Summer House Meals
Enjoying summer evenings together.
In August, as many of us take the opportunity to holiday and take breaks from work, we are pausing our usual House Church rhythms. Instead we’ll enjoy the summer together across three evenings.
The three hosts will create a relaxed environment to eat together and be family together.
You are welcome to join in.
For each night you would like to attend, you will be required to book in, including each member of your household and any dietary requirements.
Please see the event pages for locations, booking in, and sign-up deadlines.
On booking, your host may contact you with more information or ways you can contribute.
Mary & Martha
Yemi brought this reflection brought after Jon had spoken at Encounter Sunday.
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As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
There is something that God revealed to me some time ago on Mary & Martha, I feel very burdened to share it.
I was going to preach one day on the story of Mary and Martha. People say, “I’m not a Mary, I’m a Martha. Or, I’m not a Martha, I’m a Mary”, and I was asking God, what does this really mean? Because in the passage in Luke 10, Christ specifically said one thing matters, Mary has chosen it.
When I asked God what it means, what came to me was this: that Martha was very busy trying to love the Lord - trying to take care of him. Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus, letting the Lord love her. There is a complete difference in the two.
Martha was trying to love God, like we all do as Christians - “I want to love God more”. Mary just sat there, saying “I’m Yours, love me.” And that changes the whole thing.
We are going to have a meal soon [at Encounter Sunday] and at this meal we’re going to sit down and have something to eat. Somebody said that what was happening in that particular story was this: when you go to someone’s house the host says: “You are in my house, sit down I will take care of you” - and that is what Martha was doing.
But in the case of Mary, she had changed it by saying “Jesus you are in my house, but you are the host - you serve me.” And that’s why He says she has chosen the best dish, “she has chosen for me to serve her”.
What Martha was doing was not wrong. But what Mary was doing was better.
Mary had chosen to allow Jesus to be the host and to serve her.
It looks very simple, but for me, I find it so powerful that what I need to do is let Him love me. And in letting Him love me, I can now love Him, love myself, and love people.
Prayer Week - June 2023
Leadership Changes
MADE Course: Spring 2023
This week we celebrated yet another MADE course!
This term’s cohort, six students from Hassenbrook Academy, gave speeches to an audience including: their families, Head teacher, delegates from their work place visits, and the Deputy Mayor of Thurrock, Sue Little.
After all these years, the MADE course is still working. We heard from the student’s Head of Year that the change in these students has been “very clear”.
And to our team she said:
“You might think you are working with 6 pupils but actually the impact you're having is on so many more! Not only have they grown in confidence and self esteem, as they wrote in their speeches, they have also been helping other students in the school with their self esteem!
“Every single student has grown since they started MADE 10 weeks ago”
Our Schools Team Director, Joyce Gjoni, also praised her team, saying, “the whole team are so committed and hard working and never lower the bar. I’m really proud of everyone and looking forward to more celebrations!”
The MADE course is a 10-week programme helping young people to realise that they are made unique and made with a purpose. Through the course, students grow in confidence, motivation and develop aspirations for their future; through soft-skills workshops and work place visits.
Workplace Visits
We are so grateful to all the people and companies that supported us this term:
Thurrock Foodbank
Bluprint UK
Thurrock Digital
Hovis
Gemma Powell
MEARS
Thurrock Council
DP World
Allotment Days
We have an allotment day on the Proximity Plot 29.
All welcome! No obligation to dig or hoe but there will be chats, biscuits and drinks.
Time
Anytime between 10am - 1pm.
Dates
Saturday, 18 March 2023
Saturday, 15 April 2023
Saturday, 20 May 2023
Saturday, 17 June 2023
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Kwok
New Learning Venue!
Prayer Week: Kingdom Keys
Mayor of Thurrock Donates to MADE Course
Proximity Schools were the recipients of £500 donation from the Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr James Halden towards the MADE course.
MADE was selected as one of the Mayor’s nominated charities for his civic year for its services to young people and supporting their mental health. Cllr Halden has raised nearly £18,000 from the borough community, and particularly its businesses, to support his nominated charities.
The Mayor of Thurrock and Gable Hall Staff with Proximity Schools team. From left to right: Des Dhillingford, Joyce, Graham, Cllr James Halden, Gary Lewis, Carla, Scott, Gemma
It was with great delight that on 05 January 2023, the Proximity Schools’ team met with the Mayor at ORTU Gable Hall School along with Principal, Mr G Lewis, and ORTU CEO, Mr D Shillingford, where the Mayor presented us with a giant cheque to mark the occasion.
It was extremely encouraging to hear how Cllr Halden highly values the work Proximity Schools carries out across three schools in Stanford-le-Hope and the impact it has in the local community.
Proximity Schools feel honored and grateful for the ongoing support the Mayor has offered them over the years.
The work of Proximity Schools depends on the support of the community.
If you would like to give to the work of Proximity Schools as they support 132 young people every week, become a Hope Giver by choosing to give a monthly.
Prayer Walking Stanford & Corringham
Join us on our mission to pray and walk every street in Stanford-le-Hope and Corringham.
Soup Week
Living simply, eating together, raising money for Thurrock Foodbank
Rule of Life 2022
In 2022, we are revisiting the six values of 24-7 Prayer that we held to in our first years as a church community: Prayer, Mission, Justice, Hospitality, Creativity and… Learning!
Phil Anderson helped us set the scene at Encounter Sunday, giving us the helpful imagery of a ‘trellis’. Describing a Rule of Life as the structure for growth as individuals and community.
LISTEN: Phil Anderson on ‘Rule of Life’
We then had one world class teaching after the other, as we welcomed our insightful and courageous friends each month. Thank you so much to all our fantastic contributors for all that you prepared and invested into our community.
You can listen back to every session below, or via “Proximity Church Podcast” on all podcast platforms.
Learning 2023: Holy Spirit
We are excited for all that we’ll learn, discuss and experience during our Learning Sundays in 2023.
Watch Charl’s introduction to Holy Spirit below.
