: Reinventing God (And Other Modest Proposals). As members of the congregation, we’ve enjoyed advanced snippets over the last year or so when they make their way into Dave’s sermons on Sunday mornings. We’re excited to see the book published and available for a wider audience to enjoy.

The Bad Christian’s Manifesto will be officially launched on 11 September, and there’s a launch party here at St Luke’s on Friday 5 September, at 7.30pm. There’ll be fun, entertainment, Bad Christian ale and Bad Christian cupcakes! And of course, it’s a chance to chat to Dave, buy copies of the book and have them signed. Please do come along!