Weekly News

EVENTS & SERVICES

Sat. 7th Dec.
10.00 – 5.00        Festival open, in Church
  7.00 p.m.          Christmas Quiz Night, in the Church    (Book in advance)

Sun. 8th Dec.    SECOND SUNDAY of ADVENT
  9.30 a.m.          Parish Communion, in Church
 (and live-streamed on Facebook/ through church website)
11.15 a.m.          NO Family Service
2.00 p.m.          Festival open, in Church
2.30 p.m.          Christmas Craft Workshop, in Church
4.00 p.m.          Christingle Service, in Church

Tues. 10th Dec.
 7.30 a.m.         Zoom Prayer Meeting   (see note for link)
 2.30 p.m.        ‘Within Walking Distance’ Meeting, in the Old Church

Wed. 11th Dec.
9.30 a.m.         Churchyard Working morning
5.30 p.m.         Oasis Academy Coulsdon Carol Service,
in the Church

Thurs. 12th Dec.
11.00 a.m.        Holy Communion, in the Old Church

Sat. 14th Dec.
 7.30 p.m.         Downland Chorale Christmas Concert, at St. John’s

Sun. 15 Dec.   THIRD SUNDAY of ADVENT
 8.00 a.m.        Holy Communion, in Church
 9.30 a.m.        Parish Communion, in Church
                               (and live-streamed on Facebook/ through church website)
 6.30 p.m.         Carol Service, in Church

Mon. 16th Dec.
 2.00 p.m. & 6.00 p.m.   Keston School’s Carol Concerts, in Church

Tues. 17th Dec.
  7.30 a.m.          Zoom Prayer Meeting   (see note for link)
 9.45 for 10.00 a.m.         Christmas Pram Service for babies & toddlers, in Church

Wed. 18th Dec.
 9.30 a.m.           Churchyard Working morning

Thurs. 19th Dec.
11.00 a.m.           Holy Communion, in the Old Church

Fri. 20th Dec.
  1.00 p.m.          Coulsdon CofE School Christmas Service, in Church

Sun. 22nd Dec.    FOURTH SUNDAY of ADVENT
  9.30 a.m.           Parish Communion, in Church
 (and live-streamed on Facebook/ through church website)

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ST. JOHN’S CHURCH ..
… uses a range of social media platforms to share photographs and information about events and services.  If you do NOT wish any posts to include your photograph or your child’s photograph, please inform the Church Wardens via the Parish Office – or on 01737 552461.
Find us on Facebook:
St John’s Church Coulsdon  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064881902322
Find us on Instagram:
StJohnsChurchCoulsdon   https://instagram.com/stjohnschurchcoulsdon?igshid=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

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New Prayer Meeting
We would love you to join our new weekly prayer meeting
every Tuesday 7:30-8am to pray for our church and our area.
Zoom ID: 890 1552 2159   Passcode: stjohns

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A Celebration of Christmas Carols    30th NOV – 8th DEC
Last chance to see this lovely Exhibition this weekend.  Church open all day Saturday 7th 10.00-5.00 p.m. and from 2.00 p.m. on Sunday.  So many very different displays.  FREE ENTRY.

GREAT IF YOU COULD TAKE SOME CHRISTMAS LEAFLETS TO DELIVER !!
Fancy a useful walk? 
While you get/keep fit you could deliver a bundle of leaflets to some of the homes in the parish.  It would be lovely if we could reach every home to let them know about all our Christmas services.  You can pop into church to pick up a bundle any time when the Christmas Carols Festival exhibition is open.

CHRISTMAS QUIZ NIGHT with SAUSAGE SUPPER
                                                           Saturday 7 December                                                                 CHRISTMAS QUIZ 24 POSTER
7.00 p.m. in the Church
Come with a team (up to 8) or come on your own.
Tickets: just £12 each
Book your place on 01737 552461 or at

NO FAMILY SERVICE SUNDAY 8th DEC.
.. because we’re having Crafts & Christingles in the afternoon – simple Christmas Crafts (with refreshments) from 2.30 – Christingle Service at 4.00.  Bring an orange, if you can, to the craft session and we’ll help you turn it into a Christingle ready for the service!  A Christingle Service is for everyone so, whatever your age, be sure to come to this very special service   Everybody very welcome to come to this lovely service, with or without a Christingle – it isn’t just for families!  If you enjoy the magic of candlelight, this service will definitely put a sparkle in your Christmas preparations!

‘WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE’ – Tuesday 10th December
To all who have been reading ‘Within Walking Distance’ and thinking about the questions there, whether in a house group or by yourself, please come to our tea and cake gathering in the Old Church on the afternoon of 10th December at 2.30 p.m., where we will have a chance to share our thoughts and be encouraged by each other.

DON’T MISS THE LAST POST!
The 17th Purley Scout Group is offering its local Christmas postal service again this year.  The post-box is in the church porch.  The Beavers, Cubs & Scouts will deliver your Christmas cards to any address within the Parish for a donation.  A list of the roads covered can be found on the box.  The last posting date is next Sunday 15 December @ 9.30 a.m.

CHRISTMAS PRAM SERVICE …  for babies, toddlers & preschoolers
and their mums, dads, grannies, grandpas or other carers. will be on TUESDAY, 17 December in the Church at 9.45 for 10.00 a.m. start   A time of praise and fun with rhymes, action songs, story, activity and birthday celebrations.  Come and find out what Christmas is really all about – and stay for refreshments, play and chat afterwards.  If your older children have broken up from school, they will be very welcome too.

NEXT SUNDAY – 15 DECEMBER
Our Carols & Lessons Service is at 6.30 p.m.  Well worth wrapping yourself up warm and coming along to this – rather like a doorway to the real Christmas season!  There will be carols old and new for all to sing as well as choral items from our Christmas Choir – and the readings will lead us through the whole Advent/Christmas story.  There’s always a very special atmosphere at this service and for many it’s where Christmas begins.  We hope you’ll stay afterwards for mince pies, tea & coffee.

PURLEY FOOD HUB NEEDS ‘FESTIVE INGREDIENTS’!
Their December list is made up of items that are as near as they can provide for a traditional Christmas meal for clients and their familiesThese are headed by tins of plain chicken and ham, packet and tinned potatoes, tinned peas and carrots, tins of dessert fruit, puddings, jellies, packet custard, small bottles of squash, jars of strawberry and raspberry jam.  To add a festive touch, small packets of Christmas biscuits and children’s chocolate/sweet treats very welcomeIf you would like to help specially with this, donations may be left in the labelled box in the church porch, by Monday 16th December in time for Sylvia & Graham to take them to the Hub..

PLEASE NOTE
Next Sunday’s newsletter will be printed this coming Wednesday (11th) –
so any items for inclusion must be with the office by 9.30 that morning.
Thank you.

THE WEDNESDAY MORNING GARDENING GROUP
… has achieved much pruning, weeding and chatting over the summer.  Thank you to all those who have come along to help.  I propose to carry on throughout the winter on a Wednesday morning.  Please come and join us for exercise, fresh air and chat.    Gill

MAKING THE CHURCHYARD MORE ECO-FRIENDLY
At the last PCC it was agreed that as part of our EcoChurch campaign we would actively encourage more birds to visit the Church Grounds.  If you could donate any bird boxes, bird feeders or bird food and leave the donations in a box in the Church Porch that would be appreciated.  Thank you.

RECYCLE YOUR UNWANTED SPECTACLES!
Not sure what to do with your old glasses?  Unwanted spectacles can be recycled at Coulsdon Opticians (opposite Waitrose) or left in the marked bin in the church porch.

SPRINKLE A LITTLE HAPPINESS!
Tollers Edible Garden..  has produced small packets of wildflower seeds [labelled ‘Save our Pollinators’] which are available on the large table at the back of the church for just 50p, to raise funds for their community project.  You can read about this venture in the February parish magazine.  You could grow these in a pot, scatter them in a ‘wild’ corner of your garden or, as suggested on the packet, sprinkle them ‘on your daily walk to sprinkle the joy’

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APCM 2023 reports

Annual Report for 2022

St John’s Annual Accounts for 2022