Weekly Notices 24th January

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Morning Service

10:30am

led by John Vincent

incl. Crèche / Junior Church

Evening Service

6:15pm

led by Michael Brown

"The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love."

Psalm 147 v.11

Thanks To Everyone for their generosity towards Sandylands Methodist Church, in Kendal. We have sent a cheque for £450 from Wisewood - amazing! Thank you. Neil.

Church Council Meeting will be on Tuesday 26th January at 7:30pm, at church. As always, everyone is welcome to attend. As this Church Council is a workshop thinking about our gifts and skills, we really do encourage you to attend the meeting and come prepared to share your gifts and skills in God’s service. Katie.

Iraqi Christians In Need fundraising event: concert at Sacred Heart Church, Hillsborough, on Thursday 28th January 2016 at 7:30pm. Works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff & Schubert. Please visit www.icin.org.uk / www.sacredheartsheffield.co.uk. Many thanks, Shaun .

Next Cafe Church will be on Sunday 31st January morning, led by Joan.

The Baptism Of Mollie Ava will take place at Wisewood on Sunday 31st January at 3:00pm. Everyone is welcome. It would be really lovely to have some members of the congregation to join Mollie’s family to celebrate her baptism. Thanks, Katie.

'Branching Out'. The deadline date for all items to be added to the Spring edition of the church magazine is Sunday 31st January. Stuart.

Compass Course. The first taster session will be on Monday 1st February 7:30-9:00pm, in the Owlerton Room. This course explores what we think about God, the difference Jesus makes and what ‘being a Methodist’ means. All are welcome, but especially anyone who would like to consider becoming a member of the Methodist Church. For more information please speak to Katie.

Margaret & Noel's Golden Wedding Anniversary. As part of their celebrations, you are invited for drinks and light bites on Saturday 6th February between 10:00am and 12noon, at their house (no gifts please).

Church Action On Poverty Day. On Sunday 7th February there will be a hunger lunch at Wisewood Church, after the morning service. We will be serving soup and a bread roll from 1:00pm approx. Please support this event with your prayers, donations, but better still... join the fellowship!

Songs Of Praise. You are all invited to the TV recording of Choir of the Year competition in Sheffield: 'Junior School Choir of the Year' on Saturday 27th February 2:30-6:30pm and 'Senior School Choir of the Year' on Sunday 28th February 2:30-6:30pm, at Sheffield City Hall, Barkers Pool, S1 2JA. Tickets are free. Deadline for ticket application: Thursday 11th February. If people want to tell me how many tickets they want, I can fill in one form for everyone. I will also print a few forms for people to take away if they want. Becca.

Lyceum Pantomime Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs on Friday 16th December at 7:00pm. All tickets are for seats in the front stalls and cost £17 each. Tickets should be paid for by Sunday 21st February 2016. Cliff.

Has Anybody Got Spare Beds/Sofas that they can offer to Becca's wedding guests who may need overnight accommodation for 29th and/or 30th July? If you can help, please speak to Becca. Thank you!

Sheffield Churches Council For Community Care (www.scccc.co.uk) is a local ecumenical charity that has spent the past 50 years coordinating a broad range of services, provided by volunteers who give older people a helping hand. They are always on the lookout for people who would be willing to volunteer individually, as part of a group or to co-ordinate a group of volunteers to support our work. Volunteers become involved by:

  • Friendly Visiting - a friendly visitor is someone that would enjoy visiting older people, once every one or two weeks, have a cup of tea and, more importantly, spend time chatting with them
  • One Off Tasks - as a volunteer you are able to specify which of the following tasks you feel you would be able to help out with and then we would call you for assistance if we had a request in your area i.e. occasional shopping, sitting with someone whilst their carer goes to a medical appointment, accompanying someone to an appointment, moving furniture within a house to enable easier mobility, emergency care of a pet, checking in on someone when they have been discharged from hospital.

Prayer Group Report

We read from chapter 2 of Philippians - 'Shine like stars' (for Christ).

Our prayers continued for the people of Cumbria and Scotland who, having suffered flooding, then had to contend with snow. We prayed about the damaged infrastructure - collapsed roads, bridges washed away etc. This is having a devastating effect on communities, businesses and livelihoods and seems likely to do so for many months to come.

We prayed for 'Embrace' working in various parts of the Middle East and for its partners working with displaced people within Syria and with women in Egypt. Women there are usually denied access to education but many are now seizing the opportunity to attend 'Think and Do' schools.

Tearfund, Biblelands and others are busy in Malawi where the government and schools have been given Bibles. May this impact on the country and see more people lifted out of poverty and improvements to the education system. May God embrace all these initiatives to bring peace and justice.

We prayed for the homeless, remembering especially a project in London providing homes for young people who find themselves on the streets, as they are unable to afford the high house prices or rents. We gave thanks for all the agencies helping prevent homelessness.

We prayed for 'Churches against Poverty' which helps various people in distress. In this connection a hunger lunch is to be held here at Wisewood Church on Sunday 7th February, to raise funds for this group.

We prayed for a settlement in the dispute between junior doctors and the 'powers that be'.

Lord, give us a worshipping heart that puts you first and may all who come onto church premises feel the ambience of Jesus here.