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Dear Friends
Matthew 25, 31-end
‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me’
We have very often read in the media in recent months how Lockdown and the pandemic in general have been detrimental for those of us with anxiety or depression. Last week I saw a report to the effect that loneliness had become a dire problem, especially among the young. As we move into Advent and look forward to a Christmas like no other, we will also be aware of the imperative to reach out to those around us, especially those who may be struggling in these days. We all know what a difference a quick phone call or even just a text can make; we don’t need to be delivering Christmas hampers and making large donations to charity but if we do then so much the better. Christ our King does not demand our loyalty for himself but rather asks us to look outside ourselves to the hurting world around us.
Remember Jesus’ haunting words to Peter at the very end of John’s gospel: ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep’ (John 21, 17)
With love and best wishes
Alistair
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Online Services This Week
Sunday Mass.
We will be live streaming Mass from inside St John's today at 10am and so please join us by clicking here. There is no 11am online service.
If you would like to download or print the service sheet you can find it here. The pew sheet with readings is here. If you are not joining us online, you may like to use the Prayer at home sheet we have produced here.
Morning Prayer.
We will be saying Morning Prayer on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday this week at 9am on Zoom. Please click below to join each service.
Music.
Although we are not having music in church at the moment, you might like to listen to these hymns and an anthem which are appropriate for this week.
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Resources for young people
If you would like to support your young people with prayer and worship, the Diddy Disciples website has lots of free resources, including stories, songs and prayers, as well as more general information.
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Goose Green Coffee Morning
Dementia Friends Talk
On Wednesday 2 December at 12pm Julie Whitney will be holding an information session about how dementia affects a person and what you can do to make a difference. Anyone of any age can become a Dementia Friend. The talk is about 30 minutes and will start at 12 o'clock. You can see the poster here. Please email Sue O'Neill if you would like the access details for Zoom.
The Goose Green Coffee Morning is every Wednesday at 11:30am through Zoom. Do drop in if you get a chance and beat the lockdown blues!
Just click on this link to join. If you've any problems get in touch with Raymond on 07934 817431 or Sue on 07961 580920.
Coffee Morning is a great way for us to enjoy each other's company, to check in and make sure we are keeping as well as possible and, most importantly, to have fun. Bring your own coffee, cake or lunch!
We hope to see you.
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Open Church
St John's will be open for private prayer between 9am and 11am, Monday to Thursday. You are welcome to come in and enjoy the peace and quiet of the building, and light a candle. Please remember to sanitize your hands on arrival, and wear a mask. There will be no access to toilets for visitors, so please factor that in for when you plan your visit.
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St John’s online Christmas Quiz
Wednesday 16 December at 7pm
Join us on Wednesday 16 December for a Fun Christmas Quiz on Zoom, with quizmasters Rachel and Gareth Mills. Whether on your own or as a group this promises to be a lovely evening where we can all socialise together, and see one another. There will be questions for all abilities. To join in, please click here.
Entry to the quiz is free, however if you would like to make a donation to support the work of St John's you can do so by clicking the donate button on our church website (suggested donation £5 per adult), or you can make a donation by posting a cheque made payable to St John's PCC to the church office. Do join with other church or family members to form a team, either in your own home (COVID-19 regulations permitting) or by joining others by telephone/WhatsApp, etc. If you are on your own and would like to be put in contact with others to form a team, please email Martin Howell and we will put you in contact with someone. We look forward to seeing you!
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The Art of Advent: a study course
On Mondays during Advent, (30 November to 21 December) we will be holding an online study course looking at Advent themes through art. We will explore the artistic depiction of those characters we remember as we light our Advent wreath: the patriarchs, the prophets, John the Baptist, and Mary. The sessions will begin at 7pm, call or email Revd Gill O'Neill if you are interested. Everybody welcome!
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Southwark Foodbank
If you are in need of the Foodbank’s services then we are able to refer you from St John’s. Please just speak to either Gill or Raymond or get in touch by email. If you would like to donate to the Foodbank’s Covid-19 Emergency Appeal, please click here.
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The Gander
 Calling all children! In our December issue of The Gander we want to feature Christmas creations by St John's children and young people, to get us in the mood for Christmas. We would like to includes photos of any paintings or drawings, poems or any other Christmas themed creative work, you could even record a Christmas song! We'll be delighted to receive whatever you can send. Please email Sue O'Neill images (or sound files!) by the 29 November. |
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St John’s and St Clement’s
St John’s and St Clement’s C of E Primary School have produced a virtual school tour, given current COVID-19 restrictions. For the video, click here.
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Black & Blue: Black Christian police officers on racism,
law and order and their Christian faith
Wednesday 2 December 7.30pm
Richard Reddie is organising this much-anticipated webinar, which will enable you to hear from present and former serving Black police officers about their views on the Black Lives Matter movement, institutional racism, “stop and search” and related law and order issues.
This webinar brings together the likes of Dr Leroy Logan MBE, Janet Hills and Bevan Powell MBE who will talk about issues such as why they initially joined the police service; whether this decision impacted their relationships with family and friends, and how they have been viewed by their White colleagues.
The session will be chaired by The Venerable Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Archdeacon of Croydon and Revd. Les Isaac OBE, CEO of the Ascension Trust, who will put the participants through their paces and find out, among other issues, how their faith informs, or has informed, their work and commitment to justice, fairness and integrity.
For details and registration, click here.
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