Saltash Area Newsletter DISCOVERING GOD’S KINGDOM – GROWING the CHURCH February 2020
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Saltash Area Newsletter DISCOVERING GOD’S KINGDOM – GROWING THE CHURCH February 2020 www.saltashteamministry.org A Spiritual Healthcheck to start the New Year February Diary Dates Regular Events Coming Up Monday Wednesday, 5 Feb 3, 17 February 10am to Noon 2-3.30pm St Mary’s Church Hall St Stephen’s Church Coffee Morning Craft and Conversation Saturday, 8 Feb Monday 9-11.30 a m 10 February St Stephen’s Church 7pm. The Ploughboy Food Market & M.O.S.S.A.F Table Top Sale Meeting of Men Of St Stephens And Friends Wednesday, 19 Feb Noon to 1.30pm Tuesday St Mary’s Church Hall 11 February Jackets & Pud Lunch Dear Friends, 2pm St Stephen’s Church I am currently reading a book called Spiritual Sunday, 23 Feb Mothers’ Union Healthcheck which looks at the question, 12.30-2.30pm SSNF Church Rooms ‘How are you doing in your faith?’ Thursdays Potato & Pud Lunch 13, 27 February So how would you answer that question? How are 7. 3 0 p m you doing in your Christian life? Some may be worried Shrove Tuesday St Stephen’s Church when there is no need whilst others are confident when 25 February Mixed Blessings 3-5pm they have no reason to be. Most of us realise that we St Stephen’s Church Saturday should be growing as Christians, but aren’t always Pancakes 15 February sure what that means exactly, or how to go about it. Saturday, 29 Feb 3pm Physically, many go to their GP or consultant for St Stephen’s Church Noon to 2pm some kind of healthcheck where an expert assesses Messy Church St Stephen’s Church them against several criteria, such as blood pressure, Spuds & Puds Lunch Tuesday cholesterol, weight, and recommendations may be 18 February Mondays made in order to become healthy or stay healthy. 9.30am 2 March to 30 March St Stephen’s Church The Christian life is the same. We are called to Noon to 2pm Tea and Toast make progress and grow up and stay spiritually St Stephen’s Church healthy. The Apostle John wrote to one of his Lent Lunch & Reflection Thursday 20 February Christian friends, Beloved, I pray that all may go Wednesday, 4 Mar 7. 3 0 p m well with you and that you may be in good health, 10am to Noon St Stephen’s Church just as it is well with your soul. (3 John 1: 2). St Mary’s Church Hall Ladies Group But, what is a spiritually healthy Christian? Romans Coffee Morning Friday 8: 28-31 says, We know that all things work together Saturday, 14 Mar 21 February for good for those who love God, who are called 7. 3 0 p m Noon according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew SSNF Church Rooms Beetle Drive S.T.A.R.T Group he also predestined to be conformed to the image of FEBRUARY SERVICES his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he Sunday 2 February also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then St Stephen-by-Saltash are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 8am Holy Communion 9.30am All Age Service To be perfectly spiritually healthy is to be just like Jesus Christ. And to be growing more spiritually healthy is to be growing more like Christ Jesus. St Michael, Landrake 9.30am Family Service Think about what Jesus was like during his time on earth: St Nicholas & St Faith, Saltash Kind. Compassionate. Courageous. Brave. Loyal. Wise. 11am Sung Eucharist Thoughtful. How do you think you would measure up to St Mary, Botus Fleming these criteria? Is there room for improvement? 11.15a m Family Service 1 John 3: 1-2 says, See what love the Father has given us, that we St Erney, Landrake should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason 11.15a m Morning Prayer the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are Sunday 9 February God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What St Stephen-by-Saltash we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will 9.30am Holy Communion see him as he is. Being spiritually healthy is being just like Christ – but 6.30pm Evensong none of us are completely Christ-like and, until Christ returns, we St Michael, Landrake won’t be in full spiritual health. The good news is that God is at work 9.30am Holy Communion to make us more Christ-like – if we are open to change and growth. St Nicholas & St Faith, Saltash If you feel that there are things in your life that you would like to 11am Sung Eucharist change you may like to pray the following prayer which is adapted St Mary, Botus Fleming 11.15a m Holy Communion from a prayer written by John Newton. John Newton started his career at sea at a young age, and became a Captain of slave ships for several Sunday 16 February years. After experiencing a period of Christian conversion, Newton St Stephen-by-Saltash eventually renounced his trade, became a prominent supporter of 9.30am Holy Communion abolitionism, and was ordained as an Anglican cleric, living to see the 6.30pm Evensong UK’s abolition of the African slave trade in 1807, just before his death. St Michael, Landrake 9.30am Holy Communion He wrote Amazing Grace and Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken. St Nicholas & St Faith, Saltash 8am Holy Communion Let us pray: 11am Sung Eucharist Lord, I know I am not who I one day will be, but I thank you St Mary, Botus Fleming that I am not who I used to be. Please make me more like 11.15a m Morning Prayer Christ today than I was yesterday – and please answer that St Erney, Landrake prayer each day until the day I stand before him. Amen. 11.15a m Holy Communion Sunday 23 February In February I will be arranging a new Bible Study course to explore how we St Stephen-by-Saltash can all take steps to live a more spiritually healthy and thriving Christian 9.30am Holy Communion Life. This will be on a Thursday afternoon. Please look out for further details. 6.30pm Evensong St Michael, Landrake Yours in Christ, 9.30am Holy Communion Cathy St Nicholas & St Faith, Saltash 11am Sung Eucharist St Mary, Botus Fleming 11.15a m Holy Communion Samaritan’s Purse Thank you to everyone who contributed in any way to this Every Wednesday Appeal. Six hundred and fifty seven boxes were collected St Stephen-by-Saltash in Saltash, forty from our churches. These now have been 10.30am Holy Communion distributed to children in Serbia, Belarus and Liberia. Page 2 Recent Events Messy Church Mothers’ Union In January, we At our Mothers’ Union Advent service welcomed around in December, we welcomed members 50 people into from Menheniot as well as members St Stephen’s Church from the church. The service was led by for Messy Church. our members with the theme ‘A Mothers’ Some new families Love’. This was followed by tea, mince joined us for the pies and cake with plenty of chatting and laughter. first time. On a very wet and stormy afternoon in January, Our theme was members braved the elements to attend our meeting. David and Goliath Chairman Sandra opened the meeting with and we celebrated prayers and reported on the progress of a couple how God protects of members who have been in hospital. us when we put We all received a copy of the report of our trust in him. the ‘Diocesan Mothers’ Union Autumn The children made Council Meeting’ held last November. sweets to represent Sandra introduced the guest speaker Jane David’s stones for Higgins who had come to talk on ‘Decluttering’. his sling and they Jane said that decluttering all started with her made a bag to store mother’s house after her death. On attempting to them. Shields of clear the house and the garage with her brother, protection were also every room was a problem and gradually working made and decorated. their way through the rooms, was a mammoth task. Great fun was had when we played a game of hitting After the experience, she decided to write a book on oliath on the forehead with a softball. Special thanks ‘Decluttering’, hoping that it would help others. are due to John West for his great model of Goliath. Sandra thanked Jane for her talk and hoped Some beautiful crowns were made and worn to we shall all be able to declutter in the future. remind us that David eventually became king of Israel. Tea and cake were enjoyed, made be member Pauline, before the members again braved the elements for home. In February we will be having a meal out together. Wanted for St Stephen’s Please Did you receive a gift this Christmas that just wasn’t you? If so we would love to make use of it for our fundraising events this year. We have a collection box in our church titled New Gifts. Please place any suitable item in there or contact a member of the social committee to arrange collection/delivery of any items or email [email protected] The noticeboard was decorated with the We are also seeking bric à brac for our Table Top Sale on Saturday 8 Feb.