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Church notice sheet - 17 May 2009

HandsReadings

9:00am -  Proverbs 1:1-7 and Acts 2:42-47
11:00am - Acts 2:42-47 and Luke 4:14-21

Prayer topics this week

Please pray for the first meeting of the new PCC tomorrow evening.

Jam in Space

Jam in Space is clearly going to be a highlight of the year. Although we live in a very secular town, where many young people have little or no contact with the faith, we were able to share our hope in Christ with 147 children here last weekend. We were almost at the point of closing the doors on Saturday morning, because we simply could not accept any more, when the queue finally came to an end. The numbers caused a few headaches for our group leaders, but they coped admirably. When we consider that our very first Jam attracted about 30 children, that increase is something to celebrate.

Our thanks go to Jam Spread for their tremendously hard work in acting and singing; to Andrew Carpenter for his organisational abilities; and to the many people who contributed to all the activities from organising drinks to moving tables, from registering the children to making that magnificent scenery. And a special thanks to those of you who turned up to move chairs on Friday evening. Again an enormous task was completed in about half an hour, due to the fact that so many people were prepared to come and help us. Jam in Space was truly a team effort.

Uganda DVD

Thanks to Chris Hawkes for presenting two evening screenings and one afternoon screening of the DVD of Chris and Raymond's trip to Uganda. The magnificent Uganda choir brought together people from all across Swindon two weeks ago, so we hope to extend interest in Uganda across the deanery. Two excellent bite sized projects to get people in the wider deanery involved, would be a fridge for blood at the Bishop Asili health centre, and support for Esther, a teacher of the blind as she tries to find finance for further education.

Some thanks coming our way

Bible Society has written to thank us for the gift of £465 to further the work of Bible translation in Albania. Swindon Youth for Christ thanked us for the £232 towards their work in schools and with young people. Swindon Food Bank has written in appreciation of the £248 we recently sent them. Church Pastoral Aid Society has sent a letter thanking us for the gift of £465 to help them make Jesus known here in Britain. We do not expect to receive thanks for every gift we send. However, as these organisations have written to the PCC, it seemed to be right that the congregation should know about it.

PCC's first meeting

The first meeting of the new PCC will take place tomorrow evening. In the service book Raymond received from theological college when he left, the principal wrote, "In remembrance that a life of worship is essential to fruitful service." As PCC members, if we talk, discuss, argue, and debate, but fail to worship God, we will do his work in our own strength which will be entirely fruitless. That is why we will begin our year as a PCC as we always do, with a service of Holy Communion.

A chance to get organised

Following my flu at Christmas, our trip to Uganda, the malaria that wasn't, [perhaps it was just man-malaria], the Living Stones conference, Renewal of Giving, Easter and Jam in Space a number of things have been sitting on my agenda and never been thoroughly dealt with. We have made some progress, but I am aware the congregation has no real idea where we are. Fortunately, there is nothing much on the horizon for the next few weeks, so it will give me the opportunity to deal properly with:

They have all been sitting in my in-tray for about four months as one urgent thing has succeeded another. Time to get them fully sorted!
Raymond

The church's response to the recession

The church, the local authority and the business community have had a number of meetings on this subject recently. There is a follow up meeting on Thursday 4th June from 7:30 to 9:30pm in St. Barnabas Church Hall to continue the discussion. All welcome.

Parish Office

The Parish Office is open on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9am to 1pm. All items for the bulletin to Wendy in writing first thing on Wednesday please!

Do you buy on line?

We have received our first commission cheque amounting to more than £50! Log on via our website or go directly to http://www.buy.at/StjohnsHW. The church will receive commission from 2% to 12% on anything you purchase.

There are over 100 retailers involved (including M&S, Amazon, John Lewis, Comet) some of which offer exclusive discounts and promotions - and best of all ... there is no extra cost to the purchaser!

Tape Ministry

If you or someone you know would like a recording of the service, please contact Nigel Crowhurst, our Tape Co-ordinator.

What's on | Church notice sheets

Page last updated: 11 June 2009