New Christian Aid logo and catalogue!

Christian Aid has just redesigned their logo and are launching various new fund-raising ventures in light of that change, including a catalogue packed full of handy everyday goods such as T-shirts, mugs, worship materials and a selection of books.

If you'd like to raise money for Christian Aid and own some of those goods yourself, click here to be redirected to the exact Christian Aid website page where you can download the new catalogue or order it to arrive through the post. You can also go on to explore their fascinating website with many useful resources for Christians and more ideas on charitable fund-raising ...

A Prayer for Mothering Sunday

Following on from the last post here, there is actually another Holy Communion service before Christmas ... on Easter Sunday, in fact, when you're all very welcome to join us at St. Mark's for our last service of the present schedule, at 10.30am. After that, the church will not be holding another Sunday service until the Harvest Festival celebration in September.

But before Easter Day, we have Mothering Sunday fast approaching! Which means breakfast in bed for mothers and carers everywhere, and a chance to show them how much you appreciate their untiring work.

Here is a longer version of a short prayer from the Mother's Union, specially adapted to be used on Mothering Sunday:


Dear God

We thank you for mothers.

We thank you for all those who care for us
in quiet, often unrecognised ways;
we thank you for all those who care for others
in patience and love.

We are sorry for those times when we have failed
to care for others
and pray that you will teach us
to care as you do

and that you will hold all mothers
and carers
in the light of your presence
and guide them to you.

Amen.


This prayer was produced by the Mother's Union. Used with kind permission.

Holy Communion 9am Sunday 19th March

St. Timothy, celebrated here in one of the beautiful stained glass windows at St. Mark's Church, Flecknoe


As many of you in the Leam Valley benefice will know, our little church in Flecknoe has decided to drop to four services a year, since the diocese will only fund a part-time priest for our benefice - two days a week to cover five parishes - and the small but loyal congregation here at St. Mark's, Flecknoe, cannot continue to pay a full Parish Share under those conditions.

So the time is now fast approaching when our usual schedule of services will stop, which is the Easter Day service. After Easter - apart from weddings, funerals and baptisms as required - there will not be another service at St. Mark's until the Harvest Festival. That will be followed by a Family Carol Service in December and a Christmas Day Holy Communion Service, with nothing after that until Easter 2007.

In light of that, we are extending a particularly warm welcome to all those in the surrounding area to join us for our last few services.

This Sunday, March 19th, will be a 9am Service of Holy Communion and you are all very welcome to join us.

Christian Aid's East Africa emergency appeal

The UN estimate that 11 million people across eastern Africa are in desperate need of food and water. There are reports of people dying of thirst. Christian Aid - amongst other charities - is responding but need your help to avert a region-wide catastrophe.

Christian Aid is working with partners in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda and Tanzania but more help is urgently needed. If you are in a position to make a donation, please do give generously.

Christian Aid estimates that:

• £20 / €30 will provide water for a family for two months
• £50 / €75 will help provide food for families as well as fodder for their livestock
• £100 / €150 will pay for a tanker to deliver 10,000 litres of water

You can find Christian Aid online - and hopefully make a donation - by clicking here.