Magazine for February 2012

LISTENING TO GOD

Teaching Day

‘Unlocking the Power of the Cross’, a Listening to God teaching day with Gordon Hickson, organised by The Well Christian Healing Centre at Leamington Spa Baptist Church, on Saturday, February 11th, from 9.45-4.30 pm.

Tickets are £25 (£20 concessions) for a day that will feature four talks, as Gordon looks deeper at the supernatural power of the Cross and how it can transform lives.

Gordon Hickson was until recently Associate Minister of St Aldates Church at the heart of Oxford. He has also been an Officer in the British Army, a Business Director, a Missionary, and a PrayerNet co-ordinator. He is a very gifted communicator and Bible Teacher. He last led a Listening to God conference for the Well in the summer of 2009 when he spoke on the Book of Ephesians.

Further details and booking forms are available from the Well office on 01926 888003 or at www.wellhealing.org

Magazine for February 2012

ANNIVERSARY SERVICE

for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

The Dean and Canons of Coventry Cathedral warmly invite you to a Service at the Cathedral celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Accession to the Throne of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 

Sunday 5th February 2012 at 4.00 pm

Preacher: The Lord Bishop of Coventry

Magazine for February 2012

Coventry Pilgrimage

To be a pilgrim is to undertake a journey of spiritual purpose…..  

we invite you to be a Coventry Pilgrim.

 What is it?

We are inviting you to walk to Coventry Cathedral on the evening of Palm Sunday, 1st April 2012. We will be using the way-marked  “Coventry Way”, an established circular footpath, and following the Sherbourne river into the City Centre – around 50 miles in all.  You could also walk from your  home or church.  There will also be a route from the south of the Diocese.

 What is it for?

Celebration of Peace & Reconciliation – as part of the Golden Jubilee of our Cathedral in 2012 a cross of nails, Coventry’s symbol of peace and reconciliation, will be carried from church to church. Prayer – walk and talk with God, share the evening Pilgrim Services at churches along the way.  

When is it?

It’s up to you.  What sort of pilgrim will you be?

Strollers:  A short walk each evening and slightly longer walks on Saturday and Sunday.  Starts on Monday 26th March. We’ll make sure you can get back to your car or bus.

Striders:  The complete Coventry Way and Sherbourne Walk in a weekend. Starts on Friday evening 30th March. Basic sleeping accommodation provided. Quite a challenge. (Advance registration essential).

Saunterers:  As much of the whole route as you like, at your own pace, take as long as you like.  You don’t even have to finish by 1 April.

Who is it for?

Everyone, church-goer or not, who wants to participate in a Christian pilgrimage is welcome.  If you are in a walking group or a youth group leader why not register a group for the weekend challenge?

Website: Coventry Pilgrimage pages at:

www.sherbournetrust.net

email:  thecoventrypilgrimage@yahoo.co.uk

Coventry Pilgrimage Planning Group,

c/o 1 Hill Top, Coventry, CV1 5AB

Telephone: 07938 403290

Magazine for February 2012

MOVING ON WITH GOD

It was two and a half years ago that the Norris family arrived in Leamington Spa from Liverpool and decided to try out St Mark’s as their local parish church. St Mark’s were so welcoming and supportive that we’ve stayed ever since. Thank you for all you’ve given us. We always thought we’d be here for a number of years to come, but things do not always work out the way we plan!

Following Mark’s redundancy, the family will be moving in March to the parish of Keresley with Coundon in North Coventry, where Mark will be the vicar of St Thomas’ Church and oversee the work of Keresley Village Community Church, a joint Anglican/Methodist church led by its own lay pioneer minister. The churches are keen to reach out afresh to their local communities.

We’re really excited about what God has in store for us to do, and although we will be sad to say goodbye to our friends at St Mark’s, we know that the best place for us to be is where God leads us. Mark’s Service of Collation will be on Wednesday 25th April at 7.30pm.

God says, in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you: plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Perhaps God has new things in store for you too? Grasp them with confidence in him!

The Norris Family

Household of Faith?

Finance

Expenses

We need to find about £15,000 per month to keep the church going, or £180,000 per year.
Of the total costs, the Parish Share (paid to the Diocese) accounts for about 38%, and worship 10%.
Of the rest,

• youth work accounts for 14%,
• heating the church and maintaining the church office 27%,
• preserving our beautiful church, 10%.

We have reserves, currently to the value of about 4 months expenditure, to meet unforeseen events. There are also funds set up to cover specific items such as exceptional repairs to the property and the organ.
An additional 10% of the income raised is paid over to charities by way of tithing.
Income

Most of this (87%) is financed by the generosity of members of the congregation helped by Gift Aid.
11% of the income comes from hire of rooms in the Hall. Events and fees account for the remainder.
The church is now used to stage concerts.
All the income is generated by the congregation. We receive no financial help from the Church of England.
Donations come from regular subscriptions, legacies, envelopes, church collections, and Gift Aid.
If you want to contribute, please contact our treasurer, Tony Parsons, or complete a Gift Aid form, situated on the welcome desk at the back of the church and send it to him.
Another new way of giving is by JustTextGiving.
If you want to give, say, £10, send a text message to read ‘MARK25 £10’ and dial 70070.
If you follow the instructions, we can also claim a further 25% in Gift Aid.

Why not try it?

Magazine for February 2012

Christingle

More people than ever crowded into St. Mark’s for the Christingle Service – nearly 600, and a very big thank you to all who prepared the Christingles and took part in the service in any way. Wonderful Gemma arrived, this time as a globe – a 3D map of the world, with a red band around, as each Christingle has, to signify God’s love for the whole world – every person is precious to Him .

We were also able to send £781 to The Children’s Society, the Church of England’s charity working with vulnerable children. Their work in Coventry is with youngsters in danger of “grooming” by unscrupulous gangs and individuals.

Magazine for December 2011

Eva May

On 10th October we finally received the call from the hospital, after a week’s delay, that they had a bed for Eva to be admitted into hospital for her Fontan completion operation.
At 2.30 pm on Tuesday she was taken down to theatre and we awaited news. At seven o’clock we headed back to the hospital after hearing no news; she was still in theatre. Finally at 8:30 we had our daughter back and she was settled and comfortable on intensive care.

She proved she was a fighter and came off the ventilator after four hours and returned to the ward the following day. The only complication she had was her heart was in what they call ‘heart block’. This means she was attached to a pacing box as her heart’s normal electrolytes weren’t working due to the swelling from the surgery.
It was touch and go for a few days and there was talk of her having to go back to theatre for a pacemaker.

However, just three days after her operation Eva was enjoying sitting out in her chair and colouring-in plenty of pictures and watching the telly. Day four after her operation, she was determined to walk (using a small shopping trolley for her drains) to go up to the playroom and play with the toy kitchen which she loved.

She again proved to us that she had strength to fight in her and on 13th October her heart showed signs of beginning to beat on its own. Her drains also didn’t stay in very long and were all removed seven days post op, this being a major event due to the change in her circulation. This was a very rare occurrence.

We were all set to go home on the 20th October, just nine days after her operation but unfortunately she caught an infection. Antibiotics began but they weren’t strong enough to fight the infection, so stronger antibiotics were needed. After just three days on strong antibiotics her canula failed and it was decided to see how she went on oral antibiotics as by this time her access was very minimal.

Thanks to her strength and bravery she soldiered on. Her temperature stayed normal and we were able to bring her home just 48 hours later.

The operation has enabled her to lead a near normal life, she walks further, talks more and is able to eat and drink without getting out of breath. She also has lost all her frustration of not being able to do anything that she really wanted to do, because she can do a lot more.

I would like to thank the family of St Mark’s for their continued support and prayer. It’s at times like these we felt God had protection over Eva continuously, enabling her quick and speedy recovery. We as a family would like to thank our family and friends who also helped during this time, particularly with our two boys in keeping things as normal as possible for them.

Tammy Ennis