St Francis’, Valley Park is an Anglican Interregnum/Vacancy following the retirement of our resident minister and Vicar at the end of June 2017.
We are however very pleased to announce the appointment of The Revd. Dr. Sarah McClelland as Church of England Priest in Charge of Valley Park. Sarah’s Licensing Service will be held at St Francis Church on Advent Sunday, 2nd December, at 4.00 p.m.
We have also recently welcomed Rev’d Sue Keegan von Allmen and Rev’d Mark Robinson as newly appointed Methodist and URC Ministers, whose responsibilities include ministry at St. Francis’ as part of our LEP Clergy team. As we await the arrival of our new resident Anglican Priest in Charge it is very much business as usual, in so far as we are able. Our Church is being led by our Churchwardens, with visiting Anglican clergy supported by our designated Methodist and URC Ministers, leading Eucharistic worship, and lay leaders from among our Congregation leading other Services.
Please contact our Parish Office in the first instance if you need advice or information from us.Scroll down this page to see what is happening at St Francis’ in the next few days and weeks …
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General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
The new data protection regulations, relating to the holding, management and use of personal data by organisations came into force on Friday 25th May. St Francis’ Church takes its responsibilities under GDPR very seriously. You can read our new Data Privacy Notice, agreed by our Church Council on 9th May, here.
If you are a member of St Francis’ Church, or wish to remain in close contact with us, you may give us consent to hold, manage and use your personal data by downloading a Full Data Consent Form 2018 – 27-04-18 and completing and e-mailing it to us at <sfvp91@btconnect.com>.
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Happening this week at
St. Francis’.
Our “Duty Churchwarden” until
11th November is Alison Rhodes
Duty Warden from 12th – 18th November
is Steve Williams.
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Note:
St Francis’ School Breakfast Club (7.30 a.m. – 9.00 a.m.) &
St Francis’ After School Club (3.30 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.)
held each weekday in School Terms.
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Saturday 10th November:
08.30 – 09.30: Church Family Breakfast: Large Meeting Room; All most welcome;
09.30 – 1.00 p.m.: Church Autumn Clean: All welcome – tasks for all capabilities.
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Sunday 11th November:
THIRD SUNDAY BEFORE ADVENT
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY/ARMISTICE DAY
8.45 a.m.: Said Holy Communion (Rev’d Warwick Heathcote);
10.00 a.m.: Parish Communion (Rev’d Pam Goddard);
11.00 a.m.: Parish Act of Remembrance and Wreath Laying;
7.00 p.m.: Informal Evening Worship (Phil Watts).
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Monday 12th November:
9.15 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.: NHS Management Meeting: Large Meeting Room.
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Tuesday 13th November:
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Wednesday 14th November:
09.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon: St Francis’ Rendezvous Comunity Cafe; Large Meeting Room;
6.30 p.m. – 7.30 p.m.: St Francis Place Surgery Patient’s Participation Forum Meeting: Worship area;
6.30 p.m. – 9.30 p.m.: Bishop’s Commission for Mission – Programme session; Large Meeting Room;
8.00 p.m – 10.00 p.m.: Church Council Meeting; Worship area (Enter via Parish Office).
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Thursday 15th November:
10.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon: Church-based House group meeting; Large Meeting Room;
2.15 p.m.: Holy Communion by Extension (Phil Watts); BrendonCare Library.
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Friday 16th November:
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Saturday 17th November:
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Sunday 18th November:
SECOND SUNDAY BEFORE ADVENT
8.45 a.m.: Said Holy Communion (Rev’d Kelvin Taylor);
10.00 a.m.: Morning Worship (Peter Rhodes & Dr. Ian Clarke).
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MESSY CHURCH
Craft, Activities, Afternoon Tea, Celebration.
The fun way to do church
for all the family.
Next Session
Sunday 25th November
Theme: The Big Picture
Click this link to find out More:
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ST FRANCIS’ RENDEZVOUS
COMMUNITY CAFE
Café Open every Wednesday
9.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon.
All members of the Community of all ages most welcome.
Creche with toys and games for children.
Community Information Point for Local Community, Health
and Benefits Information.
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MEN’S BREAKFAST
Join us for a
“Full English”,
fellowship and
Thought for the Day
Next Breakfast:
Saturday 10th November
8.15 a.m. for 8.30 a.m.
This will be a Church Family Breakfast ahead of the Church “Autumn Clean” (ahead of welcoming our new Minister).
Church cleaning from
9.30 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.
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Glitter and Glue
Glitter and Glue is an hour of
craft, messy play, stories and
songs for the under fives
and their parents/carers.
Glitter and Glue is held monthly in term-time –
all pre-school children and
their carers are welcome.
Next Session:
Friday 7th December
10.00 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.
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INFORMATION:
St Francis’ Church in action:
To find out more about what else we are doing through the coming year please look at our Parish Calendar and Weekly Notices pages.
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What were we doing in 2017?
To read about the Ministry, Mission and Witness we undertook, and how we used the Financial Resources gifted to us in 2017, please click on St Francis Annual Report 2017
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What are our strategic plans for Ministry and Mission in the coming months?
To read our latest Parish Mission Action Plan (pMAP) please click on:
St Francis Valley Park – pMap 2017 – 2020 – v 2-2,
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Safeguarding those at risk:
To find our policies on Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults please click here;
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Data Protection:
To read our Data Protection Policies please click here. Please let the Parish Office know if you no longer wish us to hold your information.
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To contact us:
For our contact details please click here.
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Some of our Home Groups develop their studies around the central theme of our Sunday worship and study.
This week our focus is on Remembrance.
Remembrance Sunday.
Here are some local notes for personal reflection.
Key Readings:
- Hebrews, Ch. 9, vs. 24 – end;
- Mark, Ch. 1, vs. 1 – 20.
Our two readings describe the first and last actions of Jesus, encompassing his life and mission and proclaiming his purpose. One can almost hear the fanfare accompanying the Mark passage, and the bugle call of Jesus’ death is replaced in Hebrews with the second fanfare of his resurrection and our re-uniting with God, through his ultimate sacrifice. Somehow, inexplicably and miraculously, death was not the end, but instead a means of bringing us hope, freedom and purpose.
We remember today the human self-sacrifices, given willingly for that same calling in two world wars and other conflicts since. In the Two-minutes’ silence there will be the chance to reflect on images and names of those lost in battle, known to us or unknown. In a time of unparalleled wealth, freedom & peace let us thank God for their courage and all they gave us; let us remember those who fought and survived but live today with life-altering injury. And let us pray for the courage and wisdom (ours and others’) to continue to bring peace and justice into God’s world.
As Mark and the writer of Hebrews say, Christ came to the world once, to show us that humans can live another way. The way of peace may lead to short term suffering but allows us to live in Grace; we eagerly await his return and a full peace.
- The first disciples left everything to follow – what did they see in Jesus, in his call?
- What does his call mean to you today?
- He calls us still: ‘…the Kingdom of God is near: repent and believe the Good News’.
Reflect on what this means to you. Take time, perhaps in today’s service or later, to recommit to God’s purpose of peace, justice for the oppressed, release for the captives – true good news – as we thank Him for those who have strived and sacrificed in this cause. |
DIOCESE OF WINCHESTER
WESSEX PROVINCE