Vicars Letter

Vicar's Letter
It's the time of year when everything springs to life - and St.John's is no exception. There is all sorts of life going on throughout May and June. See elsewhere in this issue for details of all these things and more:
Messy Church
Art Festival
"everybody welcome" course
Confirmation service
These are all signs of God's Spirit active in the life of his church. We celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This year that falls on Sunday 19th May. We shall remember how the people who had followed Jesus were drenched with his life-transforming power. We shall give thanks that Jesus promises to empower us in the same way. And as we do so we offer ourselves to Christ so that - renewed by that same Spirit - his church may grow in numbers and in stature and hope be offered to all we meet.
Matthew.
Messy Church is happening again at St.John's on Sunday 12th May at 3.00pm in the afternoon. Join people of all ages for another fun-packed afternoon with activities, refreshments and worship. Bring the whole family. It's for everyone, from toddlers to pensioners.
Confirmation Service
It's very exciting that there are people at both St.John's and St.Matthew's who want to affirm for themselves the vows that were made at their Baptisms and receive the confirmation of the Holy Spirit from the Bishop. There is going to be a Confirmation Service at St.Matthew's for both churches on Sunday 30th June at 10.00am. Bishop Tony will confirm our candidates.
If anyone would like to join those being confirmed, please have a word with Matthew.

Going for Growth

"everybody welcome"
Over the last two or three years attendance at St.John's has decreased. This has been particularly marked in the last year. "everybody welcome" is a course where everyone helps grow their church. There are four parts:
making the church more visible
making the church more inviting
a welcoming God and his welcoming people
belonging to the church community.
This is what someone has said about "everybody welcome". "[It] encourages and challenges every member of the church to look anew at what it means to be a welcoming, embracing community and gives simple, practical advice on how to grow your church. This course is a real must that can be used over and over again."
The four sessions will take place at 7.30pm on the following evenings in the Sturrock Room:
Thursday 23rd May
Thursday 6th June
Tuesday 18th June
Thursday 4th July
It is important that everyone who is concerned about the future of St.John's comes along to this course and helps grow Jesus' church. It promises to be great fun.
Church Heating
The necessary permissions have been received to install a new heating unit to the church's system. The work will be done during the course of May. Every house in the parish will shortly be receiving a letter with details of how to replenish the funds which have been spent on this work. It totals about £15 000. Please do respond generously so the church is able to cope with such needs as they arise in the future.
From the Register
Baptisms
31st March - Sebastian Cars Spencer Hirst
14th April - Remay Andre Shaw and Jamie Shaw
Funerals
4th April - Fedor Duczenko
9th April - James Martin
15th April - Lilly-Grace Rogerson
26th April - Geoffrey Prest
26th April - Joan Roberts
Messy Church
Art Festival
"everybody welcome" course
Confirmation service
These are all signs of God's Spirit active in the life of his church. We celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This year that falls on Sunday 19th May. We shall remember how the people who had followed Jesus were drenched with his life-transforming power. We shall give thanks that Jesus promises to empower us in the same way. And as we do so we offer ourselves to Christ so that - renewed by that same Spirit - his church may grow in numbers and in stature and hope be offered to all we meet.
Matthew.