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Dear Friends
This month begins with Education
Sunday and ends taking us into our
Lent considering Discipleship: Life
on the Frontline. So maybe it’s
appropriate to ask you: who’s your
teacher?
Followers of Jesus (disciples) are
those who are learning to obey all
Jesus taught us (Matthew 28 v 20)
Jesus sometimes scolded his
disciples for calling him their
Teacher and Lord, but failing to do
what he said (Matthew 7 v 21).
If we are to follow Jesus as true
disciples then it is from him we
must learn:- learn who we are and
why we are here on earth, learn
the quality of character and life
and God wants us to live and
enjoy, learn the specific actions he
has for us to do as live day by day
in obedience to him.
Make Jesus your teacher. Make
this month one you learn from
him.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for
the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9(NIVUK)
February 2015
Biddulph Churches Together warmly invite you to
A Service ofA Service ofA Service ofA Service of Prayer and Prayer and Prayer and Prayer and CelebrationCelebrationCelebrationCelebration
for all involved in Education
Education Sunday
1st February at 4.00pm St. Lawrence’s Church, Biddulph
Refreshments will be served after the service
Next month we’ll be running an great new course which we’d love EVERYONE to consider taking part in.
“Life on the Frontline” gets us to consider where we each spend most of our time = our frontline (home, family, work, community groups etc.) It then encour-ages us to consider how God can use us where we are.
A 6 week course equipping whole-life disciples
Tuesday evenings (8pm starting 24th Feb)
Groups for everyone in all walks of life h
Thursday afternoons (1.30—3.00pm)
(for parents and those who perhaps work part-time, hopefully
with a crèche) h
Sunday evenings (8.00—9.30pm)
(principally for those who work fulltime we’re looking to run this in a pub!)
There is
an old Christian tradition that God sends
each person into this world with a special message
to deliver, with a special song
o sing to others, with a special act of love
to bestow. No-one else can speak
my message, or sing my song,
or offer my act of love.
These are entrusted only to me.
Church Notices February
Sun 1 EDUCATION SUNDAY 4.00pm Service of Prayer and Celebration 4.00pm Alpha Course 3
Mon 2 8.00pm Parish Leadership Team
Tues 3 11.00am Fabric Committee
Wed 4 8.00pm Together to Pray
Sun 8 3.00pm Mill Hayes Residential Home Service 4.00pm Alpha Course 4
Mon 9 7.30pm Deanery Synod
Tue / Wed Home Groups
Sat 14 9.00am Men’s Breakfast
Sun 15 4.00pm Alpha Course 4
Wed 18 10.00am Ash Wednesday Communion Service
Sun 15 4.00pm Alpha Course 5
Mon 23 5.30pm Children & Communion Working Group
Tues 24 10.30am Ladies Bereavement Group 8.00pm Lent Course in Church
Thu 26 1.15pm Friendship Club 1.30pm Life on the Frontline (church)
March
Wed 4 2.30pm Ladies Fellowship 8.00pm Together To Pray
Sun 22 8.00pm Life on the Frontline (pub)
Regular Sunday Worship
Youth & Children’s Groups (termtime)
Mon 5.30pm NRG (school years Reception—4) £1.00
Tue 1.30 pm Kangas’n’Roos (Pre-school children) £1.00
Thu 7.00pm 10:10 (school years 5-8) £1.00
Church Prayer Chain
If you have a need that calls for immediate prayer then please contact Revd Lindsay Clowes : 514413 or email: [email protected]
Midweek Worship
Wed
†
10.00am Midweek Service (45—60 mins)
8.30am Mon, Thurs & Fri Morning Prayer (30mins)
Sun 9.15am. Traditional service. 11.00am. Informal service with children’s groups. 6.30pm. Quieter, reflective service.
Fancy Going to Syongila? If you are interested there is a planning meeting at Keith & Meg Jones’s house at 7.30pm on Tuesday 3rd Feb.
♦
The Ladies Fellowship starts up again joining the Ash Wednesday Communion Service at 10am on Wed 18th Feb and meeting in the Parish Room at 2.30pm on Wed 4th Mar. All Ladies Welcome.
♦
The PCC has recently produced a new Mission Action Plan which have been giving out (it’s a green leaflet!) Please make sure you have a copy for your information and prayers.
♦
If it would help you to use a LARGE PRINT
service book or hymn book then please ask a sideperson. There are copies of both at the back of church.
♦
Does anyone have experience of filling in grant application forms? We are looking to make some grant applications for funding towards new church hall windows and doors. Might you be able to help? Please speak to clergy, the church office or a churchwarden.
♦
This month sees the start of Fairtrade Fortnight (23rd Feb – 7th Mar). As a Fairtrade church the PCC recently decided to begin using fairly traded com-munion wine. Why not consider how you can de-velop your commitment to helping people out of poverty through buying fair-trade?
♦
St Lawrence’s runs a number of children and young peoples groups, all in the church hall. NRG - (Reception - Yr4) Mondays 5.30pm - 7pm; Kangas N Roos (Pre-school group) Tuesdays 1.30pm - 2.45pm; 10:10 (yr5-yr8) Thursdays 7pm - 8.30pm. Finders, Seekers and Transformers - meet for children on Sundays during the 11am service
♦
Could all CROSSLINK boxes be handed to Cynthia Dale for emptying Please?
♦
Alison Talbert’s latest prayer letter is available from Les Cradleton or back of church.
♦
Please note there is no 6.30pm evening service on Sunday 1st February. Join us at 4.00pm for the Service of Prayer and Celebration if you are able.
♦
At St. Lawrence’s we have homegroups that meet once a fortnight in people’s home. 6-12 peo-ple gather to study the Bible, pray and support one another. Homegroups continue meeting in Jan & Feb before we all join together for a shared Lent Course starting Tues 24th Feb, 8pm.
♦
Together to Pray
Wed 4th Feb
8.00pm in Church
Christians in Politics
On Mon 9th February
the Leek Deanery Synod meets at Milton Parish Church at 7.30pm.
We welcome a guest speaker from “Christians in Politics” who will seeking to help local churches engage with the political agenda prior to May’s General Election. If this an area of Christian witness that’s on your heart then please come along.
Friday 23rd—Monday 26th May Cliff College Festival is an excellent weekend of worship, teaching, fellowship and laughter,
with great children’s and youth work.
If you would like to join the group going from St. Lawrence’s download the booking form (and child
registration form). Return with payment to Jo Timotheus by END OF FEBRUARY when we’ll send them all off together. If you want to know more ask Martin, Trevor or one of the many people who went
last year! www.cliffcollege.ac.uk/festival
Men’s breakfast Meets 2nd Saturday of each month. It does exactly what it says on the tin, an informal place to
enjoy a good cooked breakfast, have a chat, listen to a talk about anything from fishing to motorbikes and maybe make a few new friends. Contact: Gez 513891
Next Gathering February 14th 9am
Healing Rooms A number of people from St. Lawrence’s have benefited from receiving prayer at Costa Coffee in Congleton and Talk through the ministry of Na-tional Healing Rooms. There is some thought to offer such “healing Room “ prayer in Biddulph. If you might be interested in exploring this pleae contact Veronica Mee 07511 593330 or Revd. Derek Balsdon 513246.
On Ash Wednesday February 18th
There will be the opportunity to spend time in prepa-
ration at the beginning of Lent.
Feel free to come for all or just part of the day
10.00am A Service of Holy Communion
including the imposition of Ashes
11.00am tea/coffee and a chance to chat
11.30 am time for reflection and discussion
12.30pm a light lunch will be served.
1.30pm a further time of
reflection and discussion.
170
160
157
We have just 13 new chairs
available for sponsorship. A
donation of £125 to cover the cost
of a chair can be accompanied by
your choice of Bible verse
and dedication on the
brass plaque. Call the
Church Office for
details. 513891
If you would like to save paper then why not subscribe to CONNECTIONS on the church website
www.biddulphchurch.org.uk/connections Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/biddulphchurch
Praise God for
The trust he places in his people when he calls us to follow Jesus
The presence and power of the Holy Spirit given to equip us
Please pray for
Courage and confidence in following Jesus
Weddings: the Marriage Preparation Day on 7th March
Baptisms: Olivia Ford and Luke Smith
Funerals: the bereaved family and friends of Irene Machin, Joan
Nixon,
Those who are unwell incl: Ernest Davies, Shirley Baker, Joan Draisey,
Rosemary Pepler, and others known to you
Our churchwardens, PCC and those responsible for church fabric and
finance
Contacts
The Church Office
(01782) 513891
Parish Assistant (Gez)
Martin Cannam (Vicar)
513247
Trevor Raaff (Curate)
513891 / 07707 023769
Lindsay Clowes (OLM Curate)
514413
Adam Post (Youthworker)
513891 / 07792 584490 [email protected]
www.biddulphchurch.org.uk
Prayer
Can you help with food?
Thank you to all who have been supporting Cathy White’s sister Leslie and her family. Having been forced to flee Zimbabwe when the offices of their charity “Give them Hope” were threat-ened by government authorities Leslie, David and their 5 children have been staying with family in Biddulph prior to moving on to Canada. Donations of food can be made to Cathy or to the Church Office.
Reminder to those who attend NRGReminder to those who attend NRGReminder to those who attend NRGReminder to those who attend NRG
Mon 9Mon 9Mon 9Mon 9Mon 9Mon 9Mon 9Mon 9thththththththth Feb 5.30 Feb 5.30 Feb 5.30 Feb 5.30 Feb 5.30 Feb 5.30 Feb 5.30 Feb 5.30pmpmpmpmpmpmpmpm ~ 7 ~ 7 ~ 7 ~ 7 ~ 7 ~ 7 ~ 7 ~ 7pmpmpmpmpmpmpmpm
In the ChurchIn the ChurchIn the ChurchIn the Church with lots of Fun and Games…with lots of Fun and Games…with lots of Fun and Games…with lots of Fun and Games…
Bring along your carers and families too!Bring along your carers and families too!Bring along your carers and families too!Bring along your carers and families too!
Sunday 1st March
(and Sunday 20th September)
This year we are going to hold two Gift Days inviting people to give towards specific aspects of the church’s mission and ministry.
Over the two Sundays we are looking to raise
£20,000 Please pray for God to inspire the same generosity amongst us that
we saw during the Fit for Service re-ordering project. We’ll be looking to fund aspects of overseas mission, youthwork,
maintenance on the church roof and outreach. We also want to begin gathering money to enable us to replace the rotting windows and
doors in the church hall, sometime later this year.
