OutreachThe Parish Magazine of

St John’s Church

The Parish Church of St John Walsall 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: stjohnswalsallwood@btinternet.com

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

2019

What’s so important about the Trinity? ‘We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding

the Persons, nor dividing the Essence.’ (Athanasian Creed).

On Trinity Sunday we will celebrate God as one God in three Persons.

This understanding is based on how we see God at work in the world.

We trust in a God who is: ‘God the Father, source of all being and life,

the one for whom we exist; God the Son, who took our human nature,

died for us and rose again and God the Holy Spirit, who gives life to the

people of God and makes Christ known in the world’ (CofE Baptism

Service).

The Trinity provides a model for Christian community. God the Father,

Son and Holy Spirit relate together in a love relationship of mutual

accountability with one another. They complement and build on the work

of each other. At His baptism, Jesus the Son is obedient to His Father,

who declares His approval as the Spirit anoints Jesus for ministry. ‘The

Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice

came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well

pleased.’ (Luke 3:22). To what extent does the life of our church reflect

this?

We also find our mission in the Trinity. Jesus said, ‘As the Father has

sent me, I am sending you.’ (John 20:21). As the Father sent His Son

into the world, so Jesus sends us out to do the

Father’s work, equipped by the Spirit of God.

How are we called to share in God’s mission

ourselves?

If we live with a renewed awareness of the

Trinity, our spiritual lives will deepen, our vision

of God’s mission will expand and take on a new

vitality.

For more on the Trinity see page 17

Sri Lanka Easter church bombings More than 250 people were killed following Easter service bomb attacks

against churches in Sri Lanka. “The scale of the horror takes our breath

away,” says Release International.

“But terrorism can never overcome the central truth of the Gospel – Christ

is risen. Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka and

wherever Christians face violence around the world.”

Around 2m Christians live in the Buddhist-majority nation where

Christians from Buddhist and Hindu backgrounds face discrimination for

their faith.

The growth of Christianity in Sri Lanka since 1980 has met with violent

opposition from Buddhist extremists. Persecution has intensified since

2012, coinciding with a rise in Buddhist nationalism.

Militants have burned churches and attacked Christians. In many cases,

violent mobs have been led by Buddhist monks. Christians say local

government officials and police do little to prevent the attacks – and are

sometimes complicit in them.

Anti-Christian violence has abated somewhat since 2015, when

President Maithripala Sirisena came to power, pledging to uphold

religious freedoms guaranteed in the constitution.

Sudoku

Word Search

Answers can

be found at

the rear of the

magazine

Word Search - St Columba - June 2019

This month the Church remembers the Irish monk who first brought

Christianity to Britain in around 565. He was St Columba, and he left Ireland

with 12 companions to settle on Iona, a tiny island off Mull, in the Western

Highlands. Iona had been given to him for a monastery by the ruler of the

Irish Dalriada.

Columba’s biographer, Adomnan, portrays him as a tall, striking figure of

powerful build and impressive presence, who combined the skills of scholar,

poet and ruler with a fearless commitment to God’s cause. For as well as

building his monastery on Iona, Columba also converted Brude, king of the

Picts.

A prayer of St Columba runs: My dearest Lord, Be Thou a bright flame before

me, Be Thou a guiding star above me, Be Thou a smooth path beneath me,

Be Thou a kindly shepherd behind me, Today and evermore. Amen

Church

Columba

First

Ireland

Companions

Settle

Iona

Tiny

island

mull

monastery

tall

striking

powerful

impressive

skills

scholar

poet

ruler

fearless

converted

dearest

bright

flame

guiding

star

'Arry's Bit Hello Folks, my sister attends a small church on the outskirts of Shrewsbury.

Every month a group of its members meet to share a meal together and have

a guest speaker. A few weeks ago they had a lady who spoke about the work

of the ‘SGM (Scripture Gift Mission) Life words', formerly known as the

'Scripture Gift Mission Naval and Military Bible Society'. During the First

World War, each person taking part was presented with a pocket sized copy

of St John's Gospel in their own language, they were given to soldiers,

nurses, and in fact anyone connected in any way with the conflict. There are

four hymns printed in the back of the booklet complete with music, these

enabled Chaplains to conduct complete services in the field. At the back of

the testament is a decision form, which if the reader wished - they could fill

in. All too often, when a soldier was killed in battle, this form in the testament

was the only way of identifying him. The booklet was designed to fit in the

front pocket of their uniform and had rounded corners to prevent creasing.

Amazingly the society distributed forty three million items of scripture during

the war. To mark one hundred years since hostilities ended in World War I,

the Society have printed a replica copy of St Johns Gospel, the speaker

handed a copy to each member of the group at the meeting in the church.

Knowing my interest in the First World War, my sister asked if she could have

a copy for me, this she handed to me just before Easter.

When I received the testament I didn't realise at the time what a significant

part it would play as I prepared for Easter. Easter was a little different for me

this year. As I opened the testament randomly it fell open at chapter 16 with

Jesus telling his followers he would be leaving them in a little while and

foretelling the events that were to come. Just after I had read this story, I

began listening to an excellent dramatisation on the radio of the events

leading up to the crucifixion of our Lord. I found myself transported into the

activities on the road to Calvary and sharing the anguish and disbelief of his

followers as he was betrayed, tried most unfairly, humiliated and suffered on

the cross. I shared the fear of those watching. It was an amazing experience.

The play on the radio finished at this point and along with those at the foot of

the cross, I felt at a loss as the one we loved was taken from us. I reflected

on these events and a few days later picked up the little pocket sized

testament again thinking I will read about the crucifixion to see if the portrayal

in the book matches that on the radio. It did in deed, I continued reading and

found myself sharing the wonderful news of the resurrection and hearing the

joyful shout “We have seen the Lord”. It was not difficult to imagine myself in

the garden along with them. I then had a few moments when I wished I could

still take an active part in the Easter activities, just as I used to do - I certainly

miss my church work. My mind thought of words Nigel said to me when he

came to visit me in the early days of my illness and I was having a moan

about being unable to carry on as normal. He gently put his hand on my

shoulder and said “Harry you have served the church for over fifty years, it’s

now time for the church to come to you”. I replied “you may be right but I still

wish I could do it.

A few days later I opened the little book again, this time it opened at John

chapter 18 and the verse that caught my eye was verse 18 “very truly I tell

you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you

wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands and someone

else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go”. It may only be

a small book but it is full of mighty powerful words.

Harry Jackaman

Do join us for our

Harvest Family Service on Sunday, 14th October at 9.30 am. Hot Dogs, Bacon Sandwiches and Pizza after the service.

Everybody welcome. Please sign the list at the back of Church during September.

The Tank Man of Tiananmen Square The Tank Man of Tiananmen Square in Beijing made world headlines – and

became an iconic image of the twentieth century – 30 years ago, on 5th June

1989, when he temporarily halted a column of tanks by standing in front of

them on the morning after a massacre in the square.

Widespread protests in China against the Communist-led Government and

for basic human rights had come to a head when martial law was declared

and the Army opened fire on up to a million people, resulting in more than

10,000 deaths.

Tiananmen means Gate of Heavenly Peace. The gate is on the north of the

square, separating it from the Forbidden City.

The Tank Man climbed on to the lead tank and spoke to the soldiers inside.

He then returned to block the tanks but was pulled aside. No-one knows what

happened to him, but the authorities stated that he was not killed.

Discussion of the massacre – known as the ‘4th June Incident’ in China – is

considered a watershed event which set limits on political expression in China

well into the 21st century. The Government still forbids discussion of it, and

last year a church was shut down for trying to hold a service of remembrance.

Mobile Hairdresser Do you need a hairdresser?

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Petroc, the founder of Padstow If you are going to Cornwall this summer in search

of peace and quiet, Petroc is the saint for you.

Especially if you find Padstow a bit too crowded

for your liking! He would have sympathised.

This 6th century abbot is Cornwall’s most

famous saint. Petroc set sail from South

Wales, landed at Haylemouth, and founded a

monastery at Lanwethinoc – now called Padstow, after him (Petroc’s Stow).

Padstow must have been popular even in those days, because about 30

years later Petroc, in search of some peace and quiet, moved on to build

another monastery at Little Petherick (Nanceventon). Here he must have

decided to try some 6th century equivalent of ‘Fresh Expressions’, because

he engaged with his local community by building a mill and a chapel.

In time, Petroc began feeling crowded again. So he tramped off to the remote

wilds of Bodmin Moor, where he lived as a hermit – until some 12 monks

turned up to join him. Firmly, Petroc kept them all housed in a monastery on

a hilltop, while he enjoyed his private space in a cell by the river.

But even here Petroc was not alone. One day a terrified stag came rushing

through the woods, pursued by the hunt. Petroc flung open the door of his

cell, and the panting animal took refuge. When the huntsmen arrived on the

scene, they did not dare to argue with the famous holy man, and went their

way. The stag’s gratitude made him tame, and Petroc would come to be

portrayed with a stag as his special emblem.

Petroc was buried in the monastery in Padstow but in c.1000 his shrine and

relics, including his staff and bell, were transferred to Bodmin. Here they

have stayed ever since, except for a short, unplanned trip to Brittany in 1177,

when they were stolen and carted off by a naughty Canon of the Church.

Henry II intervened, and everything but a rib of Petroc was eventually

returned.

Join us for

at 11 am on Saturday, 22nd June

Faith, Fun, Friendship and Food for everyone.

ALL welcome.

Join us for our

on Sunday, 9th June

at 9.30 am.

Pentecost in Jerusalem On that long ago first morning of Pentecost, Jerusalem was crowded with

thousands of visitors, for it was one of the most popular feast-days in the

Jewish calendar – the Feast of First fruits, looking forward to the wheat

harvest.

In one small room of that great city, a small group of people who had followed

Jesus were praying. There was nothing else for them to do: Jesus had died,

He had risen, and He had ascended, promising to send them ‘a Comforter’.

They were left alone, to wait at Jerusalem. And so they waited – on Him, and

for Him. They were not disappointed: for that morning the Holy Spirit fell

upon that small room, and transformed those believers into the Church,

Christ’s body here on earth. Pentecost was not the first time that the Holy

Spirit came to the world – throughout the Old Testament there are stories

telling of how God had guided people and given them strength. But now His

Spirit would use a new instrument: not just isolated prophets, but the Church,

His body on earth.

Acts opens with the preaching of the gospel in Jerusalem, the centre of the

Jewish nation. Within 30 years the Gospel had spread throughout the

northern Mediterranean: Syria, Turkey, Greece, Malta... to the very heart of

the Roman Empire: Rome. The Church was on the move – God was on the

move! He was calling people from every nation to repent, turn to Jesus for

forgiveness of their sins, and to follow Him.

Trinity Sunday, celebrating our God who

is Three Persons Trying to explain the doctrine of the Trinity has kept many a theologian busy

down the centuries. One helpful picture is to imagine the sun shining in the

sky. The sun itself – way out there in space, and unapproachable in its fiery

majesty – is the Father. The light that flows from it, and which illuminates all

our lives, is the Son. The heat that flows from it, and which gives us all the

energy to move and grow, is the Holy Spirit. You cannot have the sun without

its light and its heat. The light and the heat are from the sun, are of the sun,

and yet are also distinct in themselves, with their own roles to play.

The Bible makes clear that God is One God, who is disclosed in three

persons: Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit. For example:

Deuteronomy 6:4: ‘Hear O Israel, The Lord our God, the Lord is one.’

Isaiah 45:22: ‘Turn to me and be saved… for I am God, and there is no other.’

Genesis 1:1-2: ‘In the beginning God created…. and the Spirit of God was

hovering…’

Judges 14:6: ‘The Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power…’

John 1:1-3: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and

the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all

things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.’

Luke 24:49 actually manages to squeeze the whole Trinity into one sentence.

Jesus tells His disciples: ‘I am going to send you what my Father has

promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power (the

Holy Spirit) from on high.’

In other words, the sun eternally gives off light and heat, and whenever we

turn to its brilliant light, we find that the warmth and life soon follows.

The man behind Kentucky Fried Chicken

Hundreds of thousands of us will have a meal this

summer courtesy of Colonel Sanders – his chicken

is indeed finger lickin’ good. But did you know that

Colonel Sanders was named Harland Sanders,

born in Indiana in 1890, and became a Christian?

When Harland was only five, his father died, so his

mother ran the farm and raised the four children –

and took the children to church each week. She

taught them: “Always tell the truth, don’t cheat, and

be kind to each other.” She also taught Harland to

cook.

By the age of 12 Harland was a farm hand, and in the rough and tumble years

that followed his jobs included: locomotive fireman, railroad section hand,

insurance salesman, a petrol station operator and finally – a restauranteur.

Harland was a born enthusiast and grabbed every opportunity as it came

along. But even he never dreamed that running a local Shell petrol station

would be the start of something big.

For most of Harland’s petrol customers were truckers, and most of them were

hungry. So one day Harland dragged out an old table and began to cook

food. The truckers ate – and ate! From this a large restaurant grew. But

heartache was never far behind – his son died, his wife left, and his business

went under during the Great Depression.

Finally, aged 65 and struggling to survive on social security, Harland

wondered what he could do. He knew his old customers had loved his

chicken. But this time he added a mix of 11 herbs and spices. They became

the secret recipe that is still used to day. Kentucky Fried Chicken had arrived.

He then persuaded a local restaurant to offer it to their customers. They loved

it, and Colonel Saunders’ Kentucky Fried Chicken was on its way to fame. By

1935 his picture with the white moustache, goatee and cane were famous.

(The white suit came later). By 1963 there were 2000 franchised restaurants

and Kentucky Fried Chicken was the largest fast-food franchise in the

country.

In the meantime, Colonel Sanders became a Christian. He’d had an off-on

relationship with God for years, but one night he dropped into a Christian

tabernacle meeting and was deeply moved. He went on to ask Jesus to

forgive his sins, and to come into his life.

He wrote later to a friend: “I pray to God almighty that you will also commit

your life to Jesus. If you will, no matter what hard times you may go through,

He’ll help you through.” Harland Colonel Sanders died in December 1980.

He was 90 years old.

More than 900 reports of

potential modern slavery recorded

through app Drivers using a pioneering app to gather information on modern slavery in

hand car washes made more than 900 reports of potential cases over a five-

month period, according to recent research.

The Safe Car Wash app, which allows drivers to respond to a check list of

key factors that may suggest modern slavery or labour exploitation in hand

car washes, has been downloaded 8,225 times since its launch by the Church

of England and the Catholic Church in England and Wales last year.

Between June and December 2018 there were 2,271 completed entries using

the app, with 41 per cent, or 930 reports, where after responding to a number

of questions, users were told there was a likelihood of modern slavery at the

hand car wash. They were then asked to call the Modern Slavery Helpline

and their anonymised findings were shared in real time with police and the

Gangmasters’ and Labour Abuse Authority.

With the congregation

depleted by the bug that

was going around, it

suddenly dawned on Roy

that he wouldn’t be able

to get away with just

miming to the hymns this

week.

Join us for

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Find us on Facebook

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Follow us on Twitter

@StJohnsChurchWW

or visit our web page at

www.achurchnearyou.com/walsall-wood-st-john

Smile Lines

With school-days in mind…

A little girl after her geography exam: “Please God make Copenhagen the

capital of Japan - at least for this month.”

Trouble

The minister’s son had just received a bad report from school. Seeking to

distract his father, he asked: “Dad, what do you think is the trouble with me?

Heredity, environment or just plain original sin?”

Cheers

The restaurant where I took my two sons for a meal was crowded with fans

watching a sporting event on TV. The harried waitress took our order, but

more than half an hour passed with no sign of her return. I was trying to keep

my children from becoming restless when suddenly shouts of victory came

from the bar. “Hey,” commented my 11-year-old, “it sounds as if someone

just got his food.”

Mitre

A High Church bishop once found his mitre needed reversing during the

service, having been replaced on his head back to front. A server realised

his predicament and started to turn it round for the bishop. “Steady on there,

lad,” said the bishop. “It doesn’t screw on, you know.”

Heaven and hell

Heaven is an English policeman, a French cook, a German engineer, an

Italian lover and everything organised by the Swiss. Hell is an English cook,

a French engineer, a German policeman, a Swiss lover and everything

organized by the Italians. (John Elliot)

Crowd

The new minister, encouraged by the numbers in church for his first sermon,

began:

“I have never had the pleasure of preaching to such a dense crowd before.”

Nun

A sister from a local convent became a certified accountant to help small shop

owners manage their finances better. The title of her business? ‘Nun of Your

Business.’

Sins

A patient, while recovering in the hospital from a heart attack, met an over-

zealous evangelist. After listening politely for over a half-hour on how thankful

he should be to have been spared, and how he should repent at once, he

was asked if all of his sins had flashed before his eyes during the heart attack.

The patient responded, "Don't be ridiculous. The attack lasted only 6 hours."

**

A new pulpit had been installed in the Baptist church, and the young pastor

and his elders were testing the acoustics. “We’ll stand way at the back and

see how you sound,” said an elder.

“What shall I say?” Faltered the pastor.

“Say the first thing that comes to your mind.”

He blurted: “I’ve not had a pay rise in two years. How does that sound?”

**

The Sunday school teacher asked if the class knew who the twin boys in the

Bible were.

“That’s easy,” said Charles. “First and Second Samuel.”

**

A Sunday school teacher asked her class, “What was Jesus’ mother’s

name?”

One child answered that it was Mary. The teacher then asked, “Who knows

what Jesus’ father’s name was?”

A little boy said, “Verge.” Confused, the teacher asked, “Where did you get

that?” The boy said, “Well, you know, they are always talking about Verge n’

Mary.”

**

1

Feast of SS Peter & Paul, the two most

famous apostles The two most famous apostles are remembered this month, for they share a

feast day.

St Peter (d. c. 64AD), originally called Simon, was a married fisherman from

Bethsaida, near the Sea of Galilee. He met Jesus through his brother,

Andrew. Jesus gave him the name of Cephas (Peter) which means rock.

Peter is always named first in the list of apostles. He was one of the three

apostles who were privileged to witness the Transfiguration, the raising of the

daughter of Jairus, and the Agony in the Garden.

When Peter made his famous confession of faith, that Jesus was the Christ,

Jesus recognised it as being the result of a revelation from the Father. He in

turn told Peter that he would be the rock on which His Church would be built,

that the ‘gates of hell’ would never prevail against it. Peter and the apostles

would have the power of ‘binding and loosing’, but Peter would be personally

given ‘the keys of the kingdom of heaven’. Jesus also forewarned Peter of

his betrayal and subsequent strengthening of the other apostles. After His

Resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter before the other apostles, and later

entrusted him with the mission to feed both the lambs and the sheep of

Christ’s flock.

Peter played a big part in the early Church, and is mentioned many times in

the Book of Acts, where in the early chapters he organised the choice of

Judas’ successor, preached with stirring authority at Pentecost; and was the

very first apostle to work a miracle. Peter went on to defend the apostles’

right to teach at the Sanhedrin, and to condemn Ananias and Sapphira. It

was Peter who first realised that Christianity was also for the Gentiles, after

his meeting with Cornelius. Later he took a prominent part in the council at

Jerusalem and went on to clash with St Paul at Antioch for hesitating about

eating with Gentiles.

Early tradition links Peter with an apostolate and martyrdom at Rome. The

New Testament does not tell us either way, but Peter being in Rome would

make sense, especially as Peter’s first epistle refers to ‘Babylon’, which was

sually identified with Rome. Peter’s presence in Rome is mentioned by early

church fathers such as Clement of Rome and Irenaeus. Tradition also tells

us that Peter suffered under Nero and was crucified head-downwards. There

is no conclusive proof either way that St Peter’s relics are at the Vatican, but

it is significant that Rome is the only city that ever claimed to be Peter’s place

of death.

St Peter was a major influence on Mark when writing his gospel, and the First

Epistle of Peter was very probably his. (Many scholars believe that the

Second Epistle was written at a later date.)

From very early times Peter was invoked by Christians as a universal saint.

He was the heavenly door-keeper, the patron of the Church and the papacy,

a saint both powerful and accessible.

In England there were important dedications to Peter from early times:

monasteries such as Canterbury, Glastonbury, Malmesbury, Peterborough,

Lindisfarne, Whitby, Wearmouth, and especially Westminster. Cathedrals

were named after him, too: York, Lichfield, Worcester and Selsey. In all, it

has been calculated that 1,129 pre-Reformation churches were dedicated to

St Peter, and another 283 to SS Peter and Paul together.

Images of Peter are innumerable, but his portraiture remains curiously the

same: a man with a square face, a bald or tonsured head, and a short square,

curly beard. Not surprisingly, his chief emblem is a set of keys, sometimes

along with a ship or fish.

St Paul, apostle to the Gentiles Like Peter, Paul (d. c. 65) also started life with another name: Saul. This

great apostle to the Gentiles was a Jew born in Tarsus and brought up by

Gamaliel as a Pharisee. So keen was he to defend the god of his fathers that

he became a persecutor of Christianity, and even took part in the stoning of

Stephen. He hunted Christians down and imprisoned them, and it was while

on his way to persecute more Christians in Damascus that he was suddenly

given his vision of Christ.

It was the decisive moment of Paul’s life – Paul suddenly realised that Jesus

was truly the Messiah, and the Son of God, and that He was calling Paul to

bring the Christian faith to the Gentiles. Paul was then healed of his

temporary blindness, baptised, and retired to Arabia for about three years of

prayer and solitude, before returning to Damascus.

From then on Paul seems to have lived a life full of hazard and hardship. He

made many Jewish enemies, who stoned him, and wanted to kill him.

Nevertheless, Paul made three great missionary journeys, first to Cyprus,

then to Asia Minor and eastern Greece, and lastly to Ephesus, where he

wrote 1 Corinthians, then to Macedonia and Achaia, where he wrote Romans,

before returning to Jerusalem.

After stonings, beatings and imprisonment in Jerusalem he was sent to Rome

for trial as a Roman citizen. On the way he was shipwrecked at Malta; when

he finally reached Rome he was put under house-arrest for two years, during

which time he wrote the four ‘captivity’ epistles. Later Paul may have

revisited Ephesus and even have reached Spain. Tradition tells he was

eventually martyred at Rome during the persecution of Nero, being beheaded

(as a Roman citizen) at Tre Fontane and buried where the basilica of St Paul

‘outside the walls’ now stands.

The belief that Peter and Paul died on the same day was caused by their

sharing the same feast day.

Paul was not only a tireless missionary, but a great thinker. His epistles

played a major part in the later development of Christian theology. Paul’s

key ideas include that Redemption is only through faith in Christ, who

abrogated the old Law and began the era of the Spirit; that Christ is not just

the Messiah, but the eternal, pre-existent Son of God, exalted after the

Resurrection to God’s right-hand; that the Church is the (mystical) body of

Christ; that the believers live in Christ and will eventually be transformed by

the final resurrection.

It is difficult to overemphasise the influence of Paul on Christian thought and

history: he had a major effect on Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Luther, Calvin

and others.

In art, Paul is depicted as small in stature, bald and bandy-legged, with a long

face, long nose and eyebrows meeting over deep-set eyes. His usual

emblems are a sword and a book. In England he was never as popular as

St Peter, and ancient English churches dedicated to him alone number only

43.

The history of the relics of Peter and Paul is not very clear. Tradition says

that Peter was buried at the Vatican and Paul on the Ostian Way under his

basilica. Certainly, both apostles were venerated from very early times both

in the Liturgy and in private prayers, as testified by Greek and Latin graffiti in

the catacombs of the early 3rd century.

hpening to our pets?

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!

Answers…

Next magazine

deadline: Anyone wishing to submit an

article for the August /

September issue of the

magazine please do so by: 21st July by email to:

aedwards@st-

johns.walsall.sch.uk

Or by hand to the church office

Thank you.

From the Registers

Baptisms

14th April Sheryl Holyman

Lola Holyman

Reggie Wayne

12th May Olivia Wadley-Green

Mason Wadley

Albi Arrowsmith

May Christ dwell in your hearts

Weddings Faith, Hope and Love abide, and the greatest of these is Love.

Funerals 25th March Jean Taylor 72 yrs

27th March Janice Wagg 81 yrs

4th April Nancy Andrew 86 yrs

8th April June Walters 87 yrs

17th April Pauline Birch 77 yrs

16th May Bill Stacey 93 yrs

20th May Gary Evans 53 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 pm 3rd Walsall Wood Rainbows in the Hall

6 pm 3rd Walsall Wood Guides in the Hall

Tuesday 1.30 Walsall Wood Women’s Institute (monthly)

5.30 2nd Walsall Wood Brownies in the Hall

7pm 3rd Walsall Wood Guides

Wednesday 5 pm 2nd Walsall Wood Rainbows in the Hall

7 pm Weightwatchers in the Hall

Thursday 10 am Coffee Morning 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

Who’s Who at St John’s

Minister in Charge Revd David Babbington

Secretary/PA Mrs Debbie Aggett 01543 372284

Local Ministers St John’s Ministry Team: Revd. David Babbington – Vicar Revd. David Sims Revd. John Pretty Miss Doreen Sears – Reader Mr Colin Roberts – Pastoral Lay Minister Ms Sharon Hodgetts – Authorised Lay Minister

Churchwardens Miss Jane Lavender

Mr Darrell McKendry

PCC Lay Chair Mrs Alison Edwards

PCC Secretary Mrs Valerie Benford

valeriebenford2@gmail.com

Treasury Team Enquiries to the church office

Church Office Opening Times Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9.30- 12 noon

For enquiries regarding Baptisms, Confirmation, Marriage, the Community Hall or St John’s Churchyard, Brookland Road:

St John’s CE Primary School Brook Lane, Walsall Wood, WS9 9NA – 01543 452197

Head Teacher Mr Andrew Mills

Mrs Ann Betts – Reader Emeritus Mr Harry Jackaman – Reader Emeritus