St John’s Church, Flixton

31/08/2026

A Message from our Minister, Rev. Debra Blair.

Praise the Lord of all creation

The Church of England General Synod decided this summer that the first Sunday in September can be called A Festival of Creation in Christ, when we celebrate the fact that God created this wonderful world for us to live in.

The Genesis creation account reminds us that God made this planet our home, and despite the world undergoing many changes over millennia, and our present fears over global warming and climate change, we should be grateful for what we all share and care for it. When he had completed his creation, “God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.” (Genesis ch. 1, v 31).

Now most people are returning from holidays and summer activities, we can focus on the glories of creation and our responsibility for the physical world, and also on ourselves and our spiritual life and how we can cultivate and grow that. There may be something in our church calendar that you may like to try for the first time, or if you had to step away from joining in for any reason, to come back to. As you will see from this Bulletin, lots of activities and groups begin again, so now is a good time to make a fresh
start.

We build our spiritual life by stepping forward in faith. And we can
include ourselves in the celebration of creation, as God made each of us unique and individual. In the words of the song we often sing about the change our God longs to make in us, we can say: “I am a new creation.”

Each day is new, and presents us with new opportunities. We can put aside the happenings of the past and set out in joy. You can experience (as the song says) “a joy that knows no limits, a lightness in my spirit, here in the grace of God I stand.”

Then it will truly be a time to rejoice in “Creation in Christ” and all that is ours through his death and resurrection. Come on and celebrate!

Best wishes and blessings,
Reverend Debra

ECO TIP
As autumn approaches, gather fallen leaves to create a mulch which can be used to enrich the soil, or just leave them in a quiet area of your garden, which may create a safe habitat for wildlife. And now is the time to start thinking about spring bulbs …

PRAYING TOGETHER
The chapel is open again on Monday 7th September at 6.30pm (and most Monday evenings after) for a time of prayer. This is an informal gathering and everyone is welcome – you can join in praying aloud or just sit quietly whilst others do. The evening is led by one of our lay people and the chapel is open for around an hour.

SQUAD, ATTENTION!
JC Squad re-starts on Sunday 13th September at 10.30am: the
young gather in the Meeting Room, while adults are in church for
worship, to learn about God, Jesus and the Bible and have loads of fun. The Squad is led by experienced people who want to share the Good News message. All are welcome, both former members and new ones.

GOOD TIME TO JOIN A HOME GROUP
Home groups start again on Thursday 17th September. The earliest
Christian congregations met in people’s homes, and today at St John’s we have three fortnightly small groups. One meets on Thursday afternoons at 2.30pm in the chapel – Reverend Debra has further information; the other two groups gather on Thursday evenings – speak to Reverend Debra or Rodney Rodney. All Bible study events are for relaxed discussion and begin new programmes in September, so now is the ideal time to join.

HARVEST TIME
Our All-Age services recommence on 4th October, and this is our Harvest Festival Sunday. We will all be together as a church family at 10.30am, with no JC Squad, and the Holy Communion service is at 6.30pm in the chapel. All gifts of tinned or dried goods, coffee, tea, biscuits and dog food will be delivered to the Booth Centre in Manchester for the homeless and needy people they serve.

HELPING YOUNG AND OLD!
If anyone is interested in joining as leader or helper for the JC Squad, please speak to Reverend Debra. We would also love to see new people join our small teams who visit Debrook Lodge, the care home opposite the church, on a rota to lead informal worship on the second Tuesday of the month at 10.30am. Residents are
brought along by the staff and love to hear prayers, readings and singing. If you are interested in this, please also speak to Reverend Debra.

PLEASE NOTE.....
Thursday Holy Communion services are to be held at St. John’s at 10.30am on 3rd and 17th September and 1st October, and at St Michael’s Flixton at 10.15am on 10th and 17th September.

Our Coffee, Tea and Chat social afternoon is on Tuesday 1st September – from 2pm to 3.30pm in church. Come, and bring your friends.

Urmston Choral Society’s concert at St John’s is on Saturday 12th
September, from 2.30pm. Tickets priced £10 (£2 for students or children) are available from Maxine Summers, text 07961 121 637 (or tel. 0161 748 0903). Please book in advance if possible, although you can also pay at the door.

Don't mention the C word … but please put these dates in your diaries:
13 December, 2pm-3.30pm – Messy Church Christingle.
20 December, 6.30-7.30pm – Carol Service.

A new Methodist Minister is joining the Trafford circuit: please pray for Reverend Louisa Taylor in her new role

30/07/2026

COME AND JOIN US – AT ST. JOHN’s CHURCH
Irlam Road, Flixton

First Tuesday of every month we are opening the church for coffee, tea, biscuits and a chat.

Everyone is welcome. All free!
We just ask for your company.

2PM UNTIL 3-30pm

Tuesday, 4th August
Tuesday, 1st September
Tuesday, 6th October
Tuesday, 3rd November
Tuesday, 1st December

***PLEASE PUT THE DATES IN YOUR DIARY AND COME ALONG***

04/07/2026

St. John’s Church, Irlam Road, Flixton.

A MESSAGE FROM REV. DEBRA BLAIR

KEEP AIMING FOR THE GOAL!
Well, we are halfway through the year already and I cannot believe we are publishing the final bulletin before the production team and I have a short summer break. The next bulletin will be in the early autumn!

Such a lot has already happened in our church life this year, some things good and some not so good. Despite everything, we must keep on going - as Paul wrote to the new church in Philippi, we should “Forget the past and be straining towards what is ahead, I (we) keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God calls us.” (Philippians ch3 v13-14) The prize is not related to football!

As a Christian family we should keep looking forward and work together in God’s service. At this time of year many of the regular church-based activities stop for the holiday time, but our Communion services do not stop. Keep attending worship whenever you can on a Sunday or a Thursday. It is always important to worship together. It is good to unite and to thank God for all he has done for us so far this year, and to pray for all that may lie ahead in the rest of this year.

Best wishes and blessings,
Reverend Debra

ECO TIP
We have just experienced a heatwave, and the predictions are that there are more very hot spells to come. To try and stay cool, keep curtains and blinds closed to prevent heat coming into your homes from outside. To conserve water, when rain is forecast leave water cans outside – or if you have water butts ensure they are ready to catch what comes.

SUMMER BREAK FOR JUNIOR CHURCH SQUAD
The final JC Squad meeting before the school holidays will be Sunday 19th July, so bring all your young people along on that date. JC Squad will then resume on Sunday 13th September. New members are always welcome, so let your friends and family know: it is a great opportunity for children to begin to learn about Jesus. Although Junior Church is not running in the summer, children are of course more than welcome at our Sunday morning services, when there will be a shortened Communion service and talk. There will be colouring sheets on the back table, and the chapel is open if they get restless.

CONFIRMATION – YOUNG OR ADULT
Children from Year 6 and upwards can be confirmed in the Church of England: if anyone is thinking about this, please speak to Reverend Debra. Confirmation is also offered for adults, and for anyone who is not baptised and wishes to be confirmed, both can take place at one service (conducted by one of the bishops from the Manchester area).

GETTING TO KNOW THE BIBLE
“House groups” are a good way for people to explore Bible reading and books from the Bible together. We are blessed at this church to have three such groups. Though they will all be taking a break over summer, then they’ll restart on Thursday 17th September. The afternoon group is from 2.30pm in church: please speak to Reverend Debra if you want more details.

MISSION COMMUNITY NEWS
Reverend Luke Maguire’s last day at All Saints Stretford will be Sunday 9th August, with a farewell event there at 4pm. Please pray for him and his family as they move to his new parish. There is no news yet on his replacement or who will lead our Mission Community, so please pray that decisions are soon made regarding these vacancies, and also regarding the vacancy at St Matthew’s Stretford.

FIRE PROCEDURES
The PCC has been reviewing our fire safety precautions and procedures. If anyone would like to see what these are in detail, there will be a Fire Safety Logbook available for inspection.
The notice displayed in the porch is a summary of what you need to know in the event of fire.
PLEASE NOTE….
Our community cafe will operate on the first Tuesday of every month, from 2pm to 3.30pm, throughout the summer, so if you are looking for some company – maybe your friends or family are away and you want someone to talk to – then come along and join us. Dates are 7th July, 4th August and 1st September.

Thursday Holy Communion services are to be held at St. John’s at 10.30am on 16th and 30th July and 6th and 20th August, and at St Michael’s Flixton at 10.15am on 9th and 23rd July and 13th and 27th August.

On Sunday 16th August at 10.30am we are again pleased to have Reverend John Clegg preach and preside at our service.

02/07/2026

COME AND JOIN US – AT ST. JOHN’s CHURCH
Irlam Road, Flixton

First Tuesday of every month we are opening the church for coffee, tea, biscuits and a chat.

Everyone is welcome. All free! We just ask for your company.

2PM UNTIL 3-30pm

Tuesday, 7th July
Tuesday, 4th August
Tuesday, 1st September
Tuesday, 6th October
Tuesday, 3rd November
Tuesday, 1st December

***PLEASE PUT THE DATES IN YOUR DIARY AND COME ALONG***

04/06/2026

St. John’s Church, Irlam Road, Flixton.

A MESSAGE FROM REV. DEBRA BLAIR

HERE COMES THE SUN!
Have you heard the sun sing? As summer begins we are so blessed that the sun has been shining and we had some very warm weather at the end of May. We hope there are more sunny days to come.

In this beautiful world God created for us we have so many things to be thankful for and the sunshine is certainly one of them. There are lots of descriptions and stories relating to the sun – an image I like is this: “The sun is a gold coin that was dropped down a drain in heaven.” We know that God created the sun with a specific purpose: “God made the two great lights – the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night – and the stars.” (Genesis 1: 16). We can praise the Lord,
then, for the gift of the sun when it rises and for the dark of evening as it falls. There is beauty in the sunrise and sunset.

Our lives are like that, too. We have sunny times and we have darker times, but we can be confident God is always with us.

Here at St John’s we are looking to have some joyful times over the
coming months and, even though there may be dark days ahead, we have God and also one another. We never know what is round the corner for us as a church community.

A new opportunity has presented itself to us to help support the young people in this area with a Trafford Youth Service youth club starting in our church hall. Please pray that this will be a success and for the leaders as they work in our church hall each week. We also pray that the young people may be touched by God’s presence in a place where other young folk have encountered God in past years, that they may know God loves them and that stars of promise may shine in their hearts and minds.

We do hope and pray that seeds of faith are spread among all who enter our buildings.
Best wishes and blessings,
Reverend Debra

ECO TIP
You can reduce your own carbon footprint by reviewing the way you travel around. Now the weather is improving, it is a good time for those who can to start walking or cycling to your destination. If you are in need of transport, then always consider car-sharing or public transport. The majority of our bus network is now run on Green energy sources. Do your little bit for the planet.

ARCHDEACON'S VISITATION DATES
These services, when lay leaders in our churches are invited to dedicate themselves for the year ahead, are open to everyone and especially church officers.

This year there are three dates for our Archdeaconry: 4th June at St
Michael’s and All Saints, Lawton Moor (Wythenshawe); 10th June at St Matthew with St Mary, Crumpsall, and 17th June at Manchester
Cathedral – all at 7.30pm.

GET A GOOD READ
Taste and See, the Christian book/gift shop and café, relocated last year to Brook Road in Flixton. Please do call in and visit the team there – they have some wonderful books and gifts and also a range of second-hand Christian books, all in good condition and reasonable priced. Urmston Bookshop in Flixton Road now also has a small section of Christian books.

YOUTH CLUB ON TUESDAY EVENINGS
On Tuesday, 9th June, a youth club will be commencing in St John’s church hall from 5pm to 7pm. It’s being run by a team from Trafford Youth Service – it began at Flixton Library but they were looking for more space and came to see our PCC some weeks ago. Please pray for the success of this group: we hope we’ll develop good contacts with them. Young people in Flixton – as in other areas – have few places where they can safely meet: let us hope this may be one of them.

PLEASE NOTE…..
Our next afternoon tea/coffee/biscuits/chat session will be held from 2pm-3.30pm on Tuesday, 7th July in church.

Thursday Holy Communion services are to be held at St. John’s at
10.30am on 4th and 18th June and at St Michael’s Flixton at 10.15am on 11th and 25th June.

On Thursday 4th June St Mary's Davyhulme have a service for the Day of Thanksgiving for the Institution of Holy Communion (“Corpus Christi”) at 7.30pm, and all are welcome.

On Sunday 14th June at 10.30am we are again pleased to have Reverend John Clegg preach and preside at our service.

At the end of summer Rev Luke Maguire, Rector of All Saints in Stretford and our Mission Community Leader, is leaving the area for a new phase of his ministry at St John the Evangelist Highbridge. He has been at All Saints for 11 years and will be missed by the church community there and by us as a Mission Community.

Archdeacon Rachel Mann is retiring next month. You may remember her time at St Matthew’s in Stretford. There is a service for her on 5th July at 5.30pm at Manchester Cathedral: all are welcome.

03/05/2026

St. John’s Church, Irlam Road, Flixton.

A MESSAGE FROM REV. DEBRA BLAIR

THE MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
We have travelled through Lent, Holy Week and Easter Sunday, but we are still in Easter time for a few weeks more. As Christians at St. John’s, we always aim to be celebrating the risen Christ whatever the time of year. He truly is a man for all seasons. He is not here just for us at Easter but for every day of our lives.

Every season has its own unique elements. We are now in spring which is especially a time of growth here in the UK.
“Easter comes with cheeks a-glowing
Flowers bloom and streams are flowing,
And the earth in glad surprise
Opens wide its springtime eyes….
All nature heeds the call of Spring
As God awakens everything.” (Helen Steiner Rice. 1985)

As we journey on, we should thank God for spring and all its blessings and also thank God for the blessings he has bestowed on us.

We have held our annual church meeting as required by the Church of England and we are so thankful that all the necessary voluntary lay positions, required to keep the church running smoothly, have been filled by members of this congregation. We now embark upon our new church year with our PCC. All of our blessings come from God; he knows our needs: “God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians Ch.1 v 3).

It all lies now before us and it is a time to celebrate. All of it is in God’s hands; he knows the plans he has for us all and we should be alert to his directions. God is the true leader of the church, and we can say “Thy will be done” (Matthew Ch 6 v.10). Whatever plans he has for us, we will listen to his direction and follow his will.

Best wishes and blessings,
Reverend Debra

ECO TIP
It is spring and time to clear out your wardrobes ready for the warmer weather – we hope! If you have any good quality gloves, scarves, socks or hats, please bring them along to St. John’s. We continue to support St John’s Old Trafford Community Centre who provide essential items to people struggling with the economic challenges of today. They also provide items to legitimate refugees and asylum seekers. Alongside the clothing items they also require toiletries and shaving equipment for males. There is a box for donations in the foyer.

THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Holy Week and Easter Sunday services. It is one of the most important weeks of the year in Christian calendar, so thanks to all who made this week such a wonderful experience this year.

PLEASE NOTE….
Our Coffee, Tea and Chat social afternoon is on Tuesday 5th May – from 2pm to 3.30pm in church. Come and bring your friends.

There’s a final “Gathering” sharing a vision for the future in our diocese, with fellowship, worship and prayer, at St Ann’s Church, Manchester city centre, on Tuesday 5th May at 7.15pm (6.45pm for refreshments), with the Bishop of Manchester leading. Ask Reverend Debra for booking details.

Thursday Holy Communion services are to be held at St. John’s at 10.30am on 7th and 21st May and at St Michael’s Flixton at 10.15am on 14th and 28th May.

Reverend Canon Kate Burgess’s last service at St Matthew’s Stretford will be on Sunday 10th May at 10am. If anyone wishes to attend, just go along. We wish her well for her retirement.

Ascension Day is Thursday 14th May, and all are invited to a Holy Communion service to celebrate, at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Davyhulme.

A School of Prayer led by Bishop Mark Davies is being held on Saturday 16th May at St Cross Church, Clayton – refreshments at 9.30am, formal start at 10am, finish at 3pm. Ask Reverend Debra for booking details.

On Sunday 17th May at 10.30am we are delighted to have Reverend John Clegg to preach and preside at our service.

30/04/2026

COME AND JOIN US – AT ST. JOHN’s CHURCH
Irlam Road, Flixton

First Tuesday of every month we are opening the church for coffee, tea, biscuits and a chat.

Everyone is welcome. All free! We just ask for your company.

2PM UNTIL 3-30pm

Tuesday, 5th May
Tuesday, 2nd June
Tuesday, 7th July
Tuesday, 4th August
Tuesday, 1st September
Tuesday, 6th October
Tuesday, 3rd November
Tuesday, 1st December

***PLEASE PUT THE DATES IN YOUR DIARY AND COME ALONG***

05/04/2026

02/04/2026

COME AND JOIN US – AT ST. JOHN’s CHURCH

Irlam Road, Flixton

First Tuesday of every month we are opening the church for coffee, tea, biscuits and a chat.

Everyone is welcome. All free! We just ask for your company.

2PM UNTIL 3-30pm
Tuesday, 7th April
Tuesday, 5th May
Tuesday, 2nd June
Tuesday, 7th July
Tuesday, 4th August
Tuesday, 1st September
Tuesday, 6th October
Tuesday, 3rd November
Tuesday, 1st December

***PLEASE PUT THE DATES IN YOUR DIARY AND COME ALONG***