We are in need of a person or a group of people to help by driving some of our less able church family to services on Sunday mornings and the monthly Friday midday Eucharist. Please let the ministry team – David or Jessica – know if you are able to help.

Our monthly charity for June is the Church Mission Society. We will be collecting donations for them after the morning services on Sunday.

We are a community of people who have been set free to follow God’s call in mission. Thousands of people from all walks of life are part of Church Mission Society – praying, learning and acting together in pursuit of that call.

We believe every Christian – and ultimately every person – is called to join in God’s mission and has the potential to bring challenge, change, hope and freedom to the world.

We all have a part to play.

Our monthly charity for May is Christian Aid. We will be collecting donations for them after the morning services on Sunday.

We are an agency of our churches in Britain and Ireland and are mandated to work on relief, development and advocacy for poverty eradication. Christian Aid’s work is founded on Christian faith, inspired by hope and acts to change an unjust world through charity – a practical love and care for our neighbors.

We work globally for profound change that eradicates the causes of poverty, striving to achieve equality, dignity and freedom for all, regardless of faith or nationality. We are part of a wider movement for social justice.

We provide urgent, practical and effective assistance where need is great, tackling the effects of poverty as well as its root causes.

Also, Chris, Sam and Joe will be sleeping over in the church overnight to raise money for refugees during Christian Aid Week. Please sponsor them!

This is the schedule of Holy Week services at St John’s, Loughton, and St Nicholas. Please do join us!

1. After the Maundy Thursday service we will be keeping a silent vigil of prayer through the night. If you would like to participate, please sign the chart at the back of the church.

In a break from tradition, this year we will be hosting a five week Essentials in Pastoral Care course on Tuesday evenings, starting on 7th March. This course will be facilitated by Mrs Gwen Hall, the Deanery Secretary. We will be combining with St John’s, Epping, for this venture and inviting Churches Together in Loughton and the other churches from our Mission and Ministry unit to come and join us.

If you are interested in learning how to speak with and help people in need then this is an ideal opportunity to learn.

Sessions will start with refreshments at 7:30pm for an 8pm start. Sign up on the list at the back of church.

This year, this month and next, we are again supporting our diocesan partner, Anglican Development Services Mount Kenya through the diocese’s Lent Appeal.

From the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell:

The 2017 Lent Appeal will raise funds for two projects – a borehole in the Isiolo region of northern Kenya, and equipment for the maternity wing of the Mount Kenya Hospital which we supported two years ago. You are thus invited to build on the foundations of a previous project, and lay new foundations for future work.

Both projects are being run by Anglican Development Services, with whom we have confidently partnered in previous years.

At this time when we recall the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, it brings to mind a call to act, a call of hope, and a call to mission by showing our care for God’s creation. Please give generously to enable our brothers and sisters in Kenya to continue to meet the very real needs of the people they serve in the
name of Christ.

More information is available on the web page for the diocesan appeal here.

Please join us and the whole of the Diocese of Chelmsford in supporting them.

Please join us next week for the beginning of Lent at our Ash Wednesday service. We will be marking the occasion with an augmented choir at St John’s on Wednesday 1st March at 8pm with an invitation to observe a holy Lent, the imposition of ashes and Holy Communion.

Our monthly charity for February is Haven House Children’s Hospice. We will be collecting donations for them after the morning services on Sunday.

Haven House Children’s Hospice supports families and cares for children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions across North and East London, West Essex and East Hertfordshire.

Haven House is a local charity and they have many fund-raising challenges throughout the year. Please take a look at their website if you are interested in getting involved.