24th March 2019 3rd Sunday of Lent St Michael s Church is a Christian community in Boldmere where people of every: ability, age, capacity, ethnicity, faith, gender, neurodiversity and sexuality know that all of us are welcome. We won t always get this right, but together we can walk the way of Jesus which is love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, reconciliation and peace. Some notes that might help you: Whenever you are invited to stand please feel free to remain seated if this is more comfortable for you. We have a Loop System. If you have a hearing aid with a T setting, simply switch it to T Please do stay after the service and coffee, tea, squash, biscuits are available in the South Aisle. Children @ 10.30 Service Today our children and young people go out to their groups. Upper Stairs Upper Room FLOK (reception Year 5) Downstairs West Room SW:EETS (years 6-9) inclusive) South Aisle Saints for preschool children and their parents/ carers.
Diary for the week The Office will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9.30 2.30 Monday 25th March 9.00 am Morning Prayer in the Epiphany Chapel 7.00 pm Choir Tuesday 26th March 9.00 am Morning Prayer in the Epiphany Chapel Wednesday 27th March 9.00am Morning Prayer in the Epiphany Chapel 9.00 am 11.30 A place of Welcome in the Church Hall 10.30 am Holy Communion the Church Hall Thursday 28th March 9.00 am Morning Prayer in the Epiphany Chapel 9.45 am Little Lights in the South Aisle 2.00 pm Knit and Natter in the Longmoor Room Friday 20th March 9.00 am Morning Prayer in the Epiphany Chapel 6.00 pm Music Group Saturday 30th March 4-6pm The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe part 2 in Church Collect Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen 2
First Reading - Isaiah 55:1-9.Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. 5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. 6 Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 3
Gospel reading - Luke 13:1-19 t At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did. Then he told this parable: A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil? He replied, Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down. Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, Woman, you are set free from your ailment. When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the Sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the Sabbath day. But the Lord answered him and said, You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day? When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing. He said therefore, What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches. 4
Holy Week and Easter Day at St Michael s Palm Sunday 14th April 2019 Holy Communion 9.00am Worship for All 10.30am Stations of the Cross 6.00pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Holy Week Images of Passion and Prayer 7.00pm to 7.45pm Maundy Thursday 18th April 2019 Simple Maundy Thursday Service 4.00pm to 4.30pm Holy Communion with washing of feet - 7.30pm Garden of Gethsemane Prayer in (Epiphany Chapel) 8.30pm to 9.30pm Good Friday 19th April 2017 Good Friday Worship for All service - 10.00am Good Friday Vigil Service - 1.30pm 3.00pm Touching the Sacred Easter Day 21st April 2017 Easter Dawn Service and breakfast - Easter Communion Easter Communion Worship for All - 6.00am - 9.00am - 10.30am 5
NEW ELECTORAL ROLL A new Electoral Roll has to be prepared this year. You need to be on the Electoral roll if you wish to stand for the PCC, or vote at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) on 29th April. Also if you live out of the parish you need to be on the roll if you wish to have your child baptised here, be married here (if you can not meet any of the other qualifying conditions ) or be buried in the church yard. To go on the roll you need to have be over the age of 16, have been baptised and either live in the Parish or have regularly attended public worship here during the six months prior to the application. If you wish to be included you must re-apply using the forms at the back of church by 3rd April 2019 no names can be carried forward from the current one. Date for your Diary - 30th Anniversary Celebration Rev'd Gary Birchall will be celebrating the 30th Anniversary of his ordination as a priest on Sunday 7th July 2019 at St Michael's Church. There will be one service for the whole church at 10.30am followed by a picnic in the church grounds. The whole church are warmly invited to be at the service to mark this occasion with him. Rev'd Gary Birchall was ordained priest in the Church of England at Ripon Cathedral in July 1989. He has served in parishes in Leeds, Leicester, Burnopfield (Co. Durham) and Boldmere. Please put this date in your diary now so that as many people as possible can be there. 6
St Michael's Parochial Church Council has been considering some development work for the inside of the Church building over the last eighteen months. The PCC have decided that the three top priorities are developing the area of the church where the choir stalls are currently located, improving accessibility at the main entrance into Church at the West Door and Porch, and to decorate the church for the first time since the re-dedication of the Church in 1967. These priorities were decided alongside a consideration of the current focus for the life and mission of St Michael's Church and have been given a lot of thought and consideration. There will be an open congregational meeting when proposed plans can be presented - we are awaiting for designs from the architect at the moment. The congregation will be informed of significant stages in the development. Funding for these developments will be made from our reserves. We currently have approximately 325,000 pounds in reserves and this work should still leave about 200,000 in reserves for future contingencies. It is important that as a responsible charity we use our available funds for the purposes and aims of the charity. So watch this space for further news and if you have any questions please have a word with Rev'd Gary Birchall or the Churchwardens Peter Swaine and Judith Leonard. Ps. One word of reassurance: there are no current plans to remove the pews in the main body of the church. It's the kind of thing that people get anxious about. Parish Sunday Lunch Sunday 24th March 2019 The lunch is open to everyone and all are welcome but would you please sign the sheet at the back of church to help with the catering. (there is a small charge to cover costs) 7
THEY RE HERE AGAIN! The Guild will be selling Egg Men again this Easter in support of the local homeless. They will be on sale in church on 7th April priced at 1.50 each. 2019 will be the final year that The Guild will be adopting a charity so we look forward to your support over the next few months to make this a bumper year. On Thursday 6th June we will hosting a fund raising evening in the South Aisle and further details will be in the May magazine. EASTER CARDS There are Easter cards and Mothering Day cards for sale (60p each) in the South Aisle. There is also another selection of Easter cards and Easter paper in the church hall. I have recently given Rev. Gary 200 which is the profit from the sale of Christmas goods. Please continue to support by buying cards. Your help is much appreciated! Many thanks, Ruth Yates 8
CHURCH AT IT S BEST!! Shortly Coming to a South Aisle near you is the Church Weekend information Board!!!! All you need to know about the programme, location and lots of practical stuff... Any queries please speak to any of the Church Weekend Team ( Jeanette Nichols,Jude Leonard, Jan Peel, Debbie and Peter Swain, Hilary Harrison, Margaret Smolden, Rev Gary. PARISH BREAKFAST The next Breakfast will be on Saturday 13th April in the South Aisle. For the early birds, we start serving at 8.30 a.m. and continue throughout the morning. Come and enjoy a breakfast of your choice. Full English, Continental or just tea and toast. From 10.30 a.m. onwards we shall also be serving coffee and cakes. Also on sale will be a wonderful selection of cakes, plus Easter cards and paper A Place of Welcome for Lent Wednesdays in the Church Hall (Longmore and Powell Rooms) 9.00am to 11.30am including for those who want to take part Holy Communion 10.30am A warm welcome Refreshments Tea, coffee, toast Local information No charge Plus: The Real Junk Food Boutique -grab a bargain and help to reduce waste. 9
Evening Sermon Series on the life and times of Daniel Sunday 31 st March Chapter 5 The writing s on the wall Sunday 7 th April Chapter 6 A visit to the zoo (Lions may feature) Sunday 5th May Susanna A woman faces execution Emma s marathon fundraising challenge for SCOPE Emma Sykes is running the London Marathon on 28 th April in aid of SCOPE. SCOPE is a charity that supports and campaigns for justice for disabled people and their families. If you would like to make a donation to this very worthwhile cause you can do so through her justgiving page: www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/emma-sykes5 or she will happily take any cash donations. You can either leave them in her tray at the back of church or hand donations to her on a Sunday. Thank you for your support! We are still collecting for the Aston and Nechels food bank. Items that the Foodbank most need at present. are: Tinned fruit Tinned vegetables Coffee Fruit juice (carton), Squash Tinned meat Tinned fish Milk (long-life or powdered) Pasta sauce (jar) Tinned rice pudding Tinned tomatoes Instant mashed potato Toilet rolls Hand soap, Toothpaste/toothbrushes Feminine hygiene products, Deodorants Nappies Chocolate/snacks There is a box at the back of church for your donations. 10
Sunday s Services 31st March - Mothering Sunday 9.00 am Holy Communion Warden: Pete Swaine Sidespeople.; Needed Communion Assistants: Trudy Walsh, Peter Edmonds Intercessions : Peter Edmonds Readers: Barbara Edmonds, Bernard Salter AV: Mick Walsh Refreshments: Georgia Moult, Roz Clackett 10.30 am Worship for all Parade Service Warden: Judith Leonard Sidespeople: Hilary Harrison, Brownies Intercessions: Jan Peel, Guides and Scouts Readers: Richard Bryer AV : Jon Clark Refreshments; Tusheeta David, Debbie Swaine Readings 9am only Joshua 5:9-12 9am and 10.30 Luke 15:1-3, 11-end 6.00 pm Night Prayer Warden: Margaret Smoldon Sidespeople: Dorothea Plant Reader Edwina Connell If you are unable to make any of the dates, you are down for please amend the large Service Team sheet that is on the wall at the back of church and contact someone else to replace you on that date. If you have been unable to find a replacement then please contact Liz in the office as soon as possible. 11
Points of Contact Vicar: Rev Gary Birchall, Tel 354 4501 email revgary@stmichaels.org.uk (off Tuesdays) Curate: Rev d Cath Walker Tel 07484 111614 Email revcath@stmichaels.org.uk day off Friday Associate Missioner: Rev d Emma Sykes revemma@stmichaels.org.uk Children s and Families Missioner: Jeanette Nicholls cfm@stmichaels.org.uk Wardens: Judith Leonard 0121 373 0012 Pete Swaine 07846 401334 Email: wardens@stmichaels.org.uk Treasurer: John Woodhall 351 7769 Email: treasurer@stmichaels.org.uk Stewardship Secretary : Edwina Connell 07717 239904 Verger: Michelle Johnson -Tuesday Friday 07903 820315 Church Office: Monday, Wednesday, Friday9.30am 2.30pm Liz Claybrook, Parish Administrator- Tel: 373 0207. e-mail liz.claybrook@stmichaels.org.uk St Michaels Church- Church Road, Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield, B73 5RX Web site: www.stmichaels.org.uk Twitter: @StMsBoldmere Facebook: St Michaels Church Boldmere 12