Notices 26th January to 2nd February 2014

notices

SUNDAY Third Sunday of Epiphany	26th	8.00 am 10.00 am   1.30 pm	Holy Communion Holy Communion with Seekers upstairs 4th Birthday Party in the Upper Hall until 4.30 pm
MONDAY	27th	12.30 pm	Please note: The office will not be open today Sunny Days post natal support group in the Meeting Place
TUESDAY	28th	10.00 am      2.30 pm   6.15 pm   7.30 pm   7.30 pm	Holy Communion in the Meeting Place TLC in the Meeting Place. New members always welcome Brownies in the Upper Hall Guides in the Upper Hall P.C.C. Meeting in the Meeting Place (– please arrive 7.30 pm for a 7.45 pm start. Thank you)
WEDNESDAY	29th	10.00 am 10.30 am   6.00 pm   8.00 pm	Peekaboo for parents, carers, babies and toddlers in the Nave with refreshments in the Meeting Place Care4You team meeting in the Old Vestry Yoga with Yolande Swift in the Upper Hall Tai Chi with Gary Shaw in the Upper Hall
THURSDAY	30th	10.00 am   3.00 pm   6.30 pm	Weight Watchers in the Upper Hall Chairobics in the Meeting Place Weight Watchers in the Upper Hall
SUNDAY Candlemas – Presentation of Jesus in the Temple	2nd	8.00 am 10.00 am   6.00 pm	Holy Communion Baptism Service with Seekers upstairs Focus Service in the Nave with refreshments in the Meeting Place (arrive 6.00 pm for 7.00 pm start)

From Murray – Dubai Reflections 1 – Just a few weddings!!

It has been great to have been out in Dubai again!  I have had many wonderful experiences again and feel that I have been able to give my friend Steve some support, especially chatting together in the borrowed Jeep as we went out to our intended desert camping ground.

Steve has an incredible ministry out there.  Not only does he care for a sizable congregation made up of English speaking people from many nations and continents, but he also does a few weddings – just a few!  Last time I was here he was doing about 200 a year, but his fame is spreading and last year he peaked at 370!  This is too much for anyone and can only be achieved with the help of dedicated staff dealing with all the legal preliminaries and with support of two vergers who have everything ready for him in church when it comes to the service.  He does weddings very well and provides both thorough preparation, and the sort of individual attention which makes each couple feel valued.  People sometimes ask him if he remembers them from a wedding several years ago and are quite shocked when he does not!

Realising that it has all got a bit out of hand, Steve now has found other clergy who are able to take on some of the weddings - which provides them with useful income and will give Steve the space to catch up with his life!  His congregation are of course proud of him, as many of them come across those he has married through work, and rave on about how good he is.  But doing around nine weddings a week and up to four a day is a punishing schedule (especially when brides are late!) and it involves all sorts of international knowledge as the couples often come from different countries and continents.

FEBRUARY TO APRIL - CHURCH DUTY ROTA  The rota is now ready for collection from the back of church for those few people who have chosen not to receive it electronically.  If you haven’t remembered to tell us about holiday absences, please can you make sure you organize your own swaps. Thank you

FOR YOUR DIARY: MESSY CHURCH The next Messy Church for families will be held here at St Paul’s on Saturday 8^th February in the Nave and Meeting Place at 10.00 am for families and 9.00 am for all those helping please. A light lunch is included and a contribution of £1 each towards refreshments and materials is appreciated. If you’d like to join us and would like more information please telephone 2551945, or see Ann.

1914 – 2014 CENTENARY - CELEBRATION EVENTS

2014 marks a very special year of Centenary Celebrations for the Diocese of Sheffield. Please see the church notice boards for Sunday afternoon events from May to November. Each of the celebrations will begin around 2.00 pm and end about 5.00 pm, and will include some bible teaching from Bishop Steven, an act of Worship, activities for all stages, and picnics (bring your own!) and refreshments.

W.I.  Margaret Cooper presents an evening of entertaining poetry and stories on Wednesday 5^th February at 7.30 pm in the Old Vestry. Non-members welcome! (£2.00 charge) To join our W.I., please phone Sylvia Sanderson on 0114 2582194 or just come along to the meeting. You’ll be made very welcome!

GUIDES Contact Karen Stevenson if you are interested in helping Guides, please see “What’s on” for details. You’d be supported by experienced members of our uniformed organisations, & the gift of your time would be of great benefit to young people locally. Thanks

M.U. Revd. Shirley Knibbs will be speaking about Food Banks at our meeting on February 12^th at 2.15 pm in the Meeting Place. New members always welcome!

WHAT’S ON?  We have a wide range of things to do throughout the week and activities where you can meet like-minded people. There’s often space on the board by the bus stop, if you’d like to advertise your church group or community activity. (Please drop off a laminated A4 poster at the office.) When we’ve space, we can advertise special events on our website and notice boards, for example, if your group has a special celebration, or an interesting speaker. Please let John know if your contact details for “What’s on at St Paul’s” change, or Joan, via the office, if your meeting dates change.  Thanks

RAINBOWS Due to a lack of numbers Rainbows has been suspended until April, or until more children join, for information please contact Liz Scott 07584575141

Mike’s Ministry:

Mon 27^th – Charnock Hall Primary

Tues 28^th – Woodseats Primary

Wed 29^th – Carfield Primary

Thurs 30^th – Emmanuel Junior (Waterthorpe)

                       and Totley All Saints Primary

Sun 2^nd – St Paul’s 10.00 am Baptism Service

Prayer Focus: 

We continue to pray for all who are ill and those who care for them.

From Murray – a trip to the Indian Ocean

One of the highlights of my trip was cadging a lift with Steve to a staff meeting in Fujaira over on the Indian Ocean coast.  It was a mixed experience as it rained really hard that day so the views of the mountains we drove through were not as spectacular as I had expected.  Fujaira is underdeveloped compared to Dubai and it took a while to walk past the ramshackle shops down to the sea front.  On the way it started raining again so I nipped in a café for a cup of tea to while away the time while the shower passed, but was covered in confusion when the proprietor would not accept any money for the tea when I eventually left!  It may have been that the tea came complimentary with a cake and as I had not had a cake I could not pay – but if could have been something else entirely!  Communication was not easy!!

I did eventually have half an hour on the beach with waves crashing in onto the brown sand but when more rain threatened I made my way back to the church flat where the meeting was taking place.  I then had a long wait as the meeting over-ran by nearly three hours.  I could not object to this as I knew that Steve was desperate to raise some important issues which he feels have been swept aside by the senior chaplain.  So I prayed for them and then listened to my trusty iPod!

Eventually we set off home taking the long way round through the mountains getting better views now the rain had stopped and calling in at a hotel for a meal, with great views of the sun setting behind the mountains.