John told stories. Stories about people just like you and me. In the closing chapters of his Gospel, we learn about the risen Christ through three people. Mary Magdalene, Thomas and Peter. They had the same worries, doubts and failings as we do. It’s through these three that we understand the implications for us today on Jesus coming back to life. And how we’re each called into action.
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Sunday 12th April is Easter Sunday. Below are a handful of craft ideas for children to do at home which illustrate the story found in all 4 Gospels about Jesus rising again after dying on the cross. There’s also a rainbow for colouring in and putting in the window.
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Ignatius of Loyola founded the Jesuits and he thought about ways of making prayer an immediate and powerful experience for anyone looking to deepen their relationship with God. A particular feature of the Jesuits was that they were to pray wherever they happened to be. They presuppose that God is present in our world and active in our lives. As Ignatius said, they were to ‘find God in all things’.
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It would have been very busy that day. Jerusalem packed with pilgrims coming into the city from all over to celebrate the Passover. Inspired by the memory of Moses the atmosphere would be one of excitement and expectation as the pilgrims came together – many, may be, meeting up with friends they had made in previous years…
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Easter is on its way and we have been given access to a very exciting resource on the teaching of Easter called ‘Easter Tales’. Schools, Catholic and Church of England dioceses have begun to circulate it to their networks or are streaming it for virtual church services. It comes with free downloadable teaching resources.
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This Sunday 5th April is Palm Sunday. One of our regular viewers asked us to put up some ideas for things children could make at home in the absence of being at Junior Church or Sunday School. So, here are just a handful of ideas which illustrate the story in Matthew 21.
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As you would expect, Tearfund is currently assessing how coronavirus is affecting the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities. We are looking at how we can best support our locally based partners & churches to make a meaningful, sustained response to this pandemic. We would greatly value your prayers as we move forward.
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In our present circumstances we cannot be physically together but perhaps instead of watching Countryfile on Sunday evening, you might follow the attached service and we can be Sunday@Seven in our own homes, in some way, together.
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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!
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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!
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Here are the April 2020 Bible readings. April includes Easter this year. So, we have the immediate build up when Jesus enters Jerusalem, Good Friday, the Resurrection and then what happens next…
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With us all being at home more due to Covid-19, it’s an opportunity to reconsider how best we spend our time. The ancient practice of Lectio Divina is something worth considering as we search for the holy in the midst of the everyday.
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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.
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Today’s gospel story is of a brief encounter – an encounter between Jesus and the woman of Samaria at Jacob’s well. And just as for Celia Johnson’s character in the film, it was a turning point in the life of that woman…
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With shutdowns and restricted movement taking place due to Covid-19 we’re not going to be able to worship with one another in the way that we’re normally used to. It won’t be the same as our usual gathering together but here are links to some great on-line prayer and worship resources that you can access from home…
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