Dear Friends
Looking back on our APCM
Our Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) took place on Monday evening. Although we were relatively few in number – it would have been great to see more - I was very grateful to those who were able to attend. Nick Garrett and Heather Gerrard were agreed as our new Churchwardens, and Joy Lord will be an Assistant Churchwarden. We also thanked Bob Searle for his four years serving as an Assistant Churchwarden.
Would you be willing?
As I said at the APCM on Monday, and indeed have said on previous occasions, I am keen that we share discernment as well as the work of the church as broadly as possible. If, therefore, you would be willing to be on the Parochial Church Council (PCC), then it is not too late to come forward. We also continue to search for a new Assistant Churchwarden – very necessary so as not to overload our existing warden team. Meanwhile, we welcome Terry Taylor as a new member of the PCC; thank you, Terry.
Love the Lord your God … with all your strength
This Sunday we come to the next in our Lent sermon series as we focus on what it means to love the Lord our God with all our strength. I continue to enjoy my involvement in our Lent Group, and I hear that the various housegroups are also enjoying their discussions based on the material. For those who are not in groups, thought-provoking discussion questions are available online as well as in church.
Giving thanks for Tim
Most of you will have heard by now that longstanding member of this church, Tim Reeder, died last Thursday. We remember Tim with much gratitude, recognising all that he was to us and all that he shared with us. His funeral will take place at midday on Wednesday 16 April; all are welcome.
Gas works on the High Street
You have probably picked up that SGN will be carrying out gas works on the High Street next week. This will impact the Squareabout and therefore the area around the church. It all seems to be in a good cause, though, namely to do with the re-emergence of The Old Crown.
Taking forward the service order consultation
During Lent at our 8.00am service, we have being trialling use of an order of service in contemporary language. This was in response to a request from one of our regular attenders. In order to decide what it would be best to do beyond Lent, we are inviting any who are regular attenders at 8.00am to complete the simplest of survey forms (available in the Tower) and return their form to a member of the Ministry Team by Maundy Thursday.
A quick word about Maundy Thursday
As all licensed clergy are encouraged to attend a service at Guildford Cathedral on Maundy Thursday at 11.100am to renew their ordination vows, there will not be a service of Holy Communion in St Nicolas that morning. However, we will be joining with Eastwick Road Church and Bookham Baptist Church on Maundy Thursday evening at Bookham Baptist Church for a Maundy Thursday celebration.
Keeping up to date
Our weekly notice sheet is once again available online (click here) and in church. Thanks to our small but dedicated team, excerpts from our 10.00am service last Sunday are online (click here).
And finally…
Father, help me to live this day to the full, being true to you, in every way.
Jesus, help me to give myself away to others, being kind to everyone I meet.
Spirit, help me to love the lost, Proclaiming Christ in all I do and say.
(The regular closing prayer for Lectio 365, an online devotional resource.)
Wishing you much grace and peace.
Alan
Alan Jenkins
Rector
