Cake and Questions

Hawking, Dawkins and God

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During our meeting on Thursday 7th May, as well as enjoying marzipan and blackcurrant muffins, we listened to a York Courses CD, ‘Hawking, Dawkins and God’ as a basis for our discussion. John Polkinghorne, an Anglican Priest, also Fellow of the Royal Society and a former Professor of Mathematical Physics at Cambridge University discussed his Christian faith in the light of New Atheism and explained why he believes in God.

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We meet every Thursday in the Meeting Room at 10.30. Our meeting starts with some time to catch up on news and enjoy sampling the different baking which we have each week. Discussion follows which is based around a book or other resources linked with the Bible.

At the moment we are continuing to explore some of the questions from the York Lent material that we followed in the weeks leading up to Easter, which we’ve found very interesting.

Notices

Election of Bishop: The Primus formally announced to the Synod on the 27th July that as it had not been possible for a shortlist of candidates to be put forward for election by the Synod the responsibility for electing the next Bishop would now, in accordance with the Canon, pass to the College of Bishops. They will be following the same procedure: considering names put forward to them, issuing a questionnaire and interviewing before voting. We do not have a timescale at present but the Primus said that it was his intention to keep us all informed as the procedure was followed. Thank you to everyone who joined in the Day of Prayer and please keep the Bishops and the person God has chosen to be our Bishop in your prayers. Please talk to me if you have any questions.
Margaret Morton Lay Representative

Church Lighting: At the Special General Meeting in January we agreed that visits would be made to see lighting arrangements in other churches and that those who went would report back to a further meeting. A number of members of the congregation have visited both SEC and Church of Scotland buildings and one in particular was very impressive. The Tower Group has asked the engineers for that scheme to suggest lighting improvements for St John’s which will be discussed at a Special General Meeting on the 15th September after the 11am service. On the previous Sunday David Kerr will show a presentation of the various churches visited, again after the 11am service. The formal notice of the meeting will follow but this is to give advance notice of the date and the arrangements.
Margaret Morton, Acting Vestry Secretary

FAIRTRADE STALL TODAY. Many 2019 Great Award winning products on sale including Traidcraft Black Tea (teabags and leaf and decaffeinated); Earl Grey Tea; Eswatini Orange & Cinnamon Marmalade; Ma’s Kitchen Coconut Milk. And Ethical Consumer’s top pick for Rice – Kilombero and Most Ethical toilet paper – 100% recycled. Lots of other amazing products. Judith Mylne

FIRST BASE FOOD PARCELS: Thank you for all the help you gave us to aid First Base to cope with the extra pressures they have had during the school holidays.

We spoke to Ian this week to find that they are very short of all the usual foods, especially UHT milk, pasta, pasta sauces, tins meat and fish.

Please help us to help First Base. Thank you.

Annette and Pauline

Celebration of Ministry – 31/08/2019: Worship Leaders and Pastoral Assistants: This year the annual Ministry Celebration Service is planned for Saturday, 31/08/2019 here at St John’s, at 11.00am, followed by a light lunch. Bishop Gordon Mursell has kindly agreed to preach and it is hoped that the Primus will preside at the Eucharist. This service is for Worship Leaders and Pastoral Assistants in the Diocese and all who would like to support them. Most of you will be aware that Diocesan Policy is to have all Authorised Ministry positions re-authorised by the Bishop on a three year rolling programme. This year all Worship Leaders and Pastoral Assistants require to be re-appointed and to have working agreements reviewed and authorised by Bishop Mark, regardless of when they were initially authorised.

Harriet Oxley’s ordination as Deacon is on Saturday, 14/09/2019 at 2.30pm in St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow. Two minibuses have been arranged: one for the Choir, who need to be there earlier in the day to rehearse, and one for members of the Congregation who would like to attend. The latter bus will depart St J’s at 12noon. Return fare £14. Sign up sheet on the lit noticeboard. Should the Choir not need all the spaces on their bus, additional seats may be available to the Congregation. Watch this space.

As Harriet Oxley’s sponsoring church, we plan to give her a gift of a purple stole. If you would like to contribute to this, please place your offering in an envelope, marked ‘Harriet’ and place in the offering plate, or pass to Janice or David.

The Franciscan Friary at Alnmouth will be the base for a Lenten retreat from Friday 13 – Sunday 15 March 2020. The daily fee is £45. Names asap, please, to Raymond Budd, 01848 33132

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St John's Dumfries

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Cake and Questions

Hawking, Dawkins and God

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