St J’s Notices & Diary: w/c Sunday, 03/10/2021


(1^st in month) Sunday, 03/10/2021: Pentecost 19/Harvest/Vestry Dedication	08.00	1970 Holy Communion (Church)	Please book (07572 006290) by 16.00 on Fri, if possible
	11.00	1982 Family Eucharist (Church); Godly Play (Hall); refreshments afterwards (Hall)	Please book (07572 006290) by 16.00 on Fri, if possible
	14.00	Zoom Coffee	None this week or next. Resumes Sunday, 17/10/2021
	18.00	Choral Evensong (Church)	Please book (07572 006290) by 16.00 on Fri, if possible
	Any time*	Service online	www.stjohnsdumfries.org *Available on website from about same time as actual event & for some days thereafter
Monday, 04/10/2021	10.00-17.00	Church Office open
Monday, 04/10/2021	19.30	Christian Living Community Meeting (Meeting Room) (Provisional)	Just turn up
Tuesday, 05/10/2021	14.00-16.00	Church open for private prayer	Just turn up
	17.45	A Time for Meditation (Meeting Room)	Just turn up
	18.30	1982 Eucharist (Lady Chapel)	Please book (07572 006290) by 16.00 on Monday, if possible
	Any time*	Meditation online	www.stjohnsdumfries.org *Available on website from about same time as actual event & for some days thereafter
Wednesday, 06/10/2021	10.30	1970 Eucharist (Church), followed by refreshments (Hall)	Please book (07572 006290) by 16.00 on Monday, if possible
Wednesday, 06/10/2021	18.30	Choir Practice (Hall) (except school holidays)
Thursday, 07/10/2021	14.00	Mothers’ Union Eucharist (Church)	Followed by refreshments in the Hall. All welcome
Friday, 08/10/2021	10.00-12.00	Church open for private prayer
Friday, 08/10/2021	10.00-17.00	Church Office open
Saturday, 09/10/2021	09.30	Silent Prayer @ Elshieshields	revann@stjohnsdumfries.org for details
(2^nd in month) Sunday, 10/10/2021: Pentecost 20 / Seafarers’ Sunday	11.00	1982 Family Eucharist (Church); Godly Play Activity Bags available; refreshments afterwards (Hall)	Please book (07572 006290) by 16.00 on Fri, if possible
	14.00	Zoom Coffee	None this week. Resumes Sunday, 17/10/2021
	18.00	Contemporary Worship (Church)	Just turn up
	Any time*	Service online	www.stjohnsdumfries.org, *Available on website from about same time as actual event & for some days thereafter

And, as always, if you need us, you can contact

The Rector on 01387 254126 / 07487 653069 / rector@stjohnsdumfries.org
The Church Office on 07754 596140 / pastadmin@stjohnsdumfries.org

Harvest Sunday is being observed today, 03/10/2021. There will be a retiring collection. Monies will be divided between relief efforts in Afghanistan (75%) and to meet the cost of repairing or replacing, as necessary, the gratings by the High Altar (25%). The gratings, apparently repaired a number of years ago, are now dangerous and have given way under people on occasions recently. (See photos on lit noticeboard)

Also from today, Harvest Sunday (03/10/2021), we are restarting our regular collection of items for First Base Food Bank. There are some stackable crates beside the lit noticeboard just inside the glass doors, into which items can be placed. Keep an eye out and watch for further announcements.

It was good to hold the AGM in person this year and to be able to meet Jennifer McDairmant, our new Treasurer. She took us through the accounts which showed a deficit on the running costs of the church of £4000. Whilst this is considerably less than previous years the past year has given us many fewer opportunities for activities thus reducing the expenditure.

Ann Beaton, Linda Hyles and Paula Ward were elected to the Vestry for 3 years and Gill Swales, Amie Byers and Kay Solaja agreed to continue as our representatives to the Diocesan Synod and Regional Council. Thank you to all who came.

If you would still like a copy of the papers for the AGM please contact the Church Office: pastadmin@stjohnsdumfries.org / 07754 596140
Margaret Morton

Please note the MU Eucharist resumes this Thursday 7th October at 2pm, followed by refreshments in the Hall. All are welcome.

Lay Ministry Reflection Day: Emerging Together in

Hope and Fear: Pilgrims to Our New Future! Saturday 09/10/2021, 10.00am – 1.00pm.
Everyone in licensed Lay Ministry (Lay Readers, Pastoral Assistants, Eucharistic Assistants, Worship Leaders) is welcome to join us. This will be an online event over Zoom. Nearer the time we will re-circulate this invitation and circulate the Zoom details. However, we recommend that you register with Les949@btinternet.com to be sure to get in! If you want to know more, please call the Rev Les Ireland on 0141 776 3866.

To Filioque or Not to Filioque: The Warrant of Holy Scripture: Revd Dr Michael Hull. SEI Lecture 2021, Thursday 28/10/2021 at 17.00 University Chapel, Glasgow University Gilmorehill Campus.This is the second time the University of Glasgow and the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway have hosted the Lecture; the turn-out the first time was the best ever, so let’s ensure it is the same this time. We regret that due to University Covid regulations there will not be a reception following the Lecture, simply a time of Q and A. Details of the Lecture, lecturer and registration are to be found at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/to-filioque-or-not-to-filioque-the-warrant-of-holy-scripture-tickets-169336888191 [or, if you’re reading this on paper, the Church Office] Registration will close at 9 pm on Monday, 25 October, 2021. In person in the University Chapel or online via Zoom. This is the sixth such SEI Lecture, held annually and hosted in turn by one of the four ancient Scottish Universities and the relevant Diocese of the Scottish Episcopal Church. The papers are then published in the SEI Journal.

Christian Aid Week: seems a long time ago but we now have the totals both for the UK and locally. Across the UK the total is over £3million (as is to be expected not as good as “normal years” but better than 2020, we understand). In Dumfries and the local area we raised £6443 directly and £1800 via the online giving page. Thank you to everyone who contributed. Margaret Morton

Bell Ringing At St John’s During Covid: We have now started ringing again at St John’s; however our ringing room is very small, and we are currently unable to welcome visitors who just turn up unexpectedly as we are limiting our numbers and we have certain restrictions in place. If you hoping to come and ring here, please contact our Tower Secretary (bells@stjohnsdumfries.org) prior to coming here. Please do not just turn up and hope to ring. We hope that in due course, we will be able to welcome all visitors again, but we have not quite reached that stage yet.
Debbie Johnson

Seafarers’ Sunday will be observed next Sunday, 10/10/2021.