What makes a Christian marriage distinctive are vows that couples make, promising a depth of relationship that puts the other’s needs before our own and inviting the love of God to support and uphold a couple in their commitment to one another.Please make contact to complete the initial forms and talk about provisional dates and times. There is rarely any problem about having a service at a date and time to suit you. The priest who will take your service will explain other legal requirements (eg the calling of ‘banns’); and what the Church part of the day will cost (usually a minuscule amount compared with what other plans for the day might involve).The officiating priest will arrange for you to meet with him/her at intervals, to clarify arrangements and to talk some more together about your hopes and expectations for your marriage.Shortly before the Wedding Day, there will be a rehearsal for all those involved in the service, designed to put everyone at ease prepare you to experience fully the deep significance of the ceremony itself.St John's Church is for everyone within the community. We are always glad to receive enquiries from those interested in getting married at St John's. The law allows you to be married here if at least one of you:Is resident in the parishHas been regular in worship over at least six monthsWas baptized or confirmed hereHas ever lived in the parish for six months or moreHas at any time, regularly attended worship here for six months or moreIf one of your parents has lived for six months or more in your lifetime or has regularly attended worshipIf your parents or grandparents were baptized or married hereYou have been granted a special license, issued only through the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Faculty Office. We can provide appropriate information.If you have been married before and divorcedWe will explore with you whether it would be appropriate for you to marry each other in a Christian ceremony. A decision is made based on three areas of enquiry:Whether there is now insight into what caused earlier relationships to founder, and a capacity to ‘be different’Whether continuing responsibilities to children or other dependents are being properly metThese area have to be explored together in confidence before other arrangements can be made.Civil Partnerships and same-sex marriagesThe law does not currently allow for civil partnerships or same-sex marriages to take place in Church of England buildings. However, that doesn't mean we don't want to support you or celebrate with you. Please do get in touch, we are an inclusive church and all are welcome whatever their personal circumstances.For further information and advice see https://www.yourchurchwedding.org/
The Christening (or Baptism) of a child is always a very joyful occasion. You can find out much more about Baptism here.Whilst it is always good to have the opportunity to welcome a child into the church family at the regular Sunday service we appreciate that 9am on a Sunday morning won't work for everyone, especially if family and friends are traveling to join you. We will work with you to find the time that works best in your situation.Please complete the Baptism application form which you can find here.Older children and adults are normally Confirmed following their Baptism as they have made the Baptismal promises for themselves. In this special service the Bishop recognizes the newly Baptized as part of the church family.What is it all about?Asking to have a child christened of baptized (another name for the same occasion) demonstrates that you want God to have a real influence in the child’s life – not just on Christening Day, but for ever. At Baptism, God pours his Spirit into us (demonstrated by the ‘washing’ with water)and we become truly his (symbolized by being ‘signed’ with a cross).So the person being christened becomes Christ’s and a member of Christ’s family, the Church. Being part of the church and sharing in its worship, learning and service over many years means that we grow in understanding about what it means to be a Christian and are strengthened in our witness and service. What we hope for is to be close to God – now and in Heaven, once this earthly life is over.How can I arrange this?Contact the Vicar, The Reverend Helen O’Sullivan (01665 712002) to talk things through in plenty of time in advance. Normally you must live within the parish of Shilbottle, or attend worship here regularly or have had some contact with the church in the past. We will invite you to come and worship with us, invite you and the godparents to a preparation session and have given you options of when the service can take place.A child being christened, usually has godparents – perhaps up to three, but at least one. Godparents have themselves to have been baptised.What happens after the service?We hope that you will continue to bring your children to worship with us and play a full part as members of the Church family.We can baptize people of any age, though by the age of 12 on-wards, we’d expect this to be followed by Confirmation, usually at the same ceremony.For further information about Baptism, see the Church of England’s website – www.churchofengland.christenings.orgWe will do our best to make this a joyful and memorable day for you and your family and friends!
Every person from the parish of Acklington or with a connection to it (whether regular churchgoers or not) has the option of having a service in church either prior to, or following a burial or cremation.The churchyard cemetery at Acklington is open to parishioners and is a beautiful resting place.Funerals taken by a minister of the Church of England provide an opportunity for thanksgiving and the celebration of a life and also, just as important to us, is the care and consolation of those who have been bereaved. Not simply on the day of the funeral but also in preparation for it, and in the months following it.When someone is close to death we can support you with our prayer and practical help. Those who are sick may appreciate being remembered by name in our prayers, you can choose to receive Holy Communion at home or in hospital and you might even perhaps want to make preparations for your funeral service when the time comes. The sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) can also be helpful for some.When someone dies we work closely with your chosen Funeral Directors to ensure that the service meets your needs. Please give them clear direction about where the service is to be held and who should be asked to preside at it.Prior to cremation or burial (traditional or ‘woodland’), a service can be held at St Lawrence or at a Crematorium, led by a minister of your choice. Occasionally families have asked for a brief service at the Crematorium, followed by a Thanksgiving Service for all friends and neighbours in Church. All of these arrangements can be made between the Funeral Director and the officiating minister.The Minister will meet with the closest family and is more than willing to offer and receive suggestions about the funeral service itself.Bereavement is a process that can stretch over some years. The Church wants to offer its support and to encourage the bereaved to use this as a time for renewing their own relationship with God. We can offer friendship as well as pastoral support and spiritual comfort.All Souls, each year, at the beginning of November, we invite bereaved families to a Memorial Service at which those who have died in the past year are remembered by name. Anyone can add names to the list of those to be remembered whether or not their funeral was held in church.You can also ask that the name of someone who has died be entered in the Memorial Book in Church.Rest eternal grant unto them O Lord, and may light perpetual shine upon them.See also: https://churchofenglandfunerals.org/
Offering our times and giftsAll the time we need our members and friends to ‘get involved’, in all sorts of ways. Here are examples of the areas in which we would welcome offers of help:WORSHIPWelcomer'sAltar ServersReaders and IntercessorsHelp with refreshmentsADMINISTRATIONSecretarial and admin supportPUBLICITYGraphic design skills‘The Pelican’ writers, editors. assemblers and distributorsMAINTENANCERegular cleaning on rotaOccasional maintenance jobsChurchyard gardeningFlowers for decorationCOMMUNITYInvolvements with local organizations and charitiesLocal support for national charitiesVolunteering for helping agencies locallyHelp with organizing church/community social eventsPASTORAL WORKCaring for neighboursVISITINGWhat are your particular skills? Contact Rev Helen O'Sullivan to discuss these and other possibilities.Offering our Money for God’s workAll that we have comes from God and part of our Christian commitment must be to return a portion of it in support for the Church’s work locally and nationally. The Church of England invites its members to work towards giving 5% of our incomes for this purpose (and hopes that a further 5% will be offered to other charities etc you want to support) . Because of ‘Gift Aid’, if you are a tax payer, your gift can be enhanced by a further 25% through the church being able to reclaim the tax you have paid on what you give. What St Lawrence's needs is to know what income it can expect and to be receiving it regularly through the year. Please will you ‘share responsibility’?Friends of St John the DivineA company of ‘Friends’ has been formed to provide extra financial support for ongoing maintenance and repair work that the church will require in years to come. This will be of special interest to those who have Shilbottle links but perhaps don’t live here anymore. You can have individual or joint membership on an annual or lifetime basis.
