Walking with The Needy

Sunday morning was our All Together and Parade Service, when we welcomed the Rainbows, Brownies, and Guides to our Family Service. After some very enthusiastic Christian songs led by Doug Tincello, our youth worker, Lou McGoldrick, spoke about how Jesus approached people in need, especially the father of a child with convulsions. She encouraged us to do the same.

In our prayers, Angie Bailey encouraged us to walk in prayer with those in need. Everyone had a cut out of a foot and was asked to write the name of the particular person or group of people in need on one side. On the other, we were asked to write what we were praying for. All the “feet” were placed on a strip of carpet and we offered these requests up in prayer. 

A Special "Happy Birthday"

Gill Aires

This week has again seen us join together for Coffee Pot – our midweek session for people to come together for friendship and coffee. Each week, we celebrate the birthdays of those who attend – who often treat the rest of us to cakes. This week, the birthday was for one of the leaders of Coffee Pot, who is usually organising the celebrations for other people – Gill Aires. Gill, who is a marvellous cook, provided us with delicious flapjacks.

Not only is this an opportunity to wish Gill a Very Happy Birthday and many joys in the years ahead, but also to say “thank you” for all that you do in organising Coffee Pot.

A Busy Day

David Bloomfield

Sunday 6 October turned out to be a busy day. The congregation exceeded 90 for our morning Communion Service. At it, we welcomed David Broomfield, the Church Relationships Manager at Tearfund. Tearfund is a Christian relief and development agency and our church is linked with one of their partner churches in a project in Uganda. David described Uganda and gave us greater insight into the church there. Afterwards, he stayed around and answered questions and distributed Tearfund literature.

In the afternoon, there was fun@4, when some of our children met, had fun and activities and learned more of Christian belief.

In the evening, a group met for "Essential," a discussion of Matthew chapter 25 over a drink at the Grange Farm Pub – a situation in which everyone was able to contribute their own understanding.

Three very different forms of worship, but all centred around our faith in Christ. It’s good to avoid uniformity!

Working for Peace

Tearfund is one of the leading evangelical Christian relief and development agencies. It is St Paul’s charity this month. On the coming Sunday, 6 September, a speaker from Tearfund will be talking about its work during our morning service. The large number of areas of conflict in the world today, give Tearfund a particular and much needed role. Their website describes this as follows.

Our work in areas of conflict

When conflict breaks out, people in poverty invariably pay the highest price as countless civilians in Syria, Afghanistan, Darfur and the Democratic Republic of Congo will tell you. Fear drives many to take the only option available – fleeing their homes and livelihoods that have often been a struggle to build-up in the first place.

Tearfund tackles people’s immediate needs by providing shelter, food and basic essentials to help them survive, but we also often stay for the long haul, helping with reconstruction and giving people the skills they need to restart their lives.

In places such as Nigeria, where thousands died in clashes between Christians and Muslims, we also help build the peace.

Sunday will be a good opportunity to learn more of this work and to support Tearfund, both through our prayers and our giving.

All Are Welcome

The Leicester Diocese is encouraging the parishes of St Cuthbert’s Great Glen, St Andrews, Burton Overy, and St Mary the virgin, Carlton Curlieu, to join with the churches of St Peters and of St Pauls, Oadby, in a Team Ministry.

Last Sunday morning, the congregations of all the churches were invited to meet together at St Peter’s for a joint service of Holy Communion. Clergy and laity from the different churches joined together in taking part in the service. The choir also represented people from different churches. Perhaps appropriately, the first hymn was “All are welcome.”

Kim Ford, the Vicar of Great Glen, preached the sermon, in which she picked up some of the thoughts from the story of Solomon consecrating the Jewish Temple and his awareness that God cannot be limited by buildings – rather, he demands the faith of people everywhere.

We look forward to working with Kim and her colleagues and other members of her parishes.

What did you Learn?

The normal pattern for our services is for the children to be present at the start of worship and then leave for “Supertroopers,” our Sunday school. When there is Communion, they rejoin their parents and come with them to the communion rail, where they receive a blessing.

Just before the end of the service, they are usually given the opportunity to show the rest of the congregation what they have been learning. This last Sunday they had been learning how Jesus went up the mountain with his disciples, who saw Moses and Elijah with Jesus and heard God the Father say: “‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’

Not only had the children obviously been listening well, as they could recount the story in detail, but they had made an intricate model of it. Our thanks are due to Derek Bowering and his team for the way that they inspire our children.

Seeking Allah – Finding Jesus

Over recent years, Steve has recommended a book for holiday reading. This year, he recommended the above title. It is a fascinating book – much more than a simple history of a Muslim who turned Christian faith.

It gives a sympathetic insight into the life of a devout Muslim home. It also explains the details of Muslim faith and understanding. As Qureshi explores Christian faith, I wonder how much many Christians know as much about their faith and would be able to explain it.

It’s worth reading just to gain a deeper insight into one’s own faith. It’s also very valuable to understand more of the Muslim faith, if one is having discussions with Muslim friends and neighbours.

It’s fast moving and easy to read. If you haven’t read it, why not give it a go?

Happy Birthday Steve!

Opening Present                               Cutting Cake

Last week our vicar, Steve Bailey reached the grand milestone of 40. To mark this auspicious occasion, the congregation had contributed to buying him a tablet, an indication of the high respect in which he is held. This was presented to him during the All-Age service on the Sunday, which marked the end of Mega-Makers, our Holiday Club (see previous blog).

During the marvellous barbecue which took place in the church car park after the service, Steve was presented with a cake. He duly blew out the candles and then cut it.

We wish you God’s blessing for many more very happy years.

Holiday Club - Celebration Service

On Sunday we had a special service to celebrate all that we had done at Holiday Club. We invited the children and their families along and showed the whole church what we had been up to. Then everyone was invited to stay for a BBQ. Here are a few pictures...

The coloured ribbons represent our prayers and the robot is the mega machine we had been making through the week.
Thanks to everyone who came along and to all who helped make it such a success.
Thanks too to the lovely church family at St Paul's who also helped me celebrate my birthday which was during the week. I was overwhelmed by the card, kind gift and applause.

Holiday Club - Friday

Today was our last day together and we focused on the story of Jesus on the Cross, His great love for us as it was most visibly shown. Here are a few pictures from today...

It has been a great week with fantastic kids and a brilliant bunch of leaders. Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to make this Holiday Club a success. Come and join us for our celebration service followed by a BBQ at 10am on Sunday.