🔔🎄🌟  Merry Christmas 🌟🎄🔔 Well what a fantastic year we have had at Sharow St John's Church! The bells have been ringing from strength to strength, announcing our services and special events for our Bicentennial year which is almost at a close. 

We have looked at the history of our past years with fascination, introduced lovely new people into our Church family, with Baptisms, and a lovely Holiday Club; also said our goodbyes to some old friends. We helped to launch our wonderful Reverend Ruth to the Diocese of Carlisle as Archdeacon, and have borrowed her energetic encouragement to enthusiastically continue the good work. 

We are gently growing in deepened discipleship with Brian's brilliant Bible Studies; and our monthly Cafe Church, led by our newly authorised Lay Worship Leaders, growing the Ministry Team just in time for navigating the waiting time for another regular Priest. 

Various members of our congregation are now exploring Theology courses, Pastoral training, and I have had the privilege as a new Ordinand of assisting the Church Wardens and LLM in 'holding the fort' and enjoyed meeting all the visiting clergy, learning from our own retired Priest in between exploring the peace and joy of following Jesus with Morning Prayer, and weekly soothing calm Celtic Evening Prayer. 

Monthly Family Services have been a lovely time to learn across our gathered community, with
our lovely Licensed Lay Minister, and Children's Minister captivating our children (and inner child!).
Choir has continued to attend, with 9 enthusiastic choristers and helpful parents. 

Wonderful Wednesdays started in the Autumn, and the take up has more than doubled with others due to join us in the New Year, for lots of creative projects and chat, a thriving community from the village and beyond. How creative this Church is, following our Creator God, including a cornucopia of fabulous concerts interspersed with weekly Ecumenical Prayer Meetings, and quarterly Art & Spirituality Retreat Days add to immersing St John's in prayer with all our regular services.  

The Church Wardens have done a tremendous amount behind the scenes to keep the Church running, and we feel happy and healthy as a community. We really are the body of Christ in Sharow, and always ready to lend a helping hand, we expanded our Sharow Village Pantry provision to those who make use of it. 

Thankyou to a wonderful community for stepping up to the challenges, to the Friends of St John's for financial and social support, there will be more to navigate ahead but in prayer we take it all to
God, who is faithful, and brings to birth new things for us all in His perfect timing. 

We wish you and yours a Peaceful, Blessed and Happy Christmas, do come and see what
exciting things we can all offer as gifts to our community, from and for everyone in the New Year!

-Juliet ✨💖🙏🏻

PS. Please do join us today at either St John’s or The Holy Innocents at 10am for Holy Communion.

Huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our Service of Lessons and Carols. The church was in fact far busier than it looks as everyone was at the back in the Quire- we even ran out of pew sheets !
Hige thanks to Licensed Lay Minister Ruth and Rosemary for putting on such a beautiful, candlelit service. It was truly sublime. Thanks to Chris for the wonderful musical direction and to ViolaJo (please give her a follow), Wood and the incredibly talented vocal soloist Daniel. 
Special mentions also to Bridget and Simon (choristers) who reached the notes we couldn't and added all of the beautiful melodic fiddly bits to the hymns !

St. John’s | Bellringing | December Dates
Sunday 1st Call to church 9.15 am till 10am

Monday  2nd Open Ringing 6.30pm till 8.30pm
 
Sunday 8th Call to church 9.15am till 10am
 
 
Monday 9th Open Ringing 6.30pm till 8.30pm
 
 
Thursday 12th Visitors Quarter Peal attempt 11am till 12 noon
 
 
Sunday 15th Call to church 9.15am till 10am
 
 
Monday 16th Open Ringing 6.30pm till 8.30pm
 
 
Sunday 22nd Call to church 9.15am till 10am
Service of 9 Lessons and Carols Ringing 4.15pm till 5pm
 
 
Monday 23rd Open Ringing 6.30pm till 8.30pm
 
Tuesday 24th  Dress up Nativity Ringing 3.15pm till 4pm
 
Wednesday 25th Christmas Day Ringing 9.15 am till 10am
 
Sunday 29th Call to church 9.15am till 10am
 
Monday 30th Open Ringing 6.30pm till 8.30pm
 
Tuesday 31st  December  Ringing for the New Year 2.00pm

 Bridget Taylor-Connor  07752981346  [email protected]

Juliet has made this incredible print out for you to colour in. Many of you will recognise it as an excerpt of a north facing stained glass window here at St. Johns. Now you can colour it in however you like !! This beautiful nativity scene is perfect for the season ! We'll also be posting it on our Facebook page s please do comment below that and share your creations (if you like). Juliet, as well as being integral to St. Johns and a very busy ordinand also has the lovely Colouring Calm - please do give it a like ! 

We are very blessed here at St. John's to have a congregation that brings together so many beautiful differences and skills. At Cafe Church on Sunday, one table wrote this poem for Advent. One of our resident poets (the wonderful Debbie), kindly brought it together for us.
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The  Magdalen Fellowship were absolutely delighted this morning to welcome The Venerable Clive Mansell. Venerable Clive lead us through our service of prayer and healing with Anointing and Holy Communion. He kindly read The Advent Collect to share with you all !