Sunday 12th October 2025
St John’s holds services in Church on Sundays at 10am, with a recording of the morning service uploaded online for those not able to join us.
Paper services available on request.
Dear Church Family,
This Sunday, the 17th after Trinity, we’ll hear the story from Luke 17: 11–19, where ten people with leprosy call out to Jesus and find both healing and hope. Revd. Mark will be preaching on how this story speaks not only about physical recovery, but about the deeper wholeness that comes from meeting Christ himself. Whether we come with gratitude, need, or uncertainty, we are all welcomed and restored by his grace. Each time we gather for Holy Communion—the Eucharist, meaning “thanksgiving”—we are reminded that God meets us just as we are, and draws us closer to his heart. So come, and bring a friend.
Every blessing,
Mark 甄英深
Notices
CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL | Call for a New Organiser. We would like to begin preparations for this year’s Christmas Tree Festival—a much-loved Woodley tradition where the church is filled with light, creativity and community spirit. Each year, local charities decorate trees that tell their stories, while visitors come to enjoy the festive atmosphere and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. After two wonderful years of leading the event, Pauline Harris will be stepping down as organiser. We are deeply grateful for all she has done to make the festival such a joyful and successful outreach to our town. To continue this special tradition, we now need someone to take over as event organiser. Without a new organiser, we sadly won’t be able to go ahead this year. If you are interested in taking on this role, or would like to find out more, please speak to Revd. Mark.
BUBBLE CHURCH | Sunday 12th & Sunday 26th October 2025 9.00am. Our next Bubble Church is THIS Sunday 12th October 2025 at 9.00am. Please tell anyone you know with young children to sign up. A huge thanks to all who have volunteered to help. Helpers should arrive at 8.30am ready for the 9.00am start. Puppeteers should arrive at 8.15am for rehearsal. For further details please contact Dawn.
MOTHERS’ UNION | Wednesday 15th October 2025 2.30pm. The Mothers Union will be meeting on Wednesday 15th October at 2.30pm. There will be a talk from Katie Ellis - ‘My Cancer, My Choice’. New members are always welcome so come along and see what we are all about.
PRAYER FOR WOODLEY | Saturday 18th October 2025 9.00am. This group meets regularly at St.John’s on the third Saturday morning of each month. It is comprised of people from different churches across Woodley and is an excellent way for us to join together in prayer. Join us on Saturday 18th October 2025 9.00am.
GREEN PASTURES GRIEF CAFE | Saturday 18th October 10.00am. The group will meet on Saturday 18th October at 10.00am. Open for anyone struggling with bereavement or loss of any kind and who are seeking support.
CREATION CARE WORKSHOP – Come Along with Mark | Saturday 18th October 2025. Our world is God’s creation, and caring for it is part of our calling as Christians. On Saturday 18th October, there’s a special workshop in Berkshire: Creation Care Conversations. Mark will be going along and would love others from church who have a heart for the environment to join him. It will be a chance to listen, learn fresh ideas and pray together about how we can become a more creation-conscious church here in Woodley. If you’re interested in coming along with Mark, please email the Church office info@stjohn-woodley.com
QUIZ NIGHT RETURNS | Thursday 23rd October 2025 7.00pm on Zoom. After some requests Margaret and Clive are going to do a Zoom quiz again now evenings are turning long and dark. The first one will be on Thursday 23rd October at 7.00pm. Please join the Quiz via Zoom. Meeting ID: 872 7792 0936. If you remember it's a fun way to connect in the dark months without having to come out, so hope we will see you all again. New faces are always welcome.
MAIDENHEAD HALF MARATHON | MATTHEW BURDETT | Sunday 26th October 2025. Matthew (in our congregation) is taking on the challenge of the Maidenhead Half Marathon on 26th October. He’s aiming to do it in under 2 hours, having only taken up running since the summer! He’s raising funds for two local charities – Yeldall Manor (a local Christian based rehabilitation centre for men with drug and alcohol dependence), and Maidenhead Rotary’s Charitable Trust Fund. Any sponsorship would be greatly appreciated. Yeldall Manor: https://www.justgiving.com/page/matthew-burdett-2 Maidenhead Rotary: https://www.justgiving.com/page/matthew-burdett-3
SERVICE OF HOPE | Sunday 26th October 2025 4.00pm. If you have suffered a bereavement, you are in our thoughts and prayers and we would like to invite you, along with others, to our Annual Service of Hope on Sunday 26th October 2025 at 4.00pm. This special service is one of thanksgiving for the lives of our loved ones. The Vicar and Ministers of St.John’s will be available after the service for anyone who wishes to talk or pray further.
AUTUMN ARTS FESTIVAL | Saturday 8th November 2025. Following the success of Art-Spring in April, we're really looking forward to our next celebration of local arts and crafts, including our own St John’s Art Group. The AUTUMN ARTS FESTIVAL will run in the Church Centre on Saturday 8th November from 11:00am to 5:00pm and feature stalls and displays with jewellery, cards, prints, stained glass, paintings and more. Please support us and spread the word among your friends and family and use the flyers and posters that will be available. We will be offering refreshments for visitors and are therefore asking for help to serve from the kitchen. Please let Michael Garaway know by text message on 07773 781223 if you can help for an hour or so on the day.
A MESSAGE ON BEHALF OF WOODLEY FOODBANK. Thank you for your donations. We continue to experience high demand for our services. We are currently low in stocks of custard, tomato soup, sugar, soap and crisps. Donations of Sugar, Coffee, Pasta Sauce, Noodles (inc. Pot Noodles), Tinned Vegetables (all types), Tinned fish, Tinned fruit, Tinned meat meals, Biscuits, Crisps, Custard - tinned and dried, Tinned Desserts, Long Life milk, Juice (cordial & long life), Toiletries and Toilet Rolls are welcome at any time.
Envelope Collection. David, our Treasurer, is kindly offering a collection service for those that usually give to St John’s by envelope. Please call him direct on 0118 969 2521 or email.
Church Suite - Login Required. Please do log in and update your personal contact details and what information you want to share with others in the St John’s church family. This way you can make sure you are kept up-to-date with news at St John’s and stay linked in with others. For those who are not online, we will be contacting them separately to do this.
For our prayers
For our world. Pray for peace in the world. For the leaders of nations to get together and talk out their problems and find a peaceful solution. Pray for all who are refugees trying to find a safe place to live. Pray for all areas of the world suffering from adverse weather conditions. For aid agencies working to bring relief.
For our country. Pray for the people in our country who make the rules and regulations by which we should live. For our government, for our local councils. Pray that those rules and regulations will be fair for everyone. Pray for our rough sleepers as the weather begins to get colder. Pray that solutions will be found to ease their burden. Pray that a fair and just solution will be found for all the refugees arriving in Britain.
For all who are unwell. Pray for all who we know and love who are unwell just now. For Val, Margaret H., Pat, Pam, Carol, Ricky and Irene M., Dhoj Gurung, Liz, Janet A., Caroline, Devina, Adrian, Mo, Wayling and Chris. Pray too for all who care for them.
In our prayers. Pray for all mourning the loss of a loved one. Pray for Sarah Mullally, our new Archbishop of Canterbury. Pray for the family of St. John’s. For Mark, Richard, Suzanne and Dawn. For Brian our Churchwarden, our PCC and the leaders of our organisations. Pray that we will be a beacon in our community.
Church Office
The church office is usually open Tuesday - Fridays from 10am - 12pm. Please note that any notices need to be sent to info@stjohn-woodley.com by 10.00 am on Thursday, for inclusion in that week's newsletter.
Upcoming Dates for your Diary
Sunday 12th October
9.00am - Bubble Church.
10.00am - Service of Holy Communion. The Seventeenth after Trinity. Led by Rev. Richard Christopher. This week’s Bible readings will be Jeremiah 29: 1, 4-7 and Luke 17: 11-19. A video recording of the service will be uploaded to the website at: https://www.youtube.com/@stjohnswoodley
3:00pm - Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi Fellowship.
Tuesday 14th October
10.00am - St John’s Toddler Group. Contact Dawn for further details.
7.30pm - Praying Together on Zoom. To phone in, call 0203 481 5237. Zoom ID: 977 0607 9786.
Wednesday 15th October
10.00am - Midweek Communion Service.
2.30pm - Mothers’ Union. See details opposite.
7.45pm - Fellowship and Study Group. To phone in, call 0203 481 5237. Zoom ID: 962 9254 2704.
Friday 17th October
11.30am - Lunch, Munch & Chinwag.
Saturday 18th October
9.00am - Prayer for Woodley.
10.00am - Green Pastures Grief Cafe.
Coming up in October
19th BCP Said Service of Holy Communion 9.00am. Led by Rev. Richard Christopher.
23rd Quiz night on Zoom 7.00pm.
26th Bubble Church 9.00am.
26th Bible Sunday 10.00am.
26th Service of Hope 4.00pm. Led by Rev. Suzanne Knight.
Pastoral Support
Would you like a prayer?
If you would like support, please do let us know - you do not need to face hard things alone. Please contact the office to arrange for a Pastoral Visit from one of our team. Alternatively, complete the prayer request form below and someone will be in touch.
