CWM service of thanksgiving open to all

The Council of World Mission (CWM), due to move its offices to Singapore later this year, is holding a service of thanksgiving in London later this month. The service will celebrate CWM’s journey and achievements during its 35 years in London – and mark its move to Singapore.   It will be a time to thank God for all that CWM has accomplished to date, as well as a time to commit the organisation’s future to God.

The service has been put together by a small group including Wayne Hawkins, from CWM Europe, Graham Adams – who has written a new hymn especially for this occasion – from the Congregational Federation, Nneoma Chima and Philip Woods of CWM and Jane Rowell, from the URC. The Revd Dr Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, will be preaching.

The service will be attended by the moderator and other representatives of the CWM trustee body, CWM staff, general secretaries - and their representatives of the member churches – former missionaries and staff, representatives of the Presbyterian Church in Singapore, and of local congregations in Europe.  The Revd Richard Mortimer, deputy general secretary of the United Reformed Church, will represent the URC.

The Revd Jane Rowell, the URC’s secretary for world church relations, said: “It's an absolute delight and a joy to mark this stage in CWM's journey, and to share with them as they look forward to the next steps on our journey of partnership in mission.”

The Revd Dr Collin Cowan, CWM’s general secretary, added: “When CWM was established in 1977 it was agreed to base the organisation in London ‘for the time being’; and it is in that same spirit of openness to God’s leading that CWM now moves its secretariat to Singapore.  The process of registering the organisation in Singapore is complete; offices have been secured; staff from London will be relocating shortly; and local staff are being recruited.  As you will appreciate, this is a significant time in the life and witness of CWM, a time to give God praise and honour; and we welcome your prayers for us at this time.”

The service will take place at 1pm on Saturday 26 May, at City Temple, London, EC1A 2DE. All are welcome and the service is suitable for children and young people; a room for parents / carers of babies and very young children will be available. Refreshments will be available both before and after the service; doors will be open at 12.30 and the service is expected to finish no later than 2.30pm.