#428: more maths… complete the puzzle by adding in the correct symbols
Dear friends, I hope that you are well and enjoying the sunshine and that your necks have relaxed after spending all of the dark hours over the weekend craning your necks to see the northern lights. I am still not convinced that they really exist and that they were visible from Berkshire because I was out there for hours and saw nothing at all. Which is proof- proof I tell you- that they are simply the creation of an overactive phone filter. or evidence that mice are colour blind. And very short. And not able to see over the grass let alone the treeline…
Anyway, to cheer all of us up, here is the news…
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Don’t forget the exciting Christian Aid fundraising fair and coffee stall in the Parish Rooms on Saturday morning and lunchtime. Trish and Alan from the Social Committee have asked this: please could we have some more cakes for the cake sale on Saturday- people can just drop them off alongside an ingredient card on the morning- all offers will be gratefully received. Thanks.
Sunday the 19th of May is Pentecost Sunday– please come along in colourful clothing- and St Paul’s is taking a ‘team photo’ at the end of the service, primarily for the Parish Profile but also for part of Fr Richard’s Leaving Present, so do please come along and do wear something bright. (Woosehill and St Nick’s will take their photo on a different day).
Then we host the Deanery Confirmation in the evening at 6.15pm. Please do come along to support Toby and Jane and the other candidates if you can. And thank you to those doing refreshments after the service for their hardwork and energy.
This lecture on the 6th of June will be excellent. Everyone who heard Chris last year will be very keen to hear him again. Do talk to your friends and do bring them along too because it will be an informative, challenging and encouraging evening. And it will be fun too.
Notices and News
Update on the new hymnbooks All the full music copies have arrived as well as the plastic jackets for all the hymnbooks. Unfortunately the publication dates for the other editions has been delayed, so they are now hoping to publish the words only edition at the end of June and the remaining editions ‘in the summer’. So, it looks like being the autumn before we can use the new hymnbook. Lesley Ruddock
Books for Ukraine
My cousin’s son regularly drives items to Ukraine and has good links with groups there. He is currently gathering children’s books to help the children learn English. If you happen to have any spare, for any age range, then please put them in a bag with my name on it at the back of church and I can pass them on. I will be meeting him on 1st June. Thanks for your help. Jean Vaughan
The Parish BBQ will be on Sun the 23rd of June- Fr Richard’s last weekend in the parish on Sunday the 14th of July with the only service in the parish that day being the 9.30, followed by two events in the afternoon- games and picnics and relaxation on St Paul’s Junior School Field from 2.30 to 4 and then coffee and cake in the Parish Rooms from 4 to 5. Everyone is welcome to both and people of all ages will enjoy either and both.
Sandhurst are hosting this evening on Saturday…
MEET THE ARTIST – an evening with Tom Butler
Saturday 18th May, 7-9 pm
at St Michael’s Church, Lower Church Road, Sandhurst GU47 8HN
Tom is a local professional artist whose work is sought-after nationally. He specialises in painting scenes from major cities around the world, as well as coastlines and harbours, using mixed media/collage. He will be speaking about his career, technique and work, with examples on display.
Entrance (including complimentary glass of wine) £12 adults, £6 under 18/students. Win a limited edition print worth £475 or colour book of Tom’s work in our prize draw (£5). All proceeds to the St Michael’s Church Spire Appeal.
For more info, and to buy tickets, visit www.stmichaels-sandhurst.org.uk/tombutler
PRAYER FROM THE 2024 CHRISTIAN AID WEEK SERVICE (ThemeExtraordinary Love)
God our comforter,
Source of our hope,
Be present to us today.
Unite us as we worship.
Give us ears to hear the Good News of your abundant, transformative love.
Stir up in us a prophetic voice, that we may proclaim the coming of your kingdom.
Inspire in us the courage to serve you in word and deed,
as together we build a world free from poverty.
Amen.
Lucky, lucky numbers
The Lucky Numbers draw for May took place after the cafe church meeting at St Ncholas on Sunday 12th May 2024.
Congratulations to the lucky winners:
£50 No. 46 Michael Dyer
£25 No. 25 Jean Vaughan
£15 No. 70 Margaret Davies
£10 No. 69 Pam & Tony Roberts
The Lucky Numbers Draw raises funds for repairs and renewals to the church building. Funds remaining after the distribution of the prizes go to the Restoration Fund for this purpose. It is not too late to subscribe for 2024 – a number of vacancies for new joiners have arisen this year!
One share (number) costs £24 per calendar year; you can have as many shares as you wish, paying annually or monthly by Standing Order. For more information, please contact Tony Roberts (979 5351), Liz Gallagher (989 1176) or Mary Cassidy (979 5096) – or talk to Mary at St Paul’s, or Tony or Liz at St Nicholas’.
An Important Notice on the 8am Service
Until the end of August, the 8am service will be on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. After that, it will move to the 1st and 3rd Sundays because of the way the rota falls and when people are available. We are confident that we will be able to resource one service by extension every month and one 8am with a priest each month. Do please speak to a Warden or the Office if you have any questions or thoughts about this, or about anything to do with the vacancy.
These are the Sundays we have in the plan until the end of 2024:
May 12th & 26th
June 9th & 23rd
(No service on July the 14th because everyone will be together at the 9.30am for Richard’s final Sunday in post).
July 28th
August 11th & 25th
September 1st & 15th
October 6th & 20th
November 3rd & 17th
December 1st & 15th
Richard’s Sermon for Ascension Day, for those who are not sure what it is all about, and everyone
Prayer in the forthcoming vacancy
Message from Mary Cassidy, Deputy Warden for Spirituality and Mission: As May begins, so the date of Fr Richard’s departure draws ever closer! Changes obviously lie ahead, for the Lamey family as well as for our parish and the responsibilities of the leadership team.
Over the next months, prayer — for the Lameys, for Peter and David our Wardens, for Cara, Jane, Judi and other clergy who will be stepping in to help with services, for the PCC and the whole parish (St Paul’s, St Nicholas’s and Woosehill), for the recruitment process, for the Deanery … — will be vital.
I encourage you all to “add in” an extra, focussed prayer element to your normal routine.
Pray as you can, not as you can’t, but some suggestions to consider that may help draw us closer together in prayer include:
- Join a prayer group, e.g. from June 5th on the first Wednesday of each month at 3.00pm at Jane Creasy’s house (for about an hour)
- Join Morning prayer: Mon, Wed and Thurs at 8.30am on Zoom (Meeting ID: 753 2006 4518 Passcode: 024453)
Tuesdays and Fridays at 9.00 in St Paul’s Church
- Arrange a regular prayer walk with a friend or two around the parish, praying for the area, the people who live there, the right applicants for the post of Rector …
- Arrive early for Mass and spend those extra minutes praying specifically for the parish
- In your House Group or Tithing set aside some extra time to pray together for all the above needs and groups
If you have other ideas for corporate or individual prayer routines, do share them! The coming time of “interregnum” or vacancy can be a very positive time of growth, both individual and as the body of Christ.
mary.cassidy@spauls.co.uk
