We are a local ecumenical partnership involving:
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SOUTHAMPTON DISTRICT		 A4WWESSEX PROVINCE
Happening this week at
St. Francis’.
Our “Duty Churchwarden” until
17th February is Andy Grove
Duty Warden from 18th – 24th February is Steve Williams
Note:
St Francis’ School Breakfast Club (7.30 a.m. – 9.00 a.m.) &
St Francis’ After School Club (3.15 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.)
held each weekday in School Terms.
Saturday 16th February:
6.00 p.m. – 10.00 p.m.:  Welcome Party for Rev’ds. Dr Sarah and Cliff McClelland;  Entry by ticket only.
Sunday 17th February:
THIRD SUNDAY BEFORE LENT (Septuagesima)
8.45 a.m.:  Said Holy Communion (Rev’d. Dr. Sarah McClelland);
10.00 a.m.: Morning Worship (Elliot Grove & Rev’d. Dr. Sarah McClelland).
Monday 18th February:
8.00 p.m.: Church Management Software Group: Vicarage.
Tuesday 19th February:
8.00 a.m. – 8.30 a.m.:  Morning Prayers for the Church and Community: Chapel (Entry via Office Door).
Wednesday 20th February:
09.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon:  St. Francis’ Rendezvous Community Café: Large Meeting Room;
7.00 p.m. – 10.00 p.m.: Valley Park Ladies Meeting; Large Meeting Room.
Thursday 21st February:
10.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon:  Church-based House Group meeting; Large Meeting Room;
2.30 p.m.:  Holy Communion by Extension (Phil Watts): BrendonCare Knightwood Library (Please note later start time.).
Friday 22nd February:
Saturday 23rd February:
Sunday 24th February:
SECOND SUNDAY BEFORE LENT (Sexagesima)
8.45 a.m.:  Said Holy Communion (Rev’d. Dr. Sarah McClelland);
10.00 a.m.: Parish Communion (Rev’d. Dr. Sarah McClelland);
4.00 p.m.:  Messy Church (Messy Church Team);
6.30 p.m.:  Methodist Circuit Service (Rev’d Sue Keegan von Allmen / Rev’d Brian Coates):  Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church: To celebrate 25 years accredited ministry by 3 local preachers.

MESSY CHURCH
messy church

Craft, Activities, Afternoon Tea, Celebration.

The fun way to do church
for all the family.
Next Session
Sunday 24th February:
Theme:
“Keep calm, Trust God and Carry On”

Click this link to find out More:

 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.

More:

MEN’S BREAKFAST

Join us for a
“Full English”,
fellowship and
Thought for the Day

Next Breakfast:
Saturday 9th March
8.15 a.m. for 8.30 a.m.

All menfolk most welcome.

Glitter and Glue

glitter ad glueCreative commons acknowledged

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 parents / carers are welcome.
Next Session:
Friday 8th March
10.00 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.
More:
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.
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
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,
together with the latest revision of our aims and objectives:  St Francis Valley Park – pMap 2017 – 2020 – v 2-2-1 – Action Plan Revision November 2017
and Lay Leadership Matrix of which Church Council member leads on which topics:
St Francis Valley Park – pMap 2017 – 2020 – v 2-2-1 – Leadership Matrix – Revised Nov 2017.
Safeguarding those at risk:
To find our policies on Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults please click here;
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.
To contact us:
For our contact details please click here.   

Some of our Home Groups develop their studies around the central theme of our Sunday worship and study.
Our teaching theme this week focusses on:

Extended Lent Study: Prayer –ADORATION – OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN

Readings:   

  • 2 Samuel, Ch. 6, vs. 14 – 22;
  • Luke, Ch. 10, vs. 38 – 42.

On this third Sunday before Lent, we start on the Prayer Course in our Sunday morning services.  There are 6 sessions, which can be followed in small groups, and along with two All Age services, this series on prayer will take us through Lent to Palm Sunday.

The back bone of the course is the Lord’s Prayer – the prayer that Jesus gave when his disciples asked him to teach them to pray.  Therefore we can be confident that it’s a good pattern for us to follow.  It’s also a bit like a toolbox, showing us different aspects of how to pray.

The first ‘tool’ is adoration – worshipping God for who He is and all He’s done:  ‘Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.’  We don’t always tend to think of adoration as prayer.  But first and foremost, prayer is about developing and maintaining our relationship with God.  And just as spending time together is vital to grow in relationship with people, so it is with God.

Today’s readings show us two characters engaged in adoration.  In the Old Testament reading, David embarrassed his wife by dancing in front of the ark of the covenant, the place where God’s presence resided.  He tells her that he’s celebrating before the Lord and doesn’t care how that looks.

In our gospel reading, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet listening to him, knowing that she is loved by him, just wanting to be with him.  Jesus’ scolding of Martha may seem harsh: ‘“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better…’  But his response helps us see the importance of adoration: it enables us to get our perspective right, of God who loves us and provides for us.

Praying out of that secure and intimate place of relationship with God helps us get perspective on all that we pray for.  The closer we are to God, the more our earthly worries seem less significant and the more easily we will be able to discern and pray for His will to be done.

  • Do you, like most of us, find praying hard work?
  • How and when do you pray?
  • What helps and hinders your prayer time?

Spend time praising God and thanking Him for all that is good. Try doing this for some time each day – does it make a difference to you?

Sarah.
Please note:
The Minister’s day off is Friday.  For emergencies please contact the Duty Warden or Parish office on that day.
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 Data Privacy Notice 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>.