Sunday 13th & Sunday 20th April 2025
St John’s holds services in Church on Sundays at 10am, with a recording of the morning service uploaded online for those not able to join us.
Paper services available on request.
Dear Church Family,
Dear Church Family,
Palm branches and paradoxes—we prepare ourselves for Holy Week. On Palm Sunday (13th April), we step into the crowd to witness Jesus riding into Jerusalem not on a warhorse, but a donkey (Luke 19:28–40). It’s a royal procession for a king who won’t lift a sword. Cloaks fall to the ground, the stones threaten to shout, and the disciples cheer like football fans who haven’t quite grasped the rules.
And then, by Easter Day (20th April), the scene changes entirely. There are no parades now, just perplexed women at an empty tomb, angels in dazzling clothes, and a few dropped spices (Luke 24:1–12). It’s the greatest twist ending in history—death undone, not by might, but by mercy.
If ever there were two Sundays to bring someone along to church, these are the ones. Let’s walk together from the gates of Jerusalem to the garden of resurrection, holding hope in our hands and wonder in our hearts.
In Christ’s peace and power,
Mark 甄英深
Notices
ART-SPRING FESTIVAL | Saturday 12th April 2025 from 11:00 am - 5:00pm. St John’s latest Art & Craft exhibition will take place in our Church Centre on Saturday 12th April 2025 from 11:00 am - 5:00pm. Free entry. Work by our Art Group and other local artists and makers will be for sale, including jewellery, painting, stained glass, and small sculptures. Tea, coffee & biscuits available. Please tell all your family, friends and neighbours and let Michael Garaway know - garawaym@gmail.com - if you would like to help with refreshments, stewarding or guiding visitors into the centre.
BUBBLE CHURCH | Sunday 13th April 9.00am. Bubble Church is finally here, this Sunday! Please tell anyone you know with young children to sign up. A huge thanks to all who have volunteered to help. These are exciting times indeed! Helpers should arrive at 8.30am ready for the 9.00am start. Puppeteers should arrive at 8.15 to have a final rehearsal. For further details please contact Dawn - families@stjohn-woodley.com.
MOTHERS’ UNION | Wednesday 16th April 2025 2.30pm. Mothers’ Union will be meeting on Wednesday 16th April at 2.30pm in the Church Centre. The speaker is from Christian Community Action. New members are always welcome.
WOODLEY | WALK OF WITNESS | Good Friday 18th April 2025 at 11:30am. Churches and congregations across Woodley are warmly invited to take part in a Walk of Witness this Good Friday, as a visible sign of our unity and shared faith. We will depart from our respective churches and converge at the Bandstand in Woodley Town Centre, gathering in the precinct at 11:30am for a time of reflection, prayer and witness to the hope of the cross. Let us walk together as one body, marking this holy day in fellowship and faith. All are welcome.
PRAYERS FOR WOODLEY | Saturday 19th April 2025 at 9.00am in the church. On Saturday 19th April at 9.00am, we invite you to join us for our monthly Prayers for Woodley—a special time when Christians from across our town gather in unity to lift up Woodley in prayer. This month’s meeting falls on Holy Saturday, a day of quiet waiting and hope between the cross and the empty tomb. It’s a meaningful time to come together, reflect, and pray for renewal in our community.
GREEN PASTURES GRIEF CAFE | Saturday 19th April 2025 10.00am. The group will meet in the Church centre on Saturday 19th April at 10.00am. Open for anyone struggling with bereavement or loss of any kind and who are seeking support.
EASTER BREAKS. - In line with school holidays there will be NO TODDLERS on 8th or 15th April 2025. They return on Tuesday 22nd April 2025 at 10.00am.
The Prayer Group on ZOOM will not be meeting for the next 3 weeks. The next meeting will be on Tuesday 22nd April at 7.30pm.
The ‘Life of Christ’ Study Group will not be meeting on 2nd or 16th April. The next meeting will be Wednesday 30th April 2025 at 11.00am.
The Fellowship & Bible Study Group on ZOOM will not be meeting for the next 3 weeks. The next meeting will be on Wednesday 30th April 2025 at 7.45pm.
There will be NO Lunch, Munch and Chinwag on Good Friday 18th April 2025. Back on Friday 25th April 2025 at 11.30am.
A message on behalf of Woodley Foodbank. Thank you for your donations. We continue to experience a very high demand for our services. We are currently low in stocks of custard, toilet rolls, rice, sugar, milk and juice. Donations of Sugar, Coffee, Pasta, Cereals, Pasta Sauce, Spaghetti (dried), Noodles (inc. Pot Noodles), Tinned Vegetables (all types, inc. potatoes), Tinned pies (Fray Bentos Meat and Veg varieties), Tinned fish, Tinned fruit, Tinned Soups (Veg and Meat), Meat meals (tinned), Biscuits, Crisps, Custard - tinned and dried, Tinned Desserts Long Life milk, Juice (cordial and long life), Toothbrushes and toothpaste, Shampoo and Shower Gel, Deodorants (M&F), Toilet Rolls are welcome at any time. We are also short of plastic bags.
Envelope Collection. David, our Treasurer, is kindly offering a collection service for those that usually give to St John’s by envelope. Please call him direct on 0118 969 2521 or email.
ChurchSuite - Login Required. You should have each received by now your personal login for ChurchSuite. Please do log in and update your personal contact details and what information you want to share with others in the St John’s church family. This way you can make sure you are kept up-to-date with news at St John’s and stay linked in with others. For those who are not online, we will be contacting them separately to do this.
For our prayers
For our world. Pray and thank God for all who will celebrate Easter around the world. Pray that they will be able to do so safely. Pray for areas where safety is a big issue. Where there is war, pray for peace. Where there is famine, pray for rain to help the crops to grow. Where there is conflict of any kind, pray for those who are suffering.
For our country. Pray for all in education as they are on holiday. Pray for the students and their safety as they journey around. Pray for all teachers and lecturers, for a restful time for them and a recharging of their strength. Pray for all struggling to find enough money for their basic needs. Pray for all organisations who give help and advice to those in great need.
For those who are unwell. Pray for all we know and love that are unwell. Pray especially for Dhoj Gurung in hospital in Nepal, Margaret, Irene, Ricky, Ian, Guimei, Ann, Lucy, Laura, Twink, Janet A., Liz, Rita, David S., Caroline, Devina, Adrian, Mo, Chris, Katie and Teddy. Pray too for all who care for them.
In our prayers. Pray for all mourning the death of a loved one. Pray especially for Diana, Emma and Paul mourning the loss of Alison. Pray for our Bubble Church and its first meeting on Sunday. For the children who will attend, their parents and the helpers. Pray that it will be a joyful time for everyone. Pray for our church family as we prepare to celebrate Easter. For the Maundy Thursday service, the Good Friday services, the Easter vigil on Saturday and Easter Day itself. Pray for Mark, Richard and Suzanne as they lead us through Holy Week and bring us to Easter Day.
Church Office
The church office is usually open Tuesday - Fridays from 10am - 12pm. Please note that any notices need to be sent to info@stjohn-woodley.com by 10.00 am on Thursday, for inclusion in that week's newsletter.
Upcoming Dates for your Diary
Sunday 13th April
9.00am - Bubble Church.
10.00am - Service of Holy Communion. Palm Sunday. This week’s Bible readings are Psalm 118: 19-24 and Luke 19: 28-40. A video recording of the service will be uploaded to the website at: https://www.youtube.com/@stjohnswoodley
3:00pm - Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi Fellowship.
Tuesday 15th April
NO TODDLERS during the Easter break. They return on Tuesday 22nd April 2025.
THERE IS NO PRAYER ON ZOOM UNTIL 22ND APRIL 2025.
Wednesday 16th April
10.00am - Midweek Communion Service.
THERE IS NO ‘LIFE OF CHRIST’ STUDY GROUP UNTIL 30TH APRIL 2025
2.30pm - Mothers’ Union. See details opposite.
THERE IS NO FELLOWSHIP & BIBLE STUDY GROUP ON ZOOM UNTIL 30TH APRIL 2025.
Thursday 17th April
7.00pm - Maundy Thursday Service.
Friday 18th April
10.00am - UPH Good Friday Service. Led by Rev’d Richard Christopher.
11.30am - Woodley Walk of Witness. See details opposite.
3.00pm - Good Friday Service. Led by Rev’d Suzanne Knight.
NO LUNCH, MUNCH & CHINWAG. Back on Friday 25th April 2025.
Saturday 19th April
9.00am - Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil/Prayers for Woodley. See details opposite.
10.00am - Green Pastures Grief Cafe.
Sunday 20th April
10.00am - Service of Holy Communion. Easter Sunday. This week’s Bible readings will be Acts 10: 34-43 and Luke 24: 1-12.
A video recording of the service will be uploaded to the website at: https://www.youtube.com/@stjohnswoodley
3:00pm - Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi Fellowship.
Tuesday 22nd April
10.00am - St John’s Toddler Group returns. Contact Dawn for further details.
7.30pm - Praying Together on Zoom (phone in 0203 481 5237 | Zoom ID: 977 0607 9786)
Wednesday 23rd April
10.00am - Midweek Communion Service.
THERE IS NO FELLOWSHIP & BIBLE STUDY GROUP ON ZOOM UNTIL 30TH APRIL 2025.
Friday 25th April
11.30am Lunch, Munch & Chinwag.
Coming up in May
4th BCP Said Service of Holy Communion 8.00am.
6th Green Pastures Grief Cafe 2.00pm
11th Bubble Church 9.00am
17th Green Pastures Grief Cafe 10.00am
18th BCP Said Service of Holy Communion 8.00am.
21st Mothers’ Union 2.30pm
Pastoral Support
Would you like a prayer?
If you would like support, please do let us know - you do not need to face hard things alone. Please contact the office to arrange for a Pastoral Visit from one of our team. Alternatively, complete the prayer request form below and someone will be in touch.
