Church Notices for 5th Sunday of Easter 2nd May 2021 Hello Everyone, For those of you on the church electoral roll, your latest pack should have arrived or will be on your doorstep soon. It includes material about “easyfundraising” which Sandra discovered through the churchwardens Facebook Group and Revd Theresa has a good experience of and has set up for us. NOW we can raise donations for St Laurence every time we shop online! Just click on the link below and follow the instructions to sign up, so that when you shop online with over 3,300 retailers you raise a donation for our church – and it doesn’t cost you a penny! Retailers include Sainsbury’s, Argos, M&S, Booking.com, Amazon, eBay, Uber Eats, Debenhams, Confused.com, Waitrose, RAC, Expedia… and thousands more! There’s also a handy donation reminder that alerts you whenever a donation opportunity is available. www.easyfundraising.org.uk Fancy a Quiz for Christian Aid? We’ve been invited to join the congregation of Birmingham Cathedral for a GENERAL KNOWLEDGE QUIZ with a wide variety of question areas and the opportunity for donations for Christian Aid. It’s on-line, on Monday 10th May and starts at 7.30 pm, lasting around 2 hours, with a break half way though. To be part of it, you’ll need to make an electronic booking (via this link https://giving.tapsimple.org/event/christian-aid/birmingham-cathedralchristian-aid-quiz) and you’ll be sent a link to activate on the night to join in. Reservation will be free of charge – but please do actually take up your reservation as numbers of devices are limited. If the whole family wants to join in that’s fine but please use as few phones/computers as possible. There’s more about Christian Aid Week (9-15th May) in the packs but the link for our Parish Fundraising is here: - https://envelope.christianaid.org.uk/envelope/st-laurence-church-northfield?channel=status We are also having a plant sale in the Rectory Garden (opposite 6 Rectory Road, B31 2NA) after church on Sunday 23rd May from 10.30-11.30am for Christian Aid. It is slightly after the actual week but gives more time for seeds to be planted and grown on. You are welcome to drop off plants etc for sale the day before – please leave on the porch if no reply. Ascension Day is Thursday 13th May. We will be holding a service at 7.30pm in church and on zoom too. We share this service ecumenically and are delighted that Jenny Shardlow, the Reader at St David’s church will be the preacher. St Barts is holding a service via Zoom at 10am that day. This week’s Eco Tip: Tempted to update your wardrobe now you’re thinking of getting out more? Opting for natural fibres (cotton, wool, bamboo) is kinder to the environment than synthetics (such as nylon, polyester, acrylic). Although we might not realise it, synthetics are plastics! They release microfibres when washed, which get through water treatment plants and harm rivers, lakes and oceans, though washing them in an old pillowslip reduces this. Our Annual Meeting will now be 7pm on Wednesday 27th June. The final date to join the CHURCH electoral roll is Sunday 6th June. If you are NOT already on the roll and wish to join it please contact Ruth Clarke : mrs.ruth.clarke@gmail.com or tel 07464 737568. Our Bric-a-brac sale on Saturday 1st May (tomorrow!) outside the Pastoral Centre. 9am – 12noon. If you can help please phone Rowena on 0121 605 9486. Now many people are receiving their second Vaccination you may wish to consider Unicef Vaccine Twinning Programme. Your donations will ensure vaccinations for vulnerable people and health workers in low income countries. More details on how to give here: https://www.unicef.org.uk/donate/coronavirus/ Boxes of Lateral Flow Tests are now available in church. Please do not take more than 1 box per household for now. They are free. Each box contains 6 tests. Don’t forget Birmingham Anglican Climate Action’s Climate Challenge = Church Challenge series of free Zoom events continues for a couple more weeks: Wednesday 5th May 7.30pm - Inspiring Ideas for Parishes. Sheena Heaton and John Heywood Wednesday 12th May 7.30pm - Eco Church and beyond. Featuring St Laurence Northfield! Why not come along to show your support? Book through beryl.moppett@gmail.com Larry’s (after school club) continues to go well – with double the number of young people attending this last week.  Bishop David continues his short films as we start to understand, imagine and engage with all kinds of issues such as health, culture, economy, social interaction, hybrid church and more, as we move forward together in the Government Roadmap Steps and our diverse journeys though the global pandemic and 2021. They can be viewed from Friday at 4.00pm on CofEB YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, There are a few places left for this weekend’s services so I’ve included the Eventbrite links for both this Sunday and 9th May below. Apologies that the link for 2nd May was incorrect – it has now been corrected. Please remember that if you are coming to a service in church you must: 1. Pre-book by the deadline 2. Wear a face covering (unless exempt) 3. Social Distance at 2 metres 4. Avoid unnecessary conversation in church 5. Be prepared to sit where directed by the church wardens 6. Bring a small bottle of sanitiser for use before receiving Holy Communion 7. If attending the Sunday School Service bring a ‘kit bag’ of pencils & crayons, scissors and a Glue-stick 8. NOT attend if you have any symptoms of Covid or you have been told to self-isolate Also, Public Health Birmingham is encouraging those attending worship to take a (free) lateral flow test within 48 hours of attending. They are not 100% accurate but at the same time they are detecting some people who are infectious but not displaying symptoms so they are helping to reduce transmission. Blessings Can Jan For your Prayers Those who are ill Mike Cross (and Rosie his wife): Pat Turner: slowly recovering from arm surgery following her fall from her bike. Vicki Reeves: in a lot of pain Revd Canon John Barnett and his wife Janice: both having treatment for cancer. John says they are doing well. Peter Valentine: father of one of our brides-to-be currently in hospital Councillor Ollie Armstrong: still not well following Covid Wendy Faulconbridge: congratulations on being pregnant but commiserations on having hyperemesis gravidarum (extreme sickness) Dorothy G: hopefully being discharged to stay with her daughter this coming week. Those who have died Beryl Tomlins, Mary Theresa Lilley (funeral 21st May at Redditch Crem) Christian Aid Prayer for India I will say of the Lord, ‘You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust’.  God of power and might we lift our brothers and sister in India to you.  We pray for your protection,  we pray for your provision,  we pray for the nations of earth to have compassion.  When people are in need, you are our refuge.  When people are scared, you are our refuge.  When people are mourning, you are our refuge.  Compassionate God, draw close to those who seek your refuge today. Amen. The Community Hotline continues via Northfield Community Partnership … 0121 411 2157 (10am – 3pm Monday – Friday) for help including shopping and picking up medication as well as advice or if you’d just like a friendly phone-call.   Simon Griffiths, PCSO, says “This week Northfield Neighbourhood Team are taking part in Operation Sceptre, this is focusing on knife crime. You may see our officers searching areas of woodland, parkland, and around schools. A lot of this work is focused on safeguarding and prevention rather than enforcement. If you see any weapons dumped locally or have any concerns, please contact us on 101 or in an emergency 999.” Opportunities for the police to go into schools and youth groups to talk about knife crime are currently very limited, so do have a look at the information available and discuss with the young people in your family: https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/campaigns/life-or-knife Local drugs raids have also been successfully carried out over the past week: please stay vigilant and report anything of concern. E-scooters may be a great gift idea now the weather’s getting nicer, but do make sure you know the law first! Due to a number of issues locally, West Midlands Police is reminding all owners that e-scooters are classified as Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEVs). It is therefore against the law to ride a privately owned e-scooter in any public place in the UK, including roads, pavements, parks, town centres and canal towpaths. Any ridden in a public place will be seized, and penalties for using without an appropriate licence and insurance include penalty points and fines, as is the case with other motor vehicles. They can be used on private land, but please remember helmets and knee and elbow pads. May is Living Streets' National Walking Month. We are all invited to step up for our bodies, minds and air quality. Just visit the website, say how many local trips you plan to walk each week, and they will calculate how much carbon you will save. The pledge calculator will also work out the miles walked and calories burned – and you could win a prize! See https://www.livingstreets.org.uk Covid “Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air” As more shops and venues open, please do remember social distancing (2 metres) and mask-wearing are still necessary, even if you’ve had the vaccine. Meeting up with friends/family should still be outside only and in groups of six, or two households, with 2 metre social distancing. Regular lateral flow tests are recommended for all adults and young people. Cases have risen across Birmingham, and are currently highest in secondary school age pupils, so do encourage family members of that age to test twice-weekly in line with guidance given by their schools. It’s also a great idea to test before meeting up with others (including before coming to church!), keeping everyone as safe as possible. The result is available in just 30 minutes. For information on how to access lateral flow tests locally, or to have test kits posted to your home, see Birmingham City Council’s website: www.birmingham.gov.uk/coronavirus_advice Lateral flow tests are not suitable if you do have Covid symptoms. If you have symptoms book a test by ringing 119 or online at https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test Adults aged 42 and over are now included in the groups being offered a vaccine. Book here: www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination If you previously turned down the offer of a vaccine but have changed your mind, just contact your GP, ring 119 (7am-11pm), or book online at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination To book for services use EVENTBRITE LINKS below or, if this isn’t possible phone Revd Theresa on 07557472096 SUNDAY SCHOOL SERVICE In Pastoral Centre   Sunday 2nd May 8.30am      https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/151692619709 (booking closes Saturday 2pm) HOLY COMMUNION   Sunday 2nd May 9.30am      https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/151693279683 (booking closes Saturday 2pm) SUNDAY SCHOOL SERVICE In Pastoral Centre   Sunday 9th May 8.30am       https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/152559165571 (booking from Sunday 9am - Saturday 8th May 2pm) HOLY COMMUNION   Sunday 9th May 9.30am       https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/152559468477 (booking from Sunday 11am - Saturday 8th May 2pm) SERVICES AND MEETINGS Sunday  2nd May 8.30am Sunday School Service 9.30am Holy Communion In the Pastoral Centre – needs to be pre-booked For those not in church by zoom and zoom-phone and available later on YouTube https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84533030134 Meeting ID: 845 3303 0134 Monday 5pm Evening Prayer Not on Bank Holiday Monday Tuesday 10am Gridiron ‘Coffee’ 5pm Evening Prayer Currently meeting at 10.30am in the grounds of Rowheath Park following Covid Guidance with Coffee etc available at the Pavillion. Just turn up! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89992167638 Meeting ID 89992167638 Wednesday 10am Holy Communion 8.30pm Compline https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81798933169 Meeting ID 81798933169 By Conference Call only 01902 693302 Code 1139 Thursday 3.15pm “Larry’s” 5pm Evening Prayer In the Pastoral Centre https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89992167638 Meeting ID 89992167638 Saturday 10am – 11am Private Prayer Entrance is at 10 min intervals via the vestry door and needs to be pre-booked. Phone Revd Theresa by 6pm Thursday please. Sunday  9th May 8.30am Sunday School Service 9.30am Holy Communion In the Pastoral Centre – needs to be pre-booked In church – needs to be pre-booked Also by zoom and zoom-phone and available later on YouTube https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84533030134 Meeting ID: 845 3303 0134 How to Phone in via-Zoom to any of the above (except Wednesday Compline) 1. Enter 141 (to keep your number private) 2. Dial one of these numbers 0203 481 5237 0203 481 5240 0131 460 1196 0203 051 2874 3. Enter the Meeting ID (without any spaces) then # 4. When it asks for your personal ID enter # How to Conference Call Phone 01902 693302 and when asked enter the code 1139 and then say your name. It then takes a few moments before you can hear and be heard. Also - You can Phone a Service 24 hours a day! freephone 0800 804 8044 for Daily Hope offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England. And to hear one of the St Laurence Ministers preaching: 0121 270 4690 These are changed after the services on Sundays and Wednesdays (usually by early evening) Contact Details Parish Office – stlaurence@btconnect.com 0121 475 1518 Currently staffed remotely most of the time Website: www.stlaurencenorthfield.org RECTOR Canon Janet Chapman Day off this week only: Thursday janet.rectory@gmail.com ? 0121 477 3111 ASSOCIATE PRIEST Revd David Pycock Day off: Monday david.pycock@blueyonder.co.uk ? 0121 476 3117 ASSISTANT CURATE Revd Theresa Morton Day off: Friday theresa.curate@gmail.com ? 07557472096 READER Janice Wones Day off: Friday janice.wones@talktalk.net ? 0121 459 7417 Prayer requests can be sent to prayer.request.stlaurence@gmail.com They will be shared only with the ministry team. Twitter: @stlaurenceb31 Rector: @janetchapman5 Facebook www.facebook.com/StLaurenceChurchNorthfield YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/stlaurencenorthfield Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility. If you need to contact someone regarding a church safeguarding concern (adults or children), please call our Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinator, Rowena Nicholls, on 07724 170448. If you have an urgent concern for the safety of yourself or someone else, call 999. St Laurence Church Northfield is Registered Charity 1132975