St. Paul’s Church, Chippenham

DOORWAY - a big THANK YOU to all who sponsored me – I raised over £1200 and with the Gift Aid will be contributing over £1500 to the important work of DOORWAY. It was a cold night out but well worth the effort!

‘FINDING SANCTUARY’ - if you are looking for a book to read in Lent (or any time!) I can highly recommend this one by Abbot Christopher Jamison – based on the tv programme The Monastery, it is about finding space and peace in the busyness of our everyday lives. I have found it so simple and profound – easy to read and yet thought-provoking and challenging. I really do think this is an important book to guide our spiritual lives.

MOTHERING SUNDAY - there is a change to our advertised programme and Bishop Mike will be at the services at 9.30am at Kington St Michael and at 10.30am (note the time!) at Hardenhuish. These will be special all-age services to celebrate Mothering Sunday and I invite you to come along and bring your friends and family to hear our diocesan Bishop.

SUNDAY 2nd MARCH - our Group Service is at 6.30pm at Langley Burrell. Come and join us in worship!

CHRIS NEAL - we are delighted to host Canon Chris Neal, Director of Mission & Community for CMS (Church Mission Society) at St Paul’s on Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th March. With a Wine & Cheese event on the Saturday evening and a Youth Lunch on the Sunday, Chris will speak at St Paul’s at the 10am service. He should give us a helpful perspective on our own understanding of where we fit in God’s global mission.

HOLY WEEK SERVICES - as usual there are a variety and you are invited to journey through the cross as we move to Easter.

• Mon 17 March - 7.30pm - Evening Reflection - Langley Burrell
• Tues 18 March - 7.30pm - Evening Reflection - St Paul’s
• Wed 19 March - 10.00am - Holy Communion - St Paul’s
• Wed 19 March - 7.30pm - Evening Reflection - Kington St Michael
• Thur 20 March - 10.00am - Holy Communion - Kington St Michael
• Thur 20 March - 2.15pm - Holy Communion, Women’s Union - St Paul’s
• Thur 20 March - 7.30pm - Holy Communion - Hardenhuish
• Fri 21 March - 10.00am - March of Witness - Central Methodist Church
• Fri 21 March - noon - Meditation - Langley Burrell
• Fri 21 March - 1.00pm - Meditation - Kington St Michael
• Fri 21 March - 2.00pm - Meditation - Hardenhuish
• Fri 21 March - 2.00pm - All-Age Stations of Cross - St Paul’s
• Fri 21 March - 7.30pm - Evening Reflection - St Paul’s

EASTER DAY - we will hold Communion services at our churches on this great feast day – 8.30am & 10.00am at St Paul’s – 9.00am at Langley Burrell – 9.30am at Kington St Michael – 10.30am (note the time!) at Hardenhuish. At 7.00pm we will hold Open to God at St Paul’s (ie a week later than usual!). Do come along to praise the risen Lord!

CONFIRMATION - I am delighted that we are hosting a Confirmation Service with Bishop Lee on Sunday 8th June at 10.00am at St Paul’s church. We need to organise some preparation for those who would like to be confirmed. Please could I ask you to contact me – in writing with your name and contact details – if you are wondering about taking this step of faith. Can I ask you to think and pray about whether this is right for you at this time.

THE VILLAGE HALL ON SUNDAY - well, the first one in January was a great encouragement and I am looking forward to Sunday 17th February and the second of our new initiative on the 3rd Sundays in Kington St Michael. Please keep this in your prayers as we try to reach out beyond our church walls!

LEE ABBEY 2008 - a date for your diary …..we are having our next Lee Abbey weekend 10-12 October 2008. We are very fortunate that our speaker will be the Rev Paul Bayes who is the National Mission & Evangelism Adviser for the Church of England. It should be very good indeed!

HOME GROUPS - if you are interested in joining one in Langley Burrell please talk to Veronica Kilmister – for Hardenhuish talk to Barbara Wood – for Kington St Michael talk to John Woodward - and for St Paul’s please contact Helen Pattison.

LENT 08 TALKS - the local churches are continuing the special series for Lent 08 in the Neeld Hall on Hot Topics and there are still a couple of evenings – so do come along!

• Wed 5th Mar - Bishop Lee on Gene Research (it is his specialism!)
• Wed 12th Mar - will be an open Forum

ST PAUL’S & MARCH 10th - we have a suggestion to make to the church about how we restructure ourselves and the way we operate. The recent PCC gave its unanimous backing to the ideas and we are holding an Open Meeting on Monday 10th March at 7.30pm in St Paul’s church. Please put the date in your diary and come along! This could be really important as we move forward!

THEMES & READINGS - we are following these themes & readings this month. These will be the main Bible readings:

• March 2 - Mothering Sunday - Exodus 2:1-10
• March 9 - Passiontide - Ezekiel 37:1-14
• March 16 - Palm Sunday - Zechariah 9:9-13
• March 23 - Easter Day - Matthew 28:1-10
• March 30 - Jesus lives! - Acts 2:22-32

MIDWEEK BIBLE READINGS - at our midweek services of Holy Communion (10am on Wednesdays at St Paul’s – and 10am Thursdays at Kington St Michael) we are starting a series FROM THE BEGINNING (Genesis 1-11)

•  March 5/6 - God’s Creation - Genesis 1:1-2:2
•  March 12/13 - Adam & Eve - Genesis 2:3-25
•  March 19/20 - The Fall - Genesis 3:1-24
•  March 26/27 - Easter - John 20:1-10

PRAYER FOR THE MONTH – is a lovely prayer asking God to surround us with his presence … why not use it in your own devotions?

Encircle me, O God; keep faith within, keep pride without.
Encircle me, O God; keep hope within, keep despair out.
Encircle me, O God; keep love within, keep fear without.

Simon Tyndall