LENT 5
TODAY
8am HOLY COMMUNION in Church
10am HOLY COMMUNION in Church and on YouTube
NEXT WEEK
Tuesday 19th March 9.00am Morning Prayer – Church
Wednesday 20th March 2.15pm Funeral Service of Barbara Thomas – Kingsdown Crem
Thursday 21st March 9.00am Morning Prayer – Church
Friday 22nd March 1.00pm Funeral Service for the late Lionel Bird – Church
SUNDAY 24th MARCH 2024
Palm Sunday
8.00am MORNING PRAYER in Church
Preacher: Dr John Godfree
Reading: Zechariah 9. 9-17
Sidespersons: Alan & Christine Wrixon
10.00am HOLY COMMUNION in Church and on YouTube
Preacher: Revd Phill Harrison
Intercessions: Sheila Tubey
Altar Server: Gillian Pitter and Andrew Francis
Sidespersons: Tony & Julia Edmonds
Live streaming the 10am service
The 10am service will be live streamed on You Tube. Please visit our YouTube Channel on https://www.youtube.com/@WroughtonWichelstoweParChurch (or search for Wroughton and Wichelstowe Parish church) and press the ‘subscribe’ button.
‘Sunday Club’ dates
Our Sunday morning group for primary school aged children takes place in the Vicarage during the 10am service, usually on the 1st and 3rd Sundays. Future dates are
Date | Adults- lead/support |
17/3 | Hannah/Holly |
7/4 | Joan/Helena T |
Small Groups
If you would like to join a small group, please contact the leaders of the groups below and find out where there is space. We would love to have everyone involved in a small group.
22 Kellsborough Avenue | Mondays 10am-11.30 | Lillian Wicks & Louise Bessent |
12 Artis Avenue | Tuesdays at 7.30pm | Carolyn Kirk |
Church Hall | Alternate Tuesday evenings | Nick Orman |
The Vicarage | Wednesday evenings during term time. | Karen & Phill Harrison |
Church Hall | Saturday men’s breakfast | Mike Mason |
Lent Lunches
Soup ~ Bread ~ Cheese
Tea or Coffee
Every Friday during Lent at St Joseph’s Parish Centre, Devizes Road, Wroughton
12noon to 1.00pm – Donations for Christian Aid/Cafod. Everyone Welcome
Easter services
Hopefully, you have all already seen the details of our Easter services that have been included with the Notices for the last couple of weeks. It would be great to see as many people at these special services as possible. If you have not previously attended some of these, or have not for a few years, take some time to consider if this might be a chance for you to engage with God in a new way during the Easter period.
Safe Families
An important part of what we do as a church is supporting groups and activities that seek to build God’s kingdom in different ways. We heard recently from Deborah Tomkins from Green Christian and last month’s Afternoon Tea was in support of Swindon Food Collective. A little while ago, we had a speaker visit us from Safe Families to talk about their work. This is an excellent organization, and they have provided us with an update on their work. Please consider if you could support them, through prayer, volunteering, financially or raising awareness.
“We believe no one should feel alone. At Safe Families we work primarily through the local church to we offer hope, belonging and support to children and families, creating relationship and connection because everyone deserves to belong.
In Swindon we have a large, new contract to support 120 families this year. We regularly see how everyday people can make a hugely positive impact on local families’ lives through relatively simple actions, and you can be a part of that too! You can be trained and supported as a volunteer, pray with us, or give financially.
Find out more by going to our website https://safefamilies.uk/ or contact Helen on 07467649932, helenhowarth@safefamilies.uk
We are so grateful for the partnership of local churches like Wroughton Parish Church, thank you!“
Casual Exam Invigilators wanted £11.93 per hour
The Deanery School are seeking a group of exceptional individuals to join our team on a casual basis as Exam Invigilators. This is a highly rewarding and valued role within our school and successful candidates will play a vital role in ensuring that exams run smoothly in compliance with set regulations. Candidates should be flexible and have good availability during school hours during key examination and mock periods which will be published well in advance. Training for this role will be provided. Closing date for applications is 15th April 2024. Follow this link to apply: https://www.eteach.com/job/casual-exam-invigilators-1409109?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=etb2c059%20system%20generated%20email%20ETJB07
Moonrakers concert on Saturday 23rd March at Christ Church, Swindon
Moonrakers is an Oxford-based group of four musicians who pride themselves in having brought traditional and contemporary folk music to new audiences in village halls, churches, arts centres and festivals across the UK. Should be another good event. Tickets £10 in advance and £12 on the door. https://ccccswindon.co.uk/page/tickets
Electoral Roll Revision 2024
Our annual church Electoral Roll revision runs from 4th March to 17th April 2024. The roll is open to anyone over 16 years old, who is baptised and 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 on Sunday 12th May 2024, and if you are not resident in the parish it gives you certain rights otherwise only given to residents. If you regularly attend our services and are not already on the roll, we would like to encourage you to join the electoral roll. Application forms are available in church or from the Parish Office – tel 01793 812050 or email: office@wroughton.com. Completed forms should be returned to the Parish Office by Wednesday 17th April at the latest.
Men’s Group
The next meeting of the Church Men’s Group will be on Saturday 16th March, gathering at Waitrose car park at 8.45 am for a walk around the green spaces of Wichelstowe. There will be coffee and chat afterwards at the
H & W, winding up around 11.00 am.
Anyone interested in attending for the first time, please contact Mike Mason on masonmj@ntlworld.com
The Filling Station – Sandwiches, Thursday 28th March
Our church will be supplying sandwiches etc. for the homeless via the Filling Station on Thursday, 28th March.
If you would be willing to prepare a loaf of sandwiches or supply something else, please add your name to the signup sheet on the church chest and take a reminder card. Please note that the food needs to be taken to 11 Blenheim Road (Alan and Kathy Gregory’s).
Easter Extravaganza!
We will be holding an activity morning for families on Tuesday 2nd April at 11.30 am in the Church Hall. There will be crafts, games and story followed by lunch. This will be a free event so tell your friends and neighbours. No need to book. As usual we need the whole congregation to help by coming along to chat to people, help with crafts etc. and to provide food and drinks. If you can provide food or come along to help please sign the lists on the table at the crossing. Many thanks. Barbara
Date for Diary – Spring Ramble
Our next walk will be on Sunday 21st April at 2pm – hopefully by then it will be somewhat dryer underfoot!
Do come and join us ….. it’s a lovely way to explore our local area and come together in fellowship. As usual there will be tea & cake at the end. More details nearer the time. Helena Thomas
Litter Pick
On Monday 29th April there will be a litter pick in the village centre meeting at the church hall at 2pm
Eco Church – Lifestyle Audit
Thank you to all those who have filled in one of our surveys – the response has been excellent – what a fabulous church community! If you haven’t yet completed one there is still time and we would love your contribution. You can find copies by the red box near the baptistry. (or email helenaxthomas@hotmail.co.uk and I’ll send you one by email). Please return completed surveys to the red box in church or to the Parish Office. Thank you again for your support 😊
Eco Top Tips – practical ways to take better care of God’s creation
March – Lent Lament
- Join (or start) an eco-group in your church/town/village to be part of the renewal of Christ’s creation. Community environmental groups need the hope that Christian’s can bring.
- Read the Easter story in one or all of the gospels. Think how you and your church will join with the whole community of creation in celebrating the salvation, renewal and new birth that Jesus’ death and resurrection brings to all things.
Knitting for Charity
Here is a photo of the latest blanket that I have taken to GWH for the end of life unit.
I have also received emails from GWH Brighter Futures and Mission to Seafarers thanking us for the blankets and hats and scarves. Both charities are very grateful.
Please keep knitting. There are patterns for hats in a box by the front pillar on the north aisle in church and there is also some spare wool. Remember squares for the End of Life unit blankets should be Double Knitting yarn and 6 inches (15cm) square. Please measure carefully and thread in loose ends. You can either crochet or knit these items.
Many thanks for all your hard work. Janet Henderson
Pastoral Care
As a church community we are getting better at looking after each other, but some will always slip through the net. If you feel that you or someone else would like some care or prayer from the church family, please contact Janet Burchell in the office and she will pass the request on. Don’t forget that you are part of the church and can visit and pray with others too.
Please pray for…
East Wichel Primary school, where staff and pupils are dealing with the shock of the sudden death of one of their teachers last weekend. May they know the presence of Christ in the midst of the storm.
Funerals
We commend to God’s care and keeping those who have, died Michael White, Lionel Bird and Brenda Thomas. We pray for all those who mourn the loss of a loved one.
The Church Office
The Office is closed Friday 15th, Monday 18th & Tuesday 19th, Wednesday 20th March. It will reopen on Thursday 21st March. Janet
WROUGHTON & WICHELSTOWE
PARISH CHURCH
Easter Services
Maundy Thursday – 28th March
7.30pm Maundy Thursday Service
Good Friday – 29th March
10.00am Good Friday Service followed by
Walk of Witness from Church to the Ellendune Centre
2.00pm Last Hour at the Cross
Holy Saturday – 30th March
7.30pm Easter Vigil, The lighting of the new fire
Easter Sunday – 31st March
6.30am SonRise’ at Barbury Castle (main car park)
8.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Holy Communion
For more information please contact
Parish Office 01793 812050
office@wroughton.com
www.wroughton.com