Dear Friends,
I hope this finds you all well, not least Koyejo (see below).
1. Bruce’s & Joan’s Renewal of Vows
We have a particularly happy morning planned for Sunday when Bruce and Joan, married for 10 years now, will formally renew their vows during the service in the company of our regulars and a few guests.
This special occasion will be marked by Suzie joining us on the violin and there being Champagne and Bucks Fizz in addition to the usual after-service refreshments.
I will be away after refreshments to join the happy couple for lunch, and anybody who was planning to speak to me after the service can contact me here for a mutually convenient call early next week.
2. Foodbank Collection from Us All
Remember that Sunday is also our foodbank collection Sunday.
Let’s all contribute generously, encouraged to do so by the few souls who currently ensure a good donation, and remembering this is an opportunity designed to be part of our spiritual practice as those committed more to real faith in action than to mere words. It enables us to take on board the particular needs of those in need, use our time, energy and money to shop for them, and engage our wits on the bargains front to stretch our budgets for them.
If you’ve forgotten again and need to fit this into a busy schedule, all the better; you’ll be getting your priorities right and earning extra spiritual Brownie points.
And for those who are away or won’t read this email until after Sunday, you can also make a donation the following week, as Bruce will not be able to do the foodbank drop-off until next week.
The items most in need, according to the Brixton & Croydon Foodbank’s wish list (updated 19 July 2026), are:
Tinned fish
Tinned fruit
Pasta
Rice
Dog food
Instant coffee
Tea bags
Long-life milk
Bags for Life
Sanitary towels
Baby toiletries
The link, as per our newsletter:
https://lambethcroydon.foodbank.org.uk/support-us/donate-food
The Essentials range at ASDA is especially good here, and if you don’t have a branch nearby, why not add these items to your weekly online shop and effectively get free delivery of them?
3. Koyejo & Others
We’re keeping our eye on our brother Koyejo (who has shared his situation with us as a community) and a few others who are currently facing various health and pastoral challenges.
On the Koyejo front, he’s now moved into his latest place in Surrey Quays, his new medication access tube has finally been removed from his arm, and although he’s had some pain and other discomfort, his radiotherapy finally started on Thursday.
Please include all these in your prayers.
I have a lovely end to the week now. Andrew and I are off for lunch in Soho with Julia (wife of my late old LSE Law friend Ant; I married them at Hampstead) and Sal (mum of Lillia, whom I named at Fountain Court in the Inner Temple when I was in chambers at 4 Brick Court).
Have a super weekend, and see you on Sunday, I pray.
Julian