Weekly news 24.03.2024

Dear Friends,

This week we celebrate Holy week, see the details of our services below.

A little word 

The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord – the King of Israel!’ John 12.12-13 (NRSV)

As Jesus journeyed to Jerusalem knowing what was in store, so to do we journey through Holy week. Just as the crowds went out to meet Jesus, may we approach this week with a an expectation to meet Jesus as we travel through the different moments of the week. Just as the crowds cried ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord – the King of Israel!’ may we this Holy week be able to go on a journey to grasp more fully the reality of Jesus being King. This week, may we be able to take moments to remember this incredible story. May it challenge us, encourage us, and change us, in our walk with Christ.

Things to pray for

  • For the different services happening during Holy week in churches.
  • For our wider community in pitsmoor and the public witness of Christ Church.
  • Continue to pray for David and Mary Reid and their family, in their loss.

Sunday services 

9.15am Sunday Gathering

10.30am Morning Worship

Palm Sunday.

Readings: Mark 11:1-11.

CoGs: is meeting this week in the Welcome Centre.

Refreshments to follow after the service.

7pm Reflective

this week is a lead meditation.

Lent Course 2024 

The final week of the Lent course on Tuesdays at 1pm in St Peter’s and Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm in The Welcome Centre. The course we have been following is called ‘Watch and Pray’. We hope you have appreciated the reflection booklet or emails. We would really value your feedback on the material and the course to help with planning for next year. The reflections are based off the book by Selina Stone, ‘Tarry Awhile’ which we highly recommend as further reading.

Holy Week & Easter

Below is information about our services this week. Huw will opening the church on Good Friday for an informal chat over a cuppa about how we understand the events of good Friday. Speak to him for more information about times. Just to note the Easter Sunday Family Celebration starts at 10am so we have time for the Easter egg hunt afterwards.

Easter Egg Hunt

After the Family Celebration on Easter Sunday we will be having an Easter egg hunt for all the Church family! We would greatly appreciate any small egg donations for this. These can be dropped at church on Sunday, throughout the week, or on Easter Sunday itself. Let Will or Pip know. We hope lots of people will get involved!

Cursillo Retreat

Cursillo is ‘A movement of the Church providing a method by which Christians are empowered to grow through prayer, study and action and enabled to share God’s love with everyone.’ The Cursillo weekend is held at Wilson Carlile Centre and are led by a team of lay people and clergy, who have all experienced a Cursillo weekend themselves. During the weekend participants (known as Cursillistas) will live, worship and learn together. Talks will be given by the leaders on some of the main areas of Christian life and faith. Also throughout the weekend there are group workshops, times of prayer and quiet reflection. The next weekend will be 10th – 12th May and bookings are now open. A few people from Christ Church have been on a weekend before and I am sure would be happy to talk about their experience. Will Gowers is going to be one of the Spiritual Directors on the weekend and has been a participant a few years ago as well. For more information or to get a booking form speak to Will or Yvonne.

Coming Events

What’s on?

Tuesday 1pm – Lent group at St Peter’s, Ellesmere.

Wednesday 10am – Stay and Play in the Welcome Centre.

Wednesday 7.30pm – Lent group in the Welcome Centre.

Thursday 10am – Holy Communion in the Welcome Centre followed by coffee and Lunch Club.