The alternative collect prayer for the third Sunday of Lent:Eternal God, give us insight to discern your will for us, to give up what harms us, and to seek the perfection we are promised in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. SERVICESSunday 8th March St Andrews: 10.00 am Holy CommunionSt Thomas: 10.00 am Morning Prayer St James': 11.15 am Morning PrayerSt Peter's: 11.15 Holy Communion AND: 4.00 pm Church for All with Holy CommunionWednesday 11th March10.30 am Team Holy Communion Service at St Andrew’sSunday 1st March: Mothering SundaySt Andrew's: 10.00 am Parade ServiceSt James': 11.15 am Holy CommunionSt Peter's: 11.15 Morning Prayer AND: 4.00 pm Church for AllBible Readings Sunday 8th March: Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42 Sunday 15th March Mothering Sunday: = preachers choice Sunday 22nd March: Team Service Luke 10:25-37 Sunday 29th March: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-end, Matthew 21:1-11 News Visit to St Andrew’s from Northway Primary School’s Year 4 children Just to let you know that on Wednesday 18th March we are having a visit ahead of our regular Wednesday Holy Communion Service from the year 4 children from Northway school. They are visiting as part of their RE Curriculum to learn a little bit about Holy Communion with Rev Simon, and then, as part of a local community support focus that they have, they will be distributing ‘bags of kindness’ that they have kindly made to us, and singing a song that they have been learning. Anyone is very welcome to join us for this, but it would really help if anyone planning on coming could be there at St Andrew’s by 10.15am, so just slightly earlier than normal! The Holy Communion service will take place as normal when the children leave us to walk back to school.St Andrew’s Boiler & Fabric Fund AppealSt Andrews PCC Treasurer, Dave Sherman, would like to thank everyone who contributed to the boiler appeal. The final total was £38,750, plus a £10,000 legacy, versus a target of £35,000, which is an amazing response! Everyone who identified themselves should have received a thank you card from Dave. For those who preferred to remain anonymous, Dave and the PCC would like to express their deep gratitude. And just to say, as a reminder, the money raised over and above the boiler costs is a really good start towards the major expenditure that is coming our way in the not too distant future to deal with fabric works on the stonework and roof! For details of how you can donate, please click on this link: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/6950/news/168487/boiler-fabric-fund-appeal/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPhjJpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEePnvK36XS2Z7peTgzBdNrDFQp9KA5lzjpnEgnhVCa2Pi9I45v2O4X-OwjbJw_aem_E2NgryhsAPwYN6gagcqSvgLent Booklets Just a reminder of the Lent reflections booklets that our Deanery of churches has put together with a short one-page reflection for each day of Lent based on the set lectionary Bible Readings for each day. The reflections are written by a range of lay people and clergy, and just help with a good focus on God and our faith through this special season of Lent. There are copies of this booklet at each of our churches, but do let Rev Simon know if we have run out anywhere and we’ll see if we can get more.Confirmation There will be a Deanery Confirmation service on Tuesday 28th April at 7.30pm. If you have not been confirmed and would like to be, or at least would like to know more about it, then please do chat to Ian or Simon about this.Parish Giving Scheme The new system is now available to access. Should you at any time require information, please contact your parish representative, or contact PGS directly by Post: 76 Kingsholm Road, Gloucester, GL1 3BD; Phone: 0333 002 1260 or1271; Email: info@parishgiving.org.uk; Website: https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/Weekly Giving Envelopes at St Andrew’s Church: For anyone who has Weekly Envelopes and is near to requiring a new box for 2026 please let Geoff Walker know 0151 526 5366 / 07724881207 Thank You.StampsA request from St Thomas’ for your used stamps, as they are collecting them to support training guide dogs. Please do pass any you have in to your church, and the clergy will ensure they get to St Thomas’. Thank you.Request for Wool Donations - also stuffing material for toys & pillowsWool donations for our craft and chat group wld be very gratefully received! Whether whole or part balls of wool, any colour etc. Also, at the moment, donations of stuffing material for toys & pillows would be much appreciated. If you are able to drop off to the craft & chat group between 12.30 and 2pm on Thursdays at St James’ Church Green Lane, that would be great, but collection can easily be arranged. Please contact Pat Dunbar by text message on 07795147109 or email at patcol@blueyonder.co.uk Thank you! WEEKLY EVENTSCraft and Chat: every Thursday 12.30pm until 2pm at St James in the fellowship room. Knitting, crocheting or any craft, you are assured of a very warm welcome so please do come and join us. PatHot lunch, tea and cakes every Thursday afternoon at Melling Tithebarn……12.00pm to 2.00pm. A plate for donations will be available. You are assured of a very warm welcome so please do come and join us. MONTHLY EVENTSSt Peter's Tea and Scones: everyone is welcome to join us for tea and scones on the first Friday in every month from 2pm-3pm. Please note that due to a clash with the World Day of Prayer service on 6th March and Good Friday on 3rd April, neither of these normal 1st Fridays of the month are possible and so there will be a combined March / April gathering on Friday 27th March, and then a return to the 1st Friday of the month in May. Expect lots of friendly chats and live music by our resident Michael with his keyboard. Prayer & Worship - monthly get together Each month we are going to be gathering for a time of prayer & worship together at St James Church, Green Lane. This will be a relaxed and informal time, but led and with songs, reflection on passages of scripture, pointers / themes for prayer etc. This is following on from the Prayer Course that a number of us did through Lent & Easter time, but is absolutely open to everyone, not just those who came to that course. The next of these will be on Wednesday 18th March, 7.30pm and we would be delighted to see you there. Please do speak to Rev. Simon or Claire Sherman for any further information.Bereavement Support: at St Andrew’s Church. Further enquiries, and if there are any particular requests for bereavement support, from anywhere across our 4 parishes, please contact St Andrew’s Parish Office 0151 531 8972. Other noticesBulletin items for inclusion Please send an email to revsimonelliott76@gmail.com stating ‘for bulletin’ in the email ‘subject’ box / email title by midday Thursday of the week you’d like items included.Foodbank: the Foodbank is based at St George's United Reformed Church on Northway opposite Iceland, on Tuesdays 10.00am-12.00 noon.Tins, packet foods and toiletries are always useful. They will gratefully receive donations from 10-12 on Tuesdays at St George’s URC on Northway (easiest access is via the car park on Larchwood Avenue). Alternatively please do drop any donations off before Tuesday on the vicarage doorstep at 23 Green Link. Thank you.CONTACT DETAILSPlease contact us…If you know anyone who would like to receive this emailIf there is anyone who needs prayer If you know anyone who needs a phone call Contact details:Revd. Ian Hopkins 07914 505437 or ianfee100@gmail.com Revd. Simon Elliott 07919 464348 or revsimonelliott76@gmail.com
