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In the Heart of
your Community, in the frantic rush of the Town Centre
you will find us. A place of Peace and Calm.
Why not drop in and experience our tranquillity
Our
Mission is Simple
We are here to
serve you, worship God and Love the Community in
Jesus
Christ.
Join us in worship, our services are easy to follow and
understand. Whether you worship with us regularly,
are staying in Southend on holiday or on business or looking at faith
for the first time, you will find something that will
guide you through your week.
Here at St John's
you will find relevant teaching, spiritual help with a
touch of modern day realism. We are non
judgemental and welcome you all.
Looking back &
looking forward:……..A Few Words from Father Stephen
2007 saw the
development of the Music Band at St John’s. Fiona Abbot
is our singer and the Band began on Easter Sunday and
then played one Sunday each month. Continuing on the
music front, our Organist Jeffrey Conway had to take
time out through an operation on one of his hands.
However, Carl Styles ably stepped in and has become our
deputy organist.
Our Sunday
attendance held up well and even grew, so that on some
Sunday mornings there were more than 50 in the
congregation.
We enjoyed the
results of the renovation work at St John’s the previous
Autumn- especially the very effective coloured lighting
and perhaps as a result of that – wedding bookings
increased (after all we can now match our lighting to
the bridesmaids’ dresses!)
We were disappointed
that the new porch was delayed until 2008 but we are now
looking forward to the work beginning at Easter- so St
John’s will finally begin to look open from the early
Summer.
Also we have begun
work on the graveyard with a Sensory Garden to be
constructed at any time now !
It has been exciting
that in recent weeks, the rooms at St John’s have been
hired out more and more- mostly used by Mental Health
groups.
This is fulfilling
the earlier ‘Calm Place’ vision for St John’s as a
Church within and of, the Community.
I am enjoying my
third term as Mayor’s Chaplain ( to Councillor Daphne
White, the current Mayor of Southend-on-Sea) and I am
looking forward to a fourth term as Chaplain to the
Mayor in 2008 when Councillor Gwen Horrigan becomes
Mayor in May.
With all good wishes
for 2008 Father Stephen
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