Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
OOuuttrreeaacchh
The Parish Magazine of
St John’s Church
The Parish Church of St John Walsall Wood
St John’s Church the Heart of the Wood
St John’s Church the Heart of the Wood
The Parish Church of St John
High Street, Walsall Wood, Walsall, WS9 9LP
01543 372284 or 01543 360558
email: [email protected]
www.achurchnearyou.com/walsall-wood-st-john
Worship at St John’s
Sunday
8 am Holy Communion
9.30 Sung Eucharist and Sunday School and Crèche
Or Family Service (normally 2nd Sunday)
Or Morning Worship (normally 4th Sunday)
6.30 pm Evening Worship
Or Sung Eucharist (normally 2nd Sunday)
Or Celebration Praise (normally 4th Sunday)
Wednesday
10.15 Holy Communion with St John’s School
12.00 Prayers for Healing and Wholeness
Thursday
12.30 Holy Communion
Welcome
2016-2017
A Time to Pause hose of us who grew up in the golden era of pop music (the
1960s, of course) may remember with fondness the great
flourishing of young musical talent which emerged over the
course of that decade. (No, it’s not a matter of opinion or debate –
especially if you were born after 1965 – it’s just a fact. Trust me; I’m a
vicar!).
I was thinking of a 1960s song today. It was mostly made popular by
The Byrds and was simply entitled “Turn, Turn, Turn.” But it was
actually based on some wise teaching by the writer of the Old
Testament book of Ecclesiastes.
“To everything – turn, turn, turn;
There is a season – turn, turn, turn;
And a time for every purpose under heaven.
A Time to be born, a time to die,
A time to sow, a time to reap . . .”
Or, as the biblical writer put it:
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under
heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time
to pluck up what is planted . . .”
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 NRSV)
Seasons are important and we neglect their significance at our peril.
There are, of course, seasons of the year – and each season can bring
its own blessings and trials. I love the spring. The darkness and cold of
January and February are behind us; the days are lengthening and life
can seem imbued with hope and expectation.
What is true of the seasons of the year may also be applied to our
seasons of life: each bringing its own joys and tribulations.
T
Many people think of life as a process which moves in a linear
fashion from birth to death. Whilst of course there is truth in that, it isn’t
the whole story. There are, or should be, those rhythmic or seasonal
aspects of our lives which enable us, for one thing, to remember who
we are and who we are there for.
The Church has long recognised this truth and it is reflected in the
ecclesiastical calendar. Just as there are seasons in our journey of
faith, (marked by the great pastoral offices of the Church which make
the connection between our faith and our daily lives), so to there are
seasons within the life and worship of the Church; and these are very
important.
We have not long left behind us the great seasons of Advent,
Christmas and Epiphany, each with its own theme and focus. Soon, we
shall begin our journey through the season of Lent.
Not one of the most universally popular seasons, Lent is for those
who wish to enter into a deeper relationship with our Lord, seeking his
guidance for their lives.
Lent takes its inspiration from the period which Jesus spent in the
wilderness, following his
baptism but before embarking
fully on his ministry of healing
and salvation. He spent time on
his own, thinking and praying,
and confronting the temptations
which seemed to offer an
easier life but which, in truth,
would have ruined him. (Have
a look at Matthew 4: 1 – 11).
The season of Lent invites
us to do the same: to find at
least some time to think and pray about what God might want us to do
and be; and confront the temptations which we may sometimes only
recognise out of the corner of our eye.
It is not a time to be full of morbid self-loathing – you are a child of
God! It is not a time to be gloomy – it is, after all, Springtime. But
perhaps it is a time to pause, think of the amazing love of God for us in
Christ: incarnate, crucified and risen, and to reflect on his purposes for
our lives.
Lent, especially, gives us an opportunity to rebuild our relationship
with God and to turn away from those things in our lives which make us
less than what we could be. Lent gives us the chance to be re-filled with
the joy of our faith as we prepare to celebrate the amazing story of the
Resurrection on Easter Day. Lent is a time to prepare for new
beginnings.
So, whatever your season of life, do use the season of Lent to take
time to pause and reflect on your journey with our Lord. You never
know where it may take you!
Nigel
SSuuddookkuu
WWoorrdd SSeeaarrcchh
Answers can
be found at
the rear of the
magazine
WWoorrdd sseeaarrcchh
The Queen’s Accession
65 years ago this month, King George VI died in the night between 5th &
6th February 1952, while at Sandringham. In faraway Kenya, his
daughter, Elizabeth, was proclaimed sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II.
Proclamations were then made in different realms on 6, 7, 8 and 11
February, depending on geographical location and time zone.
On 6th February The Accession Council issued for publication in that
day’s London Gazette, a statement which began : ‘WHEREAS it has
pleased Almighty God to call to His Mercy our late Sovereign Lord
King George the Sixth of Blessed and Glorious memory, by whose
Decease the Crown is solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary…” and a new chapter in British
and Commonwealth history had begun.
Sixty
Five
Years
King
George
Died
February
Kenya
Daughter
Elizabeth
Sovereign
Proclamations
Realms
Accession
Council
London
Gazetter
British
History
Whereas
Almighty
God
Mercy
Blessed
Glorious
‘‘AArrrryy’’ss BBiitt Hello folks I hope you all had a happy and peaceful Christmas. I am
pleased to say we had a really nice time. Our daughter Ingrid came
over from Kenilworth with her family and cooked a really lovely dinner,
they do a lot of preparatory work beforehand, a spreadsheet is
produced which contains details of what is to be cooked which utensil
will be used, the cooker ring, time, how long, etc, Ingrid leaves nothing
to chance and has always been well organised, the resulting meal
justified all the effort the whole family made.
This year I decided against telling the family not to bother buying
me a present and let them do what they wanted. This means I now have
a plentiful supply of socks, an additional pair of lovely warm woollen
gloves, an addition to my model bus collection and three books to read.
Most importantly I feel is the pleasure they had giving me the gifts and
the love expressed, I really am a lucky man.
Knowing my interest in the First World War I was given a book
entitled Harry's War, it was not published until 2013 and is based on the
diary of private Harry Drinkwater - a Stratford on Avon man, which he
kept (probably illegally) throughout the war. It is a very graphic account
of his experiences on the Somme, French
Flanders, Passchendaele and for a short
while in Italy. When I read a book I find
myself transported into the scene of the
action, such is the graphic detail and
description in the text I could actually
sense the fear the soldiers experienced
and see the shell holes left by the 'whiz
bangs' fired by the enemy and feel myself
struggling though the knee deep mud,
even worse I could feel the intense cold
and driving snow and sense the death and
destruction all around. Conditions were
unbelievably horrible; I had to put the book
down occasionally to recover. The book
has been described as “an unvarnished view of the war’s horrors” and
“one of the best diaries of the First World War”
During a respite period from reading I watched the evening news
on TV, and behold, there was a report from Syria showing the complete
destruction of people’s homes and shivering civilians cowering in fear
with the sound of gun fire in the background. I asked myself is this really
happening in the twenty first century and what have we learned in the
last hundred years? The need for Christian love and compassion is
greater than it has ever been before. Please pray for the people of the
war torn parts of the world.
I had a nice day with my grandson Marcus the other day; he had
some holiday to take before the end of January so he offered to do
some odd jobs for us. I get so frustrated and fraught when I can see
little jobs that need doing, so I feel much better when he does some of
them for us. I have always said he will make a good engineer and I get
enormous pleasure as he realises all the potential I always knew he
had.
Gazing out of the kitchen window a
short while ago at a rather forlorn
looking garden on a damp miserable
day, I thought cheer up Harry it won't
be long before the snowdrops appear
followed by the crocuses and spring
will burst upon the scene, things will
appear to be so much brighter then.
In the same way if we have
enough faith then God’s love will one
day overcome all the evil that we see
around.
Jenny and I send you our best wishes for the New Year.
Harry Jackaman
TThhee PPrreesseennttaattiioonn ooff CChhrriisstt iinn tthhee
TTeemmppllee// CCaannddlleemmaass In bygone centuries, Christians said their last farewells to the Christmas
season on Candlemas, 2 February. This is exactly 40 days after
Christmas Day itself.
In New Testament times 40 days old was an important age for a baby
boy: it was when they made their first ‘public appearance’. Mary, like all
good Jewish mothers, went to the Temple with Jesus, her first male
child - to ‘present him to the Lord’. At the same time, she, as a new
mother, was ‘purified’. Thus we have the Festival of the Presentation of
Christ in the Temple.
So where does the Candlemas bit come in? Jesus is described in the
New Testament as the Light of the World, and early Christians
developed the tradition of lighting many candles in celebration of this
day. The Church also fell into the custom of blessing the year’s supply
of candles for the church on this day - hence the name, Candlemas.
The story of how Candlemas began can
be found in Luke 2:22-40. Simeon’s
great declaration of faith and
recognition of who Jesus was is of
course found in the Nunc Dimittis,
which is embedded in the Office of
Evening Prayer in the West. But in
medieval times, the Nunc Dimittis
was mostly used just on this day,
during the distribution of candles
before the Eucharist. Only gradually
did it win a place in the daily prayer life of
the Church.
SStt VVaalleennttiinnee’’ss DDaayy There are two confusing things about this day
of romance and anonymous love-cards strewn
with lace, cupids and ribbon: firstly, there
seems to have been two different Valentines
in the 4th century - one a priest martyred on
the Flaminian Way, under the emperor
Claudius, the other a bishop of Terni
martyred at Rome. And neither seems to have
had any clear connection with lovers or courting
couples.
So why has Valentine become the patron saint of romantic love? By
Chaucer’s time the link was assumed to be because on these saints’
day -14 February - the birds are supposed to pair. Or perhaps the
custom of seeking a partner on St Valentine’s Day is a surviving scrap
of the old Roman Lupercalia festival, which took place in the middle of
February. One of the Roman gods honoured during this Festival was
Pan, the god of nature. Another was Juno, the goddess of women and
marriage. During the Lupercalia it was a popular custom for young men
to draw the name of a young unmarried woman from a name-box. The
two would then be partners or
‘sweethearts’ during the time of
the celebrations. Even modern
Valentine decorations bear an
ancient symbol of love - Roman
cupids with their bows and love-
arrows.
There are no churches in England
dedicated to Valentine, but since
1835 his relics have been claimed
by the Carmelite church in Dublin.
TThhee vveerryy ffiirrsstt VVaalleennttiinnee ccaarrdd -- aa
lleeggeenndd?? The Roman Emperor Claudius II needed soldiers. He
suspected that marriage made men want to stay at home with their
wives, instead of fighting wars, so he outlawed marriage.
A kind-hearted young priest named Valentine felt sorry for all the
couples who wanted to marry, but couldn’t. So secretly he married as
many couples as he could - until the Emperor found out and
condemned him to death. While he was in prison awaiting execution,
Valentine showed love and compassion to everyone around him,
including his jailer. The jailer had a young daughter who was blind, but
through Valentine’s prayers, she was healed. Just before his death in
Rome on 14 February, he wrote her a farewell message signed ‘From
your Valentine.’
So the very first Valentine card was not between lovers, but between a
priest about to die, and a little girl, healed through his prayers.
FFiirrsstt mmuullttii--ffaaiitthh hhoommeelleessss sshheelltteerr iiss
ooppeenneedd The first multi-faith homeless shelter started in Leicester late last year.
More than 200 volunteers from six different faith groups took part in the
One Roof Leicester initiative, which involved moving around different
faith venues over 11 weeks, as it provides food and emergency
accommodation for ten rough sleepers each night.
The shelter brings together Anglican, Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim
and Sikh groups across the area. The project is funded by the charities
Human Appeal and Housing Justice and Near Neighbours,
administered by Church Urban Fund. More details
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/uks.first.multi.faith.homeless.she...
CCUUFF’’ss BBiigg PPaannccaakkee PPaarrttyy aanndd FFoooodd
ffoorr TThhoouugghhtt LLeenntt CCoouurrssee Church Urban Fund (CUF) is calling on churches, schools, families and
individuals across the country to help people in ‘food poverty’ by holding
a Big Pancake Party on Shrove Tuesday. The money raised will go to
support the Together Network – ‘so that no one has to go hungry this
Spring.’
CUF has also launched a Lent Course for 2017. The course focuses on
how we relate to food in our world today and asks us to re-evaluate our
attitudes towards food. Free to download, this course takes the
Common Lectionary Sunday Readings as a starting point, and then
moves to other scriptures.
https://www.cuf.org.uk/lent-course
TThhee kkeeyy ttoo aa hhaappppyy lliiffee Your mental health is the biggest single predictor of your
personal happiness. So suffering from depression or anxiety disorders
can devastate your life.
Finding love is also a vital ingredient for happiness. “People need to be
needed, and to be in meaningful relationships”, says a recent study by
the London School of Economics. It goes on: “Happiness is hugely
affected by the ethos of a society, which affects everyone in it. For
example, happiness is higher in societies where people trust each
other. Freedom is also a crucial determinant of happiness.”
The report also found that a boost in income, or more education, did not
significantly affect our overall well-being. Having good mental health
and someone to love were far more important.
TThhee SSeennttiinneell’’ss lloonngg wwaaiitt Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: “This child is
destined to cause the falling and rising of many….” (Luke 2: 34)
To Homer’s waiting watchman of the Greek epic, The Iliad would fall the
duty of lighting a beacon that would relay the victory of the Wooden
Horse across the Aegean Sea - that Troy had at last fallen! With that,
the sentinel was relieved from his long wait.
In his account of the presentation of the infant Jesus in Jerusalem’s
temple, Luke writes of the relief of another lone watchman – a devout
Jew, Simeon – aware of the God-given message that he would live to
see the Christ of the world. Taking the Baby from Mary and Joseph’s
arms, he uttered a song of praise that – like a beacon - has been
relayed everywhere, in words known as The Nunc Dimittis:
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according
to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which
thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to
lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel
(Luke 2: 29-32 KJV)
Luke then records Simeon’s next words: “This child is destined to cause
the fall and rising of many….”
Here was a Figure who had come for the whole world universally -
Gentiles and Jews alike. But there would be a cutting edge to His
coming. Simeon spelt out some mighty truths:
Our chronologies turn on Jesus Christ. Simeon had been part of the Old
Order. But from now, our very calendars would be dated from the arrival
on earth of a universal world Saviour. Secondly,
Our characters turn on Jesus Christ. Whether nations or individuals
were to ‘fall or rise’ would turn on the question, What did you do with
Jesus? His coming represents Make or Break time for us all!
Our confidences turn on Jesus Christ. Here in the Christian Gospel is a
blazing beacon – both to ‘lighten’ believing Gentiles, and to be ‘the
glory’ of the true Israel – that is, the faithful people of all time who place
themselves under His saving rule!
NNeehheemmiiaahh:: SSeerrvvaanntt LLeeaaddeerrsshhiipp Nehemiah was given the task of rebuilding the broken-down walls of
Jerusalem. His leadership was characterized by both prayer and action.
He was a spiritual man who loved God and brought everything to God
in prayer, but he was also somebody who got things done.
Nehemiah went on to be appointed governor: ‘The earlier governors
placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver
from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it
over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that.’
(5:15)
What happens to those who are promoted in leadership? They can start
seeing others as inferior beings, and the perks of position become
theirs by right. If humility is the first casualty, integrity is often the
second. We can see this in the political and business world, as well
among our work colleagues or even in church. Are we guilty of misusing
our leadership position to serve our own ends and boost our own ego,
rather than working for the good of those we are leading?
Nehemiah was a leader with a servant heart. Like Jesus, he exercised
his leadership by setting an example and serving the good of others. As
he looked at the hardship experienced by the people, he waived his
rights as the city governor to cream off a tax which would allow him to
live in luxury. He demonstrates that God’s work, done in God’s way and
time, will be fruitful. This is an encouragement in whatever we are
doing!
Compared with Nehemiah, our work may seem small and insignificant.
However, God sees it differently. Small acts of love and service done in
Christ’s name can be of greater value in eternity than our greatest
achievements!
SSoommeettiimmeess wwoommeenn aarree oovveerrllyy
ssuussppiicciioouuss ooff tthheeiirr hhuussbbaannddss.. .... When Adam stayed out very late for a few nights, Eve became upset.
"You're running around with other women," she charged.
"You're being unreasonable," Adam responded. "You're the only woman
on earth." The quarrel continued until Adam fell asleep, only to be
awakened by someone poking him in the chest. It was Eve. "What do
you think you're doing?" Adam demanded.
"Counting your ribs," said Eve.
NNoo ccoommpprroommiissee A soon to be married couple were visiting the minister to discuss their
forthcoming marriage. The woman said they intended to have three
children, while the young man demurred, saying two would be enough
for him. They discussed this discrepancy for a few minutes and the
minister suggested they would need great sensitivity with each other in
order to reach a solution. There was silence for a moment and then the
young man said stubbornly: “Well, after our second child, I'll just have a
vasectomy." Without a second’s hesitation, the bride-to-be shot back:
"Well, I hope you'll love the third one like it's your own!"
RRoommaannccee,, mmaarrrriiaaggee aanndd aallll tthhaatt
ssttuuffff -- tthhee wwaayy cchhiillddrreenn sseeee iitt........
How do you decide whom to marry? You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the crisps and dip coming. - Alan, age 10 No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. - Kirsten, age 10 What is the right age to get married? 23 is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. - Camille, age 10 No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married. - Freddie, age 6 How can a stranger tell if two people are married? You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. - Derrick, age 8 What do you think your mum and dad have in common? Both don't want any more kids. - Lori, age 8 What do most people do on a date? Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say, if you listen long enough. - Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure!) On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. - Martin, age 10
What would you do on a first date that was turning sour? I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns. - Craig, age 9 When is it okay to kiss someone? When they're rich. - Pam, age 7 The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that. - Curt, age 7 The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. - Howard, age 8 Is it better to be single or married? It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. - Anita, age 9 How would the world be different if people did not get married? There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? - Kelvin, age 8 And the #1 Favorite is........ How would you make a marriage work? Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck. - Ricky, age 10 (smart fellow!)
TThhee bbeeaauuttyy ooff ppeeaarrllss –– oouutt ooff
ddaarrkknneessss aanndd ttrriiaall "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking goodly pearls; who
when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he
had, and bought it " Mathew 13:45-46
Have you noticed how often the Queen wears pearls? Is it because
pearls are the birth-stone for June (when she celebrates her official
birthday)? Or because she loves their natural beauty? Or is it because
pearls represent wisdom and purity? We will never know.
Natural pearls form when an irritant - usually a parasite or grain of sand
- works its way into an oyster. As a defense mechanism, the oyster
secrets a fluid to coat the irritant. Layer upon layer of this 'nacre' is
deposited until a lustrous pearl is formed. A cultured pearl undergoes
the same process, though here the irritant is a surgically implanted
bead or piece of shell.
Pearls can come from either salt or
freshwater sources. Once the
irritant is in place, it can take
up to three years for the pearl
to reach its full size and
nacre thickness. Of all the
pearls produced, only about
five per cent are of true gem-
quality.
There is a parallel with the way pearls are formed in nature, and the
way we grow as Christians. To form ‘pearls of wisdom ‘in humans, three
conditions should be present:
Timing – Just as an oyster must mature for about three years before it
can transform an irritant into a pearl, so Jesus spent three years
maturing his disciples, and when we go through tests as Christians,
timing is crucial. Like the disciples, we need to spend time with God,
building our relationship with Him. We need to know His promises, so
that when testing times come, we already have the precious Word of
Truth as our nacre-forming ammunition! With His truth in our hearts we
can cover every negative thought with layer upon layer of truth.
It may seem that our struggles will never end, but rest assured God will
never give us more than we can bear, and He will never leave us or
forsake us.
Irritant – What is the irritant in your life? I have faced a few that have
forced me to my knees, forced me to fast, and forced me to cry out to
God! My irritants came in the form of sickness, divorce, bereavement,
friendship failures, financial frustrations, to name a few. Yet through
them all, God built up layer upon layer of his Word and His Love in my
life, until my ‘irritant’ became a testimony to His faithfulness. Every
problem has resulted in another layer of ‘nacre’ of His grace.
Darkness – Natural pearls are formed in the deepest, darkest waters,
and we will find ourselves in dark places whilst our pearls of wisdom are
being formed. Illness and emotional pain may lead to isolation and
depression. Yet I have emerged from deep darkness with more wisdom,
more compassion, a greater ability to empathize with others in trouble,
a greater love for God, and a greater passion to share His love. All of
my best jewelry designs are based on my personal faith journey.
No wonder Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven as a precious
pearl. No wonder He is also the Pearl of Great Price!
Norma Murrain, a jewelry designer
TThhee ffiinnddiinngg ooff tthhee DDeeaadd SSeeaa SSccrroollllss Just 70 years ago this month, on 7th Feb 1947, the first of the Dead
Sea Scrolls were found in a cave at Khirbat Qumran (now in the West
Bank, Palestine) – in an echo of a biblical story, by a shepherd looking
for a lost sheep.
The Dead Sea Scrolls have been called the greatest archaeological find
of the 20th century. After an initial lack of interest – some of the scrolls
were advertised in a small ad in an American newspaper – many more
were discovered in nearby caves.
For the first 40 years the study of the thousands of text fragments was
monopolised by fewer than a dozen international scholars, which
prevented quick publication of the texts. But in the early 1990s, the
Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) nominated Hebrew University
Professor Emanuel Tov as chief editor, and the publication was divided
among about 100 international scholars. By 2001 most had been
published.
Numerous biblical manuscripts were discovered that were around 1000
years older than those already existing – and surprisingly, they are
almost identical, indicating the great care taken by copyists down the
ages.
One more manuscript that has come to light in recent years refers to the
predicted birth of a wonderful child and provides a fascinating
background to the New Testament messianic hope. It has been
reconstructed from twelve small fragments, giving less than two
columns of writing. Most of the scrolls are in Hebrew, but others are in
Aramaic, the language spoken by many Jews – including Jesus –
between the sixth century BC and the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD. One
of the most intriguing manuscripts from Qumran is the Copper Scroll, a
sort of ancient treasure map that lists 64 hidden treasures around
Israel. None of these has been uncovered.
FFlleeeettwwoooodd MMaacc’’ss mmaasstteerrppiieeccee Fleetwood Mac, the reinvented rock band that survived a self-
destructive, druggy lifestyle, released the album that was arguably their
masterpiece 40 years ago, on 4th Feb 1977.
Rumours, recorded in California, became one of the best-selling albums
of all time, selling more than 45 million copies worldwide. It contained,
incidentally, The Chain – the song that is now best known as the
introduction to TV coverage of Formula One.
Yet this was far from the Fleetwood Mac founded by brilliant blues
guitarist Peter Green (originally Greenbaum) in the UK in the late
1960s. With fellow guitarist Jeremy Spencer, Green was reported in
1969 to be working on an album telling the life story of Jesus, but this
never materialised. Green consistently rejected the materialistic
lifestyle, but was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Meanwhile, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, drummer and bass
guitarist respectively, were looking for a lead guitarist who would stick
with them, and eventually Fleetwood heard one, by chance, when he
was visiting a sound studio in California. This was Lindsey Buckingham,
who agreed to join them on condition that his girlfriend could come too.
This has to rank as one of the happiest “accidents” in rock music,
because the girlfriend was Stevie Nicks, who became the charismatic
lead singer for the band and writer of some of their most memorable
songs. Her friendship with the other female star in the band, Christine
McVie (who re-joined Fleetwood Mac in 2014 after a 16-year absence),
was also key to the band’s survival.
As to the album, Mick Fleetwood is reported as saying: “Rumours
became the church that saved us from the hell of our own lives.”
.
Join us for
Hey Kids! come and join our
Come along to St John’s Church
at 6.15 pm every Wednesday (term time),
and help lead our monthly Family Service
Keep up to date with St John’s Church
Find us on Facebook St John’s Church, Walsall Wood
Follow us on Twitter @StJohnsChurchWW
or visit our web page at
www.achurchnearyou.com/walsall-wood-st-
john
…Well your sermon on the
theme of ‘Life under
President Trump’ seems to
have gone down very well
vicar…
St John’s
Baby & Toddler Group
meets Mondays and
Fridays (term-time)
at 9.30 am in the Hall
�
Every Sunday at 9.30 (Except during Family Service)
During Term Time.
You’re Invited!
The Ark is our Children’s Club
for 8s to 12s
Friday evenings
during term-time
at 6.30
Just come along!
WWoorrdd SSeeaarrcchh aanndd SSuuddookkuu AAnnsswweerrss .. ..
NNeexxtt mmaaggaazziinnee
ddeeaaddlliinnee:: Anyone wishing to submit an article for
the April / May issue of the magazine
please do so by:
19th March by email to:
Or by hand to the church office
Thank you.
From the Registers
Baptisms
22nd
January Finley Owen Thomas Carpenter
Lois Rebecca Bridgewater
May Christ dwell in your hearts
Weddings
Faith, Hope and Love abide, and the greatest of these is Love.
Funerals
2nd
December Joan Platt 72 yrs
16th December Keith Rogers 77 yrs
16th December Lily Benton 93 yrs
29th December Lola Marie Richards 86 yrs
5th January 2017 Jack Whittaker 89 yrs
19th January David Talbot 58 yrs
May they rest in peace and rise to life eternal
Special Services and Activities
Baptism (Christening) Services are normally conducted at 2pm or 3 pm on
Sunday afternoon. Please contact us for available dates.
Messy Church meets monthly on Saturdays at 11am. For details of dates contact
us, visit our website or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
Sunday School meets in the Community Hall during the 9.30 am service.
The Ark (our Children’s Fellowship) meets on Fridays at 6.30 in the Community
Hall. Please contact us for details.
Memorial Services are normally held quarterly on a Sunday Evening. Please
contact us for dates.
Choir Practice (for our 9.30am and 6.30pm worship) takes place on Wednesdays
at 7.30 pm. Please Contact the Director of Music for further details.
Junior Choir Practice (for our 9.30am and 6.30pm worship) takes place on
Wednesdays at 7pm. Please Contact the Director of Music for further details.
Children and Young People’s Choir Practice (for our Familiy Service) takes
place on Wednesdays at 6 pm. All (aged 8 or over) welcome. Just turn up.
Group Activities
Monday 9.30am St John’s Baby and Toddler Group in the Hall
5.30 3rd Walsall Wood Rainbows in the Hall
7 pm 3rd Walsall Wood Guides in the Hall
Tuesday 1.30 Walsall Wood Women’s Institute (monthly)
5.45 Brownies in the Hall
Wednesday 5.15 2nd Walsall Wood Rainbows in the Hall
7 pm Weightwatchers in the Hall
Thursday 10 am Coffee Morning in the Hall
5 pm 1st Walsall Wood Rainbows in the Hall
7 pm 2nd Walsall Wood Guides in the Hall
Friday 9.30 St John’s Baby and Toddler Group in the Hall
6.30 The Ark (our Children’s Fellowship) in the Hall
WWhhoo’’ss WWhhoo aatt SStt JJoohhnn’’ss
VViiccaarr
TThhee RReevvdd NNiiggeell CCaarrtteerr
TThhee VViiccaarraaggee,, 22 SStt JJoohhnn’’ss CClloossee,, WWaallssaallll WWoooodd,, WWaallssaallll,, WWSS99 99NNHH
0011554433 336600555588 eemmaaiill::rreevv__nniiggeell__ccaarrtteerr@@bbttiinntteerrnneett..ccoomm
SSeeccrreettaarryy//PPAA MMrrss DDeebbbbiiee AAggggeetttt 0011554433 337722228844
LLooccaall MMiinniisstteerrss S J h ’s Ministry Team:
Revd. Nigel Carter – Vicar Revd. David Sims Revd. John Pretty Mrs Denise Carter – Reader Miss Doreen Sears – Reader Mr Colin Roberts – Pastoral Care Worker
CChhuurrcchhwwaarrddeennss MMss SShhaarroonn HHooddggeettttss
MMrrss CChhrriiss DDoonnlliinn
PPCCCC LLaayy CChhaaiirr MMrrss AA EEddwwaarrddss
PPCCCC SSeeccrreettaarryy MMrrss VVaalleerriiee BBeennffoorrdd
vvaalleerriieebbeennffoorrdd11@@nnttllwwoorrlldd..ccoomm
DDiirreeccttoorr ooff MMuussiicc MMrr BBrriiaann WWoorrrraalllloo
TTrreeaassuurryy TTeeaamm MMrrss DDeenniissee CCaarrtteerr MMrrss PPaamm DDeebbnneeyy
MMrrss AAlliissoonn EEddwwaarrddss MMrrss GGiilllliiaann RRiiggbbyy
PPllaannnneedd GGiivviinngg MMrrss PPaamm DDeebbnneeyy
SSeeccrreettaarryy
CChhuurrcchh OOffffiiccee OOppeenniinngg TTiimmeess
For enquiries regarding Baptisms, Confirmation, Marriage, the Community hall or St John’s Churchyard, Brookland Road:
TTuueessddaayy,, WWeeddnneessddaayy,, TThhuurrssddaayy aanndd FFrriiddaayy 99..3300-- 1122 nnoooonn
SStt JJoohhnn’’ss CCEE PPrriimmaarryy SScchhooooll Brook Lane, Walsall Wood, WS9 9NA – 01543 452197
HHeeaadd TTeeaacchheerr MMrr AAnnddrreeww MMiillllss
Mrs Ann Betts – Reader Emeritus Mr Harry Jackaman – Reader Emeritus
