News

Previous news articles can be found here

Have a look at the Too Good to Go

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Their mission is to make sure good food gets eaten, not wasted. Every day, delicious, fresh food goes to waste at cafes, restaurants, hotels, shops and manufacturers – just because it hasn’t sold in time. The Too Good To Go app lets customers buy and collect Magic Bags of this food – at a great price – directly from businesses.

You can also visit their website at: Join Our Food Waste Movement (toogoodtogo.co.uk)

Some of our local shops are participating.

Please Pray for COP 27

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The Cop 27 Climate Change conference will be held in Egypt from the 6th-18th November. Please use this prayer from Tear Fund for agreement to be found on how to help the hardest hit countries

To read the articles by Barry Goodwin and Ros Wade that have been published in SPAN, please click below.

Articles

Elton meets Frank

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Our very own Graham & Jamie will be performing for us this Saturday, this promises to be a great evening we can all come together to enjoy a great night out. Tickets are £10 and that includes a glass of wine, under 12s go free

Looking forward to seeing you there.

You can get your tickets here or on the door.

All proceeds to go to local Shirley charities.

Tuesday 25th October

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Last Tuesday of every month 8.00am – 9.30am For all ages

Pop in for 5 minutes or stay for the whole time.

Pray, reflect and enjoy some peace and quiet before you start your day.

Coffee always available and something different to read each month if you want to.

Dates

Friday Knights French trip 2022

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KEEPING UP THE TRADITION

As has been the practice for many years, The Friday Knights took their October meeting in France. At one time the outing looked difficult to arrange, the cost of coach hire was prohibitive and anxieties of an early start, late finish and mobility was a deterrent to some members.

However, the memories of past excursions, the special cuisine of ‘Chez Jules’, the post meal gathering at ‘Hamiot’ in the harbour of Boulogne and the bonhomie with friends on the ferry, proved too good to lose.

So a smaller group of ‘pilgrims’ decided to travel by car (non-drinking drivers deserve special thanks) and the traditional October meeting went ahead. It was good to have some of the younger Knights with us, all safely back in Shirley before 10pm. We hope when we repeat the visit next year, that a few more of our regulars re-join in the special event of the FK calendar, together with new members from the St John’s congregation.

Our November meeting will be a Wine experience. Eight wines to sample and identify in the Tamberlin Room on November 11th. New-comers especially welcome.

Footnote: I pinned the photos on the Tamberlin Room notice board and took down a note from a 2019 trip to France when we had 36 Knights on the coach. The report by Chris Wood also noted the previous year when we had an illegal immigrant found hiding under the coach and our usual traditional singalong on the return coach journey.  bm

The Parish Giving Scheme – have you registered yet?

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As you will have heard, we’re encouraging everyone to register for the Parish Giving Scheme (PGS).  Whether you’re new to St Johns, someone that regularly donates via the website or contactless machine in church, or have a standing order set up with your bank, then please consider registering for PGS now at https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/donors/find-your-parish/shirley-st-john-the-evangelist-croydon/.

Why PGS?

There are many benefits to PGS, including:

  • Secure and Safe method of payment by regular direct debit
  • Donations can be linked to inflation (if you wish) and PGS will contact you annually to consider the level of your pledge
  • There are NO FEES so every penny you donate comes to the church (unlike standing orders, for which we do incur bank charges; or contactless donations which also have transaction charges).
  • PGS claim and pay the gift aid to us automatically each month, reducing our administration and improving cashflow.

Where can I find more information?

The PGS website – https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/home/ – has lots more information and guidance available to help you.  Or you can speak to a Church Warden, Janet Martin or Becky O’Neal, or email Becky directly on [email protected].

How do I register?

It’s really quick and simple to register online at: https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/donors/find-your-parish/shirley-st-john-the-evangelist-croydon/.  This link takes you directly to the Shirley St Johns page, from where you simply click on the ‘Give now’ button (on the left and/or bottom of the screen) and follow the instructions on screen to set up your regular gift.

First, you’ll be asked to set up and activate a website account with PGS so that you can log-in securely.  Next, you’ll be guided through a simple form to provide your personal bank details, the value and frequency of your gift, the option to add Gift Aid, and you can choose whether to increase your gift annually by the rate of inflation.  It only takes a few minutes to complete these steps online. Then, you’ll be able to log-in at any time to review your giving and personal details. 

Alternatively, if you would prefer to complete the set up by telephone you can call PGS directly on 0333 002 1271, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm and a PGS representative will take down all the information they need to complete your Direct Debit instruction for you. They will also ask about your preferences for opting in to Gift Aid, if you are eligible, and whether you would like to increase your gift annually by the rate of inflation.  The call usually takes about 10 minutes to complete. They will then send you a confirmation of your new gift by post or email.

Our parish name is Shirley, St John the Evangelist, and our parish code is 370637373.

Thank you to everyone that has already registered and gives so generously.