News Sheet

7 March 2010

A very warm welcome to all at St Matthew's today,

especially our guests and visitors. Please make yourself known if you are new - we'd love to get to know you!

Items for next week's News Sheet to ct.gibson@tiscali.co.uk or via clergy pigeonhole by Wednesday please.

Notices

Family and Children's Worker

I am delighted to announce that Liz Burley has accepted our offer of the post of Family and Children's Worker. In due course we will commission Liz for this vitally important ministry and announce her starting date in post. Please pray for Liz and the family.

Lent books - all unsold copies of What's So Amazing About Grace will be returned soon. Get your copy NOW if you want one.

NOW OPEN - The Hub Christian Resources Centre

The shop formerly known as Wesley Owen is now open. Let's keep it going by buying all our Christian resources from there.

• Also reopening soon - The Vine restaurant has been closed for refurbishment but will open again on 19 March.

St Martin's Anniversary: It's 50 years since St Martin's was founded. They are celebrating with a special evensong at 6.30pm Tonight. Please get along to it if you can!

Coffee Morning and Bring & Buy Sale Saturday April 10 in St. Matthew’s Centre 10am-12noon. We really need offers of help for the day and gifts of saleable items, especially cakes, jams, bric a brac, books, cds etc. Ann Walton & Joyce Mellors. Tel  632948

Party in the Park Do you have any photos of PiP 2009? Please forward to andy@gosplink.co.uk to use in publicity for PiP 10.

Christian Aid There is a meeting of Christian Aid collectors on Wednesday 10^th March at Bilston Methodist Church, refreshments provided. Anyone interested please call Martin Barker on 634413.

Church Cleaning and Flowers - URGENT APPEAL: More volunteers please to clean the Church on Tuesday and Friday mornings. Call Margaret Eddowes 648080 or Helen Robinson 623183. Donations for flowers for Easter are also needed please.

People News

§  Tim Sanders, son of Brian Sanders, writes: Please thank all your staff and helpers for making (Dad's memorial service) such a blessed time for all our family. I pray that St Matthews continues to flourish and strengthen in community and most of all, in Christ. Blessings, Tim Sanders

§  David Boss would like to thank everyone for their support and prayers while in hospital. He is now back home and doing well.

Mission Action Plan - your contributions wanted!

Please return your letters from last week with your thoughts on St Matthew's future over the next 5 years and put them in the box provided. The Church Council is going away this Saturday to draft our Mission Action Plan and we will take your input into account.

Men's Group Tuesday 8.00 in the Royal: The speaker is John Edlin on My Year in New Zealand.

The Bishop's Lent Appeal supports disabled people at projects round the world. The collections from our Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday services will be donated to the Lent Appeal.

For Your Prayers...

Give thanks for The Hub Christian Bookshop newly reopened! For Liz Burley, our new Family and Children's Worker, as she prepares to take up this post.

Making Christ Known: for St Martin's 50th anniversary special services this week.

The World: For disabled people and the Bishop's Lent Appeal. For Chile following the earthquake near Concepcion.

For Healing: Barry McEwan, Andrew Taylor, David Boss, Ted Tolley, David Smith, Gwen Edwards, Doreen Hammond, Anne McEwan, Hazel Joyce, Felicity Clarkson, Don Brotherton, Patricia Smythe, John Page.

Commended to God's keeping: all named in our Memorial Book this week; those killed in Afghanistan.