Latest news from Sarah – 25th September 2020
Sarah writes … ‘In the coming week, we’re starting our monthly midweek Connect virtual meetings! …
It’s a place for us all to connect mid-week and an opportunity for prayer, worship and teaching in a different format to Sunday mornings, with more opportunities to interact with each other. If you’re in a house group, it will connect with the ‘Fruitfulness on the Frontline’ course that many of you will be starting in October – but it stands alone too, so feel free to just dip in, on our usual church Zoom link!
We’ll be thinking about where God is working with us and through us in the every-day, at work and at home, and our first Connect evening will focus on mission.
Steve Williams will be leading us as we think about what that actually means.
Spoiler alert: the good news is that it’s more about who God is, than who we are!
Connect evenings will have the following pattern – join for as much or little as you choose:
- 7.15 – 7.45 p.m. – Prayer and praise.
- 7.45 – 8.00 p.m. – Tea break!
- 8.00 – 9.15 p.m. – Teaching and discussion.
Our Annual Meeting
… Will be virtually, on Zoom, at 11.15 a.m. on Sunday October 18th.
Next week nomination forms for Council positions will be attached to the weekly newsletter. The positions up for election are:
- 2 x Church wardens and 2 x pro-wardens (they’re elected every year up to a maximum of 6 times),
- 2 x Methodist representatives,
- 1 x URC rep,
- 3 x Deanery Synod reps,
- 5 x Council positions,
- and we will need to appoint a new Electoral roll secretary.
That’s 15 posts! It’s a great opportunity to contribute to the life of our church and to help shape it too. Some current post holders have expressed a willingness to continue to serve, and I would be delighted to hear from anyone who would be interested in standing for any of these posts. Do get in touch with me (rev@sfvp.org.uk) or the current church wardens (Alison Rhodes/ Andrew Grove) if you’d like to know more.
Church News and What’s On
Dates for your Diary:
- Saturday and Sunday, September 26th & 27th: ‘All round our place’ Treasure Hunt in Aid of Christian Aid (see opposite)
- Tuesday, September 29th: 7.15/8.00 p.m.: Connect Evening (see above)
- Saturday, October 3rd: 10.00 a.m.: Home Group leaders meeting
- Sunday, October 4th: 12.30 p.m.: Joe Sweetnam’s Ordination – watch live on the Cathedral website.
- Monday, October 5th: 10.00 a.m.: Morning prayer at church, a short, traditional service. Continuing each Monday.
- Sunday, October 11th: 10.00 a.m.: Harvest Festival on line service – more details coming up!
- Sunday, October 18th: 11.15 a.m.: Annual Church Meeting after the 10.00 a.m. service.
- Sunday, November 1st: 2.00 – 5.30 p.m.: Church open with prayer stations to remember those who’ve died. Light a candle, leave a name or two to be read out at:
- Sunday, November 1st: 6.00 p.m.: Short virtual service to remember those who’ve died.
- Tuesday, November 3rd: 7.15/8.00 p.m.: Connect evening (see above).
- Tuesday, December 15th: 7.15/8.00 p.m.: Connect evening (see above).
Breakfast and After School Clubs:
Just to let you know, especially if you’re a key holder, that these will be restarting at church this week. It will be great to welcome them back!
Please do remember that there will be no access to the church or garden while clubs are on, especially because of Covid restrictions.
Home Groups:
Please contact Sarah: rev@sfvp.org.uk if you’re interested in joining one, virtually for now – maybe just for the course?
Eastleigh Basics Bank:
If you’d like to donate some food, there’s a plastic box outside the vicarage at 35 Raglan Drive. Contributions are collected on Wednesdays – feel free to contribute!
Check out Eastleigh Basics Bank website to see what the current needs are – https://eastleighbasicsbank.co.uk.
International Cafe:
Frederick and Maryline in Strasbourg will be hosting an International Cafe! They invite us to join them and some of their church members in Strasbourg on their own Zoom link. Pop in any time
on Thursdays 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon, for a trial for the month of September. If you’d like to join in, please email them on <frederickthescribe@gmail.com> and they’ll send you a link.
QR Code for NHS Test and Trace App:
If you attend our 8.45 a.m. service, we will keep a note of your name for 3 weeks to comply with Track and Trace requirements.
We will also be displaying a QR code for the NHS Test and Trace App to comply with guidelines; if you have a smart phone please consider using this if attending a service.
Stories of what God is doing …
Stories of how we’ve known God with us in the past, help us to navigate an uncertain future. Stories engage us and help us to see possibilities in our own situations. I know how many have found it helpful to listen as others have shared experience – and that a number of you have let me know that you have a story to tell too! Let me know if you can encourage us in this way: rev@sfvp.org.uk .
Situations Vacant!
Eastleigh Basics Bank:
Help needed! Are you a strong person with a large car? Eastleigh Basics Bank needs a volunteer stock management assistant to work on Thursdays. The role involves collecting crates of donations from the shop late morning, taking them to the store nearby and sorting them, and returning to the shop with crates of food needed that day. Please contact Hazel Bateman 023 8090 3028; <hazel.bateman@ntlworld.com> for more information, or call into the shop on Tuesdays or Thursdays and speak to the shop manager.
Lay Pastor – Alresford Methodist Church:
Are you looking for a new and pioneering role within the Winchester, Eastleigh and Romsey Methodist Circuit?
As part of our developing strategy we are looking for our first Local Lay Pastor for Alresford Methodist Church. You will be the recognised leader of the Methodist Church in Alresford and by the circuit, working
collaboratively with the local church stewards, and within the oversight of the Circuit. You will have strong listening and inter-personal skills, that enable you to support, enthuse and encourage the
church community to develop its pastoral care and engagement with the local community. You will be committed to involvement in local ecumenical activities.
There is an office in the church which will provide opportunities for engagement with those using the church building.
Application deadline: October 23rd; applicants must be available for interview on November 16th.
See the full job description, terms and conditions on the circuit website: https://www.wermethodistcircuit.org.uk/laypastor.html
If you want to know more please contact Superintendent Minister the Revd Sue Keegan von Allmen at sue.keeganvonallmen@methodist.org.uk or 023 8026 8803.
Thanks for reading! As ever this comes with my prayers and love in Christ.
Sarah
Lead Minister, St Francis’ Church.
A Local Ecumenical Partnership of the Church of England, Methodist Church and United Reformed Church.
Pilgrim’s Close, Valley Park, Eastleigh SO53 4ST.
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