Sunday 1st March Lent 1
8.00am St.Mary’s 1662 Said Morning Prayer
Darren Clarke
9.15am St.Mary’s Communion
Andy Norris/Darren Clarke
10.30am St.Mary’s Church Alive
Andy Norris/Steve Dent
11.15am St.Francis’ Communion
Humphrey Prideaux
6.30pm St.Mary’s 1662 Evensong
Paddy Trasler
Thurs 5th St.Faith’s Communion
Erica Wilkie/Tim Watson
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CORONAVIRUS & CHURCH WORSHIP
We’re guided to come to church worship and activities and to continue as normal.
Current advice from Public Health England to the Church of England (26th Feb): In places of worship, there is no need to avoid other worshipers who are well or to change normal faith practices – this includes taking wine from the communal chalice. Public Health England recommends that you should take usual infection prevention precautions including:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. This is particularly important after taking public transport.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- If you feel unwell, stay at home, do not attend work or school.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home and work environment.
HAND GEL
As an extra help in keeping hands clean we’ve provided hand gel in St.Mary’s – near the entrance and on each coffee station. Please use them around food and before shaking hands in church (such as The Peace), thanks.
TAKING COMMUNION
Contrary to advice from a number of years ago, established guidance is ‘do not dip’ the bread in the chalice. We know this does not seem logical but science has proven dipping increases infection risk and, also, transfers allergens. The CofE guidance says that those taking communion are either welcome to sip from the chalice or, we’re told, it is fine not to take the wine at all, just take the bread. We’re sorry about this, but thank you for helping.
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GROWING, FELLOWSHIP & EATING
Acts 2v46: ’They devoted themselves… to teaching, fellowship…
prayer…and ate together with glad and sincere hearts’
#LIVE LENT Live Lent as you receive daily reflections,
actions and prayer from the CofE with a focus on ‘care for God’s creation’. Sign up at www.churchofengland.org or get the App!
LENT COURSE ‘On The Third Day’
‘On The Third Day’ starts on Weds 11th, five sessions exploring the resurrection for today. We will be running two groups in St.Francis’ Church at 10.30am to noon or 7.30pm to 9.00pm. All are welcome. Please contact Steve Dent Steve especially seeks a few more to join him in the morning !
CONNECTIONS Thurs 5th Feb
Coffee and activities morning for Seniors from 10.00am -11.30am in the Scout HQ,
Clayhall Road. Every 1st/3rd Thurs.
WOMENS’ BRING & SHARE SUPPER Friday
St.Mary’s Informal Ladies Evening (SMILE) invite you to a relaxed evening on 6th March in the Parish Centre for supper; simply bring a dish to share together. Hope you can come.
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PARISH CENTRE REGENERATION events
- Mar 24th – Coffee Morning
Sea Shanties, Fish n Chips & Pud night!
Get your tickets now for 25th April, £12 earlybirds from the Parish Office or £15 after 18th April. It will be full, so don’t delay!
NEW CHRISTIAN AID WEEK CO–ORDINATOR?
On behalf of us all we’d like to thank Philippa Harrap and Peter Ford for having kindly coordinated our Christian Aid Week fundraising over the past few years, thank you. They’ve enabled us to deliver the envelopes around the parish and raise a significant sum for those in need. It’s now time to seek a new coordinator or pair – if this is something you might consider exploring then please have a word with either Peter or Philippa, or Andy, thanks. Christian Aid Week is 10th-16th March 2020.
FAIRTRADE FORNIGHT Until 8th March
Order your fairtrade Easter Eggs through Peter and Julie Fieldsend, our parish Traidcraft reps who’d be pleased to help you with information and provisions. email: traidcraftstmarys@gmail.com
JOIN OUR SUNDAY WORSHIP TEAMS…
Thank you to all who serve our Sunday worship in so many ways. We currently seek to strengthen teams (often rotas). We want people to be blessed in ‘serving’ where they’ll be happy and where it will be an offering of their gifts to God!
4 HOSPITALITY TEAMS
Meeting and greeting, looking out for people and offering our hospitality is central to our being able to express God’s love and welcome to all. Could this be you? Please see Kathryn Clarke.
SINGERS/MUSICIANS
We’re needing to vocally and instrumentally boost both our worship band and orchestra, seeking more vocalists to give a lead to singing at Church Alive. If you could join these then please have a word with Anne Beazley (Band Wed fortnight rehearse) and Paul Pilott (Orchestra rehearse Sat morning monthly).
AV PRESENTATION TEAM
Please see Bill Lock if you enjoy ‘technology’ and could operate our AV Laptop or help build the Sunday presentation during the week. We use ‘Mediashout’ software and seek the tech savvy! It’s fun keeping up with the musicians but without this ministry…
CHILDREN & YOUTH TEAM
Kate Smyth would be pleased to chat to any who’d be happy to join the rota to help in hosting our activities for children, thanks.
BRODRICK HALL BUILDING ‘MANAGER’
We’re indebted to Ken Greenwood for ‘caring’ for the Brodrick for over 30 years, but who has now ‘retired’. If anyone could join our small committee in order to ‘keep an eye’ on the building (which is generally good now) then please have a word with Andy Norris.
SCHOOL SUMMER HOLIDAY LUNCHES
Could we provide a team of volunteers for three days during one week, to help provide lunches as part of TLG (Transforming Lives for Good) in partnership with the Bay House/Brune Park schools? Gosport churches are being asked to host one week each during the summer holidays in two fixed venues (Rowner & Elson). If you’d like to know more please have a word with Andy Norris, thanks. This would serve students who rely on school meals, and their families through the hungrier weeks of school vacations.
OPEN DOORS & FOOD RUN The Open Doors project for the homeless has been very successful and it is hoped to continue with a regular ‘drop in’ and by extending the original evening ‘Food Run’. If you’d like to help at the food run then please contact Emma Anderton as she seeks to build a team, thank you.