SAFEGUARDING TRAINING
There is now an opportunity for those who need to undertake Safeguarding training to do it in person at Church House in Bury, rather than online. Training is essential for all JC Squad leaders and helpers, PCC members and churchwardens, and there are a number of courses available. Please speak to Andrea Lester, our Safeguarding Officer, and remember that Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
IT'S SURVEY TIME AGAIN
This month we hold a congregational income survey on behalf of the Diocese, in which everyone over 16 years of age who regularly worships at St John’s is asked to complete a form. They are entirely anonymous: all you need to do is shade in the box that matches your personal gross income, and even if you as an individual have no income, or a very low one, it is important everyone completes a form, to find an average that really represents our congregation. Manchester Diocese uses the figure to calculate the Parish Share, which is the amount we as a church have to pay towards clergy salaries and services we all benefit from, such as the legal and safeguarding teams, training, etc.
An attendance survey is also an annual feature in October, as the number who regularly attend St John’s is part of the Parish Share calculation, too.
GIVING YOUR TIME
If you have time on the second Tuesday morning of the month, we send a small team over to De Brook Lodge care home to deliver a short, informal service. The teams consist of two or three people, and each team goes about four times a year. If this is something you may be interested in, please speak to Reverend Debra.
ALL-AGE SERVICES FEEDBACK
The team who run our monthly All-Age morning service have reviewed the forms that were completed asking about the content of them – thank you to everyone who did so. The majority of answers were supportive and show that most people are happy with most of what we do. People do like our young folk getting involved in worship in an appropriate manner.
SHOEBOX APPEAL
The Shoebox appeal is now underway. The aim is to fill a box with gifts for a child: leaflets explain what’s recommended. The boxes are sent to children across the world who otherwise would not receive anything for Christmas. We need them back before Sunday the 9th November.
ECO TIP
The colder weather is here, so now is a good time to ensure your boiler has its check before the overnight frosts set in. It is also the time to start clearing the garden, but remember to leave some piles of leaves for the wildlife as hedgehogs may need a warm home for the winter months.
Please note . . .
Thursday Holy Communion services are to be held at St. John’s at 10.30am on 30th October and on 6th November.
Christmas dates for your diary: Messy Church for Christmas Sunday 14th December, 2.30pm; Carol Service Sunday 21st December, 6.30pm; Crib Service 24th December, 3.30pm.
FACEBOOK PAGE
St. John’s in Flixton has a Facebook page – search St. John’s Flixton for regular Facebook updates on events and activities taking place in church. Please “like” the page and encourage neighbours, family and friends to do the same to help us grow our followers.
Licensing of Rev Debra Blair as Incumbent of St John's
The Rev Debra Blair was licensed as the Incumbent of St John's Flixton on Sunday 23rd October 2022, in a service at St John's led by the Bishop of Middleton, the Rt. Rev. Mark Davies, and the Archdeacon of Manchester, the Ven. Karen Lund. Guests were welcomed from both our parish and the wider church in our area for this special celebration of a new phase of ministry.
Join the JC Squad!
'The J C Squad' is the new name for our Sunday School, and it runs at 10.30am during morning service. Children rejoin their parents in church at the end of the main service and often share with the whole congregation something of what they've been doing that day.