St Martin's Church Diary

Newsletter, Calendar, Notices etc.

Here is our Weekly News for 28 February - 6 March 2010

and 7 - 13 March 2010 - both are PDF files - a shade under 100KB.

Requires Acrobat® Reader® software
or Foxit® Reader

either one is a free download

Calendar of events

March
7th 10:00 am Family Communion (the only service this day)
7th 11:15 am APCM
15th 6:30pm Drum and Guitar lessons in church
20th 9:00 am Maintenance Day
28th Palm Sunday
28th 6:30pm Drum and Guitar lessons in church
April
1st 7:00pm Maundy Thursday supper
2nd 10am An hour at the cross
4th Easter Sunday

Services and Events at St Martin's

Ballard Court Communion Bob will be leading the Ballard Court Service on 10 March at 10.30. You don’t need to be a resident to come.

Abundant Life - our Bible Reading Course

2010 Bible Reading Programme (PDF a shade over 100KB)

**Questions for the week's readings**
1 Cor 4: Is Paul being sarcastic in verses 10-13? If so what quality does he want the Corinthians to develop? 1 Cor 5: Why does, Paul says we should be strict with believers who sin, but that it isn't our business to judge outsiders? 1 Cor 6: Does verse 18 help us to see why god is so seriously opposed to sexual sin of every kind? 1 Cor 8: Can you think of a modern example to which we could apply Paul's advice in verse 9 that our freedom in Christ should not be used so that it causes another to stumble? 1 Cor 9: In verse 12 Paul accepts the cost of bringing others to faith. Can you think how we should bear a cost like this?

Full list of questions to date

St Martin’s Men’s Group

Men’s Breakfast: All men in or associated with the church are invited to breakfast in the church hall on the first Saturday morning of the month. Please let Bob know you plan to be there.

Prayer Meetings during Lent

Prayer Meetings - During Lent, we meet for prayer every Tuesday evening from 7:30 to 8:00pm in addition to our normal business meetings (PCC etc). Some of us are adding fasting to our prayers. This may take a number of forms: skipping a meal a week and donate the savings; choosing not to eat a favourite food, all of these emphasise to God that we are serious you in our prayers. We do our best not to mix dieting and fasting. We want God to be clear that our motive is to 'underline' our prayers, not to be lighter, trimmer and fitter.

40 Days of Purpose

40 Days of Purpose - Our Lent Course is based around the book, "The Purpose Driven Life", which has been in the Top 10 Christian Books list for years. The book has 40 short chapters of about 7 pages each and we are reading a chapter a day from Ash Wednesday to Palm Sunday.We will then look further into the chapter subjects in small groups. If you would like to buy a book, speak to Jenny Peck. If you would like to join a groups speak to Bob.Finally, the Communion Service sermons relate to the book too.

Notices

APCM - we will be having our APCM on Sunday 7th March after the service; there will only be one Family Communion Service on that Sunday.

APCM - Last year we wasted much time at the APCM because people were reluctant to serve on PCC. There are very few people who can justify not taking a turn on PCC in a church of our size. Virtually the whole PCC changes every three years. In the last six years period about 30 have done their three year stint. If that is not you, it is probably now your turn. We will need at least three places filled on Sunday and it is simply selfish to expect the same people to keep doing it.

More APCM - On Sunday 28 February, you will receive a copy of the APCM accounts and reports most of which report on the past year. Please read them this week and mark anything that you think is wrong, or which you don't understand, so that you can raise it on 7 March. It is equally important for you to be there at the APCM as amongst the other business Bob will be talking not about the past, but how he sees St Martin's moving forward into a sustainable and exciting future. It is very important for you to know where we are now and where we are going.

Creative conference in your armchair - We are taking part in an on-line creative ideas conference between now and 29th March. Anyone in the church can watch interesting sessions about worship, drama, music etc. Speak to Ann, Jenny or Bob if interested.

Daytime Discipleship CourseWe now have at least four people interested in a day time group to discuss issues that are a challenge to faith. We haven't yet fixed a start day or a time so get your bid in to Bob if you want to join.

The Tomb of Christ Illustrated lecture by Dr John Kane, former Professor of Hellinistic Greek at the University of Manchester Friday 26 March 2010 at 7.30pm St. Michael's Church, Camberley in aid of St. Michael's Friends Tickets: Ł12 per person, to include cheese & wine. Tickets will be available for sale on the door, but it would be helpful if you could register your interest in attending by phoning the Parish Office on 01276 23602

Jenny Peck is helping run a parenting course at Pine Ridge Children's Centre. Ask her for more details.

The Wey - the diocese's monthly newspaper - is by the door. Please take one to read - it is a way of bringing the diocese together.

Swine Flu - We take church hygiene very seriously. If you experience flu-like symptoms please stay away from church services and other meetings until you are completely well again. There is more about swine flu on www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.

Get your views heard. Our P.C.C. meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. If you want to have a wish or a concern aired, please ask any P.C.C member to raise the issue at a meeting. Photos of members and minutes are displayed in the entrance.

The notice board is in the entrance hall. Do check it regularly for information not necessarily advertised in the “Weekly News”