Hello from Vicar Dave!
Invitation to Messy Party
I am delighted to invite you warmly to this event: This Sunday Sunday 24th January 3:30-5pm. Everyone welcome! Families and children of all ages, young and old, welcome for a lots of fun, activities, drama and food. Come and join the fun!
Other news below:
A Giving Faith
We serve a Giving God, who gives, gives and gives some more. As his children, a hallmark of our lives should be our generosity, not least to those in real need. This was assumed by Jesus when he says ‘When you give....’ So we are challenged how much we know the Giving God, and how much our giving reflects his generous life within us.
Am I generous? Are you? It is not a competition, to impress one another. It is a living out of God’s generous nature.
Join us this Sunday (8:30am, 10am, 11:30am, 3:30pm or 6:30pm) Either way, have a great weekend.
Here's some further details and some other e-news:
Services This Week
On Sunday mornings we are seeing light in our series: ‘The Light Dawns’.
Sunday AM. ‘Level Trust’ Matthew 6:1-4
Sun 8:30am Communion Service
Sun 10am Communion with Sunday Club for Kids
Sun 11:30am Informal Service
On Sunday evenings we are finding our identity in our series: ‘Who You Are in Christ’.
Sunday PM. ‘Serve where you are’ 1 Cor 7:17-24
Sun 6:30pm Evening Service
On Wed morning we are making a fresh start in our series: ‘Beginnings’.
Speak - your servant is listening’ 1 Sam 3:1-10
9:45am Communion
On Tues Eve we are beginning: ‘Alpha - Questions of Life’.
6:30pm Community Eve Meal
7:15pm and Alpha
At our Homegroup meetings we are thinking about Mark’s Gospel
Thurs 8pm Weekly Homegroups
Thurs 2:30pm Women’s Homegroup (1st & 3rd weeks)
Services Next Week
Sunday AM. ‘Muddy Christianity’ Luke 8:4-8
Sun 8:30am Communion Service
Sun 10am Communion with Sunday Club for Kids
Sun 11:30am Informal Service
Sunday PM. ‘Homeless God?’ 1 Cor 7:17-24
Sun 6:30pm Evening Service
Tues Eve. ‘Alpha - Questions of Life’
6:30pm Community Eve Meal
7:15pm and Alpha
Wed Morning. ‘Looking Ahead’
9:45am Communion
Homegroups. Meeting together in homes - Mark’s Gospel.
Thurs Weekly 8pm and Women’s 2:30pm 1st & 3rd Weeks
HEADLINE NEWS
Messy Church Children’s PartyThis Sunday Sunday 24th January 3:30-5pm. Everyone welcome! Families and children of all ages, young and old, welcome for a lots of fun, activities, drama and food. Come and join the fun, 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.
Alpha - ‘Questions of Life’
Our new ‘Alpha’ has started, but it is not too late to join us. Alpha is an opportunity to explore life and the Christian faith in a friendly, open and informal environment. One of the national newspapers has said: ‘What Alpha offers, and what is attracting thousands of people, is permission, rare in secular culture, to discuss the big questions: life and death and their meaning.’ (The Guardian) We meet on Tuesday evenings. A hot (optional) meal will be served a 6:30pm or join us at 7:15pm for a talk and discussion. Please come along and is there someone you could invite to join us?
Daytime Alpha - Tuesday 2pmWe are now going to run a daytime Alpha. It will be on Tuesday afternoons at 2pm. There is an introductory session on Tuesday 9th February at 2pm. Coffee or tea and cake will be served.
Level Trust Speaker on 24th JanuaryKaty Hall, who is presently running Level Trust, is our speaker on Sunday 24th January at the morning services. Level Trust is an excellent local charity which seeks to provide shoes and warm clothing (amongst other things) to needy kids from Luton. Come and hear Katy speak.
Games Night - February 6th
Coming soon. Watch this space for details.
Coming soon. Watch this space for details.
Get Confirmed in 2016?
We are are hosting a confirmation service in 2016 and this might be an appropriate time to consider being confirmed, or renewing your confirmation vows. Confirmation is a time of confirming your baptism and praying for the Holy Spirit to (continue to) fill and empower you. It is often associated in Anglican churches with beginning to receive Holy Communion. Contact the vicar if you are interested in thinking about this.
We are are hosting a confirmation service in 2016 and this might be an appropriate time to consider being confirmed, or renewing your confirmation vows. Confirmation is a time of confirming your baptism and praying for the Holy Spirit to (continue to) fill and empower you. It is often associated in Anglican churches with beginning to receive Holy Communion. Contact the vicar if you are interested in thinking about this.
Women’s World Day of PrayerThe preparation day is on Monday 25th January. This year we are concentrating on the country of Cuba.It is at Central Baptist Church - registration 9:30am for a 10am start. Finishes at 3pm. £3 per person. Bring a packed lunch. A thoroughly enjoyable day preparing for the Prayer Day on Friday 4th March.
Thanks from Hands of Mercy
Thanks you for those who gave to the appeal to help the 4,000 people made homeless by the fire in the one of the squatter communities in Manila in the Philippines. Every penny is on its way to help the victims. The amount raised for the Hands of Mercy Collection over Christmas was £761. Many thanks.
Thanks you for those who gave to the appeal to help the 4,000 people made homeless by the fire in the one of the squatter communities in Manila in the Philippines. Every penny is on its way to help the victims. The amount raised for the Hands of Mercy Collection over Christmas was £761. Many thanks.
Coffee MorningThe next Coffee Morning is on the 1st Saturday in February.
Parish Lunch in the New YearThe Parish Lunch continues with a Fish and Chip lunch on Wednesday 3rd February at 12:30pm - names and £4 in advance to the Parish Office. All welcome.
Sandwich Toaster
Calling the person who lent a sandwich toastie maker to church for the Christmas Tree Festival. Several toastie machines were borrowed and collected BUT one is still in the kitchen. If it is yours, would you please collect it.
Calling the person who lent a sandwich toastie maker to church for the Christmas Tree Festival. Several toastie machines were borrowed and collected BUT one is still in the kitchen. If it is yours, would you please collect it.
Gift Day 2015We are very grateful for the generous giving that enables to do all we do as a Church, for recent responses to our Stewardship Renewal in the summer, and now for those who have given at the recent Gift Day.
Deadline for Copy for Newsheet
Send any information for the newsheet by Wednesday 5pm.
Send any information for the newsheet by Wednesday 5pm.
Interesting Quote:
We spend our whole lives trying to avoid anything that will hurt or be hard. But there’s a better kind of life–a deeper, more fulfilling kind of life–that isn’t about avoiding every pain. It’s about finding God faithful and powerful in the midst of whatever thorns He allows. (James MacDonald)
We spend our whole lives trying to avoid anything that will hurt or be hard. But there’s a better kind of life–a deeper, more fulfilling kind of life–that isn’t about avoiding every pain. It’s about finding God faithful and powerful in the midst of whatever thorns He allows. (James MacDonald)
OTHER DATES FOR THE DIARY
- Wed 3 Feb, 12:30pm Parish Lunch.
- 1st Sat of Month, 10-Noon Coffee Morning
PLEASE PRAY FOR
- For those who are Unwell:
Anne, Jan Healy, Jim and Betty Sexton, Nicky Sylvester, Darren Culley, Ivor Reading, Ian Catchpole, Christopher Sexton (Bryan’s son), Joyce Short, Janet and Alan Crain
- For some of those with Long-term Illness:
Alg, Mary Barden, Bob Norman
- For those grieving for:
Melvyn Butcher, Lilian Kightley, Peggy Elliott, Pete Vine, Ivy Webster, Pat Chamberlain, Sheila Eldridge, Theresa
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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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
Contact us: 01582 729194, office@stopsleyparish.org.uk
Have a great weekend!
GB!
Dave
