Weekly Bulletin - 4th April
Welcome to our weekly church bulletin, here's what is coming up in the life of St Andrew's and St Bartholomew's!
This Sunday - The transfiguration
9am Communion service at St A's
10.30am All Age Service at St A's
6pm Encounter Service
To find out what's happening during the week click here to view our full church calendar.
News and Notices
See the Servant Musical
Palm Sunday "See the Servant Musical" at St Lawrence Church, Sandhurst GL2 9NPAn Ian Donald musical talking about how Jesus came to serve the world and how we are called to do the same, using words from the book of Isaiah. Musicians from St Andrew's. All are welcome. Performance from 6pm until 7pm followed by refreshments. Free entry with donations going to Mindsong, a charity reaching people across Gloucestershire with dementia through music and song.
Bereavement CaféThe Bereavement Café will take place again this Tuesday 8th April, 1.30-3pm in the Lounge. Open to all who have been bereaved recently or in the past. Come on your own or with a friend to meet others also affected by loss, to share experiences, for space to remember those who have died, and to enjoy a cuppa and cake.
Out of the Ashes – Live in Your Living Room!
Never seen Out of the Ashes live – or just missing them? Don't miss their first ever live-streamed concert on Thursday 10th April at 7.30pm (BST)! With a full band, camera crew, and all the production magic, you can enjoy the show from the comfort of your own home. Join in, send your comments, and be part of a special night of music and connection. Link available here – mark your calendar!
Jonathan Veira in Concert – Saturday 3rd May, 7.30pm
Come and enjoy an evening of music and laughter with the brilliant Jonathan Veira at St John the Evangelist Churchdown and Innsworth. Tickets are £15 (or £13 early bird up to 6 weeks before) and are available online or from the church office (Tues, Thurs & Fri, 9.30am–12.30 pm). Book early to avoid missing out on this wonderful event! Contact 01452 855553 / office@stjohnschurchdown.org.uk.
Men's walk
On 10th May men at St Andrew's and St Bart's are invited to join us on a walk round Haresfield Beacon. You can either meet at St Andrew's at 9 am and share lifts, or meet us at the Edgemoor Inn on the road to Pitchcombe at 0930 where we still start and finish the walk. We expect to be back to the pub by 1230, so people can finish with a pub lunch if they want, but it's not obligatory! Please sign up here to let us know you are coming. This will be a great opportunity to bring a friend along, so please join us and invite someone!
Church Hedge Cutting
We made a good start to lowering the hedge bordering one of our neighbours' last Saturday. If you are interested in joining a group to help finish the work, please contact Andrew Smith on 07734 985422 or Andrew.Smith@stastb.church
Experience Easter!
St Andrews will be running an Experience Easter Event for Churchdown Infant and Junior Schools on Monday 7th April in the morning and Tuesday 8th April in the afternoon. We have a great opportunity to share the Easter Story with children and teachers as they explore interactive Easter activity stations together. We are looking for volunteers to help us welcome the children and run the activities as well as volunteers to help with the pack down from 3pm-4pm on the Tuesday. If you are able to volunteer or would like to find out more information about this event, please contact Kate by emailing children@stastb.church.
BLT (Babies, Lunch and Toddlers) - Request for help
Could you help make soups for our mums and toddlers group? Our church toddler group, BLT, runs every Wednesday from 11:30am-1:00pm and during the group, we provide homemade soup and cake for all the families who attend. At the moment, however, we are really struggling to provide lunch as a number of our kitchen team have had to step down. If you are available on Wednesday mornings and would be willing to join our friendly team making soup either weekly, fortnightly or monthly, please contact our children's pastor Kate at children@stastb.church
New Wine 2025
A number of our church family are heading to New Wine this year, and we'd love for you to join us! It's a fantastic time of worship, teaching, and community. You can purchase your tickets here: [https://www.festival.new-wine.org/book-now]. if you're coming, let us know—we can add you to the WhatsApp group!
Parking Reminder
When coming to church, please be mindful of where you park. Unfortunately, we no longer have access to the school car park, and the two roads opposite—Howcroft and Barnhay—are private roads, so parking there is not allowed. If our church car park is full, there is always plenty of space at Chapel Hay car park, located just behind the church. Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us be good neighbours!
If you would like to include any updates in the weekly bulletin, send them to Adam. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday at 1pm.
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held in St Andrew's Church on Sunday, 11th May at 12 noon
At the meeting we will be electing members to fill vacancies to the PCC and the Deanery Synod. In the event of voting being necessary, then anyone on the new electoral register is entitled to vote by post. If you would like to request a postal vote, please contact the Church Office at admin@stastb.church or in person for an application form. Requests for a postal vote application form should be received in the Church Office by 12 noon on Thursday 8th May, and returned to the Church Office before the start of the meeting. Actual postal votes will then need to be submitted in the following seven days. Nomination forms for the PCC and Deanery Synod are also available from the Church Office
Giving at St Andrew's and St Bartholomew's
Generous giving is an integral part of Christian discipleship. The apostle Paul says that giving is a primary responsibility for Christians: 'But since you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you – see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Cor 8:7. For more information on how to give and where your money goes please download our giving flyer here.
Please click here to make a one-off donation or set up a direct debit.
Easter at St Andrew's and St Bartholomew's
17th April - Maundy Thursday – "It is finished!" - a performance meditation on the crucifixion by Paul Hobbs– 7:30pm.
18th April Good Friday - Walk of Witness starting at Innsworth Junior School – 9am.
(The walk of witness finishes at St Barts at approx. 11.30-12noon for a short outdoor service. you can download the guide below)
Walk of Witness - Print A4 Landscape 2025.pdf
Easter Sunday – 6am. - Sunrise Service at St B's
Easter Sunday - 9am. - Holy Communion at St A's
Easter Sunday - 9am. - Holy Communion at St B's
Easter Sunday - 10:30am. - All-age Celebration with an egg hunt at St A's
Pastoral Care
As part of our Christian community, we provide mutual support for one another. Much of this happens informally with friends within the church and through the connect groups. However, sometimes people will require more personal support and encouragement either as a 'one-off chat' or on a more ongoing basis. We have a pastoral care team who can provide this type of care. Please contact Nigel Roe (Team Leader) on 07780 994827 or Rosi White on 07426 357967.
Weekly Prayer Zoom Details
Every Thursday
7.30pm Zoom Prayer
Meeting ID:726 2837 5971 Passcode: STAPRAYER
Or click here
Green Tips
Can you introduce any water into your garden? Any water for wildlife is great. Even a bucket or an old tray full of water. This can be used for drinking or bathing for animals.
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Contact us
St Andrew's Church Centre, Station Road, Churchdown, Gloucester, GL3 2JT
www.stastb.church
01452 712154
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 12.30pm
Closed Tuesday 9.30am - 11.30am
Click here to get in touch with someone in the team.