Weekly notices 22nd March

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Notices

Stannington Christ Church will be resurrecting the Easter Story, an outdoor drama of the events of Holy week on Good Friday (3rd April) at 2:00pm. Anyone welcome to join in. Roles include thief on the cross, disciples, Roman soldiers and general crowd. All roles are mimed to a narration, so no lines to learn. Costumes provided. Take your own sandals. Rehearsals on Sunday 22nd March, Sunday 29th March and another one during Holy week. All welcome to participate on the day, too.

Worship Consultation Committee. Next meeting will be on Tuesday 24th March at 7:30pm. If you are a local preacher, worship leader, church steward, organist, PowerPoint operator... this is for you.

“Do you Believe in Prayer?” Lent course on Wednesday 25th March (Nehemiah 2:7 / theme protection) and 1st April (Nehemiah 2:7-9 / theme: provision) 12:30-1:30pm at Highfield Trinity Methodist S2 4UR. You can join in at home/work.

The David Battye House Group will meet on Wednesday 25th March commencing at 2.30pm.

Lent Discussion Group. Wendy and Becca are running a discussion group through Lent, using the story of Les Miserables to talk about faith issues. Don't worry if you don't know the story, as the relevant bits from the recent film adaptation are shown each week. Remaining meetings: Wednesday 25th March and 1st April 7:30-9:00pm.

Face Painting Training. Thursday 26th March at 7:00pm at Hillsborough Trinity Church with a view to helping at the May Fun Day.

Next Chippy Church will be on Friday 27th March at 6:30pm.

The Teachers’ Choir will perform at ’This 'Joyful Eastertide’ concert on Friday 27th March at 7:30pm at Oughtibridge Chapel. Tickets £7, under-13s £4, including light refreshments. Ask Marjorie C. / Joan W. / John G. or on the door.

Palm Sunday Variety Church: All Age service led by Katie Leonowicz on 29th March at 10:30am.

Easter Event for the Weenies and their families on Monday 30th March 10:00am-12noon. Volunteers are needed from 9:30am to help in the kitchen and doing crafts with the children. People with a DBS (CRB) check would be useful, but not essential. If you can help, please speak to Becca. Thank you.

Easter Sunday 5h April. Could you please bring a flower to church to put on the cross during the service.

Offertory Envelope Scheme. With the start of the new financial year 2015-16 approaching, new envelopes are now being distributed. Many thanks to all members of this scheme which ensures a regular income for the church. If you would like details with a view to joining, see Helen Morris, please. Confidentiality is always assured. This is also a time when we should prayerfully consider if our giving is keeping up with the church’s needs. Thanks.

Fashion Show & Afternoon Tea in aid of Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice on Thursday 30th April 2:30-4:30pm at Café Moda, in Atkinsons. Tickets £10.

Christian Aid Walk. This year’s walk will be held on bank holiday Monday 4th May. We will be walking around Dam Flask. More details will follow later.

Continue to pray for all those brothers and sisters who are unable to attend our services, whether because housebound, in hospital or residential homes.

Prayer Group Report

With so many conflicts around the world, particularly in the Middle East, we prayed for peace and reconciliation. Embrace is a Christian charity tackling poverty and injustice in the Middle East. We prayed for Embrace’s Helen Keller school in Beit Hanina in East Jerusalem. The school teaches 65 primary age children. All have varying degrees of visual impairment and some have additional physical and learning difficulties. Most are from families whose main priority is getting food on the table. At Helen Keller they receive help navigating specially designed home like rooms and enjoy being creative and active. They prepare food and practice everyday activities but above all learn to be independent.

Gaza has all but fallen off the radar but the humanitarian situation is worse than ever and deteriorating more every week. People are living in the rubble of their homes or camped on top. There has been extremely little rebuilding done since the war, but there is nowhere else to go. Gaza is already one of the most densely populated places on earth with its land, air and sea borders closed to the outside world.

Once more we prayed for peace and a cessation of building homes for Israelites on Arab land. Amid the darkness, the few remaining Christians are bringing life and hope to their neighbours. Praise God for Embrace.