The collect prayer for the next Sunday before Lent:Almighty Father, whose Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death upon the cross: give us grace to perceive his glory, that we may be strengthened to suffer with him and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. SERVICESSunday 15th FebruarySt Andrew's: 10.00 am Holy CommunionSt James': 11.15 am Morning Prayer St Peter's: 11.15 Morning Prayer AND: 4.00 pm Church for AllWednesday 11th February10.30 am Team Ash Wednesday Holy Communion Service at St Andrew’sSunday 22nd February St Andrew's: 10.30am 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 ww worship God all together.St Peter's: 4.00 pm Church for All Bible Readings Sunday 15th February: 2 Peter 1:16-end; Matthew 17:1-9Sunday 22nd February: Team Service Luke 15:11-32 News 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: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/6950/news/168487/boiler-fabric-fund-appeal/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPhjJpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEePnvK36XS2Z7peTgzBdNrDFQp9KA5lzjpnEgnhVCa2Pi9I45v2O4X-OwjbJw_aem_E2NgryhsAPwYN6gagcqSvgConfirmation 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 or1271; Email: info@parishgiving.org.uk; 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.StampsA 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 & pillowsWool 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 patcol@blueyonder.co.uk Thank you! WEEKLY EVENTSCraft 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. PatHot 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 EVENTSSt 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. The next one is on Friday 6th March. 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 noticesBulletin items for inclusion Please send an email to revsimonelliott76@gmail.com 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 DETAILSPlease contact us…If you know anyone who would like to receive this emailIf there is anyone who needs prayer If you know anyone who needs a phone call Contact details:Revd. Ian Hopkins 07914 505437 or ianfee100@gmail.com Revd. Simon Elliott 07919 464348 or revsimonelliott76@gmail.com
The Community Craft and Chat group began meeting 6 weeks before lockdown and although we weren't always able to meet during lockdown...people kept busy knitting and crocheting. What a blessing that has been. We have made hearts for hope which have been sent to ITU units and to the bereavement ward at Wigan Royal infirmary. We have also posted these hearts to the bereaved families of those whose funeral we have conducted. We have had some lovely letters of thanks. Blankets small and large, hats for premature babies all are still needed and we can provide patterns for these too. Please see below for other ideas of items that are needed. We have also made fish and chip jumper and hat sets which we sent to Uganda to help the “Warm baby project”. This project still needs fish and chip jumper sets and also baby jumpers or cardigans age 6 months plus. If you feel you can help there is a knitting pattern for Fish and Chip Babies to download on the right. We have also been able to send 6" granny squares (and other items) to a charity that makes up blankets and takes them with other items to Ukraine.If you can't print a pattern or knit here are some other ideas that don't really need a pattern and if you need some help to get started ask in church or join us on a Thursday! PLEASE NOTE: no meeting on 10th October thoughKnit or crochet scarves of varying lengths: your choice of stitch, style and colour!Knit blankets for prem babies approximately 12" or 24" square (garter or stocking stitch is fine, colour[s] unimportant). If you crochet them please use a tight double crochet stitch so babies can't stick their fingers through the spaces.Knit bonding squares for prem babies approximately 5" square (garter or stocking stitch is fine, colour[s] unimportant). Make in pairs: one is worn inside her bra by the mother, one is with the baby then they are swapped over.Knit cannula sleeves for prem babies: knit 26 stitches and 36 rows with 4mm needles or similar to make a rectangle approximately 10cm x 7cm (or 4" x 2 3/4") (garter or stocking stitch is fine, colour[s] unimportant) then sew up the sides leaving the ends open to form a tube (but they aren't needed at the moment so try something else please!!)Knit or crochet a 40" square blanket for patients who are terminally ill using any stitch or pattern, in one piece or with a number sewn together (preferably in cheerful colours)Crochet (or knit) a 12" square of any design or colours for a comfort blanket for people with dementia (no need for twiddly bits).Crochet (or knit) a 6" square of any design or colours to be made up into blanketsKnit or crochet hearts for terminally ill patients and bereaved families: there are lots of free patterns and tutorials online, try and make them about 3" wide. Use the Get in touch CONTACT FORM on St James pages on A Church Near You if you need a pattern from church.( Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/SweetMellowChill-8503012/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3423091">SweetMellowChill</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3423091">Pixabay</a>)
The local Foodbank based at St George's URC on Northway opposite Iceland on 14th December 2021 * Please see 'Latest News' for a guide to what the Foodbank is short of but all donations are gratefully received. * To donate goods - you can drop off donations at St George's Church on Tuesdays 10-12 * You might want to offer a street collection point -let people know you are willing to take donations to the Foodbank informally via your street networks- WhatsApp, phone etc - put a plastic box out for donations at a set time on a set day. Remember the Foodbank needs toiletries as well as food.Then take your box to St George's Church on Tuesday between 10am and noon.* We still have contact with the Trussell Trust South Sefton foodbank which covers Bootle, Litherland and Netherton. They are always short of stock so when Maghull doesn't need our donations, they will be sent to South Sefton.Aintree Foodbank is still open and also independent: see Hope Community Church webpage
