1^st March 2020 – First Sunday of 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.

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.

St Andy’s
The St Andy’s church plant will be relocating to the St Oswald’s church building in the near future. As many of you will be aware, St Andy’s has been meeting in a very unsatisfactory location over the last couple of years (a portacabin in West Coventry Academy) and so this move promises stability as well as exciting new opportunities. Please pray for St Andy’s as they make this move. There is an act of commissioning for Phil and St Andy’s as part of the Worship 4 all service this morning.

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. Please speak to Greg or Lesley if you would like to know more about this.

Book Club
Our next book club meeting is on Saturday 28^th March from 9.30-11.00am at 55 Handsworth Crescent 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.

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.

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).

Parish Weekend 15^th to 17^th 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.

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

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.

Kidz Praise
Sadly, due to lack of support, we are having to bring the Kidz Praise service to a close.

Holiday
Greg and Fran will be on holiday from Tuesday 3^rd to Saturday 7^th March inclusive. Any enquiries should be directed to the church office or a churchwarden.

Count Your Blessings
Each Lent, there is an opportunity to support the important work of Christian Aid by Counting Your Blessings. Christian Aid have produced sheets for you to take away to use to pray and consider how blessed we are compared with millions of people across the world who do not have access to the things we take for granted. The sheets encourage us to make a donation to Christian Aid at the end of Lent. Please take one from the back of church.

Social Calendar

Quiz Night
There will be a Quiz Night, jointly organised by St Andrew’s and the Allesley Green Residents Association at the Jaguar 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 at a cost of just £5.

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.

Village Hall Roof
The roof of Eastern Green Village Hall is in need of urgent repair, with a likely cost of c £10,000. The Hall, managed by a committee of volunteers, belongs to the whole community. Please support them in any way you can.

Easter Eggs for Kidz Klub
Historically, some in the congregation have generously supported Kidz Klub, which works with primary school aged children in Tile Hill, at Easter by buying Easter Eggs. There is an opportunity to do this again this year. Eggs or donations should be brought to church by March 23^rd at the very latest. The Easter eggs should be Real Easter Eggs (which are a brand and tell the Easter story as well as supplying chocolate). This is to ensure every child gets the same.

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.

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.”

The One Show
Are you one of the children from 1962 who donated your pocket money towards the Children’s Window at Coventry Cathedral? Or were you involved in the building of the New Cathedral all those years ago? The BBC are filming a piece at Coventry Cathedral on Sunday 8th March 2020, and we’d love for you to come along with your family members, from approximately 12 noon until 3pm. For more details, please contact Mark Lewis on mark.lewis03@bbc.co.uk

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.