DEANERY SUMMER PARTY TODAY
The Eltham & Mottingham Deanery Summer Tea Party will be held today from 3pm to 5pm at All Saints Church in New Eltham. People are invited to bring something to share, but are also welcome to just bring themselves.

GROWING IN FAITH AND LIFE
Applications are still open for the Bishop’s Certificate in Discipleship 2018-19, a course that takes place from September to next June. Entitled ‘Growing in Faith and Life,’ the programme is for anyone wishing to read the Bible with more understanding, reflect on their journey as a Christian and deepen their response to God in prayer and service.

There’s an introduction for everyone taking part on Saturday 8th September at Trinity House off Borough High Street at 10.30am-12.30pm. The cost of the whole course is £200, which includes a concluding residential weekend at Wychcroft in Surrey. Email ministryandtraining@southwark.anglican.org for an application form. If you have any queries, please speak with Fr Jim or with Cindy Shipp, who did the course last year.

CALLED BY NAME
How do you begin to discern what God’s call means to you? The Royal Foundation of St Katharine in Limehouse will host a quiet day on Saturday 29th September from 10am to 3.30pm in which participants can explore the ways in which God calls to them, in work and in life. The foundation is at 2 Butcher Row, London E14 8DS, and the cost of the day is just £10. It’s highly recommended and places will fill up quickly – email vocations@southwark.anglican.org to book or for further information.

WYCHCROFT RETREAT
On Tuesday 24th July, the Southwark Diocese Resource and Retreat Centre in Wychcroft will host a retreat on the theme of ‘The Woman at the Well,’ an icon commissioned by the Retreat Association which can be seen at Wychcroft. The day will run from 10am to 4pm and costs £25, including lunch. For more details and to book a place, contact Wychcroft on 01883 743 041 or email wychcroft@southwark.anglican.org. Details of the icon are available at www.wychcroft.org, and a flyer is on the church noticeboard in the south aisle.

LISTENING TO THE SONG OF THE HEART
On Wednesday 8th August, St Columba’s House in Woking will hold a quiet day, providing space and encouragement for us to hear and respond to the invitation of God’s Spirit. We live much of our lives on the surface, meeting the expectations of others. But God sees the heart, and it is there that the Spirit of God stirs. The day will be led by Christopher Chapman, author of ‘Seeing in the Dark’ and ‘Earthed in God: Four Movements of Spiritual Growth’. For details, see the flyer on the noticeboard or visit stcolumbashouse.org.uk. To book, contact St Columba’s House on 01483 766498.

BIRTHDAY COFFEE
Would you like to commemorate a birthday or some other special occasion? For a donation of £5, everyone can enjoy free tea or coffee on your chosen Sunday after the Parish Eucharist. A list of available dates is on the church noticeboard for you to sign up. For more information, please have a word with Sheila Squire.

ST PAUL’S SUNDAY FORUMS
St Paul’s Cathedral is running a series of free ‘Sunday Forums’ as part of its adult learning programme. On 2nd September at 1pm, writer and Church Estates Commissioner Eve Poole will explore the themes of her book, ‘Buying God: Consumerism and Theology’. See stpauls.co.uk/learning-faith/adult-learning.

ST JOHN’S PATRONAL FESTIVAL AND SUMMER FAIR
A big thank you to everyone who helped out at our wonderful summer fair last month. The event raised more than £730, a fantastic achievement.

DEANERY SUMMER PARTY
The Eltham & Mottingham Deanery Summer Tea Party will be held on Sunday 15th July from 3pm to 5pm at All Saints Church in New Eltham. People are invited to bring something to share, but are also welcome to just bring themselves.

MARION SMITH
Many longstanding members of St John’s will remember Marion Smith, who sadly died on 20th June. Marion’s funeral will be held at St John’s on Friday 13th July at 2pm, followed by a service at Falconwood Crematorium at 3.15pm. Our church secretary for many years, Marion had also lived in the neighbourhood of St Francis Church, Hornpark, and with her husband gave much service to the church and the community there.

JUNIOR CHURCH
We’re delighted to see growing numbers of children coming to our church. With our Junior Church classes now quite crowded, we encourage parents to leave children aged 3 and up in the care of class leaders. This allows parents to remain in church and participate in the service. We’re also looking for people to help run our Junior Church classes. If you would like to get involved, or if you have any questions, please speak with Alex MacKenzie or Fr Jim.

GROWING IN FAITH AND LIFE
Applications are open for the Bishop’s Certificate in Discipleship 2018-19, a course with six modules that takes place from September to next June. Entitled ‘Growing in Faith and Life,’ the course is for anyone wishing to read the Bible with more understanding, reflect on their journey as a Christian, and deepen their response to God in prayer, worship and service. It concludes with a residential weekend at Wychcroft in Surrey. Application forms are available from Southwark Diocese at ministryandtraining@southwark.anglican.org. If you have any queries, please speak with Fr Jim or with Cindy Shipp, who did the course last year.

ST PAUL’S SUNDAY FORUMS
St Paul’s Cathedral is running a series of free ‘Sunday Forums’ as part of its adult learning programme. The lunchtime events invite some of the liveliest contemporary theologians and spiritual teachers to speak about the challenges, contradictions and joys of being a Christian in the world today. On 2nd September at 1pm, writer and Church Estates Commissioner Eve Poole will explore the themes of her book, ‘Buying God: Consumerism and Theology’. On 7th October, Father Nadim Nassar, the Church of England’s only Syrian priest, will discuss ‘Jesus and the Promise of Peace’. For more information, please visit stpauls.co.uk/learning-faith/adult-learning/sunday-forum.

PARISH SUPPORT FUND
People sometimes ask how the church is financed. The Parish Support Fund, or PSF, is the method through which the churches in the diocese contribute to a central pot of money, which helps pay for their ministry. While each church aims to cover its costs, most can’t, and the wealthier churches support them through the PSF. St John’s contributes about 50% of its costs and aspires to become self-funding. Letters from the Parochial Church Council treasurer about stewardship are available for all – if you haven’t received yours, please speak with Fr Jim.

ST JOHN’S PATRONAL FESTIVAL AND SUMMER FAIR
A big thank you to everyone who helped out at our wonderful summer fair last month. The event raised more than £730, a fantastic achievement.

DEANERY SUMMER PARTY
The Eltham & Mottingham Deanery Summer Tea Party will be held on Sunday 15th July from 3pm to 5pm at All Saints Church in New Eltham. People are invited to bring something to share, but are also welcome to just bring themselves.

MARION SMITH
Many longstanding members of St John’s will remember Marion Smith, who sadly died on 20th June. Marion’s funeral will be held at St John’s on Friday 13th July at 2pm, followed by a service at Falconwood Crematorium at 3.15pm. Our church secretary for many years, Marion had also lived in the neighbourhood of St Francis Church, Hornpark, and with her husband gave much service to the church and the community there.

We’re delighted to see growing numbers of children coming to our church. With our Junior Church classes now quite crowded, we encourage parents to leave children aged 3 and up in the care of class leaders. This allows parents to remain in church and participate in the service. We’re also looking for people to help run Junior Church classes. If you’d like to get involved, or if you have any questions, please speak with Alex MacKenzie or Fr Jim.

GROWING IN FAITH AND LIFE
Applications are open for the Bishop’s Certificate in Discipleship 2018-19, a course with six modules that takes place from September to next June. Entitled ‘Growing in Faith and Life,’ the course is for anyone wishing to read the Bible with more understanding, reflect on their journey as a Christian, and deepen their response to God in prayer, worship and service. It concludes with a residential weekend at Wychcroft in Surrey. Application forms are available from Southwark Diocese at ministryandtraining@southwark.anglican.org. If you have any queries, please speak with Fr Jim or with Cindy Shipp, who did the course last year.

ST PAUL’S SUNDAY FORUMS
St Paul’s Cathedral is running a series of free ‘Sunday Forums’ as part of its adult learning programme. The lunchtime events invite some of the liveliest contemporary theologians and spiritual teachers to speak about the challenges, contradictions and joys of being a Christian in the world today. At 1pm today, Selina Stone, a lecturer in political theology at St Mellitus College, will lead a discussion on ‘Was Jesus Political?’. On 2nd September, writer Eve Poole will explore the themes of her book, ‘Buying God: Consumerism and Theology’. For more information, visit stpauls.co.uk/learning-faith/adult-learning/sunday-forum.

PARISH SUPPORT FUND
People sometimes ask how the church is financed. The Parish Support Fund, or PSF, is the method through which the churches in the diocese contribute to a central pot of money, which helps pay for their ministry. While each church aims to cover its costs, most can’t, and the wealthier churches support them through the PSF. St John’s contributes about 50% of its costs and aspires to become self-funding. Letters from the Parochial Church Council treasurer about stewardship are available for all – if you haven’t received yours, please speak to Fr Jim.

ST JOHN’S PATRONAL FESTIVAL AND SUMMER FAIR
A big thank you to everyone who helped out at our wonderful summer fair. Watch this space in the coming weeks for funds raised!

DEANERY SUMMER PARTY
The Eltham & Mottingham Deanery Summer Tea Party will be held on Sunday 15th July from 3pm to 5pm at All Saints Church in New Eltham. People are invited to bring something to share, but are also welcome to just bring themselves.

GROWING IN FAITH AND LIFE
Applications are open for the Bishop’s Certificate in Discipleship 2018-19, a course that takes place from September to next June. Entitled ‘Growing in Faith and Life,’ the course is for anyone wishing to read the Bible with more understanding, reflect on their journey as a Christian, and deepen their response to God in prayer and service. For an application form, email ministryandtraining@southwark.anglican.org. If you have any queries, please speak to Fr Jim or Cindy Shipp, who did the course last year.

JUNIOR CHURCH
We’re delighted to see growing numbers of children coming to our church. With our Junior Church classes now quite crowded, we encourage parents to leave children aged 3 and up in the care of class leaders. This allows parents to remain in church and participate in the service. We’re also looking for people to help run Junior Church classes. If you’d like to get involved, please speak with Alex MacKenzie or Fr Jim.

WINDRUSH SUNDAY TODAY
The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, has encouraged all churches in the diocese to observe the 70th anniversary of the arrival of MV Windrush, and the contributions to this country of the Windrush generation.
He has sent the following prayer:

Almighty and everlasting God, we praise you for the gift and blessing of the Windrush generation. We thank you for their service to this country in so many essential roles
and for all they have given to the building up of our national life.

Enrich our understanding, deepen our appreciation of one another, banish ignorance, prejudice and fear, and knit us together by the power of your Spirit who is the bond of love.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

WE ALSO PRAY FOR

• the Church in the Southwark Diocese, for St Michael Battersea, for the priests and people of that place
• those with birthdays: Edward Horton, Mihaela Radulescu
• those who are in any kind of distress of mind, body or soul: Angella Baptiste, Robert Young, Joyce Miller, Joy Hearn, Harry Johnston, Emona Charlie, Denise Saunders
• those who are housebound: Susan Wulstan, Joan Henry
• those who died recently: Vera Spencer, Martin Knight
• those whose year’s mind we keep: Pat Quennell, Mary Anderson

THE COMING WEEK
There will be a Eucharist at 10am on Thursday and at 12.15pm on Friday, and a service of prayer at 12 noon on Friday.

Parish Eucharist on Sunday 1st July at 10am, with Junior Church and crèche.
Readings: Lamentations 3:22-33; 2 Corinthians 8:7-15; Mark 5:21-43

ST JOHN’S PATRONAL FESTIVAL AND SUMMER FAIR
The summer fair takes place next Saturday at 10am to 2pm, in and around the church. It’s a wonderful event when St John’s celebrates its patron saint and opens wide its doors to all who live and work in Eltham, as well as visitors to our parish.

Come and enjoy the café and barbeque, hear the bells ringing and visit the bell tower. Take part in the tombola and raffle, and even get your face painted!

Contributions for the stalls – books, toys and bric-a-brac – are welcomed. Items can be left in church (though please don’t bring cakes and plants until Friday). The church will be open at 9am-12pm on Thursday and 10am-1pm on Friday. If you can’t make those times, arrangements to leave items can be made with Fr Jim.

Volunteers are still needed for the day. If you’d like to help (even for an hour or so), please see Fr Jim. Do also snap up some raffle tickets, which are on sale today at the back of church. For more information, please speak with Jene Kerr or Fr Jim.

GROWING IN FAITH AND LIFE
Applications are open for the Bishop’s Certificate in Discipleship 2018-19, a course with six modules that takes place from September to next June. Entitled ‘Growing in Faith and Life,’ the course is for anyone wishing to read the Bible with more understanding, reflect on their journey as a Christian, and deepen their response to God in prayer, worship and service. It concludes with a residential weekend at Wychcroft in Surrey. Application forms are available from Southwark Diocese at ministryandtraining@southwark.anglican.org. If you have any queries, please speak with Fr Jim or with Cindy Shipp, who did the course last year.

THE BRIDGE
The June edition of The Bridge – the newspaper of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark – is available at the back of church. Please do take a copy.

ST PAUL’S SUNDAY FORUMS
St Paul’s Cathedral is running a series of free ‘Sunday Forums’ as part of its adult learning programme. The lunchtime events invite some of the liveliest contemporary theologians and spiritual teachers to speak about the challenges, contradictions and joys of being a Christian in the world today. On 1st July at 1pm, Selina Stone, a lecturer in political theology at St Mellitus College, will lead a discussion on ‘Was Jesus Political?’ For more information, please visit stpauls.co.uk/learning-faith/adult-learning/sunday-forum.

DEANERY SUMMER PARTY
The Eltham & Mottingham Deanery Summer Tea Party will be held on Sunday 15th July from 3pm to 5pm at All Saints Church in New Eltham. People are invited to bring something to share, but are also welcome to just bring themselves.

PARISH SUPPORT FUND
People sometimes ask how the church is financed. The Parish Support Fund, or PSF, is the method through which the churches in the diocese contribute to a central pot of money, which helps pay for their ministry. While each church aims to cover its costs, most can’t, and the wealthier churches support them through the PSF. St John’s contributes about 50% of its costs and aspires to become self-funding. Letters from the Parochial Church Council treasurer about stewardship are available for all – please look out for your letter at the back of church.

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK
A massive thank you to everyone who contributed in any way to Christian Aid Week this year. We raised more than £1,200 – a feat that would have been impossible without the support of so many of you. From the bucket collections to the Super Soup Lunch and the cake sale – where the older children of our church raised £14 selling delicious treats – it was a fantastic achievement.

GROWING IN FAITH AND LIFE
Applications are open for the Bishop’s Certificate in Discipleship 2018-19, a course with six modules that takes place from September to next June. Entitled ‘Growing in Faith and Life,’ the course is for anyone wishing to read the Bible with more understanding, reflect on their journey as a Christian, and deepen their response to God in prayer, worship and service. It concludes with a residential weekend at Wychcroft in Surrey. Application forms are available from Southwark Diocese at ministryandtraining@southwark.anglican.org. If you have any queries, please speak with Fr Jim or with Cindy Shipp, who did the course last year.

ST JOHN’S PATRONAL FESTIVAL AND SUMMER FAIR
Raffle tickets will be on sale at the back of church after the Eucharist today. The summer fair, which this year takes place on Saturday 23rd June at 10am-2pm, is a wonderful event when the church celebrates its patron saint and opens wide its doors to all who live and work in Eltham, as well as visitors to our parish. For more information, please speak with Jene Kerr or Fr Jim.

THE BRIDGE
The June edition of The Bridge – the newspaper of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark – is available at the back of church. Please do take a copy.

PARISH SUPPORT FUND
People sometimes ask how the church is financed. The Parish Support Fund, or PSF, is the method through which the churches in the diocese contribute to a central pot of money, which helps pay for their ministry. While each church aims to cover its costs, most are unable to do so and the wealthier churches support them through the PSF. St John’s contributes about 50% of its costs and aspires to become self-funding. The Parochial Church Council meets this week to prayerfully consider how much St John’s will pledge to the fund in 2019. Please pray for the PCC and for this important decision.

ST PAUL’S SUNDAY FORUMS
St Paul’s Cathedral is running a series of free ‘Sunday Forums’ as part of its adult learning programme. The lunchtime events invite some of the liveliest contemporary theologians and spiritual teachers to speak about the challenges, contradictions and joys of being a Christian in the world today. On 1st July at 1pm, Selina Stone, a lecturer in political theology at St Mellitus College, will lead a discussion on ‘Was Jesus Political?’ For more information, please visit stpauls.co.uk/learning-faith/adult-learning/sunday-forum.

TEA AND COFFEE AFTER THE EUCHARIST
We need someone to prepare a rota for our great team who serve tea and coffee after the Sunday Eucharist. The person taking on the role will also be given a small fund to ensure there are enough supplies. If you can help, please speak with Cindy Shipp or Fr Jim.

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK
A massive thank you to everyone who contributed in any way to Christian Aid Week this year. We raised more than £1,200 – a feat that would have been impossible without the support of so many of you. From the bucket collections to the Super Soup Lunch and the cake sale – where the older children of our church raised £14 selling delicious treats – it was a fantastic achievement.

RAISE FUNDS FOR WELCARE
Welcare, a Christian charity long-supported by St John’s, is calling for runners – including beginners – to join its team in the British 10K London Run on Sunday 15th July. Participants will run past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, while raising funds to support Welcare’s work with children and families in difficulty. For more information, please visit welcare.org or email fundraising@welcare.org.

GROWING IN FAITH AND LIFE
Applications are open for the Bishop’s Certificate in Discipleship 2018-19, a course with six modules that takes place from September to next June. Entitled ‘Growing in Faith and Life,’ the course is for anyone wishing to read the Bible with more understanding, reflect on their journey as a Christian, and deepen their response to God in prayer, worship and service. It concludes with a residential weekend at Wychcroft in Surrey. Application forms are available from Southwark Diocese at ministryandtraining@southwark.anglican.org. If you have any queries, please speak with Fr Jim or with Cindy Shipp, who did the course last year.

ST JOHN’S PATRONAL FESTIVAL AND SUMMER FAIR
The summer fair is a wonderful event when the church celebrates its patron saint and opens wide its doors to all who live and work in Eltham, as well as visitors to our parish. The fair this year will be on Saturday 23rd June at 10am-2pm. We give thanks to Gill Hayes, who has led the organisation of the fair for many years, and to Jene Kerr for taking on the role. Further details will follow in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please speak with Jene or Fr Jim if you have any questions.

TEA AND COFFEE AFTER THE EUCHARIST
We need someone to prepare a rota for our great team who serve tea and coffee after the Sunday Eucharist. The person taking on the role will also be given a small fund to ensure there are enough supplies. If you can help, please speak with Cindy Shipp or Fr Jim.

ST PAUL’S ADULT LEARNING
As part of St Paul’s Cathedral’s adult learning programme, there’s a chance to see the new Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, in conversation with Cathedral Dean David Ison tomorrow at 6.30pm. For information on this free event, and booking details, please see www.stpauls.co.uk/learning-faith/adult-learning.

DATA PROTECTION
On Friday 25th May, the law around data protection changed. The General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, governs how companies and public bodies hold and use our personal details. At St John’s, we will never share any of your information without your explicit permission. If you no longer want the church to hold your details, let us know and we’ll securely remove them from our database.

TEA AND COFFEE AFTER THE EUCHARIST
We need someone to prepare a rota for our great team who serve tea and coffee. The person taking on the role will also be given a small fund to ensure there are enough supplies. If you can help, please speak with Cindy Shipp or Fr Jim.

ST PAUL’S ADULT LEARNING
As part of St Paul’s Cathedral’s adult learning programme, there’s a chance to see the new Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, in conversation with Cathedral Dean David Ison on Monday 4th June at 6.30pm. For information on this free event, and booking details, please see www.stpauls.co.uk/learning-faith/adult-learning.

DATA PROTECTION
On Friday 25th May, the law around data protection changed. The General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, governs how companies and public bodies hold and use our personal details. At St John’s, we will never share any of your information without your explicit permission. If you no longer want the church to hold your details, let us know and we’ll securely remove them from our database.

GROWING IN FAITH AND LIFE
Applications are open for the Bishop’s Certificate in Discipleship 2018-19, a course with six modules that takes place from September to next June. Entitled ‘Growing in Faith and Life,’ the course is for anyone wishing to read the Bible with more understanding, reflect on their journey as a Christian, and deepen their response to God in prayer, worship and service. It concludes with a residential weekend at Wychcroft in Surrey. Application forms are available from Southwark Diocese at ministryandtraining@southwark.anglican.org. If you have any queries, please speak with Fr Jim or with Cindy Shipp, who did the course last year.

ST JOHN’S PATRONAL FESTIVAL AND SUMMER FAIR
The summer fair is a fantastic event when the church celebrates its patron saint and opens wide its doors to all who live and work in Eltham, as well as visitors to our parish. The fair this year will be on Saturday 23rd June at 10am-2pm. We give thanks to Gill Hayes, who has led the organisation of the fair for many years, and to Jene Kerr for taking on the role. Further details will follow in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please speak with Jene or Fr Jim if you have any questions.

RAISE FUNDS FOR WELCARE
Welcare, a Christian charity long-supported by St John’s, is calling for runners – including beginners – to join its team in the British 10K London Run 2018 on Sunday 15th July. Participants will run past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, while raising funds to support Welcare’s work with children and families in difficulty. For more information, visit welcare.org or email fundraising@welcare.org.

CHURCHWARDENS
We are delighted to say that our new churchwardens, Dorian Woodward and Alberta Rosenior, were admitted to office in Southwark Cathedral last Wednesday evening. We give thanks for their commitment to the church and pray for them.

CORPUS CHRISTI
There will be a Eucharist at Holy Trinity church in Southend Crescent, Eltham, at 7.30pm on Thursday 31st May, which is Corpus Christi. Congregations from all churches in the Eltham and Mottingham deanery are invited.

A GOODBYE
Pam and Gordon Rayment and their family, who have been attending St John’s for 14 years, are leaving to move to Rochester. We give thanks for their contribution to the community and wish them well in their new home.

CHRISTIAN AID CAKE SALE
As Christian Aid Week 2018 draws to a close, we’ll be holding a cake sale in church after the Eucharist today. A big thank you to everyone who supported and helped out with all our other events and collections over the past week. Watch this space for details of funds raised.

SPECIAL SERVICE AT SOUTHWARK CATHEDRAL
At the Annual Parochial Church Meeting last month, Dorian Woodward and Alberta Rosenior were appointed churchwardens. They’ll be admitted to office at a special service in Southwark Cathedral led by the Archdeacon of Lewisham and Greenwich, the Venerable Alastair Cutting, at 8pm this Wednesday. The service is open to all – do please attend if you can to support our new churchwardens.

TEA AND COFFEE AFTER THE EUCHARIST
We need someone to prepare a rota for our great team who serve tea and coffee. The person taking on the role will also be given a small fund to ensure there are enough supplies. If you can help, please speak with Cindy Shipp or Fr Jim.

DATA PROTECTION
On Friday 25th May, the law around data protection is changing. The General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, governs how companies and public bodies hold and use our personal details. At St John’s, we will never share any of your information without your explicit permission. If you no longer want the church to hold your details, let us know and we’ll securely remove them from our database.

GROWING IN FAITH AND LIFE
Applications are open for the Bishop’s Certificate in Discipleship 2018-19, a course with six modules that takes place from September to next June. Entitled ‘Growing in Faith and Life,’ the course is for anyone wishing to read the Bible with more understanding, reflect on their journey as a Christian, and deepen their response to God in prayer, worship and service. It concludes with a residential weekend at Wychcroft in Surrey. Application forms are available from Southwark Diocese at ministryandtraining@southwark.anglican.org. If you have any queries, please speak with Fr Jim or with Cindy Shipp, who did the course last year.

ST JOHN’S PATRONAL FESTIVAL AND SUMMER FAIR
The summer fair is a fantastic event when the church celebrates its patron saint and opens wide its doors to all who live or work in Eltham, as well as visitors to our parish. The fair this year will be on 23rd June at 10am-2pm. We give thanks to Gill Hayes, who has led the organisation of the fair for many years, and to Jene Kerr for taking on the role. Further details will follow in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please speak with Jene or Fr Jim if you have any questions.

ST PAUL’S ADULT LEARNING
As part of St Paul’s Cathedral’s adult learning programme, there’s a chance to see the new Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, in conversation with Cathedral Dean David Ison on Monday 4th June at 6.30pm. For information on this free event, and booking details, please see www.stpauls.co.uk/learning-faith/adult-learning

‘THY KINGDOM COME’
Many thanks to all those who helped keep the church open for daily prayer between Ascension Day and Pentecost. St John’s was one of thousands of churches worldwide to observe 10 days of prayer following a call from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.

SPECIAL SERVICE AT SOUTHWARK CATHEDRAL
At the Annual Parochial Church Meeting last month, Dorian Woodward and Alberta Rosenior were appointed churchwardens They’ll be admitted to office at a special service led by the Archdeacon of Lewisham and Greenwich, the Venerable Alastair Cutting, in Southwark Cathedral at 8pm on Wednesday 23rd May. The service is open to all – do please attend if you can to support our new churchwardens.

‘THY KINGDOM COME’
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have invited churches across the world to observe 10 days of prayer in May from Ascension Day to the Day of Pentecost. As such, St John’s is currently open for daily prayer at 10.30am to 12.30pm, until 20th May. If you’d like to help us keep the church open during this time, please let Fr Jim know.

TEA AND COFFEE AFTER THE EUCHARIST
We need someone to prepare a rota for our great team who serve tea and coffee after the Sunday Eucharist. The person taking on the role will also be given a small fund to ensure there’s enough supply. If you can help, please speak with Cindy Shipp or Fr Jim.

JUNIOR CHURCH
We’re delighted to see significant growth in the number of children coming to our church. With our Junior Church classes now quite crowded, we encourage parents to leave children aged 3 and up in the care of class leaders. This allows parents to remain in church and participate in the service. If you have any concerns, or would like to assist in Junior Church classes, please speak with Alex MacKenzie or Fr Jim.

ST JOHN’S PATRONAL FESTIVAL AND SUMMER FAIR
The summer fair is a fantastic event when the church celebrates its patron saint and opens wide its doors to all who live, work and visit Eltham. The fair this year will be on 23rd June at 10am-2pm. We give thanks to Gill Hayes, who has led the organisation of the fair for many years, and to Jene Kerr for taking on the role. Further details to follow. In the meantime, please speak with Jene or Fr Jim if you have any questions.

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 2018

Christian Aid Week runs from today to 19th May. For more than 70 years, the charity has helped to change the lives of people living in poverty around the world. Please speak with Robyn Price if you can help with any of these events:

• Wednesday 16th May at 12.30pm: Super Soup Lunch. A sign-up sheet is on the noticeboard for anyone able to join us.
• Friday 18th May: Bucket collection at Eltham station
• Sunday 20th May: Cake sale in church after the Eucharist

Raffle tickets are on sale today, and the draw will be made at the Super Soup Lunch.

Donation envelopes are available in the pews for the duration of Christian Aid Week. They can be placed either in the collection bags during the offertory or in the Christian Aid collection bucket at the back of church. Thanks for your support!

SPECIAL SERVICE AT SOUTHWARK CATHEDRAL
At the Annual Parochial Church Meeting last month, Dorian Woodward and Alberta Rosenior were appointed churchwardens They’ll be admitted to office at a special service led by the Archdeacon of Lewisham and Greenwich, the Venerable Alastair Cutting, in Southwark Cathedral at 8pm on Wednesday 23rd May. The service is open to all – do please attend if you can to support our new churchwardens.

‘THY KINGDOM COME’
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are inviting churches across the world to observe 10 days of prayer in May from Ascension Day to the Day of Pentecost. As such, St John’s will be open for prayer at 10.30am to 12.30pm from 11th to 20th May. If you’d like to help us keep the church open during this time, please let Fr Jim know.

TEA AND COFFEE AFTER THE EUCHARIST
We need someone to prepare a rota for our great team who serve tea and coffee after the Sunday Eucharist. The person taking on the role will also be given a small fund to ensure there’s enough supply. If you can help, please speak with Cindy Shipp or Fr Jim.

JUNIOR CHURCH
We’re delighted to see significant growth in the number of children coming to our church. With our Junior Church classes now quite crowded, we encourage parents to leave children aged 3 and up in the care of class leaders. This allows parents to remain in church and participate in the service. If you have any concerns, or would like to assist in Junior Church classes, please speak with Alex MacKenzie or Fr Jim.

ST JOHN’S PATRONAL FESTIVAL AND SUMMER FAIR
The summer fair is a fantastic event when the church celebrates its patron saint and opens wide its doors to all who live, work and visit Eltham. The fair this year will be on 23rd June at 10am-2pm. We give thanks to Gill Hayes, who has led the organisation of the fair for many years, and to Jene Kerr for taking on the role. Further details to follow. In the meantime, please speak with Jene or Fr Jim if you have any questions.

ASCENSION DAY DEANERY EUCHARIST
For the last few years, St John’s has hosted a deanery Eucharist in the evening of Ascension Day. This year, St Edward’s Mottingham will host the service on 10th May at 8pm. All are welcome.

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 2018
Christian Aid Week will run from 13th to 19th May. For more than 70 years, the charity has helped to change the lives of people living in poverty around the world. Please speak with Robyn Price if you can help with any of these events:

• Wednesday 16th May at 12.30pm: Super Soup Lunch. A sign-up sheet is on the noticeboard for anyone able to join us.
• Friday 18th May: Bucket collection at Eltham station.
• Sunday 20th May: Cake sale in church after the Eucharist

Raffle tickets are on sale this Sunday and next, and the draw will be made at the Super Soup Lunch.

Donation envelopes will be available in the pews for the duration of Christian Aid Week. They can be placed either in the collection bags during the offertory or in the Christian Aid collection bucket at the back of church. Thanks for your support!

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING
Thanks to everyone who attended the APCM last week. We’re delighted to announce that Dorian Woodward and Alberta Rosenior were appointed churchwardens, Jean Harker joins the Parochial Church Council and Robyn Price will represent St John’s on the Deanery Synod. A special thank you goes to Nola DeLury, the PCC secretary and parish administrator, whose arrangements enabled the meeting to run so well.

SPECIAL SERVICE AT SOUTHWARK CATHEDRAL
The new churchwardens will be admitted to office during a special service led by the Archdeacon of Lewisham and Greenwich, the Venerable Alastair Cutting, in Southwark Cathedral at 8pm on Wednesday 23rd May. The service is open to all and it would be great if as many people as possible could attend to support our new churchwardens.

ELTHAM CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL
The Bishop of Woolwich, Rt Revd Dr Karowei Dorgu, will consecrate a new altar at a whole-school Eucharist on Ascension Day, 10th May. In preparation, Fr Jim is teaching pupils about the history of the Eucharist. Please pray for the school and for the bishop.

JUNIOR CHURCH
We’re delighted to see significant growth in the number of children coming to our church. With our Junior Church classes now quite crowded, we encourage parents to leave children aged 3 and up in the care of class leaders. This allows parents to remain in church and participate in the service. If you have any concerns, or would like to assist in Junior Church classes, please speak with Alex MacKenzie or Fr Jim.

ST JOHN’S PATRONAL FESTIVAL AND SUMMER FAIR
The summer fair is a great event when the church celebrates its patron saint and opens wide its doors to all who live, work and visit Eltham. The fair this year will be on 23rd June at 10am-2pm. We give thanks to Gill Hayes, who has led the organisation of the fair for many years, and to Jene Kerr for taking on the role. Further details to follow. In the meantime, please speak with Jene or Fr Jim if you have any questions.

ST PAUL’S ADULT LEARNING
As part of St Paul’s Cathedral’s adult learning programme this Spring, there are a number of free events, including a chance to see the new Bishop of London Sarah Mullally in conversation with Cathedral Dean David Ison on 4th June at 6.30pm. For information and booking details, see www.stpauls.co.uk/learning-faith/adult-learning

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 2018
Christian Aid Week will run from 13th to 19th May. For over 70 years, the charity has helped to change the lives of people living in poverty around the world. Last year, St John’s raised more than £1,500, the most raised by any single church in Eltham. Robyn Price will be in touch shortly with news of this year’s Super Soup Lunch on Wednesday 16th May at 12.30pm, as well as the raffle, collections and other events.

‘THY KINGDOM COME’
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are inviting churches across the world to observe 10 days of prayer in May from Ascension Day to the Day of Pentecost. As such, St John’s will be open for prayer at 10.30am to 12.30pm from 11th to 20th May. If you’d like to help us keep the church open during this time, please let Fr Jim know.

TEA AND COFFEE AFTER THE EUCHARIST
Refreshments after the Eucharist are an important part of the life of the church. It is a time when people can pause after Holy Communion and catch up with friends or meet new ones. We need someone to prepare a rota for our great team who serve tea and coffee. The person taking on the role will also be given a small fund to ensure there are enough supplies. If you can help, please speak with Cindy Shipp or Fr Jim.

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING TODAY
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held in church immediately after the Eucharist today. It’s an opportunity to hear about what’s been happening in the church over the past year and is open to all on the electoral roll.

VOLUNTEER FOR WELCARE
Could you spare a few hours every couple of weeks? Welcare, a Christian charity long-supported by St John’s, is looking for volunteers. The organisation gives practical and emotional support to families in difficulty, providing one-to-one sessions for parents and children in a welcoming, non-judgmental environment. See welcare.org

ELTHAM CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL
The Bishop of Woolwich, the Rt Revd Dr Karowei Dorgu, will consecrate a new altar at a whole-school Eucharist on Ascension Day, 10th May. In preparation, Fr Jim is teaching pupils about the history and theology of the Eucharist. Please pray for the school and for Bishop Karowei.

JUNIOR CHURCH
We’ve been delighted to see significant growth in the number of children coming to our church. With our Junior Church classes now quite crowded, we encourage parents to leave children aged 3 and up in the care of class leaders. This allows parents to remain in church and participate in the service. If you have any concerns or questions, or would like to be involved with leading or assisting in Junior Church classes, please speak with Alex MacKenzie or Fr Jim.

ST PAUL’S ADULT LEARNING
As part of St Paul’s Cathedral’s adult learning programme this Spring, there are a number of free events, including a chance to see the new Bishop of London Sarah Mullally in conversation with Cathedral Dean David Ison on 4th June at 6.30pm. Mullally will discuss her faith, her life and how she feels about being the city’s first female bishop. For information on this and other talks, including booking details, please visit www.stpauls.co.uk/learning-faith/adult-learning

BIRTHDAY COFFEE
There are still some spaces on the Birthday Coffee list. If you would like to mark a birthday or some other special occasion, a list of available dates is on the church noticeboard. For a donation of £5, everyone can enjoy free tea or coffee on your chosen Sunday after the Eucharist. Please see Sheila Squire for more details.

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK
Christian Aid Week 2018 will run from 13th to 19th May. For more than 70 years, the charity has been helping to change the lives of people living in poverty around the world. Last year, St John’s raised more than £1,500, the most raised by any single church in Eltham. Robyn Price will be in touch in the coming weeks with news of this year’s Super Soup Lunch on Wednesday 16th May at 12.30pm, as well as the raffle, collections and other planned events.

‘THY KINGDOM COME’
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are inviting churches across the world to observe 10 days of prayer in May from Ascension Day to the Day of Pentecost. As such, St John’s will be open for daily prayer at 10.30am to 12.30pm from 11th to 20th May. Some of those days will include the church’s regular worship. If you’d like to help us keep the church open during this time, please let Fr Jim know.

JESU, THOU ART ALL COMPASSION: RETREAT AT ASCOT PRIORY, BERKSHIRE
There are still spaces for the Ascot retreat on 15th-17th June. Run by the ecumenical Spiritual Association of the Compassionate Hearts of Jesus & Mary (www.cchjm.org), the retreat is set in the context of silence, with those present invited to enter into the heart of God through different perspectives – the Heart of the Father; the Heart in Silence; the Heart of Compassion, the Heart’s Softener. The cost is £160; please contact Fr John-Francis to book, at cchjm@outlook.com

ST PAUL’S ADULT LEARNING
As part of St Paul’s Cathedral’s adult learning programme this Spring, there are a number of free events, including a chance to see the new Bishop of London Sarah Mullally in conversation with Cathedral Dean David Ison on 4th June at 6.30pm. Mullally will discuss her faith, her life, what matters to her most, and how she feels about being the city’s first female bishop. For information on this and other talks, including booking details, visit www.stpauls.co.uk/learning-faith/adult-learning

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held in church immediately after the Eucharist next Sunday. It’s an opportunity to hear about what’s been happening in the church over the past year and is open to all on the electoral roll. For those planning to attend, the annual report is now available at the back of church.

WENSLEY CLOSE
The Friends of Wensley Close will hold a coffee morning and bring-and-buy on Tuesday 17th April at 10am to 12.30pm at Charter House in King John’s Walk (approach by Court Yard, turn right at Eltham Palace gates). Please come and support this local charity, which helps children with learning disabilities.

VOLUNTEER FOR WELCARE
Could you spare a few hours every couple of weeks? Welcare, a Christian charity long-supported by St John’s, is looking for volunteers. The organisation gives practical and emotional support to families in difficulty, providing one-to-one sessions for parents and children in a welcoming, non-judgmental environment. Volunteers have a range of backgrounds, ages and experience, and all receive training and ongoing support and guidance. To get involved or for further details, see welcare.org, call 020 7820 7910 or email volunteering@welcare.org

BIRTHDAY COFFEE
There are still some spaces on the Birthday Coffee list. If you would like to mark a birthday or some other special occasion, a list of available dates is on the church noticeboard. For a donation of £5, everyone can enjoy free tea or coffee on your chosen Sunday after the Eucharist. Please see Sheila Squire for more details.

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK
Christian Aid Week 2018 will run from 13th to 19th May. For more than 70 years, the charity has been helping to change the lives of people living in poverty around the world. Last year, St John’s raised more than £1,500, the most raised by any single church in Eltham. Robyn Price will be in touch in the coming weeks with news of this year’s Super Soup Lunch on Wednesday 16th May at 12.30pm, as well as the raffle, collections and other planned events.

JESU, THOU ART ALL COMPASSION: RETREAT AT ASCOT PRIORY, BERKSHIRE
There are still spaces for the Ascot retreat on 15th-17th June. Run by the ecumenical Spiritual Association of the Compassionate Hearts of Jesus & Mary (www.cchjm.org), the retreat will be set in the context of silence, with those present invited to enter into the heart of God through different perspectives – the Heart of the Father; the Heart in Silence; the Heart of Compassion, and the Heart’s Softener. The cost of the weekend is £160, and a booking form is available on request: please contact Fr John-Francis at cchjm@outlook.com

ST PAUL’S ADULT LEARNING
As part of St Paul’s Cathedral’s adult learning programme this Spring, there are a number of free events, including a discussion on ‘Who am I? Identity, Faith and Being Human.’ The event, led by former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, will take place in the cathedral on Monday 16th April at 6.30pm. For information on this and other events in the programme, including booking details, visit www.stpauls.co.uk/learning-faith/adult-learning

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held in church immediately after the Eucharist on Sunday 22nd April. The meeting is an opportunity to hear about what has been happening in the church over the past year and is open to all on the electoral roll.

WENSLEY CLOSE
The Friends of Wensley Close will hold a coffee morning and bring-and-buy on Tuesday 17th April at 10am to 12.30pm at Charter House in King John’s Walk (approach by Court Yard, turn right at Eltham Palace gates). Please come and support this local charity, which helps children with learning disabilities.

VOLUNTEER FOR WELCARE
Could you spare a few hours every couple of weeks to make a positive difference to a child’s life? Welcare, a Christian charity long-supported by St John’s, is looking for volunteers. The organisation gives practical and emotional support to families in difficulty, providing one-to-one sessions for parents and children in a welcoming, non-judgmental environment. Volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds, ages and experience, and all receive training and ongoing support and guidance. To get involved or for further details, see welcare.org or contact 020 7820 7910 / volunteering@welcare.org

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK
Christian Aid Week 2018 will run from 13th to 19th May. For more than 70 years, the charity has been helping to change the lives of people living in poverty around the world. Last year, St John’s raised more than £1,500, the most raised by any single church in Eltham. Robyn Price will be in touch in the coming weeks with news of this year’s Super Soup Lunch on Wednesday 16th May at 12.30pm, as well as the raffle, collections and other planned events.

Easter Sunday

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held in church immediately after the Eucharist on Sunday 22nd April. The meeting is an opportunity to hear about what has been happening in the church over the past year and is open to all on the electoral roll.

WENSLEY CLOSE
The Friends of Wensley Close will hold a coffee morning and bring-and-buy on Tuesday 17th April at 10am to 12.30pm at Charter House in King John’s Walk (approach by Court Yard, turn right at Eltham Palace gates). Please come and support this local charity, which helps children with learning disabilities.

JESU, THOU ART ALL COMPASSION: RETREAT AT ASCOT PRIORY, BERKSHIRE
There are still spaces for the Ascot retreat on 15th-17th June. Run by the ecumenical Spiritual Association of the Compassionate Hearts of Jesus & Mary (www.cchjm.org), the retreat will be set in the context of silence, with those present invited to enter into the heart of God through different perspectives – the Heart of the Father; the Heart in Silence; the Heart of Compassion, and the Heart’s Softener. The cost of the weekend is £160, and a booking form is available on request: please contact Fr John-Francis at cchjm@outlook.com.

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK
Christian Aid Week 2018 will run from 13th to 19th May. For more than 70 years, the charity has been helping to change the lives of people living in poverty around the world. Last year, St John’s raised more than £1,500, the most raised by any single church in Eltham. Robyn Price will be in touch in the coming weeks with news of this year’s Super Soup Lunch on 17th May at 12.30pm, as well as the raffle, collections and other planned events.

Holy Week and Easter 2018

Palm Sunday, 25th March
10am Parish Eucharist with Procession of the Palms

Monday 26th, Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th March
7.30pm Eucharist

Maundy Thursday, 29th March
7.30pm Eucharist with Washing of the Feet and Stripping of the Sanctuary followed by the Watch

Good Friday, 30th March
1pm The Way of the Cross (non-Eucharistic)
2pm Good Friday Eucharist – The Final Hour

Easter Day, 1st April
6am Vigil and First Eucharist of Easter
10am Parish Eucharist

LENT ART INSTALLATION
Southwark Cathedral is displaying ‘Doubt,’ an artwork by Susie MacMurray, until 30th March. Each year, an artist is invited to provide a piece to act as a focus for contemplation and reflection during Lent. British sculptor MacMurray has created a ‘cloud,’ which dominates the chancel and high altar sanctuary. The work stems from a conversation she had with a soldier who had served in Afghanistan, who spoke about how he had felt a dark weight hovering behind him. It led MacMurray to think about the 40 days and 40 nights of Jesus’ fast in the Judaean Desert.

GOOD FRIDAY CONCERT
The St Cecilia Festival Chorus will perform their annual concert on Good Friday at 7.30pm at the United Reform Church on Court Road. Francis Eastwood will conduct Faure’s Requiem for the final time, having directed the concert for the past 50 years. Jack Day will conduct Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs. For more details, see the poster at the back of church or speak to Colin MacKenzie.

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held immediately after the Eucharist on Sunday 22nd April. The meeting is an opportunity to hear about what has been happening in the church over the past year and is open to all on the electoral roll.

CHURCH FLOWERS
On Holy Saturday, we’ll be decorating the church in preparation for Easter Sunday. We’ll start around 10am, and all are welcome to join us, including children. If you have any queries, please speak with Fr Jim or Robyn Price.

WENSLEY CLOSE
The Friends of Wensley Close will hold a coffee morning and bring-and-buy on Tuesday 17th April at 10am-12.30pm at Charter House in King John’s Walk (approach by Court Yard, turn right at Eltham Palace gates). Please come if you can to support this local charity, which helps children with learning disabilities.

Holy Week and Easter 2018

Palm Sunday, 25th March
10am Parish Eucharist with Procession of the Palms

Monday 26th, Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th March
7.30pm Eucharist

Maundy Thursday, 29th March
7.30pm Eucharist with Washing of the Feet and Stripping of the Sanctuary followed by the Watch

Good Friday, 30th March
1pm The Way of the Cross (non-Eucharistic)
2pm Good Friday Eucharist – The Final Hour

Easter Day, 1st April
6am Vigil and First Eucharist of Easter
10am Parish Eucharist

BISHOP’S LENT CALL
Last month, the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, sent out a ‘call’ to the churches of the diocese to take time for contemplation during Lent, to grow closer to God and to consider how one might help others in need. To that end, there are envelopes in St John’s marked ‘Bishop’s Lent Call’ for any donations. All funds gathered from the churches in response to the ‘call’ will go to support projects in the diocese, in the Holy Land and in Zimbabwe. Please see the posters on the noticeboard in the south aisle for more information.

VOLUNTEER NEEDED
We need another kind person to join the tea and coffee rota. This involves making hot drinks after the Sunday service and clearing up afterwards. At the moment, your turn would come around every other month, so it’s not too onerous. Please have a word with Cindy Shipp if you can help, or email cynthiashipp32@gmail.com if she’s not around in church.

WELCARE ANNUAL QUIZ
The Friends of Greenwich Welcare invite all at St John’s to their annual quiz on Saturday 24th March at 6.45pm for 7pm at St Thomas’s Church, Maryon Road, Charlton. Tickets cost £10 and include supper (bring your own drinks). Please pick up a flyer at the back of church or contact Jean and Peter Griffiths on
020 8319 8676 or at jean.peterg@hotmail.com.

Welcare is a charity long-supported by St John’s. It provides practical support to families in difficulty, helping parents and carers use their strengths and skills to nurture happy, confident children. See welcare.org for further information.

MUSIC IN WORSHIP
St Sepulchre’s Church, Holborn, is holding a series of evening events with performances and ‘spoken reflections,’ exploring the importance of music in worship. The events start at 6.30pm on the first Monday of each month, from March to June. As the National Musicians’ Church, St Sepulchre’s has a long tradition of musical excellence which is seen at the weekly choral evensongs on Tuesdays, while on Sunday mornings the focus is on ‘contemporary worship.’ More information is available from Peter Horton or on the church’s website: stsepulchres.org

TRUTH TALKS
The final lecture in the Westminster Abbey Institute’s series on truth takes place on Tuesday 20th March. Claire Foster-Gilbert, director of the institute and an expert in medical ethics, regulation and public theology, will discuss the notion that truth should be the lodestar by which we choose our words and fashion our political and journalistic language, including the use of rhetoric. We all share responsibility for this and, if politicians and journalists lie, it is because we want them to.

The event takes place at 6.30pm in the Lady Chapel of Westminster Abbey and is chaired by Lord Judge, former Lord Chief Justice. Please book at www.westminster-abbey.org/institute/truth

LENT: CONTEMPLATION AND COMPLINE
St John’s will be open this Thursday for silent prayer at 7pm followed by Compline at 7.30pm. The ancient office of Compline derives its name from the Latin for ‘completion’ (completorium). It is above all a service of quietness and reflection before rest at the end of the day. It is most effective when the ending is indeed an ending, without conversation or noise. Those present depart in silence.

THE DARKNESS BEFORE THE DAWN: A HOLY WEEK RETREAT
Southwark Cathedral will be holding a Holy Week retreat on Monday 26th March to Wednesday 28th March, with John Bell of the Iona Community. The retreat offers a time to be reflective, prayerful and creative, consciously placing ourselves in the presence of God as we walk with Jesus through the final days of his life.

John Bell lectures, preaches and conducts seminars across the denominations. He is a hymn writer and author, but his primary passion is congregational song. Visit www.darknessbeforedawnretreat.eventbrite.co.uk to book a place at £35. If you have any questions, please speak with Fr Jim.

GREENWICH FOODBANK
Last year, Greenwich Foodbank provided food packs to 7,000 people. Contributions are still needed, particularly tinned carrots, long-life fruit juice, long-life milk, tinned fruit and sugar. Organisers say they have a very large stock of baked beans! The foodbank is also unable to take baby milk. Please place any items in the basket at the back of church. Thank you for your contributions – they are much appreciated.

JILL BAYLISS
Jill Bayliss, a member of St John’s, moved to Sudan in October for a three-year work placement. She has been in touch to say she’s happily settled and has joined a church, similar in content to St John’s, although the sermons last 30 minutes! Jill will be back in the U.K. over Easter and plans to come to church on Easter Sunday. She looks forward to seeing everyone again.

A REMINDER
The clocks go forward by one hour to British Summer Time on the morning of 25th March – that’s next Sunday!

CAKES FOR BISHOP’S LENT CALL
The older children of our church made £10 selling cakes last Sunday for the Lent Call. Congratulations to them. A reminder that there are envelopes in St John’s marked ‘Bishop’s Lent Call’ for any donations in the coming weeks. All funds gathered from the diocese’s churches will support projects in Southwark, the Holy Land and Zimbabwe.

LENT: CONTEMPLATION AND COMPLINE
St John’s is open on Thursdays until 22nd March for silent prayer at 7pm followed by Compline at 7.30pm. The ancient office of Compline derives its name from the Latin for ‘completion’. It’s a service of reflection at the end of the day and is most effective when the ending is indeed an ending, without noise. Those present depart in silence.

SOUTHWARK DIOCESAN SPIRITUAL FORMATION GROUP
Copies of the Southwark Diocesan Spiritual Formation Group’s latest newsletter are now available at the back of church. The news sheet includes details of several events at the Sisters of St Andrew foundation in Lewisham, among them a Lenten Quiet Evening on 14th March. It also includes details of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s recommended book for Lent 2018: ‘Say it to God’ by Luigi Gioia.

THE DARKNESS BEFORE THE DAWN: A HOLY WEEK RETREAT
Southwark Cathedral will host a Holy Week retreat on 26th to 28th March, with John Bell of the Iona Community. The retreat offers a time to be reflective, prayerful and creative, consciously placing ourselves in the presence of God as we walk with Jesus through the final days of his life. Places – at £35 – are likely to go quickly, so do apply early. See www.darknessbeforedawnretreat.eventbrite.co.uk or speak with Fr Jim.

GREENWICH FOODBANK
Last year, Greenwich Foodbank gave food packs to 7,000 people. Contributions are still needed, particularly tinned carrots, long-life fruit juice, long-life milk, tinned fruit and sugar. They have a large stock of baked beans! The foodbank is also unable to take baby milk. Please pop any items in the basket at the back of church. Thank you!

JILL BAYLISS
Jill Bayliss, a member of St John’s, moved to Sudan in October for a three-year work placement. She has been in touch to say she’s happily settled and has joined a church, similar in content to St John’s, although the sermons last 30 minutes! Jill will be in the U.K. for Easter and at church on Easter Sunday. She looks forward to seeing everyone.

VOLUNTEER NEEDED
We need another kind person to join the tea and coffee rota. This involves making hot drinks after the Sunday service and clearing up. At the moment, your turn would come around every other month, so it’s not too onerous. Please see Cindy Shipp if you can help, or email cynthiashipp32@gmail.com if she’s not around in church.

WELCARE ANNUAL QUIZ
The Friends of Greenwich Welcare invite you to their annual quiz on Saturday 24th March at 6.45pm for 7pm at St Thomas’s Church, Charlton. A £10 ticket includes supper (bring your own drinks). Please pick up a flyer at the back of church or contact Jean and Peter Griffiths on 020 8319 8676 or at jean.peterg@hotmail.com.

MUSIC IN WORSHIP
St Sepulchre’s Church, Holborn, is holding a series of evening events that include performances and ‘spoken reflections,’ exploring the importance of music in worship. The events start at 6.30pm on the first Monday of each month, March to June. As the National Musicians’ Church, St Sepulchre’s has a tradition of musical excellence. More information is available from Peter Horton or on the church website: stsepulchres.org