Lent 3
TODAY
8.00am MORNING PRAYER in Church
10.00am HOLY COMMUNION in Church and on YouTube
NEXT WEEK
Monday 24th March 10.00am Standing Committee
7.30pm Buildings Committee
Tuesday 25th March 9.00am Morning Prayer – Church
7.30pm Prayer & Bless Wroughton – Church Hall
Thursday 27th March 9.00 am Morning Prayer – Church
SUNDAY 30th March 2025
Mothering Sunday, Lent 5
8am HOLY COMMUNION in Church
Preacher: Tracy Mason
Reading: 1 Samuel 1. 20-28
Sidespersons: David & Lynda Pell
8.50am BREAKFAST – Refreshment Sunday, Join us for a light breakfast
10.00am HOLY COMMUNION in Church and on YouTube
Preacher: Tracy Mason
Intercessor: Peter Ferguson
Reading: 1 Samuel 1. 20-28
Reader: Carol Gibbon
Altar Servers: Gillian Pitter and Jean Ford
Sidespersons: Ross Fralley & Lillian Wicks
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. The live Stream should will be working on Sunday. Nick Orman
HEATING
We are really sorry but there will not be any heating on in Church for the next couple of weeks we hope it will be repaired w/c 30th March. I suggest you wrap up warm. If you know anyone who doesn’t get the notices via email can you let them know. Many thanks, Nick
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
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
Open the Book
Here is a photo of a few of the Open The Book team getting ready to lead an assembly at East Wichel school on Monday 17th March. We go to this school twice a term. There is also a team that goes into Wroughton Infant school roughly once a month. If you think you could be part of either team please speak to Rev Barbara Abrey or Joan Orman.
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.
‘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.
Church Office
The office will be closed on Monday 24th & Tuesday 25th March. I will be back in on Wednesday 26th March. Janet Burchell
Floodlighting
The Church will be floodlit by Debbie Herring on Tuesday 25th March in memory of her husband, Dave on his birthday.
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 Graham Gibbs, Jamie Brown, Pamela Hopkins and Anita Whatley. We pray for all those who mourn the loss of a loved one.
