WEEKLY NOTICES FOR SUNDAY 16th MARCH 2025

PARISH OF AMERSHAM WITH COLESHILL

16th March 2025      

The Second Sunday of Lent

                                               A Prayer the Peoples of Israel, Palestine and Lebanon                                               

        God of peace, compassion and justice, we pray for all who are suffering from the current conflicts in the Middle East. We commend to your love and care all who are mourning, the widowed and the orphaned; the frightened children and those whose ways of life have been destroyed; the injured, the hungry and homeless, and all who live in fear of what the next hour or day will bring. We pray that even in these conflicts there will be compassion and humanity for the innocent, and that you will raise up those who have the authority to bring about peace for the good of all your people. We ask that your Holy Spirit will show us how we can help these people in their needs. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. 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: Luke 13:34

J

 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

TODAY:

In this season of Lent, how do we react to Jesus’s lament?

Bible Readings

 HC: Genesis 15.1-12, 17-18: Philippians 3.17-4.1: Luke 13.31-end

MP: Psalm 119.161-end: Genesis 17.1-7, 15-16: Romans 11.13-24

EP: Jeremiah 22.1-9, 13-17: Luke 14.27-33

Collect for Second Sunday of Lent

Almighty God, you show to those in error the light of your truth, that they may return to the way of righteousness: grant to all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion, that they may reject those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; 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 Second Sunday of Lent (BCP):

Almighty God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  AMEN

Sunday 16th March 2025 for the second Sunday of Lent

8am BCP Holy Communion St Mary’s Amersham

9am Matins on Zoom

9am CW Holy Communion All Saints’ Coleshill

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

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

For all access details see below.

ANTHEM AND VOLUNTARY at St Mary’s Church:

O Pray for the Peace (Howells) & Passacaglia in D Minor (Buxtehude)

YOUTUBE:        Link for this Sunday:

10.30am this Sunday:  https://www.youtube.com/live/2YTJk5E1XnA?si=qAPvzrI9-lM1PKrY                                                                                                                                                                                    and for 6pm       https://www.youtube.com/live/uiGhcK0jSDY?si=b9vKGiXxd4vDzqXd

PRAYER & REFLECTION EVENING:

Our next Prayer & Reflection evening is on Tuesday 18th March at 7:30pm at St Mary’s Church. There will be well known hymns and worship songs, prayer stations, 1-1 prayer and a short took delivered by one of there visiting Wycliffe Hall ordinands. All welcome for this peaceful time of prayer and worship.

OLD AMERSHAM MARKET:

The monthly Old Amersham Market will be taking place on Sunday 16th March which means the Broadway will be closed until 5pm.

SCAM EMAILS:

Some more scam emails are doing the rounds pretending to be from Jonny and Graeme in order to obtain money, please do not reply to these emails. If you’re not sure about an emails legitimacy, do give Jonny a call and he would be happy to clarify!

MINISTEPS: SMALL SAINTS’

 – we are very excited to announce a trial morning session of our Tuesday toddler group called Small Saints’. This will be on Tuesday 18th March 10am-12pm at St Mary’s Amersham. There will be bible based stories and crafts alongside the usual toys and snacks!

NEXT YOUTH MEET:

3.30pm this Sunday – 16th March Anyone aged 11-18 is invited to join us in church rooms for discussion, snacks and games.

OPEN PUB NIGHT:

On Thursday 20th March at 7pm there will be an open pub night with our visitors from Wycliffe Hall! We will meet at the Kings Arms in Old Amersham, all are welcome!

MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER:

While the Wycliffe Ordinands are with us, we will be holding Morning and Midday Prayer on the following days/times at St Mary’s: Tuesday 18th March at 9am: Wednesday 19th March at 12pm : Thursday 20th March at 9am : Saturday 22nd March at 10am.  All are welcome to come along to any of these reflective services, which will include a short reflection series from Philippians from the Ordinands.

MINISTEPS PARENT & TODDLER GROUP:

St Mary’s parent and toddler group meet at the usual time of 1pm on Tuesday 18^th March.

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 16 April as the list has to be finished by the next day and then mounted. St Mary’s – please contact Jan Galloway 07711416589 or Jane Partridge (all St Mary’s Cheques – made payable to St Mary’s Flower Group (please note new account) Bank Transfers (preferred method if possible) – please email stmarysflowers@amershamwithcoleshill.org or ring Jan Galloway please). All Saints – please contact Judi Herbert 433534 (please make Coleshill cheques payable to All Saints Church Flower Fund)

ELECTORAL ROLL RESET:

Every six years we ‘tear up’ the whole electoral roll and start again with a blank page. 2025 is the year we start again,  so no one is on the electoral roll unless they have completed an application since 23rd February 2025.  More information can be found in the document sent out with the notices. To join the brand new electoral roll of the church, please complete a form at the entrance of both churches or contact the parish office for an electronic form at: stmarys.amersham@btconnect.com

FAMILIES, CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE – SUNDAY WORSHIP PROVISION

Our aim is to offer an inclusive space where all ages can flourish and meet with Jesus. We are in the exciting position of our existing provision not being sufficient and we are conducting a survey to gather your thoughts on how we might reorganise. All comments will be anonymised so if you have young people in church please look out for this email or feel free to share your thoughts in person with Jonny or Michelle.

LENT COURSE:

Wednesday 5th March will mark the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday. In order to give space to this important reflective season in the church year, we will be holding a Lent course which is open to everyone. This Lent we will be following on from the theme explored on Christmas Day with the words “let your light shine”. When we were baptised we received the light of Christ so we will be looking at aspects of baptism, what this means for our faith and how we can let our lights shine in the world. We will be running two identical courses on the following days during Lent:

Wednesday at 7:30pm at the Rectory (First session 12th March) Thursday at 10:30am in the Church Rooms (First session 6th March). If you would like to sign up for either course, or would like more information, please speak to Jonny at rector@amershamwithcoleshill.org

To receive the daily devotion and further resources, please sign up using the following link:  https://mailchi.mp/oxford.anglican.org/come-and-see-2025

Training in Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the safe use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

A few places will be available for the above course. Please contact David Skinner asap for details. Dates for this training to be agreed’

LET’S DANCE

You are all invited! On Saturday 22nd March at 3pm, come along to our Ballroom Tea Dance at St. Mary’s church. No dance experience or partner needed – dance instruction given. Experience the joy of dancing. Prosecco and high tea included. Please email ‘social@amershamwithcoleshill.org

⚠️ IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY ⚠️

of upcoming outreach and social events

💃🕺Tickets are already selling for our TEA DANCE! 🕺💃 Saturday 22nd March, 3pm at St. Mary’s church 

A chance to meet with friends and experience the joy of dancing. No dance experience or partner is needed. Prosecco and high tea included. Tickets are £12 per person. Please book via Eventbrite (see poster attached) or email ‘social@amershamwithcoleshill.org

The ‘dates for the diary’ notice to:

⚠️ IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY ⚠️ Upcoming outreach and social events

Saturday 15th March – Cafe recital – 10.30am – St. Mary’s church
Saturday 22nd March – Tea Dance – 3pm – St. Mary’s church

CAFE RECITAL – 15th March – 10.30am – coffee, cake & chat…

In our continuing music series we are excited to welcome a stunning string duo to St. Mary’s church – Italian violinist Raffaele Pagano and ‘cellist Georgina Hamilton who will be performing a programme of classics including a unique arrangement of Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’. Tickets are £10, (cash or card on the door), and includes refreshments.

FOOD.GIVES:

Thank you to all those who have started to donate via the crates in church to food.gives, a charity that sends food directly to persecuted and suffering Christians across the world. Click on this link to learn more about where your donations go. https://youtu.be/0_-yqZO3c3M

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 donate 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 for You Tube.

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.

BELLIS PLANTS

• I have over ordered!  and now have some of these bedding plants looking for a home – either red ones or mixed colours. I would rather give these away than throw them away – but if you want to make a contribution – give it to the church! Do let me know if you would like some! Dorothy

   

  PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS:

  For those that are sick: Andrew James, Will Noble

  For those who have died:  Keith Hewitt

   

  CHURCH DIARY AT ST. MARY’S:  MARCH

  Sunday             16^th   12-2pm                      Recital Super Duo for Suzu

  3pm – 5.30pm           Youth meet in the Church Rooms

  Monday            17^th   9-12am                       Heatherton House School rehearsal

  Tuesday            18^th   9am                            Morning Prayer

  10-12 noon                Small Saints

  1 -3pm                         Mini Steps

  7.30pm                       Service of Prayer and Reflection

  Wednesday      19^th   12 noon                      Mid Day Prayer

  Thursday          20^th   9am                            Morning Prayer

  5.30-8.30pm              Heatherton House School

  7pm                            Open Pub Night – Kings Arms

  Saturday         22nd  3pm                            Lets Dance!

  Sunday           23^rd    2-5pm                         Bellringing

   

• 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

  Chris Suttie Churchwarden  07775 522769   chrissuttie@btinternet.com

  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 Worker – stmarysamershamkids@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