WHAT’S ON IN MARCH 2008
CHURCH SERVICES (Unless stated otherwise Services start at 10.30 am at the Hilltop Centre.)
Sunday 2nd Mothering Sunday Service. We meet to celebrate and thank God for all mothers and all who undertake a mother’s role. We recall our own mothers and their gift of life to us, we recognise that the role of mothers has both its joys and difficulties, we pray for those broken relationships between mothers and their children, we thank God for a mothers love. We share Communion which reminds us of how love is also expressed to us through the life of Jesus.
Friday 7th Women’s World Day of Prayer. This annual Service brings together women around the world to worship and pray on a common theme. This year the Service has been prepared on the theme “God’s wisdom provides new understanding” by the Christian Women of Guyana in South America. The Fellowship is tonight hosting the Service for the Polesworth Churches at St John’s Church in Birchmoor, the Service starts at 7 pm. (The emphasis on women meeting together is not exclusive as everyone is invited to attend.)
Sunday 9th Morning Service. Our Service is led by Nigel Hunt together with Joe Brettle who will be the speaker this morning. Nigel and Jane will soon be casting off their narrowboat for a six month journey around the canals so this will be one of the last opportunities to share with them before they return in the Autumn.
Sunday 9th Evening Service at St John’s Church in Birchmoor. As we move through the Lenten season we meet for our monthly Service at 6. 30 pm where we will be considering the theme “Journey to the Cross”.
Sunday 16th Brigade Parade Service. Our Parade Service falls on Palm Sunday when we recall Jesus’ triumphant journey into Jerusalem. With songs, readings and prayers we share the crowds excitement tinged with the knowledge of the events that were played out over the following week. Everyone will leave today with a palm cross. (Christine Harris is seeking a large toy donkey to help in telling the story to the younger children can anyone help?)
Sunday 16th Young Adults Service. Meeting at the Centre at 7 pm, the Service this month is open to all adults for a viewing of the film “The Passion” which tells of the events leading up to and including the crucifixion of Jesus. The film is realistic in its portrayal of the events. The film lasts just over two hours and will be followed by refreshments
Friday 21st Good Friday Service. The darkness descends upon Jesus’ life! Before we can share afresh the joy and celebration of the events of Easter Day we need first to experience again the depths of sorrow found in the events of Good Friday. Our Service tonight will be held at St John’s Church at 7. 30 pm and will be in the style of the Tenebrae tradition of light into darkness.
Sunday 23rd Easter Day Communion Service. The climax of the Christian message,
Jesus is alive! Our relationship with a just and loving God is restored! We meet to celebrate.
Sunday 30th Morning Service. It will seem like an early start to the Service as we move to British Summer Time giving us the opportunity to reflect on coping with change that comes into our lives. (Don’t be the one to turn up late!)
(Prior to the St John’s Services the cleaning team will be geared up to prepare the Church.)
In the Cross we see symbolised in its horizontal beam
the breadth of God’s love.
In its vertical beam we see symbolised
the depth and height of God’s love for us.
THE BRIGADES
Last month, at fairly short notice, we arranged one of our occasional Wednesday evening talks at Boys’ Brigade to which everyone is invited. The speaker was Alan Ensink who is currently based locally. Alan spoke about his career in the navy on aircraft carriers during the 1960’s and his subsequent occupation as a flight engineer with British Airways. Alan ended his career as the chief trainer of flight engineers with the Company. In a wide ranging talk supported with short video pieces and pictures Alan outlined how, after leaving school with few qualifications, he felt there had been a sense of God’s over riding purpose to all the opportunities that opened up to him. Alan is now retired and lives with his wife Geraldine on a narrowboat, they will be in the area until just after Easter. The evening was well attended and Alan’s talk was very much enjoyed by all.
Our next Wednesday evening talk will be on 12 March (8 pm for 8.15 pm) when the speaker will be Vaughan Thomas of Open Doors. Vaughan will be speaking about the lack of freedom in many countries for Christians and others to openly express their faith. Real difficulties arise due to cultural and legalistic constraints resulting in social isolation and often imprisonment. The talk will be challenging in that it’s easy to think the freedom we have is shared by everyone around the world, unfortunately this is not so in many countries. The talk will last 45 minutes, will be followed by refreshments, and again everyone is invited.
The next X:site Birmingham event for school years 3 to 6 is on Saturday 15 March. Usual arrangements apply - a consent form to be completed in advance by parents is required, the cost is £1. 50, places to be booked with Christine Harris.
The Brigades break for Easter with their last evenings on Tuesday 18 and Wednesday
19 March. They return on Tuesday 8 April and Wednesday 9 April. On the last evening the Girls’ Brigade Explorers will be hunting for Easter Eggs and on their last night the Boys’ Brigade Anchors and Juniors will be decorating hard boiled eggs helped by instructors from Revolve in Atherstone.
The latest edition of Caris Magazine has arrived. Copies are available from the Girls’ Brigade Officers.
Looking to bring new activities into the Brigades, last month the Officers arranged a night out to see the Coventry Blaze Ice Hockey Team in action and it turned out to be a really enjoyable! It would be good to repeat the evening in the not to distant future. In between time, there are twenty tickets available for you spend a day paint balling (not for the faint hearted). Participants must be at least 12 years old, dad’s and lads are invited, see David for details. Date subject to discussion with those interested, currently looking at a weekend in April. Ticket are £12.50, this covers hire of all equipment, safety instruction, lunch, and the first 100 paint balls (additional paint balls are £7 per 100).
DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD SCHEME
The achievements of Nicola (Gold), Matthew (Silver), Sam, Heather & Katie (Bronze) will be recognised by presentations at the North Warwickshire Borough Council offices on Thursday 13 March. Congratulations to them all.
Neil & Iris Painter had a taste of the recognition given to Gold Award participants when they were invited to attend St James Palace in London for the presentation of Gold Award winners to the Duke of Edinburgh. They described it as a fitting climax to all the work put in by the award winners. (Nicola will be invited to attend the next presentation which will be held in the Autumn.)
FELLOWSHIP NEWS
Now that the Brigade members have had chance to practice their skills on the recently acquired Nintendo Wii console and sports package the rest of the Fellowship want to try their hand! The date has been set and additional consoles made available! So, if you would like to show your ten pin bowling skills etc, or to just come and enjoy the fun, then be at the Centre on Sunday afternoon 9 March at 2 pm. £1 donation to the funds, all games displayed by projectors onto large screens.
Interested in volunteering but unsure what is involved or what opportunities are available locally, then the next FACE meeting on Saturday 15 March at St Peter’s Church Rooms Mancetter could be for you. Entitled “A focus on volunteers” it will be led by staff from the Volunteer Centre in Atherstone. The event is from 9.45 am to 12.15 pm and includes the opportunity to enjoy a relaxing hand massage.
POLESWORTH PIONEERS
The Band continues to seek a suitable venue to practice this years music and marching routine however big thanks to the Tamworth Herald for an excellent report and photograph on the Bands plight.
AND FINALLY
Just a reminder to members. Over the Easter period the Fellowship is making an appeal for funds to support the work it undertakes, gifts can be placed in the Offering at any of the Easter services.
May this Easter be a special time for you and your families as we celebrate the greatest expression of love the world has ever known.
David
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