HARVEST
Readings
Joel 2.21-27; 1 Timothy 2.1-7; Matthew 6.25-33
SERVICES DURING THE WEEK
- Said Communion Wednesday 10.30 (followed by coffee in the meeting room)
- Morning Prayer Daily livestream at 9.00 (weekdays)
- You can join Morning Prayer online at: http://www.stpetersleck.org and via Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pipandjims. You can attend in person at P&J on Mondays, at St Christopher’s on Tuesdays and at St Peter’s on Thursdays.
- Daily Hope a free phone line of hymns, reflections and prayers is still available on 0800 804 8044.
COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS: With the easing of restrictions the wearing of face coverings is no longer mandatory. However, please respect those who wish to continue mask wearing and social distancing. If you test positive for Covid up to three weeks after this service, please let us know by telephone or e-mail.
For Your Prayers
- For all who work in the NHS, and essential workers
- For all residents in care homes including Jean Haigh and Gary Hiscock
- For all who are unwell including, Shirley, Joy, Gordon, Daphne, Christine Langdon, Reg Mann
- Those who have died, especially Dot Cook
PRAY FOR AFGHANISTAN
Please pray for peace and protection for the Afghan people who are facing great uncertainty and the threat of serious human rights abuses. Pray also for all who remain, for courage and protection. You can find more resources here: www.christianaid.org.uk/pray/prayer-afghanistan
PARISH DIARY – See also Save the Dates
| Sun | 16 Oct | 1.30pm | Mike and Nathan – lunchtime concert |
| Sun | 17 Oct | After Mass | Farewell drink and cake for Fr Peter and Jean |
| Sun | 31 Oct | 10am | All Saints Day High Mass with guest preacher, followed by breakfast at The Tivoli |
| Sat | 27 Nov | 10am-12pm | St Stephen’s Advent Fair |
NOTICES
Farewell to Fr Peter and Jean on Sunday 17 October following mass
We have invited Fr Peter and Jean to join us in the meeting room for a drink and cake in order to say a proper farewell, and to give them the remaining gifts we have for them.
It would be good if as many people as possible could join us.
Dot Cook has passed away at the grand age of 101. Her funeral is at the Crematorium (Oak Chapel) on Thursday 14th October at 11am.
Harvest Festival We will be celebrating Harvest on Sunday 3rd Oct – all donations should be non-perishable, please.
Memorial benches At the last PCC meeting we discussed the idea of having a memorial bench/benches in our church yard. We would have plaques with the loved ones name on attached to the bench. If you would be interested in donating towards this please let me know (all donations wouĺd be very welcome). Sue.
Please pray for the Alpha Course being run across the Team. The Rev’d Sarah Haden is running the course, but all clergy in the Team are giving input. Your prayers are asked for the success of the course, which is designed for new or exploring Christians. If you would be willing to help offer refreshments please sign up on the sheet at the back of St Stephen’s, or contact Fr Sebastian or the Churchwardens directly.
Flower Arrangers Wanted volunteers to join the flower arrangers. If interested please see Jill Stewart or one of the churchwardens.
Church Flowers If you would like to make a donation towards the cost of Church flowers, please see Jacqui for more information.
Labyrinth Walking Taster Evening As you may know, we now have a labyrinth floor mat in our team. We are keen to start using this across the South Cheltenham area and offering it to our wider community as an opportunity to engage in a meditative and spiritual exercise. As a starting point, Nick Davies and Liz Mitchell are offering a taster evening for those who would like to know more about labyrinth walking and to experience it for themselves. This will take place at Pip and Jim’s on Monday 18th October at 8pm. We hope from this to be able to recruit a small team of those who might be interested in taking this forward but the evening is very much open to all, regardless of future commitments! To book your place, please email Liz fizzmitchell@gmail.com
St Peter’s Church Music Festival – Sat 16 Oct – 12pm-7pm
This is a festival of continuous live music performances at St Peter’s Church, Church Road, Leckhampton. You can come along at any time and entry will be by voluntary donation; we will break for tea at approximately 4pm. The programme will be available the week before on the St Peter’s website, so you can choose what to come along and listen to. Alternatively you can listen via the livestream and details for this and how to give online will also be on the website. We are hoping to raise a substantial amount of money for the work that the music therapy charity, MusicSpace, does with children in Gloucestershire.
Afghanistan Refugees Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees are working closely with GARAS (Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers) and Cheltenham Borough Council regarding the best way that local people can help. For further information go to https://www.cheltenhamwelcomesrefugees.org.uk/news
Bicycles wanted! We’ve just had some people moved to Cheltenham by the UK Home Office who are seeking asylum, and we need men’s bikes as a priority so they can get around easily without needing to use up their small weekly allowance on bus fare.
The lads are all really tall!! So we really need larger-size bicycles please.If you don’t have a bike available, but have any locks or accessories going spare, they would be greatly appreciated! Please email photos of items, enquiries and specifications to chelt.refugees@gmail.com
Cheltenham Elim Food Bank (seeded by The Trussell Trust)
Please donate an item or two from the list: washing up liquid, instant mash potato, toothpaste, long life fruit juice, shampoo, tomato ketchup, brown sauce, mayonnaise. Please place any donations in the Green box next to the font.
Saint Stephen’s Cheltenham 