Walsingham intercessions. When pilgrims go on the Parish Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham at the end of September they will take with them the intercessions and prayers of the parish, that these may be offered in that holy place. Ray Hotson has printed out some sheets on which you may write names, situations, etc for which you would like us to pray. Please note that there are opportunities for thanksgiving, and other kinds of prayer, as well as intercession for individuals, etc. Please make use of this opportunity to share in the parish pilgrimage . Pilgrims go with their own ‘intentions', but they also go as representatives of the communities of which they are part, including this church community…

Thank you from Fr Jonathan to the various priests who are presiding at Mass whilst he is on holiday, and to the lay Eucharistic Ministers who are conducting the services of Holy Communion.

From mid- September we will be having a student / ordinand on placement with us for a month. Sergiy Diduk (Ukrainian by birth, hence the name) is in training for the priesthood at St John's College , Nottingham . Sergiy wants to experience the life of a church community where the eucharist is at the core of the church's life, and where ‘traditional' Anglican liturgy is valued. I'm sure he'll tell you more when he arrives with us. His placement involves ‘shadowing' the vicar every day (!) and/or doing such other things as may present experiences for reflection on the nature of parish life and ordained ministry in that context.

This church relies for its continued existence on the regular, committed giving – financial and practical – of everyone who is in any way a part of our fellowship. All regular members are encouraged to give, sacrificially , by bank standing order (and to Gift Aid their giving if they are taxpayers). Peter Green, Hon PCC Treasurer can give you the forms to give by SO and for Gift Aid. Everyone , whether tentative enquirers or casual visitors, is asked to give financially as generously as they are able . Thank you. “Fund raising” is nowadays no longer a significant part of personal discipleship in this church; rather, we use fund-raising events for specific causes – such as our building development project, only. In accordance with Biblical principles, church Tradition and good Anglican common sense the Christian life of worship and mission of this congregation is enabled by the committed, regular and sacrificial giving of the congregation.
This matter is especially critical for St John's at the moment; we have recently had to suspend our monthly SO to the diocese towards our parish share; our finances are very precarious. Please continue to think and pray about your giving.

The Appreciative Enquiry project which Claire Jenkins has been coordinating will be reporting back to the church community within the next few weeks. They are having a “team day” at the CHN convent in Derby on 16 October, after which they will prepare a report to come to the PCC for consideration and possible action. Our thanks to the team members for their ongoing work on this project. Insights from this will be considered along with suggestions from the “IDD Day” held in May.

It is with sadness we report the death of Annie Beardsley , one of Carrington's ‘characters'. Annie is the woman whom many will recognise as the person who frequently popped into church “to say me prayers”, and who would sit at the back of church reciting her long list of friends and family whom she remembered before God. Annie never seemed to want to join in a service at church, but whenever the building was open she'd be in here, to say her prayers. The world needs more folk like that! Annie had moved from Gregory House to Sneinton only 2-3 days before she died (in her sleep). Mays she rest in peace and rise in glory.