16^th February 2020 – The Second Sunday before Lent

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.

Priorities 2020

1. Stewardship and Finance
2. St Andy’s
3. Children and young people
4. Inspiring Worship

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

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.

Lighthouse
We warmly welcome David Depledge this morning. David is the founder of Lighthouse, a Christian Counselling Service that has been operating in the city for many years. David has come to talk to us about the ongoing work of this wonderful ministry.

Ladies Fellowship
At our meeting this Tuesday, 18^th February, at 1.30pm in the church side room, Janet Baker will be telling us about the origins of our group from its former name ‘Target Ring’ to the various forms it has taken over the years. This promises to be a very informative and pleasant afternoon. The usual tea/coffee and biscuits will be available. All ladies will be made very welcome. Please do come and join us. Hazel.

Book Club
Our next book club meeting is on Saturday 28^th March from 9.30-11.00am at the Vicarage and everyone is welcome to come along. The book we are reading is: Saying Yes to Life by Ruth Valerio. It is the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book 2020. The author imaginatively draws on the days of creation in Genesis 1 as she relates those themes to matter so environmental, ethical and social concern. The group is an opportunity to discuss the book and gain insight from others. Each person will need a copy of the book (or access an audio version of the book) and need to have read some of it before we meet. If you are interested please speak with Greg or Sue Masters.

Children’s Society Boxes
It is that time of year again.! If you are able, please bring your box to church, otherwise I will collect from you during the next month. As you are probably aware, I am retiring after 22 years collecting for this worthy charity, but am pleased to tell you that Nick Tooby will be taking over from me, so nothing will change for you. Thank you so much for your loyal support over the years, you have raised £27,697 in that time, a very commendable sum, to help homeless and disadvantaged children, so I hope you will continue to do so. See you soon and thanks again, Jackie Lynch.

St Andrew’s Day Time Lent Group 2020
Lent is a time of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter and as part of that reflection, why not join us in the Lent group? This year we will be meeting on Monday mornings from 10.30am to 12.00 noon at 55 Handsworth Crescent, starting on Monday 2^nd March for five weeks. Each week will be a time of fellowship and an opportunity to look at the Bible together, sharing with each other in group discussion. All are welcome and if you have never been to a small group or to a Bible study group why not come along and be part of this group during Lent. If you want to know more or you are interested in being part of the group please speak with Sue Masters or email me on susanmasters@sky.com.

Ash Wednesday
There will be a special service of Holy Communion with the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday, 26^th February at 7pm. Many find this a very powerful and poignant way to start Lent. All welcome. If you have palm crosses distributed last year, please return them next Sunday or by the morning of the 25^th at the latest.

BCDM Module at St Andrew’s Church – Creation Care
This module, through consideration of scripture and science, looks at God’s creation, our place in it and the hope that we have for the future in a time of environmental crisis. By the end of the module, you should see that care for the environment is integral to our call as Christians to discipleship. Date and Time: Thursday Evenings, 7pm-9:30pm, 5th March – 2nd April. Venue: St Andrew’s, Church Lane, Eastern Green, Coventry CV5 7BX. To register, please go to http://www.dioceseofcoventry.org/BCDMregister. If you want to know more please speak with Sue Masters (07958 322026).

Deanery Synod
We are looking for volunteers to join Deanery Synod and represent St Andrew’s. Synod meets three times a year in different churches around the area. This week provides a great opportunity to find out more about what it entails. You are welcome to attend the Synod on Tuesday at St Barnabas Kenilworth when there will be an opportunity to find out more about what is entailed, without any obligation.

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 will restart on March 10th. This very informal gathering is aimed at pre-school children (toddlers and babies) and their carers. Doors open at 8.45am when refreshments are served and there are table activities. At 9.15am we start a short service consisting of a story, some songs and prayers. We will be looking for the Lost Sheep. All welcome.

Rod Stewart
Many thanks to Rosemarie Over for organizing such a wonderful evening’s entertainment with the Rod Stewart tribute act. £1377 was raised for church funds.

Social Calendar
Quiz Night                                            Mar 20^th
Megfest                                                May 2^nd
Skittles Evening                                    May 22^nd
Proms at the Vicarage                          June 27^th
Party in the Park                                   June 6^th
Quiz Night                                             Sept 18^th
Sixties Night                                          Sept 19th

Quiz Night
There will be a Quiz Night, jointly organised by St Andrew’s and the Allesley Green Residents Association at the Jag Club on Friday March 20^th at 7.30pm. Please bring your own table snacks. There is a bar to buy drinks. Tickets are available from Julie at administrator@standrews-eg.org.uk or 07756 918847 or from Rita.

Sermon Series
During Lent, we will be having a sermon series that will explore the different elements of the Sunday morning service:

Side Room Curtains
Many thanks to Beryl Lee who has kindly paid for the new curtains in the side room. Thanks also to Julia and Clive McNaney for purchasing them and putting them up. They certainly make the side room feel warmer and do much to end the echo.

Skillzbank
We are looking for volunteers who have life skills that they might be willing to pass on to teenagers. These skills may be woodwork, car mechanics, electrical, technical, baking, musical etc. You would need to be available 2 or 3 Wednesday afternoons after Easter for an hour each time. If you would like to know more about this, please speak to Greg or Emma Wildman.

Allesley Green Prayer Group
The Allesley Green Prayer Group next meets on Tuesday 25^th February at 7.30pm at 14 New Ash Drive. Anyone who would like to pray for the area is welcome to join us. If you know anyone on the estate who needs our prayers, please let Greg or Veronika know.

Social Committee
Rosemarie Over and Jackie Lynch do a magnificent job planning social events to enhance the life of the church, but we need a couple of more people to help with this. The committee meets approx. 5 times a year, although there is work to be done between meetings (booking venues, organising refreshments etc.). Anyone interested in helping should speak to them or Greg about it.

Transport for Medical Appointments
St Andrew’s 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. A recent review found that we have been successful in providing lifts for 87% of requests. Volunteers have to date been called on approximately once a month. If we are to maintain this level of service, as demand increases, we will need more volunteers. If you willing to offer an occasional lift, please contact Greg or Julie. 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.”

Prayer List
Please pray for Sandra Watts, Rita Weston, 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.