Weekly News 9th November 2014/ Remember War: Strive For Peace

REMEMBER WAR STRIVE FOR PEACE One hundred years on from The Great War and conflict is no less present in our world. Whilst the majority of us here don’t experience the immediate bite of war, for many across the globe it is an all too painful personal reality.

It is appropriate then that on occasions our act of remembering becomes more than a private matter, and is something shared and public – an act of solidarity. That might mean gently laying aside some of the politics for a moment to stand with those who have been scarred by war, as well as those who remain exposed to its traumas.

‘They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

As we remember, let’s also strive – not least of all in our prayers for peace.

Click here to download    Weekly News 9th November 2014

Weekly News 2nd November 2014/ Welcome to the Walsh Family

WELCOME TO THE WALSH FAMILY We extend a really warm St John’s welcome to Louisa and Paul, together with all their family and friends, as they bring Jackson to be baptized this morning.

Luka, was baptized by Ken a few years ago and today his little brother is following in his footsteps. We appreciate that being at St John’s may not feel like ‘home’ for all of you, but we hope that you will feel at ease quickly and you don’t see the need to put on any ‘airs and graces’ for us.

Today, a number of our young people are playing an integral part in leading our service and we wait to see what they have in store for us as we continue with our theme ‘Consider it Gain’ – exploring some of the great things we receive in faith.

If you would like to find out more about what goes on beyond Sunday, across the ages, then don’t hesitate to ask and someone will point you in the right direction.

Click here to download   Weekly News 2nd November 2014

Weekly News 26th October 2014/ Light the Night

'LIGHT THE NIGHT’ Our Light the Night celebration continues to draw a large following and is a great opportunity to rub shoulders (literally, given how packed it usually is!) with people in our community.

Not sure what it is?

Light the Night is our alternative to Halloween. Instead of basking in the typically ghoulish antics that come with 31 October, we encourage people to have fun in a different way. The evening is jammed with games, crafts, challenges, food and sometimes, the night rounds off with fireworks.

Someone once said, ‘I’d rather light a candle than criticize the darkness’. We’re not ramming our views about Halloween down people’s throats, but offering a positive substitute.

It all requires some organizing. If you have capacity to help out – either in getting Wickham Court School / the Church ready, or during the celebration itself – then please sign up on the noticeboard, or let Julie Lancaster know. Thanks for your help.

Click here to download      Weekly News 26th October 2014

Weekly News 19th October 2014/ Saying Thank You for Phoebe

SAYING THANK YOU FOR PHOEBE Is a big part of what we will be doing today in our time together, not to mention praying for her and the whole Showell clan, as they look to continue walking closely with God as a family.

After the service there will be cake, tea and coffee, followed by a short communion. Hot on the heels of all that, the church family is invited to stay and enjoy a BRING & SHARE LUNCH. You might need to dash home and grab something, but Paul and Heather would be delighted if as many people as possible would stay and enjoy a meal together at the church.

They will kindly supply drinks but please bring whatever you wish to eat with half an eye on sharing it around with others. Food for the lunch can be brought to the 10am service in a cool box, and left on the back pew in the north aisle during the service.

We look forward to enjoying the celebration together.

Click here to download    Weekly News 19th October 2014

Weekly News 12th October 2014/ Eternity...Farewell to John Munns

ETERNITY...FAREWELL TO JOHN MUNNS. Today we’re thinking about eternity. It’s the last of our sermon series, started weeks ago, about applying the gospel in our lives as Christians; at home, at work and in our community, in the world at large and among our neighbours. It must surely be a God-instance that this final topic comes just days after our farewell in church to John Munns.

At his service on Thursday we heard a bit about his wonderful final few hours with Sally, Andrew and Rachel. Jon Ward explained how, when John was asked what he felt about dying, in typical understatement he said that he was not really very keen on the idea but knew that he would soon be in a better place.

Later on he was asked what he would like to say to the church if he had one final opportunity to preach. After some thought, the sense of his reply was that he’d say that he knew that where he was going would be wonderful, and he wanted everyone to know that and to be sure to join him there!

So it can’t simply be a coincidence that on the day when we are thinking about eternity and heaven we have this vibrant example before us, of John’s faith and clear expectation of an amazing new life with God, forever. John understood eternity.

Click here to download    Weekly News 12th October 2014

Weekly News 5th October 2014/ A Weekend of Celebration & Thanks

A WEEKEND OF CELEBRATION & THANKS This Sunday we come together to mark Harvest and give thanks for everything that we receive from God. Within that spirit of gratitude, we’ll be getting behind the 3^rd West Wickham Scout Group as they celebrate their 80^th birthday.

As we have done in the past, we will take a food collection for the Salvation Army, who will distribute it to those who are struggling. We will also being taking a money collection to set up a bursary for the Scouts, called the ‘Ken Gaved Bursary’.

Many of you will have fond recollections of Ken and his love for Scouting. On their 80^th celebration, it seems a fitting way to honour his memory and mark this occasion, and we’ll provide some more details in the service as to what the bursary will go towards.

In the meantime, we join together to say thank you to our good God.

Click here to download   Weekly News 5th October 2014

Weekly News 28th September 2014/ Team Leaders

TEAM LEADERS We’ll be thinking a lot about mission beyond our parish this weekend, but I also want to draw your attention to the people who’ve been chosen to lead the teams we are developing to enhance our local mission.

You will recall that the PCC got together a couple of weekends ago to pray and vote from a list of people, nominated by the whole church. The following pairs of leaders emerged:

Faith Sharing                                                     Mission Outside the Parish

Charlotte Faint & Mike Slatter                    Milly Johnson & Elzbieta Cienciala

Worship                                                              Children & Youth

Jonny Faint & Barbara Bassot                      Anna Seabrook & Julie Lancaster

Care & Befriending                                         Social Action

Sue Watson & Maureen Lang                     Aston Stockdale & Jackie Barter

Prayer

Richard Greenhalgh & Barry Clements

We will commission these people in due course, and I will outline the next stage for the teams, but in the meantime please pray for them.

Thank you.

Click here to download      Weekly News 28th September 2014

Weekly News 21st September 2014/ ...Mourn with those who Mourn...

…MOURN WITH THOSE WHO MOURN...

I expect that most of you will have heard the sad news that our brother in Christ, John Munns, passed away on Wednesday evening.

 We can’t escape the reality that things moved faster than any of us anticipated. When you’re in shock, it’s difficult to digest too many words. For now, we acknowledge there is pain and use that feeling to stir us in prayer for Sally, Rachel and Andrew.

 Details of how we will mark John’s life and his strong faith are yet to be finalized. They will of course be shared in due course, and then we can put some more words to the man that he was, and the God that he believed in.

 Until then, let’s mourn with those who mourn.

 God Bless. Jon.

Click here to download   Weekly News 21st September 2014

Weekly News Extra 14th September 2014/ Churchill Theatre Event etc

A LIFE THAT MATTERS THE CHURCHILL THEATRE – BROMLEY

4TH & 5TH OCTOBER 2014 - DOORS OPEN 7PM.

Announcing an amazing entertainment and outreach opportunity.

Churches in Bromley, working with several large Christian organisations, have booked the Churchill Theatre for two amazing evangelistic concert evenings. There will be great entertainment and the speaker will be Andrew Palau – son of the famous father, Luis.

Entertainment will include:

Daughters of Davis

J Marie Cooper (The Voice)

LZ7

Tabitha Webb (Lead roles in Phantom and Les Mis)

Rebirth Dance Network

Noel Robinson

Tickets are free: www.sublime.uk.com

E-mail: info@sublime.uk.com

Tel: 020 3012 0059 Charity No. 1131280

BUT...remember this is not just entertainment for us, but an opportunity to bring our friends who aren’t Christians to a great, free evening where they will hear a very clear gospel message.

Click here to download   Weekly News Extra 14th Sept 2014

Weekly News 14th September 2014/ Pastoral Care Course

PASTORAL CARE COURSE Here is an exciting opportunity to explore and learn more about Christian pastoral care.

It’s a 10-session course, certificated by Pastoral Care UK and the Association of Christian Counsellors, which will be run at St John’s in late Autumn and early New Year. It is not so much an academic, as experiential course, whereby people will be encouraged to engage with God as they look to develop their pastoral care.

Whilst the course has a flavour of pastoral care for marriages, plenty of the core material is relevant for general pastoral care training. To that end, the course suits anyone wishing to learn more about pastoral care, those in need of a refresher, or simply people who want to be better equipped to attend to the needs in the community/workplace.

If you want to know more, please speak to Barry and Chrissy Turner (0208 462 6925 or 07513 586 873) or pick up a flyer in church or the Beacon Centre.

Click here to download   Weekly News 14th September 2014

Weekly News 7th September 2014/ Harvest Barn Dance & Supper

HARVEST BARN DANCE AND SUPPER 6pm, Saturday 4^th October

 Assembly Rooms

It’s time to don your cowgirl/cowboy gear and dust off your dosey doe, as we celebrate our Harvest Supper with a Barn Dance again.

It was great fun last year for all the family and we’ve got the same caller returning to send us spinning around the hall. It’s also a great occasion to invite friends along to. No previous experience is required and generally, the more inept the better.   Food is provided and you can bring your own drinks if you want, but soft beverages will be included in the price.

Tickets:  Adults 14 yrs and over - £8.

Children aged 2-13 years - £2

On sale in the Church or the Beacon Centre.

Click here to download   Weekly News 7th September 2014 v2

Mission Weekend 27th - 28th September 2014

Click here to download a copy of the Mission Weekend information leaflet   Mission Weekend 2014

Weekly News 31st August 2014/ Alpha Publicity to go Out

ALPHA PUBLICITY TO GO OUT The materials to publicise our forthcoming Alpha course have arrived. They include postcards to go out to all the homes in the parish, invitations with a tear-off response to be held at church and the Beacon Center, as well as posters to go up around the place.

We’re really grateful to everyone who distributes these materials. Please pray as you dole them out around the local area that God will use the Alpha course to draw people to his side, and these invites will be met with open hearts.

It’s encouraging to have received enquiries as a result of our website, and we hope for more from this publicity. We’ll keep saying it though; the most effective invitation is still the personal one that comes naturally out of our existing friendships. So pray for that open door as well.

Click here to download   Weekly News 31st August 2014

Weekly News 24th August 2014/ Collection for Andrew White

COLLECTION FOR ANDREW WHITE As events unfold in Northern Iraq, Canon Andrew White, continues to try and support Christians who have fled Mosul and Ninevah through the Iraqi established churches. A lot of his relief work is channeled through the foundation he established, Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (FFRME), and as a church we will be taking a collection alongside our usual Sunday offering to contribute to the work the Foundation is doing.

A collection plate will be put out in church clearly marked with Andrews’ name.

Do continue to pray for him and all those involved in the crisis in Iraq and Syria, not least of all, for how they cope with some of the horrific things they witness. Andrew writes almost daily on facebook, so if you want to keep track of what’s going on, look him up there.

Click here to download   Weekly News 24th August 2014

Weekly News 10th August 2014/ Recovering Perspective

RECOVERING PERSPECTIVE… Whilst on holiday, I didn’t pick up a newspaper and rarely went near the ‘on’ button of my computer. The media sabbatical felt great; all part of having a good rest.

But it can mean the return to the fray is a bit of a shock to the system…watching the number by the inbox steadily rise as you download outstanding emails. There’s an itch to return to your holiday destination, if not feel a little post-holiday dip.

And then I returned to the newspapers.

And my tendency to self-pity quickly evaporated. Reading about the plight of our Christian brothers and sisters in Iraq at this moment was a sobering corrective. I’m not knocking enjoying a good holiday, but it’s good to put it in context. If you haven’t read much about what is going on in Iraq at the moment, then can I encourage you to take some time to find out.

I hope it fires your prayers and puts things in perspective.

Click here to download   Weekly News 10th August 2014

Weekly News 3rd August 2014/ Team Leaders Update

TEAM LEADERS UPDATE I wanted to say thank you to all of you who put forward nominations for leaders to the Teams that we are looking to develop and keep you up to speed with where it is headed. All the nominations were pulled together, and before I went away on holiday, it was a great joy of mine to contact individuals to let them know that the church had identified leadership qualities in them.

In order to make the process manageable, I only contacted those who received the weighting of the votes in any given team. However, it was great to see well over 40 different names appear on the voting sheets.

The possible nominees have been asked to think about whether they are prepared to put themselves forward for consideration by the PCC. The church’s leadership will then pray about the shortlist and vote to establish the final choice of team leaders. We will then engage in the process of inviting others to help populate those teams, and get on with the real work of God’s mission.

Click here to download   Weekly News 3rd August 2014

Weekly News 27th July 2014/ Stories Jesus Told

STORIES JESUS TOLD As we move into the Summer holidays, people are off in different directions and there is generally a lot more fluidity to who is around on any given Sunday.

Given that, we are taking a break from our current sermon series, ‘(Re)New – How the Gospel Changes Everything’, and running a series called ‘Stories Jesus Told’. We’ll be looking at a number of parables that Jesus used to communicate different things about the nature of the kingdom of God. Each week will be targeted for all ages and fairly self-contained, so there’s no worry about losing the thread if you’re not around every week.

If you are privileged enough to have some downtime in the coming weeks, whether that’s away or at home, I hope it’s restorative and refreshing. God Bless. Jon

Click here to download   Weekly News 27th July 2014

Weekly News 20th July 2014/ Alpha Course 30 September

ALPHA COURSE 30 SEPTEMBER

Do you remember how this time last year we said there is an Alpha Course running virtually all the time – how somewhere around the globe, in homes, churches, halls, prisons and on patios people are exploring the big questions of life, faith and Christianity?

It’s that time again for us and we’re gearing up for our Alpha this Autumn. It will start on 30 September, so now is the time to start thinking about who you might wish to invite along. There are a few people who have already made enquiries.

In a relaxed, unpressured setting at Maureen and Nick’s home, there will be a meal, a short talk and some time for discussion in groups. At Alpha friendships are made and confidence is gained to ask those challenging questions. No subject is off limits.

If you have friends or family who have asked questions, or expressed skepticism, then think about inviting them along? Start praying now that people will hear about it and will have their curiosity piqued. See the website for more details, or speak to Jon, Nick or Maureen.

Click here to download   Weekly News 20th July 2014

Beacon Centre Next Steps Document July 2014

Click here to download   BC Next Steps July 2014

Weekly News 13th July 2014/ The Future of the Beacon Centre

THE FUTURE OF THE BEACON CENTRE A fair bit of our focus in the last few weeks has been on the nomination of leaders to the teams we are looking to develop. We don’t want you to be under the impression that the other topic, which was under discussion when we met in the Assembly Rooms, has fallen by the wayside.

The small group assigned to consider the future of the Beacon Centre has continued to meet and work through future possibilities. Included with this week’s News Sheet is a summary of where we currently stand and some things for you all to consider and provide feedback on. There is also a write-up of what a new look centre might feel like; this is not a blueprint of what the place will be, but simply a written sketch to spark the imagination.

The small group will continue to work up what different expressions of the centre might entail for us as a church – for our human resources, financially, legally, etc. We do know that this is a venture which will require broad support from the church in order to be a success. So can I encourage you to give it close attention and provide your prayerful thoughts. Thank you. Jon.

Click here to download   Weekly News 13th July 2014