#467: Look to the future!
Time travel and Mothering Sunday
This Sunday is Mothering Sunday and also the clocks go forward, meaning a very real chance that some of us will be late to church! But late, early, on time, catching up on the livestream, everyone is welcome. Revd. Canon Bruce Ruddock will be celebrating our joint St Paul’s and St Nick’s All Age Mothering Sunday service, 9.30am at St Paul’s.
The organ music will be:
Before
Peeters – Ave maris stella (op. 75, no. 9)
Anthem
Mozart – Laudate Dominum (K 339)
After
Bach – Final movement from Concerto in D minor after Vivaldi (BWV 596)
And a reminder that:
We will be making posies for Mothering Sunday on Saturday 29th March at 10.00 a.m. in Church. Flowers are supplied but foliage is needed. If you are unable to make posies but have foliage please leave at the back of Church.
Sue Davenport
PLEASE NOTE: My email address has changed to: davenport.se@outlook.com
Stations of the Cross
A reminder that every Friday during lent we have Stations of the Cross at St Paul’s. 12 noon. Each week is led by different people and so there are different reflections each week, and it is chance to journey with Jesus to the cross. Last wee, Cara used the poem reflections by Malcom Guite, which are attached for those who would like to reflect.
Easter Lillies
There will be an opportunity to purchase Easter Lilies in memory of a loved one again this year. The cost is £3.00 per lily. If anyone would like to purchase a lily, please let me have the donation and name of the person by Sunday13th April. Any other donations towards the cost of the Easter lilies are always very welcome. Donations can also be left at the Parish Rooms.
Many thanks
Sue
Coffee and Chat help
We have a group on a Friday afternoon in the parish rooms, Coffee and Chat, which is there for all who need some company, tea, coffee, cake, jigsaws, a quiz. Are you able to help with the setting up please, namely putting up tables and chairs? If so please be there at about 1.10pm, any help would be very much appreciated, thank you.
Lucky Numbers
Lucky Numbers is a monthly draw (previously called Spire 2000), which was launched in 1997. The money it raises is dedicated in providing a fund for restoration and renewals work at St Paul’s. Fifty percent of the total income from the sale of its shares is distributed as prizes to the first four winners of each draw throughout the year, and all remaining funds will go towards this restoration and renewals fund.
As time goes by, it is inevitable that the number of participants declines naturally, and the draw now requires more shareholders to the number required to sustain the current monthly prize structure of £50, £25, £15 and £10. Each share in the draw costs £2.00 per month and the total number of shares is unlimited so you can apply for as many as you wish.
The draw takes place monthly, at either St Paul’s or St Nicholas, Emmbrook.
Should you wish to take part in the draw to both support our parish church and enjoy the chance of being a winner, please contact Mary Cassidy at St Paul’s, Tony Roberts at St Nicholas, Emmbrook or Liz Gallagher also at St Nicholas. Tony Roberts can also be contacted by phone on 0118 9795351 or 07810 643770. We look forward to hearing from you.
he Lucky Numbers draw for March took place at coffee after Communion at St Nicholas on Sunday 23rd March 2025.
Many congratulations to the lucky winners:
£50 No. 53 Mike Darlison
£25 No. 89 Janet & David Charlton
£15 No. 17 Frances Self
£10 No. 40 Liz Gallagher
Organ Work
The organ pedal renovations have now been successfully completed, making the action of our historic instrument more reliable, less noisy and responsive to play. Thanks again to all who donated so generously towards the cost. A summer organ recital is now being planned, with further details in due course.
Electoral Roll Revision – Deadline 31st March!
Every six years there is a complete revision of the Electoral Roll and this process is due to take place this year, when all names and addresses will be deleted from the existing roll and a new one will be prepared. If you are on the current roll, you should receive a communication inviting you to reapply; please contact me or the Parish Office if you think you are on the Electoral Roll but have not received this communication.
Anyone who lives in the parish or is a regular worshipper at our churches is eligible to apply.
St Paul’s or St Nicholas’ Church on a regular basis are positively encouraged to do so, in order to engender a feeling of solidarity within the parish. Being on the Electoral Roll makes a statement of belonging to and identifying oneself as part of the Church.
In addition, the Electoral Roll is the parish’s record of those qualified to attend the Annual Parochial Church Meeting and to vote in elections to the parochial church council (PCC) and the deanery synod, and to raise any questions regarding the church and parish. In this way, you help to ensure that the PCC, your Deanery Synod, the Oxford Diocesan Synod and the General Synod are fully representative of the Church members.
Anyone wishing to take an official post within the church, such as sidesperson, must have his or her name on the Electoral Roll. Likewise, anyone wishing to stand for election to the PCC or Deanery Synod must have had his or her name on the Roll for at least six months prior to the election and be an ‘actual communicant’ (Rule 54i of the Church Representation Rules).
Application forms are available in church and can be obtained from a sidesperson, from the Parish Office or from myself, or can be completed online by going to: https://spauls.co.uk/electoral-roll/.
The closing date for application to the Electoral Roll is 31st March 2025.
Teri Austen
Electoral Roll Officer
The Deanery needs a new Treasurer. Could that be you?
If you would like to know more details, please email Lynne Piane on treasurer.woosehillchurch@gmail.com
It is not an onerous job, in 2024 only 30 transactions went through the accounts. Everything is online, no trips to the bank.
If you would like to put your name forward, please email Rev Julian Bidgood on julian.bidgood@abch.org.uk or John Sutton on laychair.sonning@gmail.com
