#342: excellent value when it comes to anything at the supermarket
Hello again, dear friends! This is the photo I took last year of the All Souls’ Day Service (2nd of November). It is a bit wobbly you might notice- but then I am only a little mouse and it was a big camera and I did a very good job of holding it in the circumstances. The camera was very bossy and the words kept saying “Hold Still” and I did my very best and my muscles were aching and this was the best photo I could take. It is a lovely service and I am really looking forward to the next one, on Wed the 2nd.
Anyway, I had better get down to business- this is going to be an email for the next TWO WEEKS because it is my turn to be Chancellor of the Exchequer next week and I have been told that I will be too busy going back on everything this week’s Chancellor decided to be able to use a computer because that sort of thing makes you busy- normal service will return on the 2nd of November… Wish me luck!
Services and Events
We are keeping Bible Sunday this week, in thanksgiving for the gift of Scripture. Hannah Higginson is coming from All Saints to do our 8am, and then there are services as usual at 9.30, 10 and 11.
CLOCKS GO BACK ON THE 30TH OF OCTOBER- and we will be keeping the feast of All Saints at St Paul’s and St Nick’s with services at 9.30 and 11, as well as a Service at Woosehill at 10.
The All Souls’ Day Service will be at 8pm on Wed the 2nd of November. Please do talk to Teri or Andy if you would be able to help light candles in the Churchyard beforehand, or be in the churchyard to talk to people who come to see the candles. And do please stay for the service if you can, and do invite your neighbours- it is always a beautiful and reflective service and people always find it helpful. There will be tea or coffee afterwards as well, in the Rooms.
And a reminder of the Missional Vocational Statements we agreed for St Paul’s and St Nick’s a few years ago as part of the PMC Process which are meant to guide and shape our decisions and common life:
“Shaped by God in the Eucharist, we are called to make the richness of his love known to everyone in the community” (St Paul’s)
and
“Exploring through relationships and worship how God’s love is creating and sustaining communities in Emmbrook” (St Nicholas’)”
Other Things to Note
We are putting the Band back together- the Church cleaning band, that is. If you have a spare hour a week or fortnight then you can either just come into Church and clean a section, or come along when Teri is organising a day. Do speak to her to find out more! Important and fun as well.
The excellent sermon from Dr Jonathan Dean at Evensong on the 16th of October is available to listen to here: Sermon Series – St Paul’s Parish (spauls.co.uk)
We want to go back to delivering Christmas Leaflets to the parish this year as a way of inviting people to come along to services- it feels very important to do this after the last few years when people have not really been able to come because of Covid. The habit might have been lost and so we need to make it as easy as possible for people to come. Do please tell people what is going on and deliver a few leaflets to neighbours and friends- do let Louise Cole know that you would be willing to deliver a few roads and do also let Louise know if you would be happy to help put the round together too. Thanks.
Volunteers needed… to be School Governors, and on the Parochial Church Council, and to help oversee the finances of the Parish Rooms. Do speak to Richard if you would like to know more- or offer to do something else- or speak to Bertie. He can be quite persuasive though so you might want to stick with Richard.
The October draw took place on Sunday 16th October after the 11:00 Communion service at St Nicholas. The lucky winners were:
£50 No. 18 Jane Creasy
£25 No. 36 Ann Eggleston
£15 No. 65 Diane Tuck
£10 No. 61 Liz Gallagher
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’).
Finance
Following on from last week’s note on our financial situation, which is obviously something we need to focus on since we are facing a small deficit on the year and rising costs, there are obviously other things you can do to help beyond joining the Parish Giving Scheme, which everyone should do if they are already regular givers to Church. If you have other ideas about how we can increase our income (especially our regular income) and reduce our expenditure, please let Bertie or Lyn know.
Planning your funeral
This is not a note for everyone but… in the past I have often encouraged people in November, when there is so much focus on mortality, to think about their own funeral and plan it. It is not morbid to think about our lives and to think about how we would like our funeral to go. As Christians we should be ok with thinking about death, because we have hope. It can be a helpful personal activity to reflect on your own life and to help to shape the way people will mourn for you- but, most of all, it is an amazing gift to your family. It makes a difficult time easier, it gives them confidence that they are doing the right thing and it takes some decisions away from them at a time when there is so much to decide. If you would like to think about this then Richard and Jane would be very happy to help- or you could just read through the form and let us have a copy of it when you’ve finished it.
