Notice Board
What's happening at St John’s
Sunday 8th November
Service of Remembrance-10:30am
with Rev Stuart F Gray
Tuesday 10th November
Fellowship Group 1.30pm
Said Eucharist 6pm
followed by singing group at 6.30
All are Welcome to our Services
Revd Stuart F Gray BD PGDE
Broad Street, Alloa, Clackmannanshire FK10 1AN
Tel No 01259 724550
Email office@sjea.org.uk
Website - www.stjohnschurchalloa.org.uk
Facebook- https://en-gb.facebook.com/stjohnsalloa
Twitter - St John’s Alloa @StJohnAlloa
Instagram – stjohnsalloa
ST JOHN'S ALLOA NEWSLETTER
8TH NOVEMBER 2026
Growing in God's love and sharing it
READINGS FOR 8TH NOVEMBER
Join us this Sunday, 8th November, for our Service of Remembrance as we explore the teachings of the scriptures and grow together in God's love.
THEME
Least we forget and peace
Psalm 14
SERVICE TIMES
Sunday 10.30am Family Sung Eucharist for Remembrance Sunday We meet inside the church this year then all are welcome to stay for tea and coffee and cake. Please invite any friends and family who you know would appreciate this opportunity for remembrance.
Tuesday 6pm Said Eucharist (Quieter Service) until 6.30pm. This week the service (10th Nov) will followed by the Music Group to which everyone is welcome . Come along and enjoy exploring song and harmonies.
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ST JOHN'S NEWS
A pastoral letter from Bishop Ian upon his retirement as our Bishop
Dear friends in Christ,
Over the last few weeks, preparing to retire as your Bishop, I have been recalling and reflecting on everything we have shared together in these 8 years, and it is with a full heart that I am writing to you today, for the last time.
When you elected me as Bishop in 2018, it came as a surprise to me, who thought he was just testing a vocation. But I also felt it as a real call, and I have never stopped feeling that, and experiencing it over these years of serving you. Because it is you, the congregations, clergy, and staff of the Diocese, who have made that call come alive for me over the past 8 years. You have given me hope whenever I needed it, and allowed me to challenge you whenever you have needed that. For all your encouragement and support I can only say how thankful I am, and always will be.
As I leave office, and as Carrie and I move home, I will take with me so many memories - the Consecration, Ordinations and Confirmations, the annual Chrism Eucharist, Diocesan Synods, gatherings and events. I’ll treasure always the times of worship with congregations large and small, in all the varied communities of this beautiful Diocese. I’ll remember confronting Covid together, and the hard work of many to make online worship available and pastoral contact possible. I’ll not forget the faith and hope shown by clergy, vestries and congregations facing the future with all its uncertainty. I’ll remember the commitment shown by all who have tested their vocation, and the ordinands who give so much of themselves to training for ministry. I’ll always take inspiration from our partnerships with Calcutta and Amazonia, and the friendship of Bishop Paritosh and Bishop Marinez, and the visits to them and from them. And I’ll find hope in the ecumenical partnerships I have known, nationally and locally, and the unity in diversity I have often witnessed.
I am deeply grateful to all those who have given me such support and worked closely with me - Deans Kenny and Graham; Registrar Paul, lay officers such as John, Brendan and Elizabeth; and staff of the Office - Carol and Eleanor, Ian, Martin and Siobhan. Your support, hard work and companionship have meant a great deal to me.
I want also to thank my colleagues in the clergy for your commitment to your own calling, for your service to your congregations and communities. And for the trust you have placed in me, in so many conversations, in difficulties faced and achievements celebrated, and in the laughter and learning we have shared at our clergy conferences. It has been a privilege to walk alongside you in ministry.
Above all, I give thanks for all your prayers. I have known, but I hope never taken for granted, that the Bishop is prayed for every day, because I have very often been grateful for those prayers, and the support they have represented. To know that I have been held before God by so many people has been a constant source of strength and encouragement. Thank you for your faithfulness, your friendship and your care.
Of course, there have been difficult times in the last 8 years for all of us or for some of us. And I have inevitably made mistakes as I have tried to lead you. But I’ll always be grateful for your willingness to face up to difficulties, and to forgive failures in me or in each other.
Like the whole Church, this Diocese and its congregations face significant challenges and changes in the years ahead, which makes many anxious. But the Church is no stranger to a changing world, just as it is no stranger to the unchanging Love of God. In the end, as I have so often said, that Love is all that matters, and sharing that Love is what we are here for. Love is the purpose of our humanity and our faith, and the very being of God. Whatever changes lie ahead for any of us and for the Church, whatever difficulties we will face personally, and whatever new paths we will be called to follow, Love will always be at the heart of everything we do and are.
Although I am retiring as Bishop, I am not retiring as a friend and admirer of this Diocese, and of you who called me to serve you. I’ll continue to pray for you, and for the one whom God will call to be your next Bishop, that she/he will know the reality of God's call as I have, and will experience the same generosity, encouragement and care that I have received from you.
It has been a great privilege to serve as your Bishop. Thank you for everything, for the memories, friendships and faith we have shared, for your honesty, patience, prayers, and love. Thank you for allowing me to serve you, and for making these eight years such a precious part of my own journey of faith.
Hold fast, then, to your own calling, as I have tried to hold fast to mine, trusting that the Love which calls us is the Love which sustains us, a Love that will never let us go.
With my warmest regards,
30 October 2026
Bishop Ian's retiral Diocesan Evensong service on 1st November can be viewed in full on https://www.facebook.com/DioceseofStAndrewsDunkeldandDunblane/videos/1836531237381868
+Ian and Carrie have sent a thank you to all who attended
Dear friends in Christ, We want to send our deepest thanks to everyone who came from all over the Diocese to the Choral Evensong at St Ninian’s Cathedral on All Saints’ Sunday. It was such a wonderful service of music and prayer, and we thank very much all those who planned it, contributed to it, and made it such a warm and welcoming time of celebration.
At the service it was a great joy to dedicate the Icon of St William of Perth, the work of our friend the Rev’d Dr Lana Woolford. The Icon is our gift to the Diocese, in thanksgiving for all that has been in these eight years, as a focus of prayer and hope.
Thank you, also, for your very kind and generous gifts presented at the service, and for all your gifts and cards, emails, and messages of thanks, appreciation, and hope for the future, which have come to us from so many people and congregations. We are overwhelmed by the love and encouragement we have received from you.
Please feel free to share this message of thanks with others as appropriate - we want to thank all of you.
Please continue to pray for us, as we will for you and for the Diocese, as we look to the future and you look forward to electing your new Bishop.
With our love and warmest regards,
+Ian and Carrie
Music Group This group meets every two weeks after the 6pm Tuesday evening service (the service is usually finished by 6.30pm) and the next meeting will be 10th November. Come along and explore some new songs and harmonies. All are welcome.
Bible Study 'Word Alive' This group led by Alison meets every two weeks after the 6pm Tuesday evening service alternating with the Music Group . Next meeting 17th November. We are looking at the Gospel of Luke with its many stories of food and eating and mutually exploring what this scripture means for us today. All are welcome.
The Fellowship Group next meets on Tuesday 10th November at 1.30pm for friendly chat and delicious tea and cake. Everyone is welcome.
Reflection Day on 31st October On Saturday past we held a day of reflection to start our year of pilgrimage which focused on journey, walking with God and saying Amen. Stuart will give an update on the day in the next week or so.
All Souls We will reflect and give thanks at a service towards the end of November for all people who are dear to us and who have died. Details to follow.
Message from the Acting Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunkeld, The Rt Revd Dr Nicholas Bundock · Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway
Dear friends,
As I begin my ministry as Acting Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane today, I wanted to write to you all with my warmest greetings.
Yesterday's farewell Evensong for Bishop Ian marked the end of an important chapter in the life of the diocese. I know that many of you will be feeling a mixture of gratitude for his ministry and sadness at his departure. I would like to add my own thanks to +Ian for all that he has given in his time as your bishop, and to assure him of my prayers and good wishes for the future.
It is a privilege to be entrusted with the care of the diocese during this time of vacancy, and I am very conscious of the responsibility that comes with it. I know that periods of transition can bring uncertainty, but I hope I can offer a reassuring and steady presence as we look towards the election and arrival of your next bishop.
Although I will also continue my responsibilities in Glasgow and Galloway, I want you to know that I am here for you. I look forward to getting to know more of the life of the diocese, sharing in your worship and ministry where I can, and being available to clergy and congregations whenever I am needed.
I am also very pleased to let you know that, with the support of the College of Bishops, I have appointed Dean Graham Taylor as my Commissary until 7 August 2027, or until the installation of a new bishop, whichever comes first. Graham will take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the diocese and will be a principal point of contact for clergy and congregations. I am enormously grateful to him for taking on this responsibility, and I know that his experience and knowledge of the diocese will be invaluable.
There is already much good and faithful ministry taking place across St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane, and I hope that during this period we can continue to support and encourage one another in that work.
Please be assured of my prayers for you, your congregations and the communities you serve. I would value your prayers too, as I take on this additional responsibility.
With every blessing
+Nick
3 November 2026
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NEWS FROM AROUND AND ABOUT
Interfaith Scotland is celebrating 20 years of Scottish Interfaith Week on 8-15 November. This year’s festival theme of Wellbeing encourages us to explore what it means to care for ourselves and others.
Forth Valley College is doing a winter coat appeal. If you have any good quality coats (adult and children sizes), jackets, hats, scarves or gloves, they can be handed in at any Campus. They should be clean and in good condition.
Stirling Street Pastors is holding an information evening on Wed 18th November 2026, 7:30pm In Park Church Stirling at which you can speak to current street pastors, find out what the organisation does and how you can join in. For more information see stirling.streetpastors.org.uk; facebook.com/StirlingStreetPastors or email:stirling@streetpastors.org.uk; Phone 07545 527511
The Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane is very pleased to announce the appointment of the Ven Peter Blundell as Priest-in-Charge of the Highland Perthshire Linked Charge (Holy Trinity, Pitlochry; St Andrew, Strathtay; St Adamnan, Kilmaveonaig, Blair Atholl). The Licensing Service, by the Acting Bishop, the Right Revd Nick Bundock, Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway, will take place later this year, details to be announced. Peter was ordained in the Diocese of Melbourne, Australia, most recently serving in the Diocese of Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, as a Parish Priest and as Archdeacon focusing on the smaller rural communities.
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BEFORE YOU GO....
Pet blessings for St Francis Day Many Scottish Episcopal Churches held services of pet and animal blessings around St Francis' Day, 4th October. A selection of photos of our (mostly) furry friends can be seen here. A few don't look quite as well behaved as the cutey below!
Revd Stuart F Gray BD PGDE
St John's Alloa
18 Broad Street Alloa
FK10 1AN
office@sjea.org.uk
01259 724550 www.stjohnschurchalloa.org.uk
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