St Matthew's RedhillNewsletter
ST MATTHEW’S PARISH CHURCH REDHILL
NEWSLETTER FOR SUNDAY 15th MARCH 2026
Through worship and outreach, God’s love is revealed in the community it serves. Together, we navigate and explore the fullness of life offered to us through Christ. Whether strong in the faith or filled with questions and doubts, all can find space here with God. Based on the teaching of Jesus, St Matthew’s is an open, inclusive, and growing church. Please contact any member of the staff or welcome teams to get involved in the life of the church.
You can use this link to sign up to receive the newsletter via email.
This week at St Matthew’s
Sunday 15th March (Mothering Sunday)
8 am Holy Communion
10 am Community Communion (no
Readings: Exodus 2: 1 – 10 and Luke 2: 33 – 35
Songs: 10,000 Reasons; Brother, Sister let me serve you; Cornerstone; How deep the Father’s love; Jubilate Everybody
5 pm Choral Evensong
Responses: Ayleward
Setting: Morley Fauxbourdons
Anthem: The Lord bless you and keep you - John Rutter (b.1945)
Voluntary: Meditation on ‘Brother James’ Air’ - Harold Darke (1888-1976)
Monday 16th March
8:30 am Morning Prayer
9 am – 3 pm Foodbank
9:30 am Craft Group in the vestry
9:45 am Toddler Group in the Parish Room
2 pm New Testament Greek
Tuesday 17th March
8:30 am Morning Prayer
2 pm Lent Group in the Lady Chapel: Draw Near through Service
Wednesday 18th March
8:30 am Morning Prayer
10 am Said Holy Communion
11 am – 3 pm Foodbank
Thursday 19th March
8:30 am Morning Prayer
9 am Gardening Group
1:10 pm Lunchtime Music - The Galliard Trio
Friday 20th March
9 am – 3 pm Foodbank
Saturday 21st March
8:30 am Morning Prayer
9 am Readers AGM and Service in the church
Sunday 22nd March (Passion Sunday)
8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Eucharist (
Readings: Ezekiel 37:1 – 14 and John 11: 1 - 45
Dates for Holy Week
28th March 10 am Palms of Praise (see below)
29th March Palm Sunday
30th March 7:30 pm Stations of the Cross
31st March 7:30 pm Meditation & Compline
1st April 10 am Eucharist
2nd April 7:30 pm Maundy Thursday Eucharist including foot washing and stripping the altar, followed by vigil (see sign up sheet)
3rd
April 10 am Good Friday Project
(see below)
2 pm Good Friday Liturgy
Full details of all these events and services are in the Lent booklet.
Mothering Sunday Cake
There will be a cake sale after the 10.00am service this Sunday. This is in aid of the Mothers' Union Make a Mother's Day appeal.
As
it is the 150th anniversary of the founding of Mothers'
Other cakes, along with Easter cards and marmalade made by Janet Woods, will also be on sale.
Save the Date!
Palms of Praise - Saturday 28th March - 10am - 12noon. This year we will be making Palm Crosses for Palm Sunday from our very own Church Garden Palm tree! Come for hot cross buns, tea and help us make 100 Palm Crosses for the Palm Sunday service on Sunday 29th March. Then stay for a few minutes of quiet reflection in the calm of the church. Around the church there will be a children's reflection area, a Young people's reflection and a palm reflection in the Lady Chapel - something for everyone! Look out for more information coming very soon...
Good Friday Project: 3rd April at 10 am
Booking is now open for this year’s Good Friday Project. This service is suitable for families of all ages. There will be a variety of activity stations to reflect on the story of Good Friday, followed by a short service. Booking is essential for this – book online here
Rev Anna's contact details - Day Off on FRIDAY
Email here or 01737 511495 / 07960 088613
Parish Administrator Julia Elfred: email or phone 01737 249066
If you would like to include any notices in the weekly newsletter please contact: Tracey Jennings – email or phone 01737 760590 by Wednesdays 10 am but please note that there will be no updated newsletter until Sunday 31st August.
Pastoral Care And Pastoral Support - If you need any help at all please do contact any member of the Staff Team - we are always ready to do what we can to help.
Rev. Anna (Vicar) As above or
Anne Currie (Reader) email here or
Julie Knight (Reader) email here
A message from Bishop Rosemarie
Our Diocesan Bishop – Bishop Christopher – will be retiring this summer, after many years of faithful leadership in our diocese. Because of this, as a diocesan family, we are preparing to begin our search for the next Bishop of Southwark – and we want to hear the views of as many people as possible.
Please take five minutes to fill out a simple online survey before 1 April 2026
Paper copies will be available at the back of the church, and there are also surveys for use with children and young people. If you wish to complete a paper copy of the survey, please either post it to Trinity House, or give it to any member of the staff team by Sunday, 22nd March to allow time for it to be posted.
We offer the following prayer:
God of all times and places, send us a Bishop who will lead us faithfully through days of rejoicing and nights of challenge, with prayer and Scripture, with love and laughter, with bread and wine. Send your Holy Spirit to guide those entrusted with this process. May they recognise the person of your choice, with ears that are open and hearts that are wise. Make us thankful for all that has gone before, ready and hopeful for all that lies ahead, led by a Bishop whose ministry is a blessing to everyone in Southwark Diocese, as we hear the good news of Jesus and delight in the love of God. Amen
Rev. Anna is going over the edge
Literally. To raise the much-needed funds for our West Wall, she’s abseiling 170 meters down the side of the Spinnaker Tower on April 25th. It’s a feat that sits somewhere between "supremely inspired" and "genuinely terrifying."
If she’s brave enough to make the descent, we hope you’re bold enough to donate. Let’s make sure her leap of faith pays off.
You can sponsor her using the card machine in church, or online here.
Lunchtime Music – 19th March 1.10pm
The Galliard Trio – Andrew Morris (flute), Martin White (oboe), Alec Forshaw (piano and bassoon)
Ralph
Vaughan Williams - Six Studies in English Folk-song
Johann Sebastian Bach - Three Preludes and Fugues from The Well-Tempered
Clavier
Giacomo Puccini - Crisantemi
Anton Bruckner - Benedictus
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Two Pieces from The Seasons.
On Saturday 28th March, you can participate in a spring clean of the local area, from church at about 10.30. Meet at church and then go off in groups or individually. I need to know how many are coming, so if you could please let me know by emailing Gemma Roulston. Then I know how much equipment I may need to get from the Borough Council. Please wear gardening gloves. For further information please visit the page on the Council website.