As in previous years we are running an appeal throughout the Harvest season for donations of food and cash to support Lichfield Foodbank. The appeal will begin with the Charity Concert on Saturday 6 September for which tickets continue to be available – please see the separate notice for details - and end with the Harvest Thanksgiving Service which this year will take place on Sunday 12th October at 10.00 am. All of the offering taken at that service will go to the appeal. Donations of food can be placed in the box at the back of Church and cash donations can either be put on the plate on a Sunday, or in the donations box just inside the main door. Please put in an envelope marked ‘Harvest’, and if you are a tax payer please use one of the green Gift Aid envelopes. The card machine will also be available for donations at Sunday services. The need remains very high, and in the three months to the end of June the Foodbank provided bags containing several days’ worth of food in support of 1343 adults and 563 children. Thank you for your continued generosity. It is enormously appreciated by the Foodbank and those in receipt of the food donated / purchased. Nick KilfordAlrewas PCC Treasurer
RAISE THE ROOF – THE ROOF HAS BEEN RAISED!As we look forward to celebrating Easter later this month, I am delighted to confirm to you that the essential Nave Roof repairs were successfully completed on 21 February bringing to a conclusion a 5-month project and giving this section of the church roof a new lease of life.The project ultimately took 5 months to complete which was longer than expected due to the builders encountering some unforeseen challenges which increased the scope of the works and the time needed. Nevertheless, the project was still brought home within budget after allowing for such contingencies.In total the costs of completing the work came to c£103,200. Of this amount c£83,400 was met from donations and legacies, with the balance covered from fund raising events, grants, bank interest on funds raised, and reserves. As a consequence of the success in raising funds, the call upon PCC ring fenced reserves was more modest than anticipated. This leaves us in a strong position to deal with any new building issues which may arise (a significant and ongoing risk with an ancient Grade 1 Listed building) and / or a good base from which to work if in due course it is decided to replace another section of the roof.The roof is in three sections and the repairs that have been undertaken have been to the section that was in the poorest state of repair and where water was coming in during periods of heavy rain and storms. Of the remaining sections, one is in a good state of repair and the other will need to be replaced in due course which will require a further round of fundraising. However, it currently remains watertight and therefore is not something that needs to be addressed in the short term. We will continue to be guided by our surveyor as to the respective timescales.The PCC would like to extend its huge thanks and appreciation to the many individuals and organisations who have supported this project, which was vital to securing for all the community the future of the beautiful Grade 1 listed building that is All Saints Church. Given the large number of donations received it was not possible to send individual thank you letters but every amount given, whether small or large, is appreciated enormously.Finally, now that work has been completed, we will be turning our attention to how we are going to mark the occasion, to include recognising donors and the dedications they requested with their gifts. Further news in relation to this will follow in due course.Nick KilfordTreasurerAlrewas PCC
I don’t know if you have delved into any of the Church of England ‘Live Lent’ series of articles? These stimulate a bit of thought and reflection in this journey through Lent and are worth exploring. This week The continuing theme has been ‘hope’, reflecting the challenges we face in the story of our lives. One of the reasons Songs of Praise on BBC TV has been one of the longest running series of its genre (over 60 years) is that it shared extraordinary stories of ordinary people. Most of us are not called to be great orators but all of us have a story to tell – our own story. And those stories of life, faith and experience draw in those who hear them. Sharing our story touches peoples’ hearts; it is what generations of followers of Christ have done over the centuries. You tell your story not just for yourself but for others; you can be the inspiration others need and welcome.The story of Holy Week reaches its climax on Good Friday and we celebrate Resurrection on Easter Day. I find that the last part of the journey, from Palm Sunday through Maundy Thursday and Good Friday is always very poignant. We have acknowledged, in the news, in the churches and in our lives the 5th Anniversary since the pandemic began and we were in lockdown. Many still feel that this was their Good Friday and the trauma has not ended.The resurrection story is not only about Jesus; it’s also a message about how God acts – about how God is present in risen life now – life that is transformed by God’s love. God creates our faith now –and we can write our own stories and tell of our own experience like Mary and those first disciples. But it is simply because of this – that God was revealed in Jesus there and then- that we can encounter God here and now. Those of us who have not been through the tragedies and hardships some are forced to endure are sometimes tempted to celebrate Easter Day without expecting there to be a Good Friday. Jesus knew it could not be so. For some, Good Friday never seems to end.The message of resurrection is that ‘Christ is not here’, inhabiting the realm of the dead, “for he has been raised” and stands alive for hope in new and transformed life. We live as Easter people, not by our achievements or our power or status, but by the exchange and gift of our broken selves in our shared lives together, and by the grace of God which still, over 2000 years since that first resurrection morning, has the power to touch and heal and bring new life. Easter Day celebrates that gift of new life and is truly experienced over and over again, not in perfect lives, untouched by doubt and never graced by loss and despair, but in broken lives, poured out in love and sacrifice.May we have hope in our hearts this Easter time, to inspire others with our stories. I hope that your journey through Lent is a productive one and wish you all a very happy Easter and the hope of better things to come…… Loving God, every person we meet has a story to share. Help us to take the time to listen, to pay attention, and to be enriched by what we hear.Risen Christ, for whom no door is locked, no entrance barred: open the doors of our hearts,that we may seek the good of others and walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace,to the praise of God the Father. Church of England Alternative Collect Easter 2Rev'd Elizabeth Wall Associate Minister
Notice of Preparation of new Electoral RollEvery six years the church Electoral Roll has to be completely recompiled and 2025 is such a year!To meet with requirements, every person who is on the current electoral roll must reapply by using the official form. The Notice and the Application Forms can be downloaded by clicking on the links below.You can print it and complete at home, scan and email to Jen Matthewman at warden@alrewasallsaints.churchAlternatively, completed forms can be dropped off at church or post through Jen's door at 23 Park Road Before 31st January a notice will be put up in church and on the main noticeboard outside church detailing the requirement. There will also be a notice placed on the church website and on our Facebook page. If you can please help to spread the word to let everyone know that they need to reapply and to take a few moments to complete the forms for yourselves we would be hugely grateful!Please note that forms must be received by 31st March
