St Matthew's RedhillNewsletter
ST MATTHEW’S PARISH CHURCH REDHILL
NEWSLETTER FOR SUNDAY 22nd FEBRUARY 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 22nd Feb (Lent 1)
8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Eucharist (
Hymns: Forty days and forty nights; O for a closer walk with God; Jesu, lover of my soul; O for a heart to praise my God; Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us (CR)
Anthem: Let thy merciful ears, O God - Thomas Mudd (d.1667)
Voluntary: ‘Angel’s Farewell; from Dream of Gerontius - Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
Monday 23rd Feb
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 24th Feb
8:30 am Morning Prayer
2 pm Lent Group in the Lady Chapel: Draw Near through Prayer
6:30 pm Access and advice to Autism Support – a session for parents, carers and family members presented by the National Autistic Society. In the Parish Room
Wednesday 25th Feb
8:30 am Morning Prayer
10 am Said Holy Communion
11 am – 3 pm Foodbank
Thursday 26th Feb
8:30 am Morning Prayer
9 am Gardening Group
1:10 pm Lunchtime Music - Clarinet and Piano Recital
Friday 27th Feb
9 am – 3 pm Foodbank
Saturday 28th Feb
8:30 am Morning Prayer
Sunday 1st March (Lent 2)
8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Eucharist (no
4 pm Messy Church and Youth@St Matthews
Ways to observe Lent
Lent Group on Tuesdays at 2 pm in the Lady Chapel
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” James 4: 8
Tuesday 24th February: Draw Near through Prayer
Tuesday 3rd March: Draw Near through the Scriptures
Tuesday 10th March: Draw Near through the Eucharist
Tuesday 17th March: Draw Near through Service
Tuesday 24th March: Draw Near through Invitation
Each session will offer a time of reflection, discussion and prayer. No need to book – just turn up.
Lent
Group on Tuesdays at 7:30 pm at
“Children in the Shadows Revisited”
Looking at children and modern slavery in the UK. Full details are in the Lent booklet at the back of the church. Email rasocialjustice@gmail.com to register.
Everyday Faith App: daily readings and reflections.
Draw Near to God booklet available from bookshops.
For children and families: Draw Near with 40 Acts – 40 challenges to undertake during Lent. Pick up a booklet and a wall chart from the back of the church.
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
Dates for your diary
14th March 12 – 2 Lent Lunch in church in aid of the Bishop of Southwark’s Lent Call
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
Caring for the Church Family
Lately, a few members have been unwell without the staff team’s knowledge. The team can offer support through prayer, visits, home communion, and practical tasks, but we can only help if we know!
If you are aware of someone in need of support, please:
- Ask their permission to share the news with the staff.
- Contact any
member of the team —we would much rather hear the same update three
times than not at all.
Sponsor Rev. Anna’s Leap of Faith
In
an act of supreme divine inspiration, Rev. Anna is undertaking a feat of
genuine insanity to raise funds. We’re talking "defying gravity and common
sense" levels of bravery. She’s
planning to abseil down the
We need you to put your money where her courage is. You can sponsor her using the card machine in church, or online here.
"I’ve spent years telling the congregation to have faith. Now, I’m just hoping the harness has some too." — Rev. Anna
Advance Notice: World Day of Prayer - Friday 6th March
The service for this year's World Day of Prayer on 6th March has been put together by the women of Nigeria.
The
local service is being held at St Mary's Church in
Come
and enjoy worship, and learn more about life for Christian women in
More information from Hilary Richardson.
26th February – Lunchtime Music
Clarinet and Piano Recital - Hannah Hever (clarinet), Kyle Nash-Baker (piano)
J S
Bach - French Suite No. 1 in D minor
Gerald Finzi - 5 Bagatelles Op. 23
Johannes Brahms - Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 120 No. 2 in E flat major
Claude Debussy - Première Rhapsody