|
Bible Study Housegroups
Last month a member of our
congregation wrote about the positive experience she enjoyed
from being a member of one of the discussion groups last year.
These groups are formed on a short-term basis to study a particular
topic and the next course starts in the week beginning 11th April
2005.
The groups will run for 5 weeks
and we will study part of St Luke's Gospel. According to Luke,
the 50 days from Easter to Pentecost are a unique period in the
history of the Christian faith. We will study this period using
an excellent booklet (costing £7.20) entitled The Lord
is Risen! This offers the opportunity to see the story of the
resurrection and Ascension of Jesus and the gift of the Holy
Spirit through the words of Luke.
It is envisaged that the discussion
about the Gospel will last an hour and a half and that tea/coffee
will be offered afterwards to those who would like to stay on
for a chat.
Times for the groups are:
Monday 7.30-9pm
Tuesday 2pm
Wednesday 10am and also 8pm
Saturday 9.00am
Please join us.
Please collect a booking form
from the foyer and return it to the Vicar as soon as possible.
We look forward to seeing you.
EMMAUS COURSE
This is a basic course to understand
Christianity and the meanings of Life. Why not put the dates
in your diary now and take this opportunity to undertake this
introduction to the Christian faith. It starts on Monday April
11th at 7pm with a meal. The course will last for 12 Monday
evenings. For more details or to find out mode please speak to
the Vicar. Course details will also be in the next St John's
News.
MOTHERS' UNION
The Mothers' Union is a Christian
worldwide organisation and has recently been very active in trying
to deal with poverty, both in the United Kingdom and around the
world. However, it is also very active in Crowthorne (often behind
the scenes). We meet twice a month, on the first Tuesday evening
at 8pm and the second Wednesday afternoon at 2.15pm. We try to
have a varied programme to appeal to all members. For instance
this month on Tuesday 1st March we once again welcome
Dr Peter Brandham who will talk and show slides and his subject
this time is "Namaqualand Spring". He
usually has some wonderful slides and is a very interesting speaker.
Then on Wednesday 9th March our own Don and Nella Burnside
will talk about their South American travels.
The Mothers' Union help with
the Talkabout crèche and lunches, they provide the simnel
cakes and posies for Mothering Sunday, the refreshments for the
Mother & Toddler mornings and have been involved in various
projects. At the moment members have been knitting squares which
have been made up into blankets for the Duchess of Kent Hospice.
A new project is to knit small jackets and blankets for the premature
baby unit at the Royal Berks Hospital. They have also offered
to get involved with projects for Woodmancote and more details
will be available later. The Crowthorne Branch also gets involved
in Deanery projects and recently made kneelers for the Chapel
at Broadmoor Hospital, which were very much appreciated. They
organised the cake stall in aid of the Tsunami appeal raising
the sum of £163.55.
There is a prayer meeting
on the 3rd Monday of every month at 9.30am (this month on
21st March) and usually Corporate Communion on the 4th Wednesday
of every month at 10.00am both in the Lady Chapel, although in
March there will not be a Corporate Communion, as the following
day is Maundy Thursday. So you can see - quite an active Branch.
Visitors are always welcome, so why not come along to one of
our monthly meetings on either the first Tuesday at 8pm or
second Wednesday at 2.15pm? |
MAY FAIR
Have you got 2 May marked in
your diary? We're having our major fund raising/community event
on the Recreation Ground. Planning has already started but your
ideas and support are needed. The May Fair Committee would like
your suggestions.
Helpers: They will be looking for help to man
stalls. Could you please help even if it is for a short time.
They're also collecting names for setting/cleaning up teams on
the day.
Raffle: This is our most important fund-raiser. Raffle
tickets will be sent out to every parishioner. We'll also sell
tickets in the High Street on Saturday mornings. Please offer
your support for this important lead in to the event.
Plant Stall: This major fund raiser's success has been
partly due to the support received from parishioners who sow
extra seeds, divide plants and take cuttings. Now is the time
to plan those extras!
White elephant: As you spring clean can you remember to
keep suitable items on one side to be sold at the fair.
Sponsorship: Does your employer sponsor staff who volunteer
for charity events (eg matching contributions)? Such sponsorship
has given a significant boost to the fair's returns in the past.
Could you see if you could do this. Alternatively could your
employer donate a raffle prize or other item for the fair or
advertise in the programme?
With your help let's make
the 2005 May Fair a community success and a major boost to the
Church's finances!
WOMEN'S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
10.30am Friday, 4th
March, Methodist Church
The speaker will be Rev Marina Brain and the theme for 2005 will
be Let our Light Shine, written by the women of Poland (please
note that there is no evening service this year). |
Mothering Sunday
6th March 10am Family
Service
with Simnel Cake and Posies
A non-Communion service for all the family
Do invite your friends and neighbours |
FAIR TRADE STALL: In March the stall will open on Sunday
13th March after the 8am and 10am services. It will also open
on Monday 14th March at Talkabout and Wednesday 23rd March at
Mothers & Toddlers.
Spring Clean: The annual spring clean is being held
over until the current works are finished. A date will be fixed
later year.
St Patrick's Day Market:
This CTC event will
be held on Tuesday 15th March 10am-noon at the Methodist
Church. Christine Rees would welcome gifts of Toiletries for
the St John's stall.
PRAYING FOR HEALING: Prayers will continue every Friday
at 6.15pm in the Lady Chapel. Please do join us if you would
like to or let us know of any further prayer requests either
by placing them on the Prayer Board.
Social events
Celebrate St Georges Day (Saturday 23rd April) with supper at
St John's. We would be delighted with offers from any younger
members of the congregation who would like to entertain with
music or verse.
There will be a theatre visit
in May, details to come.
In June the Patronal Festival
and Barbecue will be held on Sunday 19th June. Our guest will
be the Bishop of Gloucester.
The Life of Christ
An Open Air Play in Three Acts
Saturday, 2nd July 2005
10:00am - 5:00pm
Please see the notice
in the foyer for more details
and sign up if you are interested in attending.
|
|
