Notices 31st March to 7th April 2013

EASTER SUNDAY CHRIST HAS RISEN   !!!	31st	8.00 am 10.00 am     6.00 pm	Holy Communion Easter Day Family Communion No Seekers this week (School Holidays) Focus Service in the Nave & Meeting Place – 6.00 pm for 7.00 pm
MONDAY Easter Monday Bank Holiday	1st		School Holidays: No  “Sunny Days” post natal support group with Julie Slingsby No Rainbows - resumes 15th April No Focus Fellowship meeting
TUESDAY	2nd	8.00 pm	Please note - No Holy Communion this morning “Rattle & Roll”- Music for Under 5’s -  resumes 16th April No TLC this week – all welcome when we resume on 9th April No Brownies - resumes 16th April No Guides -  resumes 16th April Contemplative Prayer  in the Old Vestry
	3rd	9.00 am 10.30 am     7.30 pm   8.00 pm	Prayers in the Old Vestry  No “Peekaboo”  for babies, toddlers, parents & carers - resumes 17th April Care4You Team Meeting with Lynne Ashmore in the Old Vestry No Yoga with Yolande Swift - resumes next week on Wednesday 10th April 1st Wednesday Group meeting  at Jacqui’s, 2 Carfield Place  – part 3 of DVD “Christianity in Roman Times” Tai Chi with Gary Shaw  in the Upper Hall Please note: W.I. meeting this evening is cancelled and will now meet  next week 0n 10th April owing to the Easter Break
THURSDAY	4th	10.00 am   3 – 4 pm   6.30 pm   7.30 pm	Weight Watchers in the Upper Hall St Paul’s Chairobics in the Meeting Place – new members welcome Weight Watchers in the Upper Hall Thursday Prayer Group in the Meeting Place
FRIDAY	5th	10.00 am	M.U. Coffee Morning at the Cathedral
SATURDAY	6th	8.20 am	PCC Meeting in the Meeting  Place – please arrive at 8.00 am for breakfast
SUNDAY Second Sunday of Easter	7th	8.00 am 10.00 am	Holy Communion Baptism Service No Seekers this week (School Holidays)

NOTICES If you have items for the church notice sheet, please put them in writing or email them to the office by 10.00 am on Wednesday. Thank you

Questions! Questions! 

Murray is delighted that people want to do the Questions! Questions! course so he is trying to sort out times.

The first will be on Thursday evenings starting on April 11^th and will probably run through most of May.  Could a few people join this course please in order to make it viable.

Following that he will be leading a course in June and July on a Wednesday evenings. 

Rather than doing one in the autumn he is now thinking of doing the second part of Questions! Questions! on Tuesday mornings as an extra Communion and Fellowship series probably in June – more details soon!

The next local Confirmation service will be on Monday 23^rd September at St James’ Norton at 7.30 pm.

CHURCH ELECTORAL ROLL This year we have to completely redo our roll so please fill in a form (they’re on a table in the MP) and return it to Murray or leave it for him in the church office.  To be on the roll you will have to have been baptised and want to be a member of St Paul’s Church.

SPRING 2013 – MORE DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

SPRING MEMORIAL SERVICE will be on Sunday 14^th April at 6.00 pm. More information to follow shortly. If you would like to remember a loved one, even if you don’t  require an invitation please let us know the names to be read out at the service either by e-mail or in writing and hand to the office or  Irene Seggar by April 5^th Thanks

PIE AND PEA SUPPER and “A Taste of Dubai” from Murray will be on Friday 19^th April at 7.00 pm in the Nave. There will be steak, chicken & leek, or vegetarian pies available. Tickets are £5.00 each and are available now from Jacqui Herbert, Liz Warren or Barbara Hanson. Please let them know your food preference.

THE ANNUAL CHURCH PAROCHIAL MEETING will be held on Sunday 28^th April at our 10 am service.

HOLMWOOD SERVICE TUESDAY 14^th MAY AT 2.00 PM.  Murray has booked the next service with Holmwood.  Unfortunately because of commitments in his and the home’s diary it cannot be until May, but put it in your dairy now so that you can be there to share in our ministry to the home!

A NIGHT IN VIENNA The Sheaf Singers present “A Night in Vienna” on Sat 20^th April at 7.15 pm at the URC. Guest artists will be Meersbrook Light Orchestra, Gwen Knight – Soprano & Matthew Pitts – Accompanist. Tickets are £6.00 from all members and Olive Walker Tel 0114 2692144, or see Ken in church. The event is in aid of this year’s chosen charity, Help for Heroes.  We hope to see you there!

ABBA NIGHT! Come along to the W.I. in Abba themed fancy dress for an evening of music and fun on Wednesday April 10^th at 7.30 pm in the Old Vestry (Non-members welcome - £2.00.) to join phone Sylvia Sanderson on 0114 2582194

SAINSBURY’S VOUCHERS There’s a box at the back of church if you would like to donate to Active Kids 2013 again this year please. In previous years the appeal has provided some fantastic equipment for St Paul’s Beavers. More details to follow.

FOOD BANK Please could people start saving strong carrier bags - please leave them with the donations of food by the bookcase.   

BISHOPS HOUSE EVENTS:

Knights Hospitaller Association Come and meet the Knights of St John today 31^st March and walk round Bishops House and discover what it was like in Medieval England.

ST. JAMES’ CHURCH NORTON Farmers Market with cakes and refreshments on Saturday April 27^th 10am to 2pm around the Church and the Obelisk.

COMMUNITY INFORMATION:

CHANGES TO BENEFITS Please see black information folder in the Meeting Place.

Prayer Focus:  We continue to pray for all who are bereaved, those who are ill and those who care for them

Mike’s Ministry

Sun 7^th April - 8.00 am & 10.00 am H.C. at St Paul’s

From Murray

Looking out of my window there is still plenty of snow around – if feels more like Christmas than Easter!

In the last week winter has been fighting back, walking back from helping at Cubs last night the wind was an icy blast and  the water from snow melt had turned to ice that was as slippery as glass.  But however cold it might get we know that winter is beaten!  Our weather may become more unpredictable with climate change caused by global warming but that will not affect the patterns of summer and winter.  Spring is on the way and summer will follow.  We have evidence for that in the way the days are lengthening and the daffodils are beginning to flower through the snow!

In the same way Jesus resurrection is the first piece of evidence that the ministry of Jesus has changed the nature of our world.  Because Jesus rose from the dead we can see that his crucifixion was not a tragic mistake but a victory over evil, sin and death.

We live in a new age when resurrection life is being made known by God’s people in the world as they respond to the promptings of his Holy Spirit.  Evil, sin and death may fight back but they will ultimately be defeated – and that is at the heart of what we celebrate today.  Happy Easter!