Safeguarding those at risk:
To find our policies on Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults please click here;
Our primary Safeguarding contact: safeguarding@stfrancis-valleypark.org.uk
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Happening this week at
St. Francis’.
Our “Duty Churchwarden” until
17th March is Steve Williams
Duty Warden from 18th – 24th March is Andy Grove
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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.
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Saturday 16th March:
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Sunday 17th March:
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
8.45 a.m.: Said Holy Communion (Rev’d. Dr. Sarah McClelland & Elliot Grove);
10.00 a.m.: Morning Worship (Rev’d Dr. Sarah McClelland & Elliot Grove).
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Monday 18th March:
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Tuesday 19th March:
8.00 a.m. – 8.30 a.m.: Morning Prayers for the Church and Community (Rev’d. Dr. Sarah McClelland): Chapel (Entry via Office Door).
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Wednesday 20th March:
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
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Thursday 21st March:
10.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon: Church-based House Group; Large Meeting Room;
2.30 p.m.: Holy Communion (Rev’d. Dr. Sarah McClelland & Phil Watts): BrendonCare Knightwood Library.
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Friday 22nd March:
11.45 a.m – 2.15 p.m.: Test Valley ‘Live at Home Scheme’ Social Club: Large Meeting Room.
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Saturday 23rd March:
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Sunday 24th March:
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
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).
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Join us as we mark the penitential season of Lent
(which commenced on Wednesday 6th March
and lasts for 40-days).
During Lent we individually and collectively express our desire to turn back to God in repentance and faith.
Services each Sunday; Prayers on Tuesday morning;
Lenten Study in Church and in small groups.
All most welcome.
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MESSY CHURCH
Craft, Activities, Afternoon Tea, Celebration.
The fun way to do church
for all the family.
Next Session
Sunday 24th March:
Theme:
“Where I belong”
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 9th March
8.15 a.m. for 8.30 a.m.
All menfolk most 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 parents / carers are welcome.
Next Session:
Friday 12th April
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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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.
Our teaching theme this week focusses on:
Extended Lent Study: Prayer –
Perseverance in Prayer …
Readings:
- Genesis, Ch. 18, vs. 23 – 33;
- Luke, Ch. 18, vs. 1 – 8.
Are you waiting for an answer to prayer? Have you been crying out day and night? Or maybe just waiting to see what happens?
These times when God seems quiet or far away are frustrating. They can leave us wondering about God’s goodness. Is He there? Does He care? Is He even listening?
Our readings this week show people wrestling to figure out God’s character.
Abraham, faced with the threat that God will destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, along with the people living there, can’t help but ask “Will not the Judge of all the Earth do right?” (Genesis. Ch. 18, vs. 25). And, through the process of pleading with God, he comes to understand that it is justice that God is exhibiting here, not pointless cruelty. He is acting for the good of mankind as a whole and His mercy far outweighs His vengeance. “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it” (Genesis. Ch. 18, vs. 32).
Jesus, in his parable, addresses our frustrations with waiting for God to answer our prayers. He refers to humans, with all of our flaws, to make his point. A corrupt, lazy judge can give justice when it suits him (Luke, Ch. 18, vs. 5). Surely God, who is infinitely loving and just, will do the same and even more (Luke, Ch. 18, vs. 7)! Jesus is being reassuring here; God will answer those who cry out to Him. But there’s a challenge here too. Will we keep going when it’s hard? Do we trust God enough to wait for his timing? When Jesus comes back for us, “will he find faith on the Earth?” (Luke, Ch. 18, vs. 8).
Sarah.
Please click here to go to all of the available Study Material for this Lenten Study on Prayer |
DIOCESE OF WINCHESTER
SOUTHAMPTON DISTRICT
WESSEX PROVINCE