Sunday 24th March 2019
Lent 3
Prayer of St Richard of Chichester
Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ
For all the benefits Thou hast given me,
For all the pains and insults Thou hast borne for me.
O most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother,
May I know Thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly,
Follow thee more nearly. Amen.
Today
8.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Parish Communion
4.00pm Church at 4
Diary – Week Commencing 24th March
Monday 25th March
8.30am Morning Prayer – Church
10.00am Bible Study Group—11 St John Road
Tuesday 26th March
8.30am Morning Prayer – Church
7.30pm Lent Course – Church
9.00pm Night Prayer Compline – Church
Wednesday 27th March
8.30am There will be no Morning Prayer during Lent
10.00am Lent Course – St Joseph’s Church
Thursday 28th March
8.30am Morning Prayer – Church
7.30pm Choir Practice
Filling Station – Lucy and Ann Marie
Friday 29th March
The Parish Office is closed today
8.45am Morning Prayer – Prospect Hospice
12noon Lent Lunch – St Joseph’s Church
7.00pm Bellringers Practice
7.00pm 115 Club (1st & 3rd Friday of the Month)
Saturday 30th March
The Parish Office
The Office will be closed on Friday 29th March, Monday 1st & Tuesday 2nd April and will reopen on Wednesday 3rd April.
Dates for your diary 2019
Holiday Club 2019
This year’s Holiday Club will be Monday 12th to Friday 16th August 2019
Sunday 31st March 2019
Mothering Sunday, Lent 4
8.00am Holy Communion
Preacher: Revd Phill Harrison
Sidespeople: John & Iris Smith
10.00am Parish Communion
Preacher: Revd Phill Harrison
Intercessions: Mark Tubey
Reading: Exodus 2. 1-10
Reader: Carol Gibbon
Gospel: Luke 2. 33-35
Servers: Petrina Kingsley and Andrew Kirk
Sidespeople: Jean Leo and Lillian Wicks
4.00pm Church at 4
Leader: Joan Orman
6.00pm Evensong
Our next Evensong Service will be on Sunday 7th April
Compline during Lent
There will be a short said service of Compline (Night Prayer) at 9pm each Tuesday evening during Lent. The service will include a short reading from the bible and a period of silence for personal reflection.
Gluten free wafers
If you require a gluten free wafer for holy communion please let a sidesperson know.
Floodlighting
The Church will be floodlit on Monday 25th March by Debbie Herring in memory of Dave Herring on his birthday.
Electoral Roll 2019
A copy of the new electoral roll is on the notice board at the back of church. Please take a few moments to check your details. If your details are incorrect or your name is missing please contact the office as soon as possible.
Our Annual Parochial Church Meeting will take place at 11am in church on Sunday 7 April. Elections will be held to fill six vacancies on the Parochial Church Council. Please consider prayerfully whether you might stand- PCC nomination forms are on the church chest and the Bristol Diocese website has useful information on what being on the PCC involves. Copies of the Agenda and Annual Report 2018 will be available towards the end of March.
Lent course
We’ll be using the Bible Society’s Lent material this year. Focusing on Jesus’ last words from the cross we’ll discover what the Bible has to say about loneliness as we explore six messages of great hope and great challenge. These themes will be supported by weekly BBC radio services and podcasts leading up to Easter. Sessions will be on Tuesday evenings at 7:30pm in church and then REPEATED on Wednesday mornings at 10am in St Joseph’s church hall. People are free to come to a mix of mornings and evenings. The first session will be on Tuesday 12th March.
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.
Count your Blessings
Today you should be given a booklet from Christian Aid entitled ‘Count your Blessings”. Please use it each day during Lent to remind yourself of the blessings we receive from God and to show your gratitude by engaging with the activities suggested. Any donations you make will be put to good use by Christian Aid for those who don’t have as many blessings as we do.
Tearfund’s Mean Bean Challenge
I shall be taking on the Mean Bean Challenge to eat only plain rice and beans for 5 days from 20th to 24th March to raise awareness of the many people in the world whose everyday diet is very simple food. Any sponsorship money will go to Tearfund to support their work among some of the poorest people in the world. Please sponsor me if you are able. Here is a link to my page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/margaretsmeanbeanchallenge2019 or add your name to the sign up sheet. Having done this challenge a couple of years ago, I know it’s not an easy one to complete. Margaret Penfound
Quiz Night
The Harbour Project is hosting its annual Quiz night on Friday, 26th April, 7.00 -10.00 pm at St Joseph ‘s College, Swindon. Tickets are £13.50, which includes a fish & chip supper. Those of us who have previously taken part have had a really good evening. Let’s see if we can get two teams of 8 from Wroughton! Please speak to Margaret Penfound for more information.
Ordination of Teresa Townsend
Teresa Townsend is being ordained a priest on Saturday 29th June. The service is 3.30pm. We have hired a coach, if you would like join us for the service or just an afternoon in Bristol we will leave at 1.45pm. Return from Bristol at 6ish. Cost should be £10/12. Please sign up with either Jean Ford or Ross Fralley.
Honda Closure
The closure of the Swindon Honda plant indirectly puts at risk 12,000 jobs throughout the region and the wider supply chain. Supporters of Honda workers will be marching from the County Ground to Faringdon Park at 11.00am on Saturday 30th of March. St Mark’s church, directly opposite, will be praying for all those impacted from noon until 7.30pm. Please let Revd Phill know if you can help St Mark’s by stewarding, making cakes, organising a prayer station etc.
Do you shop at Waitrose?
If you shop at Waitrose in Mill Lane please can I ask you to use your green tokens throughout April to support Cancer Ninjas. This group was set up by Mike Horlock following the loss of his wife to Breast Cancer, they support Cancer UK in the belief that by doing a little, together we can achieve a lot. Thank you. Jean Ford
Swindon Business-Owners’ Self-Help Discussion Group You are warmly invited to join us at The Pilgrim Centre, Regent Circus, Swindon SN1 1PX (2nd Floor)
Tuesdays at 12.00 noon. Bring your own lunch. Drinks will be provided. Are you working on your own or in a small business? Are you stressed, worried, or coping with a difficult life situation? Would you like to meet up with others who are going through something similar? Come in and talk through your issues in a safe, confidential, accepting environment. This activity is organized by Swindon Commercial Chaplaincy which is open to all faiths and no faith. We will not preach; we are just here to offer support.
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
Pray that Legge House has the right combination of staff and volunteers for the coming busy months over the Spring and Summer. May the House continue to be a beacon of Christian hospitality.
This week please also pray for:-
- Swindon Youth for Christ
- For the staff and patients of Wroughton Health Centre
- Those leading our Lent Courses this year
- We commend to God’s care and keeping those who have died recently especially Irene Page, David Bottrill and Frank Whatley. We pray for all who mourn the loss of loved ones.
