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Church notice sheet - 14 March 2010
Readings
9:00am - Ephesians 6:1-4 and Matthew 10:24-31
11:00am - Matthew 10:29-31
Swindon Food Bank Ball
The best ball so far! Thank you to everyone who supported this event. For another chance to support one of our Mission Partners - come to the Food Bank Quiz at Gateway, Trinity Centre, Westlea at 7:30pm on Friday 19th March. £2.50 per head, teams max 6 people. Ploughmans available to purchase £2.50 on the night. For further details, contact Russell Riggs.
Swindon Food Bank need your old carrier bags. Please bring in any spares and put them in the bag next to the food collection box under the table in the hall.
Keys
Would those of you who have requested keys, and have not yet received them, please see Pauline and I will issue them to you today. Also to those who have already got keys (new or otherwise) could you please check the ones you have fit the doors you believe they should fit. Please return any unneeded keys to me as soon as possible. Many thanks for your patience in this task.
Confirmation
There is always a confirmation service in Swindon on Easter Eve, and this year is no exception. Those who would like to be confirmed this year, on the evening of Saturday, April 3, are asked to have a word with Raymond, and we will do some preparation before that date.
Getting ready for Easter
The Way of the Cross. Our Christian life is a journey, and I want, once again to encourage you to travel from Palm Sunday to Easter day in the same way that Jesus did -- by way of the cross. Only by meditating on the darkness of the cross, can we begin to appreciate the hope of Easter day. There will be services on Maundy Thursday at 7:45pm, and Good Friday at 10:00am and 7:45pm. Christmas is almost entirely a season of celebration, when we rejoice in the good news of the Saviour's birth. Easter for Jesus meant sorrow, loss, pain, grief, betrayal, denial, bitterness, death - and only then joy. Let me encourage you to share both parts of Christ's Easter experience.
Oh to See the Dawn. If you enjoy singing the song, I am delighted to say that you can indeed see the sun rise on Easter day. Once again this Easter day we intend to be a Barbury Castle at 6:00amin order to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at the first opportunity. If you have never been there, you really have missed something special. It can undoubtedly be cold. And setting the alarm at 5:00am is something no one relishes. However, it will set the tone for the whole of your Easter day.
Good Friday Walk. Ths year we will, once again, be leaving from Morden Community Centre at 10:00am and making our way behind the cross to St Mary's Church, where Nick Lines will lead a 30-40 minute all age service.
Good and Bad News from Uganda
We were delighted to receive last week a cloth for our communion table from the children and teachers of the school we have built and continue to build, at Bwaziba. It is our hope that some of you reading this will be able to go out to Uganda and see the school for yourselves. Unfortunately, due to pressure of business at our last PCC meeting, we had to defer the Uganda item to our next meeting.
The very sad news relates to the death of Bishop Patrick. Many of you will remember the wonderful evening we had with our visitors from Uganda last summer. Bishop Patrick who had had only just been consecrated Bishop was with us that evening. I am sorry to say that he was killed in a road accident in Uganda last month. He was only 46. His wife Rose suffered fractured legs in the crash, and their driver was also injured. Their children were not with them in the car. Bishop Patrick was widely regarded as a future Archbishop of Uganda, so it has been a great loss to both his friends and family and to the church of Uganda.
Any questions?
Why don't we see miracles today like they did in the bible? What happens to people when they die if they've never heard about Jesus? Why aren't there any dinosaurs in the bible?...
We all have loads of questions about God, the bible, and how we are meant to live as Christians but, although we want the answer, we don't want to be the one to ask!
Now's your chance, and no one will know it was you!
On Sunday 14th March at 6:30pm in church SAS are having an "Any questions" session and we want to invite everyone to join us (you don't have to be young!). The idea is that there will be a box to put questions in and then a panel will try to answer them.
Vacancies at Churchfield Home Group
Are you looking to join a home group? If so look no further. Our numbers have dropped due to people moving away and we would love to have a few new members. We are a friendly bunch and we meet on Wednesdays at 7:30pm. If you are interested please contact Bill Hunt or Dee and John Howard. We look forward to hearing from you.
The church electoral roll
The church electoral roll is being revised between the dates of Sunday 21st February and Sunday 28th March. If you are a regular worshipper at St John's then you should be included on the roll. Please see Sharon Mortimer for an application form and further information. If you have changed your address or phone number in the last year please let Sharon know so that she can keep the electoral roll up to date.
Parish Office
The Parish Office is open on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9am to 1pm. Please provide all items for the bulletin in writing first thing on Wednesday please!
Do you buy on line?
If so, please consider buying through http://www.buy.at/StjohnsHW. The church receives 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.
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Page last updated: 24 March 2010