Just to begin with highlighting the thank you message below re the great response to the Boiler & Fabric Fund appeal for St Andrew’s. We have heat in the main church again!! And so our Team Service at 10.30am tomorrow will be the 1st service back in there rather than the hall. Thank you all for the brilliant contributions that have made this possible, and also to the team of folk that have liaised with the installation company re all the practicalities and opening and locking up each day for the duration of the work etc.
The alternative collect prayer for the first Sunday of Lent:
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. Amen.
SERVICES
Sunday 22nd February
St Andrew's: 10.30am is the 4th Sunday of the month Team Service. So no morning services at St James’, St Peter’s or St Thomas’. But please do come and join us as we worship God all together.
St Peter's: 4.00 pm Church for All
Wednesday 25th February
10.30 am Team Holy Communion Service at St Andrew’s
Sunday 1st March
St Andrew's: 10.00 am Holy Communion & 12 midday Baptism
St Thomas: 10.00 am Holy Communion
St James': 11.15 am Holy Communion
St Peter's: 11.15 Morning Prayer AND: 4.00 pm Church for All
Bible Readings
Sunday 22nd February: Team Service Luke 15:11-32
Sunday 1st March: Genesis 12:1-4a, John 3:1-17
Sunday 8th March: Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42
Sunday 15th March Mothering Sunday: = preachers choice
Sunday 22nd March: Team Service Luke 10:25-37
Sunday 29th March: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-end, Matthew 21:1-11
News
World Day of Prayer Ecumenical Service
This year's World Day of Prayer is on Friday 6th March and there will be an ecumenical service to mark this at 2pm that day at Maghull Chapel on Foxhouse Lane. The theme this year is: 'I will give you rest: Come' and is based on Matthew 11:28 featuring stories of hope and resilience from Nigeria. All welcome.
St Andrew’s Boiler & Fabric Fund Appeal
St Andrews PCC Treasurer, Dave Sherman, would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the appeal in respect of the new boiler and necessary quinquennial repairs. The response has been brilliant and, at this point, the boiler is now paid for and over £10,000 is available for the repairs. While there is a way to go regarding the repairs, Dave and the PCC are very appreciative of the funds raised to date. Thanks to all involved. For details of how you can donate, please click on this link:
Confirmation
There will be a Deanery Confirmation service on Tuesday 28th April at 7.30pm. If you have not been confirmed and would like to be, or at least would like to know more about it, then please do chat to Ian or Simon about this.
Parish Giving Scheme
The new system is now available to access. Should you at any time require information, please contact your parish representative, or contact PGS directly by Post: 76 Kingsholm Road, Gloucester, GL1 3BD; Phone: 0333 002 1260 or
1271; Email: [email protected]; Website: https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/
Weekly Giving Envelopes at St Andrew’s Church:
For anyone who has Weekly Envelopes and is near to requiring a new box for 2026 please let Geoff Walker know 0151 526 5366 / 07724881207 Thank You.
Stamps
A request from St Thomas’ for your used stamps, as they are collecting them to support training guide dogs. Please do pass any you have in to your church, and the clergy will ensure they get to St Thomas’. Thank you.
Request for Wool Donations - also stuffing material for toys & pillows
Wool donations for our craft and chat group wld be very gratefully received! Whether whole or part balls of wool, any colour etc. Also, at the moment, donations of stuffing material for toys & pillows would be much appreciated. If you are able to drop off to the craft & chat group between 12.30 and 2pm on Thursdays at St James’ Church Green Lane, that would be great, but collection can easily be arranged. Please contact Pat Dunbar by text message on 07795147109 or email at [email protected] Thank you!
WEEKLY EVENTS
Craft and Chat: every Thursday 12.30pm until 2pm at St James in the fellowship room. Knitting, crocheting or any craft, you are assured of a very warm welcome so please do come and join us. Pat
Hot lunch, tea and cakes every Thursday afternoon at Melling Tithebarn……12.00pm to 2.00pm. A plate for donations will be available. You are assured of a very warm welcome so please do come and join us.
MONTHLY EVENTS
St Peter's Tea and Scones: everyone is welcome to join us for tea and scones on the first Friday in every month from 2pm-3pm. Please note that due to a clash with the World Day of Prayer service on 6th March and Good Friday on 3rd April, neither of these normal 1st Fridays of the month are possible and so there will be a combined March / April gathering on Friday 27th March, and then a return to the 1st Friday of the month in May. Expect lots of friendly chats and live music by our resident Michael with his keyboard.
Prayer & Worship - monthly get together
Each month we are going to be gathering for a time of prayer & worship together at St James Church, Green Lane. This will be a relaxed and informal time, but led and with songs, reflection on passages of scripture, pointers / themes for prayer etc. This is following on from the Prayer Course that a number of us did through Lent & Easter time, but is absolutely open to everyone, not just those who came to that course. The next of these will be on Wednesday 18th March, 7.30pm and we would be delighted to see you there. Please do speak to Rev. Simon or Claire Sherman for any further information.
Bereavement Support: at St Andrew’s Church. Further enquiries, and if there are any particular requests for bereavement support, from anywhere across our 4 parishes, please contact St Andrew’s Parish Office 0151 531 8972.
Other notices
Bulletin items for inclusion
Please send an email to [email protected] stating ‘for bulletin’ in the email ‘subject’ box / email title by midday Thursday of the week you’d like items included.
Foodbank: the Foodbank is based at St George's United Reformed Church on Northway opposite Iceland, on Tuesdays 10.00am-12.00 noon.
Tins, packet foods and toiletries are always useful. They will gratefully receive donations from 10-12 on Tuesdays at St George’s URC on Northway (easiest access is via the car park on Larchwood Avenue). Alternatively please do drop any donations off before Tuesday on the vicarage doorstep at 23 Green Link. Thank you.
CONTACT DETAILS
Please contact us…
If you know anyone who would like to receive this email
If there is anyone who needs prayer
If you know anyone who needs a phone call
Contact details:
Revd. Ian Hopkins 07914 505437 or [email protected]
Revd. Simon Elliott 07919 464348 or [email protected]