Mobile St Mark's

You can now keep up to date on your mobile!

Point your mobile browser at http://www.stmarkssaltney.org.uk/m/ From here you can listen to sermons and access the blog, Twitter and facebook.


You can also view the mobile version of the blog at http://stmarkssaltney.blogspot.com/?m=1
Follow us on Twitter at http://mobile.twitter.com/StMarksSaltney
And find us on facebook here: http://m.facebook.com/stmarkssaltney

Sunday Lunch 8th January

On Sunday 8th January, the Youth of St Mark’s will be serving up a Roast Dinner, cooked by Joan and her team. Tickets are priced £5 or £2.50 for under 11s.


All profits from the meal will be going  towards the Youth Min-Y-Don Trip in February.  Do come along and give the Young People your support and enjoy a Sunday Roast with the church family. Tickets are selling well. You can get yours by popping into the office or email Maggie and she will reserve some for you.

Pictures from the Nativity

New Sermon Series

The sermon series for Spring 2012 is now available for download at http://www.stmarkssaltney.org.uk/Sermons.htm where you can also catch up with all our sermons from previous months. 

  

A Call to Discipleship Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian who was hanged by the Nazis in 1945 wrote a book entitled ‘The Cost of Discipleship’, and in it he wrote about costly grace in contrast to cheap grace. He said, ‘cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. Costly grace is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. Above all it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son, and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. And it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God’. And the Incarnation of God is what we have just been celebrating a few weeks ago at Christmas, and continue to celebrate throughout our Christian journey. The Incarnate God still calls us today to follow Him, and still it is costly. This Spring Sermon Series we will be looking at ‘A call to discipleship’ helping us to see afresh what it really means to follow Jesus, and how we can help others to do the same. Are we willing to dedicate our lives fully to following Christ by presenting our bodies to him as a living sacrifice, offering ourselves to Him to use us as He so desires enabling more of His Kingdom to be built here on earth?

1Peter - Living in the world but not of the world Peter was writing to Jewish Christians who were experiencing extreme persecution for their faith. He wrote to comfort them, reminding them of the hope of the resurrection, and to encourage them to continue to live holy lives, even in their suffering. Peter can write with empathy and authority because he knew what it was to be persecuted, having been beaten and imprisoned many times. But more importantly he knew Christ, and nothing could shake his confidence in his risen Lord. His Lord whom he had misunderstood, rejected and run away from, and His Lord who had forgiven and reinstated him, and given him the task of building His Church.    As we continue as a church to seek God’s vision for the future I believe this book could have a significant impact on our discipleship and in the renewal of our faith. It is a book all about Vision and a coming together of God’s people to see it fulfilled – how exciting is that?!

St Marks is now on facebook

You can now find us on facebook!

Sermon from Sunday 11th December

The sermon from Sunday evening 11th December is now available for download here.

The last in our series on NehemiahA warning against complacency Nehemiah 13 Geoff Belton

Photos from Civic Service

Civic Service

We are hosting a Civic Service at St. Mark's

Sunday 11th at 10.45am.  

Everyone is invited to the service and to stay for lunch afterwards.

Sermon from 4th December

The sermon from Sunday evening 4th December is now available for download here.

It's time to celebrate and worship

Nehemiah 12: 27-47

Rev Hennie Johnston

Hennie's monthly Blog for December

Dear All,

This morning, 5th December, really does feel like Winter. As I begin to write this message I am sitting in front of my computer with freezing hands, and a scarf around my neck, whereas Chanty is curled up on my bed looking very snug and warm. Priorities in the Vicarage don't seem quite right to me?!

Talking about priorities, we have now arrived in the season of Advent, essentially a season of patient waiting, a discipline which does not come naturally to many of us, at least not to me! Advent means 'coming' or 'arrival', and it's a time of preparation for the celeberation of Christmas when the first coming of God's Son to the world is recalled, and a period of reflection pointing us to Christ's second coming at the end of time. I said on Advent Sunday, 27th November, how, I believe, Advent has been kidnapped by Christmas, not only by the world of consumerism advertising Christmas at the end of September with Christmas cards and shop displays, but also by the Church with Christingle, Nativity, and Carol services starting ever earlier in December - the season of waiting is enveloped by the Christmas story right at the beginning of Advent.

Archbishop John Sentamu says, 'today we are encouraged to take the waiting out of wanting, cut to the chase, and get what we want right away, as though there is nothing worth waiting for. This Advent book dares to defy all that'. He says this as part of his Forward for a book entitled, 'The Meaning is in the Waiting - The Spirit of Advent' by Paula Gooder, which is my current Advent reading. Can I encourage you all who are taking time to read this blog, to find some space in these coming weeks, whether daily, or weekly, to stop from what you are doing, and wait on God, and reflect what the true Reason is for the Season of Advent, as well for the Reason for the Season of Christmas - for the meaning will be found in the waiting.

As I reflect back on a very busy November, I see the importance of waiting on God, for waiting is not a passive discipline, rather it is a radical discipline, where one is actively present to the moment, expecting that new things will happen, new things that are far beyond our own imagination or prediction. And lots of things happened in November. I attended a number of conferences organised by the Diocese. An excellent day celebrating the power of preaching - 'Alive to the Word' - organised by Chester Diocese and the College of Preachers, with key address from Bishop Peter, sermon from Revd. Christine Bull, and a good choice of workshops. The church wardens, Tony Slade, and myself attended a very good evening on Parish giving, again organised by the Diocese with different talks, and various workshops - very helpful and informative. The other conference I attended was a 3 day conference at Foxhill entitled 'Changing Posts', where each person had to give a 30 minute presentation on their new parish with 40 minutes of questioning! After my presentation most people commented how busy we were as a church - perhaps even more important that we 'wait & watch'. We had mixed input from different people throughout the three days, including an excellent session with Bishop Robert.

Also in November we had a very powerful Alpha Holy Spirit Day at church attended by those on the course, and others from St. Mark's and the Lighthouse. We listened to three talks, had time in groups and finished with worship and ministry - many people were deeply touched by the power of the Holy Spirit - praise God!

I finished my November blog by asking you to continue to pray and listen to God as we seek to know who He is calling us to be, and where He is calling us to go? At the PCC in November I presented some draft statements under the heading 'Is this Us'? looking at our identity, purpose, values and vision, and it was agreed that these drafts would be presented to the church. This has now happened, and the draft statements are on public viewing in The Link at St. Mark's. The PCC is asking you all to take the opportunity of reading them, reflecting on them, and then feeding back to the PCC, Church Wardens, or myself, with your thoughts by the beginning of January, so that the feedback can be looked at by the PCC at the January meeting on Monday January 16th. Whatever the journey is that God is calling us to embark on, it is important that it is not the PCC, or Vicar's vision, but that the whole church has had the opportunity to engage, listen and pray. So your feeback is very important, and will be much appreciated.

Perhaps this is part of our Advent waiting? Waiting & praying to see how, 'Is this Us?' becomes 'This is Us'. We wait with eagerness and anticipation to know 'Who God is calling us to be, and where He is calling us to go', actively present to the moment, expecting that new things will happen, new things that are far beyond our own imagination or prediction!

May you make space for 'waiting & watching' this Advent, in preparation for a joyous celebration this Christmas time when we welcome the arrival of the Christ child - Immanuel - God with us.

May God bless you all this December, love and prayers Hennie

Christmas Float

Wednesday 7th December from 6 - 8 pm

Come and join Churches Together's Christmas float as we travel through Lache blessing the residents with carol singing, mince pies & sweets. Please  Meet at Asda, Saltney, at 6pm. Come dressed as a Christmas character, or as yourself, but  the  more the merrier  – it‟s a Christmas event for all ages, but there will  be some walking. We also ask if you could bring some Mince pies on the evening to give out to the residents.

Children's Society - make runaways safe?

At our Christingle Service we will be collecting the donation candles to help the work of the Children's Society.


Currently they are running a campaign about children who run away from home, "make runaways safe?"

 Every five minutes a child in the UK runs away from Home

    

Every child who has run away deserves to be protected through a national safety net of support.Without help, these children are highly vulnerable and at risk of substance abuse, sexual exploitation and homelessness. They need to know that there are people who can help them and services that they can turn to.

You can help by donating online here.

There is also an online petition that you can sign

Lord,

Is it too much to ask, that children should not be frightened?
Is it too much to hope, that they wont have to run away?

Is it too much to demand that those on the streets will be safe and looked after?

Is it too much to dream that one day they will find a place that they can call home?

Amen

Saltney Christmas Parade

 What a fantastic event!

Sermons from 27th November

The sermons from Sunday 27th November are now available for download here.

Morning:  Advent Sunday Mark 13:24-37 Rev Simon Chesters
Evening:  Generosity before God Nehemiah 10 Rev Wendy Steadman

Christingle Sunday 4th December

Our Christingle Service is this Sunday at 10:45.
Suitable for all ages - come along and join the celebrations.

The Children’s Society first introduced Christingle to The Church of England in 1968, and it has since become one of the most popular events for families and communities in the church calendar.

Symbolism 

• The orange – represents the world
• The red ribbon – indicates the love and blood of Christ
• The dried fruits and sweets – symbols of God’s creations
• The lit candle – symbolises Jesus, the light of the world

We will be collecting Gifts and Food  during the Service.  Please consider bringing a gift (NEW, unwrapped, for any age – baby to adult) and/or non-perishable Christmas food items to help local Families in need.

We will also be collecting the Children's Society Candle collecting boxes.

Sermons from 20th November

The sermons from Sunday 20th November are now available for download here Morning:  "Come to me - to be sent out" Mark 6:6b-13 Rev Hennie Johnston
Evening:  "Renewing the community – Honesty before God" Nehemiah 9 Geoff Belton

Themes for Sunday 20th November 2011

 

Morning:  Continuing our series in Mark "Come to me - to be sent out" Mark 6:6b-13 Rev Hennie Johnston
Evening:  Continuing our series in Nehemiah "Renewing the community – Honesty before God" Nehemiah 9 Geoff Belton

Secret Children

Please pray for the Secret Children. Once a day, seven days a week for seven weeks. 
Starting on the 6th November, the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, 
right through to Christmas Eve.


It's not to late to sign up.
If you would like to receive a daily prayer please go to www.opendoorsuk.org/resources/secretchildren/ to sign up or ask in church to receive a paper copy.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for strengthening us each day. May we always look to You as our stronghold.
We pray for Christians – and especially the children – who live in countries where faith costs the most. We earnestly pray that they will be able to stand strong and safe through the storm of persecution.
Thank You for Open Doors field workers who are able to provide them with Bibles, training and essential supplies.
We pray for those who persecute Christians, that they will see the witness of Your followers, and so discover Your love and forgiveness.
We pray for Open Doors in the UK: the staff, volunteers and supporters. Thank You for their commitment to serving You. Please strengthen them with the wisdom and energy they need to support persecuted Christians through campaigning, giving and prayer. 
We thank You for supplying all our needs. Enlarge our vision, as we stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in Christ. May we be a supportive family to them.
Hear us, Lord, and have mercy on them for power and strength belong to You, our God, forever and ever!
Amen

Remembrance Sunday 2011

They shall grow not old,

as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them,

nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun

and in the morning

We will remember them.

Sermons from Sunday 6th November

The evening sermon from Sunday 6th October 2011 - available for download here

Evening: 
Continuing our series in Nehemiah
Open the Scriptures - Nehemiah 8


For more information about listening to our sermons on-line go here.

Hennie's monthly Blog for November

Dear All,

This morning, 7th November, really did feel like Autumn with a hard frost. No walking Chanty in shorts today, me or her, ski-ing gear seemed more appropriate. But don't worry we didn't embarrass the congregations of St. Mark's or the Lighthouse, neither of us were seen walking down Duke's Drive wearing skis!

Seven months since I arrived, and I feel excited about what might lie ahead? I discern that the spiritual barometer of the church is inching its way upwards, and especially during this past month - there is a sense of momentum and motivation as we continue to seek, and discern, God's direction, and vision, for the church.

There have been some specific occasions in October when we have gathered together to listen to God, and He has spoken to us clearly, and with what I believe is becoming a more united understanding of, 'Who we are, and who He is calling us to be'.

Firstly we had 24hrs of prayer from 5 pm on Friday 30th September to 5 pm Saturday 1st October in preparation for our Parish Weekend Away. The church was laid out with different prayer stations where people could spend time with God listening to what He had to say about ourselves as individuals (our personal discipleship); and as a church (worship, ministry, evangelism, mission, and other areas of our church life). When entering the church one could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit, and that one was standing on Holy Ground. There was, without doubt, a sense of God calling us to a deeper relationship with Himself, and a call to reach further out into the parish, and wider world in mission and service. There was a picture of water running out from underneath the altar, down through the church, and out into the high street of Saltney, gaining speed and depth. Once outside this great powerful river was sweeping people up and taking them along with it - cleansing, healing, watering, and transforming. Let us pray into this picture.

Our 24hrs of prayer was followed by our monthly October Prayer Gathering on Wed 5th October, and again we used the prayer stations in the church to listen, reflect and pray. It was a powerful hour where again the Holy Spirit was present, and where God met with us!

On the evening of Sunday 9th October we had a great evening of celebration praise, where the younger members of the worship band played with Nicola and Pete, and Jack also led the final act of sung worship. We had an extended time of praising God in Spirit and truth, a great sermon from Geoff, and then a time of creative prayer and asking the Holy Spirit to come and minister to us. Over 50 people came that evening, and the majority of people left having felt that the spiritual barometer of that service had definately moved upwards - praise God!

Lastly, but not least we had a great Parish weekend away from Friday 14th -16th October with the Archdeacon of Chester, Mike Gilbertson, as our guest speaker. The theme for the weekend was 'Who are we, and who is God calling us to be'? Mike spoke to us from 1 Corinthians 1: 1-9 and entitled his two talks, 'Called to be his people'. Called to be... as individuals, together, and as part of the worldwide church; called to serve... in God's grace, and with the gifts he gives; called to grow.. in quantity and quality; called for a purpose... past, present and future of God's great plan; called to be God's people in grace, thanks, encouragement and love. He also spoke of the encouragements and challenges that we face at St. Mark's, and in particular the challenge of growing the church numerically with the current structure that we have in place as a medium sized church. Are we prepared for the pain as we strive to break through the glass ceiling barrier?! I pray so......!?

He also encouraged us to think about where God might be calling the church to be in five years time, and what would our priorities need to be in order to get there with regard to our relationship with God, with one another, with the local community, and with others.

On Sunday morning we asked everyone to share one thing that had spoken to them since they had arrived, and that they could not get out of their minds, or hearts, and there were a number of different responses. However there was a thread emerging that people had a real desire to see deeper fellowship with one another (a church without masks); a deeper dependence on prayer; and more intentional mission out into the community. Perhaps confirmation of deeper in, and further out!

We ended the weekend with a service of Holy Communion where I preached on Isaiah 54: v. 2-3 and talked about not only our need to enlarge the place of our tents into the community, but the importance first for us to let the habitations of our hearts be stretched out so that our Lord Jesus Christ can come and dwell in a larger space within us - less of us and more of Him. Again deeper in with Christ, so that we are equipped to go further out with His love.

As we go forward into this month of November can I ask you to pray into all that I have shared with you above, and encourage you to continue to listen to God as we seek to know who He is calling us to be, both individually, and as a church, and where He is calling us to go?

I think there are exciting times ahead for us, but it won't be easy - it could be messy, it well might be painful - but I pray we will be united in our vision, and mission, as we are called to grow & build God's Kingdom here in Lache and Saltney, and well beyond.

God bless you all this November,

love and prayers Hennie

BABIES AND TODDLERS - DARK NIGHTS AND CHRISTMAS

BABIES AND TODDLERS

WEDNESDAYS 1PM – 2.45PM

DARK NIGHTS AND CHRISTMAS

2nd November	Firework Pictures
9th	Making Bird Feeders
16th	SLEEP OVER wear your PJ’s and bring your teddy (All money taken will go to Children in Need)
23rd	Night time Pictures
30th	Christmas Decorations
7th December	Christmas Cards
14th	Christmas Party

Were back on the 4th January 2012

St. Marks Church Hall

St. Marks Road

Office Tel. 01244 675372

Sermons from Sunday 30th October

The sermons from Sunday 30th October 2011 - available for download here

Morning: 

Continuing our series in Mark

A new family - Mark 3:31-35 and 6:1-6

Evening: 
Continuing our series in Nehemiah
The servant's protection - Nehemiah 6

Photos from the church weekend

Hennie's sermon from the church weekend - Sunday 16th October

Hennie's sermon from the church weekend is available for download here


Jesus' call on our lives - Mark 1:16-20

"Who are we? And who is God calling us to be?"

The church family weekend away is this weekend! 

Our Theme is "Who are we? And who is God calling us to be?"


Don't forget to bring something with you that tells a little about yourself - it may be an object, poem, photo, piece of music, title of song, book, in fact anything you like!


And please continue to pray and be prepared to hear God's call on our lives.


Check out http://www.cloverleyhall.org/ for information about the venue

Sermon from Sunday 9th October

The sermon from Sunday Evening 9th October 2011 - available for download here
The servant's compassion - Nehemiah Ch5 - Geoff Belton

Sermon from Sunday 2nd October

The sermon from Sunday Evening 2nd October 2011 - available for download here
The servant's confidence - Nehemiah Ch4 - Hennie Johnston

Images from Harvest

Sermon from Sunday 25th September

The sermon from Sunday 25th September 2011 - available for download here
Evening: 
The servant's partners - Nehemiah 3 - Dave Williams

Hennie's monthly blog for October

Dear All,

October the 3rd, and I walked Chanty (my dog) in shorts today, me in shorts not her - how bizarre is that? Not that I was wearing shorts rather than her, but that anyone should be wearing shorts in the month of October?! September seems to have flown by, and I can't quite believe it's time to write my monthly blog/letter for St. Mark's and the Lighthouse.

I would love to have some feedback from members of the congregation as to whether the line I am taking for these monthly blogs/letters are informative, helpful and instructive, or not? Over the last few months I have left you with questions to think through, actions to take, and encouraged feedback -but the response has been silent, so any feedback whatsoever would be helpful - either on line or in my pidgeon hole!

In my September blog we had just started our sermon series, in the evening, on Nehemiah, and I suggested that there was much we could learn from this amazing man of prayer, and action. His heart was broken when he heard of the needs of the people of Jerusalem - both practically and spiritually - so he prayed, and he took action! His prayer was one of compassion, honesty, intensity, vulnerability, perseverance, and sacrificial. And last night at St. Mark's, we looked at Nehemiah Chapter 4, where he prays with the same intensity and honesty, leading all the people of Jerusalem into a place of prayer and action, as they got ready to go back to continue the job that God had called them to do - to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and to renew their own faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I suggested that we too have walls to re-build spiritually in our own parish, and we are all called to play our part. Something to reflect on might be, what part is God calling you to play in sharing His love in this parish?

I also said in my September blog that I hoped, and prayed, that our time of 24hrs of prayer from 5 pm on Friday 30th September through to 5 pm on Sat 1st October would be a time when we would listen to God. A time for Him to speak to us (which is often a rarity in our busy lives), as we seek His vision for St. Marks and the Lighthouse - and in preparation for our Parish weekend in less than two week's time, when we will have an opportunity to think about, 'Who are we, and who is God calling us to be'? Well, that time of 24hr prayer has been & gone, and it was an opportunity for members of the church to set aside time just 'to be' with God, and to listen to Him, seeking His vision for their own personal lives, and for the life of St. Mark's & the Lighthouse.

What was great too, was not only members of the congregation came to pray, but others passing by the church dropped in, to see a candle-lit church. The church had different prayer stations where one was encouraged to think about one's own identity in Christ, and the purpose, values and vision that Christ might be calling us to, to enable the growth of His Kingdom, here in the parish of Lache-cum-Saltney, but also further afield where we work, go to college, school, and find ourselves during the week. There was an opportunity throughout the 24 hrs to share with others what God was saying by writing on post it notes, note-pads and a note book. And God spoke! Do take the opportunity to read what people felt God was saying to them now on a blue board in the Link, which will remain there until the Parish weekend - there are pictures, scriptures, visions, words of knowledge, thoughts & reflections. Let us pray through them as we seek God's will and way.

I believe, as I have reflected on what has been written, that there is a hunger to grow deeper into God in prayer, worship and discipleship, and an eagerness to go further out with his great love, both in word and action. I was so blessed during those 24 hrs, as I know many others were, and I could share with you everything that people felt God was saying, but that would take a lot of your time up! Instead read what is on the board on the Link, and I wonder whether you will come to what I feel - that there is a strong desire that we need to know God's love more deeply for ourselves - before we can start to share God's love with others, and also the revelation - that renewal and revival has to start with ourselves - God start with me!

Bless all of you who have taken the time to read this - and please give me feedback!
Positive and negative is most welcome - my shoulders can take it - leaning on the Lord!

Your Revd. Hennie