What's on | Church notice sheets
Church notice sheet - 1 February 2009
Readings
9:00am - 2 Chronicles 33:1-6 and Mark 5: 1-24
11:00am - 2 Chronicles 33:1-6 and Mark 5: 1-24
Sermon
This week's sermon is available to download.
Prayer topics this week
For the Street Pastors who go out into Swindon town centre every Friday and Saturday night. Most of these are members of local churches who give up their time to care for those who are in trouble - often after drinking.
Peter and Sally Bartlett
Peter and Sally were delighted with the welcome they received from the congregation last Sunday. They were very pleased with our willingness to develop a personal link with them. When they left Bolivia four years ago, they had no intention of returning to South America. However, when the new bishop was to be appointed, Peter was asked by the Paraguayan selecting panel to allow his name to go forward. He will be consecrated on March 29th. Since last Sunday we are already more interested in the news from Paraguay, knowing how much that will affect the church there.
Helen Caine
Our services this morning are being led by Helen Caine who is with us for four months as part of her training to be a reader in the Gloucester Diocese.
Alpha Course
Our aim is to start a new Alpha course when Raymond gets back from Uganda. We can't announce a starting date for a very simple reason. We prefer to collect the names of all those interested, and then try to find the evening that is best for everyone. That approach ensures people don't get left out. If you have not done an Alpha course, but would like to be part of it, then you may be very well interested. Please pray for Brian Cassingham and Sarah Woolhead who have agreed to help Raymond to lead that course.
Money! Money! Money!
This year we want to do a Renewal of Giving with a slight difference. The Bible has a great deal to say about money, but what we often don't realise is that it also has a great deal to say about saving, spending, budgeting and debt. We have tended to concentrate during the boom years on giving. However, we are now in a different situation. The good news is that the timeless teachings of the Bible are particularly suited to helping us cope with this financial crisis.
Anonymous Income Survey
Every year the diocese of Bristol operates an income survey. The aim is to be as fair as possible to every church. Churches differ greatly in the overall income of their members. Some churches are very wealthy, and some relatively poor. It makes no sense to ask all for the same contribution. Some dioceses "band" churches according to the area in which they are located. The Bristol diocese prefers to go further, and take as accurate and assessment as it can, of people's actual income in any given year. We will be doing that this Sunday and next Sunday.
This might be the last time we do this. The diocese is looking at new ways of assessing the parish quota for each church.
Oldi and Lara
A number of people have asked about Oldi and Lara and their whereabouts. They are presently living in a hotel, and are making arrangements to rent a flat for the next few months. If you would like to send a card, you can post it to the ArcAngel bookshop, because they can pick up their post from there - ArcAngel Bookshop, 45 Victoria Road, Swindon, SN1 3AY.
Entertainment evening
Our resident MC Andy Hall will be looking for singers, dancers, jugglers, and entertainers of any kind for Saturday March 7th. He will supply more details about the evening in next week's bulletin, but it is time to start practising.
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: 2 February 2011