Wednesday 14 August 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It was good to see a good number of you last Sunday and we hope to see many of you this coming Sunday. As the holidays come to an end and children go back to school, there are many activities starting up again in church. Please do pray for these and support them where you can.

Back to School Pizza and Movie Night
James and Sandra are organising a fun pizza and movie evening for young people in the church hall, THIS Friday 16th August, 16:30 - 21:30 (see the attached flyer).
Please can anyone who is coming let Sandra or James know by August 11th.
Please do pray for this event, for Sandra and James, and the young people involved.

Men's Group Breakfast
The next Men's Group breakfast will be on Saturday 17th August, 9.30am, in the Upper Hall.
This is good opportunity for fellowship, Bible study, reflection and prayer (in addition to breakfast!). Those who are on the regular mailing list of this group will know about this meeting already. But all men in the church are welcome.
Please let James know if you would like to come.

Children's Activity Day, 24th August
We still have some places left for this Activity Day on the theme of 'God Feeds Us'.
The day will run from 10:00 - 14:00, and will include outside games, crafts, baking and singing as well as Bible stories and activities based on the theme. The day is for children aged 3-12. (NB: children between 3-6 need to have a parent with them).
Please let the office know as soon as you can about any children who would like to come.

Please also pray for all our regular activities: lectio divina, Junior Church, House Groups which have all started up again after the holidays.
And please pray for all those who work hard in our church serving in many different ways (church wardens and council members, T Com, musicians, servers, readers, intercessors, Junior Church teachers and youth leaders, House Group leaders, welcomers and sidespeople, pastoral care team, safeguarding officers, gardening team, events and coffee organisers, and Maria in the office).

Malcolm Guite
I know that many of you very much enjoyed Malcolm Guite's Songs and Sonnets evening. Several people have said that they would like to order one of his books, or listen to more of his poetry.
If you want to know more you can find out through the links below.

https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/blog/
a link to Malcolm's blog with his poems and an audio link so you can listen to him reading them.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXat06LvIYIyE2SpV_IuVjA
His Youtube channel

https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/books/
A list of all his books

If we want to order any books via him, we can ask him to sign them and post them out to us. Sue is happy to co-ordinate a joint order if that is required. If you are interested in ordering one of Malcolm's books, please let Sue know.

I leave you with one of Malcolm's poems.

Heaven in Ordinary
Because high heaven made itself so low
That I might glimpse it through a stable door,
Or hear it bless me through a hammer blow,
And call me through the voices of the poor,
Unbidden now, its hidden light breaks through
Amidst the clutter of the every day,
Illuminating things I thought I knew,
Whose dark glass brightens, even as I pray.

Then this world's walls no longer stay my eyes,
A veil is lifted likewise from my heart,
The moment holds me in its strange surprise,
The gates of paradise are drawn apart,
I see his tree, with blossom on its bough,
And nothing can be ordinary now.

With love in Christ,
Helen