Dear sisters and brothers
‘The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.’ Psalm 24:1-2
Given the renewed concerns about the spread of Covid-19 it is good to be reminded that the Lord holds everything in his hands. He is Creator, Sustainer and Saviour. How good it is, even when everything appears to be spinning out of control, to be reminded that he is indeed the Lord of all. As we approach difficult days, let us continue to give thanks to God for his goodness to us in creation, as well as in his redemption through the Lord Jesus.
JOIN US THIS SUNDAY
9.15 & 11.15 Holy Communion services – these will be the first morning Communion services since March, and please note, will be with bread only. Like many of you I have grieved over the fact that we have not been able to break bread together. I appreciate that those watching the livestream will be unable to participate in the same way, but I hope you also can actively share in a ‘family meal’ (sometimes called an agape meal) by using your own bread/wine/juice. Let us together remember the words of distribution in the Book of Common Prayer: ‘… feed on him in your heart by faith with thanksgiving.’
Note that the 11.15 will be livestreamed on St John’s YouTube channel.
6pm Evening services on James 3:1-12 ‘The power of the tongue’, please note this will no longer be livestreamed but the reading and sermon will be recorded and available on YouTube on Monday.
JOIN US FOR PRAYER
Monday 12 October 8-9pm is our monthly prayer gathering via Zoom:
Passcode: 316819
HARVEST PROJECT
Next Sunday 18th will be our all age harvest services and we will be supporting the homeless shelter at Webber Street run by London City Mission one of our mission partners. Normally we encourage people to bring gifts of food to the front of church but for obvious reasons that is simply not practicable this year. We have been in touch with LCM and they would find it easiest to receive financial donations so that they can keep this work among the homeless running. More will be mentioned at our Harvest Services but to donate now, click on the link to go to our dedicated donations page:
https://www.lcm.org.uk/get-involved/donate/st-johns-blackheath
PRESCHOOL CHILDREN
We are aware that most groups and support networks for parents are currently unable to run and as a church we want to do what we can to support parents through this difficult time. Although we are unable to run a Sunday crèche or our Monday Footprints Stay & Play group due to the restrictions in place, we have two exciting opportunities coming up …
Footprints Harvest Service
Monday 19th October at 9:30 & 11:00am. Find out more and book your place here
Parent Support Groups
Two new groups meeting on Tuesday & Thursday afternoons to support parents with under 2’s. If you would like to know more, please contact children@stjohnsblackheath.org.uk
ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING
Monday 19th October via Zoom. This is the delayed meeting from April and the agenda, minutes and reports will be available next Friday. During this meeting we will be re-electing our churchwardens and 5 deanery synod representatives. If you would like to know more about this and the nominations process, please speak to me or one of the churchwardens.
MISSION SUNDAY
Last Sunday morning it was great to hear from Neil O’Boyle from Youth for Christ and Joe Crisp-Hihn from Greenwich Youth for Christ – please continue to pray for them as they seek new ways to reach young people with the gospel.
The updated Mission Newsletter containing information about all our partners and associated partners can be found here:
Please continue to pray for one another as we seek to walk with the Lord Jesus.
Grace and peace to you, Eddie
