Prayer for those no longer with us.

For those who have died

Almighty and eternal God,
from whose love in Christ we cannot be parted,
either by death or life:
hear our prayers and thanksgivings
for all whom we remember this day;
fulfil in them the purpose of your love;
and bring us all, with them, to your eternal joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Arrangements for Remembrance Sunday

REMEMBRANCE DAY –

We have sadly had to cancel our planned services (both 10am and 2pm family praise), as during lockdown there can no longer be any services in church.

A special remembrance day service will stream from 10:15am. Then you can watch the two minutes’ silence at 11am streaming live from the War Memorial in Mercer Park. You might also like to stand at your doorstep at 11am to share this time of national silent remembrance.

 

Remembrance Day

1st November All Saints Day 2:00pm Remembering loved ones

All Saints Day Remembrance Service

 

As well as the usual 11:00 am service Sunday service, there will also be an afternoon service where we remember our loved ones we have lost. If you want to attend this service it is important that contact the Vicar by email or phone asap, as under our present COVID restrictions have limited capacity; but we hope we can accommodate everyone that wishes to attend.

Also  please contact us if you would like a loved one remembered, so their name can be added to the list.

 

A prayer for the end of COVID 19

Prayer%20for%20the%20end%20of%20Covid%2019%20slides.jpg

By Nathaniel Xavier

Living Advent Calendars – find out more!

We have been thinking of how we might spread a little Christmas cheer and share the Christmas story in what is going to be a challenging winter.

Some other communities have done living advent calendars where people decorate a  window  in their own homes  or shops so it is like the window of an advent calendar.  One window is unveiled or lit up each day through December and people can find them using a map or view  them on Facebook.

This is something the church could co-ordinate but we need to know that there would be enough people willing to take part.  If you would like to help spread a little cheer  during this Christmastide and you are up for decorating a window, please let Revd Toby  or one of the Wardens know as soon as possible

The picture above is from one window from the living Advent Calendar at Saltaire.  https://www.facebook.com/saltaireadventcalendar/photos/a.205926309482595/3312470868828108/

Thank you

Revd Toby

Annual General Meeting update

Our Annual General Meeting, which reports on activities during the past year, took place at 7:30pm on the 13th October in church. As usual social distancing rules applied.

At this meeting we re – elected the church wardens and the deputy church warden, so Sarah McMinn & Linda Vine will serve another term of office, along with Elaine Lockwood as deputy. Representatives of the Deanery Synod were also appointed.

There is still a vacancy for PCC secretary , if you feel you have the necessary skills and are able to use  those to the benefit of the church please see Revd Toby or one of the wardens to find out more details about the post. Thank you.

 

Below are the resources from the meeting including the Powerpoint presentation from the meeting.

If you have any queries please ask.

Thank you.

 

Harvest Festival details

Harvest Festival October 11th.

 

There will be two Harvest Festival services.
Sunday at  11:00am,  you do not need to book to attend this service .
Sunday at 2:00pm Family Praise – please book via Eventbrite here.  Only book one ticket per family (not per individual).
The services will also be streamed on line as usual.
As always, food for the foodbank would be greatly appreciated, as would donations for the Bishop’s Harvest Appeal which this year is supporting Tearfund and Friends of the Holy Land.  Details are in the poster attached. Leaflet_for_Harvest_Appeal_2020
You can bring donations to church or give electronically via give a little

Thank you for your support.

“Bringing God’s love into the heart of the community”

 

School admission – faith criteria

School admissions – faith criteria
If you have a child who will be starting at school in 2021 or 2022 and will be claiming church attendance in support of your application then please read on!
Applicants for 2021:
Obviously it has not been possible for parents to attend public worship since mid-March. For Applicants for places in 2021 parental attendance at worship between Sept 2019 and March 2020 will be assessed and in giving my reference I will simply assume that you would have maintained the same pattern of attendance through to August.
Applicants for 2022:
Criteria are based on parental attendance at worship from September to August in the year* prior to application, the period now starting. However, until church is fully re-opened, without restricted numbers, we will not be able to assess attendance. I will make a clear announcement when church is fully re-opened and when we are again able to assess attendance. Again attendance over the part of year that church is fully open will be reckoned as having been the pattern for the whole year.
Joining on-line services does not get taken into account.
If you want your church attendance to be taken in account you must complete a supplementary form, available from each school or from the relevant school website. Supplementary forms for All Saints and for St James should be returned direct to the school (who will forward them to me or the relevant minister). Supplementary forms for St Christopher’s will need to be brought to me on a date to be announced.
I hope this helps
Toby Webber, Vicar
*Two years in the case of admissions to St Christopher’s

Prayer for Strength and Wisdom

For Strength and Wisdom

Thank you, Lord, for being there for me and allowing me to cry out to you in my times of need. It is amazing to me that the Lord of the Universe would take time to listen to me and to care about what I say. God, there are things happening around me right now that I do not understand. Some of these things make me feel weak, helpless and afraid. Even in the midst of this, I know that you are the Lord. I know that the situation is in Your hand, and I trust You. I beseech you for strength and for wisdom that I would be able to endure this situation and be able to handle it in a way that would bring glory to Your name. In Jesus name. Amen

Prayer for union with creation

A prayer for union with creation

Father, we praise you with all your creatures.
They came forth from your all-powerful hand;
they are yours, filled with your presence and your tender love.
Praise be to you!

Son of God, Jesus,
through you all things were made.
You were formed in the womb of Mary our Mother,
you became part of this earth,
and you gazed upon this world with human eyes.
Today you are alive in every creature
in your risen glory.
Praise be to you!

Holy Spirit, by your light
you guide this world towards the Father’s love
and accompany creation as it groans in travail.
You also dwell in our hearts
and you inspire us to do what is good.
Praise be to you!

True Lord, wondrous community of infinite love,
teach us to contemplate you
in the beauty of the universe,
for all things speak of you.
Awaken our praise and thankfulness
for every being that you have made.
Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined
to everything that is.

God of love, show us our place in this world
as channels of your love
for all the creatures of this earth,
for not one of them is forgotten in your sight.
Enlighten those who possess power and money
that they may avoid the sin of indifference,
that they may love the common good, advance the weak,
and care for this world in which we live.
The poor and the earth are crying out.
O Lord, seize us with your power and light,
help us to protect all life,
to prepare for a better future,
for the coming of your Kingdom
of justice, peace, love and beauty.
Praise be to you!
Amen.

‘A Christian prayer for union with creation’ was published in Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’.