Weekly News 4th October 2015/ Helping Out at Harvest

HELPING OUT AT HARVEST Harvest is rightly a time to celebrate and give thanks for all that God provides to us. Reflecting on the abundance we have, also prompts us to consider how in turn, we can be generous. Perhaps this year more than ever, we are mindful of many families who are displaced and face uncertain futures. We’ve been pointing you to avenues to explore in response to the ‘refugee crisis’, but today there are some specific things we’ll be doing:

• Taking a collection of non-perishable foods and/or clothing (Men’s clothes – small/medium & women’s clothes size 10-12) for the Croydon Refugee Day Centre; and
• Taking a money collection for the work of ‘Open Doors’ and ‘The Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East’ – 2 organisations that are helping Christians in the Middle East who have been driven out of their homes, under threat, because of their faith.

Click here to download    Weekly News 4th October 2015

Weekly News 27th September 2015/ SJ's

SJ’s No doubt word has got around, but in case you’ve been away, SJ’s won the vote as the new name to replace the Beacon Centre. It’s going to take a while before ‘The Beacon Centre’ doesn’t slip out your mouth, but we’re encouraging you to try and use SJ’s from now, so the adjustment begins early.

If you didn’t get a chance to see the plans, these will be put up in church for all to look at in their own time. Planning Permission for the front of SJ’s went in this week and we are knocking around designs for the signage.

As was mentioned last Sunday, we’ll shortly be producing a list of ‘fittings and furnishing’ to which people can contribute. It’s a part of helping pull us all into ‘ownership’ of the place. Beyond that we would value your prayers for: i) the on-going planning for the management of the place; but ii) most importantly that what is essentially just a building, would be used well by us to fulfill the vision of ‘serving the local community better and connecting people with Jesus’.

Click here to download   Weekly News 27th September 2015

Weekly News 20th September 2015/ New Look, New Name...

NEW LOOK, NEW NAME… If you’re getting this in advance, then don’t forget that we are meeting in the Assembly Rooms this Sunday. If you got this in your hand, then you’ve already made it.

Today we’ll be focusing on breathing fresh wind into our personal prayer lives, but also looking at some of the reinvigoration that has started with one of our resources – the Beacon Centre. The church leadership is aware that people will have different levels of knowledge about what is happening. We’re going to fill you in more comprehensively about the vision for the place, show you the design plans which have been developed around that vision and invite you to vote on a new name.

If you can’t make it, but would like to vote on the name, email Jon by Sunday lunch time. Thanks.

Click here to download   Weekly News 20th September 2015

Weekly News 13th September 2015/ Responding to Need

RESPONDING TO NEED The photos of a Turkish Gendarme cradling the limp body of Aylan Kurdi have stirred emotions worldwide. It’s an arresting image which will forever define a wealth of issues that are complex and painful – 5,000 camped at Calais, 2,000 drowned this year alone in the Mediterranean, 2 million camped along the borders of Turkey, over 50 million refugees worldwide.

Processing the details is hard enough but formulating a meaningful, personal response that will make a difference is equally challenging. In our ‘Secret Church’ and Harvest Services in the coming weeks we will take collections for organizations wrestling with the refugee crisis. However, there are resources to help us all consider what an authentic Christian response might look like. I encourage you to try some of these for starters:

• http://www.christiantoday.com/article/the.refugee.crisis.a.call.to.compassion/63952.htm
• A resources sheet on the Mission Table, produced by Leicester Diocese;
• The Croydon Refugee Day Center need food, clothing and money for newly arriving asylum seekers – see their website for more details.

Click here to download   Weekly News 13th September 2015

Click here to download the resources sheet  mentioned above   Resources for Christians thinking about migration

Weekly News 6th September 2015/ A Big Welcome to the Scott Family

A BIG WELCOME TO THE SCOTT FAMILY We extend a really warm welcome to the Scott clan and all their friends today. The new (and very cute) addition to the family, Anna, is being brought forward for baptism by Ian and Faye, with her brother and sister, Richard and Beth, cheering on from the sidelines.

We are aware that some of you have travelled a fair old way to be part of the celebrations. Thank you for making those journeys. We hope you feel at home and find yourselves able to take a full part in the service. Some of it may be familiar, other bits less so, but we trust you’ll pick up the spirit of the occasion and enjoy the moment.

God Bless one and all.

Click here to download    Weekly News 6th September 2015

Weekly News 30th August 2015/ New Curate at St John's

NEW CURATE AT ST JOHN’S Many of you will be aware that we were in the diocesan mix as a possible training parish.

Over the summer, Peter Churcher and his family came to visit on a number of occasions, and we are really pleased that he has indicated he would like to serve his curacy at St John’s. The formalities are yet to be finalised, but it is anticipated that he would start with us in September 2016.

Peter is married to Josie. They have 4 children – Sophie, Faith, Izzy, and Xander. They are currently based in Nottingham, where Peter is doing residential training at St John’s theological college. They have plenty of church experience between them, but much more significantly than that, they are people of real character and warmth, and it will be great to have them as part of the church family.

Please pray for them during this final year of training and for all the adjustments that will come later, as they contemplate the move.

Click here to download   Weekly News 30th August 2015

Weekly News 16th & 23rd August 2015

BAPTISM SEASON Who knows whether there has been a local baby boom recently, but it’s great to be welcoming a number of families to St John’s over the coming weeks, as they bring their children forward for baptism.

On the 16^th, we greet Lara, Graham, and their family and friends, as Fenella is entrusted to God’s care. And on the 23^rd, it’s Matthew, Natasha, and their entourage, as they support Joshua in his baptism. We hope you all feel welcome and at ease, and these occasions are a memorable celebration for you all.

The baptism ceremony itself may look similar each time, but every family’s journey to this point is slightly different. We trust and pray that from here, the way God continues to engage and invite a family into a deeper knowledge of Him will be unique to them. God Bless.

Click here to download   Weekly News 16th & 23rd August 2015

Weekly News 9th August 2015/ God with us in our Painful World

GOD WITH US IN OUR PAINFUL WORLD Sometimes something familiar somehow surprises us or touches us in a new or different way. Earlier last week numerous people commented on how they had appreciated the service last Sunday when we baptised a baby, welcomed her into God’s family, prayed for her and then heard from Mark about the next instalment of Jonah. An ordinary and familiar service seems to have touched us in a new way.

Since then we have been reminded in the news of the horrors, evil and complexities of our world. Hiroshima remembered, boat people in the Mediterranean, plane wreckage found in the ocean and transport disrupted in London. So much more too.

This leads us to think that it is the same God of peace and promise at Baptism that is with us in the chaos and disruption of life’s events. In those chaotic moments, when we witness or hear of evil in our world, we need to remember the God of the baptism service, who came to bring new life and peace into our chaotic, painful and sometimes evil world.

Click here to download   Weekly News 9th August 2015

Weekly News 2nd August 2015/ Second Chances

SECOND CHANCES There were some sensational failures in the news this week. A leading member of the Lords caught with drugs in messy circumstances. A vicar who was pocketing thousands of pounds of church fees. Spectacular falls from grace.

Most of our lives are not so prominent yet we are all subject to temptations to do stuff we would be ashamed of. Any of our lives can easily get in a mess.

In the Jonah story last week we discovered that even when we are in a mess...failures...distraught...depressed....at our wits end, God does not give up on us. Just as with Jonah, God is there with us. The essence of our Christian faith is that when we turn back to God he forgives and forgets. We have a clean slate and fresh start. Our God is the God of the second chance.

Let’s all hold on to that great truth as we hear today how Jonah used his second chance.

Click here to download   Weekly News 2nd August 2015

Weekly News 26th July 2015/ Green Light on the Beacon Centre

GREEN LIGHT ON THE BEACON CENTRE We finally received all three quotes in for the refurbishment of the Beacon Centre, and the PCC approved the instruction of Dan Prayag to oversee the work.

Dan owns Anthuriums in Coney Hall and works closely with a design team and a builder, who is also local. It’s great that the best proposal came from a team who are part of our community. Next week a detailed survey will be taking place, alongside initial CAD drawings, so that design concepts can really take off and there will be something for everyone to visualize.

We’ll keep you posted with as many updates as possible.

In the meantime, Dan has asked if we could pray for the speedy recovery of one of his daughters, Anna. She has been unwell and is at Great Ormond Street, with a condition that looks to involve a long process of recovery.

Click here to download   Weekly News 26th July 2015

Weekly News 19th July 2015/ Keeping You Posted

KEEPING YOU POSTED Many of you will be aware that we are currently considering the different ways we share information and how we can keep improving our communication. A simple text message has an immediacy that can make it an effective way to give a reminder about something that’s taking place. As we continue to update the contact book, we’re inviting you to indicate whether this is a means by which you are happy to be notified. A draft of the Contact Book will be on the Welcomers’ table and we’re inviting you to:

1.  Provide your mobile number if you haven’t so far, but are happy to do so and don’t mind receiving the occasional text
2. If you have provided your mobile number, but would prefer NOT to receive any texts from St John’s, to place a cross next to your entry;
3. If you are new and haven’t yet provided any contact details – to complete a new contact form and return it in the box provided.

Click here to download   Weekly News 19th July 2015

Click here to download   A5 Contact Book Form v2

News 12th July 2015/ Summer Season

SUMMER SEASON You know summer is almost in full swing when it’s Wimbledon finals and the we’re battling it out with the Aussies in the Ashes.

As the holiday season begins, people head off in lots of different directions and so we adapt our patterns of Sunday worship a little. As from 26 July, our services will be geared for all ages as there won’t be Sunday Club, a little shorter, and Communion will always take place after coffee.

We’ll be looking at the book of Jonah over a 4 week period and then dipping into Genesis for a series called ‘Family Life’ - exploring some of the highs and lows of life with our nearest and dearest, as seen played out with Joseph and his family.

We’ve also got a number of baptisms in the pipeline, providing us with an opportunity to give guests a taste of ‘family life’ at St John’s.

Click here to download   Weekly News 12th July 2015

Weekly News 5th July 2015/ Spree Weekend

SPREE WEEKEND Next weekend, we are taking a number of 8-15 year olds off to the South of England Showground in Ardingly for ‘Spree’.

If you’ve only ever really heard the word ‘Spree’ used with the word ‘spending’ before, then here are a few more details. It’s an action-packed, camping weekend, with a ‘fast and furious’ programme of activities, alongside creative opportunities to explore the Christian faith. We increasingly have a number of young people from beyond church going along, invited by friends; some of whom are part of our midweek youth groups. As is the nature of these things, it is guaranteed to leave young people and adults exhausted – but in a really good way.

If you are free on either the Friday or Sunday to help set up / take down the camp that would be really appreciated (please speak to Jon).  Otherwise, we’d love it if you prayed for the whole event – that the young people would have fun, are kept safe and they would discover more about the God who delights in them.

Click here to download    Weekly News 5th July 2015

Weekly News 28th June 2015/ Church Picnic

CHURCH  PICNIC With the Summer holidays on the horizon and weather forecasts promising us Barbadian-esque weather, it seems a good moment to invite you to pencil in your diaries a get together in the park for some food and games.

After the 10am service on the 19 July, we’re encouraging people to bring some food along to Coney Hall Recreation Ground for a picnic. Afterwards, we’ll line up some suitably inappropriate games for full stomachs.

Attendance at church that morning isn’t a pre-requisite for coming along, so invite any friends / family along you may have in tow.

More details will follow shortly, but for now let us know (via the Parish Office) if you need some help coming along.

Click here to download   Weekly News 28th June 2015

Weekly News 21st June 2015/ How Are We Doing?

HOW ARE WE DOING? Is not a bad question to ask at intervals, in all sorts of different areas – family life, work, down-time, friendships, marriage…our walk with God.

This coming Saturday, our PCC will be getting away together to pray, step back and ask this question of the life of St John’s. We’ll revisit our vision, look at the priorities developed in our Looking Up, Out and In categories, and consider how these might need refining for the coming season.

We’ll have in mind the well-worn adage, ‘Don’t value what you measure, measure what you value’ – deliberately focusing our reflection on the quality of our relationships with God, each other and the local community. Or if you prefer to seize the language of the apostle Paul, we’ll continue to chew on what it means to ‘live a life worthy of our calling’, becoming ‘mature and attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.’

Please pray for our leadership, as they contemplate these things under God.

Click here to download   Weekly News 21st June 2015

Weekly News 14th June 2015/ Good News from Giving

GOOD NEWS FROM GIVING You may recall a while back that we were invited to make contributions towards the work of Target TB; specifically the Coney Hall Motorbike Appeal - to enable Health Visitors to get around more effectively.

Target TB and the Blossom Trust in India wanted to send their thanks to all those who pitched in, and there is a great photo on the MOP noticeboard showing the brand new motorbike and the health driver in action.

Similarly, we managed to raise £445 for the Inter Nepal Fellowship (see www.inf.org) and their on-going work in Nepal, especially the restoration work they are undertaking following the recent couple of earthquakes.

Thank you to everyone who has given generously and I hope you are encouraged to hear of resources making a real difference in people’s lives.

Click here to download   Weekly News 14th June 2015

News 7th June 2015/ "Growing in Faith & Life"

‘GROWING IN FAITH & LIFE’ Southwark Diocese has recently launched a new discipleship initiative with the above title. It is a course broken down into different modules, which include:

• Exploring our identity and the church
• Remembering the people of God and the OT
• Following Jesus through the NT
• Believing the teachings of the Church – faith and doctrine
• Challenging the world and ourselves – ethics and mission
• Responding in the power of the Holy Spirit – in prayer, worship and our vocation.

You can take individual modules, or the whole course, but it is designed to deepen faith and help people apply biblical teaching to the whole of life.

Please see the desk under the noticeboards for more details.

Click here to download   Weekly News 7th June 2015

Weekly News 31st May 2015/ Church Actually

CHURCH ACTUALLY ‘I love Jesus but struggle with the church’

 ‘Everything about the way we do church needs to change’

 ‘I’m so bored’

 I wonder if one of those thoughts, or something similar, has ever crossed your mind when thinking about the Church? It’s easy to take speak uncharitably about the Church. Its current position in our nation doesn’t always inspire confidence, but many recognise the local church as the hope of the world.

Which is a rather grand statement.

So is it true?

In this new sermon series, we’ll explore together what actually is the church and what is the church called to do. In simple terms, what is the church and what is it for? As we explore this God-shaped people movement, we trust God will speak into our local context, hone our identity and encourage us for the future.

Click here to download   Weekly News 31st May 2015

Weekly News 24th May 2015/ 'If We Don't Teach our Children Who God Is, Someone Else Will Teach Them Everything That He's Not'

‘If we don’t teach our children who God is, someone else will teach them everything that He’s not.’ This is an eye-catching quote that I stumbled across this week.

It’s personally challenging when I think of my own family, but it also reminded me of something of which we can all be guilty – impressing on God (and others) our own intuitions of what He is like.

Which is why Pentecost is so important.

Of the many gifts that God bestows on us through the Holy Spirit, the most fundamental reality we receive is His self-disclosure. We occasionally run the risk of talking about the Spirit for the Spirit’s sake, which is to resist the Spirit’s own movement.

His primary activity is to open Christ out to us and open us out to Christ.

As we celebrate the birth of the church, let’s all come before God as children and ask him to impart Himself to us – that we may know Him better and be changed.

Click here to download   Weekly News 24th May 2015

Weekly News 17th May 2015/ Un Accueil Vraiment Chaleureux...

UN ACCUEIL VRAIMENT CHALEUREUX… …to Caroline, Mark and their family and friends, as they join us today to celebrate Sebastien’s baptism. The spattering of French is in honour of some of Caroline’s family who have made it over all the way from France for this occasion – il est bon de vous avoir avec nous.

We can’t promise to conduct our service in English and French this morning, but we hope you pick up a welcoming atmosphere that transcends language – and we do have a few Francophiles lurking in our church family, who may try out their language skills.

Our desire as a church family to extend a warm welcome to all simply reflects part of what God offers us in baptism – an open invitation to join His community of followers and discover life in all its fullness.

Click here to download   Weekly News 17th May 2015