Sunday 16th November 2008
Manna from Mars – 8pm – Tuesday 18th November
We meet again on Tuesday evening for the next session of Manna form Mars. Each session stands alone, so it is possible to come along to any individual sessions you are free for. We start on Tuesday evening with pudding at 8.00pm, at the Rectory.
The session is entitled OPEN of which Rob Bell says:- Many of us have experienced situations where we’ve prayed and it felt like God wasn’t listening. And yet other times we’ve prayed or known someone that prayed and the situation changed. Does God answer prayer? Sometimes, but not all the time? Or does God always answer prayer and it's just that sometimes God says no? Some of us are angry with God for not answering the prayers we’ve prayed for years. Why did he answer their prayer but not ours? What if there’s more to prayer than just God listening and answering? Maybe if we understood how Jesus prayed, our concepts and expectations of prayer would change.
Church Finances
Over the last couple of weeks we’ve been encouraged to consider increasing our own giving to the church in response to The Treasurers Test.
Currently, our end of year forecast predicts a £7,000 deficit. Please consider making a one-off Lump Sum Donation to help us balance the books for 2007 and commencing or increasing your covenanted giving for 2009. Remember it is possible for the Church to reclaim an additional 25% tax on your giving?
To find out more about how you personally can make a difference to the Church finances, please call me (Emma Smith) on 077977 39747 or email me at: Emma.L.Smith@schroders.com
The St John Bible in a year church challenge 2009
Three weeks ago we launched the Bible in a Year Challenge inviting church members to make an early New Years resolution to journey together through the entire bible in 2009, encouraging and supporting each other as they travel.
Setting aside just 15 minutes a day to read the daily section from the ‘Every day with Jesus bible in a year book,’ comprising a couple of chapters from the Old Testament; a chapter from the New Testament; along with a Psalm or a Proverb, plus a thought for the day and prayer.
To date 32 church members have decided to take the ‘Bible in a year’ church challenge in 2009. If you’d like to join us, please advise our church administrator Ali Fosse at joalif@hotmail.com or on 861688 and forward payment of £12.50 asap to the Rectory.
In order to know God well, we must know his word, the bible.
Advent Journey of the three kings.
Will you welcome the three kings into your home this Christmas season?
The three kings will begin their journey on Advent Sunday (Nov 30th) arriving back in church on Epiphany Sunday (Jan 4th) calling on their way for a night or two at the homes of church members who wish to be involved. They’ll journey separately, so each participant will have three visitors, on three occasions. As each king is delivered to the home a small gift will be offered and a coffee shared. This means that we’ll be making time for six conversations with other church members during the Christmas period, which will strengthen relationships.
Our hope, first and foremost, is that as the kings make their unusual journey, our own journeys this Christmas may be enriched as we remember the gifts they brought to Jesus and so consider the gifts we ourselves will give to others and to Jesus this year.
If you’d like a king to visit your home please advise Andy on 861677 or at athewlis@jerseymail.co.uk
Ian Rolls Prints
We now have only 35 Ian Rolls prints of the church remaining. These cost £75 with 50% going towards Phase Two of the church building works and would make a lovely Christmas gift.
Contact Andy 861677 to place an order.