Services this week:

Friday 25 May 8.45am: St. Peter's Chapel: Morning Prayer
Saturday 26 May 10am: Open Church (10.00am - 12.00pm)
Sunday 27 May 8am Mass; 10.30am Mass
Monday 28 May 8.45am: St. Peter's Chapel: Morning Prayer
Tuesday 29 May 8.45am: St. Peter's Chapel: Morning Prayer
Wednesday 30 May 8.45am: St. Peter's Chapel: Morning Prayer; 10am Mass: St. Peter's Chapel
Thursday 31 May 8.45am: St. Peter's Chapel: Morning Prayer
Morning Prayer is said daily during the week at 8.45am in the St Peter's chapel and you're very welcome to join us!

Hello and a warm welcome to St John's website!

 

Our official title is the anglican parish church of St John the Evangelist, Upper St Leonards on Sea, in the deanery of Hastings, in the Diocese of Chichester - but locals know us at St John's Pevensey Road (much less of a mouthful!)

 

There's been a church on this site for about 140 years, although buildings have had a slightly chequered history - we're currently on to our fourth! (see the history section for full details).

 

Describing any worshipping community is a difficult business, but here are some of the labels which might help: anglican, catholic, open, inclusive and welcoming.

 

We stand in the catholic tradition of the CofE, and try to create a "safe space" in our worship where people can come and explore the faith and their relation to it.

 

We believe that our job as Christians is to do the stuff of God - so as we discover a welcoming, hospitable and inclusive God, so we seek to model those attributes at St John's:

 

We've met a Jesus who, in the gospels, met people and said "Come and see", so we try to do that.

We've met a Jesus who, in the gospels, had some dodgy friends and kept some interesting company, so we try and do that.

We've met a Jesus who, in the gospels, loved people for who they were and expected them to change only as a result of that love, so we try and do that.

We've met a Jesus who, in the gospels, reached out to touch untouchables, to heal the broken, to embrace the outsider, to extend God's kingdom, so we try and see where God is still working today, roll up our sleeves and join in.

We've met a God of outrageous hospitality, so we try and do that!

 

Our experience is that God invites people to serve in a wide variety of ways regardless of age, gender, orientation or background, so we see no problem with women in holy orders, or gay people. We're also passionate about the scriptures, their interpretation and their application to our lives as individuals and as a community. We believe the bible is too important to be taken literally...

 

There's loads more to say, but hey, this is only the opening page!

 

If you're in the area and you want to join us and see what all the fuss is about, our main mass is 10.30am on Sundays - you will be very welcome, but arrive early if you want a seat!

 

Fr. Andrew