Good Friday - 10th April 2020
For this unusual Easter, we will be streaming our all-age service for Good Friday. In addition, we are inviting you to listen to "Reflections at the Cross", from the Bishop of Maidstone.
The all-age service will start at 10am on Friday 5th April. To watch, please click this link or click on the image below. YouTube will open in a new window. There will also be a children's craft activity - scroll down for details.
Note: we have fixed the technical issue that broke the link on Sunday morning. We don't expect problems on Friday, but you can always go direct to our YouTube channel and find the livestream there. You can also subscribe and set a reminder.
On Good Friday, if you would value some more contemplative Reflections at the Cross, Bishop Rod Thomas has prepared a short series which is available below and also via the Bishop of Maidstone website. Rod had been due to visit in May to conduct a confirmation service which is now sadly postponed, so it’s a good chance to hear him before he does come, hopefully later this year.
We are trying to make the service accessible to most people. If you have no idea what to do or what YouTube is, please read the advice in the blue box elsewhere on this page.
Daily Devotions - Week 3
On Maundy Thursday Alec reflects on the occasion of Jesus washing his disciples feet, and how the cross reveals that we must allow Jesus to serve us before we think about serving him.
Previous Days
Click the links below to access the YouTube videos for previous days in this series.
Power of the Cross - Day 3 - Foolish and Weak
Power of the Cross - Day 2 - God's relentless love
The Power of the Cross - Day 1 - Christ's work of substitution
Craft item list for Good Friday and Easter Sunday
People have found it useful to know in advance what items they would need to complete Teresa's craft activities. This week we have two lists: one for the Good Friday All Age Service and the other for Easter Sunday.
On Good Friday, Teresa will be showing us how to make a cross. The items needed are:
- Print out this template on card or use a piece of white A4 card (or some card from something like a cereal packet)
- Scissors
- Colouring pens or crayons
On Easter Sunday, Teresa will be showing us how to decorate an egg. The items needed are:
- One or two eggs per person - hard boiled in advance for little ones!
- An egg cup or egg box
- Felt tip pens
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)"
New Roles at St John's
We are recruiting for two new roles at St John's:
- Associate Vicar
- Youth Worker
For more information please click to visit the recruitment page.
