How Great Is Our God
Our 2025 Memory Verse
Come and hear, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me. Psalm 66:16 NIV
Mark writes:
I am returning to light duties in Church concentrating on the services primarily. I am still incredibly tired so please understand that I am not up to my usual energy levels. I also had a big knock on Monday. Having thought I was improving as all my test results were normal, my consultant has written to say that one of them, which takes time to process, is so high it is off the scale, so clearly I am still not well. He is going to look into this over the next few weeks with various tests, some invasive, but as an outpatient.
Please pray for us as a family as we all thought I was getting better.
I have been incredibly poorly, which is why I could not manage visits from Church. Initially I was in hospital for 22 nights and then in bed at home for 6 weeks. After that I would be very grateful if you would please talk to me about anything except my health. I am anxious to join the land of the living again!!!
Thank you so much to all the people who covered any and all of my duties whilst I have been off. I am aware that a lot of things have been going on and I am pleased that Church has continued to function without me, which is as it should be.
Please pray for Rachel as she flies to America on Sunday 6th for a week to visit a friend who was at her University last year.
Spring cleaning St Nicholas’ Church on Saturday 5th April from 10:00 a.m. – tomorrow!
We will need lots of hands on deck to help. I will provide pastries and coffee.
Lynn.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting
This will be held on Sunday 27th April in St Nicholas’ Church after the service.
The APCM will be available on zoom using the same code as the morning service.
Documents relating to this meeting will be emailed out in due course.
St Barnabas Partnership
There are still some outstanding questions with the Diocese about the terms on which the part-time lay Pioneer Minister will be employed. Please pray for Jim and Craig Philbrick meeting with Archdeacon Charlie on Monday 14th April.
Thank you
Thank you, once again, to Arthur for providing the polyanthus plants for Mothering Sunday. Besides those given out at church and St Barnabas, 21 plants were delivered and messages of much appreciation have been received. Thank you to Arthur, Gail and Martin, Libby, Lyn and Rich, and Ruth, who helped the Pastoral Team deliver them.
Praying for Peace
St Nicholas’ Church will be open for prayer for peace in Ukraine and between Israel and Palestine/Gaza/Lebanon between 9:30 and 10:00 on Monday 7th April (but NOT on Mondays 14th and 21st) weather permitting. If in doubt phone Joy (625545).
New Electoral Roll
Remember, to be on the new Roll, you need to fill in a form again, even if you have done so in the past.
In order to vote at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (Sunday 27th April), you must be on this new electoral roll.
The revision of the Roll closes this Sunday (6th April). David Stott has received 62 completed forms and more are expected. Please email djstott1952@gmail.com if you want to check that David has got your form. For those who miss Sunday’s deadline, you can still be added to the Electoral Roll after the APCM at the end of this month.
Monday 7th April - Lunch Break at 12.45 in St Barnabas
New folks welcome. Please contact Pauline on 01934 415401.
Will regulars also please contact Pauline if they are unable to come this month.
Please pray for those who attend and those who cook and serve but most importantly, that the Lord will make himself known.
Visit of V to St Barnabas – Wednesday 9th April
On Wednesday 9th April. Vee, who was our mission partner in the Far East for almost 30 years, will be visiting St Barnabas. Vee is currently based in Taiwan.
Vee will be taking the morning service and telling us about her work in Taiwan. This will be followed by a light lunch.
Those of you who have heard Vee in the past will know what an inspirational speaker she is. Vee’s visits to the UK are infrequent so this is an excellent opportunity to hear her speak again.
Worlewind Concert for VE Day – Saturday 10th May
7:30 p.m. in St Nicholas’ Church. Tickets (£10) now available from Caroline.
Coffee and Cake Evenings coming up:
Wednesday May 14th Guest speaker: Tim Doolan, a former member of Riding Lights theatre company.
Wednesday June 18th Guest Speaker: Clive Bodley, The Ark Project, a new initiative in Weston.
Please pray about who you could invite.
Both guests need to confirm, as they have now been asked if they can do Wednesdays.
Uphill Village Market
The village market is held on the second Saturday of the month in the Victory Hall from 9.30- 12.30. The next one is April 12th. As a church we have a table which has free Christian literature and is a great place to have meaningful conversations with those who pay it a visit. It also provides an excellent opportunity to advertise events at St Nicholas.
Please remember this event in your prayers, that we will take the opportunities the market provides.
If you are interested and would like to know more please speak to Barbara Lewis (01934 633655).
Madeley’s Meat – Revelation
We will pick this up again in May.
Services
Sunday 6th April 10:00 a.m. – Holy Communion live and by zoom from St Nicholas
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Isaiah 43:16-21 John 12:1-8
Prayer Meeting at St Nicholas Church at 6pm
Wednesday 9th April 10:30 a.m. – Morning worship from St Barnabas live and by zoom – visit of V
Joshua 3:1-17
“V” who was our mission partner in the Far East for almost 30 years will be visiting. She will be speaking at the morning service, which will be followed by a light lunch.
Sunday 13th April 10:00 a.m. – Holy Communion live and by zoom from St Nicholas
Palm Sunday
Philippians 2:5-11 Luke 19:28-48
Wednesday 16th April 10:30 a.m. – Holy Communion live and by zoom from St Barnabas
A celebration for Easter
Matthew 28:1-10
Maundy Thursday – 17th April 7:00 p.m. from St Nicholas
In the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus
Meeting ID: 859 6389 0566 Passcode 129741
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85963890566?pwd=OkwDggJAPqs7yLNc6tDcWrp9Lrh9s1.1
Good Friday – 18th April 10:00 a.m. in St Nicholas
At The Foot of The Cross With Jesus.
Not available by zoom.
There is no walk of witness following the Good Friday service.
Sunday 20th April 10:00 a.m. – Holy Communion live and by zoom from St Nicholas
Easter Sunday
1 Corinthians 15:19-26 John 20:1-18
Wednesday 23rd April 10:30 a.m. – Morning Worship live and by zoom from St Barnabas
Easter 1
Matthew 27:62-66 & 28:11-15
Sunday 27th April 10:00 a.m. - All Together Service from St Nicholas live and by zoom
Theme to be announced
This service will be followed by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting.
The next Parish Update will be produced on Friday 25th April.
Please pray:
Some members of our church will be attending Spring Harvest at Minehead in the week of 14th April. Please pray that they will be renewed spiritually through the teaching, worship and fellowship with Christians from across the country.
Joan Bailey - Joan remains low at times, but has improved enough to start making plans for discharge to a care home. She thanks us for our prayers and asks us to continue.
Barbara Brown
Ann Butt - Ann is experiencing the usual nasty side effects of chemo. She thanks us for our continued prayers.
Rene Eaton – Joy says: “It was a good visit with Rene last week. Amazingly our conversation naturally led into asking her if she wanted to remain on the electoral roll, to which she replied ‘Yes.’ (Her daughter had asked me to ask her.) She sent her love to Joan and Ann.”
Malcolm and Edna Hunter
Angela James
Ada Keeley
Paul and Barbara Lewis
The Madeleys
Stella Middleton
Gwen Purnell
Mac Reid
Jo Scott
Peter and Val Tullett
Gill and David Willis
The Clarkes
Pedro Santos
Heather Johnstone
CMS mission partners Alison Giblett, Anya and Pastor Valery in Kiev. Please pray for safety and continued wisdom and perseverance.
Goma in the DR Congo and CMS – an update from Joy
This comes from Bishop Martin Gordon's talk at the CMS online conference, about the takeover of Goma by the M23.
Bishop Gordon, his wife and 3 children, left Goma a day before the uprising as all British expats had been told to do. However, they returned 2 days later. The situation was of course horrific, but thanks to the CMS collection they were able to give gifts of money for food to all the church workers, widows and teachers in the area. (Banks had been closed since January and so teachers hadn't been paid.) These gifts were gratefully received and the church was looked upon with favour. The area is peaceful at the moment with none of the usual roadblocks, allowing visits to churches previously inaccessible. God works in mysterious ways.