Trust an unknown future to a known God
Our 2024 Memory Verse
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6-8, NIV
Cynthia Brown
Thank you to all those who helped with Cynthia’s service and funeral tea afterwards. For anyone who was not able to attend the service, it was recorded by Caroline and Rachel and is now on the Church website under Services/Recordings
Praying for Peace
St Nicholas’ Church will be open between 9:30 and 10:00 for prayer for peace in Ukraine and between Israel and Palestine/Gaza on Mondays 15th, 22nd and 29th April, weather permitting. If in doubt phone Joy (625545).
Prayers for CMJ
- Please pray for people to hear the truth about Israel and Gaza, as verified independently, rather than naively believing everything on the news – especially the figures.
- Pray for CMJ still supporting Christians in Gaza and those in Israel who are traumatised by the last six months – a bigger problem than you might think!
- Pray for the CMJ staff who have temporarily been stood down from the Israeli Army to return to family and jobs and for those still serving.
- Pray for a peaceful solution to be found swiftly for all concerned.
- Above all remember Israel is God’s land and this is a spiritual battle which many Churches completely fail to understand.
- For Pedro in Tel Aviv Jaffa. Pedro is in great need at this time – the Lord understands this.
- For Aaron Eime and his family moving from Israel to the UK to head CMJ UK.
Friday 19th April - Quiz Night and Fish & Chips in St Nicholas’ Church.
Starts at 6:30. Teams of up to 6.
£10 including fish and chips. Bring your own drinks.
Please see Caroline to book and pay.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting
This will be held on Sunday 21st April in St Nicholas’ Church after the service.
The APCM will be available on zoom using the same code as the morning service.
Documents relating to this meeting will be emailed out next week.
Wednesday 24th April – Coffee and Cake Evening
This will be at 7:30pm in St Nicholas’ Church. See the attached flyer.
GoMAD!
In June Lyn & Rich Star will be volunteering in Tanzania for 2 weeks with the charity Go Make a Difference. GoMAD is a small independent charity which helps people in some of the poorest regions in East Africa.
Lyn & Rich were introduced to GoMAD by Heather Johnstone our CMS partner. GoMAD volunteers are a major income stream for Rehema so they will be able to visit & support the Rehema project during their stay.
Lyn and Rich would greatly appreciate our prayers. They will be telling us more in the All Together Worship Service on Sunday 28 April.
Saturday 18th May - Village Table Top Sale and Jigsaw Challenge
This will be in St Nicholas’ Church and tea and cake will be available.
“Mary The Mother of Jesus” - Saturday 6th July
The world premiere of this new musical will be taking place at 6:30 in Clarence Park Baptist Church. See the attached poster.
Wells Cathedral Parish Pass
The Cathedral has announced changes to its admission guidelines with free passes for parishioners in the Diocese of Bath and Wells and a new entry charge for tourists. You can apply for a free pass, provided you are on our Electoral Roll, by completing the application form, which needs to be countersigned by Mark as Incumbent or Jim or Lynn as Churchwardens. The form should be handed in at the Cathedral Welcome Desk to obtain your pass.
A copy of the application form is attached. If you have difficulty printing it please tell Mike Perrin by replying to this email.
Services
Sunday 14th April – Holy Communion in St Nicholas 10 a.m. live and by zoom
Third Sunday of Easter
1 Peter 1:17-23 Luke 24:13-35
Snickers in the Church Hall
Wednesday 17th April Holy Communion in St Barnabas live and by zoom
Timothy Joins Paul & Silas
Acts 16:1-5
Sunday 21st April - Holy Communion in St Nicholas live and by zoom
Fourth Sunday of Easter
1 Peter 2:19-25 John 10:1-10
Snickers in the Church Hall
APCM in Church after the service
6 p.m. Prayer Meeting in St Barnabas
Wednesday 24th April Morning Prayer in St Barnabas live and by zoom
Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia
Acts 16:6-10
Sunday 28th April – All Together Worship in St Nicholas live and by zoom
Count Your Blessings including a special presentation by Lyn & Rich Star
The next Parish Update will be produced on Friday 26th April.
Please pray for:
Elizabeth Anderson
Jim and Ann Butt
Rene Eaton - Rene was well when visited and quite chatty.
Maureen Hobbs – pray for Maureen Hobbs at St Barnabas. Maureen has terminal cancer and has also been suffering from water retention. She thanks us in advance for our prayers.
Malcolm and Edna Hunter
Angela James – pray also for Angela’s son Sean, that he will recover fully from the injury to his eye socket
Ada Keeley
Paul and Barbara Lewis
Jim and Annabel Loring - pray for God’s ongoing protection on Jim and Annabel.
The Madeleys
Thanks for a happy family time over Easter and prayers for Rachel returning to University, Ben preparing for his GCSEs, Caroline returning to school and ongoing issues for Mark – Cardiologist appointment on 23rd April.
Stella Middleton
Gwen Purnell
Mac and Pam Reid
Jo Scott – Jo is having trouble with her teeth after dental work in January.
Peter and Val Tullett - Peter was taken to Weston Hospital on Tuesday as he was in a lot of pain in his hips. Pray that he will be able to be treated as an outpatient, as when he was recently in hospital his mobility declined greatly and Pater and Val were just getting back to normal.
Ted Warren
Jeff and Joy visited Ted two weeks ago (at the Bramley Unit at St Monica's in Sandford). Ted appreciated the visit and knew who they were, then he fell asleep again.
Lyn and Rich visited Ted this week. He was very tired but they were able to have a brief chat. He said he misses everyone at St Nick's & sends his love.
St Barnabas Part-Time Lay Pioneer Minister
There is enthusiastic and prayerful support in the Locking Deanery Mission and Pastoral Group for the post that we want to see created for St Barnabas. Mark is taking the lead for this initiative. Keep praying that there will be good progress.
Lyn & Rich Star – preparing to go to Tanzania in June with GoMAD.
Heather Johnstone
The Clarkes
Pedro Santos for his ongoing survival in Tel Aviv Jaffa and for his ministry to people seeking shelter from missile attacks. Pedro is in real need at this time. Please pray for the Lord to intervene.
“V” in the Republic of China Taiwan
Please continue praying for Alison Giblett, Anya and Pastor Valery (who work with CMS in Ukraine). If you are using the CMS prayer lines, note the prayers for them on 4th to 7th April.
An extract from Phil and Sylvie Good's Thank You letter:
"Dear praying friends, it has been 6 months since we both returned from the Middle East and Beirut and our time of mission with CMS has now come to an end. We have been grateful of your support throughout that time. There have been many challenges to overcome and your prayer has helped us through them. The region is a difficult area to work in with great inequality and complex, often antagonistic attitudes to the Christian Faith.
When we set out we felt we should live in the poorest area of Beirut, where the church we were seconded to was ministering. This was quite a challenge, but God was faithful and we thrived there. This place of dwelling was an important part of our ministry, which was not based around meetings or buildings, but was really about Sylvie visiting, and could only work in the spontaneous random way possible when you live amongst the people you are encouraging.
What next? You may ask. Please continue to pray we sell our house.
What to do with ourselves? I, Phil, have a couple of volunteer options helping with CMS and other organisations working globally and Sylvie will help out with refugee resettlement programmes wherever we are.
Thank you again and again for all your love and prayers and gifts. It has been a joy to partner with you all in following God. God bless you all.”
Contact Details
Mark’s contact details are mark@mibtravel.co.uk and 01934 620156.
Our Church Wardens
Jim: 01934 644623 or jim@annabelloring.plus.com
Lynn: 01934 813763 or lynnmarypack@gmail.com
The Pastoral Team
Pauline Farley 415401
Edna Hunter 270938
Angela James 07792 133403
Barbara Lewis 07773 087439 (mobile preferred to landline 633655)
Joy Realff 625545
Parish Office
Duncan is normally in the Parish Office at the following times:
Mondays and Wednesdays 09:00am - 2:00pm
If you need to contact him please telephone (01934 641863) or use email - stnickswithstbs@hotmail.co.uk
Please note that the Office will not be open on Monday 15th and Wednesday 17th April, as Duncan is on holiday.
Instagram and Facebook
Our churches now have an Instagram account, which Rachel has set up. The address is st.nicholas.with.st.barnabas (no capitals)
Our Facebook page can be accessed through this link: https://www.facebook.com/StNicksandStBs/