Hello from Vicar Dave!
I hope you are enjoying the sunshine. I thought it was about time I sent another e-news. Here we go......
It’s All About Jesus.
This week we start a new series - and no apologies for this being a biggy! We shall we thinking about Jesus as we discover him in the Gospel of Luke. It is all about Jesus - He is the one at the centre of life, the universe and everything. We are Christ-Ians - even if your name is not Ian! So lets return to the gospel of Jesus. Read the book this summer. And let’s delve deeper to discover Jesus afresh into the autumn and beyond....
When will this series end? No idea! And it doesn’t matter - we shall just take our time getting to know Jesus better!
Services This Week
Sunday Morning. Luke 1:1-4 ‘It’s all about Jesus’
Sun 8:30am Communion Service
Sun 10am Communion with Sunday Club for Kids
Sun 11:30am Informal Service
Sunday Evening. Luke 1:1-4 ‘It’s all about Jesus’
Sun 6:30pm Communion
Tuesday Evening. Luke 1:1-4 ‘It’s all about Jesus’
Tues 6:30pm Community Eve
Tues 8pm Cafe Bible Study
Wed Morning. Luke 1:1-4 ‘It’s all about Jesus’
Wed 9:45am Communion
Services Next Week
Sunday Morning. Luke 24:45‐53 ‘Start at the End’
Sun 8:30am Communion Service
Sun 10am Communion with Sunday Club for Kids
Sun 11:30am Informal Service
Sunday Evening. Luke 24:45‐53 ‘Start at the End’
Sun 6:30pm Evening Service
Tuesday Evening. Luke 24:45‐53 ‘Start at the End’
Tues 6:30pm Community Eve
Tues 8pm Cafe Bible Study
Wed Morning. Luke 24:45‐53 ‘Start at the End’
Wed 9:45am Communion
HEADLINE NEWS
Thank you to all who returned their response forms for ‘Giving in Grace’. In case you have lost yours, there are some in the pews. So far approximately 57 people have responded, with others arriving all the time. At the last count we have reached an increase of £220.31 per week towards our target of £385pw. There have also been some one-off donations towards meeting our present opportunities. We are very grateful and moved. Many thanks indeed, and praise be to God!
On Sat 18th July 10am-12pm. This is an opportunity for people to learn about the works of FB and possibly sign up to volunteer to help. Also included in the morning will be tea/coffee, cake sale, raffle, a talk from someone on the FB board, an existing volunteer to talk about what they do, and a Q&A session if needed. We can bring food items on the day for the Foodbank.
Hopefully that is not the case - summer is actually a good time to grow in our prayer lives. However, our usual morning prayers in church at 9:15am on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday will be taking a rest from July 10th till early September. The Wednesday communion at 9:45am will continue over the summer, as will the prayer meetings (see below).
Our prayer meetings will continue over the summer and the next one is Sunday 12th July at 5pm, and then on Tuesday 28th July at 10am.
A Luton charity we strongly support, Level Trust has a Uniform Exchange in the town. If anyone you know has some good quality school uniform bring it to church and put in the box in the porch. It will help some family who can’t afford school uniform.
Our homeless hostels in Luton are constantly looking for towels - 2nd hand ones are fine. If someone arrives at the hostel with nothing, even a shower can present problems because previous residents have taken towels with them and there are no funds to replace towels. Bring items and place in the containers in the porch. Many thanks.
The Bishop of Bedford is coming to St Thomas’s on Sunday 23rd August (the day after the vicar’s 20th anniversary at St Thomas’s) for a combined all-together service at 10:30am. Do put it in your diary to join us. Let’s hope it will be as hot as 20 years ago! (There was a heatwave as your new vicar joined you!)
The work on the Bute Mills building is due to begin in July - more funds are still needed. Do pray for Bute Mills, for the impact this outreach will have on Luton's teenagers, and for the team there. As Youthscape / LCET moves into Bute Mills, they are starting a new scheme for graduate volunteers - those finishing their studies and wanting to give a year to youth work. Pray for this.
Can you understand what their message is? Since New Testament times, Christians have loved to sing together. No wonder – it is part of our understanding of the world that music was written into the very fabric of creation when ‘the morning stars sang together’ (Job 38:4). It is thus vital that both our words and music reflect the creative and saving actions of God. They must also possess the power to inspire an entire congregation in united joy. And – of desperate importance to evangelists such as William Booth and the Wesleys - can incoming visitors relate to our songs, on entering our meetings? In D.L. Moody’s words. “Music and the Bible are the two important agencies with which to reach the world.” Fanny Crosby of New England grasped this throughout her life. Blinded, owing to a medical accident at only six weeks old, she was nevertheless compensated in her disability with an astonishing memory. Aided by her Puritan grandmother, she gave herself to the Scriptures. By the time she was 12 she knew by heart the first five books of the Bible, the four Gospels and all 150 Psalms. Out of this rich storehouse poured the songs: Blessed Assurance…. To God be the glory…. He hideth my soul in the cleft of the Rock. In all there were 9,000 of them, and they filtered all over the world. Destructive German critical theology was beginning to flood everywhere, and there was little to protect the beliefs of Bible lovers, for evangelical theology had yet to find its feet. But what held Gospel believers across the continents were the hymns. That was enough!
Help Maintain the Churchyard & Clean the Church
St Thomas’s Afternoon Tea - Thanks!
Luton Male Voice Choir - Thanks
Job Advert
Deadline for Copy for Newsheet
Interesting Quote:
Thank God for today’s hymn writers such as Stuart Townsend and the Keith and Kristyn Getty in Ireland. If a church worshipper can actually walk out of church HUMMING – much as an audience from ‘Les Miserables’ will do so, with Do you hear the People Sing? – we can believe that Christian songs could again inspire future crowds - at FA Cup Finals or as England steps out on the field for the Rugby World Cup!
We need more help! Can you come along and help maintain the churchyard and/or clean the Church? - all sort of jobs available! Please let us know when you can do your bit.
Thanks to everyone who supported the tea recently, and for John and Judi Kingham for hosting. Everyone got a little bit wet in the rain! But it was still a very enjoyable event and raised £307.81.
Thanks to the choir and all who supported the recent enjoyable concert. It raised £419.00, to shared equally between the choir and the church. At the concert Don Jupe, a member of St Ts, was awarded a special award for long service to the choir.
World Vision UK require an active Christian for the post of Contracts Finance Manager. Salary £35K. Contact Parish Office for further details.
Send any information for the newsheet by Wednesday 5pm.
“We are always making an offering. If we do not give to God, we give to the devil.” Vance Havner
DATES FOR THE DIARY
- Sat 1 August, 10-Noon Coffee Morning
- Wed 2 Sept, 12:30pm Parish Lunch.
CAN WE HELP?
To contact our Vicar,
Pastoral Worker, Care Team, Wardens, Counsellor or Administrator please contact the Parish Office
01582 729194 office@stopsleyparish.org.uk
To contact our Vicar,
Pastoral Worker, Care Team, Wardens, Counsellor or Administrator please contact the Parish Office
01582 729194 office@stopsleyparish.org.uk
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PLEASE PRAY FOR
Unwell:
Donna Batchelor, Connie Blackburn, Liz Fagan, Fran Gunn, Colette Campbell, Tony, Karen Solomon, Kirsty, Sarah Vyvyan, Ian, Mike Clark, Melvyn Butcher
Some with Long-term Needs:
Philip Francis, Harry Smith, Gary Berris, Daphne Ward, Joyce Cox, Alg, Mary Barden
Those grieving for:
Ashley Miller, Tom Kelly, Alan Fletcher, Jessie Tomkins, Brenda Saxty, Leslie Tearle, Tony Loveday
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 Cafe Bible Study Tue 8pm
Morning Prayers, 9:15am Mon, Tues & Thurs
Counselling, Wed afternoon (by appointment)
Parish Office Mon -Thurs, 10am-Noon
Baby & Toddler Group Mon 10-11:30am
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
More Info www.stopsleyparish.org.uk
- via website or http://stopsleyvicar.blogspot.co.uk
Contact us: 01582 729194, office@stopsleyparish.org.uk
Have a great weekend!
GB!
Dave
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