16 04 Connections April - St Lawrence's Church, Biddulph · ♦ the growing desire of our childern...

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April 2016 Greetings Friends As I began to think about this letter I realized that we are actually approaching a month when very little is happening in our church. Easter is over and Pentecost and ascension day are on the far horizon. I think that this would be a good time to spend more time in prayer. I hope that if you went along to the Good Friday prayer stations that this has inspired you to spend more time in prayer. I know that Trevor has been inspired by the way that the children who prepared for communion wanted to know Jesus better. Their enthusiasm was infectious to us all on Easter Sunday. The month, as always, starts with ‘Together to Pray’. I pray that this will be the month when many more will gather to pray for our churches life. Please do feel that you can attend this evening if you feel that praying aloud is not for you. Jesus said ‘where 2 or 3 come together, in my name, there am I with them’. He does not specify how we pray he specifies that we meet. There are so many things that we need to pray about. In the middle of April, we are hoping to start an ‘Exploring Christianity’ course. Pray that people will come along to this 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. Romans 12:16-17 because they want deeper knowledge of Jesus. Pray for the interviews for the new vicar here at St Lawrence. The interviews take place at the beginning of May. Pray that this time we will get the right person. Pray for Trevor as he searches for the next stage in his and his family’s life. Pray that God will open up doors for him. Pray for those of us holding together the work here, that God will give each of us the strength to do this. Lastly I ask that you will pray for me as I finish my degree and move from training into assistant status at the end of May. Thank you for your support so far. Do please continue. Love and Blessings This 10 session journey starts Tuesday April 12 th @ 7.30pm In St Law- rence’s Church, giving YOU an opportunity to ask YOUR quest ions about Christianity. You can come to as many or as few of the sessions as you wish. We start with tea, coffee, cakes & bis- cuits….

Transcript of 16 04 Connections April - St Lawrence's Church, Biddulph · ♦ the growing desire of our childern...

April 2016

Greetings Friends

As I began to think about this letter

I realized that we are actually

approaching a month when very little

is happening in our church. Easter is

over and Pentecost and ascension day

are on the far horizon.

I think that this would be a good

time to spend more time in prayer. I

hope that if you went along to the

Good Friday prayer stations that this

has inspired you to spend more time

in prayer.

I know that Trevor has been inspired

by the way that the children who

prepared for communion wanted to

know Jesus better. Their enthusiasm

was infectious to us all on Easter

Sunday.

The month, as always, starts with

‘Together to Pray’. I pray that this

will be the month when many more

will gather to pray for our churches

life. Please do feel that you can

attend this evening if you feel that

praying aloud is not for you. Jesus

said ‘where 2 or 3 come together, in

my name, there am I with them’. He

does not specify how we pray he

specifies that we meet.

There are so many things that we

need to pray about. In the middle of

April, we are hoping to start an

‘Exploring Christianity’ course. Pray

that people will come along to this

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not

be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. Romans 12:16-17

because they want deeper knowledge

of Jesus.

Pray for the interviews for the new

vicar here at St Lawrence. The

interviews take place at the beginning

of May. Pray that this time we will

get the right person.

Pray for Trevor as he searches for

the next stage in his and his family’s

life. Pray that God will open up doors

for him.

Pray for those of us holding together

the work here, that God will give each

of us the strength to do this.

Lastly I ask that you will pray for me

as I finish my degree and move from

training into assistant status at the

end of May. Thank you for your

support so far. Do please continue.

Love and Blessings

This 10 session journey

starts Tuesday April 12th

@ 7.30pm In St Law-

rence’s Church, giving

YOU an opportunity to

ask YOUR quest ions

about Christ ianity.

You can come to as many

or as few of the sessions

as you wish. We start with

tea, coffee, cakes & bis-

cuits….

Church Notices

Regular Sunday Worship

Sun 9.15am. Traditional service.

11.00am. Informal service with children’s groups.

6.30pm. Quieter, reflective service.

Home Groups

Youth & Children’s Groups (termtime) Mon 5.30pm NRG (school years Reception - 4) £1.00

Tue 1.30 pm Kangas’n’Roos (Pre-school children) £1.00

Thu 6.30pm 10:10 (school years 5+) £1.00

Church Prayer Chain If you have a need that calls for immediate prayer then

please contact Revd Lindsay Clowes : 514413 or email:

[email protected]

Midweek Worship Wed 10.00am Midweek Service (45—60 mins)

† 8.30am Mon, Thurs & Fri Morning Prayer (30mins)

Member of a Home Group? No ? Why not Join? Home Groups are a great place to explore the bible and grow

in faith in a relaxed and smaller group of like minded Christians.

If you are interested contact Keith Jones on 244770

April

Wed 6 2.30pm Ladies Fellowship with Mr John Warren

8.00pm Together To Pray

Thu 7 2.30pm I’ve A Mind To Sing

Sat 9 9.00am Men’s Breakfast

Sun 10 3.00pm Springbank Residential Home Service

Mon 11 8.00pm Vibes meeting

Tue 12 7.30pm Into The Unknown Exploring Christianity

Thu 14 2.30pm I’ve A Mind To Sing

Fri 15 7.00pm Spring Meal Tue 19 7.30pm Into The Unknown Exploring Christianity

Wed 20 2.30pm Ladies Fellowship with Singing Duo

Thu 21 2.30pm I’ve A Mind To Sing

Mon 25 7.30pm APC in Church

Tue 26 10.30am Ladies Bereavement Support Group

7.30pm Into The Unknown Exploring Christianity

Wed 27 Ladies Fellowship Outing –Liverpool

May

Tue 3 7.30pm Into The Unknown Exploring Christianity

Wed 4 2.30pm Ladies Fellowship with Mrs Carole Taylor

Men’s breakfast Meets 2nd

Saturday of each month. An

informal place to enjoy a

good cooked breakfast, have

a chat, listen to a talk about anything from fishing

to motorbikes and maybe make a few new friends.

Contact: Gez 513891

Next Gathering April 9th @ 9am

Spring Meal Friday 15th April 7.00pm

Adults £6.00 Child £3.00

Tickets available from

Cynthia Dale

In aid of the Speaker fund for

St Lawrence’s Friendship Club

We have 1 chair left without a dedication

plaque. If you or someone you

know are interested in having

an inscription for a friend or

loved one then please let

Gez know in the church of-

fice. The donation for the

chair with plaque is £125.

Like to take part in the performance of the 'Mad

Hatter's Tea Party ' on Sat 11th June ?

Acting, Props, Costumes, Lighting, Sound and Set.

There are speaking parts and none speaking parts

too! First meeting on Friday 22nd April 7.30pm in

Church Please speak to Adam for more details.

“Thank you to those who use weekly Giving Enve-

lopes. Please collect your new supply from the

back of church. If you would like to begin using

envelopes please contact Rob Beech or the Of-

fice.”

Monday 11th April - Vibes 2016

Holiday Club - an evening for those

who would like to part of the team

this year and what is involved - in

Church

8.00pm - 9.30pm

with refreshments

Please sign the sheet at the back of church

Flower Rota

April May

3rd Clarice Wilson 1st Mary Webb

10th Vacant 8th Patricia Blood

17th Yvonne Pointon 15th Audrey Rhodes

24th Anita Charlesworth 22nd Vacant

29th Doreen Davies

3rd April St. Paul’s, Syongila, Kenya

10th April TEAR Fund

17th April Steve & Debs Taylor OMF

24th April Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Mission Support Group Prayer Topics for coming weeks

April

Please make mention of them in your prayers

Praying for Your

New Vicar Please pray for the potential new

candidates & uphold the process in

your prayers.

They Need Tinned Potatoes

Inspire – Volunteers … We need you! Coming soon! An exciting new project for schools

will be taking place at Lichfield Cathedral during

May and June! Can you help us?

Running from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. each day will host

about 130 pupils. The vision of Inspire is to provide a

space that is ‘Inspirational, Educational and Spiri-

tual’ for every child, young person and member of

school staff that attends. Some of the exciting ac-

tivities include graffiti art, exploring Christianity in

our different link dioceses as well as opportunities

to explore every nook and cranny of the cathedral

(including going up the tower).

23-27th May - Year 4 pupils,

6-10th June - Year 6 pupils

16th-17th June - Year 8 pupils

We are looking for volunteers who are able to help

out in a variety of ways to ensure that each day

runs smoothly and is a meaningful and engaging

day for all pupils and staff. Volunteers can give as

much or as little time as they feel comfortable do-

ing from 1 day to the full 12 days. For further infor-

mation or to register you interest please contact

either Sue Blackmore on 07891 611760,

[email protected]

or Libby Leech on 07891 290564,

[email protected]

Thurs

5th May 7.30pm

Mitchell Arts Centre, Stoke-on-Trent,

ST1 4HG

For Tickets

Phone

01782 409307 / 01782 222371

Annual Parochial Church Meeting

Monday 25th April 7.30pm in church

(Refreshments served from 7)

Amongst other things, we’ll be:

• Hearing reports from the church wardens

and our treasurer

• Reviewing the annual reports and finances

• Accepting the church Electoral Roll

• Electing 2 church wardens and 4 PCC mem-

bers

• Focusing on Youth & Children's work: The

meeting will include a special presentation by

Adam and the youth & children's work team,

including what we do now & plans and

dreams for the future.

• Getting an update on the Vacancy and our

search for a new vicar

Nomination forms for Churchwardens and PCC

members will be available in church from Sun-

day 3rd April. Now is also the time to add your

name to the Church Electoral Roll (if you're not

already on it) or to check that your name is

there.

If you would like to save paper then why not subscribe to CONNECTIONS on the church website

www.biddulphchurch.org.uk/connections Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/biddulphchurch

Contacts

The Church Office

Mon 1030am-12noon

Tue-Fri 9am-12noon

(01782) 513891

Parish Assistant (Gez)

[email protected]

Trevor Raaff (Curate)

513891 / 07707 023769

[email protected]

Lindsay Clowes (OLM Curate)

514413

[email protected]

Adam Post (Youthworker)

513891 / 07792 584490 [email protected]

www.biddulphchurch.org.uk

Prayer Praise God for ♦ the witness of the churches in Biddulph in Sainsbury's on Good

Friday

♦ The Easter Sunday celebration services

♦ for the 7 children who made a deeper commitment of faith on

Easter Sunday

Please pray for ♦ the growing desire of our childern to grow in faith the upcoming

faith course at St Lawrence's - for it's organisation, witness and

encouragement for people to come along.

♦ the discernment of the candidates who have applied for the

St Lawrence's incumbency, that God would give them discernment

Baptisms: Gabriel Welsted with Matthew & Natalie

Funerals: the bereaved family and friends of Stanley Sherratt, Doreen

Mahan, Mary Anne Bambridge, Edna Patricia Reeves, Norman Hall

Those who are unwell incl: Amanda MacDonald, her family and friends

Mike Gover, Dennis Grimsley, Gerry Shenton, Vera Machin, Joan Draisey

and others known to you

Also Remember The Arch Bishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, The Bishop

of Lichfield Rt. Rev’d Dr Michael Ipgrave, The Bishop of Stafford The Rt.

Rev’d Geoff Annas, The Arch Deacon of Stoke The Ven. Matthew Parker,

The Rural Dean Rev. Brian Statham

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An Evening with Bob Hartman ( International children’s author and storyteller)

Monday 4th July 2016 5.30pm to 7pm @ St Lawrence’s Church

An Evening of songs, stories and laughter as all ages are taken on a journey through ‘God’s Big Story.’

Tickets: Adult £3 Children £2 (under 5’s free) From Adam or the Church office

The Queen of Hearts Invites you to

St Lawrence’s Church

The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party’ On

Saturday 11th June 2016

3pm -5pm

You will also be served You will also be served You will also be served You will also be served

a magical Afternoon Tea a magical Afternoon Tea a magical Afternoon Tea a magical Afternoon Tea

by The Mad Hatter and Friends by The Mad Hatter and Friends by The Mad Hatter and Friends by The Mad Hatter and Friends

A performance of ‘The Mad

Hatter’s Tea Party’ at 4pm

Tickets: £3 Adults Tickets: £3 Adults Tickets: £3 Adults Tickets: £3 Adults

£2 Children £2 Children £2 Children £2 Children (Under 5’s Free)(Under 5’s Free)(Under 5’s Free)(Under 5’s Free)

Tickets and information From Tickets and information From Tickets and information From Tickets and information From

the church office 01782 513891 orthe church office 01782 513891 orthe church office 01782 513891 orthe church office 01782 513891 or

from Adam 07792584490 from Adam 07792584490 from Adam 07792584490 from Adam 07792584490

In celebration of the Queen’s 90In celebration of the Queen’s 90In celebration of the Queen’s 90In celebration of the Queen’s 90thththth Birthday Birthday Birthday Birthday