Hello from Vicar Dave.
I hope all is good with you. Here is some e-news from StTs.
This Sunday is our next Messy Church - come and join us. Includes an Easter Egg Hunt! See below for details.
Messy Church - Easter EventSunday 13th March 3:30-5pm - Children of all ages welcome for a lots of fun, activities, drama and food. Come and join the event as we celebrate Easter, and again invite others, especially any children and young people you know.
Messy Church is.....
- is a way of being church for families involving fun
- Messy Church is a form of church for children and adults that involves creativity, celebration and hospitality.
- is a church, not a craft club, that helps people encounter Jesus as Lord and Saviour
- It typically includes a welcome, a creative time to explore the biblical theme through getting messy; a short celebration time involving story, prayer, song, games and similar; and a meal together. All elements are for, and should include, people of all ages, adults and children.
- is found across the world
- values are about being Christ-centred, for all ages, based on creativity, hospitality and celebration
- It's all-age.
- It's fun.
- It models and promotes good ways of growing as a family: a nuclear family, an extended family, and a global and local church family.
- Its aim is to introduce Jesus, to give an opportunity to encounter him and to grow closer to him.
Come and support this way of reaching out as a church.
Easter Services
It is exciting that Easter is just over a month away. Here are the service times - do join us and invite friends and family:
It is exciting that Easter is just over a month away. Here are the service times - do join us and invite friends and family:
Maundy Th 8pm Lord’s Supper Communion
Good Fri 9:10am Walk of Witness - Wigmore Church
9:30am St Francis
9:30am St Francis
10am Ramridge Baptist
10:25am Sacred Heart Church
10:45am Stopsley Village
11am St Thomas
11:15am United Service at St Thomas's
1:30pm ‘Around the Cross’ (at StTs)
Sat 26th 7:30pm Easter Light Service
Easter Day 6:44am Sunrise Service - Meet at StT 6:20am
9:15am Easter Breakfast
10:30am Easter Parish Combined Communion
Easter Mon 8:30am Depart StT on Pilgrimage to
St Albans Abbey
1pm-ish Meet outside Abbey for Service
Prayer MeetingsJoin us to pray! We have a prayer meeting on Sunday 20th at 5pm (Palm Sunday). This is not an optional extras for keenies, but essential for our church life. We also have prayer meeting each Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 9:15am. There is also an early morning prayer meeting on Wednesdays at 6am. What prayer meetings are you attending?
Lent Lunches
During Lent there will be special Lent Lunches of soup and bread on each Wednesday at 12:30pm. There is a sign-up sheet in the porch.
During Lent there will be special Lent Lunches of soup and bread on each Wednesday at 12:30pm. There is a sign-up sheet in the porch.
Craftanoon
and we meet on Mondays from 2pm to 4pm in the church hall. It costs just 50p per person per week. Most weeks we bring our own craft items to do, but we plan to have guests to show us different crafts from time to time. Come and join us for a chat and a cuppa (biscuits too!!).
and we meet on Mondays from 2pm to 4pm in the church hall. It costs just 50p per person per week. Most weeks we bring our own craft items to do, but we plan to have guests to show us different crafts from time to time. Come and join us for a chat and a cuppa (biscuits too!!).
Noah NeedsMugs, knives, forks, spoon (soup and dessert) please. See David Newbound for further details.
Curate OrdinationPlease put Sunday July 3rd in your diary. That is when Ruth, our new Curate, will be ordained - and you are invited to attend the service at St Albans Abbey. We hope to take a coach and it would be good if as many StTs people as possible came. If 50 people come on the coach this could cost about £7.50 (a little more if it is 40 people). There is a ‘sign-up’ sheet in the porch. It will be a terrific service and we aim to have a picnic outside the Abbey afterwards.
Building bridges with our Muslim Neighbours.
The highly regarded Friendship First Course is to be held over 7 weeks from Thursday April 13th (7.30). The course is supported by a range of Luton Christian leaders. The venue is Blenheim Crescent Baptist Church. Friendship First aims to give Christians: positive attitudes to Muslim people, knowledge about Islam & culture, skills for making friends with Muslims. Register at www.mahabbanetwork.com/luton or via luton@mahabbanetwork.com.
Could Counselling Help?
Sometimes talking to a trained counsellor can help with various issues in our lives. A quality counselling service is offered at StTs for anyone in our community, with our counsellor Sara Smith. If anyone would like to make an initial appointment to see if counselling might be helpful, please contact 01582 729194 or the vicar or pastoral worker for further details.
Sometimes talking to a trained counsellor can help with various issues in our lives. A quality counselling service is offered at StTs for anyone in our community, with our counsellor Sara Smith. If anyone would like to make an initial appointment to see if counselling might be helpful, please contact 01582 729194 or the vicar or pastoral worker for further details.
Can you Cut Grass?
It will soon be time for the grass to grow again. Could you, or a member of your family, take part in helping the churchyard look trim? Contact the parish office to volunteer.
It will soon be time for the grass to grow again. Could you, or a member of your family, take part in helping the churchyard look trim? Contact the parish office to volunteer.
Coffee MorningThe next Coffee Morning is on the 1st Saturday in April.
Parish LunchThe Parish Lunch continues after Lent with a Fish and Chip (or alternative) lunch on Wednesday 6th April at 12:30pm - names and £5 in advance to the Parish Office. All welcome.
Deadline for Copy for Newsheet
Notices for the Newsheet to the Vicar by Wednesday 5pm.
Notices for the Newsheet to the Vicar by Wednesday 5pm.
Interesting Quote:
Discouragement comes when we insist on having our own way. Oswald Chambers
Discouragement comes when we insist on having our own way. Oswald Chambers
OTHER DATES FOR THE DIARY
- Wed 6 April, 12:30pm Parish Lunch.
- 1st Sat of Month, 10-Noon Coffee Morning
____________________________________
PLEASE PRAY FOR
- For those who are Unwell:
Jim and Betty Sexton, Darren Culley, Ian Catchpole, Christopher Sexton (Bryan’s son), Joyce Short, Janet and Alan Crain, Joyce Barter, John Cawley, Gareth Grant
- For some of those with Long-term Illness:
Don Jupe, Ken Pullan, Owen Thomas, Don Bardon
- For those grieving for:
Vic Bush, Esme Dean, Lina Killat, Alan Webb, Kian Garlick, Ingrid Turner, Percy Stockbridge, Mike Yates, Ken Moles,
Timothy Judge (Ruth Barr’s brother)
__________________________________________________
WEEKLY EVENTS @ StTs:
Sunday Morning Services Rolling Worship
8:30am Communion 9:30am Breakfast
10am Communion 11am Coffee Time
11:30am Informal service
Sunday Evening Worship 6:30pm
Midweek Communion Wed, 9:45am
Community Eve Tues 6:30pm
Morning Prayers, 9:15am Mon, Tues & Thurs
Counselling, Wed afternoon (by appointment)
Parish Office Mon -Thurs, 10am-Noon
Homeless Soup Kitchen Mon 6:30pm
Christian Meditation Wed 6:45pm
Scrabble Thurs 10am
Tent Project - weekly social, Thur 2pm
Choir Fri 6:30pm Music Group Fri 7:30pm
CAN WE HELP?
We would love to help! To contact our Vicar, Pastoral Worker, Care Team, Wardens, Counsellor or Administrator please contact the Parish Office. 01582 729194 office@stopsleyparish.org.uk
We would love to help! To contact our Vicar, Pastoral Worker, Care Team, Wardens, Counsellor or Administrator please contact the Parish Office. 01582 729194 office@stopsleyparish.org.uk
- Visitor? Welcome! Please say hello!
- Loop Please switch your hearing aid to ‘T’.
- Safeguarding concerns contact:
Judi Kingham 619432, David Alexander 729194 - Photos are sometimes taken in services.
- Join our Congregation Roll and Giving Scheme.
- Gluten-free and/or Non-Alcoholic communion available via special cards near entrance.
- Children’s Play Corner available for children
- Lending Library of books and CDs in the Foyer.
DIARY
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Special
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Weekly
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6
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8:30am Communion Service
10am Communion with Sunday Club for Children 11:30am Informal Service
1pm Burial of Ashes
3-5:30pm Messy Church
6:30pm Evening Service
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7
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9:15am Prayers
2pm Crafternoon
6:30pm Homeless Soup Kitchen
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8
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9:15am Prayers
2pm Alpha
6:30pm Alpha
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9
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12:30pm Lent Lunch
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6am Prayers
9:45am Communion
6:45pm Christian Meditation
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10
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2:30pm Ladies Homegroup
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9:15am Prayers
10am Scrabble Club
2pm Tent Project
Eve Homegroups
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11
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12
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13
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Palm Sunday
8:30am Communion Service
10am Communion with Sunday Club for Children 11:30am Informal Service
1pm Christening Evans
5pm Prayer Meeting
6:30pm Evensong Service
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THIS WEEK’S READINGS:
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Sunday Morning (8:30, 10, 11:30am)
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Sunday Evening (6:30pm)
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Wednesday (9:45am)
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Philippians 3:4b-14 (p1180)
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Isaiah 53:4-9 (p740)
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Isaiah 53:4-9 (p740)
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Luke 23:32-43 (p1060)
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Luke 22:1-13 (p1057)
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Luke 22:1-13 (p1057)
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[11:30am: Luke 23:32-43 (p1060)]
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Psalm 126 (p623)
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More Info www.stopsleyparish.org.uk , or http://stopsleyvicar.blogspot.co.uk
Contact us: 01582 729194, office@stopsleyparish.org.uk
Have a great weekend!
GB!
Dave
(I am sending our Weekly News out by email to all our lovely members, friends, supporters and contacts near-and-far, as well as printing it for services. I hope you will be happy to receive it, but if not, or we have got the wrong address, or there is anything else you want me to know, do let me know. Do also call me if you have any changes to your contact details.
You may also want to look at our website: www.stopsleyparish.org.uk
You can contact the Parish Office on 01582 729194, or me at the Vicarage on 01582 721911, or on my mobile 07796 334300, or via email vicar@stopsleyparish.org.uk or d.alex@mac.com )
David Alexander
Vicar of Stopsley Parish (St Thomas's) ; Chaplain at Vauxhall Motors
01582 721911(Vicarage) ; 01582 729194 (Parish Office) ; 07796 334300 (Mobile)
