We have a new group starting at St Johns on the 17th May for our youngest members!
Oasis Minis is a group for parents and carers of pre-walking babies. More information can be found on the Oasis page.
Five Year Plan 2015-2020
As you know, we have been waiting to launch the plan until the building project is complete. Since January 2012, there have been consultations, meetings, reflections, bible studies, and prayers on what we need to do to plan to keep moving as a church.
This process culminated in January 2015, when PCC reviewed and approved the final version. So the time to launch the plan has arrived, and below is the final version we will be using to shape our thinking.
We hope you’re excited to grab hold of the opportunities they represent!
There will be a short presentation, some discussion and prayer on Saturday 24 January, 9.30-11am.
From then on, we pray that the Lord will continue to bless the work of St John’s in preaching the good news of Jesus Christ to this generation, making and growing mature disciples to continue the Lord’s work into the future.
Vicar, Wardens and PCC
Five Year Plan 2015-2020
Overall theme: ‘A fearless church’
Teaching
Aim: to ensure we are united by what we believe
• Continue to train teachers through the North West Partnership Course (a further 20).
• Develop a wider variety of ways of learning together (eg Catechism).
• Invite regular guest speakers (c. three per year) from like-minded churches.
• Hold monthly Q&A sessions with the Vicar in services.
• Reintroduce monthly ‘Cafe Church’ or similar format.
• Strengthen national and international links with like-minded bodies.
Discipleship
Aim: to grow a closer, deeper and stronger walk with Jesus
• Run one annual discipleship course, eg Yr1 parenting, Yr2 marriage MOT, Yr3 [TBC], Yr4 people into ministry, Yr5 [TBC].
• Run quarterly special in-depth seminars on pressing topics.
• Create database of gifts/skills, and look to nurture and develop people’s skills.
• Encourage more active PCC membership eg commitment to service.
• Observe continuous improvements in planned giving year-on-year.
• Increase membership on Electoral Roll.
Fellowship
Aim: to ensure we encourage and admonish one another in love.
• Introduce informal and engaging pieces into the morning service prayerbook format.
• Make the monthly prayer meeting essential, and have additional prayer opportunities.
• Arrange two church family social events per year, combined with Toft.
Mission & Evangelism
Aim: to enable us to reach the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Start/source an annual apologetics course.
• Create open events and social action specifically for our community (that values what they value).
• Noticeably increase the attendance at the Sunday services through making new Christians.
• Enable and encourage people to enter politics/government.
• Explore the opportunities to plant a church.
• Continue to partner Christians around the world, and to encourage church family members to serve in overseas mission.
Service arrangements during building works
We have prepared a PDF document which provides more information about the services we run and how they will be while we are out of the church for the building works.
You can download it here.
The 10:15 service has relocated to Knutsford Academy Lower School Building. Children’s and young people’s groups will continue as normal within the Lower School Building. Parking is available on the Lower and Upper School grounds. There is a drop-off point for the elderly at the Lower School.
If you are able to leave your car at home and walk or share a lift this would be appreciated. Please plan to arrive 10 minutes before the service starts for a prompt start. Access will be through the main front entrance to the Lower School Building. Refreshments will be served as usual at the end of the service.
Church walk – Toft to Knutsford
Following on from their enthusiastic response to the reordering project, we hope as many children, from those toddling in crèche, to those in Pathfinders; will take part with their families. We urge the children to collect as many sponsors as they can from friends and family (the child with the most sponsorship will be rewarded). More details and sponsor forms (for download) are available on the Vision for Growth Website.
We will leave Toft at 2pm and on arrival at Knutsford Church refreshments will be available. Any other members of the church family are most welcome to walk with us and we would welcome offers to help with refreshments and marshaling the roads we need to cross, on the day