12th January 2020 – The First Sunday of Epiphany
Welcome
St Andrew’s Church welcomes allcomers, whether this is your first time or thousandth time in church. You are welcome whatever your age, gender, marital status, disability, race or sexuality. You are welcome whether you have a deep and mature faith in Christ; are uncertain and still seeking; or have no faith. If you are new to church, please do take a welcome leaflet to be found in the pews; and do not hesitate to ask one of the welcomers if you have any queries.
A Happy New Year to all our readers!
Many thanks from Greg & Fran and Phil, Anne & Ella for kind cards, gifts and good wishes over Christmas.
Holiday Club 2020
Following the success of our two previous holiday clubs, we are planning to hold this event again in 2020 on 20th, 21st & 22nd July. We need a minimum of 6 volunteers each day to help with crafts, games and serve drinks and fruit. We currently have 4 volunteers, so if you can help, even if it is only for one day, please contact Hilary on 07980 596646. A decision as to whether we can run the holiday club will be made in the new year, so please get in touch asap. You will not be expected to run any activities single handedly and full training and information will be given. At St Andrew’s we are committed to safeguarding all our children and young people, so we will safely recruit all volunteers and expect a DBS check to be completed with the help of our Safeguarding Officer.
We are now Contactless!
As we move more and more towards a society that uses plastic to pay rather than cash, we are finding people attending services who are asking if they can make their collection or give donations using a contactless bank card. I’m please to say that we are now able to meet this request, as we have a contactless card reader for St Andrew’s. If you wish to give your weekly collection or make a donation in this way, please speak to one of the Churchwardens who will help you do this. It’s quick, your privacy is protected and we can also issue a receipt to a phone or email address. We will not be making the card reader available when the collection is taken during the service. There are however, blue cards at the back of church you can use and place in the basket at the time of the collection, then use the card reader before or after the service. These blue cards are used by people who make their giving to church by Direct Debit. If you have any questions please speak to one of the Churchwardens who will be happy to help.
Carys’ Commissioning Service
Carys has now moved on to a new church in Sutton Coldfield where she will be the Children and Families Worker. There will be a commissioning service for her and a couple of others on Sunday 19th January at 10.30am at Chester Road Baptist Church, B73 5HU. Carys would like to invite anyone interested to attend. If you are unable to make it but would like to send a message of support, please e-mail carysegner@hotmail.co.uk
Parish Weekend 15th to 17th May 2020
Following two successful weekends we are doing it again in 2020 and would love you to join us. WHAT IS IT? A weekend away for members of St Andrew’s/St Andy’s to come together for Bible teaching, worship, prayer and fellowship. WHERE IS IT? Shallowford House, Staffordshire (about an hour’s drive from Coventry). WHO IS IT FOR? Everyone, including children. WHAT DOES IT COST? The cost is £160 per adult with reduced prices for children. If you want to know more? Speak with Sue Masters (07958322026, susanmasters@sky.com) or with Greg. Book now with a small deposit to secure your place on the weekend.
Christmas Hamper Raffle
Many thanks to Charley Watts, who sold the tickets and raised £131 for church funds. Well done. It was won by Brian Walker.
Thank You
Mike Lynch (Jackie’s husband), would like to thank everyone who purchased one of his wooden snowmen this Christmas and is delighted to let you know that he raised £2220, and presented a cheque to Zoe’s Place just before Christmas. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year.
Church Cleaning
We are looking for, hopefully, 6 volunteers to help clean the church. This means we could have 4 teams of 2, so it would only involve having to clean once a month. Denise and I would cover a five-week month. It only requires about 1 -2 hours of your time, and is an important ministry within the church. At the moment we clean on Fridays, from 10am to approx. 11.30am., but you could suit yourselves. If you are able to oblige, please have a word with me or Denise. Thank you for your consideration. Jackie Lynch
Everyday Faith
Everyday Faith is a Church of England discipleship campaign starting Sunday 12 January (Plough Sunday). 21 days of reflections and prayers to help you find and follow God in everyday life will be available through campaign emails, an app, social media, audio and a booklet from Church House Publishing. Everyday resources for churches, including Plough Sunday services and a booklet with suggestions of how your church can encourage Sunday to Saturday faith, are now available. To find out more go to https://www.churchofengland.org/everydayfaith
Praying Together
Our Nation is in crisis and our world is troubled. “PRAYING TOGETHER” – an opportunity to hold our community, our troubled nation and specific areas of the world in prayer will be held next Sunday, 19th January at 6.30 pm. All are welcome to join us. See members of the Prayer Ministry Team for further details.
Prayer Available
Please note that there is always someone willing to pray with you after the service about any need or concern you have. Please feel free to approach one of the prayer team direct or ask one of the clergy.
Week of Christian Unity
The programme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has been finalised as follows:
| Sun 19th Jan | St James | Family Service at 4pm |
| Mon 20th Jan | St Oswald’s | Prayer at 6pm |
| Tues 21st Jan | Our Ladies | Prayer at 1pm |
| Weds 22nd Jan | St James | Prayer at 8am |
| Thurs 23rd Jan | Chinese Church | Prayer at 8pm |
| Fri 24th Jan | Limbrick Wood BC | Prayer at 7.30am |
| Sat 25th Jan | St Andrews | Prayer at 8.45am |
| Sun 26th Jan | St Oswald’s | Celebration Service at 6.30pm |
Norah Hall
We are extremely grateful to Norah, who has given a much appreciated legacy to St Andrew’s.
Nativity 2019
Many thanks to all those who supported the Nativity, whether by performing in it, helping out behind the scenes or by coming to watch it. Special thanks to Rob Shaw for the scenery and to Paul and Ying for the Alpacas.
Powerpoint
We are looking for an additional volunteer who would be willing on an occasional basis to operate the powerpoint for the screens on Sunday morning. The volunteer would be expected to help once every couple of months or so.
Tots Praise
Tots Praise is going to have a holiday through January and February, restarting in March.
Kidz Praise
The first Kidz Praise service of 2020 takes place on Thursday at 4pm with the doors opening at 3.15pm for refreshments, craft and games. We will be exploring the story of John the Baptist. All welcome.
Catering for Marriage Preparation
We need two volunteers to provide up to 12 meals for our marriage preparation course in January; either 15th or 22nd. Please speak to Rebecca Martin if able to help.
The Link Magazine
It is now a year since the Link was discontinued as a paper magazine distributed to every home in the parish. It is still much missed. However, please don’t forget that all the content is still available to read online on the St Andrew’s website on the first of each month.
Drama Club
Our drama club for 8-12 year olds starts a new term on Tuesday. We meet at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church on Tile Hill Lane from 6-7pm. To find out, more speak to Greg or Emma. All welcome.
Social Calendar
Rod Stewart – Feb 8th (tickets cost £12 and are available from Rosemarie Over)
Seek His Face
Our gathering for prayer, praise and prophecy (Seek His Face) meets for the first time this year this evening at 6.30pm in church. The theme will be Mission and led by Dan.
Consultation
There is a consultation event at the Green Club on Thursday 23rd January from 4-7.30pm relating to the proposal to build 60 new houses just off Pickford Green Lane.
Tastelife
St Andrew’s will be running a new group for those suffering with eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, overeating etc.) and also those caring for sufferers. It begins on Thursday February 6th for 8 weeks. The course which helps sufferers to break free of their eating disorder is nationally accredited by the University of Brighton. Places need to be booked in advance. For further information, please speak to Greg or Rosemarie.
Transport for Medical Appointments
St Andrews new service, offering lifts to medical appointments at Coventry doctors and hospital has started. To book a lift, please contact Julie on 07756 918847 or administrator@standrews-eg.org.uk. It is important that as much notice as possible is given. We are enormously grateful to all our volunteer drivers who have freely offered their time. We still need more volunteers if you willing to offer a lift, perhaps once a fortnight. This message of thanks shows how valuable the service can be:
“I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for organising my lift to Walsgrave Hospital today. I would like to put on record how fabulous both Hilary and Steve were getting me there in plenty of time. As I really didn’t know where I needed to go when I got there Steve escorted me to the outpatients department and to the correct reception desk for my clinic. The have certainly redeemed my faith in the human race, particularly at this time.”
Altar Flowers
This week’s altar flowers were kindly donated by Lisa Harding.
Prayer List
Please pray for Rita Weston, Barbara & Jack Bartlett, Jane Caswell, Jean Carter, Beryl Poppitt, Colin Sanders, Flix Haynes, Josie Yates, Beryl Lee and Rosemary Pottinger. To add names to the list please contact Julie at administrator@standrews-eg.org.uk or 07756 918847.
| Diary Dates January | ||
| Sun 12th | 6.30pm | Seek His Face |
| Mon 13th | 7.00pm | PCC in church |
| Tues 14th | 2.00pm | Worship 4 All planning meeting |
| 6.00pm | All Star Theatre Company | |
| Weds 15th | 7.00pm | Marriage Preparation in church |
| Thurs 16th | 3.15pm | Kidz Praise |
| Sun 19th | 4.00pm | Family Service at St James |
| 6.00pm | Rock Solid | |
| Readings | Acts 10.34-43 (p 1104) & Matt 3.13-17 (p 967) |
| Readers | Sara Parkes & John Ross-Barnard |
| Preacher | Lesley Lee |
| President | Greg Smith |
| Prayers | Nick Tooby |
| Comm Asst | Lesley Lee |
| Organist | Di Fellowes |
| Next week | 1 Cor 1.1-9 & John 1.29-42 |