SGSG News
Read our latest news from our community in Ashtead and around the world
Pushing Back Against Poverty
“Driven by hope, faith and the love of her children, Aline sought help from Christian Aid. They helped with training and support so she was able to start a small business, start to grow nutritious food, build a home and return her children to her side.”
Envision, Equip, Engage
“Interserve works alongside the church in nations across Asia and the Arab world, wherever there are opportunities to share the love of Jesus with Asian and Arab peoples. Their partners seek to bring about meaningful and lasting transformations in the people they work with through Jesus. ”
He is not here for He has risen
“We are an Easter people and alleluia is our song” – words of St Augustine, many years ago. Times may have changed over the centuries, but it is still true – we are an Easter people! So, the challenge we face as Christians today is to ask, “What might this look like in today’s world?”
Mission Partner: Through The Roof (Wheels for the World)
Through the Roof exists to transform lives through Jesus with disabled people. Wheels for the World, one of the international projects of Through The Roof, changes the lives of disabled people and their families in developing countries through the gift of a wheelchair.
Hope Explored
Hope Explored is a three-session series that looks at the life, death and resurrection of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel; it shows that
Christianity is about real hope: a joyful expectation for the future, based on true events in the past which changes everything about the present. Whatever people do or don’t believe it offers an opportunity to discuss and discover the hope, peace and purpose that Jesus offers each and every one of us.
Mission Partner: Be Me Project
Be Me Project exists to give young people a better start in life. We are a local Christian-led charity running emotional wellbeing courses to improve self-esteem, confidence and positivity.
Half-Term Fun - 12 to 16 February
This half-term we have something for all the family every day, to take part, serve and all enjoy! We start off on Monday where Under 5’s can attend Little Kids Play+, where we have fun with our soft play, ball pit, ride-ons and more.
Mission Partner: Mothers’ Union
Mothers’ Union, MU, is an international Christian charity that seeks to support families worldwide. Its members are not all mothers or even all women, as there are many parents, men, widows and singles involved in its work. It supports churches with the prayers and activities of its branch members and is a campaigning charity with projects including literacy and development, parenting, micro finance and campaigning against violence against women and the trafficking of women.
Christmas Message from Sarah Tapp
The month of December marks Advent. Not simply an
opportunity to get ready for Christmas, but a season of
waiting, watching and anticipating the hope and light that is
to come.
Mission Partner: Alternatives Trust
Every year we collect toys to give to our mission partners, Alternatives Trust, who are based in East London. They work with many families in that area who find themselves in difficult circumstances and unable to spend money on buying toys for their children.
Mission Partner: Leatherhead Start
Mission Partner: Leatherhead Start is a unique service in Mole Valley, supporting local people who find themselves in crisis, without a place to call home. Last year we gave temporary shelter to 36 men and women, supporting them to improve their health and wellbeing and move on to more settled accommodation.
Mission Partner: Besom ‘Unlocking God’s purpose in you, through meeting the needs of others’
Besom is a Christian charity whose purpose is to connect Christians who wish to give and serve with local people who are in need in the Ashtead, Leatherhead and Epsom area.
New Wine
What makes a group of relatively normal people spend their precious holiday camping in the rain on a very basic site where cattle sheds are considered the height of luxury? And do it again the next year and then the next? And then persuade their friends and family to join them to do the same? The answer is …..New Wine.
Mission Partner: Yala Widows & Orphans Support Project (YAWOSUP)
YAWOSUP is headed up by Edward Wata and operates in rural Western Kenya, focused on community development work to improve education, health, farming and housing for local residents, both young and old.
Volunteering at St Giles' School
For the past 18 months I have been helping out at St Giles’ School with spiritual aspects of the curriculum. This has involved setting up and running a prayer space (which changes each half term in line with the school values), running a weekly lunchtime club, taking assemblies, inviting the families to church once a term and experimenting with occasional events at the Dell for the families.
Mission Partner: ALDAG
ALDAG’s mission is to promote the inclusion of people with learning disabilities into their local community life, through developing social and supported employment opportunities through several enterprises.
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
Early in May, 20 parishioners, from across all congregations of St Giles' and St George’s churches, made a wonderful trip to the Holy Land. We spent 4 nights in Jerusalem, 1 night at the Dead Sea and 3 nights by the Sea of Galilee.
Mission Partner: Karen Border Ministries (KBM) Thailand
Five years after our last visit, before Covid hit, we finally made it out to visit Noh Bo Academy (NBA), part of the Karen Border Ministry (KBM) which Christ Church Bangkok administers. They are unfailingly grateful for Ashtead's support.
A farewell message from Richard
Thank you for the privilege of serving the Lord as your Rector for nearly eight years. Thank you for all that you are in Christ and how you have blessed us in many ways. As we move on to Anerley, in south east London, we leave with memories of the kindness, generosity, faithfulness and initiative of so many here.