Principal Services — October - December

Dear Friends,

As we come towards the end of the year so we bring our journey through the theme of discipleship to a close by looking at Generosity and Hospitality. If you look at the gospel accounts of Jesus' ministry much of the significant moments are shared around a meal, over food. One of the things that Jesus speaks most frequently about is not just money but generosity. So both these hallmarks are important in our everyday discipleship.

Advent is a time for us to prepare and get ready for the greatest act of generosity and hospitality when God gave his Son Jesus, the greatest gift from the greatest giver. Let us make the most of this season to be generous and hospitably to those around us by sharing with others the reason for the hope we have within us. As ambassadors for Christ let's encourage others to join us over Christmas that they too might discover the gift of Jesus for themselves.

Every blessing,
0000
Steve.
See calendar of principal services

Mothering Sunday

Today was not only the day that the clocks went back (no one actually arrived late!), nor the 4^th Sunday in Lent, but it was also, and probably the best known, Mothering Sunday. During this morning’s service, the children were invited to take small flower plants (mainly pansies) to their mothers. Then they were invited to take them to all the ladies in church. Finally, people were also invited to take plants back to their mothers if they were not in church.

Whether or not our mothers are still alive, for most people there is a wonderful tender memory of them. However, this is not always so and the prayers included prayers for those who find Mothering Sunday difficult.

Hopefully, the meal that people went back to after church will have been prepared by someone other than the mother and the family.

 

Another feature of the service was that when we came to the Lord ’s Prayer, it was prayed by six different people in their own languages, before we said it together in English. It’s wonderful to be part of the worldwide church and see that reflected in a number of our congregation.

Thy Kingdom Come - 10-20 May

Between Ascension Day (last Thursday) and Pentecost (next Sunday) we are taking part in the Archbishops’ initiative “Thy Kingdom Come.” At St Paul’s, this will include supporting “A Wave of Prayer in Oadby.”

We are inviting everyone to join in praying The Lord's Prayer every day during these 10 days at the regular times of 8.00am, 1.00pm and 8.00pm, either silently to oneself or out loud.  Just stop what you are doing and focus on the Lord's Prayer for a couple of minutes.  

Then on 19 May from 10.00am, there will also be prayer on the Parade in Oadby.

To conclude ‘Thy Kingdom Come,” joining with other “Churches Together in Oadby,” there will be a time of prayer at St. Paul’s at 6.30pm.

Mothering Sunday

Yesterday was the fourth Sunday in Lent, or as it’s much better known, Mothering Sunday (not to be confused with the American version known as Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May!). Children in the congregation first of all took flowers to their mothers, and then to all the ladies in church.

During the prayers, people were invited to write on a paper petal the name of someone who was precious in their upbringing – including mothers but also others who played a significant part. These petals were brought to the front to form a flower. Karen then prayed for them and for all those who found this day difficult, because of their inability to have children, the loss of a child or a difficult relationship with their mother.

People either took their flowers home to their mothers, or left them behind the Holy Table, in which case, the rector promised that they would be planted in the church grounds.

Holiday Club

Three days this week (9-11 August) St Pauls rang the shouts of children as they took part in the holiday club activity. There was song, dancing and acting as they discovered the way that God had led Moses.

This theme was picked up again at the service on Sunday 13 August when some of the children and their parents also joined us. All those who had come to holiday club were also invited to the barbecue which took place afterwards.

 Thank you so much to all those who took part – the leaders, those who helped during the week, and all those who helped to put on the barbecue – and of course the children themselves.

 
If you missed out this year, do look for it in August 2018! Or, better still, come and enjoy the Supertrooper activities for primary school age children, every Sunday at 10 a.m.

Civic Service

The new Mayor of Oadby and Wigston, Councillor Rob Eaton, invited our vicar, Steve Bailey to be his Chaplain, during his year of office. It was therefore a great privilege to host the Civic Service at St Pauls on Sunday 25 September.

Not only did we welcome the Mayor, but also his wife, Councillor Lynda Eaton, and his guests which not only included councillors from Oadby and Wigston, but also the deputy High Sheriff and the mayors from many other boroughs.

At heart, the service followed our normal pattern, and we reached the 2^nd commandment in our series on the 10 Commandments. The mayor had chosen some of the hymns and there was also an act of commitment in which the mayor and the councillors committed themselves, before God, to the service of the people of the borough.

At a time of great financial pressure, we will be committing ourselves to pray for wisdom for the mayor and the other councillors as they make difficult decisions and will be praying for strength for them to be able to carry out their vision.