Dear Friends
Things have been hotting up!
What is it about heat and British people? We all seem to either love it, or flake out and retire to darkened rooms!
However, the spiritual temperature has also been rising in both our churches as we met for the final time last Tuesday for Alpha and prayed for people to receive the Holy Spirit.
Alpha
A group of twenty people from both churches have been eating together, watching films together and discussing in three groups: ‘Who is Jesus?’, ‘Why did Jesus die?’ ‘How can I have faith?’ ‘Why and how do I pray?’ etc. This culminated in the Alpha Away Day at Altham St James church where we spent the day watching three videos about the Holy Spirit and then had an opportunity to pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
We would love to repeat this experience at St John’s next year and hope you will catch up with those who took part and see what they thought. (Someone has already signed up!).
For more information about Alpha, just click here: https://alpha.org/about/
We had a mix of those who were regular church goers and those just exploring faith. However, the opportunity to eat, chat and get to know each other, developed a sense of community that is hard to beat. I loved it! Thank you to all who took part and especially those who helped me to lead, it would not have been possible without you.
Experiencing the Alpha community!
We hope Alpha will lead to more people joining our Connect groups which we hope to re-start again in September. We call these groups Connect Groups – connecting first with God, then with each other and finally connecting with our local community.
Connect groups are the best place to really deepen your faith, make friends, and receive support and accountability. We are exploring two types of material for September:
- Material linked to the video series ‘The Chosen’ https://www.thechosen.tv/en-us
- ‘Fruitfulness on the Frontline’ produced by London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, which helps people to share their faith on their ‘frontlines’; often at work, but in any place where they are meeting with people who don’t know Jesus. https://licc.org.uk/ourresources/fruitfulness/.
Go to our website: www.johnpaulparish.org.uk/connect to find out more about the history of our Connect Groups and see the ‘PS’ for a list of groups.
Who runs JohnPaul?
As we start to attract younger families into the church, we have decided to welcome some newcomers to the Ministry team to join myself, Carolyn, Tony, Roger, Heather, Patricia and Janet. We hope they will help us to find out how we can reach a new generation with the good news of Jesus. We will introduce them to you properly once they are settled in.
The Ministry team takes responsibility for Mission and Ministry – worship, pastoral care, our work with children and families, outreach, prayer and discipleship. They report into the PCC.
The PCC (The Parochial Church Council) organises the administrative and legal side of the church: GDPR, Finance, Fabric, Safeguarding, Health and Safety. Do visit our website to see who is new on PCC since May.
As school holidays loom!
I want to say a big thank you to our Children’s teams across both churches – Children’s Church, Busy Bees, the new All age team at St John’s and Families@5 at St Paul’s. We realise so many of you give up so much time to support our children. I just so loved receiving a card at church from one of the children saying ‘You are loved’ on it! Thank you for your creativity, dedication and the joy you all seem to share. I love twirling with the children at Families@5 and at 10.30am at St John’s.
On a personal note
Having expected to have my half knee replacement in June, it was delayed until this coming Monday. I am not holding my breath to see if it happens. However, if it does go ahead, please bear with us, especially in August, when we won’t be able to offer fully all age services every week at St John’s – as the Children’s team gets a well-deserved break. If you can offer any help to service leaders during that time it would be really appreciated.
May God bless you and keep you this summer,
Amanda and the team at JohnPaul!
PS Here is the list of our Connect groups
- Every third Monday – the Hindles will lead a monthly Bible Book Club at their home: 32 Pinewood Drive, Accrington
- Every Tuesday in the evening – Roger Longworth and Richard Marshall will lead a Men’s Connect group – venue tbc.
- Every Wednesday Lorraine Jones and Alison Longworth will lead a Connect group at 4 Victoria Avenue, Baxenden
- Every Thursday at 1.30pm Dorothy Brown and Flo Kapenda will lead a Connect group at 84 Royds Avenue, Baxenden.
Most evening groups will start at 7pm. Please contact the leader either via our JohnPaul Information whats app group, or by chatting to one of your Alpha friends.
Weekly Events in the Church
Mon Keep Fit at 2pm – St Paul’s Church Hall
Prayer meeting 6.30pm – Warmden Av
Tuesday Men’s Connect Group Venue and Time TBC
Wednesday Connect group with Lorraine and Alison at 4 Victoria Avenue at 7pm
Thursday Connect group with Flo and Dorothy at 84 Royds Avenue
Friday Busy Bees 9-11am – St John’s Lounge – Toddler Group. Term time only.
Sunday Service at 9am at St Paul’s and Service at 10.30am at St John’s with Children’s Church
Monthly Events in the Church
First Thursday Knit and Natter at 10am with alternating venues each month
2nd & 4thSun Families@5 in St Paul’s (not on in August)
2nd Tuesday 10am Coffee Morning at St Paul’s
Bible Book Club at the Hindles at 7 pm – 32 Pinewood Drive
3rd Tuesday 10am Holy Communion & Coffee Morning in St John’s Lounge
3rd Wed 1.30pm Dominoes Drive at St Paul’s Church Hall
4th Sunday 10:30am All Age service at St John’s.
Last Wed 7pm Monthly Prayer meeting alternating between the churches.
Do click here to look at our calendar for the whole list of events