Sunday 29th January was Pledge Sunday - the Sunday when we look back with thanksgiving on God's provision during 2011 and decide our giving for 2012.

To download Mike's Budget 2012 presentation, please click here (pdf file will open in a new window or tab). Letters and forms have been sent to everyone who is on the Electoral Role. If you are not on the Electroral Role and would like to receive the pack, please contact the office or pick one up in church.

We anticipate that pledges will come in over the next few weeks, so don't worry if you didn't have everything ready last week.

Our next Real Issues service is on the subject of marriage. At a time when the government is seeking to redefine marriage, we will take a Biblical look at the topic

Please note - new date: This service has been postponed due to reason outside our control. All are welcome at 6.30pm on Sunday 29th February.

As part of the project to build the new Church Centre, we have always intended to give 10% of all the money given to support Christian building projects in more deprived places, representing a mixture of home and foreign mission.

We are delighted to report that we have now made a gift to the St Andrews School in Asuncion, Paraguay to support the build of an additional classroom at their Annexe School for shanty-town children. We support the work of Mags Southern at the school, via SAMS Ireland. You can read more about Mags' work on our Mission Partners page.

You can see photographs of the progress by clicking this link to St John's Google+ page (will open in a new window). Extra photos added on 17th January.

Our Missionary Weekend is 2nd to 4th March and is titled ‘One God, One Way!’. The timetable for the weekend is as follows:

Friday 2nd March at 7.30pm - Youth Event:

• Pathfinders and Crossover - finding out about short-term mission.

Saturday 3rd March 10am to 2.30pm - Family Day:

• We will be joined by some of our mission partners who will update us on their work and also by Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of the Barnabas Fund. There will be a children's programme & activities and crèche (if anyone would be able/willing to help in the crèche, please speak to Helen Barber).

Sunday 4th March at 10am - Morning Service:

• Guest preacher Dr Patrick Sookhdeo.

Have you always wanted to read through the whole Bible but never got round to it? Or are you resolved to find time to study a Bible passage every day?

The notice sheet (always available on this page) will now have daily readings alongside each day on the diary page to enable you to do so. These readings are linked to a daily Bible Reading Plan that is available on the Reading the Bible section of the Resources page. 

New! Updated to include details of companion notes, written by DA Carson.

You’ll also find links to free audio daily Bible readings for your phone, iPod and other devices, including the Daily Audio Bible podcast, which will take you through the Bible in a year.

Finally, if you don't own a Bible to read, please ask a member of staff and we will make sure you get one.

CAP Money Course starts 6th March.

The next CAP Money course takes place on Tuesdays 6th, 13th and 20th March, starting at 7.45pm in St John's Church Centre. Over the three sessions participants will learn how to build and live on a budget, understand the CAP Money system and discover how to live from week to week using cash.

Coming on the course doesn't mean you have debts, nor do you have to share any financial information. Anyone will find it helpful and interesting. The course is FREE but booking is essential. Please call the church office for more information or book directly at www.capmoney.org.

For free confidential financial advice, contact CAP on 0800 328 0006.

Updated! New blog post about Christmas in Lebanon from Naomi - click here to visit the BMS website.

Please also visit our newly update Missionary pages, including the December Missionary Prayer Bulletin.