JohnPaul Parish Church

HOLY WEEK - Maundy Thursday
2018-03-29 19:30 - 21:00 (Europe/London)
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” – John 13:34
An agape meal – agape is another way of expressing love, so this meal is a meal of love and fellowship, as we remember Jesus sharing his final meal with his beloved disciples
All are welcome as we encourage each other in our faith and beliefs through prayer, discussion and reflection

HOLY WEEK - Spy Wednesday
2018-03-28 19:30 - 21:00
Praying together for other churches being spied on today through oppression and persecution
All are welcome as we encourage each other in our faith and beliefs through prayer, discussion and reflection

HOLY WEEK - Film Tuesday
2018-03-27 19:30 - 21:00
A shared reflection and discussion about Easter thoughts through the inspiration of various film clips (popcorn & coke provided)
All are welcome as we encourage each other in our faith and beliefs through prayer, discussion and reflection

HOLY WEEK - Bible Monday
2018-03-26 19:30 - 21:00
A bible study on the many events that took place during Christ’s final week, before he was arrested, tried, and executed
All are welcome as we encourage each other in our faith and beliefs through prayer, discussion and reflection

HOLY WEEK - Palm Sunday
2018-03-25 08:00 - 11:30
Palm Sunday is a Christian celebration that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in each of the four canonical Gospels, and leads us from the time of Lent into Holy Week
All are welcome as we encourage each other in our faith and beliefs through prayer, discussion and reflection

Lent Course 4
2018-03-22 19:30 - 21:00
4 studies
4 dates
4 you
When: 7:30pm
March Thursday 22nd – churches being places of welcome, hospitality and exploration
Where: The Lounge
Everyone welcome to attend one, or all of the courses, they are separate studies reflecting on different aspects of Lent, and the spiritual pilgrimage through a time of wilderness that brings us to the most life changing, historical and mystical event ever!!
…Holy Week & Easter

Retired Men's Outing - Imperial War Museum North and Manchester Museum of Science & Industry
2018-03-20
A packed day’s trip looking around the iconic Imperial War Museum North together with the Manchester Museum of Science & Industry and the Air and Space Museum. Perfect for male wrinklies! Cost should be minimal as the museum entrances are free. Numbers limited by minibus size of 16, so book early. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Roger Longworth

Lent Exploration Course 3
2018-03-15 19:30 - 21:00
4 studies
4 dates
4 you
When: 7:30pm
March Thursday 15th – invitation
Where: The Lounge
Everyone welcome to attend one, or all of the courses, they are separate studies reflecting on different aspects of Lent, and the spiritual pilgrimage through a time of wilderness that brings us to the most life changing, historical and mystical event ever!!
…Holy Week & Easter

Lent Exploration Course 2
2018-02-26 19:30 - 21:00
4 studies
4 dates
4 you
When: 7:30pm
February Monday 26th – asking questions and listening
Where: The Lounge
Everyone welcome to attend one, or all of the courses, they are separate studies reflecting on different aspects of Lent, and the spiritual pilgrimage through a time of wilderness that brings us to the most life changing, historical and mystical event ever!!
…Holy Week & Easter

Lent Exploration Course 1
2018-02-18 19:30 - 21:00
4 studies
4 dates
4 you
When: 7:30pm
February Sunday 18th – the story of our faith journey
Where: The Lounge
Everyone welcome to attend one, or all of the courses, they are separate studies reflecting on different aspects of Lent, and the spiritual pilgrimage through a time of wilderness that brings us to the most life changing, historical and mystical event ever!!
…Holy Week & Easter

Retired Men's Outing - National Railway Museum, Jorvik Viking Centre, York Minster
2018-02-15
Another packed day’s trip setting off from Accrington by train to the National Railway Museum in York, followed by the Jorvik Viking Centre and York Minster if time permits. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Roger Longworth

Christmas Day Service
2017-12-25 10:15 - 11:30
A wonderful way to begin your Christmas day with a warm and friendly service. Everybody is welcome to join us, to celebrate the arrival of Jesus into our midst, at this informal, joyful and short service. Put the Turkey in, set the table, and bring a present to show Tom
You will feel much better for it, and when you get home the Turkey will not be far off ready
This service is totally suitable for families, children, and big kids at heart
The service will be followed by a short communion for those wishing to stay

Christmas Eve Midnight Communion
2017-12-24 23:30 - 2017-12-25 00:30
If you are free, presents wrapped, worn out, and wanting somewhere to just see in Christmas in a quiet, peaceful and reflective way, then why not join us for Midnight Communion. It’s a wonderful way to start the holiday period. Silent Night, Holy Night

Crib Service
2017-12-24 16:00 - 17:00
Come and join us at this special service, planned for and aimed at children and the young at heart. Bring the whole family and start Christmas together, in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere, before going home to await the arrival of Santa

Traditional Carol Service
2017-12-17 18:30 - 20:00
Everybody and anybody is welcome to join us in St John’s church, for this traditional Carol Service, when we will be singing all the well loved carols, and hearing once again, the story of the real reason for Christmas, the most amazing event in human history!
After all the rushing and hype, this is a great opportunity to bring the family, relax and chill. Hear once again the familiar, but very real story of Christmas

Bereavement Service
2017-12-17 15:00 - 16:00
A special service of reflection and remembrance of those we love and miss this Christmas

The Community Nativity
2017-12-10 19:00 - 20:30
This year, the children’s traditional nativity will be played out by grown-ups from the local community. Come and support them as we value being a village community

Family Lantern Walk
2017-12-03 16:00 - 17:00
All are welcome to join us on a festive lantern walk. This is a great way to begin your Christmas experience! A lovely gentle walk for all the community to start off Christmas proper
When: December 3rd at 4pm
Where: St John’s Church Lounge
This is intended to be a short walk beginning at the church and proceeding down to the Alma pub, heading off along the old railway lines, and ending back at the church – please bring your own lantern ?
Further details – contact: Vicar Tom 01254 396 351

Don't Dash Event (after 10:15 service)
2017-12-03 11:30 - 13:00
After our 10:15am service everyone is invited to come, or stay, for a time of fun, Christmas card making, and shared picnic

Ladies' Christmas Meal
2017-12-01 07:00 - 22:00
This year we’re going to the Haworth Gallery Kitchen for our Christmas Meal. For further information please contact:

** SORRY – FULLY BOOKED **

Alpha Course (4 weeks)
2017-11-08 19:30 - 2017-11-29 19:30
Alpha Course – Interested?
What is life really all about, what is its meaning and purpose? Is there a God, if so what is he like, who is he, what is he?
Nobody has all the answers, and yet there are answers out there. Why not come and join other like-minded folk who have lots of questions and would like to share ideas and thoughts
The Alpha Course is an opportunity to ask, share and explore your thoughts and questions over a cuppa in a relaxed and friendly environment. The course is free and spread over four sessions on Wednesday eve starting at 7:30pm
Interested? Then come and join us at ST John’s church in the lounge on –
November 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th
Please contact Vicar Tom for more information

Free Community Weekend
2017-09-08 - 2017-09-10
Following on from last year’s very successful Free Community Weekend, where we had lots of fun with traditional games such as egg and spoon race, chuck the chicken and a stretcher race. The tug-of-peace saw the Alma pub walk away with a hard-fought victory, and a trophy now displayed above the pub fire place. Will they manage another victory this time, or can the other teams claim the coveted prize? The traditional games were surrounded by a series of gazebos that offered face painting, junk modelling, crafts, penalty shoot-out, the stocks, bouncy castle and much more; as well as advice from supportive services such Age-UK and Christians Against Poverty. Refreshments came from the Bash Café which never ceased from serving up hot dogs and cups of tea throughout the day
This year we are holding our Free Community Weekend this year on 8th/9th/10th September 2017, with events open to all members of our community, their friends and family, completely free of charge. All we desire, is that you enjoy a family day out together with other members of your community, without the worry of what it might cost
On Friday, 8th September, we have a FREE community Ceilidh in St John’s church. If you haven’t been to a Ceilidh before then please come, they are great fun nights. All the family can come and enjoy it. We have a great band coming, with an excellent caller, who will talk you through every step of every dance. Don’t worry about embarrassing yourself. We will all be doing that, so you will be in good company. The dance will start at 7:00pm and go on until whenever. There will be refreshments with a vegetarian option. If you want to come, all we ask, for catering purposes, is that you contact Tom (see poster above)
On Saturday, 9th September, we are holding a FREE Community Festival, on St. John’s School field, beginning at 12 noon. Again, everything will be free of charge, and again, we just want everybody to have a good day out. Refreshments will be available and attractions will include, Bouncy Castle, Tug-of-Peace between local Pub and Club teams competing for the coveted Bash Tug Trophy. There will be silly games and races for anybody to enter, Craft tents, Cake Decorating tent, a Cutest Dog Award and many other attractions. Please come and join us in having a great stress free day with the family
On Sunday, 10th September, at 8:00am and 10.15am, everybody is invited to one of our free community services in church. Come and enjoy a cup of tea etc. And tell us what you thought of the weekend
All are welcome to any or all of these events, especially it would be great if you would be willing to help with a gazebo, or if you would like a gazebo to host your own contribution to the event, please contact Tom on 01254 396 351 or baxendenstjohn.vicar@gmail.com
All this is for free, all this is for our community – so come along and make it a great success, whether sunshine or rain – we will have a fabulous weekend!

Jonathan Veira Concert
2017-07-01 19:30 - 21:00
Saturday 1st July at 7.30pm at Baxenden St John Church.
Jonathan Veira is an international singer and raconteur makes a welcome return to Baxenden in his One Man Show ‘Songs and Tales
He sings everything from hymns to Opera taking in Billy Joel and others along the way. He is also very funny and entertaining. This is an ideal evening for people who may not normally come to church. Please invite your friends, family, and neighbours
Tickets £10, including light refreshments, from Patricia Wilkinson 07940 281 149 or paw4223@gmail.com
Jonathan’s website

The Labyrinth
2017-05-25 - 2017-06-04
As part of the ‘MY KINGDOM COME’ event, and Vision 2026, we will be holding a Labyrinth in the church building. If you are unfamiliar with a Labyrinth event, it will consist of several unique stations, joined together by a Labyrinth type path, which people can find their way around via a pathway. Although each station will be unique in it’s content and message, each will be joined by the theme, ‘The I Am sayings of Jesus’. The event will run from Thursday, 25th May, 2017 to Sunday, 4th June, 2017
Each station will be housed in a separate Gazebo, and there will many different things to see, touch, do and take away. Weekday sessions will be 10am to 2pm and 6pm to 8pm. Weekend sessions will be 10am to 4pm
We will need much help in various areas. If you have a Gazebo that you could lend us for 10 days please get in touch ASAP. If you can give up some time to help in manning the church during the sessions, there will be a sign up sheet at the back of church from next Sunday. It would be good if we could have at least two people per session to avoid anyone feeling vulnerable. We will need help setting everything up, and we would like to hear from anyone willing to help out in an ‘Arty’ or handicraft way
Much more information to follow soon, but for now, if you need to know more, please contact Patricia, Tom or Dave Finch

Thy Kingdom Come
2017-05-25 - 2017-06-04
Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement which the Archbishop of Canterbury is inviting people around the world to join. During a focused time between Ascension and Pentecost (25th May – 4th June 2017), he is calling on Christians to pray that people might come to know Jesus Christ
During that time, communities and churches around the world are gathering together to pray that their friends, families and neighbours might come to know Jesus Christ and prayer events of all shapes and sizes will be taking place
An event is planned at Blackburn Cathedral on Wednesday 24th May at 7.30pm with Roy Crowne from Hope, to enable us to pray together before returning to our towns and villages to pray during the period from Ascension to Pentecost

The Thy Kingdom Come website contains a wealth of resources to help you to plan to pray as an individual and as a family. If you follow the links below you can:

Pledge to Pray as an individual or with your family
Download a one page overview of how you can take part

as an individual or
as a family

You can access a wealth of resources. This includes suggestions for prayer stations, 24/7 prayer rooms and holding prayer meetings, as well as service templates and ideas for families and young people including suggestions for Messy Church Activities, and ideas for Primary School Assemblies
There are also some helpful booklets of resources which can be downloaded from the links below

Bright Prayer Ideas for Families at home
Resources for Prayer and Worship

Watch videos
Download poster templates, logos or social media guides and images
Buy resources from CPO. These include bookmarks, prayer cards, and even a mug to remind you to pray for 5 friends whilst at work or during your coffee break

Men's Breakfast - Guest Speaker Dan Theobalds
2017-05-06 08:00 - 21:30
On Saturday 6th May at 8am Dan Theobalds from Rishton Methodist Church will be coming to speak to us. Dan, until recently was assistant Manager (and player) for Saint Johns Baxenden church football team and is the headteacher at Saint James C of E primary school, Lower Darwen. Dan will be speaking to us about his faith and sharing his testimony, along with insights into how he is aware that God interacts in his life and with others. This will be an interactive talk with video clips/discussion points. Please either sign up on the poster at the back of church or let Paul Pountain know whether you are coming so we have an idea of numbers. EVERYONE WELCOME

Easter Sunday Service
2017-04-16 10:15 - 11:30
Celebration Service

Good Friday Service
2017-04-14 14:00 - 15:00
Quiet reflection of the suffering of Christ

Maundy Thursday Service
2017-04-13 19:30 - 20:30
Evening reflection of the Last Supper

Palm Sunday Service
2017-04-09 10:15 - 11:30
The beginning of Holy week
