Sunday Worship - 9th August 2020
Our Sunday morning service from Sunday 9th August is now available to watch in multiple ways.
Recording of live streamed service
This is a recording of the whole service, with David preaching and Jeremy leading, exactly as it was streamed on Sunday morning.
Sunday 9th August - Live streamed service
YouTube Playlist
This includes all the pre-recorded content - including the children's talk & craft, Bible reading, sermon and prayers, plus the video update from the Greaves family at the Oakes.
Sunday 9th August - YouTube Playlist
Sermon Recording
Visit our sermon recordings page for both audio-only and video versions of the sermon. The audio version of the sermon is podcast in the normal way. It is available from Google and Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or just search in your podcast app.
Please note it may be a few days until the sermon recording and podcast become available.
St John’s and COVID-19
Our weekly 10am virtual service is livestreamed every Sunday. Since April, we have held online daily devotions and weekly church services. Our youth groups, Bible study groups and prayer meetings have all continued online. We regularly publish information about services and other updates on this page. In addition, our YouTube channel has an archive of all devotions and services.
If we can be of any pastoral help, please contact us through the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (or 872255). We continue to welcome enquiries about thanksgivings for birth, baptisms, weddings and funerals. The Church Centre and the car park remain closed until further notice.
Sunday 6 September
We intend, God willing, to re-start Sunday services on 6 September. Initially, we will only have a service at 10am. Current national restrictions mean we will be unable to sing or have a crèche or children’s groups. You will need to comply with social distancing and local hygiene requirements (including wearing a face covering). The service will be around 45 minutes long, and all ages are welcome. The situation remains fluid: please check for up to date information here before attending.
Family Box of Fun
We have just a few spare boxes to give away, so the request now is for prayer that they would be received in love and bear fruit. If you have friends, family or neighbours you could give a box to, please let This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.know how many you would like.
If anyone would like to have a look at what is in the boxes, the booklet can be found on this page of the church website, along with the various templates, quizzes and other printable inserts. Please feel free to make use of these for yourselves and your family, whether or not you have children.
Craft item list for Sunday 9th August
People have found it useful to know in advance what items they would need to complete the craft activities. On Sunday, Sara will be making a megaphone!
The items needed are:
- print out this template onto card or paper (or copy it if you're unable to print)
- colouring pencils/pens
- scissors
- glue
- stickers/stamps/feathers (optional)
Real Issues Service - Christ and the Coronavirus
On Sunday 3rd May, Mike led a special Real Issues service - "What is Christ saying to us in the Coronavirus?"
You can listen again to the recording of the livestream (link to YouTube will open in a new window).
The audio of the talk is also available on our sermon recordings page and as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other podcast channels.
Church Giving
Many people make their gifts to church via standing order, however, those who would normally use envelopes or put their offerings on the plate in church are not able to give in this way at the moment.
If that is how you would normally give, please consider setting up a transfer directly to the church’s bank account instead. The details are:
- Sort code: 05-06-34
- Account number: 52275551
- Account name: The Parochial Church Council of St John the Baptist
As an alternative, we are able to take card payments over the phone. Please contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., if you are interested.
If you are able to Gift Aid your offering and haven't already completed a form, you can download one here.
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Please click this link to watch a video message from Mike recorded on 18th March 2020, the day after it was announced that churches were to be closed.
Extract from a message from Rev. Mike Smith, written on 16th March 2020:
"As you will know by now, the Prime Minister has today advised the nation to cease all 'non-essential contact' in the effort to slow down the spread of Coronavirus. The purpose of the advice is loving, namely to allow the NHS to treat a manageable number of poorly people and so to reduce the overall impact of this disease. At St John's, we aim to follow the government’s advice fully and swiftly.
None of this is a surprise to the Lord: he is good, loving and sovereign over all things, including our nation, this virus, our church and every one of us. I am praying that you will know the reality of this promise: 'You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD for ever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal' (Isaiah 26.3-4)"
