SUNDAY 26^TH February 2012

THE Sunday before lent

 

SERVICE TIMES & INFORMATION

 

 

8AM – HOLY COMMUNION – HOLY CROSS

Phil Waine

10AM – MORNING PRAYER (BCP) - ST. PAUL’S

Phil Waine

10AM – ‘ASK’ SERVICE IN SARRATT VILLAGE HALL

WEDNESDAY 29^TH  – 10AM MIDWEEK HOLY COMMUNION AT HOLY CROSS

 

Are you on duty?

8am – Holy Cross

Sidesmen:  Anne Trenchard

Readers:    Anne Trenchard    Jim Stevens

10am St. Paul’s

Sidesmen:  Anne & Giles Wyburd

Readers:   Giles Wyburd     Anne Wyburd

Intercessor:  Keith Dawson

Coffee:  tba*

10am – Sarratt Village Hall

The ASK team

 

Readings: Idsish 59: 1-4 & 9-15   Romans 3: 21-31    

 

*Don't forget to let me know if you swap duties, sometimes I forget you have done this – but I will trust you to know what you are doing and when!  Please inform me if you change your email address or no longer wish to receive this weekly newsletter. 

 

* Philip & I are on the rota to serve coffee at the Morning Prayer Service.  Philip is giving the talk at the service and I now find I have another commitment  – is there anybody willing to step in at late notice please?  Please let me know if you can help.  Many thanks.    Ann Waine

 

NEWS

 

ST. PAUL’S SPRING LECTURE:  TO BE DELIVERED BY THE BISHOP OF ST. ALBANS SATURDAY

This will be held in St. Paul’s Church, and will be will be preceded by a tasty breakfast, commencing at 8am.  The lecture will start at 9.15am and coffee will be available at the back of church from 8.45am for those attending the lecture only.  Cost of lecture (including breakfast):  £10.  Lecture only: £6.  For more details and reservations, please contact:  Phil Waine: philwaine1@btinternet.com or telephone 01923 268904.

If you want to attend the lecture only, you can turn up on the day and pay on the door.  Please come and support this venture if you possibly can.

 

ASK SERVICE – SUNDAY 26^TH FEBRUARY AT SARRATT VILLAGE HALL -  ‘AND THE SAVING GRACE IS...’ 

Do come and join us at 10am in our informal and friendly café-style gathering, when we will be considering the need for a Saviour (Days 6-10 in Essential Jesus).   Plus, Children’s ASK.

 

CHIPPERFIELD BAPTIST CHURCH FAMILY QUIZ EVENING - THIS SATURDAY 25^TH FEBRUARY AT 6.30PM

Come along for this enjoyable family evening, tickets cost £3 for adults and £1 for children and include light refreshments.  The quiz includes questions for children as well as adults.  Reserve your tickets by ringing: 01923 269574 or 01923 270664.

 

WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER – 10AM FRIDAY 2ND MARCH-ST. PAUL’S PARISH ROOM, CHIPPERFIELD

On the first Friday in March every year, a service is held around the globe, starting as dawn breaks over the islands of Tonga in the Pacific and continuing across each continent until the last services are held back in the Pacific, on the islands of Samoa.  The world is circled in prayer for 36 hours.  This year’s service ‘Let Justice Prevail’ has been written by women from Malaysia and provides an opportunity to find out more about the role of women in that country.  Everyone is welcome to attend with friends from Sarratt, Chipperfield and Bovingdon churches. We will also be pleased to have members of St. Paul’s School join us at this special service. 

PLEDGING TO PRAY

Further to the recent letter to the congregation concerning planning for the future of our two churches, prayer becomes increasingly essential to seek protection over all that is currently going on in the Benefice and to discern the way forward.

Whilst there are groups already in existence that meet to pray on a regular basis, might there be others who would like to do so? We would like to set up a Pledging to Pray group which would commit to pray each week, either together in small groups or individually, for church matters, individual requests for prayer, and concerns in the wider world.

If you are a ‘praying person’ and would like to receive specific prayer pointers, please let Jim know. We would be pleased to pass on further details of the specific daily topics for prayer in our Benefice set out below.

Monday: All involved in the Growing Leaders Course which meets on alternate Mondays beginning 27^th February.

Tuesday: The ‘Esssential Jesus’ Bible Reading Programme – for participants – and Sunday Preachers.

Wednesday – Those whom we seek to help through our Lent Project – in Rwanda – through DENS – through Angel Tree.

Thursday – Appointment of Churchwardens for 2012/13 – and wise preparations as we move towards the Interregnum.

Friday: Wisdom and grace to learn how to encourage whole families into the life of the Church.

Saturday Our growing ministry amongst young people – six of whom will be preparing for Confirmation over Lent.

In addition, you may have particular requests for prayer, in which case, please forward these to Jeannie Poulton (260295 email alan.poulton@talktalk.net) who will be responsible for collating and forwarding prayer information to our ‘Pledging to Pray’ group. Such requests would remain confidential within the group.

For Jesus, prayer was at the very heart of his life with his Father. It is our experience that prayer can and does make a very real difference – we do pray that volunteers will come forward to be part of the Pledging to Pray group and that church members will avail themselves of this opportunity to have others pray for issues which are of real concern to them.

GRAPEVINE MOVIES – FRIDAY 2^ND MARCH

4.30 for 5pm - The Smurfs are back!

7.30 for 8pm – Les Miserables - a chance to witness the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the World's longest running musical at the O2.  Bar, ice creams and hot dogs.  Tickets available on the door.  Venue:  Sarratt Village Hall.

 

MISSION ACTION PLANNING

Bishop Alan has requested that as part of a Diocesan initiative we look at planning and prioritising for our churches and that we submit to him a Mission Action Plan. The ultimate aim for us is to discern a vision with priorities and goals for the Benefice, and individually for Holy Cross and St Paul's. This will take quite some time to achieve. A progress report will be given at our APCMs.

We want to involve as many members of the church as possible in collecting information and ideas about how our church interacts with our communities and what we want in the future. 

The boards with the four questions will stay at the back of both churches until 12^th March.  It would be really helpful if you feel able to spend a few minutes giving your thoughts about these questions. Post-its and pens are available.

 

ESSENTIAL JESUS READING

If you would like encouragement with your Essential Jesus readings, why not join us for a cup of tea or coffee and informal discussion on the week's readings at 10am on Tuesday mornings at 7 Alexandra Road, Sarratt.  No need to commit to every week - just turn up if you're free. Everyone is most welcome.

Jeannie Poulton & Sue Griffin

 

GROWING LEADERS COURSE 

CAN YOU HELP?  If you are able to prepare coffee on any one of the following Monday evenings: next Monday, 27^th February, 12^th March or 26^th March for the Growing Leaders Course, please contact Jim.

 

 

LENT APPEAL 2012

Please be sure to pick up the leaflet available at the back of both churches.  Our two PCCs have been fully supportive of the suggestion to put aside ‘a coin a day’ for each of the 40 days in Lent, with offerings to be brought to church on Easter Sunday 8th April.  Monies raised will be split with 50% from both churches going to Rwanda via The David Dale Shyogwe Trust; 50% from Holy Cross going to Angel Tree; and 50% from St Paul’s going to DENS.  Further information is available in the leaflets.

 

RESTORE HOPE LATIMER – SPRING RETREAT DAY  - TUESDAY 6^TH MARCH

This will be held in the Dairy at Latimer Park Farm from 9.30am - 3.30pm.  Rev Rachel Jenkinson will lead the retreat and it will cost £20 including lunch and drinks. Please book in advance 01494 765555. Dress warmly if you would like to walk on the estate; we are sorry there is no provision for children (or dogs).

 

WATFORD NEW HOPE TRUST – ‘LOVE NEVER FAILS’ CELEBRATION SERVICE – FRIDAY 23^RD MARCH

…starting at 7.30pm at St Luke’s Church, Watford, to celebrate what God has done this last year at Watford New Hope Trust. The evening will include: worship, prayer, stories, films and updates from across our different services. For more information visit www.wnht.org/loveneverfails.

 

MUSIC AT ST. PAUL’S UNTIL EASTER

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

The next choir event at St Paul's will be a concert performance of "The Crucifixion" by Stainer, on Good Friday, April 6th at 7.30pm. with guest soloists.

Keith Beniston - Director of Music

 

ADVANCE NOTICE

There will be a major concert on Sunday evening, 3^rd June as part of the Jubilee celebrations. Details to be announced.

Following its enormous popularity last year, it is likely that St Paul's will hold the 2012 carol service on Friday December 21st, whilst that at Holy Cross will be on Sunday 23rd.   Please put all of these dates in your diaries.

 

 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

First Tuesday of every month:  Quiet Garden at 40 Church Lane, Sarratt: 10am-12 noon.

February

Saturday 25^th: Bishop Alan of St. Albans will give the St. Paul’s Spring Lecture

Monday 27^th: 1.30-6pm – Music exams in St. Paul’s

Tuesday 28^th: 10am Alexandra Rd, Sarratt -Essential Jesus discussions

Wednesday 29^th: 9-6pm Music exams in the Parish Room

March

Thursday 1^st March: 8pm Benefice Prayer Time at the Vicarage

Thursday 1^st: 6.15-7.30pm Contact Club – Parish Room

Thursday 1^st: 7.45-9pm Contact Club – Parish Room

Friday 2^nd: 10am Women’s World Day of Prayer in St. Paul’s Parish Room

April

Good Friday 6^th – Strainer’s ‘Crucifixion’ – St. Paul’s

Sunday 22^nd: 11.30am   St. Paul’s APCM

Wednesday 25^th: 7.30pm Holy Cross APCM

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION & CURRENT NEWS

See websites for both churches:

http://www.holycrosssarratt.co.uk/

http://www.stpaulschipperfield.co.uk

 

·         FOR YOUR PRAYERS

·         Please hold the participants of the Growing Leaders course in your prayers: Ian Chantrell, Angela Coakley, David & Yvonne Collette, Peter Corbett, Louise Grant, John Guy, Janet Mitchell, Judy Olney, Frances Onians, Alan Poulton, Imogen Roberts, Rob Sheppard and Phil Waine & Jim Stevens

·         For Bishop Alan, as he prepares for the lecture on Saturday

·         For the family of Susan Kindell, whose funeral was last week.

·         The 20 couples who will attend Marriage Preparation a week on Saturday.

·         Let us not grow weary of praying for peace, and for Leaders to use their authority with wisdom and compassion.

 

CONTACT NUMBERS

Jim Stevens  - Rector:  01923 265848

Judy Olney - Churchwarden - St. Paul's: 01923 263405

Julia Lawrence – Churchwarden – St. Paul’s: 01923 260504

Stephen Lawrence  - Churchwarden - Holy Cross:  01923 260504

John Guy - Churchwarden - Holy Cross: 01923 267549

Angela Coakley – Reader, 01923 264380

 Ellie Freeman, Youth Worker: elliehcsp@gmail.com Tel: 265197

Stephen Morrill - Parish Room bookings - 01923 263182

Machaela Gravestock - Parish Administrator: 01923 264377

Parish office opening times: Thursday 9-noon & Friday 9-11am

 

The Rector's day off is Friday.  If you cannot reach him by telephone and your enquiry is urgent, please contact the Churchwardens.  Ellie's day off is Monday.

 

Ann Waine

Editor

 

 

 

And finally… As I get older, I've learned to listen to people rather than accuse them of things. - Po Bronson, 1964-present