Lent 2
TODAY
8.00am HOLY COMMUNION in Church
10.00am HOLY COMMUNION in Church and on YouTube
11.45am CHRISTENING SERVICE FOR DAISY WESTERN
12.30pm CHRISTENING SERVICE FOR OAKLEY JOSHUA
NEXT WEEK
Tuesday 18th 9.00am Morning Prayer – Church
Thursday 20th 9.00 am Morning Prayer – Church
SUNDAY 23rd March 2025
Lent 3
8am MORNING PRAYER in Church
Preacher: Andy Bissex
Reading: 1 Corinthians 10. 1-13
Sidespersons: David & Lynda Pell
10.00am HOLY COMMUNION in Church and on YouTube
Preacher: Andy Bissex
Intercessor: Marion Colton
Reading: 1 Corinthians 10. 1-13
Reader: Carol Gibbon
Altar Servers: Petrina Kingsley and Andrew Francis
Sidespersons: Lillian Wicks and Ross Fralley
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.
Many apologies for not being able to live stream we are trying to fix the problem. Nick Orman
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 Kellsboro Avenue | Mondays 10am-11.30 | Lillian Wicks & Louise Bessent |
| 12 Artis Avenue | Tuesdays at 7.30pm | Carolyn Kirk & Lorna |
| Church Hall | Alternate Tuesday evenings | Nick & Joan Orman 18/03/25 |
| The Vicarage | Wednesday evenings during term time. | Karen Harrison |
| Church Hall | Saturday men’s breakfast | Mike Mason |
‘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
16/3 Barbara / Carolyn 6/4 Karen H / Lynn
20/4 Easter Sunday – No session
Andy Bissex
“We are delighted to announce that Andy Bissex will be commencing his Curacy at Highworth with Sevenhampton, Inglesham, Hannington and Broad Blunsdon over the Summer.
His last Sunday with us at Wroughton and Wichelstowe will be on Whit Sunday (June 8th) and we share his excitement as he embarks on this next stage of his ministry.
Thanks to Andy for his input and service during his time with us and we pray God’s blessing upon him and his family.
You’ll be missed!”
APCM date – Sunday 11th May 2025
Advance notice for dairies that the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) will take place in church on Sunday 11th May 2025 at 11am. Further details and reports will be available nearer the time.
Refreshment Sunday
March 30th the 4th Sunday in Lent is both Mothering Sunday and Refreshment Sunday.
Traditionally this is a celebration day within the otherwise austere period of Lent.
Our celebration this year will take the form of a light breakfast between our 8am and 10am services. It is intended that this will be one of a series of social events over the coming months which will give us the opportunity of getting to know each other better and all are encouraged to stay on or to come early to enjoy this event. Croissants and similar will be available from 8.50 until 9.45. Please bring your own cup or mug!
NEW ELECTORAL ROLL 2025
Every six years we are required by law to rewrite our electoral roll from scratch. This takes place in 2025,and since you are on the previous electoral roll. If you are on the current electoral roll you will need to re-apply.
Existing roll members should have a letter with prepopulated form to complete, sign and return to the parish office or to the box in church. If your details are correct, you simply need to tick the appropriate boxes (see 2A, 2B or 2C) and sign and date the form. If any of your details are incorrect, please also amend as appropriate.
Forms must be returned by 14th April 2025.
If you are not on the current roll and regularly attend then we would encourage you to join. There are blank forms at the back of church. If you would like to do this by email, then you can find instructions at www.wroughton.com//about-us/electoralroll2025/ 122 people have already returned their forms
Healing Prayer
As many of you know we hold our healing services at 8am & 10am on the 1st Sunday of the month, for anyone who wants prayer and anointing with oil this can be for yourself or for someone else. You don’t have to tell us what it’s about if you don’t wish too and anything said is in total confidence.
There is also the healing prayer chain where a group of us pray daily for the people on their list. The only stipulation for the prayer chain is that the person being prayed for gives permission. This is run successfully by Janet Henderson. Again it is totally confidential. If anyone wishes to have prayers on or would like to have more information about being part of the team please see me or Janet Henderson. Carolyn Perry
The Patchwork Garden. (affiliated to the Quiet Gardens Trust.)
We are opening our garden on Saturday, March 22nd between 10am and 5pm. Weather permitting the resources will be at several seating areas for you to relax and connect with God and Nature. After then you will be welcome to come by yourself, (or with another), to a quiet place and get some rest. Mark 6:31. Phone 079746 77751 to arrange a time. Mark and Sheila , 27 Dunbar Road.
The Filling Station – Sandwiches, Thursday 20th March 2025
Our church will be supplying sandwiches etc. for the homeless via the Filling Station on Thursday, 20th 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).
CHURCH HALL GARDENS
We are planning to have a gardening session at the church hall to tidy the fruit garden and the rain garden and planters on Saturday 29th March from 2.30pm. We’d be glad of some help, and will provide refreshments. There may be some rhubarb to pick as well.
Eco Church News:
Book & Jigsaw Swap
The swap will start on Sunday 27 March – books & jigsaws will be on display on tables in the north aisle. Please take whatever you want (no actual ‘swap’ needed!). Donations can either be brought to church and put under the tables in the north aisle, or taken to the Parish Office. Collections are also possible – please email or text Helena on 07909 882150 or helenaxthomas@hotmail.co.uk. All items left will be sent to the charity ‘Books2Africa UK’ –https://books2africa.org/
Wroughton Lower Churchyard Volunteers
Invite you to their open day on Saturday 29th March at 11am to 2pm
Enjoy free tea / coffee and home cakes. Find out what we do and how you could join us. Come along and see for yourself how rewarding becoming a volunteer can be, See the wonderful surroundings we are trying to preserve.
‘No time commitment, do what you can when you can’. Average meet time fortnightly, weather dependent.
A warm welcome awaits you. Wroughton & Wichelstowe Parish Church, SN4 9JS.
Floodlighting
If you would like the Church to be floodlit for a special occasion (cost £20.00) Forms are available in Church or online please return to Janet in the Office or email office@wroughton.com.
Funerals
We commend to God’s care and keeping those who have died Jamie Brown, Pamela Hopkins and Anita Whatley. We pray for all those who mourn the loss of a loved one.
Prayer Activity at last weeks Morning Worship
The reading and Tracy’s talk has helped us consider Jesus’ time of preparation for his ministry. As we begin our own time of preparation this Lent, let’s spend some time reflecting on our own hearts, in prayer.
………..
Hold your pebble in your hand.
…………
Close your eyes.
…………
Feel your pebble warm in your palm over the next few minutes.
………….
As it warms, think about this season of Lent.
……..
In our reading, Satan tempted a hungry Jesus to turn stones into bread but our Saviour said “man shall not live on bread alone”. Think about whether you trust and rely on God to give you everything that you need…….. or whether you are tempted to live by your own efforts instead……. Like any good father, God won’t always give us what we want, but He will give what we need.
…………
How can you build your trust in God this Lenten season?
Think of something that might be getting in the way of that trust. Worries, or fears, or greed, or pride. Anything.
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Could you drop it, like a pebble, and leave that thing you’ve been thinking about behind? Pray to God now for His help.
…………….
Now think of something that could help you trust in God. Like regular prayer, daily bible reading and study, doing more for others, or resting and looking after your own health and wellbeing if you’re struggling. Anything.
………..
How could you, like a pebble, pick that thing up? Pray to God now for His help.
…………..
In the first of his letters, Peter describes Jesus and his followers as “living stones”, chosen and precious.
As we seek to follow Jesus, we could feel discouraged by the world around us. The pain, suffering, greed, hatred. And, of course, that equally describes the world that Jesus entered himself. Its why we needed and need Him.
And in Him, we have a clear model for how we can conduct ourselves. In loving kindness, in compassion and empathy, and always trusting in God and his ultimate plan.
As we close this time of prayer, think about how you could better place your life on the solid foundation of Jesus.
……………………
Perhaps take your pebble home and redo this exercise when you have more time. Or place it somewhere, where, during Lent you can remember the things you’ve thought about today.
Let’s finish with the Lord’s Prayer. As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed by thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
On earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power and the glory,
Forever and ever, Amen.
‘The Eco group thought it would be good to share an occasional inexpensive vegetarian or vegan recipe
for people to try’.
Recipe of the Month – Root vegetable casserole with herb dumplings Serves 4
1tbsp oil
2 leeks, thickly sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 parsnips cut into chunks
4 carrots cut into chunks
1 tsp dried rosemary ( or 2 sprigs fresh)
75g pearled spelt or barley
400g chopped tomatoes
400ml vegetable stock
2 tbsp red pesto
For the dumplings:
100g self raising flour
50g vegetable suet ( or frozen, coarsely grated butter)
2tbsp chopped parsley
Pre- heat oven to 200°c/ gas mark 6. Heat oil in oven proof casserole dish. Cook the leeks and garlic for 2 minutes then add the parsnips, carrots and rosemary and cook for a further 3 minutes.
Stir in the pearled grains, stock, tomatoes and pesto, then bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, stir together the flour, suet (or grated butter), parsley, seasoning and 4-5 tbsp of cold water to firm a soft dough. Roll into 8 balls and place on top of the casserole. Cover then transfer to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the dumplings are puffed up and the vegetables are tender. Alternatively put all the casserole ingredients into a slow cooker and cook on low for 5-6 hours adding the dumplings for the last 25 minutes. Cost per portion £1.60 approximately.
