Events at St Stephen Walbrook

Most of the City of London churches are very dynamic, offering lots of free events. The London Internet Church's mother church, St Stephen Walbrook, is no exception.
Every Thursday, St Stephen Walbrook holds a Holy Communion lunchtime service, from 1-2pm, with finger food and tea/coffee served afterwards.
Every Friday, there is a lunchtime organ recital.
But this is not all. There are also special events at various times throughout the year.
Last year, from the autumn through to the spring on Tuesday lunchtimes, there was a series of Handel concerts; beautfiul music played by excellent musicians.
A regular feature on the calendar is the Walbrook Art Group, which meets weekly at lunchtimes during Lent and Advent. Peter Delaney gives presentations on topics that link Faith and Art and he also takes us on an evening tour of an art gallery. This year, the Lent meetings were delayed by building work so the “late Lent” series of art lectures started in May and finished in July with a review of paintings we had seen in our latest National Gallery tour. The next Advent series will begin in mid-November.
Another special event was a service to mark Jesus’ Transfiguration, on the evening of Thursday 6 August. The service was lovely, with wonderful music as usual from the choir and a rousing sermon from Peter Delaney, who also introduced the new Development Officer for the London Internet Church, Revd Canon James Rosenthal. Heavy rain ensured that the post-service reception was held in the church not in the garden though some hardy souls did brave the downpour for a few moments. The less brave amongst us stayed indoors to inspect the new garden’s plans, posted on the north wall of the church.
But it isn't just the events that are special. More importantly, it's the people.
Peter Delaney's unfailing enthusiasm and energy are awe-inspiring. The choir, composed of only four people, always sounds as if there are at least 100 singers. Volunteers - lay readers, welcomers, churchwardens, computer buffs - give up time from busy work or retirement schedules to give service to the church. I must give a special mention here to Juanita, the verger. At all the events there, she is quietly giving service: putting chairs in place, setting out the buffet lunches, dishing out hot drinks and tidying up after everyone else.
All these people remind me of Jesus' teaching about the person who humbly sits at the bottom of the table, "The last shall be first" and also of how He washed His students' feet, to show that a Christian's true role is to be of service to others. They exemplify that lesson and this, surely, is what makes a church a community.