4th March 2018

 

Sunday 4th March 2018

Lent 3 

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

4.00pm        Church at 4

6.00pm        Evensong 

Diary – Week Commencing 4th March

Monday 5th March

8.30am         Morning Prayer – Church

10.00am       Lent Group – 11 St John Road

7.30pm        Meeting with Stowe

Tuesday 6th March

The Parish Office will be closed today

8.30am         Morning Prayer

12.00pm       Funeral Service for Iris Higgins

6.00pm        Clergy Surgery – Parish Office

7.30pm         Lent Group – 12 Artis Ave

Wednesday 7th March

8.30am         Morning Prayer – Parish Office

7.30pm         Lent Group – 67 Savill Crescent

Thursday 8th March

8.30am         Morning Prayer – Church

7.30pm        Choir Practice – Church

7.30pm         Lent Group- 17 Edgar Row Close

Filling Station         – Colin & Fran

Friday 9th March

8.45am         Morning Prayer – Prospect Hospice

3.00pm         Lent Group-11 St John Road

7.00pm        Bellringers Practice

Saturday 10th March

9.30am         Healing on the Streets – Ellendune Centre

10.00am       Wedding Preparation Meeting – Church

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 March 2018

Mothering Sunday, Lent 4 

8.00am       Holy Communion

Preacher:      Revd Barbara Abrey

Sidespeople: Gillian Pitter and Sally Speller

10.00am     Parish Communion

Preacher:      Revd Barbara Abrey

Intercessions: Dr John Henderson

Reading:       Colossians 3: 12-17

Reader:        Janet Henderson

Gospel:        John 19: 25b-27

Servers:        Cheryl Hawkins and Andrew Kirk

Sidespeople: Alan & Kathy Gregory

4.00pm       Church at 4

Led by:         Joan Orman

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to Christine Wrixon, Royston Fisher, Veronica Garside, Tracy Mason and David New on their birthdays during the coming week.

Easter Eve—Saturday 31st March, 8pm

I shall be needing several volunteers to read a lesson at our service on Easter Eve. If you are interested please could you see me. Marion Colton

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).

Appointment update!

It was wonderful to be able to announce last Sunday that Revd Phill Harrison will be joining us with his family as vicar– here’s a short message from him:

‘My family and I very excited about joining you all in Wroughton and Wichelstowe in July. My wife, Karen, and I were impressed by both the warmth of the welcome we received on our familiarisation day and the strength of the team in Wroughton. We have two secondary school age children, Aidan and Ciara (say: kee-ah-rah), both of whom are eager to explore what will become their new home. We currently live in Corsham, near Chippenham, where I am the Assistant Curate. Before this we lived in north Bristol… so God has been gradually calling us eastwards along the M4 towards Wroughton. We look forward to being with you in the not too distant future!’

Thank you…

A special thank you to Nick Orman and Paul Woolley who, as parish reps, have put in lots of extra time through the appointment process– and thanks also to those involved in putting our parish profile together and in various ways on the familiarisation day.

We are a great team, and as we look forward to welcoming Phill and his family, may we continue to support those who have taken on extra responsibilities during the vacancy and let’s not grow weary of doing the good things that God has called each of us to! 

Nicola’s Farewell

“Our lovely curate Nicola will be leaving us after Easter to move to her new parish of St Mark’s, Kempshott.  Nicola’s last service will be the 10.30 service on Easter Sunday when we’ll say farewell and give thanks for her time with us here.  If you’d like to contribute towards a gift, please put this in an envelope (‘Nicola – Gift’) and hand to a churchwarden (Helena or Mike), or deliver to the Parish Office.”

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.

Invitations and catering

If you are planning to go to Nicola’s licensing under your own steam, please could you let Nicola know so that she can make sure that you get an invitation and the good people of St Mark’s can get clear numbers for catering. Thanks! 

Lent Groups– not too late to join in!

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 67 Savill Crescent (Tracy/Mark)

Thursday- 7.30pm at 49 Perry’s Lane (Nicola/Barbara)

Friday- 3pm at 11 St John Rd (Margaret/Teresa) 

Lent Lunches

Lent lunches every Friday during Lent at St Joseph’s Parish Centre 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.

Fairtrade Eggs

As it’s Fairtrade Fortnight I will be selling Traidcraft again on Sunday including the Easter Eggs from the Meaningful Chocolate Company. Sally Parker

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

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

CHURCH IN THE WIDER WORLD 

Swindon Youth for Christ

SYFC partners with Scripture Union to support “in:School”, a project in the town’s primary schools. Their vision is to enable children to explore Christianity and spirituality, in their schools. As well as assemblies and R.E. lessons, they lead lunchtime clubs and enrichment days, and mentor groups of children, who may have problems with confidence or behaviour. Please pray for Abi Corry, who leads in:School, and for all the work that Swindon’s churches do in the primary schools to share the love of God with the children. 

Knitting for Mission to Seafarers

A big thank you to our faithful knitters. This week I have sent off 27 hats, 1 pair of gloves, 1 balaclava and 8 scarves. There are several balls of wool in the box so if you have the time please get knitting. Patterns are also in the box. Janet Henderson

This week please also pray for:-

  • Swindon Youth for Christ
  • The residents of Barcelona Crescent and Stannon Lane
  • Our Lent Groups
  • Those couples attending Wedding Preparation on Saturday who will be married in church during the year
  • We commend to God’s care and keeping those who have died recently especially Edward Bates, Ron Pearce, Florence Taylor, Iris Higgins, Francis Perry and Betty Spalding. We pray for all who mourn the loss of loved ones.