Week commencing 19/2/12

Electoral Roll
This is the time of year when we have to carry out a revision of the Electoral Roll at St Andrew’s.

If you are not already on the roll, and would like to be, please take a form from the back of the church, or contact Val Church on 458443.

Forms must be returned no later than Sunday, 26th February, 2012 to St Andrew’s church or to 2 Summer Street, Slip End.

Val Church (Electoral Roll Officer)

Traidcraft News

We have lots of exciting events coming up including the Fair-trade Fortnight when we will be holding a 'Big Brew' coffee morning on the 9th March (more details to follow!) and I'm delighted to announce that we will be getting stock of
“The Real Easter eggs”!
Please place your orders as soon as possible, and if you need anything else, any time, please email me: (lynne@lynnesandle.orangehome.co.uk)
and I can bring your item the following Sunday. See Events page for next dates.

Take a Step for Fair Trade
As we approach Lent it would be wonderful if we could take a small step with a big impact and help to stamp out trade injustice, malnutrition, unclean water, child slavery and employment exploitation.

Please consider making a commitment this Lent to switching your shopping to one (more) fair trade item. See Lynne’s article for details of Fair Trade Big Brew and dates that Traidcraft Stall is church. Or look out for fair trade items in the supermarket.

“Meet the Grower” on Sunday 4th. March, 13:00-15:30 at Holy Ghost Parish Centre. See poster on noticeboard for further details.

Lent begins this week:
We are having a Pancake Party at 7.30pm this Tuesday in the Family Room: Please bring some pancakes that can be warmed up in the microwaves and some toppings. Please bring pans for a pancake race too. There will be a quiz about Lent and we will have a go at a new one that the cubs did last Monday. This should be fun and would be a good opportunity to invite friends and neighbours who don’t normally come to church. (Invites at the back of church)

Our Ash Wednesday Communion Service, marking the beginning of Lent, will be in church at 7.30pm this Wednesday.

After that the network groups will meet weekly during Lent and we will be using the Bishops Lent course.
Transforming Life is a six week course for groups written by the Bishops of the diocese. It helps explore the second strand of the Living God's Love journey - Transforming Communities.
The course is based on the Old Testament lectionary principal Sunday readings for Lent 1 through to Palm Sunday. (Which we will be following)

Themes and Readings:
1. Transforming Promise (Genesis 9.8-17 – Noah and the Rainbow)
2. Transforming Call (Genesis 17.1-7, 15-16 – Abraham and the new Name)
3. Transforming Rule (Exodus 20.1-17 – Moses and the Commandments)
4. Transforming Gift (Numbers 21.4-9 – the People and the Snake)
5. Transforming Hope (Jeremiah 31.31-34 – Me and my Heart)
6. Transforming Faith (Isaiah 50.4-9a – God and my Life)

The Diocesan Lent Challenge is available again:
The daily emails will contain a bible verse, an image, a short introduction, a pause for reflection and a challenge for the day.

It’s still not too late to sign up. All you need to do is to go to www.livethechallenge.co.uk and sign up.

Vicar: Rev' Cathy Pullinger (vicar@slipend.co.uk) Church Phone 01582 725061 - Church mobile 07425 148046
Churchwardens: Tony Willson (482681) Susan Wiltshire (727477)
Reader: Chris Barnes (725448)