Weekly Notices - 3rd May 2026
How often have you heard lately: The world is more fragile today than at any time since World War 11? So say many international experts and reports. You would not be alone if this fills you with fear and anxiety. Laid against this, a comforting quote says:
“I am a child of God’s Kingdom
God’s Kingdom is not in trouble
Therefore I am safe”
As people of God, we are called to turn our fear and anxiety into prayer. And that’s why we have selected World Peace and Social Justice as our prayer theme for the month of May as we continually bring before God those who are facing the challenge of conflicts and horrific wars.
I’m so grateful to Kofe for her wonderful support of the efforts of the Prayer Working Group. Can we count on your support too? For yes : Prayer Changes Things.
How can you support what I believe is the Holy Spirit’s Call to Prayer this month? Keep those prayers going at home, but also do so in your Home Groups, or perhaps as you get together, of your own initiative, with other parishioners to pray?
Be blessed as you pray. And look for God’s signs of Redemptive Action – for they’re there! We just need to look for them!
Christine (on behalf of the Prayer Working Group)
Your Friend & Vicar, Kofe.
Vicar Kofe
This Sunday’s Service (3rd May)
Theme: Our royal priesthood - Jesus the Way, the Truth, the Life.Our royal priesthood - Jesus the Way, the Truth, the Life.
Sentence: ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life,’ says the Lord. ‘No one comes to the Father except through me.’
John 14:6
Collect:
Eternal God,
your Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life for all creation;
grant us grace to walk in his way,
to rejoice in his truth,
and to share his risen life;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen
Readings: Acts 7: 55 – 60 & John 14: 1-14
MONTHLY PRAYER TOPICS - APRIL
PRAYER CHANGES THINGS
Do you find yourself wistfully thinking about those years when your children and other family members went to church with you – but now they’re just not interested in anything to do with church life?
Have you recently observed your much-loved family confronting life’s challenges, and longed that they would invite God to change things for the better?
Or is it that you’re so very grateful that they are following God as they work their way through tough times, but you’d like more prayer support from your fellow parishioners to pray them through?
April is the month when we, as a parish, pray together for our families: spouses, partners, siblings, children, grandchildren…..
Next to the Prayer Table with the candles and Prayer Box is a brown board where, at any time in the month of April, you are invited to place the names of your family members whom you would like us all to pray for. You can either write their first name(s), or simply put their initials. No need for full names. No need to state their needs.
Then each member of the parish is invited to glance at these names from time to time, pray for these people as you read their names, then continue the prayer during the week right throughout the month. The Sunday Intercessors will also pray for this group of people (but without stating individual names)
We invite you to think of ways to develop this focus during the last weeks of the month of April in addition to your own prayer time e.g. through your Home Group, by getting together with one or two other people to pray especially for your families, arriving early to church to sit quietly and remember the names on the Board in prayer….
(In addition, the Prayer Box is still there for you to use. If you choose to put someone’s name in the Prayer Box, this will be sent out to the Email Prayer Team where that person will be prayed for confidentially)
Do you have best intentions on Sundays of writing names on the Board near the Prayer Table but simply forget as you chat to all your lovely friends?? Then just email their names through to Christine at cdesenna@gmail.com - and she’ll take it from there.
Why not do it right now…
Helpful info
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Groups
It’s easy to connect and get involved with some great social and faith-focused groups that meet regularly across the parish. You can find out about all our regular groups on our Groups page. If you have any questions, just click the contact button to connect with the group’s organiser.
Need prayer?
We’d love to pray for you. See the ‘Prayer Support’ section on the Help & Support page for more information on how we can help with your prayer needs. There are confidential and anonymous options available.