An Anglican church in an old pub in Islington, London. Service at 7pm every Sunday.
Our now traditional Service of Shadows takes place at the end of Good Friday. It is a beautiful, poignant service of readings, candles and contemplation; a solemn vigil to make this most holy day and to prepare for Easter. It begins at Sunset, which is 8pm this year. Please be on time.
The Service of Shadows is adapted from the service written by Jeremy Williams (formerly of this Parish) at Lifeworks.
While searching for an image for our Service of Shadows postcard, I came across some beautiful images. None of these made the final cut, but they are all stunning.
Our Annual Carol service is a celebration of our favourite Christmas things. Traditional hymns, great people, joyful singing, and thoughtful sermons, mulled wine and mince pies. Church on the Corner offers you a warm welcome this Christmas.
Sunday 15th December at 7pm
Each year we mark Advent with a collaborative project at Church. Once again we are using images to reflect on the season. This year the theme is a lovely phrase from the first letter to the Corinthians. “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived these things God has prepared for those who love him”.
Each day there will be an image by a member of our church. Just and image, no explanation, no instructions.
Just image and imagination. You can follow it here.
School of Prayer is back this Wednesday.
We are going to be having a conversation about contemplation led by Corin Pilling who will be sharing his story of encounter with God in the contemplative.
7.30pm at Church on the Corner
“To learn contemplative practice is to learn what we need so as to live truthfully and honestly and lovingly.” Rowan Williams
We are working on a new postcard for COTC – this is where we are up to so far.
Our Autumn sermon series is on the book of Daniel – a young man and his friends facing the overwhelming power of an empire, and living lives of such courage, faith and dignity that they change their world. Daniel has been an inspiration for those living in a hostile world, believing that they can’t make a difference.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
Strange as it may sound, the pub after church is such an important part of what we do. It is not just about hanging out together, it is where people get to know each other and where new folks start to feel part of things. It’s not the only way that this stuff happens, but it it a really good way. It is open to everyone, just follow the crowd. We meet at the Angelic pub, just round the corner – you can find it here.
During this time of social distancing we have put together a slightly more formal patter of evening prayer for our home groups. We find this works better given the limitations of Zoom, and allows everyone to participate one at a time. Online groups work best when one person speaks at a time. Perhaps before you start, nominate one person for each prayer or reading, and mute your microphone when not speaking.
“Come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest”
I’m not sure what it was that Jesus saw in his disciples that moved him to say these lovely words, but in our treadmill of a culture, constantly taught to believe that life isn’t all we hoped for because we aren’t trying hard enough, they are always timely.
But then along comes Lent, with its demands that we give up some of our few remaining comforts. It is no surprise that when life seems hard, the last thing we want to do is to make it harder. But the call to self denial is not what we think. The goal is to say no to our inhumanity, to our failure to be what we are created for. To say no to the nonsense and choose a simpler, richer life. Instead of seeking distractions from our boredom we seek life in all its fulness.
Lent starts in a week’s time, on the 13th February. So you have time to talk, and make some plans. And our challenge is to make some choices to bring more balance to our lives, to reconnect with God, with creation and with your own creativity. Below are a list of suggestions, or suggest some of your own. Do one of them regularly or try lots of different one. Comment below to share your experience.
[Image of Jesus in the Wilderness from the ’40’ Series by Si Smith]
Our new Thursday night football game kicks off tonight. Currently you can just turn up and play, we may have to get more organised if it gets more popular. For more details, and to sign up to the football mailing list go to our footy page.
One of the biggest projects we are involved in every year is the Islington churches winter nightshelter, which kicked off last night. 15 guests, warm beds, a hot meal and a cooked breakfast. It doesn’t sound too complicated, and it’s a privilege to be part of, but it takes a lot of volunteers.
If you are in a homegroup you will already be allocatd to a sunday night, but there are planty of opportunities to get involved, particulalry if you can help with breakfast on a monday morning, or with an overnight.
Find out more here churchonthecorner.org.uk/nightshelter
Sunday 16th is our biggest service of the year. Our carol service is a celebration of all sorts of Christmas goodness, with beautiful singing, quiet reflection, simple worship, warm community and mulled wine and mince pies. It is a lovely event whether you are a regular or haven’t been to a church for ever.
And there is lots more going on.
4th December – The Big Sing 7.30pm at COTC
9th December – Bemerton Carols – community carol service on the Bemerton Estate. Find out more here.
16th December – Carols by Candlelight
22nd December – Christmas Dinner. Tickets £10. Email Martin for details.
24th December – Midnight Service at St Andrews here.
Our sermon series this Autumn will be on the book of Exodus. It is an iconic story, and deeply formative not just for the rest of the bible, but for recent human history. We will start this sunday looking at the significance of this book in the bible and in our culture, and then work our way through following the journey of the people out of Egypt and through the desert, towards the promised land.
We’ve been using fairtrade products since the beginning, but now it’s official, and everyone loves a certificate. Fairtrade is just one aspect of trade justice, and members of Church on the Corner are involved in many others, but what we chose to spend our money on does have a meaningful impact on the world we live in, and we are pleased to be part of a fairtrade Diocese.
Our familiarity with the Lord’s prayer often distracts us from its enormous significance. One of the key things which set Jesus apart was his prayerfulness, such that the disciples said to him teach us to pray like you. And his response was the prayer we know so well.
It is a remarkable point of unity – 2 billion christians across the world pray this prayer. And my conviction is that it is intended to be a prayer which we grow into, allowing it to form and frame our relationship with God. With our busy lives, prayer is all too often the thing which is missing. This term we are going to be carefully studying this prayer together, asking just as the first disciples did, that Jesus would teach us how to pray.
This evening we are watching the film ‘Into great Silence’. A remarkable piece of cinema, probably not an easy watch, but a telling a insight into the lives of the Carthusian Monks.
It sounds more like an endurance test than entertainment, yet this one-of-a-kind experience proves surprisingly immersive.
Read the reviews here on Rotten Tomatoes.
It will start at 7pm upstairs in the Chapel – if you are late, come in quietly!
The events that make up the Easter Story are the most significant and dramatic in the Christian Year. From the 5th-9th April we will join together with fellow pilgrims from our church, our parish and our city at a rich variety of events. Each distinct and beautiful in their own way, each marking one of the great events in the final days of Jesus earthly life. From the Last Supper, through the crucifixion to the amazing events of Easter Morning, join us in celebrating this greatest story ever told. Download the flyer below.
Maundy Thursday – The Last Supper. 7.30 @ All Saints Church
Good Friday – 11.45am Walk of Witness @ N1 Centre
7.30pm Service of Shadows @ Church on the Corner
Holy Saturday – 7pm The Easter Vigil @ St Pauls Cathedral
Easter Sunday 10.30am Family Services at All Saints and St Andrews
Our homegroups are starting a new series of discussions based on the excellent book ‘Surprised by Hope’.
Tom Wright is the former Bishop of Durham, and a leading N.T. Scholar and his work on the implications of the Easter story, not just for the church but for the whole world, is inspiring. You can watch the first session below, and more information about our homegroups can be found here.
Church on the Corner