Here is your start-of-the-week newsletter. It should have all you need to know about what’s happening amongst us. And a quick look should mean you are updated each week.
Coming Up
Our Sunday Gatherings
We want to invite you to pray together before the service. From 11am there will be chance to gather together in the small room at the front of the church. It would be great if you could be there.
What will be happening on Sundays in October
Each week we give slightly more time to one aspect of our life together. This is what is happening over the next few weeks.
Next Sunday (Sunday 10 October): We will give space to hear faith stories of folks within our church community.
Sunday 17 October: Time for Prayer and Ministry
Sunday 24 October: Time to reflect on the sermon
Sunday 31 October: More time to worship together.
This Thursday: Church’s Prayer and Prophecy Evening at 7.30pm
Because this is the first Thursday of the month, we have a chance to pray together in a more relaxed and reflective way. We will meet in church together.
Pauline Pollitt’s Funeral
Pauline’s funeral will be at 2.30pm on Tuesday 12 October at Agecroft Crematorium. If you want to attend, you will be very welcome.
Midweek Small Groups
We have 4 midweek groups that meet on Thursday evenings. Two are in-person, two are online.
The Crafty Crew meet on Tuesday afternoons in The Vine to catch up with one another, and to engage in some sort of craft if they want to. I believe that just chatting is acceptable!
On Wednesday mornings in The Vine there will be a Prayer Meeting starting soon.
There is also a group of Young Adults who meet regularly.
As you can see all these groups are different, with slightly different emphases.
But in general they all exist to do three things:
- To help us pay careful attention to one another,
- To help us to be alert to what God is doing so that
- We can be good news to those around us.
You might want to start a group that does that. It might be a group that meets together regularly and shares a meal together. It might be a group that does something together – walking, fixing stuff, playing a sport – whatever. It doesn’t matter – as long as you can cover those three basic principles.
If you are interested in chatting about this, then please talk with Neil.
Creating a ‘One Stop Info Spot’
We have realised that we need an easy, one-stop place where you can get all the information you need – whether it is about house groups, giving, children’s work, how to sign up for events, or how to get the key for the toilet etc etc. It will be manned for about 15 mins before services and for about 20 mins after services.
Nina Waite is going to head this up, and she needs around 4 or 5 others to do it with her. So if you have a nice smile, like chatting to people, know what is going on (or who to ask if you don’t) and would be willing to do this once a month or so, could you let her or Neil know. Thanks
How we can Support One Another
We are a church that wants to be a place where relationships are formed that will ensure you will have people around you who will be able to support you on the hard days.
But there is more.
One of the things we want to be true is that every week there will be a chance for you to be prayed with individually if that would help. At the end of each service there will be chance for you to have an unhurried time of prayer in the side chapel.
Hannah Maylor is heading up this team of people. You may have engaged in this ministry in the past and want to continue, or you might want to begin to do this with us. Please talk with Hannah and she will include you in the rota so that you will know when you will be ministering in this way.
Another way we can help is through the ministry of the Community Counselling Service. Headed by Judith Thompson, this counselling ministry offers you the space to explore what is happening in your own life at this time. Anyone can access this ministry and there is no cost. If you feel you would benefit from this please don’t hesitate to contact Judith, Neil, or Ian or fill in the form on the church website.
5 a side football
Over the years, a few of us have got together for an hour to play football and we have recently started this up again on a Monday night (usually 6-7pm or 7-8pm, depending on when can get book a pitch). It’s not super-competitive (some of us remember when we could be!) but it’s good fun and an easy place to invite friends and family who are not part of our church. If you are interested in playing or know anyone who might be, speak to Ian.
Looking Ahead
This is a really early notice to say that on Sunday 14 November we will have a shared service together with St James’ congregation.
