Dear all,
He is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia!
The shops may have moved on, school terms are nearly starting with all thoughts turned to summer but we in the church are still celebrating. Easter is a 7 week-long celebration which takes us right up to Ascension Day, 40 days after Easter and on to Pentecost, 50 days after Easter Sunday. In this season we spend longer celebrating Easter than we spent preparing for it – and yet – do we?
In the church we will. All our readings will be taking us deeper into understanding the resurrection, we will proclaim the words above and joyfully shout “alleluia!” at many moments in these next few weeks. But what about Monday to Saturday? How Easter-y does that look for you? Does this season feel any different for you once Easter Day is over, or do things go back to the usual way of things? I wonder if there is anything you might do which holds onto this season in the same way that we hold on to seasons such as Advent or Lent? Perhaps you could collect a wildflower everyday to have in a vase on your kitchen table. A reminder of the new life we are celebrating? Perhaps you could listen to an Easter hymn or song everyday to sing praise in response to Jesus’ resurrection – right through to Pentecost? Perhaps you could simply choose to start each day with that affirmation - He is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia! The blessings of these church seasons are the way they break up the year, they challenge us to do things differently for a while. So whether you’ve been a Jesus loving Christian for 9 days or 90years I invite you to try something different this Easter season - to breathe new life into your faith life. To see how you might connect with Jesus in a new way as we model the lives of the disciples who regularly encountered the risen Jesus over these next 40 days and then powerfully encountered the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
*News and Upcoming Events*
***singing workshop cancelled** *for those of you who signed up for this* - *sadly Ben and Dom are ill and unable to do the workshop and concert that was due to take place tomorrow
*A new small group at St P’s – *starting *Thursday 18th April 7-8.30pm at church *will meet for bible study prayer and fellowship. We are beginning with a study on 'meeting the Holy Spirit'. Lucy Sixsmith, Alan Syrop and Polly Macartney look forward to meeting you soon. If you are interested in joining the group, please contact Lucy Sixsmith on Lucy@stphilipschurch.org.uk or Alan Syrop on alan@stphilipschurch.org.uk / 07720 209139.
*Edge* will be starting again Sunday 21st April 5.30-7pm at church. I would really love someone to come join us on the team. I lead every fortnight but I could do with an extra helper once a month – which means only 3 sessions and a summer party this term. If you feel you would be able to help please let me know. We have a lovely group of 12 young people who come regularly and they are a joy to spend an evening with so please don’t be shy about coming to join us!
*Saturday 27th April* *- 7.30pm – Youth for Christ Open House Commissioning* at The St Andrews Centre in Histon. This is an exciting moment as they share progress on a whole new area of work, and hear from the team who are making it happen. The event starts at 7.30pm at, with drinks reception from 7.00pm. You can book your free place (and find out more information) on their website: http://cambridgeyfc.uk/commissioning .
***Sunday 28th April – after church - St Philip’s APCM** *this is the annual meeting of the church at which we report on the activities of the church through the year, report on our finances and most importantly give thanks for our elected representatives who look after the governance of our church for us. Our church could not function without the voluntary efforts of your PCC – and they are *your* PCC. Elected by the church to make decisions on behalf of the church. If you would like to be elected to join them or if you know someone who you think would be really great to have on this church council - please talk to them, talk to me. We really want to make the PCC as representative of our whole community as possible and it is always good to add fresh eyes to the group so please don’t be shy about coming forward if you’d like to know more. We are particularly looking for someone who would like to become a Deanery Synod Representative which means someone who will take St Philip’s voice to the wider gathering of CofE churches in the area. And, even if you know this is not for you, please pray for God to be encouraging others to step forward - we are all involved in this governance process directly or indirectly!
*Saturday 27th April 10am-4pm Listening for Life Course @All Saints Church Hall Cottenham *A course to learn how to listen well to others, to yourself and to God with effective, reflective listening skills. It will be led by trained tutors – Revd Lynda Davies and Revd Natalie Andrews. For more info or to book on the course: Ely events booking https://elydatabase.org/events/view?course=3794
*Eco-Bite – our new green “nugget” each week: *
Let the grass grow under your feet! As daisies, dandelions, buttercups bloom why not leave the mowing for a few days more and allow the pollinators time to enjoy these flowers.
*Last Week’s sermon*
Last two weeks of sermons if you want to catch up: EasterDay.mp3 http://sermons.stphilipschurch.org.uk/2024-03-31%20-%20Ruth%20-%20c.mp3 & 7.4.2024.mp3 http://sermons.stphilipschurch.org.uk/2024-04-07%20-%20Colin%20-%20c.mp3
The link to our sermon archive: St Philip's sermon archive http://sermons.stphilipschurch.org.uk/
*This Sunday 14th April – Easter 3*
*10.30am – All Age Holy Communion *– our readings will be Luke 24:36-48 & Acts 3:11-21
If you can't attend church in person you can always use this Zoom link:
meeting ID: 976 3739 9129 and Passcode: 330714
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/97637399129?pwd=TGhKWWxOcWF1S242aVhrWDlJdUkxZz09
*Prayers *
If any of you have specific prayers you would like us to include in this newsletter do please get in touch.
*Please also pray for our Mission Partner this month:*
*Romsey Mill* – A local charity creating opportunities with young people, children and families in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Many of you will be very familiar with the work of Romsey Mill – please pray for them this month with all their new initiatives. You may well have sponsored Jon as he ran the Cambridge Half-Marathon for them – and Mike Sanders is running the London Marathon for them this year. You might like to pray for his success and for the wise use of the money they have both raised!
*Regular Weekly events to join:*
*Friday 12noon Lunchtime Bible Club *A relaxed look at the bible passage/s for the upcoming Sunday. Bring along a packed lunch and explore scripture whilst eating lunch together.
*Wednesday 12noon Reflective Holy Communion* A quiet time to help find space and peace in the middle of the week.
*Monday & Friday 8.30pm – Compline on zoom *
Meeting ID: 836 5965 9953 Passcode: 749968 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83659659953?pwd=btP5AjGMu1s-dE_2W9T0MMFqnnPKSS.1
*Wednesday 10.30-12noon & Friday 1.30-3.00 –* Wednesday & Friday Friends
*Both are “Warm Spaces” with Tea/coffee, cake/biscuits and chat * Just turn up if you’d like to join us for a cuppa/read the paper/do some of the jigsaw/knit/colour/sit quietly watching the world go by.
*Wednesdays 7.00-7.30pm - Weekly Prayers on zoom*: -
Meeting ID: 852 1105 2733 Password: 397987
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85211052733?pwd=OE52bm9NS1RtQVQ0ZytTc0xBZnVsUT09
*Saturdays 8.15am - Morning Bible Discussion and Prayer on zoom*:
Meeting ID: 143 338 655 Password: 824271
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/143338655?pwd=L1JJTFZJNU9EaFZjaUFjQzVlalpMZz09
With love and prayers
Ruth
Need to unsubscribe? Email Bekki: bekki@theclarks.biz
Blessings Ruth
*Revd Ruth Barry* *Vicar, St Philip's Church, Cambridge*
185 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3AN 01223 318315 vicar@stphilipschurch.org.uk *My day off is Tuesday*