Holy Innocents is a member of Churches Together in Orpington, the local branch of a national organisation to promote Christian unity. It initiates ecumenical services and activities which demonstrate the existence of a Christian family in Orpington. All church clergy are members, plus one or two lay members from each of the 20 churches involved. Throughout the year Churches Together in Orpington come together to worship and pray and Lenten House Groups are part of our annual programme.
Specific Sundays are regularly set aside for Christian ministers to preach in other churches of different denominations. The Rev Ray Bell preached at Holy Innocents on 19 January 2003. That Sunday marked the beginning of Church Unity week and the usual pulpit exchange. This year Holy Innocents welcomed the Rev Ray Bell of Orpington Baptist Church in Station Road, who preached at the 10am Mass.
He
reminded us in his sermon that we all worship the same Jesus and challenged
us to make 'a slightly belated New Year's resolution' to read a little from
one of the four Gospels daily. He pointed out how Jesus, in the Gospel reading
of the day (John 1: 35-42), responded with an invitation to the question asked
by two of John the Baptist's disciples: 'Come and see'. There is no better
way of satisfying your curiosity than seeing for yourself.
He also led the bidding prayers, amongst other items praying for those Iraqi Christians under threat for supporting what is seen as a 'Western religion'.
| All Saints, Orpington | Church of Unity, Ramsden |
| Baptist Church, Crofton | |
| Christ Church, Charterhouse Road | Baptist Church, Green Street Green |
| St Andrew's | Baptist Church, Station Road |
| St Giles', Farnborough | Methodist Church, Chelsfield |
| St Martin of Tours, Chelsfield | Methodist Church, Farnborough |
| St Mary's, Green Street Green | Methodist Church, Orpington |
| St Giles the Abbot and St Nicholas' Church, Farnborough | St John's United Reformed Church, Orpington |
| St Paul's, Crofton | URC, Pratts Bottom |
| Holy Innocents, Orpington | St Michael & All Angels Roman Catholic Church, Farnborough |
Contacts: Jean Treloar and Stephen Walsh (at Parish Office) 817537
churchestogether@holyinnocents.org.uk