Sunday 4th February 2018
2nd Sunday after Lent
For the cold and homeless
God of compassion,
your love for humanity was revealed in Jesus,
whose earthly life began in the poverty of a stable
and ended in the pain and isolation of the cross:
we hold before you those who are homeless
and cold especially in this bitter weather.
Draw near and comfort them in spirit
and bless those who work to provide them
with shelter, food and friendship.
We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Today
8.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Parish Communion
4.00pm Church at 4
6.00pm Evensong
Diary – Week Commencing Sunday 4th February
Monday 5th February
8.30am Morning Prayer – Church
10.00am Bible Study Group – 11 St John Road
7.30pm PCC Meeting
Tuesday 6th February
The Parish Office will be closed today
8.30am Morning Prayer
6.00pm Clergy Surgery
7.30pm Community Engagement Group
Wednesday 7th February
8.30am Morning Prayer – Parish Office
Thursday 8th February
8.30am Morning Prayer – Church
7.30pm Choir Practice – Church
Filling Station – Jack & Margaret
Friday 9th February
8.45am Morning Prayer – Prospect Hospice
12.30pm Funeral Service for Andy Kachkan
7.00pm Bellringers Practice
Saturday 10th February
9.30am Healing on the Streets – Ellendune Centre
Dates for your diary
Wednesday 18th April- 7.30pm– Nicola’s licensing service at St Mark’s Church, Kempshott, Basingstoke
‘Walk through the Bible’
Saturday 23rd June- 10am- 4pm, Parish Hall- ‘Walk through the Bible’ is an opportunity to explore the big picture of the Bible with a trained presenter, alongside The Stowe Church. Booking fee and further details to follow.
Sunday 11th February 2018
Sunday before Lent
8.00am Holy Communion
Preacher: Mark Tubey
Sidespeople: Pat Lewis and Dee Vincent
10.00am Parish Communion
Preacher: Mark Tubey
Intercessions: Dr John Henderson
Reading: 2 Corinthians 4: 3-6
Reader: Alan Gregory
Gospel: Mark 9: 2-9
Servers: Cheryl Hawkins and Andrew Kirk
Sidespeople: Mike & Bridget Awre
4.00pm Church at 4
Led by: Ruth Orman
Birthdays
Happy Birthday to Robert Evans, Ann New, Matthew Payne and Ruth Beavers on their birthdays during the coming week.
Congratulations
We are really pleased to announce that after the completion of her ordination training course in June 2018, Teresa Townsend will serve her curacy of approximately 4 years as a self supporting curate in the West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze Ecumenical Partnership and Parish. We look forward to being present at her Ordination at the end of June.
Vacancy Update
Thank you to all those who have been praying and fasting. The closing date was Monday 29th January. Shortlisting will take place on the Monday 5th February and interviews will take place later in February. Please continue to keep this matter in your prayers. We will keep you updated with any developments. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask Nick Orman or Paul Woolley.
Pancake Races– 13th February
As it is half term we will be racing on Shrove Tuesday– races will start at 11.30am at Willow-Brook Gardens followed by pancakes for eating in the Parish Hall.
Ash Wednesday service– 14th February
What better way to reflect on the meaning of true love this Valentine’s Day? Our a short reflective Ash Wednesday service is at 6.30pm and includes the imposition of ashes.
Lent Groups– starting w/b 19th February
In our Lent groups this year we will be ‘Journeying with Jesus’. Over five studies we will be meeting five characters from the New Testament who encountered Jesus at some point in their lives and considering the effect that the encounter had upon them and what that might mean for us.
Small groups are a great space to get to know new people, ask honest questions and grow in faith– please do think about joining one as part of your Lenten discipline. A sign up sheet with various times/venues will be available soon.
Lent Lunches
Lent lunches start on Friday 16th February at St Joseph’s Parish Centre every Friday during Lent from 12 noon to 12.45pm. Donations for Christian Aid / Cafod. Do come along for Soup and support this event.
Nicola’s Licensing
We have booked a small coach so we can attend Nicola’s licensing at St. Mark’s Church, Kempshott on April 18th. We will leave Wroughton at 5.30pm. Cost per person will be £15 please see Jean Ford or Ross Fralley if you are wishing to attend.
The Harbour Project
Thank you to everyone who has donated warm items of clothing, for which we are most grateful.
If anyone has a working vacuum cleaner surplus to their requirements, please let Margaret Penfound know (812139) as some of our asylum seekers are in urgent need of one.
Women’s World Day of Prayer
This year’s service will be on Friday 2nd March at St Josephs Church at 11am and will be followed by a Lent lunch. It focuses on the women of Suriname. I will be looking for readers for the service nearer the time but feel free to let me know if you are interested. Thank you Janet Henderson 525856
World Cancer Day – Unity Bands
World Cancer day is February 4th, in support of this I have Cancer Research UK Unity bands which “sell” for £2. They are at the back of Church , please buy one to help the fight against Cancer. Thank you Jean Ford
CHURCH IN THE WIDER WORLD
Swindon Youth for Christ
works in a number of secondary schools in the town. They take lessons and assemblies to enhance the curriculum, run lunchtime clubs to give students the opportunity to consider what Christ’s good news means for them, and mentor students, particularly those at risk of exclusion from school.
Please pray for the team and the volunteers who support them in this work, that what they say and do will help the young people in making the best life choices.
Knitting for Mission to Seafarers
Thanks again to all our keen knitters. I have received a letter from The Mission to Seafarers thanking us for the knitwear I sent in September and last week I was able to send off another batch of 22 hats and 21 scarves to the charity. Also thanks to those who have donated wool – there is a good selection in the white boxes on the bench by the choir vestry together with patterns, so please help yourselves if you want to get started on a hat, scarf or gloves. Completed items should be put in one of these boxes. As the weather gets colder and the nights draw in this is an ideal time to get those needles busy. For further information talk to Janet Henderson (525856).
This week please also pray for:-
- Swindon Youth for Christ
- The residents of Baileys Way and Ewden Close
- PCC Meeting taking place this week
- Our Bellringers
- We commend to God’s care and keeping those who have died recently especially Betty Spalding, Julia Kavanagh, Patricia Harris, Betty Long, Andy Kachkan, Clarice Hardiman, Joyce Ryan and Barrie Howell. We pray for all who mourn the loss of loved ones.
