Pastoral News: 01 March 09

Our congratulations to Claire Scott and Michael Sexsmith on their recent engagement! We are delighted for them both and have been pleased to welcome Michael and get to know him over these recent weeks. We pray God's blessing on their future together.

We pray for John Richards who is due to return to Addenbrookes Hospital today (Sunday) for further treatment and remember him, Sue and Matt at this time.

There has been some small improvement in the condition of Marvin Chilton and we continue to pray for him and his family in their continuing concern for him.

Chris Whitaker

On Wednesday 4th March at 2.15pm there is a Service of thanksgiving for Chris Whitaker, followed by interment at the London Road Cemetery. All friends are most welcome at the services and at the reception in the Tickford Room which follows. Family flowers only please but donations to Willen Hospice.

Church AGM

We give notice of the Church's Annual Meeting to be combined with an Ordinary Church Meeting on Saturday 7th March. The minutes of both meetings are available for members to read. (Located in the green folder by the Stewards table.)

The worship for the evening will include thanksgiving for the year past and prayers of thanksgiving and remembrance. The business of the AGM will include the election of Deacons and Elders, the adoption of the Church's Accounts for 2008 and the Financial Review, adoption of the Church Year Book and the reports from organisations contained therein, and the review of the Church's Policy on Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults. In addition, we shall include business of an Ordinary Church Meeting to include applications for membership, and any other relevant business relating to the church's work and ministry.

In view of this meeting containing the business of both an AGM and an Ordinary Church Meeting, we shall be vacating the date of Tuesday 17th March which had previously been posted as the next Ordinary Church Meeting.

Nominations to the Leadership.

The following people have accepted nominations to stand for election to the leadership:

· To the Diaconate - Eric Djan, Chris Kirby and Paul Manning.
· To the Eldership – Eric Eyre

Bridgebuilder Trust

The commissioning service for Rachel Foster is on Saturday 7th March at 3:00pm at Christ The Cornerstone. All welcome.

Women’s World Day of Prayer

Do come along on Friday 6th March to the Methodist Church at 7.30pm for this year's Women’s World Day of Prayer. The theme this year is ‘In Christ there are many members yet one body’ and was prepared by the Christian women of Papua New Guinea. Our speaker is the Rev Jenny Mills of the URC church. It promises to be an interesting evening and everyone is welcome.

Vine Group leaders

Please could all Vine Group leaders pick up their copies of the Year Book and distribute them to the members of their Vine Group prior to the AGM next Saturday. If your Vine Group leader is not at church this morning please free to take your copy indicating on their list that you have done so.


Church Directory 2009

The NPBC Directory is due to be revised after the AGM. There is a copy of the present Directory in the foyer. Please can you check and indicate that your address, phone number and email address are all correct. If you started attending the church in the past year and would like to be included in the 2009 Directory please add your details on the sheet provided.

Easter Cracked 2009

Believe it or not, Easter 2009 is almost here! The four Newport Pagnell Schools, Giffard Park and Willen Schools have already booked Easter Cracked in their diaries and the Year 6 children are looking forward to being part of this year’s Easter Cracked Presentation. They are due to take place on the following dates.

Monday 23rd March morning Tickford Park School

Wednesday 25th March morning Willen School
afternoon Cedars School

Thursday 26th March morning Giffard Park School

Monday 30th March morning Portfields School
Afternoon Green Park School

If you would like to be part of these presentations and help the children in various ways throughout the session, please sign up on the list which will be available at the church AGM on Saturday March 7th and the following Sundays.

During the presentation the children split into discussion groups. If you are willing to help facilitate one of these, there is a preparation evening to go through the material on Friday 20th March between 7.30pm and 8.30pm at the church.

Eggs Appeal!

As part of the Easter Cracked presentation, we send each child home with a gift of a Cadbury's Creme Egg. Thank you for your generosity in the past, and this year we have a mega challenge!! As we have taken on two extra schools, we need 360 Creme Eggs!

Can you help by donating some eggs, please? Even just a small box of three or six will help us enormously. They can be placed in the container which will be available on the table by the Church Notice Board. Thank you again for your support.

Oberammergau; Passion Play 2010

On Tuesday 10th March 6.30pm at Christ the Cornerstone Church CMK there is to be an exhibition and presentation for holidays to Germany to watch the ‘Passion Play’. If you would be interested in attending the presentation please add your name to the registration list on the NPBC notice board. Further details are available from Catherine Hall.

Service Details 01/03/09

On Sunday 1st March at 10.30am our minister Paul Rosier leads our worship. Paul will be speaking on “Honouring God in Our Mission”. The service also includes the sharing of communion.

In the afternoon at 4.00pm we have our monthly Food4Thought meeting. A time for friendship, singing and praise for the retired of the town. This month's hosts as Roger and Catherine Hall.

Service Details 08/03/09

On Sunday 8th March at 10.30am our worship is led by Steve Greenfield, with Paul Rosier speaking on “Honouring God in Our Equipping”.

Exalt

Our next “Exalt” worship event will be on Sunday 8th March at 6.00pm. The evening is titled “Exploring Prayer”, and we will be doing just that; making use of different media and different perspectives to help us focus on God, and on our relationship with Him.

CHURCH DIARY

SUNDAY 1 March
10 – 10.15am Prayer Time in the Chapel.
10.30am Service of Worship and Communion led by Paul Rosier.
4.00pm Food4Thought hosted by Roger & Catherine Hall.
7.30 – 9:30pm yPod at the home of Steve and Natasha Wood.

MONDAY 2 March
6.15pm Boys’ Brigade Anchor Boys & Junior Sections. See Roger.
7.45pm Amicus – Contact Sam Downton or Mark Nicholls
7.45pm Lent HomeGroup at Bancroft

TUESDAY 3 March
8.45am Team Prayer Meeting in the chapel.
10.00am Parent & Toddler Group (24 Months+). See Yvonne Wilkinson
1.30 – 3.00pm Parent & Baby Group in the Tickford Room Contact Sue Garnham
1.30 – 3.00pm Parent & Toddler Group (12-24 months) contact Janet Rosier.
2.00pm Bible Study Group in the chapel. “The Coming King”.
7.45pm HomeGroup Meeting

WEDNESDAY 4 March
11.00am Bethany Lunch Club for Senior Citizens. Contact Peter Faulkner on for bookings and Elsie Smith on for transport.
2.15pm Service of Thanksgiving for Chris Whitaker.
8.00pm HomeGroup Meeting.
8.00pm Premises Meeting.

THURSDAY 5 March
6.15pm Girls’ Brigade Explorers For all sections see Sue Garnham
6.45pm Girls’ Brigade Junior Section
7.45pm Pastoral Assistants Prayer Meeting.
7.45pm Boys’ Brigade Company Section Contact David Wright
8.00pm Girls’ Brigade Senior and Brigader Section

FRIDAY 6 March
9.45 – 11:30am MOPS Group. See Wendy Turner or Elaine Hope

SATIRDAY 7 March
8.00am Prayer Breakfast for Elders and Deacons
7.00pm Church Meeting & Annual General Meeting in the Tickford Room

SUNDAY 8 March
10 – 10.15am Prayer Time in the Chapel.
10.30am Service of Worship led by Steve Greenfield & Paul Rosier.
6.00pm “Exalt” worship event.
7.30 – 9:30pm yPod at the home of Steve and Natasha Wood.