Better together….. I am sat typing this as I am waiting for our wonderful team of wheelchair-pushers to return from one of our local nursing homes. They are bringing with them some enthusiastic and excited residents to join us for Time Out. Unfortunately a lot of our regular team are out of action this week due to various illness that are doing the rounds, but others offered to cover the gaps with even our entertainment being done in-house using friends and families.
It was the same story this morning at our Tots group – we had a full house of toddlers and some very new babies and were on a skeleton team with our helpers, but thankfully others helped to provide cover.
The things I enjoy doing most tend to be the things we do together, as a team.
At the weekend we had our harvest celebrations. The church was decorated by a team of flower arrangers – some had decided it was time to step down, so several new people have stepped up.
At our harvest supper our usual caterers were as wonderful as ever but because they had other commitments which meant they needed to leave a tiny bit later, we were very grateful to some new people who stepped up to help out. And even the country dancing was led by a family team… and it was great! So much fun.
For me, when we work as a team the stress levels go down and the enjoyment levels go up.
Our Revitalise mentor attended our PCC meeting last week and his final reflection was that we clearly had a lot of fun; as he said ‘PCC’ and ‘fun’ weren’t words that were often used in the same sentence but that this was his over-riding feeling, despite the fact that we covered a lot of important business.
Even Jesus formed a team when he came to save the world – NOT a committee, but a team who were able to carry on his work when he left them. And when he sent them out to do things themselves he tended to send them in two’s so they could support one another.
For some reason though people often seem to be wary about volunteering to join some of our teams. I’m not sure why because the Revitalise mentor was right, our teams really do have fun as well as doing some important work.
I don’t know if it is because people think they are too new, or too much of an outsider, and don’t want to tread on anybody’s toes… please don’t worry, you will be made very welcome.
Maybe it’s because people think they have been around too long and are too old! Please don’t worry, there will be a gap that is just right for you and what you can offer now, even if it is different to what you did before.
Right now I would love some volunteers to help form a team to plan our Christmas Fair on Saturday 2 December. It would be great to have some new people to bring fresh ideas – and it would be great to have some people who have been around a while to help us to understand what has been done before and worked well.
I think all our teams from Wardens, to Cafe, to Tots, to Flower Arranging and any other team you might care to mention, would love to have more members so please have a word.
Without a shadow of a doubt, we work better together.
Yours in Christ – Sue Sheriff
Rev Canon, Interim Priest in Charge
t. 01904 633261 / m. 07521 778195
e. [email protected]
The Vicarage, 1 Fulford Park, YO10 4QE
(not available on a Friday)
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT STOSWALD‘S
CHURCH SERVICES + Our regular Sunday and Wednesday 10am services take place in church
+ Sunday 10am services are usually livestreamed on YouTube (also available as catch-up afterwards): http://bit.ly/Stoswaldsyoutube (click on ‘Live’)
SATURDAY 30 SEPTEMBER
SUNDAY 1 OCTOBER 10AM HOLY COMMUNION Service Sheet: click here
Readings: Philippians 2: 1-13, Matthew 21: 23-32 Worship hymns & songs: click here
(see also the music videos at the end of this email) After the service, do come for refreshments
in the church hall – everyone is welcome!
MONDAY 2 OCTOBER 10AM MORNING PRAYER
TUESDAY 3 OCTOBER 10AM-12NOON COMMUNITY CAFE and BABY CAFE
All babies & parents very welome! No specific activities planned …
just a time to relax together
6-6.30PM PRAYING FOR THE WORLD A short service of prayer at 5 REDMAN CLOSE
All welcome
The E-Cargo Bike came to StOswald‘s last Sunday – Rev Sue met the team and gave them a bit of lunch! Fundraising team with ‘the cycling bishop’ Bishop John
plus support family and friends!
Hendrik Klaver is one of the 20’s to 40’s ministers in the York Diocese and is based in Malton. Their New Worshipping Community (OMG Malton) had to opportunity to purchase an electrical cargo bike. This will be used to build new relationships with people in the community (eg. offering a hot drink to parents on the school run) and for transporting their equipment as they don’t have their own building and “pop up” in different locations.
They have received support to buy the cargo bike but still need £1000 to adapt it to meet their needs – you can support this at: https://wonderful.org/fundraisers/Rm0BN
CONNECT HOUSE GROUPS
REMINDER
Wednesday 4 October 7.30pm (Redman Close Group)
contact Jackie Tuvey-Smith e.[email protected] Usually Wednesdays 11.15am (Sir John J. Hunt meeting room group)
contact Maggie Foley e. [email protected] Thursday 5 October 7.30pm (Heslington LaneGroup meeting)
contact Caroline Moore, e. [email protected]u If you would like to join a group
TheNews: October click here Prayer Diary: October-December click here
Silver Sunday is a national day where people of all generations can come together by hosting fun and free activities for older people. It is a day where older people can meet new people, visit new places, try new activities and connect with their local communities and the generations around them. Find out more HERE
Offering over 120 diverse events organised by local enthusiastic individuals and groups, the 50+ Festival is a grass-roots affair put on by people who want to share what they have to offer with the community. What is a taster session today may well become a regular weekly hobby as people discover new interests and ways of keeping healthy in body and mind.
STOSWALD‘S CHURCH HALL RECYCLING HUB REMINDER Recycle More Plastics poster (not cheese packets) What can you recycle? Check it outHERE! Clean cans, foil + tablet blister packs (all in bags) can be put in the Christian Aid bin on the right
YORK FOOD BANK – Helping local people in crisis. REMINDER
The foodbank relies on your goodwill and support. DONATING FOOD: There are collection boxes in the church & church hall Currently needing:UHT Milk (Most needed), Tinned Meat (most needed), Jars of Pasta Sauce (most needed), Soup (most needed), Sponge Puddings, Cartons of Fruit Juice, Coffee, Jam, Packets of Biscuits, Toilet Roll, Laundry Detergent, Shampoo / Conditioner / Shower Gel There are also food collection points for items bought in store at Waitrose (Foss Islands), Asda (Monks Cross), Tesco (Askham Bar), and at Food Warehouse (Clifton Moor) DONATING MONEY: You can also support the Food Bank work by donating via this link here
Let us know what hymns or worship songs inspire and comfort you. Please email your choices to: [email protected].If you know someone in the congregation who does not have email, please also ask them – and then you can email for them.
