St John’s Shirley

Bringing Belonging, Meaning and Hope

St John’s is pleased to be part of the Healthy Healing Hub Project and is committed to healing in its widest sense. St John’s Church joined this partnership with the Guild and other churches in 2022. Our aim as a Hub Church is to promote health, wellbeing and healing in our local community, working collaboratively to identify and alleviate need.

As a Healing Hub Church, we recognise the impact of the pandemic and economic downturn on the most vulnerable among us. We have a holistic outlook, caring for mind, body and spirit. Our work and witness in the healing ministry of St John’s Church community is missional in its focus on pastoral and ecological concerns and our commitment to Inclusive Church.

Please pray for St John’s as a Healthy Healing Hub, and the active conversations that are taking place as we discern together the direction of the Spirit in this work and God’s plan for the flourishing of all.  Currently, we work with our local foodbank (Shrublands); we have continuing changing displays in our open ‘Shed’ outside the church offering a focus for private prayer and prayer requests for church intercession; we hope to open our church porch for reflection and as an information point for community resources in the future; we have a monthly informal service as well as our Sunday Mass services at 8am, 9am (children) and 10am; our Service of Healing and Wholeness is online on the fourth Sunday of the month.  We are an inclusive and affirming church community, sharing our human experience and gifts whatever our mental health, abilities, gender, sexuality, ethnicity and finances.

We are working towards our Bronze Award as an Eco Church.  Our large churchyard includes a wildflower area, a Quiet Space, Garden Trails for points of historical interest and Biblical plants and trees and Commonwealth Graves with service histories available.  We are active in Churches Together in Shirley, and through this engage in discussion with our local MP on matters of ecological concern.  We are planning work with BSL, and have also installed a defibrillator.

Our healing ministry is the work of the whole Church community, resourced and supported by the Guild as needed and connecting with other churches and organisations. As part of our daily eucharistic sacrifice, we offer our souls and bodies, our time and resources and open our buildings to those in need. We pray that St John’s will become a place of encouragement and renewal – bringing Belonging, Meaning and Hope.

More information from The Revd Lu Gale, or email [email protected]