News Sheet

Christchurch Abbeydale
Weekly Notices

We offer a warm welcome to all who are worshipping with us today. Christchurch is an ecumenical church which embraces four Christian denominations, Anglican, Baptist, Methodist and the United Reformed Church, worshipping together as one congregation. Whether you already belong to one of these denominations or not you are most welcome. Please sign the Visitors’ Book if you are here for the first time. Children are welcome. Coffee/tea will be served at the close of morning worship.

Alpha 2008

To be held jointly with Christchurch and St Lawrence.

The course runs every Wednesday for 10 weeks starting 1st October 2008. You will get the most out of Alpha if you can commit yourself to the whole course

It will be held at Christchurch, Abbeydale.

There is ample parking at the Church.

If you have any Queries please don't hesitate to contact:

Jane Brown 371283, Frank Heggs 530353.

DATES AND TOPICS

Oct 1st Who is Jesus?

Oct 8th Why did Jesus Die?

Oct 15th How can I be sure of my faith?

Oct 22nd Why and how should I read the Bible?

Oct 29th Why and how should I pray?

Nov 5th How does God guide us?

WEEKEND AWAY DATE:

Friday November 7th to Sunday 9th November
This year’s weekend has been booked at ‘The House of the Open Door’,
Childswickham, near Evesham.

Nov 12th How can I resist evil?

Nov 19th Why and how should we tell others?

Nov 26th Does God heal today?

Dec 3rd - What about the Church?

ALPHA CELEBRATION on Dec 10th.

To find out more come to our Alpha Supper
at 7-30 pm on Wednesday 24th September.

Strawberry Teas

in aid of Breast Cancer Care

Saturday 5th July between 3pm and 5-30pm

Although this is part of Christchurch's fundraising for charity, we hope it will have a wider appeal, so please come yourselves and invite friends and neighbours. There will be craft stalls and a cake stall as well as the tea and an opportunity to meet the Charity's Assistant Director for Services (who is Rita and Peter Muff's daughter Elizabeth). Linda Hone would like to have offers of cakes for the stall. Rita and Kath Barber will be glad of offers of help on the day, and particularly in clearing up and getting the church ready for Sunday.

The Church Council met on 12 May. The following is a summary, taken from the minutes:

· Welcome to new members. Val Doll and Keith Hone were warmly welcomed to their first church council meeting, as was David Evans at the beginning of his second term.

· New meeting room. The experiment with the store room is not working out as well as had been hoped. The council agreed to contact the building’s architect, David Williams, for an informal consultation to discuss what changes might be possible to increase accommodation. This will be discussed further within the church meeting.

· Fire safety. In view of recent changes to fire regulations, the council agreed to conduct a full safety audit of the building, to ensure the safety of us all.

· New members. It will be recommended to the church meeting that Howard Francis & Kathy Summers be welcomed into membership.

· Building community resilience. Representatives from Christchurch recently attended a planning meeting to deal with future emergencies in Gloucester. We are being asked to consider what we could offer in the event of an emergency (e.g. another flood), and are working with Abbeydale Community Centre to prepare contingency plans. This work is ongoing and will be reported in detail in due course.

· Strawberry tea for breast cancer. The council agreed to hold a fundraising tea for breast cancer research on Saturday 5 July.

· Worship resources. On the recommendation of the minister, it was agreed to purchase a large print NIV Bible, a NRSV Bible (with Apocrypha), both to aid worship, and a music copy of Rejoice & Sing (the URC hymn book) for the musicians. Baptist Praise & Worship would also be purchased, but it has long been out of print.

· Church Council Away Day. The council committed itself to another ‘Away Day’ (the last one being in February), to begin planning how we might use ‘Vision 4 Life’, which is a useful resource from the URC, to enable local churches to engage in more effective Bible study, prayer and evangelism. The date is to be arranged.

Les Mather

Future Dates

Christchurch Day of Prayer.

on Saturday 19 July

from 10.00am until 3.00pm

This will be 'come and go'. Everyone is encouraged to find some time during the day to attend and pray for Christchurch's future, as well as prayer for the wider community.

There will be led prayer every half hour and there will also be quiet spots around the church with ideas to help us focus our prayers. Each area will have a subject with a small display and we are hoping that if you have any ideas or materials which would aid those setting up the displays you will let that person know. The six subjects and people responsible are:
Creation Dave and Joan Perkins Tel 617032
World Focus Frank Heggs 530353
Meditation and Written Prayers Val Stephens 533907 Community Carol Terry and Keep Fit Class - 530240 Children Junior Church & Leaders. 534048 & 410132 Christchurch Jubilate

July Diary

Sat 5th 2.00 pm PCN (Progressive Christianity Network)

3.00 - 5.00pm Strawberry Teas

Sun 6th 10.00am Holy Communion - the Minister

6.00pm Evensong - Mr David Sheldon & Jigsaw Choir

Mon 7th 7.30pm Church Council

Sat 12th 9.20am CWS Walk

3.00pm Tea@Three

Sun 13th 10.00am Morning Worship - the Minister

6.00pm Evening Worship - the Minister

Sat 19th Day of Prayer

Sun 20th 10.00am Morning Worship - the Minister

6.00pm Holy Communion - the Minister

Mon 21st 7.30pm Church Meeting

Sun 27th 10.00am Morning Worship - Mr Frank Heggs

6.00pm Evening Worship - Revd Paul Leckey

August Diary

Sun 3rd 10.00am Holy Communion - the Minister

6.00pm Evening Worship - the Minister

Monday 4th to Friday 8th Fireproofing - Church closed to all activities

Sat 9th 9.20am CWS Walk

Sun 10th 10.00am Morning Worship - the Minister

6.00pm Evening Worship - the Minister

Monday 11th to Friday 15th Work Week - Church closed to all activities

Sat 16th 3.00pm Tea@Three

Sun 17th 10.00am Morning Worship - the Minister

6.00pm Holy Communion - the Minister

Sun 24th 10.00am Morning Worship - the Minister

6.00pm Evening Worship - the Minister

Tues 26th 2.30pm Pastoral Visitors Meeting

Sun 31st 10.00am Morning Worship - Revd Dr Alison Evans

6.00pm Evening Worship - Mr N Butler

Host-a-Meal in September

Since Wendy Godfrey introduced Christchurch to Host-a-Meal some years ago we have had some enjoyable lunches and dinners hosted by many Christchurch folk. It is a great way of getting to know one another better. There are no ‘set’ ways of hosting a meal - just whatever you feel you would like to offer!
Here is how it works:

? At the beginning of August look out for the form to fill in if you would like to host a meal. It will be with your news sheet.

? Two weeks later dates will be given for you to book your meal followed by details of the venue.

? Then between Friday 12th September and Sunday 21st September the meals will take place.

? There will be a charge of £6 for a lunch and £8 for a dinner which will be given to your host at the time of the meal. The proceeds will go to Christchurch.

As you might imagine it is quite a task to organise people and dates and we thank Wendy for all her hard work in doing this, If you want to know more please ask Wendy or me - we will put you in touch with someone who participated in these meals before and so can give you first hand reports!!!!!

Wendy Godfrey and Mavis Wood