St John’s, Bloxwich
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| Address | Victoria Ave, Walsall, WS3 3HS (Click for Google map) |
| Minister | Rev. Phil Hoar. |
| Contact Details | 01922 475083 or use our Contact Form |
| Services | Sunday worship10.30am Morning worship with children`s group and refreshments after the service. 6.30pm A quieter, more intimate evening service. Tuesday worship 10am followed by coffee and community lunch |
| Activities | There are a variety of fellowship groups and occasional courses which the Minister will be glad to tell you about. You can also contact him for baptisms, weddings and funerals.We have recently upgraded our heating system and double glazed some of our larger windows. This is a great help in a building which is used extensively by the local community.Current and future activities include:* Lent courses on Monday mornings and Thursday evenings to explore St. John’s Gospel.* Fundraising for our twinning with a Church on the Shara Peninsula in Rwanda, where we are helping them to rebuild their Church.* Outreach to schools and residential homes.* Preparing for a group of young people to visit Rwanda in July. |
| Further information | Visitors to St John’s comment on the feeling of warmth and welcome which awaits those who come to worship or join in the many church and community groups during the week.Our Mission Statement: Our vision as Christians is to continue to develop as a welcoming community of faith, sharing God`s love in worship, spirituality, word and deed, and seeking to respond to the needs of the people in the areas in which we are as an active presence and partner.We would be very glad to have your help and ideas as we try to respond to God`s Good News in our changing world.Around 45 or 50 years ago Methodism in Bloxwich sported three separate churches. In the 1960’s a variety of factors, mainly to do with decaying premises, combined to initiate amalgamation of these congregations into what is now St. John’s, Victoria Avenue. The initial development of the present site combined a new worship area, pre-existing school rooms, a meeting hall, kitchen facilities, rear car park and a tennis court. Some 20 years into this new extended group a scheme was hatched to upgrade the ancillary areas, we called it “The Refit”. Much effort and hard work went into creating the modern integrated facilities that we enjoy the use of today. Like many groups that come together through necessity there are ups and downs, nevertheless most would agree that in the long run the strength of Methodism in Bloxwich has been maintained. Our congregation is representative of much that gives Bloxwich its distinctive character. Many of our members are active in local affairs such as working alongside charities or serving as school governors and there is a general feeling that we are not just a collection of like minded people meeting on Sundays but rather a real part of the wider community.During the week there are youth meetings such as Brownies, Scouts, Rainbows and Guides, Our contact with “outside” groups provides us with opportunities to work alongside many people. A good example of this is our junior choir, Jigsaw. Drawing from local schools, the young choristers bring in family and friends that we would not necessarily see otherwise. They give several concerts a year and we are able to support the Church and local charities.Here at St. John’s, Sunday worship is enriched with an introit and an anthem offered by the long established church choir, our musical heritage goes back many years.As part of our policy on “families and young people”, new groups have recently been inaugurated. A “music club” for 10+ year olds and an extended “holiday play” group for chidren, giving those moving up from Jigsaw ( and elsewhere ) something else to interest them. The potential is exciting, please pray for the continuing success of these ventures.Not wishing to give the impression we think only of ourselves we assure all our readers that we are praying for the spiritual wellbeing of all. With God’s help we trust that all that is to be done in His name will lead to His Glory. God be with all that read this.
SPECIAL EVENTS SUNDAY 11th DECEMBER CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE 10.30am Mayor of Walsall will attend to officially open the BLOXWICH CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL 2011.Uniform groups will paade. Suitable for all ages and tea and coffee will be provided. Free admission. MONDAY12thDECEMBER to FRIDAY 16th DECEMBER lIT Tree viewing 5pm to 8pm. 26 trees to be illuminated and decorated around a musical Christmas theme. Free admission. SATURDAY 17th DECEMBER OPEN DAY 10am to 5pm. Stalls, refreshments, childrens crafts and treasure trail. £1.00 entrance fee for adults ( children free ) SUNDAY 18th DECEMBER 4.30am to 5.30pm. Children are invited to come and make a Christingle as part of this event. Christingles are made up of different parts, each one being there to remind us of something. The orange represents the world whilst a candle is to remind us of Jesus because Christians believe Jesus to be the light of the world. The red ribbon goes all around the ‘ world’ and reminds Christians that Jesus died because it represents the blood of Jesus. The four cocktail sticks could have either of two meanings: the four seasons or the four corners of the world. The sweets ( or sometimes dried fruit ) are to remind us of God’s gifts to the world including kindness and love.
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