First Sunday after the Epiphany (8 January) 2012

Laying on of hands, with or without anointing and prayer for healing of spirit, emotions and body are available in the South Transept (to the right of the pulpit) immediately after 10.30am Sunday Worship, on request to any of the following: Andrew or Biddy Dawson, Kathy or Graham Lees, Alf Wild or Barbara Duxbury. If possible ask someone other than Graham or Andrew, as they are the least likely to be available. The person you approach will ask another member of the Healing Team to join you both in the South Transept for ministry.

Are you a Communion Assistant, Leader of Intercessions, or Lesson Reader? There were a few mistakes in the first draft of the rotas. Please collect a copy of the current version (taking the one with your name highlighted so that we can be sure you have received it). Please destroy the previous version.

The Inter-Church Quiz is on Saturday 21 January, 7.15pm at Honeywell Lane Methodist Church. We are invited to send teams of up to six players, at a cost of £4 per player. There will be a potato pie supper, and tea, coffee and juice will be served. Please book through Graham Lees by next Sunday 15 January. He may well be able to put you in a team with others.

Martha Nasho, who was with us from 2005 until 2007, has written to us from her home in Malawi. She writes: “I would like to apologise for not communicating with you. Things were very tough soon after arrival in Malawi...the construction business underwent a tough process. So we have bought a big bus. At least we are surviving...tell the church that I love each and everybody. I haven’t forgotten what the church did for me”. A copy of the whole letter is at the back.

The January magazine is published. Can you spot anything different about it?

Christmas Experience: six classes from our school took part. Many thanks to all who made the tableaux and/or hosted them. Please remove them after worship today, but keep the materials – we may do it again in 2013!

Our school’s contribution to the new Primary Care Centre – did you notice the article in the Chronicle on 19 December? If not the cutting is on the notice board.

Colour photograph calendars with Scripture encouragements published by Word of Life, in English, Farsi, Urdu, and Bengali – all available at the back. Others can be ordered. £1.50 each. Usually well-received by non-Christians.

‘The best effective remedies to ensure a free, happy life?’ Flyers with this claim were posted through letterboxes before Christmas. Details suggested the use of magic. Andrew strongly advises against such remedies, which do more harm than good. Suggest instead that people seek accredited counselling and/or the Christian Faith.

   THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER REQUESTS  

• Praise God that he has revealed Jesus to people of all nations
• Give thanks and pray for all members of our Church Council
• Pray for the Farsi Home Group resuming on Tuesday
• People connected with our church engaged in outreach at home and abroad: especially Shelagh Wynne in Thailand, an administrator equipping serving Friends of China; and all involved in service and outreach at the Salt Cellar
• Refugees and people seeking asylum: give thanks that Andy, Azam, Marzia and baby Danny have refugee status. Pray for them as they change their income and housing arrangements. Pray for others still seeking asylum: David, Sobia, young Sara and Daniel William; Hawani; Maryam; Alireza; Azra; Nilou; Mahtab; Ali; Shabnam; Hooman; Masood; Afsana; Haleh; Mohammed; Arash; Hussain; Iman; Maria; and Parmida.
• Those who are unwell: give thanks for progress in Joan Finlayson and Mavis Booth. Continue to pray for them, and for Ivy Reynolds, young Harry Pleasant, Jenny Bartlett, Comal Sankaran, Norman and Alma Flint, Andy and Ruth Sharrock, Beatrice Howard, young Aaron Funnell, Raymond Scott, Alan Broome, Enid Gregson, Dinah McLeod, Ron & Marjorie Spivey, Tom Parkinson, Chris Buckley, Carl Withers, Angela James, and others whom we know.
• The bereaved: in particular the families and friends of Harold Lees, John Allison, Hilda Stapleton, and people who have been murdered.

All material for the church bulletin should be given to Andrew

no later than Wednesday lunchtime.

Please take this bulletin with you when you leave.

Please do not leave it in your service book or in the pew.