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I am delighted to commend to you three new initiatives for our church which seek to respond to issues of critical importance in our time:

1. The Environment
2. Mental Health
3. Race

I am very grateful to Paula Sofowora who has offered to gather those who feel called to respond to these issues. Please read her letter below for further information. If you would like to participate in our thinking and/or action in any of these areas please contact Paula at  psofowora@yahoo.com.

Blessings

Colin

_____________________________________________________________________

Hello everyone,

I hope you and your families are well and healthy, and that you are enjoying the summer weather.

I am writing to share 3 exciting, initiatives with you which I have been thinking and praying about for several months. They support some of
the five marks of mission which had been developed by the Anglican Consultative Council since 1984.  Since then, the marks of mission have been widely adopted as an understanding of what contemporary mission is about. The marks were adopted by the General Synod of the Church of England in 1996 and many dioceses and other denominations use them as the basis of action plans and creative mission ideas.

I would like to know your views on the matter and if you would like to get involved.

ECO CHURCH

CofE Mark of Mission 4: To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.

Eco Church is A Rocha UK’s award scheme for churches in England and Wales who want to demonstrate that the gospel is good news for God’s earth.

A Rocha UK is a Christian charity working for the protection and restoration of the natural world, both as a response to the biblical mandate to care for the earth, and as a demonstration of the Christian hope for God’s world.

The vision is to create a vast network of churches as local centres of creation care in the community – shining beacons of hope for a brighter environmental future. The  vision was endorsed by the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams speaking at the launch of Eco Church at St Paul’s Cathedral in January 2016 and the idea is to ensure that environmental concerns become ‘embedded more deeply’ in church culture.

Please visit the website : https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/ and view the survey questions which I propose that we complete as a church. The result will highlight areas that require attention and form the basis of our action plan. We will also start collecting points towards an Eco Church Award. The more we do , the more points we collect. There is a video presentation which will be posted on the website for those of you who would like further information.

Charity starts at home though so I would like to encourage everyone to consider the Buildings and Lifestyle section of the survey in relation to your respective homes and places of work.

Action:

• Survey to be completed. PS and CH;
• Expressions of interest in working party to PS;
• PCC Decision regarding any proposals.

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING

CofE Mark of Mission 3:  To respond to human need by loving service.

CofE Mark of Mission 4: To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation.

We may not collectively have the expertise to delve too deeply into mental health and wellbeing but I feel called quite strongly to show love to vulnerable brothers and sisters in our church and community.

I was thinking of a monthly drop in session at St Johns. Activities could include the following :   Film night, Zumba, Games night, Arts and Craft, Curry night or a guest speaker on relevant topics of interest. These are just a few suggestions but I would welcome feedback from the congregation and especially those who might benefit from the service and or have first-hand experience of a need in this regard, and what a solution might look like.

I would like to compile a handy fact sheet which will include important information to sign post vulnerable individuals to the correct professional services and contact details. Suggestions as to what else should be included in this guide would also be appreciated.

Action:

• Expressions of interest and feedback to PS;
• PCC Decision regarding final proposals.

LET’S TALK ABOUT RACE

CofE Mark of Mission 4: To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation.

Several non- black friends and colleagues have reached out to me following the death of George Floyd and subsequent global BLM movement that gathered momentum.

The Rev’d John Townsend of Holy Trinity, and St Michael, Rayleigh has produced a helpful Bible study called “Let’s Talk about Race” comprising three sessions (Session One: black and immigrant in the Bible; Session Two: all one in Christ; and Session Three: compassion and justice for all).

Racism is an evil and unjust structure of society. We are called as Christians to love our neighbours as ourselves and racism is an affront to this commandment and to God. I believe this resource would be a helpful and practical study guide that will help facilitate difficult but important conversations that need to be had as a church at home and in the wider community.

I would like to canvas the congregation’s interest in a study group talking about Race, using this resource.

Action:

• Expressions of interest and feedback to PS;
• PCC Decision regarding final proposals.

At this stage I am consulting to see what people think. Please email psofowora@yahoo.com if you are interested in any of these 3 initiatives or if you have any feedback or comments.

God bless, stay safe and kind regards,

Paula

Join Natalie Collins and friend on Sunday 3rd May – 9.00am

A service for young and old.  Great songs to celebrate and give worship to our Lord

Make sure you have your craft bits ready!

Follow this link to find it on our facebook page

With Bishop John Perumbaleth, Bishop of Bradwell

Sunday 22 March 11 am St John’s Church

Everyone invited

Collect a posy for someone who means the world to you.

Family friendly service with children’s participation.

Every year during Lent (the weeks leading up to Easter) we meet at St. John’s for a short course about some aspect of our faith. The evenings include an introductory talk and led discussion in groups. This year’s course will be based on the hugely popular film The Greatest Showman (the 2018 Golden Globe-nominated movie starring Hugh Jackman, about the founder and stars of the Barnum & Bailey Circus). The studies focus on the Christian themes of hope, redemption and new life.

This is what the blurb says: The five-week course offers discussion points, biblical reflections and prayers based on  excerpts from the film. The themes are: (1) ‘A Million Dreams’, exploring what liberation and hope might look like for an ‘outsider’ in the world; (2) ‘Come Alive’, exploring how the family of faith can bring hope and purpose; (3) ‘Rewrite the stars’, asks what forms of resistance can be placed in the way of salvation; (4) ‘Never Enough’, questions the temptations of false fulfilment that can lead us to betrayal; (5) ‘The Greatest Show’, shows how redemption is found when we discover ‘the circus is our home’.

The course will run on Tuesday evenings, 7.45pm coffee for 8.00pm start, from 3rd to 31st^h March. Before the course starts we will show the film itself at St Johns on Sunday 1^st March at 6.30pm (we’ll vote at the event on whether to have the singalong version!). It will be a real help if we know in advance if you intend to come so please sign up on the lists which will be available at both churches.

Prior to the course we will start Lent with a service on Ash Wednesday (26th February) at St. Mary’s church at 8pm, which includes the traditional imposition of ashes.

A donation of £6 will be invited for the course book (list price £6.99).

We will be running a Mind the Gap session on

Thursday 12th January 2023

Starts 7.15pm (for 7.30pm start) to 9.30pm  at St John’s Church, Forest Glade.

For info and to book a place please contact our Church Administrator Nikki

Phone: 07720 089260 or Email: stjohnsca@gmail.com

There will be a meal followed by a short talk , and then opportunity for group discussions

Reverend Jeremy Noles will be talking on: ‘IS THERE MORE TO LIFE THAN THIS?‘

All are welcome, why not bring a friend!

Messy Vintage Church

St John’s Church

Saturday 30 November 2019 at 11.00am
Price £5.00 (including lunch and craft materials)

The day will include a craft activity a short service and lunch
This is open to anyone over 50 years old.

Bring an apron and gloves as the craft maybe be messy

You don’t need to attend Rendezvous to come to this event

Names and money to Liz Burton 01268 546266
Any Sunday or Thursday morning for collecting money

St Mary’s – High Rd, Nr Miller & Carter Restaurant – SS16 6HY

Sunday 1st December – 6:30pm Advent Carol Service

Sunday 15th December – 6:30pm 9 Lessons & Carols

Christmas Eve – St Mary’s Church

11.30am Christingle (recommended for younger children)

2:00pm Christingle

4:00pm Christingle (most popular, doors closed when full!)

6:00pm Christingle (recommended for older children)

11:30pm Midnight Communion

Christmas Day – St John’s Church, Forest Glade, SS16 6RX

11:00am All Age Worship

Contact Rev Colin Hopkinson on 01268 542156

St John’s on Sunday 16^th October at 11.00 am 

Donations of Harvest goods will be gratefully received at this service. We ask that they be non perishable as they will be given to the Community Resource Centre for food parcels for the homeless.  Donations may also be made at the service at 9am at St Mary’s on the same day. Many thanks

MacMillan Cancer Support

St John’s, Forest Glade, Langdon Hills

Wednesday, 2nd October

9.15-11am

Everyone welcome to come along and support this worthy cause. There’ll be fun activities, a raffle and, of course, lots of cakes!

Every pound we raise will help make sure MacMillan nurses will be able to provide a constant source of support for people facing cancer in Essex and across the UK.

Donations of cakes and raffle prizes would be very much appreciated. Please bring them along to St John’s the day before or on the day itself. Thank you.

For more information please contact: Anne Rogers (annehroger@yahoo.com) or Gaynor Carter (pgbl.carter@btopenworld.com)

This church welcomes children of the age of seven and above to receive Holy Communion, the body and blood of Christ, providing

• they express a desire to do so,
• that their parents approve and
• that they have been through a course of preparation.My wife Jean and I are considering providing such a course of preparation through October and November this year. If your child or children are expressing this desire and you do approve, please speak to either of us or Colin.

Ron Gough