VES Team End of Week Update | Short Weeks & “Now and Not Yet”
Dear wonderful VES team,
Hope you are well — and thank you again for another really strong week together at VES.
NEXT TWO WEEKS = “Short” Weeks — Please Read Carefully
A clear reminder for the next two weeks:
NO classes on:
● Monday 27/04
● Tuesday 28/04
● Monday 04/05
● Tuesday 05/05
Classes running as normal:
● Wednesdays & Thursdays (both weeks)
These are due to Vineyard Leaders’ Gathering, Bank Holiday, and VES Team Training. If you are normally a Monday or Tuesday team member and would like to swap for one or two of the weeks - you'd be so welcome - just hit reply and let me know.
VES Team Training Morning — Tuesday 5th May
All team are warmly invited.These mornings are a really key moment for us to invest into you as a team - your confidence, clarity, and sense of being part of what we’re building together.
We’d really love to have as many of you there as possible - if you’re coming, please sign up here: https://croydonvineyard.churchsuite.com/events/5gjwxfsm
Spotlight this week: The “Now and Not Yet”
“How is this sustainable?”
Friends and acquaintances in the third sector, particularly in asylum services, often speak about a sense of overwhelm or burnout. The problems can feel too big, the need too vast, and the stories too painful.
Different people and organisations respond in different ways. In those conversations, I’m often very aware how grateful I am that VES is grounded in a particular theology - one that has helped me personally time and again.
At Croydon Vineyard, we often talk about living in the tension of the “Now and the Not Yet” of the Kingdom.
Jesus’ opening message was: “The Kingdom of God is at hand” - close, present, breaking in. We see that in moments of healing, transformation, and hope.
And yet - that Kingdom is not fully here. Jesus himself faced opposition, suffering, and deep heartbreak. His death and resurrection secured a decisive victory - but as we wait for his return, we continue to live in a world where both are true:
Breakthrough and battle
Healing and heartbreak
Miracles and mystery
This week at VES, as it often does, has felt like a very clear example of that tension.
The “Now” — Signs of Life
There is a lot to celebrate:
● 403 Weekly Participation Number — our highest ever, and first time over 400
● Academic year average now over 300 WPN — also a first
● 279 student sessions received this week — highest ever
● 20 children in the Monday creche — our highest yet (amazing work from the kids team )
Alongside that:
● We were featured on Centrale Shopping Centre’s social media (great visibility for the work) - https://www.instagram.com/p/DXbloMxoLih/
● We hosted health check sessions after class on Wednesday - strong engagement and tangible support for students
● Most heartwarming - we had several “old” students pop back in to say thank you - and to share that their next steps are going well
There is real momentum building - and, as referenced in the Centrale promo, YOU are a huge part of powering that.
Many students benefitting from free community health checks after class on Wednesday
The “Not Yet” — Areas of Weight
At the same time:
● A number of our team are carrying significant health challenges or bereavements
● We’ve had a couple of (even by our standards) heavy and complex student situations this week
These moments remind us of the reality of the context we are working in - and the importance of continuing to be a community marked by compassion, wisdom, patience and prayer.
Holding Both Together
Part of maturity, both spiritually and as a team, is learning to hold these two realities together without losing heart:
To celebrate what God is doing…
while staying present to what is still hard and unresolved.
That feels very much like where we are right now.
You may not have thought of theology as something that helps in serving others - but for VES, it has been essential. We couldn’t have continued or coped without it.
If you’ve never explored the person of Jesus, a great place to start is one of the short eyewitness accounts of his life at the beginning of the New Testament - Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. We have copies available in multiple languages - and they are for us as well as the students!
VES Dashboard — Week at a Glance
● 19 classes delivered across 4 days (plus 3 creche sessions and 1 youth drop-in)
● 279 student sessions enabled (most ever)
● 60 team sessions given
● Weekly participation number: 403 (most ever)
● +87% increase on this time last year
Behind each of those numbers is a person being welcomed, taught, and encouraged - thank you for making that possible.
It really is a privilege to build this together.
For those of you who are one of those carrying something heavy at the moment - whether health, bereavement, or personal circumstances - please know you are seen, valued, and not alone in this team. We are praying for you, and we stand with you. Please don't be shy about asking for prayer, or support - we don't always have the answers, but we are for you!
Looking forward to seeing you next week (but NOT Monday or Tuesday - unless you're in Nottingham!)
Much love,
Andy Brims
https://www.vineyardenglishschool.org.uk/team-updates
ps — last chance to fill out our VES Team feedback form — the responses already received have been so, so helpful:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdv0KcLZ2DvTmE3t0JCg9VK1Sug1MtlAdwvpWS5XthNi23eFQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=114063639280629095028