David's Update from 29th May:
Dear Friends
Some of you may have twigged that I am a massive fan of Classic Rock and Punk music. One of my favourite albums from the 1970’s (I know lots of you weren’t born in the 70’s!) It was a live album by the very brilliant Thin Lizzy entitled ‘Live and Dangerous’. This week we are hoping to embrace the spirit of Thin Lizzy and go ‘live’ on YouTube for our Sunday worship - hopefully with no element of danger involved.
The reason for this change is to make our services more accessible to people without the need to have Zoom meeting ID’s and passwords. Churches who have used YouTube have found that significantly larger numbers of people access worship than through Zoom. By using YouTube we are seeking to do ‘Church outside Church’ and to share Jesus in Burscough and beyond. The other advantage is that the picture and sound quality is much better than on Zoom. More details are below so please do give it a go!
With love and prayers
David
Family Fun Night
We are planning to have another quiz/family fun night on Friday 29th May at 6.30pm, hosted by Matron Phil Marshall (the Rufford one). The evening will have NHS/care worker/key worker theme and once again we encourage folk to dress up in fancy dress/themed costume for the event. The evening will include a quiz, first aid competition (including the toilet roll bandage challenge) and a ‘fun’ medical round!
Just click this link to sign up - https://stjohnthebaptistburscough.churchsuite.co.uk/events/wytmhmze
Following some successful experiments, we are planning to develop our Online worship provision.
This Sunday 31 May we will be offering the following:
Live streamed worship via YouTube at 10.00am
The worship will be streamed on our church’s You Tube Channel. To watch, simply click on this link https://www.youtube.com/SJBBurscough to get to our channel, then click on the video for 31st May 2020. Alternatively, find YouTube on the internet (https://www.youtube.com/) and then search for the SJBBurscough You Tube Channel.
The advantage of using YouTube is the picture and sound quality is vastly better than on Zoom and we can make it accessible to more people. The content will be the same as our 11.00am Zoom service.
We will also offer our normal worship via Zoom at 11.00am
Following on from the successful experiment last week, we will use the break out rooms for an ‘online brew’ following the service. Those who have watched the YouTube live streamed worship will be able to join us for refreshments at 11.45am. Simply make yourself a brew and login to Zoom using the details that have been previously been circulated.
We will repeat the same pattern of services on Sunday 7 June
10.00am Live streamed Worship on YouTube
11.00am Worship via Zoom
11.45am Online refreshments via Zoom (same login details as the Sunday service and you can join at 11.45am)
We will then review people’s feedback about offering worship on these two platforms and then make a decision about the way ahead.
Please contact me if you would like more details:
Revd Canon David Banbury:
david.banbury@stjohns-burscough.org
01704 891640
For all who are signed up to My ChurchSuite, it would be fantastic if you could upload a profile picture of yourself to your My ChurchSuite profile (it doesn’t have to be as cheesy as this one), so that both the staff team and other church members can put faces to names. This would be particularly helpful to our new members of staff and congregation who are still getting to know people.
To do this, simply login to your My Church Suite account and click on My Details, where you should be able to either take a photo or upload one from your device.
For more information, or if you require assistance with this task, please contact Jennie Short who will be happy to give you a call back to run through it.
Jennie Short:
jennie.short@stjohns-burscough.org
On Wednesday 10th June at 8.00pm we are delighted to be reintroducing ‘The SPACE’, our monthly creative prayer and relaxation gathering. The SPACE is a wonderful way of relaxing, unwinding, encountering God and experiencing wholeness. By using creativity, relaxation and time for reflection the SPACE offers the opportunity to take time out from our busy and at times stressful world. The Space is wonderfully hosted by Vicki Downey and Sue Hodgkins.
NOTE: If you are planning on being part of this SPACE session you will need two saucers, some dried pasta and/or dried rice and a fork for the opening activity!
Just click this link to sign up - https://stjohnthebaptistburscough.churchsuite.co.uk/events/nwu1zxjk
All are welcome to join us for an enjoyable evening of studying and discussing the Bible together.
Please note: There will be no Bible Study on 10th June as THE SPACE will be running at 8.00pm
If you would like to join us for this enjoyable evening, please contact me for details.
Revd Canon David Banbury:
david.banbury@stjohns-burscough.org
01704 891640
We have slightly adapted our calling plan so that everyone who is registered on Church Suite will receive a phone call from Church every three weeks. For more information, contact:
Revd Canon David Banbury:
david.banbury@stjohns-burscough.org
01704 891640
Do continue to follow our Online worship services at -
www.stjohns-burscough.org/OnlineServices
Jen and Pete Short are also continuing to offer live midweek sung worship on a Tuesday evening at 8pm, but we are now using YouTube Live and the video will remain on the YouTube channel, so if the live time doesn’t work for you, you can watch it at your convenience.
The livestream can be accessed from 7.50pm each Tuesday, at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG_h0eWr_oUB5GtQLDHsDbQ
Subscribe to this YouTube channel to receive alerts as new videos are posted.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has launched a free national phone line as a simple new way to bring worship and prayer into people’s homes while church buildings are closed because of the coronavirus.
Daily Hope offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of a telephone line.
The line is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044
The Centre for Church Multiplication are organising an online Church planting day conference on Thursday 25 June 2020. The Zoom conference will feature an online experience to equip, stimulate and inspire people thinking about church planting. The organisers are bringing together movement leaders and speakers from England and further afield, as well as testimonies from church planters who are breaking new ground. We are considering booking ten places on this conference so if you are interested in being part of this event please contact:
Revd Canon David Banbury:
david.banbury@stjohns-burscough.org
01704 891640
We have created a 'Good News Page' on the website (https://www.stjohns-burscough.org/GoodNews/) and so we would love to hear from you if you have an encouraging story to tell, no matter how small or insignificant you might think it is, we want to hear it!
Please send your good news stories to -
Stuart Ashcroft
Please pray for the family and friends of the following people who have recently passed away.
Leonard Caunce
Walter Steen
Joan Spencer
Vivienne Thompson
Richard Gardner
Joy Rainford
Alice Suffell
Annie Houghton
John Stringman
Ronald Cheetham
Nora Davies
Trevor Bridge
Vera Evans
Margaret Forshaw
Our verse for 2020: Love one another as I have loved you - John 13:34