With you. Whoever you are, whatever your story.

‘Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’ Luke 1.78-79 #advent #chelsea #hope ...

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly…he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psalm 1)

#chelsea #winter #holiness ...

In our final autumn talk next Wednesday (27 November, beginning at 7.30pm in The Vestry), Fr Dan concludes our autumn series connecting ancient wisdom to contemporary faith by exploring the relationship between contemplation, beauty and mission. The talk is accompanied by a simple meal and wine. To sign up, write to parishoffice@chelseaparish.org

Image: Fra Angelico, The Dominican Blessed (San Domenico Altarpiece, National Gallery (c.1423-24))

#faith #mission #contemplation ...

Prayers for our candidates for baptism and confirmation today @stpaulscathedrallondon! ...

Last night we welcomed many people to St Luke’s who had lost loved ones in recent years for a moving service of remembrance, organised by the fabulous team at Chelsea Funeral Directors and led by Fr Brian and with Fr John Pearson-Hicks from St Barnabas Pimlico preaching.

Here is a poem by Suzette Jacobs, recently submitted for our 200th anniversary Writing Project, that explores loss and healing.


One step, two steps, three,
every day Chelsea envelops me.
Moving here from Cape Town,
how I miss Table Mountain.

A healing adventure awaits me,
such abundancy for me to see.
Every perfect rose, every ancient tree.
How blessed am I to be me.

Hugged by a soulmate for so many years,
slowly I am conquering the tears.
Hasie he called me every day.
What more about love can I possibly say?

God is blessing me,
for at St. Luke’s I can feel,
the grace of God helping me to heal,
Christ fulfilling me.

When from this life I will depart,
it will be with gratitude in my heart.
My dearest Danie will be awaiting me,
And in his arms, I will forever be.

#grief #remembering #chelsea #funeralservice #hope ...

A prayer from Thomas Merton’s ‘Thoughts in Solitude’:

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. ...

A poem about St Luke’s, recently ascribed to Mabel Price-Jones having been published in the book ‘Chelsea Charm’ using her nom-de-plume Peter Garrell. An interior designer, she lived at 5 Cheyne Row with her husband Edgar and daughter Mabel. She and her daughter were killed by enemy action on 14 September 1940. #stlukes200 #chelsea #londonpoets ...