Weekly News Sheets
St John’s Church, Neville’s Cross
We are encouraging as many people as possible to receive this weekly news sheet via email. Please click here to contact the Rector’s Secretary to be added to the distribution list. This helps to keep our costs down and also reduce our carbon footprint.
This Sunday (15th September) there will be a Communion Service in church at 8.45 am (with Canon Remi Omole preaching and presiding) and at 10.30 am (with Canon Remi Omole preaching and Rev Dr Caroline Friswell presiding). The 10.30 am service will be broadcast live (available to view on our Facebook page) https://www.facebook.com/StJohnschurchnevillescross.
The Revd Colin Rogerson RIP: Colin, who was Curate of St Margaret’s and de facto Vicar of St John’s from 1975-1988, died last Sunday evening. His ministry here is fondly and gratefully remembered by many who knew him. Please keep his family in your prayers; details of his funeral service will be shared as soon as they are known.
On Saturday 14th September Alex Walker, our Children Youth & Families Worker, is going to receive his certificate as an Authorised Children’s Minister of the diocese in the Cathedral. The service is at 11am, all are welcome.
Café Church next Sunday: Next Sunday there will be a service of Holy Communion as usual at 8.45am; the 10.30am service will be Café Church: a Service of the Word which incorporates guided conversation (with breakfast food) around tables; we explore the scripture and themes of the day together interactively in this way. There is provision for children and teenagers at Café Church (NB we do not have separate Sunday School groups for this service, we are all in church together).
Sunday morning children’s/teenagers’ groups: As of this term we are re-establishing a younger-age group for Sunday mornings, in addition to our Primary-age group (John’s Juniors) and Think Tank (which covers older Primary and Secondary-age children). We are restarting ‘Funky Monkeys’*, which is a pre-school/Reception-age group, aimed at ages 2-4, which meets in the tearoom downstairs. (*name tbc!) We also provide a soft ‘crêche’ area for younger children (with parental supervision); this is currently in the church itself, but if parents prefer it could be moved to the foyer (to be nearer Funky Monkeys). There has always been a degree of fluidity in terms of the age boundaries between our various groups. Please pray for more children, and also leaders and helpers, to come forward to help make our vision viable in the longer term. We aim to provide thoughtful, engaging, fun, age-appropriate Christian engagement for each of these age groups. Please let Alex or Barney know if you would be willing to help.
Romans Course – part 2: Following on from our Lent course earlier this year, Jon Wilkinson will be guiding us through the second half of Paul’s Letter to the Romans, using the same video-based resource (https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/resources/the-romans-course). All are welcome, it doesn’t matter if you weren’t here for part 1 and it’s ok if you can’t make all the sessions; the course will be running on Thursday evenings next month, 7 pm -9 pm (there are 5 sessions and 5 Thursdays: 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th & 31st October).
The next Open Door session will be on Wed 18th September, 10 – 12 noon. Join us for tea/coffee, conversation and cake.
Church Prayer Meeting: We meet to pray for the Church and World at 9.30 am on the 2nd Saturday of the month, usually in the Church Centre. Our next meeting is on Saturday 14th September at 9.30. Please join us if you can.
St John’s Parish away day: please save the date now in your diary: Saturday 28th September (St Brandon’s Church, Brancepeth). A flyer with more information is available in the foyer or you can apply via the Contact Form.
Joseph Hare is unicycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise money for two excellent charities: Home for Good, who support foster and adoptive families in the UK; and Trees for the Future, who combine care for the climate with supporting local communities. Joe, Rebecca and Annabeth would really appreciate your prayers, word-spreading and donations as Joe gets back in the saddle and heads up to Scotland after an injury. You can follow his progress, learn more, and donate here: https://www.lejogunicycle.org
Welcome cards: if you are new to St John’s: welcome! You are invited to fill out one of the ‘Welcome to St John’s’ cards, which can be found in the pews; it will enable us to get in touch and say hello, and also, if you wish, for us to stay in touch and keep you informed.
Would you like to read or lead prayers (intercessions) in church from time to time on Sunday mornings? If so please contact the Rector or Rector’s Secretary. Training/guidance/encouragement will be given.
Music on Sundays: If you would be interested in receiving a notification on Saturday, about the hymns/sheet music for the 10.30 am service on Sunday please let Amy know or get in touch via the Contact Form.
Prayer: A number of us meet on Zoom every Monday morning at 09.30 to say Morning Prayer together. This is in addition to the Prayer Meeting in church at 09.30 on the second Saturday of the month (14th September, 12th October etc). To join us for Morning Prayer, regularly or on occasion, contact the Rector, Jo Cundy or Mike Chater in the first instance and we will ensure that you receive the Zoom link. It is so important for the life of the church that we pray together.
Neville’s Cross Community Choir started the autumn term on Tuesday 10th September in church, 7pm-9pm, and costs £4 per session, which includes refreshments. There are no auditions and no attendance requirements. New members always welcome. Contact us at nxcc.durham@gmail.com.
AV Volunteers needed: Those who are hard of hearing find having the AV system on helpful. We need more volunteers at the 8.45 service to join the rota to do this useful task. It involves turning on a laptop, putting out the microphones for clergy and the lectern, and muting them when not needed. Someone could sit beside you while you learned what was involved. Your help would be very much appreciated. Please contact Judith, Jan or Jenny to find out more.
PRAYERS AND READINGS FOR THIS WEEK:
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY – 15th SEPTEMBER
Hymns for 8.45 am service:
- Through the night of doubt and sorrow (770)
- King of Glory (416)
- Praise to the holiest (627)
Collect
O Lord, we beseech you mercifully to hear the prayers of your people who call
upon you; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they
ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil them; through
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Alternative Collect
Lord of creation, whose glory is around and within us: open our eyes to your
wonders, that we may serve you with reverence and know your peace at our lives’
end, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Readings
- Isaiah 50.4-9a
- James 3.1-12
- Mark 8.27-38
Post Communion
Almighty God, you have taught us through your Son that love is the fulfilling of
the law: grant that we may love you with our whole heart and our neighbours as
ourselves; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Readings for Next Sunday:
- Jeremiah 11.18-20
- James 3.13 – 4.3,7-8a
- Mark 9.30-37