Great News for Christmas and the New Year I wonder how well you are doing with your Christmas shopping. I know some are super-organised and by now are well on their way to finishing off the list. But for those of us who are slow off the mark , it may well be an ‘Amazon Christmas’. With this in mind, here’s a suggestion for a present for family or friends, or even for yourself if you can’t answer that relentless question “what do you want for Christmas?” At the moment I am reading King’s Cross by Tim Keller, subtitled ‘The Story of the World in the Life of Christ Jesus’. After taking a chapter or two to find my feet, I am finding this a very good book. Keller surveys the life of Jesus from Mark’s Gospel. But this is no commentary; rather he takes particular episodes and dwells on them in a thoughtful and powerful way. So the book opens with a discussion of the Trinity via the account of the baptism of Jesus. This may seem rather heavy, but Keller develops the mutual self giving love of Father, Son and Holy Spirit as a dynamic relationship, almost like a dance which then involves us as we are drawn into this dance and learn to love and be loved. Later he discusses the healing of the man with a withered hand (chapter 3) and pursues the theme of rest. Jesus says that he is the Lord of the Sabbath and this is “a deep rest, a deep peace...Jesus means that he is the Sabbath. He is the source of the deep rest that we need”. Keller comments that this isn’t rest from work at the weekend, but rest in the heavenly sense...the prospect of heaven. We find our rest and peace in Jesus Christ: this is great news for Christmas and the New Year! Tim Greenslade
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Thank you to all those who have sent in items for Jottings during the past year. Please keep them coming in. We welcome book reviews, personal accounts or testimonies, poems, reflections and suitable jokes. Linda, Michael and Anne wish you all a Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year Our Church St John’s Church is indeed our church. However or whenever we have come to be here, we are here because God wants us here, and that means we have a responsibility. We all have a part to play, and many work hard to build up our church. Over the next few months, leading up to our Annual District Church Meeting I intend listing major tasks that are undertaken and which need consideration at the meeting. We have two Church Wardens, Frank Akerman and Pat Worrall, assisted by three deputies, and others, who have the responsibility, alongside our vicar, of ensuring that the prescribed services of worship go ahead as planned. Church Wardens are officers of the Bishop and are licensed by him for this task. Wardens are proposed and seconded each year, to serve for one year. They are allowed to serve continuously for up to six years and then must have a break. There are any number of other things that happen each week for which they have responsibility; Health and Safety, Security, Finance, Insurance, Building, etc. The wardens need our help. Please talk to them to find out how you can support them. It may only be by praying but it all helps. If you are not sure who they are, look at the ‘Rogues Gallery’ on the left as you enter the church. Roy Worrall Come and have fun!  A group from St John's have been playing badminton on Monday evenings for quite a few years now. None of us are brilliant, but we enjoy ourselves and it is good exercise. Since the summer our numbers have been reduced by various unavoidable circumstances, so we would like to find two or three more people who would play. This is on Monday evenings at Redlands, from 5.30 to 6.30. If you want to know more about the cost etc or would like to come and try it out, please speak to Pete or Shirley Evans- Jones. Focus…Tuesday Prayer A small group (numbers vary from 3-7) meet each Tuesday for an hour of prayer with our main focus on the life and ministry of St. John’s plus the town in terms of evangelistic outreach i.e. Street Pastors, Healing on the Streets, schools and colleges, local ministers and prisons. The joy of prayer is seeing the many answers to our prayers for which we praise God. Can I say as well a big thank you to those who produce the Mission Prayer leaflet and our monthly prayer focus as it’s so helpful in enabling us to focus on specific needs, not just in our own parish but across the world. It’s so encouraging too as we see what God is doing through these organisations and through the lives of individual Christians faithfully serving their Lord – sometimes in quite dire circumstances. Prayer creates that lovely link with them knowing that God is ministering to them as we pray. Do join us if you are able. Jen Davis World Vision Christmas Card World Vision are not providing us with a giant Christmas Card this year, but they still need our support for their work among those affected by HIV and AIDS. This epidemic is having a devastating impact in many parts of the world, especially among the children. They tell us that 1,200 children are likely to contract HIV each day and need medical and emotional care and support, and there are many children who have been orphaned by AIDS. So, if you would like to sign the card we have made, rather than buy individual cards for members of the congregation, and then put a donation in the jar, the money will be forwarded to World Vision for this important work. The card will be available from December 11th. Thank you. An opportunity and a challenge in 2012 1948; the year the Olympics last came to London, the year my dad was an Olympic possible in the Racewalking event, the year I was born. Unfortunately my dad who was a member of Belgrave Harriers was not selected and it’s maybe because of this I was so keen to apply to be a Gamesmaker and be involved in this chance of a lifetime. A Gamesmaker will take on one of hundreds of different volunteering roles at the Olympics in one of the many venues. I opted for the function area of anti-doping as it would be a new experience for me. Soon after my application had been sent I was given the opportunity to become a Selection Event Volunteer. This involved interviewing others who had applied to be Gamesmakers to assess their suitability. Michael also took part in this procedure. During the interviews we listened to some amazing stories from inspirational people. I felt so privileged to be part of the process. In July, I was asked to attend an anti-doping training. I had detailed instruction and then acted out various scenarios to be ready for any eventuality at the test event for Weymouth and Portland International Regatta in August. In October I was delighted to be told I had been successful and will be a Gamesmaker at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy. Linda Miles More opportunities and challenges for us all 2012 will certainly be a year of challenge and opportunity. We all know about Refresh 2012. The vision is to create an oasis filled with the presence of God, to welcome maybe 60,000 visitors a day with the love of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Up to date details will be presented in church during December. St John’s will be a hub for the Olympic period and many volunteers from all the churches in Weymouth and Portland will be needed. This could include a kids club, café, arts, worship and messy church. Bedouin tents are likely to be set up to provide hospitality and hands on ministry. Training for new Street Pastors will begin in January so they can be on duty each night to be a visible presence. During the Bank Holiday weekend there will be a celebration on the beach. J John will be coming to lead a training day which will be held at St John’s on 28th March. To support all these plans there will be two weeks of prayer, one in January and one in May in addition to the regular monthly meetings. There are also important events planned for St John’s; Vision morning, 14th January, an opportunity to pray, talk and listen to God; Away Day 28th April—time to be together. Details will follow soon (help with planning will be needed). Another opportunity may arise with a proposal for a volunteer support scheme in the local area similar to The Community Angels based in Preston. Colour Party The church was transformed as over 40 children gathered in bright clothes for the Colour Party which was held on 31st October .  Catharine Currell, our Parish Youth Minister organised the event and with the help of other adults and young people there was much fun and laughter. As well as party food, team games and group activities took place. The children left with goodie bags and balloons. A collage of the event can be seen in the photograph album. December Diary
Thur 1st 7.45 for 8pm Together in Prayer St.J Fri 2nd Sat 3rd Sun 4th 10.30am Morning Worship St.J 6.30pm Holy Communion St.J Mon 5th Tues 6th 9.30am Spring into Life meeting St.A 7pm Prayer Meeting St.J Wed 7th 9.30am Parent and Toddlers PC Thur 8th Weymouth Christmas Sparkle Fri 9th 2.30pm Missionary Prayer Meeting Sat 10th Sun 11th 10.30am All-Age Worship St.J (Children’s Presentation) 4pm Carols in Greenhill Gardens Mon 12th Tues 13th 10am School Christmas Service St.J 6pm School Christmas Service St.J Wed 14th 9.30am Parent and Toddlers PC Carol Singing in the Park District Thur 15th Carol Singing in the Park District Fri 16th Sat 17th 7—9pm Satellite Youth Event B.C Sun 18th 9am Holy Communion St.J 10.30am Family Carols St.J 4.30pm Cakes and Carols P.C Mon 19th Tues 20th 7pm Prayer Meeting St.J Wed 21st 9.30am Parent and Toddlers PC Thur 22nd Fri 23rd Sat 24th 6.30pm Carol Service St.J Sun 25th 9am Holy Communion St.J 10.30am All-Age Worship St.J (followed by Holy Communion) Mon 26th Tues 27th Wed 28th Thur 29th Fri 30th Sat 31st
January Diary Sun 1st 10.30am All-Age Worship St.J Mon 2nd Tues 3rd Wed 4th Thur 5th 7.45 for 8pm Together in Prayer St.J Fri 6th Sat 7th Street Pastors Training Sun 8th 9am Holy Communion St.J 10.30am Morning Worship St.J 6.30pm Holy Communion P.C Mon 9th Tues 10th 7pm Prayer Meeting St.J Wed 11th 9.30am Parent and Toddlers PC Thur 12th Fri 13th 2.30pm Missionary Prayer Meeting Sat 14th Vision Morning St.AS Sun 15th 10.30am Morning Worship St.J 6.30pm Evening Worship St.J Mon 16th 8pm Elders Tues 17th 7pm Prayer Meeting St.J Wed 18th 9.30am Parent and Toddlers PC Thur 19th Fri 20th Sat 21st Sun 22nd 9am Holy Communion St.J 10.30am Morning Worship St.J 6.30pm Witness Mon 23rd 7.30pm DCC/PCC St.J Tues 24th 7pm Prayer Meeting St.J Wed 25th 9.30am Parent and Toddlers PC Thur 26th Fri 27th Sat 28th Sun 29th 9am Holy Communion St.J 10.30am Morning Worship St.J 6.30pm Evening Worship St.J Mon 30th Tues 31st
St.J—St John’s PC—Park Church St.A.S—St Anne’s Schoolroom St.A—St Aldhelm’s B.C —Baptist Church |
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