Sunday 24th February 2019
Sermon Series – Holy Communion 3
Prayer for Uncertainty
When you are doubting or confused you can pray in those uncertain moments.
God makes us holy and keeps us safe.
His peace alone removes all blame and condemnation.
Let your faith in Christ cast away all uncertainty in your heart. Amen
Today
8.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Parish Communion
4.00pm Church at 4
Diary – Week Commencing 24th February
Monday 25th February
8.30am Morning Prayer – Church
10.00am Bible Study Group – 11 St John Road
Tuesday 26th February
Parish Office is closed today
8.30am Morning Prayer – Church
Wednesday 27th February
8.30am Morning Prayer – Parish Office
Thursday 28th February
8.30am Morning Prayer – Church
7.30pm Choir Practice
Filling Station – Carol & Tricia
Friday 1st March
8.45am Morning Prayer – Prospect Hospice
7.00pm Bellringers Practice
7.00pm 115 Club (1st & 3rd Friday of the Month)
Saturday 2nd March
11.30am Pancake Party – Races at Willow Gardens then Pancakes in the Church Hall
Dates for your diary 2019
Women’s World Day of Prayer service
DATE CHANGE Friday 8th March at St Joseph’s church at 11am. Followed by Lent lunch.
Pancake Party – Saturday 2nd March
Races will start 11.30am at Willow Gardens then onto the Church Hall for yummy pancakes!
Holiday Club 2019
This years Holiday Club will be Monday12th
to Friday 16th August 2019
Sunday 3rd March 2019
Sermon Series – Holy Communion 4
8.00am Holy Communion
Preacher: Revd Phill Harrison
Sidespeople: Alan & Christine Wrixon
10.00am Parish Communion
Preacher: Revd Phill Harrison
Intercessions: Carolyn Perry
Reading: Acts 2. 42-47
Reader: Veronica Garside
Gospel: John 4. 1-30; 39-42
Servers: Andrew Kirk and Jean Ford
Sidespeople: Lillian Wicks and Ross Fralley
4.00pm Church at 4
Leader: Ruth Orman
6.00pm Evensong
Preacher: Diane Phillips
Intercessions: John Henderson
1st Reading: Exodus 3. 1-6
Reader: Sarah Ruck
2nd Reading: John 12. 27-36a
Reader: Jean Ford
Sidespeople: Malcolm Morrison and Jean Ford
Gluten free wafers
If you require a gluten free wafer for holy communion please let a sidesperson know.
Electoral Roll 2019
The deadline for applying to join the electoral roll is approaching! If you haven’t already done so, please complete and return your electoral roll application form before Sunday 17th March.
Every six years we are required by law to make a new electoral roll and this happens in 2019. If you were on the previous electoral roll then and wish to remain on it, you will have to re-apply. The roll is open to anyone over 16 years old who is either resident in the parish or who regularly attends our services. Being on the roll allows you to attend and vote at the Annual Meeting and, if you are not resident in the parish it gives you certain rights otherwise only given to residents.
You can find forms at the back of church. If you regularly attend our services we would like to encourage you to join the electoral roll by completing pages 1 & 2 of the booklet. If for any reason you attend our services, but do not feel able to be on the electoral roll please would you complete just page 1 and return the form so that we have your consent to hold your details so that we can keep in touch with you.
Update on The Cornerstone Coffee Shop
We have been working with The Deanery School to understand how we might be involved in the community coffee shop that’s being opened in the new school building. It had originally been suggested that we might run the coffee shop as an activity of the church and we produced a draft business plan for this. After thinking some more about our aims and objectives, as well as the resources available to us, we have now agreed that the business side of the coffee shop will be run by the school’s catering supplier, leaving the church free to focus on using the coffee shop as a base for community outreach. This is an important step forwards in clarifying our vision and means that we now have the freedom to invest all of our energy in connecting directly with the community in Wichelstowe. Please pray for this venture and do let Revd Phill or the Churchwardens know if you want to get involved!
Lent Course
This year the Lent Course will take place on Tuesday evenings, at 7:30pm in the church. Each session will then be repeated at 10am on Wednesday morning in St Joseph’s church hall. Feel free to come to a mix of evening and daytime sessions, as suits you. The first Tuesday session will be on 12th March, followed by the Wednesday session on the 13th.
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.
Sunday’s World Day of Prayer 2019
There will be a service for the World Day of Prayer (formerly Women’s World Day of Prayer) at St Joseph’s Church on Friday 8th March at 11am (please note that this is a date change from the notice in Wroughton Monthly). Our church is leading the service this year, which has been devised by the women of Slovenia. ALL are welcome and please let me know if you would like to be involved. It will be followed by a Lent Lunch in St Joseph’s church hall. Janet Henderson tel 525856
Swindon Food Collective
What was previously known as Swindon Food Bank is now operating as “Swindon Food Collective” . This is a new charity which has continued to feed and support people in crisis in the Swindon area , despite a difficult year. We are independent, registered with the Charity Commission, with no connection to any other organisation. We are run almost wholly by volunteers, with only one paid member of staff. We have distributed food to >2800 people in the last six months, and demand is increasing month on month.
If you would like to learn more about our work, or would like to volunteer or donate, either on an occasional or regular basis, please speak to Julie Bond or Joan Orman.
We can be contacted on our website: www.swindonfoodcollective.org Also on Facebook and Twitter. Our donation boxes for food/toiletries are in the usual supermarkets.
Floodlighting Requests
If you are wishing to floodlight the Church please would you ensure that the form has been sent to the Parish Office at least a week before the event so that the lighting clock can be set for the week. Many thanks Janet
Church Library
Have you taken a look at our church library? It’s on the book shelf to the left of the main door when you come into church. We have recently added some CDs. These are recordings of bible teaching and seminars from Spring Harvest. Please feel free to borrow anything that interests you.
Can you help!
The coffee team would greatly appreciate some volunteers to give us a hand. It would entail doing the coffees about once a month. If you are interested please talk to Sally Parker, Carolyn Kirk or Karen Ferguson.
CHURCH IN THE WIDER WORLD
The Children’s Society
This children’s charity writes:
We are a national charity that works with the country’s most vulnerable children and young people. We listen. We support. We act. Because no child should feel alone.
Please pray:
- for children who will have to spend Christmas in homes where they are abused rather than loved
- for parents struggling to cope with a disabled child
- for the Children’s Society, reaching out to vulnerable children and families
- for Christingle services throughout the country, that they will encourage people to give generously for the Society’s work.
Knitting for Mission to Seafarers
The year got off to a good start as I was able to send a parcel of 25 hats and 14 scarves to Mission to Seafarers this week. These are distributed to those working on ships in adverse weather conditions who do not own warm clothing.
Thank you to everyone who keeps knitting and to those who provide wool. If you would like to get started there are patterns and wool in the boxes by the choir vestry. For further information please contact Janet Henderson 525856.
Legge House Monthly Prayer Point
Please pray for Legge House that the mid-weeks continue to fill up in addition to the weekends and that it continues to shine as a beacon of Christ’s hospitality.
This week please also pray for:-
- Swindon Youth for Christ
- For the staff and patients of Lansdowne Hill Care Home
- Our Bible Study Groups
- Those organising the Pancake Party on Saturday
- For those who work at Honda during this uncertain time
- We commend to God’s care and keeping those who have died recently especially Norman Ponting and Dorothy McDowell. We pray for all who mourn the loss of loved ones.
