10th January 2016 Epiphany 1
A warm welcome to worship in
THE PARISH OF ALVERSTOKE

St.Mary’s ✢ St.Faith’s ✢ St.Francis’

Devote yourselves to prayer,
being watchful and thankful. (Col.4v2)
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Sunday’s Worship across the Parish:
8.00am St.Mary’s BCP Communion
Revd Humphrey Prideaux
9.15am St.Mary’s Morning Prayer
Revd Andrew Norris
9.30am St.Faith’s Morning Worship – Joy
Darren Clarke
10.45am St.Mary’s Church Alive Communion
Revd Andrew Norris
11.15am St.Francis’ Morning Worship
Darren Clarke
6.30pm St.Mary’s Merbecke Communion
Revd Humphrey Prideaux
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Sunday’s Principal Bible Readings:  Colossians 4v2-6 & Luke 19v1-10

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OUR JOURNEY – Growing deeper as Disciples
This Thursday 14th January at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre. The next session of our church growth course, followed on 21st January with OUR HEART – developing worship that helps the church to grow.

Acts 2v46: ’They ate together with glad and sincere hearts’
LADIES BREAKFAST
Next on Saturday 23rd January at 9.00am in the Parish Centre – with Pam Marsden speaking about being a JP. £6 book in advance with the Parish Office.

BRING & SHARE SUPPER
A simple Bring & Share supper for all in the parish. Join us in the fellowship of eating together on Thursday 28th January from 7.00pm in the Parish Centre. Come, meet and make new friends – ending with some prayer. A great warm up for the ‘The Prayers of Jesus’ which continues on the following weeks…

Acts 2v46: ’They devoted themselves… to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship… and to prayer’
THE PRAYERS OF JESUS
Following on from the Bring & Share Supper above, our Pilgrim evenings will return for 6 sessions on ‘The Prayers of Jesus’ from Thurs 4th Feb to 10th March at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre.

STUDY THESSALONIANS
Our fortnightly Thursday Bible Study restarts for the spring term on 14th January at 10am until 11.30am in the small lounge in the Parish Centre.  We shall cover Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians, thought to be the first letters that Paul wrote to the fledgling churches around the Mediterranean following the death of Christ.
Everyone is welcome.

REGULAR SMALL GROUPS – BFGs
There are five Bible Fellowship Groups which meet regularly for friendship, Bible Study and prayer. Please check the website under ‘courses’ for details or chat to the clergy.

Acts 2v43&47: ‘Everyone was filled with awe… Praising God’
MESSY CHURCH
Thursday 28th January at 3.30pm in the Parish Centre – for primary aged children and their adults. Bible based crafts, games, worship and hot supper.

iNViTe in SPRING 2016
Join our contemporary worship on the fourth Sunday evening of each month in St.Mary’s at 6.30pm.
24th January: With Fareham Community Church
28th February: With CoGS Church, Crookhorn
27th March: Easter Celebration with our own band.

CHORAL EVENSONG AT CANDLEMAS
Sunday 31st January at 6.30pm in St.Mary’s.

CHRISTINGLE
Celebrating the Light of Jesus’ love for the world…
St.Francis’ Church at 11.15am on 17th January.
St.Mary’s Church at 10.45am on 31st January.

TAKE CONTROL THIS NEW YEAR…
1)      New Year’s resolution :- must be in control of my money (rather than vice versa)
2)      January’s credit card bill just arrived…
3)      Even worse, so has the store card.
4)      Tell your money where to go rather than try and work out where it has been.
CAP Money Courses provide the antidote with a free Money course over either 2 or 3 sessions of 2 hours, or drop in to any session for a ‘taster’.
Dates    Monday 24th January, 1st and 8th February             1900-2100
Friday 11th and 18th March 1130 – 1330
Venue   The Waterside Centre,  South Street, Gosport.
Book by either:
The CAP website: www.capmoneycourse.org
Phoning Kim Beazley 02392 521 391 or 07779 084288
Phoning Alex Norman  07771 680900

AT ST.FRANCIS CHURCH Christingle service 17th January at 11.15am followed by a bring and share lunch.  Enquires to Joy 92588520. St Francis Social Event Saturday 18th February at 2.30pm.  All welcome.  Tea and cakes.  Entertainment from a clarinet.  Donations towards the new back fence.

2016 SPRING HARVEST & NEW WINE
Last Easter 18 adults and teens went to Spring Harvest. Spring Harvest follows Easter at Minehead Butlins whilst New Wine is at the Bath&Wells Showground from 23rd July (Check the websites). They are both great events for adults and for families. If you are interested in going along with others then please liaise through the clergy – thank you.

REVD TIM WATSON (Leesland Pioneer Minister)
It is with great pleasure that we announce the appointment of The Revd Tim Watson as our Leesland Pioneer Minister (subject to normal administrative legalities!).

Tim will be joined by his wife Clare and their two young daughters: Evie (6) and Lucie (3). Tim was ordained in 2011 and comes to us having established a new pioneering community in Nantwich, Crewe.

It is anticipated that Tim will be licensed to the parish by Bishop Christopher just after Easter. Our Pioneering post is a permanent ‘vicar’ appointment and the family will make the vicarage in Carlton Way to be their new home. Please pray for Tim, Clare and their family.

DID YOU KNOW…
YOU CAN REMEMBER LOVED ONES
with a CANDLEMAS CANDLE on 31st January and in the Candlemas memorial book.
If you would like to donate the cost of a candle in memory of a loved one, please complete the form at the back of St.Mary’s and return it to the Parish Office with your £2. Your loved one’s name will be entered to the special memorial book.