Parish Matters 22nd April 4th Sunday of Easter Welcome to the Parish of the Resurrection. If you are new to the parish or worshipping with us for the first time then please do make yourself known to either a member of the clergy or a church-warden. We are a welcoming church family spread throughout the town of Alton, Holybourne and Beech and our aim is to offer worship which deepens our faith, common life and our relationship with Jesus Christ. This information sheet gives some words that will be needed in today s services and notices about the life of our church communities. Please take it home with you. Today s Services 8.00am Holy Communion - St Lawrence Led by Revd Andrew Micklefield 9.15am Parish Communion - St Peter s Led by Revd Andrew Micklefield 10.30am Parish Communion - St Lawrence Led by Revd Lynn Power and Mrs Margaret Bell High Mass - All Saints Led by Revd David Hinks 4.00pm Church @ 4 Andrews Endowed School 6.30pm Evening Worship - St Lawrence Collect Prayer Risen Christ, faithful shepherd of your Father s sheep: teach us to hear your voice and to follow your command, that all your people may be gathered into one flock, to the glory of God the Father. Today s Readings Prayer of Daniel Daniel 6 (Pg 723) John 10.11-18 (Pg 872) At All Saints and Holy Rood: Acts 4.5-12 (Pg 887) 1
Dear Reader, Next Sunday will be the Annual Parochial Church Meeting and I encourage you all to attend. There will be breakfast served in the Parish Centre from 8.45am and the actual meeting will be held in St Lawrence Church from 9.45am. We will conclude the meeting in time for us to hold a Celebration Communion Service altogether at 10.30am. There will be no other services in the parish that day other than an 8am BCP Communion in St Lawrence Church. Instead a huge wad of reports as in previous years there will be an exhibition of what the parish mission and ministry is in St Lawrence Church for everyone to see. That has been set up already and is available every day this week. My thanks particularly to Joy Windsor for all her hard work in getting this sorted. Do go and have a look and find out what we are achieving as a parish and especially see in which ways you can support the parish further. There will be opportunity as you walk the exhibition to offer your time and talents and to think about the financial offering you generously give. Saturday 28th is a Gift Day to heighten our awareness of all this. Financial reports, and reports other committees are available in paper copy as well and on the website. If you want to join the electoral roll then there are forms to do that too. I look forward to seeing you at and around the exhibition. Andrew Please remember to support our local food bank. Don t come to church empty handed All donations to be placed in the Foodbank basket in church. The Parish is reliant on the generosity of its worshipping community for all of our ministry and mission. We are grateful to those who contribute financially. If you wish to give more or become a regular giver then please speak to Elizabeth Dain on 01420 89062 or dainbs@btinternet.com, and she will talk to you about the Parish Giving Scheme. If you are tax payer then please do make sure your donation is gift aided and the government will give us 25% more at no extra cost to you. There are envelopes available for one-off gifts. An easy way to donate to the Parish of the Resurrection. Send a text to 70070 with the message POTR34 and the value of your donation e.g. 5. Please speak with Tori Hewitt on 01420 83234 if you would like any help with using this form of donating. 2
Bible Readings for the week taken from the Church of England lectionary readings to use daily Monday 23rd Psalm 5 Joshua 1.1-9 Ephesians 6.10-20 Tuesday 24th Psalm 139 Exodus 32.15-34 Luke 3.1-14 Wednesday 25th Psalm 37.23-end Isaiah 62.6-10 Acts 12.25-13.13 Thursday 26th Psalm 118 Exodus 34.1-10,27-end Luke 4.1-13 Friday 27th Psalm 33 Exodus 35.20-36.7 Luke 4.14-30 Saturday 28th Psalm 34 Exodus 40.17-end Luke 4.31-37 Sunday 29th Daniel 6 John 10.11-18 *also at All Saints and Holy Rood: Genesis 22.1-18 Discipleship Groups There are a number of discipleship groups meeting across the parish. They are open for anyone to attend - it doesn t matter which church you normally attend or where you live, simply contact the leader before turning up. If you would like to host or lead another one, then please contact Andrew or David. Monday; Young Mum s Home Group. Meeting every other Monday at Sally Kemp's house, 44 Vicarage Hill, Alton. For further info please contact Ellie Elder on 07736666650 or email: ellieelder@gmail.com Wednesday; Thursday; Pilgrim Group: at All Saints. On the 3rd Wednesday of each month after the communion service, from 10.15am until 11.15am Housegroup: 7.45pm for a prompt 8pm start. At Thelma's, 1 New Barn Lane. For details Margaret or Peter Bell 86063. Bible Society LYFE at Liz & Trev s, at 2 The Lamports. Led by Liz Griffiths, for information. Please contact Liz via email: lizmgriff@hotmail.com 3
Praying in April 2018 We have celebrated Easter and now move towards Ascension Day and then Pentecost. Pray that we would, as individuals and as a parish, remain excited and energised by the resurrection of Jesus. Pray that those who attended Holy Week and Easter services for the first time or renewed their connection with our churches will continue to worship, pray and become disciples with us. We give thanks for the overwhelming success of the Ecumenical Lent Course focusing on The Gospel of Mark - the Eyewitness Account We pray for those who attended week by week and engaged with the topics and discussions. Please also pray for the town ministers who will meet together to think and discern how we grow together further in our unity and witness. Pray for the forthcoming Annual Parochial Church Meeting on Sunday 29th April and for the exhibition of parish life which will precede it. We will celebrate the ways in which God is working in our parish life and pray for his guidance and wisdom as we go forward this coming year. Pray for the Hard of Hearing Group and for the ways in which it reaches out to a wide variety of people in our community. The contractors (R.A. Croft) are working hard to finish the alterations to the Church of The Holy Rood, Holybourne. Pray for them as we look forward to the completion of the project in May. As we look at a series of teaching on Praying Together we pray that we will learn and pray. We ask that the opportunities that are available for people to pray together may have greater attendance. We pray for expectation that our prayers will be answered by our faithful God. We give thanks for the ministry that Chris Bradish has had with us. We pray for Chris, Naomi, Peter, Juliette and Lydia as they move to London and begin work at Holy Trinity Brompton. Pray for a safe move and that they settle into their new home and life in London. We also give thanks for Tori s ministry in the Parish Office and pray for her as she begins her new job. Pray for those who are now tasked to work on the appointment of a new Parish Administrator. We pray too for Lisa Bewick as she leaves our parish and looks forward to her curacy at St John s Church Waterloo. We give thanks for ministry with us and also pray for her continuing work as Education Officer at Southwark Cathedral. 4
The call to prayer is in three simple ways Daily, weekly, monthly Every day there is a prayer for the beginning of the day, for the middle of the day and for the end of the day. Please find a suitable time to use these prayers which are printed here. For the beginning of the day - The Community Prayer Living God, you have called us to be the Body of Christ. May our parish be a sign of hope in our community of Holybourne, Beech and Alton. May all we do, and all we are becoming, bring praise to your name and draw others to your love. We ask these things in the name of Jesus, who came to serve and bring us fullness of life. Amen. For the middle of the day - The Lord s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. For the end of the day - The Caleb Prayer O High King of heaven, have mercy on our land. Revive your Church; send the Holy Spirit for the sake of the children. May your kingdom come to our nation. In Jesus mighty name. Amen. We should pray for each person by name; Those who are sick or require prayer: Jeremy, Barbara Small, Tony Ludlow, Derek Shutler, Ben Stonehill, Neil, Margaret Morley, Imogen and family, Ian Toombs, Judy Phillips, Simon May, Vincent, Jacob and Joshua (twins), and Brian Dawe. Those who are bereaved, Families of : Sidney Mortara, Donald Chandler, Ruby Arrowsmith, David Young, Norman Stennett, Stephen Windsor, Edward Knight, June Cooke, John Stent, Violet Moreland, Annie McBride Read, Gillian Newman Those preparing for Marriage: Ashley Kennard & Olabisi Eni-Olotu Harry Saunders & Rebecca Vincent Bobby Williams & Lucy Shepherd 5
Diary for the week Morning Prayer is said at 8.45am Monday - Friday in St Lawrence, excluding Thursday when Prayers are said in the community. Monday APCM Exhibition St Lawrence Church 9.30am Teddies St Lawrence Church 8.00pm Cantique Rehearsal St Lawrence Church Tuesday APCM Exhibition St Lawrence Church 10.45am Communion Borovere 12.00pm Memorial Service Barbara Woods St Lawrence Church 7.30pm Bell Ringing Practice All Saints Church 8.30pm Quintet Practice All Saints Church Wednesday APCM Exhibition St Lawrence Church 9.30am Midweek Communion All Saints Church 10.30am Communion The Lawn 12,15 GAP Ladies Lunch Alton House Hotel Thursday APCM Exhibition St Lawrence Church 8.45am Prayer in the Community Wooteys Shop Parade 9.00am StL School Collective Worship St Lawrence Church 10.00am Mothers Union Communion St Lawrence Church 9.30am Teddies at Holy Rood The Lawn 7.30pm Bell Ringing Practice St Lawrence Church 8.00pm Compline Prayer Service St Lawrence Church Friday APCM Exhibition St Lawrence Church 6.30 pm Counselling Service St Lawrence Church Saturday APCM Exhibition St Lawrence Church 8.30am Men s Breakfast White Hart, Holybourne 9.45am Prayer Group St Lawrence Church Sunday 8.00am BCP Communion St Lawrence Church 8.45am Parish Breakfast St Lawrence Centre 9.45am APCM meeting St Lawrence Church 10.30am Celebration Communion Service St Lawrence Church 7.00pm Morph Gig St Lawrence Church For more information please go to our web site www.potr-alton.co.uk Church of the Holy Rood - Living Space Project The decision has been made to suspend Sunday services in The Church of the Holy Rood from now until the end of May. The Living Space Project is at a crucial stage and pew removal and other building work means that it won t be possible to hold services safely and well. We are very much looking forward to the new-looking church and the completion of the project - it is going really well. I encourage those who would normally attend services in Holybourne to attend service in other churches of the parish! Andrew 6
Notices Neighbourhood Watch There will be a Presentation from Neighbourhood Watch on Tuesday 24 th April, 2pm in All Saints church hall - All welcome! Men s Breakfast We will again be holding a Men s Breakfast at the The White Hart in Holybourne on Saturday 28th April, 8.30am. PLease let Andrew know by Thursday 26th if you wish to go. MORPH Gig On Sunday 29th April at 7pm come and join some familiar faces - John Ogden, Alison Stickland, Andrew Micklefield and others - for an evening of music and fun as their band MORPH play in St Lawrence Church. Good music, drinks available, come along with your friends. We look forward to seeing you. Traidcraft Followin the recent change in service patterns Jo will now hold her stall at St Lawrence Church on the second Sunday of every month, after 10.30am communion service. The next stall will be on Sunday 13th May. If you need anything in the meantime please contact Jo on 01420 87680. KARAMOJA LENT LUNCHES 2018 A very big thank you to everyone who was involved in the Lent lunches held this year in St Lawrence all the people who made soup, provided the rolls and butter etc, prepared the Galilee Chapel (tables, chairs, cloths etc), served, laid up, washed up, came, ate and enjoyed both the soup and the company of others and, finally, for your generous donations. This has been a record year. The total donated was 998 which, with the additional tax we hope to reclaim, makes a total of a few coppers (strictly speaking I think they are bronze according to the bank!) short of 1,200. This will keep a student at the Karamoja Diocesan Training Centre for very nearly 2 years. The bursary for the full two years is currently 1,500 but likely to rise before long!! WELL DONE AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH in particular to the Church of the Holy Rood organisers whose initiative started this venture and have continued to keep it going each year. GAP Ladies Lunch. The next lunch will be on Wednesday, 25 April, at the Alton House Hotel. Please join us if you can anytime from 12.15 pm onwards. Newcomers are very welcome. Please let J Hedges (542624) know if you would like to come or E A Dain (89062) if you need transport. Ladies Supper Ladies of the Parish, would you like to meet in the Ivy House in Alton on Monday 30th April from 7pm for a meal or a drink? A time to get to know each other and to plan further social events. Please email or chat to Elspeth or Lyn if you can come or if you would like further information. Elspeth email: macbeavers@sky.com Lyn email: lynda.baines@btinternet.com Can you write beautifully and neatly? Tim Sturt is looking for someone who can write marriage and baptism certificates and other important documents. It would involve coming into the office once or twice a month. Speak to Tim or contact him in the office if you can help. 7
Notices Please provide all notices for next weeks Parish Matters by 12noon on Wednesday. Thank you Payments to the Parish If you would like to make a payment or donation to the Parish, please contact the Parish office for the Parish bank account details or make cheques payable to Parish of the Resurrection, Alton. Gift Aid white envelopes can be found in each of the churches. Thank you The Lighthouse. Come and join at The Lighthouse Every Sunday (Term Time) 9.15am at Church of the Holy Rood 10.30am at St Lawrence Parish Centre 10.30am at Alton Methodist Church Games, crafts, singing, prayers everyone is welcome. Teddy Bear Service. Come to the Teddy Bears Service Mondays 9:30am until 10:30am St Lawrence Church Thursdays (Term Time) 9:30am until 10:30am The Lawn, Holybourne For stories, crafts, singing, prayers Vicar: Revd Andrew Micklefield Email: andrewmicklefield@gmail.com Tel. 88794 Day off : Friday Associate Vicar: Revd David Hinks Email: hinksrev@gmail.com Tel. 83458 Day off: Monday Curate: Revd Joy Windsor Email: revjoywindsor@gmail.com Tel: 07730 168291 (Wed, Sat & Sun) Assistant Priest: Revd Lynn Power (Treloar Chaplain) Email: revlynnpower@outlook.com Tel. 07850232995 Ministry Team Assistant Priest: Revd Martin East Email: martineast@btinternet.com Licensed Lay Ministers: Margaret Bell Tel. 86063 Anna Chaplains: Debbie Thrower, Revd Rachel Sturt (Assistant Priest) Tel. 83234 Youth Worker: Ali Wright, Email: aliwrightyouthminister@gmail.com Pastoral Visiting: Peta Sutherland Tel: 84149 Getting in touch For enquiries please be in touch with the Parish Administrator on 01420 83234 or potr.alton@btinternet.com The office is open Monday 9.30am - 11.30am & Tuesday to Thursday 9am - 3pm 8