Please note: Sadly the Tearfund Quiz tomorrow evening at St John’s (20th) has been cancelled due to low numbers.

St John’s and St Michael’s Churches – Notices for Sunday 21st November 

St Michael’s

9.30am HOLY COMMUNION: Welcome to our service today led by Matthew.  Today we offer a special welcome to our visitor Mike Houghton from the Nepal Leprosy Trust. Romans 15:7-13 and Mark 1:40-43

There will be a craft stall, open before and after our service, featuring goods made by both ex-leprosy patients and other disadvantaged groups living in Nepal. The stall will be selling goods e.g. handbags, wallets, card & glasses cases, pashminas & shawls, batik cards, items made from leather, felt and allo, christmas cards and much more.

St John’s

11am MORNING WORSHIP: A very warm welcome to all who have joined us today and of course a special welcome to our guest speaker Mike Houghton from ‘Nepal Leprosy Trust’.  Today Barbara leads our service and Mike talks to us about Jeremiah 29:4-14 and Mark 1:40-44.

SPARK for our young people aged 10 and above and SAS sessions for children aged 5-10 takes place TODAY.  

There will also be a craft stall, open before and after our service today selling goods as specified above.

Please note:  Reminder we still encourage you to wear face masks especially when going up for communion, moving around the building and singing but can be removed when sitting.  We will continue to keep the building well ventilated so please dress appropriately.  Thank you for helping us to help you.

Below are the links to our website and to our YouTube channel live streaming our services at St John’s at 11am (previous recordings will also be available to watch at your leisure).

http://www.stjohnsmuxton.org.uk/home

or http://www.stmichaelslilleshall.org.uk/home/ 

YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB6N81vubkdzSYD7rCPFw5Q 

WORLD CHURCH & JUSTICE – PRAYERS

COP 26 Climate Meeting – please pray that the Lord will continue to guide us in our commitment to reduce our reliance on materials that are ruining the planet and its biodiversity.

Developing Nations – a prayer that the Rich World will financially support these countries and also arrange for Covid vaccinations to be urgently distributed. They are our “neighbours” and with the Covid pandemic rife and Climate Change they are losing their lively-hood, their homes and their lives.

Charities our Churches support – please pray for Care who confront the Government on moral & faith matters, Street Pastors, who are out in the night bringing care and safety to people outside pubs and night-clubs. CPAS who give guidance and help to churches and clergy. Tearfund who work world-wide bringing succour to impoverished folk through partner Christian organisation. Nepal Leprosy Trust working with leprous people, bringing work and esteem. Toybox who work with street children, restoring hope for the hopeless in South America, and now in many other countries too.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD: You still have time to drop off your boxes anytime during office hours this week as pick up has been delayed. Thank you for your continued and valued support in providing gifts for children who may otherwise not receive a gift this Christmas.  

CHILDREN’S SOCIETY BOXES are now due in, it would be helpful if they could be taken to either St John’s or St Michael’s church or given to Jean at St Michael’s directly and will be returned to you afterwards.  Thank you for your continued support.

ST JOHN’S PCC meets tomorrow evening (22nd) 7.30pm…venue to be confirmed

Good Morning Sunday (GMS) recently has been happening online. But……the next GMS will happen… with breakfastin church… on Advent Sunday 28th November 8.15am.

VARIOUS CHRISTMAS CARDS will be on sale from St Michael’s towards the end of November included our very own cards with photos from inside and outside of St Michael’s.

WOULD YOU LIKE HELP DELIVERING YOUR CHRISTMAS CARDS? During December a few of our members have offered to deliver your Christmas cards (local area only) for those unable to so themselves.  If you would like some help either talk to Di B, Chris K or Lesley in the church office for further details.

REGULAR GROUPS/MEETINGS/RESOURCES/INFORMATION

TINY TOTS: A Toddler group for parents/carers of under 5’s taking place on Tuesday mornings from 10am during term time.  

Calling all walkers! We meet on a Wednesday 10am at St John’s for a gentle, local walk of around an hour.  All are welcome.  Please contact Jo Lefroy for any further information on 01952 604281.

FROGS: We would like to invite our young people to attend FROGS. This is a youth group which is held weekly at St Swithun’s church in Cheswardine. We have been working closely with FROGS for many years as we have attended Quinta together. Colin Barnett, a member of St Michael’s, is currently a leader there.  They meet every Tuesday from 7-9pm, for secondary school pupils and sixth formers. Please see Kathy Tagg or Matthew for information. 

WORSHIP LUNCH & MUSIC takes place on the first Thursday of each month except August. (Weekly during Lent) 12noon at St Michael’s.

POP IN FOR COFFEE held at St Michael’s on the 2nd Thursday of the month 10-12noon.  (11th November)

FORGET ME NOT FILMS: Takes place usually on the 3rd Thursday of the month. The film will start at 10 am – please arrive any time from 9.45 am.  If you have any questions, or to let us know you are coming, please contact Jo Lefroy on 01952 604281 or via the church office.  

JOIN US 4 A CUPPA! A monthly coffee morning held at St John’s on a Friday between 11am – 1pm. Litter pickers are also invited to meet just before, litter pick the local area then return for a well earned cuppa!

sub:Zero/sub:Extra our Youth Café currently held monthly on a Friday from 4pm (sub:Zero) and 6pm (sub:Extra). (5th November)

A PLACE FOR CONTEMPLATION AND QUIET PRAYER: Please visit St John’s prayer garden, another bench has been added. The garden is situated behind the beautiful Oak tree in our front garden to the right as you face St John’s front door.

EARLY MORNING PRAYERS: Are you an early bird?  A group of us pray for the work of the church at 7.30am every Thursday morning.  Join us for half an hour or part of the time on Zoom.  Contact Matthew for the link.

Please join us for Bible Reading/Discussion/Prayer via Zoom, weekdays at 9am.  The best way to access these is through the “Daily Prayer” app. available from The Church of England but if you want to follow from your Bible this is ok. Please contact Matthew who will give you the details to login.  

PRAYER GROUP continues to meet, praying into our concerns and worries and listening to what God might be saying to us on zoom, 7pm on the second Sunday of each month. If anyone would like to join us please contact: Shirley, Vicky or Pam. (Members of St John’s) or Lesley (670033) can pass on your details.

TELFORD STREET PASTOR After 10 years of making a difference on the streets of Telford they are relaunching and urge you to consider….Is God calling you to serve as a Street Pastor or Prayer Pastor? If you would like to find out a little bit more about what is involved please either have a chat to Simon Trotman or Gill Steinert or see the poster at the end of these notices with further details.

PRAYER CHAINs: If you have any prayer requests please either text (preferable) Lisa 07739 522280 or Email:  west.familywest@btinternet.com or St Michael’s prayer chain coordinator Chris R 07834162343 or 01952 604330 or Email: scip@blueyonder.co.uk 

Energize website is providing materials each week to be downloaded by families. https://www.energize.uk.net/pages/kids_club_by_post.  

FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/stjohnsmuxton – please like our page and share our news stories with your friends.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

OFFICE HOURS: Monday 9-3pm, Tuesday 9-12noon and Friday 9-4pm 01952 670033

Email:  admin@stjohnsmuxton.org.uk or admin@stmichaelslilleshall.org.uk

Website: www.stjohnsmuxton.org.uk or www.stmichaelslilleshall.org.uk

Matthew’s Email: matthew.lefroy@tiscali.co.uk (Usual day off Friday)

Vikki’s Email: revdayvik@gmail.com (Normal day off Friday)

St Michael’s readings are Romans 15:7-13

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:

‘Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.

10 Again, it says,

‘Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.

11 And again,

‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.

12 And again, Isaiah says,

‘The Root of Jesse will spring up,
    one who will arise to rule over the nations;
    in him the Gentiles will hope.’

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

and Mark 1:40-43

40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’

41 Jesus was indignant.  He reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:

St John’s – The first reading is Jeremiah 29:4-14

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ‘Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.’ Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,’ declares the Lord.

10 This is what the Lord says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfil my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.’

St John’s – Our second reading is from Mark 1:40-44

40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’

41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 ‘See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.