November 2009

*Bereavement Service*

On 1st November, St John's church held the annual Team Bereavement Service. The families who had been bereaved in the past year were invited to a service.		The tea lights were lit in memory of loved ones and people came forward to light them and place them on the nave altar.
*Confirmation Service - 12 November 2009*

The Bishop introducing the service complete with mitre, crook handed on.	Preaching from the stage decked with tent and portable font.	Preaching at the service - the tent is still in the background - preaching actively	Gesturing to the tent as he explained that all worship started out in tents.

Moving down into the congregation to ask what makes camping comfortable from those present	Lighting a camping gas stove (and walking around with it on his head) to demonstrate that a hot drink and food helps - and that this is a comparison with the fire of the Holy Spirit at confirmation and Pentecost ..		Pouring out a cup of tea ... The comfortable bed was illustrated by a lilo to show the Wind of the Holy Spirit

Six of the confirmation candidates were baptised too - this six at the front to make their declaration of faith with the Bishop.		anointing the candidates with the oil of baptism	being baptised with water

Whole families were confirmed together	... chrismation - marking with the sign of the cross in oil	... followed the blessing of the Bishop and laying on of hands	All the candidates were given a lighted candle at the end ...

	The confirmation candidates holding their lit candles for the final blessing.

*Christ the King, 22 November 2009*

The newly confirmed group from St John's receiving their confirmation certificate and present

*Art Exhibition - 21-23 November 2009*

The annual Art Exhibition from Epping Art Society was held over the weekend of 21 and 24 November	The mosaic pictures this year were Vemeer's Officer and a Laughing Girl and Rembrandt's Belshazzar's Feast