Notices for the week 24th January 2010

Give to the DEC Haiti appeal
None of us can have failed to be moved and shocked by the scale of the suffering after the earthquake in Haiti. In the UK, the Disasters Emergency Committee is running a co-ordinated approach by 13 humanitarian agencies, including Christian Aid, Tearfund and Save the Children.
How to donate funds: You can go on-line to http://www.dec.org.uk/donate_now/  or Phone: Call 0370 60 60 900 or Text: Text “GIVE” to 70077 to donate £5 to the DEC for the Haiti earthquake appeal. You pay £5 plus your standard network SMS charge or Post: Please send a cheque made payable to DEC HAITI EARTHQUAKE and send it to DEC HAITI EARTHQUAKE, PO BOX 999, LONDON, EC3A 3AA. Or go to any high street bank or post office quoting Freepay 1449

Holy Communion and Swine Flu: an update
At its meeting last week the PCC decided to revert to our 'usual' distribution of Holy Communion at our celebrations of the Eucharist. The Archbishops' advice to churches concerning the Swine Flu pandemic is that we return to our regular practice but exercise vigilance. This means that if you wish to receive communion only in one kind, then simply step away from the sanctuary step once you've received the bread. For the time being we will continue to administer the bread to hands only and not onto the tongue. If you have a cold sore, then please continue to take communion in one kind (the bread) only. Remember that the Church teaches that we receive Christ in the sacrament "fully and efficaciously" in one kind of communion. Please observe good personal hygiene practices and don't come to church if you have flu-like symptoms. Communion assistants will continue to use alcohol gel rub on their hands before assisting with the distribution.

21st Century Parent
We will be running an informal parenting course starting this week (Jan 26th), during Kidzone. Each week we will be watching a short DVD from the organisation Care for the Family about issues such as Boundaries, the Testing Child and Building a Sense of Value and then chatting together about the topic. All parents are welcome to attend, whether or not you usually come to Kidzone. Caroline Newbold

Take note: Special services coming up
On Sunday January 31st, Bishop Pete will be with us for our 10am Confirmation Service on the Feast of Candlemas, at which Roxanne, Laura and Sarah will be confirmed. Two weeks later at 10am on Sunday February 14th the Rev Neil Evans, Director of Professional Development for the London Diocese, is visiting to preach and commission Hilary Knight as a Commissioned Minister for Music for St Joseph's. These are both very special events for our church's life and for the individual Christians involved. Please do your best to come along and offer your support.
The season of Lent begins on Wednesday February 17th with two opportunities for worship, Eucharists at 10am and 8pm.

Stations of the Cross in Lent
During Sunday evenings in Lent (which begins on February 17th this year), we hold a very special reflective worship service of Stations of the Cross, which finishes with a short time of praise and benediction, celebrating the presence of Christ among us in the sacrament. It starts at 7pm and lasts an hour. In recent years different church members and groups have taken responsibility for leading each of the six services and there’s been lots of God-given creativity displayed, sometimes with a specific theme or focus to our worship. If you would like to offer a Sunday evening this Lent, please speak to Simon. Thank you. 

'Beauty from Ashes' conference
Does God still heal today? A conference for renewal and refreshment with guest speaker Jennifer Rees Larcombe, run by On Fire: Mission through Word & Sacrament, 26th-29th April 2010 at High Leigh Conference Centre. Lively Spirit-filled worship, daily Eucharist and sacramental ministry, workshops. Leaflets with more details in the centre.


'LIMITless' Years 3-6 - 4th Sunday of the Month. BEGINS TODAY Limit has been going for a long time now and it is for people in High school. LIMITless will be open from 4-6pm every fourth Sunday for people in Junior school, years 3-6. It will be a youth club for people of this age who come to St Joseph’s and for their friends. For it to work however, we need your help for a few hours each month. LIMITless will only be a success with your help! Speak to Chris or Steve for more details

Lighthouse Leaders and Helpers Meeting - NEW DATE MONDAY 1ST FEB 7.30PM
If you are a lighthouse leader or helper please come along to the meeting on the 1st February. Please let me know if you can or can’t come. Chris

SING Evaluation Meeting - Tuesday 9th Feb 7.30pm
The summer seems along time ago- especially in this weather- but it would be great for all who were part of the SING 09 team to join together for a meeting to discuss what we thought of it and how we can make next year even better! Please let Chris or Sue know if you CAN or CAN'T come. Thank you.

Church Cleaning
We have a very small group of dedicated people who faithfully clean the church and Dovetail centre week by week. It would be great if a few more people could join the team and go on the rota. Everyone benefits from a clean church and centre! All we are asking is for a couple of hours commitment on a Saturday once every four weeks. Please speak to me for more details. Thank you, June Chick.

New Wine Women's Day Saturday February 27th
Westminster Central Hall, with Debra Green and Mike Pilavachi. £20 per person. Are any St Joseph's women interested in forming a group to go? More details at http://www.new-wine.org/events/Women%27s%20Days.htm

Confirmation Service
After the service next Sunday there will be a chance to get together over a drink, some celebratory cake and 'nibbles'. If you can bring some savoury snacks to enjoy (crisps, nuts, etc) and some cake/sweet snacks, then please add your name to the list. 

A Prayer for the Epiphany Season

Eternal Lord, our beginning and our end:
bring us with the whole creation to your glory,
hidden through past ages and made known
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.