Dear Friends
Here is the news for this week.
A little word
You are my hiding-place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance… Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him. Psalm 32.7,10(NIV)
This Psalm came up in MP this week, it’s one of my favourites. It is all set in the context of forgiveness. In the Psalms ‘the wicked’ is shorthand for those who oppose God. The Psalmists often mix up the present and future tense too. Things that are eternally true they claim for now. So clearly it would not be true to claim that those who follow God never see trouble, and yet we can feel God with us, we are aware of God’s love, and we can find a strength and purpose even in trouble.
Things to pray for
- Give thanks for times you have felt God support you in difficulties.
- For the people of Turkey & Syria and all those helping them.
- For students, school staff and families as they have a half-term break.
Services
Sunday Gathering at 9.15am
Holy Communion at 10.30am.
This week’s readings are: Matthew 6.25-34
Refreshments to follow.
Sunday evening at 7pm.
Reflections on faithfulness.
10am on Thursday
Holy Communion is now in the Welcome Centre, followed by Lunch Club.
Turkey-Syria Earthquake appeal
Please consider making a donation to the appeal following the tragic events of this week. You can do it here DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal | Disasters Emergency Committee or if you would like us to forward it, pop it in a clearly marked envelope in the church collection box.
A message from Sara
Ever since the early years of Christianity, the Church has been sending people out and this is (for me!) a heart-wrenching and exciting announcement that the time has come to kick me out of the nest! I’ll try to express my enormous thanks for all your love and all your teaching over the last few years + say what I can about the ‘what next’, but would you please join me for a bring and share lunch after Bill and my last Sunday, the 19 Feb. starting about 12 noon.
Sara’s farewell
Many of you will want to express your thanks to Sara for her time with us. We would like to give her a gift. If you would like to contribute, either send it to the bank in the usual way, or drop it in the offering box, or pop it in the vicarage post box. Please make sure you use the words ‘Sara gift’ as a reference or on the envelope to distinguish it.
Giving
A reminder that there are many ways to give financially at Christ Church. You can give by Direct Debit through the Parish Giving Scheme or by Standing Order into our bank account (these are particularly helpful if you are a tax-payer). You can give each week in the collection box as you come in, either by envelopes or just drop your cash in. If you would like info or help Bernadette (treasurer) or Karen (gift-aid coordinator) would be happy to talk with you.
Coming soon – Lent
Lent starts on Ash Wednesday 22 Feb. We will have a service in the Evening. We will be using the Dust & Glory 40 days of readings from the CofE. Paper booklets and a phone app are available. If you would like to meet, we will have a discussion group on a Sunday Evening at 6pm before the reflective service.
Keeping up
Reminders of contact details:
Maureen (for admin queries). office@pitsmoor.church, 07765 232789.
Pip (for everything else!). vicar@pitsmoor.church, 07799944436.
Earlier news
Previous editions of this news update are on the website if you can’t find it in your in-box.