Notices

Christingle
Join us this Sunday for our Christingle service at 10 am. It will be a chance to celebrate together and think about Jesus as light of the world. We will also have a collection for the Children’s Society. 

Monday Morning Prayer
There will be no morning prayer this Monday.

Wednesday Service
Our midweek communion will be a service of morning prayer. 

Ash Wednesday
Wednesday 14th February is Ash Wednesday. We will have a service of communion with the imposition of ashes at 6pm. All are welcome. 

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.

Service of Prayer
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.

Tots Time
Tots time is our new Tots group for babies toddlers and their carers. The next few dates are: 8^th and 22^nd Feb, 7^th and 21^st March. Pop in any time from 8.45am, finishing around 10.15am.

Time to Pray 2024
We invite you to join us to pray together for our mission and witness for 2024. The first Saturday in the month will be a time to come together to pray and to listen to God as we think about what God is calling us to be and do as a church, within our parish and also beyond to the new estate. We will meet in church at 9.30am on 3^rd February and 2^nd March. There will be coffee and pastries available after the time of prayer. Sue Masters, susanmasters@skycom

Flower Rota
The 2024 Flower Rota is at the back of church. I have made it a two-weekly rota to help with finances. If there is a specific date on which you would like to have flowers in the church (if that date is not already listed, just let me know or write the date and your name on the bottom of the rota). As last year, I can do the flowers for you, or you can source and arrange the flowers yourselves. Julia McNaney.

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.

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
Sat 3rd Feb	9.30am	Time to Pray
Sun 4th Feb	8.00am	Said Communion
	10.00am	Worship for Everyone – Christingle
Mon 5th Feb	6.00pm	Alpha Course – week 2
Weds 7th Feb	10.00am	Wednesday Morning Prayer
Thurs 8th Feb	8.45am	Tots Time
Sun 11th Feb	10.00am	Parish Communion
Mon 12th Feb	9.30am	Morning Prayer
	6.00pm	Alpha Course
	7.30pm	PCC Meeting
Tues 13th Feb	11.00am	Bereavement Group meeting

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 Second Sunday before Lent

Collect
Almighty God,
give us reverence for all creation
and respect for every person,
that we may mirror your likeness
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Post Communion
God our creator,
by your gift
the tree of life was set at the heart of the earthly paradise,
and the bread of life at the heart of your Church:
may we who have been nourished at your table on earth
be transformed by the glory of the Saviour’s cross
and enjoy the delights of eternity;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

First Reading: Colossians 1:15-20
The Person and Work of Christ
¹⁵ Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God. He is the first-born Son, superior to all created things. ¹⁶ For through him God created everything in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen things, including spiritual powers, lords, rulers, and authorities. God created the whole universe through him and for him. ¹⁷ Christ existed before all things, and in union with him all things have their proper place. ¹⁸ He is the head of his body, the church; he is the source of the body’s life. He is the first-born Son, who was raised from death, in order that he alone might have the first place in all things. ¹⁹ For it was by God’s own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God. ²⁰ Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son’s blood on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.
(Good News Translation)

Gospel Reading:John 1:1-14
The Word of Life
¹ In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² From the very beginning the Word was with God. ³ Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. ⁴ The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.
⁶ God sent his messenger, a man named John, ⁷ who came to tell people about the light, so that all should hear the message and believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came to tell about the light. ⁹ This was the real light—the light that comes into the world and shines on all people.
¹⁰ The Word was in the world, and though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to his own country, but his own people did not receive him. ¹² Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God’s children. ¹³ They did not become God’s children by natural means, that is, by being born as the children of a human father; God himself was their Father.
¹⁴ The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father’s only Son.
(Good News Translation)