Magnify at Thurnby - 30 March 2007

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Bishop's Lent Addresses online

The Lent addresses given by Bishop Tim Stevens are now online in a printed version and as a recording.

Vicar wins Woman of the Year Award

From the Leicester Diocese website:

Revd Gill Jackson, Director of Social Responsibility for the Diocese of Leicester has won Leicestershire's Woman of the Year award. The ‘Women of Achievement’ Award celebrates the achievements of women from all walks of life.

At a glittering awards ceremony at Walker’s Stadium, Revd Gill Jackson was named Leicester Woman of the Year 2007, after impressing judges with her work with asylum seekers in Leicester.

We're glad to be able to have supported the work among Asylum Seekers this year and pass our congratulations onto Gill.

Friends and Heroes - Action and Adventure Cartoons

Friends and Heroes, a UK produced animated adventure series for children, featuring Bible Stories from both Old and New Testaments, has just been given a schedule for its first UK broadcast on the BBC's CBBC channel. For the schedule, which begins next week, see here.

May God bless you with discomfort

Anona has put together a great display in the church foyer for Fair Trade Fortnight which includes this Franciscan Benediction:

May God bless you with discomfort…
at easy answers, half –truths, and superficial relationships,
so that you may live deep within your heart

May God bless you with anger…
at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people
so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears…
to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war,
so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness…
To believe that you can make a difference in their world,
so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen.

Real Christians of Genius

Seems you enjoy the videos. Here's a classic from Igniter Media, paying homage to those real Christians of Genius that make us cringe.

(Yes, you're meant to find it funny)

Lowest number of weddings for a century

Despite something of a revival in weddings at St Paul's, the number of marriages in England and Wales has hit a record low, an Office of National Statistics survey reveals. The rate of marriages in 2005 fell to 244,710, the lowest since 1896, The Guardian reports. The number of couples tying the knot two years ago plunged 10 per cent on the previous year. Observers said various factors, including legal moves to cut ‘sham marriages’ and increases in weddings overseas helped to explain the decline. But The Guardian said growing acceptance of cohabitation and government plans to give cohabiting couples similar rights to married partners were to blame. A Church of England spokesman expressed concern although the brunt of the fall has been felt by civil marriage ceremonies.

Source: The Guardian (22/2)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/britain/article/0,,2018518,00.html

via The Bible Society Newswatch service.

Spring Harvest 2007 - Late availability

A nearby church has four spare places available for Spring Harvest, Skegness, week 1 in
gold self-catering (31st March – 5th April 2007).

If anyone is interested in going and would like further details please contact Kath Rhoades at St. Mary’s Lutterworth – email office.stmarys.lutterworth@care4free.net or tel. 01455 558797 (Parish Office).

Pilates at the Barnabas Centre

Stephanie Smith writes,

Change the way you look, feel and move! Pilates at the Barnabas Centre.

Pilates is an excellent form of low impact exercise suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. It is gaining in popularity all the time and is increasingly recommended by the medical and sporting worlds to increase flexibility, alleviate back pain and generally improve your health and wellbeing.

Totally new to Pilates?

I am running a short beginners introduction to Pilates at the Barnabas Centre on Monday evenings 6.00 – 6.45pm. This five week course will introduce you to the basic principles of the Pilates method and enable you to go on to join one of my regular classes.

For more information on the courses and classes please call Stephanie Smith on 0116 241 3782 or 07921 385689 or email bcpleics@yahoo.co.uk.

Joseph resists temptation

Following last week's sermon on temptation and integrity, the first in our Lent series on Christian Character, I've noted some interest in the painting of Joseph and Potiphar's wife that we looked at.

It's by the Bolognaise Baroque artist, Carlo Cignani (1628 - 1719) and was painted around 1680.

More paintings of Joseph and Potiphar's wife's failed seduction here.