July 2016 Update 2

Dear Friends awake on my bed at 3am wrestling God reminded me that amidst There are many times in my life with the uncertainty of our situation. uncertainty, we should not be when I have wrestled with what At 5am, I decided to pray and looking inward to ourselves for God is doing in and through it. In spend some time with God, and solutions and help. Rather, the Holy particular, over the last few months, read Luke 18:1, ‘ Then Jesus told Spirit spoke saying that we ‘ need to as I have prayed about the future, I them a parable about their need to pray always and not lose heart ’; to have wrestled with where it look outward to God (‘ pray al- was that God was leading us ways’ ), trusting Him for his provision as a family. I have also strug- and security ( not lose heart ). With gled with how I would say that word I went straight back to goodbye to the church family sleep, resting in the peace that I we have grown to love and was in God’s hands even when a that has loved, welcomed storm rages around me. This is a and nurtured us over the past Word to encourage each one of us. four years. As my family and I look to the future Therefore it is with a mixture of and make preparations to move on, sadness, excitement and I pray that that you might continue trepidation that I am pleased as Jesus encourages, ‘ to pray to announce that I have been ap- pray always and not lose heart ’. In always and not lose heart ’, to walk pointed in charge of St Mi- that one verse God reminded me ever closer and deeper with Him. chael’s Church, Linby cum St James of something very important. My Much love Church, Papplewick in the Diocese revisiting the interview while I lay of Southwell and Nottingham. awake was all about me – what The night after my interview and had ‘ I’ done, what had ‘ I’ not Trevor before confirmation that I had been done, what could ‘ I’ have done appointed, I found myself lying differently? It was all about me.

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV) July Church Notices Sun 10 3.00pm Park Lane Residential Home Service Confirmation. Please speak to Lindsay, Trevor or the church office if you are interested in getting Mon 11 7.45pm Safeguarding Training Confirmed.

Thu 14 2.30pm A Mind To Sing Safeguarding Training. Monday 11th July 7.45pm in the church - all those involved in Vibes, Children's, Wed 20 2.30pm Ladies Fellowship with Mrs Dorothy Donald Youth, families and in schools and recently done a DBS form through St Lawrence's Thu 21 2.30pm A Mind To Sing Men’s Breakfast. We have stopped meeting over 3.00pm Wedding Sam Hardy & Katherine Whitehall Sun 24 summer. Our next meeting is October 8th 3.00pm Park Lane Residential Home Service Cross Link Boxes. Please bring to Cynthia for emp- Tue 26 Ladies Bereavement Support Group Meal tying.

Wed 27 Ladies Fellowship Outing Southport The office will be closed Monday 27th June-Friday 1st July inclusive. Thu 28 1.15pm Friendship Club Sat 30 3.00pm Wedding Emma White & Aaron Shirley Please Pray for Chris, August Laura & Devon Pre- cious as they begin a Wed 3 8.00pm Together To Pray new area of ministry Thu 4 12.30pm Wedding at All Saints Parish Charlotte Holland & Christopher Hawthorne Church, Alrewas . Sun 7 11.00am VIBES Service Mon 8 - Fri 12 VIBES Sun 14 3.00pm Spring Bank Residential Home Service Biddulph Churches Together. Open Café Thu 25 1.15pm Friendship Club 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th July Wed 31 Coach Outing to Llandudno 10am-12noon Town Hall Steps Tea, coffee & Cakes Regular Sunday Worship If you can help or bake a cake please speak to Cynthia in person or by phone (515067) 9.15am . Traditional service. Sun 11.00am . Informal service with children’s groups. 6.30pm . Quieter, reflective service. Trevor would like to encourage us to read a Home Groups book over the Summer called 'The myth of the Member of a Home Group? No ? Why not Join? non-Christian' by Luke Home Groups are a great place to explore the bible and grow Cawley. Easy reading in faith in a relaxed and smaller group of like minded Christians. and provides some very If you are interested contact Keith Jones on 244770 good ideas for (termtime) engaging with people Youth & Children’s Groups outside of church. This is Mon 5.30pm NRG (school years Reception - 4) £1.00 possibly one of the most helpful and Tue 1.30 pm Kangas’n’Roos (Pre-school children) £1.00 practical books I’ve read recently. Thu 6.30pm 10:10 (school years 5+) £1.00

Midweek Worship Shoes Wanted. Wed 10.00am Midweek Service (45—60 mins) Shoes of all types and sizes wanted in good condition for † 8.30am Mon, Thurs & Fri Morning Prayer (30mins) the Greenfields Project in an effort Church Prayer Chain to eradicate Jiggers Disease, which affects peoples feet. If you have a need that calls for immediate prayer then Bring all donations to the please contact Revd Lindsay Clowes : 514413 or email: Church Office. [email protected] Mission Support Group Prayer Topics for coming weeks July

3rd July SANCTUS St Mark’s (Asylum Seekers & Refugees) 10th July Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS) 17th July Salvation Army & Biddulph CAB 24th July St. Paul’s, Syongila, Kenya 31st July TEAR Fund Please make mention of them in your prayers

Flower Rota July August 3 rd Vera Machin 7th Yvonne Pointon

th th The Institution and Induction of 10 Margaret Smith 14 Julie Ellis 17 th Val Belford 21 st VACANT St Lawrence’s new Vicar 24 th Pauline Whitehurst 28 th Carole Dale Revd. Steve Dyson, 31 st Myra Machin will be on Saturday 17 th September at 3pm. The service will be led by the Bishop of , Rt. Revd. .

This is a big thank you for all those who have encouraged and supported me during my curacy here at St Lawrence's. Unlike Trevor I will not be moving on but my role title will change and I will have finished my training. I will now be an Assistant Minister. I will be licensed to that role alongside Steve at his service on the 17th Sept. Thanks again Lindsay Contacts Prayer The Church Office Praise God for Mon 1030am-12noon ♦ the Appointment of our New Vicar Steve Dyson ♦ for the celebration service for the Queen's 90th birthday and all who Tue-Fri 9am-12noon attended, the meal afterwards and the Mad Hatters Tea Part. (01782) 513891 ♦ the provision of a parish for Trevor and family to go and minister in

Please pray for Parish Assistant (Gez) ♦ VIBES holiday club ♦ [email protected] Bob Hartman event held at St Lawrence's church ♦ the Churches Together events of the Biddulph Festival: e.g. Songs of Trevor Raaff () Praise, Induction of new mayor, Open Cafe, Methodist Church organ re- cital, etc) 513891 / 07707 023769 ♦ our newly appointed vicar Steve, his wife Elle and three daughters as [email protected] they prepare to move to Biddulph in September ♦ Trevor and family as they make preparations to move on Lindsay Clowes (Assistant Minister) ♦ the Michael & his wife Julia as they prepare to 514413 come to Lichfield

[email protected] Thanksgivings: Emmie with Jodie & Stephen

Adam Post (Youthworker) Weddings: Katherine Whitehall & Sam Hardy & Emma White & Aaron Shirley 513891 / 07792 584490 [email protected] Funerals: the bereaved family and friends of Joan Draisey, Brian Bai- ley, Neil Henderson, [Leslie Lowe, Iris Matthias, Cyril Rhodes, Doris Haydon

Those who are unwell incl: Amanda McDonald, Mike Gover, Phil Ellis, Gerry Shenton, Gladys Copeland www.biddulphchurch.org.uk Also Remember The Arch Bishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, The Bishop of Lichfield Rt. Rev’d Dr , The The Rt. Rev’d Geoff Annas, The Arch of Stoke The Ven. , The Rural Dean Rev. Brian Statham hhh

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