St Paul's Church, Oadby

Love Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:02:00 +0000

A long time ago in Bethlehem, Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph. It's been so long. It happened so far away... and yet Christmas is more popular than ever.

We love the fact that all across the world, people will take a break from their usual routines. Many will share a special get-together with family and friends. Thousands will decorate their homes, prepare food and give presents. And our church will be full of people of all ages and backgrounds because a real Christmas starts with Christ.

We'd love you to join in. Because the love at the heart of Christmas is God's love - the generous, gracious gift of a Saviour - and that's worth celebrating!

Special Christmas Services at St Paul's:

Sunday 20 December - Carols by Candlelight 4.00 to 5.30pm and 7.00pm to 8.30pm (service repeated)
Christmas Eve - Christingle service 4.00 to 5.00pm, especially for younger children
Christmas Eve - Midnight communion service - 11.30pm to 12.30am
Christmas Day - Family communion service - 10.00 to 11.00am

Christmas Toy and Gift Service 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:17:00 +0000

We collected over seventy specially chosen presents from members of our congregation last Sunday for the annual Christmas Gift Service.

These will go to children and young people at a number of projects and hostels for supporting those in special need. Some are homeless, some are fleeing domestic violence.

We hope that these gifts will bring a little cheer on Christmas Day. Thank you to all who contributed so generously.

Register now for Alpha 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:37:00 +0000

We're looking forward to another great Alpha Course, beginning at St Paul's on 26 January. I'm just about to send out postal invitations to people who might be interested.

The Alpha Course is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith.

It's relaxed, low key, friendly and fun.

There is a meal together at the beginning of each session, which gives our guests an opportunity to get to know each other.

Listen, learn, discuss and discover. And ask anything.

If you, or someone you know is interested and you'd like to recieve an invitation, please email me with your details and I'll get one straight to you.

Titus Wordled

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:07:00 +0000

We're in the middle of a short sermon series on the Letter of Paul to Titus. This is how Wordle renders the complete text (the more frequently a word appears, the larger it appears). Click on the image for a large picture.

District Church Council Meeting - November 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:21:00 +0000

Last night's DCC was very positive with lots of animated conversation, commitment and prayer. Among other topics, we:

Heard a presentation from John Fryer, Children's Work Adviser for the Diocese of Leicester. John spoke in relation to our exploration Where are the Children? He commended the DCC's honesty and commitment to responding to a challenging and changing situation. He confirmed that the issues are widespread and many churches are in a similar position to ourselves. We had an open conversation about finding new ways to engage with children, both in church and in the wider community.
Decided to continue inviting an offering, rather than taking a collection.
Set a balanced budget for 2010.
Confirmed rates for letting our buildings for 2010.
Decided to offer the books from the old church library, which have been in storage for several years, to the congregation.

Bringing our offering, not taking a collection

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:05:00 +0000

A new way of giving

At its November meeting yesterday, St Paul's District Church Council decided to continue receiving the gifts of church members on an open plate, rather than by passing collection bags as we used to do. The DCC decided that we should do this at least until Easter 2010, and that we should make the offering plate more obvious and easy to find.

Background
St Paul's has traditionally passed collection bags along the rows of worshippers during the service. With the introduction of swine 'flu precations we left an open plate for donations instead.

Our members give over £1000 each week to support the work of our church and the mission projects we resource. That represents a wonderful generosity and we are very grateful. We ask people to think about the gift they make rather than to find notes and coins as the collection bags approach. The 'stewardship' planned giving scheme is a great way to encourage this. People who give by cash or cheque place their gift in an envelope and place them in the offering. Of course, many people give by standing order, which is an excellent way of giving reliably and realistically. The opportunity to give by standing order will remain. To join the stewardship scheme, please see David Foulds.

What does the Bible say about the way Christians should give?
In the Bible, money was brought to the Temple treasury. Jesus condemned the abuses of the moneychangers, who received the people's gifts in ways that cheated them. In Mark 12.41-44 we read how he watched the wealthy bringing in substantial gifts to the treasury but he commended the giving of the widow who gave all that she had, even two small coins.

In Matthew 6.1-4, Jesus warns against giving as a way of showing off. "Whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet... so that you may be praised. ...But give in secret... and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

Our hopes
We hope that inviting giving without passing bags along the rows of worshippers will remove some of the awkwardness, especially for visitors. We hope it will counter the idea of taking a collection (which to outsiders, can sometimes looks like a "whip-round for cash"!) Instead, in inviting an offering given generously from "first fruits" rather than spare change, brought before God in prayer and worship, without awkwardness or embarrassment, we hope it will glorify God and serve his church.

Hiring our rooms

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:46:00 +0000

I am approached several times a week by people who wish to hire our rooms. We have a policy to use our buildings to serve the local community, both as an expression of our commitment to our neighbourhood and as a way of raising funds to support our Christian ministry in Oadby. We're thrilled that this has been an area of enormous growth in recent years.

The main church and the Barnabas Centre are available for hire for community groups and courses but not for private parties or social functions. We take particular care to work in partnership with groups and welcome members of other faith communities. But we also ensure that activities are not incompatible with the prime reason for our work - worshipping God in the Christian faith.

The charges for 2010 are £17 per hour for the Barnabas Centre and £17 per hour for the church.

To book the church or Barnabas Centre, contact Cynthia on the new bookings line - 07931 726661, or by email.

Nick Griffin does not speak for Christians

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:55:00 +0000

This blog is not primarily a place for this vicar to express his personal opinions. As a proud husband and father in a mixed-race family, you might already imagine how I feel about the things the leader of the British National Party said during a recent televised debate. So I intend to say little about what has been widely reported elsewhere.

But as a church leader in a multi-cultural, multi-faith town, I cannot allow one of his specific claims to go unopposed.

During the Question Time broadcast, Nick Griffin suggested that the views of the BNP are consistent with Christianity. They are not.

The era in which the New Testament was written was as culturally complex as our own. The first Christians were Jews, who might have naturally thought that other people had no part in the church. They quickly learned that the Christian faith is open to all people, regardless of their ethnicity or how "indigenous" they might be.

In Colossians 3.11, we read, there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

Amen to that!

New Readers (Lay Ministers) in Leicester Diocese

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:28:00 +0000

It's been a privilege to accompany another eight people through vocational interviews, selection and training. They joined a former Methodist Lay Preacher in being licensed as new Readers in the Diocese of Leicester at the cathedral last Saturday.

The role of Warden of Readers, which I've held during the last five years, brings quite a workload but it's been immensely fulfilling. I'm grateful to the parish for allowing me the time to carry out these extra duties.

Principal services in November and December 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:56:00 +0000

Before Advent, we're exploring one of the shortest books of the Bible, Paul's Letter to Titus. It's a fascinatingly personal piece of writing, in a very specific time and place. But it also points to eternal truths about us and about God.

In Advent itself, our attention turns to the promised Saviour. Week by week we share the hopes and longings of the Jewish nation, as they looked forward to the day when a Messiah would appear.

Christmas services at St Paul's have been more popular than ever, so this year for the first time we're holding two Carols by Candlelight services, both on 20 December.

We hope you'll join us at these services as we discover fresh insights into the purpose and plans of God.

1 November 10.00am Holy Communion
Why Paul left Titus in Crete
Titus 1.1-2.1

8 November 10.00am All together church, after Breakfast at Barney's
Being friends with Jesus
Luke 19.1-10

15 November 10.00am Holy Communion
Speak up, Titus!
Titus 2.2-15

22 November 10.00am The Word Service
Reborn and renewed
Titus 3

29 November 10.00am The Word Service
Watch out!
1 Thessalonians 3.9-end & Luke 21.25-36

6 December 10.00am Holy Communion
A voice cries out
Philippians 1.3-11 & Luke 3.1-6

13 December 10.00am Christmas Toy and Gift Service, after Breakfast at Barney's
Giving your life to God
Romans 10:9-13

20 December 10.00am The Word Service
Mary and Elizabeth
Hebrews 10.5-10 & Luke 1.39-45

20 December 4.00pm and 7.00pm (two services)
Carols by Candlelight

24 December 4.00pm
Christingle Service

24 December 11.30pm
Midnight Communion
Isaiah 9.2-7 & Luke 2.1-14

25 December 10.00am
Family Christmas Communion
Hebrews 1.1-4 & John 1.1-14

27 December 10.00am Joint Parish Service of Holy Communion
An amazing boy
Colossians 3.12-17 & Luke 2.41-end

Planning a Church Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:49:00 +0000

A marriage service, wherever it is held, is a public declaration of love and lifelong commitment to your partner.

But a service in church brings an added dimension - the assurance that God cares about your relationship and that his resources and strength are available to help you. Including God in your marriage doesn’t mean that you will avoid all the usual ups and downs, but you will know that you can look to God for help and guidance and that his love will sustain you. You will also have the support and encouragement of the Christian Church family.

This article is a basic guide to some of the important issues. However, it is not possible here to give full legal information relating to marriages and in the case of doubt you must take appropriate advice.

A Church of England Marriage Service is a legally-recognised ceremony as well as an occasion for worship and celebration. The form of service is governed by law. After declaring their ability and desire to marry, the couple exchange solemn vows and give and receive ring(s). The minister declares them to be married and the service concludes with prayers and blessings. There are important legal preliminaries to a ceremony of marriage, which must be observed carefully.

A service of Prayer and Dedication after a Civil Marriage is sometimes known as a Blessing. This service can follow immediately after a civil marriage (e.g. in a Register Office) for couples in circumstances where it would not be possible to have a church wedding. Alternatively, couples who have been married for some time may wish to dedicate their life together to God. The couple begin the service as married people, and there is no giving of rings, though a prayer over the rings is offered. In the dedication the couple resolve to be faithful to each other and pray that in offering themselves to God that they may grow in unity, love and peace. The minister prays for God to bless the marriage which has already taken place.

The service of Thanksgiving for Marriage may be used to celebrate an anniversary, or in the renewed commitment following a time of difficulty in a marriage. The form of service is flexible and often includes the renewal of wedding vows, in which the couple recall and reaffirm the commitment they made on their wedding day.

What is the situation for marriage after a divorce?
The Church of England teaches that marriage is for life. It also recognises that, sadly, some marriages do fail and, if this should happen, it seeks to be available for all involved. The Church accepts that, in some circumstances, a divorced person may marry again in church during the lifetime of a former spouse.

The clergy of Oadby Parish are willing to conduct such a marriage in church, subject to the regulations which govern them. The minister will want to talk to you frankly about the past, your hopes for the future and your understanding of marriage. If it is not possible for your proposed marriage to take place in church, the minister may consider other alternatives with you.

Am I entitled to be married in Church?
You are entitled to be married in St Peter's or St Paul's if one or both of you live in the Parish of Oadby, or where you can demonstrate a “significant qualifying connection” with St Peter's or St Paul's Church. Significant qualifying connections can include:

you were baptised in in the Parish of Oadby; have your confirmation entered in a church register book of St Peter's or St Paul's churches; have had your usual place of residence in the parish for at least six months; or have habitually attended public worship at St Peter's or St Paul's for at least six months at some point in your life;

or, your parent has had his or her usual place of residence in the parish for at least six months during your lifetime; or habitually attended public worship at St Peter's or St Paul's for at least six months during your lifetime;

or, your parent or grandparent was married in the parish.The precise rules are complicated, so please check with us to be sure.

You don’t have to be baptised to be married in Church following banns, but an understanding of the Christian faith is important if the service is to be meaningful for you.

Can I have a Church Wedding at another venue?
You may only have a Church of England wedding in a parish church or some other place of worship - normally one licensed by the Bishop. It is not possible to have a religious wedding in other venues, for instance in a hotel.

What are the legal requirements?
Banns are the normal legal preliminary for a marriage service. You must have your banns read out in church on three Sundays during the three months before the wedding. Banns are an announcement of your intention to marry and a chance for anyone to put forward a reason why the marriage may not lawfully take place.

Banns need to be read in the parish where each of you lives as well as at the church in which you are to be married. It is your responsibility to ensure that the correct information for calling the banns is given to the minister of the appropriate parish churches at the right time. Banns are not required for Prayer and Dedication after a Civil Marriage or Thanksgiving for Marriage.
If either of you is a foreign national, it is usually preferable to marry after obtaining a Common Licence, instead of banns, to ensure that your marriage is legally recognised in your home country.

If you are under the age of eighteen, you must have your parents’ consent to marry.

How much will our wedding cost?
Each January, a new fees table is published which shows all the options. As a guide, at St Paul's our fees are around £500.

Who will be the minister at our wedding?
Normally, one of the parish clergy will officiate.

How do I book the Church? As soon as you have decided you would like to get married in church, get in touch with Rev’d Simon Harvey (0116 271 0519 or simon@sjharvey.org.uk). Simon will help you with the first stages of making the booking and let you know which minister in the parish will be taking your wedding.

The minister taking your service will wish to meet with you in person to discuss your plans.

A £100, non-returnable deposit will secure your booking.

Are resources available online?
If you have access to the internet, you’ll find a wealth of online resources about weddings. You might like to try these:

cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/weddings The website of the Church of England.
stpaulsoadby.blogspot.com The blog of St Paul's Church. Use the “weddings” label for specific information.
rejesus.org Information about the most talked-about and influential person who ever lived, Jesus Christ.

Where are the children?

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:56:00 +0000

We're thankful to God that St Paul's is a growing church. We're seeing more people join us each year and it's wonderful that people are finding faith and encouragement here.

But behind the overall figures, we're concerned that the number of children in our church has fallen substantially. So we're reflecting carefully and praying in order to understand more clearly the reasons for the change and also to seek God's leading in response.

The attendances at our all-age worship service last Sunday, and on the corresponding Sunday in 2003, illustrate the point really well. The proportion of adults is shown on these charts in red, children in blue.

The District Church Council (DCC) has been considering these issues and has committed to two one-hour prayer meetings, to which the whole church is invited. These are on 4 November, from 7.30 to 8.30pm in the Barnabas Centre, and on 22 November, from 6.30 to 7.30pm in the Church.

You can also read the full analysis that the DCC is exploring.

What is the difference between greed and gluttony?

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:37:00 +0000

Simon told us in his sermon:

Greed is when you overdo the desire to possess things, gluttony is the desire to consume more than you need. Just look at Simon's breakfast Noodle Pot!

The common cup returns

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:27:00 +0000

The timing feels a little strange, given that the second wave of the flu pandemic is upon us, but with infections at a lower rate than first feared and no sign of the disease becoming more deadly, the Bishop's advice this week requested that we return to sharing the common cup at services of Holy Communion.

I welcome this. Giving communion as bread alone was a non-starter for us. But intincting bread with wine makes the distribution a little cumbersome. Had the return to our customary practice been delayed for many more months, I fear it would be hard for many people to do so.

We want to be sensitive to the needs of people who feel at particular risk, so at least for the time being we'll make it possible for them to have the bread intincted with wine. But for the rest of us, we return to being one people, sharing one bread and one cup, as of Sunday 18 October.

The problem we all have with gluttony

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:03:00 +0000

Our sermon series on the seven deadly sins continues this Sunday, with gluttony. We'll even give you the chance for some last-minute practical research as the monthly Breakfast at Barney's takes place from 8.30am to 9.30am.

Come and take your fill of good, traditional breakfast cuisine and then settle down for an all-age service in which we're looking at the problem we all have with gluttony.

Gluttony isn't just a matter of overeating. Our appetites, if indulged to excess, can lead us into all kinds of trouble. We'll be looking at the issues and at what the Bible teaches about a topic that affects us all.

Bus it to church

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:34:00 +0000

We may be Oadby's best-kept secret, hidden away on a housing estate on the north side of the A6, but at least we're on a bus route.

On Sunday mornings, Arriva's first 31 of the day winds its way from stand C25 in Charles Street at 09:42, then blasts down a traffic-free London Road to Oadby's Parade at 09:56. It's then up onto our estate, reaching the bus stop on Severn Road at 10:04.

Granted, this means that you'll walk into church during the first hymn, but we don't mind.

The 31 runs every fifteen minutes, so getting back into Leicester again after the service is no great hassle.

Full details of the 31 route and timetable on Arriva's website.

Update 5 October. I've just asked Arriva if they can despatch the first 31 of the Sabbath ten minutes earlier. Will keep you posted.

Reasons to be cheerful - Bishop's Lay Congress 14 November 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:56:00 +0000

The 2009 Bishop's Lay Congress is titled, Reasons to be cheerful; sharing faith in everyday life

It's on Saturday 14 November, at Samworth Enterprise Academy, Trenant Road, Leicester, LE2 6TF - 9.15am - 3.30pm and here's the information received from our diocese's publicity team:

This is an opportunity for lay people to spend a day with the Bishop of Leicester reflecting on how it is that we can both enjoy and share our faith more fully in everyday life with guest speaker the Rt. Revd Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Reading.

Bishop Stephen has worked in parishes in London, Chichester, as Pastor of Peterborough Cathedral, as Missioner in the Wakefield Diocese and as part of Springboard, the Archbishop's evangelism team. He has written widely about evangelism, spirituality and discipleship. Among his recent books are 'From the Abundance of the Heart: Catholic Evangelism for all Christians (DLT 2006), Do Nothing to Change your Life; discovering what happens when you stop (CHP 2007), Hit the Ground Kneeling; seeing leadership differently (CHP 2008) and a book of Lent and Holy Week meditations The Things He Carried (SPCK 2008). He is married to Rebecca and they have three boys.

The Programme

9.15 - Arrival and Registration
9.14 - Introductions
10.15 - Bishop Stephen Cottrell
11.00 - Coffee
11.30 - Bishop Stephen Cottrell
12.00 - Group discussions
12.45 - Lunch (please bring your own)
1.45 - Questions & Answers with Bishop Stephen
2.15 - Questions & Answers with Bishop Tim
2.45 - Worship
3.30 - Close

NO COST - ALL WELCOME
Refreshments provided

Leaflets with booking forms are now available to pick up in church. Alternatively visit the diocesan website and download the form.

YFRIDAY in Leicester 11 October 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Tim Warner of St Luke's Church, Thurnby, has sent me details of YFriday's forthcoming Great and Glorious event in Leicester.

He writes:

YFRIDAY - GREAT & GLORIOUS with special guest Noel Richards in support
An all age, all family, all church, all denomination, all inclusive, One God Worship Event!
Sunday 11th October 2009, 7pm at Athena in Leicester (the old Odeon cinema)

We have just 1000 tickets available for this fantastic event - unprecedented in Leicester - so please hurry.

This event is open the the whole church family, any age, with special discounts for ages 8 & under.

Churches are being encouraged to use this event in place of their normal Sunday evening service - or as one if you don't already run one. So please get behind this and give your support - let's show just how great our God is!

1000 voices, of all ages, joining together in common worship for 2 hours - make sure you remember where YOU were on the evening of October 11th 2009!

See you there!

www.greatandgloriousweekend.info

The problem we all have with anger

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:11:00 +0000

What pushes your buttons?

Whether you sit and fume or steam into a full-blown rage, we all know what it's like to be angry, or to feel the anger of someone else's fury.

This Sunday at the ten o'clock service we're looking at the roots of anger, exploring its power and finding Christian insights to help us overcome its destructiveness.

Back to Church?

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:21:00 +0000

This is a re-post of a feature I wrote in February 2008. I thought it might be helpful for those coming to St Paul's on Back to Church Sunday.

What happens in church?

It's a great question. A few weeks ago I was talking with a couple who had never been to a regular service in church. They wanted to ask about being married in church and I was glad to help with their questions. We'd been talking for a while and I assured them that they'd be welcome at any of our services.
"Really?" they asked. "Do we need to let you know in advance that we're coming?" I was able to tell them that there's no need to book and that church is for everyone.
If you've never been to church before, or never been to our church at St Paul's, you'll have lots of questions about what actually happens. I remember going to church for the first time as an adult of 23 years old and, to be frank, I wasn't looking forward to it. If someone had told me a little about what lay in store, I'd have felt a lot more relaxed.

Does is cost anything to come to church?

No - it's always free. There's never an admission charge for worship. Every service (including every wedding and funeral) is a public event. You'll be welcome if you have a deep Christian faith, or if you believe in another faith or if you have no faith at all.
We usually take a collection during the service. A collection bag is passed along the rows and people put their donation for the running of the church and the organisations we support into the bag. No one can see who gives and who doesn't. Many people make their donation by standing order, so they just pass the bag on. You don't have to give anything but if you do, we're very grateful.

What should I wear?

People come to St Paul's in all sorts. Some in tee shirts and jeans, some in shirt and tie. Wear what you want! If you really want me to tell you what to wear, choose what you'd wear for a simple meal at a pub or cafe with friends.

What time does it start?

The main Sunday service is at 10:00am. Some people begin to arrive from 9:30 - that's great if you want to get the best seats but you may sit there for a while and wonder where everyone is. (Some of the 'regulars' often slip in at the last minute!)
If it's your first time, come at about 9.50am. By then we'll be almost ready, there'll be someone friendly at the door to say hello. Sit wherever you like - no one at our church gets fussy about who sits where.
Use the time before the service to relax and settle down. Just like the cinema, getting yourself in the right frame of mind and ready for the service itself will help enormously. Many people take a moment to pray quietly. Others like to greet their friends.

Where can I park?

There's a car park at the back of church but it starts to fill early. Park on the street if you can do so courteously and safely but try not to use the road in front of church, which isn't wide. Remember our neighbours who have to get their cars out. The Blues pub just around the corner has a huge car park and they're happy for us to use it on Sunday mornings.

Will everyone know that I'm a visitor?

No they won't. We're a busy church and lots of visitors come along. You might feel like you're the only stranger but you won't be. Having said that, don't be surprised if people look as though they're glad to see you - we enjoy having visitors and newcomers. Why not take the initiative and say hello to someone who looks friendly. I guarantee they will be.

I've got small children. Help!

Church is for babies, toddlers, children, teenagers, and adults. We have a range of groups for children of every age and a creche if you want to use it.
We understand that small children find it hard to sit still and to be quiet. If they get really noisy, take them into the sidechapel (there's a loudspeaker in there, so you'll still be able to hear the service). We've also got child-friendly toilets and baby-changing facilities.

How will I know when to stand or sit?

Two ways. First, the minister taking the service will always invite the congregation to stand or sit. Second, just do what everyone else does.
There are parts of the service where standing just feels right. It helps us sing better and it shows particular respect at especially significant times of the service. If you find it hard to stand, then it's quite alright to stay sitting all the time.

I don't like singing/I'm worried that I won't know the hymns and songs

I bet there's no one in our church who knows every song we sing. We love traditional hymns at St Paul's but we also sing praises to God in the newest songs. If you don't know the song, don't worry. Don't sing if you don't want to.

What are all the different parts of the service for?

Every service follows a kind of pattern. We're fairly flexible, so the pattern changes.
Think of a meal in a restaurant. You might begin with a drink at the bar, then move to your table and enjoy some poppadums (I eat a lot of curries!). The first course is followed by the main dish, then there's dessert and coffee.
In the same way, the service includes a sequence which helps us worship God. We usually start with a hymn of praise, then prayers that help us realise that we all need God's forgiveness and strength. Then we listen to readings from the Bible and hear a sermon which explains how these are relevant for our lives today. We pray for the world around us and then, at a communion service, we prepare to share the bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus. Finally we hear God's blessing for the week that lies before us.

This is complicated. What if I don't understand everything?

It will probably feel complicated to begin with. But you don't need to understand everything. Come with an open mind and I guarantee that you'll find something helpful. Come expecting to meet with God in a special way and I promise you will.

Is it alright to laugh?

Yes, we laugh at some point in most services. We don't take ourselves too seriously and there's a lot to be happy about. But we're not a bunch of 'happy-clappy' idiots. Life is tough for many people and sometimes worship is so moving that people have to wipe away a tear. We're not afraid of that either.

Am I allowed to take the bread and wine? What should I do?

Christians believe that when we share holy communion we experience God in a special way. The Bible insists that we do this with the right attitude and after careful thought, so it's never a casual or trivial thing to do.
We have communion services twice a month and nearly everyone in church goes to the front to receive the bread and wine. If you don't wish to, you'd be welcome to come forward with everyone else and simply keep your hands down. That's the way that the minister will know that you don't want to receive. Instead, he or she will pray a short (one-sentence) prayer of blessing for you. If you prefer to stay in your seat, that's alright too.
If you want to receive the bread and wine, then your welcome, as long as you are baptised (or 'christened') and are sincere in wanting to follow Jesus as your Lord. Communion is normally for adults, or for children who have been confirmed. If you have children who have not been confirmed, bring them to the communion and we'll pray a prayer of blessing. You could share your bread with them if you wish.

What happens after the service?

The service usually finishes between 11.00 (at a family service) and 11.30 (at a communion service). Almost everyone stays behind in church for a cup of tea, coffee or squash and to chat to friends. Church isn't just a social club, but it's great to get to know people and enjoy company.

What are the most important things for a newcomer to remember?

Be yourself. God loves you as you are and wants to help you be the person he made you to be.
Before the service, pray. You can do this at home before you set off. Find a quiet spot, relax and pray something like this, "God, help me to worship you today. Open my heart to you, calm me down and show me one thing that you want me to remember. Amen."
Ask questions if there's something you want explained or something you want to know about. Ask anyone - if they don't know, they'll find someone who does.

The Jesus Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:32:00 +0000

We ended yesterday's sermon The problem we all have with pride, by reciting The Jesus Prayer. It's the best antidote for the twin pitfalls of self-obsession, which at the opposite extremes, are arrogance and self-hatred.

The prayer has been used for centuries in the Orthodox Church and has only come to prominence in the west in recent decades. It combines two of the most profound prayers of Luke's gospel - the tax-collector's prayer in the parable of Luke 18.13 and the cry of the blind man in Luke 18.35-8.

So here it is, a prayer centred on Jesus. A prayer of penitence and longing which is full of faith and hope.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Pray it repetitively, so that the words shift focus on the elements of praise and penitence and finally, to a quietening prayer of the heart.

District Church Council Meeting - September 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:33:00 +0000

Last week's DCC meeting reflected together on Joshua 1.1-9 and prayed. We reviewed progress on the installation of the new heating system, for which further soundproofing is required. We decided to buy a new digital piano, reviewed the planning for the next Alpha Course, discussed our swine flu precautions and the venue of PCC meetings.

The biggest item we considered was our ministry among families with young children. Oadby has changed significantly in the last two decades and the numbers of children in its churches has fallen. We wanted to respond to these issues in a way that saw the whole picture and what opportunities God may have for us. The briefing paper on these issues, titled Where are the children? is available for download.

Church Fete 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:26:00 +0000

Under a blazing sun and a perfect blue sky, hundreds of neighbours gathered on Hamble Green next to the church for a fabulous fete.

It was really encouraging that the event drew people from all backgrounds and brought our community together. Sue and Wendy organised the whole affair, with generous support and hard work from a wide range of volunteers and friends. Thanks to all of them for one of the highlights of our year so far.

More pictures on our Facebook Group.

Confirmation 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:57:00 +0000

We packed into St Peter's Church, Oadby for our service of baptism and confirmation this week. Twenty four people were confirmed by The Rt Revd Christopher Boyle, including from St Paul's: Linda, Howard, Ben, Pat, Katy, Mike and Paige (who was baptised and confirmed).

With worship led by the band from St Luke's Thurnby, and St Peter's Choir, the service helped us worship God in a blend of styles and traditions.

Baptism and confirmation are signs of growing faith and a growing Church. If you'd like to know more about us, what we believe and how you can join in, get in touch soon.

Harvest Fete - 12 September 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:53:00 +0000

There's bunting outside the church. Stalls and games are ready. The grass on Hamble Green has been trimmed by the Council and the weather forecasters promise us a lovely day!

The fete opens at 12 noon and runs all afternoon, so if you're in the area, come down to Hamble Road and enjoy the fun.