Open Synod Meeting at Meadow House Hospice
Ealing Deanery Synod is holding an open meeting this Tuesday 23rd February at Meadow House Hospice, behind Ealing Hospital. Subject: ‘Current Issues in End of Life Care’ Doors open at 7.30pm and the meeting begins at 8pm. This is something that may particularly interest St Joseph's pastoral team members.

EASTER WORKSHOPS FOR SCHOOLS
You might remember that 2 years ago we put on free workshops for some of the local primary schools to come to the church and learn about Easter. We are going to be doing this again this year. We are looking for some people to come along and help tell the Easter story in different ways - through craft, drama and teaching. If you would like to be involved then please speak to Chris Hill.

FRIDAY NIGHT DROP IN
We know that not everyone can help out by coming along to the drop in on a Friday night; we do however have another couple of ways you can help! We are in desperate need of Table Tennis bats and balls- the more the better! We'd also like cans of Coke, Dr Pepper and Tango donated. It would really help us to keep running this Drop-In for free and keep the cost of the 'tuck' down to an affordable price if the donations of cans were on a regular basis. Please don't worry that we'll have loads of cans- we need loads. Thanks, Chris Hill.

A THANK YOU FROM THE TREASURER
A big thank you to you all for your response to our planned giving drive. The response in numbers was excellent although many, on this occasion, felt unable to increase their level of giving. This is understandable in these difficult times. For those who were able to make an increase, a special thank you for your generosity.
It will also be a tight financial year for St Joseph's to meet its day to day costs and maintain its outreach activities for the year so please do remember that you may increase your regular weekly or monthly giving at any time through the year. If you need a revised bankers order form or can possibly change to this method please do speak to me. Steve Finch.

Thank you from Hilary Knight
Thank you for your love and support last Sunday; your prayers, cards and good wishes. It was a very special day for me. Hilary Knight
There's a report about Hilary's commissioning as a lay minister at http://www.london.anglican.org/NewsShow_13125

Lent 2010
The season of Lent is traditionally a time of self-examination and preparation for the celebration of the great feast of the Christian faith - Easter. Our worship takes on a distinctive seasonal feel: no 'Gloria' in our sung worship and you will notice that nearly all the banners have been removed in church and there are no flowers. The contrast will be very noticeable when we reach our Easter worship.
Lent runs from Ash Wednesday (February 17th this year) to the start of Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday (March 28th). During these six weeks we should try individually and corporately to give time and energy to taking stock of our relationship with God and committing ourselves afresh to his service. How will you do this this year?
SING and Quartet churches are again running a very stimulating Lent course on most days of the week (see the flier for details of 14 groups meeting locally). Why not join in and explore Mark's Gospel through 'Singing in the Rain?' for six weeks? Sign up on the list in the centre. Daily readings linked to this course are on sale in our bookshop.
As well as our ongoing daily and weekly worship and special Sunday evening 'Stations of the Cross' services in Lent, why not try using a set of bible reading notes or buy a Christian book to guide you through the season?
As ever, I am available for an hour's one-to-one - a Lent 'MOT' to help you take stock of your relationship with God, or for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Book a date now.
I also encourage you to commit to journey together through Holy Week with your brothers and sisters in Christ here from March 28th-April 4th. There is daily worship and our visiting speaker Sister Helen Julian, from the Community of St Francis.
Let's make the time and the space to go deeper with God together this Lent! Simon.

PCC members: special meeting today
Would all PCC members gather in the Lady Chapel for a brief but important meeting after the 10am service this morning.

The Collect for Ash Wednesday
Holy God, our lives are laid open before you:
rescue us from the chaos of sin and through the death of your Son
bring us healing and make us whole in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Simon's new post
Thank you for your encouragement and good wishes after I announced my appointment to a new post, as Vicar of All Saints Church in Wellington, New Zealand.www.allsaints.org.nz I was touched by people's responses, which confirmed what we already know: it will be hard to leave this very special church community which we have loved being part of these past eight years. But I sense strongly that this challenge is the right next step for me in ministry. Lizzi and the children and I will be moving some time in August. There will be plenty of time for farewells, and I am looking forward to our ministry, service and worship together at St Joseph's these next six months. Simon

St Joseph’s Dovetail Project forthcoming events.
You may be aware of our need to raise £2.8m for the refurbishment of our church building. Internally our task is to raise £10k. To extend our fundraising activities we are holding a Raffle of some excellent items on Sunday 21st March in the Dovetail Centre after Service. Tickets £1 a strip, available from Randolph Reid, Sue Ripley, Shirley Dash, Millie Jones and Jennifer–Forrester - Powell. Also coming up is a Multicultural Evening for Saturday 19th June. We would like this to be a fantastic evening for everyone. We need as many participants as possible to provide a variety of tasty delights, ethnic and indigenous specialities. An evening for friends and families. Should you wish to contribute to this event please enter your name and choice of provision on the form in the Dovetail Centre; or speak to Randolph Reid, Shirley Dash, Susan Duah, Lucy Wilkinson, Sue Ripley or Audrey Fleischer. More information in due course. We look forward to your support. The Fundraising Team.