Our 2026 Memory Verse
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 NIV
The memory verse for 2026 reminds us that the Lord wants people to believe in him that they may truly become his children. For that to happen, everyone must play their part.
Yellow lines outside St Nicholas’ Church gate – in danger of removal
Please will everyone who wants to, email traffic.orders@n-somerset.gov.uk and object to the removal of the yellow lines outside the Church gate on Uphill Road South. We need those yellow lines so that:
• hearses can pull up for funerals
• cars and vans making deliveries to the Church and Church Hall can still access the gate. It is tight enough as it is.
• to stop even more bad parking from the hospitals and schools in Uphill.
• to avoid danger. It is an extremely dangerous corner. It is hard enough to see as it is and I have often seen people nearly hit each other if vehicles are parked there. Hearses are understandable but the bus struggles to get round and people do not slow down and check. It is really dangerous.
If you are commenting, please quote reference PSWLP/DB/2607. The closing date is 29th May.
Thank you.
Mark
Spring Harvest Bible Study
The third download of the Spring Harvest Bible Studies will be at Jeff's and Joy's on Sunday evening (24th May), between 6.00 and 7.00. These are stand alone, so it doesn't matter if you've missed one.
We hope to do some further talks at some time in the future.
St Barnabas Update
The Willats Trust have received an expression of interest to fund for three years 50% of the employment costs of a full-time Estates Outreach Worker. (This new job title is likely to be more acceptable to grant making bodies.) Please pray that we will be invited to submit a formal application leading to a positive decision in September. The Diocese is now supporting us in finding other grant making bodies to provide the remaining 25%. Please continue to pray for God’s wisdom and favour.
“Father, help everyone in our Magnificat Parishes look towards 2026 with the vision of you in their hearts and a renewed passion to share the love of Christ with all they meet. Renew hearts, minds, bodies and souls.”
Prayer for Peace in Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon and Iran
St Nicholas’ Church will be open for prayer for peace between 9:30 and 10:00 on Mondays 1st and 8th June (but not 25th May).
If in doubt because of the weather phone Joy (625545).
Luncheon Club – Monday 1st June, 12:45 p.m. at St Barnabas
Please let Pauline (01934 415401) know whether or not you are attending. Please pray for Luncheon Club because it is one of our key outreach opportunities. Pray too for those preparing the meal and serving, it is not a 5 minute task.
Archdeacon’s Visitation – Tuesday 2nd June
Please pray for Jim and Lynn as they make their declarations to be Church Wardens for another year at a service being held at St John’s, Weston-super-Mare.
A Church Warden is a very important role, carrying a lot of responsibility, so please continue to pray for them.
Messy Church – Wednesday 3rd June, 3:30 p.m.
Messy Church is meeting on Wednesday 3rd June with the theme The Good Samaritan. Please pray for families to come and for adults and children alike to hear the Word of the Lord. Pray too for the leaders to be equipped by the Holy Spirit for a good time and for safety.
Please continue to pray for more helpers, not just working with the children, but doing refreshments, furniture moving, administration etc.
Encouragement from the Scout Camp
As many of you will already know, I used one of my Sundays off for the Scout Camp (15th – 17th May). I have a good relationship with the Scouts, but over the weekend you inevitably spend more time with them and they open up. I had many conversations about the Lord and Church, all of which just arose without me pushing the subject. One of the Scouts is well on their way to coming to faith. Interestingly the leaders also spoke to me about faith issues.
We shared the camp with the Explorer group, which is where Scouts go to once they turn 14. Although Scouts join from various groups as there are less Explorer groups than Scout groups, many of them are ex 1st Uphill (my Scouts) and again conversations naturally arose around the Lord and Church.
There is currently a great deal of research around showing that young people want to know about God, and God is bringing many young people to himself. So a lot of what I was doing is seed sowing which will bear fruit later rather than bringing immediate growth in St Nicholas or St Barnabas, but that is fine. As a Church we are called to plant seeds as well as deal with the growth of seeds that have already sprouted, so never think what you are doing as a believer is a waste of time. God will bring his work to fruition, and we will be pleasantly surprised by whom we meet in eternity to put a human spin on it. (In reality I imagine we will be more interested in the Lord.) Equally, it is important that these young people know that Christians have fun, are not strange beings from another planet and are people they have no trouble relating to, thus crushing some of the myths that society has about Christians being odd. My hope is that they will remember me for being a fun person who spent time with them and had a strong faith.
I was personally encouraged because a few weeks ago Jim and I were talking to the Diocesan Children’s and Youth Advisor and he said that the Diocese places a heavy emphasis on links with uniformed organisations, which I confess I did not know beforehand. I had not really thought of Scouts as part of my ministry, but actually it is even though I am there first and foremost as Scout Leader. Over the coming months we will feed back other things he told us but let us not despair about no children on a Sunday. There are plenty of other things happening and the same advisor told us that Messy Church is our prime ministry to children and where our energy should be.
Mark
Services
Sunday 24th May 2026
10:00 a.m. All Together Worship with Holy Communion live and by zoom from St Nicholas
Pentecost Sunday
Acts 2:1-21
Wednesday 27th May 2026
10:30 a.m. – Morning Worship from St Barnabas – live and by zoom
I Am The Good Shepherd
John 10:11-21
Sunday 31st May 2026
10:00 a.m. – Holy Communion live and by zoom from St Nicholas
Trinity Sunday
Exodus 34:1-10 Mark 1:1-13
Wednesday 3rd June 2026
10:30 a.m. Holy Communion live and by zoom from St Barnabas
I Am The Resurrection And The Life
John 11:17-44
Sunday 7th June 2026
10:00 a.m. - Holy Communion live and by zoom from St Nicholas
Where Is Your First Love?
Revelation 2:1-7
Note to Church members: The Sunday 10:00 has 3 services of Holy Communion in a row. The reason for this is that The Church of England celebrates Holy Communion on festivals, in this case Pentecost Sunday and Trinity Sunday, and then the next Sunday is a first Sunday, which is our usual Communion service.
The next Parish Update will be produced on Friday 5th June.
Please pray:
Joan Bailey - Joan seems happier and is enjoying and appreciating the other residents in the lounge.
Rene Eaton – Joy says, “Rene was relaxed and content and it was a lovely visit. She sends her love to everyone.”
Joan Glover
Malcolm and Edna Hunter
Ada Keeley
Louise Howarth
Audrey Howell
Lily Insley
Paul and Barbara Lewis
The Madeleys – Thanksgiving for Rachel’s appointment as a reception teacher from September. Pray for Ben as he continues with his A levels.
Stella Middleton
Sally Moir - Sally is happy to be home and is looking well.
Lynn Pack
Peggy Penhaligan
Gwen Purnell
Mac Reid
Jo Scott - Jo says " I'm going to see my GP next Wednesday about pain in my wrists. I'm hoping it will be quick. I get very tired doing anything for very long. Thank you for your prayers."
Peter and Val Tullett
Joy White
Gill and David Willis - Please continue to pray for good health for Gill as she looks after David with Parkinsons.
Diocesan prayer for growth and transformation
“Loving God,
You alone bring growth to your Church and transformation to our communities.
We give thanks for the ways in which you are already at work in our lives and world.
As we look to the future, send your Holy Spirit to give vision to our planning,
wisdom to our actions, and grace in living and telling your story.
Help our churches to grow in commitment to you, in numbers and diversity,
and in partnership with our local communities in all that gives life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Prayers for Mission
Pedro Santos as he proclaims the Gospel from Beit Immanuel in Tel Aviv Jaffa. Things have settled down a little in Israel but are still far from normal. Fear is still around but it is providing opportunities for speaking about Jesus.
The Clarkes
Heather Johnstone, our CMS Mission Partner at Rehema in Tanzania:
Please continue to pray for Heather to receive her Work Permit soon and to have peace while she waits for it. She can't apply for her Residents Permit until she gets her Work Permit!
CMS mission partners Alison Giblett, Anya and Pastor Valery in Kiev –
Alison asks for prayer for a respite ministry for soldiers, being run by her church, particularly for respite for active soldiers when away from the frontline. Respite needs include physical care such as relief for backs and muscles, nutrition and spiritual support. Please pray for the chaplains as they stand alongside the soldiers, build relationships and share the gospel. Please pray for vision to meet the huge need for respite centres across Ukraine offering medical, psychological and spiritual support for soldiers.
Please pray for CMS Mission Partners, Bisoke Balinkenga and Bishop Gordon and their families in DRC, for protection against Ebola and for the disease to be contained. Pray for all who are ill and those nursing them.