Category: People

Refugee Week is a UK-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees. It was founded in 1998 and held every year around World Refugee Day on the 20th June. Refugee Week is also a growing global movement.

Press Release: “The Eagles Wing, are a mutual support group for asylum seekers, refugees and local people, based in Bury, Greater Manchester. We have been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.”

June 8th marks our 250th anniversary, with the original St John’s being consecrated in 1770. We had a lot of things planned for that weekend but the lock-down has put the mockers on that! In the meantime, please take a look at the middle of the magazine which has some photos and reflections.

This May 31st Newsletter marks Pentecost (or Whit) Sunday. It’s where we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit onto the first followers of Jesus. Acts 2:1-21 details the events of this historic day.

This May 24th Newsletter is instead of a magazine and pew sheet. All public worship continues to be suspended until further notice and general access to the church building is still restricted.

Thursday is Ascension Day, the celebration of the risen Jesus leaving this Earth and returning to his Father. The Vicar will be celebrating Holy Communion in Christ Church at 7.30 pm that evening.

In light of the revision of the rules allowing limited access to Church buildings, the Vicar will be celebrating a service of Holy Communion in St. John with St. Mark Church at 10.30am on Sunday.

All public worship continues to be suspended until further notice. However, never forget that the church is not a building. It is a community of Christians worshipping, praying and caring separately, but united in the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

Covid-19 has brought a variety of challenges across our community. Lots of families are experiencing reductions in their income and difficulties in accessing the food they need. Porch Boxes are continuing to work hard to provide Crisis Packs during this time. We are working with our regular local agencies, Social Services, Health Visitors and GP’s to identify areas of need.

Like churches everywhere, with the buildings not being open at the moment it means that we are unable to physically pray and worship together. We’re doing what we can to worship on-line and support each other remotely. However, it also means that we’re not getting revenue from hall lettings, fund-raising events or from the weekly planned giving envelopes.

Here’s our April 2020 magazine. Obviously with Covid-19 and all the restrictions, the magazine is a bit different to normal. There’s not much ‘what’s on’ but it does give us more space for reflections and prayer. There are also suggestions for worship from home. Though let’s not forget it’s Easter!

With more people shopping on-line at the moment this is a reminder about easyfundraising. This is a great site where you can raise money for St John with St Mark’s Church with your everyday online purchasing. At no extra cost to yourself!

It’s our 250th church anniversary coming up in June and we’ve been asking for memorabilia. One of the gems is a St John’s Church Bury Parish Magazine from April 1968 which has some very revealing letters and editorials uncovering what church life was like here 52 years ago.

The latest Covid-19 guidance from the Church of England is that Clergy can enter the church building for any or all of the following: pray the Daily Office and/or celebrate the Eucharist on behalf of the community they serve and live stream or pre-record worship.

Eagles Wing are a mutual support group for asylum seekers and local people in Bury, Lancashire. Their aim is to befriend newcomers to our town. Old friends can make sure that no one is lonely and isolated when they arrive here. This is an update to our post in October 2019 since some details have now changed.