Dearest friends,
Next Sunday is often called ‘Bible Sunday’ – we set aside the following week, and in particular that Sunday to consider what scripture means in our lives and perhaps take the opportunity to re-engage with it after a time away.
Good news then that our Bible Course starts THIS THURSDAY!
The Bible Course is put together by The Bible Society and will run at Wickham Hall on Thursday evenings for eight weeks. What’s it about? Well, here’s how they describe it:
“Big, complex, old … just some of the words people use to describe the Bible. Sound familiar? That’s where The Bible Course comes in. The course will increase your confidence, equip you to read the Bible better and help you to see its relevance to daily life. The course provides a birds-eye view of the world’s bestselling book.
Over eight interactive sessions, it combines video teaching, group discussion, personal reflection and daily readings. It’s ideal for one-to-ones, small study groups or larger gatherings.”
The bible remains our most reliable and constant source of understanding of what God wants us to do in the world.
It is not some dusty document that simply tells old stories – but a living book that brings us constantly into the lap of God.
It guides us, encourages us, heals us, and comforts us. I urge you to pick up your bible and come to this brilliant course.
Fr. Matthew
Notices
St. John’s PCC
Due to illness we had to cancel this weeks PCC. We will now meeting on Thursday 23rd at 5pm. We need to vote on a very important matter so please do make every effort to attend.
Rosary Group
1st Feb’, 10:30am
The Rosary Group is a lay led prayer group that meets on an ad-hoc basis to pray the rosary together in the Lady Chapel of St. Luke’s.
It’s the ideal place to come if you’ve never prayed the rosary or if you need a small group of people who will support you and pray with and for you.
The Bible Course
STARTS THIS THURSDAY!
Our course this term is ‘The Bible Course’ and will run on Thursday evenings in Wickham Hall at 7pm for 8 weeks starting 23rd January. The final session (13th March) will be taught by the Bishop of Exeter, The Rt. Rev’d Dr. Mike Harrison.
Confirmation
Bishop Paul will be with us in February. If you’ve not been confirmed (or don’t know what it means!) and would like to discuss being confirmed, please do speak to Fr. Matthew.
Susana Crow – YWAM
If you missed Susana’s talk this week you can still support her and her mission work. If you would like to support Susanna you can go to the stewardship website:
Stewardship Account: www.give.net/20176623
Or contact her at her email address: soozmission@hotmail.com
Sunday 19th January
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
9:15am – Sung Mass, St. John’s
11am – Sung Mass, St. Luke’s
Divine Office Psalter Week 2, C(I), Epiphany 2
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
January
- 23rd – St. John’s PCC, 5pm
- 23rd, 30th – The Bible Course (every Thursday), 7pm WH
- 25th – Jesus, This Is Your Life & Burns Night Supper [SJ]
February
- 1st – Rosary Group, 10:30am [SL]
- 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th –
The Bible Course (every Thursday), 7pm WH - 9th – St. Luke’s Parish Lunch
- 12th – St. Luke’s PCC, 7pm
- 16th – +Paul Visit to St. John’s, leading BCP Mass, Family Service & Evening Prayer (with Adoration and Benediction)
March
- 4th – Pancake Race, 4pm [SL]
- 5th – Ash Wednesday, 10am [SJ], 7pm [SL]
- 6th – The Bible Course, 7pm, WH
- 8th – Torfaen Male Voice Choir Concert 7pm [SL]
- 9th – St. Luke’s Parish Lunch
- 12th – St. Luke’s PCC, 7pm
- 13th – The Bible Course final session with +Mike, 7m WH
- 15th, 22nd, 29th – Stations of the Cross [4pm SL, 6pm SJ]
- 16th – St. John’s APCM 3pm
- Music & Meditation 4pm [SJ]
- 23rd – St. Luke’s APCM after Mass
- Messy Easter at St. Catherine’s, 3-5pm
- 30th – Mothering Sunday
St. John’s Table Top Sale – Every 3rd Saturday at Wickham Hall