You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, (Joh 5:39)

. . . the whole point of Christianity is that it offers a story which is the story of the whole world. It is public truth. (Bishop Tom Wright)

Dear All,

“It's bedtime story time!” How many parents and children have enjoyed these precious moments together, perhaps without fully realising how deeply such stories are shaping their imagination, values and understanding of life? 

This world we live in is full of stories. Whether we realise it or not, we are being shaped and formed by the films and TV programmes we watch, the music, podcasts and radio stations we listen to, the books and magazines we read, the social media feeds we skim, and even our trips to the shopping centre. To the extent that we choose to listen uncritically to them and live within them. 

the stories of our culture are changing us. All these things that we consume and enjoy for entertainment are telling us a story about ourselves, about our world, about our future, and, yes, about God. Gradually, they become the lenses through which we see and interpret the world. Yet the challenge is that we often fail to notice these lenses precisely because we have become so accustomed to looking through them.

Christianity, like other religions and philosophies, has a big story (Metanarrative). As Christians, we believe that we have a true and trustworthy story in which to place our trust, a story not simply to believe but to inhabit and allow to shape our lives. The Holy Bible tells the grand story of God's relationship with humanity and creation, helping us understand who God is, who we are, why the world is as it is, and where history is heading. It is a comprehensive story within which every aspect of our lives finds its place and meaning. It doesn't matter what you do. If you're a welder, a businesswoman, a doctor or a teacher, you can find your place in this story. 

We trust this story, with all its details, values and aspirations, as the story by which we seek to understand and evaluate all the other stories our culture tells us. The more we learn it, receive it and live it out, the more we become ready to recognise the signs of new creation in our own lives and in the life of our community, as we await the fullness of God's kingdom at Christ's return. Since we know its promised end, we live towards it. We draw courage from it. We take heart in it.

This is why we are celebrating Bible Sunday on 25 October. We are not simply celebrating an ancient and sacred book, nor merely encouraging one another to read it more often. We are celebrating the God who continues to speak through Scripture and invites us to become part of his unfolding story. Yet, as Jesus reminds us in John 5:39, the Scriptures are not an end in themselves: they point us to him. The heart of the biblical story is Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, in whom God's promises find their Yes and Amen (2 Corinthians 1:20). To read the Bible faithfully, therefore, is not merely to know its stories but to be with God, to allow his story to challenge our own, and to discover what it means to follow him in the world today.

However, we have to acknowledge that living out this countercultural story is a challenging task, as we are surrounded by other ancient and contemporary stories that sometimes conflict with the biblical vision of life. We, as the Church, are often accused of being old-fashioned and past our expiry date. But in truth, our hope is not rooted only on holding the past, but also in the future God has promised. In that sense, our time has yet to come, and everyday God's story is still unfolding towards its great and exciting fulfilment.

As we stand in hope, trusting that God is at work in history, even when its course seems to bend towards injustice, violence and despair, we remember that the final word belongs not to evil and darkness, but to the risen Christ. His promised future is one of justice, peace, goodness and love. Let us take heart and allow God's story to form us, transform our lives, and write its coming chapters through us, for the sake of the whole world.

This Bible Sunday, perhaps the question is not simply,
“How often do I read the Bible?”
but “How deeply is the Bible shaping the way I see, love and live?”

Your brother and servant,

 Adel Shokralla
Vicar, St James Church - Alperton.

Throughout October, I would like to invite us to journey together through 31 short daily reflections for Black History Month.

These reflections are inspired by the work of Christian theologians Harvey Kwiyani and Willie James Jennings, exploring themes such as history, race, culture, mission, justice, reconciliation and, above all, belonging.

Each day offers just one thought—not necessarily something we will immediately agree with, but something to pause over, question, discuss and pray about. Together, they invite us to remember honestly, listen carefully, challenge some of our assumptions, and consider what it means to become a community in which we truly belong to one another in Christ. 

I encourage you to read one reflection each day throughout October and allow it to begin a conversation—with God, with yourself, and perhaps with someone else.

May this month help us not only to celebrate Black history,
but also to grow together as the diverse and reconciled people God calls us to be.

The Bible is more than an ancient book; it is a living story of God's love, faithfulness and relationship with humanity. 

On Bible Sunday, we celebrate the gift of Scripture and reflect on how God's Word continues to speak into our everyday lives, offering wisdom, encouragement, challenge and hope. 

Join us
as we rediscover the joy of listening to God
and allowing his Word to shape the way we live.

On All Saints' Sunday, we give thanks for the countless people, known and unknown, whose lives have reflected God's love and faithfulness. We remember that sainthood is not simply about extraordinary people of the past, but about ordinary people responding to God's extraordinary grace. 

This year, our celebration will also include Baptism, as we joyfully welcome a new member into the family of Christ. Together, we celebrate belonging, faith and the promise of new life in Jesus.

On Remembrance Sunday, we gather to remember those who gave their lives in war and conflict, and to honour all who have struggled for peace. As we pause in remembrance, we also reflect on the continuing cost of war in our world today. 

Our worship will include prayers for peace, reconciliation and justice, remembering that Jesus calls us not only to remember the past but also to become peacemakers in the present.

Advent marks the beginning of a new Church year and invites us into a season of waiting, watching and preparing. 

In a world that often rushes towards Christmas, Advent encourages us to slow down and make room for God. 

We remember the longing of God's people for the coming of the Messiah, celebrate Christ's coming among us, and look forward in hope to his coming again.

Join us as we light the first Advent candle and begin this journey of hope together.

From September, we will begin a new Sunday sermon series:
The Kingdom Call: The King and His People.

The Kingdom Call is the call to follow the King and to become a people shaped by his character and engaged in his mission.

In this series, Matthew’s Gospel shows us what following the King looks like in practice: reconciling broken relationships, forgiving as we have been forgiven, believing and bearing witness, responding to his invitation, giving him our undivided allegiance, and serving faithfully with all he has entrusted to us.

From September to November (Christ the King Sunday), we are beginning a 12-week journey through Matthew’s Gospel under the theme
The Kingdom Call: The King and His People.

Alongside our Sunday sermon series, this daily reading plan invites us to walk through Matthew together as a church—listening to Jesus, discovering more deeply what his Kingdom is like, and learning what it means to be His people.
Each day offers a short passage, reflection, question and prayer to help us not simply read the Gospel, but allow the words and ways of Jesus to shape our everyday lives.

This is more than an individual reading plan.
It is a shared journey of discipleship. As we read the same Gospel, pray through the same themes and gather each Sunday around the same King,
our hope is that we will grow together into a people shaped by his character
and engaged in his mission.

Whether you read in the morning, at the end of the day, or with someone else, make space to meet Christ in His Word.

One King. One people. One journey together.

Download the booklet 

If you're someone who wants to help but isn't sure how.
Why not consider speak to us

Your volunteering would be greatly appreciated, and we’re confident it will make a meaningful difference in the life of our parish and beyond.

Please contact Revd Adel 

Please contact SANDRIA: hall@stjameschurchalperton.co.uk

Mark the storyteller: discipleship, challenge and revelation in the Gospel of Mark
03 November 2026 - 6:30 PM
St Paul’s Cathedral, St Paul’s Churchyard, London, EC4M 8AD

The Gospel of Mark the earliest of all the Gospels. From its opening bold statement declaring the beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ to its oddly abrupt ending of the women at the tomb running away terrified, Mark’s Gospel grasps our attention and draws us in. By exploring Mark’s different narrative techniques and looking again at the story as a whole, this talk will guide today’s readers through Mark’s powerful story.

Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral and a leading Biblical scholar and teacher. She is the author of many books including the newly published The Gospel of Mark.

Information and registration

Black History Month Pilgrimage
Friday 23 October 10am - 3pm

Join the Diocese of London for a Black History Month pilgrimage walk exploring seven historic sites across East London. Led by Bishop Anderson Jeremiah, Bishop Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy and historian Robin Whitburn, the walk will uncover stories of Black history, faith and community, with opportunities for reflection and prayer along the way.

Information and registration

Loving our own minds: Neurodiversity, faith, church and God

Annual disability and theology conference
Saturday 24 - Sunday 25 October,
St Martin-in-the-fields and ONLINE

Our 15th annual conference on disability and theology explores neurodiversity and natural variations in how we think and experience the world, including autism, dyslexia and ADHD. Through talks, workshops, art, theology and worship, we’ll explore faith, church, God and learning to love our own minds and celebrate different ways of being.

Information and booking