church family news
We continue to bring our weekly news via this page.
Please check the tabs for individual groups
and the 'What's On' tab for more updates
If you need to get a message to anyone on this page please use the "Contact Us" page on this website.
If you have any items you'd like us to include again please tell Maureen Jeavons or Alison Price
God
bless you
all
Stay
😁
Keep the Faith
Do the Little Things
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If you need, or you hear of any one else who needs
PASTORAL SUPPORT
please contact EILEEN ADAMS who in turn will inform the Minister and your own pastoral visitor
If you have COVID (or any other problem) contact Eileen or Sarah Shaw
and we can arrange help through our "Helping hands" group.
This is a group of very willing helpers so please don't struggle alone
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SUNDAY 29th March
10.30
Palm Sunday
Worship will be led by Janice Smith
Prayer Room open from 10.00
am
(The prayer room is at the end of the long corridor at the side of the worship area)
is available after the service.
1.30pm RCCG (Redeemed Christian Church of God) Covenant Rock
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Next Week
Sunday 5th April
Worship including Holy Communion will be led by Bill Caldwell
You are invited to bring some flowers to decorate the Cross outside the church
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Church Activities during the week
28th March 9.30 am – 1.00 pm at Hasbury
ANCHOR CIRCUIT VISION DAY
with Jo Yair, Circuit Mission Enabler
We are invited to spend time together to consider mission in our church as well as all of our churches in the circuit. We will be guided to focus and pray for our individual churches and to plan for growth in our future. We will be led on the day by Jo Yair, the District Mission Enabler. See attached flyer for more info.
HOLY WEEK
Tuesday 31st March 7pm in the front hall at Hasbury Ben will be giving a reflection on Holy Week and Lent. Every one is welcome there will be refreshments available
Thursday 2nd April: 7pm – 9.30pm
MAUNDY THURSDAY PRAYER VIGIL at Short Cross
Come and go as you feel led. Opportunity to walk the stations of the cross alongside other interactive prayer stations for you do on your own. Or simply come and sit and take the opportunity for a few moments of peace in God’s presence as we prepare for Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Friday April 3rd.
GOOD FRIDAY
Early Morning Communion 7.30am at Short Cross
Open Air Service 11.00am in Somers Square (Processing from St Johns 10.45 am)
Good Friday Reflection led by Rev Ben Haslam12.30 pm followed by Soup Lent Lunch at Hasbury
Sat April 4th
10am-12 noon -Grief Cafe For anyone who's dealing with any kind of loss, not just bereavement. We offer a safe and friendly environment where you will be listened to and everything said will be confidential
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COMING SOON
ALPHA COURSE
We’ll be running an Alpha Course at Hasbury, beginning on Wednesday June 3rd. More details will follow later. It will run for 7 weeks, then following a break a further 7 weeks beginning on Sept 2nd. Make a note of the dates. If you’d like to be involved in helping with buffet refreshments etc we have a planning meeting for rotas on April 16th at 2.00pm
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TREASURE HUNTERS HOLIDAY CLUB at Hasbury Community Church
Monday March 30th – Thursday April 2nd 10.00am – 12.15am
SHORT CROSS
MAUNDY THURSDAY PRAYER VIGIL 2nd April: 7pm – 9.30pm come and go as you feel led. Opportunity to walk the stations of the cross alongside other interactive prayer stations for you do on your own. Or simply come and sit and take the opportunity for a few moments of peace in God’s presence as we prepare for Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Worship and More at 4
1st Sunday in every month. Starts May 3rd 4pm Short Cross Hub
Come and join us in a relaxed setting for an hour of worship music.
The perfect time to reflect and re-energise and to step into the week ahead with Jesus.
We would love to encourage local families to come and see what it's all about so please spread the word.
Sat April 25th
SPRING CRAFT FAYRE
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CENTRAL
Sat Apr 4thCosy Cafe 10.00am – 12 noon
Sat Apr 26thBeetle Drive 1.00 – 3.00pm
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HIMLEY ROAD
IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL Friday May 1st 7.00 pm
a musical by Gareth Hides. This musical will be put on at Himley Road. It was last shown in 2023 at the Mill theatre in Sedgley, and received positive reports from those who attended. It is suitable for everyone aged 7+. This is how it is described: 'Our vision for this musical is simple: to communicate the Good News of Jesus in a creative way that is accessible to people and can be used as a Gospel event for Christians to bring along a friend who wouldn't normally come to church. We hope these performances can be an encouragement to many!' - So save the date. Further information can be found at https://www.itiswellmusical.com/
Tickets are now available – please ask a steward.
Further information can be found at https://www.itiswellmusical.com/
Request for help. We are also looking for people who can provide a bed for a member of the cast for the night of 1st May. Please contact Geoff Donnison (07929 520599) if you feel you could help in this way. Thank you.
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THE LEPER – UPDATE
The provisional dates for this production are Friday 26 June and Friday 3 July.
Rehearsals for this will take place on Tuesday evenings at Central and Wednesday evenings at Upper Gornal beginning 17/18 March
If you would like a small/ medium acting part in this, you would need to attend the above rehearsal, on either site on most (but not all) weeks.
However, singers and musicians are welcome to practice with the Worship Group at Short Cross on Friday evenings, 7:40pm. There are 12 songs to learn.
All musicians, whatever instrument you play, are welcome, but please get in touch with Sue Simpson or the production team about suitable parts for your instrument.
It’s a great way to bring the 2 halves of the Circuit together as well as a great way of having fun. Please do consider joining in!
If you would like to be a a stage hand, a costume help, or involved in advertising, props, scenery or front of house. please give your name to Maureen Stanley who will compile a list of those interested. Tel 07903 616171
If you would like to know more please ask Angela Insull or Sue Simpson tel 07980 360056 or speak to the directors themselves;
Dave and Sheridan Clifford; 07737350183 / daveclifford54@gmail.com
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We hold Stephen, Rachel and Olivia in our loving prayers. Rest in Peace Brian.
SAFEGUARDING TRAINING.
Updated Foundation trainings have been arranged at Central, Blackheath on these dates:
1. Wednesday 22nd April at 7pm
2. Saturday 2nd May at 2pm
3. Wednesday 10th June at 10am
These will be led by Jan Lear, Maureen Stanley, Steph Sambidge and Jill Rushton and will hopefully take 3 hours or less.
All with a responsibility /role/leading groups within the church are required to attend a training.
Pease let Jan (tel 0121 550 5435) or Maureen (tel 07903 616171) know which of these dates is suitable for you. We are aiming at training approximately 25 – 30 people each session.
District Notices – Save the Date
The President of Conference, Revd Richard Andrew, is coming to our District on Saturday 9th of May 9.30am – 3.30pm, when he will be joining with us (at Trinity Methodist Church, Kidderminster) for 'Our Story, Our Song: Growing your Calling in Worship", a day
designed to encourage, equip and inspire everyone involved in worship across our churches.
BLACK COUNTRY FOOD BANK
There will be a collection arranged prior to Easter to get our contributions to the warehouse in Brierley Hill. However there is still some room left in the containers so please could we make an extra effort to donate items to fill these up before the collection takes place. Many thanks for your ongoing generosityPeter Jones
RECYCLING
Unfortunately we are no longer able to recycle used pens and felt tips. we can recycle are stamps ( please leave a small border), used spectacles ( but no cases thank you), balls of wool, and teddies and ink cartridges – (we received £61 for the last batch of ink cartridges !!)
PALM SUNDAY by Maureen Stanley
He is riding on a donkeyHe is riding on a donkey
He is riding into townHe is riding past the crowd
And the crowds are cheering blessingsWho are working up a frenzy
And laying down their gownsAnd calling out quite loud
There are screams of adorationHe is riding into victory
For this man they’ve come to seeHe is riding in to die
There are shouts of adorationHe is riding to be murdered
For our Lord and MajestyFor those He passes by
There are palm leaves torn from branchesHe is our Lord and Saviour
And young children held on highPrepared to pay the price
A multitude of peopleFor all the sins that man has made
As the Saviour passes by.The only sacrifice !!
Lord Jesus Christ, on this Palm Sunday, when we remember Your triumphal entry into Jerusalem, we come before You as those who would shout hosanna and praise You.
We long to be those who speak out the truth of who You are.
We come before You with open hearts and minds: show us what it means to be a faithful follower of the way.
On this Palm Sunday, we think about how we are nourished by music from the heart, our soul songs.
Give us this day our daily bread that lets our hearts sing….
That we can express our loves, our likes, our hates, our fears, the depths of our joys, our sorrows. our hopes, our dreams.
That we can live and be ourselves knowing you hear our songs, that we can sing out our hearts desire.
As You know the songs of our souls, the depths of our being, may those others who hear them through us see You. O Lord our God, on this Lenten journey, let us sing and shout and proclaim Your way, Your Word.Amen
CHURCH FLOWERS
The list of dates for offers to provide flowers during 2026 is now in the side vestibule
Toddlers meet at Hasbury on Thursday mornings, can anyone help with toddlers for a few hours, we are desperately in need of help, one of our regular helpers has had to leave and leaves us short handed. Any offers of help would be gratefully received.
Contact Karen
PASTORAL VISITORS
Following our recent meeting we would like to say that Membership cards are being distributed at the moment. We hope you’ll receive yours really soon. And we'd like to remind everyone that, should a problem arise either with you or another church member, please tell Eileen or Beth and we'll contact the Pastoral Visitor for that person and let the Minister know.
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Update on Recycling.
We can no longer accept foil tablet strips or felt pens and biros. Sources are either too difficult to access or have stopped accepting them.
What we CAN recycle are ink cartridges, postage stamps, odd balls of wool, ribbons and beads( to decorate our twiddlemuffs) and old spectacles ( please note we DON’T want the cases)
And an update on TEDDY BEARS: Only the knitted ones go to children going into hospital ( contact me if you'd like a pattern). The bigger or toy ones go mostly to care homes. The ladies at Crafting for Communities dress them and they go mostly to dementia patients who love to have something to cuddle. They are extremely grateful for all the ones we've sent ( three bin bags full last time I went). THANK YOU for all your contribution
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