Fifth Sunday in Lent, 21 March 2010

Laying on of hands and anointing: for healing of mind, body and spirit is available after 10.30 worship every Sunday in the South Transept (to the right of the pulpit).  You will not be invited to say specifically why you seek this ministry, though you are welcome to do so if you wish. You are also welcome to request prayer on behalf of someone else, in addition to or instead of yourself.

Planning for Holy Week and Easter:our worship will be to a degree unbalanced if we take part only once during Maundy Thursday to Easter. Plan to take part three times if possible.

Invitations to Holy Week and Easter:for families, friends, neighbours, colleagues. Take as many as you can use. It’s only a week to Palm Sunday!

Easter flowers:please make a donation for flowers in the dish so labelled.

The Electoral Rollis the list of St Thomas members and entitles you to vote at the Annual Church meeting at on 25 April. Regular worshippers should apply so that the number on the Roll reflects the actual membership of the church. Those who are not members of St Thomas but are members of a church which believes in the Holy Trinity may apply to St Thomas’ Roll. Those who applied in 2008 or 2009 need not apply again until 2014. Application forms (at the back) should be completed and returned to the Electoral Roll officer, Sallie Milnes (620 7637) by 28 March – Palm Sunday. Alternatively, forms may be given to Andrew, May or Graham.

Anne Sankaren(624 7591) is our new Children’s Society Secretary. Many thanks to her and to Sambai Khimji and Biddy Dawson from whom she has taken over.

Self-denial and financial giving:one destination could be Oldham Unity’s legal fund. There are not enough Legal Aid asylum lawyers, and the majority of these are in London, while most asylum-seekers are in the North. So Oldham Unity wants to buy initial opinions from a private asylum lawyer at approx £250 each, to establish whether a client has any case. If so, a Legal Aid firm will save time in deciding whether to take cases. Alternatively, clients are given money to travel to a London lawyer. There will be a retiring collection during Lent.

“All you want to know about our organ” is a file prepared by our organist David Brocklehurst. It’s at the back.

The Dachau Crucifix has come out of store and is on loan to St Anne’s,Royton. There will be a Service of Blessing, Reflection and Penitence, led by Bishop Mark, on Wednesday 24 March at 7pm.

Renewal of Ordination Vows and Blessing of Oils:all are welcome to encourage the clergy by being at the Cathedral on Monday 29 March at 10.30am.

“Has Science Disproved Christianity?”A talk as part of Chadderton’s ‘Passion for Life’ mission. At St Saviour’s, Bishopsgate Street, off Denton Lane, Tuesday 30 March at 7.30pm.

Questions to Parliamentary Candidatesin Oldham West and Royton, chaired by Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali. 6pm on Sunday 25 April at Christ Church, Chadderton. Two stewards from St Thomas’ are required to join the team – see Andrew.

March Prayer Letterfrom Beth Jennings: copies at the back.

   THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER REQUESTS  

• the opportunities of Lent: deeper and more constant worship and thought, more generous giving to those in need
• Everyone preparing the Easter Experience and acts of worship for Holy Week and Easter
• Coffee Morning – give thanks and pray for all who took part
• Nick and Gina Andrewes, their daughters Isabel and Esther (moving to St Paul’s in May), and the people of St Paul’s and of their present parish
• Sahil Saeed – give thanks for his safe recovery, and pray for him and his family
• Give thanks and pray for people we know in Christian service and outreach, especially the Jennings family in Bangladesh: James, an education consultant; Di, wife and mother; Nathaniel, Donna and Micah, teaching English; Hannah, studying for a PhD in Herbal Medicine; Beth, leading a project for homeless mothers and children; Sarah, teaching English in Indonesia; Andrew, working in the US.
• People seeking asylum: Pray for David, Sobia, young Sara and baby Daniel William; Oldham Unity’s legal fund.
• Those who are unwell: give thanks for progress in Joanna Goforth. Continue to pray for her, and for Chris Butler, Wendy Robinson, Norman and Alma Flint, Andy and Ruth Sharrock, Beatrice Howard, baby Harry Pleasant, Barbara Hogg, John Lalley, Grace Whetham, Muriel Brown,  young twins Todd & Aaron Funnell, John Wrigley, Angela and Norman Taylor, Ronald Spivey, Julie Brown, Ivy Reynolds, Jenny Brisland and others whom we know.
• The bereaved:the family and friends of Terry Queenan.

All material for the church bulletin should be given to Andrew

no later than Wednesday lunchtime.