Throughout September, we will all be gathering at 10am for one big morning service each Sunday. Every September, we run our “Hot Topics” series, in which we tackle a variety of difficult and challenging subjects head on. Often, churches avoid doing this, because as we say at EBC “opinions vary” about them and the subjects can be divisive. However, as we also say a lot around here, “engagement is not endorsement” and we think it is better to talk about things carefully and graciously than to ignore them.
This year, we have invited some guest speakers, and we will be covering topics relating to healthy masculinity, black/African church culture, church accessibility and domestic abuse…
Sunday 1st September: ‘Love Should Not Hurt’ – 10.00am (live-streamed)
This Sunday Philippa speaks to us about radical love, incorporating part of our commitment to becoming a ‘Restored: Beacon’ church, providing a safe refuge for women and children who are survivors, journeying with them on their road to recovery, and demonstrating God’s deep love for them.
Sunday 8th September August: ‘Me, Myself and I’ – 10.00am (live-streamed).
This Sunday we have a guest speaker, Pastor Philip Lutterodt, from Mitcham Baptist Church. Having met Philip at Regent’s Park College, Simon felt powerfully compelled to ask Philip, who is originally from Ghana, to come and speak to EBC about the upsides and downsides of what might be called Black/African church culture. You’re in for an interesting and really thought-provoking morning! After the service, we will be having a meal together in the church building.
Sunday 15th September: ‘XCC: Xtreme Character Challenge” – 10.00am (live-streamed).
Are you ready for an adventure? Last Spring, Simon went on the XCC, a three day hiking and camping expedition for men only up in Scotland, where he met one of the most dynamic and charismatic people he has ever met. And now… you can get to meet him too! James Ray is the leader of XCC and he is coming to challenge men to live a life of Christian masculinity – not the toxic variety, but the kind that takes the real challenges – and responsibilities – of being a man very seriously… You can find out more about James and XCC here and if you’re brave enough, you can sign up for the next one in Wales (Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th October) right here! After the service, we will be having a BBQ outside in the garden – come ready for it!
Sunday 22nd September: ‘Accessible Church?’ – 10.00am All-sorts service (No Livestream)
Join us for our All-sorts service as we all get together around tables to talk about how easy it is to come to church… or is it? Simon leads the conversation on what it might be like to come to church when your physical, mental or emotional experiences have been different to our own…