COMMUNITY INFORMATION

 
Season of Prayer and Fasting
I just wanted to thank you for your engagement with this and to update you. As you may recall the focus of this season was for God to meet us in our thirsts and for each of us to become even more God-focussed as we carry out our mission and ministry both within our churches and in the other places God has placed you. Intentionally praying for more of God's presence and purpose in our midst. It is been encouraging to hear how this is having a positive impact in people's lives and I hope that continues. If you want to share anything that emerges then do let me know. Let us see what God does... Lee B
 
New Electoral Rolls
The new Saint Stephen’s electoral roll (list of names) is on display on the notice board outside the office.  The deadline to join the Holy Trinity electoral roll is Sunday 17^th March, so the new roll at HTH will be on display in the hall soon after that date.  Please check these lists, to make sure your name has been included.  Contact Sarah Mitchell if there are any problems (tel: 0117 926 5401, email:  mitchell@spikeisland.net).

What is....? Leaflets
We now have hard copies of the following leaflets available in both churches from this Sunday: What is a Churchwarden / PCC / PCC Secretary / Treasurer / Safeguarding Officer?. Please have a look and prayerfully consider whether God is calling you to serve in a particular role or support those already serving in a role. Many thanks. Lee.
Documents: Saint Stephen's: What is a: PCC, Treasurer, Churchwarden, Parish Safeguarding Officer, PCC Secretary. Holy Trinity: What is a: PCC, Treasurer, Churchwarden, Parish Safeguarding Officer, PCC Secretary
 
Sunday 24^th March – Saint Stephen’s APCM
11.45 am (after our morning service).  This annual meeting is open to everyone on the church electoral roll. 
 
Sunday 7^th April – Holy Trinity Hotwells APCM
12.15 pm (after our morning service).  This annual meeting is open to everyone on the church electoral roll. 
 
Palm Sunday Pilgrimage – Joint Service
On Sunday 14^th April we will have another joint Palm Sunday service. We will gather at Saint Stephen’s at 9:30am for refreshments for a 10am service. At 10:30 we will start our walk to Holy Trinity, aiming to arrive there to continue our service at 11:00am which is due to finish at 11:30, followed by refreshments in Holy Trinity’s church hall.
 
Our PCC's
Just a brief update on some of the things your PCC's have been engaging with for our churches. The PCC's have discussed what is going well, any concerns, and thinking about the future of our mission and ministry in partnership across the two churches. Recently 28 representatives from both PCC's met to discuss this. The PCC's have also been discussing matters related to both/either church, such as Pastoral Provision, employing a Project Lead to further explore the Re-ordering at SSC and employing someone to carry out an Organisational Review of Trinity Lunch Club and Memory Cafe at HTH. Funding from these two roles has largely been received externally. In addition to this, for your information, the Clergy meet weekly and twice a month with the Churchwardens to discuss matters related to the churches and have been working hard to make sure everything is in place during my EMDL. A significant proportion of the whole church community are represented on the PCC's. If you want the PCC to discuss something related to the mission and ministry of our churches then please do contact our PCC Secretaries in the first instance. With prayers, Lee B

Soup Run at Saint Stephens in April
We will once again be operating the Soup Run from Saint Stephen’s throughout the month of April. This will take place on the four Saturdays in April, i.e. Saturday 6^th, 13^th, 20^th and 27^th, and we meet as we did last year, in Saint Stephen’s café from 10.00 am to help prepare sandwiches, hot drinks etc.  At around 11.30 we will go out to distribute food and hot drinks in St James Park, returning normally around 1.00 pm to clear up and pack away the equipment.  We will need to be finished by 2.00 pm at the latest as the café is in use from that time on a Saturday.
If you are available to help with any of the Saturdays, either in preparation or distribution or both, that would be really helpful.  Tell your friends, all are welcome!
More info from Jackie Stephenson jaclynbarbara@gmail.com or Dave Mitchell davemitchell_@hotmail.com
 
Re-discovering + Developing Joy with the Bible, Prayer & Mission
We (Lucy, Laura, Chris and Lee) are offering evenings for people who would like to engage deeper or reconnect in their faith with the Bible, Prayer (which happened over the last month) and Mission (April 4th). These will be held at the vicarage and are open to all within the communities. If you would like to attend the last meeting could you please let us know so that we know numbers for the food. We will assume all who came last time will come again (if not, please tell us!) and all others please let us know!  If you have any questions or would like to know more then please also email me. Many thanks, Lucy Howarth, lucy.hope@hotmail.co.uk
 
Discussion and Prayer through Social Media
Do you use Facebook?  Our two churches have a Facebook group called Community Forum, whose purpose is: “A place for the communities of Holy Trinity & Saint Stephen's to discuss matters of faith, with the purpose of growing in our relationship with God.”  Anyone from the two communities is welcome to join, if you would like to do so, please email me and I will send you an invitation.
Secondly, we have a WhatsApp group called Journey of Prayers, where community members can request prayer for particular issues they may be going through.  Again, for those who use WhatsApp, anyone from the communities is welcome to join, simply let me know and I will arrange for you to be added. 
With both these groups, it’s important to respect others’ privacy, be sensitive to other people’s viewpoints, and be aware that anything you share will be seen by a large number of people within the two communities.
Dave Mitchell (tel: 0798 990 5336, email: davemitchell_@hotmail.com)
 
Lunchtime Concerts at Saint Stephen’s
We have concerts on Mondays and Wednesdays this month (see program for details), 1.10 to 2.00 pm, free entry with retiring collection. Fairtrade tea/coffee sold from 12 noon before concerts.  All welcome! 
 
Prayer Board at St Stephen's
Please take a look at the pray for the world table/board at the back of church and use it to help you pray. Each month or so we'll change the display. It can be about a country, an area, a topic and can look at the Christian church in other parts of the world and help us look beyond our own needs to those of the world.
Volunteer - we'd love to have lots of people taking turns to do a display. You research the info and how to display it, you could make it interactive in some way. 
We have a selection of country flags that can be added if appropriate and we can highlight on the map the area being prayed for. Speak to /email Jeff Plumb with your offers to take a turn and mention which month you can do it & which country/area/topic you will do.
 
Help with coffee for Concerts at Saint Stephen’s
Since the church café has closed, some volunteers have been making tea and coffee to sell before our lunchtime concerts.  (A big thank you to Dave Williams and John Price!)  The aim is to offer hospitality, rather than making a profit.  Several audience members make use of this service, and it is much appreciated.  During March we have lunchtime concerts on Wednesdays as well as Mondays.  Dave and John are not free to make coffee on Wednesdays, so we are looking for some more help.  Please speak to Sarah Mitchell if you would like to get involved in some way (welcoming people in to concerts, making coffee, or washing up).
 
Sam Brookes + Murmuration Choir - Friday 29^th March
Concert at Saint Stephen’s, Tickets £15 (plus booking fee) from Headfirst Bristol – only a handful remaining at time of writing.  Licensed bar.  A legendary British folk artist and a 60-voice choir, this concert will be something special!  7.30 pm (doors 7.00).
 
'A Home for Everyone' - Charity Evening for 'Help Bristol's Homeless' - Wed 3rd April
John White (one of our previous Trinity Students) and I are organising an evening of music, comedy and more to raise money for the work of the 'Help Bristol's Homeless' Charity and raising the profile of the Bristol Housing Festival. It is on the evening of Wednesday 3rd April at the Hen & Chicken Pub in Bedminster. Cost is £5 on the Door with all donations going to the chosen Charity - see attached flyer. Please come and support this evening and share it with others. Many thanks, Lee Barnes. 7:30pm - 10:00pm
 
Book launch – “Stations of the Resurrection,” Richard Greatrex - 3^rd April
Richard Greatrex, who manages the bookshop at Saint Stephen’s, will be celebrating the publication of his book ‘Stations of the Resurrection’ (£12.95, Redemptorist Publications) on 3rd April at 1pm, venue TBC. ‘Stations of the Resurrection’ takes sixteen pieces of artwork (from modern to medieval) and joins them with reflections, prayers, liturgy and more to look at the transformative joy, hope, grace and challenge of Eastertide. All welcome, drinks and light refreshments served, 1pm, venue TBC