St Francis’, Valley Park is in “double” Interregnum/Vacancy following the departure of our designated URC Minister in summer 2016, and the retirement of our resident minister and Anglican Vicar at the end of June 2017.
However, it is very much business as usual, in so far as we are able. Our Church is being led by our Churchwardens at present, with our designated Methodist Minister, Rev’d Peter Cornick and visiting Anglican, Methodist and URC Clergy 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 … |
Notice
The Annual Meeting of Parishioners (formerly Annual Vestry Meeting) to elect Church Wardens and pro-Wardens will be held on Sunday 29th April at 11.30 a.m. in St. Francis’ Church.
This will be followed immediately by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting/Annual Congregational Meeting, to receive the Annual Report and Accounts of the Church Council, elect Representatives to the Deanery Synod and to the Parochial Church Council, and conduct any other pertinent business.
A Sunday Roast Lunch will be served after the business meetings, at approx. 1.00 p.m. to those who have pre-booked.
Nomination papers for elections to the various vacant posts are available from the Church. |
Happening this week at
St. Francis’.
Our “Duty Churchwarden” until
22nd April is Steve Williams
Duty Warden from 23rd April to 29th April is Alison Rhodes.
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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 21st April:
9.30 a.m. – 4.30 p.m.: Diocesan Safeguarding Training; Large Meeting Room.
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Sunday 22nd April:
Fourth Sunday of Easter
8.45 a.m.: Said Holy Communion (Rev’d. Arthur Croad);
10.00 a.m.: Parish Communion (Rev’d. Peter Crick);
4.00 p.m.: Messy Church.
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Monday 23rd April:
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Tuesday 24th April:
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Wednesday 25th April:
900 a.m. – 12.00 Noon: St Francis’ Rendezvous Community Information Café; Large Meeting Room.
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Thursday 26th April:
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Friday 27th April:
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Saturday 28th April:
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Sunday 29th April:
Fifth Sunday of Easter
8.45 a.m.: Said Holy Communion (Rev’d. Peter Cornick);
10.00 a.m.: Morning Worship (Peter Rhodes / Dr Ian Clarke);
11.30 a.m.: Annual Church Meetings;
1.00 p.m.: Church Roast Sunday Lunch.
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MESSY CHURCH
Craft, Activities, Afternoon Tea, Celebration.
The fun way to do church
for all the family.
Next Session:
Sunday 20th May
This Month’s Theme:
“Messy Wedding”
Click this link to find out More:
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ST FRANCIS’ RENDEZVOUS COMMUNITY INFORMATION CAFE
 Café next Open:
Wednesday 25th April:
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 12th May
8.15 a.m. for 8.30 a.m.
All Menfolk Welcome.
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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 11th May
10.00 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.
More:
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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 click on the link: Copy of Church-planner-2017-V3.3.
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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 for the Fourth Sunday of Easter is:
New Life and Healing!
Here are some local notes for personal reflection.
Key Readings:
John, Ch. 10, vs. 11 – 18;
Acts of the Apostles, Ch. 4, vs. 5 – 12.
The very new church would have been mostly made up of those who had known Jesus personally, and heard him speak. We can imagine leaders and members reflecting back on things he said about himself, God and God’s kingdom. As the church grew these accounts would have been vital, and so were captured for all by the gospel writers. This is timely for us as we too have been reflecting on what it is to be Church, as the advert seeking our new minister goes out in the coming days.
In the John reading, Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd, and predicts both his self-sacrificing death and his rising again:-
- What characteristics of the shepherd do we see in Jesus -his life and death?
- To what is he referring in his description of the ‘hired hand’?
- Jesus talks about ‘knowing his sheep’ (vs. 14). What does that mean for you?
The Acts passage follows on from the healing of the lame man we explored last week, and has Peter giving account of his actions in the high-priest’s court. He quickly turns his interrogation into a testimony of Jesus’ life and power:-
- Peter quotes Psalm 118, vs. 22, comparing Jesus to a stone initially rejected by builders but which becomes the building’s cornerstone or arch capstone. What was Peter conveying then, and how is this image useful to us now?
- Reflect on Acts 4, vs. 12 – “Salvation is found in no-one else for there is no other…by which we are saved”.
- Read on from Acts 4, vs. 13, & also vs. 19, and reflect on the impact the Holy Spirit (vs. 8) has in their lives: extra-ordinary strength in ordinary people, like us.
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DIOCESE OF WINCHESTER
WESSEX PROVINCE