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Finding a New Vicar
The interregnum process was
outlined by Bishop Stephen at the PCC meeting on 18th July. The
PCC then discussed the various issues raised by him.
The PCC has made good progress
with the arrangements. Effort has focussed on producing a Parish
Profile. This combines job specification, parish priorities and
information about the parish and the local area. A sub-group
has been working on the detail. The first draft of the Parish
Profile was considered on 23 August with the Area Dean, Rev David
Hodgson, in attendance. A copy was also sent to the Bishop, who
commented it was "almost there".
Drafting the profile has required
us to think about what we want from our Vicar and what the parish's
priorities are. Members of the PCC would welcome any views from
parishioners that can feed into this process. The 'final' draft
will be available in earty September, allowing members of the
congregation to make their comments. The PCC will 'sign off'
the profile at the September 26 PCC. There will be a "Section
12 Vacancy" PCC meeting held on Monday, 10 October, chaired
by the Bishop. This meeting, open to the entire congregation,
will be the final endorsement of the Profile.
The vacancy will be advertised
in late October and applications are expected in November with
final interviews in December.
There will be an appointment
team of four making the final selection. This will consist of
Bishop Stephen, the Area Dean, Rev David Hodgson, and two representatives
from St John's church.
These two parish representatives
will have a key role and they will be selected by a PCC vote
on September 26. Nominations, for any member of the congregation,
should be received by Friday 16 September. Nomination forms are
available in the foyer. Often parishes use their Churchwardens
as representatives. However, our Wardens feel that this role
should be open and might be better filled by those of a younger
generation!
Hopefully the appointment will
be made before Christmas which with a 3 month notice period might
enable the new Vicar to start in March 2006 (but could be later).
This would also fit in with the Vicarage hopefully being let
for six months from September.
Meanwhile our interregnum continues.
The Diary shows the celebrants for the principal services during
September and October. LLMs will take Sunday evensong. Wednesday
mornings' 10am communion will be communion by extension
(LLMs), but Rev Gerald Shaw will celebrate communion on the 4th
Wednesday of the month.
Our new programme starts in September and we hope you will be
interested in the variety of topics covered. Visitors are always
welcome to attend our meetings, which are held in the Church
Hall, and copies of our programme are available in the foyer.
Our first meeting commences on Tuesday 6th at 8pm with a Eucharist,
celebrated by the Chaplain of Wellington College, Rev Andrew
Richards, followed by coffee in the hall. On Wednesday 14th at
2.15pm Hazel Berry will conduct Evensong, followed by tea in
the hall. A very important date for us will be Sunday 11th. when
we shall be welcoming Fleur Dorrell, Head of Prayer and Spirituality
at Mary Sumner House, the headquarters of Mothers' Union. FIeur
is an excellent speaker and she will give the sermon and bring
everyone up to date with the work of Mothers' Union around the
world. We are very anxious to promote the important work Mothers'
Union does throughout the world and raise awareness within the
parish, with the hope of attracting some new members, so we hope
the congregation will support us at this service. Our monthly
prayer meeting will be on Monday 19th at 9.30am and Corporate
Communion on Wednesday 28th at 10 am, both in the Lady Chapel.
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10 MEETS 8 BREAKFAST
Sunday 25
September 8:45am
HARVEST SUPPER
1 October 7pm |
Confirmation
Bishop John Bone will confirm at 10am on 16 October. Already
a thriving group of junior candidates is being prepared. Now
is the time for adults to indicate their preparedness to be confirmed.
Gillian Gyenes is co-ordinating this and will also run a short
Emmaus type course for candidates. The course will give a basic
overview of the Christian faith and will serve to prepare for
confirmation. The course is also suitable for, and open to, all
members of the Church as a basic 'refresher' course. Gillian
(773682). or any of the LLMs or Churchwardens would be happy
to discuss what is involved in this step to becoming a communicating
member of the Church. In the past we have had strong adult support
for Confirmation. However this support often came from direct
personal approach from the Vicar. Could all members of the parish
consider whether they know anyone who might want to take this
step (especially those involved with parents in youth activities).
Again a personal approach is required and all parishioners can
now consider whether they could provide the approach to take
forward our mission?
Bible Study House Groups
This term we will be studying
Colossians using the book Christ Our Life (£7.95). This
perceptive book encourages us to consider how to give Christ
his rightful place in every area of our lives both personal and
corporate. The weekly sessions will commence in the week beginning
19th September for 5 weeks. The sessions will be as follows:
Monday 7.30-9pm
Tuesday 1pm, at Irene & Lewis Simmons, bring lunch
Wednesday 10.15am at June Lee's
Saturday 9am at Church
We would particularly welcome
members of the congregation who have not joined a group in the
past. We are still looking for volunteers to lead the sessions.
Please contact Caroline Ireson (caroline@ireson.org) to book
your place.
Prayers for the Sick continue
to be offered on Friday evenings at 6.15pm. Please put intentions
on board or to Gillian Gyenes or Hazel Berry.
Pathfinders
Pathfinders will kick off as
usual, 10am, foyer, on Sunday 11 September. As discussed last
term, our priority over the next few weeks will be to discuss
the appointment of a new vicar to St John's, with a view to forwarding
our thoughts to the PCC. As part of our research, we hope to
split into small groups to attend other church services in the
area, (this will be on one agreed Sunday). This should give us
valuable food for thought in discussing how we would like to
see our church develop over the coming years.
Anyone of secondary school
age is welcome to join Pathfinders: basic requirements are enthusiasm
and a good appetite - we plan to keep to our usual programme
of regular breakfasts. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday,
when we should have photos back from last term's trip to St George's
Chapel and Windsor Great Park.
Brian Spence's Licensing
Brian is to be licensed at
St Mark's Englefield at 7pm on Sunday 11 September. He has invited
his former psirishioners to support him on this occasion and
we are arranging a coach to the service. Do sign up on the list
in the foyer. Note that Brian and Pat have moved to: St Mark's
House, Englefield. Reading, RG7 5EP and they have a new
email: brian@stjohnshouse.f9.co.uk
Church Missionary
Society Preacher
Rev Yemi Adadeji, formerly a pastor in Nigeria, will preach on
25th September. |
