Sunday 18th February 2018
Lent 1
A PRAYER FOR LENT
Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to seek for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do your will.
Amen Ignatius of Loyola (1556)
Today
8.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Parish Communion
11.45am Baptism Service for
Grace Eileen Hesketh
4.00pm Church at 4
Diary – Week Commencing Sunday 18th February
Monday 19th February
8.30am Morning Prayer – Church
10.00am Lent Group – 11 St John Road
Tuesday 20th February
The Parish Office will be closed today
8.30am Morning Prayer
12.30pm Ladies who Lunch – Fabio’s restaurant
6.00pm Clergy Surgery
7.30pm Lent Group – 12 Artis Ave
7.30pm Listening Post – 11 St John Road
Wednesday 21st February
8.30am Morning Prayer – Parish Office
7.30pm Lent Group – Church
Thursday 22nd February
8.30am Morning Prayer – Church
7.30pm Choir Practice – Church
7.30pm Lent Group- 17 Edgar Row Close
Filling Station – Carol & Tricia
Friday 23rd February
8.45am Morning Prayer – Prospect Hospice
3.00pm Lent Group-11 St John Road
7.00pm Lent Group- 9 Marlborough Rd
7.00pm Bellringers Practice
Saturday 24th 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 25th February 2018
Lent 2
8.00am Holy Communion
Preacher: Marion Colton
Sidespeople: John & Iris Smith
10.00am Parish Communion
Preacher: Marion Colton
Intercessions: Dr John Godfree
Reading: Genesis 17: 1-7 & 15-16
Reader: Keith Bassett
Gospel: Mark 8. 31-end
Servers: Alan Gregory and Gillian Pitter
Sidespeople: Sally Parker and June Bradley
4.00pm Church at 4
Led by: Tracy Mason
Birthdays
Happy Birthday to Rosemary Humphries, David Johnstone, Ken Yule, Keith Freegard and Lynda Payne on their birthdays during the coming week.
Floodlighting
The Church will be floodlit on Sunday 18th February by Sharon Hawkins in memory of her Mum, Ann Hawkins on her birthday.
Vacancy Update
We are pleased to say that having shortlisted we will be welcoming and interviewing candidates over two days on 22nd and 23rd February. Please continue to keep this matter in your prayers. We will keep you updated with any further developments. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask Nick Orman or Paul Woolley.
Lent Groups– starting this week!
In our Lent groups this year we will be ‘Journeying with Jesus’ over five studies. Small groups are a great space to get to know new people, ask honest questions and grow in faith– sign up for one this Sunday, even if you can’t do every week.
Monday- 10am at 11 St John Rd (Margaret)
Tuesday- 7.30pm at 12 Artis Ave (Carolyn/Sadie)
Wednesday- 7.30pm at the Parish Church (Tracy/Mark)
Thursday- 7.30pm (Nicola/Barbara)
22nd Feb and 1st March at 17 Edgar Row Close
8th, 15th and 22nd March at 49 Perry’s Lane
Friday- 3pm at 11 St John Rd (Margaret/Teresa)
Friday- 7pm at 9 Marlborough Rd (Clive/Sally)
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.
Lent resources
There are plenty of things to accompany you on your journey through lent this year…why not give one a try?
Live Lent: Let Your Light Shine takes you on a six week discipleship journey through the Gospel of John, exploring what it means to be a witness to the Christian faith. Find out more about #LiveLent at www.churchofengland.org/lent
NEW! Alongside the booklet, you can also download the Live Lent app for iOS and Android devices.
40 Acts
40 days, 40 reflections, 40 challenges to make a difference.
Join forces with a global, generous community of over one hundred thousand people who have completed the 40acts generosity challenge during Lent. 40acts.org.uk
Mean Bean Challenge
Sign up with Tearfund online for Lent reflections or try ‘The Mean Bean Challenge’- 5 days eating nothing but plain rice and beans, experiencing hunger, raising money and helping to end poverty.
‘Say it to God’ by Luigi Gioia
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s book for Lent 2018.
Have you ever felt a stumbling block in your prayers? Something you just can’t say, or don’t know how to say?
Or even just want a breath of fresh air for your prayer?
‘Say It To God’ is not a step by step formula for turning prayers into gold, but an exercise in trusting God. There are no specific word you need to utter, but rather you’ll find a world of reassurance and theological insights into prayer that will get you started on a road to a deeper, more meaningful prayer life.
Nicola’s Licensing
We have booked a 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.
Church Cleaning
We have inherited a wonderful building in which to meet together and worship God. However, it takes time and effort to keep it clean and tidy and this is all done by teams of volunteers from among our congregation. Recently, some of these have had to give up this valuable work and we need other willing volunteers to replace them. It only requires a couple of hours every 6 weeks and the ability to wield a duster, broom or vacuum cleaner. If you are able to offer your services, please speak to Margaret Penfound (tel. 812139).
Volunteers needed for Swindon Youth for Christ
SYFC are looking for some voluntary assistance with various administrative tasks– could you or someone you know help?
Volunteer in the office (general admin help needed till end of April), Volunteer to help with fundraising or Volunteer to help with data protection compliance.
Please contact Dave Howell (chair of trustees) by emailing david.howell@syfc.org.uk
Women’s World Day of Prayer – Friday 2nd March
This years service will be at St Josephs RC church at 11am on Friday 2nd March. It will be followed by a Lent lunch if you wish to stay. The service has been prepared by the women of Suriname and is open to anyone young or old, men or women. I would appreciate offers to read bits in the service so please see me on Sunday if you would like to do this. Please come and support our service. Janet Henderson 525856
Willows Counselling and Training Service Conference
On Friday 9th March 2018, 9.30am to 4pm ‘Help! My Empathy is Killing Me!’ with Tony Buckley. A day conference for the Counsellors, Therapist and other Helping Professionals. Cost £150. For more information please contact 01793 426650 or willowstraining.org
Ladies who Lunch
On Tuesday 20th February at 12.30pm at Fabio’s (Italian restaurant) . They are opposite The Museum on Bath Road.
Names to Gwen by Sunday 18th please
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 Bakers Road and Fernacre Road
- Our Lent Groups as they start this week
- We commend to God’s care and keeping those who have died recently especially Iris Higgins, Francis Perry, Betty Spalding, Patricia Harris and Clarice Hardiman. We pray for all who mourn the loss of loved ones.
