St Alban and St Aidan's, Epping, Sydney - our fellow Anglican church in Epping, Sydney.  We have links with the clergy, John Cornish and Ross Weaver, at this parish and regularly pray for them and their work.

The Amos Trust who are seeking to help the people of Bethlehem, cut off from the world by the 'wall' built by the Israelis to form a ghetto of Christians and Muslims.  St John's has an Amos Trust Crib.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Archbishop Rowan Williams and Archbishop John Sentamu the leaders of the Church of England.  They have great responsibilities within the church and the Anglican Communion, both of which we pray for.

Archdeaconry of Harlow and the Revd Canon Martin Webster who was appointed Archdeacon in the summer of 2009.

 We give thanks for those who ring the bells in our Team churches.  At St John's Church the bell ringers ring the bells every Sunday before service and to practice on a Monday night -  more about the bells.

BIBIC - the British Institute for Brain Injured Children: they have supported two youngsters in the church community.

The Bishop of Chelmsford - is to be the Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell as from 21st November 2010.  Currently we praying for both him and for Bishop Laurie, acting Bishop of Chelmsford, who is retiring from his role as Bishop of Bradwell in February 2011.

The Bishop of Barking, the Rt Revd David Hawkins, and other area Bishops: the Bishop of Bradwell, the Rt Revd Dr Laurie Green, and the Bishop of Colchester, the Rt Revd Christopher Morgan, their roles, their areas and for them personally.

Social space and alternative education centre for young people in Epping.  The Box provides an open space open during the week and most evenings for young people to receive support, Connexions and counselling services are available.  The Box also provides an education for some students for whom school is no longer appropriate, teaching English, maths, personal, social and health education and basic skills.

St Clare's Hospice is the local hospice for this area, caring for the terminally ill.  St John's Church has a tree decorated with lights which is lit as part of the Christmas Tree Festival, during a 'Light a Life' service.  We pray for all who care, those who are dying and all those who will be saddened by the death of loved ones.

Christian Aid  - particularly in Lent and during Christian Aid Week in May.  In Lent CTED run a series of Saturday Lent lunches at each of the churches in Epping, collecting for Christian Aid.  For Christian Aid Week in May, the Churches Together work together to collect for Christian Aid across Epping.

The Church choirs and musicians, including the organists, across the team, all of whom serve our churches well and faithfully and add to the worship each week.

Coopersale Hall School is an independent school providing an education for 2½ to 11 year olds.  They have links with St John's Church through several pupils and teachers who attend the church.  The school holds its carol service at St John's Church.

Coopersale and Theydon Garnon Primary School is another of the church schools based within the Epping Team area, this one very near to St Alban's Coopersale.  The Chair of the Governors is the Team Vicar, the Revd Bryony Morrison.  We also pray for the Headteacher, Mrs S Miller.

CTED - Churches Together in Epping District - representatives from the different Christian denominations in Epping meet to work together ecumenically.  We have two representatives from St John's congregation on the CTED committee and Bob Taylor is an ex officio treasurer.

Deanery Synod - People serve on Deanery Synods as parish delegates, or as licensed or beneficed clergy or as members of other synodical bodies. Their other work brings its own responsibilities but, as members of the Deanery Synod, they are there to work in collaboration with the Bishop, diocesan officers, other members, rural/area dean and officers of the Deanery to forward the mission of the Church.  St John's is a part of the Deanery of Epping Forest, which is currently facing a number of challenges and much change.

ECCA, Epping Church Choirs Association, giving thanks for this real expression of ecumenical co-operation between the different Christian denominations in the Epping area, for the visible unity created through the sharing of sacred music and song. Pray for Simon Winters its director.

Epping Forest District Council - the council offices are to be found on Epping High Street  

Epping Market is held on Monday mornings, when the church also provides Market Coffee and a bookstall.  We pray for all involved in Epping Market, the stallholders, those who put up and take down the stalls; the traders in the High Street.  Give thanks for all our volunteers who make Market Day Coffee, for Trevor and his bookstall and pray for all who visit St John's.

Epping Town Council, we regularly pray for the Town Council and also at the time of their Annual Town Meeting in March each year.  The Town Council offices are found on St John's Road, close to St John's Church.

Epping and Theydon Garnon Charitable Trust, we pray for the Trustees, all those who they help and for the residents in the Almshouses.

Epping Eppingen Twinning Association Epping is twinned with Eppingen in the Black Forest area of southern Germany with regular events and meetings.

Epping Primary School has recently been formed from the merger of Epping Junior School and Epping Infant School.  St John's Church has informal links with the school and hosts their carol service and other services, but unlike several of the other schools in Epping,  Epping Primary School is not a church school.

Epping Upland Church of England Primary School is one of the three church schools found within the Epping District Team.  We are asked to pray for them on Saturdays as part of the weekly suggestions for prayer.

Epping Upland School PreSchool group which meets at Epping Upland School.

The Fair Trade movement led by the Fairtrade Foundation in the UK working that farmers and growers in the Third World may be paid a fair price for the food and raw materials that they grow.  Pray for those in our world who are starving, those who have no pure source of water; those forced to live in poverty because of greed and exploitation of others. 

Family Care Counselling Service - 2008 Charity Commissioners Report (pdf) for Anne Wright the manager, for the Counsellors and those whom they help.  They provide qualified counsellors to counsel individuals and couples. Low cost counselling available.'

Happy Child cares for the street children of Brazil.  They were the charity supported by the Go Generation young people's group in church in 2008.  The Go Generation caters for the 7 - 11 year olds.

Haven House Hospice, the local hospice for children:  we made a collection for their work at the Carol Service this year.

Manna Society for the Homeless - we collect at Harvest for the work of Manna and we have members of the congregation who volunteer at the centre to wash up and serve.

MUDPIES - The Chelmsford MU and Diocese Prison Initiative - supporting children and families affected by imprisonment.  They work at HMP Chelmsford, where a safe play area is provided for children during Saturday and Sunday visiting times, and also at Bullwood Hall which is a foreign national and multi-faith establishment and in addition to the play area, the volunteers are working to teach a wide range of skills.

Musical groups who play at St John's Church - for more information see the Music Page

Pastoral Assistants - currently at St John's Church we have a Lay Evangelist, Piers Northam, who has been trained for some years, and a Lay Pastoral Assistant, Jill Cherry, who was licensed in July 2009

Pleshey - The Diocesan Retreat Centre which is also linked with Evelyn Underhill, who took her first retreat there.  She is remembered on 15 June.  It is described as a quiet place within the life of the Diocese where, through encounter with God, we are inspired by holy living

Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, all those who are ill there and all who work in that hospital, particularly The Rev Christine Hawkins, Chaplain.

Readers at St John's Church and in the Epping District Team, Bob Taylor and  Diana Lowry, and reader in training, Carole Goddard.  More about reader ministry from a sermon on the Church of England website.

Saints throughout the year - the saint's day is marked on the diary pages. 

St John's Church PCC - the parochial church council, made up of members of the congregation who meet regularly to plan the work of St John's Church.

St John's School is a voluntary aided secondary school in Epping, providing a comprehensive education for students aged 11 to 16 years in the Epping area.  St John's Church is involved in the chaplaincy at the school, has links through the church and deanery governors and provides a venue for some of the Christian teaching for the school, including year 7 visits and a year 8 day held in June.

St Margaret's Hospital the hospital within the Epping District Team boundaries.  It provides much of the outpatient support for the local communities and has psychiatric and elderly wards.  We also pray for the hospital chaplains.

Team Churches, the four churches that make up the Epping District Team, for those involved in the Team Ministry,  and for the working together of us all as a team of churches as we deal with the many changes around us now.  We also pray for the Team Council, the governing body of the Team and for those who work in the Team Office, our Team Administrator, Shanne Woodhouse, and our Team Office Volunteers, Diane, Mary, Dorothy and Arthur.

Those who receive communion at home and for those licensed to take sacrament to others.  We have a team of pastoral visitors who take communion to the house bound, to the elderly who live in Tree Tops and Baker Villas. We pray that all who receive Holy Communion at home may be linked through the Sacrament to our worshipping communities.

Toddler Church - an informal service every Thursday in term time, where parents and their babies or toddlers can join together in fellowship and learn something about our faith

The Tuesday Fellowship meets monthly in the Lady Chapel at St John's to support with fellowship and prayer.  Tea and biscuits are served during the session.  It is led by Pam Fulton and Doreen Miller.

Women's World Day of Prayer -  a service held annually in March.  May this world-wide chain of prayer remind you that prayer is never ceasing and when we pray we join in a great relationship of Christians meeting and talking with God.