Category Archives: Uncategorized

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…
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Dear All   I thought I would share with you the review that I shared with the whole church before the APCM in May.   Revelation 21:1-6 A new heaven and a new earth Today’s talk is a review of the year, as part of our annual meeting which will take place after the service. I want to start that review by sharing a meditation that I shared with St Paul’s when talking about our outreach to new families and children. Hopeful Meditation – a new take on church You are both in your thirties with two children from BH…
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Do join us as we explore life’s big questions at Alpha!  Starting on Tuesday 29th April at 6.30pm at St Paul’s Church, Plantation Street with a home cooked meal, videos and discussion groups. Contact [email protected] for more information.  Click here for a preview

Dear JohnPaul Family I have just finished my third funeral, in as many weeks, on the same day that Marion and I said our goodbyes to another long-standing member of St John’s and the week after St Paul’s lost Ann Wenter. In the midst of life we are in death! I love funerals – I love it that we always remember the best, that families come together, that I am privileged to be part of this special moment.  I love it that our children, and even our grandchildren, take part because those relationships are so important. So, these last few weeks I…
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Dear Friends The sun is shining with that intensity you often only experience when the skies are clear and there is no wind.  The snow drops are continuing to bloom and the daffodils are starting to peep out.  Do you ever have that deep breath moment when it is as if God was whispering those immortal words from Psalm 46.10? ‘Be still and know that I am God!’ What is happening at church? As a church we are moving into that season of our annual church meeting (APCM).  This year we are asking you to sign up again to be…
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It was just February 24 when we met for our Vision Day at Whalley Abbey and it was there we dreamed dreams for the future of JohnPaul Parish and put some key markers in place. As a result of the Vision Day, we developed a Vision Statement with some follow up actions under the headings of Community Presence, Leadership Gifts and Talents, Prayer, Family Engagement, Being one Church, Welcome and how to include new people, Not dwelling in the past and Visibility of the PCC and decisions. See below for a reminder of our Vision statement and please see the…
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