#337: Upcoming Events to Honour the Queen
Events, Services and Notices on the death of the Queen
St Paul’s is still open, as always, between 10 and 4 for anyone to come in, pray, breathe and reflect. The Book of Condolence is by the main door as you come in and there are candles to light in the Prayer Area (front left of Church). The Paschal Cande is lit throughout the week as a way of remembering Her Majesty and the Resurrection hope, the Easter hope, which she built her life on.
The 9.30 Service at St Paul’s on Sunday, and the 11am at St Nick’s, will have a strong Requiem Mass feel and a clear focus on the Queen in thanksgiving for her life and our shared membership of the body of Christ. A number of people asked for a copy of Cara’s sermon on Sunday morning focusing on the Queen and how we feel in the wake of her death, and it is here:
St Paul’s is hosting the Civic Commemoration Service at 7pm on Sunday evening, concluding in the National Minute’s Silence. It is a great privilege to host the service and it will need a lot of people to help with things like welcoming people and ensuring that the Church is ready to hold the service. If you are able to help with things like being on the door please could you let the obvious person know! (This replaces Choral Evensong this month). Please also listen out for a quarter peal rung by our bellringers before the service.
We are planning to screen the funeral from 10am on Monday morning in St Paul’s Church, as long as there is interest in that. If you would plan to come along to view and pray through the funeral in St Paul’s, please could you let Louise know in the Office (church.office@spauls.co.uk) before Midday on Friday the 16th so we know if it is going to work or not as an idea. We will send out another email on Friday to confirm if there has been enough/any interest or not. It just feels that it would be very appropriate to be part of the funeral in Church, and to be with other people on a day of such national significance.
Cara is leading a Quiet Day for the parish and others on Saturday the 24th of September at Winnersh Church- it will be brilliant- do come along and do invite your friends.
And don’t forget to sign up for the Choir trip to Tewkesbury on the 1st of October- Rhoda needs to confirm numbers soon.
Other dates for the Diary
Thursday 15th September at 8pm: The first part of the Discussion Group on the Creeds, in the Rapsey Room (upstairs in the Parish Rooms). Car parking might be limited- do please share a lift if you can- and do turn left as you come into the Car Park to park.
Saturday 17th September: Throwing sponges at the clergy has thankfully been cancelled as a mark of respect, but the Market Stall for Spaceforall at All Saints is still going ahead. Do pop along, pick up a leaflet and say hello to our friends there. 9-3pm.
Tuesday the 20th of September: A new Series on Elijah in the Tuesday Night Bible Study started last night. If you would like to come along next week then it’s not too late- 7.15-8.30pm, we’ll be looking at Exodus 20:16 and 1 Kings 16:29-17:16. And the zoom link is Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86147623913?pwd=ZCtpcEg1M2NrM2xERGcwaVZBbHlZdz09- and the notes from Cara and what she said last night are here:
Wed the 21st of September sees the first in the weekly in-person 5,6,7, 8 Group in the Parish Rooms (upstairs) from 6.30 to 7.15pm. It is aimed roughly for people in those School Years and is a great chance to meet together, have fun and dig into St Luke’s Gospel. Do come along or speak to Esther for more details.
Other Notes and Ideas
Bertie is off on a quiet holiday so the Church Office will be closed on Friday the 23rd and all of the following week. If you need anything doing in that period, please could you get it to Louise, Bertie’s Personal Assistant, in good time. Thanks.
The September Lucky Numbers draw took place quietly on Sunday 11th September before the 9.30 Mass at St Paul’s.
The lucky winners were:
£50 No. 58 Yvonne-Pett Ridge
£25 No. 92 David & Janet Charlton
£15 No. 65 Diane Tuck
£10 No. 29 Ann Mayers
The draw takes place monthly at either St Paul’s or St Nicholas’s. One share (number) costs £24 per year. Funds remaining after the prizes have been distributed go to the Restoration Fund, for repairs and renewals to the church building. For more information please contact Tony Roberts (979 5351), Liz Gallagher (989 1176) or Mary Cassidy (979 5096) – or in person at church (Mary at St Paul’s, Tony or Liz at St Nicholas’).
This is a short video from the Diocese of Newcastle, using words from people who have been abused in a Church context, to help us think about how we can show people that we are there for them, and will make the time to listen and to listen well: (2225) IITYWWYD Safeguarding Video: Would you show me that I can trust you? – YouTube
