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Church notice sheet - 7 June 2009
Readings
9:00am - 1 Kings 6: 1-7 and 1 Peter 2: 4-12
11:00am - 1 Kings 6: 1-7 and 1 Peter 2: 4-12
Prayer topics this week
For the "Releasing the Energy" initiative. For the Prayer Ministry Team.
Releasing the Energy
Bishop Mike is currently launching an initiative across the diocese called "Releasing the Energy". As a congregation we need to know about it. The full document runs to 26 pages on the diocesan website, but I will try to summarise it here.
Releasing the Energy focuses on four ways of "creating the conditions for releasing the energy of the Kingdom of God." These are:
- The Growth Programme
- Leadership Development
- Structures of Oversight and Support
- Income Generation
1. The Growth Programme encourages churches to grow in commitment, influence, partnership and the numbers.
2. Leadership Development will lead to leadership teams of lay and ordained people working together. This has been a feature of St. John's life already for some time, and the PCC is currently discussing how we can work this out more fully in the future.
3. Structures of Oversight and Support: The Archdeacon of Bristol will be speaking in St. John's on Tuesday evening at a meeting of the Deanery Synod. He heads up the team helping to ensure that Releasing the Energy happens. One important aspect is that the deanery (in our case the town of Swindon) will make decisions about its own life, rather than having them imposed from Bristol.
4. Income Generation: Bishop Mike plans to develop and run a national leadership initiative.
You will be hearing a lot more about Releasing the Energy in the future.
Ministry at local level
We are currently looking at three ways in which we can develop ministry here on the ground.
The Welcome Team leaflets are available for you to read. The task of welcoming and integrating newcomers belongs to the church not just the vicar. The Prayer Ministry Team leaflet is out this morning. As the body of Christ, we want to minister his healing power to those who need it. The Pastoral Care Team leaflet will be with you over the next couple of weeks.
Ron Smith
We said a sad farewell to Ron Smith on Thursday. Ron was a faithful member of this church. He was born on Cheney Manor Road, attended Rodbourne Cheney School, and lived in this area all his life. Ron was an aircraft engineer in the RAF in the Second World War and spent some 23 years working for Vickers. Ron was a fighter. Raymond was called to his death-bed on no less than two occasions – but each time Ron recovered! We pay a special tribute to Terry and Chris Alcock who took great care of Ron especially during his final weeks in hospital.
One more person needed for coffee at 11:00am
Someone has dropped out of the Coffee Rota, so we need a replacement. The first day you will be needed is next Sunday, 14th June. If you are able to help with that, Pauline or Rod would love to hear from you this morning.
From our Treasurer
First, let me thank all of you who are in the St. John's Giving Scheme for your financial support for God's work at St. John's. Without your sacrificial giving, it would not be possible to maintain the church's ministry and work here in Haydon Wick. There are two important developments I need to bring to your attention if you give by Standing Order and/or Gift Aid your giving.
Standing Orders
As a result of some problems with our present bank (including the imposition of charges for the first time), PCC has decided that we should change our bankers. In future, St. John's will bank with CAF Bank which caters only for charities, makes no charges for normal transactions and pays a higher rate of interest on balances than our present bankers. Whilst Direct Debits paid from our account will be changed through the banking system, it is not possible for Standing Orders paying money into our account to be dealt with in a similar way. Only the donors can make the necessary change. If you give to St. John's by Standing Order, I will write to you with a letter for you to pass to your bank so that they make the payments to our new bank account. I will try to make the process as easy as possible and shall be grateful for your speedy attention to my letter when you receive it.
Gift Aid Declarations
Gift Aid is a means by which charities and churches recover tax on the amount given by tax-paying donors. We have recovered the wonderful sum of £19,622 in tax refunds on the money given by church members in the last tax year. Thank you so much to all who Gift Aid. It is almost 10 years since the Gift Aid system was introduced by the Government and we have been using the same Gift Aid Declaration forms for all that time. Although those declarations still enable us to recover tax, I feel it would be wise to bring the declarations up to date using the latest approved wording recommended by HM Revenue and Customs. All who Gift Aid their giving will receive a letter from me regarding this in the near future and I shall be grateful if you will complete and return the new forms as quickly as possible. And if you pay income tax and don't Gift Aid your giving, and would like to know more about it, please have a word with me. Andrew Dean.
Parish Office
The Parish Office is open on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9am to 1pm. All items for the bulletin to Wendy in writing first thing on Wednesday please!
Do you buy on line?
We have received our first commission cheque amounting to more than £50! Log on via our website or go directly to http://www.buy.at/StjohnsHW. The church will receive commission from 2% to 12% on anything you purchase.
There are over 100 retailers involved (including M&S, Amazon, John Lewis, Comet) some of which offer exclusive discounts and promotions - and best of all ... there is no extra cost to the purchaser!
Tape Ministry
If you or someone you know would like a recording of the service, please contact Nigel Crowhurst, our Tape Co-ordinator.
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