Newsletter - the Parish of Droitwich Spa

Sunday 25th January 2015
Welcome
We welcome everyone to our worship. There is a loop
system in this church for those with hearing aids. If you
are a visitor, newcomer or haven’t been in church for a
while, we hope you will enjoy being with us. There are
cards at the back of church for newcomers to fill in
contact details if you would like to keep in touch. Please
speak to one of the stewards about these or anything
else: they can also tell you useful things like where to
find the loos!
Parish Centre Café
Plans are afoot to re-open the Café in the Parish Centre
on Saturday 7th February, following a small make-over,
and with the idea that we can offer a little bit more than
instant coffee and a biscuit. We hope that the centre can
continue to be seen as a warm and welcoming place or
even a refuge from the bustle and problems of everyday
life, especially for those who are facing particular
difficulties through illness, loneliness, bereavement,
unemployment, etc.
Therefore we would ask for volunteers for the following:
Making and serving drinks and washing up;
Manning an information desk;
Meeting and greeting visitors;
Praying with people;
Offers of home made cakes each week.
FOR ALL THOSE PREPARED TO VOLUNTEER there will be a
Coffee Morning at the Parish Centre on Thursday 29th
January at 10.30am. Please come along if you can.
Val Hawley (Tel: 827354 or email:
val.hawley@talk21.com)
Age UK Flash Sale
Wednesday 28 January 10am to 1pm, at Age UK
Droitwich Spa office, Severn House, 32 Ombersley Street
West (Severn House is the first building on the left, through
the underpass). All items will cost £1. There will also be
refreshments and a raffle.
Today : Third Sunday after Epiphany
~ The Conversion of Paul
Readings: Gen.14:7-20; Rev.19:6-10; John 2:1-11
~ Jer.1:4-10 or Gal.1:11-16a; Acts 9:1-22; Matt.19:27-end
8.00am
9.30am
10.00am
10.45am
12.30pm
Holy Communion, St Augustine’s
Holy Communion & Children’s Church, St Peter’s
Lighthouse Sunday School, St Nicholas’
Sung Eucharist, St Andrew’s
Baptism, St Peter’s
Mon 26
10-11am Bereavement Group, Parish Centre
7.15pm Choir Practice, St Andrew’s & Parish Centre
7.30pm Bellringing, St Augustine’s
Tue 27
9.30am Eucharist, St Nicholas’
7.30pm Bellringing, St Peter’s
8pm Baptism Enquirers’ meeting, Parish Centre
Wed 28
11am Holy Communion, St Andrew’s
7.30pm PCC meeting, St Nicholas’
Thu 29
9.30am Eucharist, St Augustine’s
10.30am Helpers’ Coffee Morning, Parish Centre
Fri 30
9.45am Prayer Group, St Andrew’s
10am Parish Toddlers, St Nicholas’
10am Study Group, 12 Langley Road
Sunday 1st February: The Presentation of
Christ in the Temple (Candlemas)
Readings: Deut.18:15-20; Rev.12:1-5a; Mark 1:21-28
8.00am
9.30am
10.00am
10.45am
12.30pm
Holy Communion, St Augustine’s
Morning Worship, St Peter’s
Lighthouse Sunday School, St Nicholas’
Sung Eucharist, St Andrew’s
Baptism, St Nicholas’
Quiet Days 2015
at Old Rectory Cottage Retreat House & House of Prayer,
Feckenham:
28th February Lent Quiet Day
A day to reflect upon the cross and its meaning for
each of us
♦
25th April Eastertide Quiet Day
A day reflecting on Jesus' resurrection appearances
Peter, formerly a communicant at St Peter’s church, died, ♦ 29th August Summer Quiet Day
aged 91, on Saturday 17th January at Dorset House.
A day to enjoy the peace and beauty around us and the
The funeral has been fixed for 3.15 pm on Thursday 5th
chance to have a go at needle felting
February at Worcester Crematorium.
♦
5th December Advent Quiet Day
A day to prepare for the coming of Christ and to have
a go at making an Christmas wreath
at Martin Church, Sunday 1 February
All Quiet days begin at 10am with coffee/tea and biscuits.
For a number of years Candlemas has been celebrated at Includes a two course lunch, tea and cake and all
Martin Church with a candlelit evensong. As time has gone materials. Finishing at 4pm.
by fewer are familiar with the art of singing psalms but
Suggested donation towards our expenses £25
the words of the liturgy when spoken are as beautiful as
Contact – Rev Sue Barrett revsue55@yahoo.co.uk
ever. This year we shall try something new and will be
Phone – 01527 894894, Mobile 07825030607
listening to sung recordings of settings to the Magnificat
Web – www.oldrectorycottage.co.uk
and Nunc Dimittis composed by Thomas Tomkins.
55-57, High Street, Feckenham. B96 6HU
You are all most welcome to join us.
Peter Piggott
6pm Evening Prayer
♦
Prayer diary
Mon
Readings: Heb.9:15,24-end; Mark 3:22-30
Topics: The Deanery of Droitwich, Rural Dean Sheila
Banyard, those who worship in St Andrew’s, those who
work in the health services, people with disabilities, local
factories and large businesses
Tue
Readings: Heb.10:1-10; Mark 3:31-end
Topics: The Diocese of Worcester, Nigel Byard, those
who worship in St Augustine’s, those who work in the
media, refugees and asylum seekers
Wed
Readings: Heb.10:11-18; Mark 4:1-20
Topics: The Church of England, those who worship in St
Nicholas’, those who work in education, schools &
training, politics and politicians
Thu
Fri
Future deanery synod dates
Monday 8th June – ‘Spirituality, ageing and well-being’,
with the Revd Albert Jewell, retired Methodist minister
and writer on spirituality and ageing, including dementia.
We look forward to an engaging evening on this
important topic with a speaker who is a leader in this
field of pastoral and spiritual care.
Tuesday 13th October – details tba. All meetings are at
7.30pm.
Celebration of Lay Ministry
This year’s service is on Monday 13th July at 7.30pm at
Hanbury church. Authorised Lay Ministers and
Readings: Heb.10:19-25; Mark 4:21-26
Topics: The Anglican Communion, those who worship in Eucharistic Ministers in the deanery are invited to renew
their commitment to ministry at this service, but
St Peter’s, Rita Holden, those who work in business and
commerce, local factories and large businesses
everyone is warmly invited to come to support members
of their congregations and celebrate the gifts we receive
Readings: Heb.10:32-39; Mark 4:26-34
and share.
Topics: Other churches and Christian denominations,
those who worship in the other churches in Droitwich,
the Readers of the parish, those who work in leisure
services, local healthcare providers
Sat
scripture in community with others is now familiar to
Christians of many different traditions. Please drop
Sheila a line if you would like more information.
Readings: Heb.11:1-2,8-19; Mark 4:35-end
Topics: Other faith groups and religions, Archbishop
Justin, Bishop John, Bishop Graham, Archdeacon Nikki,
the Churchwardens, those who work in government and
public service, creative and performing arts groups
Through the week
Baptised today: Olivia May Hawkes
Those ill or in need: Sue Stitson, Peter Mobley, Laurie Hall,
Penny Grange, Shirley Gandy, Margaret Anderson, Beryl Titley,
Barbara Smart, Pat Harrison
Praying for the Parish: This week we are praying for people
who live and work in Elgar Crescent, St John’s Nursing Home, St
Peter’s Walk, Oatfields, Old Coach Road, Drovers Green, Drovers
Place, Shepherds Hill
Urgent requests for prayer: Contact Heather Ward on 01905
772837 or 07800 631239
Deanery news:
Exploring church and community
This year’s deanery synod programme begins with a follow
up to last autumn’s excellent meeting when diocesan
mission development officer Doug Chaplin led us in
thinking about how we might explore the make-up of our
local communities in order to engage more fully with
needs, celebrations, concerns and opportunities. We shall
be digging deeper into this at the synod meeting on
Wednesday 11th February (refreshments 7.15pm, meeting
7.30pm) at St Nicholas’ church, Droitwich (Ombersley
Road WR9 8JE). Why not bring your church and
community stories to share with others. All are welcome.
New year resolution?
If one of the things you think you might like to do this
year is find out more about how the bible can ‘speak’ to
us, you might be interested in joining a group to explore
the ancient practice of lectio divina or ‘holy reading’.
Rather than analysing the text or discussing ideas, lectio
divina is about reading in an unhurried, reflective way
that allows the word to illuminate our personal
experience, and vice versa. With its roots in ancient
monasticism, this way of being drawn prayerfully into
Deanery quiet day
An advance date for your diary – last year’s quiet day at
Holland House, led by Canon David Rogers, was received
with enthusiasm and David is generously offering another
opportunity for some biblical reflection, peace, good
food and fellowship at beautiful Holland House. The date
is Monday 14th September – look out for more details
later in the year.
For more information contact Rev Sheila Banyard on 01905
773134 or at sk.banyard@virgin.net.
Prayer Requests
You can make prayer requests in different ways in each
of our churches? At St Peter’s there is a Prayer Tree
where you can attach your prayer request on a leaf, and
at St Andrew’s, St Augustine’s and St Nicholas’ a board
where you can pin cards. You can also light a candle in
both St Nicholas’ and St Andrew’s. Do remember too that
for truly urgent requests for prayer you can ask members
of the parish prayer chain to pray in immediate response
– there is a note about this each week on the newsletter
at the end of the ‘Through the Week’ section of the
prayer diary.
To contact us
www.droitwichparish.org.uk
A Registered Charity No. 1128487
Parish Office
01905 794952
droitwich.parish@o2.co.uk
Clergy
Revd Nigel Byard ~ 01905 778265; mob: 07902 217144;
nigelbyard@btinternet.com
Revd Rita Holden ~ 01905 772787;
rita.openv@btinternet.com
Parish Churchwardens:
Hilary Fisher
01905 798 551 ; fisher.hj@btinternet.com
(particular responsibility for St Andrew’s & St Nicholas’)
Michael Norris
01905 796 254 ; micha-norri@live.com
(particular responsibility for St Peter’s)
Richard Rose
01905 773 911 ; richardroserr@hotmail.com
(particular responsibility for St Augustine’s)
Director of Music
Mr Roger Gay
01905 770539