18 February 2026Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,For our Lent Call in 2026, my last one as your Diocesan Bishop, we are focusing on the crucial role played by schools in the care, nurturing, development and championing of children. Jesus invited children into the midst of his disciples, blessing them and affirming their significance in God’s Kingdom. Scripture reminds us that the care, protection and teaching of children are high callings, indeed.As a result, I have chosen this verse from Proverbs 22:6 as the theme for this year’s Lent Call:‘Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.’Each year during Lent, I invite our parishes to spend time praying and raising funds for the Bishop’s Lent Call. Through scripture, prayer and storytelling, this initiative raises funds for local community projects in south London and East Surrey, as well as for our sisters and brothers in Zimbabwe and Jerusalem. We are continuing to seek to offer help to our young people through education and learning, using a variety of different means.In Zimbabwe we are called to support feeding programmes, as well as helping to build new schools and improving the buildings and facilities in older ones. Schools are important in all the dioceses in Zimbabwe. Each of them has diocesan primary and secondary schools which they seek to run as effectively as possible in order to ensure that pupils have the best possible opportunities. Where there are schools at Mission Stations – a hub focused on providing spiritual guidance, education, healthcare and aid – there are also orphanages, where children can be housed, fed and cared for as well as educated.In the Diocese of Jerusalem, Archbishop Hosam and his team have asked us to focus on the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf in Jordan. Here, the team offers a range of programmes for children who are hard of hearing, deaf or blind in the community, seeking to ensure that those they engage with are given the best possible assistance to succeed. The Institute also has outreach programmes for children living in refugee camps and elsewhere.Finally, in the Diocese of Southwark, the Diocesan Board of Education is developing a programme entitled Love Thy Neighbour, which is designed to be used throughout our diocesan schools. Over five weeks, the programme will give pupils the opportunity to think about what it means to be a ‘neighbour’ - in the classroom, school, community, church and wider world.I hope that you will encourage your congregations to observe this Lent in a prayerful way so that it deepens faith and refreshes the soul. Lent is a time for us all to focus on all that God has done for us and to pray for guidance as we consider what we should doing in response to God’s incredible generosity. Please do think and pray about these Lent projects, encourage your congregations and schools to do the same - and to consider what they might give to ensure that this vital frontline work can continue.The Lent Call materials will all be online in a format that you can download and print for your church and school. Please also direct people to our website (southwark.anglican.org/lentcall) so that they can explore the materials for themselves, as well as find out how to give. There will also be worship and project materials for our schools – which can work for children’s groups in parishes, too.I am proud of our Lent Call and of all that the generosity of our churches has made possible over my time with you as Bishop. Thank you for your faithfulness to God’s calling. Please do support this work in your parish and encourage others to do so. I hope and pray that, by using the relevant project sheet and by praying each day week people will find new understandings of the plight of many children and young people in our world today and be able to consider their own response.With my thanks and prayers for all that you do and for our partnership in the Gospel, The Bishop of Southwark, The Rt Revd Christopher Chessun
Ash Wednesday services on 18 February 2026.8:30amMorning Prayer at St John's for Churches Together including the Imposition of Ashes.7:30pmAn evening Eucharist for Ash Wednesday, which will include the Imposition of Ashes.
Lent Lunch at St John's - 21st February 2026Please come between 12.30pm and 2pmCaterham Mothers’ Union are holding a Lent Lunch of soup and bread in the Church Hall (Clareville Road) on Saturday 21st February, to raise funds for the Bishop’s Lent Call.Please let us know if you are able to attend so we can cater accordingly (stjohnschurchcaterham@outlook.com). Donations of any amount are welcomed.Image generated with AI for illustrative purposes.
We welcome to the family at St John's Luis V, our new organist and music director.An impromptu photo which unfortunately caught Luis in mid blink! I shall endeavour to do better with my next attempt.
