News
February 2012

 

 2012—a year of opportunity

 

 

 We have begun an exciting year and I felt that the Vision Morning was a great way to start the year. It was good to discuss the plans that we have for St John’s to be one of the hubs under the Refresh 2012 banner. There were lots of questions, some of which could be answered and clearly much to be worked out between now and the summer. 

It seems to me that we need to make the most of the opportunities that this special year presents. The Olympic Games will never come to Weymouth and Portland again and we may not have such a large range of visitors in the future. We need to be ready to welcome and engage with our visitors. There will also be many local people who will holiday at home; so  again there is an opportunity to build on existing relationships  for  example through the school and the local community. This is why we will have St John’s as a base for hospitality with a cafe and teams  going out onto the beach and seafront. There will also be a holiday club and  other activities in the church which will enable   children and grown-ups to have fun together and hear about the Lord Jesus.

Please pray that we will accept the challenge of the year ahead and that we will only do what God wants us to do. Also please volunteer to help: forms will be available soon. There is also a special day of training and preparation called ‘Get Set’ at All Saints School on 24 March. This is organised by More than Gold. Do ask me if you would like more details. 

 Tim Greenslade

 

Thanks to ……………….

 

Thank you to all those involved in our services and events as we celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus. It was lovely to see all ages enjoying the Christingle, young people’s presentation and New Year party. Special thanks to our singers and musicians for leading the worship in our Christmas services.

 

 

Focus… LCM

 

As a Londoner I have had an interest in the work of L.C.M. for some years.  In particular when I lived in Essex one of the missionaries was my neighbour.

Down through the years London City missionaries have been   patiently and sensitively reaching out to people wherever they can be found, to impact them with the life-changing   message of the    gospel.  Last year Patrick   Coleman came and shared with us about his work in the Post Office. It was good to hear about the people he meets, and ways in which he has been able to help. This is just one of the areas where L.C.M. is coming alongside men and women and children in London. Some of them are working with young people going into schools taking lessons and assemblies. As I read my magazine it seems as though London City Mission  covers most areas of London in some way.  The support of St. John’s is much appreciated. At Christmas It was good to send a cheque for £70 towards the Bibles that were given to the children. Thank you.

 

Val Newman

For more information log on to www.lcm.org.uk

 

 

 Men Alive 

Eight of us went to a Quiz Evening at the end of November and had our minds exercised by questions on a Christmas theme. We came away knowing such trivia as it was a man called Christmas           Humphreys who started the      Buddhist Society in London in 1924. The questions were set by Margaret Moore and she stretched our minds to such an extent that we were pleased to end the    evening with a welcome cuppa, a mince pie and a closing thought from Tim.

 

Events for 2012 include a breakfast (see next month’s Jottings for a report and photo), the third ladies v men skittles challenge just before Easter and with the Olympics in mind, a watery event!

 

We look forward to seeing you. Ideas are welcome.

 

Dave Moore

 

Christmas  Gallery

 

  

 

News from St John’s School

At St John’s school, we are always looking for extra curriculum ideas which help us to promote the education of the whole child… what a strange expression! We educate children in Maths, English and other subjects but some areas of education are more discreet. For example, we teach children how to sit and eat their food nicely, how to speak politely to adults and each other and how to show respect for everyone.

 Just recently we decided to work towards becoming known as a ‘Rights Respecting School’. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is clearly stated in 45 Articles. Article 29 states: "Education must develop every child’s    personality, talents and abilities to the full.  It must encourage the child’s respect for human rights, as well as respect for their parents, their own and   other cultures, and the environment.” Many schools in the Weymouth and Portland   area are doing the same in the hope that these children, as they grow, will provide a  community of people who understand their rights but more importantly, understand their responsibility for each right.

 Thank you for your prayers and support leading up to Christmas. Over 100 Christmas parcels were sent with Operation   Christmas Child. We sang carols in five residential homes, the hospital, Fernhill Day Centre and the Park Church. We held two services at the church to share our Christmas musical, ‘Children of the World’ and on both occasions were delighted with the number of people who came to hear the Good News. Staff and children returned to school in January looking forward to the events planned for this Olympic and Jubilee year. In February we shall be sending two of our staff to Wiru Primary School in Kenya. Please pray for them- for safe journeys and good health and pray also for the staff at St John’s that we might continue to teach God’s word to the children.

                                                                                                                                               

Diana Mason

Head Teacher

 

Thanksgiving and Memorial Service for John Stott

St Paul’s Cathedral. January 13th 2012

It was a tremendous privilege to be at this service. People of all ages and nationalities were queuing outside the cathedral over one and a half hours before the service began and that in itself was a time of meeting up with old friends and sharing   experiences with strangers. Having got there so early I found a good seat under the dome and right by the All Souls orchestra with their conductor Noel Tredinnick.  While people were finding seats they played music by Handel and Elgar and part of an organ symphony with the  cathedral sub-organist. 

 Bishop Michael Baughen led the service which included tributes from Frances Whitehead, John’s secretary for 55 years, representatives of the church in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Directors of two of the organisations that John founded. 

John’s close friend, Bishop Timothy Dudley - Smith himself aged 85, spoke powerfully of the need for faithfulness to the gospel and of witness to Christ as Lord of Lords and King of Kings. 

The singing reminded me a bit of a Billy Graham event, but then nearly every seat was  occupied so there were a good number of voices to add to the All Souls choir. It was fitting that the final hymn was ‘Lord for the years’ as it was written by Bishop Timothy and Bishop Michael. 

The service ended with prayers led by the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of London before the Archbishop of Canterbury gave the final blessing. And as if that wasn’t enough, as the formal procession  left, the orchestra played the Pomp and Circumstance March No 4 by Elgar and then received a huge round of applause. 

Anne Bond 

February Diary

Wed   1st

Thur   2nd     7.45 for 8pm Together in Prayer         St.J

Fri      3rd

Sat     4th      Marriage in Mind Course

Sun    5th      10.30am All-Age Worship                  St.J

                      6.30pm Holy Communion                   St.J

Mon    6th

Tues   7th      7pm Prayer Meeting                             St.J

Wed   8th

Thur   9th

Fri 10th 2.30pm Missionary Prayer Meeting

Sat 11th

Sun 12th 9am Holy Communion St.J

10.30am Morning Worship St.J

6.30pm Evening Worship PC

Mon 13th

Tues 14th 7pm Prayer Meeting St.J

Wed 15th

Thur 16th

Fri 17th

Sat 18th

Sun 19th 10.30am Holy Communion St.J

6.30pm Inc St.J

Mon 20th

Tues 21st Ploughman’s and Pancake Lunch St.A

7pm Prayer Meeting St.J

Wed 22nd Ash Wednesday Service St.An

Thur 23rd

Fri 24th

Sat 25th

Sun 26th 9am Holy Communion St.J

10.30am Morning Worship St.J

6.30pm Witness  St.J.S

            Spring into Life Launch

Mon 27th

Tues 28th 7pm Prayer Meeting St.J

Wed 29th

March

Thur 1st 7.45 for 8pm Together in Prayer St.J

Fri 2nd

Sat 3rd

Sun 4th 10.30am All-Age Worship St.J

6.30pm Holy Communion E

 

St.J—St John’s PC—Park Church

St.J.S—St John’s School St.An—St Ann’s

E—Emmanuel St.A—St Aldhelm’s

St.M—St Mary’s

 

Advanced dates for your diary

Feb 27th—7th Mar Spring into Life

March 24th               More than Gold Training   Day

March 28th               Leaders Day with J John

April 28th                 Church Away Day

 

 

 

 
Last Updated on Monday, 13 February 2012 21:51
 
December 2011 - January 2012

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


     Thanks to ……………….

 

 

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

 
Last Updated on Monday, 13 February 2012 21:51
 


Your are currently viewing: Home News