Church News:
14.12.23: Ibstock Community Choir
Thank you to the Ibstock Community Choir for a lovely evening of carols and Christmas songs. Thank you to all who donated to the church and took part in the raffle. It was a joy to listen to the beautiful singing of the choir, and it was great to hear everyone join in.
03.12.23: Advent Sunday
Thank you to all who organised and came to our Christingle service. It was lovely to see the church so full and have so many children attending.
We hope the good news of Jesus Christ our saviour will be with all this advent.
We hope the good news of Jesus Christ our saviour will be with all this advent.
08.10.23: Harvest Festival
Here are a few images from our harvest festival service. Thank you to all who donated food for the local food banks and to those who decorated the windows with flowers. They looked fantastic!
21.04.23: Thank you to all who contributed to and arranged the flowers and window displays over Easter. They looked wonderful! To see all of the images, please click here.
09.04.23: He Is Risen!
Wishing you all a happy and blessed Easter!
07.04.23: Good Friday Walk Of Witness
Churches Together for Ibstock & Heather during the Good Friday walk of witness around Ibstock. The pictures are taken in the garden of the Methodist church where Jesus's tomb has been recreated in this lovely garden.
01.01.23: Happy New Year!
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
17.12.22: Christmas!
13.11.22: We Will Remember Them!
09.09.22: May Her Late Majesty Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory.
08.07.22: Holiday Club (1st - 5th August)
Churches Together in Ibstock and Heather invite you to 'Luke's Story'
1st – 5th August 2022
2 - 4pm at Wesleyan Reform Church
(Central Avenue, Ibstock)
All children welcome up to 11 years
Pre-registration is available.. For more information, contact Judith Coleman: 07910 846273
1st – 5th August 2022
2 - 4pm at Wesleyan Reform Church
(Central Avenue, Ibstock)
All children welcome up to 11 years
Pre-registration is available.. For more information, contact Judith Coleman: 07910 846273
15.04.22: Good Friday
Isaiah 53 - New International Version
53 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression[a] and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes[c] his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
53 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression[a] and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes[c] his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
15.12.21: Christmas Services
Please note: Due to the new Covid Plan B measures, there will be no refreshments served following our church services. The church is still open and masks are to be worn unless exempt, however the masks can be taken off to sing.
25.11.21: Christmas Services
11.11.21: We Will Remember Them!
03.10.21: Cafe Church (Sunday@4)
01.09.21: Hello Heritage Fortnight
Hello Heritage is a celebration of the diverse culture and heritage we have in NW Leicestershire. As part of it's 5th event, Ibstock and Heather will be hosting Heritage on your Doorstep. Throughout the villages between 4th and 19th September, you can find heritage boards highlighting areas that have a rich history. You can see how buildings and areas used to look and find out things you may not have known.
Perhaps you have further photographs or stories you can share with the Ibstock Historical Society. Click here to visit their website.
Perhaps you have further photographs or stories you can share with the Ibstock Historical Society. Click here to visit their website.
30.08.21: Ride & Stride 2021
The church will be open for the Ride & Stride event on Saturday 11th September from 10am til 4pm.
Ride + Stride is the single largest source of income for many Historic Churches Trusts enabling them to make Grants to places of Christian worship. The funds raised can be split between the nominated Trust and the participants chosen church or chapel. Over £1,190,000 has been raised in Leicestershire since the first Ride+Stride in 1990. The event raised more than £37,900 in 2020 – with nearly 300 churches and chapels taking part - a wonderful total considering the difficult circumstances. The £37,900 raised is a tremendous result and a fantastic tribute to everyone who took part - a long list that includes area and local organisers; cyclists, tandemists, walkers, and horse-riders; welcomers and those who ensured that the churches that opened did so safely; and especially everyone who sponsored an individual participant or donated via the Trust's JustGiving page. |
29.08.21: Welcome Time
WELCOME TIME!
All welcome! Open to anyone and everyone. Come along, have a chat over a cup of tea/coffee and a biscuit/cake. There is no charge! Welcome Time will happen once a month in Heather, and once a month in Ibstock. • The first session in Heather is from 2 to 4pm on Monday 6th September in the Village Hall (the David Taylor Memorial Centre), and we will continue in Heather on the first Monday every month. In Ibstock, the first session is on Wednesday 15th September, again from 2 to 4pm at the Palace Community Centre, on the High Street. We will continue in Ibstock on the 3rd Wednesday each month. Welcome Time is run by the Ibstock and Heather church communities (Church of England) For more details: ring the Rector, Andy Hartropp, on 262590 |
29.08.21: St Johns In Bloom a success despite the weather
Our St. Johns In Bloom event was held at the church on Saturday 14th August; our first event for 18 months. Many people came, and for the first three hours, enjoyed the church decorations, refreshments and the chance to catch up with village life after the lockdowns. Unfortunately the weather turned later on, but that didn't stop the interest in the amazing decorations inside the church.
£938 was raised and shared between St. Johns & Thimble, the guide dog for the blind. Thank you all for making this event a success and a special thank you to Paula and the Creativi-tea team for all of their hard work and dedication. Click here for images. |
09.07.21: Newsletter
Following a break due to the lockdown, our first newsletter for Heather village this year is available to view and save. Click on the Newsletter tab above or click here
25.04.21: Church Re-opening
Please Note: We will resume weekly services at Heather St John the Baptist church on Sunday 2nd May 2021. We will have Morning Worship at 09.30am. Please contact Jenny Minkley (the churchwarden), using the "Contact Us" tab above if you wish to attend.
04.04.21: Happy Easter!
Lord of all life and power,
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son
overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him: grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might,
now and in all eternity. Amen.
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son
overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him: grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might,
now and in all eternity. Amen.
12.12.20: Tower Project Exhibition
Once again the current pandemic has forced us to cancel our planned exhibition to celebrate the successful completion of the tower repair project. In the meantime, this video shows the exhibition in church and details some of the work carried out over the last 6 months. We look forward to welcoming you all back into the church when it is safe to do so, so you can experience the displays up close.
08.11.20: We Will Remember Them!
The beautiful church of St John The Baptist Heather. The clock at the eleventh hour with the soldiers. "We will remember them".
With the latest lockdown preventing the usual gatherings to honour our fallen heroes, St johns Rector Dr. Rev. Andy Hartropp, performed a private service with local veteran Joe Reid in front of the church door. The church grounds , now all tided from the completion of the tower restoration, was decorated with soldiers, made by Joe.
With the latest lockdown preventing the usual gatherings to honour our fallen heroes, St johns Rector Dr. Rev. Andy Hartropp, performed a private service with local veteran Joe Reid in front of the church door. The church grounds , now all tided from the completion of the tower restoration, was decorated with soldiers, made by Joe.
29.10.20: Scarecrow Festival Raises Funds For Good Causes
Rev. Dr. Andy Hartropp accepts the donation from Holly Johnson, one of the Scarecrow Festival organisers
28.09.20: Macmillan Coffee Morning
We would like to thank all who supported us at this event on a rather chilly morning in the car park of the Crown Inn. The proceeds were £125.00, which has been already dispatched to the Macmillan Trust. Special thanks are also due to Jane & Roy Blount for allowing us to use their facilities at the Crown pub.
20.06.20: Competition
St John’s Church Heather is holding a drawing and colouring competition for children about the Knights of St John. The knights, like all monks, took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, but also an extra vow to care for pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land. You are invited to colour the picture below or draw your own picture of the knights caring for sick and injured pilgrims.
There are 4 categories
For children up to the age of 5: colour the picture
For KS1: colour the picture
For KS2: colour the picture
For any child: draw your own scene of knights caring for pilgrims.
There will be prizes and certificates for each age group. Entries should be marked with age group, name and a contact. These details will not be kept after the prizes and certificates have been awarded. Prizewinning entries will be displayed on our website and in church with first names and age only. Please email entries to Rev Patty at [email protected] or put through the letter box of Mrs Minkley at 57, Swepstone Road, Heather.
Closing date for entries is Wednesday 1st July and winners will be notified by Friday 10th July. We look forward to seeing all your wonderful artwork!
Download the picture here.
There are 4 categories
For children up to the age of 5: colour the picture
For KS1: colour the picture
For KS2: colour the picture
For any child: draw your own scene of knights caring for pilgrims.
There will be prizes and certificates for each age group. Entries should be marked with age group, name and a contact. These details will not be kept after the prizes and certificates have been awarded. Prizewinning entries will be displayed on our website and in church with first names and age only. Please email entries to Rev Patty at [email protected] or put through the letter box of Mrs Minkley at 57, Swepstone Road, Heather.
Closing date for entries is Wednesday 1st July and winners will be notified by Friday 10th July. We look forward to seeing all your wonderful artwork!
Download the picture here.
15.05.20: Podcast
Our Reverend, Andy Hartropp was delighted to be asked by the Diocese of Leicester to take part in a recorded panel discussion, on the subject of 'The Problem of Pain: God, us, and suffering'. This discussion is now available for people to listen to, as a 'podcast'. To listen to it, click on the following link:
https://re-thinking-aloud.simplecast.com/episodes/the-problem-of-pain-god-us-and-suffering
https://re-thinking-aloud.simplecast.com/episodes/the-problem-of-pain-god-us-and-suffering
If anyone is struggling financially, there is an organization called Christians Against Poverty (CAP) who will not judge you and will help you. Just search for contact details on the internet at www.capuk.org. If there is anything the Christian community in Ibstock and Heather can do for you, please use the contact details on the website and drop us an email or phone call. Please do not struggle alone. There are people who can help sort out any debts and finance difficulties.
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01.05.20: Coalville Food Bank - Can you help or do you need help?
The Palace Theatre in Ibstock is open from 1pm-4pm for contributions for the Trussell Trust foodbank. They are looking for tinned food, long life milk and biscuits etc. (Please note, they do not accept fresh food). With 80% of families seeking help the last two weeks, the Trussell Trust foodbank, located at the New Life Church in Coalville, is in need of supplies to continue to help people in need. If you are able to donate, then please do so.
If you require help, please reach out and contact them on 01530 838355, email [email protected]. Opening hours are; 10am-12pm, Tuesdays and Fridays. |
03.04.20: A message from our new Rector
22.03.20: Tower repair works starts
Work has finally begun to repair the tower. At the beginning of March the scaffolding was erected and the old roof has already been removed. We will keep you up to date as the work progresses. To see more photos click here.
29.02.20: Ukulele Concert raises £300 for the tower repairs
St Johns opened its doors for an evening of music performed by "Go Ukulele Crazy" orchestra. The tunes of many classic hit songs filled the church and were given a fresh new sound thanks to the many types of Ukuleles present. A fantastic £300 was raised on the night and this will be going to the tower repair project. Many thanks to Len Robinson for arranging and funding the concert. To see more photos and listen to the orchestra click here.
03.02.20: The first aid day a great success
As part of its heritage activities, members of Heather St Johns, along with the public held a first aid course at the village hall. All participants felt it was worthwhile and a great success. The parish council was very supportive and considered the event a benefit to the community. We thank them for the use of the village hall. For more images of the event click here.
04.01.20: The tower repairs get under way
The work starts to repair the tower on 6th January, starting with the placement of the scaffolding. A big thank you to all who have worked so hard securing the funding, fundraising and engaging in the heritage requirements to get us to this point. We would like to remind all who may visit us whilst the repairs are underway, to be careful around the church. Progress updates will follow as the work progresses.
01.01.20: Happy New Year!
We at St Johns would like to wish all a blessed and peaceful new year. We thank all who have supported us throught 2019, and look forward to seeing you again in 2020.
14.12.19: Christmas Festival
Despite a village wide power cut on the day, the church still opened it's door for the Christmas Festival. Fortunately the sun came out and lit the church enough for those who came to enjoy the displays and festive fayre. Even though the church only opened for a couple of hours, a fantastic £250 was raise for the tower project.
Christmas services
You are most welcome to join us at St John the Baptist for our Christmas celebrations, beginning with the Christingle service Sunday 1st December.
Sunday 1st December 4.00pm Christingle
Sunday 8th December 9.45am Toy service
(Wear your Christmas jumper and bring a toy for a needy child)
Sunday 22nd December 4.00pm Lessons and Carols
Christmas Eve 2.00pm Carols around the Crib
11.30pm Midnight Communion
Christmas Day 10.00am Christmas Morning Praise
You are most welcome to join us at St John the Baptist for our Christmas celebrations, beginning with the Christingle service Sunday 1st December.
Sunday 1st December 4.00pm Christingle
Sunday 8th December 9.45am Toy service
(Wear your Christmas jumper and bring a toy for a needy child)
Sunday 22nd December 4.00pm Lessons and Carols
Christmas Eve 2.00pm Carols around the Crib
11.30pm Midnight Communion
Christmas Day 10.00am Christmas Morning Praise
16.11.19: Follow The Star
Building on the very positive feedback and huge amount of diocesan and local church engagement in #FollowTheStar 2018, we are delighted to be using the same theme for Advent and Christmas 2019 and 2020 as well!
Thousands of Christmas services and events are taking place in churches all over the country. Find out how you can join the #FollowTheStar journey and share it with your friends, family, church and community at www.churchofengland.org/Christmas
Thousands of Christmas services and events are taking place in churches all over the country. Find out how you can join the #FollowTheStar journey and share it with your friends, family, church and community at www.churchofengland.org/Christmas
01.08.19: A Day with a Knight
On 5th July, Heather School (years 1-5) took part in three groups learning about the Knights Hospitallers. The children took part in the many activities: dressing up as the Knights Hospitallers and making their own shields to take away. Responses from school staff and the children were very positive and are looking forward to the next day with a Knight in the new year. Thank you to David Manton for agreeing to be our Knight.
Click for more images |
01.08.19: Explorers visit the Church
On 24th June, Heather School Explorers visited St Johns to learn about the church and the various items inside. The children got a chance to stand in the Pulpit and at the Lectern, and saw the various monuments, flags and displays. The tour of the church was very well received by the children.
Click for more images |
01.08.19: Heather Church begins Heritage Activities
Heather church began it's heritage activities as part of the Heritage Fund grant. On the 19th June, Heather school (years 1-3) visited Warwick Castle to explore and learn about life in ages past. The weather wasn't great, but the children had a wonderful day. Click for more images
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