This is an all age interactive service held every four weeks on a Sunday afternoon at 5pm. It is a more relaxed service with contemporary worship songs. Each month there is a theme led by one of the ministry team which may involve discussion, meditation, or arts and crafts. Tea, coffee, squash and cake are available throughout the service and there is time at the end to be prayed for if you would like that.
Informal returns to St John’s on the 17th November. Why not make a note in your diary now and try something new?
The service is held in the Church and starts at 5pm, its really relaxed and you can come and go as you please. Be great to see you there.
Yes, we’re back already, we have switched dates this month to fit around other services so its good you are checking the website!.
As always here is a small selection of the worship music, the theme for discussion is “What is Church” so that could be a lively debate,
Hope to see you there. St Johns Church Shirley, CR0 5EE.
The informal worship service returns to St John’s on Sunday the 29th September.
This is a relaxed and informal service, music led and with an interactive teaching session.
You are free to join in as much or a little as you wish, we provide free tea, coffee and cake, there are no books, sheets or anything so just bring yourselves.
Here is a worship taster for this week.
Wondering what’s on this Sunday evening – thought so!
Here is a glimpse of the praise we will be giving Sunday @ 5pm
Please come along to our informal worship – a light and refreshing service suitable for all, coffee, tea and cake provided to sustain you,
The last two Sundays have explored the sea, and space, and our relationship to them; firstly on ‘Sea Sunday’ (14th July) and this Sunday (21st July) at our informal worship, with a discussion about the first moon landing 50 years ago.
Our Sea Sunday revisited some of the hymns that evoke a deep emotional response, such as Eternal Father, Strong to Save, reflecting both our awe and echoes of eternity in those depths. Our intercessions allowed us to express that yearning through the wordless praying of the Holy Spirit, as we helped one another construct origami boats and then silently allowed them to hold and carry our thoughts and intentions towards God. The prayer-boats were blessed and we placed them on the altar during the service.
Informal worship usually includes a short introduction to a topic by the Vicar, followed by around ten minutes of sharing and reflecting together on that theme. In line with the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, we looked at some photographic images and thought about Jesus’ presence in all created things, and in all places. ‘Cosmic Christ’ is way of exploring how Jesus is present whenever and wherever the material and divine co-exist, which the writer Fr Richard Rohr tells us, is “always and everywhere,” and is ultimately to do with “the unification of all things.”
One final prophetic note from our discussions was sounded towards the end, with the Vicar’s last slide and comment: that we as humans leave an indelible footprint on this planet, just as the first footprints on the moon will be there for a million years, with no wind to blow them away. The economic and environmental impact of our consumerism and neglect to conserve and share the earth’s resources is reaching a tipping point. The poor, the vulnerable, and the fragile ecosystems of this planet are the urgent responsibility of all who work for hope, peace and a better world.
And we, who through faith, live and move and have our being in the breath of God, are tasked with and equipped for the ministry of reconciliation, as our slide of Salvador Dali’s Christ of St John of the Cross seems to challenge us to apprehend and embody: a new consciousness, and a new perspective. A new creation – and a new hope.
“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether in earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.” Col 1: 19-20
Sunday evening at 5pm we have informal worship.
This service is for those who wish to worship in a more informal style with modern music. The middle section gives time to explore the given topic usually with an interactive element for those that wish to take part. The whole service has a very relaxed approach, there are no “booklets” or “service sheets” to worry about.
This weeks topic is “I am a new creation”
Here is a glimpse of a few of the songs.
We do hope you can join us
This Sunday see’s informal worship return to St Johns
As the name suggests this is a much more relaxed service You can help yourself to coffee and cake during the service and the music is has a more modern slant.
Here is a selection from this weeks service
There is also no “sermon”, but the teaching section is much more interactive – you can be as involved in this as you wish.
If you have never tried this before it would be great to see you – everyone is welcome.
