Dear friends,
This week marks an important moment. As well as launching our website (www.slsj.co.uk) we’re also launching our new joint newsletter via email. This weekly email will contain all the notices from both churches and both pew sheets. I’ve decided to do this after I accidentally sent all those at St. Luke’s the weekly news for St. John’s. People were really keen to see what was happening and asked if they could see it each week – it occurs to me a joint newsletter will help us all get to know one another better.
There’s lots happening over the coming term, I’ll try to keep these notes as short as possible so you can get to the meat of the notices and news below.
With all my love,
Fr. Matthew
Notices
From Keith Butler:
Margaret and I would like to thank all our church family who joined us on Sunday to help us celebrate our 55th wedding anniversary. You all helped make it a really special occasion. We would also like to give a special thank you to Barbara and Dcn. David for all their hard work. God bless you all. Margaret & Keith
St. John’s Harvest Festival (this Sunday, 15th)
9:15am Said BCP Mass
11am Family Harvest Celebration Mass followed by Bring and Share Harvest Fellowship in the hall.
There will be an opportunity to bring forward gifts at the offertory. These gifts will be shared with THAT foodbank in Buckland. They are in particular need of:
Sugar, Cooking Oil, Eggs, Jam, Custard, Pasta Sauce, Tins of Sweetcorn, Tins of Soup, Women’s Deodorant, Men’s Deodorant, Washing up Liquid, Ketchup or Mayonaise, Anti-Bacterial Spray, Anti-Bacterial Wipes
Evening Prayer Returns
Evening Prayer will be offered every 3rd Sunday at St. John’s. We’re starting with a very simple order of Evening Prayer, but will, God willing, start to sing elements of the service and invite choirs to help us lift it to become Evensong on a regular basis. It’s the perfect way to end your week and to prepare yourself for the week ahead. Quiet, calm, recharging.
You can now see our regular pattern of worship on the website at https://www.slsj.co.uk/events-calendar/
New website
Our new website is now live at www.slsj.co.uk It’s still very basic and has a long way to go, but we’re slowly adding to it – including listing all our events in the calendar. Please do take a look and let Fr. Matthew know of any questions or things you think we should add / could do better.
Joint Ministry & Liturgy Team Meeting (Christmas Planning)
The meeting originally planned for next Tuesday has been moved to next Friday due to an unavoidable diary clash. We will now meet at 6:30pm in St. Luke’s on FRIDAY 20th September. I’m sorry for the late notice. All are welcome to attend as we discuss plans for Christmas services across both churches.
Exultation of the Holy Cross. St. Peter’s, Plymouth
We will depart St. Luke’s at 10:30am on Saturday 14th September. I have several spaces left in my car and if anyone would like to join from Bovey, please let me know as I’m aware of spaces in cars departing there.
Cream Tea!
Angela is going to run her hugely successful Cream Team on Sunday 22nd September at St. Luke’s. These are always great occasions. Home made scones, good friends, jam and butter applied in whatever way you feel is best! Please do let Angela or Fr. Matthew know if you are coming, there’ll be a sign up sheet in St. Luke’s – St. John’s folk please let Fr. Matthew know directly.
Table Top Sale
Saturday 21st September from 10am until 12 noon in Wickham Hall. Everyone is welcome.
5th Sunday Service (29th September)
As we move to a new pattern between St. Luke’s and St. John’s our first joint 5th Sunday service will be at St. Luke’s. We’ll start at 11am and there will be fellowship afterwards, we’re not sure what that will look like at the moment (the church hall is in bits as we refurbish it for a new nursery) – but whatever form – it’ll be fun!
You’re also warmly invited to the Newton Abbot Team Evensong at Highweek at 5pm on the same day – I will be preaching. This may or may not be an encouragement.
Holy Habits
In this pre-Advent course we explore Holy Habits, what causes them to stick and what prompts us to engage with Jesus more deeply each day. We will explore the little things that we do with our bodies, our minds and our spirits that draw us closer to God. The course will run at 7pm at St. Luke’s church in the four Thursdays running up to the 1st Sunday of Advent starting on the 7th November. The first talk & discussion will be on liturgical gestures and bodily prayer. The next session will focus on Pilgrimage before moving to Gratitude in week 3. Finally we’ll explore daily prayer & scripture. This will provide a great foundation as we move into Advent and prepare for the birth of Jesus.
The Rev’d Dr. Chris Moore
On the 1st December we’ll be joined by the Rev’d Dr. Chris Moore for an afternoon lecture on the Gospel of Mark. But this is no ordinary talk! Rev’d Chris will walk us through the gospel using the geography – and in particular the altitude – of various events and miracles – opening up Jesus message of hope and love in a new and intriguing way. It’s the perfect way to start Advent and will not only be a St. John’s and St. Luke’s event, but also a Newton Abbot Team event and a Christians Together In Newton Abbot event! Don’t miss it. 3pm, St, Luke’s Church, 1st Sunday of Advent.
Rev’d Chris Chris Moore is Rector of the Fownhope Benefice and author of the Hodder Bible Commentary on Mark’s Gospel. His doctoral research was on Christ in the Gospels of Mark and John.
Upcoming Dates
- 14th September – The Exultation of the Holy Cross, Sung Mass at St. Peter’s, Plymouth
- 14th September – Parish Quiz (with fish & chips)
- 20th September – Ministry Team Meeting (Christmas)
- 22nd September – Cream Tea with Angela
- 25th September – Joint PCC with Newton Abbot Team
- 5th October – Night with Diesel Doug
- 20th October – St. Luke’s Patronal Festival and Parish Lunch
- 10th November – Parish Lunch
- 20th November – Social Committee Meeting
- 8th December – Mayor’s Civic Service
- 15th December – December Parish Lunch
Pew Sheets
St Johns Pew Sheet 24th Sunday in OT.pdf
St Lukes Pew Sheet 24th Sunday in OT.pdf