Pew Sheet 4th February 2018

St Dunstan’s Church, Monks Risborough
& St. Peter’s Chapel, Owlswick
Registered Charity Number: 1153869.

Part of the Risborough Team Ministry

www.stdunstanschurch.com

Vicar: The Revd. James Tomkins
01844 275944 (day off Tuesday)
jamestomkins@btinternet.com
The Rectory, Mill Lane, Monks Risborough, HP27 9JE

Churchwardens:
Charlie Fairall 07584 264573 crmfairall@yahoo.co.uk
Johanna Powell 01844 343996 johanna@powellathome.com

Welcome!

We hope you will appreciate worshipping here with us. Please take away our welcome leaflet on the table for all of our services and activities. Coffee and squash is served in the church hall after the 10.00am service.

Sunday 4th February

Second Sunday before Lent

We come together to reflect on the gift of life that is ours to share, and on the grace of God that gives us power. As we hold our lives before God, may we know God’s delight, receive God’s love, and go from here resourced to play our part in the world.

8.00am Holy Communion
First Reading Genesis 3.9-19
Second Reading Luke 8.4-15

10.00am All Age Family Communion and Baptism of Verity Ludgate
Hymns 450, 825, 819, 201
Communion 47, 334, 856, 648

6.00pm Evensong

First Reading: Genesis 2.4b-end
Second Reading: Luke 8.22-35
Hymns 684, 185, 497
Psalm 65

Prayer of the Week
Almighty God, give us reverence for all creation and respect for every person, that we may mirror your likeness in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Your prayers are asked this week for:

• The meeting this week of the General Synod of the church of England in London  
• Adult Learning & Education Programmes and the University of the Third Age.
• Those who are homeless, living as refugees and making the perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea
• The Oxford Diocesan Board of Education and all those involved in the academisation process
• The Government and the European Union in the next phase of Brexit panning and negotiations
• Market Square (PR) Main Road & New Road (LG)
• Those who are in need in our parish:
  • Joan Ballance, Pam Johnson, David Argue
• And also further afield for:
  • Alastair, Georgina Cole, Ginny Gibbs, Rob, Alex Chauhan, Cathy Owen, Gail, Moira Spence, Debbie Cadwallader, Colin
• The recently departed:
  • Diana Mullens, Sylvia Faithful and Peter Kinsey
• Those whose anniversary of death falls at this time:
  • Peter Walker, Jean Monaghan, Barbara Fox, Chris Pearson, John Day
    

Please remember the charities that the parish supports
Rennie Grove House Hospice Care - a charity providing care and support for patients in Herts and Bucks diagnosed with life-limiting illness www.renniegrove.org

 

Notices

Updating of Church membership (Electoral Roll)
We will be updating the membership list (electoral roll) of St. Dunstan’s and St. Peter’s between 21st January and 2nd March. If you are not yet a member and would like to come on to the electoral roll applications forms can be found at the back of the church/chapel during this time. A list of the current roll is in the porch. If you would like a form sent in the post or by email, or if you would like to be taken off the electoral roll, please contact Susanne (01844 342746 / susanned@onetel.com).

The Bethany House Group
The Bethany House Group meets at 10.30am on alternate Wednesdays at 76 Westmead, Monks Risborough. It is looking at “Jesus’ childhood” on February 7th. Each week during Lent, starting on February 21st it will be following the ‘York Course’ called ‘On the third day’ written by the former Bishop of Oxford, John Pritchard that seeks to recapture the explosive power of the resurrection. If you would like to find out more please speak to Rose Williams (274225) or Jill Iredale (346488). All welcome.

Lent starts on February 14th
As usual we’ll be marking Lent in a variety of ways. There will be a Parish Communion service on the first day of Lent (Ash Wednesday) at 8 pm and two types of booklets ‘Love life, live Lent’ (for both adults and children) and ‘Live Lent’ from Christian Aid are available on the table by the south door. The Bethany House Group (see above) is also running a course called ‘On the third day’. The outstanding Church Times Festival of Faith and Literature takes place at Bloxham School from February 16th to 18th. Further details of the speakers can be found on the church notice board. I have also received a thought  provoking calendar  from Christian Aid called ‘Count your blessings’ which can be accessed via this link https://www.christianaid.org.uk/sites/default/files/2017-12/Count%20Your%20Blessings%202018%20adult.pdf As well as all this there is a highly recommended book called ‘The Art of Lent: A Painting A Day From Ash Wednesday To Easter’ by Sister Wendy Beckett that unpacks the timeless wisdom to be found in some of the world's greatest paintings. A few copies are available to buy in the church (cost £7 payable to me) or you can purchase this book via Amazon etc. As in previous years, Churches Together in Risborough are offering a series of talks for Lent – details of which can be found in the porch. When I become aware of other opportunities to mark Lent, I will update this note. James

St Dunstan’s Flower Festival Spring Lectures
“Green & Pleasant Lands” – A History of British Gardens from the Romans to the present day by Joanne Kidd on Wednesday 28th February 7.30 for 8.00 p.m. at Monks Risborough Church of England Primary School Cost £8
“The Tradescants” – Plant Collectors and Gardeners of the early 17th century by Joanne Kidd on Wednesday 21st March 7.30 for 8.00 p.m. at Monks Risborough Church of England Primary School. Cost £8.
Tickets from Sally’s Sewing Box, Duke Street, Princes Risborough, Jenny (01844 273838) or www.ticketsource.co.uk/st-dunstans-church
 
Buckinghamshire Day Conference – highly recommended
We are called to be contemplative, compassionate, courageous people and churches of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5.1-12). Everyone from Buckinghamshire is warmly invited to join Bishops Steven and Alan on Saturday 24th March 2018, 10am – 4.30pm at the Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School, Oxford Road, Aylesbury HP21 8PE. Tea and coffee is provided throughout the day. Please bring a packed lunch. Booking is essential, either through Eventbrite: bucksareaconference.eventbrite.co.uk or by email bucksareaconference@oxford.anglican.org

More grass cutters required for the churchyard
St. Dunstan’s is very fortunate in having a team of people who help to keep the churchyard looking so neat and tidy. In anticipation that spring will be upon us in the next few weeks we require two or three more people to help cut a small part of the churchyard each. There is a variety of good quality mowers and strimmers to use with a time commitment of about two to three hours each fortnight during the growing season. If you would like to find out more about what’s involved please speak with James.

Churchwarden, PCC and Deanery Synod vacancies
After an invaluable four year stint as churchwarden Charlie Fairall is stepping down at the Annual Meeting on March 19th. We therefore need to find a suitable person to be the second churchwarden. The primary role of churchwardens is to be able to attend most of the 10 am services on a Sunday morning and at major festivals, and to have a concern for the church, its people and its buildings. Charlie is very willing to carry on helping out with practical and maintenance issues such as the church boiler and the lawnmowers so this will lighten the load. There are also vacancies to fill on the Parochial Church Council (PCC) that meets 8/9 times a year on a Monday evening. The PCC is the forum through which key decisions are taken regarding vision, the undertaking of repairs and improvements to church buildings, church finances etc. There is also a vacancy for the Deanery Synod which acts as a link between the local church and Diocese.  If you are intersted in filling any of these roles please speak with James.

Keith and Jane Gibbons’ new address
Jane and Keith Gibbons have now moved to Leicestershire. Their new address is 10 Rosebery Avenue, Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicester, LE8 0JA. Keith = 07712 524724 and Jane 07740 951504. We wish them every blessing and happiness in their new home.

The Next Few Weeks 

The Church is open daily to visit from 9.30am–4.00pm
Morning Prayer takes place on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8.45am to 9.05am (except Bank Holidays). Everyone welcome

Thurs 8th Feb	9.30am Holy Communion 2.00pm Monks Monkeys (church hall) 2.30pm Thanksgiving Service for Diana Mullens 7.30pm Fellowship Meeting (church hall)
Sun 11th Feb	10.00am Parish Communion 11.15am WW1 Commemoration at the war memorial 11.30am Owlswick Holy Communion 6.00pm Evensong
Mon 12th Feb	12.00 noon Funeral of Sylvia Faithful 7.30pm ‘Open House’ and ‘Pilgrim Course’ at The Rectory
Weds 14th Feb Ash Wednesday	8.00pm Parish Communion and Imposition of Ashes
Thurs 15th Feb	9.30am Holy Communion 1.15pm Funeral at Amersham Crematorium for Peter Kinsey
Sun 18th Feb	10.00am Parish Communion      (3.00pm Communion service at cherry Tree Nursing Home) 6.00pm Evensong 6.00pm ‘Later’ at Princes Risborough Methodist Church
Wed 21st Feb	2.00pm Monks Risborough School ‘Lent’ service 2.30pm Friendship Group (church hall)
Thurs 22nd Feb	9.30am Holy Communion 2.00pm Knitting and Nattering (church hall) 2.00pm Monks Monkeys (church)
Sat 24th Feb	7.00pm ‘Pop-up’ cinema in church  ‘Hidden Figures’ (PG)
Sun 25th Feb	10.00am Parish Communion 3.00pm Owlswick Evensong