WHERE WE ARE / December Update

We are so glad that it's finally December! We want to share with you a few bits about Redeemer's Christmas plans - and an Advent Devotional we want to share with you! We also have a year-to-date reflection of where we are and how it's going. Simply, here's where we are...

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THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRISTMAS

Christmas Devotionals We produced an Advent devotional for Redeemer and our neighbours in Queen's Park. There are 25 days of Scripture, a few thoughts, and a highlight on The Good News of Christmas. We had some paperback copies printed for Queen's Park and have digital versions of the devotional available as well. We'd love to send one to you! Please, join in the Redeemer community and read along with us for the month of December. Email us at thewestlondonlife@gmail.com you'd like a copy of Redeemer's Advent Meditation Guide.

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WHERE WE ARE

Family What a year. Perry (7) and Shepherd (4) continue to settle in really well at school. We are so proud of them for how they have made a few friends and and getting on. Elizabeth has been volunteering with a charity in Camden Town called Little Village. Thomas continues to lead Redeemer and care for us so well. Lockdown Life It's impossible to know all the ways that things have changed for us over this last year. We think Thomas had Covid back in March but don't know because testing was not available. Elizabeth confirmed positive for Covid and was sick in October. Add to this two Lockdowns and an overall confusing existence of social distancing, not being able to share our home with neighbours and friends, and so many restrictions throughout the city. It's been a hard year...and we remain hopeful about what God is doing in our midst. Planting Redeemer Queen's Park The task of gathering a new church community in these circumstances has felt impossible at multiple points. We are limited and restricted in every way that we want to get together and be the church. Yet, God has steadily grown our small team over the last year. The initial bunch of 7 adults has grown to a team of 23 adults and 10 children. Conversations with neighbours and friends have been encouraging as well. We began weekly, virtual, gatherings when the March Lockdown began - those Bible Talks are available on our YouTube channel. Our Community Groups have grown from one to four over the last couple of months as well. We are looking forward to meeting in person twice in December and intend to meet weekly from Saturday January 9, 2021. What's Next Slowly emerging from this most difficult year is a vision for what the year ahead will look like for us. We are developing a plan for gathering, shepherding, and ultimately and fully launching this new church community. We will share the plan with you in the new year. Redeemer Queen's Park is not only a growing church startup in London - it is also a movement of prayer, financial support, and genuine partnership. Churches, families, and individuals are coming together to start a new Church community. Together, our vision is a movement of people believing in Jesus, living in community, and starting new churches across North-West London. Redeemer depends on the financial partnership of friends, families, churches, and foundations. We would be very grateful for your financial support as we close-out this ministry year. Please click this link to make a donation to Redeemer through the National Christian Foundation.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21