All services and other meetings are cancelled until further notice. Recent Government updates indicate that churches will be able to open in some form from 15th July.

BUSINESS as USUAL

Although worship services are temporarily suspended and our church building is regrettably no longer open, we PRAY ON !

Rev. Stephen Hazlett

( Interim Priest) is available for all pastoral needs including social distancing home visits and prayer requests on 01557 620132 / 07900231360

stephen.hazlett@greyfriarsstmarys.org.uk He will also visit emergency situations.

See Contacts page for more information.

Thought for the Week Trinity 5, 12^th. July 2020

COLLECT: Almighty and everlasting God, by Whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we offer for all Your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may serve You in holiness and truth to the glory of Your name ; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who ,is alive and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

THOUGHT for the WEEK: The readings this week are all about sowing the seed. This is of course the spiritual interpretation of faith, or growing in grace. In 1995 I moved from an inner city Belfast parish to a rural parish in County Antrim. I was shocked by how little children seemed to know about their own countryside. Somewhat in exasperation I asked the Sunday School “ Do you not even know what cow looks like ?” “ Don’t be silly Minister” they replied “ we’ve seen coos on Emmerdale!” NB Antrim & Galloway have the same accent! All of us can be guilty of not being ecologically aware. Hence the wonderful emphasis today on the environment and climate change. One of the negative aspects of lockdown easing has been people loutishly dumping their rubbish in rural and seaside resorts. The parable of the seed sowing is all about faith growing in the most unlikely places, but even in hard ground it must be watered. The watering is God- awareness in our lives, prayer, bible reading, fellowship one with another (perhaps by phone or internet). It does not just happen. In rural Kent there is a practise of the vicar , church- wardens and choir, walking the bounds of the parish and asking God’s blessing on the crops. Sounds like a great idea. I am a big fan of the church being “ seen”; I may have a cunning plan! By the way thank you to our local farmers literally keeping us alive during Covid19. Stephen

QUOTE of the WEEK: “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you sow” Robert Louis Stevenson

Charity No. SCO23329
An Incumbency

North Strand Street, Stranraer, Wigtownshire DG9 7LD

email stjohnsstranraer@hotmail.co.uk

Secretary to the Vestry

Tel 01581 400 284 / 0756 1020 831

Regular Weekly Services

Sunday Communion 11am 1982 Liturgy

Thursday Communion 11am 1970 Liturgy

Easter/Christmas/Saints days etc as advertised.

Scottish Liturgy 1982

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Scottish Liturgy Reserved Sacrament 1982

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Scottish Liturgy 1970

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All are welcome at our services and all who are baptised are invited to share our Eucharist. We are in Communion with the Anglican Church, Church of Ireland, Church in Wales and the Worldwide Episcopal and Anglican Churches.

Refreshments are served after every service.

Our church is on the 1st floor of a building shared with the Library. It is a modern tranquil space built in the early 1990’s overlooking Loch Ryan. The space is versatile and is used by numerous local groups for a wide variety of services, meetings and concerts. Contact Anne tel 01776 258518 for bookings.

Disabled Access The church is on the first floor and access is by a modern Stannah lift. The building is then completely level, ideal for wheelchair users. Disabled toilets, Induction Loop, Sound system, Large/coloured print and Braille liturgies permits inclusion for all. We even offer Gluten Free wafers.

Back issues of Church News can be found on ‘Notices’ page.

Get in Touch

St. John the Evangelist
North Strand Street, Stranraer, Wigtownshire, DG9 7LD.

Secretary to the Vestry Tel 01581 400 284: Mobile 0756 102 0831

Email; stjohnsstranraer@hotmail.co.uk