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Church notice sheet - 12 July 2009
Readings
9:00am - Psalm 51:1-end Luke 18:9-14
11:00am - 1 John 1:5-10
Prayer topics this week
The ministry team meetings taking place next week and for God’s continued support and guidance. For all young people within our parish and deanery.
It could be you: perhaps it was!
Please keep checking your calendars and diaries to make sure that the person supposed to be reading, leading prayers, etc is not in fact you!
Can you count? If so, we need YOU!
We are grateful to the St. John's members who count the offerings each Sunday after the 11:00am service is over. They work in pairs on a rota basis (once in every six weeks). However, we will be losing two and possibly three of our counters from September and would like to hear from others who would be willing to join the rota. If you are good at counting money and are willing to be involved, or would like to have more information about what the job entails, please speak to our Treasurer, Andrew or to one of the Churchwardens as soon as possible.
Gifts to schoolchildren
Every year St. John's gives a wonderful book to the children of Haydon Wick, Haydonleigh and Greenmeadow School in order to prepare them for moving up to secondary school. These are very well received by the head teachers. The children found them very helpful, not least because they tackle the real issues young people face at secondary school. "Will I get my head put down the toilet?" These books will be going out again this week. Because we are employing an administrator, we are able this time to personalise each book.
What exactly do these Anglican terms mean?
For those of you who are not entirely clear about the terms "deanery" and "diocese", let me explain exactly what they mean. You will need to know them for the next article.
What is the diocese? The diocese is basically made up of Swindon, Bristol, and Chippenham and the towns and villages around them. Bishop Mike is Bishop of Bristol and Bishop Lee is Bishop of Swindon.
What is the deanery? There are seven deaneries in the Bristol diocese. Our deanery is the Deanery of Swindon. Now you can read on...
The Bristol Diocesan Budget
St. John's has a budget, and we make every effort to tell congregation exactly what it is. The diocese does the same thing with its budget and last year did not make for good reading. Total expenditure was £8.9 million; total income £8.3 million. So as a diocese we were £600,000 adrift. Although Swindon deanery gave about 99.5% of what was asked for, other deaneries fell short. Bishop Mike believes we have to change the way we do things.
Up to now, the diocese has used a formula based on three factors to calculate how much each church should give centrally. These factors are:
- The anonymous income survey each parish supplies at the beginning of the year
- Normal Sunday attendance
- The number of people on the electoral roll
In the future this will all be different. There will be no calculation. PCC’s will be asked to decide how much they wish to pledge. The PCC can request guidelines, but the diocesan office will no longer make the calculation for us. It is up to us to decide, on the basis of generous giving, how much we can give. All the churches in a particular deanery will make their pledges, and that is the money the deanery has to work with. There won't be any more, and if there is a shortfall, it will have to be borne at deanery level. It is a bold move! And it starts next year.
Puddings galore!
Patti Tomlinson is organising another Puddings Galore! This will be at Patti's house, where she will serve 10 desserts as well as fresh fruit and cheese, from which each ticket holder can choose 5, as well as dessert wine and coffee. Tickets for the event, which is on July 25th from 7:30pm onwards, cost £5.50, and £5 per ticket will be donated to the St. John's Development Fund. For tickets, see Patti after the 9:00am service.
Booking of rooms in St John's
We want to organise the booking of rooms by church members more efficiently. Therefore, if you require a room for any particular reason, please communicate that to Wendy and she will write it in the book and confirm the booking to you. Once it is confirmed, the room is yours, and we can organise heating for you in winter. However, if you do not let Wendy know, please don't be surprised if you turn up and find somebody else has got the room you wanted.
Church picnic
There will be a picnic in Lydiard Park (weather permitting) after the 11 o'clock service on Sunday 9th August. Everyone is welcome. Just bring your own food and drink and we'll all meet together in the large field. The more the merrier. If people want to bring bats and balls etc we could play rounders or something similar. It's a few weeks away but people will be starting to go on holiday, so please put the date in your diary now.
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.
What's on | Church notice sheets
Page last updated: 17 July 2009