As many of you know, I have recently been appointed as Hounslow Area Dean. Thank you so much to everyone who has sent good wishes and offers of support. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the role and I hope that our Deanery Synod meetings will be both enjoyable and helpful to your ministry and mission.

I am the Vicar of St Michael’s Church in Chiswick where I’ve been in post for ten years now.  Before this, I served my curacy in Islington and, before that, I had a career in the City.  I’m married to Peter and we have five children, but with only one still at school.

A new triennium!
We are at the start of a new three year cycle of Deanery Synod meetings, so this is an ideal time to have a rethink about what we do and why.  If you’ve got any comments or suggestions, please be in touch.  

I’m hoping that we’ll be able to focus on some of the new Kensington Area priorities such as: mission in the community; the environment; ministry to children and youth; and mental health and wellbeing.  If you would like to play a role on the Deanery Synod Standing Committee, possibly as a rep for one of these priorities, do please let me know.  We need both clergy and lay members.  Standing Committee meets three times a year by Zoom and is responsible for planning events, talks and the agenda at the Deanery Synod meetings.

Next Deanery Synod meeting – Thursday 28 October – IN-PERSON at St Michael’s Church, Elmwood Road W4 3DY at 7pm
I am looking forward to meeting and welcoming reps, particularly new ones, to Deanery Synod at this first session.  Do please join us if you can.

We’ll start first with a Deanery Meeting of Lay Representatives at 6.30pm to elect our Lay Chair.  Then there will be refreshments at 7pm for both lay and clergy reps, followed by Holy Communion (sharing bread only) at 7.30pm.  Then Derek Winterburn, Vicar of St James’s Church Hampton Hill, will facilitate a conversation about how we are caring for God’s creation.  Finally, we’ll have some brief notices and the appointment or election of our Deanery Synod Standing Committee.  An agenda will be sent round nearer the time.

Subsequent Deanery Synod meetings
The new Deanery Synod Standing Committee will meet in November and make plans.  We will probably have a Deanery Synod meeting by Zoom in February and an in-person one in June.

Welcare applications
Applications for grants for community projects are welcome.  If they are submitted by 15 November, they will be considered at the next meeting of trustees on 29 November.  More information and application forms can be found here.

I look forward to seeing you soon.
Warmest wishes and God bless,

Rev Martine Oborne
Area Dean

The Power of Invitation

7.30pm Monday February 4th 2018 – St Michaels Church, Elmwood Road, W4 3DY

Join us at the first Deanery Synod of 2019 where Hounslow Deanery Synod is delighted to host international speaker Michael Harvey. Michael has spoken to thousands of church leaders in his Seminars and has to date seen hundreds of thousands of Christians mobilised to invite others to church services and events. He launched the first National Weekend of Invitation in June 2018 and is author of the books ‘Unlocking the Growth’ and ‘Creating a Culture of Invitation’. As an itinerant speaker he has a ministry across 18 countries and 5 continents and in February he will join us to unwrap the topic of evangelism in a whole new way.

Following Michael’s talk we will have time  time for questions, and the sharing of resources and good practice. As always, we will finish by 9pm.

If you would like to register your interest please sign up here

Resourcing the local church to take action…

7.30pm Tuesday February 6th 2018 – All Souls Church, TW1 1PBHounslow, Hampton & Spelthorne Deanery Synods are delighted to host a joint open meeting to hear from A Rocha. The Christian charity works for the protection and restoration of the natural world as a response to the biblical mandate to care for the earth, and to demonstration the Christian hope for God’s world.

A Rocha’s new CEO Andy Atkins will be speaking about their work: practical involvement in conservation through projects and research; campaigning on biodiversity & also engaging with churches, schools, communities and individuals.

Helen Stephens (until recently Hounslow Deanery Secretary) will also be speaking. She is A Rocha’s new Church Relations Manager and works with local churches particularly as they work towards the Eco Church awards.

The evening will feature time for questions, discussion and the sharing of resources and good practice. We will finish by 9pm.

This Synod meeting is open to all interested church members, not simply Synod Representatives.

Please note that parking is limited around the church. Do aim to come by public transport (St Margarets Station & the H37 bus) or leave extra time to park.

Find out more about A Rocha at arocha.org.uk and download a pdf to pass on to others.