Listen now

Here’s our June 21st newsletter, which is Father’s Day in the UK. Our churches are open for individual prayer. However, all public worship continues to be suspended until further notice.

St John with St Mark will be open each Wednesday, from 10 am to 11 am, and on Sundays between 10 am and 12 noon.

Christ Church Walmersley will also be open at the same time each Sunday – and each Thursday from 10 am to 11 am.

Please be aware of the health and hygiene protocols and maintain social distancing at all times. We are hopeful that church services will be able to resume some time in July, subject to Government approval. 

Manchester Cathedral is also now open for private prayer. If you follow this link you can see a video of the Dean of Manchester guiding you through this.

If you need to contact the Vicar, Dave Thompson: Phone 0161 797 7652 or e-mail:  dvjt@outlook.com

Prayer for the current pandemic:

Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy, in this time of uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may rejoice in your comfort, knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer

The Vicar says Morning Prayer at 9.30 am and Evening Prayer at 5.00 pm on a daily basis. By also saying prayers at this time we are uniting together.

Please remember in your prayers:

The World – this Father’s Day, we remember and give thanks for our fathers, step-fathers, foster fathers, grandfathers and the many others across the world.

This Country – Politicians, business leaders and unions. For their discussions as work places seek to reopen safely.

This Diocese – For the online Clergy conference this week.         

This Parish – Those of other faiths who worship in our Parish.

This Church – The people involved in preparing our Church for opening this week.

The Sick – Margaret Watson, Dorothy Howarth and Julie Cooper.

Notices and updates

Individual Private Prayer continues in both our church and Christ Church this week. Please note that, for safe hygiene reasons, Church bibles, prayer books and worship items will not be available. So, if you wish to use these as part of your individual quiet time, then you should bring your own. We need non-vulnerable volunteers to keep the Church open at these times and to clean the church between openings. If you would like to be involved, please contact the Vicar.

The Parish Office: is back open, with the necessary social distancing! Enquiries about future baptisms or weddings, marriage banns or any other matter, should be made at St John with St Mark Church Hall, any Wednesday between 6.30 pm – 7.00 pm.

Giving: Please ensure you continue to contribute to our church funds at this time. Envelopes should be kept safe and given when able to do so. If you would like to consider donating by Standing Order, then our bank is: Barclays; Sort Code: 20-16-08; Account No: 20774774; Account name: St. John with St. Mark PCC. Please contact Ian or June Banks for more information.

Plants for sale in aid of church funds. We were unable to hold our Summer Fair recently. However, the plants are still available to purchase from Rosemarie and Stuart Ashworth. Please use our contact page to find out more.

History

250th Anniversary: We still intend putting together a display of memorabilia, even though it will be later than expected when people can see it. Please continue to have a look around for photographs and other items related to St John’s. We can arrange for this to be collected and brought to Church at a later date. David Robinson and Margaret Duckworth are co-ordinating this.

In the meantime, please take a look at our history page, which now includes this newly rediscovered photo of the Reverend Edmund James Smith. Reverend Smith was the first Rector of the Parish of St John, serving from 1858 to 1884.

And finally…

The July 2020 issue of the Benefice magazine will be distributed to the congregation during the week and will also be made available online. In the meantime, please enjoy this June 21st Newsletter.

TAKE CARE, STAY SAFE & GOD BLESS YOU

Many thanks to Ekrulila for the cover photo which you can find on Unsplash. For the June 28th newsletter, please press here.