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The Holy Spirit is God’s power, presence and love, bringing transformation and re-creation. So what better day to share with you our new logo for St Francis Church? Far from turning our back on the old, our clever graphic designer has taken a small part of our original St. Francis logo, and used that to encompass who we are as a Church. Join us at 10.00 a.m. on Sunday 31st May for our service and all will be revealed!
What is God doing?
God is at work by His Spirit all over the world, in new ways. Could you share something of how you’ve seen Him working? Maybe God has been doing unexpected things in difficult times. It would really encourage us to hear what God is doing in our Sunday service – let me know.
Tell us what you think!
Please help us by taking part in this short survey: click on this link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/VNTZTTJ
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“Virtual” Church:
Diocese of Winchester “Upper Room” Prayer Day
Join Rev’d. Cliff McClelland who is leading a slot in the Diocese’s 24 hour prayer day.
Join him on the following Zoom link between 5.oo – 6.00 p.m. on Saturday 30th May: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87997259351?pwd=L3BVUjJ6c3JnYmdwNVlsYjBlalVsUT09
You’ll need to copy this link and paste it into your Web Browser.
Worship this week:
Sunday May 30th, 10.00 a.m. – Join us for a short service for Pentecost Sunday Day on the usual Zoom link (details attached).
There’ll be a short junior Church slot with feedback from last week, and a new thought for this week.
Watch out for a short slot after the first song in our Sunday services.!
Lockdown FM Chandler’s Ford: Today our service is being streamed by our local Lockdown FM. They also broadcast ‘my way to pray’ each day for the last 10 days!
Daily, 12.00 noon: Let’s continue to pray the Lord’s Prayer together at midday each day.
Tuesdays weekly through June, 8.00 a.m. – 8.30 a.m.: In this time of change and planning, let’s pray together and ask God to guide us.
Wednesday June 3rd, 7.00 p.m. – Evening prayer: This week led by Chris Hill.
Social Events
Here are some upcoming dates for your Diary for some Church Social Events with a difference – they are all on-line!
Saturday 30th May from 7.30 – 9.00 p.m.:
THE “ZOOM INN” – A Pub Night with a difference!
Hosted by Fiona and Andy Grove – bring a drink of choice and we’ll swap between meeting rooms to catch up with each other.
Quiz night:
By popular demand! Quiz night will be back in a few weeks – watch this space!
Answers to prayer and reasons to be thankful!
It’s great to share them and encourage each other –
email Sarah with them today!
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Join me…
I’m joining house groups (thanks for having me guys!) over the next couple of weeks, talking briefly about the stages of this crisis and also about where God is in it. It’s an opportunity for me to listen and for us to discuss this current situation.
If you aren’t in a house group but would like to join a group for such a discussion, please email me (rev@sfvp.org.uk) to register interest and I’ll set up a group chat.
If you’re not in a house group but would value the opportunity, please contact Chris Hill – chris@plantain.org.uk.
Junior Church
We are so enjoying your pictures and responses to the challenges. Thank you so much – and keep them coming, young and old alike.
Responses from last week:
Any more guesses as to when the balloon came down/ will come down?
All will be revealed on Sunday!
This week:
It’s Pentecost – when God’s Spirit comes! Where have you seen God’s Spirit at work – his power, his love?
What does it look like when God’s Spirit comes? Draw a picture of that first day – or a more recent example of God’s power at work!
Pray Together
In this time of change and planning, let’s pray together and ask God to guide – join me on the usual Zoom Link 8.00 a.m. – 8.30 a.m. on Tuesdays in June.
Virtual Church: How are you doing?
Over the past few weeks I’ve sent out some suggestions for resources, in particular, the prayer app Lectio 365 and the Bible in One Year app. It’s been great to hear how people are enjoying those resources at home. In addition, people have been enjoying house groups and taking the opportunity to pray and study together. If you’re not in a house group but would value the opportunity, please contact Chris Hill – chris@plantain.org.uk.
It’s important to recognise that this situation we’re in is hard for everybody – in all sorts of different ways. As a church family we’re called to care for each other – so let’s take opportunities to share difficulties as well as joys in our buddy groups and house groups, and not to just put on a brave face! Don’t forget that we have a ‘listening line’ available too – just leave your name and number on the office answerphone (02380271152) and the pastoral team will return your call.
IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU AT THIS TIME?
Please get in touch!
E-mail: rev@sfvp.org.uk, or admin@sfvp.org.uk, or make use of our Listening Line – Thank you, pastoral and welcoming team, who have agreed to provide a listening ear to anyone who could do with it! Just leave a message on the church answer phone (02380 271152) with your details. |
Church News:
Donald Waters’ funeral – will take place on Tuesday 2nd June. His daughter Liz writes: “Please find below a link to the Funeral Notice for Dad. Some have asked for details of when the burial will take place so they can have a time of quiet reflection and raise a wee dram to Donald: https://www.dignityfunerals.co.uk/funeral-notices/10-05-2020-donald-waters/.
Virtual Café: Don’t forget to join in on the same link we use for services – Wednesdays 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon
Buddy Groups: If you’d like to be in one and you aren’t, or any other issues – please email Fiona Grove our pastoral head –
pastoral@stfrancis-valleypark.org.uk
Prayer requests: Please let us know if we can pray for you: please email Fiona as above.
Prayer points: We included some on our notice sheet and they’re now added on the Prayer page of this website.
Basics Bank: St Francis Church will be running Eastleigh Basics Bank on Wednesdays. Many thanks to David Gurr for continual encouragement, Jan Moring for all she’s doing, to Katie Rhodes for heading up the team and to all of you who have volunteered. To quote Katie: ‘it’s a precious thing to be able to show our community Christ-like compassion!’
Socials: See this webpage for planned social activities.
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Help Needed: New website!
We’re aware that our current website doesn’t display well on mobile phones and it’s not straight forward to update. So, we’re looking for a group to research our needs and bring some quotes to Church Council – as soon as possible!
If you can help, please contact Steve Williams on stephen511@outlook.com. Many thanks!
HELP NEEDED: LORD’S PRAYER ON FACEBOOK
Many of us are enjoying the posts on Facebook to help us to remember to pray the Lord’s Prayer together at midday each day. If we are to continue beyond May, we need some help!
Could you volunteer to put the page together? You’ll need to know how to make PowerPoint slides and be happy to put up on Facebook – Heather can give some guidance. If you can help please email Heather on admin@sfvp.org.uk.
Calling all photographers!
Are you enjoying the Lord’s Prayer on Facebook? We would love to have your pictures and photos to act as backdrop to the Lords prayer, and indeed any versions that are special to you. Please email them to Heather in the office on admin@sfvp.org.uk.
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Thy Kingdom come – Prayer event
Each year we’re encouraged to pray in a special way for God’s Kingdom to come, in the days leading up to Pentecost (this year, May 31st). Sarah will be emailing each day with a clip from members of our church family on how they pray , as an encouragement to us not to give up!
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Calling all knitters and crafters: Can you help?
Through the Methodist Circuit and District, local Hospital Chaplains are asking Churches to knit Mask Extenders.
This request is detailed in Sarah’s letter (click above), and simple instructions to knit them can be found at: Mask extenders NHS2020.
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Can you help Fledge out?
Fledge Youth Support, the local Christian Charity that provides accommodation and support for homeless and vulnerable young adults in the Eastleigh Area has sent us an urgent request:
They need: For up to 60 “NHS Scrubs Fabric” quality face masks.
Why do we need them:
- To facilitate safe face to face engagement between Fledge Staff and their Service Users – masks will be used by both Fledge Staff and Service Users, since the need for ‘personal presence’ support for Service Users has grown over the duration of the lockdown, as they grow more frustrated with the restrictions on movement, on the lack of access to their friends and personal support networks, and on the unavailability of the “statutory” support services they usually access, and as any underlying mental health issues come to the fore;
- To increase the safety of Fledge staff as they undertake more rigorous house checks on our residential properties. These checks grow in importance as the lockdown progresses, to ensure that standards of hygiene and cleanliness are being maintained by residents.
Their request: Please could members of St Francis’ Church kindly volunteer to make up face masks using a pattern which is readily available on the internet.
The required Design: The pastern for these masks is at: https://www.bigcommunitysew.co.uk/. Either design shown below and on that linked website is acceptable.
Required Materials: These can be provided by Fledge, and distributed to front doors for volunteers on request or else volunteers can use their own fabric provided it can all be washed at 60°.
Could you volunteer?: If someone is able to volunteer to help please could they contact Phil or Liz Watts at <chair@fledge.org.uk> or <treasurer@fledge.org.uk> or on 023 8025 2015.
MANY THANKS
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WESSEX SYNOD
Latest news from Sarah – 30th May 2020
