3rd Sunday of Easter
Dear all,
I hope you are keeping safe and well as we come to another weekend in this strange time imposed on us by covid 19. I know that some people seem to be working twice as hard as normal while others have not been able to work at all or even get out of their homes. I think it is important to remember that all of us the busy and the bored, should be finding some time to put aside for God. No need for special words or prayers, just time to be in the presence of God. All the more important for those of you who don’t find it easy. Those who ‘do’ can become those who ‘be’ for a short while and give God a chance to get a word in edgewise so that you can build an even stronger relationship with him.
I pray that you are keeping in touch with family and friends and that our Sunday telephone and Facebook services are helping you to feel connected to those you can’t join with in worship at the moment.
Love and blessings, Barbara
TODAY
10:00 Morning Worship – telephone conference
Phone: 03300 945 940
Room number: 60527473 #
PIN: 2656 #
12:00 Morning Worship – live on Facebook
Cheryl Hawkins will repeat the reading, the sermon and lead some short prayers. Go to our Facebook page ‘Wroughton and Wichelstowe Parish Church’
4pm Church at 4 – See facebook for more details.
NEXT WEEK
Tuesday 28th April
7.30pm Standing Committee Meeting
Sunday 3rd May
4th Sunday of Easter
10:00 Morning Worship
Preacher: Revd Phill Harrison
Intercessions: Helen Toomer
Reading: Acts 2: 42-47; 4: 32-37
Reader: Jean Ford
12.00 Morning Worship live on Facebook
Revd Phill Harrison will repeat the reading, the sermon and lead some short prayers. Go to our Facebook page ‘Wroughton and Wichelstowe Parish Church’
4pm Church at 4
See facebook for more details.
10am service by telephone
Our Sunday morning service is an audio meeting that people can dial into using just their telephones – no computers involved! Follow these instructions to join:
- To join the Sunday service first dial this number: 03300 945 940.
- When prompted, enter the room number, followed by # on your telephone keypad: 60527473 #
- Finally, enter the guest PIN: 2656 #
- You may have to listen to some announcements, but you will then be automatically joined to the conference call. Join in with the responses in the liturgy as you would normally.
Please try and dial-in at 9:55, as it may take a little while for everyone to be connected to the conference. Calls to ‘03’ numbers are charged at the standard national rate and are included in your ‘free minutes’ if you have a call-plan. Revd Phill has delivered service sheets and dial-in instructions to a number of people that we know don’t use email, or for whom we have no email address. If you know someone who doesn’t have email and would like to be included please let us know so that he can drop something through their letterbox.
Easter to Pentecost – the book of Acts
During the period of time from Easter to Pentecost we will be reading through the book of Acts together as a church. Our sermons will pick up some of the key themes in Acts and this also ties in with the theme from Spring Harvest. If you would like a book to read alongside this then we suggest the Spring Harvest theme book for this year ‘Unleashed: The Acts Church Today’ by GAVIN CALVER and ANNE CALVER (available in Kindle and paperback). Daily readings from Acts are now appearing on our Facebook page, or a reading plan is attached. Like the disciples, we now find ourselves in a world where everything has changed – what can they teach us about the way ahead and what might the Holy Spirit be inspiring us to do now?
SPRING HARVEST HOME
Lots of people joined in with Spring Harvest Home last week and the Messenger group chat worked really well with people contributing their thoughts and reflections or just… having a chat. If you missed it, or if there are sessions that you would like to catch-up on then they will be available on the Spring Harvest YouTube channel until the end of April (https://www.youtube.com/user/SpringHarvest). It’s a completely free online conference programme with content suitable for everyone in the family, all built around the 2020 theme of “Unleashed – The Acts Church Today“.
Pray and Bless Wroughton and Wichelstowe
We spent 40 minutes together on Zoom on Tuesday evening praying for our community, we prayed for safety for those isolated in difficult family situations, for the mentally ill who may be having trouble understanding what’s going on at the moment, for our local hospice and hospitals and for key workers of all types that they will remain healthy and have a positive work environment. Amen.
Envelope scheme
Weekly or monthly giving envelopes with cheques in can be sent to the Parish Office (by post or put through the letterbox); they will be collected once a week. Thank you to those who have been doing this.
Parish giving scheme
The parish giving scheme is still functioning, with all members of staff working remotely. If you need to contact them to amend your giving or for Gift Aid changes, please either ring them on 0333 002 1260 or email: info@parishgiving.org.uk. They are able to receive instructions by post again at their new address Parish Giving Scheme, 76 Kingsholm Road, Gloucester. GL1 3BD. In addition they will shortly be able to sign up new donors by phone, if you are interested in this please go to https://register.parishgiving.org.uk/. If you have any questions please email our treasurer treasurer@wroughton.com.
Ordination – change of plans
Thank you for those that have contacted me about the plans for my Ordination and the prayers – it has meant a lot to know I have been remembered.
As you can imagine, as a lot of things at present, plans for my Ordination have had to change. My Ordination has been postponed from the 5th July to a date to be announced, but not before September. I have therefore, had to change my plans a little around leaving the Civil Service, so will now leave my current employment on the 31st August. Subject to restrictions because of Covid 19, I am still hoping to move to Westbury on Trym at the end of June, so I can settle into my new home and start getting to know the area and congregation.
As like all of us, I look to the time when we can all come together again physically in Church to worship – if this cannot be before the end of June, then I will look forward to coming back to see you all before my Ordination. With prayers and blessings to you all. Cheryl
Swindon Food Bank
Food banks are still open, and the independent food bank for Swindon – Swindon Food Collective – is continuing to help local households. If you can, do consider making a financial contribution at this time. Donations can be made via the website: https://www.swindonfoodcollective.org/
The Let’s Team
Let’s Talk – Live ‘Finding the Silver Linings’ on the 29th April live on Facebook.
Church building closure
The Bishops have instructed that church buildings should now be closed for all private prayer – including by priests. This is a sad step and one that we did not expect. However, the motivation behind it is so that the church of England can be seen to be taking a lead in showing our communities how we must behave in order to slow down the spread of the Coronavirus. Whilst it is closed, the church will be floodlit as a visible reminder to the village (and the M4!) that hope shines in darkness – and that hope is Jesus.
Parish Office
Our Parish Office has temporarily relocated to Janet Burchell’s dining room! The telephone number and opening hours remain the same: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9am to 1.30pm 01793 812050 (email: office@wroughton.com)
Mission to Seafarers Knitting
Got time on your hands? Why not join the army of knitters and make hats for the Mission to Seafarers . These are given to seafarers who may have been recruited in warmer climes and then travel to colder areas. For more information please contact Janet Henderson 525856.
Funeral this week
Please pray for the families and friends of Rodney Sansum, Francis Embling, David Lane and Nora Meaden as their funerals take place.
And finally, a prayer for this week:
Gracious God,
give skill, sympathy and resilience
to all who are caring for the sick,
and your wisdom to those searching for a cure.
Strengthen them with your Spirit,
that through their work many will be restored to health;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Parish Office, Priors Hill, Wroughton, SN4 0RT
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9am to 1.30pm
01793 812050. office@wroughton.com
Revd Phill Harrison – 01793 812301 vicar@wroughton.com
Church Twitter Account
We have Twitter @WroughtonWichel
Please follow us for all the latest updates from Wroughton Parish Church.
