• PARISH OF AMERSHAM WITH COLESHILL

    17th March 2024

     

    The Fifth Sunday of Lent

     

    A Prayer for Israel and Palestine

    God of peace and compassion,
    We pray for all impacted by the escalation in conflict in Israel-Palestine
    For all who are mourning
    For all who are fearful, today, and for what may lie ahead
    For all traumatised and re-traumatised by what they have experienced.
    Enable us to stand in solidarity with people of peace
    May your Spirit bring peace and healing to your troubled world
    Amen

    A Prayer for Ukraine

    God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today. We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort will draw them near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them. We pray in the name of Jesus, the prince of Peace. Amen.

     

    Verse for the Week:

  • Jeremiah 31 v33: But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people 

    Thought:

  • we are in the final days of Lent, leading into Holy Week and our celebrations at Easter but what does being Gods’ people truly mean? Do we really have his name written within us? 

    Readings

    HC: Jeremiah 31.31-34: Hebrews 5.5-10: John 12.20-33

    MP: Psalm 107.1-22: Exodus 24.3-8: Hebrews 12.18-end

    EP: Exodus 7.8-24: Romans 5.12-end

 

  • Collect for The Fifth Sunday of Lent:

  • Most merciful God, who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ delivered and saved the world: grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross we may triumph in the power of his victory; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. AMEN
  • Collect for Fifth Sunday of Lent (BCP):

  • We beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  AMEN 

    Sunday 17th March 2024 the fifth Sunday

    8am BCP Holy Communion St Mary’s Amersham

    9am Matins on Zoom

    9am BCP Holy Communion All Saints’ Coleshill

    10:30am CW Holy Communion St Mary’s Amersham (Streamed from church) with baptism

    6pm BCP Evening Prayer St Mary’s Amersham (Streamed from Church)

     

    We welcome the family and friends of Flora Buckingham who is being baptized this morning at St Mary’s Church.

     

    For all access details see below.

     

    In addition, the clergy team will livestream a short time of evening prayer on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 6pm

     

    ANTHEM AND VOLUNTARY at St Mary’s Church:

    Christus Factus Est (Anerio) & Chorale Prelude on ‘Old 104th’ (Parry)

     

    OLD AMERSHAM MARKET:

  • A reminder that the Broadway will be closed on Sunday 17th March for the Old Amersham Market 

    YOUTUBE: Link for this Sunday:

  • 10.30am this Sunday: https://www.youtube.com/live/9HOaJDWweEg?si=O2x-47cyqMbXUONB   and for 6pm    https://www.youtube.com/live/aje0tFkvfLg?si=px2wUkfVyEhQjWBK 

    PLANT STALL from 18th May.

  • Now is the time for sewing your seeds, please plant a few extra. Also do you have plants that could do with being divided or propagated? Please remember the plant stall, we would love to sell them for you. thank you. Valerie 

    CHILDRENS EASTER PARTY

  • Once again, we are running a party for children and their grown ups. Wednesday 3rd April 12-2:30 at St Mary’s Church. See flyers/posters for more details. If you would like to attend, or to help, email Simon at stmarysamershamkids@gmail.com 

    SERVICE OF PRAYER TO RERMEMBER BISHOP ALAN

  • Bishop Alan’s funeral will take place on Friday 15 March. We have decided to hold a quiet and contemplative service of prayer at St Mary’s at 2 pm that day (the time is to coincide with the funeral service) to remember our bishop, to give thanks for his many years of loving, faithful service to God’s people and to God’s church, and to support his family and friends as they gather to say their earthly goodbyes. Everyone is welcome to come and light a candle and join in our prayers. 

    HOLY WEEK & EASTER SERVICES:

  • We are pleased to announce our Holy Week and Easter programme for 2024. Please see the poster attached to the notices for dates/times. If you have any queries about the services, please do be in touch with the Parish office or Jonny. The ministry team will also be preparing a series of written reflections for each day during in Holy Week will be distributed with the notices on Friday 22nd March.

    ELECTORAL ROLL REVISION & PCC NOMINATION FORMS:

  • Forms for entry onto the electoral roll are now available in church. Signing up to join the electoral roll is a wonderful way to show that you are officially a part of the St Mary’s and All Saints’. So, if you are new to the parish, or have never been placed on the electoral roll, please do sign up! These figures are an important aspect in showing how we as a parish are doing, so make sure you are counted! There are also nomination forms for PCC membership and to be a Church Warden. If this is something you would be interested in, please do speak to Jonny and pick up a form from the Parish Office.
  • LILY NOTICE FOR EASTER FLOWERS:

  • In the past, many of the congregation have donated money for the Easter lilies in memory of a loved one. The price of a lily is £5.00 for each person named on the Memorial List. Donations for all the other flowers used at Easter will also be very welcome. To save disappointment, please could we have all donations in by Sunday 24 March as the list has to be finished by the next day and then mounted. Please make donations to Jan Galloway 07711416589 or Jane Partidge for St Mary’s (all St Mary’s cheques made payable to St Mary’s Flower Group (please note new account), or for Bank Transfers email stmarysflowers@amershamwithcoleshill.org or ring Jan Galloway please) and Judi Herbert 433534 for Coleshill (please make Coleshill cheques payable to All Saints Church Flower Fund). THIS IS THE LAST WEEK TO DO THIS!
  • A SERVICE OF PRAYER AND REFLECTION:

  • On Tuesday 19th March we will be holding an informal service of prayer and reflection at St Mary’s at 7:30pm. The service will involve sung worship with hymns/worship songs on acoustic guitar along with a short talk followed by time for quiet reflection and prayer. We hope this service will be an opportunity to prepare for Holy Week through time to be still in God’s presence. If you have any queries about this service, please speak to Jonny at rector@amershamwithcoleshill.org. 

    BABY SENSORY

  • will be holding a session in the Church Rooms on Monday 25thMarch 8am – 3.30pm. This usually takes place in Coleshill Village Hall. If this is something you are interested in, give Rosie a ring on 07557 647231 or see poster in church. 

    CHURCHWARDEN FOR ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH, COLESHILL:

  • Petrina is stepping down as All Saints Church Warden at the APCM in April. A huge thank you to Petrina for serving the church so diligently and faithfully over the years. Petrina has worked incredibly hard to look after All Saints in a number of ways – too many to list in one notice! This does mean that All Saints’ will need a new church warden in April – so please do think and pray on whether this might be right for you. It is important that both churches have two church wardens, and this won’t be possible if someone doesn’t step toward. So please do think carefully about whether this would be right for you. If you have any questions about this, please speak to Jonny or Jane. 

    LENT COURSE:

  • Rev’d Michelle will be running a 5 week Lent course from 22nd February 10.30am – 12 noon in the Church Rooms. More information next week or speak with Rev’d Michelle on 07973 921714. 

    Amersham Almshouses Vacancy:  

  • Accommodation: Two mid terrace, two-storey, self-contained Victorian cottages with communal garden. Comprises one bedroom, shower room with wc plus downstairs wc, lounge and kitchen. No appliances are provided.  Located on a site with six other cottages in the heart of Old Amersham. Tesco and bus services are a five-minute walk away. Criteria: To be considered applicants must Be a person in need; Live in, near or have an association with Amersham or the ancient Parish of the Lee; Be capable of independent living; Not have any pets nor smoke or vape. Residents are appointed by the Trustees as beneficiaries and pay a maintenance charge not a rent. For an application  form and to find  out more about the charity & accommodation use this link https://www.amershamalmshouses.org.uk/apply-for-a-place      Email clerk4auc@gmail.com or call 07885 587 989. Closing date 22nd March 2024. 

    PARENTS:

  • Can you help us enhance the growth and sustainability of the choral tradition at St. Mary’s Church by encouraging your child to become a Chorister at St. Mary’s Amersham? We are recruiting children aged 7-14 for our choir. If you are interested, please speak with our Director of Music, Edward Mc Call or pick up a leaflet with details and application form or contact the Parish Office. 

    A PASTORAL CHAT

  • Do contact any of the clergy for a chat by phone, facetime or Zoom about anything that is concerning you. Time we have! 

    DONATIONS TO ST MARY’S AND ALL SAINTS’

  • If you would like to make a donation or catch up with planned giving and have online banking the easiest way is to make a BACS payment – please contact the Parish Office to get the details. 

    HOW TO ACCESS CHURCH SERVICES

    SUNDAYS 9am Morning Prayer (BCP) Zoom: Please apply to Rev Tim Barnard for meeting joining details, see the contact list below.

    10.30am Holy Communion and Evening Prayers log in via the codes listed

    ANOTHER OPTION is to take part in streamed services from the Diocese of Oxford. Going to https://www.oxford.anglican.org/livestream/ will give you both the link to the streamed service and the download of the service order. The Eucharist can also be watched on demand.

    PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS:

    For those who are sick:      Roy Evans, Andrew James, Ellen Maulder.

    For your ongoing prayers at home: Pam Atkinson

    For those that have died: Frank Venables.

    DIARY FOR MARCH

    Sunday                       17th     3-5pm            Bellringing

    Tuesday                     19th     1-3pm            Mothers & Toddlers

                                                    7.30pm        Service for Quiet Prayer and Reflection

    Friday                         22nd  morning          St Mary’s School rehearsal

 

  • NAMES AND ADDRESSES:
    Rev’d Jonny Rapson Rector 01494 724426 rector@amershamwithcoleshill.org

    Jonny’s day off is Friday – please only contact him then in an emergency.

    Rev’d Tim Barnard Hon Associate Rector 01494 728478 timbar_uk@yahoo.co.uk

    Tim’s days off are Tuesday and Thursday – please only contact him then in an emergency

    Rev’d Sue Gill Hon Assoc Rector 01494 451485 susangill01@gmail.com
    Rev’d Michelle Fotherby Assistant Curate 07973 921714  Michelle’s day off is Friday Michelle.fotherby@amershamwithcoleshill.org                              
    Sheila Shield Reader 01494 571766 smshield@aol.com
    David Skinner Churchwarden 01494 431652  mvf4312r@gmail.com
    Valerie Simmonds: Churchwarden 01494 724693 valeriesimmonds@btinternet.com
    Petrina Clackett Churchwarden 01494 433044    petrina.clackett@coleshill.net
    Jane McNeilly: Churchwarden 01494 726736  janemcneilly@yahoo.com 
    Graeme Coles Treasurer  07703 963990   Treasurer-pcc@outlook.com
    Clare Atkinson Planned Giving – both churches: stmarysgiving@btinternet.com
    Simon Hollett Children’s Workerstmarysamershamkids@gmail.com 07926 575851
    Steve Poulson Mission Partner 07783 506692 steve@streetkidsdirect.org.uk
    Parish Office Dorothy Potter. Church St, Amersham. Bucks. HP7 0DB

    01494 729380                        stmarys.amersham@btconnect.com

    Safeguarding officers for the Parish

    Clare Samuels:  07966 425206 clare@noiinclare.co.uk.

    St Mary’s website:  www.stmaryschurchamersham.com
    Coleshill website:  www.coleshill.org/village-life/all-saintschurch.html