Following our Lent Christian
Challenge there will be a full programme of spiritual events,
in the autumn and next year. The details are:
Journeying in Faith and Prayer
On the five Mondays evenings (1st. 8th 15th & 29th) in November
there will be a course on prayer entitled Journeying in Faith
and Prayer.
The course will give us an opportunity to reflect on our own
experience of prayer and to try new ways of praying. We shall
look at prayer in the Bible and different traditions of prayer
including, Benedictine, Franciscan, the Mystics, the Desert Fathers,
Celtic and Ignatian. We shall look at how prayer relates to our
Christian faith and personal beliefs and also our own personality.
The course will include talks, discussion in twos and threes
and in the whole group and will be the opportunity to experience
several of the different types of prayer. Each session will end
with a different kind of worship.
Bible study
house groups
The Bible Study groups are starting again this month. This term's
theme is Missionary Journeys, Missionary Church (based on Acts
13-20). The book of Acts is the most exciting and dramatic book
in the New Testament. Throughout Christian history, men and women
have returned to the book of Acts to find their faith and ministry
renewed and rekindled. Our study will use Steven Croft's Emmaus
Bible Resources study guide (costing £7.20). |
Flower Festival
For the weekend of 10th and 11th July St John's was turned into
a floral delight as it hosted the biennial Crowthorne Carnival
Flower Festival. The event was organised by a committee headed
by Pat Spence and with members drawn from St John's. This year's
festival had the theme Hobbies and Pastimes.
The festival was a record success well summed up by Councillor
Jim Finnie, in the Bracknell Midweek newspaper "The flower
festival was wonderful. Every year I am more astounded by the
invention and creativity of the displays".
The biggest contribution to the festival came from our own Church
flower arrangers. They provided arrangements for the altar, chancel,
Lady Chapel, pillars, pew ends, the back pews and the entrance
topiary trees. These combined strong colours, effective and bold
designs making a stunning visual impact that set the tone overall.
The Mothers Union, Sunday School and Mother & Toddler Group
also provided marvellous displays. 25 other displays were provided
by other groups including the other Crowthorne churches, 4 local
schools, uniformed organisations, local councils, NCT, WI, Rotary,
Good Neighbours, Friends of Broadmoor, Community Minibus, Flower
Club, Crowthorne Chimes, Traders Association, Horticultural and
Arts societies.
Crowthorne Chimes and organ recitals, by Irene Simmons, provided
additional entertainment. The festival ended with a special Songs
of Praise evening service (where the Choir excelled themselves).
The service also provided an outreach opportunity with many community
organisations attending, choosing hymns and introducing their
choices.
The festival raised £2,000 for the Duchess of Kent House
hospice (which has recently supported both Wendy Utley and Jadie
Bunn). The refreshments (organised by Jill Pope) raised £500
with the balance coming from donations made at the festival.
The festival's costs were covered by separate fund raising and
sponsorship. The Committee thanks all those who supported the
festival by attending and donating, flower arranging, stewarding,
catering, moving furniture or as sponsors. This was a team effort
to which many contributed and the result was a tribute to all
who made this possible. |
