Weekly News 27th April 2014/ APCM Day

APCM DAY! AGMs might not have a reputation for being the hottest ticket in town.

However, we hope that conducting some of the necessary business associated with running the church doesn’t obscure the fact that we are taking stock of the ways God has been at work, and thinking about how we can grow in faithfulness to His call on us.

If you are unfamiliar with what happens, there will be some voting, a few appointments, consideration of our financial statements, a review of the year gone by, lots of thank yous, some thoughts about what lies ahead, space for people to ask questions and most importantly time to pray and worship.

If you’re here this morning as a newcomer and it’s not quite what you anticipated, we trust you’ll bear with us. There’s no guarantee that if you had come on a ‘normal’ Sunday it would have been quite what you were expecting(!), but today should give you a broad feel for what goes on in the life of St John’s.

Click here to download  Weekly News 27th April 2014

Weekly News 20th April 2014/ Happy Easter

HAPPY EASTER …and a big welcome to St John’s as we celebrate the joy of Easter Sunday – the day of hope. There is a great resurrection quote that goes:

‘The tomb of Christ is famous for what it does not contain.’

St Paul doesn’t pull his punches when he talks about the central importance of the resurrection to the Christian faith:

‘And face it –if there is no resurrection for Christ, everything we have told you is smoke and mirrors, and everything you have staked your life on is smoke and mirrors.’ (The Message)

We often paint on too small a canvas when we try and capture the significance of Easter Sunday. Thankfully, it takes a whole lot more than the front of the News Sheet to capture all that God was doing. By the same token, one service together on a Sunday morning will only scratch the surface.

But we hope you get a taste this morning. We hope that whatever state you arrive in, you catch something of the joy, the promise, and the power of resurrection. And we hope it whets your appetite for more.

Click here to download Weekly News 20th April 2014

Weekly News 13th April 2014/ Palm Sunday

PALM SUNDAY

            Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, when we concentrate on Jesus’ journey to the cross. It all starts with a mood of celebration and optimism, but the pendulum swings. The undercurrent of foreboding gains strength and takes us to a painful place.

We all know that the Easter weekend sees the pendulum swing back the other way – from the darkness of Good Friday to the joy of Easter Sunday. It’s worth following that arc through Holy Week. It helps us to frame the ups and downs of our own lives into the story in which we all sit – Jesus’ story. It is in that narrative we discover hope and our true fixed point.

This week, our loose collection during the service will be for Bishop Christopher’s Lent call. We will contribute to a number of projects that are looking to help people experience the pendulum swing from darkness to light. The focus of the projects this year include:

Our neighbours in the Diocese – Create, Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers, The Joel Community and St Mildred’s Addiscombe Drop In.

Our neighbours in our Link Dioceses in Zimbabwe.

Our neighbours in the wider world, featuring Five Talents, Christian Solidarity Worldwide and the Institute for the Healing of Memories.

Normal cash donations to St John’s may be left in the plate by the door after the service.

Click here to download Weekly News 13th April 2014

Weekly News 6th April 2014/ Easter Programme

EASTER PROGRAMME

 Here are details of all the services taking place over the coming weeks to help you mark our most important festival of the year:

 Palm Sunday  13^th April

8am & 10am Distribution of palms & collection for Bishop’s Lent Call

Maundy Thursday 17^th April

8pm Joint service of Holy Communion at Coney Hill Baptist Church

Good Friday   18^th April

10am March of Witness from St Mark’s Church to Swan car park

11am United Service at St Francis’ church

2.30pm Reflections on the Cross service at St John’s

Easter Sunday   20^th April

8am & 10am Holy Communion

6.30pm ‘Breakout’ service of Prayer & Praise

Click here to download Weekly News 6th April 2014

Weekly News 30th March 2014/ Greetings & Thanks from Krupa

GREETINGS & THANKS FROM KRUPA

Krupa has recently sent through thanks from Mumbai for our support and passes on some encouraging news.

On 15 March 2014, 26 women completed their Sewing Class and received the Certificate and Money from Mitcon Project of Maharashtra State Government. All the women who came for training were able to learn to stitch cloths of India traditional dress, baby cloths, etc.  They can now sew at home to earn money for a living to take care of their home needs and children’s education. Many of the women share their testimonies and through this training they receive prayer and support.

Krupa asks that we continue to pray for some of other projects too, including: The Day Care Centre for all the Slum Children, Tuition Classes for all School-going children, Childrens Clubs, HIV/Aids Awareness and Testing Programs, Widows and Orphaned Children’s Support.  The team need prayer and more leaders are needed for small house fellowships and bible study groups.

‘Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.’

Proverbs 19:17

Click here to download Weekly News 30th March 2014

Weekly News 23rd March 2014/ Church Leadership

CHURCH LEADERSHIP

Over the next few months at St John’s, there will be a number of moves to develop our internal structures and see a wider range of people take on leadership roles within the church. More of that to come, when we get together in the Assembly Rooms in May for ‘Mobilising for Mission’.

Before then, we have our APCM, which includes elections to our PCC – the church’s governing body. Every year, a third of the PCC (4 vacancies) stands down to ensure that we keep our leadership fresh. If you have a heart for helping steer the vision of St John’s, then speak to Jon and he can share a little more as to what is involved. This year, we also have two Deanery Synod positions available, which gives people the opportunity to be ex officio members of the PCC. There is a leaflet in church explaining in some detail the role and qualities required for a Deanery Synod Lay Representative.

Please also note that this weekend is the closing date for adding your name to the electoral roll. You need to be on the roll if you want to stand for election to the PCC and vote at the APCM. See inside for further details.

Click here to download Weekly News 23rd March 2014

Weekly News 16th March 2014/ Dates for the Diary

DATES FOR THE DIARY

After Lent and Easter, we will press on with some of the on-going development of the church’s vision. In this regard, a couple of dates worth noting in your diary are:

•  Our  annual general meeting (APCM) on Sunday 27 April, 10am.

This is when we refresh our leadership team, reflect on the year gone, and engage in a bit of a stock take on our current position;

•  On  Sunday 18 May, 10am we will meet in the Assembly Rooms.

On this date, we will focus on a new series called ‘Mobilising for Mission’.

The plan is to spotlight some of the work that is already going on around the parish, but significantly, roll out 2 important ventures: i) the process for developing different teams for our life and mission as a church; and ii) present the proposals for the redevelopment of the look and use of the Beacon Centre.

Click here to download Weekly News 16th March 2014

Weekly News 9th March 2014/ Belonging at St John's

BELONGING AT

ST. JOHN'S

It’s that time of year again when we ensure that our Electoral Roll is up to date. If you’ve joined us more recently and consider St John’s to be your spiritual ‘home’, then we’d love you to put your name on the Roll. It’s a list of our regular worshippers, and whilst you don’t have to include your name to be a part of St John’s, it does help us keep a track of our membership.

Being on the roll also gives you more of a formal say in what happens in the church. In particular, it enables you to vote in elections at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting on 27 April, and stand as a candidate for our leadership body, the PCC.

If you wish to add your name to the Electoral Roll, you must be baptized, at least 16 years of age (or sixteen on your next birthday), and live in the parish, or have worshipped at St. John's for at least six months. Please speak to Jon if you have any doubts about whether you are eligible.

Application forms are on the table by the entrance to the Side chapel and on the little table, where the Welcomers stand, as you leave church. Please return it either by putting it in the box in the porch or by giving it to Geoff Batten or Paul Kingman by Sunday, 23^rd March.

Click here to download Weekly News 9th March 2014

Weekly News 23rd February 2014/ 'When I Needed a Neighbour'

‘WHEN I NEEDED A NEIGHBOUR’

Is the theme for the Bishop of Southwark’s Lent Call this year.

You can find further details of the projects, which are the focus for 2014, on the Southwark Diocese website. We take a collection over Easter for these projects, but Bishop Christopher would also love for them to be the subject of prayer. They are as follows:

Week 1: Our neighbours in the Diocese – Create, Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers, The Joel Community and St Mildred’s Addiscombe Drop In.

Week 2 & 3: Our neighbours in our Link Dioceses in Zimbabwe.

Week 4 & 5: Our neighbours in the wider world, featuring Five Talents, Christian Solidarity Worldwide and the Institute for the Healing of Memories.

Click here to download Weekly News 23rd February 2014

Weekly News 16th February 2014/ The Power of Prayer

THE POWER OF PRAYER

‘One of the best ways to get on your feet is to first get on your knees.’

There is a rich seam of quotes to mine when it comes to the topic of prayer. Not least of all because Christians, down the ages, have recognized its significance in the life of anyone who wants to walk closely with God. We don’t want to be people who treat God like a lawyer, only going to Him when we are in trouble.

Following on from our ‘All In’ series, we are going to explore together the subject of prayer over the coming weeks. I hope that it will give us big imaginations  as to how and when we can pray, and the impact that prayer can have on us individually, and as a community. As someone else said,

‘Prayer will put backbone where your wishbone is.’

 Click here to download Weekly News 16th February 2014

Weekly News 9th February 2014/ Sacred Space

SACRED SPACE

 On Saturday 22 March, we are privileged to have singer songwriter, John Nuttall, join us to lead another retreat day.

John has composed many songs, and his albums ship out to over 35 different countries. He uses his acoustic, devotional music to convey the nature of God and the love He has for His children. The day will explore our identity in God and how that affects the way we become more Christ-like. It will be an unashamed opportunity ‘to receive’ from God through music, scripture, story, poetry and meditation, and there will be plenty of space to reflect and enjoy the surroundings of Holmshaw Farm.

Time:   10am – 4pm, Saturday 22 March (Lunch Provided)

Venue: Holmshaw Farm, Off Layhams Road

Cost:    Free - although we will invite people to give towards a collection for John as a Thank You.

If you would like to come, please sign up on the sheet in church, or let the Parish Office know.

Click here to download Weekly News 9th February 2014

Weekly News 2nd February 2014/ What If...

WHAT IF…

Last week, Christine Blackburn, our Treasurer, gave us a snapshot of our current financial position and outlined the budget for 2014.

As with any church, we are dependent on the financial contributions of our members to run all that we think God is calling us to. At St John’s, we do not want your generosity to be motivated by shortfalls in a budget, but rather by the impulse to respond to God’s goodness and grace to us. Equally, we don’t want to shirk the reality of our financial position and what that means for us in terms of mission.

Based on current levels of giving, we anticipate there will be a notable shortfall in our budget. Christine helpfully presented a ‘what if’ scenario that went like this – if the people who make up our 83 ‘giving units’ were to give £1.50 extra per day, then with the help of gift aid, we could be facing a surplus to the tune of £40k. This would open up a whole world of opportunities, the possibility of employing a Children & Families Worker being just one of them.

Don’t let guilt drive you, but be excited at the ‘what if’ and the ways in which God might bless our response to Him.

Click here to download Weekly News 2nd February 2014

Weekly News 19th January 2014/ Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

From 18 – 24 January, the different churches across West Wickham will take turns in hosting evenings of prayer. The theme for 2014 is ‘Is Christ Divided?’

We join together as different denominations to pray and sound our ‘No’ to that rhetorical question. We are hosting on Monday at 8pm, but the full programme is as follows:

Sat 18Jan, 10 am – Emmanuel Church

Sun 19 Jan, 6:30pm – West Wickham & Shirley Baptist

Mon 20 Jan, 8pm – St John’s

Tue 21 Jan, 8pm – Coney Hill Baptist

Wed 22 Jan, 8pm – St Francis

Thur 23 Jan, 8pm – West Wickham Methodist

Fri 24 Jan, 8pm – St Mark’s RC

We hope you can make it to some, as we support and encourage each other.

Click here to download Weekly News 19th January 2014

Weekly News 12th January 2014/ 'All In'

‘ALL IN’

This morning we begin a mini sermon series entitled ‘All In’.

Today will be an introduction to something that I hope becomes a hallmark of how we approach 2014 - that we jump in with both feet when it comes to living life for and with God.

What that looks like will vary from individual to individual, but the intention to run towards full-on commitment is something that grows in strength by joining together and cheering each other on. It’s not about a collective guilt-trip that we’re not doing enough. Rather, about sharing a common desire to allow God to help himself to us and see what He will do through us.

After all, we are but works in progress. As John Newton said, ‘I’m not what I ought to be, I’m not what I’d like to be, I’m not what I hope to be, but I’m not what I was, and by the grace of God I am what I am.’

Let’s be confident that if we give ourselves to Him, ‘He who began a good work will carry it on to completion’ – All In.

Click here to download Weekly News 12th Janaury 2014

Weekly News 5th January 2014/ Happy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I hope 2014 has started well for you all.

I am aware that many of you will not be too sad to bid farewell to 2013. It appeared to contain more than its fair share of bereavements and health challenges for many of our church family. Before the rhythm of the New Year gathers pace, I trust there will be time to reflect on how God has held you during those testing times.

Whatever 2013 may have held, it is a healthy spiritual discipline to do some stock taking and think about your hopes for the coming year and your life with God.

With that in mind, during January we’ll be looking at a theme that I hope will be our motto for the year – ‘All In’. It’s about full on commitment to Jesus with every bit of who we are; no half measures!

Click here to download Weekly News 5 Janaury 2014

Weekly News 22nd & 29th December 2013/ Happy Christmas

HAPPY

CHRISTMAS

This edition of our News Sheet covers two weeks. Therefore, you maybe casting your eye over this itching with anticipation for 25 December (possibly staggering to the ‘finish line’), or you may be looking back on all the Christmas celebrations wondering where 2013 has gone.

I hope that whatever your vantage point, there is time to pause and give sincere thanks to God and know the reality of ‘Emmanuel’ – God with us.

Please accept a big thank you for all the hard work that you put in throughout the year to contribute to the life of our church. I hope there is space for some rest and we can approach 2014 with anticipation.

May Christ’s Spirit bring you peace and joy this season. God Bless.

Click here to download  Weekly News 22nd 29th December 2013

Weekly News 15th December 2013/ Christmas Programme

CHRISTMAS PROGRAMME

So you’ve got them all in one place, here is a run-down of the services and preparations taking place over the Christmas period:

TODAY, 15DEC:          CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT, 7:00PM (FINAL REHEARSAL, 3:00PM)

Orchestra, choir, mulled wine and mince pies – what more could you want?

MONDAY, 23 DEC:     CHRISTINGLE MAKING, 2:00PM @ CHURCH  Come and join the sweet-laden production line, as we make the Christingles in preparation for our ever-popular service. All welcome.

CHRISTMAS EVE:        CHRISTINGLE SERVICES, 3:00 & 5:00PM                                           MIDNIGHT COMMUNION, 11:15PM

CHRISTMAS DAY:       COMMUNION SERVICE, 8:00AM

                                             FAMILY WORSHIP, 10:00AM

Click here to download   Weekly News 15th December 2013

Weekly News 8th December 2013/ A Big Alpha Thank You

A BIG ALPHA

THANK YOU

 The Alpha course concluded on Monday evening last week. It finished by looking at the whole idea of belonging to God’s church; a body made up of all the people contributing to its life in different ways.

 Alpha has itself been a great example of the church in action. Many people have contributed to its running by preparing and cooking meals, delivering them each week, leading groups, or giving talks. It has been serious business in a relaxed and fun environment, and the food has been a great start to each evening. It has gone down very well!

 It’s also a great encouragement that at least six of the group intend to continue meeting with Maureen and Nick for “After Alpha” evenings in the New Year.

 So, a very big thank you to all who have helped the course run so well.

Click here to download  Weekly News 8th December 2013

Weekly News 1st December 2013/ 'Waiting' & 'Preparing'

‘WAITING’ AND ‘PREPARING’

I wonder which of those activities you prefer, waiting or preparing?

Culturally, there is a case to say we are more proficient at making preparations. This year I stumbled into a shop putting out the Christmas decorations before I had barely shaken the South Coast sand out of my summer trunks… it was the first week of September.

Waiting was clearly not high on their agenda. It’s also easy to confuse jumping the gun with being well prepared. The bible tells us that for everything there is a season; and to hasten ‘the time’ can lead to frenetic, out of joint lives.

Today is the start of advent. It’s not the klaxon sounding to charge around madly getting ready for Christmas. It’s an invitation to wait and dwell on exactly what it is we are getting ready for. 

Find ways to press pause this Advent. You might just discover that it’s the best form of preparation for the season.

Click here to download Weekly News 1st December 2013

Weekly News 24th November 2013/ All You Need is Love...

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE…

 The apostle Paul said something like this long before McCartney and Lennon!

Last week, as we surveyed 1 Corinthians 12, we discovered that we are called to belong to the one body of the church...worldwide and here at St John’s. Each and every one of us has a vital part to play with the gifts we have been given; no-one more important than another.

But...Paul goes on to say today, in chapter 13, that the most important characteristic for Christians is love. Notwithstanding all the exciting and varied gifts Paul speaks about, he is clear that the most excellent way is love, and if we don’t have that, the gifts count for nothing.

So, as we continue to explore the use of our gifts over the next weeks and months, what it means to ‘love one another’ will be at the forefront of our thinking. We start to explore that today.

Download  Weekly News 24th November 2013