Notices for 18^th February 2024

Prayer Ministry
Every week before a service the Prayer Ministry Team will pray for the church, the congregation and for that day’s service. On the third Sunday of each month members of the Prayer Team will be available to any member of the congregation who would like a prayer to cover a specific situation – either for themselves or a loved one when two members of the team will join with that person to pray with him or her after the service. The members of the team are Lynnette, Jeremy, Rita and Sara. Confidentiality is assured and permission will be sought to share with the Prayer Team who, will continue to pray on their behalf.

Sunday Teas and Coffees
We are looking to recruit more people to help with serving teas and coffees after the Sunday service. This is a great way to get to know others and help us build our church community, to find out more chat to one of the wardens or to Jo.

Wednesday Prayer Time
The Prayer Team will be holding a time of Prayer on the second Wednesday of each month with the next time for prayer being Wednesday 14^th February at 11 a.m. This time will be to hold in prayer the various conflicts between nations, those people affected by such conflicts, and those who are oppressed in any way together with those affected by natural disasters. We will also be holding in prayer the Church and its ministry, and members of our Church and Parish thinking of those people who are suffering in body, mind or spirit both known and unknown to us. It is hoped that members of our Church will join us for this much needed time of prayer.

Prayer Book
There is a book placed at the back of the church in memory of Lesley Lee, in which you are invited to enter the name of someone for whom you would like to be held in prayer. Please feel free to make an entry in the book knowing those named will be held in prayer by the Prayer Group.
Notices are continued on the enclosed sheet

Lent
The Coventry Diocese are offering a 5-week Lent series on Zoom:

Equip Hub Lent Series 2024

What motivates your relationship with God? What compels you to put your faith into action?

These are the questions we will be putting to ourselves and the senior clergy of Coventry Diocese over five Monday evening zoom encounters during Lent.

The Acting Bishop of Coventry, Archdeacons, and Dean of Coventry will share their passions for faith and ministry, from sharing their faith, to seeing God in the world around us. Each weekly session will start at 8.00pm and last for 45 minutes.

Date: 5 evening sessions during Lent, Time: 8pm-8:45pm

Passionate for God

You will need to register online. If you have any questions please speak with Sue Masters.

Craft and Hobby Fair
Our next Craft and Hobby Fair will be on Saturday 24th February from 1.30pm – 4.30pm at Eastern Green Village Hall. We are looking for:

• donations of books and jigsaws, including children’s.
• anything suitable to be used as raffle prizes
• donations of sweets and chocolates for the tombola
• donations of cakes
• help on the day with serving the refreshments.

If you can help please speak to Rebecca Martin in church or contact Julie on 07756 918847 or administrator@standrews-eg.org.uk. Thank you.

Tots Time
Tots time is our new Tots group for babies toddlers and their carers. The next few dates are: 22^nd Feb, 7^th and 21^st March. Pop in any time from 8.45am, finishing around 10.15am.

Volunteering and Safeguarding
All church volunteers, whether paid or unpaid, will need to be safely recruited and possibly also require a basic/enhanced DBS check. If you have any questions about safeguarding and volunteering, please speak to Julia McNaney on 07872 614688 or Rev Jo.

Donations
Should you wish to give online to support the work of the church, the link below or the QR code will take you directly to the page. It is a secure way of supporting the churches ministry. Thank you for your ongoing support. Nick Tooby.
https://givealittle.co/campaigns/eef64318-0a22-4db7-8d81-0ab3ccddf15d

Diary Dates	Time	Event
Sun 18th Feb	10.00am	Parish Communion
Mon 19th Feb	9.30am	Morning Prayer
	6.00pm	Alpha Course – week 4
	8.00pm	Worship & Spirituality Meeting
Weds 21st Feb	10.00am	Wednesday Communion
Thurs 22nd Feb	8.45am	Tots Time
Sat 24th Feb	1.30 – 4.30pm	Craft & Hobby Fair

Please send notices for next week to Julie by Thursday, email administrator@standrews-eg.org.uk or call 07756 918847

This week’s readings are:

The First Sunday of Lent

Collect
Heavenly Father,
your Son battled with the powers of darkness,
and grew closer to you in the desert:
help us to use these days to grow in wisdom and prayer
that we may witness to your saving love
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Post Communion
Lord God,
you have renewed us with the living bread from heaven;
by it you nourish our faith,
increase our hope,
and strengthen our love:
teach us always to hunger for him who is the true and living bread,
and enable us to live by every word
that proceeds from out of your mouth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

First Reading: Genesis 9:8-17
⁸ Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, ⁹ ‘As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, ¹⁰ and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. ¹¹ I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.’ ¹² God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: ¹³ I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴ When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, ¹⁵ I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. ¹⁶ When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.’ ¹⁷ God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.’
NRSVA (New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised)

Gospel Reading: Mark 1:9-15
The Baptism of Jesus
⁹ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’
The Temptation of Jesus
¹² And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. ¹³ He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry
¹⁴ Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,¹⁵ and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’
NRSVA (New Revised Standard