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 13^th 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