Thank you to everyone who supported the Blessing of the Backpacks last Sunday. This was the first time that we have offered this service to start the school year and to pray for students, their families and their teachers.
This week marks the start of a number of St John’s ministries that are starting after the school holidays. Please see below for details.
One of the ways that we support people in their Christian faith is through the ministry of home Bible study groups. These groups meet around Newcastle and provide a place for members of our church to go deeper in their faith. As I have been promoting over the last few weeks, we are planning to start a new daytime women’s Bible study group and are working out the possibilities of an evening women’s group as well.
If you would like to join a group at St John’s, please let me know as soon as you can. I have spoken to home group leaders who are trying to work out numbers for 2017 and I can put you in touch with them if you are looking for a group.
Blessings, Murray
This bulletin was emailed to members of the parish on Friday 3 February 2017 – if you would like to join the Weekly Bulletin email list, please call the church office on 02 4927 5399 and we will happily arrange this.
Sunday School – 9am and 5pm each Sunday
Sunday School resumes this Sunday at our 9am snd 5pm services. The first theme for this term is “Learn to Pray”. St John’s Sunday School is designed for children in Primary School.
St John’s Women’s Guild – first Monday of each month at 9.30am
St John’s Women’s Guild meets in the church hall at 9.30am on the first Monday of each month. The Guild is a group of women who support the ministry of our church by fundraising throughout the year. Last year, that fundraising supported general parish funds, Youth ministry, Church restoration, the purchase of new equipment for the hall, and donations to our Mission target, the Samaritans and the Mission to Seafarers.
New members are most welcome on Monday, which will the Guild Annual General Meeting.
Meditation Services – Monday evenings at 6pm
On the first and the third Monday evening of each month we hold a meditation service. The first of those is our Healing Eucharist in the chapel this coming Monday 6 February 2017 at 6pm.
St John’s Playgroup – Wednesdays in term time, 10am-12pm
It’s exciting to have St John’s Playgroup back for this term. The playgroup meets in the church hall every Wednesday in term time from 10-noon. Cost is only $5 per family and we ask families to bring along a piece of fruit that can be part of a fruit platter for the children.
KoG and Youth
KoG is our Friday afternoon group for kids in Primary School and Youth is our Friday evening group for high-school aged children. Both KoG and Youth will resume in week three, Friday 17 February 2017. KoG runs from 4.30pm-6pm and Youth is 7pm-8.30pm. Contact Rob Woolfrey, our Youth Minister, on 0425 278 063 for more information.
Giving to the work of St John’s
We encourage members of St John’s to support the ministry of our parish by giving directly to the parish account, rather than bringing cash to church. If you can do this, our account details are:
BSB: 705-077
A/C: 00040401
Name: St John’s Anglican Church Newcastle
Thank you to all members of our parish who are able to support ministry in this way.
Members of the 5pm service…
Can you volunteer for our service this Sunday? If so, please head to http://www.saintjohns.com.au/rosters and click on Volunteer at the 10.45am or 5pm service. Thank you.
Rosters:
| Service | 5 Feb 2017 | 12 Feb 2017 |
| 9:00 am | ||
| Welcome | Rita N & Penelope Y | Jenny K & Helen C |
| Leading | Murray W | Murray W |
| Preaching | Murray W | Murray W |
| Reading 1 | Kids | Peter T |
| Reading 2 | Kids | Amanda G |
| Prayers | David B | Howard B |
| Chalice | Paul Y & Cathy B | Max S & Helen W |
| Refreshments | Dane T & Sue T | Lance W & Dianne W |
| Counters | Lance W & Jason T | Nona B & Judy H |
| Flowers | June W | Jennifer B |
| Brass cleaning | Jenny W & Helen C | X |
| 10:45 am | ||
| Welcome | Prue H | *Volunteer needed* |
| Leading | Murray W | Murray W |
| Preaching | Murray W | Murray W |
| Prayers | Helen P | *Volunteer needed* |
| Refreshments | Helen P | *Volunteer needed* |
| 5:00 pm | ||
| Welcome | Margaret B | *Volunteer needed* |
| Leading | Murray W | Murray W |
| Preaching | Murray W | Murray W |
| Prayers | *Volunteer needed* | *Volunteer needed* |
| Kids Church Leader | Rob W | Rob W |
| Kids Church Helper | X | X |
| Creche Leader | X | X |
| Creche Helper | X | X |
| Refreshments | *Volunteer needed* | *Volunteer needed* |
| Music Leader | Susan AB | Susan AB |
| Music 2 | Ian N | X |
| Music 3 | Angus D | X |
| Music 4 | X | X |
Upcoming at St John’s:
| Fifth Sunday after Epiphany (Ordinary 5), 5 February 2017 | |
| 9:00am | Traditional Communion with Sunday School |
| 10:45am | Informal Communion |
| 12:30pm | Baptism of Warwick Honeysett and Xavier Kamprad |
| 5:00pm | All-age Informal Communion |
| Monday, 6 February 2017 | |
| 9:30am | Women’s Guild Annual General Meeting |
| 6:00pm | Healing Eucharist Service |
| Wednesday, 8 February 2017 | |
| 10:00am | St John’s Playgroup |
| 7:00pm | Cooks Hill Bible study group |
| 7:00pm | Hall Booking |
| Thursday, 9 February 2017 | |
| 10:30am | Weekly Thursday Informal Communion |
| Sixth Sunday after Epiphany (Ordinary 6), 12 February 2017 | |
| 9:00am | Traditional Communion with Sunday School |
| 10:45am | Informal Communion |
| 12:30pm | Baptism of Sofia Balsters and Luke Sequeira |
| 1:00pm | Hall Booking |
| 5:00pm | Informal Worship with Sunday School |