Newsletter

ST MATTHEW’S PARISH CHURCH REDHILL

NEWSLETTER FOR SUNDAY 23rd MARCH 2025

Welcome to St Matthew's Weekly Newsletter. 

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.

This week at St Matthew’s

Sunday 30th March (Mothering Sunday) – CLOCKS GO FORWARD TODAY

8 am             Holy Communion

10 am           Parish Communion (Junior Church starts off in church)

Readings:     Samuel 1: 20 – end and John 19: 25b – 27

Hymns:         For the beauty of the earth; Jesus, good above all other; Brother, sister, let me serve you; Lord of all hopefulness; Tell out my soul. (The last three are congregation requests)

Anthem:        The Lord bless you and keep you - John Rutter (b.1945)

Voluntary:     Meditation on ‘Brother James’ Air’ - Harold Darke (1888-1976)

Cake sale after the 10 am service

Monday 31st March

9 am – 3 pm Foodbank

9:30 am        Craft Group in vestry

9:45 am        Toddler Group in the Parish Room

2 pm             Greek Group in vestry

Tuesday 1st April

2 pm             Lent Group: The carrying of the cross

Wednesday 2nd April

10 am           Said Holy Communion

Readings:     Isaiah 49: 8 – 15 and John 5: 17 – 30

11am – 3pm Foodbank

7 pm             Puppet Tiers

Thursday 3rd April

9:00 am        Gardening Group

9:30 am        St Matthew’s School Easter service in church

1:10 pm        Lunchtime Music - The Alionor Piano Trio

6:30 pm        Junior Choir Practice

7:00 pm        Adult Choir Practice

Friday 4th April

9 am – 3 pm Foodbank

Saturday 5th April

9 am   Saturday Gardening Club

Sunday 6th April (Passiontide)

8 am             Holy Communion

10 am           Parish Communion (no Junior Church)

Readings:     Isaiah 43: 16 – 21 and John 12: 1 - 8

4 pm             Messy Church

Lent & Holy Week

Everything you need for Lent and Holy Week is in the booklets, available online and at the back of the church. 

The Good Friday Project will be on 18th April at 10 am.  Booking is essential as places are limited. Book online here.

Dates for your diary

12th April       Unlock London Walk – see below

14th June      Murder Mystery Night

12th July        Vintage Tea Party

19th Sept       Curry Night

20th Sept       Heritage Open Day

18th Oct        Quiz Night

22nd Nov       Christmas Fair

9th Jan 2026  Ladies Night

Rev Anna's contact details - Day Off on FRIDAY

email address: vicar@stmatthews-redhill.org.uk          Phone number 01737 511495

Parish Administrator Julia Elfred

email address: juliae@stmatthews-redhill.org.uk         Phone number 01737 249066

If you would like to include any notices in the weekly newsletter please contact:

Tracey Jennings – email address: tracey.jennings17@gmail.com

Phone number: 01737 760590- by Wednesdays 10 am


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

Julie Knight (Reader) juliek@stmatthews-redhill.org.uk

Anne Currie (Reader) annec@stmatthews-redhill.org.uk 

Electoral Roll Renewal

This year we are required by Church Law to renew the church electoral roll – the list of people who consider themselves to be part of St Matthew’s Church.  Everyone who is currently on the Roll, no matter how recently they joined, MUST complete a new application to remain on it.  Application forms have been sent out to everyone on the current roll, please take one from the back of church if you would like to join the roll - each member of your family over the age of 16 needs to complete a form to be included.  Please return the form to Angie Baker or Julia Elfred by Easter Sunday (20th April).

Angie Baker is our Electoral Roll Officer and will be happy to answer any questions.

 Mothering Sunday, 30th March 2025

There will be a cake sale after the 10.00am service on Mothering Sunday next week.  The proceeds will go to the Mothers' Union Gifts of Peace Appeal.  This can give families worldwide the chance to swap discord and tension for an atmosphere of support and positivity, in countries as diverse as the Solomon Islands, Guyana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda.  For more information on the work of Mothers' Union worldwide, and these and other projects, please talk to Hilary Richardson, Marian Randall, Louise Hill, or Wendy Wren.

There will also be a handicrafts table for your Easter and Mothering Sunday gifts.

 Lunchtime Music, Thursday 27th March

'Cello and Piano Recital - Siriol Hugh-Jones ('cello), Anya Kolesnik (piano)

     Mel Bonis (1858-1937) - Cello Sonata in F major Op. 67
     Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979) - Passacaglia on an Old English Tune and Rhapsody for Cello and Piano

Youth@St Matthew’s

St Matthew’s Church is excited to expand youth activities both within the Church community and wider across the denary but we need your help to enable safe and enjoyable experiences for all involved. If you are interested in volunteering and leading activities with children aged 10-14 it would be good to hear from you. Ideas so far include a deanery wide youth group, an after School Church at St Matthew’s School and offering 10–14 year old’s activities during the Messy Church Services. If you feel called to any of these particular activities, or have any ideas of your own, there will be a meeting after the 10am service on May 4th for around 30 mins. Alternatively, please see Julie after any Church Service or email her There is no obligation to commit at this stage; it is just an excellent opportunity to bring together resources and talents that we already have at St Matthew’s. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Julie (Church and School Youth Ministries Leader)

Lunchtime Music, 3 April 1.10pm – The Alionor Piano Trio
Ioana Voicu-Arnăuţoiu (violin), Alan Thomas ('cello), Norman MacSween (piano)

     Frank Bridge - Miniatures for Piano Trio
     Ludwig van Beethoven - Piano Trio in E flat, Op. 70 No. 2

2025 TCS London Marathon

On 27th April, Francoise Cairns is going to be running the 2025 TCS London Marathon - all 26.2 miles from Greenwich Park to The Mall.  She's running to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer UK in memory of her late father.  If you'd like to read more about her story or sponsor her efforts, you can find her Marathon page here.  And if you're in London on the day, give her a cheer to help her weary legs get all the way to the finish line!

Unlock London Walk

As is now become customary, group of walkers from St Matthew's will be taking part in the Unlock London Walk, this year it is on 12th April and covers Brixton, Kennington, Camberwell and Stockwell.

For more information see the What’s On Board or click this link.

This event is always a great day of exploring unusual parts of London, visiting a variety of churches, meeting new people, strengthening existing relationships, getting some exercise and usually sampling some pretty good cakes too.  

It would be lovely to welcome new faces to this event, please do sign up at the back of church if you are interested. If you would like to know more about the day please speak to Angie, Andy, Anne, Ellen, Margaret, Stephen, Hilary. 

DONATE TO THE LIFE OF ST. MATTHEW'S

If you would like to donate to the work and mission of St Matthew's you can donate online using this link.